PAGE 6 • HERMISTON HERALD/EAST OREGONIAN
SATURDAY, JANUARY 10, 2015
UMATILLA COUNTY
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peting at the Eastern Oregon League district robotics tourna-
ment at Armand Larive Middle School recently.
MAEGAN MURRAY PHOTOS
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Area schools ramp up technical learning
ics programs being the Echo School District:
backbone for the whole high-tech preschool
project.
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Last year, the First Ro-
botics Competition team trict started its own preschool
at the high school compet- program this year, but with a
ed at the world champion- twist.
While students are still
ships for the second year
taught the basics — the alpha-
in a row.
“I’m shocked at the bet, numbers, colors, shapes
BY MAEGAN MURRAY
success
that they have and other concepts they need
HERMISTON HERALD
realized, not because to start kindergarten — the
With the idea that today’s
we didn’t think the kids preschoolers are also exposed
children will become tomor-
weren’t capable, but be- to a bit of technology.
Last year, the district
row’s job force, school dis-
cause we realize we don’t
tricts everywhere are trying to
have the resources that UHFHLYHG D (DUO\
pique students’ career inter-
/LVEHW$UPHQWDDVL[WKJUDGHUDW&ODUD%URZQHOO0LGGOH
some other districts do,” Learning Kindergarten Read-
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ests early by providing addi-
iness Partnership and Inno-
Sipe said.
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tional courses and programs
She said the district vation grant. With the funds,
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with a science, technology,
doesn’t have many indus- it purchased enough iPads
engineering and mathematics
try mentorship opportuni- for each preschool student
focus.
have also done an incredible received more than $2 mil- ties or funding available, in the class, in addition to an
In this end of Umatil-
job,” Walker said. “I expect us lion in grant funds to ramp but the students have come Interactive Table, similar to a
la County, the Hermiston,
WR¿QLVKPLGGOHRIWKHSDFN up the current after-school out and proven they can large iPad, and a Promethean
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at worst, in our league. Their SURJUDPNQRZQDV67(0 compete and win, anyway. board, which is an interactive,
school district have each tak-
ideas have come through even Academy, to provide more
“I think that has built digitized white board that can
en different steps to broaden
WKURXJKWKHVWUXJJOHRI¿[LQJ classes at the elementary D FRQ¿GHQFH LQ DOO RI RXU be controlled by the comput-
students’ horizons, introduce
all the issues we encounter as school level, while also students,” she said. “They er.
While the students use
adding classes at the mid- realize Umatilla students
WKHPWRQHZFDUHHU¿HOGVDQG
the season progresses.”
prepare them for the future by
Walker said one of the dle and high schools.
can get out there and com- basic materials of pens, pa-
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per and crayons during a
After receiving more pete globally.”
challenges with starting up
offerings in the schools.
robotics programs is the fund- funds than originally an-
The Umatilla School portion of the day, they have
Umatilla Superintendent
ticipated, the district also District has also experi- the chance to play academic
ing.
Heidi Sipe said, by offer-
“It is very expensive to get started a cookie-baking enced success after it in- games and experiment with
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robotics started,” he said. “I business class, a class corporated Treehouse into letters using the technology
and courses to students now,
am lucky enough to be a grant where students are build- its course offerings as a that provides instant feedback
districts expose students to a
recipient for the second year ing a tiny house and a class way for students to take and instant placement based
multitude of careers they may
straight. The school district where students will get to online courses in comput- on skill level.
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not have considered to suit
also put forth money to get build a race car.
er programming and other
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Sipe said the district re- subjects. The success of mon Smith said earlier this
the class started and help with
jobs, she said, are the way of
ceived more funding this the program in the district year that the technology al-
the clubs, as well.”
the future.
year because the program helped to spur a state- lows the district to reach some
Walker
said,
in
all,
more
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“I hope the various skills
than 30 students are involved was so successful last year. wide program that allows students it couldn’t before,
District: expanding in the program. He said In fact, it was so success- job-seekers to take free while also keeping the entire
they learn here will help them
realize their dreams and then
many are taking an interest ful that the program was online classes and earn class engaged. He said by
robotics
help them exceed them,” she
LQ67(0UHODWHGFDUHHUVDVD one of only three in the FHUWL¿FDWLRQ LQ GLIIHUHQW exposing the students to the
:KLOHWKH6WDQ¿HOG6FKRRO result of the program.
said.
technology at the preschool
nation to be featured at the areas through Treehouse.
District had a robotics team
“Kids are getting a great National League of Cities
“What is really exciting level, they will be better pre-
prior to 2014, in the last year introduction into the busi- conference in 2014.
is I am such a small-town pared to use those tools as
Hermiston School
it has really been able to ex- ness, engineering and pro-
“One thing that is most person, and I really value they advance through school.
District: Home-
pand the program.
