Five CPSD schools recognized as top performers Five Clover Park School District (CPSD) schools have won Washington Achievement Awards. Schools were recognized as top performers in one or more of seven categories: Overall Excellence; High Progress; English Language Arts Growth; Math Growth; Extended Graduation Rate (awarded to high and comprehensive schools only); English Language Acquisition; and Achievement Gap.

The CPSD schools are:

• Carter Lake Elementary - High Progress

• Harrison Prep School - High Progress

• Lake Louise Elementary - English Language Acquisition

• Oakwood Elementary - Math Growth

• Tillicum Elementary - High Progress and English Language Arts Growth

“I commend the teachers, staff and administrators at these schools for this achievement,” said CPSD superintendent Debbie LeBeau. “This honor reflects their hard work to ensure student success.”

The Washington Achievement Awards use the State Board of Education Revised Achievement Index and are based on statewide assessment data for the three previous years. A total of 258 schools statewide earned Washington Achievement Awards for 2015. This is the seventh year of the Washington Achievement Awards.

The award-winning schools were honored at a ceremony last month.

Lakes ranked among the state’s best schoolsLakes High School is ranked among the state’s best schools according to a recent ranking from U.S. News and World Report. Lakes ranked 40th in Washington state and No. 1,928 out of 21,500 public high schools across the country. U.S. News and World Report completes this ranking annually to identify schools that in the opinion of the evaluators are best preparing students for college and careers.

Last day of school June 14The last day of school is Tuesday, June 14. This is a half day for students. School starts for the 2016-17 school year on Wednesday, Aug. 31!

Enrolling a student for schoolParents and guardians can start the student enrollment process online by filling out the district’s online enrollment form. Both the online and paper processes require parents/guardians to drop off additional paperwork at the school. If you do not know which school your student should attend, visit the “Enrolling in School” page on the district website, located under the “Schools” tab or call 253-583-5154.

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Inside Schoolsw w w. c l o v e r p a r k . k 1 2 .w a . u s

June 2016

New start & dismissal timesStatewide bus driver shortage prompts school time changesEffective Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2016, the start and dismissal times for many Clover Park School District (CPSD) schools will change. These changes are necessary to improve efficiency of school bus routes and manage a statewide bus driver shortage. The new start and dismissal times for schools will improve bus service to students, including the “on-time” rate, and optimize bus driver staffing levels.

“In light of the nationwide bus driver shortage, our transportation staff has done a remarkable job transporting students and keeping them safe,” said CPSD superintendent Debbie LeBeau. “We now must adjust start and dismissal times to maintain our high level of service.”

Informational meetings were held in April for families to answer questions about the change.

Committee begins work to evaluate district facilitiesClover Park School District officials will reconvene a Facilities Advisory Committee (FAC) to review district facilities on June 22, 2016. The purpose of the FAC is to update the capital facilities master plan and make recommendations for short- and long-term solutions related to the district’s deferred maintenance, educational adequacy of schools, safety and security, future plans and use of the former Lake City Elementary property, immediate challenges related to Woodbrook Middle School and consideration for a future capital bond proposition.

The FAC will be presented data to study and evaluate the overall condition of the district facilities and infrastructures to identify and prioritize potential facility modifications, replacements, additions and/or closures that would best enhance student achievement opportunities and support ongoing economic development and health of the community.

The committee is comprised of district staff, business and community leaders, military representatives and citizens. The first meeting will be held Wednesday, June 22. For more information about the FAC, please contact Rick Ring at 253-583-5010. Updates from the FAC will be included in upcoming issues of Inside Schools and Construction Zone.

START AND DISMISSAL TIMES FOR THE 2016-17 SCHOOL YEAR

7:45 AM - 2:15 PM 8:30 AM - 3:00 PM 8:45 AM - 3:15 PM

Carter Lake Elementary Beachwood Elementary Firwood/Oak GroveEvergreen Elementary Custer Elementary Harrison Preparatory SchoolFour Heroes Elementary Dower Elementary Hudtloff Middle SchoolIdlewild Elementary Hillside Elementary Lochburn Middle SchoolLakeview Hope Academy Lake Louise Elementary Mann Middle SchoolRainier Elementary Meriwether Elementary Woodbrook Middle SchoolTillicum Elementary Oakbrook Elementary Tyee Park Elementary Park Lodge Elementary 7:25 AM - 2:10 PM

Clover Park High SchoolLakes High School

This honor reflects their hard work to ensure student success.

