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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (July 12, 2017)
Polk County Education 14A Polk County Itemizer-Observer • July 12, 2017 SCHOOL NOTES Perrydale hosts summer reading PERRYDALE — Perrydale School’s Mrs. Yovino will host a sum- mer reading program through Aug. 2. The program is Mondays and Thursdays from 1 to 3 p.m. at the school, 7445 Perrydale Road. For more information: 503-623-2040. Perrydale board approves budget JOLENE GUZMAN/ Itemizer-Observer file Blake Ogilvie watches a 3-D printer create a design during an exhibition night at LaCreole Middle School in 2016. The school is building a makerspace lab designed for projects that use 3-D printers, laser cutters and imagination. LaCreole makes a makerspace By Jolene Guzman The Itemizer-Observer DALLAS — Standing in the middle of an L-shaped, mir- ror-lined room at the end of a hallway at LaCreole Middle School, it’s hard to imagine what Principal Jamie Richardson has in mind. The school’s former weight room is empty and ready for a major remodel, some of which will be com- pleted by the school’s teach- ers. By September, that room will become the Inno- vations Lab. The vision Richardson and his staff have for it be- comes clearer once he de- scribes what has been hap- pening in the school over the past two years. Students are elbow-to- elbow in the school’s maker- spaces, he said. Makerspaces provide stu- dents a variety of materials to invent, build and test in- ventions, often in response to a “design challenge.” One such challenge last year was building a functional bottle opener that meets design standards. Teachers and staff built makerspaces in a JOLENE GUZMAN/Itemizer-Observer Principal Jamie Richardson in the green screen room. corner of the library, a cou- ple of large closets, a science classroom and a portable makerspace that students can set up anywhere. “I’ve watched over the last couple of years. Our kids kind of trip over each other in these makeshift labs,” Richardson said. The green screen room — for making videos — is so busy, the school built portable screens, and even those aren’t enough, Richardson said. Students resort to taping up green paper to make due. The science classroom is larger, but it’s still designed best for science labs. “It’s just not working be- cause it’s not built for that,” Richardson said. He believed the school could do better without much expense by converting its old weight room it into a large makerspace. “The kids can have the space and the tools to do the kind of innovative things that we want them to do,” he said. “I’m hoping down the road, we can get our community in.” Richardson wants to invite parents and other communi- ty members to use the lab, so adults can see what the younger generation is up to. “I don’t think even some of our parents know what we do on a daily basis. We have our exhibition nights and our open houses, and we try to have things on hand that our kids have created or that they are working on,” Richardson said. “But wouldn’t be cool if we could have parent maker- space night?” Innovations Lab will have mobile work stations, a 3-D printer, a laser cutter, sanders, saws and other tools and materials for building. Along with the lab, LaCre- ole is adding a business and design class that could make use of the space. The point of the class is to teach students about all phases of running a business, from idea to devel- opment to marketing. Whether students use the lab to complete a class proj- ect or through stem (science, technology, engineering and math) after school clubs, Richardson and LaCreole teachers want to provide them with chances to have fun — and develop skills. “We are looking at those things that are really good for kids,” he said. “I can’t wait to see what they come up with.” PERRYDALE — The Perrydale School Board adopted its 2017- 18 budget on June 13, based on a $7.8 billion state school fund for the 2017-19 biennium. The district’s budget includes a general fund of $4.14 million and a total of $5.27 million. On June 27, the state legislature voted to send a $8.2 billion state school fund to Gov. Kate Brown for her signature. Board member Anna Scharf said at the budget meeting plan- ning conservatively and hoping for more is the best strategy for the district — even as lawmakers considered sending more money to schools. “The $8.2 (billion) that is now being worked through the legis- lature would mean that we would have a higher level of rev- enue,” Scharf said. “But we budgeted like we are not getting it, which is the best thing we could possibly do.” She said the board could accept and spend more revenue by resolution or reconvene the budget committee if necessary. REUNIONS DHS Class of 1997 Dallas High School Class of 1997 will celebrate its 20th re- union at Rogue Farms from 6 to 9 p.m. on Aug. 5. On Aug. 6 from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., classmates will meet at Dallas City Park for a family picnic. For more information and tickets go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/dallas-or-class-of-97-reunion- tickets-35530112523, or on the DHS class of 1997 reunion group on Facebook. CHS Class of 1972 Central Class of 1972 will celebrate its 45th class reunion on July 22 from noon to 4 p.m. at the Independence Riverview Park. No host; just come and visit. Hope to see you there. MHS 85th reunion The 85th Monmouth High School all-school reunion will take place Saturday at 11:30 a.m. at the Historic Gentle House, 855 N. Monmouth Ave., Monmouth. The event will feature a potluck lunch, photo displays and lots of memories. Plates, silverware and beverages will be provided. For more information” Calene, 503-38-3990 or Madeline, 503- 838-2995. DHS Class of 1962 Dallas High School Class of 1962 will celebrate its 55th re- union on Aug. 11-13. For more information: Case Chaney, 503-881-5810. Falls City schools Open to anyone who has attended Falls City schools. The event will be held on Aug 26 starting at noon at The Bread- board in Falls City. The event moves to The Boondocks at 4 p.m. when The Breadboard closes. There is a Facebook group page: www.facebook.com/ groups/434784380189748/. For more info: Tracy Quiring, dgutf@outlook.com or 541-903-1434.
