News & Sports
B12 Blue Mountain Eagle
Educators share priorities for school year
Three new admins
take on positions
By Angel Carpenter
Blue Mountain Eagle
CANYON CITY – School
is back in session this week
for students of Grant School
District No. 3 where there have
been a few changes in admin-
istration.
Curt Shelley is the new dis-
trict superintendent, replacing
Mark Witty who took on Baker
School District’s superinten-
dent position.
Ryan Gerry has taken the
helm as Grant Union’s new
principal, and Kim Smith is the
new principal of Humbolt Ele-
mentary.
Andrea Combs is in her
third year as Seneca School’s
head teacher.
She’s been teaching at Sen-
eca School since 1998 — she
also attended the school as a
child — and taught for one year
prior to that at Mt. Vernon Mid-
dle School.
The Eagle/Angel Carpenter
Gathering to share their thoughts about the new
school year recently are Grant School District No.
3 administrators, including head teacher Andrea
Combs, left, of Seneca School, Principal Kim Smith
of Humbolt Elementary, Principal Ryan Gerry of
Grant Union and Superintendent Curt Shelley gather
at the district office.
Seneca’s
kindergarten
through sixth grade school has
two teachers, Combs and Kris
Metcalf, along with three sup-
port staff.
“The small staff makes it a
tight community,” Combs said.
“Our parents are a major part of
that caring community.”
She said they are focused on
targeting instruction to improve
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state test scores, and moving
forward, learning from the
strengths and weaknesses from
last year’s data.
Combs said they also pro-
vide learning experiences, such
as trips to Fossil and the Han-
cock Field Station, to “broaden
the horizons of our students.”
“We want to help them see
where they can be in the post-
K-through-12 education,” she
said.
Combs and her husband,
John, have a son and daughter
who attend Grant Union.
Kim Smith has worked for
the district for 17 years.
She started teaching at Mt.
Vernon Middle School and has
filled a variety of roles over the
years, including district diag-
nostician, district testing coor-
dinator and director of special
education.
She said she enjoyed work-
ing in the different positions
with those who assist students
in reaching their potential.
“Our team’s already worked
on a shared vision,” she said.
“We want to increase student
academic growth, strengthen
social skills and boost overall
school morale. We’re looking
forward to working with fami-
lies. We realize their assistance
at home makes the biggest im-
pact with the students’ overall
success at school.”
She and her husband, Brent,
have two daughters who attend
Grant Union.
Ryan Gerry spent his ed-
ucation career at Prairie City
School District 4, his alma
mater, teaching elementary
through junior high students,
serving as athletic director,
and three years as superinten-
dent-principal.
He said he’s looking for-
ward to getting to know the
students and parents at Grant
Union.
“It’s important for parents
to know our door is always
open,” he said. “If they have
any questions or concerns,
they can feel free to stop by.”
He added, “We have a sol-
id, dedicated staff to assist
their students.”
He said he’s looking for-
ward to helping the students
progress to graduation, “pre-
pared for the next step in life.”
Gerry’s wife, Samantha,
teaches physical education
and kindergarten through first
grade music at Humbolt.
They have three children;
two attend Grant Union and
one attends Humbolt.
Shelley is in his 24th year
in the education field.
He spent the past eight
years at Grant Union, the last
five as principal, before be-
coming superintendent.
Prior to that, he was princi-
pal at Culver High School for
five years, and with that dis-
trict for nine. He also taught at
Summit High School in Bend
for six years.
“I’m excited for the next
chapter of my life,” he said.
He and his wife, Elizabeth,
who is a Grant Union teacher
and career coordinator, have
two children, a son and daugh-
ter who attend Grant Union.
“We have a successful
district and want to continue
to offer a quality education
with as many programs as the
school budget will allow,” he
said.
He said one goal of the dis-
trict is to regain and prioritize
programs such as career and
tech, and welding, computer,
metal and agriculture.
He said art and music also
need to have a higher priority.
“We love kids,” he said. “I
like to see kids grow and ma-
ture physically, socially, emo-
tionally and academically.”
He added he enjoys seeing
what the students have become
when they complete school.
“It’s nice to have kids come
back and share the experiences
they’ve had related to their edu-
cation here,” he said.
Wednesday, September 2, 2015
W hat ’ s H appening
The deadline for What’s Happening items is 5 p.m. Fri-
day. Call Cheryl at the Eagle, 541-575-0710.
THURSDAY, SEPT. 3
Library Foundation public meeting
• 6-7:30 p.m., Grant County Library front lawn, John Day
The Grant County Library Foundation will hold a public
meeting regarding the new library building plans. Foundation
board members will be at the meeting, and architect David
Straus will discuss ideas for the structure. Input from the com-
munity is welcome. Refreshments will be provided. The li-
brary is at 507 S. Canyon Blvd.
SUNDAY, SEPT. 6
Auto tour of the John Day Fossil Beds
• 1 p.m., Sheep Rock Unit
Drive your own vehicle in a free tour group led by National
Park Service staff. The three-hour, 12-mile tour will start at
the Thomas Condon Paleontology Center nine miles west of
Dayville, and travel through the Sheep Rock Unit, with sev-
eral stops to discuss geology and fossil sites. Good tires are
recommended. Call 541-987-2333.
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 9
Chamber installation, dinner
• 5 p.m., John Day Golf Clubhouse
The Grant County Chamber of Commerce will hold its
annual installation and volunteer appreciation. Food will be
provided. Happy hour will be from 5-6 p.m. Rep. Cliff Bentz
(R-Ontario) is the guest speaker.
