KSD CONNECT January 2014
DISTRICT FOCUSES ON KEEPING VOTERS INFORMED Kennewick School District is making a concentrated effort during January to educate voters on the specifics of a February 11 School Operations Renewal Levy. The 2015-2016 levy measure would replace an expiring two-year levy that voters approved in 2012. Superintendent Dave Bond and Assistant Superintendent of Elementary Education Greg Fancher made their way around the district to provide informational presentations and answer staff questions. Superintendent Bond also reached out to several local community organizations such as Rotary and Kiwanis. “Levy dollars make up twenty percent of the district’s operating budget,” stated Bond. “Imagine what our district and classrooms would look like if we had to cut one-fifth of our teachers and other programs.” Levy dollars support student learning, health and safety, instructional support and technology, athletics and activities, operations and maintenance, and transportation. Continued...
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School Operations Renewal Levy Tri-Tech Firefighters take the plunge / Minion fun at Vista / Battle of books winners
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Amistad students win bikes for books
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Holiday concerts highlights
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Sunset View hosts Kadlec Academy / Westgate students receive cereal donation Highlands Middle School hold Science Fair / Innovation at Tri-Tech Skills Center National Board Certified Teacher Gina Burt / Westgate teacher wins classroom makeover Community Education celebrates 25 years Seahawks spirit alive / United Way employee campaign results
KSD LEVY
The district is asking for a slight reduction from current rates. The new levy would be $3.45 per $1,000 of a home’s assessed value. For example, if you own a $200,000 home in the Kennewick School District, your tax bill would be $57 a month. The two-year Levy Amounts and Rates
levy would bring in $23.9 million in 2015 and $24.5 million in 2016. More information about the levy can be found at www.ksd.org. If you have any questions contact Robyn Chastain: robyn.chastain@ksd.org or (509) 222-7424. Estimated Tax Bills for 2015-2016 Proposed Levy Projected amounts are based on $3.45 per $1,000 of assessed property value.
Where Does Your Levy Dollar Go?
Mail in your ballots and vote by Tuesday, February 11, 2014.
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TRI-TECH & MINIONS
TRI-TECH FIREFIGHTERS TAKE THE PLUNGE The Tri-Tech Skills Center Firefighter program participated in the 2014 Polar Plunge at Columbia Park. They were recognized as the team with the most participants. Teacher Nathan Allington (pictured above) was also there to congratulate his jumpers and help them out of the freezing cold water.
MINION FUN AT VISTA Vista Elementary employees had fun during the holidays and dressed as the characters from the Pixar film Despicable Me.
BATTLE OF BOOKS WINNERS Congratulations Edison fourth grade Battle of Books winners.
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READING
AMISTAD STUDENTS WIN BIKES FOR BOOKS Amistad Elementary students eagerly read during November and December to have their names entered into a drawing for a bike.
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The “Bikes for Books� program, sponsored by the Kennewick Masonic Lodge, provides one boy and one girl the opportunity to win a bike for their reading efforts. This year, a former Amistad Elementary teacher also donated a bike for giveaway. Fifth grader Jordan Garcia (upper left), fourth grader Brizeyda Meza (lower left) and second grader Mario Centeno (lower right) won bikes at the school assembly.
CELEBRATIN
Many Kennewick sc their student talent. the sound of music
Cottonwood
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MUSIC
Elementary Choir
Canyon View Elementary Marimba
NG THE HOLIDAYS WITH MUSIC
chools held special holiday concerts in December to celebrate the season and show off some of . Whether it was singing in the choir or playing the marimbas, students filled up the schools with c.
d Elementary Marimba
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KADLEC ACADEMY & CEREAL DONATION
SUNSET VIEW HOSTS KADLEC ACADEMY Sunset View Elementary recently hosted one of four Kadlec Academy afterschool health club sessions where Kadlec Academy professionals taught students about how to stay healthy. During the first session, students learned about the brain, exercised and enjoyed a healthy snack. Other sessions included information about bones, lungs, heart, and nutrition.
