A Web-based newsletter for the staff of Everett Public Schools
Feb. 14, 2012 (NewsLinks articles are archived on Docushare)
IN THIS ISSUE
Board one-on-one conversations
Meet and talk with school board members one-on-one about topics of your choice. All conversations will begin at 7 p.m.
· Feb. 23, North Middle School library
· March 29, Eisenhower Middle School library
· May 3, Gateway Middle School library
Public meetings
Open community meetings for discussion and insights – based upon what is known in late February and what legislative decisions have been made or are pending.
· Feb. 27, Evergreen Middle School, 6:30 p.m.
· Feb. 29, Heatherwood Middle School, 6:30 p.m.
The board will hold its annual Budget Carousel meeting, during which you will have an opportunity to speak one-on-one with a board member about budget proposals at that point and your thoughts about ways to ensure quality student programs in our schools.
· March 20, Educational Service Center, 5 p.m.
You are invited to the 18th annual Benefit Breakfast on March 8, 7:15 – 8:30 a.m. Dr. Bette Hyde, director of early learning for the state of Washington, will be the keynote speaker. Hyde's focus is on creating one statewide early learning system that prepares all Washington children for school and life. Reserve your seat now!
The 2011 W-2 forms were mailed to your home address in late January. Electronic versions of your 2011 W-2 tax forms can be accessed in Employee Online and used as a reference copy (it does not have the IRS instructions printed on the reverse side).
TPEP – latest newsletter online
Did you see the January TPEP newsletter online? The newsletter gives an update on the Teacher Principal Evaluation Pilot (TPEP) and continues to answer some questions we’ve received from staff. Don’t forget to check out the other resources on the district TPEP webpage.
Everett Schools went to all district residents last week and is linked on our district website – with more stories of our good news, good work and stellar results.
WELLNESS – February is Heart Month
February is American Heart Month – Get your blood pressure checked this month and your name will be entered in a drawing to win one of 10 home blood pressure monitors. To enter the drawing, click here anytime this month and enter “YES” that you had your blood pressure checked.
It’s not too late to join the 2012 Wellness Challenge® which is open to ALL district employees this year. So far, over 500 Everett staff have joined the 2012 Wellness Challenge®. Recently more than 350 debit‑card rewards were delivered to participants who earned an incentive in last year’s Wellness Challenge®. Enroll today. Learn more. Log in to the Wellness Challenge.
Archived issues of the monthly newsletter Wellness Matters are available online.
If you are thinking about retiring in the next couple of years, please plan to attend the 2012 Retirement Seminar sessions. This is the last year that the district will be offering these seminars.
March 12 Presentations from PEBB, VEBA and district representatives, Cascade High School Library, 4-6 p.m.
March 22 Department of Retirement Systems, Plan 1, Longfellow Annex, 4-6 p.m.
March 29 Department of Retirement Systems, plans 2 & 3, Cascade High School Library, 4-6 p.m.
CELEBRATION OF INNOVATION – cancelled
Sadly, the annual Celebration of Innovation was to have happened during the days schools were closed because of the January snow storm. The event, which showcases educational technology use and innovation in each of the district’s 26 schools and programs, fills the Cascade High School gym each year. This year, there are no dates available for the event at CHS and no other available district locations large enough to accommodate the displays and visitors.
Not all is lost, however. The programs, displays and activities planned at the Celebration are school- and classroom-based. While parents and the community will miss the opportunity this year to see all the action in one location, the learning and exploration experiences highlighted at the Celebration are still happening across the district.
Stay tuned for dates being reserved for the Celebration next year and the much-anticipated continuation of a collective demonstration of the learning wonders educational technology makes possible.
02.07.2012 February is Career and Technical Education
month
02.06.2012 Eleven schools and the
Parent Partnership Program earn
Washington Achievement
Awards
02.06.2012 Parents asked to help
select high school advanced math class materials
02.03.2012 Everett Public Schools welcomes next year's
kindergarten students
02.01.2012 Heatherwood Middle School principal earns regional
recognition
02.01.2012 Super Kid: Suniesha
Marker, EHS
01.31.2012 View Ridge
Elementary teacher honored by League of Women Voters
01.31.2012 Jackson High School jazz bands to perform at premiere
jazz club
01.25.2012 Forest View Elementary
students host Orca whale fair
01.23.2012 Jackson High School ensemble readies for Carnegie
Hall concert
01.20.2012 Jan. 21 and 22
school weather message
01.20.2012 League
of Women voters host Open Public Meeting forum, Jan. 26
01.11.2012 Students return from break to new Monroe
Elementary
01.09.2012 Everett students
are finalists in Prodigies for
Peace essay contest
01.05.2012 National Board Certified Teachers now total
126
01.04.2012 Two students selected as
advisers to Everett School Board
12.20.2011 Monroe Elementary reopens and is first public
school nationwide to go LED
12.16.2011 Jackson Elementary fifth-graders' ornaments provide a
lesson in philanthropy
12.15.2011 Finance department marks 24th year winning
financial excellence award
12.09.2011 Parents asked to help select high school advanced
math class materials
OPPORTUNITIES FOR STAFF AND STUDENTS
1. Special education staff and families: Special Education PTA meeting, Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2012, at 6 p.m. at Eisenhower Middle School. Presenters are Special Services staff. Questions? Contact Amber Gamber at president.eseptsa@gmail.com.
