Walla Walla Public Schools
Week in Review - December 1, 2006

In this Issue:

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2006 Holiday Concert Schedule (also online at: www.wwps.org)
Nov. 29 : Pioneer Holiday Concert #1 (6th grade) 7:00 PM - Pioneer
Dec. 3: Community “Feast of Carols” 7:00 PM - Cordiner Hall
Dec. 5: Wa-Hi Christmas Gift Concert (Vocal groups) 7:00 PM - Wa-Hi Auditorium
Dec. 6: Garrison Holiday Concert 7:00 PM - Garrison Gym
Dec. 7: Pioneer Holiday Concert #2 (7th and 8th grade) 7:00 PM - Wa-Hi Auditorium
Dec. 8: Green Park K-2 Holiday program - 1:30 PM
Dec. 8-9: Wa-Hi Choral Groups travel to the Portland Grotto
Dec. 11: Prospect Point Holiday program K-2 12:30 PM 3-5 1:30 PM
Dec. 12 : Prospect Point Holiday program K-2 9:15 AM 3-5 10:15 AM
Dec. 12 : Green Park Holiday program grades 3-5 1:30 PM - Green Park Gym
Dec. 12: Edison programs (grades 1-3) 7:00 PM & (grades 4-5) 7:40 PM - Wa-Hi Aud.
Dec. 13: Wa-Hi Holiday Concert #1 7:00 PM - Wa-Hi Auditorium (Treble Ensemble, Cantabile, Chanson, String Orchestra, Symphonic Band)
Dec. 14: Berney programs (grades K-2) 12:30 PM & (grades 3-5) 1:45 PM Berney Gym
Dec. 14: Edison Kindergarten Program - 6:00 PM - Edison Gym
Dec. 14 : Blue Ridge Preschool Program - 6:00 PM - Blue Ridge Gym
Dec. 14 : Wa-Hi Holiday Concert #2 - 7:00 PM - Wa-Hi Auditorium (Concert Choir, Chamber Singers, Symphonic Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band)
Dec. 15: Wa-Hi Choral groups at St. Mary Hospital (noon)
Dec. 15: Sharpstein programs (grades 1-3) 10 AM & (grades K, 4,5) 1:00 PM - Gym
Dec. 15: Blue Ridge programs (grades K-2, 12:15 PM) & (grades 3-5, 1:15 PM) - Gym

Edison bond fact sheets available
Fact sheets for the February 6 Edison Elementary bond are available at the district office and online at: www.wwps.org.

Edison Bond Tidbit -- Why does it cost more this time than it did on the May 2006 bond?
• This proposal calls for finishing the entire school at once to meet growing district enrollment projections, rather than just the first floor as was proposed on the May bond.

• The completion of the second floor will provide approximately 50 percent more classroom and program space for district growth demands.

• Costs for finishing these second floor spaces were not included in the May bond proposal.

• Second floor includes: 12 classrooms, two restrooms, three specialist teaching areas, and two teacher preparation areas.

• School construction costs are rising approximately 15 to 20 percent per year. Cost estimates for this project are based on rising inflation for construction/labor, equipment, furniture and land purchases.


Garrison’s Roger Garcia named December’s Staff Spotlight Employee of the Month
Congratulations to Garrison Middle School’s Roger Garcia for being named this month’s Staff Spotlight Employee of the Month. Roger Garcia is a kid magnet. You’ll always find a crowd of students in his presence.

As the district’s music coordinator and Garrison Band Teacher, Roger’s fun loving personality helps students feel comfortable exploring and developing their musical talents. He says working with kids and music is the best of both worlds. He also loves wood-working and spending time with his family.

Place of Work - Garrison
Job Title - Band Director @ Garrison & District Music Coordinator
Years in District - 3
Birth Place - Las Vegas, Nevada
High School - Durango Senior High , Durango, CO
Under Grad College -Old Dominion University , Norfolk, VA
Grad School- The University Of Michigan
Favorite Food - Mexican Food
Favorite Movie - Lonesome Dove
Favorite Band - Van Morrison
Favorite Books - The Redwall Series (although I am reading the Inheritance trilogy now & enjoying it)
What do I love most about my job? Working with kids & music! The best of both worlds
Hobbies - Woodworking & hanging out with family
Most Memorable life experience - The birth of my children
Tell us something about yourself that nobody else would know - I was a trouble maker in middle school!


Wa-Hi Culinary Arts help prepare meal for Senior Citizens Center
Monday evening Wa-Hi Family and Consumer Science teacher Barbara Buttice and her Culinary Arts class assisted in a community event organized by the Jefferson Park Committee. The Jefferson Park Committee was established two years ago focusing on revitalization of Jefferson Park and surrounding neighborhood properties.

Last year they held the event and 120 people participated, this year the numbers were more than doubled. The culinary students helped make dinner for 260 people at the Senior Citizen Center. The students also set up, served and cleaned up following the second tree lighting ceremony in the park. The dinner was served free to all the participants from the neighborhood.


This week Culinary Arts students also made and sold pizza at Big Cheese Pizza to raise money for the Italian Heritage Associations High School Scholarships. The participation in non-profit community events allows students experience working in the industry.


Wa-Hi students to perform in Northwest honors groups
Five Walla Walla High School students have been selected to perform with the Northwest MENC Honor Groups in February in Portland.

Congratulations to Senior Jeremy Ueckert for being selected to perform with the Honor Band. Honor Choir members are: sophomore Sierra Tinhof, junior Malia Millgard-Lewis, and seniors Natosha Locken and Kelsie Davisson.


Upcoming School Board Meetings
(*All school board meetings are held at the district office: 364 S. Park St and begin at 7:30 p.m. unless changed by the board.)
Tuesday, December 12
Tuesday, January 16
Tuesday, February 6
Tuesday, February 20
Tuesday, March 6
Tuesday, March 20
Tuesday, April 17
Tuesday, May 1
Tuesday, May 15
Tuesday, June 5
Tuesday, June 19