Boundary Committee Recommendations
• Adopt the current boundary scenario as presented this fall (view online: www.wwps.org - A to Z: Boundary Study)

• Offer a grandfather option in 2009 for 4th and 5th grade students (they also discussed other grandfather options)

• Revise middle school boundaries to incorporate a “feeder school” model:
- Pioneer Middle School = Edison, Berney, Green Park
- Garrison Middle School = Blue Ridge, Prospect Point Sharpstein

The school board expects to take action at the November 18 school board meeting.

Surplus computers, including Dell mini-tower workstations and laptops, are being donated. Technology Director Janis Barton said 300 to 500 computers are available, but budget constraints limit her department to accepting only 50. Barton estimates the district will need to invest $250 to $300 per computer to install hard drives, software and other necessary equipment. She said another 50 could be stored and used for parts. She said there is currently not adequate funding in her department to accept more computers. Principals and departments have been extended the opportunity to purchase upgrades for additional donated computers for their schools or programs.

Barton said the computers would be used as follows:
• 35 - Classroom computer replacement
• 10 - Computer checkout program through Library Media Centers
• 5 - Parent checkout program at Blue Ridge Elementary

“This is a good opportunity for our district,” Barton said. “This is good equipment and will improve access to technology.”

The 87th annual American Education Week will be celebrated November 16-22. This year’s theme: Great Public Schools — A Basic Right and Our Responsibility, reflects a calling upon America to provide students with quality public schools so that they can grow, prosper, and achieve in the 21st century.

The week spotlights the importance of providing every child in America with a quality public education from kindergarten through college, and the need for everyone to do his or her part in making public schools great. The week-long celebration will spotlight distinguished individuals who are critical in building great public schools for the nation’s 50 million students.

Few other professionals touch as many people’s lives as educators do. When parents in Walla Walla drop their children off for school they know they are in good hands. Our staff members care for our students as if they were their own children.

Teachers work to open students’ minds to ideas, knowledge and dreams. They use research based teaching strategies to improve achievement and collaborate with their peers to understand each child’s specific needs.

Our programs and people continue to influence students long after their school days are only memories. Please join in Celebrating American Education Week - November 16 to 22 by taking time to reach out and thank educators for all they do for Walla Walla children.

The Big Blue Weekend is planned and facilitated by the ASB Leadership class, which is made up of elected and appointed student body officers. The purpose of the weekend is to positively impact the climate of Wa-Hi by building relationships between students and staff, breaking down social barriers, and giving students relational skills and experience that they can integrate into their lives.

By the end of the weekend, students who attend will walk away with:
• Lifelong skills in relationship building.
• A group of peers who know and support them.
• At least one staff person who cares about them personally.
• A sense of their value and impact on others.
• New perspective on the kind of person they want to become.
• Greater vision for their life.
• Confidence to step outside of their comfort zone.
• Empowerment to make a positive difference in their school and community.

Fund-raising by the student body leaders and donations from local businesses helps keep the weekend affordable for all students. A special thanks to the following organizations for their generous contributions:
• Mary Garner Esary Trust - $10,000 donation
• Banner Bank - $5,000 donation
• Providence St. Mary Medical Center - $500 donation
• Baker Boyer Bank - $200 donation
• The McGregor Company - $100 donation

For questions or more information about the Big Blue Weekend, please contact Jillian DeBritz at Walla Walla High School (526-8659).

• Resignations/retirements
(Classified) Diana Cox, Family/Mental Health Coordinator, Blue Ridge Head Start/ECEAP (30 years)
- (effective January 1, 2009)

Berney students in grade K-5 will participate in this fun event designed to promote fitness and health. They will have a raffle following the run/walk in the gym.

“We decided to have this event after talking to Blue Ridge Physical Education Specialist Sue Hansen about events and activities that she puts on for her kids at Blue Ridge,” said Berney PE Specialist Michele Cooke. “Fun fitness with teachers and parents will be a great experience for the kids at Berney.”

There will be more than 100 prize giveaways and a grand prize of an enormous frozen turkey for the winning student to take home. Cooke plans on making this an annual event. The Berney PTA donated $700 to support the event.

“We have given away over 2500 bags full of books to families of newborns in the Walla Walla area,” said Edison Teacher Kay Barga. “We are also selling a new batch of note cards. The cards are hand-drawn pictures of the Walla Walla area by our students. These cards come with envelopes and are $3.00 a batch.”

The first batch of bulbs will be delivered November 21. The cards will be ready in mid-December. E-mail Barga to place an order: kbarga@wwps.org.

In addition, most school psychologists provide the following services.

Consultation
Collaborate with teachers, parents, and administrators to find effective solutions to learning and behavior problems. Help others understand child development and how it affects learning and behavior.
Strengthen working relationships between teachers, parents, and service providers in the community.

Evaluation
Evaluate eligibility for special services.
Assess academic skills and aptitude for learning.
Determine social-emotional development and mental health status.
Evaluate learning environments.

Intervention
Provide psychological counseling to help resolve interpersonal or family problems that interfere with school performance.
Work directly with children and their families to help resolve problems in adjustment and learning.
Provide training in social skills and anger management.
Help families and schools manage crises such as death, illness, or community trauma.

Prevention
Design programs for children at risk of failing at school.
Promote tolerance, understanding, and appreciation of diversity within the school community.
Develop programs to make schools safer and more effective learning environments.
Collaborate with school staff and community agencies to provide services directed at improving psychological and physical health.
Develop partnerships with parents and teachers to promote healthy school environments.

Research and Planning
Evaluate the effectiveness of academic and behavior management programs.
Identify and implement programs and strategies to improve schools.
Use evidence-based research to develop and/or recommend effective interventions.

Football
Game: Walla Walla High School vs. Southridge
Date: Friday, Nov. 7
Location: Kennewick (Lampson Stadium)
Kick-off: 7:30 p.m.
Radio: KTEL 1490 AM (pre-game begins at 7 p.m.)

Girls Swimming
Date: November 14 & 15
Location: Federal Way Aquatic Center
Swimmers: Tori Jones - 10th Grade and Jessica Hutton - WWVA, 10th Grade

Volleyball Districts
Date: Saturday, November 8
Location: Kamiakin High School
Time: TBD

NOTE: Opening night ticket special - Thursday, Nov. 13th - ‘2 for the price of 1’

Tickets: The ticket box office will be open beginning November 3 from 4-6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and one hour before curtain on Saturdays. Please stop by or call (509) 526-8613 to reserve your seats.

“The Taming of the Shrew” at a glance:
The battle of the sexes is on! This timeless struggle for power and dignity, penned by William Shakespeare over four hundred years ago, still stands as an enigma. Is it sexist? Does it go big and reach beyond the constraints of its time or is it only a testament to Elizabethan relations and male dominance?

Man wants a wife. Man gets a wife. Kate seems to not be the gentle mouse that ‘everyman’ wants. Instead she is an “Intolerable curse and Shrewd.” Against her wishes Petruchio weds her saying, “Will you nil you, I will marry you!” Take in the spectacle of “Mad Wooing” as it never was.

• Date: Monday, November 10

• Time: 9 a.m.

• Location: Wa-Hi Main Gym

• Event Overview: The Walla Walla High School Veterans Day Assembly honors men and women who once served or are currently serving our country in any branch of military service. An invitation is extended to all area and local Walla Walla Veterans to attend this event. Veterans should arrive by 9:00 a.m.; spouses and families are also welcome. There will be a short reception to follow in the Walla Walla High School Commons.