Walla Walla Public Schools
Week in Review - August 15, 2008

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School starts Tuesday, August 26
Back to school information is available online at www.wwps.org or by calling the Communications Department at 526-6716. The first day of school is Tuesday, August 26.

Back-to-School information
Walla Walla Public Schools Back-to-School Information
2008-2009 School Year

• SCHOOL OPENS - Tuesday, August 26
Visit the district website at www.wwps.org

Berney Elementary: Contact the school at 527-3060 for information

Blue Ridge Elementary
• The main office will be open for registration and other business beginning August 18.
• Classroom assignments will be posted by the end of the day on August 16. They will be updated as class lists change between the 18th and the start of school.
• Supply lists are also available at area stores and on the district website (www.wwps.org – Parent Resources)
• School hours are: 7:55 a.m. - 2:35 p.m., 1:35 p.m. release on Wednesdays, 12:00 p.m. on half days. Breakfast is served from 7:30 - 8:10 a.m. Children are allowed into the building at 7:30a.m. if eating breakfast, but not until 7:45 a.m. if they have breakfast at home. Please do not bring children to school before 7:45 because there is not outside adult supervision.
• Parents can come to the main office between 8:00 am to 12:00 and 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm beginning August 18 to register students. All should bring immunization records, also birth certificates if new to the district. Children will not be allowed to start school if immunizations are not current. Parents wanting to Open Enroll their student to another school in the Walla Walla School District will need to have a signed Open Enrollment Form from the in attendance area principal before registering. Out of district parents will need to have an Open enrollment form signed by the Superintendent or designee before registering. On August 25th, we will start our normal office hours 7:45 am to 4 pm.
• School starts Tues., Aug. 26 for all students except for kindergartners. Kindergarten start dates are as follows: Scheduled Conferences on August 26 and 27. Half the class for full days on August 28 and September 2 and half the class for full days on September 3 and 4. ALL kindergarten students will report to class on September 5.
• Kindergarten busing begins Monday, Sept. 8.
• Parents are being notified by their child’s kindergarten teacher to set up an appointment for scheduled conferences. If you have not heard from a kindergarten teacher, please call the main office. Blue Ridge PTA will be providing donuts holes and drinks on the first day of school for parents.

Edison Elementary
• The main office will be open for registration and other business beginning August 18.
• Supply lists are also available at area stores and on the district website (www.wwps.org – Parent Resources)
• School hours are: 8:15 a.m. - 2:50 p.m., 1:50 p.m. release on Wednesdays, 12:15 p.m. on half days. Breakfast is served from 7:45 - 8:10 a.m. If students arrive after 8:10 a.m., they will not be able to have breakfast because the cafeteria is also used as the gymnasium and PE classes begin. Children are allowed into the building at 7:45 a.m. if eating breakfast, but not until 8:00 a.m. if they have breakfast at home. Please do not bring children to school before 7:45 because there is not outside adult supervision until 8:00 a.m.
• Parents can come to the main office between 7:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. beginning August 18 to register students. All should bring immunization records, also birth certificates if new to the district. Children will not be allowed to start school if immunizations are not current.
• Parents will receive their kindergarten schedule when they register. Kindergarten children have a modified beginning for the school year for assessment and small group orientation.
• Edison has a watermelon feed from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m., August 25, the night before classes begin. All family members are invited.

Garrison Middle School: Contact the school at 527-3040 for information

Green Park Elementary
• The main office will be open for registration and other business beginning August 18 from 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
• Supply lists available at area stores and on the Green Park website - Kindergarten supply list will be included in parent conference materials that will be sent out on August 13
• School hours are: 8:12 a.m. - 2:55 p.m., 1:40 p.m. on Wednesdays.
• Class lists will be posted on the front doors of the main entrance at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, August 22.
• School starts August 26th at 8:12 a.m. for grades 1-5.
• Kindergarten Parent - Teacher Conferences August 26 & 27, time and dates will be included in Kindergarten conference materials that are sent out August 22.

