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Winter Break Schedule
Friday, December 18 is the last day of school prior to the winter holiday break. Classes will resume Monday, January 4.
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Holiday Food Drive wraps up today
Thanks to everyone who participated in this year’s Holiday Food Drive. We will have final tallies after the holiday. Special thanks to Green Park Elementary teacher Michelle Carpenter and Lincoln Alternative High School teacher Lori Finn for all their efforts coordinating this year’s food drive. Their leadership helped make this year’s event a tremendous success.
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Walla Walla among first in state to meet safe and civil schools mandates
Walla Walla Public Schools recently received confirmation from the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs the district is 100 percent in compliance with the reporting requirements of Senate Bill 5097.
Walla Walla is one of the first school districts in the state to have 100 percent of their school reporting completed, according to the notification.
“Walla Walla School District is among the first school districts in the state to have 100 percent of their school reporting completed,” said Bruce Kuennen, Manager - Tactical Operations Support for the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs. “Your district is to be commended for its efforts. It is rare.”
The legislature did not authorize any additional funding to schools to complete these tasks.
“This confirmation from the state sends a clear message Walla Walla Public Schools, to a person, makes safety and civility a top priority,” said Communications Director Mark Higgins who manages the district’s Safe and Civil Schools program.
Tuesday night Superintendent Rich Carter presented Sheriff Deputy and Resource Officer Scott Brashear with a letter of commendation for his leadership and law enforcement skills in helping the district receive this distinction. Brashear manages the Rapid Responder program which electronically houses all the district’s emergency plans.
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Architect reports Transportation Cooperative project on schedule
Architect John Evans of Architects West reported to school board members Tuesday night on three capital projects: High School Skills Center, Transportation Cooperative and new Support Services facility.
Evans has created preliminary plans for the Skills Center which will be submitted to the state in an effort to secure additional funding to develop a comprehensive architectural building design.
Ultimately, the district will apply for state construction funds to establish the facility on the campus of Walla Walla Community College. The district stands to receive a state match to fund 90 percent of the project and the equipment necessary to operate it as a branch campus of the Tri-Tech program in Kennewick. The Skills Center proposal offers the following vocational programs: welding, construction, technology, health services and green technology. Evans also reported the Transportation Cooperative construction project is on schedule and on budget. The facility is expect to be completed this summer and operational next fall. He said bids for the Support Service facility will go out later this winter.
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Retired Union Pacific Railroad employees donate gifts to Garrison families in need
Lavonne and Ted Bren, representatives from the Retired Union Pacific Railroad Employees, donated two Christmas Baskets to be delivered to two families from Garrison Middle School. A few students and school counselors, Steve Pitzer and Bunny Baker, accepted the donations on behalf of Garrison Middle School Wednesday. The counselors then delivered the baskets to two families in need. Garrison Middle School would like to thank the Retired Union Pacific Railroad Employees who annually donate to assist Garrison families.
“Their donation allows us to reach out to families in need during this Holiday Season,” said Assistant Principal Josh Wolcott.
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School board members take Oath of Office
Tuesday night Superior Court Judge John Lohrmann officially confirmed the November General Election of Dan Hess to the school board by conducting an Oath of Office ceremony. Cindy Meyer also took the Oath of Office. Hess and Meyer will serve four-year terms.
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Meyer elected school board president
School board members Tuesday night unanimously elected Cindy Meyer board president. Dr. Jim Lehmann was elected vice president. Both terms are for one year.
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Community input reflected in Superintendent search brochure
The brochure marketing the position announcement for a new Superintendent is ready to mail out and is posted on the district web site. The school board developed this brochure in consultation with Dr. John Fotheringham of Northwest Leadership Associates after receiving extensive input from staff, parents, students and community members. School board President Cindy Meyer says the publication details district stakeholder’s expectations.
“We had a Zoomerang survey available online and we distributed a paper survey as well,” Meyer said. “We had a great response and from the information we cultivated from both surveys we were able to put together a brochure that was a solid reflection of our community values and thoughts.”
This brochure will be mailed out later this month to school districts throughout the Pacific Northwest, Nevada and Utah. The deadline to apply for the Superintendent’s position is March 5. A copy of this brochure is posted on the district website under the Superintendent Search page: http://www.wwps.org/atoz/superintendent_search.htm
Hard copies of the brochure are also available at the district office. Dr. Fotheringham’s contact information is posted on the Superintendent Search web page for those who have additional questions about the search process.
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Walla Walla High School Latino Club names Staff Member of the Month
Walla Walla High School’s Latino Club recently named Business & Occupational Education teacher Kathi Debroeck as the Walla Walla High School Latino Club Staff Member of the Month for December 2009.
This recognition is based on her faithful service to students who are Latino Club members. As a staff member, Mrs. DeBroeck is making a significant impact on all students at Walla Walla High School, according to the statement from the Latino Club.
