Auburn School District No. 408
915 4th Street Northeast, Auburn, WA  98002

9/20/06

NEWS RELEASE
Cascade Middle School Students to
Restore Olson Creek Salmon Habitat

Students at Cascade Middle School will be restoring salmon habitat along a local stream, Olson Creek, thanks to a King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks Waterworks “Small Change for a Big Difference” grant awarded to sixth grade math and science teacher Scott Weide.

On Friday, September 29, at 12:00 p.m., Scott Weide and his sixth grade students in Cascade’s Learning Assistance Program will take the first step in the triple-tiered salmon habitat restoration process. First, they will travel by foot to the Olson Creek Farm, an authentic nineteenth century farm, to learn about the process of salmon habitat restoration along the banks of the Olson Creek. Second, Mr. Weide’s students will build two 24 by 12 feet raised nursery beds and transplant nearly 100 seedlings donated by Weyerhaeuser. Students will monitor and maintain the planted seedlings with walking fieldtrips to the restoration site at Olson Creek Farm over the winter. Then, during the spring, students will transplant the trees from the nursery to the streamside restoration project. Cumulatively these steps will help to restore native vegetation to the south shore of Olson Creek.

Mr. Weide is thrilled to have his Learning Assistance Program students involved in this grant, because it offers these traditionally underperforming students who need additional support through reduced class size, additional para-educator assistance, and curricular modification to undertake a hands-on, cross curricular learning opportunity specific to their community and their everyday learning in the classroom.

For more information contact Mr. Scott Weide at (253) 931-4995.