| District Stories |
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Hampson sworn into Board Director position
Tuesday evening, Walla Walla County Superior Court Judge John Lohrmann presided over the taking of oath ceremony for new school board member Dr. David Hampson. Hampson takes the vacant seat of Max Carrera who resigned from the board August 1. Hampson, a physician at the Providence St. Mary Medical Center Urgent Care Clinic, will stand for election in November 2015. Please welcome Dr. Hampson to the Walla Walla Public Schools Board of Directors.
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Personnel Report (from Sept. 3, 2013 school board meeting)
Employment
(Classified) Amanda Archer, Para-Educator (temp), Green Park Elementary
Mark Case, Para-Educator (temp), Wa-Hi
Jyasmine Dillon, Para-Educator (temp), Prospect Point Elementary
Dawn Drennan, Para-Educator, Garrison Middle School
Stacy Just, Para-Educator, Garrison Middle School
Jennifer Lee, Para-Educator, Green Park Elementary
Heather Michels, Para-Educator, Garrison Middle School
Bianca Navarrete, Assistant Secretary, Walla Walla High School
Kaila Rodighiero, Para-Educator (temp), Green Park Elementary
Resignation/Retirement
(Classified) Cindy Cutlip, Assistant Secretary, Facilities and Operations, 8 years
Leave of Absence
(Classified) Ian Gregoire, Intervention Specialist, Green Park, 3 years (for 2013-14 school year)
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District offers anonymous tip line for school safety
As a student or parent, you have the power to keep our school district safe. Administrators rely on you to be their eyes and ears - letting them know when a member of our schools or a district building is in danger. Be a life saver and help stop school crises before they happen!
The SafeSchools LiveTip is a completely anonymous, toll-free tip line that you can access 24/7/365 any time you need to tip off school administration about a potential crisis:
• School Violence - weapons, bomb threats, fights
• School Damage - vandalism, theft
• Gang Activity
• Physical / Sexual Abuse or Harassment • Discrimination
• Drug & Alcohol Issues
A SAFETY LINE FOR OUR DISTRICT
• A recorded message will prompt the caller to either speak with a live operator or leave a recorded message.
• Live operators are available 24/7/365 to take emergency calls.
• Messages are transcribed and emailed to the assigned district contacts. In the case of an emergency, district administrators are called at work, home, or on their cell phones.
• Each call is assigned a case number the district can use for follow up.
TO REPORT A TIP, CALL: 1-866-LIVE-TIP - EXT. 570 (1-866-548-3847 - EXT. 570)
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Superintendent Miller launches Pulse video series with guest Anne Golden
Superintendent Mick Miller recently met with School Board President Anne Golden to begin this year's Pulse video series. Learn more about Anne Golden and the work of the school board by watching this brief video. This video is posted on the district's YouTube page. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWWivEVimwU
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Local teachers help Farm-to-School program promote education - By Coordinator Beth Thiel
Bringing locally grown food into cafeterias is only half of the Farm to School equation. The other half is education about food and local agriculture. This education focus has been given a big boost thanks to three dedicated elementary school teachers; Danae Darby, Lucy Gregoire and Rebecca Tate. They spent summer vacation time to review and expand current school garden lessons while linking them with state standards.
These teachers thought about different ways a school garden can provide experiential, inquiry based learning opportunities for students, and became pretty excited. These lessons help demonstrate that time spent in the garden supports meeting state standards, and provides the added benefit of learning about growing and nurturing healthy foods, a life skill.
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| School Stories |
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Blue Ridge Elementary now wireless
The Blue Ridge Elementary wireless project was completed August 28 thanks to a $85,827 E-Rate grant to provide modern technology network equipment to the school which serves 309 elementary students and 217 preschool students. The school now has wireless internet access throughout the interior of the building as well as in the grassy area outside the south facing windows of the building and outside the front entrance. A total of 25 access points were installed.
The grant covered 90 percent of the cost of the project. The district funded the remaining 10 percent, which was approximately $10,000. Blue Ridge qualified for the E-rate grant based on its high percentage of students receiving free or reduced payment meal benefits which range in the area of 90 percent. The district applied for E-rate funding for five schools, but the other four were denied due to lower free and reduced price meal count percentages.
The E-rate program is administered by the Schools and Libraries Division (SLD) of the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC). The program was set up in 1997 when the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted a Universal Service Order implementing the Telecommunications Act of 1996.
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Tickets on sale now for Walla Walla High School’s Big Blue Weekend
Walla Walla High School students are gearing up to spend an entire weekend working to make their school a better place and reflect on their own behavior as part of Big Blue Weekend October 4-6. Big Blue Weekend is held at the Washington Family Ranch in Antelope, OR. The cost to attend the event is $100 and a limited number of scholarships are available. Scholarship applications are due by Sept. 11 and final registrations are due by Sept. 18. Registration is capped at 370 students based on a first come, first served.
“Big Blue Weekend is a benefit to our school and our community because students are able to build connections with one another, school staff and even community members,” said Carina Stillman, Walla Walla High School English teacher and event coordinator. “It makes our large school feel a little smaller.”
Big Blue Weekend was created to break down social barriers and build a positive school community. This year’s keynote speaker is Stu Cabe who uses humor to deliver powerful message about treating people with respect. Adult volunteers and donations are still needed.
Volunteer Options:
Chaperones: Supervise dorms with students, participate in small and large group activities (district staff preferred)
Work Crew: Work behind the scenes to prepare meals
For additional information, to volunteer or make a donation, contact:
Assistant Principal Mindy Meyer
mmeyer@wwps.org
526.8662
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Fall 2013-14 Open House Dates (remaining events)
Berney Elementary
September 18
5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
BBQ
Green Park Elementary
September 10
6 – 7:30 p.m.
Ice cream
Prospect Point Elementary
September 19
5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Sharpstein Elementary
September 12
6 – 7:30 p.m.
Garrison Middle School
September 24
5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Pioneer Middle School
September 16
6 – 8 p.m.
Walla Walla High School
September 23
6 - 8 p.m.
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5th Grade Orchestra Parent Information Night
- 5th Grade Beginning Orchestra Parent Information Night
- Thursday, September 12
- 5th grade students have the opportunity to learn to play the violin, viola, cello, & bass by participating in the 5th grade beginning orchestra.
- Orchestra meets before school at either Garrison Middle School or Pioneer Middle School
- Come & hear what orchestra is all about!
Garrison Middle School: 7 p.m.; Band Room, Nichole Riggs, director; for students from Prospect Point, Sharpstein, & Blue Ridge
Pioneer Middle School: 7 p.m.; Band Room; Julia Woods, director; for students from Berney, Edison, & Green Park
Contact Information:
Nichole Riggs: nriggs@wwps.org; 527-3040
Julia Woods: jwoods@wwps.org; 527-3050
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| Community Stories |
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Spring Break trip parent meeting planned
Date: Thursday, September 12
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Place: Pioneer Middle School library
This is a five day trip to New York City. The trip includes two Broadway shows, and an opportunity to attend two theatre workshops with professional actors. Also sightseeing of the NYC highlights-Lincoln Centre, Radio City Music Hall to name a few, according to Trip Coordinator Kathryn Southwick Hess. This trip is open to Walla Walla Public Schools middle and high school students.
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