Volunteer Highlights
Every year PSCS is fortunate to have volunteers who bring their unique expertise and energy into the school. Students receive the benefit of various teaching methods and styles, the personal experience of the facilitator, as well as an additional lens through which to learn about and explore their world.
Students flip for parkour with Tyson Cecka
The first slate of Parkour tutorials ever offered at PSCS began in September of 2006 and quickly became a favorite session! A group of students regularly attend volunteer Tyson Cecka’s class and take part in a mix of Parkour specific conditioning, drills, and techniques. PSCS Students learn the technical breakdown behind each roll, vault, spin and jump. And though these basic movements are a critical foundation for all Parkour activity, the "sport" cannot be grasped by looking at the physical aspect alone.
Parkour practitioners, also known as traceurs (trace-ers), believe that by challenging yourself physically, everyday life situations become easier to deal with. When an "obstacle" or difficult situation arises in daily life, a traceur can see this as any other obstacle and apply the same skills and techniques to overcome it quickly, efficiently, and without disruption to their intended path. As Tyson, a former gymnast and martial-arts student says, " The world is our obstacle course. You see things other people do not."
Parkour, much like PSCS, is not about competition, breaking records, or battling for approval, but rather independence, self-knowledge, and the ability to adapt. Unlike other sports where the aim is to triumph over a competitor, in Parkour you are competing only against yourself. "Instead of rivalry", says co-founder Sebastien Foucan, "there's a real sense of community amongst those who take part."
Melissa Brown (class of 2007) was so taken by the sport that she chose to make it the focus of her senior graduation project.
Lindsey Own brings science alive
Talented volunteer Lindsey Own has facilitated several popular science classes at PSCS: Comparative Anatomy, Human Physiology, and Force and Motion. There was a fun and enthusiastic feeling surrounding these offerings, and students clearly benefited from the passion and creativity that Lindsey brought to each class. Due to Lindsey’s wide range of knowledge, discussions in one week ranged from the principles of the Cartesian Triangle, to the inner workings of the human digestive system, to fish dissection (a smelly but educational event that drew the noses of the school’s landlord – in a good way!).
Students say the best part of these classes was Lindsey herself. When asked about her experience, a student said, “Lindsey doesn’t talk down to you. She talks to you like you’re an adult,” a sentiment echoed by several students. Certainly, there is mutual respect for both the subject and the participants (including those scaled brethren sacrificed in the name of science and education).
Lindsey came to PSCS with three years of teaching science to middle school students in Evanston, Illinois. During that time, she worked with researchers at Northwestern University developing inquiry-based curriculum materials, and later worked as a full-time research assistant at Northwestern. Upon arriving in Seattle in the summer of 2006, she took a position as a program supervisor for Washington State LASER (Leadership and Assistance for Science Education Reform), as well as continuing with her curriculum development work remotely with Northwestern. She says she was drawn to PSCS because of the school’s, “powerful philosophy of promoting independence and an intrinsic love of learning in its students.”
Thanks to our volunteers!
Volunteers play an essential role in our community: they allow us to engage more subjects, go more places, and meet more inspiring people. We appreciate the following individuals and organizations for contributing their time and generosity to the school recently. (Want to add your name to our list?)
2007-2008 Volunteers
Yoram Bauman . Dana Bettinger . Irene Bettinger . Theresa Cardamone . Joel Casebeer . Tyson Cecka . Julie Charles . Victoria Clearwater . Michael Coffey . Patricia Colley . Teresa Collins . Kent Combs . David Crowe . Janine Cundy . Darren Darsey . Elisabeth DeLeeuw . Lisa Marie Dillard . Narateena Dowding . Charlie Durham . Jon Elizondo . Chris Falskow . Victoria Fann . John Felstiner . Judy Fleischman . Sasa Foster . Kellen Fujimoto . Douglas Gale . Jan Gallagher . John Gallagher . Rocky Gallegos . Dana Gaskin Wenig . Dan Gillmore . Peter Greyy . Dan Harm . Malcolm Hooper . Kaylyn Hunter . Kat Jong . Deb Kahn . Jon Karpoff . Liz Kennedy . John Kohlsaat . Carol Ladas Gaskin . Brandee Laird . David Lasky . Rod Long . Bill MacKellar-Hertan . David Marques . Ed Mast . Gina Maxwell . Kienan McFadden . Cherie Mensching . Emmett Montgomery . Duncan Moore . Diane Moss . Vance Newton . Rose O'Kane . Jamie Olney . Jim Olney . Josie Olney . Anoo Padte . Peggy Platt . Bert Puchtler . Martha Raymond . Steven Reese . Ernie Rombouts . Jillian Rood . Ellie Rose . Jill Sacherman . Deb Schaack . Hunter Schneider . Michele Shaw . Matt Sheppard . Carib Smallman . Al Smallman . Julia Smith . Rebecca Sornson . Jenny Steen . Aaron Swartzman . Nigel Thavasi . Kristen Tsiatsios . Brad Upton . Gabi Valencia-Mazuela . Andy Van Ornum . Faith Vandeputte . Chris Ward . Carl Warmenhoven