For many years, Public Educa-tion has instituted many new programs; however, none will be more revolutionary and

have a greater impact on student learning than the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). The transition and implementation of the new Math and English Language Arts (ELA) Common Core State Standards will begin in 2011 and continue through the 2014-2015 school year. The purpose and rationale of the new CCSS is to ensure that high school graduates in every part of the nation have the knowledge and skills necessary for college and/or career readiness. If students meet these new rigorous, high standards, they will have better career choices in their lives, and the nation will be more com-petitive in today's global economy. The implementation and transition of the new ELA Common Core should be a fairly smooth process because Washington's current curricu-lum has many similarities to the new CCSS. However, the new ELA Common Core requires more rigor, focuses on reading comprehension, and includes a heavier emphasis on writing, grammar, informational text, thinking skills, better instruction, and literacy across the cur-riculum. The implementation and transition to the new Common Core State Standards for Mathemat-ics will be the greatest challenge for teachers and students, especially in the secondary grades. For more information and timelines about the implementation and transition to the new Math and ELA Common Core State Standards, please go to the Office of the Superintendent of Pub-

lic Education web site: http://www.k12.wa.us/Corestandards/default.aspx

Volume VII Issue 5 March 2012 A Publication of The Darrington School District

To: Current ResidentTo: Current ResidentTo: Current ResidentTo: Current Resident

Darrington WA 98241Darrington WA 98241Darrington WA 98241Darrington WA 98241

Arlington WA 98223Arlington WA 98223Arlington WA 98223Arlington WA 98223

Non Profit OrganizationNon Profit OrganizationNon Profit OrganizationNon Profit Organization

US Postage PaidUS Postage PaidUS Postage PaidUS Postage Paid

Permit #13Permit #13Permit #13Permit #13

Darrington, WA 98241 Darrington, WA 98241 Darrington, WA 98241 Darrington, WA 98241 LOGLOG

the

Thank You!Thank You!Thank You!Thank You!

The Darrington School Board of

Directors, along with the DSD Levy

Committee, wishes to thank the

community of Darrington for sup-

porting our school! Your vote to

renew the existing Maintenance and

Operation Levy will allow programs

that enrich the lives of our stu-

dents to continue. On behalf of

our students we send a hearty

“Thank You”.

Board Leaves Mr. Johnson on

Administrative Leave

At the school board meeting held

March 15th, the Darrington School

Board expressed disappointment

with the recent hearing officer's

decision in Mr. Johnson's appeal,

but reaffirmed its respect for the

legal process. The board voted to

keep Mr. Johnson on administrative

leave until a question regarding the

extent of Mr. Johnson’s employ-

ment contract after June 2011 is

determined by the Snohomish

County Superior Court.

The Darrington School District Business Office will be closed during Spring Break,

April 2nd—6th.

Two additional school days have been added to make up for the snow days:

June 18th: Full day of school June 19th: Last day of school and early release.

Community Members Needed for

Senior Presentations

School Board News for the District

If you would be interested in serving

on a panel of community members

and school staff to assist in the

evaluation of Senior Presentations,

7-11 May 2012, or if you need ad-

ditional information contact

Mr. Holmer at the high school (436-

1140) or dholmer@dsd.k12.wa.us.

You will be assigned to a panel based

on the number of presentations and

the time you are available. Between

two and three hours of time will be

required each day. A meeting will

be held daily prior to the presenta-

tions to explain the role of panel

members.

This year is the eighth year that

the Senior Presentation is a gradua-

tion requirement. Serving on a panel

can be a great experience for you

and it is also a time of personal re-

flection and public celebration for

our seniors. Seniors have the op-

portunity to share what they have

learned, their self-growth, and their

achievements. In addition, seniors

are asked to make a connection be-

tween school and a career and apply

knowledge and skills learned during

their years at Darrington High

School.

What Do Parents Need to

Know About the Common

Core State Standards? Words from Mr. HolmerWords from Mr. HolmerWords from Mr. HolmerWords from Mr. Holmer

Madison

Martina

2nd Place

T H E L O G

P A G E 2

Elementary School News from Principal, Tracy Franke

When visiting any building in the Darrington School District,

please sign in at the building’s office!

This is for your safety as well as the safety of our students!

It takes a community. This is so

true, from passing a levy and supporting

our schools to all the organizations and

families involved in Family Night events.

The last two Family Nights have been

supported by Sauk-Suiattle Pre-school,

Kids Place Early Learning Center, Sno-

Isle Library, Darrington Family Support

and Resource Center, Americorps and the

Darrington Elementary School.

In February, Joe Neigel, who

works with the Darrington Prevention/

Intervention Community Coalition,

talked with parents on the topic of ad-

verse childhood experiences (ACES) and

touched on strategies for overcoming

them. During this time, the children

were engaged in art activities, some of

which were delivered to the elderly for

Valentine’s Day. The evening ended

with families enjoying a dinner of chili

and cinnamon rolls.

