Puyallup School District302 Second Street SEP. O. Box 370Puyallup, WA 98371

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CONNECTIONSVolume 9:1 Published for Puyallup School District's Community Partners for a Quality Future August 2003

Gavin Sims, a first-grader last year at Sunrise Elementary School,works on a classroom project.

New secondaryearly release

days set (see article page 4)

Report card revised to address teacher, parent needs

Jane Queen

After a year of field testing a new,standards-based elementary report card,revisions have been made to reflectchanges requested in a survey and inmeetings of teachers and parents.

The revised report card, which takeseffect this fall for every student in gradesone through six, is designed to be easierfor parents to understand and lesscomplicated for teachers to evaluatestudents, says Jane Queen, ExecutiveDirector for Elementary Education.

Monthly training is also being offeredbeginning this fall to help staff continue to

adjust to the stan-dards-based report-ing method, in whichteachers use a onethrough four numberscale to assessindividual studentprogress towardmeeting a Statestandard. Thisnumber system

mirrors the scoring scale used to evaluatestudent performance on the WashingtonAssessment of Student Learning (WASL).

The shift from the century-old letter gradereporting system to a number scale hasbeen a dramatic change in thinking formany parents, students, and educators,says Queen. “This is a big change, and itwill continue to be a work in progress,”she adds. Teacher and parent report cardcommittees will continue to meet this yearto monitor the report card’s effectiveness.Parents interested in serving on the

committee should contact their schoolprincipal before the first meeting onSeptember 25.

Plans are to have a task force study thestandards-based reporting system this yearat the junior high level and, depending onthat research, possibly expand the stan-dards-based report card through gradeeight in 2004-2005, says Queen. At thistime there are no plans to change thereporting system at the high school level.

Significant changes to this year’s elemen-tary report card include:

• The addition of a behavior key. Lastyear, students were scored with theone, two, three, or four academic scalein the various behavior areas. Thisyear, they will receive an O foroutstanding, S for satisfactory, or N orneeds improvement in the “Behaviorsthat Promote Learning” category.

• A new definition of what it takes to earna four on the academic scale (seeaccompanying chart on page 5). Lastyear, parents and teachers expressedconcern about when or how a studentcould receive a four on the report card.The new definition clarifies that a four isattainable and can be achieved for“exceptional performance at or abovegrade level.”

• Fewer sub-skills listed under each of themajor subject areas of reading, writing,mathematics, communication, science,and social studies. The reason the reportcard is called standards-based is

because under each main subject area isa list of standards, or specific academicskills, which students are expected tolearn in that particular grade. Thesestandards are uniform throughout theState and have been given the title“Essential Academic Learning Require-ments.” One of the Essential AcademicLearning Requirements in third gradereading, for example, is that a student“comprehends text.” Beneath that is alist of specific skills students must attainby the end of third grade to meet thatstandard. In several instances, Queensays, teachers felt these sub-skills weretoo finite — too broken down — anddifficult to assess.

Many of the revisions were suggestedduring monthly report card committeemeetings last year among staff andparents. They often met for several hoursat a time with their peers to fine-tune thenew reporting tool and examine researchon standards-based education. Commentsexpressed during these sessions wereechoed on a report card survey given toteachers and parents during springconferences.

The more than 2,400 parents who re-sponded to that survey said that theyunderstood most of the report card and

continued on page 5

2 August 2003 http://www.puyallup.k12.wa.us Celebrating Student Achievement

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Susan GourSusan GourSusan GourSusan GourSusan GourleleleleleyyyyySuperintendentSuperintendentSuperintendentSuperintendentSuperintendent

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District MissionDistrict MissionDistrict MissionDistrict MissionDistrict MissionSupported by families and our diversecommunity, the Puyallup School Districtchallenges students to achieve theiracademic, creative, and physical potential.

Connections Editorial PConnections Editorial PConnections Editorial PConnections Editorial PConnections Editorial PolicolicolicolicolicyyyyyConnections is published periodically bythe Puyallup School District as part of acommunications link between the districtand the community. Its intent and purposeis to provide the Board and District staff avenue to inform community membersabout programs, goals, and activities ofpublic education in the Puyallup SchoolDistrict. Please direct questions orcomments to Karen Hansen, Administra-tive Assistant to the Superintendent, POBox 370, Puyallup WA 98371 or telephone(253) 841-8703 or emailkhansen@puyallup.k12.wa.us. Re-sponses, as appropriate, will be provideddirectly to those who contact this office.

CoorCoorCoorCoorCoordinadinadinadinadinatortortortortor::::: Karen HansenEditorEditorEditorEditorEditor: : : : : Susan GiffordTTTTTececececechnical Assistance: hnical Assistance: hnical Assistance: hnical Assistance: hnical Assistance: Carrington, Ink!ContribContribContribContribContributing Wuting Wuting Wuting Wuting Writerriterriterriterriters: s: s: s: s: Beth Bestrom,Brynn Blanchard, and Susan Gifford

Puyallup School District No. 3 complies withall federal rules and regulations and doesnot discriminate on the basis of race, creed,color, marital status, age, national origin,religion, or disability. This holds true for allstudents who are interested in participatingin educational programs and/orextracurricular activities. Inquiriesregarding compliance procedures may bedirected to the District's Title IX/RCW28A.640 Officer and Section 504Coordinator IWilliam L. Welk, ExecutiveDirector of Human Resources) at 302Second Street SE, Puyallup, WA 98372.Phone: 841-8645.

Superintendent's MessageEducators ... changing young lives forever

Susan GourleySuperintendent

Welcome back to school — a new year ofteaching and learning in the Puyallup SchoolDistrict! This year promises to be excitingfor all of us as we support our students in theachievement of their learning goals.

Puyallup has long enjoyed the reputationof being an excellent school district, and Iam very proud of that tradition … one thatis based on the excellence of our staff andthe successes of our graduates.

Our School District has earned its reputa-tion the right way. Our graduates leaveknowing that our very talented anddedicated staff are committed to helpingour students achieve their greatestpotential. Our alumni recall vividly thecaring and passion for learning they foundin our classrooms and school buildings.Our successes are measured in many ways,and one of the most meaningful andrewarding is with our graduates.

Our Puyallup School District Teacher ofthe Year Melanie Helle was a student atNorthwood Elementary, EdgemontJunior High, and graduated from

Puyallup High School. A six-yearveteran teacher, Melanie credits herteacher Gail Asai for inspiring her tobecome a teacher.

Two other Puyallup High Schoolgraduates, State Senator Jim Kastama,and Mike Egan, credit their teachers forpreparing them for their lifetime work.Senator Kastama attended StewartElementary, Kalles Junior High, andgraduated from Puyallup High Schoolwhere he served as student body presi-dent. Elected to the House of Represen-tatives in 1996 and the State Senate in2000, Jim Kastama exclaims, “I havealways felt that I had a wonderful time

in the Puyallup schools, and I lookforward to my children receiving thesame quality education that I received!My daughter is six and just started atStewart, and my wife is a graduate ofRogers High School.”

