Chalk Talk: Greywolf tests water wheels, Haller’s ‘We are Friends Who Care’ assembly, SHS welding class builds outdoor fireplace
Published 1:30 am Wednesday, November 16, 2016
DISTRICT
For the most up-to-date information on school events, go to the district website at www.sequim.k12.wa.us and click on the Calendar button.
Parent/teacher conferences will be held through Nov. 18, with early release for elementary students only on Nov. 16, and early release for all students on Nov. 17 and 18. Please check with your student’s building for more information about conference times.
The next school board meeting is Monday, Nov. 21, at 6:30 p.m. in the boardroom, located in the auditorium building at 601 N. Sequim Ave. There will be a workshop at 5:30 p.m. on board goals. To view the agenda for this meeting, go to www.sequim.k12.wa.us and click on Board of Directors. Time is set aside at every board meeting for public comments.
Looking ahead for holiday planning purposes, all students will have early release on Nov. 23. Nov. 24 and Nov. 25 are no school days and the district office will be closed. We warmly wish our school families and staff a happy Thanksgiving!
GREYWOLF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Katie Salmon Newton says congratulations to the Early Bird Readers’ October Frequent Flyers: Emma Simpson, Caleb Taylor, Ella McFarland, Elise Sundin, Charlotte Rogers, Cody Jilg, Makenzi Seimer, Julia Ashbaugh, Alexandra Edgecomce, Kendra Dodson, Jonah McFarland, Ethan Booth and Hannah Seimer.
Students donated 59 pounds of Halloween candy to support our troops! Greywolf Parent Teacher Association, thanks to a generous donation by Jamestown Family Dental Clinic, sent the candy to Operation Gratitude, who will distribute it to troops deployed overseas. Operation Gratitude sent more than 700,000 pounds of candy to troops this past year and expects to get even more candy this year.
Third-graders in Carla Morton’s science class used their engineering skills to design, build and test water wheels.
The goal was to power the water wheels in order to lift objects from the floor. Materials included a half-liter of water, a tub, string, two binder clips, a dowel rod, five round disks and a plastic syringe. Each group collaborated to use what they each knew about engineering and flowing water to achieve the goal.
HELEN HALLER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Teresa Thorson’s class recently read a book by Cynthia Rylant entitled “In November.” Rylant uses descriptive sentences to tell all about different things November makes her think about. The students then used the example to write their own versions of what November makes them think of.
“In November” by Jackson Laboy
My favorite part of November is that when we get days off I get to sleep in. I like to sleep in because lots of days that we go to school, but when we get the day off we can relax. I like it because we don’t have any homework. I also like November because I get to stay in my house. I love November.
“In November” by Brenten Cox
In November I want to play games all month. But in November, I do this … I play upstairs with my Legos. I build cool houses sometimes. And sometimes I just play with my Legos. I play with my dad.
“November” by Clinton Cosio
I do November. I do popcorn and the popcorn flavor is cinnamon toast. It is delish! We watch movies in November. Sometimes we have a fire in the fireplace.
“In November” by Colby Verdu
In November the bugs stay in shelter. Spiders hang from a web. A white winter blanket is on the ground and leaves are everywhere. In November kids jump in leaf piles. We eat walnuts. I see animal homes in the ground and in the trees.
“In November” by Paxtin Gagner
In November I like to stay indoors, because it’s way too cold for me to go outside. I like to do fun games like Monopoly, Yahtzee, Candyland and other stuff. I like to get my new fuzzy blanket and sit down and watch “Garfield” with buttered popcorn. It’s so good.
In November by Taylor Richardson
In November I go to the river and look at the view with my family. We walk on the trails by the Sequim River. It is fun.
“In November” by Ryan Weidman
I can have hot cocoa in a warm house in the woods. When you go outside you cannot hear birds tweeting or grass blowing or the sound of cars. In November I go shed hunting.
“In November” by Mija Bohling
What I like to do is eat ice cream and drink hot cocoa. Build a snowman with my mom. I like to read with my mom and snuggle with my teddy bear. The reason I like these things is because it is so fun with my mom and dad. I like November so much and my mom and dad.
“In November” by Olive Young
My favorite thing about fall is playing outside and doing snowball fights. My puppy and I like to sit by the fire together and drink hot cocoa.
OLYMPIC PENINSULA ACADEMY
Enrichment coach Ceci Buhrer taught her students about Día de los Muertos or Day of the Dead. Día de los Muertos is a Mexican holiday celebrated each year on Nov. 1-2.
