For the past twelve years, students from the high school have been sharing their knowledge with students at Highland Elementary School.  You might remember, as a second or third grader, beginning to learn Spanish from one of those incredibly smart high schoolers.  
  Now a new group has the ability to teach  Spanish.  Fourteen Spanish III students, including one native speaker, travel to Highland once a week.  They go in groups of three or four, to three 2nd and 3rd grade classes.  They learn about a variety of basic topics including colors, numbers, animals, family, days of the week, body parts, and items of clothing. 
  Student teaching has become an even more important part of Spanish curriculum, as the Highland Spanish teacher position was cut due to budget reductions in the past year.  High school Spanish teacher Bill Wiggans
explains that it's good for the younger students to learn Spanish at an earlier age. They learn easier, faster, and do not need the practice older students need.
   Teaching doesn't just help the elementary school students.  The Spanish III students benefit too.  Teaching gives them an opportunity to apply what they have learned in class.  They also get the experience of controlling a classroom.  Mr. Wiggans says, "Some students can just take over, it s natural.  [For] others, it's awkward.  After awhile, most  students do become accustomed to it."

    There has been a lot of positive response this year from the Highland teachers.  Mr. Wiggans reports that the teachers consider the high schoolers to be very competent and well prepared, having extra activities on hand for the students.   Students from Highland are also very enthusiastic when it comes to their weekly lesson.  When the Spanish teachers come, there's always a flurry of excitement.

by Heather Leach

    After traveling to Gold Beach for their annual basketball tournament, the Braves varsity teams played in 3 games each, 1 on Friday and the other 2 on Saturday.
   
Varsity Girls
   The Lady Braves participated in games against Brookings, Coquille, and Del Norte.  In their first game, versus Brookings, the Lady Braves lost 62-68.  The leading scorers were Sara Kolander, #24, with 17 points and Krista Wooley, #20, with 15 points.  During the game these ladies shot 75% at the free throw line.
   Sadly the ladies lost their second game against Coquille as well.  The leading scorers were Krista Wooley, #20, with 24 points and Megan Bunch, #44, with 10 points.  Megan Bunch, #44,  also had the most free throw points, 4.  Krista Wooley, #20, had the most rebounds with 14, while Sara Kolander, #24, had the second most with 8 points.  They also competed against Del Norte to whom they lost 43-46.

Varsity Boys
  The Reedsport Braves competed against Illinois Valley, Coquille, and Phoenix.  Against Illinois Valley we won 65-54.  Daniel Mast, #30, with 16, Tyler Hague, #24, with 12 points,  and David Vandervort, #10, had the most with 17 points.  The leading rebounders were Daniel Mast, #30, had 13 and Casey Palermo, #22, had 9.
   Next the Reedsport  Braves played Coquille, winning 79-69.  The leading scorer was Tyler Hague, #24 had 26 points, followed by Casey Palermo, #22 and Scott Tisler, #40, with 15 points.  Daniel Mast again had the most rebounds with 17 followed by Scott Tisler with 8.
   Then, the only game the Reedsport Braves lost in against Phoenix, 52-21.  The leading scorers were Daniel Mast with 17 and Tyler Hague with 10.  The leading rebounders were Daniel Mast with 10, Casey Palermo with 9, and Scott Tisler with 7.