Prospect Point Elementary
• Classroom assignments will be posted by the end of the August 16. They will be updated as class lists change between the 16th and the start of school.
• School supplies list: http://www.wwps.org/schools/supplies.htm#prospectpoint
• School Hours: 8:25am to 2:55pm on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday 8:25am to 1:55pm on Wednesday
• Secretary schedule (when building will be open for public business): Our office will be open for the public on the 18th. The hours will be from 8:00 am to 12:00 and 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. On August 25th, we will start our normal office hours 8:00 AM to 4:00PM.
• School registration procedures: Registration packets are available for parents to fill out in the office. A copy of the student’s immunization records and birth certificate is needed for Kindergarten registration. Parents wanting to Open Enroll their student to another school in the Walla Walla School District will need to have a signed Open Enrollment Form from the in attendance area principal before registering. Out of district parents will need to have an Open enrollment form signed by the Superintendent or designee before registering.
• Kindergarten start date: Scheduled Conferences on August 26 and 27. Half the class for half day on August 28 (Afternoon is for scheduled conferences). Other half of the class for half day on September 2nd (Afternoon is for scheduled conferences). Half the class for full day on September 3. Other half the class for full day on September 4. Full class for full day on September 5th

Head Start/ECEAP Program
• Head Start/ECEAP is a free program
• Enrollment Applications can be picked up at Blue Ridge from 7:00 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.
• Program Coordinators are currently on site (Family Services/Mental Health Coordinators, Health and Nutrition Coordinator, and Family Involvement Coordinator)
• Family Advocates will begin making Enrollment Home Visits beginning in August
• Classroom staff will be available Tuesday, August 26
• The Head Secretary reports back to work Friday, August 1
• Parent/Child Orientation begins Tuesday, September 2nd (Family Advocates will schedule appointments at the Enrollment Home Visit)
• Student bussing begins Wednesday, September 10
• Supplies, including book bags are supplied by the program; backpacks and toys are not allowed on our buses

Lincoln Alternative High School
• Registration for new students begins August 11th and the first day of school is Tuesday, August 26th.
• The Opportunity Program is moving to Lincoln campus and they will be located in the portables and will continue as a contract program. Our contract students will be able to access our elective classes if they so choose and they will be able to participate in our after school sports program.
• School theme: “Failure is not an Option”.
• The contract program (Opportunity) will have an accelerated model available to students that want to move at a quicker pace and earn additional credits.
• The regular program in the main building will be a 7 period day. This allows students who are behind in credits to pick up an additional full credit in a years time. This is really going to help students with credit retrieval and it will help those who are on track to accelerate their progress towards graduation.
• College Readiness Program: We are continuing to offer the College Readiness classes for those students who are severely credit deficient and want to work on their GED. WWCC provides scholarships for students taking the GED tests as well as providing a quarter of free tuition for those students who have earned their GED certificate.
• BBQ for our Parent/Student Orientation and Open House is August 25th at 5:00 p.m. We will have a short meeting in the gym and then enjoy a dinner together. You will also have an opportunity to meet your teachers and to hear about the exciting things we have planned.
• Please bring a backpack and a composition notebook

Pioneer Middle School
• Pioneer Middle School will be open for regular business beginning August 11, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
• Pioneer Middle School will be open for registration of new students beginning August 11, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
• Supply lists are available on our web site, www.wwps.org, or in the lobby of the school.
• Athletic registration will be held for 7th and 8th graders on August 12 and 14, from 11:00 to 1:00. Students must have a current physical, and packet information filled out. A fee of $22 will be paid at the time of registration.
• School hours are: 8:10 a.m - 3:05 p.m.
• Students may pick up their schedules on August 25. 6th grades and students new to Pioneer may attend an orientation at 7:00 p.m., and receive their schedules at that time. Returning 7th and 8th grade students may pick up their schedules between 1:00 and 3:00 p.m.

Sharpstein Elementary
• The main office will be open for registration and other business beginning August 18.
• Supply lists are also available at area stores and on the district website (www.wwps.org - Parent Resources)
• School hours are: 8:00 a.m. - 2:40 p.m., 1:40 p.m. release on Wednesdays, 12:00 p.m. on half days.
• Breakfast is served from 7:35 - 8:10 a.m. Children are allowed into the building at 7:30 a.m. if eating breakfast, but not until 7:50 a.m. if they have breakfast at home. Please do not bring children to school before 7:50 as there is no outside adult supervision.
• The main office will be open between 7:45 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. beginning August 18 to register students. Please bring immunization records, also birth certificates if new to the district. Children will not be allowed to start school if immunizations are not current.
• Parents will receive their kindergarten schedule when they register. Kindergarten children have a modified beginning for the school year for assessment and small group orientation.
• Sharpstein PTA is hosting a “Back to School” picnic from 5:30 - 7:00 p.m., August 25, the night before classes begin. All Sharpstein families are invited.
• Classrooms will be open for students to put supplies away, say hello to teachers and take a quick tour to calm those back to school jitters.

