March 20, 2024
ISSUE 12
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Eatonville School District unveils strategic plan
Courtesy Eatonville’s Grace Field poses with her home run ball after crushing a grand slam against the Foster Bulldogs in the Cruisers season opener.
Field's grand slam sparks Lady Cruisers By Skip Smith
Contributing Writer
The Eatonville Lady Cruiser softball team experienced a whirlwind week. Kicking off their week on March 11, the Cruisers showed their power right out of the gate, thrashing the Foster Bulldogs 24-5. The game featured a standout performances from Grace Field, who delivered a flawless 4-4 record including a grand slam homerun and six RBIs. Not to be outdone, Kyleigh Backlund had a triple, two walks, and four RBIs. Kaitlyn Kenney joined the offensive barrage with a triple and a walk, driving in four runs as well. The Cruisers showcased their eye at the plate, amassing 21 walks. Sara Smith, Morgan Laird, and Zoe Burns shared pitching duties, combining to only allow one hit and striking
out eight, solidifying a long-awaited victory that snapped a daunting 15-game losing streak dating back to the previous season. However, Wednesday's showdown against the Curtis Vikings proved to be a challenge, resulting in a 13-10 defeat for the Lady Cruisers. Despite the loss, Sara Smith had a great evening at the plate, going 3-4 with a double and one RBI, while Ava Twedt contributed with a 2-2 performance, securing two RBIs for her team. Undeterred by Wednesday's setback, the Cruisers faced off against the North Mason Bulldogs on Thursday, only to fall 12-2. Smith and Field led the offensive charge, with Smith going 2-3 and Field contributing a hit alongside one RBI. However, the Lady Cruisers refused to let adversity define their week, closing it out on a
resounding high note with a dominant 11-0 victory against the Steilacoom Sentinels on Friday. Field once again showcased her presence on the field, going 2-4 with three RBIs, while Backlund and Lila Downey each secured two hits and driving in crucial runs. Smith's stellar pitching performance was the cornerstone of the victory, as she held the Sentinels to a mere one hit across five innings while striking out an impressive 10 batters. Looking ahead, the Eatonville Lady Cruisers brace themselves for another action-packed week, with a doubleheader against Morton-White Pass scheduled for Tuesday followed by a home game against the River Ridge Hawks on Thursday.
The Eatonville School District has released its strategic plan for the 2024-29 school year. The five-year plan will guide educational decisions to ensure academic success for students and provide the support and resources necessary to succeed after graduation for the district. “The plan will encourage collaboration between our board of directors, our staff members, our students, our parents and our community members,” Superintendent Jay Brower said. “As we collectively focus on academic rigor and student wellness, Eatonville students will achieve their academic goals and be prepared for a lifetime of success as they pursue their future goals and dreams.” Highlights of the plan include academic success, preparation for life, community and belonging, health and well-being, communication and transparency, and fiscal responsibility. Academic success: Learners will acquire foundational academic skills, critical and creative thinking skills to meet the high academic standards and achieve their highest academic potential. Objectives: • Promote a culture that prioritizes academic success through curriculum and instruction • Implement academic intervention support and enrichment systems to encourage student ownership • Partner with families and the community to support student learning • Promote higher order thinking by facilitating student-led academic opportunities that encourage resilience, problem solving skills, and self-advocacy Preparation for life: Students will graduate with the skills to navigate, adapt and innovate for a sustainable future. This will be achieved through an increased percentage of students who successfully navigate critical transitions in their educational experience as evaluated by course credits, early warning system data and student and parent feedback. Objectives: • Provide opportunities for student-driven exploration at all grade levels to discover and develop passions, talents, and career goals • Develop and establish partnerships within and beyond the community to expand opportunities for career exploration in and out of the classroom • Provide opportunities to learn and practice life skills that are transferable to long SCHOOL Page 3Æ