@SequimSchools — Nov. 6, 2019

DISTRICT

There is no school on Monday, Nov. 11, in observance of Veterans Day.

The next school board meeting is 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 18, in the district boardroom, 503 N. Sequim Ave. 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 “School Board,” “Regular Communication” and “Agendas” on the district’s website at www.sequimschools.org.

Parent/Teacher conferences are scheduled for Nov. 19-22. Greywolf and Helen Haller Elementary Schools have conferences and early release on those days, while Sequim Middle School and Sequim High School have conferences and early release Nov. 21 and 22.

GREYWOLF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Rio Nersinger’s kindergarten class recently practiced finding groups of five within numbers. Using the number 8 and some friendly spiders, students showed that eight is a group of five and three more, and practiced writing the number sentence 5+3 = 8.

HELEN HALLER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Kindergarten, first- and second-grade students recently took part in a Science on Wheels program. The interactive lesson, called “Blood and Guts,” is part of an outreach by the Pacific Science Center in Seattle.

After an assembly, students cycled through Kelly Miller’s first grade classroom in small groups, where interactive learning stations were set up. They became Cellular Science Investigators and learned about systems and organs of the human body.

Thanks to the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and Sequim Education Foundation for funding this educational event. Thanks also to our parent helpers who assisted students at the learning stations.

Third- and fourth-graders have been engaged in index card tower building challenges during STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) specialist class. STEM specialist Kieth Lee explains that students must use 20 folded and 10 flat cards to plan, create, and modify creations that meet the requirements of a specific challenge.

Challenge One: Free Build to see how different patterns out of the cards could be used.

Challenge Two: A certain height is required.

Challenge Three: The structure must support the weight of an object.

Challenge Four: Take your combined knowledge and use 12 flat index cards to create a plan for building the tallest building you can that supports the weight of the original object in Challenge Three.

Next Generation Science Standard for Engineering Challenge (open to grades 3-5): Define a simple design problem reflecting a need or a want that includes specified criteria.

Helen Haller’s fifth-grade “American Voices” choir concert has been rescheduled from Thursday, Nov. 14 to Thursday, Jan. 30. The third grade “A Better You” choir concert has been rescheduled from Wednesday, Nov. 13, to Thursday, Nov. 14. Both concerts begin at 7 p.m. in the Sequim High School auditorium and are under the direction of Laura Lorentzen.

Helen Haller’s Parent-Teacher Organization’s holiday floral arrangement orders can be placed online at helenhaller.growingsmiles fundraising.com, or turn in an order form to the office by Tuesday, Nov. 12. Poinsettias, wreaths and more are available. Make checks payable to HHE PTO. Proceeds help fund programs that benefit all Haller students. Plant pick-up is Wednesday, Dec. 4. Questions? Contact Michelle Ridgeway at sunvally@olypen.com or 360-477-9895.

Students present their annual program to honor veterans on Friday, Nov. 8, in the school cafeteria. There will be two presentations, with students in kindergarten and grades 1-2 at 1:15 p.m., and students in grades 3-5 at 2 p.m. Veterans of Helen Haller families are invited to attend the program at either time.

Parent/teacher conferences are Nov. 19-22 — all early release days at 11 a.m. The Scholastic Book Fair will be set up in the library from Nov. 18-22.

SEQUIM MIDDLE SCHOOL

On Friday, Nov. 8, Sequim Middle School hosts the school’s annual Veterans Day Assembly beginning at 8:15 a.m.

SMS students will meet together in our gymnasium to experience an assembly coordinated by our own Chief Master Sargent-retired, Rick Miko.

This year’s events include both the middle school choir and band and the Sequim High School choir. There is historical context video to set the stage, and Miko will then step forward as a keynote speaker. The assembly them moves to a formal “thank you” to veterans in attendance. The tone will shift as the flag folding ceremony will be explained in the meaning of each step in the process. After the color guard departs, the school will honor the MIA/POWs with “Taps.” Following the event is an informal reception for veterans in the cafeteria.

With the help of the North Olympic Library System, Sequim Middle School students are able to compete against the whole Clallam County in “Book Wars” this coming March. Collaborating together with teachers and librarians, 12 books were chosen for the students to read. With the help of the Friends of Library groups from both Sequim and Port Angeles, Alexandra Díaz — author of “The Only Road,” a Book Wars selection —was able to come and talk with some of our students.

In Díaz’s book, 12-year-old Jaime makes the dangerous journey from Guatemala to New Mexico where his brother lives after his cousin is murdered by a drug cartel. Díaz informed the students of how her own parents immigrated from Cuba, and she grew up hearing the stories.

Not only was she engaging and provided a ton of audience involvement, but she also gave a chance for the students to really think about what they would take with them if they were in the same situation. Students were also able to look at pictures of what people chose to bring with them when they weren’t able to pack a suitcase and decide why some items were taken.

OLYMPIC PENINSULA ACADEMY

OPA’s Parent-Teacher Organization hosts its first holiday bazaar, set for 1 a.m-5 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 9, at the Sequim High School cafeteria, 601 N. Sequim Ave. The event includes crafts, gifts, food and photos with Santa. Call 360-670-1320 for more information.

SEQUIM HIGH SCHOOL

The SHS senior-staff volleyball game is at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 7.

Winter sports paperwork is due on Wednesday, Nov. 13. The winter sports seasons begin Monday, Nov. 18 (except for bowling), and all players must have their white and yellow cards to participate.

Language Proficiency Testing (STAMP4s testing) is in the morning on Wednesday, Dec. 11. Cost is $25. Pay Mrs. Ulm in the main SHS office by Nov. 8; then, take your receipt to Mrs. Miller in room H-112 to make sure you are signed up for the correct language exam.

Science on Wheels hosts “Holly” and “Lub Dub Michael” take the students through steps that get them thinking about the different systems of the Human Body (here, having them locate their skulls) during an assembly in the cafeteria. Photos by Patsene Dashiell

Helen Haller First-grader Eleanor Houseman tests her peripheral vision by threading a huge needle with one eye covered with assistance from parent helper Adrienne Christian.