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

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CONNECTIONSVolume 10:7 Published for Puyallup School District's Community Partners for a Quality Future June 2005

Career day and job fair help students explore futures

Teacher of the Year ......................4New elementary boundaries .......5Capital projects update ........... 6-7150th anniversary photos.......... 11Good Samaritan Readers ..........13ACE program ..............................15

IN THIS ISSUE

Mehjabeen Khan knows how to dress forsuccess, design a winning resume, andanswer questions clearly while maintain-ing eye contact during a job interview.

She and her ninth-grade peers at KallesJunior High learned what it takes to besuccessful in the working world during anintensive two-day job exploration fair.More than 50 community volunteers tooktime off from their jobs to assist withmock interviews and presentations.

�I want to own my own business some-day,� Kahn said after landing a nearlyperfect score in the mock interview. Shesaid she carefully thought through each

KCPQ-13 Fox News Meteorologist Walter Kelley talks with BallouJunior High students about a career as a TV weatherman.

question, including why she would want towork for the company, how she woulddescribe herself as an employee, andwhether she works best as an individual ora team player.

The school gym became a make-shiftemployment center as students lined up atmore than 100 laptop computers tocomplete online job applications.

Classroom presentations featured repre-sentatives of companies such as FredMeyer, Starbucks, and McDonalds sharingwhat they look for when hiring teens. Alocal driving school discussed car insur-ance and driving responsibly.

Boys and girls splitinto separate groupsto watch their peersmodel appropriateworkplace attire thefirst day, and manycame to school thesecond day dressed insuits, ties, skirts, andother professionaloutfits.

Dan Balmer, ownerof Puyallup Appli-ance and Mattressand one of theinterviewers, said hewas impressed by thestudents� maturity andhow seriously theytook the interviewingprocess.

�This is an excellent

way to get them ready for the real world,�he says.

A similar career day last month at BallouJunior High School provided all 900students a chance to explore more than 30careers. Guest speakers ranged from adentist, police officer, and realtor to anartist, architect, and a sign languageinterpreter.

The event was particularly appealing toninth grader Nick Griswold, who aspiresto be a TV weatherman. Griswold person-ally met keynote speaker Walter Kelley,KCPQ-13 meteorologist, and walked away

with Kelley�s business card and aninvitation to visit the station.

Griswold is already Ballou Junior High�sweekly weatherman. He provides atelevised report every Friday morning thatincludes satellite photos and an extendedweather forecast. The weather and livenews broadcasts are new this spring andcoordinated through the school�s videoproductions club.

�I learned today that what we do today injunior high affects our future � fromgrades to what classes we choose,� saysGriswold.

Kalles Junior High students field questions duringa mock job interview. Front: Joseph Johnson in-terviews Tara Dorsey. Back: Greg Stowe interviewsStephanie May.

2 June 2005 http://www.puyallup.k12.wa.us Celebrating 150 Years of Excellence

Superintendent's MessageGraduation calls for reflection, celebration

Superintendent Tony Apostle congratulates Rogers High Schoolsenior Brian Johnson for being recognized as one of the school�soutstanding 20 seniors. Next to Apostle is Leska Wetterauer,Executive Director of Secondary Education. A list of outstandingseniors from all three high schools can be viewed on the District Website at www.puyallup.k12.wa.us.

June is a time of great reflection within thehearts and minds of our graduating seniorsand their parents. While it is true forrelatives and friends to reflect, as well,upon this benchmark of time, there is nostronger emotional linkage at graduationthan that between parent and graduate.

The high school graduation ceremony iscalled a �commencement ceremony� thatsignifies the event by definition �to comeinto existence, have a beginning; to start.�Because graduation signals the beginningof life as an independent young adult,mothers and fathers desperately want theirnew graduate to experience only what agood life can bring � a life filled withgood fortune, happiness, and excellenthealth. It is a wonderful family time filledwith tears of joy, and sadness, too. Thereis great jubilation, pride, excitement, andinspired hope for the graduate�s best-laidplans. As your superintendent, I also wantthe best that life has to offer for all of our1,235 graduating seniors.

To our graduates, I hope you take a fewminutes to personally thank, honor, and

recognize the adults who made a differ-ence, inspired you, and or changed yourlives before you walk across the com-mencement stage. These are the peoplewho provided the support, inspiration, andguidance when you needed it most.Additionally, grandparents, relatives, andfriends all had a place in shaping yourlives; these role models need to know nowhow you feel about them. Please don�tpass it off to another day.

To our parents of graduating seniors, youare to be commended for preparing theseyoung adults well for a life of newindependence. I am also certain that onmore than one occasion parents found itdifficult to say no, but said no, and meantit. You also had to provide clear parentaldirection at times when you could see inyour son�s or daughter�s teary eyes that heor she felt you did not care or understandor both. I am truly appreciative andrespectful of the parent�s role in modeling

good civic responsibility, positive disci-pline, high values, and community service.This community is very fortunate to havestrong parental support for its youth. I amalso very thankful for a strong parentalvoice in the educational successes andfinancial support of Puyallup�s schools.

To our professional educators and supportstaff in the Puyallup School District, thankyou for giving so much of your personal andprofessional time and energy on behalf of ourstudents. Each staff member, nearly 2,200employees, has successfully contributed insupport either directly or indirectly to everyone of our graduates of the Class of 2005.

To the community, thank you for yourprofound support of Puyallup�s publicschool system. I am energized by all that isgood in our community. It is guided anddriven by solid, civic-minded people whoare proud of this community�s character,its history, traditions, and bright future.

The following dates have been estab-lished for the 2005-06 school year. Thelast day of school, other non-schooldays, and early dismissal informationwill be released following the conclu-sion of negotiations between the SchoolDistrict and the Puyallup EducationAssociation. Updates will be posted onthe District Web site atwww.puyallup.k12.wa.us.

