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PSD Connectivity
Dedicated to excellence
May 6, 2016
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Spring Track Meets
June 3, 2016: Special Track Meet
More than 300 elementary, junior high, and high school students will compete this spring in the annual Special Spring Track Meet at Sparks Stadium. This event began 27 years ago as a way to celebrate the hard work and accomplishments of our special needs students. Numerous volunteers, including adults and student peer partners, will be there to help and encourage these athletes towards their goals. Events will include a softball toss, wheelchair races, and running races.
June 7, 2016: Elementary Track Meet
Students from elementary schools throughout the district and
Chief Leschi Schools will compete in the annual Lloyd Morgan Invitational Elementary District Track Meet
at Sparks Stadium. The event, which features competitors in grades four through six, begins with opening ceremonies at 12:45 p.m. More than 1,000 students will compete in a variety of track and field events, including running races, long jump, and softball toss starting at 1 p.m.
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| School Board President Dane Looker, Director Kathy Yang, and Senator Bruce Dammeier |
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Board Highlights
The
Puyallup School Board of Directors met on Monday, May 2, 2016 at
Stahl Junior High for their regularly scheduled meeting beginning at 6:00 p.m.
During the "District Highlights" portion of the meeting there were several individuals recognized for their contributions to the success of Puyallup School District students.
Volunteer of the Year
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Maddie Names |
Directors honored the 2016 Puyallup School District Volunteer of the Year, Maddie Names. Maddie serves as the Vice President of
Carson PTA and
Puyallup PTA Council Vice President. She chairs the
PTA Reflections Program for the school district, and spends many hours in each of her roles, serving the students and staff of the Puyallup School District.
Washington Association of School Administrators (WASA) Community
Leadership Award
Every year each region of
WASA presents a Community Leadership award to community members or groups in recognition of their outstanding contributions toward education. Maddie Names was also honored as the WASA Community Leadership Award recipient. As co-chair of Citizens Committee for Education, her work was instrumental in the passage of the most recent school construction bond election. Superintendent Yeomans noted, "Every community should be so lucky to have someone like Maddie."
WASA Student Achievement Leadership Award
Each region of WASA also annually identifies a Student Achievement Leadership Award recipient. This award
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Dr. Chrys Sweeting and Dr. Christine Moloney
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recognizes innovative programs for the improvement of student achievement. This award was presented to Executive Director of Instructional Leadership Christine Moloney. Assistant Superintendent Chrys Sweeting praised Moloney for her leadership in the expansion of the district's
STEM Showcase and the coordination of several partnerships including those with Washington State University Extension Center, Russell Foundation, Historic Fish Hatchery, and Leadership Assistance for Science Education Reform (LASER) Alliance.
Washington Secondary Schools Athletics Administrators Association (WSSAAA) Athletic Director of the Year
Director of Athletics, Heatlh and Fitness Rick Wells was honored as the 2015-2016
WSSAAA Athletic Director of the Year. Chief Equity and Achievement Officer Gerald Denman recognized Wells as "an educational leader who understands that athletics is an intregal part of the educational program." Denman went on to say, "Rick Wells is a dedicated individual who gives his all for children."
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Superintendent Tim Yeomans and Rick Wells
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Generous Donations
Director of Educational Planning Mario Casello spoke to directors about the work done by
Waller Road Elementary parents and teachers in raising funds for a walking/running track. Directors approved the acceptance of the gift to the district from the
Waller Road PTO at an estimated value of $18,000. Present with Mr. Casello was Waller Road Principal Rick Cox and PTO Secretary Dana Dillon.
Woodland Elementary Principal Heather McMullen and teacher Kristi Giste presented the directors with background for their recent notification of winning a healthy playground makeover donation of $45,000. Directors approved this gift from Discovery Education and thanked them for their generous donation.
Ridgecrest Elementary Principal Adriana Julian, along with staff members Dr. Brenda Sanders and David Smith, shared gratitude to the
Ridgecrest PTA for their $8,000 donation to the Ridgecrest music program.
Board Policy Updates
Directors were presented a first reading of several school board policies which have been revised due to legislative changes, suggestions by the
Washington State School Directors Association (WSSDA) or to implement district efficiencies and effective use of available resources. These policies include:
- Policy 2020 - Course/Subject Area Design, Selection and Adoption of Curriculum and Instructional Materials
- Policy 2409 - World Languages Competency/Proficiency and Seal of Biliteracy
- (New) Policy 3246 - Restraint, Isolation and Other Uses of Reasonable Force
- Policy 3247 - Isolation and Restraint of Students with IEPs and Section 504 Plans
- Policy 5252 - Employee Participation in Political Activities
Directors will consider all recommendations and direct questions to Assistant Superintendent Chrys Sweeting before the next reading at the May 16, 2016 school board meeting.
Emergency Response Grant
Directors heard a report from Rudy Fyles, chief operations officer, Mario Casello, director of educational planning, and Char Krause, director of student learning, regarding a Geographic Information System (GIS) recently installed in the Puyallup School District.
