The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: http://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1037900
C-10 Wednesday, October 10, 2018 The Press-Dispatch EAST GIBSON NEWS Submit school news: Email: egnews@ pressdispatch.net Deadline: Noon on Friday Powers watches kids grow through P.E. By Kenzie Rudolph Mrs. Whitney Powers, who grew up in Mackey, is now teaching P.E. at both Francisco Elementary and Barton Township Elemen- tary. She is the daughter of Matt and Lori Malin. Pow- ers and her husband, Nick, were blessed with their first child this year. She graduated from Wood Memorial High School, where she played volley- ball, basketball and ran track. She was the point guard for the 2007 basket- ball state runners-up. She has also coached volleyball and is an assistant coach for girls' basketball. For college, Powers went to Oakland City University, where she played both bas- ketball and tennis. "I graduated from OCU in 2014 and started looking for jobs. I was very lucky to have the opportunity to start that next August at North Spencer School, teaching elementary Physical Edu- cation," said Powers. Powers said that she taught there for a year, and then was able to come home when a junior high health position was open. "The following year, we had someone retire, so I transferred to elementary physical education in two of our elementary schools," added Powers. She knew from a young age that she wanted to be a teacher. She said both of her parents have been teachers, and that her dad is a princi- pal, so she grew up around teachers. She said, "I loved sports and I love teaching kids, so there is really no better job to have." Powers said that Chrissy Ash, Ryan Marvel and her dad, Matt Malin, are some P.E. teachers who have influ- enced her and helped mold her into the teacher that she is today. She added, "They were amazing teachers, and I knew I wanted to be like them when I grew up. I still, to this day, talk to all three of them and go to them for advice often." Powers believes that physical education is more important than people re- alize. "It is not an extra recess for kids. It helps kids devel- op skills that they can use in life, that they would not learn in the classroom," said Powers. She also added that it gives the kids a chance to move after sitting in a class- room, and it is proven that schools with P.E. classes have students who perform better in the classroom. Powers said, "In my P.E. classes, I focus on locomo- tor movements, (skipping, hopping, jumping, running, walking, etc.) and the ba- sics of sports, like toss- ing underhanded and over- handed, dribbling, striking, passing, etc. with my young- er kids K-2." With the older elemen- tary students, she teaches sport-related units that lead up to mini games. When it comes to what Powers likes best about her job, she said, "My favorite thing about my job is that I get to have kids for sev- en straight years and watch them grow. There is noth- ing better than seeing a kid grasp something for the first time and the excitement in their face." SOMETHING NEWSWORTHY? Give us a call: 812-354-8500 Oakland City Elementary Mrs. Whitney Powers Wood Memorial Barton Elem. School Boys' Tennis Award Winners The Wood Memorial Boys Tennis team held their awards banquet last week at Taylor's 2 in Oakland City. Pictured are the boys tennis award winners (l to r): Braydon Bell, Kiwani's Mental Attitude; James Gates, MVP; Isaiah Norrick, Coaches Award; Jalen Doerner, Most Improved. Wirth Park upgrades planned Oakland City children and their families will soon be able to enjoy a brand new playground at Wirth Park, thanks to a recent- ly launched crowdfunding campaign. The campaign is sponsored by the Indi- ana Housing and Commu- nity Development Author- ity (IHCDA) and offered through the crowdfunding platform developed by Patro- nicity. The campaign is led by the City of Oakland City. "Generations of Oakland City residents have enjoyed Wirth Park," said Lt. Gover- nor Suzanne Crouch. "How- ever, the playground equip- ment is in desperate need of repair. Which is why we are pleased to