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Lincoln students praise changes during sign dedication ceremony
This week students and staff at Lincoln Alternative High School celebrated the school’s name change during an all school sign dedication ceremony. Students talked about the positive changes they have seen under the leadership of new Alternative Programs Principal Jim Sporleder. Sporleder promised to keep listening to the students as they worked together to provide a safe and caring place for learning.
Changes under Sporleder’s leadership include the addition of elective courses, physical education classes, a school cook, a school resource officer and sports teams. Staff and students were dressed in purple to show school pride. They also celebrated the school’s new mascot the Phoenix which represents new opportunities for the staff and students.
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OSPI recognizes “Life’s a Dance” anti-bullying program
This week Walla Walla Public Schools Life’s a Dance anti-bullying program was published on the OSPI website (http://www.k12.wa.us/cisl/K-12/SuccessStories.aspx#WallaWalla). Pioneer Middle School staff organized the week long series. Nationally recognized singers/songwriters Monte Selby and Steve Seskin visited Walla Walla in October to to help build community awareness about the issues of bullying and harassment through their Life’s a Dance program.
The celebrities met with students during the week at various local schools, culminating in a community concert at Cordiner Hall on the Whitman College Campus.
Students at several Walla Walla schools had the opportunity to meet with Seskin, who wrote the Grammy award-nominated song Life’s a Dance, and foremost educational entertainer Selby. They examined all sides of bullying and harassment and wrote songs, sang, and learned about how these behaviors affect everyone. The purpose of this community collaboration is to emphasize kindness, courtesy, making friends and having fun.
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Pioneer parents invited to college exploration event
Pioneer Middle Schools parents and their children will explore avenues for getting to college during a special luncheon Monday at the school’s cafeteria. Sessions include “Tomorrow’s Workforce” and “Financing College.”
Schedule of events:
Monday, Dec. 17
Parent Luncheon: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. (RSVP)
All Students Assembly: 12:30 p.m. (Keynote speaker/rapper- Joaquin Avalos)
Parent Sessions: 1-3 p.m.
Call the school office at 527-3050 for more information and to RSVP.
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CTE float takes first place in Parade of Lights
Congratulations to the Walla Walla High School Career and Technical Education program for winning first place in the recent Downtown Parade of Lights. More than 80 students were involved in decorating the float under the guidance of teacher Bob Maib.
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Drug sniffing dog helps Sharpstein fight drugs
This week School Resource Police Officer Steve Echevarria and his working “Beamer” gave a presentation to Danae Jacky’s Explorer’s Class. Echevarria talked about how Beamer works to fight drugs in the community. Students had a chance to pet Beamer and take photos with the friendly nine-year-old lab.
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School board meeting Tuesday
Tuesday, Dec. 18
7:30 p.m. (regularly scheduled meeting)
Open to public
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Winter weather school closure procedures
Winter weather is here and it could have an impact on school days. If school schedules change due to poor weather conditions, parents can expect to get an early morning call with all the details. Community members may also tune to their favorite radio or television stations for updates or log on to the district website for up to the minute information.
School Closure procedures:
• All parents and staff will get a call (at approximately 6:15 a.m.) via the US Netcom system (Spanish speaking parents will also get a message in Spanish)
• Media will be notified (Radio and TV)
• A message will be posted on the district website
• An e-mail will be sent out to people who have signed up for “E-News” via the district website
• During two-hour delays, no breakfast services will be offered and AM Preschool will not be held
(*The district will attempt to have all this in place by 6:30 a.m. or sooner)
What about Wednesdays for secondary students during a two-hour delay?
There is no Wednesday “delayed start” if the district is in a two-hour delay. Secondary students WILL NOT be starting two hours after the Wednesday delayed start time. They will be starting two hours after the Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday start times.
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Classroom Close-Up features Prospect Point teacher
This week Prospect Point Special Education Teacher Steve Droke is featured via the district’s Classroom Close-Up series. Next week we’ll travel to Green Park to visit 2nd Grade teacher Martin Telstad.
A 60 second radio spot highlighting Droke begins playing today on several stations. A fun, photo-filled newsletter and the radio spot will be posted on the district website (www.wwps.org -- A to Z section) next week.
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Wa-Hi Social Studies teachers assess student progress
Social Studies teachers from Wa-Hi and Lincoln met on Wednesday and Thursday at Wa-Hi to calibrate and score the Social Studies Classroom-Based Assessments (CBAs) for grade levels 9 and 12. Last Spring they attended a workshop in Pasco in order to better understand the requirements for the state-required projects.
The CBAs were developed by collaborative teams of teachers and include topics like Causes of Conflict, Technology Through the Ages and Constitutional Issues. Wa-Hi teachers and Librarian Lynn Waldron worked together over the past two years to develop strategies and locate resources to help students research and write their papers.
Additional CBAs will be completed this Spring and a second scoring session will take place for Grades 9, 11 and 12. Data from the scoring sessions will be collected and evaluated in order to develop strategies that will target areas for improvement.
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Holiday Concert schedule Online
Visit the district website homepage (www.wwps.org) for a complete listing of Walla Walla Public Schools holiday concerts.
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