Chalk Talk — Nov. 18, 2015 SLIDESHOW

Published 4:00 am Wednesday, November 18, 2015

DISTRICT

The Sequim School District is conducting a Comprehensive Needs Assessment to gather parent and community feedback about district operations and initiatives. The survey responses are anonymous and inform our planning efforts as well as help us meet state and federal compliance requirements. Go online to www.surveymonkey.com/r/CNANewsNov15 to complete the survey, or paper copies are available at each of the Sequim schools, the district office and the Sequim Library. Complete only one survey per household. The window to submit an assessment is Nov. 2-20.

If you have questions, contact assistant superintendent Ann Renker at arenker@sequim.k12.wa.us, or call 582-3268.

There is no school on Nov. 26-27 in celebration of the Thanksgiving holiday. The district office will be closed on those dates as well.

GREYWOLF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

A reading tutor training session is offered from 3:30-4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 1, in Room 142. Our WA Reading Corps members Lauren Best and Kim Dodson provide this initial training. Come learn about the 3 P’s of tutoring and how to successfully help our readers grow. Call 582-3300 and ask to speak with one of our WA Reading Corps members for more information.

Check out our annual book fair during the week of Nov. 16-22. The event is the biggest fundraiser for our library and provides an excellent shopping opportunity for upcoming holidays! Hours of operation are 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Monday-Friday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday during the Holiday Bazaar.

Some highlights from the Nov. 10 Veterans Day Celebration assembly included a warm welcome by principal Donna Hudson to visiting veterans in the audience, a presentation of the flags by Cub Scout Packs 4103 and 4490 and Boy Scout Troop 1103, and a sweet rendition of the national anthem sung by fifth-grader Makayla Allen.

Sheri Burke’s third-graders acknowledged the important contributions to our country that veterans over the years have made during the opening presentation. NatHalie Maynock’s fifth-grade class played “My Country ‘Tis of Thee” on recorders and kindergarteners from Patty Sullivan’s and Kelli Mishko’s classes sang and signed the song “Flag of America.”

Guest speaker Jim Stoffer shared some experiences and photographs from his long career in the Coast Guard.

Fifth-grader Rae Douglas recited a poem by Cheryl Dyson and music teacher Stephanie Clark led everyone in singing an Armed Forces medley. Third-grader Gianna Riccobene offered closing remarks.

HELEN HALLER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Carolyn Luengen’s third-grade class wrote letters to local veterans. Here are a few for our readers:

Dear Veteran, Thank you so much for serving for us and caring. Sometimes I play like I am in the Coast Guard, Navy, Marines or Army. I really like how you may be scared or mad, but you still do whatever you can for us, saving us and dying for us. Thank you so much again. Bryant Laboy

Dear Veteran, Thank you for serving and protecting the country. Thank you Army, Navy, Marines and Coast Guard for your service. I appreciate you a lot. Sydney Corcoran

Dear Veteran, Thank you for serving our country. Your bravery has touched all our hearts. You and all your allies had enough bravery to sacrifice your lives for millions. Brendan Kuh

Tiffany Malean’s Life Skills class made an art project devoted to Veterans Day. Students created soldiers out of construction paper and wrote thank you cards.

After attending the Helen Haller Veterans Day assembly, a couple of students from Renee Mullikin’s second-grade class wrote some sweet pieces in their journals and would like to share them.

Veterans are so bold and brave

They save the day and shout HOORAY!

Some lived and some died,

But they risked their lives.

Now if you see a Veteran,

You can shout hello

And think what they have done

And say thank you.

Makenna Sweeney

The Land of Freedom

Veterans Day is …

Saying the Pledge of Allegiance

And being thankful for those who fought for our country.

And though they were at war,

We get to choose what we do every day,

Where we go in the U.S.A.

We have freedom to come,

It is a free place to live without war.

Hannah Colwill

Thank you,

Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Army.

Thank you for all you have done to save and protect our country.

Lily Hough

SEQUIM MIDDLE SCHOOL

On Nov. 10, the middle school honored veterans from the school’s staff and community during an annual Veterans Day assembly.

Comprised of music performed by the middle school and high school choirs led by John Lorentzen, along with thoughtful speeches by students Kalli Wiker and Erin Dwyer about the history and personal meaning of the day, the assembly was both educational and emotional.

Michael Stringer, father of Kylynn Stringer, was selected as the guest speaker and gave a presentation of his military experience and those people he considered to be his heroes. Members of the Civil Air Patrol, Carson Holt, Jordan Hurdlow, Joseph Benjamin and Madeline Patterson, added pomp and ceremony to the tribute with a presentation of colors, demonstrating the proper procedure for folding an American flag.

The assembly closed with the presentation of the MIA/POW table and a moment of silence.

Once again, the student body raised the bar with their tribute to America’s veterans.

The Science Department is excited to announce the following students as Catalysts for Term 1. 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 igniters of inquiry! Please put your hands together as we cheer their accomplishments.

Teacher Joe Landoni tips his hat to seventh-graders Baylee Hire, Noah King, Madison Stockdale, Matthew McCrossen, Mary McAleer, Jackson Lindorfer, Melissa Porter, Chase Demucha, Abby Schroeder and Donovan Johnson.

Eighth-grade teacher Debbie Beckett applauds Jordan Hurdlow, Kyah Fukunaga, Vita Olson and Joshua King and in her Science and Engineering Teams Investigations Class, seventh-grader Oscar Walchenbach.

Keep up the fantastic effort, young scientists! You are excellent role models for your peers.

SEQUIM HIGH SCHOOL

Winter Ball dance requests will be available in the office starting Nov. 23. They must be completed and returned by 3 p.m. Dec. 10.

The band boosters’ annual Down Home Holiday Bazaar is from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 27-28 at the high school campus. This event features multiple vendors with quality handmade arts and crafts, as well as several raffles. Get holiday shopping done early and benefit the high school band and color guard groups at the same time.

The Sequim High School Marching Band and Color Guard, under the direction of WMEA Hall-of-Famer Vern Fosket, will march in the Macy’s Day Parade in downtown Seattle on Friday, Nov. 27, at 9 a.m.