2. Learn About Financial Aid, College Planning – Everett Community College is hosting a free evening of workshops for elementary, middle, and high school students and their families at 5:15 p.m. Feb. 15. Families are encouraged to attend and learn about the benefits of obtaining a college education, ways to pay for college, earning college credit in high school, strengthening study skills and university transfer options. Attendees will receive free parking and a light dinner. For more information, call 425‑388‑9306.
3. Annual student art shows
Everett Public Schools and the Everett Public Schools Foundation are pleased to announce the 14th annual art shows. All 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 from April 24 to May 17, 2012. The awards reception will be May 7, 6-7:30 p.m. at the Educational Service Center.
The High School Art Show will be open for public viewing March 19 to April 10, 2012. The awards reception will be April 12, 6-7:30 p.m. at the Educational Service Center. In addition to student awards, two special awards will be announced at the High School Art Show awards reception:
· The Superintendent’s Purchase Award – Superintendent Gary Cohn will select a piece of art from the show for permanent display at the district office. This award is sponsored by the Everett Public Schools Foundation.
· The Everett Public Schools Foundation Scholarship Award – This scholarship is awarded for excellence in the visual arts and is worth $1,000. Information regarding scholarship applications will be made available at a later date through the Everett Public Schools Foundation.
The Elementary School Art Show will be open for public viewing May 22 to June 6, 2012, at the Educational Service Center.
The ESD 189 Art Show will be open for public viewing Feb. 28 to March 16, 2012. Student artists from around our region participate in this juried show, and the winners advance to the state level of competition. The artist reception will be in the evening on March 16, 2012.
4. Cleaning out your closets? Eisenhower’s recycle program could use your 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.
5. Washington Association of Educational Office Professionals (WAEOP) Area 6 Professional Development Day (PDP) – Saturday, March 24 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Shawn O’Donnell’s restaurant in Everett. Executive Assistant/Public Relations Specialist from North Central ESD, Eldene Wall, CEOE, will be speaking on several “Road Signs of Life” that will give guidance, advice, encouragement, and direction toward reaching goals and potential in your personal and professional lives. Cost is $20 for WAEOP members or $40 for nonmembers. Workshop fee include breakfast buffet.
6. Travel to China – Cultural Exploration of Greater China Foundation (CE) is sponsoring four teachers from the greater Seattle area to explore Chinese culture by visiting China, Hong Kong and Taiwan for two weeks this summer. Applications are due by Feb. 28. For more information about CE or the trip, please visit the CE website or call Kathy Chen at 425-533-8084.
7. A new approach to principal preparation. UW Bothell is now accepting applications for its new master’s program, Leadership Development for Educators Program (LEDE) for spring quarter. LEDE is designed for teachers who work as instructional leaders in either formal or informal roles, and provides a pathway from teacher leadership into the principalship. Application deadline is March 5.
8. United Way of Snohomish County Free Tax Preparation Campaign will provide quality tax preparation services at six sites across Snohomish County from Jan. 24 to April 14. Free tax preparation is available for taxpayers who make less than $50,000 and who need basic individual tax returns.
1. Have a pilot with the Sheriff’s Office visit your class. The Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office is offering FREE educational visits by Chief Pilot Bill Quistorf to local elementary and middle schools. Quistorf will give a 30-45 minute slide presentation on law enforcement, firefighting, and rescue helicopter operations. Students may also learn about helicopter aerodynamics. Classes can also take field trips to the Snohomish County Search and Rescue facility near Snohomish at no cost. Contact Mr. Quistorf at 425-754-5489 or at William.quistorf@snoco.org.
2. Do you have a student planning to attend college? Do you know that early college classes taken in high school can earn college credit and cost less than course credits in college? See for yourself by checking out the online information comparing the cost of early college credits compared to five Washington state colleges and universities. Also at that link, you will find information about the transferability of early college credits and basic college‑going vocabulary.
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.
2211 Education of Students with Disabilities
2211P Education of Students with Disabilities
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.