16 • March 2012
community
Kindergarten registration starts this month From staff reports
Several area schools will begin kindergarten registration in March for the 2012-13 school year. Central Valley, East Valley, Freeman and West Valley school districts begin registrations on different days throughout the month. Some private schools in the Valley area also offer opportunities for families with kindergarten students to enroll or learn more about their schools. A child must be 5 years old on or before Aug. 31 in order to be eligible for kindergarten in any of the public school districts. Admission requirements include an official, state-certified birth certificate and proof of residency in the district, such as a rental agreement or copy of a current electric bill with a home address. In addition, Washington state law requires all students to be immunized before enrolling in school, so parents must bring an up-to-date immunization record. Registration dates vary by district: • Central Valley: Begins 8 a.m. March 15 at the child’s home school. For more information, go to www.cvsd.org/kindergarten.asp. • East Valley: Begins March 6 at neighborhood schools. For more information, go to www.evsd.org. • Freeman: Starts March 26 at the elementary office. For more information, call 291-4791. • West Valley: Begins March 5 at neighborhood schools. For more information, go to www.wvsd.com. Private and parochial schools also offer various dates for families to enroll their kindergarten students: • Valley Christian School will host a kindergarten visitation day 1 to 3 p.m. March 7 at the school, 10212 E. 9th Ave. in Spokane Valley. Interested parents can reserve a spot by calling 924-9131. • The kindergarten registration deadline for Pioneer School, 618 N. Sullivan Road in Spokane Valley, is March 15, although spots often fill before that deadline, according to Director Betty BurleyWolf. For enrollment information, call 922-7818. • St. John Vianney, 501 N. Walnut Road in Spokane Valley, will begin registration for new families on April 16. For more information, email sfloresdavis@ dioceseofspokane.org.
The Current
Charity benefit planned for 4-year-old fighting leukemia By Kimberly Cauvel Current Correspondent
A network of community members from the Spokane Valley and surrounding areas are rallying around a local family in a growing effort referred to as “Team Tristan.” A special event March 3 is the latest example of their efforts. A benefit concert featuring local musicians Luke Jaxon and Tanner Rowe and an auction will be hosted at the Black Diamond, 9614 E. Sprague in Spokane Valley, to raise funding for the family’s battle against leukemia. A $5 cover charge for the event will go directly to the family, as well as any proceeds from the auction. The auction begins at 7 p.m., with the band playing at 9 p.m. Tristan Seubert, who celebrated his fourth birthday Feb. 19, was diagnosed with leukemia on New Year’s Eve following a week-long bout of severe flu-like symptoms. He has spent 2012 undergoing steroid and chemotherapy treatments at a hospital in Tacoma. He is currently following a three-year treatment plan and may require treatment for the rest of his life. His family said he is responding well to treatment, however, and has expressed confidence in his recovery and appreciation for the upcoming fundraiser. “We are so very moved, touched and thankful for all of those that put together this benefit,” Tristan’s father, Mark Seubert, said. “With everyone's love, care, prayers and support, Tristan will be a cancer survivor.” Leukemia is a cancer of the blood cells, which starts in the bone marrow where blood cells originate. Healthy bone marrow produces white blood cells that are a key component of the immune system, red blood cells that provide the body with oxygen flow and platelets which help blood clot as needed for healing. With leukemia, abnormal white blood cells are introduced into the body and cause an array of symptoms. The most common leukemia seen in children is acute lymphoblastic leukemia, which Tristan is fighting. Tristan is the only child of Mark and Jill Seubert, who recently relocated to Federal Way from Spokane Valley as new owners of the Federal Way Grocery Outlet. Both of the Seuberts grew up in the Spokane area, and both come from close-knit families. Several family members and friends will be attending the upcoming benefit to show support for Tristan. If Tristan’s physicians deem him OK to travel, he and his mom may even make an appearance. Heidi Johnson, Tristan’s godmother, and
If you go ... WHAT: Team Tristan fundraiser and Luke Jaxon Band concert; $5 cover charge and auction to benefit 4-year-old battling leukemia WHEN: 7 p.m. March 3 WHERE: Black Diamond, 9614 E. Sprague, Spokane Valley FOR MORE: www.teamtristan. blogspot.com HOW YOU CAN HELP: In addition to the benefit concert, donations can be made to the “Tristan Seubert Benefit” bank account at any Bank of Fairfield location, including in Spokane Valley on 32nd and Pines. Julie Primmer, Tristan’s cousin, started arranging fundraising for Tristan’s medical bills after they found out he didn’t have insurance. They organized a spaghetti feed at Freeman High School on Tristan’s birthday and said it was a success. They hope to draw a large crowd to the benefit concert as well. Johnson and Jill Seubert are life-long friends who grew up across the street from each other in Rockford. The two were in each other’s weddings, and Johnson was in the room when Tristan was born. She said he is a “trooper,” energetic and full of life, and is often equipped with one-liners that will inspire a laugh. A few weeks ago, when he was ready to be released from the hospital and the doctor asked him if he was ready to go, he responded pointedly with “show me the exit.” “He is so funny and keeps you on your feet,” Johnson said. “(There’s) never a dull moment.” While his primary dislike has become hospital stays and folks in scrubs, Tristan’s biggest obsession is trains. His birthday was complete this year with Thomas the Train decorations and party plates, and he was thrilled to open a build-it-yourself GeoTrax train set. Primmer arranged a similar fundraiser two years ago for her brother, who died of leukemia. She is a resident of Liberty Lake and local real estate agent. The owner of the Black Diamond is one of her clients, and Jaxon is a friend of hers. Jaxon is a local pop-country musician who was born and raised in Millwood. Tanner Rowe, also a Spokane native and local musician, is a friend of Jaxon’s and occasionally sits in with the Luke Jaxon Band.
Submitted photos
It has been quite a 2012 for Tristan Seubert, who was taken to the hospital New Year’s Eve after a week of severe, flu-like symptoms. By Jan. 8 (above), he was well into treatments for leukemia. A bright spot was his Thomas the Train-themed fourth birthday party on Feb. 19 (below).
Both musicians work full-time jobs, Jaxon at Radio Spokane and Rowe with a national mineral exploration company. The two always enjoy performing but are particularly excited to contribute to the benefit for Tristan. “Myself and my bandmates are proud to be volunteering to play for such a great cause,” Jaxon said. “And why not have a killer party in the mean time? We have played at the Black Diamond a few times before and have always had a great experience. There is plenty to do there, including a dance floor.” For the March 3 event, the Black Diamond’s bar will host a silent auction beginning at 7 p.m., with a live auction following. Johnson said local businesses have provided an array of donations for the auction. “We can’t believe the support we have received from our family and our friends — it’s overwhelming,” Jill Seubert said. “No parent should have to go through this, but if they do, we hope they have the support system that we do. We are so proud to come from where we come.”