Parents who are looking at options for preschool should consider Tamara Luker's Child Care class at Blackfoot High School. Open to juniors and seniors, this Family Consumer Science class welcomes children age three to five years into a preschool program put together by Ms. Luker and her students. The high school students spend the first part of the fall trimester learning about early childhood development and preparing lesson plans. The children begin visiting in November and attend twice a week through February with a break for Christmas and starting new lesson plans in January. Children ages three to four come on Tuesdays and Thursdays, those from four to five on Wednesday and Friday, from 8:30-10:30a.m.

           The students, wearing uniforms and badges, engage the children with readings from books, song and rhyme activities, and themed craft projects. They also serve them a snack, making sure their hands are clean first. The classroom features a small wooden play set built by woodworking students at the high school, and it is also equipped with a sink, tables, chairs, a wide variety of learning toys, and art and craft supplies.

           Some of the students in the class plan on pursuing careers in early childhood education, but personal interest in and enjoyment of children are the most common influences on the students, many of whom report previous experience with young children in their own families.

Talking about cowboys.

One of the day's crafts: paper horses from traced foot forms.

            Heather Polatis has always loved working with children. Throughout her life she has been involved in track, basketball, cheerleading, aerobics and running. After becoming a Certified Group Fitness Instructor, she decided to focus her efforts on helping children establish habits of fitness. While living in Florida she joined the staff of the Be Fit and Learn program, which operates on the principle that motion helps memorization. In the program, children do a range of calisthenic exercises in the classroom and memorize facts in between, guided by an instructive DVD. After schools in Florida adopted the program the students' test scores increased dramatically.

           Since moving to Blackfoot, Heather has worked as a trainer at Gold's Gym. This year, she started leading live "Learn and Be Fit" sessions at Donald D. Stalker Elementary School, where her enthusiasm and dedication have already shown results. She has seen noticeable improvements in students' physical fitness, and the school administration looks forward to the improvements the program will bring to the students' academic fitness as well.

           Heather is excited for the wide-reaching benefits that young children get from doing these exercises in the classroom, where they already spend their time learning. The exercises not only help them retain facts, but expend energy, helping them sit calmly for the rest of their lesson time. "It's a win-win situation," Heather said.

           But like the rest of us she only has 24 hours in a day, and so in order to expand the program she needs other instructors. Her first apprentice at Donald D. Stalker is Alisha Nebeker, a Title 1 paraeducator who will begin leading sessions on her own soon. Heather would welcome more interested personnel to train, so that this program can reach more students.

Heather points out the triceps.

Now put those arm muscles to use!

            The speech and debate program continues to do well at BHS under Marcy Curr's direction. 

Sven Poesgen (L) and Wyatt Anderson demonstrate a performance of "Olive Juice" in Marcy Curr's Communications class on January 9.

            Wyatt Anderson and Sven Poensgen won 1st place in duo interpretation at the Blacksnake speech and debate competition at ISU on January 4-5.  Blacksnake was one of 11 round-robin competitions held throughout the year before the district and state competitions begin in late February. 

           In addition to their drama work, Wyatt and Sven have put in hours of practice on their piece.  Although the piece was written as a dramatic duet,  the students performed it as a speech duo, meaning that they can't touch or even look at each other.  This requires precise individual timing and, interestingly, increased reliance on hearing.  "Olive Juice," written by Allen Amundsen in 2003, is about the relationship between a deaf boy and his hearing older brother.  Desperately wishing for a normal brother, Marcus gets frustrated and loses his temper when Brett's cochlear implant fails to work as expected. In the end he has to accept his brother as he is: "You're just like me. You just can't hear."  The two students performed in English and American Sign Language.  

Kenny Williams (L) and Connor Slagowski act out the story of "Horton Hears a Who" on January 16.

            Connor Slagowski and Kenny Williams won first place in duo interp at the Rim to

Rim Rally in Twin Falls, December 7-8.  Connor cut their script, meaning he edited it from other sources, in this case, from three stories by Dr. Seuss.  Their piece includes adaptations of  "Yertle the Turtle," "The Sneetches" and "Horton Hears a Who," with brief transitions between each story.  The two performers depicted many different characters by their postures, facial expressions and voice modulations.  

District Wide

1/21: Martin Luther King Day: no school.    

Blackfoot High School

1/17: GBB @ home w/ Bonneville 6:00 9/JV 7:30 V.

Gem State Honor Band.

1/18: BW @ Tiger/Griz Tournament 3:00.

BBB @ home w/Pocatello 6:00  9/JV 7:30 V.

1/19: BW @ Tiger/Griz Tournament 3:00.

1/21: Inservice: no school.

1/22: GBB @ home w/Pocatello 6:00 9/JV 7:30 V.

BHS Choir Presentation.

Independence Alternative High School

1/18: End Block 6.  3 pm orientation.

1/21: Start Block 7.   

Mountain View Middle School

1/17: 7:30 pm.  Parent/Teacher Conferences in gym.

4:30 pm.  Basketball: MVMS at Sandcreek.

1/22: 4:30 pm.  Basketball: Madison at MVMS.

1/23: 7 pm.  National Junior Honor Society Induction Ceremony.

1/24: 4:30 pm.  Basketball: Rigby at MVMS.

1/25: "Team Up Against Drugs": wear a team jersey to school.

1/29: 4:30 pm.  Basketball: Taylorview at MVMS.

1/31: 4:30 pm.  Basketball: MVMS at Eagle Rock. 

Blackfoot Sixth Grade School

1/17: Parent/Teacher conference.

1/21: Inservice - no school. 

Donald D. Stalker Elementary School

Groveland Elementary School

Tuesdays and Thursdays, 3-4:15 pm: Jump Rope Club.  

I.T. Stoddard Elementary School

1/18: 4th Grade Sing Along.

1/24: McTeacher Night at McDonald's.

1/31: Midterm report cards sent home. 

Tuesdays and Thursdays, 3-4:15 pm: Jump Rope Club. 
 

Wapello Elementary School

1/25: Freaky Friday, Sock Day. 

Irving Kindergarten Center