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• No School Monday, Feb. 17 - Presidents Day
• School board work session and meeting - Tuesday, Feb. 18
• Elementary early dismissal next week
• No school Feb. 27 and 28 - Parent/Teacher Conferences
• Patron Tour guests visit three schools
• Text message option for school notifications
• February 2014 – Parent/Teacher Conference Schedules
• School garden sustainability meeting planned
• Highly Capable Nomination Period scheduled for February 18 – March 21, 2014
• District bullying prevention experts present to AAUW
• School Health Advisory Committee seeks members

School Stories

• Jim Smith Celebration of Life
• Exchange Club donates to Wa-Hi track project
• Garrison principal performs for Sharpstein’s Wonderful Wuzical Wednesday
• Conspiracy of Hope Talent Shows Feb. 20 and 21
• Explorer students make donation to YWCA
• Blue Ridge students raise money for Humane Society
• Wa-Hi students compete in Bonneville Power Administration Science Bowl in Portland

Community Stories

• AAUW Book Sale Feb. 21-23
• Whitman College Power & Privilege Symposium 2014 Keynote Address
• Parenting Teens meeting planned: Topic resource information
• Teddy Bear Tea and Doll Show Feb. 22

No School Monday, Feb. 17 - Presidents Day

- Classes resume Tuesday, Feb. 18

- 5:30 p.m. (Public Work Session: Dr. Linda Boggs will review Common Core Standards)
- 6:30 p.m. (Regular School Board Meeting)
- Location: District Office Board Room - 364 S. Park St.
- Both meetings are open to the public

Elementary early dismissal next week

All elementary students will be dismissed early from school Friday, Feb. 21 to allow time for report card preparations. Please contact your child’s school or visit the website for early dismissal times.

- No school Thursday, Feb. 27 and Friday, Feb. 28
- Parent/Teacher Conferences
- Classes resume Monday, March 3

Wednesday, Superintendent Mick Miller conducted his second of three Patron Tours. Guests visited Prospect Point, Wa-Hi and Lincoln High School. The next Patron Tour is Wednesday, March 26 from 8:30 to 12:30 p.m. Guests will visit Garrison Middle School, Walla Walla High School and Lincoln High School. Contact Mark Higgins to sign up: mhiggins@wwps.org / 526.6716
Patron Tour Guests:
Skip Nichols
Janet Clark
Dan Clark
Sara Moore
Larry Rosenfelt
Laura Rosenfelt
Ben Wentz
Tessa Weigand
Norma Chavez
Kati Isham
Catherine Bayer
Shelly Le
Michelle Janning
Duane Meidinger
Karin Gitchel
Peggy Needham
Cathy Schaeffer
Peter Swant
Laura Cardenas
Sandi Blackaby
Sally Keareley
Linda Hardy
Jim Kuntz

Text message option for school notifications

Parents may “Opt-In” to receive text messages from the school district for school closures and emergency notifications. To sign up, text the word alert to 22300.

Berney Elementary
- Wednesday, February 26: 3:30 – 8:00 p.m.
- Thursday, February 27: 8:00 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Blue Ridge Elementary
- Thursday, Feb. 20 (Celeb. of Learning Night): 3:15 - 7:00 p.m.
- Wednesday, February 26: 3:15 - 7:00 p.m.
- Thursday, February 27: 8:00 a.m. - 3:15 p.m.

Edison Elementary
- Wednesday, February 26: 3:15 - 6:45 p.m.
- Thursday, February 27: 8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Green Park Elementary
- Wednesday, February 26: 2:00 – 7:00 p.m.
- Thursday, February 27: 8:00 a.m. – 6:50 p.m.

Prospect Point Elementary
- Tuesday, February 25: 3:30 – 7:15 p.m.
- Wednesday, February 26: 3:30 - 7:15 p.m.
- Thursday, February 27: 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Sharpstein Elementary
- Tuesday, February 25: 3:00 – 7:05 p.m.
- Wednesday, February 26: 3:00 – 7:05 p.m.
- Thursday, February 27: 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Garrison Middle School
- Tuesday, February 25 (Arena): 3:30 – 7:00 p.m.
- Wednesday, February 26 (Arena): 3:30 – 7:00 p.m.

Pioneer Middle School
- Monday, February 24 (Classroom Drop-In): 4:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, February 26 (Classroom Drop In): 4:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Lincoln High School
- Monday, February 24: 3:45 – 7:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, February 26: 3:45 – 7:30 p.m.
- Thursday, February 27: 8:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Walla Walla High School
- Tuesday, February 25 (Arena): 4:00 – 8:00 p.m.
- Thursday, February 27 (Scheduled - Classrooms): 7:30 a.m. – Noon
- Thursday, February 27 (Phone conferences, etc.): 12:45 – 6:15 p.m.