First Day of School: September 7, 2005

Winter Break: December 19, 2005 toJanuary 2, 2006. Students return toschool January 3, 2006

Mid-Winter Break: February 17-20,2006

Spring Break: April 3-7, 2006

Calendar datesset for 2005-06

PUYALLUP SCHOOL DISTRICTBoarBoarBoarBoarBoard ofd ofd ofd ofd of Dir Dir Dir Dir Directorectorectorectorectorsssss

Bruce F. DammeierPresident

(253) 370-7198

Diana SeeleyVice President(253) 848-4028

Greg HeathLegislative Representative

(253) 770-8797

Kathy Afflerbaugh(253) 840-1185

Lloyd Freudenstein(253) 841-1599

Dr. Tony ApostleSuperintendent(253) 841-8769

District MissionDistrict MissionDistrict MissionDistrict MissionDistrict MissionSupported by families and our diverse com-munity, the Puyallup School District challengesstudents to achieve their academic, creative,and physical potential.

Connections Editorial PConnections Editorial PConnections Editorial PConnections Editorial PConnections Editorial PolicolicolicolicolicyyyyyConnections is published periodically by thePuyallup School District as part of a com-munications link between the District and thecommunity. Its intent and purpose is to pro-vide the Board and District staff a venue toinform community members about pro-grams, goals, and activities of public edu-cation in the Puyallup School District. Pleasedirect questions or comments to KarenHansen, Director of Communications andExecutive Services, PO Box 370, PuyallupWA 98371 or telephone (253) 841-8703 oremail khansen@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: Dale CarringtonContribContribContribContribContributing Wuting Wuting Wuting Wuting Writerriterriterriterriters:s:s:s:s: Brynn Blanchard,Grace Eubanks, Susan Gifford, andTeresa Stover

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 educat ional programs and/orextracurricular activities. Inquiriesregarding compliance procedures may bedirected to the District's Title IX/RCW28A.640 Of f icer and Section 504Coordinator (Larry Sera, AssistantSuperintendent of Human Resources) at302 Second Street SE, Puyallup, WA 98372.Phone: (253) 841-8645.

Celebrating 150 Years of Excellence http://www.puyallup.k12.wa.us June 2005 3

DianaSeeleyVice PresidentSchool Board

Not often does a single event embrace ourpast, our present, and our future in the waythat the 150th anniversary �Walk ThroughTime� celebration accomplished. Thissingle event captured the contributions ofour past through recognizing 150 out-standing individuals who, through theirrelationship to education and our commu-nity, have achieved positions of distinc-tion. Many of these individuals begantheir influential path as graduates of ourPuyallup schools.

As the audience reflected on thehonoree�s accomplishments, one couldn�thelp but notice the talents of the studentswho had joined us for this memorableoccasion. We were entertained by themelodic voices of the all-District juniorhigh choir and escorted by leadershipstudents from each of our high schools.

Students also led the way in designing theanniversary logo and the medallionspresented to our honorees. Thesestudents represent our present and moreimportantly our future. It is precisely ourstudents who we have an obligation toprovide a quality education so that they,too, shall be honored.

Our students are not identical; they do notcome to us from the same backgrounds orwith the same skills. But each child comes

to us with a degree of hope; hope to beunderstood, hope to succeed.

Success, in this case, often comes fromour teachers and programs that ignite thetalents and abilities of all students. Theseprograms reach out to connect what we areteaching to a reality to which students canidentify. Teachers whose classroomactivities link the curriculum to real worldexperiences through project-basedinstruction, and partnerships with businessand community participants, provide theconnection that frequently bridges the gapcreated by unequal backgrounds.

Our role is to prepare our students to bemindful of their community, committed tothe welfare of others, and devoted tocontinual learning. We shall continue tofocus on the success of all children so they

have the skills and confidence to ensure aseamless transition from secondaryeducation into meaningful employment orfurther education.

Our students are well on their way toestablishing the foundation for futuregenerations. The �Walk Through Time�brought unity of the past, present, andfuture through the common thread ofeducation. We can be proud that, throughtime, we have touched the lives of somany outstanding people. At the sametime, we can look to the future with hopeas our strength is in our future and, asalways, is in our children.

Photos of the 150th anniversary celebra-tion are featured on page 11. A list of the150 honorees is on the District Web site atwww.puyallup.k12.wa.us.

�Walk Through Time� bridges past, present, and future

Karshner Museum celebrates 75 years of hands-on learning

The Karshner Museum celebrated its 75th anniversary last month with an evening program featuring guest speakers, a slide show of theMuseum�s past 75 years, student presentations, a performance by the Spotlight Players, and refreshments. From left: SuperintendentTony Apostle talks about the Museum; Stewart Elementary sixth-graders Aaron Ackerman and Morgan Cecil greet guests; Museum DirectorSteve Crowell and former director Rosemary Eckerson share Museum memories in front of the tepee � a class favorite, and WarnerKarshner, the great nephew of Museum founder Dr. Warner Karshner, prepares to enter the 75th anniversary event with his wife, Diane.More photos from the celebration are on the School District Web site at www.puyallup.k12.wa.us.

4 June 2005 http://www.puyallup.k12.wa.us Celebrating 150 Years of Excellence

Maplewood educator isPuyallup�s Teacher of the YearIt�s been 16 years since Janae Bustad satin Ann Valentine-Andreas�s fifth-gradeclassroom at Maplewood ElementarySchool. Whether it was learning a mathconcept or memorizing the Preamble tothe Constitution, Bustad remembers herformer teacher�s �enthusiasm� and�passion� in presenting information, andthe �fun� students had watching learningcome alive.

When Bustad sits at her desk today � ateacher�s desk in a Seattle elementaryschool � she often looks at a small photoof Valentine-Andreas on the wall next toher as a reminder �of one of my favoriteteachers and role models of all time.� In aletter to her former teacher she wrote, �Ilove teaching and am thankful for peoplelike you who inspired me to go into thisprofession.�

Bustad is one of many former studentswho have sent congratulatory cards andletters in recent weeks recognizingValentine-Andreas for being selected thisyear�s Puyallup School District Teacherof the Year.