WESTGATE STUDENTS RECEIVE CEREAL DONATION Westgate Elementary students each received two boxes of cereal (that’s 1,100 boxes) as a donation from Kennewick First Presbyterian Church and SunMart. This is the third year Westgate has partnered with the church to send cereal home with students during the holiday break. 5
SCIENCE & TRI-TECH
HIGHLANDS HOLDS SCIENCE FAIR Highlands Middle School held a school-wide Science Fair in January. Each participant started their project in November and were given resources and support from their teachers. Carol Layton, an eighth grade science teacher, stated. “My students struggled with writing the introduction and conclusion, so we practiced to help them better prepare.� Kennewick High School honors students interviewed Science Fair participants and judged projects. Science Fair projects were also open to the public for viewing.
INNOVATION AT TRI-TECH SKILLS CENTER Tri-Cities school administrators and community members gathered before school to learn about innovation and student progress being made at Tri-Tech Skills Center. Everyone enjoyed a delicious breakfast prepared by the Tri-Tech culinary students. 6
TEACHERS
PARK TEACHER CLAIMS NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFICATION Congratulations to KSD’s latest National Board Certified Teacher Gina Burt who teaches Reading, Language Arts and History at Park Middle School. Everyone who goes through the certification process knows it requires a tremendous amount of work and dedication. Burt will be honored for her efforts at an upcoming school board meeting in February. One hundred and two teachers have earned this certification.
WESTGATE KINDERGARTEN TEACHER WINS CLASSROOM MAKEOVER Westgate Kindergarten Teacher Mallory Flesher won the January Classroom Makeover sponsored by KNDU 25 and Kadlec Regional Medical Center. She was surprised with a $250 check during a special school assembly. Flesher was nominated by a parent who praised her ability to make every child feel important. She already has big plans for the money. “I’m just so excited for all the hands-on and physical activities that we could do. We do a lot of coloring, using paper and pencil, and painting, but there are so many different mediums that kindergarteners really love to get their hands in, like playdoh and clay. I’m just so excited to provide them more things to touch,” Flesher said. 7
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SEAHWAKS & UNITED WAY
SEAHAWKS SPIRIT ALIVE Governor Jay Inslee recently proclaimed January 10 as “Seahawk Blue Friday” and urged Washington residents to honor the Seahawks for the spirit of sportsmanship and civic pride they have brought to our state. Continuing with this proclamation, Superintendent Dave Bond approved “Seahawk Spirit Day” at the Administration Center on January 17 and 31 to show support for the National Football Conference Championship game.
KSD EMPLOYEES GIVE TO UNITED WAY Kennewick School District employees showed their support of local charitable organizations by pledging more than $22,000 during 2014 to the United Way Campaign. Way to Live United!
Visit www.ksd.org or find us on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest! 9
UPCOMING EVENTS
JANUARY 30 High School and Beyond Night @ Tri-Tech Skills Center 30 College Goal Washington @CBC 30 Sunset View Pajama Reading Night 31 Transfer Requests for 2014-2015 School Year Due FEBRUARY 3 Tri-Tech Skills Center 2014-2015 Registration 7, 13, 14 McBeth Production @ Kamiakin HS 8 McBeth Production @ Kamiakin HS 12 High School Early Release 17 K-12, No School: President’s Day 19-22 The Woodstock Project Musical @Kennewick HS 19 Dual Language Program Info Meeting @KSD Admin 20 Dual Language Program Info Meeting @KSD Admin 20 Westgate Math Night 20 Park Middle School Math Night 20 Lincoln Battle of the Books 22 Kids Engineering Day @ SunsetView 24 Delta High Informational Meeting @KSD Admin 25 Horse Heaven Hills MS Science Night 25 Desert Hills MS Choir Concert Festival @ Kamiakin 27 Future Chef Competition @ Tri-Tech Skills Center 27 Desert Hills MS Winter Concert 27 Kamiakin HS Jazz Night 27 Sunset View Science Fair 1000 W. 4th Ave., Kennewick, WA 99336 (509) 222-5000
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www.ksd.org
January 2014 Newsletter
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