The Lewiston Independent Foundation for Education has awarded more than $9,500 in grants for 20 projects.
A record 51 applications were received this year with requests totaling more than $20,000, according to Rita Myers, LIFE board president. Applicants were screened by a committee of LIFE board members. Twenty projects received grants totaling $9,537.17.
The LIFE grant program provides grants not just to teachers, but to anyone with a project beneficial to Lewiston public schools.
The newly created LIFE Award $2,000 grant went to Space Camp 1998, an interactive program for sixth-graders that teaches them about the universe. Project coordinators for the project are Margaret Duncan and Toni Saleen.
Other grants were awarded to:
Paul Kraynak, ranger at Hells Gate State Park, $500 for the construction of an educational aviary at the visitors' center.
Margaret Mikkelson, Lewiston High School, $210 for an independent study of electricity by physics students that includes computer simulation.
Denise S. Williams, library assistant, Webster Elementary School, $500 for books and computer test discs for the Accelerated Reader Program.
Cathy Edmonson, curriculum resource center, $300 partial grant for the Lewiston School District math competition.
Debbie Kuntz, Camelot Elementary School, $200 partial grant to purchase electrical components for Lego building blocks, motorize and program machines.
Jean Alexander, McGhee Elementary, $500 to create curriculum materials that integrate fine art projects with the district's academic curriculum.
Fred Deibel, Northwest Children's Home, $494.85 to create a science library and lab for use by NCH students, staff and the community.
Jill Ralstin, Orchards Elementary, $492.32 to purchase science and social studies materials to teach first-graders to read, write and research topics.
Duane Meske, Orchards Elementary, $400 for an environmental education outdoor experience for sixth-graders that includes science investigations.
Leslie Esselburn, Lewis-Clark Center for Arts & History, $500 to provide a student concert by the Idaho Dance Theater.
Virginia Wolf, Lewiston High School, $240 partial grant for four celebrations for LHS students and their parents after the students successfully reduce their television viewing and keep a log to prove they have done more reading.
Fred Ensman, Sacajawea Junior High School, $500 for a youth court program in a collaboration between the legal community, the Alternative Education Center and Jenifer Junior High.
Kathy Forge, Lewiston High School, $500 for the purchase of a video camera with a microscope adapter to record things viewed through a microscope.
Georgia Lenzmeier, Jenifer Junior High counselor, $500 to create clubs that will encourage students to recognize their talents and abilities.
Dennis L. Smith, Tammany Alternative Center counselor, $500 to establish a mini-career resource center and the purchase of materials to help students choose a career and education.
The Missoula Children's Theater received four $300 grants to appear at McGhee, Centennial, McSorley and Camelot elementary schools.
Genesee PTSA Dinner Theater is scheduled Saturday at 6 p.m.
GENESEE -- The sixth annual PTSA Dinner Theater will be at 6 p.m. Saturday in the multi-purpose room at Genesee School.
The event is sponsored by the Genesee
PTSA and the high school drama class and will include two one-act comedies with dinner. Reservations are needed by Monday. Guests will be assigned to tables as the reservations are made at the Genesee Joint School District office.
The drama class will perform "A Typically Atypical Day," a tale about a day in the mayor's office. The play is directed by Meg Booth, the high school English and drama teacher, and has a cast of 16 students.
The Genesee community members will present "Roomers," set in a New York City brownstone. The owner is on vacation while the landlord runs the house full of "roommates."
The meal will be provided by Mom! What's For Dinner? of Lewiston, and prepared by members of the PTSA.
The menu includes stuffed chicken breast, salad, garlic bread and pie. Donations of pies are encouraged.
The cost is $12 for adults and $9 for children 12 and under.
McSorley students take first at Idaho State History Day competition
BOISE -- Two Lewiston students from
McSorley Elementary School earned first place in the Idaho State History Day competition April 25 at Boise State University.
Jim Stuck won first place in the Youth Historical Papers division for his profile of Sam Houston, a frontiersman and political leader in the 1846-1848 War against Mexico.
Angela Grossklaus won first place in the Youth Individual Projects division for her profile of the polio vaccine discovered by Dr. Jonas Salk in the mid-1950s. She also won the Friends of the Historical Museum Award, which includes $50.
Kaitlin Coleman of McSorley took second place in the Youth Historical Papers division for her profile of Jane Silcott.
Morgan Colburn and Michelle Norton of St. Stanislaus Tri-Parish School earned fourth place in the Youth Group Media division for their display on Kerri Strug.
Matthew Morgan of Lewiston High School took fourth place in the Senior Individual Projects division for his profile of American humorist Will Rogers.
More than 300 students from 54 schools across Idaho entered the event.
Home-schooled students to put their talents on display Friday
A presentation night to display the talents of home-educated students is planned at 7 p.m. Friday at the Silverthorne Theater in the Administration Building of Lewis-Clark State College.
The ninth annual event is sponsored by the Port Cities Home Educators. Home-schooled students of all ages will display musical, oratory and other talents.
Beacon Adventist Schools to hold visitors' day Friday morning
Beacon Adventist School at Lewiston will have a visitors' day from 10 a.m. to noon Friday for those interested in Christian education for children.
Parents are asked to call the school by Tuesday, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., with the names and grades of children so materials may be prepared in advance of the visit.
The school is at 615 Stewart Ave., and instructs children from kindergarten through ninth grade. Students and parents are invited to preview the school's curriculum, meet students and teachers, obtain handbooks and ask questions.
Beacon Adventist School is a private school affiliated with the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Lapwai preschool and kindergarten screening is this Wednesday
LAPWAI -- Preschool and kindergarten screening will be from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m. Wednesday.
The screening is by the Lapwai School District and the Nez Perce Tribal Head Start program. For preschool, the child must be 3 before Sept. 1, 1997. For kindergarten, the child must be 5 before Sept. 1.
Parents must bring a certified copy of the child's birth certificate, Social Security card and immunization record.