The annual recognition is designed tohonor a professional classroom teacherwho has made an outstanding contributionto children�s education. As Puyallup�sTeacher of the Year, Valentine advances tothe regional Teacher of the Year competi-tion. Winners from that event compete forthe state honor.

Fellow Maplewood staff members eruptedin cheers and applause when the news wasannounced last month by School BoardPresident Bruce Dammeier during amorning Maplewood Elementary staffmeeting. The School Board also presentedthe 20-year veteran teacher with a plaqueand special reception at its May 9 meeting.

�She is a very high energy and verystructured teacher who sets high stan-dards for herself, her kids, and herpeers,� says Maplewood Principal BethMillie. �She loves history and bringinglearning to life.�

It�s not unusual, for example, for Valen-tine-Andreas to gallop around the roomwith her students during a lesson on PaulRevere�s ride. Or take them to the Tacomawaterfront where they can watch a diver

bring sea creatures to the surface andrelate that to a unit on marine inverte-brates. Or ask them to research a job onemight have held during colonial times thenpresent their reports in front of the classwhile dressed in clothing from that era.

�When she teaches us about the birth ofour country, she wants us to reallyunderstand what and why things hap-pened,� writes Connie Janiga, a parapro-fessional who works with specialeducation students in Valentine-Andreas�s classroom. �She explains itwith pictures, stories, background

information, and so much excitementyou might think she just got back fromthat very event.�

It came as no surprise when, afterlearning of her award, her fifth-gradeclass named her �Lady Liberty� andadorned her for one day last month with ashiny silver wrap and pointed headdressand gave her a plastic torch to carry. Eachyear Valentine-Andreas decorates herroom in a sea of red, white, and blue,including American flags and otherpatriotic symbols, to coincide with theUS history focus in fifth grade.

�We do a lot of presentations andspeaking in this classroom,� says Valen-tine-Andreas. �Students work hard in myclassroom. Some will come back and saythey remember everything we did inclass,� ranging from read alouds tomemorization, and from art projects tofield trips. �This is such an honor for me.�

No matter what the subject, the veteranteacher focuses on covering the state�sEssential Academic Learning Require-ments and following Maplewood�smission to �nurture and empower students

to reach their full potential.�

In addition to her classroom duties,Valentine-Andreas has been active withthe school�s Accelerated Reader andsocial �sunshine� committee. She hasalso presented fifth-grade staff trainingson the District�s new science kits lastyear, served on the science adoptioncommittee this year, and has been aleader on the harassment and bullyingprevention committee. In past yearsValentine-Andreas has mentored newfifth-grade teachers as a representativefor the Teachers Teaching Teachers inPuyallup Schools.

In a letter nominating her for the award,fellow staff member Laurie Patoff writes,�Ann validates every student and genu-inely cares about them not only for theyear she has them, but also after they leaveher classroom.�

Or as current fifth grader MackenzieMcCoy writes, �Dear Mrs. Valentine,You will remember me because I alwaystried my best in your class�You have away with teaching that makes learningmore fun.�

Students dressed up Ann Valentine-Andreas as �Lady Liberty� duringTeacher Appreciation Week.

Ann Valentine-Andreas, this year�s Puyallup School District Teacherof the Year, helps fifth grader Paula Sumner with a math lesson ongeometric principles. Student Martin Desjardins (right) concentrateson his geoboard.

�Ann validates every studentand genuinely cares aboutthem not only for the year shehas them, but also after theyleave her classroom.�

Laurie Patoff

Celebrating 150 Years of Excellence http://www.puyallup.k12.wa.us June 2005 5

New elementary boundaries set for 2007

Map above shows new South Hill elementary boundaries, effectivein fall 2007. For a more detailed map including street names, go towww.puyallup.k12.wa.us/ourdistrict/news/bond-3.cfm.

continued on page 13

Superintendentproposes 2005-06balanced budgetSuperintendent Tony Apostle proposes a$150 million budget for the comingschool year that aims to improve studentachievement, prepare for the opening ofnew schools, and maintain a fiscallyresponsible ending fund balance.

Apostle released the details of his spendingplan, including a list of proposed reduc-tions, at the May 9 School Board meetingand first public hearing. The community isinvited to comment on Apostle�s recom-mendation at the second and final publichearing August 8. Board action is sched-uled to follow. The meeting begins at 6:30pm at Ballou Junior High School, 9916136th Street East on South Hill.

�We are in a time of increased expecta-tions and decreased state and federalfunding, making the development of abalanced budget very difficult,� saysApostle. He adds the proposed budget�will enable us to improve studentachievement by reallocating resourceswhere they are needed the most � insupport of our students.�

The balanced budget includes provisionsfor hiring new teachers and supportpersonnel, and purchasing additionalsupplies and materials, to serve aprojected 264 new students next year.

The Puyallup School District is the tenthlargest in the state this year with morethan 20,000 students. It has been growingby about 250 students each year, which isenough to fill about half of a traditional-sized elementary school. The annualgrowth is projected to continue through-out the next decade, creating a continuingchallenge to find space to educate thegrowing student population, says DebraAungst, Assistant Superintendent forManagement Services.

With the School Board�s number onegoal to improve student achievement,

New South Hill elementary schoolboundaries will take effect in September2007 to relieve overcrowding at severalexisting buildings and coincide with theopening of two new schools.

The Board unanimously agreed last monthto accept the South Hill ElementaryBoundary Study Committee�s proposal,which was developed after nearly sixmonths of intensive study and publicforums.

