OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK — Thirty-six people removed a total of 1,200 pounds of litter from the roadsides of U.S. Highway 101 around Lake Crescent earlier this month.
Olympic National Park staff, Lake Crescent Lodge employees and Student Conservation Association volunteers scoured both sides of the 12-mile stretch of roadway along Lake Crescent on May 16, said park spokeswoman Barb Maynes.
In addition to 600 pounds of trash and 200 pounds of tires, 400 pounds of recyclable cans and bottles were collected and recycled, she said.
“We appreciate our staff and volunteers who came together to safely clean the Lake Crescent roadside and the staff who stayed behind at their regular work to continue serving visitors and protecting the park,” said Olympic National Park Superintendent Sarah Creachbaum.
Senior nutrition
PORT ANGELES — Port Angeles Senior Nutrition Site dinners will be served at 4 p.m. today through Friday at the Port Angeles Senior Center, 328 E. Seventh St.
A suggested donation is $5 for those who are 60 or older.
People younger than 60 can attend for $8.
Reservations should be made 24 hours in advance to 360-457-8921.
Menus are subject to change.
■ Today: Green salad, shepherd’s pie, steamed spinach, oatmeal muffin and orange slices.
■ Thursday: Beef salad, corn beef and Swiss sandwich, roasted potatoes and pears.
■ Friday: Spinach salad, turkey pot pie, green beans and apricots.
Talk slated on Tribal Canoe Journey
PORT ANGELES — Charlotte Penn and guests will share stories of this year’s Tribal Canoe Journey to Bella Bella in Canada.
The presentation is from 12:35 p.m. to 1:25 p.m. Thursday at Peninsula College’s Little Theater, 1502 E. Lauridsen Blvd.
All are welcome to a reception following immediately in the “House of Learning” Longhouse on campus.
Penn, Quileute tribal member and Quillayute Valley School District paraeducator, and her guests will share the history and significance of Paddle Journeys as well as the collaborations among tribal nations that make it possible each year.
For more information, phone 360-417-7987 or email diversity@pencol.edu.
Horticulture help
PORT ANGELES — A free Hugelkultur (hill culture) workshop will be held at the Fifth Street Community Garden, 328 E. Fifth St., from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
Led by Meggan Uecker, WSU Clallam County Extension waste reduction coordinator, and Clallam County Master Composters, attendees will learn the art and science of this technique through hands-on participation in building Clallam County’s first Hugelkultur demonstration.
For more information or to register, contact Uecker at 360-417-2279 or muecker@co.clallam.wa.us.
Summer classes
SEQUIM — Around Again, 22 Gilbert Road, is offering free summer classes on all things reused and repurposed.
The first class is slated for 1 p.m. Saturday.
This will be a barbecue and introduction to Around Again.
At 1:30 p.m., Around Again President Gavin Wuttken will introduce information about the nonprofit.
On Saturday, June 28, at 2 p.m., attendees can learn how to create stepping stones using scrap ceramic tile and concrete with Jason Robins.
Starting at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 26, woodworking techniques will be taught, including how to turn a hollow core door into shelves, shoji screens, tables, cabinets, firewood racks and more.
Simple systems for keeping drinks and snacks cool in the backyard or storing most food for the year without electricity will be taught during a 2 p.m. workshop Saturday, Aug. 30.
To RSVP to any or all events, phone 360-683-7862.
For more information about Around Again, visit www.aroundagainstore.org.
Optometry grad
PORT ANGELES — Port Angeles High School 2004 graduate Jeremy Whitney will graduate from the State University of New York College of Optometry on Saturday.
He will graduate at the top of his class with honors.
Following graduation, he will move to Baltimore for a one-year internship specializing in eye diseases.
Whitney is the son of Choe and Ernie Whitney, both of Port Angeles.
Horseback therapy
PORT TOWNSEND — Therapeutic horseback riding will be offered this summer at Heron Pond Farm, 152 Douglas Way.
