(Posted Nov. 15, 2018)
By Sandi Latimer, Staff Writer
The recent Jonathan Alder school board of meeting got off to a rockin’ good start.
The board, meeting at Plain City Elementary, heard first from second-graders in the Fundamentals program, led by teacher Julie Page. One student pretended to be the teacher and several other students sat on the floor as the ‘teacher’ ran his ‘students’ through an exercise in vowels. Students then mingled with the board members, Superintendent Gary Chapman, Curriculum Director Misty Swanger, and Treasurer Aaron Johnson.
Then everyone adjourned to the music room for a demonstration of bucket drumming. In this exercise fourth-graders overturned plastic drums and beat the bottom or the rim, and even tipped the bucket that came to rest on their feet. Teacher Cheryl Manbeck projected the music score on a screen so students could follow along. She also had music playing in the background. The first selection, “Rock Around the Clock,” had the audience clapping, toe tapping and swaying. The second selection was “Sweet Home Alabama.”
The board moves its meetings around to different schools in the district and always hears from students as to what they are doing in the classroom that may be unusual. The board’s next meeting is at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 10 at Canaan Middle School.
Other news
Chapman announced the reception of three grants:
- $15,000 from the Jonathan Alder Education Foundation for programs and materials for junior high students;
- $3,300 from the Jonathan Alder Education Foundation for full-screening and support materials for Angst in collaboration with the Daily Needs Assistance of Plain City; and
- $6,800 from Donnie Glick and Glick Grading, Monesi Trucking and Retherford (cq) Trucking for their efforts and donations to pay for mats for the junior high cheer program.
