Students at Eastgate Elementary in Kennewick have raised over $1,000 through a coin drive to help their school counselor's daughter, who has a rare blood disorder and recently underwent a stem cell transplant.
Members of the K-Kids Club at Eastgate came up with the idea to raise money for Jaime Conrad Picker, 31, of West Richland, who has myelodysplastic syndrome, a condition in which the bone marrow doesn't make enough healthy blood cells.
Picker's mom, Sue Conrad, has been Eastgate's school counselor for years. She's on leave from her position to help her daughter through the transplant and recovery.
The K-Kids Club is sponsored by Kiwanis Club of the Horse Heaven Hills. The student adviser is Michele Larabee.
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Student clubs in Kennewick face restrictions
Student clubs in Kennewick face restrictions
All student clubs, including those that provide community service, were restricted during an effort to give more access to gay-straight alliances in Kennewick schools.
After discussing how much access gay-straight alliances ought to have in Kennewick schools for nearly a year, the school board Wednesday unanimously approved a new policy. It created more limits for all noncurricular student clubs.
One teacher at the board meeting feared the new rule would make community service clubs such as the Key Club inoperative.
Letter Best: Student's perspective 9-11-11
Letter Best: Student's perspective 9-11-11
I am a high school senior and vice president of Kamiakin High School's chapter of National Honor Society. NHS is a club that aims to create a better community through service projects while maintaining focus on the four pillars of our club: citizenship, leadership, academics, and character.
In the past, Kamiakin's NHS members have helped with projects such as Relay for Life and have worked to raise money for the Tri-City Cancer Center during Pink Week. However, because of the school board's new policies, NHS is no longer able to function in any of the Kennewick schools, just because our school board does not want to allow a gay-straight alliance to form at our schools.
The school board doesn't seem to realize by making these new policies they are not only hurting students who support gay-straight alliances, but existing clubs like NHS which aim to better our community.
Kennewick should re-visit decision on school clubs
Kennewick should re-visit decision on school clubs
The Kennewick School Board made a huge mistake when it decided to restrict all high school clubs in order to limit gay-straight alliances on campus.
According to federal law, all high school clubs must be treated equally. But instead of allowing GSAs the same privileges as other clubs that have been around for years, the school board went the other way and decided to reduce privileges for all.
It appears the thought of encouraging GSAs on campus is so abhorrent, it's better to limit all clubs than give GSA members access to public address systems, yearbooks and school newspapers.
Richland schools: Donahoe
Richland schools: Donahoe
We have been lucky to be able to raise our kids in the Richland School District. Even in challenging times, the district has maintained quality sports and arts programs, school facilities, extracurricular activities, clubs, classes for a variety of students and quality teachers, all of which prepare our kids for their roles in the global community.
I met Rick Donahoe about five years ago when he was helping my kids build set pieces for a middle school play. I've had the opportunity to see him interact with students, parents and teachers. I've attended school board meetings, and in recent months I've asked Rick many questions about our schools and the district. He has a thorough understanding of the issues and needs of the district.
Rick Donahoe is highly educated, thoughtful and wise. As a parent, I am confident he will continue to keep the students and programs of the district his priority. As a taxpayer, I feel that his business acumen makes him a valuable member of the school board, especially with
Successful event
Successful event
The three Soroptimist clubs in the Tri-Cities have joined forces to raise awareness of the growing issue of Human Trafficking. We are so thankful for the support we received on Oct. 28 for the public forum, where state Attorney General Rob McKenna spoke on the issue, with comments from state Sen. Jerome Delvin. Both men are working to strengthen state laws.
In addition, we are thankful for Khurshida Begum, a trafficking survivor from Olympia who took time from her schedule to tell her story. Our thanks also to Lloyd Swain and his crew at Charter Communications for taping the forum for replay on Charter's public channel; to Rich Cummins, at Columbia Basin College, for letting us use the Performing Arts Theatre and giving a welcome address; to Lupe Perez for coordinating CBC arrangements; to Yesenia Lazaro, the CBC Associated Student Body president; CBC students for their co-sponsorship, help in promoting the event and for providing a thought-provoking exhibit; and last but not least, our thanks to all of the
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