By JEANNE RICKEY

The Thornton Creek Project, an initiative led by local public and private school educators, community members and businesses, held their fourth annual "Confluence" event, March 27, at Shoreline Center.

Kindergarten through graduate school students from over 30 schools in north Seattle's Thornton Creek watershed area gathered to share what they have learned over the past year preparing to convincingly play the role of an assigned real-life watershed stakeholder (e.g., car dealer, fry cook, teacher, homeless person, biologist, contractor, etc.).

During a day of learning about and seeking solutions to community problems, students tackled the statewide issue of preservation of wild salmon runs as they see how the meandering creek impacts everyday life.

Key partners in the Project included Seattle and Shoreline Public Schools, North Seattle Community College, several private schools, local businesses such as Alley Chevrolet, the City of Seattle, the City of Shoreline, King County, and the Thornton Creek Alliance.

Project goals included supporting educators in shaping the teaching that leads students to become knowledgeable, skilled and active citizens. The Creek and its watershed are central to life in the north end. It is a natural teaching and learning tool.

North Seattle Community College is situated on Thornton Creek wetland and the watershed's headwaters. The prime location offers the college students in the Science/Math Division an opportunity to use the Creek as a living lab in Biology, Chemistry and other Environmental Science courses.

Two other ongoing activities supported by the Thornton Creek Project are: The Creek Health Monitoring Program and "Rudy the Adventurous Mouse."

Creek Health Monitoring involves students at 10 schools who regularly monitor and analyze the health of the urban, salmon-supporting creek system. Results are shared via the Internet.

"Rudy the Adventurous Mouse" invites middle school students to write versions of an epic tale of two mice traveling in a teriyaki dish down Thornton Creek from Northgate Shopping Center to Lake Washington. First through third graders and Adult Basic literacy students from North read, critique, and illustrate the undiscovered Pulitzer material.

Jeanne Rickey is a spokeswoman for North Seattle Community College, which is located in the Licton Springs neighborhood.