THURSDAY, SEPT. 10
Shinyribs in concert at the ranch
• 7 p.m., Diamond Hitch Mule Ranch, Kimberly
Shinyribs brings its high-energy music to the Diamond
Hitch Ranch. Tickets are $20 a person, and camping at the
ranch is $15. Monument High School’s Flying Tigers will pro-
vide a Texas-style meal of pork ribs, coleslaw and baked beans.
The Diamond Hitch Ranch is on State Route 19 between mile-
posts 107 and 108. Call 541-934-2140 for more information.
Visit Shinyribs at http://shinyribs.org/.
SATURDAY, SEPT. 12
Star program
• 7:30-9:30 p.m., Thomas Condon Paleontology Center
Enjoy an free viewing of the planets, stars and galaxies
with a telescope, presented by John Fiedor, National Park
Service volunteer, and preceded by an astronomy program.
Clear or cloudy skies, a program will be presented. The cen-
ter’s fossil museum will be open for touring at 7 p.m. Call
541-987-2333.
MONDAY, SEPT. 14
Airport master plan meeting
• 5 p.m., Grant County Regional Airport, John Day
All are welcome to a kick-off meeting of the Grant County
Regional Airport Master Plan project, which will help ensure an
effective and optimal development of the airport. Community
participation is welcome and appreciated in the master planning
process.
TUESDAY, SEPT. 15
George Winston in concert
• 7 p.m., Prairie City Community Center
George Winston returns to Prairie City, bringing his me-
lodic folk, New Orleans R&B and stride piano styles in con-
cert. Winston’s upcoming album, “Spring Carousel – A Can-
cer Research Benefit,” is scheduled for release in 2015. Doors
open at 6 p.m. and the performance at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20 a
person, with all proceeds going to disaster relief and emergen-
cy preparedness upgrades at the community center. Support
the local food bank by bringing a canned food donation.
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Continued from Page B1
September 14th-19th
If It’s a NAPAGold Filter,
It’s On Sale.
All oil, fuel, air and hydraulic filters.
721 W. Main St., John Day • 541-575-1850
Open Mon-Fri 7am-6pm • Sat 8am-5pm • Closed Sunday
02569 - John Day Polaris - Page 1 - Composite
The Prospectors squeaked
by with a 25-21 win.
“We had too many errors in
all aspects of the game,” she
said. “By the time we played
Crane, we worked a lot of that
out and started to take care of
the ball much better.”
The home team defeated
Crane 25-17 and Baker 25-16,
in pool play.
Grant Union soundly de-
feated Jordan Valley in bracket
play, 25-8 and 25-7, and also
kept a lid on Powder Valley,
25-6 and 25-3.
The Prospectors’ momen-
tum continued going into the
championship game against
the Tigerscots.
“The team was determined
Snowmobiles • ATVs • Parts & Service • Razors • Accessories • Clothing
The Eagle/Angel Carpenter
serving tough.”
Prospector senior Kenzie
Wilson said the team is excit-
ed to begin its league games
in a week.
“It’s a good thing we came
out on top, so we can make a
statement,” she said.
When asked about a mem-
orable part of the game, she
said “It definitely feels great
whenever the ball hits the
floor on a kill.”
The Prospectors will play
on the road at the Heppner
Tournament at 9 a.m. Saturday.
The stats
Grant Union vs. Weston-McEwen
25-13, 25-11
Whitney McClellan: 1 dig
Mariah Moulton: 21 kills, 14 aces (team
high), 100 percent serving, 32 digs
(team high)
to reclaim our home tourna- Sam Brock: 12 kills, 9 aces, 20 digs, 1
solo block, 4 block assists
ment title after losing it last Kenzie
Wilson: 16 kills, 4 aces, 6 digs, 3
year to Weston-McEwen,” block assists
Speth said. “During bracket Kori Pentzer: 43 kills (team high), 12
play, we minimized our er- aces, 24 digs, 2 block assists
rors that we saw earlier in Rheanna Cartner: 5 kills, 92 set assists,
the day and were able to side 2 aces, 14 digs, 2 block assists
out at a high percentage. I Heather Mosley: 18 kills, 7 digs, 3 solo
blocks, 5 block assists
was pleased with our mental Jocelynn Smith: 2 digs
toughness and focus, as well Taylor McCluskey: 4 set assists, 1 dig
as converting
and - Page
Chelsie
5 aces, 26 digs
man in offensively
pajamas2x4
1 - Kodesh:
Composite
Grant Union’s Kenzie
Wilson
prepares
to
pound the ball in the
Prospector
home
invitational Saturday.
A MAN
WAKES
UP in the
morning
after sleeping on...
an advertised bed, in advertised
pajamas.
He will bathe in an ADVERTISED TUB, shave with an ADVERTISED RAZOR,
have a breakfast of ADVERTISED JUICE, cereal and toast, toasted in an
ADVERTISED TOASTER, put on ADVERTISED CLOTHES and glance at his
ADVERTISED WATCH. He’ll ride to work in his ADVERTISED CAR, sit at an
ADVERTISED DESK and write with an ADVERTISED PEN. Yet this person
hesitates to advertise, saying that advertising doesn’t pay. Finally, when his
non-advertised business is going under, HE’LL ADVERTISE IT FOR SALE.
Then it’s too late.
AND THEY SAY ADVERTISING DOESN’T WORK?
DON’T MAKE THIS SAME MISTAKE
Advertising is an investment, not an expense. Think about it!
Blue Mountain Eagle
821 W Highway • John Day, OR • (541) 575-0828 • www.JohnDayPolaris.com
MyEagleNews.com
Don’t get left behind, call today! Kim Kell 541-575-0710