SCHOOL BRIEFS: Westgate celebrates new playground

Westgate Elementary School celebrated its new community playground Oct. 2.

Along with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, a Pacific dogwood tree was planted with each student and parent on hand adding a shovelful of dirt to the hole. An after-party included music and barbecue.

Faculty, alumni join spooktacular student play

Mountlake Terrace High School will present “Larry and the Werewolf” by Jeff Goode, a B-movie-style spoof, just in time for the spooky season. The three-part show will take place Oct. 28-30.

For the first time, teachers and alumni from the school will join students as part of the cast.

Staff participating include English teacher Jon Ummel, science teacher Penny LeFavour and behavior counselor Anthony Williams. Alumni include Rebecca Dumanis (class of 2008), and Nick Terry and Michael Ward (both class of 2010). Senior Ryan Woodyard stars in the tale of murder, mayhem and lycanthropy.

Each night is a separate episode serving as a complete story with some cliffhanger endings. A recap of previous episodes will precede the last two shows.

All shows start promptly at 7 p.m. The drama club likens the show to a PG-13 movie, so children are not advised to attend.

Tickets are $6 and available at Shear Madness Salon, 23631 Brier Road, or at the theater doors 30 minutes before show time. Audiences can receive $1 off with the donation of three non-perishable food items.

For more information, visit www.edmonds.wednet.edu/mths.

Kids can scare up treats at Jackson High

The Jackson High School associated student body presents Octoberfest 2010 from 4:30-6:30 p.m., Oct. 29 in the high school gym, 1508 136th St. SE, Mill Creek.

The school’s student clubs and sports teams aim to provide a safe, fun environment in which children can enjoy Halloween. There will be games and prizes. Cost is free. For more information, contact JHS Activities Coordinator Judi Montgomery at 425-385-7105.

Parents urge city not to cut preschool

Parents of students at the city of Lynnwood’s Kids Klub preschool program are hoping to persuade the City Council to spare the program from proposed budget cuts.

The city could axe the program to save $135,000, ending preschool classes for 35 students mid-year come January, parents say.

“We are asking that, at a minimum, the Council fund Kids Klub through the end of the 2010-2011 school year,” parent Alissa Viertel said in a press release. “Beyond that, we are certainly willing to discuss possible solutions going forward with the goal of preserving this and other youth programs.”

Parents planned to address the council at its meeting Oct. 25.

‘Roadtrip Nation’ coming to UWB

University of Washington Bothell students will be visited by the popular PBS documentary TV show “Roadtrip Nation” as part of its annual fall tour from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 1.

Fans are invited to join students as they meet “Roadtrip Nation Roadies,” watch footage and enjoy music, food and RV tours. The event is free.

UW Bothell was one of 40 college campuses nationwide to be a chosen for the “Roadtrip Nation” annual fall tour.

JHS students help peer facing transplant

The Jackson High School associated student body is organizing an all-school walk fundraiser from 2:30-4:30 p.m. Nov. 2. Proceeds benefit Jackson student Kayla Healy, who has cystic fibrosis and was placed on the organ donor registry in September for a double lung transplant.

In an effort to expedite her transplant, the JHS student body will host a “Walk to Town Center” on her behalf. Students will begin at Jackson and end at the Mill Creek Town Center in hopes of raising $50,000. Donations are being accepted; $5 is recommended.

For more information, contact JHS Activities Coordinator Judi Montgomery at 425-385-7105.

Free screening of ‘Samuel’ offered

The Edmonds School District, together with the districtwide Special Education PTSA committee, is hosting a free community screening of the acclaimed documentary film, “Including Samuel,” from 7-9 p.m. Nov. 4 at the Educational Service Center, 20420 68th Ave. W, Lynnwood.

“Including Samuel” features the journey of a young boy with cerebral palsy as his family strives to include him in general education classrooms, as well as four other families with varied inclusion experiences, plus interviews with dozens of teachers, young people, parents and disability rights experts.

Programs within the school district will be highlighted in a discussion following the film. The event will be ASL interpreted. To watch a trailer of the film, visit www.includingsamuel.com. This event was made possible through a grant from the Edmonds Public Schools Foundation.

Edmonds grad to bring sex ed to Nicaragua town

Hilary Scheibert, a student representative for the Edmonds City Council in 2008 and now a junior at Bard College in New York, will spend the winter in Nicaragua with the Bard Nicaragua Exchange.

While there, Scheibert will work with Instituto Centroamericano de la Salud to produce a sexual health curriculum for the town of Chacraseca, which has some of the highest fertility rates in the world.

The costs of the trip rest on her shoulders. Scheibert is seeking grants and donations to cover the program expenses, including ensuring it can be sustained after she leaves.

Scheibert is studying political studies and public health with minors in Latin American studies and social policy.

Contact Scheibert at hilaryscheibert@gmail.com.

EdCC nabs CATCH grant for health care jobs

Edmonds Community College will begin a $7 million program to train 500 low-income adults in Snohomish County to fill critical jobs in health care thanks to a $1.4 million federal Department of Health and Human Services grant to cover the first year of the Creating Access to Careers in Healthcare (CATCH) program.

The CATCH program will combine online learning with hands-on skills labs and clinical work experience at partner health care facilities. Targeted jobs include allied health professions, such as pharmacy technician, phlebotomy technician, EKG technician Pand nursing assistant.

For more information, visit www.edcc.edu/ahe or call 425-640-1017.

Edmonds district invites capital project ideas

Applications are being accepted for the Edmonds School District’s Capital Partnership Grants, which allow community members to petition for dollars for pet projects that may not otherwise get funding.

Projects need to be of a capital nature, meaning the end result will be a durable, permanent asset for the district. Past examples include reader boards in front of schools and major athletic field improvements.

For more information, visit www.edmonds.wednet.edu. Initial applications are due Nov. 24.

Board welcomes student members

At its Sept. 21 meeting, the Edmonds School Board swore in four high school students to serve as advisers during the first semester of this school year. Mayra Aquino (Edmonds-Woodway), Sara Koopai (Edmonds-Woodway), Jazzmine Eisen (Lynnwood) and Melat Abraham (Mountlake Terrace).

Student advisers participate in board discussions and are bound by the same rules and regulations as elected board members. Student advisers do not have the right to make motions or vote.