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Community N ew sletter - Pasco School District

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Your <strong>Pasco</strong> <strong>School</strong>s<br />

<strong>Community</strong> N<strong>ew</strong><strong>sletter</strong><br />

Putting students first to make learning last a lifetime.<br />

Celebrating academics, diversity, and innovation.<br />

Summer 2013<br />

Congratulations<br />

Class of 2013<br />

Delta High <strong>School</strong> bid far<strong>ew</strong>ell to its first<br />

graduating class on June 7 at the Three Rivers<br />

Convention Center in Kenn<strong>ew</strong>ick. See more<br />

graduation photos on page 3.<br />

<strong>Pasco</strong> <strong>School</strong> <strong>District</strong> #1<br />

C.L. Booth Education Service Center<br />

1215 W. L<strong>ew</strong>is Street<br />

<strong>Pasco</strong>, WA 99301<br />

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION<br />

U.S. POSTAGE PAID<br />

PASCO, WA<br />

PERMIT 189<br />

**ECRWSS***<br />

POSTAL CUSTOMER<br />

PASCO WA 99301


Dear <strong>Pasco</strong><br />

Neighbors:<br />

It was another<br />

great year here in<br />

the <strong>Pasco</strong> <strong>School</strong><br />

<strong>District</strong>.<br />

We celebrated<br />

many accomplishments<br />

this year<br />

Sherry Lancon both large and<br />

small. In the fall our own Superintendent<br />

Saundra Hill was named the Washington<br />

State Superintendent of the Year, and<br />

Livingston Principal Susan Sparks was<br />

named 2012-13 Distinguished Elementary<br />

<strong>School</strong> Principal of the Year for the<br />

Lake Wallula region. Though we are<br />

filled with <strong>Pasco</strong> Pride for these two outstanding<br />

individuals, they are representative<br />

of the nearly 2,000 PSD employees<br />

who work to ensure that our children<br />

have the best transportation, meals, facilities<br />

and education possible.<br />

Another best for us this year was once<br />

again being named a Top <strong>Community</strong><br />

for Music Education by NAMM. I hope<br />

you had the opportunity to see some of<br />

the great concerts and event our teachers<br />

and students work so hard to present each<br />

year. You still have a chance to see our<br />

band students at the Grand Ole Fourth of<br />

July celebration.<br />

The “big show” every year is, of course,<br />

graduation. It is always a thrill to shake<br />

hands with each of our graduates and this<br />

year the class of 2013—representing <strong>Pasco</strong>,<br />

Chiawana, Delta and N<strong>ew</strong> Horizon<br />

high schools—was nearly 800 strong.<br />

We expect a f<strong>ew</strong> more to join them after<br />

summer school concludes.<br />

Educating these young people is the<br />

responsibility of our entire community,<br />

from our business partners and parents,<br />

to our recent alumni and grandparents.<br />

So to all of you, I offer a heartfelt thank<br />

you and congratulations for your help<br />

in getting these bright young men and<br />

women to graduation and ready for the<br />

next step in their journey.<br />

In <strong>Pasco</strong> we share a legacy of being a<br />

supportive community that cares about<br />

the education of all its children. When we<br />

work together as a team, the clear winners<br />

are our children and, by extension,<br />

our future.<br />

We look forward to welcoming back our<br />

students on August 27 and to welcoming<br />

Class of 2026 to their first day of kindergarten.<br />

Have a safe and happy summer!<br />

Sincerely,<br />

Board President Sherry Lancon<br />

<strong>Pasco</strong> <strong>School</strong> <strong>District</strong> Board of Directors:<br />

Sherry Lancon, President<br />

William V. Leggett, Vice President<br />

Rubén Peralta, Member<br />

Ryan Brault, Member<br />

Darrell Toombs, Member<br />

Nallely Centeno, Student Representative<br />

Ignacio Bayardo, Student Representative<br />

Superintendent:<br />

Saundra L. Hill<br />

Editor: Leslee Caul<br />

Designer:<br />

Annie Warren<br />

your <strong>Pasco</strong> <strong>School</strong>s<br />

is published by the <strong>Pasco</strong><br />

<strong>School</strong> <strong>District</strong> Public Affairs<br />

Department as a community<br />

service to <strong>Pasco</strong> citizens.<br />

Questions and/or comments<br />

may be sent to Leslee Caul,<br />

Director of Public Affairs.<br />

<strong>Pasco</strong> <strong>School</strong> <strong>District</strong> does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color,<br />

national origin, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation including gender expression or<br />

identity, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal<br />

by a person with a disability, and provides equal access to designated youth groups. Questions regarding compliance,<br />

complaints, and/or reporting procedures may be directed to the school district’s Title IX/RCW 28A.640/28A.642 compliance<br />

officer Sarah Thornton, 1215 W. L<strong>ew</strong>is St., <strong>Pasco</strong>, WA 99301, 509-546-6700, or Section 504/ADA coordinator Tracy<br />

Wilson, 1215 W. L<strong>ew</strong>is St., <strong>Pasco</strong>, WA 99301, 509-546-6700. Nondiscrimination policies are available at www.psd1.org.


