12A • March 6, 2015 • Seaside Signal • seasidesignal.com
Music assembly explores all that jazz
Celebration lets
Gearhart kids get
a taste of China
Chinese from Page 1A
PHOTO BY KATHERINE LACAZE
Broadway Middle School student Gavin Rich raps the alphabet and dances during a jazz assembly at Broadway Middle
School featuring Wally’s Warehouse Waifs. Before performing in the 32nd annual Seaside Jazz Festival, Wally’s Ware-
house Waifs played shows at Broadway and Gearhart and Seaside Heights elementary schools on Feb. 20. The jazz
band not only performed music but also talked about the history of jazz, different music genres and various musical
elements, such as melody, rhythm and improvisation. The spirited assembly included the jazz group calling up several
individuals to rap, using the alphabet for lyrics and busting their best moves.
“They get to experience
seeing what the symbols,
the writing, looks like and
compare it to ours,” said
kindergarten teacher Tonja
Johnson, who has helped
put on the celebration since
its inception.
She believes the celebra-
tion successfully encourag-
es the students to explore
other countries’ cultures,
traditions and customs.
“They get so excited
about it,” Johnson said.
About seven parents
volunteered to organize the
event. After the parade, the
students gathered in the caf-
eteria to enjoy Chinese food
donated by the Great Wall
Restaurant in Gearhart.
As a thank you to the
restaurant, which has sup-
plied food for the event
each year, the students tra-
ditionally write apprecia-
tive notes and send a bou-
TXHWRIÀRZHUV
The restaurant also gave
each student a small red en-
velope, a traditional gift as-
sociated with Chinese New
KATHERINE LACAZE PHOTO
Kindergartener Tyler Smith
takes a last bite of Chinese
food supplied by the Great
Wall Restaurant in Gearhart.
Year. Typically the envelopes
or packets contain money; for
the school’s celebration, the
envelopes contained choc-
olate coins. Because red is
associated with energy, hap-
SLQHVV DQG JRRG OXFN ¿UVW
grade teacher Ami Hirsch
said, the gifts are symbolic
of wishing a person good for-
tune in the coming year.
Cutler departs to seize a rare career opportunity
WKH JRDO RI ¿OOLQJ WKH SR-
sition no later than June 1.
association about $1,000
Cutler said his decision
for help with accepting and to resign was “purely pro-
prescreening applications, fessional,” as opportuni-
doing reference checks and ties for new and different
other tasks on behalf of the career challenges don’t
board. The board also ap- come often.
proved small changes to the
In late March, Cutler
job description and com- will start as the recreation
pensation packet.
division manager for the
The board will accept city of Westminster’s De-
applications for the posi- partment of Parks, Recre-
tion — now to be titled ex- ation and Libraries. In that
ecutive director — through position, he will oversee
March 16. The board then an indoor soccer facility,
will interview candidates, four community centers,
DFFHSW ¿QDOLVWV FRQGXFW hundreds of employees
subsequent interviews and and other services and fa-
negotiate a contract with cilities.
Cutler from Page 1A
‘We have a great team of people who are doing
the best for Seaside and the park district. It’s
pretty amazing what they’ve accomplished.’
Justin Cutler
“The appeal for me is
that there isn’t an oppor-
tunity like this in Oregon,”
he said.
He was not seeking a
new job but was invited to
apply and decided to do so
because he felt, regardless
of the outcome, “I wasn’t
losing anything,” he said.
While under Cutler, who
started as general manager
June 2012, the district has
seen changes in structure,
atmosphere and personnel.
During his tenure, a press
release states, the district
received a $280,000 grant
from the Oregon Commu-
nity Foundation to expand
after-school programs for
middle school students,
renovated the pool lobby,
completed a long-term vi-
sion plan and conducted
a facility audit to plan for
capital improvements for
the next 10 years. Cutler
said one of the best im-
pacts he had on the district
was the development of
the staff.
“We have a great team
of people who are doing
the best for Seaside and
the park district,” he said.
“It’s pretty amazing what
they’ve accomplished.”
+H¶V FRQ¿GHQW WKHLU
resilience will make the
transition go smoothly.
He also will make him-
self available to the staff
during the transition peri-
od.
“I want this community
to be successful,” he said.
He recommended IT
and Marketing Manager
Darren Gooch to serve as
interim general manager,
a decision the board will
make at the next board
meeting in March.
The position will be
posted on the district’s
website at www.sunsetem-
pire.com and questions
can be directed to Cutler at
503-738-3311, ext. 103.
Get over it.
Get screened.
A colonoscopy can save your life.
We know. It’s not a test you’re looking forward to. But because colon cancer has no early
warning signs and can be deadly if it progresses, screening is essential. Colorectal cancer is
highly preventable. If caught early, it’s highly curable. If you are age 50 or older, or at
higher risk, ask your doctor about colon cancer screening.
March is National Colon Cancer Awareness Month.
To learn more or to find a local physician who performs colonoscopies,
please call 503-717-7000, or visit www.providence.org/coloncancer.
At Providence, it’s not just health care, it’s how we care. ™