LOCAL Wednesday, June 19, 2019 HeRMIsTOnHeRaLd.COM • A7 A passion for teaching Rocky Heights educator found lifelong passion in teaching By JESSICA POLLARD STAFF WRITER HH file photo Hunter Steffen and his sister, Kennedy Steffen eat lunch with their brothers at the Umatilla- Morrow Head Start summer meals program in 2018. 2019 Summer meal programs By JESSICA POLLARD STAFF WRITER For children in Uma- tilla County who aren’t sure where their next meal will come from, free lunch pro- grams can help fill in the gap. At the end of 2018, child poverty in Umatilla County was down to 19.1% from 26.3% in 2017, according to data released by Children First for Oregon. But with the number of students with free and reduced lunch eli- gibility still hovering above 60%, Umatilla County is home to over a dozen dif- ferent summertime feeding sites this year. City of Hermiston Rec- reation Coordinator Diana Picard says this summer will be the 11th year of their summer feeding pro- gram, which has five loca- tions including the Hermis- ton Family Aquatic Center. Originally, free meals were only provided for children participating in summer camps with the city. “We ventured out and started doing different parks,” Picard said, “We saw the need. A lot of kids rely on school lunches.” The first year of the pro- gram, the city served 2,500 meals. But just last year, they served 9,400. “We fill a gap,” Picard said. The summer lunch pro- gram at Umatilla Morrow County Head Start will feature a range of lunch- time activities for partici- pants. Previous years fea- tured rock painting, water balloons, visits from the mayor and fire department, and even the occasional dunk tank. All meals at the summer sites are free for any child under 18, regardless of income level. Most meals operate on a first come, first served basis and must be consumed onsite. Free summer meals 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. STANFIELD HERMISTON Umatilla-Morrow Head Start Hermiston High School 110 n.e. Fourth street, Hermiston Stanfield Public Library (exclud- ing July 4th) 600 s. First street, Hermiston June 17-august 9, 2019 June 17-28, 2019 Monday-Friday Monday-Friday 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. *Parent volunteers eat free 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. *activities offered Armand Larive Middle School Hermiston Family Aquatic Center (Excluding July 4th) 1497 s.W. ninth street, Hermiston June 17-28, 2019 Monday-Friday 8:00 to 9 a.m. 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. Sunset Elementary 300 e. Catherine avenue, Hermiston Monday-Friday June 18-July 13, 2019 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. West Park Elementary 555 s.W. seventh street, Hermiston Monday-Friday July 8-august 1, 2019 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. 879 W. elm avenue, Hermiston June 24-august 2, 2019 Monday-Friday 180 W. Coe avenue, stanfield June 10-July 26, 2019 12:00 to 12:30 p.m. *11:30 activity UMATILLA June 24-august 16, 2019 (excluding July 4) all meals are free for kids under 18 $1 for breakfast for adults, $2 for Lunch and dinner 12:25 to 12:45 p.m. Umatilla High School (closed august 14-15) Butte Park (Excluding July 4th) 1400 seventh street umatilla 1245 n.W. seventh street, Herm- iston 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. June 24-august 2, 2019 Monday-Friday 12:15 to 12:45 p.m. Sunset Park (Excluding July 4th) 1100 n.e. Fourth street, Hermiston June 24-august 2, 2019 Monday-Friday 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. 11:30 to 12:30 p.m. Victory Square (Excluding July 4th) Highland Hills Elementary 150 s.W. 10th street, Hermiston 450 s.e .Tenth street, Hermiston June 24-august 2, 2019 Monday-Friday Monday-Friday July 1-august 31, 2019 12:30 to 1:00 p.m. 11:30 to 12:30 a.m. Decades later, Laurel Woodward still remembers the moment she discovered her love for teaching. It was sixth grade, and she was in math class. When she and other kids had trouble understand- ing a concept, they went to the front of the room where their teacher explained it once more. Woodward got it this time, but her other class- mates were still befuddled. “Can I teach it to them?” she asked. In that moment, she felt that if the students could be taught from the perspec- tive of someone like herself, who didn’t understand the concept previously, it might start to make sense to them. “I think that was the sinker for me there, just absolutely falling in love with that situation and feel- ing so good and so proud about that,” Woodward remembered, “I thought, I want to do this.” Having her mother as a teacher was also an inspira- tion, Woodward said. This year, she was hon- ored with Rocky Height’s Educator of the Year award. Although she’d been nomi- nated in the past, it was an emotional and unexpected moment. “They open the door, and out comes your family,” she remembers. The award is given to the nominee who receives the most staff votes. “I was so honored first of all to even be nominated by staff,” she said. Woodward grew up in Redland, Oregon, and moved to Hermiston for a teaching job after college. When she got the call for ELD program. On any given day, she could be preparing kin- dergarteners for their state English Language Profi- ciency Assessment (ELPA) or teaching older students who she’s watched grow up before her own eyes. She works in 30-minute lessons with students, but knows how to make it count. “Lots of different grade levels. You’re changing gears all the time,” she said. “It’s almost like a per- staff photo by eJ Harris sonality change from one Laurel Woodward found her grade level to another,” she passion for teaching at a laughed. young age. She loves the fast paced, ever-changing nature of the the interview, she happened work. But she loves her stu- to be in town for the Uma- dents the most. tilla County Fair, visiting “I think my favorite part her college roommate. She is being able to establish a ran to buy a dress and shoes, relationship with the stu- dents, having that time to and was hired soon after. She headed home, establish relationships and packed up, and prepared to get to know the families and start her career as a teacher. eventually the siblings,” she That was 24 years ago. said. For Woodward, Rocky Today, her resume at Rocky Heights is extensive. For Heights is home. She is part 10 years, she taught fourth of what her and other Rocky Heights Raccoons refer to graders. “I loved fourth grade,” as their “Rocky Family.” she said, “It’s a great age of She even met her husband 21 years ago through a col- kids.” Woodward enjoyed the league, and they’ve been English curriculum, and together ever since. They enjoy fishing and teaching the history of the Oregon Trail too. But when four wheeling on the week- she was offered a position ends, and love to go crab- as the English Language bing and bottom fishing in Development specialist, she Lincoln City along the Ore- gon coast. took it. “We like spending time “It ended up being a really wonderful decision outside,” Woodward said. And when she’s not and I haven’t looked back,” spending time outside, she she said. She plans to spend the might be found dedicating rest of her career teaching time to prepare for another ELD lesson. She recently the English language. When a flock of fifth read “There was an Old graders approaches the Woman Who Lived in a classroom door, Woodward Shoe.” Teaching, she said, is a opens it up happily. “I’ll visit you when I’m passion. “I think it needs to be grown up,” one student said. She spends up to six something that is already years with each student, within you,” she said. “It is focusing on speaking, writ- a job that is such it is some- ing, listening and reading thing that you have to and skills with children in the want to love to do.” McNary Heights Elementary 120 Columbia avenue, umatilla, 8:00 to 9:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Triangle Park approx. 260 sage street, umatilla 10:30 to 11:15 a.m. Marina Park First street, umatilla 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Kiwanis Park next to Mcnary Market, umatilla 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. Umatilla Landing Days IT STARTS HERE. HONORING OUR PAST, BUILDING OUR FUTURE. JUNE 21-22 EVENT SCHEDULE AT THE UMATILLA MARINA FOOD & CRAFT VENDORS • BEER GARDEN PARADE • DANCING HORSES • DANCERS KIDS ACTIVITIES & WATER PARK! 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