‘IN THE HEIGHTS’ EARNS HONORS IN NINE CATEGORIES IN<br />

5TH AVENUE NOMINATIONS<br />

Congratulations<br />

to the cast, cr<strong>ew</strong>,<br />

directors, and designers<br />

of the <strong>Pasco</strong><br />

High <strong>School</strong> production<br />

of “In the<br />

Heights” for earning<br />

honors at the<br />

annual 5th Avenue<br />

Awards. Franklin<br />

Castellanos tied<br />

for first place for<br />

Outstanding Performance<br />

by an Actor in a Leading Role<br />

while Daniel Haug earned the top<br />

award for his supporting actor role.<br />

In all, the production earned nominations<br />

in nine categories.<br />

The annual awards gala, recognizing<br />

outstanding high school musicals,<br />

was held on June 11 at the 5th<br />

Avenue Theatre in Seattle. “In the<br />

Heights” cast members were invited<br />

to perform at the ceremony.<br />

Each year evaluators attend musical<br />

theater productions at high schools<br />

throughout Washington State to determine<br />

the nominees. This year 105<br />

productions were in the running.<br />

“I could not be prouder of the work<br />

these students, staff members and our<br />

volunteers have done over the year,”<br />

says Producer Robert Dennis, <strong>Pasco</strong><br />

High <strong>School</strong> teacher and director of<br />

the 10th Avenue Singers.<br />

“In the Heights” was nominated for<br />

<strong>Pasco</strong> High <strong>School</strong> students, including outstanding lead actor nominee<br />

Franklin Castellanos, left, perform In the Heights at in the PHS auditorium.<br />

awards in the following categories:<br />

• Outstanding Overall Musical<br />

• Outstanding Direction (Tiffany<br />

Buissink)<br />

• Outstanding Performance by<br />

an Actor in a Leading Role<br />

(Franklin Castellanos as Usnavi)<br />

• Outstanding Performance by<br />

an Actor in a Supporting Role<br />

(Daniel Haug as Benny)<br />

• Outstanding Performance by a<br />

Chorus<br />

Additionally, the production received<br />

Honorable Mention in the following<br />

categories:<br />

• Outstanding Performance by an<br />

Actress in a Supporting Role<br />

(Olivia Elizondo as Abuela<br />

Claudia)<br />

• Outstanding Musical Direction<br />

(Randy Bjur and Rob Dennis)<br />

• Outstanding Lighting Design<br />

(Ronn Campbell)<br />

• Outstanding Lobby Display<br />

(Mariachi Reyes de <strong>Pasco</strong> and<br />

director Matth<strong>ew</strong> Polk)


Delta High <strong>School</strong> Graduates Inaugural<br />

Class; Chiawana High <strong>School</strong> Says Goodbye<br />

to First Four-Year Seniors<br />

A Delta High <strong>School</strong> graduate receives his diploma from <strong>Pasco</strong> <strong>School</strong><br />

Board President Sherry Lancon.<br />

Just four brief years ago, the <strong>Pasco</strong><br />

<strong>School</strong> <strong>District</strong> proudly opened its<br />

second comprehensive high school,<br />

Chiawana High <strong>School</strong>, as well as the Tri-<br />

Cities’ first STEM (science, technology,<br />

engineering, and math) partnership high<br />

school, Delta High <strong>School</strong>. In early June,<br />

the students who entered those schools<br />

as freshmen, made <strong>Pasco</strong> history as<br />

Class of 2013 graduates.<br />

Delta High <strong>School</strong>, which serves<br />

students from <strong>Pasco</strong>, Richland,<br />

and Kenn<strong>ew</strong>ick school districts, bid<br />

<strong>Pasco</strong> High <strong>School</strong>’s Class of 2013 celebrates.<br />

far<strong>ew</strong>ell to the nearly<br />

60 members of its<br />

inaugural graduating<br />

class, the Class<br />

of 2013, during a<br />

ceremony June 7<br />

at the Three Rivers<br />

Convention Center.<br />

This was the first year<br />

Chiawana High <strong>School</strong><br />

graduated students<br />

who attended all four<br />

years there. Among<br />

the more than 400<br />

seniors to earn their<br />

diplomas June 1 were<br />

seven sets of twins, a record-setting<br />

number for the school.<br />

<strong>Pasco</strong> High <strong>School</strong> bid far<strong>ew</strong>ell to about<br />