Horse Partners, sponsored by the Jefferson Equestrian Association, will partner with Camp Beausite NW to provide riding lessons for children with disabilities, including those who use a wheelchair.
Since each class is limited to four riders, spaces will be given on a first-come, first-served basis.
Classes are from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. July 8, 15 and 22, plus Aug. 5, 12 and 19.
Mary Craft Nepute, PATH-certified riding instructor, will teach the classes.
Parents of children with disabilities who wish to apply can email marymcraft@yahoo.com for registration forms.
The registration deadline is June 15, and there is a $25 registration fee.
Volunteers also are needed as mount leaders and sidewalkers.
Volunteer training and horse evaluation will take place at the farm from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, June 24.
Horses will be evaluated for temperament, size and gait.
Volunteers will learn or brush up on their skills in appropriate horse management in the riding with disabilities setting.
For more information, visit www.jeffersonequestrian.org or www.campbeausitenw.org.
Peninsula teachers recognized
POULSBO — Teachers from Port Angeles, Sequim and Forks schools were awarded the Excellence in Mathematics Education award at a recent regional math event in their honor in Poulsbo.
The Excellence in Mathematics Education award was presented to them by the Washington State Mathematics Council and the Olympic Education Service District.
Kim Northcut
Kim Northcut is teaming with another third-grade teacher at Forks Elementary and taking on math instruction for both classes.
According to a news release, she “has embraced the instructional shifts mandated by the Common Core Standards. Her students have developed a dynamic learning community where their ideas are honored and explored and mistakes are seen as an important part of the learning process.
“Northcut’s attention to maintaining the cognitive demand of rich tasks has brought a change to the student participation.”
Carrie Echeita
As the sixth-grade math teacher at Forks Middle School, Carrie Echeita was recognized for making mathematics “fun and accessible” for all students.
According to a news release: “Her classroom is a wonderful, warm environment rife with students explaining, justifying and defending their point of view, and where mathematics is the arbiter of truth, not the teacher.
“In this discourse-rich environment, Echeita pushes students for precise language and complete ideas.”
Joe VandeWeghe
Joe VandeWeghe is a math teacher at Sequim High School. In his four years there, he has been the primary leader in the implementation of technology in his district.
VandeWeghe wrote a grant and received funds to purchase a remote student response system and wrote and shared PowerPoint lessons and quizzes with other members of the department.
He obtained a Mimeo projector and whiteboard and uses it interactively with students in all his classes. He uses it to record his lessons and posts them so students who are absent can access them at home.
VandeWeghe piloted a class using standards-based grading last year and used it in a summer school program that allowed students who had failed algebra or geometry to obtain credit, and allowed students to accelerate through geometry to algebra 2 so they could take calculus in high school.
This semester, VandeWeghe is experimenting with flipping his classroom: having students watch a video of his lesson as homework and using class time for projects.
He is an OSPI Math Fellow and a leader in the ESD and district in the transition to the Common Core. He is also completing the National Board Certification process this year.
Carol Jackson
Carol Jackson is a mathematics teacher at Port Angeles High School.
She is an instructor who has the ability to reach all students in some of the most difficult subjects, according to a news release.
Jackson teaches students algebra 2/trigonometry, University of Washington pre-calculus and UW calculus 124 and 125. She is also the department chair representing nine math teachers in her department.
As chair, Jackson has created a team of math teachers who meet in professional learning communities. With her guidance, they have designed a curriculum for each math class taught at the high school and created group norms to ensure they stay aligned.
The department has adopted five new math courses over the past five years to address student needs and meet changing state standards.
In addition, Jackson provides mentoring for new math teachers. When the school adopted a two-period algebra I class to meet the needs of the most at-risk math students, she taught the teachers how to teach in a block setting.
According to a news release, Jackson coached her colleagues on how to craft teams, create an atmosphere of camaraderie and design in-depth lessons so students would understand at a deeper level.
