Walla Walla Public Schools
Week in Review - May 28, 2010

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No School Monday - Memorial Day Holiday
There is no school Monday, May 31 in observance of the Memorial Day Holiday. Classes resume Tuesday, June 1.
School Board meeting Tuesday, June 1
Date: Tuesday, June 1
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Location: District board room - 364 S. Park St.
Meeting open to the public
Retirement Celebrations 2009-2010 (remaining)
Rich Carter (Superintendent, District Office)
Date: Tuesday, June 1
Time: 3:30 - 5:00 p.m.
Location: New Transportation Cooperative Building (across from Koncrete Industries)

Bill Jordan (Deputy Superintendent)
Date: June 3,
Time: 3:30 to 5 p.m.
Location: District Office Board Room

Greg Reid (Garrison Middle School)
Date: Thursday, June 10
Time: 4 to 8 p.m.
Location: Red Monkey Downtown Lounge

Lowell Schneider (Plant Facilities)
Date: June 8
Time: 3:30 to 5 p.m.
Location: District Office Board Room


District graduation ceremonies scheduled
Lincoln Alternative High School Graduation
Thursday, June 3: 6 p.m. - WW Fairgrounds

Walla Walla High School Commencement
Friday, June 4: 7 p.m. - Wa-Hi Commons area (gym if raining)

Pioneer Middle School 8th Grade Recognition
Tuesday, June 8: 7 p.m. - Wa-Hi Gym

Garrison Middle School 8th Grade Recognition
Wednesday, June 9: 7 p.m. - Cordiner Hall, Whitman College


District to honor Graduates of Distinction Tuesday
Walla Walla Public Schools names this year’s honorees for the Graduates of Distinction program. Honorees are: Dr. Richard K. Knuth, Class of 1969; Mary Jane Towner Glaser, Class of 1971; and Tim Donaldson, Class of 1979.

RECEPTION DETAILS
Date: Tuesday, June 1
Time: 6:15 to 7:30 p.m.
Place: Walla Walla School District Board Room

HONOREES
Dr. Richard K. Knuth graduated from Walla Walla High School in 1969 and currently is a professor in the Education Program of the University of Washington, Tacoma. He has a long career in education, including two years in Kenya while in the Peace Corps. One of seven children, he lost his mother to cancer when he was a freshman at Whitman College; and he helped care for and find homes for his four younger siblings. After this life-changing experience, he maintained his focus on academics and continued to pursue his dream of being an educator. After receiving his Ph.D. from the University of Washington in 1983, he served as Assistant Principal and Principal for districts in Western Washington before becoming Superintendent of University Place School District in 1991.

He has provided consultations and workshops for administrators throughout Washington state and has been an invited presenter to national and regional conferences. He supports his community through volunteer work in supervision of an overnight shelter for homeless men and work in his church, St. James Cathedral.

Mary Jane Towner Glaser graduated from Walla Walla High School in 1971 and attended both the University of Puget Sound and University of Washington, graduating in 1975. She worked in a graphics arts business, Health Printers, for 10 years before becoming a free-lance graphic artist. Her primary avocation, since 1986, has been volunteerism in her community of Maple Valley, Washington, and for the Tahoma School District. She was very active in PTA for many years before being appointed to the Tahoma School District Board of Directors in 1998. She was elected for three terms, still serving at the present time, and was president for four consecutive years.

One of her passions is the arts and she has been instrumental in starting a Youth Symphony Orchestra and serving on the Maple Valley Creative Arts Council. Her involvement helped the Council secure grants to start a Creative Arts Center in her hometown, according to her mother and nominator Mary Frances Towner.

The newest project on Mary Jane’s horizon is a farmers’ market, set to open in June. She was instrumental in securing a site and initial funding, and she is designing a logo for this new non-profit venture.

Tim Donaldson is a 1979 graduate of Walla Walla High School, where he was an active participant in athletics and student government. He attended and graduated from Whitman College in 1984, then proceeded to earn his law degree from Gonzaga University in 1987. Tim served as lead attorney for Unigard Insurance Company in Seattle and worked in the private sector. Since 1996, Tim has been the City of Walla Walla attorney. He is recognized statewide as a leader in DUI prosecutions and has been very involved with both the County DUI Task Force and Domestic Violence Coalition.