300 Bulldogs during its commencement<br />

ceremony at Edgar Brown Stadium,<br />

also on June 1, while N<strong>ew</strong> Horizons<br />

High <strong>School</strong> proudly sent off 25 seniors<br />

at its graduation ceremony May 31 at<br />

Columbia Basin College’s Gjerde Center.<br />

Congratulations Class of 2013!<br />

N<strong>ew</strong> Horizons High seniors enjoy the moment during<br />

graduation at CBC’s Gjerde Center.


Chiawana High <strong>School</strong> graduates<br />

make their way into Edgar Brown<br />

Stadium on June 1.<br />

A PHS graduate signals to the crowd.<br />

A N<strong>ew</strong> Horizons High senior<br />

receives a congratulatory<br />

handshake from Board<br />

Member Ryan Brault.<br />

Identical twins Tanya (left) and Sarah Segura<br />

are among seven sets of twins graduating<br />

from CHS this year.<br />

Delta High <strong>School</strong> graduates stand<br />

proudly before friends and family.<br />

A N<strong>ew</strong> Horizons High<br />

graduate proudly<br />

displays her diploma.<br />

<strong>Pasco</strong> High <strong>School</strong> Assistant Principal<br />

Charlotte Troxel congratulates a graduate.


Building Underway on <strong>Pasco</strong>’s N<strong>ew</strong>est <strong>School</strong><br />

On June 13, <strong>District</strong><br />

board members,<br />

administrators,<br />

students, and community<br />

members<br />

gathered at the site<br />

of Elementary #13<br />

for a ground breaking<br />

ceremony to<br />

celebrate the commencement<br />

of construction<br />

on <strong>Pasco</strong>’s<br />

n<strong>ew</strong>est elementary<br />

school.<br />

Located at Road<br />

52 and Powerline,<br />

Elementary #13<br />

is scheduled to open for the 2014-15<br />

school year and will house 750 students.<br />

The 72,000 square foot building will be<br />

the <strong>District</strong>’s first “green” school.<br />

In February <strong>Pasco</strong> voters approved<br />

a bond measure to build three n<strong>ew</strong><br />

elementary schools. Elementary #14, at<br />

Road 60 and Sandifur, and Elementary<br />

#15, which will be located adjoining<br />

Whittier Elementary, will open in fall<br />

2015. Whittier and Elementary #15 will<br />

share a playground, a move intended to<br />

decrease the cost to taxpayers.<br />

Delta High <strong>School</strong> Principal Deidre<br />

Holmberg will become planning principal<br />

for the n<strong>ew</strong> schools beginning July<br />

1. The school board has asked Holmberg<br />

Board members and students are pictured breaking ground at the site of<br />

Elementary #13. From left to right are: Rubén Peralta, Valeria Chavez, Nallely<br />

Centeno, Charlie Little, Ryan Brault, Ignacio Bayardo, Ethan Delamora, Bill<br />

Leggett, Lynsie Griffith, Hannah Purdy, Brayden Wodtli, Sherry Lancon, Darrell<br />

