Education notebook: County libraries earn outreach award with $28,973 grant

The Spokane County Library District has been presented the “All of Us” Community Engagement Outreach Award by the National Network of Libraries of Medicine, Pacific Northwest Region. The award came with a $28,973 grant, which SCLD says will be used for a project in partnership with Dishman Hills High School of the West Valley School District.

The project, “The Fit & Lit: Health Literacy for Teens” aims to provide activities, classes and resources to Dishman Hills High School students experiencing homelessness or poverty.

Set to begin in September, the project includes research-oriented health and science classes as well as free YMCA memberships and bus passes for use next summer. Students will be asked to demonstrate what they have learned through completing their own research reports on healthy living.

Additional partners for the project include Spokane Valley Partners and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education .

Linwood to hold ribbon-cutting

The new Linwood Elementary School will mark its opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony today on Spokane Public Schools’ first day of school for the 2019-2020 academic year.

Spokane Public Schools will hold a dedication ceremony Sept. 12 at 8:45 a.m., followed by a community open house on Sept. 14 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Linwood Elementary School is at 906 W. Weile Ave.

Nine Mile district chief takes post

The Washington Association of School Administrators recently elected Brian Talbott, superintendent of Nine Mile Falls School District, as WASA president-elect for the 2019-20 school year.

A member of WASA since 2000, Talbott has served in a variety of positions including Superintendent Component Chair, WASA Board of Directors, WASA Legislative and Finance Committee, WASA Representative to Eastern Washington University PEAB, NEWASA 101 Region President and NEWASA 101 Region Executive Board member.

Ridgeline groundbreaking set

Central Valley School District will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for Ridgeline High School today, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at 20150 E. Country Vista Drive, Liberty Lake. All community members are welcome to attend.

The school is being built because the district’s current high schools, Central Valley and University, are overcrowded. Each was built to house 1,600 students and there are currently 4,324 students, with another 1,000 projected by 2021. The district has 14 portable classrooms at Central Valley and six at University.

Ridgeline will be a two-story building covering 240,000 square feet, enough space for 1,600 students. There will be four baseball and softball fields in the northwest corner of the site along Appleway Avenue and tennis courts just to the west of the school. There will be football and soccer fields south of the school.

NWC cheer team shines at camp

The Northwest Christian Schools Cheer team earned multiple awards, including superior ribbons for chant and cheer, the most improved trophy, two leadership awards and a stunt safe certificate at the National Cheerleaders Association CheerLeadership Camp this summer.

The head coach, Jen Eide and the assistant coach, Alison Russo, were honored with the coach’s award for team unity.

Four of the team members, seniors Isabella Zwiesler, Abi Drake and Katie Pride, and freshman Ava Russo, were nominated for All-American honors. Also on the team are senior Bella Tibbetts, sophomore Maty Eide, and freshmen Avah McConnell and Nina Vlasenko.