Debbie LeBeau, Superintendent

Visit the district websitefor water qualitytesting updates.

Lakewood business owner James Guerrero was honored with a Washington Association of School Administrators’ Community Leadership Award in April during the association’s monthly regional meeting. The award is presented to community members in recognition of their outstanding contributions toward education.

Guerrero was recognized for his efforts serving as the chairperson of the Clover Park Citizens’ Committee for Schools. This group led the “yes” campaign for the 2016 Clover Park School District (CPSD) educational programs and operations levy, which was approved by voters in February.

“When I agreed to chair this committee, I wanted to make sure the school district continued to be a vital entity in Lakewood and provide a quality education to students,” said Guerrero. “I was surprised and humbled to receive this award.”

“When James was asked to chair the citizens’ committee, he didn’t hesitate to step up,” said CPSD superintendent Debbie LeBeau. “He successfully led the campaign and spent countless hours ensuring this investment in our students’ futures.”

Spotlight on Schools

Construction Update2015 School Construction ProjectLakeview Hope Academy Classroom AdditionFinishing touches are being applied to the nine classroom additions. The classroom addition is on schedule for completion. Students and staff will begin the 2016-17 school year in the new classrooms.

2015 JBLM School Construction ProjectEvergreen Elementary SchoolThe school structure is built to the point where it’s now water tight. Window installation has begun. Seeding of the ball fields has been done. Interior framing is being completed and spray insulations begins soon. The majority of the brick exterior has been completed. The project is scheduled to be completed in December 2016.

“I wanted to make sure the school district continued to be a vital entity in Lakewood.” James Guerrero

Lakewood business owner honored with Community Leadership Award

Lakewood business owner James Guerrero accepted the Washington Association of School Administrators’ Community Leadership Award from CPSD superintendent Debbie LeBeau.

Bus ID pilot program increases student safety and accountability.Clover Park School District is considering a school bus rider identification (ID) system that will monitor when students enter or exit district school buses. Since April 11, Evergreen, Park Lodge and Tillicum Elementary Schools and Mann Middle School students have participated in a pilot program testing the proposed system.

The pilot program will run through June 14. Pending the results of the pilot program, district officials will consider implementation of a districtwide student identification system.

All Clover Park buses are equipped with systems for global positioning (GPS) and video recording. The bus rider identification system being piloted is an additional tool to increase student safety and accountability.

Each student has an identification card, called a ZPass, with their photo. School staff provided students with a lanyard or zip tie so ZPasses can be worn around the neck or attached to back packs. Students scan their ZPass every time they get on and off the bus. The district’s transportation department receives a time and GPS location when the ZPass is scanned.

Eleven Lakes High School students’ photographs were chosen to be displayed at St. Clare Hospital in Lakewood. The students were recognized during a celebration of art on April 21.

Clover Park High School students visited incoming eighth-graders at their schools to help them make a successful transition to high school. Throughout the year, high school staff and students have engaged middle school students and families both at their home school and at the high school. Photo credit: Rene McCord

www.cloverpark.k12.wa.usEmployees of the Year selected Alfaretta Transition Program

students make a difference by helping othersAlfaretta Transition Program students recently spent the day scooping and packing beans and lentils at the Emergency Food Network in Lakewood for families in need. Alfaretta students are one of 10 volunteer groups that bagged 4,600 pounds of food that day for distribution to local food banks.

“It’s a very rewarding experience knowing that no one will go hungry,” said 20-year-old Bobby Costello.

Alfaretta students are part of Clover Park School District’s special education program. The transition program is located at Alfaretta House, which is designed for special education students – determined through an Individualized Educational Plan and aged 18-21 – who need extra training and support to gain independence in their lives.