Mike Egan attended Northwood Elemen-tary, Edgemont Junior High, and gradu-ated from Puyallup High School where healso served as student body president.Currently working in External Affairs forMicrosoft, Mike has worked in Washing-ton DC for Rep. Norm Dicks and Sen.Patty Murray. “The education that Ireceived and the teachers that I have hadprepared me for every opportunity in mylife. The educational community cared somuch about our future.”

Another source of pride for our Districtare the times when former students joincurrent students in honoring theirteachers and celebrating their suc-cesses. This spring, long-time PuyallupHigh School Choir Director PeggyBurrough welcomed hundreds of formerstudents to her farewell concert. Oneof our late spring Board meetingsfeatured another group of returningstudents — junior high students whoreturned to Sunrise Elementary Schoolto be a part of a Mirimba Ensembledirected by their former music teacherCoralee Gustafson.

Yes, I am proud of our School Districtwith its long history and tradition of caringand commitment to learning, and I respectand appreciate those who are responsiblefor establishing and maintaining thattradition — our staff. Their work touchesyoung lives and changes them forever.There is no more important work.

This will be another great year for ourPuyallup School District students, staff, andcommunity. As we work together to do anever better job of helping our studentsachieve their potential, we know we arebuilding upon a wonderful, strong founda-tion — our dedicated, talented, and caringstaff. I am pleased to be your superintendentas we begin another year in the PuyallupSchool District … working together to helpeach child achieve success.

Retiring staff members are recognized for their achievements atthe Puyallup School Board's June meeting.

Retiring staff receive recognition

Celebrating Student Achievement http://www.puyallup.k12.wa.us August 2003 3

School board member reflects on the last, first day of school

Kathy AfflerbaughSchool BoardMember

Karshner Museum supporter StanSilvernail located and, with the help ofDirector of Facilities Rudy Fyles andMuseum Director Steve Crowell,

brought a log to the museum that will becarved into a canoe resembling thoseused by Northwest Native Americans.The work will be done by Al Zantua, artteacher from Chief Leschi School.

Kindergarten and third-grade studentsfrom Wildwood Elementary School,under the guidance of teachers GlendaSpray and Cindy Weston and severalparent volunteers, created a lifesizepapier-mache baby Orca. It will be ondisplay in the Museum's NorthwestNative room and will tie-in withpresentations on whale hunting. Theproject tied in with curriculum aboutNative Americans and marine science.

The Karshner Museum is open duringschool hours. Please call (253) 841-8748before visiting to make sure a staffmember is available.Submitted by Beth Bestrom, Museum Curator

Museum highlights

Elementary students give pennies for cancer research

The beginning of this school year marksan especially exciting time for my familyand me. Our youngest child will beentering his final year of formal publiceducation. You see, September 3 will behis last, first day of school.

As he prepares for his first day of classes tobegin, I cannot help but think back on theprevious 12 years of “first days” of school.New pencils and backpacks; new schoolsupplies and new clothes; new classschedules and new teachers; the anticipationof that first day is easy to remember! Brightsmiles and not being able to go to sleep thenight before illustrate the eagerness of a newschool year and the readiness to learn.

Although the outward enthusiasm haschanged as my son has matured into hissenior year, I know he is eager to see hisfriends, begin fall sports, meet newteachers and classmates, and make his lastyear his best. While this change has creptup subtly and is a result of his develop-ment, we have seen and felt changes inhow students learn and teachers teachthroughout the last 12 years as a result ofeducation reform. Let me remind you ofsome of those changes.

Perhaps the most significant and greatestchange is the birth of standards-basededucation. This has caused a significantshift in academic curriculum in our Stateand in our District. State-mandated

learning requirements in core subjects andthe standardized State test in grades four,seven, and 10 are significant changes thathave occurred in the last 12 years. It haschallenged all of us — the Board, Districtstaff, administrators, teachers and supportstaff, students, and parents.

Secondly, budget restraints from our Statelegislature have further challengededucation. We are being asked to do morewith fewer resources. More assessmenttests, accountability for what studentslearn and when they learn it, has placeddemands financially on all districts. Thisis a difficult task at best.

The growth in our District is anothersignificant change that has placed stresson our District. Student housing issuesand the overcrowding of many schoolshas become a significant issue that wecannot ignore. This District has histori-cally built and located schools inneighborhoods, close to families andlocal businesses to link into a sense ofcommunity within the school bound-aries. We need new schools for ourstudents, and we are definitely feelinggrowing pains!

As we begin this school year though,there are things that have not changed inthe last 12 years. The dedication of ourteachers to sustain that eagerness tolearn is evident at all grade levels. Thedemand for quality and accountabilityby our parents and community remainsevident. A dedicated PTA organizationand community volunteer systemsupports our students and teachers everyday of the school year. The caring,nurturing environment that all of oursupport staff including office staff,nurses, custodians, and bus driversprovide enables students to learn at theirvery best.

So as I recall the last 12 years, I know thereare major changes that we cannot ignore.But the foundation is laid for what thisDistrict expects and will deliver and whatour community and parents want for all20,000 students who will start their firstdays this fall. And those things that havenot changed will keep us grounded ineducating students to succeed in life. Aswe all send off our students to their own“first day,” our challenge will be to sustaintheir eagerness to learn and our enthusiasmto teach; foster and nurture the learningprocess; and embrace our students inlearning and doing their best — not on justthe first day of school, but every day!

Kelly Theurer, campaign manager for TheLeukemia & Lymphoma Society, accepts acheck from Pope Elementary StudentCouncil representatives (from left) RyanBrisbin, Audrey Sullivan, Josh Taylor, andAdvisor and sixth-grade teacher Dawn Sosa.For the third consecutive year, Pope studentsrallied to raise funds for the Pennies forPatients program. Maplewood and Sunriseelementary students also participated incollecting and donating their spare changeduring penny drives set up last spring to helpfind a cure for leukemia, lymphoma, andother blood cancers. Student Councilmembers presented Theurer a check for$2,388.57 to support programs andresearch. Puyallup Valley Bank donatedfunds for a large presentation check to useat the school assembly.

4 August 2003 http://www.puyallup.k12.wa.us Celebrating Student Achievement

Junior High steps up to fitness challenge

Ferrucci Junior High School eighth graders (from left) Carley Haynes,Austin Getchell, and Bethany Luckey check their stepometers..

Secondary students to bereleased one hour earlyon most WednesdaysJunior high and high school studentswill be released one hour early on mostWednesdays this school year to allowplanning time for teachers and otherstaff to focus on efforts to improvestudent learning.

The new, one-hour early release time atthe secondary level is part of a LearningImprovement Calendar developed by thePuyallup Education Association (PEA)and the Puyallup School Board.

A letter signed by Leska Wetterauer,Executive Director for SecondaryEducation, and Jane Queen, ExecutiveDirector for Elementary education,was sent to parents this summer. Theletter explains: “The new State andFederal education guidelines call onall of us to raise standards for studentachievement. As we implement thenew increased standards, we arechallenged to find opportunities forindividual and collaborative planningtime allowing teachers and other staffto develop programs to increasestudent learning.”

This fall, elementary school principalsand PEA representatives will talk withtheir school communities aboutaligning the current elementary earlyrelease days with the secondary schoolcalendar beginning in September 2004.

