April 2010 Staff Newsletter - Kennewick School District

KSD Connection
Staff Newsletter
Education...the bridge to the future
April 2010
Kamiakin Team Wins State Challenge
Kennewick High Students Serve as
Pages in Olympia
Two Kennewick High School freshmen paged in the
state House of Representatives in Olympia March 1-5.
Melissa Schmitz and Myanna Harris were sponsored by
state representative Maureen Walsh.
Pictured: James Luey, Andrew Chiou, Collin Bampton, Edward
Chiou, Evan Jones, Tyler Rexus, and Dennis Milliken,
OSPI. (Not pictured, Christopher Pratt)
A team of seven students from Kamiakin High put their
engineering skills to the test by competing in—and
winning—the 2009 Real World Design Challenge in
Washington State. The team is pictured here receiving
their trophy last month from a representative at OSPI.
By winning the state challenge, the team had the
opportunity to compete in the national competition with
winners from other states in Washington, D.C. This is
the second year that a team from Kamiakin has won the
challenge. While this year’s winning team is made up of
an entirely new group of students; Terrance Casey, a
local architect whose son was on last year’s team, again
volunteered to coach.
This challenge, sponsored by the U.S. Department of
Energy, presents students with an opportunity to develop
solutions to problems faced by one of our Nation’s
leading industries. The challenge this year was to design
and optimize a business jet tail for a specified cruise
condition.
“I hope the young ladies had a great experience and will
continue to explore and get involved with their state
government,” said Walsh, R-Walla Walla. “I’m always
encouraged to see young people interested in civics.”
Schmitz and Harris spent a part of every day in
legislative page school, learning hands-on how a bill is
passed. At the end of the week, they each had the
opportunity to sponsor a mock bill.
Harris introduced a bill to reduce spending in the state
budget, while Schmitz introduced a bill to end bilingual
education programs in schools to save money in the
budget.
In addition to page school, the young ladies served an
important role in the Legislature, delivering documents
and notes to legislators on the House floor and around
the Capitol campus.
Our Mission:
To send our youth into the future ready to reach their potential
as adults through a lifetime of learning.

KSD Connection ~ Staff News, Notes, and Events
Red Shirt Players’ Performances Bring
Dr. Seuss to Life
Kamiakin High’s famous “Red Shirt Players” were
on a whirlwind three week road show last month
that took them to eight elementary schools to
perform works by Dr. Seuss for over 3,400
students!
Amistad Elementary KOG Program
Receives Recognition
Congratulations to Amistad Elementary. Amistad
was recently honored by John's Hopkins
University's Center for Talented Youth for the
participation of students enrolled in the Kennewick
Opportunities for Gifted (or KOG) Program at the
school. For more information, click here.
Braves Take Third in Science Olympiad
Kamiakin High placed third in the Regional
science Olympiad competition held in Spokane on
March 6. Team members were Samantha Bancroft,
Joe Luey, Nathan Phelps, Andrew Odland, Meghan
Woffinden, Evan Jones, Tyler Rexus, ALexis
Hooper, Elizabeth Hooper and Christopher Pratt.
The team will now compete in the state
competition on April 10 at EWU—Good luck!
April 2010
Southridge Students Offer Fun Skate
for Students with Disabilities
Southridge High School
Seniors, Tyler Sprague,
Bo Bettinson, and Skyler
Klinginsmith, organized
a special event for
elementary students with
challenged abilities last
month. Students were
invited to a "Fun Skate"
with the Tri-City
Americans and
American’s mascot,
Winger, at the Toyota
Arena. The students
developed the event as
part of their high school
culminating project.
Kennewick Students Sweep Richardson
Scholarship Awards
Three Kennewick School District high school students
have won the first, second, and third place Robert W.
Richardson music scholarships this year.
Katie Chase, a senior at Southridge High,
plays viola and piano. She won first place
and a $5,000 scholarship.
Ty Wilde, a senior at
Kamiakin High, is a
vocalist and won the $3,000
second place scholarship.
The third place $2,000
scholarship was received
by Southridge senior, Esteban Zarate, a
trombone and horns player.
The students competed for the
scholarship at the Robert Richardson
Recital held at Columbia Basin College
in March. The recital is the final phase of a three-step
process to select the top three candidates to receive the
Robert Richardson Scholarship.