This is the first year students have participated in projects like this in the community. In addition to helping at the Emergency Food Network, students shred paper at Lakewood City Hall, organize clothes at Goodwill, tag and hang clothes at the Fort Lewis Thrift Shop and bag food for families in need. It helps the students get into the community and interact with others. When students aren’t helping in the community,

they learn life skills like cooking, cleaning, laundry and money management. There are currently 15 students in the program.

“Each student comes to Alfaretta House with a goal for what they want to do with their lives,” said job coach and paraeducator Linda Allan. “The Alfaretta House program is like a family and allows students to grow and trust one another.”

Paraeducator Linda Allan (center) and Alfaretta Transition Program students pack food for local food banks.

Susan Keller, Kathy Warczak and Holly Shaffer were named Clover Park School District’s Employees of the Year on May 9. (Left to right) Debbie LeBeau, superintendent; Holly Shaffer, Administrative Employee of the Year; Kathy Warczak, Classified Employee of the Year; Susan Keller, Certificated Employee of the Year; and Dr. Marty Schafer, board president.

Three Clover Park School District (CPSD) employees were honored as Employees of the Year at a districtwide celebration on May 9. Since 1987, CPSD has honored exemplary employees in three categories: certificated, classified and administrative. Award recipients are chosen by an independent panel of Lakewood citizens.

2016 CPSD Employees of the Year are:

• Susan Keller, RN, Nursing Department Coordinator, Student Services Center—Certificated Employee of the Year;

• Kathy Warczak, Paraeducator, Lake Louise Elementary School —Classified Employee of the Year; and

• Holly Shaffer, Director of Student Services, Student Services Center—Administrative Employee of the Year.

Graduations set for June 8 and 9Seniors from Lakes and Clover Park High Schools graduate Wednesday, June 8 at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., respectively, at the Tacoma Dome. Harrison Preparatory School seniors graduate June 9 at 6 p.m. at Clover Park Technical College.

Tickets are required to attend graduation ceremonies. For more information, contact the appropriate school.

Four Heroes and Lake Louise Elementary students participated in the Tacoma City Marathon one-mile Kids Dash on May 1. Photo credit: Daniel Nego

Nearly 450 elementary, middle and high school band students participated in the district band festival this spring at Woodbrook Middle School.

Alumni profiles wanted!

Do you have a family member who graduated from Harrison Prep, Clover Park or Lakes High Schools? We’d like to feature them on the district’s alumni webpage which highlights Clover Park School District alumni who are positively contributing to their communities. Please call the community relations office at 253-583-5040 and give us their contact information. We’ll follow up with them to create an alumni profile.

Featured alumnus Alicia

Torrez is a seventh-grade

teacher at Mann Middle

School!

Superintendent’s ColumnCommittee reviewing facilities to ensure quality educational environmentsClover Park School District (CPSD) students are fortunate to reside in communities that support education. Lakewood and Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) voters passed a four-year replacement educational programs and operations levy in February 2016. In 2010, voters approved a bond proposition that helped fund the construction of Four Heroes Elementary, Harrison Preparatory School and a new Hudtloff Middle School. The selection of these facilities for the 2010 bond was based on a recommendation by a committee comprised of individuals from the community, city, construction industry, military and the district.

As required by state statute, the district conducts a study every six years to evaluate the condition of its facilities. The last study was conducted in 2010. As you saw in the article on page one, the district is reconvening a facilities advisory committee to review an evaluation of district facilities. After conducting a thorough review, the committee will make recommendations for short- and long-term needs facing the district. The committee will specifically study the future of Woodbrook Middle School and the city’s proposed zoning change from institutional to residential for the former Lake City school site.

In 2006, CPSD began a partnership with JBLM to evaluate the conditions and capacity of the six elementary schools on the installation. Funding for the schools came from the Department of Defense’s Office of Economic Adjustment and Washington state’s school construction assistance program. No local funds were used to build these schools. Since funding was authorized in 2011, five new schools have been rebuilt on JBLM, with a new Evergreen Elementary scheduled for completion in December 2016.

