HELEN HALLER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Claire Hallinan’s third-grade class studied their individual heritage, countries and family traditions. The project included fact-finding, geography, family interviews, family recipes and family trees. During the presentation, students shared food samples and family treasures to show appreciation and respect for their family origins.
— Claire Hallinan, teacher
Here is a sampling of diamante poems utilizing January topics from Andrea Slack’s third-grade class:
Winter
Fun, Snowy
Sledding, Running, Dancing
Frost, Mistletoe, Snowman, Lights
Shopping, Singing, Driving
Cold, Peaceful
Winter
— Lesae Pfeffer
New Year
Exciting, Fun
Watching, Screaming, Celebrating
Fireworks, Family, Cider, Friends
Waiting, Helping, Playing
Great, Long
New Year
— Lauren Andrews
New Year
Big, Bright
Exploding, Watching, Celebrating
Fireworks, Scarf, Friends, Sparkling Cider
Exciting, Helping, Waiting
Fun, Cold
New Year
— Gracie Niemeyer
Playoffs
Awesome, Exciting
Yelling, Cheering, Shouting
Football, TV, Family, Snacks
Eating, Screaming, Playing
Cool, Fun
Playoffs
— Blake Boardman
GREYWOLF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
IXL is a math program based on Washington state math standards. We encourage parents to take a look at the www.ixl.com website and see the fun their children have while learning math. During the second week of our IXL challenge, third-, fourth- and fifth-graders combined solved 72,368 problems and mastered 1,596 new math skills!
Louise Lemley’s fourth-grade class won a pizza party by answering 13,927 questions and mastering 361 new math skills. Close behind was Jennifer Lopez’s fourth-grade class, which answered 13,372 questions, including 3,375 questions solved at grade level. In addition, all third-, fourth- and fifth-grade classes had 100-percent participation in the IXL program challenge.
We greatly appreciate the hard work on behalf of our staff and students in completing 72,000 math problems in two weeks.
— Abigail Hare, secretary
Camp iCan! arose last year from the need to build confidence and self-esteem in children who have difficulty “showing what they know” on tests, and we are excited to offer this program again. Beginning Feb. 8, the program will run from 8-8:30 a.m. every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday through March 17. Targeted students, determined by teaching staff, in third, fourth and fifth grades will be invited to apply for the camp. The focus of the program is on test-taking skills, mental endurance, math vocabulary, math facts, critical thinking and problem solving.
Volunteers are needed as “camp counselors,” and training will be provided. One of the major factors for success of the program is our parent and community volunteers who serve as mentors, tutors, squad leaders and game leaders. Another success factor is the commitment on the part of the parents to get their children to school as early as possible.
Camp iCan! offers many incentives, awards and “camp gear” for students, purchased with funds made available through grants from The Haller Foundation, Sequim Education Foundation and Peninsula Credit Union, as well as Starbucks and Costco. The camp organizers welcome any item(s) or cash donations that could be used for incentive prizes. Prizes and awards will be measured by achievement, attitude and attendance.
If you would like to be a Camp iCan! volunteer, call 582-3374 or e-mail sparky@sequim.k12.wa.us. We are eager to get our campers excited about their abilities!
— Sue Park, teacher
SEQUIM MIDDLE SCHOOL
In honor of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., we have planned activities to highlight the diversity of our student body and staff, and to teach tolerance of our differences.
This week, we had “Travel T-shirt Day.”
Today, Wednesday, Jan. 12, is Mix-It-Up Day, an event started by the Teaching Tolerance organization and now observed all over the United States. Students will be asked to forgo their usual lunch table and sit at tables designated by birth months. To make things more interesting, ASB officers and student volunteers have lists of questions to spark conversations.
On Thursday, Jan. 13, everyone will assume a British accent for the day.
Friday’s assembly will focus on the wide variety of nationalities represented in our student body and the pride we feel about our individual heritage. An original poem about self-pride, written by sixth-grader Joseph Larsen, will be read, along with a reading of Martin Luther King’s “I Have A Dream” speech by seventh-grader Hayes Clawson. A skit by ASB officers will demonstrate the many ways we can show respect for each other.
— Caity Karapostoles, ASB secretary and activities coordinator
SEQUIM COMMUNITY SCHOOL
First Teacher activities:
Monday, Jan. 17 — First Teacher is closed in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Tuesday, Jan. 18 — WIC (Women, Infants and Children). For more information about the WIC program, contact Pam Walker at 417-2275.
Friday, Jan. 21 — School Birth-to-6 psychologist Catharine Foxlee gives the second in a three-part series on sibling rivalry at 10:30 a.m. Fridays through Jan. 28. Child care will be available. Call 582-3428 or 681-2250 to reserve a spot for Jan. 21 and Jan. 28.
First Teacher is in classroom 4W in Sequim Community School, 220 W. Alder St., next to the playground. Parents of preschoolers, come with your children and enjoy activities, the playroom and the playground. Sign up to receive the monthly newsletter with parenting tips and information about local resources for families. For more about the First Teacher program, call 582-3428 or 681-2250.
— Cynthia Martin, director and Chase Hill, VISTA volunteer
SEQUIM HIGH SCHOOL
A Digitools Bypass Test will be given from 3-4 p.m. today, Wednesday, Jan. 12, in room E-3. Students must complete the exam within the one-hour time frame. If the student passes this exam, he or she will be exempt from having to take the Digitools class. The Digitools class is a requirement for graduation from SHS. Passing the test will not earn high school or college credits. Students may just show up and take the exam. There is no sign-up in advance.
— Lora Millet, secretary