Toombs, and Jacob Harker.<br />

and <strong>District</strong> staff to look into designing<br />

the educational programs at the n<strong>ew</strong><br />

schools around a STEM (science, technology,<br />

engineering and math) model.<br />

“We want <strong>Pasco</strong> students to be college<br />

and career ready for the jobs of the<br />

future. We believe an innovative STEM<br />

educational foundation will give our kids<br />

a leg up in competing for those high paying<br />

jobs,” says Board President Sherry<br />

Lancon. “We are heading into an exciting<br />

time in <strong>Pasco</strong> as we begin to discuss<br />

what the future might hold.”<br />

After beginning her n<strong>ew</strong> post in July,<br />

Holmberg will convene a group of<br />

employees and patrons to study the<br />

issues and make programmatic recommendations.<br />

The<br />

school will also be<br />

named through a<br />

public process, as<br />

with other <strong>Pasco</strong><br />

schools.<br />

A conceptual drawing of Elementary #13, courtesy of Design West Architects


GOOD GRADES, HARD WORK OPEN ‘GATES’ TO HARVARD<br />

He is the grandson of<br />

migrant workers, the first<br />

in his family to be born<br />

in this country and, like<br />

many <strong>Pasco</strong> students, he<br />

didn’t speak English when<br />

he started kindergarten.<br />

This fall <strong>Pasco</strong><br />

High <strong>School</strong><br />

graduate<br />

and 2012-13<br />

<strong>School</strong> Board<br />

Student<br />

Representative<br />

Ignacio<br />

Bayardo will<br />

be a freshman<br />

at Harvard<br />

University and<br />

a recipient<br />

of the prestigious<br />

Gates<br />

Millennium Scholarship.<br />

The Gates Millennium<br />

Scholars Program (GMS)<br />

was established in 1999<br />

and was initially funded<br />

by a $1 billion grant from<br />

the Bill & Melinda Gates<br />

Foundation with a goal<br />

of providing opportunity<br />

for outstanding minority<br />

students to reach their<br />

highest potential.<br />

Bayardo’s dream is to<br />

become a doctor.<br />

“Ignacio is representative<br />

of our <strong>Pasco</strong> kids,” says<br />

Superintendent Saundra<br />

Hill. “He came to us<br />

speaking only Spanish and<br />

now he is a student representative<br />

to our board of<br />

directors, president of the<br />

National Honors Society<br />

at PHS, and he is headed<br />

to Harvard in the fall.”<br />

Bayardo attended Angelou,<br />

Frost, and Twain<br />

elementaries<br />

and Stevens<br />

Middle<br />

<strong>School</strong>. At age<br />

14 he moved<br />

to Mexico<br />

with his family<br />

with the<br />

dream of Harvard<br />

planted<br />

in his mind<br />

by Stevens<br />

teacher Eric<br />

Whitemarsh.<br />

“Even as a little kid I was<br />

always interested in how<br />

things work,” says Bayardo.<br />

“Mr. Whitemarsh<br />

helped me connect that<br />

curiosity to math and science.”<br />

Ignacio Bayardo<br />

In Mexico Bayardo began<br />

researching what he<br />

would have to do to earn<br />

his admission to Harvard.<br />

“Moving to Mexico made<br />

me value what I have<br />

here,” says Bayardo. “I<br />

decided I would never let<br />

my opportunities go to<br />

waste.”<br />

At age 16 Bayardo also<br />

decided that completing<br />

his education in <strong>Pasco</strong><br />

would make him a more<br />

competitive applicant for<br />

Harvard and, with the<br />

support of his mother, he<br />

moved back to finish high<br />

school at PHS while living<br />

with his aunt in <strong>Pasco</strong>.<br />

Back at PHS Bayardo<br />

connected with another<br />

important teacher and<br />

mentor in his life, English<br />

teacher Steven Rowley,<br />

who nominated Bayardo<br />

for the Gates scholarship.<br />

“Every once in a while<br />

you come across a kid<br />

who is willing to give his<br />

all, and Ignacio is one of<br />

those kids,” says Rowley.<br />

“We tell our students that<br />

if you commit yourself<br />

to academics you can<br />

achieve anything, and Ignacio<br />

proves this is true.”<br />

Bayardo is the fourth<br />

<strong>Pasco</strong> student to be<br />

admitted into the GMS<br />

Program since 2009.<br />

When asked if he is proud<br />

of his accomplishments,<br />

Bayardo is characteristically<br />

modest and low-key.<br />

“Proud? I haven’t really<br />

done anything yet,” he<br />

says. “The door is open<br />

and I haven’t walked<br />

through it yet. I want to<br />

help other students. I<br />

want to show them that<br />

if you work hard, you can<br />

achieve your goals.”


State Recognizes Markham and Livingston<br />

<strong>Pasco</strong>’s Markham and<br />

Livingston elementary<br />

schools were among the<br />

381 schools in the state to<br />

receive the 2012 Washington<br />

Achievement Awards.<br />

Both schools were recognized<br />

for being top<br />

performers in the Closing<br />

Achievement Gaps<br />

category, with Markham<br />

Elementary also honored<br />

in the High Progress<br />

category. They were<br />

celebrated along with<br />

The <strong>Pasco</strong> <strong>School</strong> <strong>District</strong> is once again offering a federally-mandated summer feeding<br />

program for children at various locations in <strong>Pasco</strong>. Unless otherwise noted, meals<br />

are served Monday through Friday. Please note there will be no meals served Thursday,<br />

