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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 8, 2017)
Polk County Education 16A Polk County Itemizer-Observer • February 8, 2017 SCHOOL NOTES Santiam hosts OSU for family science ADAIR VILLAGE — Santiam Christian School will host Ore- gon State University for a science and engineering night on Thursday from 6:30 to 8 p.m. The evening will feature science and engineering activities for students in grades kindergarten through 12, and fun for the whole family. A mobile markerspace will be on site, as well as a Tesla coil from Linn-Benton Community College, a Segway and other activities. The school is at 7220 NE Arnold Ave., Adair Village. For more information: Kim Conolly, conollyk@santiam.org. Exclusion Day for schools is next week JOLENE GUZMAN/Itemizer-Observer Students at Lyle Elementary School in Dallas listen to a classmate tell his version of an eclipse myth on Feb. 1 Science, myth of solar eclipses Students at Lyle create their own stories explaining the phenomena By Jolene Guzman The Itemizer-Observer DALLAS — Ancient soci- eties explained solar eclipses through a variety of wild- sounding stories. Among them are tales of demons eating the sun, dogs stealing the sun, and the moon fighting with the sun. Those stories have the same ending: The sun is too powerful to be cap- tured for long. On Feb. 1, students at Lyle Elementary School dreamed up their own ex- planations during a pres- entation about the solar eclipse part of the country will see on Aug. 21. Elaine Cuyler, who calls herself the “chief eclipse officer,” presented the sci- entific reason for solar eclipses Wednesday at JOLENE GUZMAN/Itemizer-Observer Students listed ideas for eclipse myths. Lyle. Polk County is part of a narrow strip of Oregon and the United States that will see the eclipse in totality around 10 a.m. on Aug. 21. Cuyler’s mission Wednes- day, and with other presen- tations she’s given along the path of totality, was to spread the news about the eclipse — and spark an in- terest in science among her young audiences. She also wanted to allow them to stretch their story- telling creativity by asking each class to craft its own “eclipse myth.” “Their imaginations can shine through, to make a bad pun,” she said, smiling. “One student from each class will present to every- one in the room. We will hear how different they are.” Four third-grade classes gathered in corners of the school’s library to come up with ideas and then narrow down those choices to their favorite. See ECLIPSE, Page 9A POLK COUNTY — The Oregon Health Authority announced that Feb. 15 is School Exclusion Day. The Oregon Immunization Program reminds parents that children will not be able to attend school or child care starting that day if their records on file show missing immunizations. Under state law, all children in public and private schools, preschools, Head Start and certified child care facilities must have up-to-date documentation on their immunizations or have an exemption. If school and child care vaccination records are not up to date on Feb. 15, the child will be sent home. In 2016, 6,995 children were kept out of school or child care until the necessary immunization information was turned into schools or child care facilities. Parents seeking immunizations for their children should contact their local health care provider or local health depart- ment, or call 211, or go to 211info.org. No one can be turned away from a local health department because of the inability to pay for required vaccines. Many pharmacists can immunize children aged 7 and older. More information: healthoregon.org/imm. FACES receives $25,000 from SMCF FALLS CITY — The Spirit Mountain Community Fund awarded Falls City School District’s after school program Fam- ily Academics Community Enrichment for Success a $25,000 grant. The grant will pay for a free driver’s education class for high school students with driver’s permits, staff training in social and emotional needs of students, and providing stu- dents and their families access to individual and family coun- seling. FACES is waiting on word about a $28,000 grant from Polk County’s Economic Development Department and is applying for a grant from Honda, emphasizing literacy and science, tech- nology, engineering and mathematics. The program will be applying to the Ford Family Foundation and Oregon Community Foundation later in the year. ACADEMIC HONORS Dallas student graduates Marquette MILwAUKEE — Raiza Zwirner, of Dallas, has graduated from Marquette University in Milwaukee. Zwirner earned a Master of Science in nursing. Marquette University is a Catholic, Jesuit university with more than 11,500 students. Dallas’ Fast earns dean’s list honors SPOKANE, wash. — Seth Fast, of Dallas, earned placement on the Gonzaga University dean’s list for fall semester 2016. Students must earn a 3.5 to 3.84 grade-point average to be list- ed. Gonzaga University is a humanistic, private Catholic universi- ty providing a Jesuit education to more than 7,500 students.
