Walla Walla Public Schools
Week in Review - October 31, 2008

In this Issue:

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School board meeting work session and meeting Tuesday, Nov. 4
Date: Tuesday, November 4
Work Session: 6:30 p.m. (Boundary study)
Regularly scheduled meeting: 7:30 p.m.
Location: 364 S. Park St. (Board Room)
Both meetings open to public

Wa-Hi athletic teams begin post season play this weekend

Football
Game: Walla Walla High School vs. Moses Lake Chiefs
Date: Friday, Oct. 31
Location: Moses Lake (Lions Field)
Kick-off: 7:30 p.m.
Radio: KTEL 1490 AM (pre-game begins at 7 p.m.)

Girls Swimming
Event: Districts
Date: Friday, Oct. 31 and Saturday, Nov. 1
Location: Ellensburg (Central Washington University)

Cross Country
Event: Regionals
Date: Saturday, Nov. 1
Time: Girls 4A at 12:30 p.m. and Boys 4A at 1:30 p.m.
Location: Richland (Carmichael Middle School)

Volleyball
Match: Wa-Hi vs. Eastmont
Date: Thursday, November 6
Time: 6 p.m.


ArtWalla sponsors award winning musician to mentor students
Today, ArtWalla sponsored internationally known musician Eduardo Mendonça to conduct student workshops at Garrison Middle School and Blue Ridge Elementary. Mendonça, a Brazilian musician from Seattle, presented 60 minute music sessions for select students featuring rhythm, drumming and singing elements.

Mendonça is the Director of Show Brazil, a summer festival held at the Seattle Center and performs and leads music
workshops all over the country. (Learn more online at: showbrazil.com).

“This is an important part of ArtWalla’s outreach,” said Jeana Garske, Director of ArtWalla. “Eduardo will be working in Roger Garcia’s bandroom at Garrison with 40 band students from the 7th and 8th grade. At Blue Ridge, he will present his workshop to fourteen 4th & 5th graders who in the morning assembly were acknowledged as Soaring Eagles. The workshop is a special reward for this merit of recognition.”

ArtWalla has been part of a three year Washington State Arts Commission grant which just ended in August 2008. ArtWalla’s all-ages Halloween Party will be held Friday evening at 26brix. Eduardo will be giving live performances at 8 and 10 p.m. There is a $5 cover fee for adults, children get in free.

“This allows the community to enjoy the experience of Eduardo’s musical talents and helps to fundraise for ArtWalla’s Art in Education program,” Garske said. “ArtWalla, the local art agency who has brought Artrain USA to the community in 1998, 2002, and 2006 continues to offer quality art education experiences for all to enjoy, free of charge in Walla Walla.

For more information, contact Garske at: E-mail: jeanagarske@charter.net or telephone: (509) 301-0185


Pioneer Middle School Family Fun Night featured Haunted House
This week, Pioneer Middle School students on the “POWER Team” decorated a haunted house for the school’s Family Fun night. POWER team = Pride, Ownership, Warmth, Encouragement, Respect. This is the first year Pioneer students built and staffed a haunted house. Students used their creativity to design creepy displays and ghoulish exhibits all in good fun to support positive activities in school.

“I am so proud of our POWER Team,” said Angie Gardea. “There were some who said this project could not be done...boy did they prove them wrong! Our kids came early in the morning and stayed late after school for a week to help create the fun house, and I am sure that anyone who tours the fun house tonight will be as amazed as we are that kids put this together!”

The Pioneer Family Fun Night also featured:
- BMX Club
- Boy and Girl Scouts
- Scary stories
- Photo Club
- Afterschool Club
- Gang awareness with WW Police officers Saul and Kevin
- Line and clog dancing
- Break-dancing
- Wood carving
- Scrapbooking
- Quilting
- Googling Goggles
- Photos with Frankie
- Potato Bar and salad


Students say no to drugs and alcohol
Students across the district are taking a stand against drug and alcohol use by promoting healthy living as a part of Red Ribbon week. This week, Garrison Middle School students organized “Healthy Living Week” to raise awareness about making positive choices.

Garrison Counselor Bunny Baker says middle school is a critical time to educate students on these issues.
“In the middle school years students are starting a process called ‘individualation’ where they are trying to make decisions about what kind of adult behaviors they want,” Baker said. “They don’t always know what is healthy, so it’s up to us to help provide healthy boundaries and healthy choices as they determine what kind of people they want to be.”

