Published: May 20, 2008 09:45 am         

Education in Brief: 05/20/2008

Help send off spelling champ

ELK RAPIDS -- Cherryland Middle School will host a sendoff for Chris Rice, winner of the Grand Traverse Regional Spelling Bee, Friday at 1:45 p.m. at the school.

There will be a banner for Chris and a spelling contest to get him warmed up. Chris and his parents, Calfin and Reva Rice, will leave Sunday for a week in Washington, D.C., for the national bee and related activities.

Chris will be blogging about his experiences. You can follow along at www.record-eagle.com/blog. The bee will also be broadcast on ESPN and ABC.

Old Mission School sets Day of Sharing

TRAVERSE CITY -- Old Mission Peninsula School will host several activities Wednesday to share student work with the community and to give thanks to volunteers.

Zoo Day presentations will be held from 10 a.m. to noon in the fourth-grade classrooms. A display of student writing projects will be available all day.

The volunteer luncheon will take place from noon to 2 p.m. For details call 933-7420.

Lansing celebrates Star Power Day

TRAVERSE CITY -- Parents, teachers and advocates are invited to celebrate the champions of early childhood initiatives Wednesday at the Capitol in Lansing.

Star Power Rally 2008 lets people meet with state legislators and encourage them to support early childhood programs. Traverse Bay Area Intermediate School District will provide transportation to Lansing.

A bus will leave at 6 a.m. from the TBA-ISD Administration Building, 1101 Red Drive, Traverse City. Call Robin Hornkohl at 922-6437 to register.

Westwoods 5K run/walk set

TRAVERSE CITY -- Westwoods Elementary School PTO will host its 9th annual run/walk event May 31, at the school, 1500 Fisher Road.

Recognition is given to the top three male and female finishers in each age group in the 5K Run/Walk, and awards will be given to all participants in the children's event. The public is invited to attend and participate.

To register, visit www2.tcaps.net/westwoods to download a registration form.

Call Donna Raymond at 933-0242 or Westwoods Elementary at 933-7970 for details.

GT retirees set luncheon meeting

TRAVERSE CITY -- Grand Traverse Area Retired School Personnel will hold a luncheon meeting at 12:30 p.m. June 10 at the Traverse City Holiday Inn on E. Front Street.

The cost of $10 includes meal and gratuity. John Noonan, director of the Grand Traverse Children's Museum, will be the speaker.

The reservation deadline is June 5; if not on a call list, call Linda Czajka at 932-7393.

Northport 'doorwalk' opens on Sunday

NORTHPORT -- A communitywide project involving students from preschool to high school, as well as adults, will be opened Sunday at Haserot Park in Northport.

The "doorwalk," featuring donated doors painted on both sides revolving around the themes of family and community, will open with a party from 1 to 3 Sunday afternoon and remain on exhibit throughout the summer.

Sunday's party will feature games and a potluck. For more information, call Jenny Evans, 620-8828.

'Quiz Central' show set for season four

MOUNT PLEASANT -- CMU Public Television's original program, "Quiz Central," preparing for its fourth season, will now include 36 teams from central and northern Michigan.

New teams include Manistee Catholic Central and Northwest Academy in Charlevoix. Teams compete in four divisions, based on school size. Each season, the top team from each division will be crowned champion and awarded four $2,500 one-year scholarships to Central Michigan University. The division winners then go head-to-head for their chance to compete in the championship game.

Season four of "Quiz Central" will kick off Sept. 17 at 7:30 p.m. on CMU Public Television.

Zonta pays tuition for ISEA course

TRAVERSE CITY -- Zonta Club of Traverse City will sponsor one ninth-grade woman from the area to participate in a 2008 Inland Seas course.

The two-day course will be held on June 17-18, designed for high school students in grades 9-11 with an interest in aquatic sciences. To apply, complete an application (available by calling 946-1920) and submit to a school counselor for a recommendation.