SCHOOL ZONE | School Newsletter for Siuslaw News | Winter 2019
SCHOOL ZONE A Monthly Newsletter for the Siuslaw & Mapleton School Districts and Community Groups
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Students from Florence, Mapleton and Reedsport elementary schools will be competing at the Elks Lodge Hoop Shoot on Saturday, Jan. 26. Competitors must be between the ages of 8 and 13 years old. The Hoop Shoot will take place at the Siuslaw Elementary School Gymnasium, 2221 Oak St., from 9 to 11 a.m. All athletes wishing to participate will be shooting 10 free throws to qualify for the final shoot off of 15 more free throws. The top boy and girl finishers in each division may qualify for the expense-paid district-wide shoot off in Tillamook, Ore., on Feb. 2. If the athletes make it there, they will shoot at the statewide competition in Silverton on Feb. 16. If successful at that level, the Florence Elks Lodge #1858 will send that student and a parent to the national shoot off in Chicago. Parents, friends and family are welcome to attend the competition. The three age divisions for both boys and girls are the 8 and 9 group, 10 and 11 group and 12 and 12 group. Those eligible to participate are required to be 8 years old on or before April 1, and cannot become 14 on or before April 1.
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Elks Lodge sponsors Hoop Shoot Jan. 26
CING THE 2 U D O 0 R 1 T D R N O E N D CO 9 IN O D O U H
COURT PHOTO BY JO BEAUDREAU
ast week, the Florence Area Chamber of Commerce Rhody Court committee announced the Senior Court of Florence’s 2019 Rhododendron Festival, which will be held May 17 to 19. The Senior Princesses are Falon Borgnino, Hope Garcia, Heaven Lewis, Madison Reynolds, Ella Stidham, Noelle Trammelle-Stone, Aylenne Vazquez and Marissa Wells. The Senior Princes are Phoenix Brazille, Timothy Lowder, Patrick Rowley and Mason Wampler (inset picture from Siuslaw’s football season). “You might be saying, ‘My what a large group this year’ — and you would be right,” said Rhody Court Committee member Wendy Krause. “All of these kids are awesome and we are so excited to get to work with them this year.” In addition to the large Senior Court, the 2019 Junior Court features eight Junior Princesses, many from Siuslaw Elementary. These are firstgraders KayDee Butler and Adrienna Sneddon; second-grader Addison Ott; third-graders Payton Halverson and Noah Williams, who together represent the Mapleton School District; fourth-grader Abigail Stevenson; and fifth-graders Daisy Robledo and Cheyanne Wiesner. “If you see the court around town, make sure to say ‘Hi!’” Krause said. The members of the Rhody Court begin their activities this week and will start to be seen at events around town as they start their button campaigns and interact with the community.
Siuslaw Vision survey looks into education experiences The Siuslaw Vision is doing a study of education and learning in the Siuslaw Region and is soliciting community input through a questionnaire. “We’re hoping to hear from those with different education and learning experiences — from those learning and teaching in our schools to those who attend workshops and lectures in the community, to those who learn at home through YouTube videos, books or hands-on experiences,” said Stephanie Sarles, Siuslaw Vision coordinator. The survey, which takes 10 to 20 minutes to complete, is available at www.rivercal.org/education. Those who complete the survey and provide their contact information will be entered in a drawing for a $50 Visa gift card. Names will not be linked to survey responses. The Vision will share the results of the education impact study in early 2019 through RiverCal.org and community events. For more information, please call 541-590-2425 or email SiuslawVision@gmail.com. Siuslaw Vision is a grassroots effort to improve quality of life for residents living in the western Lane County area, including Deadwood, Swisshome, Mapleton, Florence and Dunes City. It focuses on six inclusive elements, all centered on the people of the Siuslaw region: jobs and the economy; health and human services; lifelong learners; infrastructure and public services; arts and culture; and recreation and the outdoors. For more information, visit www. SiuslawVision.org.
Winter Music Festival brings back the Kiwanis Kids Concert Katie Jane Lubiens will bring her ‘Ameri-Celtic’ sound to exclusive pre-festival concert
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n January, the 2019 Winter Music Festival will bring back crowd pleasers and debut new performers at the Florence Events Center (FEC), 715 Quince St. Featuring the Kiwanis Kids Concert, Friday Night Bluegrass, Americana and a variety of music, the festival returns for the 17th year Jan. 25 to 27, 2019. “We’re very excited about our lineup,” said festival chairperson Rachel Pearson. The Friends of the FEC underwrite the event and this year’s presenting sponsor is Sea Lion Caves. One festival event brings nearly 900 people to fill the FEC’s theater: The Winter Music Festival Kids Concert, sponsored by Kiwanis Club of Florence. “Earlier this year, the Florence Kiwanis Club informed the Friends of the Florence Events Center and the Winter Music Festival Committee of its decision to provide a substantial annual gift in support of the Kids Concerts,” Pearson said. This sponsorship, along with support from Mapleton Community Foundation and the Florence Elks Lodge #1858 and the Ladies of Elks, has kept the Kids Concert going for 16 years. “People have always supported (the Kids Concert), but we have a strong base of support now,” said Friends of the FEC President Kirk Mlinek. “With Kiwanis coming on, it just shows the strength of the program Rachel has put together.” Pearson has been the active force behind the Kids Concert, which brings
Violinist Katie Jane Lubiens together the kindergarten through fifthgrade classes at Siuslaw, Mapleton and Highland elementary schools. “Last year’s performers were hugely popular with the kids,” Pearson said. “We cram in as many kids as we can in
the two shows. It’s close to 900 students. We have incredible support from the teachers, (the principals at) at Siuslaw, Mapleton and Reedsport elementary schools and the bus drivers who make it all happen.”
“It’s just a really powerful event and a great way to kick off the festival each year,” Mlinek added. This year’s performer is Katie Jane Lubiens and her “AmeriCeltic” music and storytelling. She is both a vocalist and a fiery violinist. Lubiens grew up in the Bay Area of California, where she studied classical violin under the acclaimed teacher Nance Mitchell, and then under the world touring gypsy violinist Greg Mazmanian. She was the concert mistress of Sequoia Middle School, Ygnacio Valley High School, Young People’s Youth Orchestra, Young Artists Symphony Orchestra, Cazadero Music Camp and Stanislaus Music Camp as a young musician. She also competed in honor orchestra, small ensemble and solo ensemble, placing top performer in each division. “We’re here for a purpose, we’re here for a reason, and music is our conduit,” Mlinek said of the Winter Music Festival. Music, and the arts, are what draw people to events like these, he said. The lineup for the Winter Music Festival includes folk, bluegrass, Americana and gospel music. On that Saturday and Sunday, Florence Regional Arts Alliance is holding the Winter Arts Festival, a free event, alongside the Winter Music Festival. It will feature artists and artisans and their high-quality works. For more information, visit www. wintermusicfestival.org.