The boundaries will take effect when newElementary Schools #22 and #23 open infall 2007. They will relieve overcrowdingin Brouillet, Hunt, and Pope elementaryschools and will help absorb the effects ofrapid growth in the Sunrise and SilverCreek areas. The new boundary plan alsochanges a portion of the southern bound-aries of Firgrove and Ridgecrest elemen-tary schools.

As committee spokespersons, Paul Cheekand Amy Littleton, both parents in theDistrict, appeared before the School BoardMay 9 to review the process the committeeused to develop the boundaries and answerBoard member�s questions. The Boardformally accepted the recommendation atits May 23 meeting and praised thecommittee for its detailed work.

The committee � made up of parents,citizens, and educators � studied currentboundaries, future population patterns,and enrollment trends in the affectedareas. It then finalized a proposal, whichwas presented at three public forums inMarch. Cheek and Littleton noted someparents had expressed opposition to theplan, wishing to keep all students in theSunrise development together in a singleschool.

�We know how quickly growth is happen-ing in the Silver Creek and Sunrisedevelopments,� says Littleton. �It made ithard for us. We worked to find a balanceof numbers for the schools to be able tokeep neighborhoods together while alsotaking diversity, transportation, and naturalgeography into consideration.�

Input from public forums was subse-quently analyzed and reviewed by the

committee. After much deliberation, itunanimously confirmed that its proposal tothe Board was the best possible plan basedon available information.

�With these boundaries and with the twonew schools, we�re going to be doinggood for all of our schools,� saysLittleton. �The existing schools will have

overcrowding eased.�

Another boundary study, this one forDistrict junior high schools, is expected tostart in the fall. Those interested in beingconsidered for this boundary studycommittee can contact Linda Quinn,Director of Administrative Services, at(253) 840-8811.

6 June 2005 http://www.puyallup.k12.wa.us Celebrating 150 Years of Excellence

A parent, teacher, and principal huddlearound a flip chart, quickly commentingand jotting items on a page labeled�Communications.� Suddenly a timer bellinterrupts, and the group moves to thenext table with a flip chart labeled�Staffing.� They scan the previous group�sideas and then brainstorm and add morecomments to the page, moving next to achart on �Nuts and Bolts.�

Several other groups do the same, eachone noting issues surrounding PopeElementary sixth graders moving toportable classrooms at Emerald RidgeHigh School for each of the next twoyears. The move is necessary to relieveovercrowding at Pope while the neighbor-hood waits for Elementary School #22 tobe built.

This was the work of the first meeting ofthe Pope Elementary and Emerald RidgeHigh Transition Team on April 25. Sincethen, the group has met nearly every weekto consult on issues such as schoolsecurity, the location of staff and studentparking and play areas, how and where toserve school lunches, and how the housingplan can best be communicated to allayfears or misconceptions among students,parents, and the community.

The 16-member team includes eightparents of fourth and fifth graders thisyear at Pope Elementary, the sixth-gradeteachers at Pope, administrative staff ofboth Pope Elementary and Emerald RidgeHigh schools, and several District staffmembers. Casey Cox, Capital ProjectsEducation Planner and the former Emer-ald Ridge High principal, is the group�sfacilitator.

During its meetings last month, thecommittee toured the Emerald Ridgecampus including areas such as theperforming arts center, computer andscience labs, and choir room � areas thatcould possibly be used by sixth graderswith controlled adult supervision when notbeing used by high school students. Theteam agreed to schedule a similar toursometime this month for parents andstudents.

�This transition team is developing a plan

that will provide our sixth graders with atruly enriched experience � one that theparents and teachers will be proud of,�

says Pope Elementary Principal CoryCrawford. �We want sixth grade to befabulous for these young people.�

Kim Schuur, whose daughter is in fifthgrade, met with a dozen other parents todraft a list of concerns well before the firsttransition team meeting. �We wanted to beprepared and make sure our concerns wereheard,� she says. Noting that her daughteris active in band, sports, and patrol, andalso serves as secretary of the studentcouncil, Schuur says, �It�s important to methat the kids don�t miss out on things thatthey have the opportunity to do now.�

Parent Marcello Mancini, whose daughteris in fourth grade this year, praised theteam�s efforts and says he found itespecially comforting when Cox listed ona flip chart all of the staff and securitypersonnel that will serve Emerald RidgeHigh and the area set aside on the north-east end of campus for the sixth-gradeportable classrooms.

Mancini has created an e-mail addressfor parents to send the committee ques-tions. E-mail questions tosixth2erhs@yahoo.com.

Pope Elementary is not alone in its need tomove students. New incoming studentsfrom the Silver Creek development arealready being enrolled in FirgroveElementary as long as those students donot already have siblings at Brouillet.

Fruitland and Meekerelementary remodels beginconstruction this month

Construction begins this month on therenovation of the Fruitland ElementarySchool library, which includes theaddition of a new research area. Theschool remodel will also include a neweight-classroom wing. Site work alsobegins this month at Meeker ElementarySchool in preparation for a new multi-purpose room. Remodel work at MeekerElementary includes a larger 4,000-square-foot multipurpose room. Con-struction on both schools will becompleted by September 2006.

Photo at right: Fruitland librarianSue Luckman reads to students.

Staff and parents on the Pope Elementary and Emerald Ridge HighTransition Team tour the high school to assist in planning a smoothtransition for sixth graders who will be housed in portable classroomson the campus over the next two years.

Parents, staff develop plan for sixth graders at Emerald Ridge

Celebrating 150 Years of Excellence http://www.puyallup.k12.wa.us June 2005 7

Hundreds of junior high and high schoolathletes in the Valley will continue to enjoyoutdoor sports while their schools are underconstruction over the next three years, thanksto an agreement that allows shared use ofother school and community athletic fields.

The heart of the plan is that three otherDistrict schools � Ferrucci Junior High,Fruitland Elementary, and Shaw RoadElementary � will share their athletic spacesfor practices and competitions between 2006and 2009 while the new Kalles and Aylenjunior high schools are being built.