Tim was an active Wallal Walla Public Schools’ Board Member for eight years, beginning in 2000, and served as president for one term. Continuing his advocacy for area youth and families, Tim also was a YMCA board member for five years. In 2007, he received the Elks’ Distinguished Citizen Award.

His nominators were unanimous in praising his leadership skills, listening ability and compassion, while remaining a strong family man who is very involved in his children’s activities.


District recommends reinvesting excess Edison construction bond funds
Tuesday during a public school board work session Superintendent Dr. Richard Carter recommended the district reinvest the $1.6 million excess bond funds from the Edison Elementary construction project as a result of the completed project coming in under budget. No action was taken today. This issue will be an action item during the June 1 school board meeting.

Carter said the excess funds could pay for much needed capital improvement projects across the district.

“The decision to reinvest these excess dollars is a sound financial decision as we have more than $100 million in documented facility improvement needs across the district,” Carter said. “By reinvesting these excess dollars we can effectively make improvements to enhance our learning environments and extend the life of our school buildings thus lessening the need to ask our voters for additional bond dollars in the future.”

Carter recommended the district use the excess funds for the following projects:
- Radon remediation at Blue Ridge Elementary
- Telecommunication improvements at four schools (Green Park, Berney, Pioneer and Garrison)
- Energy efficiency and air quality improvements (action could leverage additional state grant dollars through state energy efficiency programs)
- Capital improvement to educational facilities to promote student achievement and safety

Carter reported there were several factors leading up to the district coming in under budget on the Edison construction project.

Factors leading to the Edison project coming in under budget include:
- Global recession which led to lower contractor and building supplies costs
- Excellent architectural plans which resulted in fewer construction change orders
- Effective and efficient construction management and project oversight

On February 6, 2007, Walla Walla voters approved the $19.5 million bond to construct a new Edison Elementary bond with a 61 percent yes count. The bond measure ballot language did include provisions to use excess funds for other district capital improvement projects.


KTEL 1490 AM to broadcast Wa-Hi state softball tournament games (today’s game rescheduled)
KTEL 1490 AM will broadcast the Walla Walla High School state softball games in Tacoma. Today’s game was a rain out. It will be rescheduled for Saturday, May 29 at 11:30 a.m. vs. Emerald Ridge. Thanks so much to Capps Broadcasting for providing this additional radio service to our community. Visit wiaa.com for a complete 4A state softball tournament bracket. Good luck at state!
Green Park PTSA carnival rescheduled for June 3
Carnival date: Thursday, June 3
Time: 4 to 8 p.m.
Location: Green Park Elementary
- Dinner will be available for purchase
- Tickets are $.25 each for games and food (some items will cost more than 1 ticket)
- Silent Auction being held in conjunction with the event.
Special thanks to Kurt Hoffman for serving as the Carnival Chair.

Walla Walla High School teacher and student submit idea for stopping gulf oil leak
Walla Walla High School Technology Teacher Dennis DeBroeck and senior Bryson Mooso recently submitted an idea to British Petroleum (BP) for stopping the massive gulf oil leak. DeBroeck discovered a website through the Deepwater Horizon Response Command to use as a vehicle for delivering the idea. From the website, BP has established a process to receive and review submitted suggestions, according to DeBroeck. Suggestions include how to stop the flow of oil or contain the spill emanating from the Mississippi Canyon 252 well. Proposals are reviewed for their technical feasibility and proof of application.

“It was amazing how receptive they were to ideas on containing this spill,” DeBroeck said. “Never have I found this kind of cooperation. There are now more than 7,800 ideas that have been proposed and they promise to look at each one.”

The project started with a crude drawing of DeBroeck’s idea and submitted it to BP. DeBroeck asked if any student would be interested in modeling the idea in 3D and Mooso volunteered.

“I thought this would be a great opportunity for a student to participate,” DeBroeck said. “Mooso has done a remarkable job and has been able to apply his 3D skills.

DeBroeck says hands-on projects like this are critical to developing problem-solving skills and peaking interest.

“This is the “real world” connection that students need to experience the challenges and application of skills,” DeBroeck said. “Bryson has developed the idea into a 3D artist of professional quality. We are not sure if our idea will be accepted, but the attempt and experience is what education should be about.”