Garrison Healthy Living Week activities:
- Drug sniffing dog demonstration
- Design healthy living posters in art class
- Mental Health & Me presentation
- Smile in Style presentation (dental care)
- Impairment Goggles demonstration (drug and alcohol use awareness)
- Healthy Breathing (tobacco prevention)
- Cardiovascular and muscular health
- Nutrition education



Walla Walla High School students receive Exchange Club of Walla Walla Youth of the Month awards
Congratulations to Walla Walla High School seniors Allen Yu and Edgar Ruiz for receiving Exchange Club of Walla Walla Youth of the Month Awards for October. These students will also be eligible to compete for the Exchange Club of Walla Walla Youth of the Year Award and a special $1,000 college scholarship.

This year’s Youth of the Month/Year Essay Theme: “America‘s Youth - Stepping Forward to Change the Beat of America”

Club Statement: Exchange Club of Walla Walla recognizes that the young people of our nation represent America ‘s greatest treasure. Through our youth programs, America is reminded how outstanding and promising this treasure truly is. For every youth project our club participates, we touch more lives.

Allen Yu, son of Bessie Yu and Ronny Yu
- Allen is a senior with a 3.993 GPA
- He has taken 13 advanced or Advanced Placement courses
- State award winning member of Future Business Leaders of America in public speaking and business ethics.
- Senior class president
- Helped plan last year’s Veteran’s Day Assembly
- National Honor Society member.
- WA-HI Journal school newspaper staff member
- Member of Amnesty International.
- Co-founder and Director of a two new clubs on campus: the Government Affairs Committee and the Security Council, both of which serve to discuss national and international politics.

Allen hopes to attend a four year college and major in political science and business. He wants to become a lawyer and eventually a U.S. Senator. He hopes to one day study Chinese and Italian too.

Edgar Ruiz, son of Edgar Roberto Ruiz and Ramona Soto
- Walla Walla High School Senior
- Senior with a 3.948 GPA
- Taken 14 advanced or Advanced Placement courses
- Very active and a leader in the French Club which is reorganizing this year. He is fascinated by world languages and speaks English, Spanish, French and Japanese. He would love to study Chinese, German and Italian
- Works about 20 hours a week at Jack-In-the-Box
- Responsibile for caring for his younger siblings after school because both of his parents work
- Member of Gear-Up in middle school and high school

Edgar wants to attend the University of Washington or a private college and study astronomy or physics. He thinks he would enjoy a career in research.


Area business leaders teach Pioneer students real world skills through Junior Achievement program
This week, Pioneer Middle School students welcomed community business leaders into their school to discuss finance and business as part of the Junior Achievement program.

Junior Achievement volunteers at Pioneer Middle School are:
Craig Sievertsen, Banner Bank - Lynn Junke
Chris Erickson , Tourism Walla Walla - Lynn Junke
Dennis Gisi, Investments - Charlene Maib
Gary Ponti, Attorney. - Charlene Maib

“Several other teachers have been involved with JA in the past,” said Teacher Lynn Junke. “Instructors come for six lessons that last approximately one hour each. Our students always look forward to the guests and hands on lessons they share.”

Junior Achievement programs are correlated to the Washington Essential Academic Learning Requirements for Social Studies, Reading, Writing, Communication, and Mathematics, using current benchmarks or grade level indicators. Although mainly designed for the social studies, Junior Achievement programs provide many opportunities to develop cross-disciplinary knowledge and skills.

JA Economics for Success provides practical information about personal finance and the importance of identifying education and career goals based on a student’s skills, interests, and values. Key topics addressed are choices, self-knowledge, decision-making, education and career options, budgeting, credit, and financial risk.

More business participants are needed. To learn more about this program and how to become a volunteer, contact Connie Hache at: ja-conniehache@charter.net or by telephone: (509) 946-8075.


Union Bulletin offers free newspapers to educators -- By Matthew Nelson

Greetings Educators!
Did you know that the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin offers free newspapers and accompanying resources for classroom use? The Newspaper in Education (NIE) program is an effort between schools and newspapers to promote the use of newspapers as an educational resource. The Union-Bulletin provides the teaching resources and materials through our partnership with Boise Inc., Parade Magazine, and with subscriber donations. Resources are free, and can be reproduced for classroom use in grades K-12.

