Nearly 500 attend Edison’s first Family Fun Night of the year
Tuesday night nearly 500 people attended Edison Elementary School’s first Family Fun night of the year. Those in attendance enjoyed a pizza dinner and the opportunity to play family games. Although the pizza ran out, Big Cheese Pizza came to the rescue and made up more in a hurry so all who attended were able to have pizza.

“We appreciate the PTA for sponsoring this event and the other annual Family Fun Nights,” said Principal Josh Wolcott. “It is an opportunity for many of our Edison families to connect with school in a fun and positive way.”

Upcoming Edison Family Fun Nights:
- Jan: 25 Amazing Art-Art Night
- Feb: 8 WW Symphony- Music Night
- March 1: Dr. Seuss Night- In celebration of Dr. Seuss’s Birthday (An event co-sponsored by the Edison PTA, Whitman College, & Edison’s Title I Program)

American Association of University Women provide Edison reading grant
The local branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) has granted Edison Elementary School $1000 to support the Reading is Fundamental program. The Reading is Fundamental program provides a free book to every student in grades Kindergarten through 2nd grade three times a year. With the AAUW grant, all students (Grades K through 5) will be able to have a free book during the last two book giveaways of the year.

At the beginning of the year, we sought out ways to expand this program to include all students K-5. AAUW has made this possible through their generous contribution. Many of our students have limited resources in their families. One resource that is lacking in many of our homes is access to books. This expanded program will provide additional books and literature to be in the homes of all students. The impact that this AAUW contribution has is evident when the students make their selections and with excitement start reading their new books.

Kindergarten and Open Enrollment Registration dates set for 2011-12 School Year
Walla Walla Public Schools Kindergarten and Fall Registration period is Monday, March 21 to Friday, April 1, 2011.
Kindergarten registration will be conducted at the student’s attendance area elementary school. Parents wishing to pick up the kindergarten registration information may do so at their child’s school beginning March 14. However, the completed registration forms will not be accepted until March 21.

New Student Registration Hours:
Monday, March 21 - 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
March 22 - April 1 - 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Parents/guardians who wish to open enroll their child to a school outside of their attendance area may pick up Open Enrollment application forms at their attendance area school during normal school hours beginning Monday, March 14; however, forms will not be accepted in the receiving school until Monday, March 21.

If there is space available to accommodate open enrollment requests, then the priorities outlined in School Board Policy No. 3130 will be used to determine movement of a student. School Board Policy manuals are available for public viewing at all Walla Walla Public Schools and the Administration Office. School Board policies are also online at http://www.wwps.org/leadership/board.htm#11

Please contact your attendance area school for more information. District boundary maps are available at all schools, the Administration Office at 364 South Park Street, and online at www.wwps.org . Click on the District A to Z link and then click on Boundary Map.

Leadership Walla Walla group take tours of Walla Walla schools as part of Education Day
Wednesday members of Leadership Walla Walla spent the day learning more about educational opportunities in the Walla Walla Valley. Participants toured Lincoln Alternative High School, Walla Walla High School and Sharpstein Elementary as part of the experience.

Leadership Walla Walla members also heard messages from the following educators:
- Mick Miller, Walla Walla Public Schools Superintendent
- Dr. Linda Boggs, WWPS Assistant Superintendent
- Dr. Ginger Ketting Weller, Walla Walla University Vice President of Administration
- Michelle Janning, Whitman College Assistant Dean of Faculty
- Dr. Steven VanAusdle, President - Walla Walla Community College
- John Deming, Principal - Walla Walla Valley Academy
- John Lesko, Principal - Walla Walla Catholic Schools
- Pete Peterson, Principal - Walla Walla High School
- Kirk Jameson, Assistant Principal - Walla Walla High School
- Ron Higgins, WWPS Director of Technology and Assessment
- Maria Garcia, WWPS Response to Intervention Coordinator

Leadership Walla Walla, cosponsored by the Walla Walla Valley Chamber of Commerce and Walla Walla Community College, is aimed at all qualified men and women who actively participate in community roles and have a desire to increase their community involvement in order to assume present and future leadership roles. Leadership Walla Walla builds civic awareness and leadership skills beginning with an opening work session in September, followed by a series of eight all-day monthly sessions, one each in October through May. The program is managed by Sandi Madsen, Director of eLearning and Leadership Walla Walla at WWCC.

