7 a.m. Principal Johnson’s office. 45 minutes until first period
7 a.m. Principal Johnson’s office. 45 minutes until first period Isaiah Johnson ’96 is at his desk, weeding through e-mails that have grown exponentially since the 37-year old walked out the school doors at 7 p.m. the night before.“There are just never enough hours in…
9 a.m. – Assistant Principal Heinen’s office
9 a.m. – Assistant Principal Heinen’s office Tad Heinen ’96 spends plenty of his time disciplining students. That’s part of the job. Not the part he enjoys, but he sees himself as what troubled students need to get through another year. Although many students have…
1:05 p.m. – Mr. McNeeseâs gym Class
1:05 p.m. – Mr. McNeese’s gym Class The eighth-grade PE class taught by Dan McNeese ’06 is short one player for a game of pickleball, so McNeese, 26, joins a team and starts swatting at the ball. McNeese says that, as a beginning teacher, he…
7:15 a.m. – Mr. Lee’s special education class
7:15 a.m. – Mr. Lee’s special education class Aaron Lee ’02, has just arrived at his classroom from his South Hill home in Puyallup, 30 miles away. He has about 10 minutes before students in his special education class begin to wander in. He usually…
8:05 a.m. – Ms. Dozier’s eighth grade literature class
8:05 a.m. – Ms. Dozier’s eighth grade literature class Most of the 21 students in the class of Alethea Dozier ’02 are interested in today’s lesson on the Holocaust, as well as the Japanese internment camps during World War II. Others are asleep on their…
9:52 a.m. – Mr. Homfeldt’s eighth grade history class
9:52 a.m. – Mr. Homfeldt’s eighth grade history class “No, no and no,” Steve Homfeldt ’89 barks out to the group of students surrounding him. “And whatever you’re going to ask: no.”The 35 eighth-graders know he’s kidding, so they continue to pepper him with questions.…
11:15 a.m. – Mr. MacDougall’s seventh grade language arts class
11:15 a.m. – Mr. MacDougall’s seventh grade language arts class “I can wait.”With those three words, silence drops on the class of Joel MacDougall ’97.The 25 students know that for every second they continue to jabber, that time will be taken from lunch break or…
11:20 a.m. – Cascade Middle School Cafeteria
11:20 a.m. – Cascade Middle School Cafeteria Scott Weide ’00 sticks out in the lunchroom. As students fill the large cafeteria, Weide wanders into the school wearing shorts and a PLU T-shirt. On his back in a toddler carrier is 10-month old Zoe. She has…
Everyday life of Aztecs
Digging into history When Bradford Andrews looks at an obsidian core in his hand, he doesn’t see its indigo beauty, as it sparks back against the spotlight. The palm-sized flake gives PLU’s assistant visiting professor of anthropology a window into the everyday life of a…
Class Acts
Class Acts The everyday triumphs, joys and challenges of eight dedicated educators – all Lutes – at a single bustling middle school. Who would want to teach hormone-laced, boundary-pushing, in-your-face, preteen and teenage students? The teachers at Cascade Middle School, that’s who. Their number includes…
Meeting Obama
Freshman meets Obama Christney Kpodo has Oct. 13 marked forever on her calendar. That’s the day she shook the hand of President Barack Obama. She even gave the leader of the free world a hug. Kpodo, 18, was one of five youths who, through competing…
Prof talks about the life as a marine biologist
One-on-one: Behrens By Barb Clements Being a marine biologist is a pretty good gig. And why wouldn’t it be? There are obvious perks, Michael Behrens admits, to having a job where diving is part of the package. Seeing creatures swim by as they hunt for…