Walla Walla Public Schools
Week in Review - September 4, 2009

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District taking steps to curb H1N1 virus
Walla Walla Public Schools continues to do its part to prevent the spread of the H1N1 Virus. Students and staff are trained to sneeze or cough into their sleeves, wash hands often with soap and water, avoid touching their eyes, nose or mouth and stay home if they are sick. Disinfectants are being used in classrooms, school buses and heavily used gathering places like commons, cafeterias and gyms. Hand sanitizer devices will soon be installed in school areas, according Superintendent Rich Carter.

“We are taking advice from federal, state and local authorities to do our part to keep this virus from spreading,” Superintendent Rich Carter said. “We are continually refining our plans to address the H1N1 virus and will remain diligent as long as necessary to help keep our staff and students healthy.”


Elementary enrollment counts up, secondary slightly down to start year
Deputy Superintendent Dr. Bill Jordan reported to school board members Tuesday night preliminary enrollment figures reveal districtwide “head count” numbers are down slightly to begin the school year. Elementary schools have more students this year compared to last year, while fewer middle and high school students are in class this fall.

As of Tuesday, “head count” numbers were 6064 compared to 6079 at this time last year. These figures do not include Running Start student counts. Jordan said the district’s 2009-10 budget was based on 5800 Full-time Equivalent (FTE) students. Jordan said the district’s first official FTE count day is September 8.


Personnel Report (from 9/1/09 school board meeting)
• New Hires
(Certificated) Sarah Maheras, Kindergarten, Green Park
Shana Smith, Math (temporary), Pioneer Middle School
Paul Starkebaum, Physical Education Specialist, .8 FTE, Sharpstein

(Classified) James Bennett, Bus Driver, Transportation Dept.
Richard Bunnell, Bus Driver, Transportation Department
Heather Davidson, Bus Driver, Transportation Department
Araceli Garcia, Para-Educator, Sharpstein
Justin Hampton, Para-Educator, Walla Walla High School
Dawn Moore, Para-Educator (temporary), Berney
Jessica Ruiz, Para-Educator (temporary), Sharpstein
Laura Segovia, Para-Educator (temporary), Blue Ridge
Theresa Shafer, Para-Educator (temporary), Prospect Point
Mickey Weber, Para-Educator (temporary), Sharpstein

• Resignations/retirements
(Certificated) Jill Carter, Physical Education Specialist, Garrison, 8 years

(Classified)
Ada Hodgson, Para-Educator, Sharpstein
Arthur Davila, Trades Assistant, Plant Facilities, 34.5 years

• Leave of Absences
(Certificated)
Angela Gardea, LAP Coordinator, Pioneer, 10 years
• Angie will serve as Learning Specialist at Berney Elementary for the 2009-2010 school year

Staff Transfers
• Jackie Lewis transferred from Garrison to Wa-Hi to teach in the Resource Room.
• Connie Goude transferred from Wa-Hi to Prospect Point to serve as the Assistant Secretary.
• Dina Anderson is the new secretary to Director of CTE at Wa-Hi. Anderson previously was the assistant secretary in the ASB office at Wa-Hi.


School Board Meetings - January to June 2010
• January 19
• February 2 and 16
• March 2 and 16
• April 20
• May 4 and 18
• June 1 and 15
Edison Dedication program Thursday, Sept. 24
Join us in celebrating the Dedication of this beautiful new school.

- Date: Thursday, September 24, 2009
- Time: 6:00 p.m. (social) / 6:30 to 8 p.m. (program and tours)
- Location: Edison Elementary
- Information: (509) 527-3072


President Obama to address the importance of working hard in school
President Obama will deliver a national address to students across the nation on Tuesday, September 8 at 9 a.m. President Obama is addressing an issue educators throughout America talk about on a daily basis. He will challenge students to work hard, set education goals, and take responsibility for their learning.

Showing the video speech will be an option for teachers in Walla Walla Public Schools. If teachers choose to show it, they are encouraged to lead a discussion following the speech to further address the issue of working hard in school. The Department of Education has many age-appropriate activities available to teachers to support this effort. Parents are also encouraged to visit the classroom and watch the video with their child.

Parents who don’t want their children to watch the speech, may simply request they opt out and participate in another school activity.


St. Mary Medical center teams with Albertsons to organize back-to-school supplies drive
This week, St. Mary Medical Center and Albertsons teamed to help area children by organizing a back-to-school supplies drive. School supplies will be donated to Walla Walla Public Schools.

Employees from St. Mary Medical Center and Albertsons stuffed school supplies into backpacks and boxes at the Walla Walla Eastgate Albertsons. Special Education Director Marcia Walters, Berney Principal Donna Painter, Berney Learning Specialist Angie Gardea, and Principal on Special Assignment Connie Taylor Randall represented the school district and assisted with packaging the school supplies. St. Mary Medical Center also provided a surprise $500 shopping spree. The district team purchased $25 gift certificates to support homeless or in need students. The school supplies will be delivered to area schools soon.


