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Wa-Hi principal to resign at end of school year
Walla Walla High School Principal Brian Pendleton submitted his letter of resignation to the school board Tuesday night stating he plans to leave the school district at the end of the school year. His contract ends June 30.
“I have gained a great love for the students and the families of the students at Wa-Hi,” Pendleton said.
Pendleton did not indicate plans for the future. He was hired July 2002.
“We wish Brian and his family well and appreciate his service to the school district,” Superintendent Dr. Rich Carter said. “We will continue to work with him and provide the necessary support to finish another successful school year.”
A search for a new principal will begin soon. For more information, contact Personnel Director Dr. Bill Jordan at (509) 527-3000.
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Wa-Hi Assistant Principal takes central office post
Wa-Hi Assistant Principal Ron Higgins was named Director of Assessment and Program Evaluation at Tuesday night’s school board meeting.
Higgins fills the position of Len Taruscio who is retiring from his current post June 30. Higgins will work in the Curriculum Department managing the district’s assessment program with Assistant Superintendent Linda Boggs.
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Bond Tours Sunday
Sunday, March 26
1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
• 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.
Future Tour Dates
• Sunday, April 23
• Sunday, April 30
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Quaresma National Distinguished Principal finalist
Congratulations to Sharpstein Principal Laure Quaresma for being selected as one of three finalists for the title of National Distinguished Principal for the state of Washington. A selection committee was at Sharpstein Tuesday to conduct the next phase of the selection process.
“We are extremely proud of Laure and lucky to have her serving as one of our elementary principals,” Assistant Superintendent Linda Boggs said. “Regardless of the outcome, she deserves our applause and recognition.”
Quaresma was recognized as the 2005-06 Lake Wallula Distinguished Principal earlier this school year.
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Personnel Report (from 3/21/06 school board meeting)
• New Hires
(Administrative) Ron Higgins, Director of Assessment & Program Evaluation
(Classified) Charles Hawman, Bus Driver, Transportation
• Resignations/Retirements
(Administrative) Brian Pendleton, Principal, Wa-Hi, 4 years
(Certificated) Barbara Fryhling, Special Education, Wa-Hi, 4 years
• (resigning .4 FTE of her position -- will remain .6 FTE Special Ed teacher)
Alice MacDonald, Math Specialist, Prospect Point, 15 years
(Classified) John Person, Bus Mechanic, Transportation, 4 years
• Leave of Absences
(Certificated) Oscar Graybill, English Teacher, Wa-Hi, 15 years
• Graybill served as Director of Teaching and Learning for two years
Malia Renner-Singer, Social Studies Teacher, Wa-Hi, 5 years
• Malia was on a leave of absence for the 2005-2006 school year
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High School Job Expo scheduled
The Career Center is organizing a Job Expo with area businesses. This is an opportunity for high school students who need employment, whether it be for summer or long term, to meet with local employers. Interviewing skills, application/resume writing and personal “job getting” advice will also be provided.
The Expo will be held on April 20 from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. in the WaHi Commons. This is a ‘WASL day’ so there are no classes until 10:45. This is strictly a ‘volunteer attendance’ affair!! Last year 60 local employers and between 500 to 600 students attended.
We are hoping this year’s expo will be bigger and better. If you hire students for summer, volunteer or long term employment, have career opportunities for high school or college students, or if you just want to share your field with our students, plan now to attend the Walla Walla High School Job Expo.
Fact Sheet:
Date: April 20, 2006
Time: 8:30 - 10:30 a.m.
Where: WaHi Commons
Call: 527-3020 x4602
For more information, contact Pat Hanford in the Career Center 527-3020 x4602 or e-mail phanford@wwps.org
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Citizens for Schools Bond Rally
Sunday, March 26
1 to 4 p.m.
YMCA
• School bond information
• Student performances
• Opportunities to participate in Citizens for Schools bond efforts
Jim Hayner, Chair
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SAT Prep Class offered
A SAT Prep class will be offered two evenings per week from April 10 through May 3, 2006. On Monday evenings from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., the focus will be mathematics with teacher Kathy Keatts. On Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., the focus will be language arts and writing with teacher Lori Dohe. The cost is $70. Participants receive a student workbook, CD, and home study practice in addition to the eight classroom sessions.
Registration forms are available at the Wa-Hi office from Mrs. Morasch or from the district office at 364 South Park Street. The deadline is March 30, 2006.
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Mitchell reports on state arts assessments
When District Fine Arts Director Glen Mitchell signed on three years ago to join a committee to help develop statewide arts assessments, he had no idea he would be expected to know “CPR.”
But that’s exactly what happened. No, not the CPR to resuscitate life -- but rather to help the arts stay alive and healthy in our state in the 21st Century.
With the new Arts Motto -- “The Arts - CPR for Learning! C= Creating, P = Performing, R = Responding” -- Mitchell says the state now has 60 arts assessments with this theme in mind. Dance, Music, Theatre and Visual Arts assessments in grades 5, 8 and 10 will be assessed and scored by local school districts for all students who take courses in these subject areas.
Mitchell will serve as a trainer for teachers in this region to learn scoring requirements. He also reported the new Arts Graduation requirement calls for one full year of study in arts and that he is pleased with where the state is going in regards to Arts Education.
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Washington School Retirees Week
March 20-26
School Board President Mary Jo Geidl read a proclamation at Tuesday night’s school board meeting from Governor Christine Gregoire honoring the state’s school retirees. Unit 31 representative and retired Wa-Hi Social Studies teacher Connie Bosley received the proclamation on behalf of retirees in this region.
Superintendent Rich Carter joined the school board in thanking school retirees for dedicating their careers to working with young people and continuing to look out for their interests in retirement.
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Open Enrollment and Kindergarten registration continues next week
Walla Walla Public Schools Open Enrollment and Kindergarten Registration period continues through Friday, March 31. 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. 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.
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Students from Germany to attend Wa-Hi
Wa-Hi Spanish teacher Curtis Schafer reported to school board members Tuesday night on a German-American Partnership Program which will bring 20 students from Germany to Wa-Hi in May for a three week visit.
Schafer said the students will stay with host families and attend school with students from their host families. Once they get more comfortable, the German students will attend other classes too. They plan on presenting to Wa-Hi students on the history of their hometown, German geography and other topics related to their culture.
Schafer would like to plan a reciprocal visit to Germany in the Summer of 2007. Superintendent Rich Carter said the district will research the possibility of sponsoring this activity in our post 9-11 era -- which has restricted some of these foreign exchange programs.
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Washington Mutual Bank helps raise funds for local schools
School board members this week thanked Washington Mutual Bank representatives Jane Wilkins and Diane Johnson for their efforts in helping raise money for district schools via the Wa-moo-la for Schools program.
Wilkins and Johnson presented checks to schools totaling several thousand dollars through the bank’s debit card points scoring program. Bank customers involved in the program have an opportunity to select a school of their choice and gain points by using their debit cards. Points convert to dollars for the schools to use for learning enhancements.
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Baby Sheep on display at Wa-Hi FFA barn
Subject: Wa-Hi Baby Sheep Open House
Time: Sunday March 26 - Noon to 4:00 p.m.
Where: FFA Sheep Barn at Wa-Hi Campus
“Families and young children are invited to attend the 2nd annual Baby Sheep Open house. FFA members and Veterinary Technician students will be present to answer questions and assist young children see and hold baby lambs,” said Michael Martin, FFA Co-Advisor.
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