Walla Walla Public Schools
Week in Review - November 14, 2008

In this Issue:

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School board meeting Tuesday
- Tuesday, Nov. 18
- 7:30 p.m.
- District Board Room (364 S. Park Street)
- Open to public
Pioneer students reach out to penitentiary employees recently deployed to Iraq
Pioneer Middle School students in Chris Plucker’s Journalism Class recently made care packages for the 16 Washington State Penitentiary employees recently deployed to Iraq. Washington State Penitentiary employee Carol Noal visited the school to pick up the packages. She said the support was very much appreciated.
“We are a big family at the penitentiary, so it’s hard to say good-bye to them,” Noal said. “We are very thankful to these students for their generosity and kindness.”

Student Rosa Tobin said she hopes the care packages will brighten their day.

“It always feels good to know that somebody is caring and thinking about you,” Tobin said. “When you are doing something for your country, it feels good to know you are appreciated.

The soldiers are expected to be deployed for one year.


Elementary report cards to look different this fall
District to begin using standards-based model

When elementary report cards come out later this month, parents may be surprised to see a new look. Instead of the bulky forms used in the past, the new 21st Century report cards will be easier to understand and more efficient for teachers to complete.

The new elementary report cards will be graded on a standards-based model using a four-point rubric: above standard = 4, meets standard = 3, below standard = 2, at risk = 1. Report cards will also feature daily attendance and tardies.

“In the past, there was a lot of information and different rating scales used that were very confusing to families,” said Sharptein Elementary Instructional Coach Kerri Coffman, who is serving as the Electronic Report Card (Easy Grade Pro) Committee Co-Chair. “Our ultimate goal is to have a standards-based reporting system that is tightly aligned with state requirements.”

All elementary classroom teachers attended two training sessions in August or September, led by Green Park Second Grade Teacher Martin Telstad. Telstad, who is also recognized as a master technology teacher, manipulated the Easy Grade Pro software to meet Walla Walla Public Schools individual needs. He is scheduling additional training throughout the school year as needed for elementary staff.

“He’s done an amazing job,” Coffman said. “For many people, learning new things on the computer can be terrifying and he’s been very patient and so thorough in his training. He’s available for whatever we need.”

Middle and high school teachers have been using electronic gradebooks and online grades for the past few years and parent feedback pushed for this option at the elementary grade levels, according to Coffman.

“Teachers want to do what’s best for our kids and their families and are working hard on this new process,” Coffman said. “Change is never easy, but with the support we have in place we will do what it takes to be successful. We’ve listened to parents and they want more access to their child’s academic progress. We live in an age of instant information and schools need to keep up with this demand. We’re raising 21st Century kids and they deserve the tools that are available.”

The district’s goal is to offer Online Grades for all elementary classrooms beginning in the fall of 2009. Parents will receive access information and training as part of the unveiling of this new program.

“There is still work to do this spring in developing the standards-based reporting system,” Coffman said. “We know teachers will need more professional development and we want to make sure it’s done right once we bring it online.”

Electronic Report Card (Easy Grade Pro) Committee:
Co- Chair: Kerri Coffman, Sharpstein
Co-Chair: Laure Quaresma, Sharpstein
Berney: Lori Thomas (we will also be adding the new technology person from Berney)
Green Park: Martin Telstad & Jean Tobin
Edison: Jo Anna Gogl
Blue Ridge: Lucy Gregoire
Prospect Point: Chris Gardea, Wendy Baldwin & Mark Paul
Sharpstein: Terri Gilbert, Kerri Coffman & Laure Quaresma, Donna Hernandez
District Office: Janis Barton & Linda Boggs


Wa-Hi to host all-service JROTC competition
400 all-service cadets, 15 Pacific Northwest schools, event is free and open to public

The Walla Walla High School JROTC “Blue Devil” cadet battalion will host the first competition of the school year Saturday, November 15 at the school’s main gym.