KSD Connection ~ Staff News, Notes, and Events
HHH MS Student Knows His Pi
Pi is a mathematical expression. 3-14 is international pi
day because pi = 3.14 to the infinite decimal. In Natalie
Mauri’s sixth grade math class, students observed the
day with activities including a competition to see who
could memorize the most digits of pie from a list that
went out to 200 digits. TJ Rea, pictured here with his
teacher, memorized 96 digits! The whole class then got
to celebrate with the kind of pie you can eat.
GOT MILK?
Health & Fitness teachers Alan Butler, Lori Woods, and
Jason Woods take a “nutrition break” during the
American Alliance for Health, Physical Education,
Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD) national conference
in March in Indianapolis. The teachers had the
opportunity to attend the conference through funds
provided by the Kennewick School District Physical
Education Program grant. Kennewick is in Year 2 of
the three year grant, which focuses on lifelong health
and fitness through the Five for Life curriculum,
physical and cognitive assessments, afterschool
programs and physical education program equipment.
Vaccine Requirements for Fall 2010
KINDERGARTEN
April 2010
When registering your entering Kindergarten student for
fall 2010, the following forms must be brought to
registration or your registration will be held until the
following is presented:
1. Proof of residency
2. A Birth Certificate
3. Current immunizations which include:
• 3 doses of Hepatitis B vaccine
• 4 doses of DTaP/DT/TD series; IF the age at
the last dose was at or after age 4 years.
• 3 doses of Polio; IF the age at the last dose
was at or after age 4 years.
• 2 doses of MMR, 1 st dose at or after age 12
months.
• 2 doses of Varicella, 1 - 3 months apart.
Parent report of chickenpox is NOT accepted
by schools for Kindergarten through second
grade students. You may present a Physician
signed Certificate of Immunity or a blood titer
showing immunity in lieu of a shot.
SIXTH GRADE
All 6 th graders in Washington State are required by The
Washington State Board of Health to have the following
vaccines or a current signed exemption.
1 chickenpox (Varicella) vaccine OR the month and
year of the chickenpox disease listed.
1 Tdap (Tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis) at age
11 and 5 years after the last tetanus shot. (This is a
NEW vaccine requirement for ALL 6 th grade
students. It is NOT Td, DT, tetanus toxoid booster,
or Dtap shots). If your child is NOT 11 at entry to
6 th grade, your School Nurse will work with you
until they are age eligible for this shot.
Forms are being sent home from the elementary school
nurses. Sixth grade students will not be allowed to
pick up their class schedules next fall without proof of
being fully immunized, including Varicella and Tdap
information.
If you have any questions, please contact your
School Nurse!

KSD Connection ~ Staff News, Notes, and Events
HHH Junior Honor Society Students
Visit Shriner’s Hospital
January April 2010
MCP Students Place in Regional
Destination ImagiNation Tournament
Three teams representing Mid Columbia Parent
Partnership (MCP) competed and placed in the top
three in the 2009/2010 Destination ImagiNation
Eastern Washington Regional Tournament.
National Junior Honor Society members from
Horse Heaven Hills Middle School took a trip up to
Spokane last month to visit Shriner’s Hospital. The
group presented a donation to the hospital from
funds the students raised at a recent benefit dinner
at Nothing but Noodles restaurant. The students
raised $200 for the hospital and also donated 150
stuffed animals to give to patients as a comfort
during their stay at the hospital. “It was an amazing
experience for the members of the group to see the
truest sense of giving,” said their teacher, Tim
Litzenberger.
Italian Feast Fundraiser Set for
Kennewick High Senior Class Party
Monday, April 19, 5:00 p.m. to
8:00 p.m., Kennewick High School
Cafeteria. Price: $5.00 per person
or $20.00 for a family of 5. Tickets
at the door—or for advance tickets
call: 582-5085 or 551-5174.
Italian Feast includes Pasta & Meatballs donated
by Carmines Restaurant with salad &
breadsticks.
Silent Auction—Exciting items donated by local
business & community members!
Live Dessert Auction—Scrumptious, delectable
treats for you to bid on!
Destination ImagiNation’s core program is an
activity in which students work in teams to solve
mind-bending challenges and present their
solutions at tournaments. Teams are tested to think
on their feet, work together, and devise original
solutions that satisfy the requirements of the
challenges. Participants gain more than just basic
knowledge and skills - they learn to unleash their
imaginations and take unique approaches to
problem solving.
The MCP teams placed in the following
challenges: one middle school level team placed
second on the Improvisational Challenge, one
elementary team placed third on the Fine Arts
Challenge, and one elementary team placed third
on the Technical Challenge. The elementary level
team solving the Fine Arts challenge also won a
special DaVinci award honoring their extra efforts
in creating their props and scenery!

