Polk County Education
14A Polk County Itemizer-Observer • May 18, 2016
SCHOOL NOTES
ELD students to be honored at tea
INDEPENDENCE — Central High School will host a family cel-
ebration tea at 4 p.m. on Sunday to benefit the Fine Arts and
the English Language Development program.
At the tea, high school students who are exiting the ELD pro-
gram will be honored.
The tea will include beverages, snacks and entertainment,
and will be held in the CHS cafeteria. The jazz band, choir and
student Mexican band will perform. There also will be a student
art show.
Proceeds will go to each of the programs, as well as help the
ELD students travel to Ashland to see a Shakespearean play in
June.
Tickets are $10 each. For more information: Lola Carlile,
lcarlile@central.k12.or.us.
MVCA to hold information meeting
MONMOUTH — Mid-Valley Christian Academy will host a
2016-17 School Year Informational Night on Monday from 5:30
to 6:30 p.m. This will be an opportunity for new and returning
parents to get information about the upcoming school year
and the programs they can expect from MVCA.
School science projects will be displayed and demonstrated
by students. There will be a raffle and bake sale going on dur-
ing the science fair and meet and greet, with complimentary
coffee. MVCA is at 1483 16th St., Monmouth. For more informa-
tion: 503-838-2818, or follow MVCA on Facebook.
JENNIFER HALLEY/for the Itemizer-Observer
Central High School’s theater department presents “Almost Main”. The play is about the different stages of love.
AN ‘ALMOST’ LOVE STORY
Central High to perform ‘Almost, Maine’ for final show of the year
By Jennifer Halley
For the Itemizer-Observer
INDEPENDENCE — The
theater department students
of Central High School’s Pro-
duction class gathered in the
school’s auditorium for a
first time run-through of the
spring play, “Almost, Main.”
Set in northern Maine in a
town that is “not quite a
town” during early February,
and written by John Cariani
in 2004, it is a story about
the different stages of love —
from a first date to divorce,
from falling in love to falling
out of it.
The characters within the
play struggle with what love
entails and what it actually
means for each individual.
“There are nine scenes
(within the play), each a dif-
ferent story or stage of a re-
lationship,” Jeff Witt, direc-
tor of Central’s theater de-
Showtime
What: Central High School’s theater department’s pro-
duction of “Almost, Maine.”
When: Wednesday (today) through Saturday. Curtain is
at 7 p.m. each night.
Where: Central High School’s auditorium.
Admission: General, $8; students with ID, $5.
For more information: www.centralperformingarts.org.
partment, said.
Witt added there were a
few scenes that were a “little
edgy,” but despite some sen-
sitive subject matter, such as
a scene inferring two boys
being attracted to one an-
other, Central’s principal
was very supportive of the
play as a whole.
Witt, along with Wendy
Boyack, the technical direc-
tor, directed the play.
Because the play is put on
by a class, all of the 18 stu-
dents acting in it also had to
take part in the technical as-
pects of the production,
which involved working on
the props used, the cos-
tumes, designing the adver-
tising posters, and even
writing press releases.
It is “student ran, with
forceful yet gentle persua-
sion on our end,” Boyack
said. That being said, Boyack
added that “we are the mom
and dad” of this play.
Out of the 18 students in-
volved, five are seniors; this
is their last play before grad-
uating and heading off to
what’s next, so to speak.
For Sarah Wright, “it’s bit-
tersweet,” something that
she enjoys but can also see
an end to.
“Being our last show, it’s
important,” senior Forrest
Deters said. “It feels like the
end I’m ready to let go of,
the transition to my next
step.”
“Almost, Main” is Deter’s
fourth play with Central
High, but he has been in-
volved with theater since the
seventh grade.
Jacob Eschette, originally
hailing from Georgia, also a
senior, is one of the actors
in the scene that speaks of
a possible attraction be-
tween two boys. Even
though the subject matter
is delicate, Eschette didn’t
appear to seem uncomfort-
able by it.
See ALMOST, Page 13A
Farmers Insurance donates to CSD
INDEPENDENCE — In honor of Teachers Appreciation Month,
Farmers Insurance and Greer Insurance Agency donated $100 to
each school in Central School District. The money will be spent
on a program of choice honoring teachers and students who
show integrity, empathy, respect and responsibility.
ACADEMIC HONORS
Local students graduate Ohio Christian
CIRCLEVILLE, Ohio — Two local students graduated from
Ohio Christian University.
Lee Chavez, of Independence, graduated with associate de-
gree in business management. Serenity Mullins, of Dallas, grad-
uated with an associate degree in business Management.
Royer wins Meyer Prize for Excellence
MONMOUTH — Three Western Oregon University students
were awarded prizes for the Meyer Prize for Excellence in Liter-
ature competition: Courtney Royer was honored for “The Pil-
lowman: Setting the Stage”; Joleen Braasch, for “Wild Androgy-
ny and Cultured Patriarchy: The Dogs of Wuthering Heights”;
and Royer “Contemporizing Yeats's Prayer.”
Royer will receive an award of $500 plus an invitation to dine
with Richard and Lotte Meyer plus a guest of her choosing and
her professor. She will also present a synopsis of her essay at
the English Department’s Academic Excellence Showcase event
on May 26.
The runner-up and third-place essays receive financial
awards of $150 and $50, respectively.
This is the 15th year that the Meyer Prize has been awarded
at WOU.
Deptula of Monmouth earns honors
STAUNTON, Va. — Mary Baldwin College awarded Wendy
Deptula, of Monmouth, the Mary Donnalley Award, given to
the student athlete with the highest grade-point average. She
achieved a GPA of 3.5 or higher.