This alignment will provide familieswith more consistency in their schoolschedules. Discussion will also includeinformation on community child careand recreational resources that will beavailable for children.

For further information about the schoolcalendar, contact school principals. The2003-04 elementary and secondarycalendars are also available on theDistrict website,www.puyallup.k12.wa.us.

Beginning this fall, the District isimplementing new procedures forvolunteers at all buildings. Each personwho wishes to volunteer in a school orprogram, go on a field trip, chaperoneevents, assist students on the playground,help with boarding buses, or other similaractivities must complete an applicationand submit it to the school where thevolunteer wishes to work or at theEducation Service Center (ESC), 302Second Street SE. Once the applicationhas been approved, the volunteer willreceive notification and may begin theassignment at any time.

When arriving at the assigned location,each volunteer will be required to

sign in and pick up a badge that must beworn while volunteering. Once work isfinished, each volunteer must sign out andreturn the badge. Volunteers whoassist on a regular basis will be issuedpicture badges, which alsoremain at the location ready for use whensigning in. At the end of the month,volunteers will total the number of hoursthey worked during that month.

Cooperating with these requirementshelps to provide a safe and secureenvironment for children.

Volunteer applications are available atschools, ESC, and on the District website,www.puyallup.k12.wa.us (click oncommunity).

New volunteer procedures this fall

For one week, Ferrucci Junior Highstudents and staff stepped up to thechallenge of getting in shape. Through aprogram sponsored by Coca-Cola, eachstudent, teacher, and staff member used apersonal stepometer for a week to see howmany steps they took in a day. In just oneweek, the school collectively loggednearly 10 million steps.

While the National Fitness Council and ahost of other national health and fitnessorganizations recommend that people takeat least 10,000 steps a day, the averageAmerican actually takes fewer than 4,000steps a day. The use of stepometers andschoolwide collection of data gavestudents and staff at Ferrucci some newinsights on their levels of fitness.

In the testing phase, the physical educationteachers discovered that they were takingmore than 30,000 steps by the end of theday, whereas students who spent most ofthe day in class had logged fewer than3,000 steps by the end of the school day.

During the week of the activity, eachstudent was issued a stepometer – a tinyelectronic device measuring about one-and-a-half inches by one-and-a-quarterinches – to clip to their pants. Thestepometer discreetly recorded each stepand showed the total number of steps

taken on the top of the device. At theconclusion of the school day, each classtallied their steps and returned thestepometers.

Eighth grader Jamie Sagdahl enjoyedbecoming more aware of her own physicalfitness levels. “After the week was over, I

started to try to walk more every day. Inow try to walk after school in myneighborhood or on a treadmill,” she says.

Ferrucci was one of only 50 schools in thenation selected to participate. For CindyVan Hulle, head of physical education atFerrucci, this program offered an excitingway to make the entire school aware ofand focused on fitness issues.

“We’re really excited to see the fitnessactivity level of the school,” says VanHulle. “We’re hoping this will raiseawareness and encourage everyone to bemore physical.”

At the conclusion of the week, the classeswith the highest average number of stepsin each grade level were given personalFM radios for each student to take home.

“The students and staff enjoyed seeinghow many new ways they could getmore steps into their day,” says Van Hulle.“It was a huge success and brought moreattention to our individual activity levels.”

The remaining stepometers will be used inhealth and fitness classes.

Celebrating Student Achievement http://www.puyallup.k12.wa.us August 2003 5

Kalles launches Empty Bowls project to help feed the hungry

Elementary report card revised this year

found parent/teacher conferencesimportant to that understanding. Theyalso indicated, however, that the reportcard could be improved.

The nearly 300 teachers who respondedagreed the report card helps them shareinformation about some of the majorsubjects such as reading, writing, andmath, although responses were morefavorable in some subject areas thanothers. They also indicated there wasroom for improvement and offeredspecific suggestions on how to revise thetool.

“The surveys validated everything wehad been hearing throughout the year,”says Queen. “I think it is really positivethat parents for the most part felt theyunderstood the report card. The teachersdeserve credit for articulating the new

grading system withparents.”

While it has beencommon for parentsto try to comparethe new numberscale to the oldletter gradingsystem, Queenemphasizes nocomparisons can be made.

Traditional grades represent an averagingof scores on different skills. In a stan-dards-based system, evidence of learningis not averaged. It is looked at as a whole,using evidence such as daily work,observation, and assessments to determinewhether a student has fully mastered askill. Students no longer compete againsteach other, but rather demonstrate if theycan meet the standards.

Students have multiple opportunities with

the new standards-based reportingsystem to demonstrate they have learneda specific skill. Recognizing thatstudents have different learning styles,teachers are encouraged to use a varietyof assessments, including written, oral,interviews, teacher observations ofgroup or individual tasks, journals, andlearning logs.

When students understand specificallywhat they need to learn, educators sayit’s easier for them to be successful inschool and in life.

continued from page one Standards-Based Progress Report Key(revised)

Students and staff at Kalles Junior HighSchool are helping to feed the hungry, onebowl at a time.

The school has launched its own versionof the international Empty Bowls project,in which participants create ceramicbowls, serve a simple soup meal, and thenallow guests to purchase a bowl to keep asa reminder that there are always emptybowls in the world.

Kalles personalized the program lastspring by inviting students, staff, and thecommunity to come to the art room twicea week after school to create the bowls —a practice that will continue this fall.Some of the artists tried their hand atthrowing the clay on a pottery wheel,while others created their works of artusing a mold, then adding their ownspecial touches with fluted edges andunique color glazes.

Plans are to sell the bowls for $10 eachthis fall at a soup dinner prepared by

several Kalles staff, with proceeds goinginto a special fund set up by All SaintsFood Bank in Puyallup. The food bank, in

turn, will use themoney to provide foodfor needy students onextended holidayschool breaks such aswinter and springbreaks, when schoolsare closed and food isoften scarce.

Several people havebeen instrumental instarting this programat Kalles, includingArt Teacher MaryBova, Nurse MegPenalver, andCounselor DeanWilliams. DavidOttey, Director of theEmergency FoodNetwork in PierceCounty, also has beenclosely following the

project, and Summit Uniserv gave theschool a $1,000 grant to help pay forthe clay, glazes, and minor repair to the

school’s kiln. The Empty Bowls projectstarted 13 years ago in Michigan, wherea high school art teacher helped hisstudents figure out how to raise moneyto support a lagging food drive. Whatevolved was a class project to makeceramic bowls for a fund-raising meal,and then have guests keep their bowls.Their vision and model has now spreadthroughout the United States and toseveral countries.

Many of the bowls created last springwere hand-crafted by students enrolled inthe “Students Achieving Independent

4 Exceptional performance at or above grade level3 Consistently meets grade level standards2 Meets some grade level standards1 Does not meet grade level standards

James Stinson, a ninth grader last year at KallesJunior High, handcrafts a ceramic bowl.

Living” (SAIL) program. Ninth grader

James Stinson flashed a big smile as heworked on his bowl one morning duringart class, using a molding tool to create asmooth surface.

Penalver says the project “is asset buildingat its best” — young people are givenuseful roles in the community, place highvalue on helping others, and perceive thatadults in the community value youth.“This raises the awareness of how hungerimpacts our community and what we cando to solve it,” she says.