KSD Connection ~ Staff News, Notes, and Events
Highlands Teacher Honored by Vets
L to R: Dave Bond, Superintendent; Shirley Schmunk, Time of Remembrance;
Roger Faught, KSD Bus Driver; Connie Fow, Highlands
Teacher; and John Lee, Director WA St. Veteran’s Administration
Connie Fow received a special award from the
United States Army and Washington State
Veteran’s Administration for her work in honoring
local veterans. Ms. Fow is the Highland’s Middle
School’s National Junior Honor Society Advisor
and, in conjunction with students, has organized a
Veteran’s Day Tribute at the school for the past six
years. The number of local veterans participating in
the tribute day, which includes lunch with students,
an assembly, and visits to classrooms, has grown
each year.
January April 2010
Potato Parade:
A Vista Elementary Tradition
The Vista Elementary Potato Parade is an annual
event that started back in 1989 with Mary Gately’s
Life Skills students. As time went on, more and
more classrooms joined in and now it has been a
yearly event the for entire school event for many,
many years. According to Mary, the school usually
chooses a theme for grades K-2 and another theme
for 3-5 grades. “In the last 5 years we have been
giving away prizes for the top winners per
classroom and one grand prize winner for the
school. We have been sponsored by our PTO and
now Lamb Weston/Con. Agra. has donated
really cool stuff,” says Mary.
Parade Winners :
Top Row: M’kaila Mahone -5 th ; Pheobe Curnutt -K
Elijah “Eli” Thompson -3rd, Cody Vancil-5 th ; Rianna
Marshall -2 nd ; Ethan Padden -4 th
Middle Row: Chanceler Williams -4 th ; Josh DeCoria-
1 st , Grand prize winner Spencer Ollila-1 st
Bottom Row: Jacob Scott -5 th ; Kenny Lehman -2 nd ,
Jessica Schoeppner -1 st , Nathan Bergquist -5 th ; Hannah
Sparhawk -1 st ; Alexandra Hudson -3 rd
Connie was nominated for the “Freedom Team
Salute Certificate of Appreciation,” a Federal
recognition, by Roger Faught. Roger is a bus driver
for the Kennewick School District and a retired
veteran who has attended the Veteran’s Tribute
Days at Highlands. The award was presented by
Mr. John Lee, the Director of the Washington State
Veteran’s Administration, on behalf of the
Secretary and Chief of Staff of the United States
Army in front of the eighth grade class.