High School Debate team performs strong at Gonzaga University Tournament
The High School Debate team recently performed at the Conway Classic Debate Tournament Gonzaga University and finished 7th place overall in Sweepstakes and 4th place in Individual Events.

“We’ve met one of our goals for the year by breaking into the out rounds at a competitive tournament in open division in debate,” Debate Coach Jean Tobin said.

The debate team will compete again in two weeks in Moses Lake.

Conway Classic Debate Tournament Results
Open Division:
- Machado Mijiag took 1st in Editorial Commentary and 3rd in Impromptu Speaking and broke to Octa-Finals in LD Debate.
- Rosa Tobin made it to finals in Editorial Commentary and broke to Octa-Finals in LD Debate.
- Calvin Brigham took 3rd in Editorial Commentary and broke to Octa-Finals in LD Debate.
- Carrie Moore took 3rd (with Marisol) in Dual Interpretation and made it to finals in Expository Speaking.
- Marisol Beck took 3rd (with Carrie) in Dual Interpretation and 3rd in Expository Speaking and made it to the Super Congress (finals round).
- Hope Grant-Herriot took 1st in Expository Speaking, made it to finals in Interpretive Reading and made it to Super Congress (finals round).
- Julia Cosma and Kera Parsons had a winning record in Public Forum (3-2) and just missed making it into Quarter Finals in Public Forum.

Novice Division:
- Ori VanDyke (1ST TOURNAMENT!) took 3rd in Interpretive Reading (novice).
- Konor Clark made it to finals in Impromptu Speaking and Quarter-Finals in LD Debate (losing on a 2-1 decision).
- Kendall Dunovant took 3rd in Impromptu Speaking and made it to Octa-Finals in LD Debate.

Superintendent Miller encourages community members to take facilities improvement survey
Walla Walla Public School will conduct its Educate, Listen and Plan facility improvement effort over the next two months to further advance this process. A community survey is now posted on the district website: www.wwps.org to provide input to the district.

Per the Educate, Listen and Plan initiative, Superintendent Mick Miller will be educating staff, students and community members on past district facilities studies. He will be listening to their thoughts and ideas on these issues and will then be working in collaboration to develop facility improvement plans based on this process.

Miller says it is vital to get the right plan in place before taking anything to the voters. Miller says good plans begin with a lot of listening. Thanks for all your input as we continue the exciting process of addressing our facility needs to provide 21st century learning environments for our staff and students.

To schedule a meeting to further discuss this process or to share your thoughts on these issues, contact Superintendent Mick Miller at 526-6714 or mmiller@wwps.org.

Big Cheese pizza special coupons to help support student trip to Washington DC
Parent volunteer and community activist Kathryn Southwick-Hess has teamed with Pioneer Middle School teacher Dan Calzaretta to co-chair organizing a student learning trip to Washington DC & Gettysburg, PA during spring break 2011.

There are several 8th grade students from Pioneer Middle School, three high school students, one student from Garrison and one student from Edison Elementary making the trek back east. In addition to the student participants, there are nine parents supervising the trip.

“The kids will be well supervised from start to finish,” Southwick-Hess said. “Our tour group provides us with a 24/7 guide,
a security guard in the hotel hallway each night, bus driver and local guides to enhance our education.”

Many of the students are doing the 100 plus hours of coursework to earn one semester of high school History credit, according to Southwick-Hess. They have also been actively fund raising. The students have held a car wash and sold pizza coupons, performed babysitting, mowed lawns, cleaned houses, and even walked dogs. Students are continuing to sell Big Cheese discount pizza coupons.

“Big Cheese has offered us an expiration date on our current coupon sale of October 31st, 2011,” Southwick-Hess said. “That’s a lot of time to get your pizzas eaten!”

“This trip wouldn’t be happening without your dedication to helping this group of parents who want to make history come alive for the kids in our district,” Southwick-Hess said.

Call or visit Pioneer Middle School to get more information about ordering a Big Cheese pizza coupon: 527.3050.