Velva takes first at Region 8
Velva High School won first place in the Region 8 One-Act Play Contest held Nov. 8 at Minot State University with a performance of Sarah Ruhl's "Eurydice." The play was directed by Missy Ali. Glenburn High School won second place with a performance of "The Trap" by Ed Monk. The play was directed by Paula Nett and JoEllen Lee.
The director of the year is Allison C. Kirk from Westhope High School.
Honorable mention All-Star cast awards went to Logan Cunningham, Glenburn; Hunter Davis, TGU-Granville; The Jungle Animals from MLS-Mohall; Sam Carlson from MLS-Mohall; Kyleen Anderson, Sawyer; The Stones, Velva; Brad Dean from Velva High School; and Alberto Moncera, Bottineau.
Superior acting awards went to Jacob Shaver, Glenburn; Logan Hermes, Westhope, Zachary Klokstad, Westhope; Brenna Kilensworth, MLS-Mohall; Cassidy Peterson, Velva; Sandi Kruse, Drake-Anamoose; Monica Anderson, Bishop Ryan; and John Salling, Bishop Ryan.
Ray stands tall in Region 9
The Region 9 Play Contest was held on Wednesday, Nov. 7, at the Williston Old Armory Theater. Nine schools competed: Alexander, Burke County, Kenmare, New Town, Ray, Stanley, Tioga, Trinity Christian and Watford City. Champion Ray and runner-up Watford City will advance to state competition in Jamestown Nov. 19-20. Burke County took third place.
Ray's entire ensemble was awarded a superior performance award. The other superior performances were Mark Bluestone Jr., New Town; Sarah Telehey, Trinity Christian; Kass Longie, Tioga; Tara Loomer, Watford City; Charles Steinberger, Kenmare; Michaela Bjergaard, Burke County; and Douglas Winzenburg, Burke County.
Honorable mention in acting certificates were awarded to Kelsey Guttormson, Tioga; Oliver Hermanson, Watford City; Elsa Condit, Kenmare; Ethan Kucera, Stanley; Scott Tetrault, Burke County; Daisy Torkildson, Ray; Shannon Walker, Alexander; and Elijah Grady, New Town.
Angela Johnson, Ray, was voted Region 9 Play Director of the Year by the directors.
Carlen Gilseth of Minot State University, Renee Rogness of Williston, and Chris Stroschein of Minot were the judges.
DC-Bottineau grad now bus aide
Breanne Drewlow works for the Fargo school district as a bus aide for students with special needs.
She is one of the graduates of Dakota College at Bottineau's paraeducation program. The college is in the second year of a U.S. Department of Education grant to improve the knowledge and skills of paraprofessionals, commonly known as teacher's aides, serving children with special needs in kindergarten through 12th grade. The grant allows the college to align its curriculum with state and national standards, improve the quality of instruction and better equip graduates for work as paraeducators.
Drewlow, who graduated in December, said many of the classes she took were offered online. She believes the classes she took prepared her well for her work and she hopes to eventually go back to college to obtain a four-year degree and become a teacher.
According to the college, paraprofessionals who work with kids with disabilities are in high demand across the state. Some special education teachers have as many as 40 kids on their caseload and they end up relying on the paraprofessionals to implement some of the accommodations that students need. Dakota College at Bottineau's program features a revised curriculum that puts an emphasis on special education, family involvement and understanding of different cultures, and ensures that graduates are highly qualified and prepared to work in schools.
Students in the program also have an opportunity to get hands-on experience through fieldwork placements that lets them work under supervision of teachers and their instructor in classrooms and resource rooms before they are hired as paraprofessionals.
For more information on the paraeducation: K-12 program, contact Madison Junker, program advisor, or Melissa Fulsebakke, program administrative assistant, by calling toll free 1-888-918-5623.
Andrea Johnson