Walla Walla Public Schools
Week in Review - October 1, 2010

In this Issue:

(Click on article
to read more)

School Board Meeting Tuesday, Oct. 5
Date: Tuesday, Oct. 5
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location: District Office (364 S. Park St.)
Meeting open to public

Prospect Point mother reports suspicious man in neighborhood
Prospect Point Principal Chris Gardea received a report from a parent during Thursday night’s conferences her two boys were approached by a suspicious man in their Sunset Drive neighborhood. The children were playing outside when a man approached and asked if their parents were home.

The man was described as a 5' 3" white male. Chris Gardea sent out a One Call Now automated telephone message later to notify Prospect Point parents of this incident and to remind them to talk to their children about “Stranger Danger.” Please report any incident of a suspicious nature to the police and school officials.


District receives state grant to fund equipment for school zone safety teams
Walla Walla Public Schools was awarded $4,000 in grants from the Washington Traffic Safety Commission to re-outfit adult and student school zone safety patrol teams with new equipment. Berney, Blue Ridge, Edison, Green Park, Prospect Point and Sharpstein Elementary Schools and Pioneer and Garrison Middle Schools will receive the new equipment.
“The district is committed to keeping our students, staff and parents safe as they travel to and from school,” Superintendent Mick Miller said. “We are grateful to the Washington Traffic Safety Commission and will guarantee this equipment will be put to go use.”
The school safety patrol teams will receive new hi-visibility traffic safety vests, red STOP wand signs, and flashlight wands.
Each school will receive $500 in new safety equipment, which includes:
- Kids size safety vests
- Adult size vests
- Stop wand signs
- Flashlight wands
- Other equipment as specifically requested by the school

The Washington Traffic Safety Commission’s vision is to reduce traffic fatalities and serious injuries to zero by 2030 by following Target Zero: The Plan. (http://www.wtsc.wa.gov/)
The Washington Traffic Safety Commission helps coordinate Washington’s traffic safety efforts in several ways. They:
- Work with communities and tribes to identify and help resolve traffic safety issues
- Gather, analyze and report data on traffic deaths in Washington
- Distribute state and federal traffic safety funds Conduct public education campaigns
- Most of the commission’s funding comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).


District conducts emergency school bus drills
Tuesday, as directed by the Washington Administrative Code, the district conducted School Bus Emergency Evacuation Drills. These mandated drills are designed to provide maximum passenger safety in emergency situations.
Vince and Larry “The Safety Guys” visit district schools
Recently Vince and Larry “The Safety Guys” visited district elementary schools to talk about the importance of wearing seat belts, proper child safety restraints and other automobile safety measures. They passed out pencils and had a great time interacting with students. Special thanks to Nancy McClenny-Walters, Target Zero Manager for the Walla Walla County Traffic Safety Task Force for organizing the visits and her efforts to improve traffic safety in the area.

Walla Walla High School Choral Director’s composition used by the Oregon Chorale
Congratulations to Walla Walla High School Director of Choral Activities Norb Rossi. The Oregon Chorale from the Portland area included Rossi’s composition “Never Seek to Tell Thy Love” on its most recent CD “The Gift of Song - A Showcase of Northwest Composers.”

“I thought they did a marvelous job,” Rossi said.


Fort Walla Walla Museum offers free field trip tours for schools
Fort Walla Walla Museum encourages teachers to book field trips to Fort Walla Walla Museum. The Museum’s main visitation season operates through October 31, though it will remain open on a limited basis through December.

Admission-free, docent-led school tours in 2010 are available through the generosity of Boise’s Wallula Mill, Blue Mountain Community Foundation, Mary Garner Esary Trust, Milton-Freewater Area Foundation, and Pacific Power Foundation. Call the Museum at 525-7703 to put your students in contact with regional heritage.


Lincoln High School receives grant from Blue Mountain Community Foundation
The Sam and Annie McLeod Community Fund of the Blue Mountain Community Foundation provided a $1000 grant to Lincoln Alternative High School to help fund the school’s yearbook project.

“Lincoln is very grateful for this grant,” Lincoln Principal Jim Sporleder said. “As we continue to grow, we continue to add programs that will benefit our students and provide opportunities that they would have in a traditional high school setting. We are going to use this grant to help us provide our student with a hard copy yearbook. This will give us a down payment to begin the process.”


Edison Elementary art sculpture installed this week
Tacoma artist Mauricio Robalino installed his sculpture Walla Walla Blossoms at Edison Elementary School this week. The artwork was funded through the Washington State Arts Commission’s Art in Public Places program. A school committee helped select the artwork. Principal Josh Wolcott says the sculpture helps welcome people to the school.

Also known as the 1/2 of 1% for Art program, the art commission received funding from the new Edison construction and construction at the Washington State Penitentiary to fund Walla Walla Blossoms and a mural that will be installed at Edison this coming spring. Learn more about Art in Public Places sight on Washington State Arts Commission website: http://www.arts.wa.gov/public-art/percent.shtml


WalMart presents gift cards to Blue Ridge teachers
This week representatives from WalMart visited Blue Ridge Elementary to present 10 teachers with $100 gift cards for being outstanding educators. The following teachers received the gift cards: Tina Brennan, Corey Hobbs, Kelsie Loree, Sue Hansen, Toni Lynn Steele, Brenda Kirk, Kristen Garcia, Margaret Yount, Michael Garcia and Phyllis Garanzuay.

