Can you spell ‘ventriloquy?’
West Mercer Elementary School hosted its third annual competitive spelling bee Wednesday, Feb. 26. About thirty students from third through fifth grade competed for the opportunity to continue on to the King/Snohomish Regional Spelling Bee.
West Mercer’s Ashley Garr came in first place for the second consecutive year. Garr is a fifth-grade student in Mrs. Bourke’s class. Garr correctly spelled “ventriloquy” to move on to the championship round, and her winning word was “encryption.” Xiaoyu (Michelle) Yang came in second place. Yang is a third-grader in Ms. Isaacs’ class and her winning word was “sulking.” The runners-up went seventeen rounds before Yang was able to secure the second-place spot.
The Regional Bee will take place at 1 p.m. March 23 at Town Hall in downtown Seattle. The winner of the Regional Bee will travel to Washington, D.C. to compete in the National Spelling Bee in May.
Parent Edge talk by author Dan Kindlon
Best-selling author and clinical and research psychologist Dan Kindlon will make two appearances on Mercer Island on March 31.
Former Harvard faculty member, Dr. Kindlon is the author of four books, including co-authoring the 1999 New York Times bestseller “Raising Cain: Protecting the Emotional Life of Boys.”
At 10 a.m., March 31 at the Stroum Jewish Community Center, Dr. Kindlon will talk about his book, “Raising Cain” and ways to help boys become emotionally healthy adults.
Later, at 7 p.m., at the Mercer Island High School’s Performing Arts Center, Dr. Kindlon will discuss issues regarding children of material and emotional indulgence who are at risk for developing traits such as self-absorption, depression, anxiety and lack of self-control.
He will teach parents how to avoid those pitfalls and help their children map a positive future.
Both events are free with membership to Mercer Island PTA and St. Monica School’s Parents’ Club. All are welcome but there is a $10 charge for non MI-PTA members.
‘Reeltime’ film to focus on immigration
ReelTime, a library-sponsored, teen-run program is screening “The Harvest/La Cosecha” and “The Dream is Now,” between 1 and 4 p.m., March 15, at the Mercer Island Library. The goal is to raise awareness about the realities facing immigrants in America.
The screening is free and open to all. A discussion will follow, and representatives from Casa Latina and Washington Dream Act Coalition will participate and answer questions. For more, go to www.kcls.org.
Three complete degrees at WSU
Three Islanders have graduated from Washington State University in Pullman, Wash., at the completion of the 2013 Fall semester.
They are:Aaron Ray Agnew, Bachelor of Arts in Political Science; Garrett Tyler Beaton, Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration; and Wilson Michael Royer, Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, cum laude.
