A Web-based newsletter for the staff of Everett Public Schools
May 8, 2012 (NewsLinks articles are archived on Docushare)
IN THIS ISSUE
DEDICATION CEREMONY FOR STAFF MEMBER
A dedication ceremony for Sandy Devoir will be held on Wednesday, May 16 at Jefferson Elementary School cafeteria, 4 to 5 p.m. To honor Sandy’s love of children, the outdoors and reading, staff will dedicate a bench in her memory, which will overlook the playground. Sandy’s favorite color was green. If you choose to do so, wear green to the celebration. If you would like to donate to the Sandy Devoir Memorial Bench, you may make checks out to Jefferson Elementary School.
JUNE 27 IS THE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL. Really? Why?
In this week’s sunshine, it’s easy to forget those cold snowy school days when school was cancelled. There were four cancellations in a row, right after the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday in January. We closed school Tuesday through Friday that week. We have a long-standing practice in this district of adding snow days to the end of the school year.
This past winter, when there was the very real possibility of even more snow days in February or even March, the school board authorized the superintendent to apply for a state waiver for some of those snow days. Because Snohomish County qualified for disaster relief as a result of the snow, school districts in the county were potentially eligible to drop a couple of student days from the academic calendar. In our case, this could avoid adding all four days to the end of the year. In light of the possibility of even more snow days, the board was willing to consider a waiver of days. A team of administrators and teacher leaders met to consider alternatives to the usual practice of adding days at the end of the year. The team decided all of the alternatives created additional disruption to families and gave up too much instructional time to make the changes worthwhile. As a result, there was no longer a need to request the waiver days, and the last day of school remains Wednesday, June 27.
We were fortunate not to lose more school days to bad weather. With only those four days to make up, Everett Public Schools is continuing its traditional practice of making up snow days at the end of the year. We are honoring that practice as it has been published on all school district calendars at the beginning of the school year, and described in collective bargaining agreements.
The school board and superintendent believe and have said, “Every hour of student instruction is important. Shortening the school year runs counter to what we know is important for students.”
We know extending the school year is inconvenient for families and for staff, and the board and superintendent continue to be interested in alternative solutions. On March 27, the school board discussed the financial impact of starting school earlier in the fall as one way to avoid going so late in June. The board presentation is online on the BoardDocs site where you will find materials the board uses in its meetings. The video recording of the meeting is also online.
WELLNESS – wins NATIONAL award and $1,000 grant
Everett Public Schools and the Everett School Employee Benefit Trust have been recognized as one of three (out of 57) school districts in the nation to receive a GOLD level award and grant in the annual School Employee Wellness Program Award sponsored by the Washington D.C. based Directors of Health Promotion and Education (DHPE).
· May is National Physical Fitness Month! Join Tour de France spring fitness campaign, May 13-June 1. Anyone can participate … you don’t have to own a bike or be in great shape to play! If you are in shape and want a new challenge you’ll find the ELITE teams challenge A CHALLENGE! Learn more. REGISTER (go to May 13).
· May is National Bike Month: Join Community Transit’s annual Bike to Work campaign. This year Community Transit has teamed up with Group Health to offer the Group Health Commute Challenge. Everett Public Schools is listed as an organization in this challenge. Sign up to be a team captain, choose our district as your organization and then invite your team members so you can be part of the larger TEAM EVERETT SCHOOL DISTRICT. Let’s beat Seattle School District (they already have 11 teams and 47 riders!). Learn more.
· Weight Watchers at Work meetings at four district locations are 50% off for EPS employees. That’s not the only thing “off.” These four groups have already lost OVER 1,300 pounds collectively since January! You can lose weight too! Join anytime … 50 spots left. Details.
· EPS Fitness Classes are happening this spring thanks to the grass roots efforts at the schools and sites. Click here for class schedule and registration information. Thanks to all of you who helped organize these classes!