Several employees from the SchoolDistrict’s central administrative officesjoined community members and otherschool staff in making several dozenbowls. “It’s been so much fun watchingthem as they make their creations,” saysBova. “Each one is unique, and most ofthem have already said they want to buytheir bowls to keep.”

For more information about the EmptyBowls project, including times anddates the school will be open for thecommunity to make bowls and a datefor the soup dinner this fall, contactBova, Penalver, or Williams at KallesJunior High at (253) 841-8729.

“This raises the awareness ofhow hunger impacts ourcommunity and what we cando to solve it.”

Meg Penalver

6 August 2003 http://www.puyallup.k12.wa.us Celebrating Student Achievement

State Auditor praises PuyallupAnnual audit shows District has sound financial practicesA flawless annual audit report — almostunprecedented for a school district thesize of Puyallup — has been issued byState auditors after spending severalmonths closely examining the District’sfinancial practices.

The annual audit results for the 2001-02school year show the District — the tenthlargest in the State — had sound financialpractices and complied with all laws andregulations to protect the interests oftaxpayers as it managed its more than$130 million budget.

The Washington State Auditor’s Office,which conducts an annual audit of eachschool district in the State, issued nofindings and found no areas of concern.

“This is significant, and Puyallup reallyneeds to be commended for that,” saysState Auditor Brian Sonntag. He says it isuncommon for a school district with20,000 students to end up with no findingsand no concerns.

“School Districts are very complex, andthere are a lot of public dollars beinghandled,” says Sonntag, who has servedas Washington’s State Auditor since1993. “This shows their commitment tothis high level of accountability to theirconstituents — the taxpayers of thePuyallup School District.”

One of the keys to Puyallup’s success,says Sonntag, has been the staff who haveworked with State Auditors. “They workvery well with our audit staff. They willpick up the phone and call and ask ourstaff a question because they want toidentify problems in advance … It showsthey are very responsive and very proac-tive.”

Lynn Uglick, the School District’sAccounting Manager, credits the hard

work of school administrators and staff atindividual buildings who “went above andbeyond” to timely assist the Auditor’sOffice staff. The staff spent about 60 daysthis past spring both at individual schoolsites and at the District’s central officesexamining a broad range of activities andtransactions.

He also praised his co-workers in thebusiness office who he says were instru-mental in the success of this audit. At a

Recognized by the School Board for their work on a successful auditare (from left): Linda Grandorff, Personnel Information Manager;Judy Grote, Budget Accountant; and Laura Marcoe, Accountant.

School Board meeting in June, he intro-duced and recognized the work ofAccountant Laura Marcoe, BudgetAccountant Judy Grote, and PersonnelInformation Manager Linda Grandorff.

The report examined areas such as:payroll, cash receipting, accountspayable and disbursements, trust funds,and purchase of goods and services. Italso looked at how well the SchoolBoard followed State open publicmeeting laws in conducting business andproperly notifying its constituents; howaccurately the District reported studentenrollment and the number of studentsriding buses; and whether schoolofficials chose the lowest qualifiedbidder when contracting work.

Reviews were also made of long-termdebt, cash and investments, revenues andexpenditures, the overall presentation offinancial statements, and AssociatedStudent Body accounts, which have aspecific set of procedures to follow infund-raising and other school activities.

Auditors also found the District handledfederal funds properly and had thenecessary documentation on file to showthat appropriate services were renderedto students. They focused on school lunchand breakfast programs, as well asspecial education State grants andpreschool grants.

District balances budget; meets three-year financial planAs a new school year begins, the Districtis operating under a balanced budget that,despite cuts in State funding, avoidssignificant layoffs and program cuts and isahead of schedule in meeting local goalsdefined in a three-year financial plan.

Superintendent Susan Gourley unveiled herrecommendation for the 2003-04 SchoolDistrict budget in June before the DistrictBoard of Education. The Board is scheduledto act on the budget this month following asecond public hearing on August 11.

More than 300 community and staffvolunteers participated in more than adozen meetings since January to considerand provide feedback to budget options.Their input is reflected in Gourley’sproposed budget.

In her opening remarks to the Board,Gourley says the proposed budget places“the highest priority” on instructionalresources and includes increases intextbooks and related instructionalmaterials by 50 percent.

Debra Aungst,Assistant Superin-tendent for Manage-ment Services, saysthe increase will helppay for books andother instructionalmaterials for newand existing classesin a District thatcontinues to increase

in enrollment. An estimated 160 addi-tional students will walk through school

buildings this year, and additional moneyis needed to provide books and materialsfor this growing population.

Supplies and materials allocations forschools have increased by two percent —the first such increase in this budget infive years. The money pays for itemssuch as pencils, paper, and art supplies —“the fundamental, tangible things ourteachers and staff use with students everyday,” says Aungst.

continued on page 7

Debra Aungst

Celebrating Student Achievement http://www.puyallup.k12.wa.us August 2003 7

For the second year in a row, the proposed budgetincludes increasing the safety and security budget torespond to Homeland Security guidelines, emergencypreparedness procedures, and other security and safetyinitiatives. It also calls for increasing the EnglishLanguage Learner program, which supports studentswho use English as a second language. The number ofthese students in Puyallup schools is increasing, saysAungst, adding the State gives virtually no financialassistance in this area.

Puyallup’s share of the State’s budget cuts to educationtotals about $1.6 million this year. Money from the Stateof Washington makes up the biggest chunk of theDistrict’s income. Seventy-five cents of every dollar theDistrict receives in revenue comes from the State, and85 cents of every dollar is spent on people in suchcategories as base salaries, employee benefits, overtime,hourly stipends, and coaching.

While many neighboring school districts of similar size arefacing sizeable layoffs, the proposed budget reflects theequivalent of one-half of a teacher being laid off out of aworkforce of more than 2,500 staff members, says Aungst.Other savings are being realized through rearrangingpositions and, in some cases, not filling positions wherestaff have left because of retirements or resignations.

The largest percentage reduction is proposed in centraladministration. Aungst shared a graph with the SchoolBoard in June that showed how Puyallup —the tenthlargest school district in the State — compares to otherDistricts statewide in how much is spent on administra-tion. On average, school districts in Washington spent13.1 percent on administration in 2001-02. The largest15 districts spent 13 percent on average. Puyallupaveraged 12.6 percent, ranking twelfth of the 15. Thatfigure will drop further with this year’s proposed cuts,says Aungst.

The budget also proposes slight increases in class sizesfor grades five through 12, charging tuition for full daykindergarten, increasing charges to other school districtsfor special education services to cover actual costs, andreducing the utility budget.

While the District has struggled to respond to Statefunding shortfalls and increased unfunded orunderfunded mandates, Gourley says, “We havecontinued to realize the rewards of the past three yearsof careful financial management.” The District is aheadof schedule in meeting the third and final year of itsthree-year financial plan, in which it set a goal to havefive percent in its reserves in 2003-04.

District balances budgetcontinued from page 6

Community forums scheduled on bond measureThe community is invited to attendseveral public forums beginning nextmonth to discuss the Puyallup SchoolDistrict’s plans to submit a bondmeasure to voters as early asFebruary 2004.

