K S D
onnect C District News, Notes and Events
September 2013
Around the World
A Trip Around the World Mr. Russell’s fourth grade class has sent one of their own on a trip around the world. Flat Stanley was sent off with excitement from students, earlier this month. His itinerary includes places such as New York, Mexico City, Cuba, South America, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia, maybe Myanmar, and London before returning to Westgate. Photos of his world-wide trip will be sent to Mr. Russell and his students so that they can see all the exciting places Flat Stanley travels.
Welcome Back to Highlands On a scorchingly hot weekday afternoon, the Highlands Middle School ATP pounded the pavement of the Columbia Mobile Village mobile home neighborhood. Members welcomed new and returning students back to school, while delivering refreshing and cold otter popsicles and informational fliers for parents.
September
Contents 2 A Trip Around the World 2 Welcome Back to Highlands 3 New Teacher Orientation 4 Power of Magic 4 Park: Where Everyone Belongs 5 The Reptile Man 6 KSD Prize Patrol 8 Staff Excellence Awards 10 Award Winning ATP’s 12 Try Something New- Community Ed 13 Upcoming Events
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New Teacher Orientation Every chair in the boardroom was taken and more teachers were standing in the back. There were 91 teachers in attendance with over half being beginning-career teachers with less than 2 years’ experience.
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Brad Barton
The Power of Magic
“There’s corny magic, there’s flash-bang magic, and there’s the illusion,” Brad Barton, magician and motivational speaker, explained to wideeyed sixth graders at Park Middle School. Many students oohed and ahhed as Brad combined magic with a motivational speech about believing in yourself and excelling at school. His magical illusions drew students in, while powerful personal anecdotes kept student’s attention. Brad explained that the hard road would eventually turn into the easy road; the harder you work now, the easier life will be in the future. Towards the end of the show, Brad also demonstrated how some of his magic was done and how it related to real life. Along with his presentation to Park sixth graders, Brad also presented to students and parents during a 6:30pm presentation thanks to GEAR UP and Park’s ATP.
Park: Where everyOne Belongs Park Middle School knows that starting at a new school can be hard; sixth grade can be even harder. To help make the transition from elementary school to middle school a little easier for students, Park has the WEB program. WEB (where everyone belongs) is an anti-bullying mentorship program, where teams of eighth grade students mentor, befriend and coach a group of sixth grade students throughout the year. WEB leaders devote their time to showing students around campus, having lunch with students, being a supportive role model and many other activities. Here, WEB teams enjoy lunch at the Friday the 13th WEB Luncheon.
Reptile Man
The Reptile Man Students at Cascade Elementary squealed in anticipation as Scott Peterson, the Reptile Man, pulled a snapping turtle out of a larger container. The turtle’s jaws immediately sprang open in a fierce predatory gesture as Scott showed her off to students. He explained that the turtle’s jaws were open because she was afraid. Waving a glove in front of the turtle, Scott demonstrated the snapping force of its jaws, causing more screams of excitement from the students. Along with the snapping turtle, Scott showed students a hela monster, milk snake, rattlesnake, gaboon viper, boa constrictor, Burmese python, and an alligator. During his presentation Scott worked to create an interest in natural sciences and taught students about the importance of all animals in the ecosystem.
School Awards
KSD Prize Patrol
KSD’s “Prize Patrol” has been busy visitin awards for meeting the district’s academ Dave Bond’s favorite events each year b to tell staff how important they are and children. Each building receives a specia up to look like pencils, eliciting many oo
Cottonwood Elementary
This year’s building award winners are: Cascade Elementary, Plaques for havin at the 50th and percentile, 97% at 40th students at the 40th percentile in Math
Canyon View Elementary, Plaque for 9 reading goal at the 40th percentile.
Cottonwood Elementary, Traveling Tro grade students reading at the 50th perc students reading at the 50th and 40th p students at the 40th percentile in Math
Lincoln Elementary, Traveling Trophy w show the most growth in reading from f students reading at the 50th percentile, for the 90% of students at the 40th perc Washington Elementary
Ridge View Elementary, Plaques for ha reading at the 50th and percentile, 96% and 4.
Washington Elementary, Plaques for h students at the 40th percentile in Math
Southgate Elementary, Plaque for 90%
Sunset View Elementary, Plaque for 93
Desert Hills Middle School, Plaque for
Kamiakin High, Plaque for more than 8
Southridge High, Plaque for more than Ridge View Elementary
ng schools this month to honor staff with mic goals. This is one of Superintendent, because it gives him the opportunity the impact they have on the lives of al gift bag filled with chocolates wrapped ohs and ahhs!
ng 93% of third grade students reading percentile, and a plaque for the 90% of in Grade 5.