Summary of DeBroeck’s oil leak solution:
The drawing is an end tap device. Once secured, it can then be dropped into place and a slide clamp can be dropped in to start the diversion. All work would be done by submarine and crane from the surface. The apparatus will have ballasts that can be adjusted to angle it over the pipe on the floor. Once in place, the submarine can push the end tap down further on the pipe. Once on the pipe, hydraulics clamp it in place (release clamp). Then the crane can continue to lower the other end and it will swivel down into place. Once it swivels down the clamp shown in the upper right will slide over the two flanges and lock it in place. A hose then can carry from the end with the curve on it to the surface. Once it is under control and pressurized, a slurry can be pumped back against it.


District teams with Walla Walla Sweets for “Last Day of School Summer Blowout at Borleske”
Date: Thursday, June 10
Time: 1:05 p.m. (first pitch)
Location: Borleske Field

Game Highlights:
- First pitch: Superintendent Rich Carter
- National anthem: Walla Walla High School Chamber Singers
- 7th inning stretch: Ron Higgins to sing “Take me out to the ball game”
- Discount tickets for staff and students - $3 (normally $7) or $6 for a ticket, hot dog and soda

How to get tickets:
Fill out order forms available at all schools and bring payment to the Sweets Office (109 E. Main St., Suite C - Downtown) before June 8. Tickets will not be available at the box office at this price, so get yours in advance today!


Summer Athletic camps scheduled (information on other camps to come soon)

Blue Devil Football Spring camp
June 21-25
Various locations during the week (Hanford, Walla Walla, Pasco)
Visit the Walla Walla High School website for details (Athletics section)
For more information, contact Head Coach Mike Gobel at: mgobel@wwps.org

Blue Devil Volleyball summer camps
High School Camp
July 6-8
9 to 11 a.m. & 12:30 to 3 p.m.
Wa-Hi Gym

Middle School Camp
July 6 & 7
4 to 6 p.m.
Wa-Hi Gym

Summer open gym sessions: June 15 to July 29 (Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:30 to 7 p.m.)
For more information, contact Audra Cummings at 526-6962 or by email: acummings@wwps.org

Blue Devil Elementary Boys Basketball Camp
June 14-17
9 to 11 a.m. at the Wa-Hi Gym
Open to any boy that will be entering 3rd, 4th, or 5th grades next year
Cost is $50.
Registration forms at Cummins Athletic Supply or on the Wa-Hi athletic website at www.bluedevils.org

Blue Devil Middle School Boys Basketball Camp
June 21st-24th 9am-11am at the Wa-Hi Gym
Open to any boy that will be entering 6th, 7th, 8th, or 9th grades next year
Cost is $50
Registration forms at Cummins Athletic Supply or on the Wa-Hi athletic website at www.bluedevils.org
Both camps put on by Wa-Hi Boys Basketball players and coaches.
Email Head Coach John Golden at Jgolden@wwps.org for questions.

Blue Devil Girls Basketball
June 11-13: Summer Showdown Tournament at Whitman
June 14-17: Gonzaga Team Camp at Gonzaga University
June 18-19: Walla Walla Invitational Tournament at Wa-Hi
July 16-17: DeSales Tournament
These are for all high school girls interested in playing basketball. For more information contact Head Coach Jill Meliah at: jmeliah@wwps.org


Two Latino Club Students chosen for the 2010 Cascades Climate Challenge
Walla Walla High School Latino Club members Jasmín Llanes and Yvonne Segovia have been selected to participate in the 2010 Cascades Climate Challenge sponsored by the North Cascades Institute which operates an Environmental Learning Center in partnership with North Cascades National Park in northwestern Washington State.

The goal of the Cascades Climate Challenge is to turn today’s youth into climate change ambassadors for our public lands. Jasmín and Yvonne were recruited and selected on the basis of Wa-Hi teacher and mentor recommendations, local service and leadership performance, and an essay which focused on climate change.

During the three week program in July and August in the North Cascades, the two students will be part of a student team studying climate change science in the North Cascades National Park. They will also focus on leadership and the development of presentation skills.

“We are looking forward to attending this program,” said Jasmín Llanes. “We hope to gain leadership skills while researching and learning about climate change and then, make a difference by raising environmental awareness in our community.”

Activities will include hiking to glaciers, canoeing, interviewing scientists and resource managers, and participating in service projects with park personnel. The program is designed to allow students to connect with the park setting and see the effects of climate change up close. They will also design service projects for their local communities that they will carry out when they return to school this fall.

