Twin Falls holds open house
August 28, 2008
By Laura Geggel
Twin Falls Middle School Principal Ruth Moen hands a map to eighth-grader Mason Blalock and his mother, Tammy.
Ravens from Twin Falls Middle School flocked to the grand opening of their school Aug. 21 to find their classrooms, mingle with friends and sign up for school activities.
“We wanted the whole Twin Falls family to get here,” said Principal Ruth Moen, who handed out school maps and fliers by the front doors.
The open house is the first of many events to promote a cohesive school culture at the new school. Teacher Dana Fowler-Linder, who is on the culture development committee, said she wanted to encourage students to be part of the school community and participate in extracurricular activities, from sports to the Green Team. The school could also be used as a community facility for North Bend residents, she said.
Most families congregated in the Cascade Commons to listen to local band Groove House and eat dinner. Vendors, including Emerald City Smoothie and Rhodies Smokin BBQ & Pizza, served treats and helped raise money for the Twin Falls Ravens’ ASB fundraiser.
Except for sixth graders and new students, every seventh and eighth-grader at Twin Falls Middle School is a transfer student from either Snoqualmie or Chief Kanim Middle School.
Why did North Bend eighth-grader Mason Blalock decide to transfer schools from Chief Kanim Middle School?
“Because mom wasn’t going to drive you,” said Tammy Blalock, his mother.
For some students, the commute time has been trimmed over a half-hour in the morning, allowing them more shut-eye.
“It was a really long bus ride to Fall City,” student Leanna Hoover said. “I’m excited to wake up at 7 a.m. instead of 6 a.m.”
Natalie Korssjoen, a seventh-grader from North Bend, said she couldn’t wait to bike or walk to school. She said Twin Falls was different from the Snoqualmie Middle School.
“The teachers at SMS always said it was built like a California school because we had to walk outside to get to our classes,” Korssjoen said. “But we definitely don’t have California weather.”
Students dashed from classroom to classroom with their friends, meeting teachers and finding their lockers.
“We’ll be the first to graduate,” said Twin Falls eighth-grader Aaron Tevis, who said he was looking forward to participating in football and jazz band.
Even the school’s administration shared in the exhilaration.
“I’m very excited,” said Assistant Principal Marty Barber. “What a great opportunity for parents and kids.”
School Board member Caroline Loudenback, whose daughter will be attending Twin Falls in the fall, also said she was impressed with the school.
“I think it’s great,” Loudenback said. “It’s beautiful.”
Of all of the open-house attendees, some of the teachers were the giddiest.
Teacher Fowler-Linder welcomed students into her room, an upgrade from her portable at Snoqualmie Middle School. She said the teachers couldn’t wait to show off their new rooms.
“We’re like the kids,” Fowler-Linder said. “(During setup) we would run next door and say, ‘Do you want to see my room?’”
But sixth-grader Clare Chartier summed it all up.
“It’s really amazing, really colorful and really high-tech,” she said.
Reporter Laura Geggel can be reached at 392-6434 x221 or lgeggel@snovalleystar.com.
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