Februrary 2009 - Kennewick School District

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KSD Communications & Public Relations, Lorraine Cooper, Director / Ellen Love, Secretary
WHAT’S HAPPENING AROUND THE DISTRICT. . .
Congratulations to Kennewick High Teachers Twila Wood and Stacy Nett
for being honored by the Stanford University Teacher
Tribute Initiative for playing a significant role in the
intellectual, academic, social and/or personal
development of a student. Ms. Wood and Mr. Nett
received this award on behalf of former student,
Shruthi Baskaran, who graduated from Kennewick High in 2008 and is
currently a freshman at Stanford University.
Eastgate is celebrating DEAR (Drop Everything And Read) Week with a
visit from children’s author and photographer, George Ancona, on
February 5. He will visit with students and also share stories,
photographs with parents and students at 6:00 p.m.
http://www.georgeancona.com/
KSD Secretaries attended a workshop led by Federal Projects Director,
Mary Pruitt, last month to learn about homeless students.
Mary helped the secretaries understand what qualifies a
student as homeless, how to identify a homeless student, the
proper follow-through procedure once a student is identified as
homeless, and what services are available for the student.
Secretaries also used the opportunity to bring in food
donations to help fill the shelves at a local food bank!
Southgate students in rooms 4, 5, 9, & 10 will present: “Folksongs From
Down Under” on Thursday, March 5. Two performances are
scheduled, one at 2:15 p.m. for students (seating space will be
limited at this time) and a second performance for parents and
community at 7:00 p.m.
The Southridge jazz choir and jazz band will be hosting anl all-you-can eat
fancy dessert night February 12, at 7 pm, in the Southridge
commons area. Students will be performing jazz all night at
this Valentines Day-themed event, complete with coffee,
punch, and fancy desserts. Tickets are $5 per person and
children under five are free with adult admission. Tickets will
be sold by SHS jazz students starting February 2, as well as at the door.
Dress is casual-dressy. For information, please call 222-5717.
Peace on Earth
Do you need some peace in your life?
Unresolved conflicts (issues,
disagreements) can disrupt our lives
and damage our well-being.
Mediation provides a safe, confidential
setting to openly discuss and find
solutions to the problems that prevent
us from reaching our full potential.
Call 222-5010 (Bev Johnson-Torelli) or
783-6319 (Mary Shaw) for more
information. Referrals to either of
them can also be made through your
KEA or PSE building or district
representative, building administrator,
or school counselor.
Amistad is hosting a Reading Night on Thursday, March!
The reading nights are popular and well-attended. In
addition to reading, the evening includes free pizza, games,
activities and prizes!
At Lincoln Elementary, in honor of Abraham Lincoln's 200th birthday,
all students in Steve Linn's, Liz Castro's, and Michele
Earley's 4th grade classrooms will present a musical play
called "Tall, Tall Abe." This musical was written by Arlene
Ydstie, a former KSD elementary music teacher.
Park Middle School’s Family Fun Night last month had over 300
participants! Family Fun Night is a program
started up by Roni Schuh and the Park staff last
year to provide a safe and fun place for families
to hang out with a focus on fitness. Parents and
students can play games and exercise in the
fitness lab. For the younger kids, students from Kennewick High help
supervise and run games like the parachute, rock wall, and bowling. A
few of the high school athletes have also helped out in the fitness lab
showing parents how to properly use the equipment. In return they
receive Quest and culminating project volunteer hours – a win for
both parties!
The Dual Language program is holding informational meetings for
parents or guardians that may be interested in the program for their
child entering Kindergarten in the fall of 2009. Parents must come to
one of the meetings to start the enrollment/screening process. It does
not matter which meeting parents attend. If there are any questions,
please contact Abby Cooper, Dual Language Facilitator, at 222-6585
or abby.cooper@ksd.org
• February 18, at 6:00 pm at Edison Elementary
• February 23, at 6:00 pm at Hawthorne Elementary
• February 24, at 6:00 pm at Hawthorne Elementary
Southridge Bio-Med Academy Students Gain
Real World Experience
Southridge Bio-Med Academy
students will be participating in a four
week internship this spring. It is an
exciting opportunity for the students to
gain hands-on experience in the world of
medicine and biotechnology and a
context for understanding the connection
between school and careers. There has
been excellent cooperation from many
healthcare facilities, including
Kennewick General Hospital, Derma
Care Laser and Skin Care Clinic, the
Center for Pediatrics, Coleman Animal
Health Hospital, Creekside Dental,
Children’s Developmental Center,
Kadlec, Vista Vet Hospital, Clearwater
Dental, and Tri Cities Laboratory.
Says Health Science Occupations
Teacher and Bio Med Academy Supervisor, Marci
Howard, “I am excited that our Bio Med students will
be representing Southridge in the community and I
look forward to seeing them solidify career interests,
gain valuable knowledge of the field of healthcare, and
apply communication skills by interacting with and
interviewing the people at their internship sites.
