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| "The young need old men. They need men who are not ashamed of age, not pathetic imitations of themselves ... Parents are the bones on which children sharpen their teeth." Peter Ustinov, actor and writer, 1921-2004 |
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| Vol. 20, No. 10 • Mailed monthly to over 12, 400 homes in the Gateway & Parkrose Communities Free • FEBRUARY 2005 | ||||||||
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FEATURE ARTICLES | |
Memo Calendar | Memo Pad | Business Memos | Loaves & Fishes | Letters | Home |
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| From left to right, Parkrose Middle School students Zintkala Braveheart, Harmony Paul, Kiona Tift, Steven Paul, Lalista Cochran, Ciara Dines and Martha Iribe (in front) prepare to perform at the recent Middle School Multicultural Event. |
| MEMO PHOTO: TIM CURRAN |
DARLENE VINSON
THE MID COUNTY MEMO
Had you dropped by Parkrose Middle School on the evening of Jan. 13 you may well have believed you had walked in on a United Nations assembly. In fact, it was the 10th Annual Parkrose Middle School Multicultural Event.
Parkrose Middle School is a school with a diverse population. There are 850 students who speak 14 different languages. By percentage, the student body is made up of 58 percent Caucasian students, 13 percent African American, 11 percent Hispanic, 16 percent Asian or Pacific Islanders, and 2 percent of Native American or Alaskan heritage.
Long presented as an in-school assembly, Allison Newman-Woods the Parkrose Middle School Parent Teacher Organization chairwoman, said the PTO encouraged the school to make it an evening event as parents wanted to be involved. Newman-Woods is hopeful this format open to the community at large will become tradition.
School officials treat the diversity of their students as opportunity for a broad array of interactions and learning experiences that can ultimately pull kids together.
Mark Gonzales, who teaches music and choir, said that this event “shows an appreciation for our varied traditions, celebrates cultural diversity and recognizes that all of this is part of us as a whole.” Gonzales believes that current generations may be freer to maintain their culture and language as they find a way to be part of this country. He said his family lost Spanish as their language as part of the process of assimilation.
The Multicultural Event featured some 45 participants and performers. Among them was the Parkrose Middle School dance team, which by adding cultural dances to their repertoire, was able to earn a grant used to buy shirts for the group. Also on hand were Russian language singers, tap dancers, Dragon Dancers, Native American dancers, and students who offered a martial arts presentation. Students also created colorful masks as artistic expression of the diversity they see each day.
Parkrose Middle School is located at 11800 N.E. Shaver St. If you would like to become an active part of the diverse community there, contact Newman-Woods at 503-408-0487.
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| Above, Katie Brokaw (left) and Christina Wolken demonstrate the precision, style and energy of tap dance, a uniquely American dance form. |
Parkrose High students Jee Vang (drummer), Lyon Ngo (tail of dragon) and Giang Nguyen (head of dragon, face not shown) were one of three groups of performers who dazzled the crowd with a traditional Dragon Dance. All of the boys previously attended Parkrose Middle School. |
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| The sweet voices of Diana Veklinets, Julie Griu, and Inesa Cazar filled the auditorium with the melody of a Russian hymn. |
Peter Dang (left) executes a highflying maneuver as part of a martial arts demonstration as sisters, Priscilla Dang (in pink) and Patricia Dang (in black) look on. | |
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| Priscilla Dang (left), and Patricia Dang warm up in preparation for their performance. |
Memo Photos: Tim Curran | |
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