July 4. Meals are available at no charge for children age 18 and under at the<br />

following locations and times:<br />

Chiawana High <strong>School</strong>, 8125 W. Argent Rd.<br />

• June 10-July 3, breakfast 7:45-8 a.m.<br />

• June 10-25, lunch 11:15-11:45 a.m.<br />

• June 26-July 3, lunch 11-11:30 a.m.<br />

• Aug. 12-16, lunch 11:30 a.m.-12 p.m.<br />

<strong>Pasco</strong> High <strong>School</strong>, 1108 N. 10th Ave.<br />

• June 17-July 12, breakfast 7:30-8 a.m.,<br />

lunch 10:45-11:45 a.m.<br />

• July 15-17, breakfast 8-8:30 a.m.,<br />

lunch 12-12:30 p.m.<br />

Robinson Elementary, 125 S. Wehe St.<br />

• July 8-Aug. 2, lunch 11-11:30 a.m.<br />

N<strong>ew</strong> Horizons HS, 3110 W. Argent Rd.<br />

• June 17-July 12, lunch 11-11:30 a.m.<br />

other local winners at a<br />

ceremony May 20 at ESD<br />

123 in <strong>Pasco</strong>.<br />

The Washington Achievement<br />

Awards, based on<br />

Washington’s <strong>School</strong><br />

Achievement Index, recognize<br />

elementary, middle/junior<br />

high, high and<br />

comprehensive schools.<br />

<strong>School</strong>s are awarded using<br />

performances from<br />

2010 to 2012 on stat<strong>ew</strong>ide<br />

assessments in reading,<br />

writing, math and science,<br />

as well as on graduation<br />

rates. Now in their<br />

fourth year, the awards are<br />

sponsored by the Office of<br />

Superintendent of Public<br />

Instruction and the State<br />

Board of Education.<br />

“This award reflects the<br />

dedication and hard work<br />

of the principals and staff<br />

as they meet the needs<br />

of ALL children in their<br />

buildings,” says Assistant<br />

Superintendent Cal<br />

Bacon.<br />

Nutritious Meals Available This Summer<br />

Memorial Park, 1520 W. Shoshone St.<br />

• June 17-July 26, lunch 11:30 a.m.-<br />

12:30 p.m.<br />

Ochoa Middle <strong>School</strong>, 1801 E. Sheppard St.<br />

• July 29-Aug. 16, breakfast 7:40-8 a.m.,<br />

lunch 11-11:30 a.m.<br />

Stevens Middle <strong>School</strong>, 1102 N. 22nd Ave.<br />

• July 29-Aug. 16, breakfast 7:40-8 a.m.,<br />

lunch 11-11:30 a.m.<br />

Tri-Cities <strong>Community</strong> Health Center,<br />

515 W. Court St.<br />

• June 18-July 25, lunch 11:30 a.m.-<br />

12 p.m. (Tuesdays and Thursdays only)<br />

If you have additional questions about the summer feeding program or schedule,<br />

contact Nutrition Services Supervisor Mary Nowak at 546-2836.<br />

In accordance with Federal Law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from<br />

discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability. If you believe you have been<br />

treated unfairly, you may file a complaint of discrimination by writing USDA, Director, Office of Adjudication,<br />

1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington D.C. 20250-9410, or call toll free (866) 632-9992 (Voice).<br />

Individuals who are hearing impaired or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay<br />

Service at (800) 877-8339, or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.


<strong>District</strong> teams UP with libraries to<br />

encourage summer reading<br />

The <strong>Pasco</strong> <strong>School</strong> <strong>District</strong> is proud to partner with Mid-Columbia<br />

Libraries to keep kids reading all summer long! Representatives from<br />

<strong>Pasco</strong>’s libraries will be present throughout the summer during the<br />

<strong>District</strong>’s summer feeding program lunch times to motivate young readers<br />

and inform families about the Mid-Columbia Libraries’ summer reading<br />

program. There will be story time and hands-on activities for children of<br />

all ages. Look for your friendly library staff on the following dates:<br />

Chiawana High <strong>School</strong>, 8125 W. Argent Rd.<br />

• Aug. 15, 11:45 a.m.<br />

<strong>Pasco</strong> High <strong>School</strong>, 1108 N. 10th Ave.<br />

• June 27, 10:45 a.m.<br />

• July 11, 10:45 a.m.<br />

Memorial Park, 1520 W. Shoshone St.<br />

• June 27, 11:30 a.m.<br />

• July 3, 12 p.m.<br />

• July 11, 11:30 a.m.<br />

• July 17, 12 p.m.<br />

• July 25, 11:30 a.m.<br />

Read 15 hours June 1- August 31 and be entered to win one of 45<br />

Simon Mall/Visa gift cards and more! Sign up & track your reading at<br />

www.midcolumbialibraries.org.<br />

2013 Summer Reading Program<br />

READ TO WIN!<br />

Save the Date!<br />

First day of school for 2013-14<br />

Grades K-6 and 9: August 27<br />

Grades 7-8 and 10-12: August 28<br />

Find the complete 2013-14 school calendar on our web site, www.psd1.org.


