Chalk Talk — Sequim Gazette, Oct. 26, 2016

DISTRICT

Monday, Oct. 31, is a No School Day for all students. Teachers will have professional development training in their buildings and the district office will be open.

The next school board meeting is at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 7, in the boardroom, located in the auditorium building at 601 N. Sequim Ave. To view the agenda for this meeting, go to www.sequim.k12.wa.us and click on Board of Directors. There is time set aside at every board meeting for public comments.

GREYWOLF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

There will be a volunteer reading tutor training today (Oct. 26) at 3:30-4:30 p.m. in the school library. For more about the reading tutor training program, email Krista Chatters at Kchatters@sequim.k12.wa.us.

Parent/Teacher Association (PTA) president Tricia Stratton reports that almost every student participated in the annual Jog-A-Thon! Students walked, jogged or ran around the playfield to generate over $12,000 in pledges! Whether they did one lap or 12 laps, they took pride in raising money for their school.

PTA funds benefit all Greywolf students. Last year’s PTA budget was greatly depleted by our fabulous new playground and many extracurricular programs were in danger of being cut this year, including Family Movie Night, Family Math & Dinner Night, Book-It Theater, Meet the Author and Carrie Art.

In addition, PTA pays for every student to receive a yearbook and helps supply extras for clubs, playground supplies and equipment.

Caryn Little’s and Maribeth Stewart’s fourth-grade classes participated in a benevolent project called Hearts of Hope. Each student painted a clay heart and wrote a message of hope on a card. All materials were provided by the organization. These hearts are sent by the organization all over the country to those in need of encouragement. Dedicated to “paying it forward” through the creation and distribution of healing art, in order to foster hope, one heart at a time, with recipients including cancer center patients, military base personnel, hospital patients and others in need of compassion. These hearts are treasures that travel through many hands and touch countless numbers of lives. Learn more about this program at www.OurHeartsofHope.org or call 973-224-6900.

Here are some of the messages students wrote to accompany their painted hearts:

Hope you like my heart because it’s yours. Jeramiah Saulima

Be your best if you’re having a hard situation in life. Kira-Lynn Fisher-Pawai

You are amazing, you have the strength to make a smile. Sophia Treece

I hope that you get well soon. Remember someone does care about you. Lilly Endicott

Don’t be afraid to be yourself. And don’t let someone tell you to be someone else. Mariah Stringer

When you’re sad think happy thoughts and know that people love you. Kimberly Heintz

Don’t forget to be yourself and don’t let anybody tell you to be someone that you’re not. Olivia Carlson

Keep smiling! Haley Dunn

Keep smiling and everything will be okay. Nickolas Parrish

Cheer up! Don’t feel down. Preston Kurtze

God bless you. Hayden Kiesser

Blessings to you and your family. CJ Money

Even if you feel unloved someone will always love you. Arianna Stovall

I care about everyone, even you! Jacque-Ryan Wolfley

Remember that there are people who care about you out there. Breann Raney

Always believe in yourself and keep on rockin’ it! It’s all going to be okay. Hope you like my heart! Marc Dankert

Try your best when things get hard. Nekadius Scouller

I hope you like my heart. Israel Torres

Hope is the key to everything. Jacob Manley

Don’t miss the next Family Involvement Night at 6:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 8, in the school gym. Child care is provided, as well as light refreshments, so bring the entire family! November’s topic will be Pre-conference Front Loading. Parents, get information on the benefits of family involvement in your student’s school, as well as how to make the most of upcoming parent/teacher conferences.

For more information, contact teacher/Family Involvement Night facilitator Jennifer Lopez at jlopez@sequim.k12.wa.us.

SEQUIM HIGH SCHOOL

The fall choir concert has been changed from Thursday, Oct. 27, to Wednesday, Oct. 26, at 7 p.m. in the auditorium. The choir program is under the direction of John Lorentzen.

Ten choir students received invitations to audition to appear in an honors performance festival at Carnegie Hall in New York City next February. They are Abby Norman, Colleen Carpenter, Joseph Oliver, Seth Mitchell, Silas Baird, Spencer Neale, Thomas Arnesen, Thomas Hughes, Tomi Wilson and Victoria Hall. These students who were invited to submit auditions had to have previously been selected for All-State or All-Northwest Choirs, received a superior rating in an adjudicated Solo & Ensemble Festival, or be “outstanding leaders in your school choral program that you would highly recommend.”

Arnesen, Baird, Carpenter, Hall and Wilson chose to participate in the competition and submitted audition materials. The others decided, for various reasons, to not submit auditions this time around.

“The five who made the decision to submit audition materials have all been in state level music events, but are obviously all outstanding leaders, as well,” choir teacher John Lorentzen said.

To audition, they had to learn and record an Italian art song or aria from the 17th or 18th century, performed in Italian. Some recorded an optional second piece, which also had to be an art song or aria.

“These students worked very hard to accomplish this at the same time they were uploading recordings for the 2017 All-Northwest Choir, which is an entirely separate audition process,” Lorentzen said.

The students will learn if they are accepted into this Honors Choral Festival at Carnegie Hall (sponsored by the World Strides/Heritage organization) by Oct. 31.

“We are all very excited to hear the results,” said Lorentzen. “It would be an opportunity unlike any they have ever experienced because of the high skill level of all selected students. We are keeping our fingers crossed!”

Senior pictures are due to Jim Heintz, photography teacher and yearbook advisor, by Oct. 28 for yearbook publication. Pictures can be emailed to jheintz@sequim.k12.wa.us.

Junior Tea’ Gauthun would like to remind everyone that Haunted Hallways, offering family-style fall fun, is from 1-4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29, in the H building at Sequim High School, 601 N. Sequim Ave. There is no admission fee, but attendees are asked to bring a donation of canned goods to benefit the Sequim Food Bank. Youths are encouraged to dress up and “trick or treat” for candy in the “scary” halls of the H building. As an extra-special treat, the Sequim High School Choir will perform.

During the last week of October, SHS students will conduct their annual “Boo Hunger” food collection drive. The Leadership class distributed drop boxes around town where food donations can be dropped off. In addition, about 3,500 bags will be handed out, with the hope that this will be the largest food drive ever in Sequim! Leadership students will collect all bags and boxes on Oct. 31.

Students also can bring in food donations to school on Oct. 26-28 when first-period classes will compete against each other to win prizes. There also will be individual prizes (donated by our generous community) for students who bring in the most food. The Leadership students feel that together, we can make an amazing difference!

Louisa May Alcott’s “Little Women” has been a right-of-passage read for adolescent girls since it was first published 147 years ago. It could arguably be called the first “girl empowerment” story. The adventures, both amorous and otherwise, of the four March sisters of New England, Meg (Victoria Hall), Jo (Audrey Hughes), Beth (Abigail Mundy) and Amy (Alison Cobb) and their patient and understanding mother Marmee (Colleen Carpenter) during America’s Civil War era have not only delighted and warmed readers in print, but also in movie, television and musical adaptations. This adaptation is by Scott Davison.

Other cast member are Gabi Simonson, Genevieve King, Katie Potter, Korina Thiemke, Brittney Rives, Christopher Heintz, Seth Mitchell and Jack Dismore. All performances start at 7 p.m. on Nov. 4-5 and Nov. 11-12 in the auditorium. Tickets are $8 for adults and $6 for senior citizens and students with an ASB card. For more information, call director Robin Hall at 460-7860.