The U-B also provides a monthly newsletter with upcoming themes, recommended lessons, and anytime activities ready for use in Language Arts, Math, Science, History, and many other subjects.

A 2003 Newspaper Association of America Study found that students in schools with at least some NIE programs did better on standardized tests than those in schools with no NIE programs.

Teachers can order a paper for each student, or team students together, (minimum of 10 papers a day). We deliver Sunday through Friday for use the following day in the classroom. There is no charge, no contract for delivery, and instructors can choose the delivery days they prefer. Teachers may also stop and start delivery as often as needed.

At this time, there are only 15-20 openings for new classrooms to sign up for the program.

For resources, recommendations from teachers already using the program, or any questions, please call:
Matthew Nelson
Walla Walla Union-Bulletin
Newspaper in Education Coordinator
509-525-3300 X 255
1-800-423-5617


Classroom Close-Up features Edison teacher
This week Edison 5th grade teacher Tod Crouter 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 Crouter is now playing on regional stations.
District teachers learn about the migrant lifestyle through book study - Written by Diana Erickson
Tuesday evening about 20 district employees gathered to discuss the book “The Circuit: Stories From the Life of a Migrant Child” by Francisco Jimenez. This was the first of three book studies sponsored by the Bilingual Department with the aim of increasing cultural awareness. (Last year three book studies were sponsored jointly by the Curriculum and Instruction Department and the District Bilingual Program.)

Paraprofessionals, secretaries, and teachers had the opportunity to share their impressions of a young boy’s life and how this book will impact the way in which they view and instruct their students. The Circuit is the author’s story of his life as the son of migrant farm workers. The book study participants expressed their dismay when Jimenez had to leave a school where he had just gotten comfortable or had to miss several months of a school year in order to work. They admired his resiliency and noted that neither he nor the rest of his family ever complained or felt sorry for themselves; instead, they noted, the family demonstrated how the strong bonds of love held them together in times of abject poverty and hardship.

Many employees have read the various books assigned during the last two years and rich discussions have taken place throughout our schools by staff and students.
Various comments were:
• “I’m going to read this book The Mariposa to my class.”
• “I can use this with my colleagues to help them understand what I do now.”
• “What book are we going to read next?”


Walla Walla High School Drama Department presents “The Taming of the Shrew”

Performance Schedule
November 13, 14, 15 (2 shows on the 15th)
November 20, 21, and 22
(Evening performances at 7:00 p.m. & matinees at 2:00 p.m.)

NOTE: Opening night ticket special - Thursday, Nov. 13th - ‘2 for the price of 1’

Tickets: The ticket box office will be open beginning November 3 from 4-6 p.m. Monday through Friday and one hour before curtain on Saturdays. Please stop by or call (509) 526-8613 to reserve your seats.

“The Taming of the Shrew” at a glance:
The battle of the sexes is on! This timeless struggle for power and dignity, penned by William Shakespeare over four hundred years ago, still stands as an enigma. Is it sexist? Does it go big and reach beyond the constraints of its time or is it only a testament to Elizabethan relations and male dominance?

Man wants a wife. Man gets a wife. Kate seems to not be the gentle mouse that ‘everyman’ wants. Instead she is an “Intolerable curse and Shrewd.” Against her wishes Petruchio weds her saying, “Will you nil you, I will marry you!” Take in the spectacle of “Mad Wooing” as it never was.


Garrison Night School for adults begins November 3
The Garrison Night School for adult education begins November 3 at Garrison Middle School. This program features a beginning level Spanish class Mondays and Wednesdays and an Advanced Beginning Spanish class Tuesdays and Thursdays. Both classes are from 6-8 p.m. in the Garrison Library.

The classes are taught by native speakers Carlos Jacques and Esteban Florian. They are offered through the Walla Walla School District for $150. Those interested may register at the school district business office during regular business hours or at Garrison Middle School from 5 to 8 p.m., October 27-30.


Retired school employees association scholarships available
Available: Two $1000 scholarships

Requirements:
1. Graduate of high school in Walla Walla or Columbia County
2. Student teachers between September 2009 and June 2010

Contact: Mardel Bierwagen - 525-6117

Applications available: November 1

Applications due: April 1, 2009