DISTRICT

The last OTE (Opportunity to Excel) after-school session for Sequim Middle School and Sequim High School will be June 8.

The next Strategic Planning session will be from 8:15-11:45 a.m. Thursday, June 8, at the Sequim Transit Center. For more information, call Marilyn Walsh at 582-3262.

The District will hold its annual reception to honor 2017-2018 retiring staff members from 4-5:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 13, in the Sequim High School library. Past retired staff members, please join us and wear your purple shirts!

The next school board meeting is at 6 p.m. Monday, June 19, in the boardroom (within the auditorium building, 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 “Board of Directors” on the district’s website at www.sequim.k12.wa.us.

Reminder to parents: Now is the time to register your child for fall 2017 kindergarten! Your child must be 5 years old by Aug. 31 in order to attend kindergarten. Call Greywolf Elementary at 582-3300 or Helen Haller Elementary at 582-3200 for more information.

The last day of the 2016-2017 school year is Friday, June 16. This is an early release day. We hope all our students and their families have a wonderful summer break. Keep reading! FYI, the 2017-2018 school year starts Aug. 30.

GREYWOLF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Please join us on Friday, June 16, for Breakfast and Books, our last family event of the year! Students and their families are invited to join us for breakfast in the gym from 8-9 a.m.

All students have worked hard to increase their reading levels this year; in celebration they will be given books to take home and read over the summer to help maintain their skill level. The staff is excited to share this special time with you!

Donations of gently used books can be sent to school or dropped off at the office between now and June 14. Unfortunately, we cannot accept magazines. These books will be given out to students at the June 16 Breakfast and Books event. For more information, e-mail questions to jlopez@sequim.k12.wa.us.

Kindergartners listened to a story read by Bethanie Robbins about Frida Kahlo, the famous Mexican artist, and then each created a portrait. Frida is well known for her self-portraits that incorporate “wing-like” eyebrows. Children were excited to learn that Frida met Pablo Picasso, an artist they previously studied, who gifted her with hand-shaped clay earrings which the children incorporated into their drawings.

HELEN HALLER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Ione Marcy’s first-graders visited the North Olympic Library System in Sequim. NOLS librarian Patty Swingle gave the class an introduction to summer reading program offerings. The students are excited to jump-start their own summer reading by checking out their first public library books for the summer! Our class wrote thank you notes to Mrs. Swingle for opening the library extra early to give the kids an opportunity to visit. Here are some of their writings:

Today I went to the Sequim Public Library. Mrs. Swingle showed us around and showed us books like chapter books and comic and picture books. We got to check out a book. Seren McClurken

Thank you Patty for your generosity and kindness to our class. And I just want to say thank you for opening up the library early today. Finley Rapelje

Today I went to the Sequim Public Library. Mrs. Swingle, thank you for teaching us about the library. Garrett Eldredge

Thank you Mrs. Swingle for being kind to our class and telling us that on the side of a book there are some books that say “ES”. That is for Early Reader. Thank you. Marelys Gonzalez

Thank you for showing us the library. You gave me a book because I didn’t have a library card. It made me feel good and happy. Brayden Aunspach

Today I went to the Public Library. Thank you for letting me have fun. Mrs. Swingle let us check out whatever book we wanted and she didn’t say you can only check out from this area. Alex Morgan

Finley and I were in the same preschool together and Mrs. Swingle you came and read to us with Irene, my preschool teacher. I liked when you showed us the backpack with walkie-talkies and a magnifying glass and some books. Jack Sullivan

Thank you Mrs. Swingle for letting us go to the Sequim Public Library and letting us check out books. Alejandro Musso

You are the best teacher and you are nice and fun and you helped me find a book too, Mrs. Swingle. Ava Lahmeyer

Thank you Mrs. Swingle for the fun trip to the Sequim Public Library. My favorite part was that we got books. Nolan Bacchus

Thank you for your book, Mrs. Swingle. I don’t have a library card. You let me borrow it. I hope you have a happy day. Can Bin Li

Today I went to the Sequim Public Library and I want to thank the moms that came with us and Mrs. Swingle. Scotty Janssen

Today we went to the Public Library. What I like about it is that the parents came and we got to pick out a book. I hope to see you Mrs. Swingle. Emma Green

Thank you for showing us around. Thank you for giving us a book. You are really nice. Kaleb Pemberton

Thank you Mrs. Swingle for helping me find my medieval book and for letting us go to the library today. I loved it so much and I love books there. Noah Ley

Thank you Mrs. Swingle for letting us keep a book for three weeks. I liked that you will pick out a name from a jar that will win a prize. Edgar Cisneros

Dear Mrs. Swingle I love to go to the Sequim Library because I like to read all sorts of books and I think they are really cool. David Ley

OLYMPIC PENINSULA ACADEMY

OPA will hold a graduation and awards ceremony on Monday, June 12. For more information, check with the OPA office by calling 582-3403.

