Walla Walla Public Schools
Week in Review - June 16, 2006

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District names two new Wa-Hi Assistant Principals
Walla Walla Public Schools Board of Directors during a special board meeting Wednesday named Matthew Bona and Jim Boyce new assistant principals of Walla Walla High School.

Bona and Boyce succeed current Wa-Hi Assistant Principals Brandon Jensen and Ron Higgins. Jensen has accepted a high school assistant principal position in Wyoming and Higgins is replacing retiring Len Taruscio as the district’s assessment director.

Matthew Bona
Bona has spent the past four years as Assistant Principal and Dean of Students at Lake Roosevelt High School in Coulee Dam, WA. Bona was responsible for discipline and attendance, after-school programs, and numerous school safety supervision positions. Bona has experience teaching at the high school and college levels.

He also has extensive athletic coaching experience, including serving as the Lake Roosevelt High School Head Varsity Football coach. Bona’s specialized training includes: Training in Cops in Schools, Proven Practices for Learning Communities, Meth Watch Community Presenter, and Data Driven Decision Making. He also helped develop new student learning plans, improved the school’s student handbook and led crisis management team efforts.

Bona earned his Administrative Certification from Heritage University, Master of Science in Education-Health Degree from Western Oregon University, and completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Idaho with a major in secondary education (history) and a minor in health.

Jim Boyce
Boyce has been an educator for nearly 20 years and has spent the past year as Dean of Student Affairs at White River High School in the White River School District (Pierce County, WA). Boyce has experience leading school improvement efforts and was responsible for heading the school’s accreditation process. He is skilled in data analysis and classroom instructional techniques, student motivation, and Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) preparation.

Boyce has experience teaching at the high school and college levels and also has extensive athletic coaching experience, including leading softball and cross-country teams to state tournaments. Boyce’s long list of personal awards in education includes: National Board Certification – Science, National Teacher of the Year, Christa McAuliffe Fellowship Award, and Horace Mann Educator Scholarship recipient. Boyce has also qualified for the Boston Marathon, climbed Mount Rainer and traveled to 25 foreign countries.

He earned his Administrative Certification from Heritage University, Master’s in Educational Technology Degree from City University, and completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Washington with a major in Microbiology.

Bona and Boyce begin July 1. For more information, contact Deputy Superintendent Dr. Bill Jordan at (509) 526-6711.


School board meeting Tuesday
Tuesday, June 20
7:30 p.m.
District Office (364 S. Park St.)
Open to public

Sophomores receive Spring 2006 WASL scores
This week tenth grade students received their individual WASL Score Reports for reading, math and writing. Science scores will be released in fall 2006.

Ninth, eleventh and twelfth grade students who tested in March and April will also receive their results in the fall. The scores were released early this year to help students in need of remediation make plans for summer instruction and retakes.


Summer Institute offers students additional learning opportunities
Summer Institute, six weeks of specialized instruction in reading, writing and math, will be offered at Wa-Hi to current tenth graders who scored in Level 2 in a particular area on the Spring 2006 Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL).

Tenth grade students and parents were asked to pick up students’ individual WASL Score Reports (WSR) at Wa-Hi this week. Summer Institute classes will be offered at no cost to students, June 28 – August 3, Monday thru Thursday, 8 – 11 a.m. Contact Mira Gobel at 527-3020 for additional information.


Tyler and Hayner earn Southeast Washington awards for volunteer service
Citizens for Schools leaders Jim Hayner and Carl Tyler were recognized Thursday night by Superintendent Dr. Rich Carter for their outstanding efforts in community service at the Southeast Washington Association of School Administrators (SEWASA) Awards Conference.

Carter said Hayner and Tyler played key roles in supporting the mission of Citizens for Schools which is to ensure Walla Walla Public Schools have the resources and support necessary to provide essential educational programs and activities to Walla Walla children.

Hayner and Tyler received plaques of appreciation and Carter thanked them for their commitment to quality public schools.

Volunteer Highlights
Jim Hayner
• Chair, Citizens for Schools
• Organized numerous planning meetings
• Conducted dozens of public speaking engagements
• Played key role in fund-raising efforts
• Member, Wa-Hi Athletic Facility Funding Partners

Carl Tyler
• Marketing Director, Citizens for Schools
• Ad production coordinator/design/writer/editor
• Citizens for Schools image/branding coordinator
• Public Relations counsel to Citizens for Schools


Register now fo Blue Devil Athletic Development Summer Program
Improve Overall Athletic Ability for All Sports! For Boys and Girls Grades 6-12

July 3 to August 10 (Monday - Thursday)

Session 1
7:30 - 9:00 a.m.
• Incoming 9th-12th grade students

Session 2
9:00 - 10:00 a.m.
• Incoming 6th-8th grade students

Session 3
10:00 - 11:30 a.m.
• Incoming 9th-12th grade students

Instructors: Marc Yonts, Eric Hisaw, and Amy Hisaw

Location: Wa-Hi Weight Room
Cost: $30 (pre-registered) and $35 (at door)

Note: You will need a physical unless you participated in a middle school or high school sport this past school year. Physical forms can be picked up in the Wa-Hi athletic office if needed. For more information contact the Wa-Hi Athletic Department at 527-3020.


District Office Summer Hours
Monday-Friday
8:00 a.m. to 12:00 (Noon)
1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

364 S. Park Street
527-3000