The eight schools built (and another nearly complete) since the last study was conducted will not need to be analyzed. The elementary schools rebuilt on JBLM are Carter Lake, Hillside, Meriwether, Beachwood and Rainier; with Evergreen nearing completion. The schools built as a result of a community-supported bond are Hudtloff Middle School, Harrison Prep and Four Heroes Elementary.

The committee’s work is vitally important to maintaining healthy, safe and viable learning environments across the district. We want to make sure every facility in our district can provide for the educational needs of our students.

Deborah L. LeBeau, Superintendent

Debbie LeBeau, Superintendent

www.cloverpark.k12.wa.us

Production CrewWriter & Editor: Gary Sabol

Layout & Design: Shelley Thornton-SimonPrinting: Swarner Communications Group

Clover Park School District Board of Directors

President, Marty SchaferVice President, Carole Jacobs

Becki KellcyJoe Vlaming

Paul WagemannDeborah L. LeBeau, Superintendent

and Secretary to the Board

Clover Park School District does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal, and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. Address correspondence to one of the following individuals who have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination at Clover Park School District, 10903 Gravelly Lake Dr., SW, Lakewood, WA 98499-1341: Title IX Coordinator, Brian Laubach, Deputy Superintendent, (253) 583-5050; Section 504/ADA Coordinator, Brian Laubach, Deputy Superintendent, (253) 583-5050; Civil Rights Compliance Coordinator, Lori McStay, Executive Director for Human Resources, (253) 583-5080.

Inside Schools

See what our students are doing

Check out the Events CalendarDistrict, school and athletic events are listed on the district website under “Calendar” and “Events Calendar.”

Summer school begins June 20; speed zones in effectThe elementary, middle and high school (for incoming ninth-graders) summer school sessions will run Monday through Thursday, June 20 through July 21. There is no school on Monday, July 4. Elementary summer school classes will be held from 7:45 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. at five elementary schools. Middle school summer school classes will be held from 8:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. at two middle schools.

• Four Heroes Elementary;

• Hillside Elementary;

• Idlewild Elementary;

• Lakeview Hope Academy;

• Park Lodge Elementary;

• Lochburn Middle School; and

• Woodbrook Middle School.

Summer school will also be offered to eligible incoming ninth-grade students at Clover Park and Lakes High Schools. The ninth-grade summer school classes will be held Monday through Thursday from 8:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. at both high schools.

The district continues to offer a high school credit retrieval summer program at Clover Park High School for in-district 10th- through 12th-grade students only, which will be held Monday through Friday, June 20 through July 22. There is no school on Monday, July 4. Two sessions will be held daily (8:30 to 10:50 a.m. and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.). District students may register for credit retrieval courses through student accounts at Clover Park or Lakes High Schools. The cost is $75 per course.

School speed zones will be in effect during Clover Park School District summer school sessions.

For more information on summer programs, please call 253-583-5152.

Clover Park pool open for summer hoursThis summer, cool down at Clover Park High School’s swimming pool! The pool is open to the public for a variety of activities including swimming lessons, water aerobics, pool rentals, family swims and adult lap swims. The pool is located at 11023 Gravelly Lake Drive Southwest on the corner of 112th street.

Swim lesson registration will take place June 21-25 from 5-8 p.m. The full schedule is available at the pool or on the district website. Call Cynthia Balzarini, facility and recreation supervisor, at 253-583-7364 for more information.

Lakewood 20th Anniversary Event In 1996, Lakewood officially became a city. This year, the city is celebrating its 20th anniversary of incorporation with a huge summer party! Bring your family and friends to celebrate:

• WHAT: City of Lakewood’s 20th Anniversary Summer Event “Celebrating Our Dynamic Future!”

• WHEN: 1 to 6 p.m., Saturday, June 4

• WHERE: Lakewood Towne Center, 5831 Main Street SW (near Loews AMC Theater and Barnes & Noble)

Enjoy a fun-filled day of FREE activities!