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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 10, 2016)
Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, February 10, 2016 Ione preschool puts creativity into early learning If you’ve ever won- dered what your children do when you drop them off for preschool, you might be surprised to ind the answer is pretty amazing. For Creative Care Pre- school in Ione, the struc- ture of the day starts with some free play. This is a time when the magic be- gins; children learn to make choices for themselves, gaining some autonomy in a world where they are too small to choose much. During this time they also are encouraged to learn to problem solve, get along, share and be polite. As the preschool day continues, children learn to listen—a skill many adults have not perfected. These skills may seem pretty basic, and one might be tempted to cast them aside, but many years ago a man named Robert Ful- ghum wrote a famous essay, “All I really need to know I learned in Kindergarten.” This essay spoke of the skills referenced above. With core curriculum standards placed on kin- dergarten, children now are expected to know these skills along with their let- ters, numbers, colors and shapes prior to beginning school, making preschool important in the larger aca- demic picture. Parents and staff say the preschool in Ione meets those expectations. In just one day children learn so- cial skills, art, math, hand- writing, reading and sing- ing, and even incorporate imaginative play. In addition, while learning about the letter “E,” children recently en- gaged in a science lesson about eggs. Children were asked to pick a bag contain- ing a variety of materials including water, cereal, cot- ton balls, paper towels and lentils, to name a few. Each child picked a different material in which to encase and protect their raw egg. The child then dropped the Ione library announces new books While learning about the letter “E,” children at Creative Care Preschool also engaged in a science experiment, using plastic bags full of various materials to see which would best cushion a raw egg. -Contributed photo egg inside a zipper storage bag to see if their egg would break. Through the activ- ity, staff say the children learned to predict, to ask why, to change how they conducted the experiment to change the outcome— and had a lot of fun. “It’s fun whether or egg breaks for not,” said Ali- son Ogden, lead preschool teacher, adding that this simple experiment is help- ing to build a foundation of quantitative thinking and, perhaps more importantly, a love of learning that will hopefully last a lifetime. This preschool, like many others, relies on com- munity support. The pre- school policy is to provide scholarships for children who would not be able to otherwise afford to attend. Anyone who would like to make a tax deductible donation, contact Ogden at 541-422-7003 about spon- soring a child. She is the daughter of John drive and trick or treat for and Doashea Qualls. the food pantry. Piper has Piper is the junior class recently been certiied as president of Con- an EMR and vol- don High School, unteers on the am- a member of the bulance crew. She Chemistry Club is also very active and Gilliam County in her church and 4-H, and competes volunteers at vaca- in Oregon Battle tion Bible school of the Books. Piper Piper in the summer, as also participates Jamieson well as being a 4-H in volleyball, bas- camp counselor and ketball and track for the a kitchen volunteer at Sum- Condon/Wheeler Knights. mit Springs Retirement Piper is also a member of Home. Piper is the daugh- the National Honor Soci- ter of Leslie and Andrew ety, which puts on a blood Jamieson. CBEC director earns gold certiication Columbia Basin Elec- tric Co-Op Director Lori Anderson of Condon was recently presented with a Gold Level Certiicate of Director Education from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association for her continued education as a cooperative director. The Gold Certiicate is the third and inal level of director education accom- plishment. The initial certiicate, CBEC Director Lori Anderson with Board President John the Credentialed Coopera- Qualls. -Contributed photo tive Director (CCD) certii- cate, is received upon the successful completion of prescribed classes detailing the role of the co-op board and directors in today’s Flowers with a Personal Touch modern cooperative. Murray’s Country Rose Love is an art that comes from the heart - Murray's has what you need for that special someone V alentine ' s D ay is F ebruary 14 Meeting planned for Fourth of July committee The irst planning meeting for the 2016 Ione Fourth of July celebration will be held on Thursday, Feb. 11, at 7 p.m. at Route 74 restaurant in Ione. Anyone interested in any aspect of the event is welcome to attend. Students selected for D.C. trip Sydney Qualls from ing the Smithsonian and the Heppner and Piper Jamie- Vietnam War Memorial. Sydney is an Associ- son from Condon will act ated Student Body as student repre- council member, sentatives for the plays varsity basket- Columbia Basin ball and varsity soft- Electric Coopera- ball, is a Big Sky tive NRECA Youth Scholar Athlete, a Tour in Washington, member of National D.C. June 9-16. Honor Society, and While at