School board meeting Tuesday
• Regularly scheduled meeting - Tuesday, March 7
• 7:30 p.m.
• District Board Room (364 S. Park Street)
• Open to public

• Edison Elementary, Paine High School, Wa-Hi and the Support Services building will be open for you to get a first hand look at why these facilities need help.

• Make an informed decision on the May 16 bond proposal.

• Take the time to get the facts and ask questions.

• District administrators and school board members are available to answer all your questions and discuss the issue.

Upcoming Bond Open House/Tours -- Mark your calendars
Sunday, March 26 (1 to 3 p.m. — each site)
Sunday, April 23 (1 to 3 p.m. — each site)
Sunday, April 30 (1 to 3 p.m. — each site)

Over Capacity
• Built for 1400 students, Wa-Hi now serves 1,800.
• Built for three grade levels (10, 11, 12), Wa-Hi now serves four grade levels (9, 10, 11, 12).
• Class of 1964: 411 graduates (three grade level high school).
• Class of 2005: 442 graduates (four grade level high school).
• 10 portable classrooms currently in use.

Program Changes
• In 1964, there were no special education services offered at Wa-Hi; today we serve approximately 250 special education students in 10 classrooms. Speech, occupational, and physical therapy services are also offered without any designated spaces to conduct these services.
• In 1964, Wa-Hi did not offer bilingual education services. Today more than 100 students receive these services and use one classroom full-time and others part-time.
• The evolution of girls’ sports over the years — primarily softball and soccer — has required additional play fields and practice spaces on campus and physical education facilities such as locker rooms.
• In 1964, Wa-Hi offered 6 girls sports (basketball, archery, volleyball, tennis, track and bowling).
• In 2006, Wa-Hi offers 9 girls sports (basketball, volleyball, tennis, track, cross country, softball, swimming, soccer, and golf).

Cramped Learning Spaces
• Not all teachers have their own classrooms. They rotate with their teaching materials on a cart. (limited storage too)
• Wa-Hi classroom size is below recommended standards. New design calls for larger classrooms (130 sq. ft. per student now vs. 150 sq. ft. per student in the proposed new school.)
• Limited library space has been converted into classroom space and now houses the Career Center.

Technology demands
• In 1964, classroom technology consisted of: overhead projector, typewriter, film-strip and movie projector.
• In 2006, classroom technology consists of: teacher’s computer, student computer stations, internet connectivity, projectors, television, DVD player, cell phones, palm pilots, scanners, printers, wireless lap tops, and telephones.
• Exterior conduit houses vital networking cables and many of the school’s undersized classrooms have only two electrical outlets and only one circuit for every two rooms — not suited for computer needs.
• School scored low rating for technology readiness.

Library
• Location: A library should be centrally located in a school to be effective according to design best practices (source: Architects West).

• Suitability: Current library is undersized and lacks storage. Significant costs to remodel for library needs or to change for other uses.

• Cost: Keeping the library in its current location equates to less than 1.4% of the construction cost. (little savings)

• Design Complexity: Continuing use impacts already complex high school program and new design concept. The potential savings to reuse the existing library is not adequate to justify keeping it.

Safety and Security
• In 1964, discipline issues consisted primarily of: skipping class, chewing gum, passing notes, talking during class, prank telephone calls, speeding in parking lots, tossing underclassmen in the creek and plagiarism.

• In 2006, discipline issues consist of: gang related violence, drug use and sales, weapons on campus, assault, theft, intimidation, graffiti, and destruction of school property.

• Open campus designs hinders dealing with today’s discipline issues.

• Post-Columbine: Law enforcement, much like airport safety standards following 9/11, have adjusted tactical strategies for securing school facilities should a gunman come on campus. They no longer wait for the trouble to cease, they enter the facility to secure the area. A unified structure is easier to secure for staff. Teachers close their pre-locked doors and secure the students.

