Walla Walla Public Schools
Week in Review - December 12, 2008

In this Issue:

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School board work session and meeting Tuesday, Dec. 16
• Work Session (Middle School boundaries and elementary “feeder schools” - 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.)
• Regular school board meeting - 7:30 p.m.

Location: School board room (364 S. Park Street)
Both meetings open to the public


School delays and closures communications procedures
Automated telephone calls (U.S. Notification System)
• Calls will be made to parents and staff (Goal: Calls to go out by 6 a.m. - Could be later depending on situation)

Media Release
• Media release will be sent to regional radio and television stations detailing situation

District Website
• Information will be posted on the district website — www.wwps.org (Goal: Posted by 6 a.m. - could be later depending on situation)

Staff e-mail
• Information will be sent via Groupwise e-mail accounts to all district staff. (Goal: E-mail sent by 6 a.m. - could be later depending on situation)

E-News e-mail
• Information will be sent via E-News e-mail accounts to all recipients who have signed up on the district website (Goal: E-News e-mail sent by 6 a.m. - could be later depending on situation)

School Signs
• Schools will have large, bright orange signs placed near entrances announcing a delay or closure



District Holiday Concert Series schedule (remaining)

Dec 12 - Green Park Holiday Concert, Preschool – 2nd Grade - 1:30 p.m.
Dec 12 - Edison Holiday Concert, Grades K-1 - 9:15 a.m.
Dec 15 - Wa-Hi Bands Holiday Concert, Wa-Hi Auditorium - 7 p.m.
Suggested admission donation: $2 adults, $1 students, $5 family
Dec 16 - Garrison 6th Grade Holiday Concert, Garrison Gym - 7 p.m.
Dec 16 - Green Park Holiday Concert, Grades 3-5 & Choir - 1:30 p.m.
Dec 17 - Wa-Hi Orchestra Holiday Concert, Wa-Hi Auditorium - 7 p.m.
Suggested admission donation: $2 adults, $1 students, $5 family
Dec 18 - Wa-Hi Vocal Holiday Concert, Wa-Hi Auditorium - 7 p.m.
Suggested admission donation: $2 adults, $1 students, $5 family
Dec 18 - Berney Holiday Concert, Grades K-2—12:30 p.m. - Grades 3-5—1:45 p.m.
Dec 19 - Pioneer All-School Holiday Concert, Pioneer - 8:30 a.m.
Dec 19 - Blue Ridge Holiday Concert, Grades K-2—9 a.m.~Grades 3-5—10 a.m.

Music Department supports Holiday Food Drive
The Music Program is supporting the Walla Walla Public Schools Holiday Food Drive. We encourage concert patrons to bring non-perishable food items for donation to the Blue Mountain Action Council Food Bank. Thanks for your support.


Wa-Hi cadets capture numerous awards at Yakima drill meet
The Walla Walla High School JROTC “Blue Devils” Cadet Battalion marched into Yakima Valley East High School Dec. 6 to compete, and brought home several high honors in individual and team categories. More than 350 cadets on drill and marksmanship teams from a dozen regional schools competed.

“These cadets gave their very best and earned a lot of recognition for their efforts,” said retired Army Lt. Col. Bill Bialozor, who coaches the Walla Walla drill teams and serves as senior advisor for the Wa-Hi JROTC program. “Cadet Lt. Col. Naomi Dunham, a senior, who serves as the Blue Devil Battalion Commander, earned 1st place in the drill team leader category, and her women’s unarmed drill team, the Sponsors, also took 1st place. Our color guard #2 team, the armed color guard, also won 1st place in their category. I couldn’t be more proud of the drill team’s accomplishments. Cadet Capt. Emily Savage, a senior, took 2nd place overall in the physical fitness competition, demonstrating the commitment of our program to excellence in all categories.”

The Blue Devil marksmanship team fired outstanding individual and team scores, too, according to their coach.

“Our four-person precision team took 1st place by outshooting their nearest competition, the team from Yakima West Valley High, by almost 30 points,” said shooting team coach, retired Army Master Sgt. Gerry Taylor. “Our four-person sporter team #2 took 1st place and our #3 sporter team took 5th place, to add to the teams’ successes.”

Individual shooting honors went to:
- Precision team members: Cadet 1st Lt. Elliott Holt, a junior, 1st place; and 4th place to Cadet Capt. Cole Smith, a senior.
- Sporter team master class: Cadet Capt. Riley Owens, a senior, 2nd place;
- Sporter team expert class: Cadet Cpl. Kyle Jameson, a freshman, 1st place; Cadet Capt. Alexa Hummel, a senior, 2nd place; Cadet Capt. Kortni Razzolini, a senior, 4th place; and, Cadet 1st Lt. Matthew Hastings, a junior, 5th place.
- Sporter team sharpshooter class: Cadet 1st Sgt. Drea Rutherford, a junior, 5th place.