With many of the District’s schoolsat or over capacity in their ability tohouse students, and with studentenrollment projected to continue togrow over the next decade, the needfor new classrooms is critical, saysAssistant Superintendent for Man-agement Services, Debra Aungst.

“We want to hear from all of ourstakeholders on what they think shouldbe included in the bond package,” saysAungst. Separate forums for Districtstaff will also be held this fall.

If housing construction and birthprojections hold true, the District will see as many asseveral hundred new students enroll each year over thenext decade, says Les Kendrick, Demographics andCommunications Consultant. The District expects about160 additional students this school year.

“Enrollment growth isputting a significantstrain on our facilitiesand our ability totransport and houseadditional students,”Superintendent SusanGourley reported in Juneto the School Board.

The District has implemented a number of short-termsolutions the past few years to create space for additionalstudents. These include converting computer labs intoclassrooms and replacing them with wireless labs onwheels; restricting out-of-District students at schools thatare at or over capacity; shuttling more students asoverflow to other schools at both the elementary andjunior high levels; and holding band, orchestra, or vocalmusic classes on multi-purpose stages to free portablesfor classrooms.

Permanent capacity has been exceeded at 18 of 21elementary schools, three of six junior highs, and three offour high schools. Portable classrooms are not considereda viable long-term solution to housing needs, as everyschool that is in need of this kind of temporary housinghas used up its capacity to add those units, says RudyFyles, Director of Facilities. In some cases, sewer or

drainfields can’t support the additional stress of moreportables. In others, adding more students would exceedthe main building’s capacity to support them in areas suchas restrooms, plumbing, and the gymnasium. And in stillothers, playground space would be cut back or entirelyreplaced with the additional structures.

About 20 percent of the District’s20,000 students — one in five —are housed in the detached units.More than half of the District’s205 portables have been installedin the past decade, and Puyallupleads the way and, in some cases,has double the number ofportables compared to neighbor-

ing school districts with similar enrollment. “That istestament to the growth that this District has experienced inrecent years and is projected to continue over at least thenext 10 years,” says Fyles.

Several committees have closely examined the housingsituation in recent years. This past year, a 50-memberStudent Housing Task Force examined ways to fit studentswithin existing schools and still provide the best educationpossible. A Citizens Facilities Advisory Committee alsobegan meeting in 1998 to develop and refine a 12-year planidentifying the most pressing capital construction andproperty management needs in the District. The last timevoters approved a bond for school construction was in 1997.Voters rejected a bond measure in May 2001. Once a bondmeasure is approved, it takes approximately three years tobuild and open an elementary school, three-and-a-half tofour years for a junior high, and four years for a high school.

Stahl Junior High School students crowd the hallway as theypass between classes.

Community forums are scheduled:September 18 6 to 8 pm; Rogers High CommonsSeptember 23 6 to 8 pm; Emerald Ridge High

CommonsSeptember 24 6 to 8 pm; Puyallup High Commons

8 August 2003 http://www.puyallup.k12.wa.us Celebrating Student Achievement

Students prepare to celebrate first flightOn December 17, 1903, in Kitty Hawk,North Carolina, Orville and Wilbur Wrightachieved the first powered flights. Nearly100 years and countless technical innova-tions later, aviation enthusiasts will gatherto celebrate the success and developmentof aviation.

From December 11 to 17, 2003, a groupof Emerald Ridge High School studentswill be taking part in the First FlightCelebration held in Kitty Hawk, NorthCarolina. Jeff Coleman, Aviation Teacherat Emerald Ridge and a flight instructor atThun Field, has been instrumental inorganizing this trip. At least 14 studentsand nine chaperones will attend. This fall,incoming sophomores may also be eligibleto apply to participate.

Students were selected for the trip througha schoolwide contest which included anapplication, a 200-word essay, and an

says Coleman. “The students will have achance to see how different flight was 100years ago.”

The group has a fundraising goal of$30,000, which will allow 20 students toattend the event. A number of communitymembers and corporations are comingtogether to help the students raise thefunds needed to attend. Bill Johnson, aformer Navy fighter pilot and formerPuyallup School District employee, hasdonated $1,875 to help pay for the cost ofhotel rooms for Emerald Ridge HighSchool students. Johnson is a member ofthe ERHS Aviation Advisory Committeeand has served on that committee since itsinception.

In addition to individuals, several localcompanies are supporting the trip.Employees at the Boeing Co.’sFrederickson plant are considering

fundraising efforts to support the students.Spanaflight has pledged partial sponsor-ship of the trip, and Air BP has pledged in-kind support in the form of airplane fuel.Jeppesen, a company offering flightnavigation and training materials, has alsooffered support. The American Society ofQuality-Aviation Division has been astrong supporter of the aviation program atEmerald Ridge and has adopted EmeraldRidge’s aviation program. Students whoparticipate will create a website to sharetheir experiences while in North Carolinawith other students in the District and thevarious community organizations sponsor-ing the trip. They may also offer educa-tional presentations to elementary schoolsand junior high schools upon their return.

For additional information about theEmerald Ridge Aviation Program or theFirst Flight Celebration in Kitty Hawk inDecember, go to www.jagaviation.org.

Emerald Ridge High students who plan to travel to North Carolina inDecember are (from left, front row kneeling): Damien Koolis, JesseAndresen, Kevin Wilgus, Federico Gonzalez, Nick Villani, andFaustine Im. (Top row): Joe Zinnecker, Katie Hargett, ChadCurkendall, Jeff Coleman, Marshall Clark, Xander Knox, andElizabeth Davenport. (Not pictured are students Kimberly Dow andBryan Riley).

Quest testing datesscheduledQUEST is a program for highly-capableelementary students in the PuyallupSchool District.

Testing for grades two through six willbegin on September 8, 2003. First gradetesting will occur in January 2004.

In the pullout program, selected studentsspend one full day per school week atthe enrichment center located behindMaplewood Elementary School. Thegoal of this program is to providechallenges for students with high ability,academic aptitude, or unique creativethinking ability. Staff, parents, students,and community members can makestudent referrals for QUEST. Forms areavailable at the QUEST office or at anyelementary school office. Studentsinterested in placement in this programare administered ability and achieve-ment tests at the QUEST buildinglocated at 428 11th Street SW inPuyallup. Completed parent forms mustbe on file in the QUEST office beforetesting takes place.

For more information, contact theQUEST office at (253) 841-8751 or visitthe website at www.puyallup.k12.wa.us/programs/quest.

School registrationSchool begins September 3 for studentsin the Puyallup School District. Elemen-tary registration for students new to theDistrict begins August 22 at Brouillet,Firgrove, Hunt, Pope, Zeiger, ShawRoad, Woodland, and Fruitland. Theremainder of the schools will beginregistration on August 25. Registrationhours are from 9 am to 3:30 pm. Toregister for kindergarten, parents shouldbring a copy of their child's immuniza-tion record and birth certificate. Toregister at all other grades, students needa copy of their immunization recordsand a last report card. Parents shouldalso bring proof of address, such as autility bill. Students new to secondaryschools should contact school offices forregistration appointments.

interview with a panel made up ofmembers from the school’s AviationAdvisory Committee. The studentsselected are: Jesse Andresen, MarshallClark, Chad Curkendall, ElizabethDavenport, Kimberly Dow, FedericoGonzalez, Katie Hargett, Faustine Im,Xander Knox, Damien Koolis, BryanRiley, Nick Villani, Kevin Wilgus, and JoeZinnecker.

