Skip Schulz/For the Gazette Ewen-Trout Creek fifth grader Christian Besonen addresses ETC School Board

EWEN – It is nothing unusual for someone from the public to get on the agenda of a School Board meeting, nor is it unusual for someone from the public to go through a visual ‘slide’ presentation. It is unusual when a fifth grade student gives a presentation to a School Board.

Wednesday night Christian Besonen, a member of Patti Witt’s fifth grade class, showed the Ewen-Trout Creek School Board the activities and events his fifth grade class participates in. The presentation started with Besonen proudly talking about the fifth grade spelling bee contest — a contest he and Rydar Sanchez won.

After showing slides depicting the purpose of the spelling bee contest and the fun the students had, Besonen went into an explanation of the field trip the class took to the Porcupine Mountains Ski Hill.

Witt said, “The kids had a great time at the Porkies!”

The young man showed slides of a project writing cards for a Hurontown girl suffering from a serious disease. Besonen told the board how proud his class was to make the cards and write get-well wishes.

Witt said, “With these cards the kids showed some good writing skills.”

Besonen then showed slides and explained the Science Fair that the fifth graders worked on.

“This was for students in fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth grade,” said Besonen.

He showed the fifth grade Science Fair winners.

Witt said volunteers are recruited to help with the Science Fair, “and they do.”

“It’s great to do things inside and outside of the classroom. It makes school really interesting, and the kids have a lot of fun,” said Witt.

ETC superintendent and principal, Alan Tullpo told the board about the time that the fifth graders met 110th State Representative, Scott Dianda. “Dianda asked the students if they have any questions. Then he had a couple questions he couldn’t answer. One was on the State Gas Tax,”said Tullpo.

As the slide presentation concluded, Witt told the board that Besonen came in 90 minutes before the meeting, “only to find out that the equipment he needed wasn’t working. However he never gave up, and got it working in time for the meeting.”

Witt concluded the presentation by commending Besonen, her class, and thanking the ETC School Board for their support of the students.