DISTRICT
The next school board meeting is 6 p.m. Monday, Jan. 22, in the district boardroom, 503 N. Sequim Ave. The public is invited to attend, and time is set aside for public comment. For more about the school district, view the district’s website at www.sequimschools.org.
GREYWOLF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Third- and fourth-graders at Greywolf Elementary are concluding human body studies by dissecting owl pellets. They search for bones and joints that work in a similar way to ours, teacher Carla Morton notes. The skeletal remains are identified and reassembled in figure form. Prior to this lesson, classes discuss birds of prey and why a pellet is regurgitated.
“At first, I thought it was going to be a gross activity, but after we got started I was amazed,” student Hunter Tennell said. “I found a ball in socket joints that work just like our femur and pelvis!”
The Bookworm Reading Contest (supported by the Clallam County Literacy Council) runs this month in the Greywolf library. The dates of the contest are Jan. 2-30.
After the contest ends, five names from each grade level will be drawn to receive a prize book, donated by the literacy council. School librarian Dena Riccobene will announce the winners on Friday, Feb. 2.
How students can participate:
1) Choose a good book to read, or have read to you. The books can be from home, the public library, school library, classroom library …
2) After finishing the book, fill out a bookworm slip with first and last name, and other information. Slips may be filled out at home or at school.
3) Drop the bookworm slips in your grade-level basket in the Greywolf library. Teachers can collect the slips in the classroom and send the slips down every few days.
At the end of the contest, Riccobene will draw names from the baskets and announce winners. One grand prize winner receives a $20 gift card to The Co-Op Farm and Garden store in Sequim.
Students in Jennifer Lopez’s fifth-grade class had a chance to decorate and sing carols at Avamere Olympic Rehabilitation of Sequim just before Christmas.
Here are some of their thoughts about their visit:
“I personally am glad that we went to help the community and I think that the people at Avamere were very happy that we brought them some Holiday cheer! We sang and gave them Christmas trees for their rooms. I enjoyed making the trees knowing that they were going to be someone else’s who really needed it. I hope I can keep helping people with my school.” — Amara Gonzalez
“Fun to see all the people’ s reaction to the Christmas trees and our songs. So sweet!” — Jade Reynolds
“It was fun because at first when we started passing out trees one person asked what we were doing. We told her and she smiled. Also, I liked to see their faces when we sang. It felt really good to do something special like that!” — Olivia Carlson
“I thought it was fun and I enjoyed the songs. I even saw one of them cry and sing with the song. I believe it was one of the best thing that has happened to them.” — Preston Kurtze
“I felt nervous walking into someone’s room, but when we started to sing the Christmas songs, I remembered we were here for them and not us.” — Ethan Melnick
“It was an amazing time. One woman’s response was one of the biggest smiles I have ever seen and so was mine! She looked surprised and grateful and so was I. I did think our singing and caroling was great, but a little more screaming than singing. The people still seemed happy and all I could see was the big smiles on each of their faces as the room filled with glee which surrounded me. It was one of the best experiences of my life!” — Raquel Hermosillo
“When I was in the nursing home, I was feeling a bit sad for all of the people, but I also felt joyful because we sang Christmas carols. We made beautiful little Christmas trees. I really enjoyed our time at the nursing home.” — Kainoa Govertsen
“I felt happy about singing to the people that have done a lot for our world. I think they deserve all the things that we did for them today.” — Jonathen Perez
“I felt that I was going to not have fun, but when I got there I did have fun! I had a warm feeling when I gave them the Christmas tree!!!” — Aason Judd
“I felt really happy and sad for all the people there because they were not getting to see their families. I also felt really proud of myself for bringing them a happy experience and a Merry Christmas.” — Kirra Henderson
“I thought this experience was amazing! I especially loved painting a big tree. When I put the tree in the lady’s room she was super happy and when I turned on the lights for her, her face lit up! It really grabbed my heart when people started crying while we were singing.” — Cameryn Hampton
SEQUIM HIGH SCHOOL
Tickets to the “Fairy Tale Winter Ball” are on sale for $15, or $20 at the door at the dance. The ball is set for Saturday, Jan. 20, in the cafeteria.
Parents, be sure to check your email. Copies of the January newsletter were emailed Jan. 12. If you didn’t receive an email, check Skyward and make sure we have your current email on file. If not, you can make changes directly in Skyward or call the counseling office 360-582-3613 and they will update your file.
All course change requests are due to the counseling office by Friday, Jan. 19. Changes will be made according to the following priority; unassigned periods, missing graduation requirements and academic placement change. Changes will not be made for lunch or teacher preference. A parent signature is required on the form.
The Sequim High School cheerleaders are hosting a Youth Cheer Camp from 9-11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, in the Sequim Community School gymnasium. Parents may register and pay on Jan 20 starting at 8:30 a.m. For more information, contact cheer coach Kim King at surfnberries7@gmail.com.