Through a collaboration between theSmithsonian, Microsoft Corp., and TheFord Motor Company, an exact replica ofthe Wright brothers’ plane was created andwill be used to re-enact the first flight. Anestimated 500,000 people will participatein activities in Kitty Hawk during thecentennial celebration.

“The main focus of this trip is for thestudents to see how far flight has comewith the development of new technology,”

“The main focus of this trip isfor the students to see how farflight has come with the devel-opment of new technology.”

Jeff Coleman (photo courtesy of Jeff Coleman)

Celebrating Student Achievement http://www.puyallup.k12.wa.us August 2003 9

Imagine being offered the best seats in thehouse for a theatre production. At no cost,nonetheless.

That is exactly what Stahl Junior High’sdrama department offered senior citizensat Meridian Hills Assisted Living this pastyear. The school reserved front row seatsfor the seniors to see the students perform.They arrived in their finest clothes, severalsporting hats, others wearing sparklyjewelry, and still others sticking flowers intheir freshly curled hair to celebrateopening night.

“I’ve heard that it is as good as going toBroadway for them,” says last year’sDrama Teacher Darlene Anderson. “Theytalk about it for months before and afterthe performances.”

About 15 seniors lucky enough to bethe first to sign up boarded the retire-ment home’s bus last year to seeproductions including Annie, TheWizard of Oz, Beauty and the Beast,and Bugsy Malone. The partnership

between the seniors complex and theschool was arranged with the help ofStahl parent Linda Rogers, whose

mother was a resident at MeridianHills. On opening night for Beauty andthe Beast, the gym filled quickly with

proud parents, siblings, and communitymembers. Then, nearly five minutes toshow time, a line of seniors made theirway down the aisle, some of them inwheelchairs and others assisted bycanes. Student ushers helped them totheir seats, programs in hand, justbefore the lights went down and a voicebegan, “Many years ago, indeed agesbefore our time, there lived a young,selfish prince in France …”

Seniors also had a chance to meet thestars of the show before boarding theirbus to return home. “I feel real fortunateto be here tonight. I was lucky enough tomake the sign-up sheet,” says a smilingPat Gulu.

Students used words like “awesome” and“cool” to describe how they felt abouthaving the special community guestsattend their performances. Ninth graderAlex Marden, who played Bugsy Malone,adds, “It gives them an opportunity to seewhat the kids are doing and a chance toenjoy themselves and get entertainment.”

Seniors get front row seats at Stahl drama productions

As a dentist with the US Army Reserves,Dr. David Thomas recently spent fivemonths in Bosnia with the MultinationalPeacekeeping Forces. As a parent of astudent in the Adjustment Program lastyear at Ballou Junior High, he added therole of teacher as he provided first-handaccounts of his work to the entire classby sending emails, answering questions,and even making a long-distance call tothe students.

When he returned home late last spring,the Army Colonel arranged to speak tohis son’s class in person, bringing alonga slide show of the country, a table fullof artifacts and memorabilia, andcolorful backdrops including theBosnian, American, and United Nationsflags. He gave a similar presentation tohis eighth-grade daughter’s class atStahl Junior High.

Thomas immediately caught students’

attention when he opened his talk inBosnian, then translated for them, “Goodafternoon. How are you? What’s up?” Hewore and explained the Battle DressUniform (BDU) and described howreserves can be called to duty with only amoment’s notice to defend their country.He also shared a map of the country inEastern Europe, gave a brief history ofthe Civil War there, and described howUN troops were sent in 1995 to enforce apeace agreement that followed four yearsof fighting.

“I don’t go to fight. I go out and fixteeth,” says Thomas, who was deployedto Bosnia with several other dentists anddoctors from Madigan Army MedicalCenter at Fort Lewis. “We are trulypeacekeepers there.” As he talked,Thomas shared slides showing many ofthe things he had discussed with thestudents through emails and a conferencecall to the school. Paraeducator Linda

Thompson coordinated the email writingfor the class and assisted students withcomputers as they answered Thomas’scorrespondence and asked new questions.Teachers Krista Erath and Dennis Orvold

also helped coordinate the specialclassroom link between Puyallup andBosnia. “We learned all about Bosnia andabout why peacekeeping forces need tobe there from the war they had there,”says Thomas’s son, Jonathan.

Thomas described how he met with theU.S. Ambassador to Bosnia and Hungaryin Sarajevo, Bosnia during his timeabroad. He saw the Olympic Stadium fromthe 1984 winter games in ruins and thesoccer field and hillsides covered withthousands of white tombstones. He drovethrough “sniper alley” and observednumerous apartment buildings riddled withbullet holes and war damage. He alsocarried a gun everywhere he went.

Despite the despair of a war-torn country,the South Hill resident says he took prideoverseeing three dental clinics where hetreated a record 600 patients and accom-plished 3,000 dental procedures.

Army dentist teaches students about Bosnia from home and abroad

Dr. David Thomas

Browsing the program at Stahl Junior High School's Beauty and theBeast drama production are Meridian Hills Assisted Living residents(from left) Clarene Juergens, Flo Dvorak, and Rebecca Jones.

10 August 2003 http://www.puyallup.k12.wa.us Celebrating Student Achievement

District announces administrative changes for 2003-04The following people have been selected to fill leadershippositions this year, including elementary and secondaryprincipals and several District administration posts. Note:The people featured include those named by the Connec-tions copy deadline. For additional information about aspecific school, please contact the school directly or theDistrict office at (253) 841-1301.

Mt. View ElementarySchool

Crystalee Sweeting is the newprincipal at Mt. View ElementarySchool on North Hill. Sweetingcomes to Mt. View after mostrecently serving as assistantprincipal at Hunt ElementarySchool on South Hill. Her previous

positions include administrative intern and teacher inFederal Way Public Schools, and special educationteacher in the Ellensburg School District in EasternWashington. She began teaching special education in1979 in Ellensburg. Sweeting has a bachelor's degreefrom Central Washington University and a master'sdegree from the University of Washington.

Walker High SchoolAilene Baxter has been named thenew principal at Walker High Schoolin Puyallup. Baxter has served as theassistant principal at Walker Highsince 1998. Her previous positionsinclude teaching social studies andmath at Walker in 1997-98, teachingPE and doing human relations at

Walker's Phoenix Program in 1996-97, and teaching socialstudies and math in 1995-96. Prior to that, she taught at thejunior high level in South Kitsap Schools. Baxter has abachelor's degree from Washington State University and amaster's degree from the University of Washington. Sheearned her administrative credential in 1998.

Sunrise ElementarySchoolRobert Livingston is the newprincipal at Sunrise ElementarySchool on South Hill. Livingstoncomes to Sunrise from Mt. ViewElementary, where he served asprincipal since1995. Previously hewas assistant principal at Shaw

Road Elementary School, went to China for a year, andtaught fourth and sixth grades in the Puyallup SchoolDistrict. He also taught special education in Olympiafrom 1984-86 and elementary school for Lake StevensSchool District from 1970-84. He has a bachelor's degreefrom Oregon State University and a master's degree fromSeattle Pacific University. He earned his administrativecredential in 1993.

