CountyCONGRATULATIONS Taylor Donley Oliver Niskanen - starnews_20250522_tsn-2025-05-22-a-002_art_5.xml
C ounty CONGRATULATIONS Taylor Donley Oliver Niskanen Educator What do you teach? of the Month I currently teach Pre K through 4th Grade General Music at Stetsonville and Medford Elementary Schools. How long have you been an educator? I am finishing my 40th year as an educator (the past 8 have been in the Medford Area Public School District). Who was your favorite/best teacher when you were a student and why? My mother and older brother were teachers and role models, as were several other important people in my life growing up, elementary teachers, coaches and especially high school instructors and college professors. I feel that I have always wanted to work with young people and see the possibility the future holds in them. What inspires you to continue as an educator? Every day is an inspiration to me in the fact that it is a new page, a new beginning. Young people, especially elementary aged students, see a fresh start with each school day. That makes every day a chance to make the right choice and a good impression. That means hope for the future, and we can see that growing and learning every day, week, month and school year. What is your favorite memory as an educator? Spectrum Spectrum BENEFIT SOLUTIONS BENEFIT SOLUTIONS Health and Life Insurance Iâm still making them and I hope that the âfavoriteâ memory hasnât been witnessed yet, truly. For instance, at the last Elementary Christmas Program, there was a set of students who had to come down to play extra instruments. One girl out of a set of four always got to the instrument table quickly and of the four, one boy was always getting late, she noticed this during the rehearsals. During the program, she grabbed his tambourine and headed back towards him to make sure he was ready for the down beat of the song. I got tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat. She wasnât asked to do it. It was the âRaider Wayâ and the spirit of the season, but more than that, it was kind and she didnât want him to miss the performance in front of the crowd or his parents. I have many, many more stories, large and small, but those moments are the type that keep me walking back in the classroom every year. : ) Spectrum Spectrum Sponsored in partnership with: BENEFIT SOLUTIONS BENEFIT SOLUTIONS Hedlund Agency 39636_25 Health and Life Insurance C ounty CONGRATULATIONS Taylor Donley Oliver Niskanen Educator What do you teach? of the Month I currently teach Pre K through 4th Grade General Music at Stetsonville and Medford Elementary Schools. How long have you been an educator? I am finishing my 40th year as an educator (the past 8 have been in the Medford Area Public School District). Who was your favorite/best teacher when you were a student and why? My mother and older brother were teachers and role models, as were several other important people in my life growing up, elementary teachers, coaches and especially high school instructors and college professors. I feel that I have always wanted to work with young people and see the possibility the future holds in them. What inspires you to continue as an educator? Every day is an inspiration to me in the fact that it is a new page, a new beginning. Young people, especially elementary aged students, see a fresh start with each school day. That makes every day a chance to make the right choice and a good impression. That means hope for the future, and we can see that growing and learning every day, week, month and school year. What is your favorite memory as an educator? Spectrum Spectrum BENEFIT SOLUTIONS BENEFIT SOLUTIONS Health and Life Insurance Iâm still making them and I hope that the âfavoriteâ memory hasnât been witnessed yet, truly. For instance, at the last Elementary Christmas Program, there was a set of students who had to come down to play extra instruments. One girl out of a set of four always got to the instrument table quickly and of the four, one boy was always getting late, she noticed this during the rehearsals. During the program, she grabbed his tambourine and headed back towards him to make sure he was ready for the down beat of the song. I got tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat. She wasnât asked to do it. It was the âRaider Wayâ and the spirit of the season, but more than that, it was kind and she didnât want him to miss the performance in front of the crowd or his parents. I have many, many more stories, large and small, but those moments are the type that keep me walking back in the classroom every year. : ) Spectrum Spectrum Sponsored in partnership with: BENEFIT SOLUTIONS BENEFIT SOLUTIONS Hedlund Agency 39636_25 Health and Life Insurance
The Medford Area Middle School Band would like to share a big thank you to all of our business/foundation donors as well as individuals who have supported the program via their Mattress or Kwik Trip Card Fundraiser. Individuals and organizations who have donated to the MAMS band program are: Medford Education Association, The Classes of 67-72, Patrick Marsh Foundation, Weather Shield LITE Foundation, Forward Bank, Nathan Bilodeau, AnnMarie Grant, and Purple Mattress. âIf you see people from these organizations, please thank them! We have been able to raise about $8,500 through donations/grants and $7,000 through fundraisers. The generous support of our community has allowed us to purchase: 2 piccolos, 4 clarinets, 4 alto saxophones, 1 tenor saxophone, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, and a bass drum stand,â said middle school band teacher Kendra Junk. âThese instruments are going directly into the hands of the students. The best part of being able to provide new instruments is how excited students get when they receive a new and working instrument,â she said. They consistently have instruments that need to be repaired and are often coming back from repair with a higher repair cost than the value of the instrument. They have several instruments in student hands right now that are functioning enough to work but are not in great shape. If you would like to donate to the MAMS band program, would like to read more about the condition of our instruments, or to see the complete list of donors please visit: https://bit.ly/SupportMAMSBand. âAs always thank you for your support of the MAMS Band Program,â Junk said. SUBMITTED
The Medford Area Senior High School Choir traveled to Holy Rosary Catholic Church on March 16 to put on a choir performance. Pieces including traditional arrangements as well as the choir members surrounding the audience with their voices. ALEX WILSON/THE STAR NEWS
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