Thanksgiving Holiday Break Schedule
All students will be dismissed early today -- no late start for middle and high schools today -- and there is no school Thursday and Friday.

Early dismissal schedules vary slightly from school to school. School hours are listed on the district web site under “Schools/School Listings.” Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving Holiday break.

***Child care will be provided by the Wa-Hi Latino Club

- Review district’s conceptual 25-Year Facilities Improvement Plan
- Discuss potential projects: Edison Elementary, Wa-Hi, Paine Campus, Support Services
- Offer feedback on district’s facilities needs; provide input on projects and strategies
- Q & A session with Architect John Evans and Superintendent Rich Carter

Scrimmage Schedule:
4 p.m. - Frosh Boys
5 p.m. - JV/Soph Boys
6 p.m. - Varsity Girls
7 p.m. - Varsity Boys

Blue Ridge Turkey Trot
Blue Ridge Elementary held its annual Turkey Trot Friday, Nov. 18. The Turkey Trot, organized and created by physical education teacher Sue Hansen, has been a long-standing tradition at the school since 1987.

The entire staff contributes to the festivities in some way; by purchasing student and staff prizes, working on the half-mile running course or assisting with the drawing of prizes held in the gym. The event is so popular that former staff members come out of retirement to assist.

The honor of wearing the turkey costume always goes to one of the student teachers in the building. This year’s “turkey” was Michelle Thomas. Blue Ridge learning specialist, Leah Crudup, and her husband Tom, have donated the turkeys for several years.

Tickets are drawn randomly for the seven turkeys, one for each grade level, and one for the staff. Students and staff also win many other prizes during the drawing. This year there were 150 donated prizes. Since the inception of the event, 1,860 prizes have been awarded.

German Christmas Carol Sing-a-longs
What: German Christmas Carol Sing-a-longs (there are two this year)

When: Saturdays, December 3 and 10, 10:00 am

Where: Walla Walla College Fine Arts Center Room 120

Who: Open to anyone interested in German, Music & Christmas. You are welcome to come regardless of your knowledge of German or lack thereof

What else: Treats, an opportunity to mingle with the valley’s German community

Questions: E-mail cschafer@wwps.org

Wa-Hi Latino students travel to WSU to learn more about higher education

Thirty-nine Latino Wa-Hi students traveled to WSU last Friday to attend the weekend long C.A.S.H.E. (Children of Aztlan Sharing Higher Education) conference. The conference stresses the importance of higher education.

WSU Latino students hosted our Wa-Hi students as they attended workshops offering information on topics of financial aid, careers, avoiding gang involvement and avoiding dropping out. A motivating featured speaker was Ricardo Sanchez, Director of LEAP (Latino Education Achievement Project).

Our Wa-Hi students were attentive, impressed, and felt empowered! Thank you Javier Hernandez for organizing this opportunity for students.

Winter weather is here! School Closure Announcements
During winter months, parents and community members are encouraged to visit the district website (www.wwps.org) for up-to-the-minute information regarding school closures or delays. Also tune to local radio and television stations for school closure updates.

Assume school will operate on time if you have not heard about a delay or closure by 6:30 a.m. Messages posted on the district website and calls to local media outlets from the school district are ONLY made if there are delays or closures.

How do I get school closure information?
• Online - www.wwps.org
• Tune to local radio stations
• Check local TV reports

College Representatives visit Wa-Hi
This fall the Wa-Hi Career Center hosted visits for interested students from 18 different admissions representatives from various Northwest colleges and one from New York. All branches of the military also had recruiters on campus to discuss their programs. We store and distribute information from colleges and the military. Also 12 different colleges/schools/employers have visited our campus to spend the day in classrooms talking about their programs. These visits are arranged through the Career Center.

Certified Nursing Assistant Program
Wa-Hi, through Running Start at Walla Walla Community College, has been hosting an after school Certified Nursing Assistant program. We have 12 students a quarter who meet after school on our campus several times a week for 6 to 8 weeks. The Allied Health Department at WWCC teaches the class. At the end of the class, the students are qualified to take the CNA test. This has led to many jobs locally for our students and has helped some of them decide whether or not to further their education in the health care industry.

Food Permit Class
Earlier this month the County Health Department held a Food Permit class at Wa-Hi before school. Thirty-one students showed up at 7:30 a.m. and walked out with their permit before 1st period. The Health Department volunteers to do this 2-3 times a year and it is a very nice service for Wa-Hi students.

