Walla Walla Public Schools
Week in Review - May 12, 2006

In this Issue:

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Bond ballots must be postmarked by May 16
Ballots for the May 16 bond issue mailed April 28 and must be post marked by Tuesday, May 16 to be counted.

All district schools and students stand to benefit from the measure through additional technology, maintenance, and safety funding.

Edison, Paine, Wa-Hi and Support Services are in line to receive significant improvements. See more on the Bond 2006 web link at www.wwps.org.


Current Bond Ballots tally
Total bond ballots received to date (as of 5/11):
• 7,762
• 41.81% return.

The Walla Walla County Auditor’s staff won’t count the ballots for ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ until May 16. They will post the results at 8 p.m. on May 16 at the County Auditor’s office. Ballots must be postmarked by May 16 to be counted.


Superintendent Carter recognizes Teacher Appreciation Week
“This is teacher appreciation week and one of the most important recognitions of the year. Not only am I married to a teacher but I am related to all of you who teach and inspire children every day. We are related because we believe that teaching is a “calling,” not a job. Together we believe that children are our greatest national treasure. We commit and dedicate long hours towards reaching out to every child we can influence. We are courageous and tenacious in our continuous fight to keep public education as a cornerstone of our society, of which it has so aptly served for over one hundred and fifty years.

“To all of you in the education family - thank you for your generous nature and your compassion of the art of teaching. Thanks for your understanding, acceptance and constant attention to the diversity of our student body. Thank you for your empathy with staff, students and parents. There is no other professional organization that can equal your giving nature.

“All of these attributes and many more are what make you “teachers.” I salute you and thank you for all you do for our children. Have a great week!”

Rich Carter


School board meeting Tuesday
Tuesday, May 16
7:30 p.m.
District Office (364 S. Park St.)
Open to public
Chamber Singers named best in state
The Wa-Hi Chamber Singers received the Judge’s Choice Award for the Most Artistic Performance at the Washington State Gold Standard Choral Festival held last week at the University of Washington. Special thanks to Choral Director Norb Rossi for all his hard work preparing the students.
Staff Baby Watch
Congratulations to Wa-Hi English teacher Kris Duncan for having a baby girl last week. Her name is Molly Rose. Kris’s mom is Linda Schaub from Wa-Hi and her dad is David Schaub from Transportation.

(NOTE: Staff are encouraged to report new births to the Communications Department.)


District Graduates of Distinction named
This year’s honorees for the Graduates of Distinction program have been selected. They are AnnRené Joseph, Val Jensen, and Dr. Stephen Hayner.

The 2006 Graduates of Distinction will be honored at a community reception on Wednesday, May 31 (details below). The community is invited to listen to their stories and hear who helped shape their lives during their school years. They also will participate in Wa-Hi’s academic recognition program that evening.

RECEPTION DETAILS:
Date: May 31, 2006, from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m., with the program from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m.
Location: District Office Board Room, 364 South Park Street

AnnRené Joseph - Class of 1973
AnnRené has been the Program Supervisor for the Arts at OSPI for six years. Prior to that, she worked in Spokane and the Tri Cities as a music teacher, then served as an elementary principal for 11 years. She was nominated by Glen Mitchell, District Music Director.

Dr. Stephen A. Hayner - Class of 1966
Stephen is currently a professor of evangelism at Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Georgia. For 13 years, he served as the national president of Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, managing a staff of 1,200 and working with more than 700 college campuses. He was nominated by the late Pete Hanson.

Val Jensen - Class of 1947
Val is founder and chairman of the Jensen Portfolio, a $2.7 billion mutual fund. He managed his family’s Walla Walla apparel store early in his career, then worked primarily in investment companies until establishing his own business in 1982. He was nominated by James Aylward, a 1999 Graduate of Distinction.


Green Park Centennial Schedule -- A 100 Years of Class
School Tours
- Monday, May 15 to Wednesday, May 17
9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
- Thursday, May 18 and Friday, May 19
5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
- Saturday, May 20
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon

Carnival and Spaghetti Dinner
Thursday, May 18
4 to 8 p.m.

100th Birthday Party
Friday, May 19
5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
- Children’s program begins at 5:00
- Special memory lane Power Point presentation
- Birthday cake and ice cream

For more information, contact Centennial Coordinator Kathy Goodwin at (509) 526-7144 or Green Park Secretary Susan Stroe at (509) 527-3077


End of Year Events -- Mark your calendars!