NEWS AROUND THE DISTRICT
05.07.2012 Jackson High School freshman drafted by
Silvertips
05.07.2012 Evergreen Middle School's Latino Family Night draws
kudos from parents
05.07.2012 CTE
auto skills competition
05.04.2012 Students to receive Youth Achievement
Awards
05.02.2012 Update to "You CAN stay"
project
05.02.2012 H.M. Jackson High students reverse high-cost prom
trend
05.02.2012 Jefferson students immersed in Native American
culture
05.01.2012 Coho salmon delivered to Lively Environmental
Center
05.01.2012 Four teachers earn standards-based professional
certification
04.30.2012 Silver Lake Elementary student's art chosen in PUD
art contest
04.30.2012 Special needs, honor students share formal
dance
04.25.2012 Eleven schools with disrupted phone service, April
25
04.24.2012 Everett students participate in Climate Change
Student Summit, C2S2
04.24.2012 Everett Public Schools Employee Wellness Program wins
national award
04.24.2012 News clip features Comcast/BBBS mentorship program
with Woodside Elementary students
04.20.2012 North Middle School students gain marketing
experience
04.16.2012 Everett Public Schools Foundation supports district
student artists
04.16.2012 Super Kid: Spencer Newland,
EHS
04.13.2012 Parents asked to help select elementary math
classroom materials
04.12.2012 Everett High School NJROTC cadets excel at academics
and inspection
04.11.2012 Cascade High School receives national student council
award
04.11.2012 Battle of the Books
04.10.2012 Gateway Principal Dr. Peter Scott to be district
Executive Director
04.09.2012 Conversations with generations - View Ridge students
visit care facility
04.04.2012 Penny Creek teacher named STAR 101.5 Teacher of the
Week
04.04.2012 Evergreen Middle School students' campaign focuses on
homeless students' rights
04.02.2012 Super Kid: Khadija Tarver, EHS
OPPORTUNITIES FOR STAFF AND STUDENTS
1. Port Gardner Parent Partnership open house – Hear from Principal Kelly Shepherd, interact with students and see their work around the school on June 14, 1:30-3 p.m. in the Sequoia gym.
2. Seahawks camp at Evergreen Middle on July 3, FREE for 200 registrants
For the 17th consecutive year the Seattle Seahawks will host Gatorade Junior Training Camps for kids 8-14 years old. These two hour clinics combine first-rate football instruction and life skills messages that focus on self-improvement and a motivational life-skills session with a Seahawks player, coach or alumni. Registration and details are online.
3. Youth Fitness Expo May 12 – Comcast Arena in Everett, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Youth Fitness Expo is a FREE interactive fitness event introducing known and new ideas in fitness, sports, nutrition and overall health. It is designed to empower youth to make changes in their lifestyle with a message of “Learn today … do today.” Free registration online and you could win a one-year YMCA Family Membership or other prizes. Visit www.Youth-Fitness-Expo.com.
4. Do you know what it is like to be homeless? Volunteers of America in the Housing and Transitional Services program are raising funds to help the homeless and hungry in our community on June 1. They are specifically looking for high school students to participate by getting sponsors to support them in spending one night at the New Life Center in Everett to experience homelessness and hunger and raise money for our Housing and Food programs in Snohomish County. Activities will include live bands, a movie about homelessness, and a contest to build the best cardboard shelter. Contact Gayle Oltoff at golthoff@voaww.org or 425-244-2820 for more information.
5. Cleaning out your closets? Eisenhower’s recycle program could use your personal, unwanted and broken items. Bring them to Eisenhower’s main office or send through district mail, attention Karen Stolworthy. Items accepted include: Cell phones, ink jet printer cartridges, laptop and netbook computers, iPads & Tablets, Apple iPods and MP3 players, digital cameras, digital SLR cameras and lenses, digital video cameras, GPS devices, radar detectors, Kindle and Sony book readers, handheld game systems, game consoles (Wii, PS3, Xbox) and video games, range finders and SkyCaddies, mobile hotspots, 4G USB Air Cards and MiFi device, graphing calculators, and gold jewelry. District property with asset tags will NOT be accepted.
OPPORTUNITIES IN BRIEF
1. Annual student art shows – second show underway, one to go
The Everett Public Schools and the Everett Public Schools Foundation art shows are open for public viewing from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Educational Service Center at 4730 Colby Ave. in Everett.
The Middle School Art Show will be open for public viewing through May 17, 2012. The awards reception will be May 7, 6-7:30 p.m. at the Educational Service Center.
The Elementary School Art Show will be open for public viewing May 22 to June 6, 2012, at the Educational Service Center.
2. CE Credits Online and Educational Service District 189 are offering university-accredited, clock-hour approved online professional development courses that focus on improving teaching and student achievement. To introduce their new ELL courses, they are offering an additional discount if you enroll in any course through the month of June. Courses may be taken anytime during the year.
KEY DATES – important dates and celebrations you won’t want to miss planning for now!
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES – All policies and procedures are available online.
Everett Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation including gender expression or identity, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability in its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups.
Designated to handle inquiries about nondiscrimination policies are: Affirmative Action Officer, Carol Stolz, 3715 Oakes Ave., Everett, WA 98201, 425-385-4106; Title IX Officer and 504 Coordinator, Randi Seaberg, 3715 Oakes Ave., Everett, WA 98201, 425-385-4104; ADA Coordinator, Kristine McDowell, 4730 Colby Ave, Everett, WA 98203 425-385-5250. (Email address for each is FirstInitialLastName@everettsd.org)
Diane Bradford
Communications Dept.
Everett Public Schools
425-385-4040
Our students will lead and shape the future.