DISTRICT
We invite all stakeholders to take our online survey regarding our school buildings at www.surveymonkey.com/r/FacilitiesSpring2015. Thank you for your input!
GREYWOLF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Emily Ellefson’s second-grade class is learning how to expand their researching skills and use facts in their narrative stories. The assigned topic was “The Desert.” Here are a few examples of their work:
The Adventures of the Jack Rabbit by Easton Munger
Long, long ago in the dry desert there lived a Jack Rabbit family. That sunny afternoon the sky became gray. It started to rain. The rain drops got harder and harder and there was a flash flood! It lasted for two or three minutes. After the rain stopped they noticed their home was destroyed. So they decided to go find another jack rabbit family to help them build a new one. It took two or three months. Then the jack rabbits decided to let the other family move in. The end.
The Adventure of the Girl Gang by Kinzley Henrikson
A couple of summers ago there were some girls named Raquel, Gianna, Kinzley and Michaela. They were on a vacation to see some desert animals. When they got there, the ground had a little dirty stream. There must have been a flash flood! They saw a jack rabbit suffering. It looked thirsty! Oh no! Raquel forgot to bring water. So they set off to find some. Gianna wondered what is on the inside of a cactus. So, they kicked the cactus and saw water! They quickly opened their water bottles and got plenty of water to bring to the jack rabbit. It gathered its strength and hopped to its parents. The four girls were happy to save a real life desert animal!
The Terrible Dust Storm by Mattea Brillhart
On a hot day in the dry desert Matty and Kirra were going to visit their Gram and her pet jack rabbit. Matty and Kirra were at their Gram’s house in the desert playing with their Gram’s pet jack rabbit. Suddenly a dust storm swept away Gram’s jack rabbit! Kirra and Matty rushed to save the jack rabbit but they missed. They tried to again, but they missed. What will we do now? Try to save it again? No! We already tried it two times. The next day they found the jack rabbit but he had a needle in his paw. Kirra held the rabbit and Matty took the needle out of his paw. We should have played with the jack rabbit in the house.
The Lizard and Kit Fox by Owen Douglas
Can I tell you a story? OK, now listen to the story. A long, long, long time ago animals roamed the earth but one place I liked was the desert! So, Lizard and Kit Fox were taking a drink of water from a cactus when Lizard said, “I take bigger drinks.” “No you don’t!” said Kit Fox. “Well, either way, I’m better!” said Lizard. “No you are not!” and so it was on! They argued a long time but then Snakey said, “Silence!!!! None of you are better.” “He’s got a point.” said Kit Fox. “I agree.” said Lizard. So now you know my story so please don’t argue with anyone. Please, please, please.
HELEN HALLER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
First-graders want to thank Dr. Kirsti Turella for making her dental rounds at our school.
Ione Marcy’s students were captivated by the puppets and tooth models she brought to show the children proper dental hygiene.
Here are some of her words of wisdom as shared by them:
“If you drink the right drinks, it won’t cause cavities.”
“She comes to show us how to keep our mouth clean.”
“Floss everywhere in your teeth.”
“Brush for two minutes, two times a day.”
“If you eat sugar and candy, the cavity will get into the red stuff in your teeth (root) and the tooth will have to come out.”
“She shared a snap floss thing that flosses your teeth and it snaps when it’s ready.”
“The white stuff you can scratch off your teeth is the start of a cavity.”
“Sometimes I go around scraping the sugar off my teeth so it doesn’t start a cavity.”
“She showed us that there are more teeth in the bottom of our mouth and we have to take care of them.”
We also want to thank Dr. Turella for the dental kits each child received and for making dental hygiene great fun for the children.
Haller volunteers were celebrated on May 27 after school let out. “This is our annual affair that we have to thank our volunteers,” said Debbie Buchillo, building secretary. “We invited around 75 people and had nearly 40 of them in attendance.”
Teacher Betsy Smith organized the affair and all of the staff prepared goodies and helped decorate the library. Para-educator Karen Spoelstra decorated the tables in a garden motif and a drawing was held that allowed the lucky winners to take home the potted flowering plant centerpieces at the end of the event.
Anne Olson was chosen to receive the Making a Difference award. She was presented with a certificate and a silver paper weight by Principal Russ Lodge. Each year since 2005 the teachers have submitted nomination letters for individuals they feel have made a meaningful contribution through volunteering.
Here is what Sheri Suryan wrote about Anne:
“Anne Olson has dedicated her time with my fifth grade for the past three years. She comes every Thursday and Friday to help teach students science. Having been a scientist, Anne brings a wealth of information and knowledge to the students. She is an amazing woman and I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to know her and have her work with my students. They have received experience like none other and we are extremely fortunate to have her volunteer in our class!
“Anne brings science to life for my students. She shares real life experiences and current events to show how science is a part of our everyday life. She has helped in all content areas of science, including life science making a class garden, chemistry and earth science creating metamorphic fudge, and she created a classroom barometer, so kids could see the air pressure rise and fall. Her creativity never ceases to amaze me.
“Anne, known to the students as ‘Grandma,’ not only helps kids learn and practice science, but she gets to know each of them personally. She finds out what inspires and interests each and every student. She has encouraged students beyond the learning of today, to reach for goals and aspirations of the future. Anne has made a world of difference in my struggling students. She gives kids the opportunity to find their passion in science by giving them true life meaning to each and every investigation done in class … It is volunteers like Anne Olson that can change an attitude, making a difference in the future of our children!