Yvonne would like to be able to “share our family traditions with others. We hope that our involvement with the Cascades Challenge will add another point of view, just as we will learn about other cultures or views that represent others in the program.”

Jasmín , a junior at Walla Walla High School, has been active in the Walla Walla High School Latino Club. In the fall of 2009, Jasmín volunteered as a tutor in the Garrison Night School Adult Education Program. She quickly emerged as a leader in this program. Jasmín provided over 70 hours of service to the Garrison Night School Program.

Yvonne Segovia, a sophomore at Walla Walla High School, has been active in Hispanic Youth Exploring Engineering and Sciences (HYEES) Camp at WSU. Yvonne contributed over 100 hours of community service during the 2008-2009 school year. For her efforts, she received the “Bronze Award” – President’s Volunteer Service Award for providing sustained community service. Recently, Jasmín and Yvonne received the Learning for Life Leadership Award for their leadership and service to the Walla Walla community.


Walla Walla High School students collaborate with Reardon High School students on economic development
Recently Walla Walla High School students from Scott Reardon’s economics class travelled to Reardan, WA to conduct an International Economic Summit with Jeff Leavitt’s students from Reardan High School. A total of 40 students from both schools participated in the all-day event. The students, who prepared for over three months for the culmination of this unit covering the basics of international trade and economic development, were paired together and represented 20 countries from around the world. The main objective for all student teams was to improve the living standards and economic position of their assigned countries.

“During the Summit, the students, acting as “Economic Advisors”, first formed trade alliances with representatives from other countries,” Reardon said. “They then presented a key economic development issue facing their country to the entire group in hopes of getting it approved by the majority. Finally, the apex of the event was the trade session, where students spent an hour in open trading in an attempt to meet all of the import goals they had established for their nation.”

Prior to and throughout the event, country teams were able to score points through a variety of methods, such as meeting common deadlines, arranging a table display, creating theme T-shirts, and identifying the various flags for the countries represented in the Summit. Wa-Hi’s contingent was led by Kayla Leinweber and Maria Garcia, representing Nigeria, who finished 2nd in the event.

The International Economic Summit is sponsored by the San Francisco Federal Reserve Bank and is growing in popularity throughout the West Coast. This event was the first multi-school Summit ever held in Eastern Washington.


Chamber Singers perform at Seattle Mariners game
Last Saturday the Walla Walla High School Chamber Singers performed at the Seattle Mariners baseball game at Safeco Field. Special thanks to Choral Director Norb Rossi for organizing this special experience for students.

“BDAD” - Blue Devil Athletic Development summer program
The BDAD summer program is designed to help boys and girls in grades 6-12 improve their overall athletic ability for all sports!

Dates: June 29 to August 5 (Monday - Thursday)

Session 1 - 8:00 - 9:00 a.m. (Incoming 9th-12th grade students)

Session 2 - 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. (Incoming 6th-8th grade students)

Session 3 - 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. (Incoming 9th-12th grade students)

Instructors: Eric Hisaw & Amy Hisaw
Location: Wa-Hi Weight Rm & Gym
Cost: $30 pre-registered / $35 at door

Note: Students will need a medical release and a parent permission form, which they can get at the Wa-Hi Athletic Office any time or at the door. (PHYSICALS ARE NOT REQUIRED)

Information: Contact Eric Hisaw at 527-3020 or by e-mail at: ehisaw@wwps.org


WA-HI Latino Club Members Receive Awards
Recently 28 Walla Walla High School Latino Club students were recognized for their exceptional dedication to the community and for their personal achievements over the past few years.
As members of the Walla Walla High School Latino Club, which has a partnership with the Learning for Life program, seven students received the “Young American Award”, and thirteen students received the “Learning for Life Leadership Award”. The Learning for Life Program is a subsidiary program of the Blue Mountain Council of the Boy Scouts of America. The awards recognized a substantial achievement by youth who are active in their communities and demonstrate citizenship and leadership. Exploring Post 311’s Charter organization is the College Place First Presbyterian Church Men’s Breakfast Group in College Place, Washington. The Club also recognized eighteen seniors who will be graduating from Walla Walla High School as the Class of 2010 on Friday, June 4th.

