Public Schools

Eric Shoner, a seventh-grader at Salmon Bay School, got a taste of state competition last Friday at the 2009 Washington Geographic Bee at Stadium High School in Tacoma.

Shoner, for whom maps have been a hobby since he was 3, was one of six contestants in his preliminary round who was perfect through the first five questions. He succumbed to the next three, however, and did not advance.

Of the 20 students in his group, only one made it to the final 10; 101 students from throughout the state qualified for the event.

The bee is promoted by the National Geographic Society and sponsored by nationally Google and the timber resources company, Plum Creek.

They live eight blocks apart, on either side of California Avenue --- the private-schooled sixth-grader and the Madison Middle School eighth-grader. When the dust had settled on the 21st annual Washington Geographic Bee at Stadium High School in Tacoma last Friday, these two West Seattle students had claimed two of the top seven places in the whole state.

Newcomer Mark Mockett placed fourth, while five-time veteran Sean Keller finished seventh.

Keller's total of five appearances in the state-level competition, beginning as a fourth-grader, is uncommon. At the earliest, his feat will not be matched again until 2011, and the most recent instance was 2003 or prior. The Bee is open only to grades four through eight.

The competition began with 101 students, separated into five groups. Alphabetically, they had come from Anacortes to Yakima, and from many places in between: from tiny Royal City, from distant Nine Mile Falls.

Coinciding with National Start! Walking Day on Wednesday, April 8, Sanislo Elementary School’s fifth graders will take a walkable field trip with Homewaters Project to explore the “tiny neighbors” in their school wetlands.

Homewaters Project, a Seattle-based nonprofit organization, provides field extensions of classroom science units. Homewaters designs investigations within walking distance of schools when possible, so that students discover the natural world in their own home place.

According to the organization, walkable field trips promote better health for students as well as for their watersheds: students engage in physical activity while discovering impacts of everyday actions on local water quality and ecosystem health.

Sanislo students and teachers are particularly excited about Wednesday’s "Tiny Neighbors" program, because this natural area is usually off-limits to students. The young scientists will observe and draw their surroundings, collect and study microorganisms up close, draw conclusions about water quality based on the types of microorganisms they find, and record and evaluate human impacts.

Following a 7-0 shutout at the hands of Newport, the Ballard High School tennis team remains winless on the season.

The previously lost 1-8 to Issaquah and 3-6 to Garfield.

Despite the losses, coach Charles Brenner said the team is showing improvement against some very good tennis teams, including Newport.

"We played really well," Brenner said. "I was proud of our girls."

The Beavers will look for their first win at 3:45 p.m., April 2 at Lower Woodland against Inglemoor.

It was listed as a game, but the Ballard High School baseball team's March 30 matchup against Roosevelt might as well have been batting practice for the Beavers.

Ballard used 14 runs on 12 hits to blast their way past Roosevelt and on to a 3-1 conference record (4-2 overall).

What looked like a nail biter, with the score knotted at one apiece at the end of the first inning, turned into a laugher as the Beavers drove in nine runs in the bottom of the second, all with two outs on the board.

Ballard added four more in the third to completely ice the game.

Senior outfielder Jason Bergerson went one-for-three with a three-run home run. Sophomore outfielder Danny Thomson went one-for-two, adding another three-run homer for the Beavers.

Senior shortstop Dylan Murphy got his three RBIs the old-fashioned way, going three-for-four with a stolen base.

Senior pitcher Jimmy Pugel went four innings and threw eight strikeouts to get the win.

Ballard's dominating performance was not unprecedented, as the team hammered Roosevelt 11-2 March 16.

The Beavers head to Bothell April 1 for a 3:45 p.m. game.

What exactly is a fashionisto? Well, it’s a guy who follows trends or creates trends of fashion. Yes, that’s right; guys can be fashionable as well. Ladies: we’re not the only ones who care about what we wear - guys do too, just in their own way.

So what are the latest celebrity guy’s fashion? The tailored, long-sleeve, button-down shirt with a suit and tie is a top pick. It’s stylish and classy, great for a special night out. Hugh Jackman was noticed at the Grammy’s for this outfit.

The celebs on a regular out-and-about day keep it fashionable, but casual. A nice T-shirt and jeans are always fashionable. Zac Efron is a good example of this style. Although he is irritating to most, Efron dresses casual but keeps it fashionable. One of his outfits are plaid, button- down shirts with the sleeves to the elbow, faded jeans, and converse.

A regular T-shirt with a nice fitted blazer and jeans have been seen on him as well. Both of these outfits are trendy and can be found at lots of stores.

For the colder days, wearing a nice fitted sweater, blazer, or trench coat will work.

The Ballard High School boys soccer team was blanked for the third time in a row March 27 against Bothell. But, this time they didn't allow their opponents to get on the board either.

The Beavers ended the game tied with Bothell at zero apiece and are now sitting at 0-2-1 in the conference and 1-3-1 overall.

Ballard faces Bishop Blanchet High School at 2 p.m., April 4 at Blanchet.

The Ballard High School girls tennis team's first match on March 24 was rained out halfway through. The team finished the match against Issaquah March 27, though Beaver fans might wish they hadn't.

Ballard was no match for Issaquah and lost 8-1. The only point for the Beavers came on a forfeit by the opponent of Ballard's Sophie Hingten.

Ballard (0-2) plays again at 3:45 p.m., March 31 at Newport High School.

The Ballard High School girls golf team was beaten handily by Inglemoor March 26.

Coach Casey McMullin said a number of girls were ineligible due to grades for the March 24 game, and the team was again shorthanded against Inglemoor.

Ballard (0-2) has a few weeks to practice before they square off against Lake Washington at 3 p.m., April 15 at the West Seattle Golf Course.

Conor McClure almost single-handedly snapped the Ballard High School baseball team's two-game losing streak in a March 26 win over Inglemoor.

McClure went three-for-four with a home run, a double and five RBIs in the 6-2 victory

Thursday's performance came one day after McClure went two-for-three in a losing effort.

"He's swinging the stick well," coach John Lamm said.

McClure got some help from starting pitcher Nick Palewicz, who threw five strikeouts in five innings and gave up only one run.

Nico Van Der Ven added a solo shot for the Beavers.

The win puts Ballard at 2-1 in the conference and 3-2 overall.

The Beavers take on Roosevelt at 3:45 p.m., March 30 at Whitman Middle School.