DISTRICT
The next school board meeting is 6 p.m. Monday, June 4, at Greywolf Elementary School, 171 Carlsborg Road. The public is invited to attend, and time is set aside for public comment. To view the agenda and minutes of past meetings, click on “Board of Directors” and “2017-2018 agendas” on the district’s website at www.sequimschools.org.
GREYWOLF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Fifth-grade students from Jennifer Lopez’s class were recent recipients of biography books donated by Janet Thomas of Sequim. The students each chose a famous person to read about and selected a second source to further their research. Students were given the task of choosing whether their famous person would best be described as creative, persistent, or hard working and backing up their opinion with evidence from their research.
Here are more of their essays:
“Pesticides Blocker”
By Jade-Evelyn C. Reynolds
The word that best describes amazing, Rachel Carson, is persistent. One reason for this is her work on pesticides. Rachel learned about pesticides and knew they were a danger to her world. Therefore, she decided to speak out and try to help her growing world.
In the book, “Who Was Rachel Carson?” on page 79, the author talks about her work while she was fighting cancer, “She was discovering how pollution and pesticides threatened birds, insects, fish, and other insects.” This proves she wanted her work to be accurate and was researching so many things about pesticides. Even though she was fighting cancer, she still found time to research and help her world.
In the Biography.com article “Rachel Carson,” it states, “Rachel Carson alerted the world of the environmental impact of fertilizers and pesticides.” This shows she was telling as many people as she could, because she was persistent and devoted to letting the world know the dangers of pesticides so she could help the environment.
In “Who was Rachel Carson?” on page 83, the text says, “Double-checked facts. She even asked scientists to read her work to be absolutely certain that is was accurate.” This is proof she was persistent and dedicated to giving people facts that prove pesticides are bad.
All of this is related because even though she had deaths in her family, many illnesses, and was even fighting cancer, she still was dedicated and persistent about her work to make the world a healthier place.
“Biography: Jaqueline Kennedy Onassis”
By Cameryn Hampton
I think the best word to describe Jaqueline Kennedy Onassis is hard working.
I would describe her as this because in the article Jaqueline Kennedy Onassis it states “in 1942 she enrolled in Vassar College” and “she graduated from George Washington university 1951” I used these quotes because a lot of people go to college and drop because it’s too hard or because they can’t afford the money.
Also it states that when she first went to college it was 1942 and when she graduated at the university it was 1951 so that means that she took 9 years of learning just to get to that point in her life and that’s important to work that hard for your education.
Also, another reason that Jaqueline Kennedy Onassis is hard working because, in the book “Who is Jaqueline Kennedy?” on page 60 it states, “He was running for president, and Jaqueline initially traveled with her husband. However after becoming pregnant again, she stayed at home on the advice of the doctors but continued to be involved in the campaign. She notably wrote ‘campaign wife,’ a weekly news column.” Which means Jaqueline would try to work as hard as she could even when pregnant to campaign with her husband.
One last reason that Jaqueline Kennedy Onassis is hard working is that in the article it states “Jaqueline announced that she intended to make the white house a show case for Americas most talented and accomplished individuals… Her most-enduring contribution was her work to restore the white house to its original elegance and to protect its holdings.” This means she worked as hard as to keep the white house in its original shape.
All this I hope therefore proves to you that the best word to describe Jaqueline Kennedy Onassis is hard-working.
“One word to describe Harry Houdini”
By Josh McNair
One word that describes Harry Houdini is persistent.
In the book, “Who was Harry Houdini?” it says, “It had taken five years to make the handcuffs. But it had taken Houdini only one hour to escape from them.” This shows that he is persistent because he did not give up on trying to escape the handcuffs like most people would have. He kept trying till he got out of them and escaped. This is not the only reason I think he is persistent though.
In the same book it says, “Harry had to wait more than a month before he and his plane actually got off the ground.” This also shows that Harry Houdini was a persistent person because unlike some people he kept trying to fly and fulfill his dream. Some people probably didn’t even try to fly a plane. There is still one more reason why I think Harry Houdini is a persistent person.
Lastly on Biography.com it says, “Houdini continued performing escape acts until his death.” This shows that Harry Houdini was a persistent person because he did not just stop doing what he loved to do, he kept doing it until he died. I don’t know anybody else who would willingly do dangerous escape acts until they died.