Wa-Hi cadets compete in drill and shooting meets that include Army, Navy and Marine Corps JROTC programs from the 14 schools in the Cascade Division of the 32-school Northwest Conference.
Wa-Hi Career and Technical Education Parade of Lights float takes first prize
Congratulations to Walla Walla High School students in the Career and Technical Education Construction program for taking first place in the high school division during the annual downtown Parade of Lights event. Construction program teacher Bob Maib, in collaboration with Technology teacher Dennis DeBroeck, advised the students throughout the project.

“Our theme was Night Before Christmas and we had about 30 kids at the parade,” Maib said. We had another 30 work on it during class.”

The float included a student built play house, Adirondack chairs and a Christmas tree with packages and about 5000 lights. Debroeck set up a video screen and had photos looping as the float proceeded through the downtown area.

“It was great seeing all the kids take part in the parade we handed out 5000 candy canes and 1800 Wa-Hi stickers,” Maib said.



Lincoln Alternative High School students shine in Parade of Lights
Lincoln Alternative High School students performed live music during the annual Parade of Lights downtown event. The school’s leadership team, under the direction of teacher Erik Gordon, created the decorative float. Music teacher Margaret Yount led her guitar and choir class to produce live music as the float progressed downtown. Principal Jim Sporleder and Resource Officer Steve Echevarria drove the truck that pulled the float.
Math focus of next week’s radio interview
Prospect Point Principal Chris Gardea and Instructional Coach Anne Swant will be guests on the radio show “On the Grapevine” Wednesday, December 17 on KTEL 1490 AM beginning at 8:05 a.m. Gardea and Swant will discuss efforts the district is taking to improve students’ math skills.
Walla Walla High School weekend varsity sports schedule
Friday, Dec. 12:
Boys Basketball vs. Sunnyside, 7:30 p.m. - Wa-Hi gym
Girls Basketball vs. Sunnyside, 7:30 p.m. - @ Sunnyside (KTEL 1490 AM)

Saturday, Dec. 13:
Girls Basketball vs. Southridge, 7:30 p.m. - Wa-Hi gym
Boys Baskeball vs. Southridge, 7:30 p.m. - @ Southridge (KTEL 1490 AM)
Boys Swimming at Harvey Pool (Whitman College) - 12 noon.


Walla Walla Public Schools Holiday Food Drive continues
Collection bins are at district schools and the central office through Friday, Dec. 19 in support of the Holiday Food Drive. Special thanks to DBA Buty Winery for donating $1,321 to the cause. This generous gift nets 880 lbs to the food drive.

Last month, nearly 800 Walla Walla families used the Blue Mountain Action Council Food Bank. In these tough economic times, many students attending Walla Walla Public Schools are living in poverty. Join us in helping make a difference for families in our community, so nobody goes hungry during this holiday season. “Spread the Joy” this holiday season!

Holiday Food Drive Fact Sheet

Who: Food donations support the Blue Mountain Action Council Food Bank (cash donations also accepted)

What: Holiday Food Drive — Project Goal: 40,000 lbs.

When: December 1st - 19th

Where: Collection sites at Walla Walla Public Schools (Types of food: Non-perishable items — tuna, macaroni & cheese, peanut butter, canned fruits & vegetables, pasta, granola bars, etc.)

For more information:
Mark Higgins, Communications Director
Walla Walla Public Schools
364 S. Park St.
Walla Walla, WA 99362
509.526.6716
mhiggins@wwps.org


German Christmas carol sing-a-longs planned Saturday
What: German Christmas Carol Sing-a-longs
When: Saturday, December 13, 10 a.m.
Where: Walla Walla University, Fine Arts Center, Room 208 (204 S College Ave, College Place)
Who: Anyone interested in German, Music and/or Christmas; you are welcome regardless of your level of German
Why: To celebrate the Messiah’s birth
What else: Music, treats, and a brief description of how Christmas is celebrated in Germany
Contact: For more information, contact Wa-Hi German Language teacher Curtis Schafer at: cshafer@wwps.org.
Classroom Close-Up features Blue Ridge Elementary teacher
This week Blue Ridge Elementary First Grade Transitional Bilingual Teacher Kate Stevenson is featured as part of the district’s Classroom Close-Up series. A fun, information filled newsletter will be posted on the district website next week — (www.wwps.org). A radio spot featuring Stevenson is now playing on regional stations.
Winter Break Schedule
Friday, December 19 is the last day of school prior to the winter holiday break. Classes resume Monday, January 5. Have a safe and happy holiday season.