Desert Hills Middle School
93% of students meeting the third grade
ophy winner for having 96% of third centile. Plaques for having 96% of percentile, and a plaque for the 90% of in Grades 1, 2, 3, and 4.
winner for having of third grade students fall to spring. Plaques for having 90% of , 95% at the 40th percentile, and a plaque centile in Math in Grade 3.
Lincoln Elementary
aving 92% of third grade students % at 40th percentile, and a plaque for the 90% of students at the 40th percentile in Math in Grades 3
having 93% of third grade students reading at the 40th and percentile and a plaque for the 90% of in grade 3.
% of students meeting the third grade reading goal at the 40th percentile.
3% of students meeting the third grade reading goal at the 40th percentile.
r more than 85% of students meeting standard on the Measures of Students Progress exam in Writing.
85% of students meeting standard on the High School Proficiency exam in Reading.
n 85% of students meeting the standard on the High School Proficiency exam in Writing.
Staff eXCELLENCE Awards
Each year, the district solicits nominations from within the K are reviewed by the members of the Cabinet, who then vot very difficult decision because so many classified and certifi an outstanding partner award to a member of the commun volunteerism and special efforts and contributions to the d
OUTSTANDING PARTNER OF THE YEAR: Theresa Roosendah STAFF SUPPORT PERSON OF THE YEAR: Kristi Parham, Huma STAFF SUPPORT PERSON OF THE YEAR: Lori Sams, Secretary STAFF SUPPORT PERSON OF THE YEAR, Laura Jepsen, Succe ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHER OF THE YEAR, Bob Swobod MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHER OF THE YEAR, Susie Oord, specia HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER OF THE YEAR, Phill Dron, Teacher a CREATIVITY IN CURRICULUM AWARD, Math Connects team CERTIFICATED SPECIALIST OF THE YEAR, Brenda Mehlenbac ADMINISTRATOR OF THE YEAR, Steve Biehn, Principal at Sou
KSD family for Staff Excellence Awards. These nominations te to select a winner in each of our categories. It is always a ficate staff are deserving of recognition! The district also gives nity who shows dedication to students and staff through district.
hl from the Family Learning Center. an Resources Secretary y at Highlands Middle School ess Coordinator at Kennewick High da, Music Teacher at Hawthorne Elementary. al education teacher at Horse Heaven Hills MS. and Key Club Advisor, Southridge High School of Alyssa Nesbit and Michelle Earley from Lincoln Elementary cher, Reading Specialist at Cottonwood Elementary uthridge High School
School Awards
Award Winning ATP’s
This year the Kennewick School District and four schools – Amistad, Eastgate, Westgate and (NNPS) at Johns Hopkins University for their work in developing excellent programs for scho are members of NNPS.
The four award winning schools plus Edison, Hawthorne, Highlands, Sunset View and Vista. Amistad: This is Amistad’s third annual award. This year they were recognized for their progra
Eastgate: This is Eastgate’s second annual award. This year they were recognized for their Fam provides parents with tools to help their children meet reading and math standards. Westgate: This is Westgate’s first award. They were recognized for developing a reading night that shows families how to read at home with their children even if they can’t speak English. Park: This is Park’s third annual award. They were recognized for their communication envelope system that helps improve two-way communication between families and the school.
School Awards
Park – received Partnership Awards from the National Network of Partnership Schools ool, family, and community partnerships. In the Kennewick School District, nine schools
ams aimed at training families how to help their children in reading and math at home.
mily Friendly Trimester Goal program that
Westgate Elementary
Upcoming Events 20
25th Annual FOCUS Tailgate BBQ & Football Game @ Lampson Stadium 5:30-7:00pm
25 27 4 4
4 5 9 11 24 25 25
School Board Meeting 5:30-8:30pm No School, District Professional Day
All Day
K-5, Mid-Trimester All Day
Kennewick Schools Community & Parent Workshop @KSD Aministration Center 9am-1pm Southridge HS Homecoming Football Game Cavalcade of Bands @Lampson Stadium
9am-9pm
High School Early Realease
10:30am
No School, State Professional Day
All Day
Kennewick HS Homecoming Football Game No School, District Professional Day Kamiakin HS Homecoming Football Game
Check out the Community Education catalog for exciting classes this fall!
1000 W. 4th Ave., Kennewick, WA 99352 (509) 222-5501
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www.ksd.org
September 2013 Newsletter
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