Schools

Kindergartners learn about community service one bear at a time

Submitted by Camille Troxel on Friday, May 17th, 1:06 pm

Kindergarten students from Chester Elementary made a trip to the Build-A-Bear Workshop in the Spokane Valley Mall this morning. Instead of taking their new fluffy friends home, they donated them to children staying at the Ronald McDonald House.

The excursion was made possible by an Eastern Washington Community Outreach Program Grant. The COP Grants are given for up to $1,500 to cover the cost of service projects that build relationships between students, schools and the community at large. This is the fourth time that kindergarten teacher Denise Kennedy has applied for and been given a COP Grant.

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Grant and Holmes selected as Champion Schools

Submitted by Camille Troxel on Thursday, May 16th, 5:22 pm

OTTO, the Spokane Indians Mascot, will be visiting two local elementary schools this spring as part of the Itron Champions Programs. Grant and Holmes Elementary Schools have been selected as this year's Champion Schools.

The blue mascot will lead cheers and laughter for each school at an assembly. In addition, Itron will provide each school with 250 Indians tickets to be given out to students as rewards for good attendance, hard work and achievement in the classroom.

"We love bringing the Itron Champions Program to schools and getting kids excited about learning," said Indian Senior Vice President, Otto Klein. "This is a great opportunity for the Indians to support our local schools and students."

OTTO will visit Grant Elementary on Friday, May 24th and Holmes Elementary on Thursday, June 6th.

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LETEM Play expands beyond instruments to advocate music education

Submitted by Camille Troxel on Monday, May 13th, 4:49 pm

We first told you about LETEM Play in September, since then the non-profit started by two high school students has grown bigger than they creators could have ever imagined. Now, they are expanding and are offering more than just instruments.

LETEM- Life Enhancement Through Education in Music- was started by Katy Dolan and Philip Howard in February 2012. The Central Valley High School Juniors decided they wanted to share something they loved while making a difference in their community. LETEM provides instruments to students who can't afford them.

Now, a little over a year later, LETEM has branched off from just providing instruments. Dolan and Howard have also started providing music clinics to schools and groups that are trying to grow their music programs.

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Link Up pairs elementary schools with the Spokane Symphony

Submitted by Camille Troxel on Tuesday, April 30th, 5:56 pm

The music room at Garfield Elementary was humming with the sound of recorders this afternoon as students prepared for the Link Up concert with the Spokane Symphony at the Fox Theater.

Link Up is national program from Carnegie Hall's Weill Music Institute that pairs orchestras with local schools for an interactive concert. The Spokane Symphony was invited to join the program last year and jumped at the opportunity.

“This enhances the whole community,” said Janet Napoles, Manager of Education Programs at the Spokane Symphony, “it's just a benefit no matter how you look at it.”

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Spokane schools pushing for all-day kindergarten

Submitted by KXLY Web Staff

Monday, April 29th, 2013, 6:42pm

Spokane schools pushing for all-day kindergarten

There is a big push underway to provide all-day kindergarten at every Spokane public school, a plan which deviates from the normal half day program for kindergarteners.

While the district cites educational and social benefits from full-days some parents are still skeptical at the concept, which is not new. In fact, of the Spokane school district's 34 elementary schools 15 are already operating with all-day kindergarten, and they're eying seven more to be added to that list by fall.

"Research shows that a full-day kindergarten program provides students a great start to their elementary school experience," Linda McDermott, ex-Dir of Finance for Spokane Public Schools, said.

Spokane Public Schools argues all-day kindergarten better prepares five and six-year-olds for first grade and beyond. They have plenty of parents on their side.

"I think it's important for our kids to have education, the more education they get the better off they are in the long run," Jennifer Ferguson.

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Leading interfaith relations speaker to visit EWU

Submitted by Camille Troxel on Thursday, April 25th, 11:44 am

Next week one of the country's leading speakers on interfaith relations will at Eastern Washington University. Chris Stedman will be reading from his new book “Faitheist” as well as hosting a workshop and lecture on interfaith relations.

The event is hosted by EWU's Compassionate Interfaith Society, a group on campus that is dedicated to religious tolerance. The group was created after student Skyler Oberst witnessed Muslim peers being harassed for their beliefs by other students.

Oberst approached a professor and a discussion panel was set up to address the religious intolerance. For Oberst the panel didn't solve the problem.

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Career Fair expands horizon for elementary students

Submitted by Camille Troxel on Friday, April 19th, 4:49 pm

Students at Bemiss Elementary had the opportunity to explore what they want to be when they grow up. Bemiss hosted their first career fair and all students from kindergarten to sixth grade got to learn about careers ranging from EMT to geologist.

Each age group spent a half hour today touring different booths set up and learned about different careers available to them. Kindergarten teacher, Brooke Miller, says they wanted the students to think beyond teacher and police officer and make connections with adults in careers they might not otherwise make.

Local buisiness such as STCU and Avista were there, along with nurses, day care teachers, a geologist, photograper, scientits, metoerolgist and a farmer. Each group created an interactive display for the kids to teach them about what their jobs entailed. Students came prepare with questions, asking what they liked about their jobs and what kind of training they needed.

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