Sidewalk grant targets Reser Road near Prospect Point Elementary
Tuesday night school board members approved a property line adjustment in support of a “Small Communities in Rural Counties Grant Program Application” for sidewalk improvements near Prospect Point Elementary.

If funding is approved, the project will begin at Howard Street and end at the existing parking lot entrance for the Walla Walla High School gym lot. Additional improvements will be made to Reser Road as well. The total cost of the project is estimated at $724,000. Aaron Grimm is serving as the Project Engineer for Walla Walla County Public Works.


German & American partnership offered Wa-Hi students trip of a lifetime
Tuesday night Wa-Hi German teacher Curtis Schafer and PE teacher Gayle See reported to school board members on the German American Partnership Program (GAAP). This summer Schafer and See escorted nine Wa-Hi students to Germany for a one month cultural exchange program. Students stayed with host families, attended school and traveled. Schafer and See said it was an amazing experience for all. This spring students from Germany will visit Walla Walla.

Walla Walla GAAP Group:
Dominic Silva
Kim Anderson
Kyla Klicker
Shelby Osborn
Mattie Mayfield
Dylan Cornelius
Collin Meister
Jaycee Mohrland
Andy Frank
Gayle See (advisor)
Curtis Schaefer (advisor)


Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment team helps connect the dots
Assistant Superintendent Dr. Linda Boggs reported to school board members Tuesday night how the district’s Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment team, or C.I.A., is coordinated to support each other.

Boggs said math curriculum continues to be a focus area, while Guided Language Acquisition Design (GLAD) and Student Learning Protocol (SLP) drives instruction. She said a variety of assessments are used across the district.

She said the district will concentrate professional development efforts on GLAD, SLP and math. Once you connect the dots, the picture becomes clear, Boggs said.
Big Nine football kicks off tonight at Borleske - Radio coverage: KTEL 1490 AM
The Big Nine Conference football season kicks off Friday, September 4 at Borleske Stadium in Walla Walla at 7:30 p.m. with a non-conference match-up against Hermiston. Elementary and middle school students must be accompanied by an adult and the adult must purchase the ticket.

Don’t miss an exciting down of Blue Devil football this season on KTEL 1490 AM. Wa-Hi teacher Scott Reardon will be calling all the play-by-play action. Tune to 1490 AM for all the Blue Devil football games.


Wa-Hi cheerleaders get creative to make home football games more fun
Each week the Walla Walla High School cheerleaders are creating a theme for the home football games. This week the theme is to invite Walla Walla School district staff to the game. The cheerleaders will present a small token of appreciation to staff and recognize them at half-time. The cheerleaders have created an invitation for staff members to send to the schools and are hoping to increase attendance at games.

“The girls are working really hard to work with the community to support our student athletes,” Cheer Coach Julianne Anderson said.


Latino Club pitches in to get ready for fair
Thirty-nine Latino Club members spent the past two Saturdays doing volunteer clean-up work at the fairgrounds to help get ready for the Walla Walla Frontier Days and Fair. In preparation for the fair, club members performed the initial cleaning of the pavilion area by sweeping and mopping floors, cleaning the glass cabinets, hauling unused items down the stairs and cleaning bathrooms.

Latino Club members donated more than 200 hours of community service during the project. This is the fourth year Latino youth have worked at the fairgrounds prior to the fair. The Wa-Hi Latino Club also has a display at the fair, according to District Bilingual Coordinator Diana Erickson.

“The Latino Club fair display features a lot of pictures of the club’s activities,” Erickson said. “Ten members put in over 51 combined hours setting up the display located on the second floor of the pavilion in the Scouting area (west end of the youth area). They arranged the displays for the Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and Explorers Post (Latino Club).”

Erickson also reminded people to look for the Latino Club entry in the fair parade Saturday. The parade starts at 10 a.m.


PALs program helps Pioneer students become better leaders
In August, 50 Pioneer Middle School 7th and 8th graders participated in training to learn more about the Pioneer PALs program (Peer & Leadership Support).

After the 7th and 8th grade students received training, all incoming 6th graders were invited to receive an orientation from PALs. The sixth grade students received tours of the school, were assigned lockers, and learned about school expectations.


Student work on display at Walla Walla Fair and Frontier Days
Be sure to stop by the Education Building at the Walla Walla Fair and Frontier Days. District Education Building coordinator Amy Reed says visitors will see student artwork and class projects from schools throughout the Walla Walla Valley. Walla Walla Public Schools will feature technology projects and have a staffed information station for school materials and information.