Sixth graders learn to knit, reach out to others
Size 8 knitting needles have taken the place of video game controls in the hands of students in Susan Klinkhammer's social studies classes at Linus Pauling Middle School.
Inspired by a similar project she saw on the Internet, Klinkhammer and a number of community volunteers are teaching sixth graders how to knit. Using donated yarn, each student is creating an 8-inch square. The squares will be hooked together by Klinkhammer to form a blanket that will be sent to an orphan child in Ethiopia.
The knitting takes place three afternoons a week and fits into a class study of Africa.
Klinkhammer says she is really pleased with how eager the students are to learn a new skill, as well as help someone less fortunate than them across the globe.
Additional yarn, needles and volunteers willing to help the sixth graders learn how to knit are always needed. If you'd like to help, call 757-3986.
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Woodstock and Chaucer - a winning combination
Tie-dyed T-shirts and other "hippie" accessories were the dress of the day recently in Dena Minato's Advanced Placement literature class at Corvallis High School as students participated in a Woodstock-themed storytelling festival to conclude a study of Geoffrey Chaucer's "The Canterbury Tales."
Students were asked to come up with an original tale of protest or rebellion and share their stories as if they were stranded on a pilgrimage with other middle-aged baby boomers traveling to a 40th anniversary Woodstock reunion. The activity was to mirror the experiences of the 14th century pilgrims portrayed in Chaucer's legendary collection of stories.
Guest judges from the community were invited to help "grade" the students' presentations. One judge was able to share a personal account of the actual Woodstock festival and another related their frustration of getting stuck on the freeway and never making it to the 1969 outdoor concert.
Minato explained she came up with the idea for a storytelling festival in an effort to make literature come alive for the students. An assignment such as this allows them to creatively share what they're learning, she said, and that "gets them excited about studying literature."
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CHS honors former teacher/coach, and centenarian
Harris W. Olson, a former teacher and coach at Corvallis High School celebrated his 100th birthday earlier this month and was honored by special guests CHS assistant principal Eric Wright and athletic director Bob Holt. Kathleen Walker, director of Student Services for the Corvallis School District, also attended.
The school officials presented Olson with several gifts including a "Spartan" blanket and sweatshirt, a book celebrating the school's history and a copy of the Corvallis Community Vision for Education document during the celebration hosted by Olson's three children - Bill Olson (CHS '57), Carlton Olson (CHS '59) and Carol Freeman(CHS '62). Wright also took copies of old yearbook photographs in which Olson appeared while on the CHS staff.
Olson was a health teacher and coached football, track, cross country and boxing at CHS from 1944 to 1958.
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International Walk + Bike to School Day
More than 1,000 students, family members and staff in Corvallis schools observed International Walk + Bike to School Day on Wednesday, Oct. 7.
While a few elementary schools sponsor a monthly "WB2S" Day, the Oct. 7 event offered an opportunity to join with nearly 4 million people from 40 countries around the world choosing an alternative mode of transportation to get to school.
Families were encouraged to leave their car at home and use a safe route to walk, bike or scooter to school. Even children that ride the bus could participate by walking part of the way to school. Hoover and Jefferson elementary school buses dropped students off at "buddy sites" where school staff and community leaders were located along the route to school.
Mayor Charlie Tomlinson joined in the festivities at Jefferson Elementary, while representatives from the Corvallis School Board, Corvallis Fire Department, City Council, Bike and Pedestrian Advisory Council, Benton County Health Department and OSU student athletes were present at other school sites. The Corvallis Police Department was on hand at every school.
The District Wellness Team also partnered with the Food Services Department to implement a "Great Start" program which offers a free breakfast to all elementary students each WB2S Day.
Fans pack into Raiders' new stadium
The new stadium at Crescent Valley High School was filled to capacity for the Raiders' first home football game of the year Sept. 18.
The new facility, which seats 1,500 people, was built over the summer after the school's former stadium was condemned last fall. The old, wooden grandstand was replaced by aluminum bleachers from Reser Stadium donated by the Oregon State University Athletic Department. It also was relocated to the opposite, west side of the football field.
The work was done by a local business, T Gerding Construction Co. , and the entire project came in under budget at about $427,000. The project was paid for out of bond monies that remained from the 2002 bond measure that had to be used on capital improvements. Facilities manager Greg Lecuyer noted that the district was able to save nearly $100,000 from the amount bid on new construction for the bleacher replacement by using the recycled OSU bleachers and reusing the press box.
Keep washing those hands!
Got soap? Got water? These girls from Adams Elementary School know what to do!
The Corvallis School District is urging students and staff to pay a lot more attention to how often and how well they wash their hands during the school day in an effort to reduce the spread of cold and flu germs. Good hand hygiene, coupled with reminders to cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your sleeve, remain the primary strategies recommended by the Benton County Health Department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to fight the H1N1 (swine) flu virus.
For more tips on flu prevention and taking care of someone who's ill, click on H1N1 Updates in the "Spotlight On" section of the district's Web site.
School supply giveaway a huge success
More than 300 teachers "shopped" for crayons, copy paper, glue sticks, three-ring notebooks and many more classroom needs without having to pay a dime during the seventh annual School Supply Giveaway for Teachers on Friday, Sept. 4.
The event -- sponsored by Love INC, community churches and local businesses -- was held at Linus Pauling Middle School where more than $100,000 in donations of school supplies were stacked on rows of tables free for the taking. Each teacher was given a large brown paper bag to fill with whatever they could use during the school year. If they needed help, dozens of teens representing various church youth groups, were there as voluntary "BOBs" or "beasts of burden" to carry their stash.
The giveaway featured a new "Teacher Exchange" section organized by retired teachers. This area offered bulletin board collections, posters, books and other teaching materials that had been used in the retirees' classrooms.
Every 10 minutes, door prizes were announced - gifts donated by area businesses including Blockbuster Video, Dairy Queen, University Hero, Dream Dinners, Schmidt's Garden Center, McGrath's, Francesco's, McMenamins and Big River Restaurant. Teachers also were treated to refreshments including homemade baked goods, fruit platters and Starbuck's Coffee provided by Northwest Hills Community Church in the "Bus Stop Café." As each person left, they were given a gift bag containing more donations such as "Post It" photo paper, a music CD, another ream of copy paper and a flash drive.
Wilma Van Schelven, Love Inc's executive director, explained the event is designed to be a tangible expression of appreciation to all teachers in Benton County. "We want to thank them for teaching our kids. Their hard work makes a tremendous difference ," she said.
To see more pictures of the 2009 School Supply Giveaway, click here.
