Walla Walla Public Schools
Week in Review - March 28, 2008

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Spring Break -- March 31 to April 4 (No School)
Have a safe and happy Spring Break. The district’s central office will remain open during Spring Break. Classes resume Monday, April 7.

Wa-Hi wrestler earns Eagle Scout ranking

Congratulations to Walla Walla High School senior Nathan McClure for recently being awarded the Eagle rank by Boy Scouts of America. Only three to four percent of all boys involved in the scouting program reach this rank - the highest rank of scouting.

To fulfill one of the requirements for the award, McClure, a four year varsity wrestler, coordinated and built a varsity ranking board which hangs permanently in the wrestling practice room at the high school. The board contains each wrestlers’ name, weight and rank throughout the season as a reminder and motivator for each wrestler to work to their individual potential. Head Coach Clayton Hudiberg appreciates the board as a tool to promote the team and individual aspects of the sport.


Homelink art teacher offers free art classes
Homelink Art Teacher Vicki Shafer is offering her last session of art classes for district first and second grade students. Students will be using a variety of mediums including paint, collage materials and clay. This is open to those that did not have a chance to participate in the fall.

“There is no charge, but we need a commitment to the entire six week session of classes,” Shafer said.

Classes are scheduled Monday afternoons from 3:15 to 4:15 p.m. (April 14, 21, 28 and May 5,12,19). Registration is on a first come first serve basis. E-mail Shafer with the following information to hold a place:
• Student Name:
• Parent Name:
• Phone number:
• Email:
• Age and grade:


Pioneer and Wa-Hi Mariachi Ensemble to perform Sunday
The Mariachi Viva Mexico (a professional mariachi ensemble) is performing on Sunday, March 30 at 3 p.m. at the Community Building at the WW Fairgrounds. Tickets are available from the WW Symphony at http://www.wwsymphony.com/ or 529-8020.

The Pioneer & Wa-Hi Combined Mariachi Ensemble will be performing a “pre-concert” show at 2:30 p.m.


Students rank nationally in high school WordMasters contest
Two teams of students representing Walla Walla High School recently won highest honors in this year’s WordMasters Challenge, a national competition for high school students requiring close reading and analysis of many different kinds of prose and poetry. Participating with 607 other school teams, more than 59,000 students, from all across the nation, the school’s eleventh graders tied for 12th Place in the nation in the year’s third meet, held in February. The school’s twelfth graders tied for 7th Place in the nation. The teams were supervised by Wa-Hi English Teacher Lori Dohe.

Several students earned individual honors:
• Senior Emily Hollenbeck - Recorded a perfect score (one of only six in the country to do so)
• Junior Ellen Brigham - Placed among the 63 highest scoring juniors in the nation (she only made one mistake)
• Freshman Keira Opsal - Honorable Mention
• Freshman Nigel Melling - Honorable Mention
• Sophomore Victoria Henderson - Honorable Mention
• Junior Ryan Campeau - Honorable Mention
• Junior Delene Hutchinson - Honorable Mention
• Junior Amanda Nielsen - Honorable Mention
• Senior Amy Bell - Honorable Mention
• Senior Allison Erwin - Honorable Mention
• Senior Tim Duffy - Honorable Mention
• Senior Emily Brown - Honorable Mention
• Senior Sam Quackenbush - Honorable Mention

Dohe said she is proud of the students for doing great work. She also said the following Advanced Placement teachers deserve credit for helping students improve their academic achievements.
• Chris Ferenz
• Rob Ahrens
• Dan Ojcius
• Casey Monahan
• Pamela McBride
• Julie Johnson
• Gary Peasley




35th Annual Choral Festival a hit
Hundreds of parents, friends, and family packed the Wa-Hi Large Gym Thursday evening for the 35th Annual District Choral Festival. Attendees were treated to musical selections from students in grades 4 to 12. All proceeds from the admission fee will go towards the Roberta Abraham scholarship program to help fund private music lessons.

Special thanks to district music teachers and Music Coordinator Roger Garcia for organizing the event. Longtime Music Secretary Kay McCauley was honored for her 25 years of service to the Music Department. McCauley is retiring at the end of the school year and will be greatly missed.


District music groups earn superior ratings at regional festival
Over the past week they performed at the Columbia Basin Music Educator’s Middle School and High School Adjudication Festival and received the following ratings:

• Walla Walla High School Concert Choir - Superior Rating
• Walla Walla High School Chamber Singers - Superior Rating
• Walla Walla High School Treble Singers - Superior Rating

• Garrison Middle School 7th & 8th Grade Choir - Superior Rating
• Garrison Middle School Honor Choir - Superior Rating
• Garrison Middle School 7th & 8th Grade Band - Superior Rating

The Columbia Basin Music Educators’ Association sponsors the adjudication festival each year for all the high school and middle school bands, choirs & orchestras in our region (Walla Walla, Pasco, Kennewick, Richland, Kiona Benton, Othello, Mattawa, & Finley). The Festival gives all middle school and high school groups in the area a chance to prepare and perform music. A panel of three adjudicators critique the performance, and give suggestions for becoming a better group.

In a sense the adjudication festival is a more of a challenge than a competition, with each music group trying to perform its personal best. The music groups are not competing with one another, but are instead rated according to a standard with one of the following ratings awarded to each music group: I - Superior, II - Excellent, III - Good, IV - Fair, V - Poor.


Elementary students to learn more about animals during Farms Days
The Wa-Hi Veterinary Assistance classes are putting on Farm Days for elementary students April 17th and 18th in the school’s Big Red Barn.

“Our goal for this year’s Farm Day is to share our knowledge of animals and agriculture to enhance agricultural literacy in our schools and community,” Agriculture Education Teacher Lindsey Butcher said. “We hope to accomplish this goal by providing students with an opportunity to see, touch and learn about animals through games and activities.”

Wa-Hi students are planning the following activities:
• Are You Smarter Than A High School Student?
• Animal coloring books with fun facts in English and Spanish
• Matching Card Game with animal pictures and sounds
• Educational Posters

Animals such as miniature horses, dogs, lambs, ducks, bunnies, goats and sheep will be on campus for students to interact with during the Farm Days activities. Contact Butcher at Wa-Hi for additional information.


Wa-Hi Latino Club names Staff members of the Month
The Walla Walla High School Latino Club is pleased to announce Spanish teacher Matt Bayley and science teacher Keith Gradwohl as the Wa-Hi Latino Club Staff Members of the Month for March. This recognition is based on their faithful service to students that are Latino Club members. As staff members these teachers are making a significant impact on students.

Comments from Latino Club members when voting included:
“Mr. Bailey is a great Spanish for Spanish speakers teacher, is generous and interacts well with his students. He helps us learn a lot, listens to our plans and ideas, and shares with us his plans and ideas.

“Mr. Gradwohl has taught me so much just in my freshman year.he really wants kids to learn no matter what that student has gone through.He has a lot of patience with talkative students and believes every student can achieve. He helps kids build self esteem and responsibility.”


Second round of senior presentations a success
This week 129 Walla Walla High School seniors successfully completed their culminating project presentations. This is a new graduation requirement for high school students. Assistant Principal Mira Gobel organized the two night event.

One additional session will be scheduled as a make up May 12. Gobel estimates there will be about 20 students who will need to present in May.

“Overall, the presentations have been a huge success,” Gobel said. “I am optimistic that we will be able to complete our process with 100 percent participation and success.”


Classroom Close-Up features Edison teacher
This week Edison First Grade Teacher Sara Erwin is featured on the district’s Classroom Close-Up weekly series.

A 60 second radio spot highlighting Erwin is playing 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.