Walla Walla Public Schools
Week in Review - September 26, 2014

In this Issue:

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District Stories

School Stories

Community Stories

District Stories
Parent/Teacher Conferences coming soon

- No School Oct. 9 and 10 (Parent/Teacher Conferences)
- Early dismissal for elementary students only Oct. 3 (report card preparation)
- Check with school/teachers for specific conference information


School Board meeting Oct. 7

- Tuesday, Oct. 7
- 6:30 p.m.
- Disrict Office (364 S. Park S).
- Meeting open to the public


Technology technician elected to regional Public School Employees position

Technology Department technician Benjamin “BJ” Colvin was elected to serve as a zone director on the Board of Directors of Public School Employees of Washington/Service Employees International Local 1948. Colvin will attend approximately five board meetings per year. More than 26,000 PSE educational support professionals are employed in the state of Washington. 


Taste Washington Day features locally grown products

Students and guests are in for a treat October 1 as district cafeterias will be bursting with locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables and meat. This year’s menu includes sweet and sour meat balls, corn on the cob, whole wheat rolls, melons and more area favorites. Nutrition Services Director Pamela Milleson says the event is an excellent opportunity to educate students about proper nutrition, provide a homegrown meal and partner with area farmers.

The Nutrition Services Department is also featuring locally grown peaches and nectarines throughout September as part of Harvest of the Month activities. Don Lefore Farms of Milton-Freewater is the grower for the peaches and nectarines. Teachers have also been provided flyers with information about the products to share with students.


School Stories

Football team raises funds for Coach to Cure MD

Walla Walla High School football coaches and players teamed to raise more than $2000 for the Coach To Cure MD project. Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy is the most common fatal genetic disorder diagnosed in childhood and leads to progressive muscle failure. Coach Eric Hisaw reports the Blue Devils are the only team in the state to support this project. 


Blue Mountain Community Foundation funds new climbing wall at Blue Ridge

Over the summer, the Blue Ridge Gym received a great new piece of exercise equipment. This wonderful addition was made possible by a grant from the Blue Mountain Community Foundation as well as funds from the Jeremy Richards' Playground of Dreams. The climbing wall is a hit with students. Thanks to all who made this possible.


Pioneer Explorer students present banned books project

- Saturday, Sept. 27
- 1 to 3 p.m.
- Walla Walla Public Library
- Students will answer questions about their projects
- They will also be part of a panel discussion on the issues of book banning and challenging in the United States
- Class website at: http://dcalzaretta.wix.com/pioneer-explorers


Group plans trip to Belize

Pioneer Middle School Explorer teacher Dan Calzaretta and parent volunteer Kathryn Southwick Hess are planning another student trip for spring break of 2016. The group will travel to Belize.  They have scheduled a planning meeting October 2 at 7 p.m. at the Pioneer library.


Feats of Strength fundraiser enhances school climate

Pioneer Middle School was buzzing with activities today during the all school Feats of Strength fundraiser. This event was organized by teacher Chris Plucker and the school's leadership class.

All proceeds support school ASB activities. Principal Mira Gobel said there was something for everyone and the event is a great way to enhance the school's culture.

Visit the district’s Facebook page to watch a brief video highlighting the event.



Photo journalist lands finalist position for photography work - By Wa-Hi Journal

Senior Roark Nelson earned a top spot as a finalist in the 2014 Picture of the Year from the National Scholastic Press Association, which was announced on Sept. 23.

Each year the NSPA receives thousands of entries for each category and brings in professionals in the field to judge the student work, which is required to have been previously published in a student newspaper or online media site.

Nelson entered the category of Environmental Portraits with the photo he took immediately following an extensive photo shoot of dancer Summer Wardlaw (class of 2014) as a featured athlete. “It was completely unplanned. I just thought it would be cool to get a shot from above of her taking her pointe shoes off,” Nelson said. “I set the flash to angle off the ceiling for a soft glow, and after a few shots, let her get back to getting ready to leave.”

Currently the lead photographer for the Wa-Hi Journal, Nelson is enrolled in the Online Journalism class and oversees the photography work for the school newspaper and the work created for online media. He shot the background photos for the updated look of the school’s website, and he operates his own photography business, which does mainly senior and family portraits with the recent addition of some commercial shoots.

“Roark has that special ability to capture the moment in an image. He is passionate about his work, and you can see it in every picture that he takes,” Wa-Hi Journal adviser Gay Buissink said. “I’m really happy for him that he has earned one of the highest awards in the nation for journalistic photography.”

Over the summer, he attended the National Geographic Student Expedition to Switzerland and France with 15 other photographers, led by National Geographic photographer Keith Ladzinski. “It was incredible to shoot in such a renowned mountain area and work with such incredible people,” Nelson said.

Nelson’s plans after graduation are, at this point, up in the air, with communications as a possibility, “or marketing to apply to my photography or going to an art institute to further my knowledge in photography,” Nelson said.


Walla Walla High School plans PINK events to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer research 

The Walla Walla High School Volleyball program is sponsoring DIG PINK the week of October 3 to 9. This year multiple athletic teams will be supporting PINK, and hosting events to help raise funds and awareness for breast cancer.