On March 6th over 300 people

celebrated the enjoyment of reading and

Dr. Seuss’s birthday. The “Who-ville

Cheerleaders” from DHS started the eve-

ning off leading the packed stands with

Dr. Seuss and reading cheers. Families

spent time together listening to some of

the high school leadership students read-

ing parts of Dr. Seuss books and acting

them out. As pointed out at the presenta-

tion, this was one way to model fluency,

which is the ability to read with speed,

accuracy, and proper expression. This

was followed by a game of Dr. Seuss Jeop-

ardy. The evening continued with dinner

and the opportunity for children to show

their families the doorways of the elemen-

tary which were decorated with Dr. Seuss

theme. The evening ended with every

child using the “Five Finger Rule” for

choosing a book to take home. The rules

are: Choose a book and read the first

page or two; Put one finger up for every

word you don’t know; If five of your fin-

gers go up while reading, choose another

book; If only two or three fingers go up,

you’ve found a “just right” book. Par-

ents were also provided with fluency in-

formation.

Do you ever wonder why the pre-

schools, library, Resource Center and the

school always have you sign in at every

event? There are several reasons why,

one being that we like to know how many

people are attending our events for future

planning, but also because much of our

money for these programs require family

and community involvement. With par-

ticipants signing in, we are able to prove

we had 300 people at Dr. Seuss Night and

not just making it up. So, thank you for

always remembering to sign-in at the

events these organizations hold and un-

derstanding why we remind you over and

over and over……again.

The free books provided for the

children throughout the year are part of

the Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) pro-

gram. This was a federally funded pro-

gram which was supplemented by the

funds raised at our book fairs. Unfortu-

nately, the federal funds have not been

renewed by Congress. We will continue

to raise money in order to put books into

children’s hands and home. If you are

interested in helping, please contact the

elementary office.

Darrington Elementary School is

proud to announce that Sarah Larson

was the winner of the 2012 School Spell-

ing Bee! She is a fifth grade student and

will be representing our school in Seattle

on March 24th. The second place winner

was second grader, Madison Martina and

the third place winner was fourth grader,

Parker Call. Congratulations to all the

classroom representatives for a job well

done!

SPELLING BEE WINNERS….. Elementary Upcoming Events

Mar 9 - Band Concert 1:15-1:45 Mar 10—12:10 Early Dismissal

Mar 11 & 12—12:10 Early Dismissal—Conferences Mar 13—12:10 Early Dismissal

Apr 2—6 Spring Break

Apr 17—Library Program K—3rd

Apr 20—RAD Assembly 10:50

Apr 27—Pre/K Recycle Art Night 5:30-6:30 Apr 27—May 18 MSP Testing Window

Room 5 Gets to Sit on the Balls

By Gabe Fuentes

On January 31, 2012, something happened. The class was amazed. There were stability balls in the room! Stability balls are orange or yellow balls that are squishy. They are as big as chairs. They can fit under the desks. They have little legs

so they don’t roll around and people trip and fall. We sit on them instead of chairs. Joe Neigel helped get a grant to help pay for the stability balls. The balls are good in the classroom because they help your core and with discipline because if you goof off you get your ball taken away and kids don’t like that. “It gets a little crowded with the balls,” commented Mrs. Benson. She also said the balls are some-times bad because you can get hurt. That’s why we have rules for the balls. Everyone has their opinion on the balls. Min is that I like the balls because I can’t bounce high during teach-ing time but you can still bounce a little while you are working.

Sarah Larson

1st Place

Parker Call

3rd Place

T H E L O G

P A G E 3

New Facility Use Agreements

New Facility Use Agreements are available at school offices and the administrative office. The School Board of Directors wishes to encourage use of school facilities by the community as long as use is for a lawful purpose and does not interfere with the conduct of the district’s educational programs, the primary purpose of which the buildings and grounds are in-tended. Community use of facilities is subject to the terms of District Policy and Procedures and the current schedule of user fees. ALL youth sports groups must provide a letter of compliance with mandated Youth Sports Concussion Manage-ment Protocols. Funds may be charged for use of school facili-ties to ensure that funds intended for education of children are not used for other purposes. Permission to use a particular facility may be denied based on a belief that the activity pro-posed may not be in the district’s interest, or due to the level of previously scheduled use. No person shall be denied the full enjoyment of the facilities because of race, creed, color, sex, or origin.

Please submit forms to the administrator of the building you are requesting to use for approval.

Munchkin Mail

Do you rely on the schools to get out information regard-ing upcoming community activities? We are happy to be of assistance. There is an authorization form we ask you to fill out which includes the disclaimer which should be included on your flyer. The authorization form also in-cludes a breakdown of classes to aide in organization for distribution for teachers at the elementary school. The deadline for receiving your materials for distribution is noon on Tuesday for our weekly Thursday folders.

You’re never too old, too wacky, too wild, to pick up a book and read to a child.

Dr. Seuss

2011-2012 Dr. Seuss Week was great fun!