Real Word Experience: Southridge Bio-Med Students
on a recent visit to the Pacific Northwest University
of Health Science cadaver lab in Yakima.
KSD Communications & Public Relations
February 2009
Delta High - STEM High School - to Open Fall 2009
Our nation and community are facing significant
challenges to stay competitive in a global economy, to
maintain an “innovation pipeline,” and to have an
educated citizenry that can effectively navigate an
increasingly technological world.
That’s why, over the past two-plus years, Battelle has
been working with the Kennewick, Pasco, and Richland
School Districts; Washington State University Tri-Cities;
and Columbia Basin College to create a high school here
in the Tri-Cities that will help students learn science and
math by using a model that parallels the way scientists,
technologists, engineers and mathematicians uncover knowledge and
solve problems.
In January, school boards from the three districts gave the go ahead to
proceed with opening the school, christened “Delta High School,” in
fall 2009 at CBC’s Richland campus. We couldn’t be happier.
Special to the KSD Connection by Amy Ochander, STEM HS Project Manager
KSD School Bond - Communicating the Facts
Registered voters in Kennewick will begin receiving ballots for the
KSD school bond referendum on February 20. Although the ballots
aren’t due until March 10, past voting history tells us that most of the
ballots will be returned in the first week. It is important that we get the
facts out now to our community to ensure they make an informed
decision.
To that end, several schools and school PTO organizations are
sponsoring information nights this month and are inviting the public to
attend. Upcoming meetings are posted on the district website under
“Events”. If you or someone you know needs more information,
consider attending a presentation. Information is also easily accessed on
the website. There is a link to bond information at the top of the
homepage. In addition, Charter Cable Channel 3 is running a 15 minute
segment about the KSD bond which may also be viewed on You Tube -
search Kennewick School District Bond 2009. On February 16 and 23,
we will air a 90-second Inside Kennewick Schools segment about the
bond on KNDU during a commercial break of the 6:00 to 6:30 p.m.
news broadcasts.
Key points to keep in mind are that our elementary schools are
overcrowded, we have schools nearing or more than thirty years of age
lorraine.cooper@ksd.org
Delta will bring a highly personalized, small-school
approach to learning, where academic subjects are
connected and students can engage in learning beyond the
school walls. It will attract students of all academic
levels and interests, from diverse backgrounds and
socioeconomic groups, and will create college-ready
young adults who are engaged citizens. Ultimately, it will
provide local employers with well-trained scientists,
engineers and other professionals, and help the Tri-Cities
expand its technology sector and create additional highvalue
jobs.
Delta never could have come about without the extraordinary work
and commitments that have been made by the business community as
well as the school’s founding partners. More information about Delta
High is available at www.thedeltahighschool.com
with failing infrastructures and every school will receive some benefit.
All schools will receive upgrades to increase wireless access and
capacity for web based learning. Some schools are slated for parking lot
repairs, new heating and air conditioning units, or lighting upgrades. A
list of projects is on our website.
The main portion of the bond would pay for the construction of a new
elementary school in Badger Canyon to alleviate overcrowding; four
renovated and expanded elementary schools with multipurpose rooms,
larger classrooms, and expanded gymnasiums; and district-wide health,
safety, educational, and infrastructure improvements. The cost to tax
payers would be about $5.00 a month on a $200,000 home. Plus, the tax
dollars spent would benefit us locally and may help provide a boost to
our local economy.
March 10, 2009
KSD Bond Election

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KSD Communications & Public Relations, Lorraine Cooper, Director / Ellen Love, Secretary
A Day in the Life of: Sandy Kuffel
KSD Paraeducator/Cashier Union President
Sandy Kuffel knows she has some big shoes
to fill. Sandy is the new President of the
Paraeducators/Cashiers Union, who “stepped”
into the role when Shirley Shulz retired from
the district at the end of last school year. It is
challenging enough to be in your first year in a
new leadership role, but even more so when
you predecessor is an icon! However, Sandy
brings a lot of experience to the table, having
been a paraeducator at Westgate Elementary
for the past 16 years.
And Shirley is just a phone call away when
she needs help. “I still get on the telephone and
call Shirley to ask for advice and pointers,”
says Sandy. “Our unit has more than 400
members, so it can be pretty challenging. The
main thing is communication and support. I am
learning how to find answers or direct people
to them.”
She also has the help of the union executive board officers which
include; Marilee Luttrell, Karen Suhr, Teri Ellendt, Judy Fairchild, Carmen
Sawyer, Rosie Wageman, Bonnie Wagar and Diana Johnson. “They have
been very supportive, stepping up, and taking on different things. This is a
busy time of the year. Classified Appreciation Week is coming up. Also, we
award two $475 scholarships each year to dependents of dues-paying
paraeducators, so we’ll be working on those soon.”