Additional Bond Information (information also available online – www.wwps.org)
For more information on the May 16 bond proposal, contact Communications Director Mark Higgins at (509) 526-6716 or by e-mail: mhiggins@wwps.org.

How will new Wa-Hi design improve learning?
Walla Walla Public Schools is proposing in the May 16 bond issue to modernize and replace portions of Walla Walla High School. Below are some examples of how the new Wa-Hi design will improve learning opportunities.

• Larger classes — more square footage — will allow for more flexible learning strategies (i.e. small group instruction, cooperative learning, testing)

• Ability to have space for hands-on learning class projects (i.e. maps, labs, science displays)

• Word walls and walls that teach (for vocabulary lists, posters, teaching instructions on wall)

• Interdisciplinary curriculum strategies (i.e. combining math & science classes or English & Social Studies classes)

• Classroom for all advisory periods (currently some groups of students are meeting in the commons)

• 60,000 additional square footage. (More available teaching spaces)

• New science labs with industry standards for square footage per student and equipped with today’s technology and adequate storage for safe and secure handling of chemicals.

• Updated Career and Technical Education classrooms with flexibility to support today’s class offerings and those to come in the future.

• Improved classroom lighting

• Hearing enhancement systems in all classrooms

• Technology enhanced classrooms for staff and students

• Safe learning environments

• More accessible library and counseling services

• More specialized classrooms (science, CTE, special education, etc.)

Additional Bond Information (information also available online – www.wwps.org)
For more information on the May 16 bond proposal, contact Communications Director Mark Higgins at (509) 526-6716 or by e-mail: mhiggins@wwps.org.

Wa-Hi Wind Ensemble to perform before Sonics game - Tickets available
The Wa-Hi Wind Ensemble will be playing for 45 minutes in the Concourse area of Key Arena prior to the Seattle Supersonics vs. Portland Trailblazers basketball game Sunday, April 2. Tip-off is at 6:00 pm and the Wa-Hi music group will be performing from approximately 5:00-5:45pm.

“This is similar to when our Chamber Singers go and sing the National Anthem for Mariners games each spring with one major exception, and that is that the Sonics require performing groups to buy a minimum of 100 tickets to the game,” Wa-Hi Band Director Andrew Ueckert said. “On sale now with Kay McCauley in the Wa-Hi music department are 35 April 2 Sonics vs. Trailblazers tickets at the cut rate price of $20 each. We have already paid for them and are not looking to get every dime back, but instead want to give anyone who might be interested in the school district, a chance for a reduced price on these tickets.”

Ueckert says if you were already planning on spending spring break over in the Seattle area, why not buy some tickets and come on out and support the Wa-Hi Band and then enjoy a fun evening of professional basketball! He says he will adverstise any that we have not sold in the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin.

If interested, please contact Kay McCauley at 527-3039 or email her at kmccauley@wwps.org.

American Association of University Women announce 2006 scholarship opportunity
Applications are now being accepted for the AAUW Educational Scholarships, established to provide assistance to women who have completed at minimum one year of college (30 semester or 45 quarter credits) and have a desire to complete their undergraduate or post-graduate education. Please note that there must be a break of at least one year at some time during the college education process.

Applications will be accepted from women who meet the following requirements:
1) They must be able to provide transcripts from at least one year of college, followed by an interruption (time lapse) in education.
2) They must be residents of Walla Walla County, Columbia County, or the city of Milton-Freewater.

The scholarship committee is seeking women who demonstrate a desire to continue their education by completing or adding to their degree. While past academic performance will be considered, of equal importance is the person’s clearly demonstrated community involvement and enthusiasm for future community commitment. The individual financial need of the applicants will be considered in making the awards. The scholarship funds will be directed to the college of the recipient’s choice to be used as needed for educational expenses.

To request a scholarship application form, send an e-mail to amacdonald@wwps.org. Completed applications must be received by April 10, 2006. Send completed applications to Alice MacDonald, AAUW Scholarship Committee, 1429 Taumarson Rd., Walla Walla, WA 99362. Final candidates may be required to participate in a personal interview with the scholarship committee. The recipient of the award will be notified by the second week of May and introduced at the AAUW annual dinner meeting on May 9th. Please note that the scholarship is only awarded once per recipient.