The athletes will also have access to thenew Heritage Recreation Center sportscomplex on South Hill beginning in spring2006 and continued use of Sparks Sta-dium. In addition, a new fast-pitch field isplanned for Puyallup High School.

�It�s been, to say the least, a very compli-cated project,� says District AthleticDirector Rick Wells, who led the effort tocome up with the field-use strategy.

The new Kalles Junior High is slated toopen in 2007, followed a year later byAylen Junior High. Adjacent to them,eventually, will be first-class athletic fields.Since these new buildings will be con-structed on the same sites as the currentjunior high schools, the existing athleticfields � which Puyallup High students alsodepend on for sports � will be disruptedfor three years. While new junior highconstruction generally takes two years, thenew fields, which involve extensivepreparation and grass planting, will eachtake a year more to mature before they canbe used for sports such as track, fast-pitch,baseball, soccer, and football.

Casey Cox, the District�s Capital ProjectsEducation Planner and a member of the teamof District athletic leaders and administratorswho have developed the field use plan, sayssome physical education classes andpractices will be accommodated on a limitedbasis at small spaces at Kalles and Aylenjunior highs. The bulk of the practices andcompetitions, however, will be held at theshared school and community sites.

In addition to determining where studentswill play, the planning team also ad-

Schools to share fields during construction

dressed issues such as transportation tothe shared fields, arrival times to avoidschool bus traffic jams since junior highsdismiss one hour earlier thanelementaries, and community groups thatuse Kalles and Aylen junior high fields.Cox says those groups have been notifiedand asked to find other sites in themeantime, and the District has offered tohelp them in their search. Puyallup�sneighboring school districts may offer toassist with this need, says Wells.

While Aylen and Kalles junior highstudents will not have a �home fieldadvantage� for track and football duringthe three years, students and parents canlook forward to the ultimate prizes of newschool buildings and top-notch athleticfields built to meet new District educa-tional specifications for sports facilities.

�These fields will be much better,� saysWells. �They will have such things as full

drainage underneath � grass that can reallytake the pounding and be very level.�

In addition to Wells and Cox, the field-usestrategy team that has been working sinceJanuary includes: Director of FacilitiesRudy Fyles, Kalles Junior High PrincipalRich Boerner and Athletic Coordinator RickBeitelspacher; Aylen Junior High PrincipalMike Warr and Athletic Coordinator TimVanHulle; and Puyallup High AssistantPrincipal Mike Hagadone and AthleticCoordinator Jeff Kindle. The team alsosought input from Ferrucci Junior High andShaw Road and Fruitland elementaryschools and held informational meetingswith the Pierce County Parks Department.

For specific information about wherestudents will be practicing and competingduring the three-year interim, Cox recom-mends athletes and parents contact coachesas the sports season approaches.

The following is a regular featureupdating the community of progressmade on the $198.5 million schoolbond approved by voters in February2004.

Projects completed� Bids awarded for the Fruitland

Elementary classroom additionproject

� Completion date for Aylen JuniorHigh accelerated from August 2009to August 2008

Projects under way� Construction begins June 24 on the

Fruitland and Meeker elementaryschool remodel projects

� Renovation at the Rogers AquaticCenter, which started in April andresumed May 28, is scheduled forcompletion by the end of July. Whilethe Rogers pool will be closed to thepublic throughout the summer, thePuyallup pool will expand itsschedule. Rogers pool resumes itsnormal schedule in September

� Window replacement, floor coveringreplacement, and special educationmodifications at Ferrucci JuniorHigh begin this month after studentsleave for summer vacation

Future projects� Installation of portable classrooms at

Emerald Ridge High for interimhousing of Pope Elementary sixthgraders, scheduled for late July

� Design development phase forElementary Schools #22 and #23

Aylen Junior High sprinters take honors on their home track in thejunior varsity 100-meter run against Fife�s Columbia Junior High.Austin Aldrich (lane 1) takes second, and Brennan Boyes (lane 6)takes third. Close in the pack is Kendall Stedman (lane 3). Aylen�sElliot Gregory, who is out of camera view, won the event.

8 June 2005 http://www.puyallup.k12.wa.us Celebrating 150 Years of Excellence

Emerald Ridge High School

Jonathan An Mikel Armstrong Lauren Bair Amma Bofa Anna Bofa

John Crosbie Elizabeth Davenport Sarah David Faustine Im Alexander Knox

Damien Koolis Amanda Lampert Brad Logan Rachel Malinen Lindsey Maxfield

wenty outstandingseniors from eachhigh school arerecognized each yearby the PuyallupSchool Board.Students selected arerecognized for theirleadership qualitiesand are nominatedfor this honor byteachers within thevarious departmentsat each school.

Brandon Myking Aaron Orheim Nick Paterno Zacky Salloum Kyile Schreiner

Puyallup School Board recog

T

Celebrating 150 Years of Excellence http://www.puyallup.k12.wa.us June 2005 9

nizes outstanding graduates

GRADUATIONDATESJune 17, 2005

Walker High School graduationat the Sumner Performing Arts Center

7 pm

June 18, 2005Emerald Ridge High School graduationat the Western Washington Fairgrounds

10 am

June 18, 2005Puyallup High School graduation

at the Western Washington Fairgrounds2 pm

June 18, 2005Rogers High School graduation

at the Western Washington Fairgrounds6:30 pm

Natalia Alicea Mikey Alston Jamie Fale Beau Figliola Anisha Garg

Teylar Greer Brian Johnson Seungwha Lee Jeff Miller Melissa Oliver

Courtney Parman Lori Racca Kyle Rogers Josh Shake Kellie Thompson

Aubrey Uhling Peter Van Elswyk Paul Waddington Brian Wehmhoefer Kraig Wilson

Rogers High School

10 June 2005 http://www.puyallup.k12.wa.us Celebrating 150 Years of Excellence

Joanie Anderson Alison Ballard Aaron Broberg Ashley Fent Cody Fouts Danielle Hanks Matthew Hilton

Outstanding graduatesutstanding seniors from each high school arerecognized each year by the Puyallup School Board.