Sandy began working for the district in 1992 at Westgate Elementary,
where she still works today. Although some things never change, like the
funny things kids say and do that make the job so great, the role of the paraed
in the classroom has evolved. Sandy says that Reading has really
become the focus of their work. “We used to do a lot more clerical stuff like
grading papers, laminating, etc., now we spend the most time working on
Reading skills.”
Sandy spends an hour each day doing “Sight Words”, which are words
that you can’t sound out and must learn to recognize by sight. “I work with
first, second, and a few third graders going over these words throughout the
year until they finally master all 300 words. They are pretty excited when
they finish and it is quite an accomplishment,” enthuses Sandy. She also
uses a technique called “Body Coding” that teaches the students the
blending of different sounds and how the letters and sounds go together.
Each sound has a body code – or gesture – that goes with it, kind of like
sign language. For example, a sweeping motion signifies the short “A”
sound and “B” sound has a motion like a bouncing ball. “Every letter has
a motion and you’ll see the kids using the motions as they sound out the
words. It is pretty cool!”
“I love that moment when you’ve been working with the students
teaching a concept and all the sudden you starting seeing the little light
bulbs go off and they’re saying ‘I know this!” it is pretty exciting. Even the
simplest little things, like when they learn how to write their letters the
correct way or tie their shoes - seeing those smiles of accomplishment, it is
the best part of the job,” says Sandy.
One of the things Sandy really likes at Westgate is the diversity. “You
learn so much from your kids. At Westgate, there are at least a dozen
different languages that are spoken in the home. Students come with
different backgrounds and cultures, but you find that kids are kids no
Sandy Kuffel,
Paraeducators/Cashiers Union President
matter where they are from.” Sandy gives an
example of a special moment when two little
seven year old girls came up to her on the
playground asking “can we sing you a song,
can we sing you a song?” Sandy says she
didn’t understand a single word because it was
in Arabic, but that they were so proud to sing it
to her. These were two girls from different
families who both spoke Arabic and found
each other at Westgate.
Before coming to Westgate, Sandy was a
stay at home mom until her two sons, Nick and
Matt, started school at Washington
Elementary. Sandy started volunteering in the
classroom and was active in the PTO. Seeing
that the working hours of a paraeducator role
would allow her to spend time with her kids,
she decided it would be a great career pursuit.
She began substituting as a paraeducator and
did some long term subbing before she was
hired on permanently and has been with the district ever since.
Sandy has been married for 30 years. She met her husband, John, in the
late 1970s when they were working next door to each other in Kennewick.
She was a hairdresser and he was working at a grocery store next to the
salon where she worked. Her friends in the salon encouraged the two to
meet. Today, John works at Energy Northwest. Their two sons graduated
from Kennewick High and went on to pursue degrees at the University of
Washington. Nick took Civil Engineering at UW and then went on to
Stanford for his Masters in Structural Engineering. Matt earned a BS in
Mechanical Engineering and then his MBA from UW.
Eighteen months ago, Matt was studying Chinese in Shanghai, which
provided an opportunity of a lifetime for the whole family to visit the
country. They toured Beijing first and saw a lot of sites like the Great Wall,
Tiananmen Square, and the Forbidden City. Things got interesting when
they hired a driver for a road trip. “You know those lines in the middle of
the street?” asks Sandy, they don’t mean anything in China! There are no
rules for driving. One time, our driver missed the turn so he backed up on
the freeway for half a mile” Aside from the driving, seeing the real poverty
some people live in there left an impression on Sandy – and she came away
with a real appreciation for our freedoms here. “After learning more about
China’s history, seeing Tiananmen Square and watching the soldiers
marching around, you see the people there don’t have freedom like we
know it.”
Back home, Sandy’s favorite pastime is walking. She says it is time that
she takes for herself and that she is proud to say she is in the 500+ miles
per year club. “I track it and compare it to previous years. My goal is to
meet or beat the previous year and I’ve been doing it for eight years.” You
might see her walking here in downtown Kennewick. She lives near Park
Middle School and often walks a route covering Keewaydin Park,
downtown, and up Garfield hill. She participates in the KSD wellness
walks and has a friend who works at Westgate who accompanies her on
walks to the library on Union Street or Lawrence Scott Park. She grabs her
iPod and goes whenever she can. She isn’t jamming out to tunes, though.
She likes listening to talk radio show podcasts – like Dave Ramsey’s show.
Both are habits that keep this busy lady healthy and on top of her game.
