DISTRICT

The next school board meeting is 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 15, 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 and click on “School Board,” “Regular Communication” and “Agendas” on the district’s website at www.sequimschools.org.

The Highly Capable Referral window is now open. The school district is accepting referrals through Nov. 30. Referral packets are available at each building’s front office, or online at www.sequimschools.org (click on “programs,” then “Highly Capable”). Return all completed referral packets to your student’s building secretary by close of business on Nov. 30.

In response to the growing threat of AIDS to our population, the Washington state Legislature mandated that a program of prevention education be presented to students yearly beginning with the fifth grade and continuing through 12th grade. The Sequim School District has adopted a program for HIV prevention education with the advice of educators, parents, and community members.

A meeting to preview the HIV prevention education program and videos that students might see starts at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 9, at Greywolf Elementary School’s library, 171 Carlsborg Road.

Grade information is presented in the following order:

• 5-5:30 p.m., fifth grade

• 5:30-6 p.m., sixth grade

• 6-7 p.m. — seventh, eighth grades

• 5-7 p.m. — grades 9-12

State law provides that a parent or guardian must attend such a meeting before they can have their child or legal ward excused from participation in the HIV prevention program.

— Sonja Bittner, Sequim School District nurse

GREYWOLF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Norma Gorham, the new first and second grade STEM teacher at Greywolf, says September has been very busy in the STEM classroom.

“We have been exploring air using balloons and bubbles, wind with pinwheels and kites and the water cycle through clouds and rain,” Gorham says.

“We have learned lots of new words and how to read a thermometer and so much more. I have enjoyed getting to know your children and can’t wait to see what October has to bring!”

The Kindergarten Jump Start Program at Greywolf this summer was a huge success, staff says. The school saw 32 incoming kindergartners attend school for four half-days. Teachers were given the opportunity to introduce name writing, address pencil grip, touch on the basics of math and reading, and teach classroom and school routines.

One of the top benefits, teachers say, was having the opportunity to get to know students and match their specific needs to their best fit teacher and classroom environment. They received several e-mails from parents thanking the district and teachers for giving their children this opportunity.

HELEN HALLER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

In second grade we are learning about Fairy Tales and Tall Tales. Students worked on comparing and contrasting different types of fairy tales. One comparison that we did was “Cinderella” and “The Rough-Face Girl” by Rafe Martin. Each student wrote about the ways that they were alike and different and drew a picture of The Rough-Faced Girl.

Are you interested in tutoring students in reading? Come to a tutor training from 3:15-4:15 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 9, in the Haller library. For more information, email Betsy Smith at bsmith@sequimschools.org.

SEQUIM HIGH SCHOOL

A Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) informational night is set for 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 3, in the school cafeteria.

Sequim High School celebrated its 2018 Homecoming Royalty on Sept. 21. They include: king Tommy Hall and queen Ashley Rosales, prince Liam Payne and princess Emily Bundy, duke Jarrett Allen and duchess Isabelle Hugoniot; with junior class royalty Bryce Cameron and Kaylee Dunlap, sophomore royalty Jackson Lindorfer and Natalya James, and freshman royalty Connor Bear and Olivia Owen.

The Robotics Club meets each Wednesday at 3 p.m. in room E-3. This is open to all students. For more information, see teachers Brad Moore or Stu Marcy.

For seniors: A Scholarship Notebook Informational Meeting is set for 7:45-8 a.m. Monday, Oct. 29, in the school library. Attendance is mandatory for those who plan to submit a scholarship notebook. See Mitzi Sanders in the career center if you have questions.