O

Puyallup High School

Connor Irick Andrew Lund John Mahler Michael Morcos Erica Overfield Emily Paterson Kristin Rine

Brittany Schneider Terry Schramm Susan Shin Jamie Simpson Russell Taylor Lona Watts Brian Webber

Celebrating 150 Years of Excellence http://www.puyallup.k12.wa.us June 2005 11

12 January 2005 http://www.puyallup.k12.wa.us Celebrating 150 Years of Excellence

Puyallup�s first teacher in 1861 leaves mark in community

Medical competition tests highschool students� knowledge, skillsHigh school students aspiring to work inmedical fields demonstrated their smartsand skills last month in the District�sfirst-ever medical competition.

Nearly 50 Emerald Ridge, Puyallup, andRogers high school students competed inmedical terminology, anatomy/physiol-ogy, and sports medicine events atPuyallup High School.

Pacific Lutheran University athletictrainers helped at the event, includingscoring the teens during a timed ankle-taping competition.

The half-day competition also includeda jeopardy-style question and answer

session on medical terminology; awritten test about sports medicine; and asmall group team competition in whichstudents answered questions about casestudies related to anatomy and physiol-ogy. Prizes were awarded to schoolwinners in each category.

Photo on right: Puyallup HighSchool student Nick Metzcompetes in a timed ankle-taping competition whileevaluator Andy Hamilton, ofPacific Lutheran University,looks on. Puyallup High studentHope Mahnken gets her ankletaped.

(Above) Eleanor �Nellie� Herness looks at a photograph of the�Blockhouse,� which housed Puyallup�s first school in 1861.Herness is the great-granddaughter of Emma Carson, Puyallup�sfirst schoolteacher. She was in town recently to accept an awardon behalf of her great-grandmother at the �Walk Through Time�event at the Puyallup School District�s 150th anniversarycelebration. The Yelm resident is also shown (left) standing withher daughter, Maryanne Cottmeyer, at a chestnut tree planted inPuyallup in 1856 by Emma Carson and her husband, John. A stonemarker stands today at the north end of the Meridian Street bridgewhere the blockhouse once stood. Also known as Fort Maloney,the blockhouse was originally used in 1856 to guard a ferry thattransported people and supplies across the Puyallup River.

Celebrating 150 Years of Excellence http://www.puyallup.k12.wa.us January 2005 13

Students excel in Good Samaritan Readers program

Apostle proposes spending $125,000next year on programs to help lowachieving students. He also recom-mends additional school clerical help,a junior high boundary study inpreparation for the opening of JuniorHigh #7 in 2008, and math, science,and social studies instructionalmaterials and related staff training.

Apostle targets $800,000, whichcomes on top of $500,000 earmarkedthis year, to prepare for the openingof three new schools. Elementaryschools #22 and #23 are slated toopen in 2007, followed by the juniorhigh a year later. It costs about $1million to open each of the twoelementary schools and about $1.2

million for the junior high.

He also suggests maintaining thisyear�s 5 percent ending fund balance,also referred to as the District�sreserves. This $300,000 is like anindividual�s personal savings account,or a business owner�s equity orworking capital. A 5 percent reserve isconsidered the minimum amount tosignal financial health and stability in aschool district, says Aungst.

Reductions are targeted in several areas tocover increases in general operating costssuch as fuel, insurance, retiree benefits,and salaries and benefits. Costs are alsoassociated with several interim housingplans to relieve overcrowding. During the2004-05 school year, Apostle eliminatedthree administrative positions saving$360,000. A central office administrativereorganization approved by the Board this

spring will save an additional $130,000for the 2005-06 school year.

Work began on the budget in the fall withthe formation of a 15-member ResourceAdvisory Council (RAC) to advise theSuperintendent�s Cabinet � a team ofadministrative leadership. Aungst and herstaff held several budget presentations,inviting staff and the community to learnmore about the District�s financial status.The RAC submitted a balanced budgetrecommendation to the Cabinet inJanuary, staff and community forumswere held a month later to gatherfeedback, and Apostle considered inputfrom those sessions in the developmentof his recommended budget.

Throughout the process, Aungst says,�Students have continued to be at theheart of all of our discussions anddeliberations.�

2005-06 proposed budgetcontinued from page 5

It�s hard to imagine Tamara Williswithout a book in her hand. �She readsall the time,� says her mother.

That wasn�t the story two years ago. In firstgrade, Tamara struggled with comprehen-sion, making reading far from enjoyable.

Her reading ability has soared thanks toone-on-one reading help she has receivedthrough the Good Samaritan Readersprogram at Stewart Elementary School.The tutoring program, formerly calledWerlin, pairs volunteer tutors withstruggling readers for 45 minutes once aweek. Those 45 minutes can mean thedifference between a child who reads at orabove grade level and one who strugglesdaily in school, says Program CoordinatorJane Ward.

Students and tutorsspend time readingaloud, completingvocabularyworksheets, playingcard or board gamesthat focus on lettersand sounds, andnaming objects insmall plastic tubs thatcorrelate with consonant blends or otherspecific sounds. They also frequentlypractice writing skills and this yearauthored two small storybooks.

Colorful stickers are placed on laminatedpaper racetracks to mark students�progress as they advance from onereading level to the next, and students aregiven items such as bookmarks and booksto enjoy at home. Students must read atleast five books fluently in each readinglevel before advancing to the next step.

The personal rewards are also great, saystutor Chuck Ward, who has been with theprogram since it began in fall 2002.�They are really just starting to learn, andyou can see the change in them weekafter week.� Ward, a retired game wardenand grandfather of two, also enjoys thefew minutes at the start of each sessionwhen students chat about the �importantstuff� that happened during the week �from birthdays and pets to soccer gamesand loose teeth.