<strong>School</strong> Safety is Top Priority for <strong>District</strong><br />

Safety and security for all students<br />

and staff are of paramount importance<br />

to the <strong>Pasco</strong> <strong>School</strong> <strong>District</strong>.<br />

<strong>District</strong> officials have implemented<br />

a variety of improved safety initiatives<br />

in recent months with more<br />

safety enhancements planned for<br />

the future.<br />

All staff, regardless of position, are<br />

responsible for maintaining the<br />

safety of the educational and work<br />

environment. Specific strategies<br />

adopted by the <strong>District</strong> to support<br />

efforts in safety and risk management<br />

to date include:<br />

• First responders, Risk Pool, and<br />

<strong>District</strong> officials have assessed<br />

risk security at all <strong>District</strong> facilities;<br />

• Site maps of all <strong>District</strong> facilities<br />

have been provided to all local<br />

first responders;<br />

• Repairs and adjustments have<br />

been made to exterior doors;<br />

• Additional radios and batteries<br />

have been provided to building<br />

security staff and administrators<br />

at the request of each building;<br />

• Additional lights have been<br />

mounted on portables;<br />

• First responders have revi<strong>ew</strong>ed<br />

and updated <strong>District</strong> building<br />

crisis plans;<br />

• <strong>District</strong> officials have met and<br />

continue to meet with local first<br />

responders; and<br />

• <strong>District</strong> staff participated in a<br />

tabletop exercise with Franklin<br />

County Emergency Management.<br />

Several safety enhancements, such<br />

as installing peepholes in doors,<br />

additional fencing, and entrance<br />

cameras are still underway.<br />

Facility security planning is also<br />

underway for <strong>Pasco</strong>’s future schools:<br />

Elementary #13, Elementary #14,<br />

Elementary #15, and the n<strong>ew</strong> Delta<br />

High <strong>School</strong> building, which will<br />

be located on Road 100. Staff will<br />

continue to receive the appropriate<br />

security training and officials will<br />

continue meetings with first responders.<br />

“Even with all the technological tools<br />

available, having everyone alert and<br />

observant to things that are not<br />

normal is still the best way to avoid<br />

a safety risk,” says Assistant Superintendent<br />

of Operations John Morgan.<br />

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Chess Elementary <strong>School</strong> Fiesta-val of Math<br />

Showcases Innovative PEAK! Partnership<br />

Chess Elementary <strong>School</strong> and Partners<br />

in Educating All Kids, or PEAK!<br />

partner, Fiesta Foods teamed up to<br />

host the Fiesta-val of Math for students<br />

and families this spring. Chess student<br />

dancers and musicians kicked off the<br />

event by providing entertainment outside<br />

the <strong>Pasco</strong> grocery store. Students then<br />

moved throughout the store to different<br />

stations, where they had to calculate the<br />

price of different items which they would<br />

need to prepare a taco dinner. It was a<br />

family event with parents and siblings taking<br />

part in the “shopping” and enjoying<br />

the food samples.<br />

Thanks to Fiesta Foods, one of many local<br />

businesses that partners with <strong>Pasco</strong><br />

schools to create educational opportunities<br />

for students.<br />

Clockwise from top: Chess<br />

Elementary dancers kick off the<br />

Fiesta-val of Math outside the Fiesta<br />

Foods store; a parent helps<br />

her daughter calculate items for<br />

a taco dinner; students perform<br />

traditional Mexican folk dances;<br />

Chess teacher Luke Spilles helps<br />

families as they pass the tortilla<br />

station; and a student weighs<br />

fresh produce.


