School views have changed over time
Teacher Suzanne Holland shared a fun story this week about her own children. Chloe is a first-grader and Jordan is in third grade; both will be leaving Prairie View Elementary next fall to attend the new elementary school that’s under construction. The new school is just up Greensferry Road in the Field Stone subdivision and will draw from Ponderosa Elementary as well as Prairie View.
The district has invited those students who will be attending the new school to submit suggestions for a school name and mascot. Chloe and Jordan visited the site of the school with their mom for inspiration. While there, Chloe asked Suzanne why her old school was named Prairie View. There was likely a view of the prairie all the way to Rathdrum Mountain when it was built, she answered.
In 1993, the prairie was mostly Kentucky bluegrass fields but now there are houses on much of that prairie.
“What does the new school see?” asked Chloe. Suzanne suggested Chloe look around, where mountains were visible in all directions. “I know, we should call the new school Mountain View! They’ll never be able to block that view,” said the first-grader.
Jordan thinks the name Mountain Cat Elementary would be a great name, because of the mountains and because he likes cats, which is likely why both he and Chloe like 'mountain lion' for the mascot.
On Monday the Post Falls School Board will have its work cut out for it as it reviews all the creative student-submitted suggestions for naming the new elementary school.
• • •
Amazing weather is forecast for the season-opener Art Walk in downtown Coeur d’Alene Friday night. Probably the first one that sunglasses will be needed in April.
A few tickets remain for the fifth annual St. Vinney’s Comedy Night to benefit the St. Vincent de Paul homeless warming centers. It’s on Friday at the Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort; doors open at 6 p.m. Call Barb Smalley, (208) 416-4716.
There’s great fun in store on Friday night with the fourth annual Cowboy Ball at the fairgrounds to benefit the North Idaho Fair & Rodeo Foundation. Kudos to the event committee for achieving what every fundraising committee aims for: selling out more than two months before the event takes place.
Another of those “I Love Where I Live” events celebrates Arbor Day with the annual Free Tree Day at Q’emiln Park in Post Falls on Saturday. The event is coordinated by the Post Falls Parks and Urban Forestry departments and made possible by generous sponsors and community volunteers. More than 3,000 varieties will be available from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. It’s not just for Post Falls residents; our neighbors are welcome to come adopt a tree for their yards, too!
• • •
Happy birthday today to Bruce Hough, Jeff Cox, Caitlin Hodl and Tyler Bush. The same tomorrow to Carrie Gridley, Katie Keane, Mary Epstein, Melaine Spalding and Eli Gonzales (13!).
Friday celebrants are Amy Bartoo, Wilma Higgins (80!), Greg Prado, Kevin Kram, Patrick Hughes, Veldon Lee and Shanna Riske.
On Saturday Nicole Medlock, Jodi McKenzie, John Hays, Caleb Peck, Carol Graham, Marvin Erickson, Joan Nowoj-Phelps, Cynthia Taggart and Tom Messina mark the anniversary of their birth. Dianna Scott, Sandra Borg, Jim Hightower, Rosie Diana, Darin McEvers, Sharon Finnerty, Kathryn Rosia and Nancy Benjamin put on their party hats on Sunday.
On Monday Idella Mansfield (40!), Lonna Duncan, David Bond, Doreen Johnson, Karen Reagan and DiAnna Macklin will celebrate.
Look for Mallory Juarez, Russell Heistuman, Connie Munk and Kevin Reed to blow out the candles come Tuesday.
• • •
Kerri Rankin Thoreson is a member of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists and the former publisher of the Post Falls Tribune. Main Street appears every Wednesday in The Press and Kerri can be contacted on Facebook or via email mainstreet@cdapress.com. Follow her on Twitter @kerrithoreson.