Good Samaritan Readers, funded in partwith a grant from Good SamaritanHospital and managed by Communitiesin Schools of Puyallup (CISP), openedthe first year serving only first graders.After testing students� reading skills atthe beginning, middle, and end of theyear and seeing proven success, theprogram expanded to include secondgraders in 2003 and third graders lastfall. About 32 students participate in thetutoring program this year.

�Research shows that those who arereading at or above grade level byfourth grade succeed in school and inlife,� says Chris Loftis, ExecutiveDirector of CISP. �It�s the core educa-tional asset we can provide our kids.�

Tutors include parents, grandparents,business people, and other communitymembers, including a half dozen peoplelike Chuck Ward who have returned allthree years. Other three-year tutors includeSchool Board President Bruce Dammeier.

Dorothy Lindbo, whose third-grade sonis in the tutoring program, also volun-teers each week and has done so sincethe program�s inception. She says her son�reads with more expression now and is

able to pronounce words a lot easier.�

One of Lindbo�s highlights this year washearing the second-grade boy she tutorstell her that his two favorite timesduring the school day are recess and thereading program. �This makes my day

and this makes my week seeing the kidsget so excited.�

If interested in volunteering with GoodSamaritan Readers, contact Jane Wardat Stewart Elementary School, (253)841-8743.

Good Samaritan Readers volunteer Chuck Ward plays a word gamewith first grader Chance Stallman.

Jane Ward

14 June 2005 http://www.puyallup.k12.wa.us Celebrating 150 Years of Excellence

Metal and clay take on new forms in thehands of art students. Arts Downtown, thepublic outdoor art gallery in downtownPuyallup, attracts sculptural artists fromaround the region to participate in theannual show. This year, Rogers Highstudents Seungwha Lee and Merissa Wise,and Emerald Ridge High student LaurenTurner, have works of art included in thejuried show.

In addition to designing and submittingtheir pieces for consideration, thestudents found that the process ofcreating large-scale, sculptural piecescapable of withstanding Northwestweather and public access meant workingclosely with their art teachers for special-ized instruction.

All of the student pieces required welding� something none had experiencedthrough their other art classes. Leecompleted her piece with the help ofRogers welding teacher Bob Dore. �I�venever welded before, so I got to make my

own frame and my ceramics teacher andart teacher helped me put it all together,�she says.

Dore also appreciated partnering with thearts department. �Rather than having afull-time welding student build the neededframe to display the artwork, I felt itwould be more meaningful and enjoyablefor the art students to learn the process ofcutting metal and joining the parts withwelding equipment.�

Lee�s sculpture, �Seasons,� resembles atree and is made of ceramic and naturalstones. As a volunteer for Arts Down-town for the past two years, she enjoyedmeeting and accompanying the artists atthe annual gala. This year, though, she�slooking forward to being among them asa peer and being recognized as an artist.�I�m a little nervous about presentingmyself to the other artists,� she says,�but this is really a great learningexperience.�

Lauren Turner worked with Puyallup Highmetal and arts teacher Fred Fishback, aswell as her father, automotive teacherLarry Turner, on her metal and glasssculpture. �I learned that it�s a lot harderthan it looks to work with metal,� saysTurner, a student in Candace Loring�s artclasses. To achieve an aged look fordifferent pieces of metal, she treated themetal with chemicals.

Turner�s sculpture represents MountRainier and the evergreens of the North-west. �I see it every day when I go toschool at Emerald Ridge, so it was myinspiration for the piece,� she says.

For Wise, a Running Start senior whospends most of her time in classes atPierce College, preparing a piece forArts Downtown kept her in touch withher teachers on the Rogers campus. �Ireally got to know (art teachers) Ms.(Debbie) Munson and Ms. (Cindi) Tatebetter through this,� she says. �It�sreally helped me stay connected withthem at Rogers, even though I�m notthere all the time.�

Wise�s piece is a black, welded sculptural

Rogers High student artistSeungwha Lee welds her ArtsDowntown project.

Top photo (from left) Rogers High art teacher Debbie Munson, Rogersstudents Seungwha Lee with her �Seasons� art and Merissa Wisewith her sculptural tower art, and Rogers art teacher Cindi Tate.Bottom photo (from left) Puyallup High automotive teacher LarryTurner, Emerald Ridge High student Lauren Turner with herNorthwest glass and metal art, and Emerald Ridge High art teacherCandace Loring.

tower topped with a box with each sidedepicting an art including theater, music,painting, and dance. The carved claypanels are designed to withstand theelements.

The students were recognized last monthat the annual gala and reception for ArtsDowntown. This year�s exhibit has beeninstalled and can be viewed in downtownPuyallup parks and public locations.

Student art joins 2005 Arts Downtown outdoor gallery

Celebrating 150 Years of Excellence http://www.puyallup.k12.wa.us June 2005 15

Students, teacher win WashingtonAward for Vocational Excellence

(photo courtesy of Connie Saari)

The buzz of saws and pounding ofhammers on the Rogers High campus maygrow louder in the next year. The ACEAcademy, focusing on architecture,construction, and engineering, immerses43 Rogers students in an integratedacademic program that uses hands-onlearning to teach academic principles.This school year, the second year of theprogram, participation has more thandoubled from 15 to 43 students, andenrollment is expected to continue toclimb in 2005-06.

�This year there are about three times thenumber of girls in the program comparedto last year,� says Connie Saari, construc-tion teacher. �Many of them came to theprogram with an interest in architecture,but they�re discovering that there are alsosome things that really interest them inengineering and construction. Some ofthem are learning that they really like tobuild things.�

In addition to focused academiccoursework, ACE includes a number ofhands-on experiences and brings inprofessionals from industry to teachclasses and specialized units. Studentinterests that attracted them to the programare nearly divided, with about one-thirdenrolling with an interest in architecture,one-third for engineering, and about one-third for construction/carpentry.

