K S D
ONNECT C District News, Notes and Events
November 2013
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HISTORY COMES TO LIFE
VISTA’S KOG STUDENTS BRING HISTORY TO LIFE Walking through the KOG (Kennewick Opportunities for the Gifted) classrooms at Vista Elementary, you’d think you’d stepped back in time. Student Hannah Jamison, dressed a historical figure named York, stood near Sacajawea, Lewis and Clark. In character, she explained how York had once saved Lewis’s life on their expedition. Scenes like this and more played out as part of the KOG Living History Museum. “I chose to be York because my group of friends wanted to do something together,” stated Jamison. “Everyone knows about Sacajawea, Lewis and Clark, but Mrs. Maxson helped me research the lesser known York. I was really interested to learn that York was the first African American to travel all the way across the US.” Third through fifth grade KOG students participated in the Living History Museum. Third grade covered the 1400-1600s, fifth grade the 1600-1800s, and fourth grade the 1800-1900s with an emphasis on Washington State history. Students worked on their projects for about a month and a half. They made timelines, researched and wrote papers, and presented what they learned in front of the class. The Living History Museum aligns with the speaking and listening guidelines under the Common Core State Standards. “I know this is something the students will remember for a long time,” stated 5th Grade Teacher Mrs. Michele Maxson. “Making school memorable helps students learn.”
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NOVEMBER
CONTENTS 2 4
Vista’s KOG students bring history to life
Practicing math with pumpkins at Horse Heaven Hills
Kennewick High School FFA students mow down competition
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Firefighters warm up Eastgate
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Creepy Carrots take over Edison Library Bookmobile visits Sunset View Vista promotes reading at Family Literacy Night Foreign Exchange Students Share Experiences
10 Edison Jog-A-Thon winners ride in style 11 DARE-KSD Partnership spans 25 years 12 Mid-Columbia Partnership recognized
as School of Distinction
McKinney-Vento Act Coordinator
13 A Night at the Museum with Park 14 Spotlight: Marci Chavez, 15 Upcoming Events
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PUMPKIN MATH
PRACTICING MATH WITH PUMPKINS AT HORSE HEAVEN HILLS Sixth-grade students in Mrs. Natalie Maiuri’s math class at Horse Heaven Hills Middle School recently used pumpkins to practice their knowledge of data sets. Students practiced “guesstimation” of the pumpkin’s circumference and weight before cutting into it to guess the number of seeds inside. After their initial guess of how many seeds were inside, students dug their hands into pumpkin guts and began counting. As one group began counting, a parent volunteer asked, “What do you think of your guesstimation now?” Many students realized they had guessed a much lower number of seeds than their pumpkin contained. Once each group had counted their seeds, groups worked together to find the maximum, minimum, range, median, mean, and mode. Mrs. Maiuri visited each group to discuss how groups came to their conclusions. “This is a formative assessment for my students. According to the Common Core State Standards, this is something all fifth graders should know. This helps me assess their skills and is a fun hands-on activity,” Mrs. Maiuri stated.
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COATS FOR KIDS & FFA WINNERS
KENNEWICK HIGH SCHOOL FFA STUDENTS MOW DOWN COMPETITION The Kennewick High School FFA Landscape and Floriculture teams traveled to Hudson Bay High School in November to compete with schools from across Washington. Both teams dominated the competition and returned home with first place finishes in several divisions.
FIREFIGHTERS WARM UP EASTGATE The Kennewick Fire Fighters Union donated coats to Eastgate Elementary first graders this month. Each student received a new coat and had the opportunity to tour the fire engine. Thanks firefighters for keeping our students bundled up this winter! 5
CREEPY CARROTS TAKE OVER EDISON LIBRARY
“Hello boys and girls. Welcome to the Creeeeppppyyyy Carrot Zone!” stated Barb Hagerty, Edi
As students entered the Eagle’s Nest reading area, they were surprised to find that it had been lighting.
Creepy Carrots, written by Aaron Reynolds, is one of the 20 Washington Children Picture Book read to students in first through third grade throughout the year.
Each year Mrs. Hagerty decorates the library to showcase the picture books. As part of her de carrots by hand for herself and other district librarians. Due to the popularity of her creepy ca creepy carrots, which she also brought to the Washington Librarian Association Conference.
One of the many reasons Mrs. Hagerty takes so much enjoyment and interest in decorating th the Washington Children Picture Books each year is because she is a member of the state-wid that decides which books will be on the list.
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ison Elementary Librarian.
n decorated with creepy carrots and orange
ks that all elementary librarians in Washington
ecorations this year, she crocheted creepy arrots, Mrs. Hagerty has now crocheted over 125
he library with de committee
READING SPOTLIGHT
BOOKMOBILE VISITS SUNSET VIEW Every two weeks students at Sunset View Elementary receive a visit from the Mid-Columbia Libraries Bookmobile. After school, the bookmobile parks next to the school and students can look for new books, return books and pick up books they have placed on hold. “The Bookmobile normally visits rural areas, however, we saw a need to visit Sunset View and now we are here twice a month,� stated a Bookmobile employee.
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READING SPOTLIGHT
VISTA PROMOTES READING AT FAMILY LITERACY NIGHT
To kick-off Family Literacy Night at Vista Elementary this month, Principal Jennifer Behrends re The Monster’s Monster by Patrick McDonnell to a large group of students.
