Kindergarten teacher awarded $250 grant
Jennifer McPherson, a kindergarten teacher at Covington Elementary School in Kent, was awarded a $250 New Classroom Start Up Grant from Northwest Professional Educators.
McPherson will use the funds to help the purchase of enrichment activities and teaching centers for both math and reading, teacher supplemental materials, student writing supplies and classroom storage.
“Ms. McPherson’s award is certainly well-deserved as she seeks ways to increase student achievement,” said Cindy Omlin, NWPE executive director. “Northwest Professional Educators is proud to reward educators for their hard work and creativity in the classroom.”
NWPE awards teacher scholarships and classroom grants up to $500 and $250 new classroom start-up grants. All educators are eligible for the awards, although NWPE members receive first preference. The application deadlines for Northwest Professional Educators $500 grants are Oct. 1 and March 1 and Dec. 31 for the new classroom start up grants.
People and pets welcome to walk arboretum trails
Warmer spring weather brings with it more opportunity to get outdoors and explore the Lake Wilderness Arboretum’s forest and walking trails.
The arboretum is home to 26 acres of second growth woods that are accessible by foot or bicycle from the King County Parks Green-to-Cedar River Trail. Almost 1.5 miles of marked trails provide easy walking for people and pets, where ocean spray, lady ferns, Oregon grape, salal and red huckleberry grow in the underbrush.
“A 65-year-old Douglas fir also lives in our forest,” garden manager Susan Goodall said. “They say the area was logged in the late 30s or early 40s.”
Other conifers include western hemlock, western red cedar and Pacific yews. Deciduous trees include big-leaf maples and alders. Visitors may also spot eagles, coyote, cougar, even black bear and other wildlife. There’s a Little Free Library located conveniently near a garden bench laden with springtime-blooming wisteria.
Other easy walking trails in the arboretum include the Tribal Life Trail, an exploration of an ethnobotanical garden that both educates and inspires about how the native tribes in Washington used their natural resources in their everyday life.