Kicking off the week, football, cheer and volleyball will host a PINK bake sale at the home football game, October 3 as the Blue Devils take on the Richland Bombers. Next, on Wednesday, October 8, Garrison and Pioneer volleyball will be wearing PINK as they take a stand against cancer. Games begin at 4 p.m. at both Garrison and Pioneer.

Finally, on Thursday, October 9, the Blue Devil Volleyball team takes on the Chiawana Riverhawks. Freshman, C and Junior Varsity teams play at 5:30 p.m. and the Blue Devil varsity begin at 7 p.m. PINK items such as beads, pins, pom poms and more will be sold at the game. There will also be a raffle and other fun prizes to win. Help the girls pack the gym in PINK. All proceeds will go to Providence St. Mary Medical Center Breast Cancer Special Needs Fund.

The volleyball teams are selling PINK "I can fight cancer" shirts. These can be purchased from your favorite volleyball player, from any school office and from the Walla Walla School District website, through the ONLINE PAYMENTS link. Shirts are $10.


Community Stories
Marine Band plays free concert

"The President's Own" U.S. Marine Band will perform a free concert tonight at 7:30 p.m. at Whitman College's Cordiner Hall. This is a great family event featuring the musicians that perform for the President of the United States and will include a variety of musical styles from patriotic marches to orchestral transcriptions and wind band originals, perfect for all musical tastes.

The concert is free, but tickets are required. Free tickets can be obtained online at www.whitmancollege.ticketleap.com.


Community Resilience Treasure Hunt

- Saturday, October 11
- Land Title Plaza (starting point)
- 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- This event is in support of Children’s Resilience Month (October)
- Fun prizes, educational opportunities, family event
- CRI is a local grassroots organization that strives to foster resilience by buffering the negative health outcomes of childhood traumas

October is Children’s Resilency Month
- September 24– City Council Proclamation at 7 p.m.
- September 29- Exchange Club Presentation
- Farmers Market Resilience Community Booth– every Saturday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Oct. 8– Head Start Director evening event WWCC Room 185, 6 to 8 p.m. (details still being shaped)
- Oct. 9- Head Start Program Director Avis Smith– 8:30-12:30 / Airport Conference Room
- Oct. 11– SPECIAL EVENT- Resilience Treasure Hunt / Start at Land Title Plaza, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Family Fun Night (TBA)
- October 16- Rotary Club Presentation
- Oct. 25– Resilience Activities at Day of the Dead event


W2 for Drug Free Youth seeks to prevent alcohol and substance abuse

W2 for Drug Free Youth is a local community coalition that is part of the Washington State Community Prevention and Wellness Initiative. This partnership of state agencies, counties, schools, and prevention coalitions is supporting local communities in preventing alcohol and substance abuse.

W2 for Drug Free Youth Mission Statement
The coalition of W2 for Drug Free Youth works to prevent use of alcohol and other drugs by our youth. This includes:
- Serving as a forum that will promote collaboration among multiple sectors of the community.
- Developing and/or adopting multiple prevention strategies to address the problem of youth substance use in the Walla Walla community.

W2 for Drug Free Youth is participating in the “Talk. They Hear You.” Underage Drinking Prevention National Media Campaign that empowers parents and caregivers to talk with children early about the dangers of alcohol.
Importance of Parents: Research shows that parents are the leading influence on their child’s decisions about alcohol. Although it may not seem like it, when parents talk about underage drinking, their children do hear them.

9–15: A Crucial Age
To prevent young people from starting to drink, the campaign focuses on ages 9–15. Around 9, children begin thinking alcohol may not be just for adults. By 15, many young people are drinking. Young people who start drinking before age 15 are five times more likely to develop alcohol problems as adults than those who begin drinking at 21 or older. Visit the “Talk. They Hear You.” Website http://beta.samhsa.gov/underage-drinking/about.

Visit W2 for Drug Free Youth at http://w2fordrugfreeyouth.tripod.com/ or find us on Facebook


The Moms’ Network Parent Workshop with Dr. Richard Simon

On Tuesday, September 30 at Pioneer Middle School, Dr. Richard Simon, Sleep Medicine Expert, will be speaking on teen sleep patterns, teen sleep needs and the correlation with school start times. The workshop is free, open to the public and will begin at 6 p.m. with a family dinner. The presentation with Dr. Simon will begin promptly at 6:30 p.m. Child care and Spanish translation is available during the presentation.

“The American Academy of Pediatrics states that sleep deprivation in teens is one of the most common, and easily fixable, public-health issues in the U.S,” states Beth Swanson, President of the Moms’ Network. “We are excited to have Dr. Simon available to share the research with parents, teachers and school officials so we are better educated on our children’s health.”

Factual information will be provided on how important it is that teens receive the correct amount of sleep for their health and well-being. We will also discuss Start School Later, an initiative to begin school later in the morning for at least middle and high school students.

The event is part of the 2014 Moms’ Network Parent Workshops that provide educational information to strengthen families in the Walla Walla Valley. For more information about the Parent Workshop or about the Moms’ Network contact Beth Swanson at 509-301-7471 or beth@themomsnetworkww.com


City of Walla Walla Parks & Recreation taking registrations for indoor soccer

We are currently taking registrations for Youth Indoor Soccer, Fencing and more.  For more information or to register for these programs, please go to www.wwpr.us or visit our office at 55 E Moore Street. Like us on facebook!  www.facebook.com/wallawallapr


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