After the story, pajama-clad students and families participated in activities including attendin swap, making bookmarks and monster masks, playing Plinko for a free book (donated by the Mid-Columbia Reading Foundation), and enjoying monster-themed sn
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At the end of the night, parents sat down to enjoy their new and swappe some reading time with their children.
WELCOME FOREIGN EXCHANGE STUDENTS
ead aloud
ng the book
nacks.
ed books for
FOREIGN EXCHANGE STUDENTS SHARE EXPERIENCES High school foreign exchange students currently attending Kamiakin, Kennewick and Southridge recently gathered at KSD’s Administration Center to share their experiences and personally thank their host families. “We want to thank our host families, stated Director of Secondary Education Ron Williamson. “It can be challenging to find families to host foreign exchange students, but those who decide to do it will find the experience enriching.” 9
JOG-A-THON WINNERS
EDISON JOG-A-THON WINNERS RIDE IN STYLE Edison Elementary Jog-A-Thon winners enjoyed a limo ride and lunch at McDonalds thanks to their hard work.
DARE-KSD PARTNERSHIP SP
Kennewick School District and Kennewick P Education) classes for students in Kennewic
Kennewick Police Chief Ken Hohenberg was Washington State Troopers and many Kenne
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“The partnership between Kennewick Police keeping students safe and helping them ma
DARE PARTNERSHIP
PANS 25 YEARS
Police are celebrating 25 years of partnering to provide DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance ck. The program is the longest continuous running DARE program in the Mid-Columbia area.
s the first DARE officer for Kennewick when the program began. Some current police officers, ewick parents are graduates of the program.
e and the school district has been successful because we both have a mutual interest in ake good choices,� stated Hohenberg.
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SCHOOL OF DISTINCTION
MID-COLUMBIA PARTNERSHIP RECOGNIZED AS SCHOOL OF DISTINCTION For the second year in a row, Kennewick School District’s Mid-Columbia Partnership (MCP) has received the School of Distinction Award for being one of the highest improving schools in the state of Washington for increased Reading and Math achievement over the past five years. The award is presented on behalf of The Center for Educational Effectiveness (CEE), the Association of Educational Service Districts (AESD), the Association of Washington School Principals (AWSP), Washington Association of School Administrators (WASA), and Washington State School Directors’ Association (WSSDA). “From what we understand, it’s quite an accomplishment to achieve the School of Distinction award two years,” stated Co-Principal Carrie DeForest. “We attribute our success to the great working relationships we are able to develop between our parents and our certificated teachers who are focused on helping students achieve academic improvement.”
MCP is an alternative learning program in the Kennewick School District that works with families of students in grades K-12 who are home-schooled throughout the Tri-Cities. A variety of enrollment options, ranging from full-time alternative learning experience to part-time enrollment for home-schooled students wanting supplemental classes, are available to meet the needs and desires of families. 12
A NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM
A NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM WITH PARK Park Middle School Action Team for Partnerships (ATP) invited students and families to a “Night at the Museum” in November where students and families explored science exhibits, signed up for library cards and learned about scholarship opportunities through Washington State University (WSU) Tri-Cities GEAR UP. Along with hands-on activities, Principal Kevin Pierce led 72 students in the “Reading Pledge” where students promised to devote at least 20 minutes a day to reading outside of school. Students and parents also had the opportunity to browse and purchase books at the Scholastic Book Fair. Thank you CRHEST Museum, Mid-Columbia Libraries, Tri-City Fever Football, and WSU Tri-Cities GEAR UP to make the Park’s “Night at the Museum” a success.
y
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SPOTLIGHT
SPOTLIGHT: MARCI CHAVEZ, MCKINNEY-VENTO ACT COORDINATOR For Marci Chavez, no two days are ever the same. As Kennewick School District’s McKinney-Vento Act Coordinator, Chavez is responsible for helping students in transition stay enrolled in school, signing them up for free breakfast and lunch, arranging for transportation, and working to keep students in the same school regardless of any changes to their living situations. She also provides backpacks, basic school supplies, clothing vouchers, and connects students to community resources such as doctors and counselors. “Each day is different. There are always new situations and new families to help,” stated Chavez. The McKinney-Vento Act is the primary piece of legislation dealing with the education of students experiencing homelessness. The program works to remove barriers that prevent students from registering and continuing in school. Some examples include children and youth who are sharing the housing of others due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason; children and youth who are staying in a motel or hotel due to lack of adequate alternative accommodations; children and youth who are living in an emergency or transitional shelter; and many other situations “I really appreciate that we are able to remove a lot of barriers for students in transition and provide them equal opportunities in school. I can relate to some of the situations that many families looking for help are dealing with,” stated Chavez. “Although I have only been in this position for two years, knowing I am able to help them and provide resources makes all the difference.” Before becoming the McKinney-Vento Act Coordinator, Chavez was a paraeducator for more than 10 years in the district.
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For more information about the McKinney-Vento Act: (509) 222-6834 or marci.chavez@ksd.org.
UPCOMING EVENTS NOVEMBER 27 K-12, Early Release: Thanksgiving Break 28-29 K-12, No School: Thanksgiving Break DECEMBER 11 Highlands MS Band and Orchestra Concert 12 Desert Hills MS Band Concert 12 Vista Elementary Winter Festival Concert 16 Desert Hills MS Choir Concert 23-3 K-12, No School: Winter Break
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November 2013 Newsletter 15