Our local dentist, Dr. Ryan Johnstun, took time to visit the elementary school to offer dental education to our students. His manner captivated his audience as they listened attentively and asked questions. Thank you Dr. Ryan, for visiting.

T H E L O G

PAGE 4

Baseball Schedule

Softball Schedule

Baseball Coach: Cam Ross and Assistant Coach: Cory Ross

Softball Coach: Sue Howard and Assistant Coach: Nancy Snyder

Athletic Director: Cory Ross Email Address: wross@dsd.k12.wa.us

DATE OPPONENT SITE Game Time LEAVE RETURN

***Schedules are subject to change please check the web site for most current information

Sat March 24 * Friday Harbor Darrington 12:00pm

Mon March 26 Bush Shoreline - Hamlin #6 3:15pm 12:15pm 8:00pm

Tue March 27 Lummi (JV game) Darrington 3:30pm

Thur March 29 * Cedar Park (MLT) Shoreline - Hamlin # 2 3:15pm 12:15pm 8:00pm

Wed April 4 Practice Darrington 2pm-6pm

Thur April 5 Practice Darrington 2pm-6pm

Fri April 6 * Concrete Concrete 4:00pm 2:00pm 9:00pm

Tue April 10 * La Conner (DH) Darrington 2pm/4pm

Wed April 11 Lummi (two 5 inning games) Lummi 3pm/5pm 11:45am 9:00pm

Fri April 13 Bush Darrington 5:00pm

Sat April 14 * Friday Harbor Friday Harbor 11:45am 7:30am 8:00pm

Tue April 17 * Cedar Park (MLT) (DH) Darrington 3pm/5pm

Fri April 20 * Concrete (DH) Darrington 2pm/4pm

Mon April 23 * La Conner La Conner 3:00pm

Tue April 24 Lummi (JV game) Lummi 3:30pm 12:30pm 8:30pm

Wed April 25 Overlake Darrington 5:00pm

Thurs April 26 Concrete (JV game) Concrete 4:00pm 2:00pm 7:00pm

Fri May 4 Bi-Districts TBD

Tues May 8 Bi-Districts TBD

Sat May 12 Finals Bi-District Stanwood

Sat May 19 Regionals TBD

Fri/Sat May 25/26

State Ellensburg

DATE OPPONENT SITE Game Time LEAVE RETURN

***Schedules are subject to change please check the web site for most current information

Sat March 24 Friday Harbor * Darrington 12:00pm

Tue March 27 Highland Christian Darrington 4:00pm

Tue April 10 La Conner * - Double Header Darrington 2pm/4pm

Sat April 14 Friday Harbor * - Double Header Friday Harbor 11:45am 7:30am 8:00pm

Tue April 17 Lakewood JV Darrington 4:00pm

Fri April 20 Concrete * - Double Header Darrington 2pm/4pm

Tue April 24 Orcas Island * - Double Header Orcas 1pm/3pm 8:30am 9:00pm

Thur April 26 Granite Falls JV Darrington 4:00pm

Wed May 2 La Conner * - Double Header La Conner 2pm/4pm 12:00pm 8:00pm

Thur May 3 Lakewood JV Lakewood 4:00pm 2:00pm 7:00pm

Sat May 19 Bi-District Playoff TOURNAMENT Stanwood

Fri/Sat May 25/26 State Yakima

SPORTS SPORTS SPORTS SPORTS PAGEPAGEPAGEPAGE

T H E L O G

P a g e 5

Winter Homecoming Royalty–pictured above

Sophomores; Riley Anderson & Josh Wiegand Seniors Kim West & Chawncey Olson Senior Queen & King; Brandy Hadaway & Wessley McMillion Juniors; Nina Kakosova & John DiMaggio Freshmen: Tayler Hoftell, and Michael Carrington

Middle/High School Activity Calendar

Band Concert with Granite Falls Band at 2:16 26 March Concert will be held in the auditorium Conferences 28-29 March

Early release 27 March, periods 4-6 Early release 28 March, periods 1-3 Early release 29 March, periods 4-6 End of 3rd quarter, early release, periods 1-3 30 March Spring Break 2-6 April Community Talent Show in auditorium, 7PM 13 April Blood Drive 20 April Spring Play 17, 18, 19 May Snow Make up Day early release, periods 4-6 25 May Memorial Day (no school) 28 May Biology end of Course Exam 5 June Algebra end of course exam 6 June Geometry end of course exam 7 June Graduation Practice, 8:30-noon 8 June Graduation, 1PM 9 June 2 additional school days 18, 19 June (18th full day, and 19th till noon)

English 9 class traveled to Bellingham to hear Holo-

caust survivor Naomi Ban speak at WWU.

On Thursday, Feb. 16, 20 students from Mr. Eckerson's Eng. 9 class traveled to Bellingham to hear Holocaust survi-vor Naomi Ban speak at WWU. She is now 92 years of age and regularly visits schools and other locations to share her story of survival with others. She stated, "It is my way of paying my respects to all the dear ones I lost. There is no grave I can visit as my mother, grandmother and siblings were burned in the crematorium after being gassed in Auschwitz."

