Walla Walla Public Schools
Week in Review - October 17, 2008

In this Issue:

(Click on article
to read more)


School Board meeting Tuesday, Oct. 21

Tuesday, Oct. 21
7:30 p.m.
364 S. Park St.
Open to public

Alder and Roosevelt traffic light repairs begin Monday
There will be construction at the corner of Alder and Roosevelt beginning Monday, Oct. 20 to replace the damaged traffic light and sidewalk. Crosswalks at this intersection will be impacted by this project for approximately one month.

To ensure the safety of our students, we need to change walking routes during this time. The north crosswalk on Alder will be closed and the west crosswalk on Roosevelt will be closed. A map is being sent home with Edison and Pioneer students to show the safest routes to and from these schools.

There will be providing additional adult supervision before and after school to help keep students safe. Please have your children use the crosswalks that are managed with crossing guards and adult supervision.

Please call Edison Principal Nancy Withycombe at 527-3072 or Pioneer Middle School Principal Dana Jones at 527-3050 for more information.


Breaking poverty barriers focus of 5th Children’s Forum -- The Valley’s Children 2008
Sunday, October 19
Free Family Night
4:30-7:00 pm
St. Patrick’s Church • Blanchet Hall • 408 W Poplar
Free dinner & children’s activities
Special Guest:
Dr. Donna Beegle (Featured in an upcoming PBS documentary titled: “Invisible Nation”)

Keynote Address:
7:30 p.m.
Whitman College • Maxey Hall
Dr. Donna Beegle: “Freedom From Economic Discrimination: Living in Poverty in a Changing Economy”

Monday, October 20
8:30 a.m. -4:30 p.m.
Registration begins at 8:00 a.m.
Whitman College • Olin Hall

Keynote Speaker: Laura Porter, Staff Director Washington State Family Policy Council
• “The Dynamics of Thriving”
• “Our Valley’s Children 2008"
A Review of the Data and Break-Out Sessions

“Call to Action” -- Working Lunch
Sandwich Buffet Provided
Please RSVP for lunch 529-2130 • $5.00 fee

Special Presentation
1:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Reid Campus Center Ballroom • Whitman College
• Dr. Donna Beegle: “Seminar on Poverty: Breaking Barriers – Concrete Tools for Working with People in Poverty



Classroom Close-Up features Garrison Middle School teacher
This week Garrison Middle School math teacher Monica Nelson 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 radio spot featuring Nelson is playing on regional stations this week.

Pioneer students give back to the community
Community involvement has been the focus this month in advisory class for Pioneer Middle School students. Pioneer students are working throughout the community to make Walla Walla a great place to live, work and go to school.

All Advisory classes have selected a community project. Some projects are school-based, while some work with community agencies like the Blue Mountain Humane Society. Pioneer students are also helping Edison students with crossing guard duty at the traffic light at Alder and Roosevelt while it is being repaired.

“A number of classes are developing reading buddy partnerships with elementary classrooms,” Pioneer Principal Dana Jones said. “Community spirit is alive and well at Pioneer.”



Walla Walla High School Latino Club names Staff Members of the Month
The Walla Walla High School Latino Club named English teacher Kristina Duncan and Learning Opportunity Center teacher Sherry McConn the club’s Staff Members of the Month for September. This recognition is based on their faithful service to students who are Latino Club members. As staff members, these teachers are making a significant impact on all students at Walla Walla High School.

Comments from Latino Club members when voting included:
“Mrs. Duncan is awesome! She makes sure we get get good grades so we can be successful. She is just like one of us, she communicates well with her students and explains everything until everyone gets it.”

“Mrs. McConn is very energetic and makes learning and class fun! She is a sweet and understanding lady...and she has always been there for me and for everyone else. She is a great teacher.”


District Speech Language Pathologist receives award for excellence
District Speech Language Pathologist Mary Ann “Missy” Newcom, M.S. recently received an Award of Clinicianship from the Oregon Speech-Language and Hearing Association for Excellence in Leadership at Meadowood Springs Speech and Hearing Camp, October 10. Newcom is in her first year of employment in the Walla Walla Public Schools. She currently works at Walla Walla High School, Garrison Middle School, and the Head Start/ECEAP Preschool. Congratulations on this recognition.

Blue Devil Volleyball Team plans Breast Cancer Awareness Night
2nd Annual Breast Cancer Awareness Night
Date: Thursday, Oct. 23 (Varsity volleyball vs Richland)
Time: 7 p.m. (Wa-Hi gym)

All proceeds go to the Breast Cancer Program at St. Mary Medical Center. Event t-shirts are $15 and donations are accepted. Fans are encouraged to wear pink to the game or buy a shirt. Shirts are being pre-sold: Contact Lisa at 520-8737 or Tina at 520-9833 to buy a t-shirt.


Trunk or Treat offers families safe and fun trick or treating experience
Date: Thursday, Oct. 30
Location: Walla Walla High School main office parking lot (Abbott Road)
Time: 5:00 p.m.
Entry fee: Two cans of food and/or any old cell phones.
Sponsor: Wa-Hi Key Club

Wa-Hi students to perform at Honor Band Festival
Walla Walla High School students were selected to perform at the 2008 Western International Band Clinic Honor Band Festival Nov. 21-24 in Seattle. The students auditioned by submitting an MP3 recording. Approximately 1000 students from the U.S. and Canada audition each year with approximately 600 students selected to rehearse and perform in four separate concert bands.

Congratulations!
Anna Tupper-Bridges - Flute
Cassandra Abernathy - Clarinet
Emma Burgess - Clarinet
Amy Ueckert - Clarinet
Krista Mayberry - Trumpet
Jennifer Cains - Tuba


Wa-Hi student athletes receive academic honors
The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) honored Walla Walla High School student-athletes for outstanding academic achievement. The WIAA bases these awards on the athlete’s grades from the previous semester. The one team that did not receive an award had a team GPA of 2.978 and missed by only .022 of also being recognized.

“Congratulations coaches and athletes on another outstanding performance,” District Athletic Director Don Wilkins said.

The following teams (and their coach) that received the WIAA outstanding Academic Award for a combined team GPA of 3. 5 or better:
Girls JV Swimming: 3.657 - Coach Brad Daly
Girls Varsity Swimming: 3.513 - Coach Brad Daly
Boys Varsity Cross Country: 3.586 - Coach Mike Locati
Girls Varsity Cross Country: 3.620 - Coach Mike Locati
Frosh B Volleyball: 3.749 - Coach Lindsey Mahan
Frosh A Volleyball: 3.718 - Coach Kyle Hurst
JV Volleyball: 3.669 - Coach Angie Potts
Varsity Volleyball: 3.374 - Coach Audra Cummings

The following teams received the WIAA Distinguished Academic Award for having a combined team GPA of 3.0 to 3.499:
JV Girls Soccer: 3.414 - Coach Kim Gradwohl
Varsity Girls Soccer: 3.451 - Coach Alyssa Latham
Frosh Football: 3.270 - Coach Jim Smith
JV Football: 3.129 - Coach Scott Magnaghi
JV Boys Cross Country: 3.173 - Coach Mike Locati
Sophomore Volleyball: 3.383 - Coach Gina Eggers


Big Nine football on KTEL 1490 AM - Blue Devils vs. Pasco
The Walla Walla High School Blue Devil football team faces Pasco tonight in a Big Nine match-up at Edgar Brown Stadium in Pasco. Catch all the action on KTEL 1490 AM radio. Pregame begins at 7 p.m. with kick off at 7:30 p.m.