LEARNING FOR LIFE LEADERSHIP AWARD
- Jessica Lozano, a senior, is planning on attending Walla Walla Community College to study nursing.
- Krystal Bautista, a senior, received the “Bronze Award” – President’s Volunteer Service Award for providing sustained community service. She is planning on attending Washington State University this fall.
- Azucena Durán, a senior, is planning on attending Washington State University this fall.
- Luís Jaimez, a senior, received the “Bronze Award” – President’s Volunteer Service Award for providing sustained community service. He is planning on attending Washington State University this fall.
- Arón Castro, a senior, received the “Bronze Award” – President’s Volunteer Service Award for providing sustained community service. He is planning on attending North Dakota State this fall.
- Alejandra Juliette Olivos, a senior, plans on attending the University of Washington this fall.
- Chantell López, a senior, plans on attending Whitman College this fall.
- Yvonne Segovia, a sophomore, received the “Bronze Award” – President’s Volunteer Service Award for providing sustained community service.
- Yessica Olivos, a junior, has participated in the Regional Bonneville Power Science Bowl in 2008 and 2010.
- Mariela Bahena, a junior, participated in the Regional Bonneville Power Science Bowl in 2010.
- Roger Contreras, a junior, is a trained group leader for El Proyecto Voz Latina which promotes voter registration and the political involvement of the Latino population in our community.
- José Beleche, a junior, received the “Bronze Award” – President’s Volunteer Service Award for providing sustained community service. He plans on studying electrical engineering after high school.
- Jasmín Llanes, a junior, provided over 70 hours of service to the Garrison Night School Program.

YOUNG AMERICAN AWARD
First presented in 1968, the award is given to students who have achieved excellence in the fields of art, athletics, business, education, government, humanities, literature, music, math, religion, science, or service and have been involved in service to their community that adds to the quality of life.
- Aldeir Sótelo, a senior, has excelled in community service and academics. He plans to go to George Fox University this fall to major in pre-medicine.
- Bahia Parrish, a junior, received the “Bronze Award” – President’s Volunteer Service Award for providing sustained community service.
- Anthony Olivos, a junior, has been a participant in the 2010 Bonneville Power Administration Science Bowl. He plans on studying electrical engineering after high school.
- Sergio Galván, a junior, performed over 100 hours of community service during the 2008-2009 school year. For his efforts, he received the “Bronze Award” – President’s Volunteer Service Award for providing sustained community.
- Solmayra Mendoza, a junior, participated in the Regional Bonneville Power Science Bowl in 2010.
- Cristina Torres, a senior, received the “Bronze Award” – President’s Volunteer Service Award for providing sustained community service. She is planning on attending Walla Walla Community College this fall.
- Karina Torres, a senior, received the “Bronze Award” – President’s Volunteer Service Award for providing sustained community service. She is planning on attending Walla Walla Community College this fall.

SENIOR RECOGNITION
This year, Walla Walla Latino Club Seniors will be able to wear a club recognition stole during graduation. To wear this recognition, seniors had to apply for the stole and provide information about their Latino Club experience during their years at Wa-Hi, information as to their service to the community, and then highlight their future career plans. As the class of 2010 graduates , the Wa-Hi Latino Club would like to recognize the following students for their participation in our program:
- Luís Jaimez
- María Cristina Torres
- Krystal Bautista
- Karina Torres
- Azucena Durán
- Olivia Arévalo
- Aldeir Sótelo
- Juliette Olivos
- Jessica Lozano
- Chantell López
- Monica Nuñez
- Jazmín Ayala
- Rebeca Dighero
- Sergio Orozco
- Rita Trujillo
- José Torres
- Oscar Tapía
- Arón Castro


Retiring principal named "Queen for the Day"
Retirring Edison Elementary Principal Nancy Withycombe was crowned Queen for the Day during a ceremony in the "royal" gym. First grade teacher Karen Fuller crowned Nancy and proclaimed the day as QUEEN NANCY WITHYCOMBE DAY.

After the coronation, Withycombe performed a "Walk of Fame" through the Edison hallways while all of the students and staff clapped and offered their respect.


Classroom Close-Up features Prospect Point teacher
This week Prospect Point Elementary Teacher Lance Longmire is featured as part of the district’s Classroom Close-Up series. A fun, information filled newsletter will be posted on the district website next week - (www.wwps.org). A public service announcement radio spot featuring Longmire is now playing on regional stations.