DISTRICT

The next school board meeting is April 4, with a workshop planned for 5:30 p.m., followed by a regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the boardroom. The boardroom is within the auditorium building at 601 N.

Sequim Ave. An agenda is available on the district website under Board of Directors. The public is encouraged to attend and time is set aside at each meeting for public comment.

For more information, contact Marilyn Walsh at mwalsh@sequim.k12.wa.us or 582-3262.

GREYWOLF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Volunteers from the WSU Cooperative Extension Program of Master Gardeners visited second-grade classrooms on March 9 to teach students about the life cycle of seeds. These Master Gardeners used stories, puppets, drawing and diagrams, as well as hands-on planting to pique the interest of Greywolf’s second-graders and to add to the spring fever that is quite contagious right now. Teacher Kim Knudson relates that students had a blast handling and diagramming seeds and watering, watching and waiting for their seeds to grow.

What a fantastic science and life lesson to bring to the classroom!

HELEN HALLER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

The fourth-grade students in Sue Caron’s language arts classes studied a unit exploring poetry. One of the literary devices they experimented with was figurative language, such as similes.

Here is a sampling of some of the “All about Me” simile poems they created:

I am like two peas in a pod with my best friend.

I am as wise as an owl.

I am like a cheetah on my bike.

I am as sweet as candy.

I am as cool as Antarctica.

Teagan Moore

I am like a tricky fox.

I am like a ninja at night.

I am as strong as the Hulk.

I am as short as a leprechaun.

Braiden Winans

I am as colorful as three packs of Skittles.

I am like a monkey when I climb.

I am as sharp as a pencil.

I am as neat as a maid.

Ava Fuller

I am like a licked Jolly Rancher in the dirt.

I am like a bee to honey.

I am like a book no one reads.

I am like a volcano about to erupt.

Orin Ledgerwood

I am as curious as a fox.

I am like a cheetah when I run.

I am like an owl when I am shy.

I am like a kangaroo when I am excited.

Erika Dickinson

I am as funny as a clown.

I am sweet like a cupcake.

I am as loud as my brother crying.

I am like a sleeping cat.

Desirea Spalding

I am like an alligator when I swim.

I am like a sponge when I do mythology.

I am like a dictionary when it comes to writing.

I am like a cougar when I run.

Win Jones

I am a tree climber like Tarzan.

I am as silent as an owl stalking its prey.

I am like a strong wrestler when I wrestle my dad.

Sage Younger

Lisa Schermer’s fifth-grade students are conducting a short research project on the Iditarod dog sled race. Class activities require students to practice skills that they already have learned in reading, writing and math. The standards call for them to conduct short research projects that use several sources to build knowledge.

Students plan to use current news articles, videos and websites to gather relevant information for their tasks.

One of the tasks is building a dog sled team, pricing and “purchasing” the sled and required safety equipment, as well as making sure each check point has the necessary supplies ready for the team.

This all requires a real-world application of the math and literacy skills they have been using throughout the year. Students will have to maintain a budget and a check register so that they can let their “sponsor” know how their money is being spent. So far the students are quite engaged in the project and want to make sure they spend their money well.

They really appreciate being able spend imaginary money from their make-believe sponsors!

Trinity Gaither says, “It’s fun to look up things on the websites. I am getting better at adding and subtracting with decimals because it is like working with money.”

Aurianna Francis says, “I have to multiply amounts of money as I shop for my supplies. This really helps me and it’s fun!”

Hunter Gallauher says, “This is a fun way to improve my math and literacy skills all at the same time.”

Heidi Dail says, “This is fun because I have always wondered what it would be like to be in a race like this. I read a book about it last year that I thought was interesting.”

OLYMPIC PENINSULA ACADEMY

Teacher Kim Glasser invited local author Eycke Strickland, who wrote the memoir “Eyes Are Watching, Ears Are Listening,” to visit her classroom. Strickland spoke to students in an Introduction to Literature class and shared her experiences from growing up as a child during World War II.

She read excerpts from her book and shared personal stories of how her father helped save hundreds of Jews, who were being persecuted by the Nazis.

After the reading and class discussion, each student wrote a letter, which revealed several of them were impacted by what she had related to them. Here are some of their comments:

Natalie Garling (sophomore): It was so amazing knowing that Eycke stood at the hill above Auschwitz and saw the camp with her very own eyes.

Mia Underwood (freshman): Eycke’s talk impacted me — I was inspired that Eycke’s father risked all of his family’s lives to save others’ lives.

Katie Potter (freshman): I think its incredible Eycke met the grandson at one of her readings in New York of a woman her father saved during the Holocaust.

Riley Scott (freshman): I think it was important to hear an eyewitness from this time in history.

Hannah Gloor (freshman): It was a new and different perspective of the Holocaust that I really appreciated hearing.

SEQUIM MIDDLE SCHOOL

Our seventh- and eighth-grade concert band received a “1” rating, the highest rating possible, at the Band Adjudication competition in Port Angeles in March.

The band, under the leadership of David Upton, was praised for its very good sound and rhythm.

There were many positive comments from the judges, such as “Great job!” “A very good looking group!” and “Very dramatic and exciting!” “Solid!”

SEQUIM HIGH SCHOOL

Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) is opening a student-based enterprise in the form of a school store lab (student store). Tolin Simpson (junior), our Wolf Den store manager, will conduct a grand opening on Tuesday, March 29, during first lunch.

All profits from sales at the Wolf Den go back into student programs.

The FBLA team will be working with other student organizations to help them sell items and conduct fundraisers.

Ten percent of all profits from food and beverage goes to the Associated Student Body (ASB) fund.

Wolf Den profits will fund ongoing FBLA-SHS organizational requirements, competitive event participation and travel to regional, state and national FBLA conferences.

Mark Knudson will be teaching a new “Student Store” class next year called Introduction to Marketing. This learning lab will teach 21st-century business skills in a real-world setting.

Students will manage all facets of the enterprise from purchasing decisions to retail sales.

More details will be available on the Sequim High School’s website.

A Sequim High School choir concert is at 7 p.m. March 30, and an SHS band concert is at 7 p.m. on March 31. Both are at the school auditorium, 533 N. Sequim Ave.