The students were very impressed by the courage and hu-mor displayed by Mrs. Ban.

Haley Harris, 15, said of her meeting with Mrs. Ban: "She is an amazing and loving person. I can't believe how positive she remains despite the horrendous experiences she has been through." Another student, Trevon Williams com-mented, "One minute she had us crying and the next we were laughing. She knows how to make you appreciate life."

Mr. Eckerson explained the reason he took the class: "As a class, we had read "Night" by Elie Wiesel, so the students had background knowledge about the Holocaust, but meet-ing an actual survivor, which becomes more rare each pass-ing year, brings literature and history to life." The stu-dents will never forget Mrs. Ban's final admonition: "Be tolerant and kind to all and, above all, love life."

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T H E L O G

P A G E 6

Middle/High School Library News

Searching for a book? The Darrington

School’s Libraries catalog

is now a web-based program.

Check it out at

www.destiny.dsd.k12.wa.us

Semester 1 Honor Roll High Honor Roll 12th grade

Sarah Peterson Nickolas Miles

Honor Roll

Kimberly West Jessica Brooks Sophie Jones Brent Marihugh Emily Massingale Elizabeth Williamson Jill Goldman Chawncey Olson Andrew Forrest

High Honor Roll 11th grade

Allison Kitz Amanda Kitz Jordan Rumsey Javier Lopez James Duncan

Honor Roll

Danyele Deardorff Nina Kakosova Nolan Meece Tori Tanner Oskar Gafarov Sara Regelbrugge Patty Jones Alisa Vargas Felipe Valencia

High Honor Roll-10th grade

Joshua Wiegand Monica Franke Kacey West Tristyn Whitehouse Colin Davis

Honor Roll

Amy Miles Quinten Lincoln Casandra Cousins Riley Anderson

Principal’s Honor Roll

Anna Barkholz Railynn Ford Tayler Hoftell

High Honor Roll

Lexi Marston Trenton Green Haley Harris Kassandra Jones Taylor Lindeman Bailey Neidigh

High Honor Roll-8th grade

Melanie Benson McKenzie Ludemann

Honor Roll

Lauren Kitz Breanna Valencia Joseph Barker Sydnie Burtenshaw

High Honor Roll-7th grade

Tristan Cook Paul Franke Kameron West

Honor Roll

Rachel Sherson Lillian Ross Henry Ayers Summer Bryson

Your Teen/Tween, Alcohol, and You: Let’s Get Real Written by: Jennifer Fuentes If you asked any parent if they want to hurt, kill, or inflict brain damage on their child they would probably look at you like you were insane. Why would any parent knowingly cause their child harm? Our natural instinct as parents is to provide and protect our offspring. I remember the first time I rode the ferry as a new parent. I would not set foot onto the outside deck for fear that my child would suddenly spring from my arms and fall overboard. Some of the ideas and notions we come up with as parents are just plain ridiculous and laughable. But what is worse is that sometimes we actually end up doing the opposite of what our intent is as parents and we end up harming our children in-stead of protecting them. With spring break quickly approaching and prom just around the corner the topic of teenage drinking is in the media once again and maybe on your mind as well. As parents we have the daunting task of sorting through all the information and making the real choice for our families. There are many opinions on the subject and they vary across the board, but I think the one thing we can all agree on is that no one wants to deliberately harm their child. So, now where does that leave you? As a drug and alcohol counselor I know personally the damage that drugs and alcohol have on our young. Yet, as a parent I know that the choice is not al-ways as simple as it seems. What do we do with the occasional sip your child wants from your beer at a family Continued..

get together? Back in our day no one would blink an eye at a sip here or there. But we are in a new age and things are not as they once were. So what do I recommend? Well as a professional coun-selor I know that the age of first use heightens the risk for developing an alco-holic disorder. But what is first use? Does a sip count? I can’t exactly say, but I do know that I personally rather err on the side of too much pro-tection rather than too lit-tle. Furthermore, I will state firmly that no one should be getting drunk with their child! It is known that this is damaging to both the physical and mental health of your child. Which leads me to the big issue of late, hosting drinking parties in the home. There are some parents who believe that hosting a party in the home is a reasonable alternative to what else is out there. When asked about this issue, my response is that it is illegal for par-ents to provide alcohol for any minor other than their own child. So it is a no brainer that a parent should never host a party. But when it comes to giving your teen alcohol, again it goes back to the fact that alcohol on the growing brain will damage it and this is aside from all the other problems that come from consum-ing alcohol. So what do parents do with the issue of drinking? The best defense against teenage drinking is having a con-siderable offense. Accordingly, my pro-fessional opinion is that a parent should have clear guidelines around the use of drugs and alcohol. Be involved in your teens life, encourage their interests and talents, spend time with them, know where they are and who they are with. For more information contact Jennifer Fuentes, Prevention-Interventionist for the Darrington Middle and High School at: jfuentes@dsd.k12.wa.us or (360) 436-8011 x203.

