IN OUR SCHOOLS: Grafton teacher awarded study tour to Costa Rica

A Grafton teacher is on a study tour in Costa Rica with 24 other U.S. teachers after being awarded the opportunity through the Toyota International Teacher Program.

Elizabeth Anderson-Molde, a sixth-grade teacher from Grafton Central Middle School, left April 18 and was scheduled to return Saturday. The program was a collaboration among educators to encourage environmental stewardship among their students and communities, a news release said.

The Toyota International Teacher Program is an international study tour for secondary teachers of all disciplines focused on promoting environmental conservation and sustainability, as well as global understanding.

A new element to this year's trip was the creation of the Toyota4Education.com wiki, established to serve as a virtual classroom and provide updates during the program. It enabled teachers to communicate their experiences in real time with their schools and communities by blogging, posting photos and lesson plans and by corresponding with their students.

Before departing for Costa Rica, the American teachers gathered at Everglades National Park in Miami for a brief orientation and exploration of the Everglades biosphere. While in Costa Rica, experts educated Anderson-Molde and her fellow program participants on sustainable development, agronomy, ecotourism and other conservation practices.

The 25 participating teachers represent 22 states, and were selected through a competitive, merit-based process administered by the Institute of International Education in Washington, D.C.

Minnesota State Speech

East Grand Forks Senior High School senior Chantel Thompson placed second in her category at the Minnesota High School State Speech Meeting April 17-18 at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minn.

Students competed in three rounds of competition. The top eight speakers in each of 13 categories advanced to a final round where they were evaluated by three judges.

Thompson, competing in the category of informative speaking, had as her topic the television program "Sesame Street," its conception and its affect on viewers. She has been part of Senior High's speech team for four years.

Thompson plans to attend UND and is interesting in majoring in English, a news release said. She has been accepted into the Honors Program and plans to attend law school.

Senior High's Matthew Radi also participated at state in the category of prose and eighth-grader Erika Pritchett in informative speaking.

N.D. History Day

Twenty-nine students who placed first or second at the North Dakota History Day state contest in Bismarck can advance to the National History Day contest at the University of Maryland June 14-18, where top prizes include college scholarships. An additional seven students are alternates.

Students statewide from public schools and home schools participated with exhibits, performances, documentaries, papers and Web sites on historical subjects featuring the theme "The Individual in History: Actions and Legacies." The program was hosted by the State Historical Society of North Dakota. Area winners, the schools they represented and their topics:

• Senior Individual Documentary: First, Sarah Lunde, St. Thomas, N.D., Public, "Carrie Nation"; second, Ross Oihus, St. Thomas, N.D., Public, "Al Capone"; third, Erica Kennelly, St. Thomas, N.D., Public, "Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony: Women's Suffrage."

• Senior Paper: First, Ariel Bialik, Schroeder Middle School, Grand Forks, "How FDR Saved American Democracy"; second, Abby Papenfuss, St. Thomas, N.D., Public, "The Facts Behind the Fiction of Forrest Gump."

North Dakota State History Day competition was April 3 at the North Dakota Heritage Center.

Bullying prevention

A bullying prevention information session for parents and school officials has been scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday at the Park River (N.D.) Community Room.

Participants can learn how they can work together to prevent bullying in school and the community, a news release said. Information will be presented by Emilia S. Boeschen, MA, FCHC Psychology Intern. Information: Ruth Jelinek, (701) 284-6747.

Students meet author

First- and second-grade students from East Grand Forks Sacred Heart Elementary School participated in the Campbell Library Author Workshop with David LaRochelle on April 16.

LaRochelle has written and illustrated more than 25 books including picture books, puzzle books, craft books and books for young adults. A native Minnesotan, he lives in White Bear Lake, Minn., and his first book was published in 1988. The former elementary school teacher is now a full-time writer and illustrator.

The Sacred Heart classes taught by Kristi Seim, Colleen Stinar and Judi Roberts participated.

Learning character through drama

Students at Riverside Christian School in East Grand Forks were entertained and informed by the drama cast from Grand Forks Red River High School in a high energy performance focused on the Six Pillars of Character promoted in the Grand Forks Public Schools. The drama featured three different stories using creativity, dance, singing and to communicate the importance of students living out respect, trust, responsibility, citizenship, caring and fairness.

The Red River students have been conducting similar performances for 18 years at area public and private schools.

Grand Forks Girls State

Five juniors from Grand Forks have been chosen to attend North Dakota Girls State May 31 through June 5 at UND. They are Michelle Cleveland and Hadley Eickhof of Red River High School and Logan McManus, Kirstie Jensen and Keira Marie Kalenze of Central High School

The American Legion Auxiliary sponsors Girls State to teach activities of city, county and state government, including the campaign and election process and how government works.

Sacred Heart NHS

National Honor Society of Sacred Heart High School, East Grand Forks, inducted new members. It honors students who excel in scholarship, service, leadership and character.

Sacred Heart NHS members are Jana Beattie, Kaylee Bushy, Shyanne Driscoll, David Ewens, Karissa Hanson, Krystin Hughes, Alyssa Huot, Morgan Kaiser, Ashlyn Krijci, Joanna Mitzel, Shayla O'Leary, Samantha Reimer, Darcy Roach, Rachel Scheving, Abby Schoenborn, Ashley Schomer, Kristen Stinar, Matthew Thompson and Christine Zavarol. Kathleen Twite is adviser.

Spring recital

Riverside Christian School, East Grand Forks, held a Spring Piano Recital for 23 students ranging from ages 5 to 12 included three home-schooled students.

Nearly 100 people attended and enjoyed 37 songs. Piano teachers Steph Johnson, Mary Townsend and Alana Rustad hosted the event and provided private instruction for three weeks preceding the recital.

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