Walla Walla High School: Contact the school at 527-3020 for information


Interactive kid’s activities new addition at the Walla Walla Fair and Frontier Days
Be sure to stop by the Education Building at the Walla Walla Fair and Frontier Days August 27-31. District Education Building coordinator Amy Reed says visitors will see student artwork, technology projects, and have access to a lot of district information. This year interactive children’s activities will also be available at the Education Building.

“Mike Dedman from Whitman Mission is going to come down and lead an activity corner,” Reed said. “We’re having it twice daily and we’ll be having daily raffles. We want to invite you and your families down for more activities this year and to see what the kids have done.”



School Board meeting and work session Tuesday, August 19

- Work Session: 6:45 p.m. (School-based Health Center - Lincoln)
- Regularly scheduled meeting: 7:30 p.m.

Location: School District Board Room (364 S. Park St.)
Both meetings open to the public


New school bus routes posted on district website
New school bus routes are now posted on the district webpage (A to Z, Parent Resources and Transportation page). The new routes are designed to save fuel and cut student riding and waiting times. Contact the district’s Transportation Department at 527-3019 for more information.



Wa-Hi Sports Schedules available

Wa-Hi pocket sports schedules are now available at district schools, the district office (364 S. Park St.) and area business locations. Online sports schedules are also on the Wa-Hi website (www.wahibluedevils.org) and the district office website (www.www.org). Thanks to McDonald Zaring Insurance for sponsoring the pocket Sports Schedule.
Blue Devil Football on KTEL 1490 AM
Don’t miss an exciting down of Blue Devil football this season on KTEL 1490 AM. The first game of the season is Friday, September 5 in Hermiston at 7 p.m. This year Wa-Hi teacher Scott Reardon will be calling all the play-by-play action. Tune to 1490 AM for all your Blue Devil football action.
New staff learn the Walla Walla way
This week new staff learned more about the Walla Walla way during a week long orientation. Twenty-one teachers and 12 classified support staff participated in the orientation. New teacher mentor coordinator Judy Peasley said the orientation helps teachers get ready for the new school year.

“Our goal is that by the end of the week all new staff members will feel very comfortable by the time they welcome students,” Peasly said. “They will know their curriculum, they will have a sense of the district expectations and will definetely have someone they can get to immediately if they need them. We want them to feel really ready to start and ready for the kids.”

New Wa-Hi Resource Room Teacher Karan Jamieson, who most recently taught in Seattle, says she is excited to be in a smaller school district that truly cares for its employees.

“The orientation makes me feel valued as a new employee,” Jamieson said. “I’m looking forward to working in a smaller district and a sense of community rather than being on your own like in Seattle.”

School starts Tuesday, August 26.


UB donates AP Stylebooks
Special thanks to the Walla Walla Union Bulletin for donating 15 used AP Stylebooks to Garrison Middle School. Explorers teacher Beth Clearman plans to use them in her gifted learning classroom. AP Stylebooks contain rules and references for how information should be consistently printed. Samples include dates, states, time and much more. Stylebooks also have detailed information on libel.
County Health Department offers free immunizations
Free immunizations are being offered for all Walla Walla County children ages four to 18 years Thursday, August 21 from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Walla Walla County Health Department (314 W. Main St. – Rose Street entrance).

“We hope this free clinic will reduce the barriers for parents and guardians who want to immunize their children,” District Health Services Director Jennifer Douglas said. “This year there are new state immunization requirements for kindergartners and new requirements as of last year for sixth grade students. Families can meet all these new requirements with this one, no cost visit.”

For more information contact Walla Walla County Health Educator Susann Bassham at 524-2664 or Walla Walla Public Schools Health Services Director Jennifer Douglas at (509) 526-8507.