Banking & Financial Systems
- Jose Valdez (1)

Visual Basic Programming
- Thomas Suckow (1)
- Bradley Vance (2)
- Kehnin Dyer (3)
- Tyler Ferraro (4)

Technology Concepts
- Tyler Ferraro (1)

Impromptu Speaking
- Jose Valdez (3)

C++ Programming
- Thomas Suckow (1)
- Kehnin Dyer (2)
- Tyler Ferraro (3)
- Nick Ferraro (4)

Java Programming
- Thomas Suckow (1)
- Kehnin Dyer (2)
- Tyler Ferraro (3)
- Nick Ferraro (4)
- Bradley Vance (5)

Business Law
- Jose Valdez (2)

The proposed May 16 bond issue calls for modern classrooms for these special education services and larger classrooms for all Wa-Hi teachers.

Election Date: May 16 (bond information online: www.wwps.org)

District sets Open Enrollment and Kindergarten registration dates
Walla Walla Public Schools Open Enrollment and Kindergarten Registration period is Monday, March 20, to Friday, March 31, 2006. Parents/guardians who wish to open enroll their child to a school outside of their attendance area may pick up open enrollment application forms at their attendance area school during normal business hours beginning March 13; however, forms will not be accepted in the receiving school until Monday, March 20. Kindergarten registration will be conducted at the student’s attendance area elementary school.

If there’s space available to accommodate some but not all open enrollment requests, then the priorities outlined in School Board Policy No. 3130 will be used to determine movement of a student. School Board Policies are on the district website (www.wwps.org) and manuals are available at all Walla Walla Public Schools and the Administration Office.

Open Enrollment/Kindergarten Registration Hours
Monday, March 20 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
March 21 – March 31 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Please contact your attendance area school for more information. District boundary maps are available at all Walla Walla Public Schools and the Administration Office at 364 South Park Street.

The Walla Walla Public Schools’ Graduates of Distinction program provides an avenue for recognizing local high school graduates who have distinguished themselves in their communities, professions, or careers, and to honor the district staff members who were the most inspirational in the lives of those individuals.

To be eligible for nomination, an individual must have graduated from high school in the Walla Walla Public Schools at least 10 years prior to nomination.

Nominations will be held for five years and will automatically be included in the selection process during that time. Call Kay Schisler at 526-6735 for more information.

2005 Graduates of Distinction
• Dr. George Cole Williams Jr. - Class of 1947
• Gerwyn A. Jones - Class of 1928
• Michael Maiden - Class of 1968

Walla Walla Valley Education Association scholarships
The Walla Walla Valley Education Association scholarship has $1,000 scholarships for students enrolling full time in a 2 year or four year university, college or community college in any field. Selection will be based on student motivation, leadership qualities, community involvement and scholarship.

Applications for these scholarships are available at Paine Campus, Walla Walla High School of the Opportunity Program. The deadline for submission is April 10, 2006.

Public School Employees of Washington scholarships
The Public School Employees of Washington is offering fifteen $1,000 scholarships to graduating high school seniors or students currently enrolled in undergraduate studies at a university, college, community college, or trade or tech school.

The student needs to be planning on attending full time. They need to be IRS-dependent and have at least one parent or legal guardian who is a dues paying member in good standing of Public School Employees of Washington. Applications are available at WA-HI in the counseling office. The deadline for submission is March 15, 2006.

If you want more information you may call Jeanne Ruecker at WA-HI (526-8663) or email jruecker@wwps.org.

Director: Brian Senter
Assistant Director: Carina Stillman
Musical Director: Ronda Gabbard
Orchestra Director: Andrew Ueckert
Choreographer: Allison Collette

• Music by Alan Menken Lyrics by Howard Ashman & Tim Rice Book by Linda Woolverton