Advisory Day Activity
We tried something new on Advisory Day, Nov. 16. We had 17 different presenters come to campus and meet with interested seniors. The students had to pick one topic and go to the assigned space. The presenters represented these areas: Art Institute, Apprenticeship programs, CWU, Study Abroad, WWC, WWCC admissions, culinary arts, engineering, turf/golf management, transfer options, WSU, UW, Whitman College, application process and Willamette University.

The most popular choices were the Art Institute, WWCC admissions, WSU, the application process and UW.

“This was a new way to expose kids to college info and even though it wasn’t voluntary as our Career Center visits are, the variety of choices seemed to please them,” Wa-Hi Career Center Information Specialist Pat Hanford said. “We had very positive response from the presenters also.”

The Career Center, which is housed in the library, is a drop-in center for students, teachers and interested parents. Unlike the library, food and drinks are allowed so we can meet with kids during their lunches. We are open when school is in session. Besides career center staff, we house the ETS/BMAC counselor. These programs are for first generation college bound students and other students who qualify. They help kids find jobs, with fees for certain applications, take students on college visits, help them fill out applications, financial aid forms and other needed support.

We record and file all of the Blueprint for Tomorrow student work. We have internet access on our student computers and encourage kids and parents to come in for help with searches, applications, registering for the SAT/ACTs, or filling out their FAFSA. Many students come in to use the computers or study as it is usually a ‘sort of quiet space.’

We are your ‘one stop shopping center’ and would like your business any time.

2005 Holiday Concert Series
Nov. 30 - Pioneer Holiday Concert #1 / 7:00 PM, Pioneer
5th & 6th grade orchestra, 6th grade band & choir

Dec. 1 - Wa-Hi Christmas Gift Concert / 7:00 PM, Wa-Hi Auditorium
Chamber Singers & Treble Ensemble

Dec. 4 - Community “Feast of Carols” (Green Park / Sharpstein, Wa-Hi Concert Choir and Chamber Singers) / 7:00 PM, Cordiner Hall

Dec. 8 - Pioneer Holiday Concert #2 / 7:00 PM, Wa-Hi Auditorium
7th & 8th gr. Orchestra, 7th gr. Band & Choir, Boys’ Choir, P3, Jazz Band

Dec. 8 - Sharpstein 5th Grade Choir Tour to Odd Fellows & Wheatland Village / AM

Dec. 9 - Green Park pre-school-2nd grade Holiday program / 10:30 AM

Dec. 9-10 - Wa-Hi Choral Groups travel to the Portland Grotto

Dec. 12 - Prospect Point Holiday program (grades K-2) 12:30 PM / (grades) 3-5 / 1:30 PM

Dec. 12 - Pioneer Holiday Concert #3 / 7:00 PM, Wa-Hi Auditorium
8th Grade Band & Choir, Boys’ Choir, P3 & Jazz Band

Dec. 13 - Prospect Point Holiday program (grades K-2) 9:15 AM / (grades 3-5) / 10:15 AM

Dec. 13 - Green Park Holiday program (grades 3-5) / 1:30 PM

Dec. 13 - Garrison Holiday Concert / 7:00 PM, Garrison Gym

Dec. 13 - Edison Holiday program (grades 1-3) / 7:00 PM (grades 4-5) / 7:40 PM Wa-Hi Aud.

Dec. 13 - Prospect Point Choir Tour Odd Fellows, Garrison Creek Lodge
(11 AM & 12:30 PM, Park Plaza, 1 PM)

Dec. 14 - Wa-Hi Holiday Concert #1 / 7:00 PM, Wa-Hi Auditorium (Adults $2, Students $1, Families $5)
(Chansons, String Orchestra, Cantabile, Symphonic Band, Treble Ensemble)

Dec. 15 - Garrison 7th-8th Choir Tour (Odd Fellows, Garrison Creek and Wheatland Village)

Dec. 15 - Sharpstein Holiday program (grades 1, 2 and 3) / 1:00 PM

Dec. 15 - Edison Kindergarten Program / 7:00 PM

Dec. 15 - Berney Holiday programs (grades K-2) / 12:30 PM / (grades 3-5) / 1:45 PM

Dec. 15 - Wa-Hi Holiday Concert #2 / 7:00 PM / Wa-Hi Auditorium (Adults $2, Students $1, Families $5)
(Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Singers, Wind Ensemble, Concert Choir, Jazz Band)

Dec. 16 - Sharpstein Holiday program (grades K, 4 and 5) / 1:00 PM

Dec. 16 - Blue Ridge Elementary School Holiday program (grades K-2) / 12:30 PM

Dec. 16 - Blue Ridge Elementary School Holiday program (grades 3-5) / 1:15 PM