KSD Connection ~ Staff News, Notes, and Events
SRHS Poverty Awareness Week
Students involved in Southridge High School’s
DECA Club and National Honor Society organized
two fundraisers and a poverty awareness event for
World Poverty Awareness Week at the school last
month. Activities included a school assembly with
presenter, Karen Fancher of Gresham Oregon, who
spoke to students about current issues in Africa and
the cycle of poverty, as well as two fundraising
events at the school. The first event was “Hoops for
Haiti,” a staff versus students basketball game
which raised $855 for S.I.G.N.’s (Surgical Implant
Generation Network) earthquake relief efforts in
Haiti. Wrapping up the week, local musicians,
Chase and the Reach, performed a benefit concert
and raised more than $1,000 for Village of Hope, a
charity fighting poverty in Uganda.
Students Bring Cheer to Seniors
January April 2010
Construction Trades Students Build
House for Habitat for Humanity
In the December issue, we brought you a story
about Tri-Tech’s Construction Trades class
building a full-scale house inside the shop. The
plans for the house built in December were based
on Habitat for Humanity house plans. After
completion, the house was disassembled.
Last month, students had the opportunity to take
their skills to the construction site and build a
Habitat for Humanity home meant to last for a
family in need.
“It was
the kids
who
made
this
whole
thing
work,”
says
Construction Trades teacher, Tony Milewski. “I am
so very proud of their effort and maturity and it is
also rewarding to know that they understood the
bigger picture of the good they were doing.”
Chandra Tebay’s 4th grade KOG class took a
walking field trip from Amistad to the Kennewick
Life Care Center. Students recited poetry and
presented handmade heart-shaped baskets filled with
sugarless candies to many residents. “It was
inspiring,” says Chandra, “watching a young
generation sharing gifts and time with an older
generation, and being repaid with lots of smiles and
hugs.”

KSD Connection ~ Staff News, Notes, and Events
READY! for Kindergarten Classes Set
READY! for Kindergarten offers five ageappropriate
classes for parents of children age birth
to five years old who are not currently attending
kindergarten.
READY! Spring Schedule:
April 24 th & May 1 st – Fruitland Bldg. 10:00am
April 26 th – Westgate 6:30pm
April 27 th – Lincoln 6:30pm
April 29 th – Sunset View 6:30pm
May 4 th – Edison 6:30pm
May 5 th – Cascade 6:30pm
May 6th – Eastgate 6:30pm
Parents can register by calling the READY! office
222-5035 or by going on-line to
www.readyforkindergarten.org.
Orientation for parents attending READY! for the
first time is held 30 minutes prior to each
class. Childcare is provided free of charge for
parents attending class. Parents also receive free
tools, toys, and books valued at over $40.00.
The program is offering make-up classes for the
first time this year. Fall make-up class will be May
8 th at Fruitland 10:30am and winter make-up will
be May 15 th at Fruitland 10:00am. Orientation is
not offered at these times.
Want to see your news here?
The KSD Connection generally publishes the first Friday
of the first full week of the month. Send calendar items
and tid-bits to ellen.love@ksd.org by the 30th of each
month. Send story and feature ideas to
lorraine.cooper@ksd.org. Photos are welcome.
Please include names and a description of the what is going
on in the photo.
January April 2010
Calendar of Events
04/14—Desert Hills Choir Solo and ensemble
concert at Kamiakin Auditorium, 7:00 p.m.
04/15—Reptile Man at Southgate at 6:15 p.m.
04/16—Kamiakin Music Department, "Back
Track Dinner Dance” 6:30 p.m. in the gym. Cost
is $15 per person. Come swing dance to 40’s &
50’s music.
04/18-04/23—Education Secretaries Week
04/18-04/23—Public School Volunteers Week
04/19—Kennewick High Senior Party Fundraiser,
Italian Feast 5:00 to 8:00 p.m., KeHS
04/22—Edison Elementary Family Bingo Night
04/26—KNDU Family Food Drive 9:00-12:00 in
the KNDU Parking Lot
05/06—Orchestra Festival, Fifth Grade through
High School Orchestra students perform at the
Toyota Center 7:30 p.m.
05/12—School Nurse Day
05/16—Educational Bosses Week
06/05—Graduation Ceremonies, Toyota Center
06/11—Last Day of School
Bus Tour to Horse Heaven Hills and
Southridge April 22
The final community bus tour of the year is April
22. It is an opportunity to visit classrooms, interact
with teachers and students, and talk to principals.
The tours visit various classrooms, labs, and
libraries to learn about the classes and programs
going on at each building. These tours are also
open to staff. We all work in our own buildings and
departments, so it can help to get out and see what
else is going on in the district! If you are interested,
talk with your supervisor to see if can be arranged.
Tours start at the admin building at 8:00 a.m. and
finish up at noon with lunch provided. Help us
spread the word and consider inviting a friend or
family member too! E-mail ellen.love@ksd.org by
April 20 to sign up.