School Zone January 29, 2020 by Siuslaw News

SCHOOL ZONE Siuslaw News’ monthly school newsletter for the Siuslaw & Mapleton School Districts and community groups serving youth in the Siuslaw Region TheSiuslawNews.com | January 2020 School Zone

Siuslaw Education Expo to bring together 60+ community groups

Kids Concert

By Chantelle Meyer Siuslaw News

The Siuslaw Education Expo, designed to showcase educational opportunities that exist for people of all ages in the Siuslaw area, will take place on Saturday, Feb. 29, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Siuslaw High School (SHS), 2975 Oak St. The idea for the expo was generated last year in a Siuslaw School District Facilities Advisory Committee meeting. “We were discussing ways to help bring the schools and the community closer together,” said Bob Orr, who serves on the committee and leads the ASPIRE program for both Siuslaw and Mapleton school districts. “This has been a very generous community in a lot of ways to the kids and schools, particularly in the form of scholarships, where our community is tremendously generous. … We are always looking for ways to not only connect with but give back to the community.” More than 60 organizations have already signed on to partner with or attend the event. “We realized what we could really do with this is have the school be a gathering point for lots of different ways that organizations educate in the community,” Orr said. “We have a lot of different organizations that we hope will be of interest to the whole community — every age group, every constituency. We’re having all of these organizations all in one place, at one time, and people can just wander and talk to representatives.” Groups from both within and without the region will attend, including the expected child-focused groups such as Boys and Girls Club of Western Lane County, Shoreline Christian School, Wildflower Montessori School, Head Start and area preschools, and that less expect-

PHOTOS BY CHANTELLE MEYER/SIUSLAW NEWS

tudents from Mapleton, Reedsport and Siuslaw elementary schools were invited to the Florence Events Center on Jan. 23 for the annual Winter Music Festival Kids Concert, sponsored by Sea Lion Caves and the Florence Kiwanis Club. To kick off the annual threeday festival, the Greg Blake Band, featuring fiddler Annie Savage, played bluegrass music for the students. Attendees were encouraged to clap, snap, stomp and dance during the music. In addition, the musicians taught the students about their instruments, including bass, violin, guitar, mandolin and dobro slide guitar.

ed groups, namely, the Siuslaw Rod & Gun Club, would also set up a table, possibly with safety demonstrations. The partners also include regional organizations, such as Siuslaw Public Library, the Siuslaw Vision, Western Lane Ambulance District and others who serve the entire population, including the upriver communities. Orr also hopes to add more Mapleton representation. “As the ASPIRE program has expanded to Mapleton High School, we have more connections,” he said. “The two communities are pretty closely linked in a lot of ways.” Dunes City is also a partner, and the Confederated Tribes of the Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians will be in attendance. “We really hope that we get a large turnout of people from the whole community who just come to see what the educational opportunities are,” Orr said. “A lot of these clubs and organizations might not be in the forefront of everybody’s minds, but I’m hoping that people will be able to come in and find an organization they are particularly interested in and sign up to join or participate in some way.” The expo will feature tables set up for up to 75 organizations in the SHS commons, gymnasium and library. Additional rooms will be open throughout the school as students help lead tours. “We want the whole community there,” Orr said. “The education expo is experimental, as we’ve not tried it before, but I think it’s going to be a lot of fun and just a great way to have people come together about education.” For more information about the expo, visit https://bit.ly/siuslaweducationexpo (must enter whole address; case sensitive) or facebook.com/siuslawexpo.

Kindness most powerful of actions in affecting change

(Editor’s Note: The following is a speech given by Siuslaw High School senior Ramiro Ramirez during the Jan. 19 Martin Luther King, Jr. “Healing the Divide” event sponsored by the Bahá’ís and held at the Siuslaw Public Library.)

am both privileged and thankful that I get to once again speak about the great man we know as Martin Luther King Jr. Or just Dr. King. Now, most — if not — all of us remember who Martin Luther King Jr. was. He was a man who fought for the equal rights of African American people. He proved that “Separate,

KID SCOOP Look for

but Equal” could not work. He endured the hardships of the Southerners who did not welcome change. He provided the way to give the freedoms and rights all of us have regardless of race, sex and religion. Fifty-one years, nine months, two weeks and one day after his passing (Yes. I did the math to get that result), his legacy still lives on to this day. With the information I stated earlier, it is clear that the acts of civil disobedience have worked. African Americans can now vote, sit anywhere they please in a bus, own homes and property, and have an increased pay salary.

Some changes, such as bus riding privileges, seemed to be almost instant while others, such as increased salary, took a while to change.

Guest Viewpoint By Ramiro Ramirez Siuslaw High School Student

Pretty unfortunate isn’t it? You’ve fought for a long time and you deserve to have those changes, but all you get are some minor changes. We can all agree that that wouldn’t be fair. But there is one important factor that can help fight for change tremendously. We can all agree that kind-

Kid Scoop runs every Wednesday in the Siuslaw News and features educational stories and fun activities for families. The page is part of the Siuslaw News’ Newspapers In Education program, in which teachers from Siuslaw and Mapleton school districts may request copies of the local paper to use as curriculum in their classroom. Call 541-997-3441 for more information.

ness has its excellent perks. Kindness throughout the rallies and strikes helped fuel the Civil Rights movement. In fact, before the African Americans joined MLK Jr’.s sit-ins, they would go to camps where they would learn to control their impulses. They would learn how to be cool under pressure after being shoved and told racial slurs. Eventually, they made it and joined the rallies throughout The South. And they were kind to one another. Kindness helped others join in and brought together whites as well. You see, the power of kindness can really go a long

way. Even in times of hardship, kindness can help multiple people through it — and eventually, you could even make friends with your “enemy.” Maybe that’s why they say “Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer?” So, to all the people fighting for equal rights, I encourage you to use kindness. Even if it doesn’t change the opposition, don’t feel offended by it — just acknowledge the fact that they can’t embrace change with open arms. When the time is ready, they’ll show it by action, because actions speak louder than words. And kindness is the most powerful of actions we can share with others.

Submit to School Zone Be a part of the Siuslaw News’ monthly newsletter for students in the Siuslaw and Mapleton school districts. It runs September to May each school year. Email Siuslaw News Features Editor Chantelle Meyer at cmeyer@thesiuslawnews.com

2 | SCHOOL ZONE | School Newsletter for Siuslaw News | January 2020

MAPLETON M

apleton Farm to Table students are learning how to knit. Currently they are making a sample square, but will soon be making scarves. — Submitted by Elisa Gray, Mapleton Resource Teacher

Magical Mathematics

The sixth-grade math class at Mapleton took some time out from learning about geometric solids to be unicorns. — Submitted by Elisa Gray, Mapleton Resource Teacher

COASTAL COMMUNITY Box Tops are popping up everywhere PTA has set the Box Tops collection schedule at Siuslaw Elementary School for Feb. 3 to 13. Students will submit clipped Box Tops during that time to vie for the overall winning class prize of a popcorn party and movie. Community members can also help support the PTA and Siuslaw schools by bringing clipped Box Tops to the elementary school, 2221 Oak St., during the collection dates, or anytime throughout the year. They can also be mailed to Florence Community PTA, P.O. Box 1140, Florence, OR 97439. While Box Tops can still be clipped from certain participating products for about another year and a half, the company is shifting to an app-type way to earn points for your preferred organization. With the new app, which rolled out last summer, consumers are able to make their purchases, take a picture of the grocery receipt, and link it to Box Tops to determine which products earn the points. Florence Community PTA earns 10 cents for each

Box Tops are still worth 10¢ each for your school. While traditional Box Tops clips are being phased out of production, they can still be found on many products throughout the store. Box Top turned in to the Naturals company. Funds received • Hamburger Helper go right back in to Siuslaw • Old El Paso schools towards teacher/ • Cinnamon Toast Crunch staff grants and high school Bites scholarships. • Pillsbury More information about • Totino’s Box Tops is available at • Yoplait www.boxtops4education. • Bugles com. People can watch a • Cascadian Farm YouTube video on how • Cereal Treat Bars to get and use the app • Chex Mix at www.youtube.com/ • Fiber One Bars w a t c h ? v = q Wu X D K e - • Food Should Taste Good jVEg&feature=youtu.be. Chips Many people are sur- • Fruit by the Foot prised at the wide variety of • Fruit Roll-Ups products that participate in • Gardettos the Box Tops program, and • General Mills Fruit often overlook the lesser Snacks known items. Here is a list • Gushers of participating brands: • LARABAR Kid • Nestle Pure Life Water • Mott’s Fruit Snacks • Lysol • Nature Valley • Boise Paper Find a complete list of • Paper Mate participating products at • Annie’s Homegrown and BTFE.com.

BRAVE KIDS TALENT SHOW F

lorence Community PTA hosts the “Brave Kids” annual Talent Show this February to showcase the diversified talents of Siuslaw students. The PTA Talent Show will be held on Wednesday and Thursday, Feb. 26 and 27, at 6 p.m. at the Florence Events Center. Tickets are $2 per person or $5 per family. All proceeds go to the Florence Community PTA. Tickets can be purchased in the Siuslaw Elementary School Office the week of the shows or at the door.

We are your community partner in financial education!

Nyah releases debut EP, ‘Disconnected’

n Jan. 17, InRage Entertainment artist-in-development Nyah released her debut EP “Disconnected,” produced by Sony/ATV writer/producer Automatic. “Disconnected” is available for download and streaming on Apple Music, Spotify, Tidal and most major digital music retailers. Two years after signing with InRage and one year after filming a music video for her single “Empty Spaces” on the Port of Siuslaw Boardwalk, 15-year old Nyah has been supported and encouraged by the City of Florence since the beginning of her development as a recording artist. Accompanied by supportive friends, both old and new, along with Mayor Joe Henry and the Florence City Council, the Katie

O’Grady-directed visual inspired a launch party at the Florence Events Center where over 400 people celebrated the launch of her debut single sponsored by The Hukilau Florence, ICM Restaurant and BJ’s Ice Cream. “Nyah has a depth in her soul that resonates deeply for all ages,” O’Grady said. “Disconnected” features Nyah’s singles “Empty Spaces,” “Flowers On My Grave” and “Midnight,” all of which have been streamed internationally and have been played on Coast Radio KCST/KCFM, KXCR Community Radio 90.7, KBOG 97.9, Magic 98.3, Cambridge 105, KXCJ, Portland Radio Project and KSFL 99.1. Nyah was also featured on Oregon television KVAL Channel 13 (CBS) and KMTR Channel 16 (NBC). She continues to have interviews with local and regional media. “Disconnected” was produced, mixed and mastered

by Grammy-nominated Sony/ATV producer and writer Bruce “Automatic” Vanderveer, co-owner of InRage, based in Los Angeles. The EP showcases alternative, urban, pop and rock genres. According to Nyah, “all these songs were written during different mental stages, different experiences and different events. They’re all pieces of my heart, even if they are kind of fractured from each other. This is where the title ‘Disconnected’ comes from.” Nyah is fully supported by her family and her parents and executive producers Scott and Marijo Vollmar. Nyah is the first outof-state artist to sign with Los Angeles-based artist development company and record label InRage Entertainment. For more info, visit www.InRage.com and NyahTheUnicorn.com.

Aside from providing financial products and services, we are happy to offer educational support for all ages: Credit and Savings Best Practices First-time Home Buying Resources Cybersecurity Business Tips Estate Planning Consultations In need of financial resources? Visit your local banker today!

1355 Highway 101 • Florence • Oregon (541) 997-7121 • www.opbc.com

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January 2020 | School Newsletter for Siuslaw News | School Zone | 3

SIUSLAW ARTIST OF THE MONTH Layla Blakely — Choir

Elephants, Tigers & Books, OH MY

Written By SHS Student Molly McGinley Photo by Carol Jolley

his month we focus on Siuslaw High School’s choir program, directed by Bruce Morganti. Mr. Morganti has chosen senior Layla Blakely to represent choral music at Siuslaw High School. “The atmosphere of the classroom is one of positivity and growth because Mr. Morganti pushes us to be the best we can while also being very supportive regardless of skill level,” Layla said. She is in sixth-period Gold Choir and seventh-period Blue Choir, where she says her fa-

vorite thing is, “getting to be around like-minded people while doing something I’m very passionate about.” For Layla, “the biggest takeaway choir has given me is focus.” Outside of the classroom, Layla loves to make art and write. Her short-term goals are to get a job to save for college expenses and prepare herself for dorm life. In the long run, Layla wants to lead a happy and comfortable life and pursue a career in editing. HIT THAT

LIKE BUTTON!

F ACEBOOK . COM /S IUSLAW N EWS

is the theme for this year’s annual Scholastic Book Fair at Siuslaw Elementary School. It’s almost Scholastic Book Fair time, coming March 2 to 5. The elementary school library will be open for the public and families to come and purchase books and other items from 4 to 6 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, and on Wednesday from 4 to 8 p.m., with a free dinner served up by the Florence Community PTA from 5 to 7 p.m. that evening. See the newest and best books with your favorite characters and series. It’s time to celebrate the importance of Reading! Choose books you want to read. People can help support Siuslaw’s book fair and build their home libraries at the same time. It also helps to get more books into the Siuslaw Elementary Library and into classroom collections. Thank you in advance for your support.

SUPPORTING

NEWSPAPERS IN EDUCATION

Introducing the 2020 Rhody Court

Thank you to the following supporters of this special monthly section

ADA Grange #570

Les Schwab Tire Center

Scott Anderson

Clarence & Nancy Lysdale

Thomas & Sharon Armstrong

Raymond & Deborah Manthe

Charles Asplund

Peggy McCullum

Della Ault

B. Mealer & S. Lacer

Louise Baas

Jack & Colleen Moore

Sondra & Dafydd Balston

Wallace & Sharon Morey

Virg & Pat Bechtold

Leo & Lynn Moyer

HW & TM Bollenbaugh

Bill & Gail Munzer

Janet Catling

Larry Newman

Mark & Cynthia Chandler

Lanny & Roxy Nivens

Don & Ginnie Chehak

Jed & Mary Orcutt

Diann Clark

Oregon Pacific Bank

James & Evelyn Cloyd

Alex & Karen Orobey

Mrs. Jan Crippen

Alfred & Joan Owens

Dea Cutting

Rachel & Paul Pearson

Denise Dee

Karen Peck

Bobbye Justet & Frances Dixon

Karen & Ty Perry

Britt & Tamara Dwyer

Raymond & Judy Plumery

Ivan & Diane Ellingson

Elizabeth Readel

Charlotte Evans

Richard Reece

Harold Fanslow

Dix Richardson

Florence Police Department

The Rhodes Family

Rhea Forum

River Cities Taxi & Rhody Express

Furby Family

Larry & Connie Rosenbalm

Chris & Catherine Giovinco

Debbie & Jacinto Salazar

The Girls Maintenance

Annie Schmidt

Leo & Connie Goddard

Ron & Mary Sherriffs

Becky Goehring

Roxy Shope

Alan & Deborah Golob

Siuslaw Glass & Mirror

Roger & Doris Guthrie

Siuslaw Marina

Bruce & Deborah Hadley

Franklin Spencer

Lon & Constance Harvey

Sylvia Stanton

Hoberg’s Auto Repair

Leo & Shirley Stapleton

Sally Hodgdon

Linda Stent

The Hoffman Family

Alan & Debra Stevenson

Jawsome Kids Resale

Diana Strickland

Carol Jolley

G.D. & Marian Trueblood

Frankie & Harry Jorgensen

Charles & Karen Wade

Virginia Kelly

Norm Warden

Betty Kimball

Susan Weathers

Bob & Kay King

George & Frances Will

Anne Lathrop

Edward & Dolores Wilson

David & Rosemary Lauria

Rick & Jane Yecny

Ms. Mary Lehmnan

Sandra Young

he 2020 Rhododendron Senior Court is made up of Siuslaw students (back row): Princess Taylor Winona, Princess Shakina Grover, Princess Kelsey Larson, Princess Brooklyn Cahoon, (middle row) Princess Madelynn Levi, Prince Andrew Austin, Princess Chloe Madden and Princess Elizabeth Rosinbaum. two more senior princes may join the court. The 2020 Junior Court is made up of Siuslaw Elementary students (front row) Princess Farrah Baze, first grade; Princess Addison Stewart, second grade; Princess Abigail Hummel, third grade; Princess Rianna Weese, fourth grade; and Princess Emmy Center, fifth grade.

Apply for scholarships with ASPIRE

The ASPIRE program at Siuslaw High School has begun its 12th year, helping students to pursue education and careers after high school. Founded by local educators Bou Kilgore and Patti Williams as a part of the statewide ASPIRE program, ASPIRE at Siuslaw High School has grown each year in the number of students served and the services provided. About 15 volunteers work individually each year with 12th grade students who have chosen to participate in the program, guiding them through the process of deciding on career paths, completing college applications and applying for scholarships. The ASPIRE program

assisted students in applying for local scholarships that totaled about $240,000 this past year, as well as hundreds of thousands of dollars in federal, state and college grants. ASPIRE volunteers also provide guidance and preparation for the SAT and ACT tests, assistance in finding volunteer opportunities in the community, and transportation to job fairs and other college and career preview events in Eugene, Salem, and beyond. ASPIRE volunteers work with students in all high school grade levels, encouraging students to plan ahead, get good grades, and consider their options after high school. In middle school, students have the opportuni-

ty to visit several different Oregon colleges and universities through the ASPIRE program. ASPIRE is seeking volunteers who enjoy working with students and who appreciate the rewards of helping teenagers to make plans for life after high school. No specific background is required. Some volunteers give just a few hours a month, while others spend many hours each week working with individual students. Local community members who may be interested in this important and rewarding opportunity are encouraged to contact ASPIRE by calling Bob Orr at 541-999-6181 or sending an email to aspire@siuslaw.k12.or.us.

4 | SCHOOL ZONE | School Newsletter for Siuslaw News | January 2020

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