All this shows that Harry Houdini was definitely a persistent person.
“Dolly Parton, an amazing Hard-working person!”
By Elissa Brown
I would describe Dolly Parton as hard-working because she used to be a very poor child who came from a very large but poor family who lived in Tennessee. Her father was a farmer and did not make much money. When she was 18 she packed her bags and moved to Nashville. Dolly Parton was very hard working, in Who is Dolly Parton? on page 45 it says, “Everyday Dolly knocked on doors and tried to give tapes away of her songs. No luck she took waitress and office jobs to get by.” This shows that she will work until she has accomplished what she wants.
In the same book it also says on page 45, “Dolly finally got to work on a local TV show at 5 a.m. every morning. But Dolly had hardly any left for food. Sometimes she ate ketchup and water soup. Dolly was so hungry that she went into hotels and took leftovers from trays that people had put in halls.” This shows that Dolly Parton was very had-working about her career.
Dolly Parton tried out to be a singer on a TV show with 20 others, and she got the job! The audience missed the singer she replaced and they would heckle Dolly. On page 52 of the book it said, “Dolly suffered six months but she stuck it out.” Most people would quit because of an audience like that!
The book also said, “Dolly did a hundred shows in recording sessions. They might tape two shows in an hour!” This shows that she is a very hard-working person and she will not rest until the job is done! What really shows how hard-working Dolly Parton is on page 55 in my book it said, “Dolly only got a few hours of sleep each night. Sometimes she slept in her makeup and wig so she could get to work early in the morning, the next day.” This shows she was very hard working with her career because she was only getting a few hours of sleep every day.
After working with Wagoner for quite a while, she was recognized by RCA Records and was signed as an artist. In the Encyclopedia Brittanica article, “Dolly Parton,” paragraph three says, “Parton soon came to the attention of the music industry moguls at the RCA Records and subsequently recorded more than a dozen songs together with Wagoner-on hit songs-together for the RCA label. She rapidly emerged as one of country music’s most popular singers.” This shows how all of Dolly Parton’s work has paid off, and she is a very hard-working person.
In the same article, paragraph 7 it said, “In 1999 she was inducted into Country Music Hall of Fame. The next year Parton received the U.S Government National Medal of Arts, and in 2006 she was recognized at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C for her lifetime artistic achievement.” So, all of these medals show that Dolly Parton is a very hard-working person.
“The Most Hard-Working Person: Clara Barton”
Kinzley Henrikson
The word that describes Clara Barton the best is hard-working.
I think hard-working is the best word because on page 25 in the book, Who was Clara Barton, it says, “Schools were not free in New Jersey, as they were in Massachusetts, and that seemed unfair to her… and asked its members to open a free school, she would she would teach there without pay.” So, she is convincing the school board to open a free school, and not even pay her! That takes a hard-working person.
Then in Encyclopedia Britannica, “Clara Barton” paragraph 3 it states, “In 1881 she organized the America Association of the Red Cross, known from 1889 as the American National Red Cross, and served as its president until 1904.” So, she started the Red Cross, and was its president for 23 years! It probably took a lot of work for a person to start the Red Cross.
In, Who was Clara Barton, it says on page 90, “At age seventy-five Clara led a relief mission to help Armenians who were under attack in Turkey.” So Clara brought the Red Cross to Turkey to help people who were under attack, and, she was 75 years old! I think it takes a very, very, hard-working person to do that, especially at 75 years old.
So that is why I picked hard-working as the best word to describe Clara Barton.
“Alexander Hamilton”
By Nickolas Jaggar
Hard-working best describes Alexander Hamilton.
In the article, “Alexander Hamilton” on page 1 in paragraph 3 it states, “In 1722 his ability, industry, and engaging manners won an advancement from bookkeeper to manager.” He finally got a promotion through hard work and manners. This supports my case because he was only 11 at the time. It takes a lot of hard work for an adult to be promoted to manager, let alone an 11-year-old.
In the book, “Who was Alexander Hamilton?” on page 33 it says, “In August of that year, a British warship arrived in New York harbor, and everyone feared that the British would steal the 2 dozen cannons kept in New York.” 12 year-old Alexander and 15 others members of the Hearts of Oak saved 10 out of 24 cannons stationed there in New York. This supports my case because it takes a lot of hard work to save 10 cannons when you’re only 12.