T H E L O G

P A G E 7

MARCH PROGRAMS AND SERVICES

PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES Baby & Me Storytime Thursdays, March 22 & 29, 10:30am

Wiggle and giggle with your baby through silly stories, happy songs, rhymes, and activities that inspire a love of reading. For newborns through 18 months. Supported by Darrington IGA Grocery and Darrington Friends of the Library.

Preschool Storytime Fridays, March 23 & 30, 11:00am Let imaginations run wild with fun books, sing-along songs, and creative activities that prepare young minds for the adventures of reading. Playtime or craft may follow. For ages 3 to 5 years. Caregiver required. Sup-ported by Darrington Friends of the Library.

Early Release Activity: Flat Stanley Wednesday, March 28, 12:30pm Make a life sized flat reproduction of yourself. All supplies provided by the Darrington Friends of the Library

Tween Time: Seed and Mud Cookies for Your Garden Thursday, March 29, 2:00pm Combine mud and a few flower seeds. Shape into a seed cookie. Plant the mud cookie in a sunny spot. With a little luck, your garden will be lovely. For ages 9 to 11.

Teen Hang Time Wednesdays, 21 & 28 3:00pm-5:00pm Join your friends and spend some time talking, playing board and card games, listening to music, doing home-work, and eating some munchies. For ages 12 to 19 (grades 6th to 12th). Supported by the Darrington Friends of the Library

"The Hunger Games," The Movie: Opening Celebration Saturday, March 17, 2pm "The Hunger Games" opens March 23, 2012. Compete with other teens in trivia, speed and agility games, and other "Hunger Games" activities. Top prizes include tickets to the movie, a boxed set of a hardback edition of the series, and a Mockingjay pendant necklace. Snacks and beverages included. For grades 6 to 12. Funded by the Darrington Friends of the Library and Regal Cinemas Marysville 14.

Piercing the Peruvian Puzzle Wednesday, March 21, 6:30pm What Peruvian Puzzle you ask? You need to be there to find out. Join us as local travelers, Bridget and Veron-ica Wisniewski, guide us on their journey through Inca and Pre-Inca ruins, flora and food and find out.

Librarians as Information Guides: Family History Research with HeritageQuest Saturday, March 24, 11am

Interested in getting started in genealogy? Already started but hit a dead end? Learn the basics of genea-logical research using HeritageQuest as one of your online genealogy tools. Basic computer skills required. Seating is limited; please preregister. Funded by The Paul G. Allen Family Foundation and Sno-Isle Libraries Foundation.

Darrington Friends of the Library Book Sale – Darrington Residents Only Presale Friday, March 30, 5:00pm-6:00pm

A special shopping time for Darrington Residents Only. Come and get a jump on the crowds from down below. Darrington Friends of the Library Book Sale Saturday, March 31,

11:00am-2:00pm

Loads of books at bargain prices! Members of the Friends may begin shopping at 10am. Beat the crowd and become a member. Memberships begin at $5.00.

CONFERENCE TIPS FOR PARENTS

Please use the following tips for more successful conferences: Questions to ask yourself: 1. What are things I want the teacher to know about my child? You might want to share your child’s favorite subjects, after-school activities, medical needs or difficulties in school. 2. Is there anything that is happening at home that may affect your child’s behavior at school? Any change in your family-from a birth to a death, may affect your child’s school performance. 3. What is the most important thing I want to learn from this conference? Write this down and take it with you as a re-minder.

Questions to ask your child before the conference: 4. What is your favorite subject at school? 5. What is your least favorite? If your child tells you she/he does not understand math homework, for example, you should share that information with the teacher. 6. What would you like me to tell your teacher? Children insights into their performance in school can give you and your child’s teachers an idea of how to help your child do better.

Questions to ask your child’s teacher, during the conference: 7. What are my child’s best and worst subjects? 8. What are my child’s strengths and weaknesses? 9. Have you noticed any sudden changes in the way my child acts in school? 10. Is my child applying the skills that he/she is learning consistently in all subject areas? If not, what can you do to help? 11. What can we do together to continue to help my child have a good year? Conferences are during the week of March 26th. You will be hearing from your child’s teacher or advisor regarding a meeting time regarding your child. Please stop by the office if you have updates to make in your child’s home infor-mation while you are in the building.