“Where Are They Now?” - Your new online alumni connection
Walla Walla Public Schools has created a new alumni webpage to help keep graduates connected to their former classmates. Visit www.wwps.org and click on the “Where Are They Now?” link to connect to this exciting new online program. This is a great way to stay connected with your fellow alumni and an opportunity to highlight the accomplishments and achievements of our graduates. Graduates may simply open up the page and type in information about themselves. There are also opportunities to post photos. We appreciate your support and input as we strive to bring honor and recognition to our alumni.

Pioneer and Garrison plan “Food Bowl” to support Realtors Association Food Drive
Staff and students at Pioneer and Garrison Middle School are teaming with the Realtors Association to collect food for area food banks during “Food Bowl” 2010. Pioneer and Garrison are reinstituting the Food Bowl in conjunction with the annual 8th grade football game Wednesday, October 20 at 4 p.m. at Borleske Stadium.

Staff and students will be collecting food two weeks prior to the big rivalry game. Game spectators will be asked to donate a can of food to the school of their choice for entrance into the big game. Students from each school will man the donation stations during the event. There will be a final weigh-in to determine the winning school. In addition, students will participate in the weekend food pick up campaign with the Realtors Association.

“In this spirit we will compete to raise donations as we work together as Walla Walla middle schools to give back to our community,” said Pioneer Middle School Principal Dana Jones. “In this annual football game, the athletes begin the game as two middle school teams and end the game as one team helping the community.”


Walla Walla High School National Honor Society organizes youth track meet in support of Cystic Fibrosis research
Walla Walla High School National Honor Society is organizing the “Breath for Life” youth track meet Sunday, Oct. 17 from 1 to 4 p.m. at Martin Field in Walla Walla. All proceeds from this event will support Cystic Fibrosis research and Walla Walla High School’s National Honor Society Program. Adult and student volunteers are needed in support of the track meet. Donations are also being accepted.

“The National Honor Society students feel strongly this is a worthy cause that fulfills our mission of community service,” said Walla Walla High School English teacher Karen Peddicord who is the school’s National Honor Society advisor. “We are offering another positive and healthy activity for youth in the Walla Walla valley. Youth can have fun while we raise money for a very worthy cause.”

Event Fact Sheet
- Event name: “Breath for Life”
- National Honor Society Youth Track and Field Meet to support Cystic Fibrosis research
- Date: Sunday, Oct. 17 from 1 to 4 p.m.
- Location: Martin Field (near Borleske Stadium)
- Ages: K-5
- Cost: $3

Running Events:
50 meter, 1 mile, 50 meter hurdles, 100 meters, 200 meters, 400 meters
Field Events:
Softball Throw, Javelin, Long Jump

- Students may participate in as many events as they want.
- Participation ribbons will be awarded as well as ones for 1st, 2nd, 3rd places.

For more information, contact Karen Peddicord at 527-3020 ext 4622 or by e-mail at: kpeddicord@wwps.org


Walla Walla High School “Trunk-or-Treat” offers safe Halloween experience
Walla Walla High School’s Key Club will be sponsoring “Trunk or Treat” Saturday, October 30 from 5 to 7 p.m. in the SCIENCE parking lot. (NOTE LOCATION CHANGE). There will be a variety of decorated cars sponsored by various Wa-Hi clubs that will be giving out candy to area children. Admission is one can of food per attendee. The food donations will be delivered to local food banks. Wa-Hi FFA will be providing a “Haunted Barn” attraction this year. For more information, contact Shelly Mann: smann@wwps.org

Walla Walla County Health Department plans annual Flu Shot Round-Up
6th annual community-wide influenza immunization extravaganza at the Walla Walla County Fairgrounds!
Dates & Times:
- Tuesday, October 19 (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
- Wednesday, October 20 (10 a.m. to 7 p.m.)
- Thursday, October 21 (7 a.m. to 3 p.m.)

Cost:
- $30 Adult flu shot
- $65 Adult pneumonia shot
- $15 each for children’s flu / pneumonia shot (Flu Mist is available upon request).

Payment: Aetna, Medicare and Washington or Oregon Medicaid will be accepted. All others will pay at time of service. Cash, check, VISA and MasterCard are also accepted.


Kirkman House Museum presents Hands On Weaving – Saturday workshops for kids
Dates: October 9, 16 & 23

Children, ages 9-12, are invited to attend this workshop exploring the creative possibilities of weaving. Susan Swayne, renowned textile artist, will lead children through the construction of a pipe loom, assist them in the preparation of the loom and guide them through the creation process.

The workshop dates are October 9, 16 and 23 from 10:00 A.M. – 2:00 P.M. Students are asked to bring their own lunch. Registration costs are $125/child or $110/family museum members. The registration cost covers the fiber materials for use during the course and the pipe loom and book titled Kids Weaving by Sarah Swett to be taken home after the workshop. To register call Kirkman House Museum at 509-529-4373.


Classroom Close-Up features Walla Walla High School band teacher
This week Walla Walla High School Band Teacher Andrew Ueckert 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 public service announcement radio spot featuring Ueckert is now playing on regional stations.