SOUND FISCAL MANAGEMENT EQUALS SAVINGS FOR TAXPAYERS<br />

This spring, <strong>Pasco</strong> <strong>School</strong> <strong>District</strong> was<br />

upgraded to the Aa3 rating by Moody’s<br />

Investor Service, one of the largest credit<br />

rating organizations in the country, which<br />

has led to savings for <strong>Pasco</strong> taxpayers.<br />

The credit rating, much like a personal<br />

credit score, is based on the <strong>District</strong>’s<br />

effective financial management, the general<br />

economy of the state and nation, and<br />

community demographics. The highest<br />

rating available from Moody’s is Aaa.<br />

“This is quite an accomplishment,” says<br />

Director of Fiscal Services Howard Roberts.<br />

“We have gone back through <strong>District</strong><br />

records, and to our knowledge we<br />

have never had a credit rating this high.<br />

It just makes our bonds more attractive.”<br />

Working with underwriter Seattle Northwest<br />

Securities Corp., <strong>Pasco</strong> made those<br />

bonds available at 6:15 a.m. on April 30<br />

and they sold within a couple of hours.<br />

“There was so much interest in our<br />

bonds that they were oversold, meaning<br />

we had more buyers than we had bonds,”<br />

says Superintendent Saundra Hill. “That<br />

meant we could tighten up on the rates so<br />

that some buyers would drop out.”<br />

Interest rates were much more attractive,<br />

thanks to <strong>Pasco</strong>’s n<strong>ew</strong> rating. “The average<br />

interest cost was 3.22 percent,” says<br />

Roberts.<br />

This lower interest rate translates into<br />

lower tax rates for <strong>Pasco</strong> residents. “We<br />

advertised an estimated tax rate of 34<br />

cents per thousand to voters. It will actually<br />

be 31 cents per thousand,” states<br />

Roberts.<br />

The <strong>District</strong> had originally planned to<br />

sell the bonds in two chunks, one now<br />

and the second a year from now. “After<br />

consultation with Seattle Northwest<br />

Securities Corp. it was determined that<br />

we should take advantage of the great interest<br />

rates now,” Roberts explains. “It’s<br />

like a home mortgage, rates are low now,<br />

but they could creep up in the next year.<br />

We wanted to get the best deal possible<br />

for <strong>Pasco</strong> taxpayers.”<br />

Impact fees also reduced the amount of<br />

the bond sales. <strong>Pasco</strong> voters approved<br />

sales of $46.8 million in bonds, but just<br />

$45.6 million were purchased. This<br />

reduction was accomplished by application<br />

of the impact fees collected to date<br />

to reduce the cost for all taxpayers. This<br />

represented a cost savings of $1.25 million<br />

for taxpayers.<br />

This is not the first time <strong>Pasco</strong> has<br />

received superior ratings and accolades<br />

for sound fiscal management. “Our fiscal<br />

practices have been commended by the<br />

State Auditor; our schools are in better<br />

condition than expected for their age, and<br />

our cost per square foot to build them is<br />

substantially lower than stat<strong>ew</strong>ide costs.<br />

The premium for this sale improved<br />

our debt capacity limit by $5.7 million.<br />

Every bit helps,” says Hill. “We were<br />

hoping to maintain our A1 rating, but<br />

kn<strong>ew</strong> that within the state other public<br />

agencies had their ratings downgraded.<br />

We were thrilled to learn that we had<br />

been upgraded to an Aa3 rating.”<br />

This is yet another example that the<br />

<strong>District</strong> is working to protect and improve<br />

public assets, adds Hill. “We take<br />

our obligation to our community very<br />

seriously. The bond successes can be<br />

attributed directly to the increase in our<br />

Moody’s rating which we earned through<br />

conservative and responsible budgeting<br />

during this economic crisis.”


McLoughlin Student Stands for Hope with Winning Poem<br />

“...Our past we cannot change By sticking up for those in pain<br />

But our future we can arrange Their happiness can remain<br />

Never will the bystanders stand and watch We can never let this happen again<br />

