April 5 — Studying pays off for local students

After receiving $25,000 for WASL test score improvements, Daffodil Valley Elementary decides what to do with the money

Andrew Hosford / of The Herald

Daffodil Valley Elementary students had to reach the peak of WASL testing before they could have a mountain of their own constructed in their gym.

Beginning last week, construction on a new, realistic rock-climbing wall began in the school’s gymnasium as part of the $25,000 capital projects reward the school earned for outstanding improvement on the standardized tests.

“Because of our WASL scores, we get money. That’s a good trade,” said Tony Mintz, a fifth grader at the school and Associated Student Body mayor.

The grant was given to the school in November and students were told to decide on its use by the end of the school year.

After some intensive research by the ASB, the school decided to spend the money on the climbing wall, a reading garden and new document cameras for the classrooms.

“The people in the school will have these for years to come,” he said.

As mayor, Mintz and other ASB officers visited each classroom to get the opinions of all students, no matter the age.

Ideas for the money included a mural on the gym wall, a trampoline and the popular climbing wall idea.

“It was hard (to get opinions) because they would get off task,” said fifth-grader Erica Roemhild who was in charge of interviewing second grade classes.

The final decision was not without controversy though as students and staff tried to decide on the color of the wall.

Principal Marcie Belfield lobbied for blue and yellow paint with alphabet handholds but the students wanted to keep it simple.

“It’s going to be grey like regular rock,” Roemhild said.

Belfield said she did not put up much of a fight as it is the students’ project.

“I really liked the idea of a blue and yellow wall to represent the schools colors,” she said.

To avoid injuries, the wall is shaped more like a fence than the towering climbing walls found in other gyms. Students do not go up, they travel from side-to-side following paths with varying degrees of difficulty.

The ASB is making sure teachers get some new toys, too. New document cameras are being purchased for every classroom to replace the old overhead projectors.

“It’s a lot easier for teachers because they don’t have to make overheads all the time,” said fifth-grader Kayla Stevens, ASB city manager.

The cameras allow students to project their work onto a large white board to share with the class, promoting student interaction.

“Other students give us advice because they can see our work,” Roemhild said.

With money to spare, the student body also decided they needed a fun spot to read outside.

The reading garden is being built outside for students to use at recess and will include benches, tables and an actual garden.

“It’s for kids at recess that would rather read than be bopping around,” Belfield said.

While this year’s fifth grade class earned the right to have a little fun for their WASL scores, they also put the pressure on this year’s fourth graders, who will be taking the test soon.

The ASB believe they have a good chance for a repeat.

“Our teachers are really good at training us the WASL,” Roemhild said.