Walla Walla Public Schools
Week in Review - September 1, 2006

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School board meeting Tuesday
Tuesday, September 5
7:30 p.m.
District Board Room (364 S. Park St.)
Open to public
Learning Improvement Day today - (NO SCHOOL for students -- see list of staff professional development)

• Elementary Writing LID DAY: All elementary schools will participate in writing activities at their individual buildings. The training sessions will be led by district writing trainers. Training will include a writing survey/WWPS Strategic Plan, OSPI Writing GLE’s/EALR alignment, grade level planning, and time for the entire building staff to discuss and share writing for 2006-07.

• Garrison staff will meet at the Walla Walla Airport Conference Room so they are not distracted by the Fair. Agenda items include behavior staff training (Ron Martella), review Garrison Bullying Survey 2005/06 (Mark Thompson), and What is the role of the Instructional Coach? and How can the coach impact teachers and student achievement? (Marit Nierman).

• Pioneer will meet in the Pioneer Library. Agenda items are similar to August 28 and will include Middle School Excellence, continued discussion of text rendering protocol – Breaking Ranks In the Middle, examining student work - Workshop 1/Improving Student Learning; Workshop 2/Tuning Protocol.

• Paine staff is tentatively set to meet with Blue Mountain Action Council staff to discuss grant opportunities. The day’s agenda will also include job shadowing and internship preparation, Ropes Course, Book Circle Topics, and Student Learning Plans for students not passing sections of the WASL.

• Opportunity staff will review current senior portfolios and continue discussion about improvements/changes needed to better accommodate students who travel between Wa-Hi and Opportunity. Time will also be used to review WASL data and make adjustments to start WASL skill class for students. New students will also be able to enroll between 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

• Wa-Hi agenda items include What are SMART Goals?, What Data do you Value?, Creating SMART Goals, Sharing of Goals, First Look at Powerful Designs, Norms & Protocols, Professional Development and the “Planning Wheel,”Creating Planning Wheels, Powerful Designs for Professional Learning, Characteristics of a Results Driven Culture, and Development of Action Plans.



No School Monday

Labor Day Holiday
Classes resume Tuesday, September 5
Let’s Talk Schools — We’re Listening” efforts begin
“Let’s Talk Schools — We’re Listening,” the district’s information gathering campaign, begins this fall to involve the community in a facilities needs study in light of last May’s bond issue.

Community members will have numerous opportunities to be heard through surveys, focus groups, one-on-one discussions with school board members and a community facilities planning symposium.

An online survey is now available on the homepage of the district’s website. Look for more information on the ‘Let’s Talk Schools — We’re Listening” campaign in the Walla Walla Union Bulletin and in district publications. Please take time to get involved and help shape the future of our schools. Stay tuned for more information.


Wa-Hi Sports schedules available
Wa-Hi pocket sports schedules are now available at district schools and various business locations. This convenient schedule features Wa-Hi fall sports contests.

An online schedule is also available on the district’s and Wa-Hi’s websites.
Go Big Blue!


Blue Devil football returns to KTEL 1490 AM
Don’t miss a down of Wa-Hi Blue Devil football this season by tuning to KTEL 1490 AM.

Wa-Hi travels to Hermiston tonight to begin the 2006 season. Kick-off is at 7 p.m.



District thanks Washington State Penitentiary staff for school supplies donation
Last week Assistant Superintendent Linda Boggs sent a thank you letter to Washington State Penitentiary employees for their generous donation of backpacks and school supplies.

The items were divided up amongst the elementary, middle and high schools to be distributed to students in need.

“We appreciate the employees of the Washington State Penitentiary for their support of students and education in Walla Walla,” Boggs said.


Student displays at Walla Walla Fair and Frontier Days
The Walla Walla Fair and Frontier Days is in full swing and district students are once again well represented. Remember to stop by the Education Building to see student art, science projects, poems, shop projects and more. Wa-Hi FFA students also have a tremendous presence at the fair.

The district also has its information station at the Education Building stocked with school calendars, sports schedules, district information and a survey regarding the district’s facilities needs.

Retired Wa-Hi teacher Jim Ebding continues to serve as the Education Building Coordinator.


2006 Open House Schedule

Berney Elementary Open House
Wednesday, September 13
5:45-7:45 p.m.
(Barbecue at 5:45 p.m. and then Open House from 6:45-7:45 p.m.)

Blue Ridge Grade Level Curriculum Nights

Kindergarten
September 13
6:00 – 7:00 pm

1st Grade
September 13
7:00 – 8:00 pm

2nd Grade
September 7
6:00 – 7:00 pm

3rd Grade
September 7
7:00 – 8:00 pm

4th Grade
September 6
6:00 – 7:00 pm

5th Grade
September 6
7:00 – 8:00 pm

Special Services
September 14
6:30 – 7:30 pm

Edison Elementary Open House
Monday, September 25
7:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Garrison Family Fun Night/Open House
Tuesday, September 12
5:30 to 8:00 p.m.
Gear Up is going to serve pizza

Prospect Point Open House
Tuesday, Sept. 12
7:00 pm
Gymnasium
**Families will gather in the gym for a welcome/staff introductions and a short meeting with PTA, then will move on to their children’s classrooms. The PTA Book Fair will also be held that evening in the gym from 7:30-9:00 pm)

Walla Walla High School Open House
Monday September 18
5:30-6:15 p.m. (BBQ)
5:30-6:15 p.m. (Pick up student schedules)
6:15-9:00 p.m. (Classroom visitations)

(Note: Pioneer and Sharpstein had their Open Houses and Back to School nights prior to the first day of school. Paine and Opportunity do not have traditional Open House events.)