@sequimschools — May 3, 2017

DISTRICT

National Teacher Appreciation Week is May 8-12. Teachers change the lives of millions of children every day and their work and impact extends far beyond the boundaries of the classroom. Take this opportunity to thank a teacher for all their valuable work!

The next school board meeting is at 6 p.m. Monday, May 15, in the boardroom (located within the auditorium building, 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, click on “Board of Directors” on the district’s website at www.sequim.k12.wa.us.

HELEN HALLER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Second-graders in Kaylee Kinsey’s and Teresa Thorson’s classes have been working on writing poems about spring!

Here are some poems by the students:

Spring has sprung

There’s birds and ants

The flowers are growing

And so are the plants

Spring is great

There’s rain and there’s sun

It’s a beautiful day

So let’s have some fun!

By Sophia Rhynes

Spring

Easter Bunnies

Birds and ants

Beautiful colors

And brand new plants

Spring is wonderful

It brings my heart joy

I love to hear birdies sing

Tweet tweet tweet

Ring ring ring

By Leia Baker-Henrickson

Plant Love

I love when I plant you.

I like when the sun shines on you.

I like when you grow in spring and the summer.

I like when you bloom in the green grass,

And when the stars shine on you.

I love when I plant you.

By Jackson Laboy

Dear Spring

I love it when you bloom your flowers

I love the smell of the fresh grass

I love to play in the fresh grass and

The flowers they smell very good.

I will pick you up very slowly

And bring you to my mom.

She will take care of you very good

I will pick the fresh grass up slowly

And give you to my mom.

By Mija Bohling

Dear Flowers

In the spring night

You stand there,

Getting ready for morning.

In morning you shine

Like the sun.

When night again,

You get ready for the day.

By Colby Verdu

GREYWOLF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Monique Brasher’s first-graders visited the First Teacher preschool class at Sequim’s Boys &Girls Club facility to show off their amazing reading skills. They read to as many preschoolers as they could.

The class would like to compliment the preschoolers on their excellent listening skills and Mrs. Brasher would like to compliment her students on their great behavior. “I can’t believe what super readers my students have become! I am so proud of them!”

SEQUIM MIDDLE SCHOOL

Young scientists get involved: Seventh-graders Abigail Carlson and Olivia Webb participated in the April 22 Earth Day event Science Rising, held in Port Angeles. These students displayed and explained their Washington State Science Fair first-place project, entitled “The Effect of Different pH Levels on Plant Growth.”

Sequim Science Fair Club mentors Debra Beckett and Ron Tognazzini also presented several past high school projects and dispersed information about the club. Science Rising celebrated the essential role science plays in our daily lives. It offered scientific presentations on local topics, activities for youths and booths and displays from local science organizations.

When thanked by one of the coordinators, Abigail said that she “was very happy to represent the Sequim School District in this event.”

Way to go, Olivia and Abigail!

SEQUIM HIGH SCHOOL

Thanks to Sequim Community Church members for their Beautiful Day efforts, including painting of the high school’s main office and for all the wonderful gifts for all the staff!

The Future Business Leaders Association (FBLA) State Competition Team just returned from a four-day trip to Spokane for the State Business Leadership Conference. The team consisted of Joie Darminio (10th grade), Kyah Fukunaga (ninth grade), Erin Dwyer (ninth grade), Kianna Miller (ninth grade), Sonja Govertsen (ninth grade) and Vita Olson (ninth grade).

Advisor/teacher Mark Knudson would like to give a special shout-out to parent Jodi Olson for volunteering as a chaperone. This trip afforded the group an opportunity to tour Gonzaga and Central Washington university campuses. The group also visited the Ginkgo Petrified Forest, one of six major sites in the United States.

“More important than the awards they earned is the way that these young ladies handled themselves at the conference,” said Knudson. “Teamwork and support was amazing. If one girl had to dress in business professional clothes to go to the conference area for a competition, they all got dressed and escorted her.”

Fukunaga, Govertsen and Dwyer qualified for FBLA Nationals by finishing fourth overall in Mobile Application Design. All three of these students are in AP Computer Science Principles course, which is in part designed to get more females interested in computer science.

Olson finished in 10th place overall in Electronic Career Portfolio.

“This is especially impressive, since Vita is a ninth-grader competing against juniors and seniors in that division,” commented Knudson. Olson also finished fifth in the Excel division of Microsoft Office Specialist. She will go to Nationals if one of the top four doesn’t go. Jazz Weller (11th grade) took eighth place in that division by competing online.

Senior Ball is Saturday, May 6, at Canterwood Golf &Country Club in Gig Harbor. Seniors can sign up for graduation walking partners beginning May 8 in the counseling office.

Agricultural Science and Horticulture students are hard at work in the greenhouse, tending to seed flats and preparing hanging baskets. The annual FFA plant sale will run May 10-13. Hours are Wednesday, May 10, from 2-5:30 p.m.; Thursday, May 11, and Friday, May 12, from 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; and Saturday, May 13, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at the greenhouse, located at the north end of the high school campus on Sequim Avenue.

For more information, call Steve Mahitka, Ag Science teacher/FFA advisor/CTE director, at 582-3666.

The Sequim High School Operetta Club presents “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” for eight performances in the auditorium. All seats are $10 for opening night at 7 p.m. Friday, May 5. A matinee performance is at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 6. For more information and to purchase tickets, go to www.shsoperetta.org.

Parents/guardians of graduating seniors: The Sequim Gazette will publish a special edition featuring the Class of 2017 on June 7 and would like a senior and baby photo of all graduating seniors. Photos, plus a “Letter to Grads” (written from parents/guardians to their senior) submittals are due to the Gazette by Wednesday, May 10.

Cost is $20 for up to 100 words, $30 for up to 150 words or $40 for up to 400 words. There is no cost for a photo submittal. Please make sure that any photos submitted have the individual’s information attached, including name and contact information. To have photos returned, a stamped, self-addressed envelope must be enclosed with the submittal. Keep in mind that quality photos are needed. Photo copies don’t have a high enough resolution and will come out blurry.

For more about this project, contact Linda Clenard at the Sequim Gazette office at 452-2345 ext. 38850, or lclenard@soundpublishing.com.

Sergio Yanez, a ninth-grade student, transfers flats of seedlings to a different location within the greenhouse. In addition to the greenhouse activities, agricultural science students also work with rabbits and chickens in the hatchery on campus. Photo by Patsene Dashiell

Sequim High School agricultural science students (from left) Virginia Kelvy, Scott Chichester (teacher), Mackenzie Walla, Sergio Yanez, Emily Silva and Trevor Dove transfer plants to hanging pots in the greenhouse. Students are preparing hanging baskets for the upcoming FFA annual plant sale May 10-13. Photo by Patsene Dashiell