School Briefs

Published 3:24 pm Thursday, October 2, 2008

School district

to hold computer classes

The Snoqualmie Valley School District is offering several

computer classes for community members next week. The classes, to be held at

Mount Si High School, are:

Monday, Oct. 11 – Graphics 1A, 4-6 p.m.; Graphics 1B, 6-8 p.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 13 – Internet Explorer 5.0 Introduction class, 4-6

p.m.; Internet Explorer 5.0 Review class, 6-8 p.m.

Classes to be held at Chief Kanim Middle School are:

Tuesday, Oct. 12 – PowerPoint 2A, 4-6 p.m.; Word 3A, 6-8 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 14 – PowerPoint 2B, 4-6 p.m.; Word 3B, 6-8 p.m.

All classes cost $10 per instructional hour.

You can sign up for the classes online at

www.snoqualmie.k12.wa.us, or call the staff development office

at (425) 831-8018.

US Bank announces

online scholarship program

Beginning Oct. 1, high school seniors can go online to access a

source of college scholarship dollars at www. Usbank.com/studentloans.

The US Bank Internet Scholarship Program, available only

at www.usbank.com, will award up to 25 $1,000 college scholarships to

graduates of the high school class of 2000 who plan to attend an accredited

two- or four-year college next year.

The application will be available exclusively at www.usbank.com

between Oct. 1 and March 1, 2000. Internet access is available at

most high schools and public libraries at no charge. Scholarships will be

awarded based on merit, not need, and focus on a combination of factors

including academic record, school and community involvement and the

student’s statement of goals.

Students who plan to attend a college or university participating in

the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP) in a full-time course

of study are eligible to apply. They must also be a United States citizen or

permanent resident alien and graduate from high school during the

1999-2000 academic year.

Recipients of the scholarship will be notified of their selection in

April 2000. Only high school seniors are eligible for the scholarship program.

“At US Bank, we know it’s challenging to pay for college, and that

financial aid and scholarships are becoming more and more scarce,”

said Lori Bloomberg, US Bank Product Manager. “We are pleased to

help graduating high school seniors with convenient access to another source

of funds.”

US Bank is one of the top 10 student loan lenders in the nation,

providing toll-free customer service, loan processing, and a variety of

repayment options that offer savings to students. US Bank offers the Federal

Stafford and PLUS and private alternative loan programs.

Cedarcrest schedules PSAT

Junior students in the Riverview School District are encouraged to

take the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT), a test that is similar

in format to the SAT.

The test will be given in the Cedarcrest High School commons

on Saturday, Oct. 16, from 8 a.m. until noon. The test starts at 8:30, but

you must arrive by 8 a.m. to sign in. The cost is $14.00, payable by cash

or check. Payment must be made to the ASB office by Wednesday, Oct.

13. Participating students will receive a study bulletin practice test when

they pay their fee. Students must also bring a photo ID and their social

security number.

The PSAT qualifies you for scholarships and automatically adds

your name to mailing lists for scholarship information. The test will provide

you with detailed information about where you rank in various academic

areas, compared to other college-bound students nationally. The information

obtained will relate your predicted score on the SAT, based on the PSAT score.

Concerning preparation, a standardized test such as the PSAT

measures your ability on the day you take the test. The test measures

knowledge acquired over time, so cramming is not a good strategy. The PSAT study

bulletin will discuss testing strategies and provide an opportunity to take a

practice test. Taking the practice test to familiarize yourself with the

testing format is highly recommended.

In addition, the district recommends students should get

appropriate sleep the night before; keep their personal stress level low; eat

breakfast – you will not eat again until after the exam; bring a coat or sweater

for temperature changes; and bring a calculator.

DNR offers

to K – 3 teachers

Elementary school teachers interested in teaching wildfire safety

are invited to request a free copy of the Washington Department of

Natural Resources (DNR) K-3 Fire Prevention Curriculum.

In a fun way that features Smokey Bear, the recently released

curriculum is intended to teach young students the natural role of fire in the

ecosystem. It also emphasizes three basic fire safety messages:

• Don’t play with fire.

• If you see fire or smoke, report it immediately to an adult.

• Remember…only YOU can prevent forest fires.

Teachers are invited to use the curriculum during National Fire

Safety Month, which began Oct. 1. Teachers can also place their curriculum

request now in preparation for teaching forest fire safety this spring.

Washington’s legal fire season begins April 15 and runs through Oct. 15.

Teaching fire safety makes a difference. Of the 1,100 or so

wildfires that burn every year on 12 million acres of DNR-protected land,

more than 85 percent of them are caused by people.

Developed by teachers for teachers, the curriculum has been

reviewed and approved by the Office of the Superintendent of Public

Instruction. Each learning activity is tied to the state’s Essential Academic

Learning Requirements.

In addition, an assessment rubric has been developed for each

activity. The lessons in this K-3 curriculum also are designed to fit the

learning goals of K-12, and to match the lessons students will learn later in

math, science and English.

“Fire Prevention K-3” also is unique in that it is the only

wildfire curriculum available for the K-3 age group. Included are master copies

of all materials necessary to carry out a variety of student activities.

Teachers who use this curriculum with students and then return a critique form to

DNR also will receive a full set of 16 Smokey Bear nature posters for

the classroom.

To request a free curriculum, call the DNR at (800) 527-3305 and

press extension “O” before leaving your name and address. For the hearing

impaired, phone TTY (360) 825-6381, or use the state relay service at

(800) 833-6388. Or, send your request by e-mail to fire_prevention@wadnr.gov.

For more information, call DNR Fire Prevention Specialist

Bob Bannon at (360) 902-1315, or by TTY at (360) 825-6381.

Urban League awards scholarships

A total of 24 students in the region recently received scholarships

from The Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle (ULMS). The students,

who are attending local community colleges and four-year universities

and colleges from Washington to Rhode Island, will be assisted by the

Urban League’s Scholarship program this fall. The awards in support of

local students totaled $12,000.

The Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle has a long commitment

to education and students in need. “Our goal is to expand this problem

for more dollars and more students in the coming year,” said James Kelly,

CEO of the organization.

“With the passage of I-200, there has been a decline in minority

students enrolling in higher education in Washington,” Kelly noted. “The

Urban League will continue to work with and for students to have every

advantage possible for a good education and continuing educational opportunities.”

Students interested in applying for future scholarships should contact

the ULMS at (206) 461-3792, or talk to their high school counselors.

Businesses and individuals interested in contributing to the Urban

League Scholars