DISTRICT
The next school board meeting is 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 2, in the district boardroom, 503 N. Sequim Ave. The public is invited to attend and time is set aside for public comment. To view the agenda and minutes of past meetings, click on “School Board,” “Regular Communication” and “Agendas” on the district’s website at www.sequim schools.org.
Nov. 27 is an early release day for all schools. There is no school on Nov. 28-29 in observance of Thanksgiving.
The Sequim School District announces an open referral process from Dec. 2, 2019-Jan. 31, 2020 for students in grades kindergarten-12 who may qualify for Highly Capable (Hi-Cap) Program services. Anyone may refer students, including (but not limited to) teachers, parents/guardians, staff, friends, students and members of the community. However, parent/guardian permission will be required for testing. To learn about characteristics of Highly Capable learners, refer to www.nagc.org/resources- publications/resources/my-child-gifted/common-characteristics-gifted-individuals.
If your child is new to the Sequim School District and exhibits gifted characteristics, contact the Highly Capable Program Coordinator. Students who were previously identified by Sequim School District will continue to receive services, however, and do not need to re-apply.
Referral forms are online at the district website (go to www.sequimschools.org, then click on “Instruction” and then “Highly Capable”). Paper referral forms are available at each school, the Sequim School District office (503 N. Sequim Ave.), the Sequim Boys & Girls Club (400 W. Fir St.) and at the Sequim Library (630 N. Sequim Ave.). Referral forms must be fully completed and received by the close of business on Jan. 31, 2020. Because of time constraints, referrals received after Jan. 31, will not be considered.
All referrals must be returned to the Highly Capable Program Coordinator Jodi Olson at Sequim Middle School, school building secretaries or the district office. For more information or to address questions concerning Hi-Cap services in the Sequim School District, contact Olson at 360-775-7083 or jolson@sequimschools.org, or view the Hi-Cap page on the district website.
Sequim Valley Lions Club has made the Plusoptix 12C Vision Screening “camera” available to Sequim School students in grades kindergarten through fifth. Volunteers from the Sequim Valley Lions have visited Greywolf Elementary, Olympic Peninsula Academy and Helen Haller Elementary, completing hundreds of screenings.
The purpose of the Plusoptix vision screening device is to detect the most prevalent vision disorders in children, as early as possible. The earlier a vision disorder is detected the better it can be treated. The screening device detects risk factors for amblyopia, strabismus (eyes that cross or wander out), refractive errors, and unequal vision between the eyes.
The Lions Vision Program is a very important resource for our students. Thanks to David Blakeslee, Lions Vision Program Planner, and the Sequim Valley Lions, for their dedication and concern for our students’ visual health and all the time volunteered in helping to complete our annual school screening (WAC 246-760-020).
— Sonja Bittner,
Sequim School District nurse
GREYWOLF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Students in Sheri Burke’s and Shannon Green’s classes had the opportunity to turn their classroom into a hospital. The students had two operation rooms complete with diagnostic charts and treatment centers. The students are studying the human body, so they found it so valuable to have hands-on experience, becoming x-ray technicians and medical students, and medical researchers. They all had a medical exam at the end of a two-day intensive course and earned a diploma.
HELEN HALLER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Clallam County gleaner Kathy Strozyk recently delivered a box of apples to Helen Haller Elementary students. Gleaners work to preserve local food that would otherwise spoil and distribute it to the community. Teacher Renee Mullikin wanted to show her students how they could make something delicious to eat. Her second-graders carefully cut up the apples to bake in a slow cooker. Taking turns processing the cooked apple through a food mill, students were intrigued with the transformation of apples to applesauce and enjoyed the fruits of their labor!
Students assembled in the school cafeteria on the Friday before Veterans Day to learn about the branches of Armed Forces and the individuals who serve and have served our country. Students in kindergarten, first and second grades attended the first assembly, and third-, fourth- and fifth-graders attended a second assembly. Veterans of Haller families attended, and at a special moment in the program, were asked to stand and be recognized. Students applauded enthusiastically and gave their guests a warm Welcome Haller Cougar Heart salute. Music teacher Laura Lorentzen led the students in song. During the tribute song “Thank You Soldiers,” ASL interpreter Janelle Hankinson and second-grade students from Doreen Minard’s class performed sign language, and several soloists were featured as well.
SEQUIM MIDDLE SCHOOL
The Scholastic Book Fair is set for 7:45 a.m.-3:15 p.m. Thursday, and 7:45 a.m.- 7 p.m. (during student/parent/teacher conferences) on Friday, Nov. 21-22 in the Sequim Middle School library.
SEQUIM HIGH SCHOOL
Parent/Teacher Conferences will be held in the gymnasium from 4-7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 21, and in the teacher’s classrooms from noon-3 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 22. Students will have early release on both days and are encouraged to attend the conference with their parent/guardian. We ask that you limit your visit to no more than 10 minutes with any one teacher. If more time is needed, we encourage you to set up an appointment at this time. Mark your calendars and plan on attending this annual Parent-Teacher conference.
Thursday, Nov. 21, and Friday, Nov. 22, will be early release days for Parent/Teacher conferences.
Mark your calendars: the All-School Play, “Twelfth Night or What You Will” by William Shakespeare, will have performances on Dec. 5-6, 12 and 14 — all at 7 p.m. in the high school auditorium. There will also be a matinee on Dec. 14 at 2 p.m.
Second-graders Austin Price and Edyn Samudio cut apples into small pieces to be cooked and processed into applesauce in Renee Mullikin’s classroom at Helen Haller Elementary School. Photo by Patsene Dashiell
Second-grader Liam Bower processes cooked apple pieces through a food mill to make delicious applesauce in Renee Mullikin’s classroom. The apples were provided by Clallam Gleaner Kathy Strozyk. Photo by Patsene Dashiell
Greywolf teacher Sheri Burke joins students J.D. Kessler, Drake Cambell and Lucien Wolfley in a recent lesson in medicine. Photo by Darcy Lamb
Above, Greywolf Elementary third-grader Addisyn Tate checks out x-rays during a recent classroom project. Below, Greywolf teacher Sheri Burke joins students J.D. Kessler, Drake Cambell and Lucien Wolfley in a recent lesson in medicine. Photos by Darcy Lamb
Student Council members (from left) Milla Rajala-Bruner, Nathanael Updike, Genevieve Wakefield, Ryan Weidman and Marelys Gonzalez assist students during Helen Haller Elementary’s third-annual Penny Wars on Nov. 8. The council raised more than $600 that will go to supporting school-wide events and improving playground equipment for the 2019-2020 school year. Photo by Meredith Vincent
Doreen Minard’s second-grade class at Helen Haller Elementary performs sign language during the tribute song, “Thank You, Soldiers,” led by ASL Interpreter Janelle Hankinson during the first Veterans Day assembly on Nov. 8. Photo by Patsene Dashiell
Fifth-graders at Helen Haller take a written fitness test as part of state learning requirements for physical education. From Meredith Vincent’s class are, from left, Gage Reynolds, Colby Verdu, Ryan Weidman, P.E. teacher Joclin Julmist and Leila Sanderson. Photo by Patsene Dashiell
Helen Haller assistant principal Shelley Jefferson and counselor Jennifer Saul perform a skit for students during a Cougar Call Out assembly to demonstrate appropriate behavior. Photo by Patsene Dashiell