T H E L O G

P A G E 8

DARRINGTON HIGH SCHOOL ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF POETRY OUT LOUD CONTEST

Darrington, WA — Darrington High School announces the winners of the school contest for Poetry Out Loud: National Recita-tion Contest. The student winners are Caroline Haywood and first place and Tayler Hoftell in second place. Both are students in Mr. Eckerson’s English 9 Class. “I was very nervous when I first got up there, but I had fun once I started reciting,” said Tayler. “I practiced a lot, like 10 hours or so.” Caroline adds, “I learned that I need to understand the emotion that underlies the poem in order to connect with it.” The competition, presented in partnership with the Washington State Arts Commission, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Poetry Foundation, is part of a national program that encourages high school students to learn about great poetry through memorization, performance, and competition. On January 19, more than 20 high school students from Darrington High School participated in the Poetry Out Loud school contest at the Community Center. Poetry Out Loud is a national arts educa-tion program that encourages the study of great poetry by offering educational materials and a dynamic recitation competi-tion to high schools across the country. Poetry Out Loud uses a pyramid structure. Beginning at the classroom level, winners advance to a school-wide competition, then to regional and state competition, and ultimately to the National Finals in Washington, DC. Nearly 300,000 students across the country took part in Poetry Out Loud last year. At Darrington High School, students recited works they selected from an anthology of more than 600 classic and contempo-rary poems. Judges evaluated student performances on criteria including articulation, evidence of understanding, level of dif-ficulty, and accuracy. Mr. Eckerson introduced poetry recitation in the classroom using materials created by the NEA and the Poetry Foundation, including a standards-based teacher’s guide, a website, a ‘best performances’ DVD, and a CD featuring po-etry recitations by well-known actors and writers such as Anthony Hopkins and Rita Dove. The Darrington High School winner will advance to the Regional contest on Feb. 8, 2012 at the library in Burlington, WA. A group of students from Darrington is planning to attend in order to cheer on Caroline in hopes that she will succeed and continue on to the state competition. Each champion at the state level will receive $200 and an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, DC, to compete for the na-tional championship. The school of the state champion will receive $500 for the purchase of poetry books. Mr. Eckerson states, ”Many students initially feel very nervous about reciting poetry in front of an audience, but the experi-ence proves valuable—not only in school, but also in life. Public speaking is a skill people use every day in both the workplace and the community. Better still, this competition will spark a life-long love of poetry in some of the students.” Tayler said, “What I took away from this experience is that it’s ok to go out of your comfort zone in order to really express yourself through poetry.”

Pictured left to right while performing: Caroline Haywood, Tayler Hoftell, Delana Hadaway, and the audience.

T H E L O G

P A G E 9

Family and Student Access

Be sure to check out Family Access on the Darrington School District Website: http://www.dsd.k12.wa.us/.

On the family access website you can access your student’s school information. Some of the information available includes grades, as-

signments, attendance, lunch balances, demographic information, and schedules.

Middle and high school families –you may now request a weekly progress report be emailed to you. This option is available in your

family access. Please call your school office for your login and password information.

Darrington Family Support and Resource Center (DFSRC)1085 Fir Street / PO Box 1103 Darrington, WA 98241

360-436-0308 (Phone) / 360-436-0224 (FAX)

Working with the community to provide education, recreation, and resources.

Today that is You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You. Dr. Seuss

Did anyone say it better than Dr. Seuss? Thank you for being You! Thank you for mentoring a child; for helping with tutoring

and sharing your calculator, for financial assistance in support of those striving for self-sufficiency, for cooking Power Hour

Breakfast as our middle and high schoolers study, for helping during KOGs and in the clean-up after, for providing maintenance

at your Family Center, for chaperoning at Teen ‘Nite,’ for making desserts to share at Family Night, for creating a youth Get

Fit schedule in preparation of July’s Marathon, and the list goes on… In short, Thank You for being You! Please join us in cele-

brating YOU throughout the Spring:

Tuesdays – 3:00 - 4:15. Kids on the Go (KOGs) is an afterschool program for elementary-age children. March will focus on

Ireland as we discuss St. Patrick’s Day. We are also planning an afterschool field trip for later in the month. This is a FUN

program for 5 through 12–year olds. Transportation home is available. Please call 360-436-0308 to register.

Wednesdays – Middle School Lunch Time. Skate/BMX Park Committee meet to share ideas, plan fund raisers, and design the

Park. THANK YOU for supporting the Skate/BMX Sweethearts’ Supper. With your support, we grossed nearly $1,000!

Wednesday, March 14–April 18 - 6:00-7:30. Join us for evidence-based parenting classes as we discuss positive discipline,

logical and natural consequences, and unconditional love. Family-style dinner followed by separate workshops for parents and

children. Please call to register or for more information.

Wednesdays – 3:00 – 5:00. Homework oh homework… these beginning words of a poem many of our kids learn in grade

school become non-existent as they strive for better grades and get help with subjects that are sometimes difficult. Light

snack provided. Call Marree for more information.

Thursdays – 5:00 – 6:00. Youth Coalition meets to plan service projects and monthly and annual prevention campaigns. Focus

is on positive decision-making and homework/school completion. We are reading Hunger Games in preparation of attending the

midnight showing March 23.

Thursdays – Alex of DSHS meets residents in Darrington; helping with food and medical benefits’ applications and questions.

Call to make an appointment.

Friday, March 23 – 7:00 AM. Power Hour Breakfast for Middle and High Schoolers serious about homework. Call Marree for

more information .Fridays, March 16 and 30 – 8:00-11:00. Teen ‘Nites’ for middle and high schoolers. Basketball, LOUD

music, board and video games, great food and friends. Elementary cafeteria and gym.

