Former Walla Walla High School Principal passes away
Tuesday evening retired Walla Walla High School Principal Abe Roberts passed away at St. Mary Medical Center. Funeral services for Abe Roberts will be posted on the district web site once these details are available.

“From 1996 to 2002, I had the opportunity to work with Abe as a colleague when I served as principal at Mead High School and we worked together with Big Nine principals,” said Superintendent Mick Miller. “Despite our differences in age and experience, Abe treated me as an equal and never spoke down to me. He was incredibly kind and professional. I really enjoyed the time we spent together and thought how lucky the students and staff in Wa-Hi must be to have him as their principal.”

Abe Roberts
- Birth Place: Deer Park, WA
- High School: Deer Park High School • Class of 1958
- Whitworth College - BA • 1962 (Major - Education / Minor - History)
- Whitworth College - MA • 1966 (Major - School Administration)
- Married his wife Gail in 1962
- Children: Richele & Lonnie

Professional Experience
• 1962-1965 - Lands first teaching job, Riverside, WA
• 1965 - Moves to Walla Walla
• 1965-1968 - Counselor/teacher/coach, Pioneer Jr. High
• 1968-1970 - Assistant Principal, Garrison Jr. High
• 1970-1988 - Assistant Principal, Wa-Hi
• 1988-1990 - Principal, Pioneer Jr. High
• 1990-2002 - Principal, Walla Walla High School

Walla Walla High School Conspiracy of Hope Benefit Concert features a variety of student performances
Walla Walla High School presents the annual Conspiracy of Hope Benefit Concert featuring a variety of student performances on Thursday, February 10 and Friday, February 11 at the Walla Walla High School Auditorium. Both performances begin at 7:30 p.m. with a $5 donation collected at the door.

The Conspiracy of Hope Benefit Concert is a student production benefiting both the Dave Meyer Foundation and the S.O.S Health Services of Walla Walla. The Dave Meyer Foundation was created to help athletes of low-income families with expenses associated with sports participation such as equipment and camp fees.

The S.O.S Health Services of Walla Walla is a free medical clinic to serve the greater Walla Walla Valley area. It functions as a walk-in family medicine/urgent care clinic designed to service the uninsured.

For more information about this event, contact Wa-Hi ASB Coordinator Arch McHie at amchie@wwps.org
 
Conspiracy of Hope Fact Sheet
Event Highlights: Student produced benefit concert highlighting the multi-talented student body
Concert Dates: Thursday, February 10 and Friday, February 11
Location: Walla Walla High School Auditorium
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Cost: $5 Donation

Lincoln High School seeks fitness equipment for student programs
Lincoln High School teacher Erik Gordon recently sent out a request for exercise equipment for the school’s physical education classes.

“We currently have a hand full of jump ropes and a half dozen random aerobic workout weights,” Gordon said. “If you have a collection of equipment gathering dust in your garage, we would be grateful for the donation. Free weights, exercise balls, yoga mats, cardio equipment, random “as-seen-on-tv” equipment -- we are not picky.”

To make a donation, contact Gordon by telephone: 527-3083 or by email:egordon@wwps.org

Thompson leads Pioneer Middle School 6th grade anti-bullying training
Last week 220 Pioneer Middle School 6th grade students participated in an anti-bullying workshop with focus on bystander intervention. District Bullying Prevention consultant Mark Thompson had students participate in skits, make posters, and watch a video about the negative impact of bullying.

Thompson conducted four, 75 minute sessions at the Walla Walla Regional Airport. Teachers, counselors, administrators and parents participated in the program. Bullying prevention continues to be a key focus of the district’s Safe and Civil Schools Committee chaired by Communications Director Mark Higgins.

Walla Walla High School Cadet of the Month earns on-the-spot promotion
The Walla Walla High School JROTC “Blue Devils” Cadet Battalion has selected its “Cadet of the Month” for January 2011 and rewarded his achievement with an immediate promotion. Cadet Cpl. Michael Matthews, a 17 year old junior, was promoted to this new rank after he won the top spot with a total score of 375 points, according to the presiding official on the board.

The top Cadet was selected from two candidates who were inspected and examined in oral interviews by a board of four advanced Cadets, according to Lt. Col. Bill Bialozor, Senior Army Instructor for Walla Walla High School’s Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps program. Matthews said he joined JROTC because he wanted to get a taste of what the military will be like. He plans to pursue a career in the Navy after completing college. He enjoys football, swimming, and being with friends.

“His strongest competitive category was his extremely well put together uniform,” said Cadet Command Sgt. Maj. Seth Thomas. “This Cadet of the Month was a close match, since both of the Cadets’ performances were outstanding. Cadet Cpl. Matthews won by one point.”

Runner up was Cadet Cpl. Nicholas Nelson, a 15 year old sophomore, whose strongest suit was his confidence. He came in a very close second with 374 points.

“After the board tallied the points and the winner was clear, we held a ceremony to promote the winning Cadet one rank higher, to recognize him for his hard work and personal success,” said Bialozor.

Wa-Hi JROTC Cadets participate in the program to develop leadership skills and to strive to be better citizens in society. Many Cadets compete with drill, marksmanship, and physical training teams as well as attend the class. These Cadets get to travel to and compete in drill meets at 16 other schools in the Cascade Division that include Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Navy Cadet programs.

Graduates of Distinction nominations now accepted
Nominations are open for the 2011 Graduates of Distinction Program. All nominations and recommendation forms must be received in the district Curriculum Department by April 15, 2011.
The purpose of the Walla Walla Public Schools’ Graduates of Distinction program is to provide an avenue for recognizing high school graduates of Walla Walla Public Schools who have distinguished themselves in their communities, professions, or careers; and to honor the Walla Walla Public Schools’ staff members who were the most inspirational in the lives of those individuals.

In order to be eligible for nomination, an individual must have graduated from high school in the Walla Walla Public Schools at least 10 years prior to nomination.

The recognition is intended to honor Walla Walla High School graduates for outstanding achievement. The honor will be given to mature adults who are exemplary citizens and have distinguished themselves in their communities, their professions, or their careers. Nominations will be held for five years, and will automatically be included in the selection process during that time.

Nomination forms are available at the district office, 364 South Park Street, or on the district website: http://www.wwps.org/news/grad_distinction.htm . Please call Kay Schisler, 526-6735, for more information.

Prospect Point Math Family Fun Night
Prospect Point Elementary staff, students and parents recently participated in the Math Family Fun Night to help promote a love for arithmetic. Grade level stations were set-up so families could play up to three different games. Approximately 200 children and parents attended this event focused on improving math skills.

The students’ game cards from the evening were used the next morning for a drawing where three students received a board game to take home and play with their families. Prospect Point will host two similar upcoming events; one in February with an Art theme, and one in March with a Music theme.

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.