Post Falls Students Take Top Honors in Forestry Contest
Post Falls High School and Post Falls Middle School have a long history of success at the Idaho State Forestry Contest. That tradition continues as Post Falls school teams won top honors and brought home the trophy saw this spring. The Post Falls High School team of Jared Erickson, Tanner Short, Esther Erickson and Sean Kelly won the Senior Division award with 1,792 points competing in a field of 22 teams from around the state. Another PFHS team with Jason Davis, Kylie Wirig, Mike Emmons and Jessica Taggart placed third. The Junior Division team from Post Falls Middle School comprised of Timberlyn Short, Cecelia Jones, Sage Joyce and Molly Fromm, tied for fourth place. Jared Erickson placed third overall and Sean Kelly placed fifth overall. Contest events include scaling, cruising, map reading, silviculture, and tree and plant identification. Coach Todd Hardy commented, “I was very happy with the performance of all the students. I’m already looking forward to next year.”
District Honors Staff
At the annual Awards and Retirement Banquet on May 9 the following staff were honored as Teacher of the Year and Classified Employee of the Year.
FPK: Julia Caldwell and Denise Yarber
MTE: Lorali Holt and Linda Wilhelm
PES: Mary Gerringer and Carla Deuser
PVE: Aaron Lynn and Karen Brooks
SES: Erika Lewis and Carol Hudson
WRE: Debbie Garnett and Lucy Muncey
PFMS: Debra Berberick and Barbara McVeigh
RCMS: Deb Tierney and Jennifer Kory
NVHS: Natalie Ervin and Roy Murrell
PFHS: Dave Hoskins and Nickolay Bozu
Also honored were the 2013 retirees: Lynda Caywood, Bobbi Dean, Emmett Harless, Dave Hoskins, Pat Hoskins, Carol Hudson, Nancy Jewell, Doug Meyer, Kathleen Manor, Roy Murrell, Rosanna Robbins, Shelley Ruff, Bruce Schonebaum, Dana Stiegemeier and Mandy Surratt-Florin.
Surratt-Florin Receives Human Rights Award
Mandy Surratt-Florin, West Ridge Elementary School Principal, recently received the Tony Stewart Human Rights Education Award. Thomas Carter, Executive Director of the Human Rights Institute, presented the award to Mrs. Surratt-Florin for her many years working on the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. children’s program for local fifth graders.
Trustee Election Scheduled for May 21
Two Post Falls School District Board of Trustees positions are up for election on May 21. Incumbent Julie Hunt and Carol Goodman have filed petitions for the position of Zone 5 trustee. Dave Paul, a past Board member, and Glorie Ward have filed petitions to run for the position of Zone 1 trustee. Incumbent Donagene Turnbow filed a petition to retain her seat as Zone 4 trustee and has no challengers. Only registered voters that reside in those zones are eligible to vote and will only vote for the candidates in their zone. The zone maps can be found on this website under the Board of Trustees tab. Please contact the Kootenai County Elections Office at 446-1030 with questions regarding the election.
Educators Win American Legion Awards
Mr. Sam Schlaich and Mr. Floyd Moyer were recently honored as the American Legion Educators of the Year at the annual Post Falls American Legion Post 143 awards and birthday banquet. Mr. Schlaich is the vocal and instrumental music teacher at River City Middle School. He received his award based on his outstanding work with students and his efforts related to Veterans activities in the school. Mr. Moyer served for ten years as the monitor for the in-school suspension program at Post Falls High School. Mr. Moyer was also honored for his work with students and his commitment to service. Prior to coming to Post Falls High School, Mr. Moyer was the Mayor of Payette, Idaho, and also served as the Chief of Police for that community. Mr. Moyer served in the United State Marine Corp from 1957 to 1963. Congratulations to these outstanding educators.
PFHS Soloists Dominate Competition
Post Falls High School vocal music students dominated the recent North Idaho Regional Solo and Ensemble competition. Post Falls students took first in all six categories of competition. The winners and placers will advance to the state competition to be held on May 3 and 4 at PFHS. The PFHS vocal music program is directed by Mr. John Kracht.
Soprano 1st Karen Hunt
Mezzo 1st Alexis Knapp
2nd Candace Marshall
3rd Stefani Williams
Alto 1st Sarah Nicholes
2nd Sydney Wiggens
Tenor 1st Graysen Ludiker
Baritone 1st Jared Erickson
2nd Gavin Rook
Bass 1st Michael Bell
3rd Austin Allen
Post Falls Students Place at State Invent Idaho Competition
Post Falls School District students did very well at the Invent Idaho State Competition held at the University of Idaho on March 8 and 9. The program challenges students in grades 1-8 to identify real-world problems and brainstorm to develop creative solutions. The young inventors competed against over 200 local students during a regional competition in January to qualify for the state competition. Over 100 students from around the state qualified for the state competition. The following students placed at the state competition.
Grades 1-2 Category: Jackson Kamps, Mullan Trail Elementary School, 1st Place, and Madison Barkley, Mullan Trail Elementary School, 3rd Place
Grades 3-4 Category: Jaylie Wilhelm, Prairie View Elementary School, 1st Place
Grades 5-6 Category: Ashley Raap, Mullan Trail Elementary School, 3rd Place
Robotics Teams Net Top Awards in Regional Competition
A Post Falls sixth grade robotics team, the Star Bots, recently netted the top honor in the robotics regional competition by winning the Grand Championship Trophy. As part of the school district’s Starburst program, ten robotics teams participated in the competition. The elementary and middle school teams have a long history of walking away with many prestigious honors at competition and this year netted the following awards.
From Mullan Trail the Lightning Legos won the Research Award trophy and the Laffy Taffys qualified state competition. The West Ridge Exotic Elephants qualified for state competition. From Ponderosa the Legendary Legos and the Brainiacs both qualified for state competition. In the middle school division, the Ferocious Flamingoes won the trophy for Most Inspirational Team, the Dream Team won the trophy for Most Innovative Solution, and SCIP (Senior citizens Investigations Program) won the Project Presentation Award. Six middle school teams qualified for state competition.