Polk County News
Polk County Itemizer-Observer • November 30, 2016 5A
Lavier: Kids keep her driven Toys: Apply now
Continued from Page 1A
“Oftentimes, if you see a
student with Down syn-
drome, especially in ele-
mentary schools, you’ll see
kids get out of their way be-
cause they don’t really know
how to act around those
kinds of kids,” Spencer con-
tinued. “If you walk into
Shana’s classroom, she’ll be
playing a joke on one of her
students. The kids love it
and feel comfortable there.
She allows them to excel in
the areas they can excel at.”
Lavier ensures that out-
side pressures and labels
don’t play a role inside her
classroom.
“I really think it’s because
when you walk into that
classroom, it doesn’t matter
if you are the best athlete, if
you are a geek, or class
president, most popular or
least popular,” Peffley said.
“When you walk into the
room, you are just you. The
kids love you for who you
are inside. Nothing else
matters.”
The school’s peer tutor-
ing program has had to turn
kids away because of the
sheer number of students
interested in tutoring for
the DLC.
Those who become tu-
tors say it becomes clear
why Lavier connects with
her students.
“She’s so outgoing and
fun and upbeat,” Dallas
senior Ashlee Lichtenberger
said. “That’s what the kids
need. She talks through
things with them instead of
screaming at them. She just
adores them.”
It’s not just the special
education students who
have seen a transformation.
“You can’t not go through
some type of evolution,”
Lavier said. “I think empa-
thy is a big one. Some of
these kids may never have
worked with a kid with
autism before. … Nobody is
discriminated against here.
We give everyone a purpose
and something to feel good
about. Everyone is welcome
here.”
Her goal is to enrich the
lives of and teach the stu-
dents within the DLC, but
Lavier’s influence has ex-
tended far beyond that.
Lavier has been head vol-
leyball coach since 2013.
Coaching makes her
schedule during the fall
hectic — but it also keep
her calm.
“I think having that inter-
action with students is im-
through Dec. 7
shana Lavier, Bryar eames, Becca Boyce, McKenzie devault, Jacob Peffley and Parker
Peterson share a moment together during the school day.
Continued from Page 1A
Toy donations or finan-
cial contributions can be
• Donations for Toys for
made at Toys for Tots local
Tots (toys and financial
“headquarters” at Fee Mail
donations) can be
Depot in Monmouth.
dropped off at Fee Mail
Weston’s other charity
Depot, 169 S. Broad St. in
passion is the Monmouth-
Monmouth. Hours are
Independence Christmas
Monday through Friday
Project, which provides
10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dona-
holiday food boxes to 425
tion also can be made at
households on average
www.toysfortots.org. To
each year.
ensure donations go to
Applications are still
Polk County children, se-
being accepted on Tues-
lect Oregon, then Polk
County.
days and Wednesdays from
• Toy donations can be
1 to 5 p.m. through Dec. 7
made at a several busi-
at the Independence
nesses and organizations
Women’s Clubhouse, 340 S.
in Polk County. For more
Third St. in Independence.
information: 503-917-
“Adopters” for families
9181 or toysfortotspolk
served by the project are
@gmail.com.
needed, Weston said.
• Monmouth-Indepen-
Those with questions
dence Christmas Project
about the program can call
needs adopters for fami-
503-339-4955.
lies in need. For more in-
formation: 503-339-4955.
Weston said many calls
Spanish: 971-388-3328.
have been coming in, and
people shouldn’t be dis-
couraged if they can’t reach someone right away.
“They need to leave a message,” she said. We will get
back to you.”
Once upon a time,
Lavier’s shift to the DLC was
considered a temporary so-
lution, Steve Spencer said.
It’s safe to say the “tem-
porary” has been removed.
“Every day is an adven-
ture in this room,” Lavier
said. “I have kids who grad-
uated two or three years
ago, ask me how the kids
are doing. They tell me this
was their favorite class.
That’s humbling to me.”
Falls City’s fire department volunteers work during its
2015 toy drive.
You can help
SHANA LAVIER/ Itemizer-Observer
portant,” Lavier said. “I
think so many special edu-
cation teachers sort of iso-
late themselves from the
rest of the population, and
when that happens, I think
that’s when burnout can
occur.”
Perhaps Lavier’s greatest
lessons to her students have
nothing to do with school
work.
“I b e l i e v e h e r d r i v e
comes from watching stu-
dents work towards their
potential, and then to see
that they have even more
potential than they
thought,” principal Steve
Spencer said.
Lichtenberger and Ryan
Spencer are just two of the
numerous current and for-
mer students who are pur-
suing careers in special ed-
ucation because, in part, of
their time with Lavier.
“She’s taught me so many
things,” Lichtenberger said.
“She wrote my letter of rec-
ommendation. I feel like
I’m a lot happier now. I’m
more outgoing and upbeat
like Lav is. I trust so much
better because I can trust
these kids with anything. It’s
been a life changing experi-
ence.”
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TROLLS (Digital) (PG)
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EDGE OF SEVENTEEN (Digital) (R)
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7:10 9:55
6:55 9:45
7:30 9:45
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7:20 9:55
6:45 9:40
6:50
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Monday - Thursday December 5 - 8
DOCTOR STRANGE (Digital) (PG13)
(1:40 4:25)
ALLIED (Digital) (R)
(1:15 4:05)
BAD SANTA 2 (Digital) (R)
(3:00 5:15)
FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE
TO FIND THEM (Digital) (PG13)
(12:30 3:30)
MOANA (Digital) (PG)
(1:15 2:05 4:40)
HACKSAW RIDGE (Digital) (R)
(3:50)
TROLLS (Digital) (PG)
(2:25 4:35)
RULES DON’T APPLY (Digital) (PG13)
THE ARRIVAL (Digital) (PG13)
(1:45 4:25)
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7:30
6:30
7:20
6:45
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JOLENE GUZMAN/ Itemizer-Observer file