Brouillet ElementarySchoolDana Harris has been named thenew principal at Brouillet Elemen-tary School on South Hill. Harrisjoins Brouillet after serving fiveyears as principal at WildwoodElementary School. Her previouspositions also include serving asassistant principal at Hunt and Pope Elementaries in1997-98, and teaching while also serving as mediatechnology coordinator and a full time administrativeintern in the North Mason School District. Harris has abachelor's degree from the University of Puget Soundand a master's degree from City University. She earnedher administrative credential in 1997.

Karshner ElementarySchoolAlice Drummer is the new princi-pal at Karshner Elementary Schoolin Puyallup. Drummer comes to theposition from Cedar Hill, Texas,where she served as principal thispast school year. Prior to that she

worked as a vice-principal in the Tumwater SchoolDistrict, an education facilitator and a teacher in NorthThurston School District, an elementary teacher inClover Park Schools, a junior high teacher for theDepartment of Defense in Germany, and a high schoolteacher in Tennessee and Mississippi. She has abachelor's degree from Jackson State University and amaster's degree from Austin Peay State University inTennessee. She earned her administrative credentialfrom Central Washington University.

Wildwood ElementarySchoolRobyn Goodwin is the new princi-pal at Wildwood Elementary Schoolon South Hill. Before coming toWildwood Elementary, Goodwinserved five years as principal of anelementary school in Morton, WA.Before that she was a principalintern, an accelerated schools coach, and an elementaryteacher in the Clover Park School District. She has abachelor's degree from Western Washington Universityand a master's degree from the University of Washington.

Hunt ElementarySchool

Director for LaborRelations

Director for HumanResources

Colleen Shields begins this yearas the new principal at HuntElementary School on South Hill.Shields comes to Hunt fromKarshner Elementary School,where she served as principalsince 1999. Before that she was a

principal in the Auburn School District, an assistantprincipal at Pope Elementary, and a teacher in theAuburn School District. She has a bachelor's degreefrom the University of California at Berkeley and aJ.D. law degree from Seattle University. She earnedher administrative credential from Gonzaga Univer-sity in 1996.

Larry Sera joins the District thisyear as Director for Labor Rela-tions. Sera's previous positionshave included Executive Directorof Human Resources in theBellevue School District. He alsoworked in that district as Director of EmployeeRelations and Certificated Personnel Manager. Hebegan his career in 1983 in Bellevue. Sera has abachelor's degree from California State College,Hayward, and a master's of public administration fromthe University of Southern California.

Lynn Stellick is the District's newDirector for Human Resources.Stellick comes to Puyallup fromKent, where she has worked manyyears in human resources. Herprevious positions include humanresources coordinator, supervisor,

and administrator. She was also an analyst in 1989-90with Cargill, Inc., where she had previous experiencein pensions, research, and office management. She hasa bachelor's degree from Metro State University inMinnesota, and a master's degree from Cardinal StritchCollege in Minnesota.

Celebrating Student Achievement http://www.puyallup.k12.wa.us August 2003 11

Spring sports roundup

Parents, communitymembers invited to serveon District committees

RachelOwens

High school athletes had a fine showingduring the spring sports season, withseveral players or teams advancing to

regional or Statechampionships.

Rachel Owens, a ninth-grader last year at StahlJunior High and fresh-man on the EmeraldRidge High tennis team,nabbed a third placefinish in State. She also

was named the South Puget SoundLeague girls tennischampion. Junior GregFerry finished sixth atState and was namedthe West CentralDistrict boys tennischampion.

Puyallup High School’sbaseball team, coachedby Marc Weis, also advanced to post-season play. The Vikings finished in thetop eight in the Washington Interscholas-tic Athletic Association tournament.

Dick Halleen, Athletic Coordinator atRogers High School, also was honored inthe spring with the West Central DistrictMeritorious Service Award.

Greg Ferry

After winning a State title for theirresearch report on school overcrowding,many of last year’s seventh-grade honorssocial studies students at Kalles JuniorHigh School want to turn their classroomproject into a community action plan.

The young teenagers in Lisa Kreiger’s andJeanna Kooser’s Honors Pacific North-west Studies class spent nearly six monthsdoing research, including a long list ofinterviews with school officials and localpoliticians, on their way to winning the“Project Citizen” championship in May.

Project Citizen emphasizes action re-search, civic education, and project-basedlearning. Kalles was the only school toreceive an exceptional rating at State.Each student received a medal andcertificate, and the school received aplaque with each child's name engraved.They were also selected to representWashington State in San Francisco lastmonth and present their project at theNational Legislators Conference.

Students selected a local problem — in thiscase, overcrowding in Puyallup SchoolDistrict schools — researched it, andproposed a solution. They prepared a displayboard, a portfolio, and four, four-minutespeeches, each one dealing with an aspect ofthe problem. During the local, regional, andState competitions, the group followed eachspeech by answering six minutes of follow-up questions from judges, which includedteachers, administrators, local judges,attorneys, and legislators.

Some of the students presented a portion oftheir award-winning report to the SchoolBoard in May and impressed Directors andaudience members alike as they sharedspecific data about schools that are at orover capacity, election trends and votingpatterns for bond measures to build newschools, how long it takes to build newschools, and other relevant research.

“This taught me how we as students canmake a difference,” says Curtis Madrid.The 13-year-old says he looks forward tohelping share the student’s findings withthe community this year. “I want to followthrough on our promise of a solution,” hesays. The group’s proposed solutions

included helping adults campaign for abond measure to build new schools,registering high school students eligible tovote and senior citizens, and providingabsentee ballots for those unable to votein person. The School District plans tosubmit a bond measure to voters as earlyas February and has scheduled communityforums on the subject beginning thismonth (see related article on page 7).

Madrid is quick to recite the legal limitsof campaigning for a bond election, whichinclude not spending school time andpublic education dollars to promote anelection — one of numerous lessons heand his peers learned throughout thecourse of this project. Classmate KevinShaw says he also learned how dire theovercrowding situation is throughout theDistrict, not just at his home school.

Topics such as these were discussedduring class by guest speakers includingTony Apostle, Executive Director ofAdministrative Services, and BruceDammeier, member of the Board ofEducation. Kalles Principal RichBoerner also personalized the subject bysharing information and answering

students’ questions about crowdedconditions at Kalles.

Students also tracked down local politiciansby phone, email, and mail to solicit theirviews on the problem. In addition they calledDistrict Superintendent Susan Gourley,attended a Board of Education meeting, andsearched the Internet for pertinent research.“We encouraged them not to give up whenthey didn’t get a response the first timearound. Everyone they contacted was greatwith the kids and so willing to help,” saysKreiger, adding city, school, and countyrepresentatives helped out as judges andcoaches. “They were so well prepared, theyjust shined at State.”