Pioneer Middle School
National Junior Honor Society Induction
Wednesday, May 17 - 7:30 pm.

Green Park Carnival, Spaghetti Dinner, & Centennial Celebration
Thursday, May 18 4:00-8:00 p.m.

Green Park’s 100th Birthday Party
Friday, May 19, 5:00-7:00 p.m.

Green Park Centennial Tours
Saturday, May 20, 9:00 a.m. -12:00 p.m.

Opportunity Graduation Reception
Wednesday, May 31 - Opportunity building (919 S. 2nd) - Open House style dessert, 5 to 6 p.m.

Graduates of Distinction
May 31 - Board Room, 3:30 to 5 p.m.

Wa-Hi Academic Recognition
May 31 - Wa-Hi Auditorium, 7 p.m.

Paine Campus Commencement
June 1 - Paine Gym, 6:00 p.m.

Wa-Hi Commencement
June 2 - Wa-Hi grounds, 7:30 p.m.

Pioneer 8th grade Recognition
June 6 - Cordiner Hall, 7:30 p.m.

Garrison 8th grade Recognition
June 7 - Cordiner Hall, 7:00 p.m.

Last Day of School
June 8 - Early release

District Summer School
June 19 to July 20

WASL Remediation Summer School Program (offered by ESD 123 @ Wa-Hi)
June 28 to August 3

Summer WASL Retakes
August 7-10


End of Year Music Concerts
• 33rd annual WW School District Band Festival
Thursday, May 18 - 7:30 p.m. - Wa-Hi gym

• Pioneer Middle School music students will perform at the downtown Walla Walla Farmers’ Market
Saturday, May 20

• Wa-Hi, Garrison and Pioneer Jazz Band Concert
Tuesday, May 23 - 7:30 p.m. - Wa-Hi Auditorium

• Wa-Hi Spring Concert featuring: Cantabile, Chansons, Treble Ensemble and String Orchestra
Wednesday, May 24 - 7:30 p.m. - Wa-Hi Auditorium

• Wa-Hi Spring Concert featuring Chamber Singers, Concert Choir and Symphony Orchestra
Thursday, May 25 - 7:30 p.m. - Wa-Hi Auditorium

• Garrison Band and Orchestra Concert
Thursday, June 1 - 7:00 p.m. - Garrison Gym


Retirement Celebrations (as reported to date to Communications Dept.)

Edison Elementary
Meredith Mitchell and Suzanne Sams
Monday, May 22
3:45 - 5 p.m.
Edison Gym
All staff is invited

Green Park Elementary
Sue Westergard
Tuesday, May 30
3:00-5:00 p.m.
Library

Prospect Point
Barbara Rutzer and Alice MacDonald
Thursday, May 18
4:00-6:00 p.m.


Wa-Hi conducts 8th grade orientation
This week Wa-Hi administrators and staff welcomed parents and students from Garrison, Pioneer and Sager Middle Schools to 8th grade orientation.

Assistant Principals Mira Gobel and Kirk Jameson led the discussion highlighting graduation requirements, school curriculum offerings, activities and more.

Parents who were not able to attend are encouraged to contact Wa-Hi for more information to help make the transition from middle school to high school successful.


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bond Tidbit -- Communications spending

Did you know...
The school district has not used additional funds - except for the required fair and objective Fact Sheet - to communicate the May 16 bond issue.

The district’s Communications Department normal and regular activities include:
- Focus on Education community newsletters (three times per year)
- Focus on Education radio announcements (twice per month)
- TV staff spotlights (monthly)
- Staff newsletters (twice per month)
- District electronic newsletter (weekly)
- District web site (daily)
- Chamber of Commerce newsletter insert (monthly)
- Key Communicators newsletter (monthly)
- Community presentations (several per school year)

These normal and regular communications activities occur each year - regardless of school elections. The ads you read in the newspaper, see on television and hear on the radio have all been purchased through private dollars.


Wa-Hi Crest Club blood drive nets 100 units
Thursday the Wa-Hi Crest Club conducted its annual American Red Cross blood drive. More than 120 students and staff participated to net 100 units of blood.

“The Crest Club members did a phenomenal job running the drive; registration was smooth, donors were at ease, and there was more than enough food donated by local businesses for the canteen,” Crest Club Advisor Jillian Huber said. “I’m proud of all of their hard work that made this drive so successful!”

Crest Club is an all senior girls honor club formed to promote and support positive school activities.