My last reason that proves that hard-working best describes Alexander Hamilton comes from the article “Alexander Hamilton” from paragraph 4 on page 1, “He organized his own company at the battle of Trenton, when he and his men prevented Cornwallis from crossing the Raritan River.”
Alexander Hamilton stopped Cornwallis from crossing a giant river which was important because if Cornwallis got past Alexander’s army they would attack Washington’s main army while they were resting and ultimately defeat the continental army. This supports my case because Alexander Hamilton who is barely 20 stopped Great Britain’s best general.
By these reasons my argument about how Alexander Hamilton is best described by hard-working can’t be argued with.
Sources:
“Who was Alexander Hamilton?”
“Alexander Hamilton from school.eb.com/Levels/article/Alexander-Hamilton/39033”
Monique Brasher’s first-grade class were recently invited to visit the First Teacher preschool youths and their parents/guardians.
The first-graders got to sing songs, make some art and most importantly, practice reading with the preschool class.
The following are some of the important things Mrs. Brasher’s class had to say about the preschool visit:
• We liked doing the art project. (Azias, Ben, Barrett and Lila)
• We liked singing with them. (Noah, Maelyn, Jordyn and Finn)
• We liked reading to them. (Elizabeth, Ashley and Ellise)
• The preschoolers were being good for us. (Lucas, Saydey and Cash)
• The preschoolers acted out what I read. (Xilion, A.J., Lucas and Michael)
• We liked that everyone was listening and didn’t talk when we read. (Allora, Skyler and Caine)
Thank you to Nicole Brewer and the families and preschoolers at First Teacher for hosting the first-grade students. What a fun morning for everyone, and what great readers the first grade has become!
More than 90 third-grade students from Sherri Burke’s, Shannon Green’s, Rio Nersinger’s and Sara Benjamin’s classes at Greywolf Elementary recently planted about 450 trees under the supervision of Merrill & Ring and Alta Forest Products at a nearby logging site in Sequim.
This is the fourth year the students have committed to planting trees for the future and we loved it! Students learn about our renewable resource and gain insight into the day and life of a forester.
This year we also were especially proud of two Sequim graduates who are on their way to becoming foresters. They worked with our students helping to plant trees. The students were able to see what the future holds for them through education.
Over the course of several visits with Sequim High School FFA members, Greywolf students learned about different types of farming, what can be found on farms, what is needed to maintain a successful farm and how farms are helpful to us.
The visits concluded with FFA students bringing some of their farm animals to Greywolf. Students were able see a goat and her kids, a baby lamb, a chicken, a bunny — and second-grade student Timmy Seelye brought Rosie, his own goat, to show and talk about.
Greywolf Second graders want to thank Sequim High School FFA for taking the time to visit our classrooms and share their knowledge and experience with us. Many students expressed an interest in being part of FFA themselves one day!
Second-grade students at Greywolf Elementary recently got a visit from representatives at the Dungeness River Audubon Center. Students learned about birds native to our area — how they live, what they eat and how they are helpful to our environment. They got to see up-close examples as well as ask questions.
During library time, Greywolf students researched topics related to Earth Day. Then, to celebrate both Earth Day and National Poetry month, they wrote poems using nouns and verbs we brainstormed as class.