“By getting them started at
JUDPPLQJ ¿HOGV´ KH VDLG exciting for our commu- what they have to offer,
a
younger
age, they are more
This
year,
instead
of
one
nity
is,
often
times,
in
“We
have
numerous
kids
in-
but
I
also
known
the
trade-
building program
team of seventh- through WHUHVWHGLQWKRVH¿HOGVZKLFK smaller communities, the off of that is sometimes exposed to the learning envi-
Walls are up and the foun- 12th-graders, the district I credit (to) FIRST to allow work that students do can access and economic pros- ronment that these tools can
dation has been set on the ¿HOGHGWZRWHDPVWRFRPSHWH us to have the framework to go unnoticed unless it is perity is limited,” Sipe SURYLGH´KHVDLG³0RVWSHR-
home that Hermiston High in FIRST Tech Challenge. push the high-need profes- at a community event or said. “Treehouse allows ple have phones at home. The
School students, and a few 7KHGLVWULFWDOVRDGGHGD¿IWK sions in our society.”
a sports event,” Sipe said. people to stay in Umatilla elementary kids in the district
IURP6WDQ¿HOGDQG8PDWLOOD and sixth-grade team that
“All of those are won- or wherever they may live have iPads and iPods. It is
are building, with a comple- competed this year through
derful, but I think it has and still have access and preparing them for kindergar-
Umatilla School
tion date set for June 1, as part the FIRST Lego League, as
been fun for the commu- the ability to compete for ten. All students can walk in
District: STEM
ready to learn.”
of a new program started by ZHOODVD¿UVWWKURXJKWKLUG
nity to see everything else jobs across the nation.”
the Hermiston School Dis- grade team that competed
the students have been
Academy and
trict.
in the FIRST Junior Lego
achieving.”
Treehouse
The district received a League. The district also
Sipe said from the vari-
The Umatilla School ety of classes offered, stu-
$400,000 grant in January added a robotics class at the
Deryk S.
2014 from the Oregon De- secondary school for seventh- District is no stranger to dents are learning all sorts
Anderson, D.O.
SDUWPHQW RI (GXFDWLRQ WR and eighth-graders.
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of subjects as they pertain
fund the start-up costs for the
Last year, the school WR 67(0 ZLWK WKH URERW-
One of the FIRST Lego
construction of a student-built League teams advanced to
Jeremy
home. Students have been state this year after its qualify-
Anderson, D.O.
working two hours a day ing tournament and was iden-
each week with licensed con- WL¿HGDVRQHRIWKHWRSWKUHH
tractors and craftsman to con- most well-rounded teams. It
struct a house they hope will will next compete at Liberty
dazzle and awe when it is High School in Hillsboro in
EXLOW2QFH¿QLVKHGVWXGHQWV the state competition on Jan.
• In Office M RI Machine • Outpatient Surgery Center
will work with real estate 17.
• Modern, Minimally Invasive Techniques
agencies to sell the home, and
“The Lego League Team
• Most Major Insurance Plans Accepted
that money will be used to has surpassed anything I had
• Worker’s Compensation • Motor Vehicle Accidents
fund the design and construc- expected,” robotics coach
• GENERAL ORTHOPEDICS
tion of the home the next year. Don Walker said. “They con-
What is great about the tinually work hard, each hav-
• SPORTS MEDICINE •ARTHROSCOPY
project, coordinator Curt ing a role that best suits each
• FOOT & ANKLE • HAND SURGERY
Berger said, is that it not only of the kids. Going to state in
• JOINT REPLACEMENT
incorporates engineering in RXU¿UVW\HDULVDQLQFUHGLEOH
“We are dedicated to providing the most
the designing and building of achievement.”
advanced possible orthopedic care
the home, but also involves
The FIRST Tech teams
available.”
the science, technology and have also done well. They
PDWKDVSHFWVRI67(06WX- have competed in two league
dents from the construction, meets this year and will com-
art, architecture, landscaping pete in two more this month,
& Sports Medicine Institute
and other classes are using ZKHUH WKH\ ZLOO ¿QG RXW LI
495 E. Main, Hermiston
those concepts in the various they advance on to the super
541.289.7075
stages of the project, from TXDOL¿HUV
(541) 567-5215
620 NW 11th St., Ste. 201, Hermiston, OR 97838
www.hermistonortho.com
planning the yard, to design-
“The First Tech teams
Districts taking
different approaches
to incorporating
STEM education
ing interior features of the
home, to the selling of the
house.
Last year, students were
also actively involved in the
architecture design phase of
the home where they worked
with local architect Gail Sar-
gent.
“These kids are doing ev-
erything that the contractors
do in their everyday jobs,”
Berger said. “They are in-
volved in every step of the
process, from the pouring of
the foundation, to the selling
of the home. They have taken
a lot of pride in it.”
Currently, the students are
working with Findley Broth-
HUV &RQVWUXFWLRQ WR ¿QLVK XS
the framing on the home.
Brandon Findley, who
owns the business with his
brother Russ Findley, said he
has never worked on a proj-
ect with a group of students
before.
“It’s been interesting, and
it’s been a challenge,” he said.
“There is a learning curve for
both them and us.”
Berger said the students’
next steps in the project will
be to work with local electri-
cians and plumbers to do the
piping and electrical work on
the house.
“They are really excited
for that,” he said.
Thank you to our
clients for the
continued
confidence and
support of our firm.
Eastern Oregon Worker’s
Compensation and shoulder
surgery specialists.
Advanced Orthopedic