the na- Sydney is on the honor roll tions’ capital, the Qualls at Ione High School. students will have a chance to speak with Sydney also volunteers for Oregon’s state representa- The Dalles Veteran’s Home tives, learn about electric coin drive, Haiti toy drive, cooperatives, listen to mo- and helps raise funds for the tivational speakers and tour Wounded Warrior Project. national landmarks includ- The Certified Board Leadership (CBL) certii- cate acknowledges classes accomplished toward train- ing in a board leadership role. The Gold Certificate acknowledges those coop- erative directors who are committed to continuing their education in the indus- try regarding governance, risk management, commu- nication, rate making and policy development. Anderson serves as a director and is a former president of the local, con- sumer-owned electricity provider, Columbia Basin Electric Co-Op. She has been a director with the co- op since 1990. Bunco this week at Holly Rebekah Lodge Holly Rebekah Lodge will host an evening of Bunco this Thursday, Feb. 11, starting at 7 p.m. Cost to play is $5. The Ione Public Li- brary is encouraging pa- trons to stop by the library and check out all the “latest and greatest” new books. Library hours are Monday and Wednesday, 1-6 p.m., and Tuesday and Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Every month the library orders about 30 new books; they encourage patrons to give them ideas on books they’d like to see in the library, as well as the for- mat—books, large print, audiobooks, etc. GIFT OF LOVE -Continued from PAGE ONE she’s blond with blue eyes. “But she’s also part Native American, and the doctors thought that might have a lot to do with it,” adds Skroch, who is herself half Alaskan Native. The next month she took a trip to Providence Sacred Heart Medical Cen- ter Kidney Transplant Cen- ter in Spokane, where medi- cal staff again drew blood to conirm a match. The pro- cess took two days, and in- cluded not only blood work and various imaging tests, but also consultations with the transplant surgeon and other doctors—ive total—a psychologist and a regis- tered nurse who worked as transplant coordinator. “It was nothing like I expected,” says Skroch, “having so many people involved in the process of making sure I knew what this meant for me, for my health, for my mental sta- bility. “One of my worst fears was them telling me I only had one kidney,” she adds. Instead, doctors con- irmed a match and cleared Skroch to give her friend the kidney she so desper- ately needed. On Jan. 12, Skroch and Harding went into surgery at Sacred Heart. Skroch was surprised to ind out the surgery was unique in that she, the do- nor, was still alive. “I was the only live donor on my floor,” she says. “They said it was only their second living donor transplant in eight months,” she adds, explaining that potential donors are often turned away because of health issues. Still, it wasn’t clear sailing. It turned out Skroch had two arteries connected to her kidney, which is very rare. A surgery that should have taken two or three hours instead took eight. “The doctor told us it was the most dificult trans- plant he’d done in his life,” she says. With the surgery over, Skroch is a month into what could be a long recovery time. “It was the worst pain in my life,” she says. “I’ve had three kids; I know. “They tell me I should start feeling better at six weeks,” she adds, though recovery time varies from person to person. “Trisha was up and walking before I was. She went from three percent kidney function to 103 percent; I went from two kidneys to one. It’s just how things are.” Skroch is now living with her in-laws, Rusty and Cyde Estes of Hep- pner, while recovering. Her husband has relocated to Portland for his job but their three children are with her, attending school and day care in Heppner during the day. “Grandma’s been a big help,” she says. “I’m so thankful for Rusty, Cyde, my husband…This has been amazing in Heppner, all the support we’ve had.” She is taking time away from work, and says this will be the longest she’s ever not worked. She also admitted that her interview with the Gazette was the irst time she’d worn jeans since the surgery. Despite everything, though—despite the pain, the recovery time and may- be even some boredom— she says she doesn’t regret her choice. “I never second- guessed it. People live in their own little worlds and don’t realize they could be changing lives,” says Skroch. “It forever changed my outlook on life and giv- ing back to other people. “A lot of people have said, ‘I never would have done it,’ but I say, ‘Why not?’” she adds. “Would you do it for your best friend? She has kids. I couldn’t imagine her not being around for them. “I’d do it again.” Call or stop by today! Mon-Fri 7am-6pm Saturday 8am-6pm C hoColates , C arDs , F lowers , b alloons , V alentine P aCkages , n oVelty g iFts , J ewelry , P erFume , k iD ’ s g iFts , g iFt b askets , e sPresso g iFt C arDs , m en ' s g iFts & more! a rrangements F rom e legant to F un & F lirty Open Sunday 12 Noon -3pm r ainbow r oses are b aCk ! D elivering to schools on t hursDay ! 541-676-9158 • 541-676-9426 217 North Main St., Heppner • Phone 676-9158 • Floral 676-9426 Serving Morrow, Wheeler & Gilliam counties Since 1959 - THREE Mammograms provided by:
