IN OUR SCHOOLS: It’s Grand Forks’ First Day of School
Aug. 29–Today is the first day of school in Grand Forks Public Schools for students in kindergarten through ninth grade. Tuesday, they will be joined by the 10th- through 12th-graders.
The first day of school means parents, teachers and other staff will be out in the school crosswalks helping the children and motorists as they get used to each other’s traffic again. No place gets any more hectic than the school parking lot on the first day of school. At Century Elementary School, retired Principal Gary Mitchell was expected to join the safety patrol.
At St. Michael’s Elementary School, a 9 a.m. blessing was planned at the school today, a brief service to help get the year off to a good start, Principal Gerri Lorenz and teacher Nicole Manson said.
With a new school year about to get under way, some churches, too, found ways to show support for education.
Grand Forks Calvary Lutheran Church, for instance, Sunday invited all students, pre-school through adult, to bring their backpacks or lunch boxes to church for a blessing. Teachers, aides, principals, administrators, secretaries, cooks, librarians, janitors and bus drivers were invited, too, to be blessed, affirmed in their vocations and encouraged. The congregation also was asked to bring school supplies for Lutheran World Relief.
Thursday, East Grand Forks Public Schools and Sacred Heart schools will resume fall classes as well.
EGF auditions
Students at East Grand Forks Senior High School can audition at 3:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday for the school’s annual children’s theater production. Auditions will be in the Performing Arts Center and, for this particular production, freshmen will get priority during casting.
Upperclassmen will be cast if roles are available, and crew positions are available for any grade.
To audition, bring a signed and filled-in audition form/theater contract, available in advance from the theater board in Room 101. Students with questions about auditions should contact theater program adviser Kevin Moberg in advance in Room 101, or by e-mail at kmoberg@egf.k12.mn.us.
Each fall, Senior High puts together a children’s theater production and performs it for the elementary schools and for the public. This year’s show will be “Rapunzel.” Matinees for the school children will be Sept. 29 and 30, the public performance at 7 p.m. Sept. 26. Info: www.geocities.com/kevin_moberg on-line.
Service award
Jerry Nesland, executive director of the Northwest Service Cooperative from July 1, 2002, through June 30, 2005, was presented the Outstanding Service Award at the Minnesota Regional Service Agency board conference. The award recognized his service with NWSC in Thief River Falls. Nesland is interim superintendent for the Mahnomen (Minn.) School District.
‘SOUPer’ parents
Do you know a “SOUPer” parent? Campbell’s Labels for Education wants to recognize the efforts of parents across the country who go above and beyond for their child’s classroom and school.
Persons 13 and older who live in the U.S. or District of Columbia can submit essays to nominate “SOUPer Parents.” Nominees for “SOUPer parent” must have school-aged children, 3 to 18. Winning SOUPer parents will be awarded a 10,000 Campbell’s Labels for Education bonus certificate and a $50 shopping card.
The contest ends Nov. 30. Entry form/contest rules: www.labelsforeducation.com/souperparents.
Disney awards
Disney is accepting nominations for America’s most creative teachers from now until Oct. 15. To nominate a teacher, go to www.DisneyHand.com or call toll free (877) 282-8322.
Selected honorees will be celebrated at a red-carpet Awards Gala in July. They will be featured during a Disneyland Main Street parade and ceremony at Sleeping Beauty Castle, attend VIP events and receptions, and share teaching strategies with fellow award winners.
During the gala, four honorees will be selected as Outstanding Teachers, and one will be named the 2006 Disney Teacher of the Year. In addition, the honorees each will receive $10,000, a $5,000 grant for their school and a six-day professional development institute with their principal at the Walt Disney World Resort.
Tobin reports on education, teen news and special events. Reach her at (701) 780-1134; (800) 477-6572, ext. 134; or ptobin@gfherald.com.
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