— Librarian Dena Riccobene
Earth is …
Trees growing
Flowers grooving
Fish playing
Horses jumping
Cheetahs running
Plants growing
— Maelyn Noble
Earth is …
Trees swaying
Horses running
Spiders crawling
Sand scratching
Forests growing
Wasps buzzing
— Finn Tomco
Earth is …
Water traveling
Trees growing
Sand crunching
Fish whooshing
Beavers building
Horses jumping
— Barrett Brilhart
Earth is …
Cactus sticking
Sand drying
Hawks hunting
Wings flying
Feathers flapping
Beaks eating
— Nolan Stewart
Earth is …
Penguins huddling
Bees buzzing
Rocks tumbling
Corn popping
Fish swimming
Crocodiles chomping
— Brennan Slack
Earth is …
Butterflies fluttering
Lakes splashing
Fish swimming
Doves cooing
Roses blooming
Birds chirping
— Olive Register
Earth is …
Tornadoes spinning
Grass sprouting
Rocks tumbling
Dust flying
Fish swishing
Sand crunching
— Owen Sawby-Smith
Earth is …
Tornadoes twirling
Rocks rumbling
Bees stinging
Thunder cracking
Sharks chomping
Flowers growing
— Lincoln Humphries
Earth is …
Grasshoppers jumping
Eggs cracking
Snow falling
Sun rising
Spiders crawling
Grass bending
— Blake Arnold
Earth is …
Sunsets glowing
Water rushing
Sunrays sparkling
Fish splashing
Lava spilling
Butterflies flapping
— Kara Hamilton
Earth is …
Water dancing
Lava splashing
Diamonds sparkling
Trees wiggling
Ice freezing
Lakes flowing
— Brayden Wahlsten
Earth is …
Water splashing
Giraffes running
Palm trees dancing
Trees flowing
Waterfalls bubbling
Rocks rolling
— Mikomi Olivarri
Earth is …
Lava flowing
Volcanoes erupting
Gold shining
Llamas kicking
Silver sparkling
Water moving
— Max Brouillard
Earth is …
Trees dancing
Lions roaring
Rivers flowing
Bugs crawling
Snow melting
Thunder booming
— Inara Miles
Earth is …
Volcanoes booming
Gold shining
Rivers flowing
Bugs crawling
Plants blooming
Cactus poking
— Kohrbyn Henderson
Earth is …
Cats meowing
Flowers dancing
Gold glimmering
Trees swaying
Volcanoes erupting
Ice melting
— Alexis Gierth
Earth is …
Pollen dusting
Cats meowing
Corn popping
Oceans flowing
Dens hiding
Dogs jogging
– Zuri Kurtze
Earth is …
Butterflies flapping
Lava bubbling
Mountains stretching
Dolphins splashing
Fish playing
Peppers crunching
— Jocelin Hough
Earth is …
Eggs cracking
Moss squishing
Snow twirling
Water shining
Fish swimming
Rain falling
— Elise Sundin
Earth is …
Bees buzzing
Creeks running
Islands floating
Kids playing
Feathers whooshing
Snow sprinkling
— Silas Hagar
Earth is …
Sap sticking
Water swishing
Bees buzzing
Sand crunching
Seasons passing
Plants growing
— Adrian Aceves-Servin
Earth is …
Rocks shining
Frogs hopping
Animals sleeping
Mountains climbing
Leaves changing
Apples growing
— Kendra Martinez
Earth is …
Sunsets glowing
Water waving
Rocks rolling
Birds chirping
Lions roaring
Caves breaking
— Evan Chavez
Earth is …
Trees growing
Rocks sitting
Lava flowing
Water falling
Gold shining
Cherries rolling
— Lydia Brock
Earth is …
Frogs hopping
Birds chirping
Worms digging
Monkeys swinging
Volcanoes exploding
Rain dripping
— Riley Savage
Earth is …
Cats running
Silver shining
Flowers growing
Oceans waving
Grass swirling
Lava bubbling
— Mylee Beeter
^
As part of Subaru’s “Love Promise,” Bill Koenig of Koenig Subaru recently visited first-grade classes at Greywolf Elementary. To support our Kids at Hope school, Koenig discussed the importance of math, science and technology to help our students fulfill their current and future goals.
To help them succeed, Koenig Subaru provided each student with a backpack with school supplies and a quality, award winning book in science and math.
Thank you Koenig Subaru and Subaru of America for supporting our education and Kids at Hope school!
We cannot thank Bill Koenig and Subaru enough for their support and commitment to the students of Greywolf Elementary School. These connections with our community partners strengthen the educational program for each of our students. It is so important to young people to know that they are supported by their families and their community! Thank you Koenig Subaru for being community ‘Treasure Hunters’ and building Hope at GWE!
— Donna Hudson, principal
HELEN HALLER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Fifth-grade students in Eric Danielson’s classroom at Helen Haller recently did research on a topic, took a position on the issue, and then wrote a persuasive essay to share their opinion. They worked on building arguments to support with specific evidence:
“Why Pennies Are Still Necessary”
By Hailey Mulet
Did you know that every American coin under a dollar honors a president? Well, the penny honors President Abraham Lincoln. Some people have been arguing that the U.S should get rid of the penny to save money. However, the penny is really what helps you save money. Let me explain.