More than 400 cadets from Army, Navy, Marine and Air Force Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps units will participate in the Cascade Mountains League Drill and Rifle Competition. Teams from 15 schools will go head-to-head in drill and ceremony, inspection, physical fitness and marksmanship.

JROTC cadets representing all four services learn military history, precision drill and ceremonial marching, marksmanship and leadership skills. The Wa-Hi cadets invite the community to come out and observe this all-day event at the gymnasium. The competition is open to the public and there is no charge to attend.

Schools and their service branches participating in the drill meet:

Clarkston High School (Air Force) - Clarkston, Wash.
Crook County High School (Navy) - Prineville, Ore.
East Valley High School (Army) - Yakima, Wash.
La Pine High School (Navy) - La Pine, Ore. (near Bend)
Lebanon High School (Army) - Lebanon, Ore.
Madras High School (Army) - Madras, Ore.
Medical Lake High School (Air Force) - Medical Lake, Wash.
Mountain View High School (Navy) - Bend, Ore.
North Salem High School (Army) - Salem, Ore.
Redmond High School (Marine Corps) - Redmond, Ore.
Rogers High School (Air Force) - Spokane, Wash.
Roseburg High School (Army) - Roseburg, Ore.
Walla Walla High School (Army) - Walla Walla, Wash.
Wellpinit High School (Army) - Wellpinit, Wash.
West Valley High School (Army) - Yakima, Wash.


AFS Students Enhance Wa-Hi Diversity
Wa-Hi is host school for six exchange students who are part of AFS Intercultural Programs. Wa-Hi has had AFS students since the early 1960s.

Three of the AFSers are also part of the U.S. State Department-sponsored Youth Exchange & Study program (YES) that brings students from countries with significant Muslim populations to the U.S. During the week of Nov. 17-21, AFS students are observing International Education Week by making presentations to community groups, classrooms and youth groups.

The AFS students at Wa-Hi include:
• Sara Badwy is a YES student from Cairo, Egypt. She is hosted by the Steven Hamilton family. Sara hopes to be an architect. She enjoys the computer, reading, participating in sports and drawing. She will be seen in the Wa-Hi production “Taming of the Shrew” performing an Egyptian dance.

• Dorothea (Doro) Braun is from a small town in Bavaria, Germany. She is hosted by the John Ladderud family. Doro is involved in choir at Wa-Hi, and her other interests include guitar, piano and reading.

• Willow Brenner is also from Germany. Tim Brown and Beth Powers-Brown host him. Willow is enthusiastic about all kinds of sports, but his favorites are skiing and handball. He is also a member of the choir at Wa-Hi.

• Miyuki Ikuyo is from Japan. She is hosted by Jack Lenihan and Darcy Dauble. Miyuki is interested in music, and plays the violin. She participates in choir and orchestra at Wa-Hi and is in the community youth orchestra. Myuki considers her role as an AFS exchange student that of “an ambassador of peace.” Myuki hopes to become a diplomat.

• Adams Isaaka is a YES student from Ghana. His host parents are Harald and Kelly Schoeppner. Adams’ native language is Wala, but he has studied English for 12 years. He also studies the Ga and Twi languages in his school in Ghana. Adams participated in the Wa-Hi cross-country team, and he is eager to share information about his native culture with Americans.

• Irma Sefrinta is a YES student from central Java, Indonesia. Irma lives with the Heidi Dobson family. Irma will be appearing in the “Taming of the Shrew” performing an Indonesian dance. Irma enjoys music, and was a vocalist in a band in Indonesia. She is considering becoming a psychologist or an ambassador.

For more information about AFS, or to arrange for one of the students to speak to your group, contact Linnea Keatts at 525-0049 or email, lkeatts@msn.com.



American Education Week Salute
A message from Superintendent Rich Carter

The 87th annual American Education Week will be celebrated November 16-22. This year’s theme; Great Public Schools — A Basic Right and Our Responsibility, reflects a calling upon America to provide students with quality public schools so that they can grow, prosper, and achieve in the 21st century.