Instead to justice we will latch We must join together as a friend...”<br />

Jazmin Ruiz has made her<br />

voice heard. The McLoughlin<br />

Middle <strong>School</strong> eighth grader<br />

wrote the winning poem for<br />

her age group in the Washington<br />

State Holocaust Education Resource<br />

Center 2013 writing contest, an<br />

experience she says<br />

gave her hope and<br />

the strength to stand<br />

up in the face of<br />

injustice.<br />

Ruiz was recognized<br />

at a ceremony<br />

to honor Holocaust<br />

survivors on June<br />

9 at the Temple<br />

De Hirsch Sinai in<br />

Bellevue. The writing,<br />

art, and digital<br />

media contest was<br />

open to students in grades 5-12<br />

from across the Pacifiic Northwest<br />

and Alaska; there were nearly 750<br />

entries from Washington state.<br />

Her poem, titled “Through the Eyes<br />

of the Brave,” was inspired by the<br />

story of Judith Jaegermann, a young<br />

J<strong>ew</strong> who was imprisoned in a concentration<br />

camp during World War II<br />

and forced into a death march before<br />

finally reaching her liberation.<br />

“No matter what the Nazis bestowed<br />

upon her, she could carry it with the<br />

strength of a lion,” says Ruiz. “She<br />

has taught me to have hope no matter<br />

what situation I’m in.”<br />

Ruiz went above and beyond in her<br />

writing and researching<br />

for the contest, says her<br />

language arts teacher Lu-<br />

Ann Leverson. “Writing<br />

is such a part of who she<br />

is. It’s very inspiring to<br />

me. She knows her voice<br />

counts.”<br />

Every year, the entire<br />

eighth grade class reads<br />

Ann Frank’s Diary of a<br />

Young Girl. Each student<br />

then creates a project to<br />

present at the school’s<br />

annual Museum of Hope,<br />

an event which draws hundreds of<br />

families and community members.<br />

It’s a very moving and powerful<br />

project, says Leverson.<br />

Learning about the Holocaust<br />

changed her outlook on life, concludes<br />

Ruiz. “I will not be a bystander...if<br />

we stop the bullies, we<br />

can make sure the Holocaust will<br />

never be seen again.”


Native <strong>Pasco</strong> Artist ‘Adream’ Leads <strong>School</strong> Mural Project<br />

Much like the signature<br />

dots in his paintings, the<br />

story of how <strong>Pasco</strong> native<br />

artist Adream came<br />

to paint a mural at N<strong>ew</strong><br />

Horizons High <strong>School</strong> has a<br />

“coming full circle” quality<br />

to it.<br />

As a student at <strong>Pasco</strong><br />

High <strong>School</strong> in 2003,<br />

Pedro de Valdivia, a.k.a.<br />

Adream, visited a Frida<br />

Kahlo exhibit in Seattle.<br />

Her work—and the city’s<br />

vibe—changed his life; his<br />

dream to become an artist<br />

was born.<br />

This spring, taking a break<br />

from preparing his “Icons”<br />

show in his Seattle studio,<br />

Adream spent a week at<br />

NHHS painting a large<br />

mural with the help of<br />

students.<br />

Orchestrated by art and<br />

j<strong>ew</strong>elry teacher April Ottey,<br />

the idea for the mural<br />

began two years ago when<br />

Ottey took her students<br />

to see Adream’s work on<br />

exhibit at You and I Gallery<br />

in Kenn<strong>ew</strong>ick.<br />

They were impressed by<br />

his work, and so last fall,<br />

Ottey and her<br />

class invited<br />

Adream to<br />

collaborate<br />

on a project<br />

for the<br />

school.<br />

“It was a<br />

great way<br />

for students<br />

to make a<br />

contribution<br />

to their school that they<br />

can feel proud of,” says Ottey.<br />

Students raised funds<br />

for the paint and supplies<br />

through their local Rotary<br />

club. The 8’ x 8’ mural is<br />

a fiery depiction of the<br />

NHHS mascot, a rising<br />

Phoenix.<br />

Students spent the week<br />

filling in circles and lines<br />

under Adream’s guidance.<br />

Victoria Valdivia, a recent<br />

NHHS graduate, says it<br />

was hard keeping her<br />

hand steady for the detailed<br />

work until Adream<br />

equated it with applying<br />

Adream de Valdivia<br />

eyeliner, a tip that helped<br />

her gain more confidence.<br />

Adream says he<br />

gets the most satisfaction<br />

giving back<br />

to his community<br />

in the form of art.<br />

He established the<br />

Washington Murals<br />

Project, which<br />

involves students in<br />

the enriching process<br />

of transforming<br />

public spaces<br />

into art. His work graces<br />

the side of a building in<br />

downtown <strong>Pasco</strong>, and last<br />

year he completed a mural<br />

at Garrison Middle <strong>School</strong><br />

in Walla Walla. His sculpture<br />

“L<strong>ew</strong>is and Clark,”<br />

which he made when he<br />

was a student, can be seen<br />

at the entrance of the PHS<br />

auditorium.<br />

“The art classroom is<br />

where you form how you<br />

see the world, what you<br />

want to do, and how you<br />

want to inspire,” says<br />

Adream. “Follow your<br />

dreams.”<br />

N<strong>ew</strong> Horizons High <strong>School</strong><br />

students who contributed to<br />

the school’s mural project<br />

pose with the finished painting<br />

along with artist Adream<br />

de Valdivia (lower right) and<br />

NHHS art teacher April Ottey<br />

(far right). The mural was<br />

done in four pieces and will<br />

be assembled together on<br />

the school’s facade.

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