KSD Communications & Public Relations, Lorraine Cooper, Director / Ellen Love, Secretary Page 3
Horse Heaven Hills Teacher Headed to Olympia
Last summer, Horse Heaven Hills 7th Grade Reading, Language Arts and
History Teacher, Cindy Steinborn, was invited to attend a legislative session
last Monday, February 2. She, along with several teachers from across the
state, was recognized as a Civic Educator and was allowed to spend the day
“shadowing” our legislators. Cindy attended bill hearings and committee
meetings with Representatives Brad Klippert and Larry Haler and Senator
Jerome Delvin. Cindy is the only teacher from the Tri City area asked to
attend.
This opportunity follows her participation in the state’s Legislative
Scholar Program last summer. Civics teachers from across the state
attended a four-day program that offered an interactive experience for the
teachers to gain an inside view of the legislative process. Says Cindy, “We
Safety Topics for February: Falls
By Mollie Lutz, District Safety Coordinator
Did you know that occupational falls cause over 1,000
deaths each year? The most frequent type of fall occurs at
ground (or “same”) level as opposed to from a height. In fact,
20% of all occupational accidents are same-level falls and
fractures are the most frequent injury that results. Falls from
elevation are more severe. Only motor-vehicle crashes cause
more unintentional injury death than elevation falls. One in
five visitors to a hospital emergency room is there because of
a fall. More than 50% of falls occur at home because more
time is spent at home than anywhere else.
Making sure walking surfaces are dry and wearing slipresistant
footwear is the best answer to preventing slips, falls
and injuries. Paying attention is important because even a
slight height difference between steps can cause a trip. In fact,
as little as a 3/8” rise in a walkway can cause a person to
“stub” a toe, resulting in a trip and fall.
What are the behaviors that lead to falls? First off, walking
too fast and running or making rapid changes in direction.
Being distracted and not watching where we are going can
also cause problems. Other things we often do without
thinking that cause trouble are carrying things that obstruct
our vision, forgetting to use handrails and wearing sunglasses
in low light areas.
Even taking precautions, falls can happen. In that case, it
helps to know how to fall properly! Number one: Tuck your
chin in, turn your head and throw an arm up. It is better to land
on your arm than on your head. Two, while falling, twist or
roll your body to the side. It is better to land on your buttocks
and side than on your back. Three: keep your wrists, elbows
and knees bent. Do not try to break the fall with your hands
or elbows. When falling, the objective is to have as many
square inches of your body contact the surface as possible,
spreading out the impact of the fall.
Fifth grade students at Eastgate are
being given a big incentive to improve
their math, reading, and writing scores
this year. Archibald’s Auto Dealership
is offering brand new suspension-style
bicycles to six girls and six boys who
show the most academic improvement
on their measure of academic progress
participated in a mock bill hearing,
went through a budget balancing
exercise, and met with a Supreme
Court Justice just a few of things we
did. It was one of the most incredible
workshops I have ever attended. With
the contacts I now have I am able to
draw on resources I never knew
existed and can schedule government
guest speakers for my classes!”
“Archibald’s Academic Achievement Award”
Encourages Math and Reading Growth at Eastgate
or “MAP” test between now and the
end of the school year. The students
got a look at the bikes at an academic
pep assembly last Friday.
John Archibald, owner of Archibald’s,
says the dealership wanted to reach
out and give back to the community.
“It is hard for a child to understand
Cindy Steinburn in white in front row
“Classified” Information
By Betsy Dickinson, Classified Human Resources manager
The time is getting closer for the kickoff
of the new on-line application for
KSD! We are hoping to have it up and
running by mid-February and will
announce the exact date through your
work sites.
How will this affect you? Currently
when our in-district applicants apply for
a job, you either have to download an
“interest card” to bring in to the Human
Resources department, or you come into
the office and complete an interest card
and turn it in.
The new system will allow candidates
to apply on-line from a computer at home
or at our kiosk in the front lobby of the
administration building. We are also
looking into providing computers at
other locations for our employees.
Once we are up and running, the first
time you log on to the District website,
you will be directed to the application
site and can review all open positions. If
you are interested in applying for a position,
you will need to complete a brief
“Internal” application. Once that is completed,
it is saved and available to use to
apply for other positions or for you to
review and edit.
The benefits to an on-line application
are many, but the biggest one is that it
should save you time, as it will not be
necessary to have to hand-carry your
interest card to our office. It will also cut
down on the time it takes for the whole
posting and hiring process to occur.
The staff of the HR office will be
available to help by phone, email or in
person as we make this transition. In
addition, I will be meeting with your
union representatives to demonstrate the
application process in the near future.
For now, keep applying for positions as
you normally have. We will let you
know when we are ready to go. And we
appreciate any feedback or questions you
have as you use this great new tool!
Ryan Berkhimer shows Principal, Doug
Campbell, how easy the new online
application system is to use.
how important it is to strive to be
academically excellent. They need
motivation. We hope that if they have
had something like a cool bike as a
reward they’ll work toward it. We
hope it will prepare these fifth graders
at East gate to succeed academically
in middle school.”