Friday Fun Day – Afterschool - ???. TGIF – Youth and staff are constantly planning great activities: Field trips, Movie

Nights, and More… Come be a part of the excitement as middle and high schoolers plan and participate in outings that promote

high school completion.

Saturday, April 7 – 1:00 PM. Easter Egg Hunt for those 10-110 Years Young.

Saturday – April 21; Spring Fling Fashion Show / Totes for Empowerment!

Your $5/Person Ticket provides for Decadent Desserts and a FUN Fashion Show

T H E L O G

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Please Keep Sick Children at Home!

When a child wakes up looking flushed, feeling stuffed-up or queasy, remember the 2 C’s when making a decision about attending school or day care: Contagious and Comfort. Please keep your child at home with the following symptoms which mean that the illness is contagious: Diarrhea, vomiting, or fever (above 100.4 by mouth) within the past 24 hours

• Thick greenish yellow mucus or pus draining from the eye

• Sore throat, especially if combined with fever or swollen glands

• Rashes unrelated to heat or diaper-ing or related to known communica-ble causes

• Unusual tiredness, paleness, lack of appetite or irritability.

Aside from any of these warning

signs, the question becomes whether

your child feels well enough to func-

tion comfortably at school or day

care.

Medication at School State law requires schools to have:

• A written, current, unexpired request from a licensed physician to administer medication

• A written, current, unexpired request from a

parent or guardian to administer medication

• The provided medication must be in an original prescription container/or original over-the-counter container.

The medication permit must be signed by the child’s physician and by the parent/guardian. This means that the office cannot give out any medication with-out this medication permit. Parent notes accompa-nying medication cannot be honored. This precau-tion is taken for your child’s health and safety. You may pick up a medication permit at the office.

Child absent due to illness or medi-cal appointment?

Please call or email: Elementary School—360.436.1313 dgreen2@dsd.k12.wa.us MS/HS—360.436.1140 ext. 252 vsmith@dsd.k12.wa.us lbrooks@ds.d.k12.wa.us

Other absences should be prear-ranged with the office and teacher and may or may not be considered excused per state mandates.

Five Tips for Middle School Parents

Here are the five suggestions from The Science Inside Alcohol Project:

Find Teachable Moments-- We live in a culture of celebrity. If a celebrity your child admires admits to a drinking problem, or an instance of alcohol abuse occurs in your community, talk about it. Ask your middle school student if she knows anyone who drinks alcohol and whether it is at parties or has been brought into her school. An-swer questions. Have this conversation often.

Talk to Your Kids When Everything is Fine -- Middle school students are volatile, hormonal beings. They are sweet and wonderful one moment, and blow up the next. Pick a time when things are quiet and they're a captive audience such as in the back-seat of your car. Don't take no for an answer.

Engage Your Kids in the Science of Alcohol -- Adolescents are incredibly self-involved. Alcohol can cause memory loss, impair sports performance, incite embar-rassing behavior and affect how they feel and look. Make them aware of these facts. If there is a history of alcoholism in your family, explain about genetic predisposi-tions towards alcohol abuse.

Be Vigilant -- There's no alternative to monitoring your kids. Have an early curfew. Know where they are at all times. Even if you are not home on a weeknight, make sure you can reach your kids by phone. Get to know their new friends and their parents. Find out what their rules and level of engagement are.

Learn to Trust Your Child -- Now's the time when all the work you've put into cre-ating a value system for your child begins to pay off. Set limits and enforce rules, but remember to give your child room to make his or her decisions, within your com-fort zone. Praise them when they do well. It's worth a thousand words. We will continue to feature articles of interest regarding teen/youth alcohol/substance abuse in upcoming LOG issues.

Rotary Student Recognition for Semester 1.

Justin Smith

Emily Massingale

Arlington Rotary recognizes students for a variety of reasons, including

school and community service, as well as academics. Luncheons recognizing

students are held at the Glen Eagle Country Club.

Section 504 Compliance

The Darrington School District makes every effort to comply with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 which protects the rights of individuals with disabilities. A child is a qualified disabled person if he or she is between the ages of 3 and 21 and has a physical or mental impairment that sub-stantially limits one or more major life activities such as car-ing for oneself, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing speaking, breathing, learning, and/or working. If you feel that your child is a qualified disabled person as outlined above and needs special help in school, please contact Val Cook at 360.436.2150.

T H E L O G

P A G E 1 1 P A G E 1 1

District Report Card

The State of Washington Office of Public Instruction pub-lishes an annual report card for school districts. If you would like to check Darrington School District’s annual report card please go to the following link or pick up a copy in the elemen-tary or high school offices:

http://reportcard.ospi.k12.wa.us/summary.aspx?schoolId=227&OrgType=3&reportLevel=District&year=2009-10

This link is also available on the district website:

Small Works Roster

The Darrington School District is ac-cepting applications for its 2012 small

works roster.