The GIS Portal and Security Module software installed integrates the Puyallup School District's security system within a map-based interface and puts these assets immediately in the control of emergency responders in our community. With these tools, law enforcement and emergency responders are able to remotely lock and unlock school entries, view camera images throughout each school, and connect directly to district intercoms to communicate in individual classrooms.
Credit was given to the Washington State Legislature for the $10 million in capital funds provided for a competitive grant program for such emergency response measures. Instrumental in passage of Senate Bill 5197 was Senator Bruce Dammeier, who was present for the demonstration. Senator Dammeier served as a director on the PSD School Board for several years and worked collaboratively with Chief Operations Officer Rudy Fyles to assist the legislature in understanding the need for such support at the local level.
Human Resources
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Karshner Center Festivals
The
Karshner Museum and Center for Culture & Arts is owned and operated by the Puyallup School District. A primary goal at the Karshner Center is to build a culturally responsive learning community through creative educational pro
grams offered for learners of all ages. To that end, the district sponsors six culture and arts festivals at the Karshner Center each year.
Dia de la Raza means "Day of the People," and nearly 500 visitors
enjoyed the free family festival.
Instructors from
Bailadores de Bronce taught families authentic ballet folklorico and two concerts were performed by Pachanga Alert! who performed music from a variety of Latin American countries.
Children used their creative skills for art projects such as amate bark painting and papel picado paper cut banners. Local food vendor, Los Tres Hermanos kept visitors well fed.
In November, hundreds came to participate in a
Tour of Asia. The Puyallup School District was proud to partner with the
Asia Pacific Cultural Center of Tacoma. The Karshner Center was alive with activity as four performing groups and two visual artists representing six cultures provided nearly non-stop music and dancing.
The afternoon included Hawaiian music and dance with ukuleles, guitars, and percussion sticks; Korean and Okinawa drummers and dancers, and dancers from the
Federal Way High School Pacific Islanders Club who performed dance representing Samoa, Fiji, and Tonga. Visitors learned Korean calligraphy, Japanese name writing, Mongolian arts and games, and Cambodian art and history.
In January 2016, the Karshner Center hosted a
Day of Drama. Children learned to use their whole body to show emotions and feelings. The building was filled with actors of all ages experimenting with pretend characters and imaginary settings. Talented actors
entertained the audiences with a performance of
A Splash of Red: The Life and Art of Horace Pippin. The family theatre performance was presented by
Book-It Repertory Theatre, an award-winning theatre ensemble from Seattle.
Throughout the day, participants were encouraged to make masks in the art classroom. The Karshner Center's Day of Drama wouldn't be complete without time for creative make believe.
Chief Leschi Schools' Drum and Dance Group
opened the day in song and dance. Some noted this as one of the groups finest performances.
Talented storytellers kept visitors entertained with simple legends and oral history, providing some of the teachings of Native American culture. Animated performers such as Harvest Moon, Roger Fernandes, and Paul Wagner joined musicians and dancers in a day of celebration, song, and dance.
In April, wildlife artist
Becci Crowe helped visitors explore endangered species, conservationism, and related art projects. Specializing in wildlife and tribal portrait art, Crowe's desire to study both in their natural world has led to adventurous travel across six continents and over 45 countries. Visitors met the artist and learned about her adventures with endangered wildlife, including her work with the renowned conservationist Jane Goodall.
Families learned to draw animals realistically, and learned the techniques of pointillism and made animal masks.
The final festival for the 2015-16 school year is called 'The Puyallup River Rock Festival' and will feature a southern blues and soul, rootsy rock and roll band grown and raised in Puyallup called
Sweet Kiss Mama. Straight from their second European tour and release of their second album, this performing group will entertain participants with a special concert at the Karshner Center on Saturday, June 4.
Family activities will include making percussion instruments from found objects.
At the Karshner Museum and Center for Culture & Arts staff are committed to creating exhibitions and learning experiences which will help visitors make connections between themselves and the world in which we live.
This past year, thousands of visitors have experienced the joy and wonder of the Karshner Center through participation in these free Culture & Arts Festivals. We look forward to seeing the line-up for the 2016-17 school year.
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Puyallup bus driver Ron Kitts recounts the rescue of students
Local media including KING and KOMO featured Puyallup School District bus driver Ron Kitts for his quick thinking and evacuation of students from his burning bus on Monday, May 2.
Tacoma News Tribune reporter and videographer Drew Perine provides viewers with the full story as told by Kitts in the video below.
Take three minutes to learn of his heroic efforts.
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See what's happening on our social sites:
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Puyallup School District
302 2nd St SE Puyallup, WA 98372 | Phone: (253) 841-1301 www.puyallup.k12.wa.us
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Puyallup School District provides equal opportunities in education and employment and 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.
Questions or complaints of alleged discrimination may be directed to:
Puyallup School District
302 2nd St SE
Puyallup, WA 98372
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