@SequimSchools — Feb. 27, 2019

Published 1:30 am Wednesday, February 27, 2019

DISTRICT

The next school board meeting is 6 p.m. Monday, March 4, 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.

February is National Children’s Dental Health Month! This month-long national health observance brings together thousands of dedicated dental professionals, health care providers and others to promote the benefits of good oral health. Helen Haller Elementary classrooms are already scheduling their oral health presentations!

Here is important advice to help your child stay healthy:

• Take your child to the dentist twice a year.

• Choose healthy foods for the entire family. Fresh foods are usually the healthiest foods.

• Brush teeth at least twice a day with toothpaste that contains fluoride.

• Limit candy and sweet drinks, such as punch or soda. Sweet drinks and candy contain a lot of sugar, which causes cavities and replaces important nutrients in your child’s diet. Sweet drinks and candy also contribute to weight problems, which may lead to other diseases, such as diabetes. The less candy and sweet drinks, the better!

Good oral health is important for good general health and quality of life. Oral health affects both physical health and mental health. It affects how we grow, enjoy life, look, speak, chew, taste food and socialize.

Dental care remains the top unmet health care need for children with special health care needs. But dental disease is largely preventable by practicing simple behaviors at home. Learn ways to prevent tooth decay and gum disease and enjoy better overall health.

— Sonja Bittner, Sequim School District nurse

HELEN HALLER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

In kindergarten we are recovering from the long week of being snowed in by celebrating Valentine’s Day a week late! We discussed what Valentine’s Day means to us as a class. It is a time to remember the community we have built and the positive emotions we all bring to the class. As students create their bags to take their cards and small gifts home, it is a reminder that the love and respect created here is a powerful symbol that allows us to grow into the learners we are becoming.

— Joey Marcey, teacher

SEQUIM MIDDLE SCHOOL

Sequim Middle School has been working hard practicing drills so that we are prepared in the event of an emergency. So far this year we have had one each of the following: fire drill, earthquake drill and lockdown.

Additionally, on Dec. 14, because of two separate power outages, we had two “Shelter in Place” events. Each of the drills went smoothly. Students and staff were in their designated areas and accounted for in record time.

The “Shelter in Place” events were real-life opportunities to hone our practice and procedures and identify areas of needed improvement. The first power outage occurred during our 8th grade lunch. In this situation, we held all eighth-grade students in the cafeteria until teachers came to pick up their individual classes and escort them back to the classroom.

All classes were directed to stay in their current classroom until further notice. Once power had been restored for 10 minutes we dismissed all students to their next class. This went well until … the power went out again! We repeated the directions for all students to remain with their teachers until each individual classroom was dismissed at the end of the day.

Additionally, we went to each room in the building to identify students who were going to the Boys and Girls Club after school (which was now closed) to ensure they had an alternative way home.

By 4 p.m., all students had gone home or had been released to family members.

SEQUIM HIGH SCHOOL

Sequim High School is hosting a blood drive on Wednesday, Feb. 27, from 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m.; the public is welcome to donate.

For students wanting to try-out for the cheer squad there is a mandatory parent meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 27, at 6:30 p.m. in the high school library. Information regarding expectations, try-outs and costs will be discussed.

The Senior Class Play, “Scenes from Through the Looking Glass,” opens at 6 p.m. tonight, Feb. 27, in the high school auditorium. There will be additional shows on Thursday, Feb. 28 at 6 p.m., and on Friday, March 1 and Saturday, March 2 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $12, or $10 for students with ASB cards, and are available at the door.

Parents of seniors: If you would like a baby picture of your senior in the yearbook, cost is $50 for a quarter-page ad. The deadline is Feb. 28. Send a digital baby photo to Jim Heintz at jheintz@sequimschools.org. To have your photo scanned, drop it off at the main office.

At 6 p.m. on Monday, March 4, SHS hosts an information meeting for students and their parents in the school cafeteria. This is a general session for all students to cover such topics as graduation requirements, course registration, Skyward and other information. Participants will then have an opportunity to attend breakout sessions. Some breakout topics include: FAFSA; college testing; vocational/technical schools; AP teacher panel; military recruiters; post-secondary planning; study skills; College Bound; Scholarship Notebooks, and more.

For all SHS parents and students: Registration for next year is underway!

Registration activities include:

• March 4: DEN credit checks

• March 5-6: DEN course selection planning

• March 7: Skyward On-line Registration. Students report to the library with their English teachers and enter course requests through their Skyward Student Account.

Parents should expect to see a draft copy of their students schedule coming home March 5. Remember, you can access your student’s 2019-2020 class requests through Skyward from March 8-15 to make changes to their requests.

Sequim High will be on a modified schedule for March 4-6 so that students may register for their 2019-2020 classes.

Sequim High School Junior Prom will be 8-11 p.m. Saturday, March 16 in the SHS cafeteria. Featuring a professional DJ, prom is for all students and all grade levels (not just seniors or juniors). Tickets go on sale the week of March 4 for $10. The week of March 11, tickets are $15, and at the door tickets are $20.