“I am so very appreciative to have this wonderful volunteer! Anne has truly made a difference in many young people’s lives in the way they view science!”
Congratulations to science teacher Dave Hasenpflug for being recognized by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction as a Washington State Science Fellow for the 2015-2016 school year. The Fellows cohort is a statewide effort to build teacher leadership and a foundation of knowledge and skills to support instructional shifts necessary to help all students in Washington be career and college ready.
SEQUIM MIDDLE SCHOOL
The volunteer math tutoring team from St. Luke’s Episcopal Church held its final tutoring session on May 26 during OTE after school.
This was their last opportunity to meet with the students, so teacher Shannon Paselk invited all students that have participated in the program and their parents.
Said team leader Mike Chesser, “I feel we have been so very successful. Our goal was to help these students feel better about themselves by improving their math skills. If you look at their faces and see the twinkle in their eyes, you will know our success. The test scores proved it, too.
“Some students have been with us all year, while others only needed our help occasionally. But all were better off for coming and visiting with us. I have never organized anything, not even my sock drawer. This has been an effort of love from the beginning. Our pure intention and willingness to extend ourselves to our community have made this the most rewarding of my life.”
SEQUIM HIGH SCHOOL
Graduation ticket distribution for graduating (walking) seniors is Wednesday, June 10. Seniors will need to pick up and sign for their tickets in the main office. Sorry, family and friends are not allowed to pick up the tickets.
Please note that lost or stolen tickets will not be replaced.
Ticket holders will be admitted to the stadium between 5-6 p.m. for graduation on Friday, June 12. Seating will be on a first-come basis. There will be no reserved seating. A section will be marked off near the bleachers for those that need wheelchair access.
Also, the first row of the bleachers will be for those not able to climb stairs/steps.
On June 11, senior finals will be administered in periods 1, 2, 3; graduation rehearsal will take place at 11:45 a.m. in the stadium and seniors will clean out their lockers after the rehearsal.
On June 12, seniors need to come to the stadium at 9 a.m. for another graduation rehearsal, then graduation is at 6 p.m. The senior graduation party will be from 8 p.m.-4 a.m. at Sequim Community Church (this is not a school sponsored event).
On June 13, the ACT test will be administered at 7:45 a.m. in the cafeteria.
Julie Romberg’s freshman Honors Introduction to Literature students just completed their 20 Percent Projects. Each Friday in May, the students were given a chance to work on a project of their choice during the class period. They wrote a proposal letter, got their project cleared and then presented their project to the rest of the class this past week.
Exceptional projects included Annabelle Armstrong and her project titled “The French Delights.” Each Friday, Annie choose recipes from a cookbook that her French exchange student gave to her, made a list of ingredients and then made the dishes at home. For her final presentation, she created a slideshow with the recipes and pictures. She also brought in one of dessert items to share with the class.
Andrew Hansted took advantage his Fridays by creating a new board for the game “Risk.” Andrew brought his poster to class each week and carefully crafted his own ideas and names of territories. He said that he plans to play the game at home with his family on his new board.
Another project was a group of three girls: Caitlyn Turner, Marian Amaranto and Kiara Pierson. These three students raised money to create gift baskets for Seattle Children’s Hospital. After raising more than they expected, the girls put together baskets full of games, books, stuffed animals, stickers and more. During the class period, the girls budgeted for their baskets and collected donations. They then took a day trip to Seattle to deliver the items.
Here is a list of the new ASB team, with some officer spots still to be filled. Jennifer Van De Wege, ASB advisor/teacher, is looking to the staff for nominations of youths who would make excellent leadership students.
Executive ASB officers are: Karen Chan, president; Daniel Harker, vice president; Waverly Shreffler, secretary; Kayley Lofstrom, treasurer; Quintan Johnson, senior executive tech; Grant Pierson, junior executive tech; Jennifer Van De Wege, faculty advisor.
Class of 2016 officers are: Megan O’Mera, president; Emily Webb, vice president; Taylor Bullock, secretary; Audrey Shingleton, treasurer; Katie Rogers, publicity chair; Erica Chapman, spirit committee head; Dallas Allen, senator; Mattie Clark, Peninsula College representative; Kim Minard, faculty advisor.
Class of 2017 officers are: Anika van Dyken, president; Andrew Juntilla, vice president; Tatum Jensen, secretary; Hannah D’Amico, treasurer; Jordan McMinn, publicity chair; Danica Miller, spirit committee head; Mikaela Dodson, senator; Bridget Shingleton, faculty advisor.
Class of 2018 officers are: Abby Norman, president; Annie Armstrong, secretary; Liam Stevenson, treasurer; Elena Springer, publicity chair; Devin Hibler, spirit committee head, Amanda Murphy, senator, Sean O’Mera, faculty advisor.
Class of 2019 officers are: Hunter Clemons, president; Flora Walchenbach, vice president; Allison Van De Wege, secretary; Liam Payne, treasurer; Aaron Jackson, publicity chair; Erin Gordon, senator; Isaac Rapelje, faculty advisor.