Blue Ridge/Green Park Head Start/ECEAP
Monday, February 24: 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday, February 25: 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday, February 26: 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Thursday, February 27: 8:20 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.

The Walla Walla school garden program has been building since 2007 and was greatly bolstered by a 2012 USDA Farm to School Grant. Four elementary school gardens have been actively utilized by every classroom, enhancing curriculum and providing opportunities to build life skills in gardening and cooking while connecting with wholesome foods. Coordinating the utilization and maintenance of the school gardens requires concerted effort and community support in time, labor and funding.

“It is time to come together as a community to evaluate the school garden program, consider the sustainability and identify steps forward,” said Beth Thiel, Farm-to-School program coordinator. “You are invited to attend a mini-study of the school garden program.”

During the study, participants will be informed about the history of the current program, hear from other existing programs in the region as well as our own school district. The group will then be asked to formulate recommendations for our local school garden program. The study is Wednesday, February 26, 4:30 – 6 p.m. at the Walla Walla Public Library, and meet for the next five consecutive weeks. Childcare will be provided as well as snacks.

Nomination packets with information for the 2014-2015 Highly Capable (Explorer) Program are currently available on the district website and will be available in all district schools by February 13, 2014 Parents will be able to contact their child’s teacher or school learning specialist/counselor for more information. Program information is also available on the district website: http://www.wwps.org/programs/explorers.

Walla Walla School District’s Highly Capable Program provides students of high academic and intellectual ability with designated time to explore concepts in greater depth. The goal of the Highly Capable Program is to encourage the development of higher level thinking skills. Students learn to become responsible for their own learning, to develop their creative thinking and critical reasoning power and to strive to reach their potential.

Students in kindergarten through second grade, identified as Highly Capable, will be served through the Response to Intervention (RtI) model in their home schools. The elementary principal or designee will work with classroom teachers to provide appropriate accelerated/enhanced learning opportunities. K-2 classroom/program options could include, but not be limited to: alternative activities, enrichment activities, flexible group learning, independent projects, advanced lessons, online or supplemental instruction.

For grades three through five, the Highly Capable (Explorer) Program consists of a pull-out program focused on Science and Mathematics. The pull-out program allows students to be grouped homogeneously by with other students identified for the program and to participate in enriched academic experiences at a rigorous pace.
The middle school Highly Capable (Explorer) Program focuses on the subject areas of English, Language Arts and Social Studies. This middle school program is incorporated into the school day through separate self-contained Explorer Program classrooms. Students are involved in inquiry- based lessons, group problem-solving settings, independent investigations, and group discussions. Middle school Explorer students have an opportunity to take different levels of mathematics classes, based on their ability and test scores. This same opportunity is extended to all students in grades six through eight at both middle schools.
Students previously identified as Highly Capable and transitioning to ninth grade will meet with high school counselors (or principal’s designee) for the purpose of course selection and access to advanced instruction. Teachers of high school Highly Capable students will know who has been identified and will be provided with professional development and/or instructional suggestions through the high school RtI team. Services for high school students can include, but are not limited to, honors or Advanced Placement classes, Running Start, independent study or online classes.
The nomination deadline this year will be March 12, 2014. All nominated students will be screened using norm-referenced standardized tests and those who qualify for further testing will participate in cognitive abilities testing at their home schools. In all cases, parents will be notified of the results of the process, and a child not selected one year may be referred again in subsequent years.

For more information, please contact the Walla Walla School District Curriculum and Instruction office: 509-526-6735

Thursday evening Assistant Superintendent Dr. Linda Boggs and Risk Management Specialist Mark Thompson presented to members of American Association of University Women (AAUW) on the issue of bullying. Boggs discussed the curriculum the district is using to help develop character, respect and positive behavior.

Thompson reviewed state law and district policies and steps the district is taking to prevent this type of behavior. Thompson regularly visits schools to work with students and staff on this topic. His focus is making sure everyone understands the law and incidents are reported, investigated and resolved.

Walla Walla Public Schools and the Walla Walla County Health Department are working together to reconvene the district’s School Health Advisory Committee (SHAC). You are invited to become a member of this newly refocused committee and attend the first meeting of this school year on Tuesday, February 18, 3:30 to 5 p.m. in the Transportation Co-op training room (located at 1174 Entley Street).

What is the School Health Advisory Committee (SHAC)?
SHAC is a group of teachers, administrators, students, parents, and community members interested in promoting the health of Walla Walla students and staff. SHAC will be a standing, active committee that meets regularly throughout the school year, with the goal of assisting the district in creating “a school environment which encourages and promotes lifelong healthy eating and fitness habits.”