This winter, two seniors from the UWConstruction Management program camedown for seven weeks and taught twoclasses a week. They introduced studentsto industrial scale projects and taughtstudents how to read large-scale industrialblueprints. Visits to the Tacoma NarrowsBridge project, Bates, and a future fieldtrip to BCRA Architects or a trade trainingcenter show students future career

opportunities to consider.This spring, second yearstudents have beenbuilding sheds for FortNisqually in PointDefiance Park. Addition-ally, they have beenworking on residentialprint reading. For oneunit, students will createtheir own modified set ofresidential prints for asmall cabin, then theywill build a scale model.

Students recently com-pleted a unit called �If IHad a Hammer,� a hands-on construction activitythat has students work asa team to build an eight-foot by 11-foot house intwo hours. The finalproduct, a house with adoor, windows, and afront porch, is the resultof teamwork. ACEAcademy studentsplanned to take thisproject to one elementaryschool and one juniorhigh this year to introduceyounger students todesign and constructionconcepts. This free program is offered bythe Seattle-based Associated GeneralContractors of Washington EducationFoundation.

�I see a lot of desire among the students tobe leaders,� says Marc Logue, construc-tion careers coordinator for AssociatedGeneral Contractors of WashingtonEducation Foundation and a member ofthe ACE Academy Advisory Committee.�Once they went through the project,many students volunteered to be crewchiefs when we take this to the otherschools. ACE really seems to be helping anumber of students develop a sense ofaccomplishment and leadership.�

The ACE Academy is supported by anactive advisory committee consisting of 15to 20 community representatives withprofessional expertise in architecture,

Rogers High ACE students (from left) JamesNoll-Brown and AJ Santos team on aconstruction project.

construction, and engineering. In additionto offering perspectives from trade andindustry, many members of the committeealso provide hands-on experiences forstudents and funding for special opportu-nities.

Joe Wehry, vice president of finance andcorporate development for AbsherConstruction, has served on the ACEAcademy Advisory Committee since theinception of the program. �We have adesire to make the construction industry aviable career path for more students,� saysWehry. �The ACE Academy is a way toattract future leaders to our company, butmore importantly, to our industry. Work-ing with them through the ACE Academygives us an opportunity to understandwhere they�re coming from and allows usto learn from them, too.�

Rachel Grundy of Emerald Ridge HighSchool, and Alissa Artz of Rogers HighSchool, have won this year�s WashingtonAward for Vocational Excellence (WAVE).

The Washington state Legislatureestablished the WAVE program to honorstudents for outstanding achievement invocational-technical education. Thestudent award is a prestigious scholarshipthat pays for two years tuition at anyaccredited post-secondary institution inWashington state. Grundy was nominatedby teacher Randy Walden for her work inbusiness and marketing, and Artz wasrecognized by teacher Shannon Steedman

for her involvement in the TeachingAcademy program.

Puyallup High Culinary Arts and Nutritionand Fitness teacher Janet Divelbiss isPuyallup�s 2004-05 WAVE Educator ofthe Year. Divelbiss joined Puyallup High�sculinary arts program two years ago afterteaching a year of Family and ConsumerScience at Aylen Junior High. Shereceived a scholarship last summer toattend the Culinary Institute in France.

All three WAVE recipients were honoredat an annual awards banquet in Tacomaand at a Puyallup School Board meeting.

ACE student Amy Dearing

ACE program continues to grow with hands-on learning

16 June 2005 http://www.puyallup.k12.wa.us Celebrating 150 Years of Excellence

Second annual diversity celebration showcases cultures

More than 1,000 people attended the second annual Diversity Celebration featuring music, food, local vendors, an art exhibit, and afashion show at the Pioneer Park Pavilion and neighboring Puyallup Public Library. From left: Lexi Themelis, Rogers High School, AthenaApostle, Tacoma Middle School, Mala and Elena Apostle, Meeker Elementary School, and Christina Kipeledis, Emerald Ridge High School,perform a Greek dance; Puyallup resident Lucy Banghart demonstrates Chinese character writing; and Max McIntosh, Hunt Elementary,plays the trumpet. Other event photos can be viewed on the School District Web site at www.puyallup.k12.wa.us.

Nearly 300 people gathered in the EmeraldRidge High School commons for theDaffodil Council PTA�s awards ceremonyfor winners of the Golden Acorn andZeiger Awards. In addition to the PTAmembers recognized from each elementaryschool and junior high, two individualswere selected from the community at largeto be recognized with the Council GoldenAcorn Awards. Forty-seven individualswere also recognized as Golden Acornwinners from individual schools.

The Council Golden Acorn recipients thisyear include Kim Zeiger, a formerPuyallup School District teacher and anactive community volunteer, and DoriTate, the current Council President and theincoming co-president for next year. Tateis the incoming Region 5 Director forWashington State PTA and sits on variousdistrict committees. Zeiger chairs the

Council Reflections Committee, teachesafter-school French classes at the publiclibrary, and substitutes in the District.

The Zeiger Award was established in 1994to honor Edward Zeiger for 42 years ofservice to students in the District. It isgiven annually to an employee of theDistrict who emulates Zeiger�s ethic ofservice to the educational community.Edward Zeiger and his daughter-in-law,Council Golden Acorn award winner KimZeiger, presented the award this year.

This year�s recipient, Barb Aune, is akindergarten teacher at Brouillet Elemen-tary. She will retire this year after morethan 30 years in the classroom. During hertenure with the Puyallup School District,she has taught at Riverside, Meeker,Hilltop, and Brouillet. �My job is to teachstudents to love learning,� she says.

Annual Golden Acorn and Zeigerwinners recognized at banquet

Edward Zeiger presents this year�s Zeiger Award to Barb Aune,kindergarten teacher at Brouillet Elementary School.