support Oak- land City and their residents in raising money to create a safe and fun place for kids in their community." If the campaign reach- es its $17,500 goal by Nov. 13, 2018, the "Re-Discov- er Wirth Park" project will receive a matching grant of $17,500 from IHCDA's Cre- atINg Places program. The funding raised during this campaign will allow the city to contin- ue work already started in Wirth Park. The park's swing set has been updat- ed with commercial grade equipment and other equip- ment that will remain in the park has been painted. With this campaign, equip- ment that has already been taken down, along with the current large play structure, will be replaced with new equipment, including a Big Tex Playset, two play piec- es similar to a teeter-totter and three spring bouncers. "By now, many of Oakland City residents have heard of Project Re-Discover Wirth Park. Well, this is it! This campaign is how we can get the much-needed play- ground equipment for our park," said project coordi- nator Susie Basham. "Wirth Park is the front porch to Oakland City and one of the first impressions for our community. I hope everyone supports this campaign so we can finally complete work on the play- ground equipment and move on to other improvements in the park! " Since the CreatINg Plac- es program began last fall, projects have raised in ex- cess of $1,620,000 in pub- lic funds and an additional $1,375,000 in matching IH- CDA funds. The CreatINg Places pro- gram is available to projects located in Indiana commu- nities. Non-profit entities (with 501c3 or 501c4 sta- tus) and local units of gov- ernment are eligible to ap- ply. Eligible projects must have a minimum total de- velopment cost of $10,000, where the recipient will receive $5,000 in IHCDA matching funds should they successfully raise $5,000 through Patronicity. IHC- DA will provide matching grant funds up to $50,000 per project. MENU Thursday, October 11: Popcorn chicken bowl, cheeseburger, Italian salad or PB & J with sweet corn, Fresh fruit and veggies and applesauce. Friday, October 12: Pep- peroni pizza, mini corndog, grilled chicken salad or ham and cheese with tots, fresh fruit and veggies and mixed fruit. Monday, October 15: Fish sticks and Mac, chicken pat- ty, chef salad or PB & J with Fresh fruit and veggies and mixed fruit. Tuesday, October 16: Na- chos, grilled cheese, pop- corn chicken salad or ham and cheese with green beans, fresh fruit and veg- gies and diced peaches. Wednesday, October 17: Chicken Nuggets, cheese- burger, taco salad or tur- key and cheese with baked beans, fresh fruit and veg- gies, diced pears and jello. CALENDAR Oct. 10 - Walk to school day Oct. 11 - End of first Quar- ter Oct. 15 - IU School of Den- tistry will be at School Oct. 17 - Red Ribbon Ral- ly, 5th & 6th Grades Oct. 18 to 22 - Fall Break, No School Oct. 23 to 26 - Red Ribbon Week Oct. 23 - School Spirit Day Oct. 24 - Pajama Day Oct. 25 - Mismatch Day Oct. 26 - Career Day Oct. 26 - Picture Retakes Oct. 31 - Halloween Walk, 8:30 -9:00 for PK-3, 9:05 - 9:35 for 4th-6th Above: Krissy Melhiser, Youth First Representative does bullying program while Kadence Doerner and Vayda Myers pay close attention. Kenzie Rudolph photo Below: Barton Kindergarteners raise their hands to answer questions while Krissy Melhiser, from Youth First, visited their class. Pictures are, back row, Rhyan Buck, Harley Hess, Rhett Ball, Brantley Doerner, middle row, Maci Myers, Kayden Gibbs, Riley Maikranz, Jax Hudson, front row, Brylee Eller- bruck, Madelyn French, Brynley Bruce, Landon LaForrest and Kadence Do- erner. Kenzie Rudolph photo Cirra Lemeron cheeses while do- ing push ups for third grade P.E. warm ups. Kenzie Rudolph photo Mrs. Powers shows sixth grade student Jordan Nelson how to trap a soccer ball. Kenzie Rudolph photo Sixth graders Katie Sevier and Ja- cob Henry work on soccer ball skills during P.E. at Barton Elementary. Kenzie Rudolph photo Alyssa Thurston works on soccer ball trapping during 6th grade P.E. Kenzie Rudolph photo Kaigan Nossett leads his third grade class in warm ups to start P.E. Kenzie Rudolph photo