RSVP:
Katy Sanlis, Public Health Associate – County Health Department (ksanlis@co.walla-walla.wa.us) / 524-2665

- Sunday, Feb. 16
- 2 p.m.
- Wa-Hi Small Gym

Exchange Club of Walla Walla President Chris Drake presented a check for a $1000 to Scott Krivoshein in support of a private fundraising campaign to build a new track at Walla Walla High School.

A group of Walla Walla community members, led by Krivoshein, are working to replace the current 50-year-old cinder track which can no longer be used for track & field or physical education classes.

The all-weather track and field will also support band, soccer, special community events and 800 PE students a week. Krivoshein reports approximately $680,000 of the $850,000 needed for the project have already been raised.

Krivoshein says the group will take whatever people are willing to donate. He hopes to have all the funding before the end of the 2013-14 school year.

Make Checks Payable to: Big Blue Boosters Track Fund
Mail checks to: 6 E. Alder Suite 307

This year’s Conspiracy of Hope Talent Shows will feature 18 acts that showcase the many talents of Wa-Hi students. All proceeds support the Wa-Hi Winter Wish Program and the Dave Meyer Foundation.
- Thursday, Feb. 20 at 7 p.m.
- Friday, Feb. 21 at 7 p.m.
- Admission: $5
- Wa-Hi Auditorium

Explorer students make donation to YWCA

Students in the grades 3-5 Explorer program recently held an Ice Skating Party fundraiser. The students donated the $132 in proceeds to the YWCA. Executive Director Anne-Marie Zell Schwerin was thankful for the donation and took time to take photographs with the proud students.

Blue Ridge students raise money for Humane Society

Blue Ridge students are participating in the "Share the Love" fundraiser which wraps up today. The proceeds will be donated to the Blue Mountain Humane Society.  The students have collected more than $550. 

Nine Walla Walla High School students competed with students on more than 72 teams from around the region in the 23rd annual Bonneville Power Administration Regional Science Bowl on Saturday, February 1, in Portland Oregon. The students attending the event included Teresa Olivos, Paola Flores, Nadia Sierra, Ivan Rivera, Cristian Rivera, Christian Moreno, Andy Flores, Emely Flores, and Fermin Suarez.

The Science Bowl is a quiz-style question-and-answer competition that challenges students on math and science concepts. The Bonneville Power Regional Science Bowl event is the largest event of its kind in the United States.

The weekend competition marked the 11th year a team from the Walla Walla High School Latino Club has competed in this event with support from Pacific Power, College Place Presbyterian Church, and Exploring Post 311. Exploring Post 311 is a Learning for Life program, which is a subsidiary of the Boy Scouts of America.

This year the trip was highlighted by a visit to the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry.

Don’t miss the 39th AAUW (American Association of University Women) Book Sale at the Marcus Whitman Hotel, Friday, Feb 21, noon – 8 pm; Saturday, Feb 22, 9 am – 8 pm; and Sunday, Feb 23, 9 am – 4 pm. Children each receive one free book of their choice from the extensive children’s section.

The Book Sale’s approximately 35,000 books are divided into more than 40 categories. Prices range from $.50 to $3 for most titles. A special books section featuring rare, collectible books are priced individually. Proceeds from the sale fund local college scholarships and educational projects.

Tricia Rose - Consuming Inequality (The Crucial Role of Media and Popular Culture for a Just 21st Century World)
Professor Tricia Rose of Brown University is an internationally respected scholar of post civil rights era black U. S. culture, popular music, social issues, gender and sexuality. Listen to her message on these important topics.
- Wednesday, February 19
- 7 p.m.
- Cordiner Hall
- Free and open to the public

Parenting Teens Together, a confidential support group for parents of teens, is meeting this Thursday February 20 at the YMCA Board Room. This is a new location for the support group. The discussion will begin at 7:30 pm with the topic being general sharing and resource information.

The discussion will encourage sharing struggles, successes, and experiences with local resources that involve teenagers. The group meets on the third Thursday of each month and invites guest speakers to address topics of special interest. Meetings are lecture-based with an emphasis on discussion, Q & A and open sharing. The meetings are not limited to the main topic and local resources will be available for all parents who attend.

The meetings are at the YMCA Board Room at 7:30 p.m. Parenting Teens Together was founded by local parents in conjunction with The Moms’ Network. For more details visit www.themomsnetworkww.com or contact Amber Broel at broelae@gmail.com

The Walla Walla Columbia County School Retirees Association presents the 8th annual Teddy Bear Tea and Doll Show.
- Saturday, February 22
- 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Saint Francis Social Hall (722 W. Alder - Walla Walla, WA)
- Admission $6
- Enjoy a high tea, exhibits, store, photographer, coloring table , story corner and silent auction
Proceeds support scholarships for future teachers and related education personnel. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
- For information, contact Jackie Ormsby at 525 3801