The week spotlights the importance of providing every child in America with a quality public education from kindergarten through college, and the need for everyone to do his or her part in making public schools great. The week-long celebration will spotlight distinguished individuals who are critical in building great public schools for the nation’s 50 million students.

Few other professionals touch as many people’s lives as educators do. When parents in Walla Walla drop their children off for school they know they are in good hands. Our staff members care for our students as if they were their own children.

Teachers work to open students’ minds to ideas, knowledge and dreams. They use research based teaching strategies to improve achievement and collaborate with their peers to understand each child’s specific needs.

Our programs and people continue to influence students long after their school days are only memories. Please join in Celebrating American Education Week, November 16 to 22, by taking time to reach out and thank educators for all they do for Walla Walla children.


Wa-Hi Students and Staff to Attend Big Blue Weekend
More than 300 students and staff from Walla Walla High School will be attending the 2nd Annual Big Blue Weekend November 21-23 at Wildhorse Canyon in Antelope, Oregon. They will spend the weekend in student-led teams, getting a chance to connect with other students and staff members that they wouldn’t normally spend time with. Students and staff will also hear from a guest speaker, participate in large group activities, and experience a weekend full of surprises that promises to be a highlight of the school year.

The Big Blue Weekend is planned and facilitated by the ASB Leadership class, which is made up of elected and appointed student body officers. The purpose of the weekend is to positively impact the climate of Wa-Hi by building relationships between students and staff, breaking down social barriers, and giving students relational skills and experience that they can integrate into their lives.

By the end of the weekend, students who attend will walk away with:
• Lifelong skills in relationship building.
• A group of peers who know and support them.
• At least one staff person who cares about them personally.
• A sense of their value and impact on others.
• New perspective on the kind of person they want to become.
• Greater vision for their life.
• Confidence to step outside of their comfort zone.
• Empowerment to make a positive difference in their school and community.

Fund-raising by the student body leaders and donations from local businesses helps keep the weekend affordable for all students. A special thanks to the following organizations for their generous contributions:
• Mary Garner Esary Trust - $10,000 donation
• Banner Bank - $5,000 donation
• Providence St. Mary Medical Center - $500 donation
• Baker Boyer Bank - $200 donation
• The McGregor Company - $100 donation

For questions or more information about the Big Blue Weekend, please contact Jillian DeBritz at Walla Walla High School (526-8659).


Free flu shots for children - November 20
Thursday, November 20
11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Walla Walla County Health Department
314 West Main Street (use Rose Street entrance)
Free to all children ages 6 months through 18 years and Walla Walla County Residents
Edison students organize flower bulb fund-raiser for Books for Babes program
Edison Elementary second grade students are doing their part to ensure parents of newborns in Walla Walla have books to read by organizing a “bulbs-in-a-can” fund-raiser. Cans cost $3 each. All proceeds support the community service project — Books for Babes.

“We have given away over 2500 bags full of books to families of newborns in the Walla Walla area,” said Edison Teacher Kay Barga. “We are also selling a new set of note cards. The cards are hand-drawn pictures of the Walla Walla area by our students. These cards come with envelopes and are $3.00 a set.”

The first batch of bulbs will be delivered November 21. The cards will be ready in mid-December. E-mail Barga to place an order: kbarga@wwps.org.



Wa-Hi athletic teams continue post season play this weekend

Girls State Swimming
Date: November 14 & 15
Location: Federal Way Aquatic Center
Swimmers: Tori Jones and Jessica Hutton, 10th grade students

Volleyball Regionals
Date: Friday, November 14 vs. Mead
Location: Richland High School
Time: 8:30 p.m.
(If they win, they play 11:30 a.m. at Richland High School. If they lose, they play at 10 a.m. at Richland High School)


Walla Walla High School Drama Department presents “The Taming of the Shrew”
Performance Schedule (remaining schedule)
November 14 and 15 (two shows on the 15th)
November 20, 21, and 22
(Evening performances at 7:00 p.m. & matinees at 2:00 p.m.)

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.