The focus is on family gatherings to remember family members and friends who have died, and help support their spiritual journey.
The class created a display table for decorations, skulls, battery-operated candles, fruit and flowers in the Commons. Each child brought a picture of someone special they lost. The holiday dates back to the Aztecs. Buhrer also shared special sweet bread she brought from Mexico called Pan de muerto for the class.
Olympic Peninsula Academy’s Parent Teacher Organization is hosting a Thanksgiving Raffle. All proceeds benefit 2016-2017 OPA school student projects, supplies and events. The grant prize is everything needed to make a great Thanksgiving dinner: 15-pound turkey, stuffing, rolls, gravy, green beans, cranberries, sparkling cider and pumpkin pie, enough for 10 people.
Tickets are available now and are $10 each or three for $20 at the OPA office. The drawing will be on Nov. 18.
Contact Paul Rynearson at 461-4015 for more information.
SEQUIM MIDDLE SCHOOL
Joe Landoni would like to showcase the following seventh-grade students as science “Catalysts” for Term 1. Just what is a catalyst, you ask? Catalysts are those students who regularly display an exceptional level of participation in their science class. They are the kings and queens of questioning! They make those thought provoking statements which extend understanding. They are the instigators of inquiry! They are risk takers, not afraid of making mistakes or failing as they know mistakes and failure lead to new knowledge! They are the sparks which ignite learning!
Please recognize and celebrate the following fine young scientists: First period’s Kelsi Bergesen and Jaxson Gray, third period’s Richard Meier and Alexandria Schmadeke, fourth period’s Jaxon Cogburn and Zoe Moore, fifth period’s Eoin Hagan and Ruby Romano and sixth period’s Cristian Gonzalez and Riley Pyeatt.
Students were recognized in their respective classes and each received a certificate suitable for display on any refrigerator. Keep up the fantastic effort, young scientists! You are excellent role models for your peers.
SEQUIM HIGH SCHOOL
Parent/Teacher conferences will be from 4-7 p.m. Nov. 17 in the gym and from noon-3 p.m. Nov. 18 in the classrooms. Both days will be early release days for the students.
The Floral Design class contributed to the patriotic décor of a reception at the high school following a student assembly to honor veterans on Nov. 7. Students created arrangements for the refreshment tables using red roses and blue accent flowers.
The Robotics Club has organized a luau dinner and silent auction fundraiser at 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19, in the high school cafeteria. For more information, contact Brad Moore, Robotics teacher, at bmoore@sequim.k12.wa.us, or call the high school office at 582-3600. Proceeds help fund expenses associated with upcoming competition events. Students will provide robotics demonstrations at the event.
Sequim FFA members Becky Schroepfer and Josh Cibene earned the American Degree at the 89th National FFA Convention in Indianapolis on Oct. 22. The American FFA Degree is the highest achievement that an FFA member can earn in the FFA organization.
To earn the American Degree, an FFA member must meet the following criteria:
1. Have received the State FFA Degree, have been an active member for the past three years (36 months) and have a record of satisfactory participation in the activities on the chapter and state level.
2. Have satisfactorily completed the equivalent of at least three years (540 hours) of systematic secondary school instruction in an agricultural education program, or have completed at least the equivalent of 360 hours of systematic secondary school instruction in agricultural education and one full year of enrollment in a postsecondary agricultural program, or have completed the program of agricultural education offered in the secondary school last attended.
3. Have graduated from high school at least 12 months prior to the national convention at which the degree is to be granted.
4. Have in operation and have maintained records to substantiate an outstanding supervised agricultural experience program, through which the member has exhibited comprehensive planning and managerial and financial expertise.
5. A student after entering agricultural education must have: a) earned at least $10,000 and productively invested $7,500 or b) earned and productively invested $2,000 and worked 2,250 hours in excess of scheduled class time. Any combination of hours, times a factor of 3.56, plus actual dollars earned and productively invested must be equal to or greater than the number 10,000. Hours used for the purpose of producing earnings reported as productively invested income shall not be duplicated as hours of credit to meet the minimum requirements for the degree.
6. Have a record of outstanding leadership abilities and community involvement and have achieved a high school scholastic record of “C” or better as certified by the principal or superintendent.
7. Have participated in at least 50 hours of community service within at least three different community service activities. These hours are in addition to and cannot be duplicated as paid or unpaid supervised agricultural experience hours.
