DISTRICT

The next school board meeting is 6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 17, 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.

Free and reduced-fare lunch applications can be completed online; there will be a Parent Computer Station available at each school for families that do not have internet access at home. Call Kayana Harrison, Free and Reduced Lunch Application Coordinator, at 360-582-3433 for more information.

Volunteers in the Sequim School District must first complete the volunteer clearance process and background check. This process must be repeated each school year. The Volunteer Registration online application has been updated for the 2018-19 school year, and is now available on the district website at www.sequimschools.org. Register directly at sequimvolunteers.hrmplus.net. From that point, volunteers either “Login” to update a background check or click the “Register” button to get started. The online application process requires an email address and provides step-by-step assistance.

Participating volunteers can visit the computer kiosk in the district office during office hours or complete the application process from a home computer. Volunteers should expect at least two weeks processing time before the date they wish to begin volunteering. After completing the online application, volunteers receive notification by email when clearance has been completed. Nearly 900 individuals registered to volunteer in Sequim schools last academic year.

Note: For those who created an online application during the 2017-18 school year, simply update the application with any new information. In the case of an expired driver’s license, upload the new driver’s license to your online application.

GREYWOLF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

The first field trip will be the end of September to celebrate the Dungeness River Festival (Sept. 27-28). Students in grades 3-5 attend. Chaperones and volunteers must be pre-approved through the district’s volunteer system (see above).

HELEN HALLER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Helen Haller parents are urged to notify the school/district if they have a new address, email or telephone number or need to change their student’s emergency contact person. Call the school office at 360-582-3200 or login to the Skyward Family Access portal; those don’t know your Skyward login or password re asked to visit the Helen Haller office. The school sends notices through Family Access and the email system. Parents who have not been receiving email notices from the school may not have a current email address in the system; call the office to check.

School Picture Day is Sept. 19.

SEQUIM MIDDLE SCHOOL

SMS honors those who achieved outstanding academic success with an Honor Roll Breakfast from 8:30-9:30 a.m. on Sept. 26 (last named A—K) and Sept. 27 (last named L-Z).

SEQUIM HIGH SCHOOL

Sequim High School’s 2018 Homecoming theme is “Magical World of Disney.” Homecoming week (Sept. 17-22) will be packed with dress-up days, daily games and prizes, after-school class competitions and the annual Homecoming football game with students decked out in spirit gear. Tickets for the Set. 22 Homecoming dance are $10 during the week of Sept. 10-14, 15 the week of Sept. 17-21 and $20 at the door. Classes will battle for the most spirit points based on participation.

Senior Parent Night is 6:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 17, in the cafeteria. Important information for seniors and dates for upcoming senior events will be presented. All seniors and their parents are encouraged to attend.

The high school welcomes a number of new staffers to the mix for the 2018-2019 school year. Bill McFarlen takes over as the school’s agriculture science teacher, working closely with Steve Mahitka. Dennise Kettel joins the school as the registrar; the one-time SHS staffer was most recently at Sequim Middle School. Diana Piersoll joins SHS’s mathematics staff, also making the move from Sequim Middle School. Luke Kisena moves from Helen Haller Elementary to the high school, running SHS’s Solution Center. On the administration front, with Randy Hill taking over the Human Resources Director role, Sequim High has added assistant principal Kristi Queen, who comes to SHS with 24 years of experience in education, 11 of those as an administrator in both the high school and middle school levels. Mark Willis assume the roles vacated by Hill as the new principal of Olympic Peninsula Academy and Sequim Options School.

Athletic season passes are being offered to families and community members at discounted rates. Passes and punch cards may be purchased at the high school office or at any home game. Rates include $65 for a 20-punch card, $90 for a 30-punch card and $100 for a 40-punch card. A Family Pass (one time issued per game for football, basketball, volleyball and wrestling) is $16. Along with punch cards, season passes are also available; call 360-582-3600. Single-game tickets are $6, or $4 for students with ID and senior citizens.

Sequim High’s Open House is set for 6-8 p.m. Monday, Sept. 24, inviting parents/guardians to visit their student’s classes following their daily schedule to learn about their instructional programs. Those who would like to spend additional time with an individual teacher are requested to schedule a conference at another time. The evening starts in the cafeteria, for a brief overview; then, parents/guardians follow their student’s regular, six-period schedules throughout the evening. You will be attending 10 minute class periods with a five-minute passing time between each period. Following the DEN period, the school will have refreshments in the cafeteria and some time for socializing. Campus maps will be available on the back of the event’s program.