The Kalles Junior High State championsare: Melissa Baldwin, Zach Bosen,Michelle Doyle, Carlos Flores, MaggieHumphreys, Alex Johnson, HaileeKonwent, Kat Krebs, Jessica Leisure,Ashleigh Love, Curtis Madrid, JustinMaghirang, Colin Nix, Jordan Paul, AshleePitligliano, Mark Ragheb, Yumi Shannon,Scott Sullivan, Shane Sullivan, KevinShaw, Taryn Taylor, Luke Tillman, GregVan Horn, Krystle Wahnschaffe, ChelseaWhitton, and Eric Zuehlsdorff.

Some of the award-winning Kalles Junior High students present theirProject Citizen research project on school overcrowding to the SchoolBoard in May. (From left): Teacher Jeanna Kooser, students KevinShaw, Jessica Leisure, Eric Zuehlsdorff, Ashleigh Love, Taryn Taylor,Alex Johnson, Krystle Wahnschaffe, and teacher Lisa Kreiger.

Students win contest with report on overcrowded schools

Calendars availableThe 2003-04 District wall calendar isavailable free at school buildings andat the Education Service Center, 302Second Street SE, Puyallup. Thisyear's calendar theme is "CelebratingStudent Achievement."

There are numerous opportunities forparents and community members toserve on District committees. A listof committees, including contactpersons and phone numbers, isavailable on the District website atwww.puyallup.k12.wa.us (click onCommunity). Several of these commit-tees accept new members in September.

12 August 2003 http://www.puyallup.k12.wa.us Celebrating Student Achievement

People interested in discussing how tobuild partnerships between public schoolsand faith communities are invited toattend a one-day conference October 28.

The conference, presented by thePuyallup School District and area faithcommunities, is scheduled from 8 am to1 pm at the Best Western Park Plaza onSouth Hill. Deadline for registration isOctober 17, and cost is $35 includinglunch and refreshments. Registrationforms are available at the SchoolDistrict’s central office, 302 Second St.SE, Puyallup, in the main offices atindividual schools, or on the Districtwebsite www.puyallup.k12.wa.us/partnerships.

The conference is designed for faithcommunity leaders (lay and clergy)and educators such as buildingprincipals, school board members,administrators, and other interestedpersons. Participants will be informedabout issues in public education andthe possibilities for appropriateconnections with public schools intheir communities.

Pat Rhoades, of Greater PuyallupValley Young Life, will speak on “WhyI Support Public Education.” A talk on“Clarifying the Relationship BetweenChurch and State” will follow by JohnFerguson, of the First AmendmentCenter, and Jerry Painter, of the GeneralCounsel Washington EducationAssociation. School District Superin-tendent Susan Gourley will open theconference with a brief welcome. Formore information, contact KarenHansen, Administrative Assistant to theSuperintendent at (253) 841-8703, orDayle Robbs, CityGate Church at (253)848-1422 or (253) 848-0345.

The Puyallup Schools Foundation hasnamed 43 scholarship recipients for2003 — the most students to beawarded scholarships since the Founda-tion incorporated in 1989.

The Foundation, an affiliate of Dollarsfor Scholars, is a nonprofit, charitableorganization thatreceives tax-deductible donationsfor the educationalneeds of PuyallupSchool Districtstudents.

Most of the scholar-ships are merit-based,recognizing studentsfrom Emerald Ridge,Puyallup, Rogers, and Walker highschools for their scholastic achievementsand citizenship, says Gary Larson,Foundation President. “This certainlygives the kids recognition and a financialboost to help them in getting to college.”

This year’s scholarship recipients are:Carol Ota Scholarship: Eugene Kim,Trevor Davis (Emerald Ridge)Carole Binkley Memorial Scholar-ship: Holly M. Chase, Sarah C. Hassen(Emerald Ridge)

Connie Jo Miller Memorial Scholar-ship: Nicole Raden (Emerald Ridge);Lisa Kendall (Rogers)Dena McCallum Inspirational Award:Elizabeth Knierim (Emerald Ridge)E. Arthur Larson Scholarship, AndrewRoberts, Jennie Singsaas (Rogers)E.B Walker Cup Award: JessicaCaddell (Walker)Gertrude Hansen-Kurt BargmeyerScholarship: James Corbi (EmeraldRidge)Harold O. Wilen Scholarship: JennaHyman (Emerald Ridge); Jon Magin(Puyallup); Alyssa Jones (Rogers)Hunt Elementary Scholarship: HollyFlanders (Rogers)Jack Nichols Memorial Scholarship:Michael Witting (Rogers)Joseph & Phoebe Kunkel Scholarship:Meghan McReynolds (Emerald Ridge);Richard Fowler (Puyallup), CaitlineCampbell (Rogers)Lisa McHugh Memorial Scholarship:Stefan Maxfield, Hilary Jewel (EmeraldRidge)Louise A. Lyon Scholarship: ShawnCarol Query (Puyallup)Mark and Emma Snow Scholarship:David Dorsey, Sarah Weinrich(Puyallup)Mary E. Kupfer Scholarship: MichelleRushton, Sarah C. Hassen, Kevin Wilgus

(Emerald Ridge); Julie Fellows, MaryMorcos, Eric Yost (Puyallup); ShannonSmith, Haley E. Kaperick, Allison Lane(Rogers)May Nelson Scholarship: KennethNickel (Emerald Ridge); Carin Albert(Puyallup); Jessica Oliver (Rogers)Randy Larsen Memorial Scholarship:Allison Spray (Emerald Ridge)Richard G. Sorenson Trust Scholar-ship: Eric May (Puyallup)S.A.M. Scholarship: Hope Kilbourne(Puyallup)Stan Moe Mathematics Scholarship:Angela Rauch (Puyallup)Vernon Hill Memorial Scholarship:Rachel Heagle (Puyallup)Viola Brown Memorial Scholarship:Paul Chaput (Puyallup)Yates Family Scholarship: RyanDecker (Puyallup)Yates Family Scholarship for Engi-neering: Bradley Zeiger (Puyallup)

Anyone wishing to establish a scholarshipfor students in the Puyallup School Districtmay contact Larson at (253) 845-4023 or(253) 848-1503. The Puyallup SchoolsFoundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofitcharitable organization and donations aretax deductible.

Schools Foundation announces scholarships

Gary Larson

Doin' "The Puyallup"The School District will showcasemany of its programs on Fair DayWednesday, September 10 at theWestern Washington Fairgrounds.Activities are planned in the EducationBuilding from 10 am to 10 pm.

Conference partners faithcommunity, School District

Brouillet students celebrateold west with pioneer daysLaurabeth Knight, a fourth grader at Brouillet ElementarySchool, pans for gold as she and her classmatescelebrate the ways of the old west. Teacher RebekahCore organized a variety of pioneer day activities,including milking a fake cow, playing horseshoes, haulingwater from the river to the schoolhouse, eating beans andcornbread off of pie tins, and hammering tin lanterns.The budding history buffs spent time last spring learningthrough re-enactment about the Westward Movement.Instead of opening a social studies book to read aboutthe Oregon Trail, for example, students were time-warpedinto the mid-1800’s. They took on the life of a familytraveling across the continent from Independence,Missouri to The Oregon Country, facing hardships alongthe way and learning lessons to last a lifetime.

(photo courtesy of Rebekah Core)