Education Notebook: Oaks’ ‘Seussical’ opens Thursday
The Oaks Classical Christian Academy’s production of “Seussical,” a musical featuring 52 students in grades 3-12 based on Dr. Seuss classics like “Horton Hears a Who,” “Horton Hatches the Egg” and “Miss Gertrude McFuzz,” opens Thursday.
Performances are 7 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, plus a 2 p.m. matinee Saturday, at University High School, 12420 E. 32nd Ave., Spokane Valley.
Tickets are $7 for students and $10 for adults. A $35 family pass is available for the matinee. Tickets are available at the door or by calling (509) 536-5955.
Eighth-graders taste ‘Age of Elegance’
Eighth-grade students at Northwest Christian School will travel back to Spokane’s “Age of Elegance” on Thursday as part of a living history lesson.
The students, dressed in formal attire, will travel in limousines to the Davenport Hotel, where they will tour the building. Students’ etiquette skills will then be put to the test during a seven-course luncheon at Glover Mansion.
Theater fundraiser features jazz by Keefe
Jazz singer Julia Keefe will perform the songs of Mildred Bailey on Friday to benefit Deer Park High School’s Fisher Theater.
Bailey, a member of the Coeur d’Alene Tribe, was called the “Queen of Swing” and is known for songs like “Trust in Me,” “Where Are You?” and “I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart.”
Spokane’s Keefe, a member of the Nez Perce Tribe, is based in Los Angeles but is currently teaching jazz at Gonzaga University.
There will be a social hour at 6 p.m. followed by the concert at 7 p.m. at Fisher Theater, 800 S. Weber Road, Deer Park.
Tickets are $8 for students, seniors and military, $12 for adults and $25 for gold reserved seats, which includes free beverages from Jitter-Bucks. Tickets are available online at www.mkt.com/the fishertheater.
Schools honored
for achievement
Several area schools were among 2015 Washington Achievement Award winners for their success on statewide assessments and achievements in one or more of the following categories: overall excellence, high progress, English language arts growth, math growth, extended graduation rate (awarded to high and comprehensive schools only), English language acquisition, and achievement gap.
The following schools will be recognized at an awards ceremony 10 a.m. Tuesday at NorthEast Washington ESD 101, 4202 S. Regal St.: Horizon Middle School, Summit School, Brentwood Elementary School, Mountainside Middle School, Hallett Elementary School, Lakeside Middle School, Reardan Middle/Senior High School, Adams Elementary School, Browne Elementary School, Franklin Elementary School, Hamblen Elementary School, Libby Center, Sacajawea Middle School, Wilson Elementary, Spokane Valley High School and West Valley High School.
CV student earns National Merit honor
Jacob Ross, a student at Central Valley High School, has been awarded at $2,500 National Merit Scholarship in recognition of his academic accomplishments and potential for success in college.
Ross was selected by a committee of college admissions officers and high school counselors who reviewed his academic record, standardized test scores, school leadership experience and community activities.
Students’ pillows
help young patients
High school students in Northwest Christian’s Home Living Class have made PICC Pal Pillows for patients at Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital.
PICC is short for peripherally inserted central catheter. These pillows come in a variety of shapes, including hearts, animals and emojis, and are meant to go between the child’s skin and their PICC line, which provides chemotherapy or other long-term treatments.
Cheney senior wins college scholarship
Cheney High School senior Shayla Payne has been awarded a $2,500 P.E.O. STAR scholarship. Payne will attend the University of Washington in the fall and plans to study biomedical engineering.
The P.E.O. STAR scholarship is awarded to young women based on their leadership experiences, extracurricular activities, community service, academics and potential for future success.
East Valley school gets innovation honor
East Valley Middle School is one of seven Washington schools that received a 2016 Innovative School designation.
Designated schools had to meet a 95 participation rate on state tests and were chosen based on their level of creativity and experimentation, incorporation of best practices and research, increase in student achievement and/or closing achievement gaps, collaboration with parents and the community, and high staff morale and engagement.
Music teacher wins grant for student club
Stevens Elementary School music teacher Shawn Tolley has received a $4,800 grant from CenturyLink to support the school’s after-school music club.
The grant will be used to buy industry-standard equipment including microphones, cables, Apple computers and a 3-D printer, get libraries of music samples for students to use in projects, and to create a studio space for mixing and mastering.
Math teacher wins Lilac Festival award
West Valley High School math teacher Christine Scully received the Lilac Festival Teacher of the Year award from West Valley Lilac Princess Aili Jones.
Scully also received a $250 award from STCU to use for classroom supplies.
WV Gear Up leader
is Above and Beyond
West Valley High School Gear Up coordinator Rosalie Sigler received the West Valley School District’s Above and Beyond award for her work helping students navigate through high school and into college.
Cheney schools have new superintendent
The Cheney Public Schools board of directors has announced that Rob Roettger will be the next superintendent of Cheney Public Schools.
Roettger currently is superintendent of the Lind and Ritzville Cooperative School Districts. He has also worked as a principal in the St. John and Endicott School Districts.
Roettger succeeds Debra Clemens, who will become superintendent of the North Thurston School District in Lacey, Washington. Roettger will begin on July 1.
To submit news about your school, students and staff to the Education Notebook, send the details to azariap@spokesman.com or call (509) 459-5434.