Comments from Latino Club members included:
- Mrs. DeBroeck is super nice and helpful
- Her patience says it all
- She is the nicest teacher I ever had
- She helps me when I can’t understand something
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Personnel Report (from 12/15/09 school board meeting)
• New Hires
(Classified)
Margaret Fazzari, Bus Assistant, Transportation Dept.
• Resignations/Retirements
(Classified Administrator)
Lowell Schneider, Director of Plant Facilities, 17 years (to retire August 31, 2010)
(Classified)
Donna Frei, Bus Assistant, Transportation Dept., 19 years
Gerald Taylor, JROTC Instructor, Walla Walla High School, 21 years
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Walla Walla High School Winter Break Varsity sports highlights
Boys Basketball vs. Kamiakin
Friday, Dec. 18th
7:30 p.m.
Location: Kamiakin HS
Girls Basketball vs. Kamiakin
Friday, Dec. 18th
7:30 p.m.
Wa-Hi Gym
Boys Basketball vs. Eastmont
Saturday, Dec. 19th
6:00 p.m.
Wa-Hi Gym
Girls Basketball vs. Eastmont
Saturday, Dec. 19th
6:00 p.m.
Location: Eastmont HS
Wrestling
Christmas Tournament
Saturday, Dec. 19th
11:00 a.m.
Location: Milton-Freewater
Wrestling
Best of the West Tournament
December 22nd & 23rd
9:00 a.m.
Location: Pasco
Boys Basketball
North Idaho College Tournament
Monday, Dec. 28th
6:30 p.m.
Location: Couer d’Alene
Girls Basketball
North Idaho College Tournament
Monday, Dec. 28th
11:00 a.m.
Location: Couer d’Alene
Boys Basketball
NIC Tournament
Tuesday, Dec. 29th
1:00 p.m.
Location: Couer d’Alene
Girls Basketball
NIC Tournament
Tuesday, Dec. 29th
1:00 p.m.
Location: Couer d’Alene
Boys Basketball
NIC Tournament
Wednesday, Dec. 30th
4:30 p.m.
Location: Couer d’Alene
Girls Basketball
NIC Tournament
Wednesday, Dec. 30th
9:00 a.m.
Location: Couer d’Alene
Wrestling
Pendleton Invite
Wednesday, Dec. 30th
10:00 a.m.
Location: Pendleton
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Walla Walla High School students clean out closets to help those in need
The three Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) classes at Walla Walla High School have organized “Winter Closet Clean Out” directed by AVID teachers Sherry McConn, Mike Gobel, AVID Director Mike Gwinn and AVID club officer (juniors) Jose Beleche, Lizzette Gomez, Janellea Bermudez and Nancy Zamora.
Wa-Hi Alum Stacey Martin, Advocate from YWCA Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Resource Center, presented to the AVID classes earlier this month on how children and families would benefit from the project.
According to Martin, families often must leave violent and abusive situations in their homes never to return and with out any of their personal belongings.
“Students have donated coats, shirts, pants, gloves, mittens, toys, toiletries and many other needed items,” said Gwinn. “The three classes have over 1,600 items donated which were delivered to the YWCA today.”
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District’s Chief Financial Officer reports impact of Governor’s preliminary budget
Chief Financial Officer Pat Johnston briefed the school board Tuesday night on how Governor Gregoire’s recently released preliminary supplemental budget impacts Walla Walla Public Schools. Johnston reported Governor Gregoire has already publicly said she does not support the budget she released, but Gregoire said it was necessary to illustrate the seriousness of the state’s economic shortfalls.
Johnston said Gregoire’s preliminary budget would equate to nearly $4 million in cuts to Walla Walla Public Schools. Johnston said this is especially alarming in light of last year’s savings plan which spurred a $3.5 million district basic education budget reduction.
Johnston said Gregoire’s preliminary budget numbers which were reported to school board members last night are soft. But, she said they offer enough information to prompt Walla Walla and all other school districts in the state to connect with legislators to send a message they are not acceptable. Johnston said she will lead an open, collaborative district budget adoption process which will ramp up after the winter break.
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Walla Walla High School prepares for Yamate Exchange
Walla Walla High School Associate Principal Mira Gobel and Science teacher Rob Ahrens reported to school board members Tuesday night on the school’s Yamate Japan Cultural Exchange Program.
Students from Japan will be visiting Walla Walla April 9 to 23. The students will be staying with host families during their two week stay. Gobel and Ahrens plan to host students in their homes and are looking for other families to host students. Ahrens traveled to Japan in 1986 as a high school student through this program which began in 1969.
Walla Walla High School students will travel to Japan July 18 to August 4 to complete the exchange program. Students will stay in the large city of Yokohama near Tokyo. Ahrens and Gobel said Walla Walla students will have opportunities to sight see, learn more about the country and its culture.
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Walla Walla High School senior’s music premiered by Walla Walla Symphony
This week Walla Walla High School senior Parker Davis had his written piece called “A Hamcilla Holiday” premiered by the Walla Walla Symphony. Parker plans on being a composer, according to Orchestra Teacher Julia Woods.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for him to have a piece of his work performed by a semi-professional orchestra,” Woods said.
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