Walla Walla Public Schools
Week in Review - March 17, 2006

In this Issue:

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School board meeting Tuesday
Tuesday, March 21
7:30 p.m.
District Office (364 S. Park St.)
Open to public


Citizens for Schools Bond Rally

Sunday, March 26
1 to 4 p.m.
YMCA

• School bond information
• Student performances
• Opportunities to participate in Citizens for Schools bond efforts

Jim Hayner, Chair


Why will the new Wa-Hi stand the test of time better than the current school?
The 1964 buildings consist of brick veneer, wood load bearing walls and wood truss roof systems with little or no space available in ceilings for installation of required systems -- such as duct work, mechanical units and piping.

The existing load bearing wood wall structure does not allow the ability to change walls, move duct work, add electrical components as needs arise without significant and costly structural changes. The existing buildings are not flexible for necessary changes.

The proposed new design will be a masonry exterior and a steel post and beam structure with adequate space between ceilings and floors to accommodate future revisions or additions if necessary -- without changing the structural system.

Architects West reports the building system used in the proposed new Wa-Hi will allow the school to be flexible and stand the test of time not only for building systems, but also for educational program changes.


Architects West weighs in on why Paine should be replaced
“Unlike the Sharpstein remodel we designed six years ago, the ability of the structure of the Paine school to fit the educational program is unsatisfactory without significant reconfiguration.

“The existing Sharpstein Elementary School space configuration fits the educational model for an elementary school -- to include classrooms around pods, but also with the quantity and adjacent spaces -- without any significant reconfiguation of the existing structure.

“I would not recommend preserving Paine, because of the cost and complexity of a modernization, that would ultimately result in a facility not fully meeting educational program needs.”

John Evans, Principal Architect
Architects West


WASL Week Review
Approximately 515 Walla Walla district high school students participated in WASL testing on Monday through Thursday of this week, March 13-16, 2006. They, along with students across Washington State, tested in Reading on Day 1 and Day 2 and in writing on Day 3 and Day 4. Math and Science WASLs will be conducted April 18 through 21. Scores will be returned to the district around June 12, 2006.

Students in 10th grade for whom meeting standard on the WASL will be a graduation requirement made up the vast majority of test takers. However a few 9th graders chose to take the WASL as their first attempt as well as a few 11th graders who chose to retake parts of the WASL. Walla Walla High School tested approximately 456 students; Paine Campus, 22 students; and Opportunity Program, 37 students.


Wa-Hi FFA Floral Team takes state title
Walla Walla High School FFA Floral Team won the Washington State Championship last Friday and will now represent Washington at the National Contest next fall. A total of 15 teams with 70 contestants from across Washington state competed.

The Floral Team placed first in the Test portion, 2nd in Team Activity, 1st in Problem Solving, 3rd in Plant Identification and 4th in Practicums. The practicums consist of a job interview, selling, dish garden and floral arrangement.

Congratulations to:
Ashley Davin - 2nd Place
Tori Ebding - 3rd Place
Kara Jenkins - 4th Place
Amber Davin - 9th Place


Garrison Band earns superior ratings at competition
The Garrison Middle School band participated last week in The Columbia Basin Music Educators’ Middle School Band Festival and came away with straight Superior Ratings.

“Not only did the kids do well on the stage they represented Garrison with outstanding behavior,” Band Teacher Roger Garcia said. “A BIG Thanks to all of you who helped by letting our kids rehearse this past month. We could not have done it without you!”


SAT Prep Class offered
A SAT Prep class will be offered two evenings per week from April 10 through May 3, 2006. On Monday evenings from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., the focus will be mathematics with teacher Kathy Keatts.

On Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., the focus will be language arts and writing with teacher Lori Dohe. The cost is $70. Participants receive a student workbook, CD, and home study practice in addition to the eight classroom sessions.

Registration forms are available at the Wa-Hi office from Mrs. Morasch or from the district office at 364 South Park Street. The deadline is March 30, 2006.


District sets Open Enrollment and Kindergarten registration dates next week
Walla Walla Public Schools Open Enrollment and Kindergarten Registration period is Monday, March 20, to Friday, March 31, 2006.

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 business hours beginning March 13; however, forms will not be accepted in the receiving school until Monday, March 20. Kindergarten registration will be conducted at the student’s attendance area elementary school.

If there’s space available to accommodate some but not all open enrollment requests, then the priorities outlined in School Board Policy No. 3130 will be used to determine movement of a student. School Board Policies are on the district website (www.wwps.org) and manuals are available at all Walla Walla Public Schools and the Administration Office.

Open Enrollment/Kindergarten Registration Hours
Monday, March 20 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
March 21 – March 31 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Please contact your attendance area school for more information. District boundary maps are available at all Walla Walla Public Schools and the Administration Office at 364 South Park Street.


Wa-Hi Drama Department gears up for Spring Musical - Disney’s Beauty and the Beast
Dates:
March 17, 18, 23 and 24 (Curtain Time: 7 p.m.)
March 18, 25 (2 p.m. Matinee)

Location: Walla Walla High School Auditorium
Cost: Students/Seniors $6, Adults $8 * Reserved Seating
Tickets: Telephone reservations begin March 1. Call 526 – 8613 or visit the auditorium Box Office March 13 – 15 and 20 –22, 5 – 6 p.m. * Box Office opens one hour prior to Curtain

Director: Brian Senter
Assistant Director: Carina Stillman
Musical Director: Ronda Gabbard
Orchestra Director: Andrew Ueckert
Choreographer: Allison Collette
Costumer: Maribeth Bergstrom
Set Design: Brian Hearden
Producer: Lynn Junke