Education

An octopus, hammerhead sharks, dolphins and clownfish are among the undersea animals awaiting Marhsdale Elementary School students — in the form of two huge murals painted on the school walls.

The brilliant oranges, blues, reds and greens are a treat for the eye. The murals “are phenomenal,” said principal Christy Frost.

Artist and Marshdale parent Alicia VanAusdall created the murals over a two-week period in July.

Because of personal issues, Wanda Boyke's daughter had to leave school for a few months during her junior year.

Boyke, who lives in the Deer Creek area, said her 16-year-old daughter missed so much of the 2008-09 school year that it was nearly impossible for her to be re-admitted at any local high school. Officials at several schools told her they feared her daughter would just be too far behind.

A bit of ice Monday morning didn’t stop staff members and parents at Evergreen Academy from coming to the school in high-heeled shoes.

The women wore stilettos with their spirits high in hopes of raising the spirits and showing support for school director Chris Lierheimer. Lierheimer has colon cancer and starts chemotherapy today.

For his part, Lierheimer wore a suit coat but no heels. He said he went shopping over the weekend and found a pair of women’s size 12 shoes, but they were still too small.

Evergreen High School freshman Abby Rosenberg won the March Madness championship round.

But not in basketball — in poetry.

Rosenberg’s poem, “The Forbidden Fruit,” bested 63 other poems written by both student and professional poets to win the competition at the high school. The poem is about battling addiction.

Second place went to sophomore Alison Michelin, whose poem “The Nightmare Before Christmas” was a spoof of the movie and a retelling of “ ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas.”