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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 7, 2016)
Polk County Education 16A Polk County Itemizer-Observer • December 7, 2016 Education Foundation awards teacher grants Itemizer-Observer staff report JOLENE GUZMAN/ Itemizer-Observer Morrison Campus Alternative School students spent Friday setting up Santa’s living room at Winterfest in Dallas. The volunteer effort is just one of several projects students at the school take on throughout the year. Making a winter wonderland Morrison students create Winterfest magic, volunteer for Christmas projects By Jolene Guzman The Itemizer-Observer DALLAS — Anyone who has put up Christmas lights can relate to Brandon Oster- berg’s frustration. “No, no, no! Don’t do this,” he said to a tangled string of lights he was trying to hang on the tents that make up Santa’s shelter at Winterfest. A Morrison Campus Alter- native School student, Bran- don volunteered with a group of his schoolmates to help put up the decorations Friday morning. “I love my Morrison stu- dents,” said Chelsea Met- calfe, the event’s organizer. She said the school has been helping the Dallas Area Chamber of Commerce with preparations for the annual Christmas kickoff for the last three years. Friday’s chilly tempera- tures and rain didn’t detract JOLENE GUZMAN/ Itemizer-Observer Lights, trees and decorations were put up on Friday. from the holiday cheer the students were feeling. “It’s just like Christmas with family,” said Mary Wyckoff, a junior. “It’s pretty cool,” chimed in senior Emily Jones. “You get to help the community.” This isn’t the only way Morrison works to give back. In addition to Winterfest decorating, students volun- teer ringing bells for the Sal- vation Army and helping pack and distribute food and gifts through Dallas Adopt-a-Family program. Students at the school have long helped prepare and host the chamber’s Trick-N- Treat event for Halloween. Morrison teacher Charlotte Vidrio said her students want to find ways to continue do- nating their time in the spring. One idea is get in con- tact with organizations serv- ing seniors or those with dis- abilities to help with yard work. She said those projects aren’t necessarily part of a class. “It’s part of who we are,” she said nodding toward her students working like Christmas elves on Winter- fest decorations. The class would wrap up decorations in the afternoon only to return to help with crowd control once the Win- terfest kicked off at 5 p.m. They stayed to tear down the event afterward. Vidrio said she and her students are happy to put in the long day. “They are just so kind,” Vidrio said. “For some of them, this is the only Christ- mas they have. This is their family; this is their Christ- mas.” Have ideas for volunteer projects for Morrison stu- dents? Contact Vidrio: char- lotte.vidrio@dsd2.org. DALLAS — The Dallas Education Foundation awarded grants to 17 Dallas School District teachers, totaling $6,503.19. The foundation received 30 applications asking for more than $13,000, said Lisa Borja, the foundation presi- dent. Of the total given, $3,000 was donated by the Dallas Community Foundation. Here are the 2016 grant recipients: Heather Shinn, autism team, for sensory and social classroom support; Anna Tally, Dallas High School, for geometry compasses; Jack Davis, DHS, for classroom li- brary; Samantha Hauck, DHS, for classroom library; Ma- lynda Shook, LaCreole Middle School, for art supplies; Jacob Gradek, LaCreole, for materials for project-based learning; Merryellen Price, LaCreole, books for sixth-grade; Jennie White, Lyle Elementary School, ADHA adaptable seating; Liz Blake, Lyle; two Chromebooks; Melissa Glazn- er, Morrison Campus Alternative School, for science lab materials; Amy Ebner, Oakdale Elementary School; sup- plementary reading materials; Kristine Nightengale, Oak- dale, for fidget tools; Brian Rebischke, Oakdale, bass bar and mallet; Theresa Lehman and Jena Vessell, Oakdale and Whitworth elementary schools, for six microscopes; Yvette Allen and Diana Christensen, Whitworth, for flexible seating; Chris Lund, Whitworth, for Ozobots; and Brian Williamson, Whitworth, for Ozobots. Fo r m o re i n f o r m a t i o n : d a l l a s o re d u c a t i o n f o u n d a t i o n @ g m a i l . c o m , o r o n Fa c e b o o k a t https://www.facebook.com/DallasEducationFoundation/. Donations can be made at dallaseducation foundation.com or mailed to Dallas Education Founda- tion, PO Box 392, Dallas, OR 97338. SCHOOL NOTES Winter program on tap at KVCS KINGS VALLEY — Kings Valley Charter School’s Winter Pro- gram is Thursday starting at 6 p.m., at the school, 33840 Kings Valley Highway. Mrs. Hanson, Mrs. Kohanek and Ms. Bobbi's students’ pro- gram begins at 6 p.m. Mrs. Lodge & Mrs. Zaback's students’ pro- gram will begin at 7 p.m. Treats will be for sale at the program and will help raise money for a field trip to OMSI Outdoor Experience for Mrs. Lodge and Mrs. Zaback’s classes. For more information: ddemasi@kvschool.org. USDA official to visit Ash Creek MONMOUTH — Kevin Concannon, the United States Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services, will visit Central School District on Monday. His stop will include the district’s after school enrichment program, Beyond the Bell, at Ash Creek Elementary School in Monmouth. Beyond the Bell serves meals to 225 students in the district daily. The Oregon Department of Education is hosting Concannon, whose agency includes the United States Department of Agri- culture Child Nutrition Program.
