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Show T 1 THE PARK RECORD www.park record.com WEDTHURSFRI, MARCH 31 -APRIL 2, 2004 A-9 EDUCATION EDITOR: Jennifer R. Merback 649-9014 ext.1 18 educationparkrecord.com Joducation C Briefs Congratulations Parte City Academy has been regionally region-ally accredited by the Northwest Association of Schools and of Colleges and Universities. The school was first accredited with the association associa-tion in 1997, and is one of 1,656 schools in the region and 36,000 schools nationwide to maintain regional region-al accreditation. The association accredits schools based on whether the school has met the association's prescribed quantitative and qualitative standards, within the terms of the school's own stated mission and beliefs. Park City resident Jennifer Sibbett has been re-elected an officer of the Associated Students of Westminster College for the 2004-05 academic year. A senior at the college, Sibbett is majoring in chemistry. She will continue contin-ue to serve as a senator representing the college's pure and applied science programs. A 2002 graduate of Park City High School, she is the daughter of Michael and Joyce Sibbett. Chloe and Ethan Harlig placed first in their respective grades in Jeremy Ranch Elementary School's annual science fair. This is the first time that a sister and brother have won their division. divi-sion. Chloe's fourth-grade project was "The Extreme . Gum Chew Off and Ethan's first-grade project was "The Great BIG Chew Off." While both experiments dealt with the same subject sub-ject - does sugarless or sugared gum retain its flavor longer - their projects were done on an individual basis with different hypotheses, procedures and materials. Traverse wall will cross the curriculum Treasure Mountain staff and parents work to make it happen By JENNIFER R. MERBACK Of the Record staff After months of research and planning, Treasure Mountain Middle School is getting get-ting a traverse wall in their fitness center. "Everybody has worked together on this." said community council member and TMMS parent Lisa Kirchenheiter. The wall began as an idea physical education edu-cation teacher Charles Torrey had a couple cou-ple of years ago when TMMS was remodeled. remod-eled. His idea was put on hold until last fall when Kirchenheiter happened to stop in to see him. "I thought it was a good idea, but Chuck said we needed parents' help," said Kirchenheiter. Next, Kirchenheiter went to Principal Bob O'Connor to make sure he was behind the idea and then began the Internet research, visits to other schools and conversations with the Utah State Office of Education and district staff. Business Administrator Von Hortin steered Kirchenheiter toward Risk Management. Because it's a traverse wall -across, not straight up and down - Risk Management approved the plan. "Kids won't have their feet above 3 feet off the ground," said Torrey. Part of the research included finding out how many injuries arc caused using the wall. "The number-one injury is a sprained ankle. I've seen more broken fingers in flag football," said Torrey. "Locally, USOE hasnl had anything worth reporting," said Kirchenheiter. Parents will also be required to sign a release form as part of registration in the fall. Torrey says additional release forms for PE classes may be required, as well. "Students have to agree to follow the rules or they won't climb the wall," he said. When not in use, the wall will be securely locked behind hanging mats with a cable looped through the mats. The fitness fit-ness center will also be locked. The wall will be 75 feet wide by 8 feet tall, and meets the core health and fitness requirements. "Everyone thinks of PE as team sports, but we're not hitting enough lifetime sports. The wall will be part of the lifetime" ----- - - e rf 'v lu..-?ij- .... - j - i . -"( '.''- . . -V j " ' ' i - i.r, ii ;.. Jr Mlt nf, . ' I' I " ' ' . . JL ' x i"" ". ' i , . i - -- . i i L . t- 1 w t'r'wy r-, fc ; . i i , 'L , ; ' , ' "' "' T ''!, Ll-C... - -i - -.. - , -. , :rrrrr -s i j L irizzi!I.rXiTT" J - ; - i ; ' "' ' " r - - - - .... JL ..r .iu , j t 1 , ''-y v,... V - ' . ..-4i'-" If A 1C. ' -. - J - . 3 1 . 1 1 . ' . r -7 ' a " - a --" iFfgii 1 1 till tiil liil, ! MtuWfc I, ifW.f.-Jm-antiitf mi,-i jtn.-a GRAYSON WESTR4RK RECORD Treasure Mountain Middle School physical education teacher Charles Torrey points to the area in the fitness center where a traverse climbing wall will be installed. fitness activities." said Torrey. Other teachers plan on taking advantage advan-tage of the wall, too. Across the curriculum, curricu-lum, the wall can be used in foreign language lan-guage classes as students practice giving and following directions in another language. lan-guage. In language arts class, kids can diagram dia-gram sentences or work on their visual and auditory processes while climbing the wall. And in math, the wall can be used to teach multiplication, problem-solving and more. Torrey adds thai some walls even feature a whiteboard or a texture perfect for sticky notes. "It's fun to listen to how creative the teachers are being," said Kirchenheiter. Torrey has a master's degree in therapeutic thera-peutic recreation and is experienced in ropes courses, so working with special education and handicapped children on the wall will be possible. "The resource teachers are excited Chuck can work with the students." said Kirchenheiter. Fellow PE teacher Wanda Taylor and Torrey have attended special training courses and plan on training staff and students stu-dents to use the wall safely. Part of the training included preliminary exercises to build a rapport and trust among students. "The activities will also make it so we don't have 50 people on the wall at once." said Torrey. The wall is being funded by PE fees and the Parent Teacher Student Organization has offered to help, too. No district money is being requested. The cost estimate is aroundVi,(M)()-$7,0()0. Because the cost is over $2,(XX), TMMS had to get approval from the1 schMl board before proceeding. Alter two presentations to members, the board voted to approve the wall at the last meeting. Now. the Request for Proposal process is underway, with companies bidding bid-ding for the job of providing the wall. Torrey hopes to have it in by the end of the school year. As do the students. "I think it's really, really cool. I cannot wait for it to be in." said eighth-grader Elisabeth Archer. "We're just antsy to get the wall up," added eighth-grader Kelly McClelland. Kirchenheiter and Torrey say the wall would not have been possible without O'Connor's support. "Bob made it happen," said Kirchenheiter. Torrey adds that it was a group effort. "Without Lisa. Wanda and Bob it wouldn't he happening," he s;iid -H rrP ' sCfiCB' W I van m & ftfe (mrnsm Mm nit,; ii& flit'TiH$iV4l4iXri -ioriw t M5rt Tstatci -TP in V "M :: (ill&J LA-- "J II ipID 33 VI C It il M t itoutirttihli lUtili. itWJi IkEm Congratulations! Craig Reece 2003 Top Producer Prudential Utah Real Estate, Park City's 1 Real Estate Company Craig Reece CRS, Associate Broker Phone: 435-647-8017 Toll Free: 800-553-4666 CraigDeerValleySpecialist.com www.DeerValleySpecialist.com 31 ZIC I 111 II ilu rMf Has ci ,t$v a aifir ii 1,1 |