Contractors who are registered on the small works roster may have the opportunity to bid on various jobs that arise in the district in 2011. Contractors may be added to the roster by completing an online applica-

tion at www.mrscrosters.org

The Darrington School Dis-trict’s policy on tobacco prohib-its tobacco use by students or adults on campus during school or after hours at extra-curricular activities and events.

2011-2012 Meal Costs

Breakfast Pre K-12 $1.75

Lunch Pre K-6 $2.75

Lunch 7-12 $3.00

Breakfast Adults/Guests $2.25

Lunch Adults/Guests $4.00

Breakfast Free & Reduced $0.00

Lunch Reduced Pre/K-12 .40

Milk Student .65

Milk Adult .75

SUBSTITUTES NEEDED

Teachers, Para Educators, Food Service, Maintenance, Grounds, Inclement

Weather Assistance

Please Call Maxine Frable at

360.436.1323

for more information.

Are you a regis-

tered voter? To ensure you are prepared

to vote in any upcoming election visit

www.vote.wa.gov for information on

how to register online or pick up a regis-

tration form at your school’s office.

2012-2013 KINDERGARTEN OPEN ENROLLMENT

MARCH 19TH—MARCH 30TH.

IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS CALL 436.1313.

Maintenance Demi Ramilo

360.436.1313 x 131

Grounds Kurt Helling

360.436.1313 x 131

Kudos! Right On! Congrats! Thank You!

T H E L O G

T H E B A C K P A G E

Judy Nevitt, Chair WIAA Representative

Home Phone 360. 436.1711 Cell Phone 425.239.286

judynevitt@frontier.com

Roy Bryson, Director

Home Phone 360.436.1397 Cell Phone 425.446.9342

Roybryson@ymail.com

Alan Pickard, Vice Chair

Home Phone:360.436.1800 alan@squirecreekranch.com

Doug Lenker, Director

Home 360.436.1861 Cell 425.231.0902

lenkerdoug@yahoo.com

Jennifer West, Director

Legislative Representative

Cell 425.290.2021 jennwest1973@yahoo.com

Sarah Peterson, Student Representative

The Board of Directors meet the 3rd Thursday of each month in the

elementary school library.

District Offices 1065 Fir Street PO Box 27

Phone 360.436.1323 Fax 360.436.2045

Acting Superintendent Dave Holmer

dholmer@dsd.k12.wa.us 360.436.1140

Darrington Middle/High School

1085 Fir Street Phone 360.436.1140 Fax 360.436.1089

Principal

Dave Holmer dholmer@dsd.k12.wa.us Darrington Elementary

1075 Fir Street Phone 360.436.1313 Fax 360.436.0592

Principal Tracy Franke

tfranke@dsd.k12.wa.us Special Needs Valerie Cook

Phone 360.436.2150 Fax 360.436

Prevention Intervention Specialist Jennifer Fuentes

360.436.1140 x 203 jfuentes@dsd.k12.wa.us

Transportation 360.436.1518

Food Services Terry O’Connell

360.436.1313 x 132

TO: Thank you to Carol Perfect for being a wonderful reading buddy every morning at the elementary school. TO: Thank you to Litza Lovell for helping students create beautiful and educational art for our hallways. TO: Kudos to the elementary staff

who created a fantastic Dr. Seuss family evening! It was great to see over 250 people in attendance!

TO: Kudos to Randi Lester for her

endless creativity and energy! While we are thrilled to have you here in Darrington, there is a theatre in New

York City that is sourly missing your talents! TO: The substitute teachers and substitute classified staff-for tire-lessly coming in to work and doing such a terrific job! TO: Linne Haywood and Leadership

class for keeping School Spirit alive at DHS-and many other contributions! TO:: Helen Ross and the cheerlead-

ers-for keeping the spirit at DHS and for the terrific pep assemblies and posters around the school. TO: Ginger Castleberry for volun-teering with drama club.

Darrington School Board of Directors DISTRICT INFORMATION

LOG Editors:

Valerie Smith, vsmith@dsd.k12.wa.us

Dianne Green, dgreen2@dsd.k12.wa.us

Little Eyes Upon You

There are little eyes upon you

and they're watching night and day.

There are little ears that quickly

take in every word you say.

There are little hands all eager

to do anything you do;

and a little boy who's dreaming

of the day he'll be like you.

You're the little fellow's idol,

you're the wisest of the wise.

In his little mind about you

no suspicions ever rise.

He believes in you devoutly,

holds all you say and do;

He will say and do in your way

when he's all grown up like you.

There's a wide-eyed little fellow

who believes you're always right,

and his eyes are always opened,

and he watches day and night.

You are setting an example

every day in all you do

so you should be aware that,

he will grow up to be like you!

Author unknown.

2012 YEARBOOK

SALE

$60.00 (AFTER 12/16/11)

INCLUDES VIDEO YEARBOOK

GREAT GIFT IDEA

FOR ANY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT

PURCHASE IN THE HS OFFICE

Email darmony@dsd.k12.wa.us for