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Show Volume III, Issue IV THE OGDEN VALLEY NEWS Page 13 December 15, 2000 “Read for the Gold—Take the Reading Challenge” “Read for the Gold—Take the Reading Challenge” is an exciting community-wide service learning reading thrust. Elementary and secondary students in Ogden Valley, parents, community members, seniors, and preschoolers can all participate. The Read for the Gold program has been developed by teachers at both Valley Elementary and Snowcrest Jr. High in an effort to enhance existing reading programs in both schools, and to carry those programs into the realms of volunteerism and community service. It incorporates the flavor of the Olympics as participants earn each level (or ring) and completes criteria for final project goals and awards. Participants from toddlers to seniors should use a criteria sheet and complete it by the end of each academic year. The first “ring” was earned at the end of the 1998 -1999 school year. Student participants complete objectives that include an aspect of volunteerism. They may read to senior citizens, toddlers, and peers. They may volunteer at the public library by offering a book review, prepare a puppet show based on a book they’ve read, or create posters or web sites that laud the merits and enjoyment of reading. They may complete their Superintendent Summer Reading Awards, log a certain numbers of hours reading, and read different genres of books in an effort to improve reading in the content areas. Adults can complete similar tasks, but can also purchase and endorse books that are then given to a school or public library. They may tape record a book that is needed by a teacher or one that could be used in a media center. They may volunteer at a school as an effort to help with the school’s reading program, tutoring in this way for curriculum improvement. Each objective carries with it the element of volunteerism and service learning. At the successful completion of criteria for the 1998-1999, 1999-2000, 2000-2001, 2001-2002 school years, the participant will be asked to complete a master’s project. The project will be the creation of the participant, subject only to approval of teachers at the schools. Yearend awards will include a pin (hopefully a coveted one), and goal completion allows the participant to be in a drawing for prizes. Many adults and children have expressed their excitement and delight in having an organized reading movement wherein they have specific tasks that will prove to be an invaluable asset to the entire community. Student endorsements have been positive and touching. Many of them have ‘found’ grandmas and grandpas, or have had all the brothers and sisters of the toddlers to whom they are reading gathered at their feet, listening to the reading with pleasure and attentiveness. New to the program? Complete the form for every year missed and receive pins that will catch you up to this year. Pins are available at Valley Elementary and at Snowcrest Jr. High. Sixth Graders Help Special Needs Children Every year sixth grade classes prepare a tree to donate to the Christmas Tree Express—a fundraiser where trees are auctioned off. Students make the ornaments, and the tree is then auctioned off. One hundred percent of the money generated by this auction goes to help special needs students in Weber and Ogden School Districts. The money is used to purchase equipment that the students need in order to facilitate learning. Sixth grade teachers at Valley chose the decorating theme “Goldilocks and the Three Bears.” The ensemble included two trees (one larger than the other). Both were handmade with the help of our local fire department. Decorations included a queen-sized puff quilt that was cut and sewn together by sixth graders and parent volunteers; 12 porcelain dolls donated by Beverly Hansen; a log cabin doll house with furniture put together by sixth grade students with help from Mr. Pete Rasmussen; and a rag rug tree skirt, braided and woven with gold rib- bon. Sixth grade students and parent volunteers also made mama, papa, and baby bear beds from weed stalks, and other decorations from natural materials. The Scott Storey family and the John Bowen family donated cut wood for mama, papa, and baby bear heads that were assembled and decorated by students. When everything was completed, the Baggs family and the Jordans brought vans and trucks to help haul everything to the Eccles Conference Center were the fundraiser was held. These wonderful volunteers stayed with sixth grade teachers until the trees were set up and the ensemble was ready for auction. The trees garnered hundreds of dollars to buy the supplies that will be used by needy the students. A special thanks to everyone for a memorable, creative, and fun service activity. As student Connie Baggs stated, “The trees were beautiful when we were done.” Sixth grade student Dusty Jordan said, “It was cool!” Three Day Holiday Craft Workshop Offered A Holiday Craft Workshop will be offered on Wednesday, December 20, from 3:45 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., during the Ogden Valley Branch Library’s regular After School Program, as well as on Thursday, December 21, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.; and on Friday, December 22, from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. School aged children and their caregivers are invited to have fun making wrapping paper, cards, gifts, and ornaments. Light refreshments will be served. Please contact Sharol Warner or Ruth Sullivan at the Ogden Valley Branch Library at 745-2220 if you would like more information. NEED A FAMILY PHOTO FAST (and easy)?? I do informal, natural light portraits. Indoor or outdoor. I come to you. We can shoot at your home or a nearby Valley location. We can shoot at Powder Mountain in your ski gear. Sittings are short and painless. Proofs are ready in 3 days. Prints will be done in 3 or more. (I can rush it if weíre having an emergency.) Sitting fee packages start at $20, or you can create your package at $5.00 a sheet. Orders of $50.00 or more get negatives. For more information or to schedule a sitting, call Sherry Hogge @ Happy Holidays from deborah hegg Associate Broker - CRS Valley Photo & Custom Printing “Simply The Best” Huntsville, UT (801) 644-22277 See the Valley’s homes at www.deborahhegg.com Office: 801-745-0100 Cell: 801-745-1548 2555 N. Wolf Creek Drive Eden, Utah 84310 |