Getting rid of the penny means when you go to stores, you are going to have to pay more than you should. The people who work at the store you are shopping at get to round up in their favor. You might see that the nickel is cheaper to make than the penny, but then you realize that if you get rid of the penny, it will cost much more because the government will need to make a lot more nickels.
The poor will pay the most. The poor are the most likely to make more frequent, smaller purchases. They will suffer the rounding up more often. If we get rid of the penny, people are going to start thinking, maybe the nickel is not worth it either.
Charities depend on the penny. Common cents, an organization devoted to keeping the penny runs an annual penny harvest and supports the penny largely because of its importance to charities. Even if pennies seem to be worthless, they actually add up to hundreds of millions of dollars in charitable donations each year.
Eliminating the penny just is not worth the time. So use your common sense, keep the penny.
“Genetically Modified Foods”
By Isaac McKeen
Do you want world hunger? I know I don’t. Genetically modified (GM) foods could help increase the food supply and that could help solve world hunger.
Genetically modified foods could help lower food prices. Some GM foods are designed to make themselves grow faster and that makes more food to sell. With more food to sell that could lower the cost of certain foods because with certain genes you could harvest twice a season. Therefore making the prices go down.
GM foods could help people in need. By making plants grow more that could increase the food supply as I mentioned before. However, that could also help people in need. It could do that by making more food than we need. That could make people want to give more food to food drives. They will give it to people in need.
Once I got some organic oranges to try. So I ate one and left them on the counter overnight. The next day I looked and they were rotten. With GM foods, these kinds of problems could stop happening because of the benefit of longevity. For example scientists can put certain genes in foods to make them last longer. It could also save you money by having to buy new food less often.
That is why you shouldn’t worry about GM foods. All they do is help not harm. GM foods give many more benefits than I mentioned. So if your town or city is trying to pass a law against GM foods, vote no. All they will do is take away some benefits.
As part of Helen Haller Elementary Cougar Reading and Writing Conference week, author Laurie Ann Thompson will be spending the day with students on June 8. Laurie has written several books for young people, including the critically-acclaimed “Emmanuel’s Dream.” She will be offering two morning assemblies and three small group afternoon writing workshops for Haller students.
During that same week, students will receive their Six Books for Summer book orders. All students at Helen Haller have the opportunity to self-select six brand new books to order and keep, helping to bridge the learning gap, often referred to as the “Summer Slide.” The book orders and author visit are both funded by the fundraising efforts of the Helen Haller PTO.
Lastly, teacher Toni Vincent and the student council will be hosting a Read In/Book Exchange in the Haller cafeteria for all students the evening of June 14. In the last week of school, students will be invited to bring in their own gently-used books, and they’ll receive a token to cash in for new-to-them books at the Read In. Leftover books from the exchange will then be sent overseas to help build libraries at schools in Belize. Look for more information to be sent home regarding this reading event.
SEQUIM HIGH SCHOOL
Sequim High School’s Scholarship Awards Ceremony is set for 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 30, at 6 p.m. in the SHS auditorium. Students who have received scholarships will be recognized during this ceremony. A brief reception will be held in the cafeteria following the ceremony.
Senior Ball is Saturday, June 2, at Fort Worden State Park in Port Townsend. Students need to be at the buses at 4:15pm, buses will leave promptly at 4:45pm.
Baccalaureate is Sunday, June 3, at Dungeness Community Church. Baccalaureate is a non-denominational inspirational service celebrating a time of completion and a time of looking forward. All seniors, their parents, and the public are invited to attend Baccalaureate. Attendance at this service is not a function of, or required, by the high school. Seniors are to bring their cap and gown for the service (please leave tassels at home). Call 360-683-3600 for time.
The final band concert of the year will be 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 5, in the auditorium. The final choir concert of the year will be 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 6, also in the auditorium.
Graduation ticket distribution for graduating (walking) seniors is Wednesday, June 6. Seniors will need to pick up and sign for their tickets in the main office. Sorry, family and friends are not allowed to pick up the tickets. Note: lost or stolen tickets will not be replaced.
Ticket holders will be admitted to the stadium between 5-6 p.m. Seating will be on a first-come basis; there will be no reserved seating. A section will be marked off near the bleachers for those that need wheelchair access. Also, the first row of the bleachers will be for those not able to climb stairs/steps.