SEQUIM MIDDLE SCHOOL

The eighth-grade Movin’ On ceremony will be at 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 14, in the gymnasium. Parents and family members, please come out and celebrate the culmination of your student’s middle school years!

SEQUIM HIGH SCHOOL

Science Club advisor Deb Beckett reports that sophomore Sean Weber recently competed and won a Bronze Medal and $150 cash award at the International Sustainable World Energy, Engineering, and Environmental Project Olympiad. (I-SWEEEP) in Houston, Texas. Weber was nominated for entry into the competition earlier this year after submitting for review his independent science research project entitled, “Myco-Treatment of Marine Oil Spills.” I-SWEEEP was launched 10 years ago in an effort to spark interest among young innovators for exploring solutions to Earth’s sustainability challenges.

This year, students from each state in the United States and about 60 other countries competed with projects exploring topics such as renewable energy, sustainable development and medical breakthroughs. Texas and New York sent 15-20 student delegates each; four students represented Washington. Judges scored students on their originality, scientific method, analysis, project’s benefit to society and presentation.

Weber’s Bronze Medal distinguishes him as in the top 30 percent of all the student projects competing in this year’s I-SWEEEP event. He has participated in five national science competitions and this was his first I-SWEEEP event. Congratulations, Sean!

Sequim High’s Operetta, “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers,” recently received Honorable Mention from the 2017 Fifth Avenue Awards Honoring High School Musical Theater. Silas Baird was nominated for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role. The musical also was nominated for Outstanding Scenic Design (Gary Ristick and crew). Honorable mention awards also were awarded for Outstanding Choreography (Abby Norman) and Outstanding Music Director (John Lorentzen). The brothers from “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” were nominated for an Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble Group.

An awards ceremony will be held at Benaroya Hall in downtown Seattle on June 12. For more information, go to 5thavenuetheatreblog.wordpress.com/2017/05/23/and-the-nominees-are/.

Juniors and seniors took part in a Grim Reaper event on May 24-25. Grim Reaper, an interactive program, occurs on the high school campus every other year and is aimed at raising awareness about the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol. The event is organized by designated high school students, who work in conjunction with representatives from the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office.

On Day One, first responders from Sequim Police Department, Clallam County Sheriff’s Office, Washington State Patrol and Clallam County Fire District 3 addressed students during their history class period about consequences of driving under the influence. Students heard stories about crashes recounted by first responders and had the chance to ask questions. Evergreen Collision provided a wrecked vehicle as an exhibit on the high school’s campus during the event. Throughout the day, the Grim Reaper, wielding his scythe, silently entered the classroom to remove pre-selected students, representing the death of someone in an alcohol-related collision. Students were made up and robed to simulate death. These students then returned to their normal class schedule, remaining silent for the rest of the school day.

After school, students toured the Sequim Valley Chapel, then stayed overnight at the Boys &Girls Club to continue the simulation of being away from their families. Two families received mock death notifications from officials, including a chaplain, during the evening.

On Day Two, juniors and seniors attended an assembly to witness the impact this experience had on their “reaped” classmates. They heard a personal testimony about what it feels like to be the person who made a bad choice. Finally, parents of students who had their deaths simulated spoke about the experience. Each attendee received a keepsake key chain with the message “Sober Drivers Do It Best!”

Grim Reaper planning committee included Emily Bundy, sophomore student coordinator; Mikaela Dodson, senior student coordinator; Jim Borte, Clallam County Sheriff’s Office; Patsene Dashiell, Sequim School District Office; and Sean O’Mera, teacher/faculty advisor.

“For me, the Grim Reaper event was powerful. I shared on Wednesday night that I was so busy with the details and stress of putting it on, I was overwhelmed with the heaviness and immediacy of the feelings during the program,” said O’Mera. “Also, as I talked to more and more students and adults, I was struck by the amount of people who had been directly involved with a drunk driving incident, be it losing a family member or otherwise. These interactions showed me the power and necessity of putting on this program. It was an honor to organize. I can say with certainty that it has impacted me in a lasting way that I did not expect.”

Grim Reaper student participants were Josh Benson, Justin Hermosada, James Simonson, Abigail Hansted, Grant Pierson, Sven Wiker, Spencer Neale, Mercedes Woods, Shailah Wood, Jeff DeWees, Elijah Britt, Lorenzo Dowling, Kaylee Taylor, Brenden Lauritzen (seniors), and Gavin Velarde, Emma Gallaher, Breelynn Bennett, Joseph Benjamin, Abby Norman, Levi Foy, Abygail Mundy and Rene Priscilli (juniors).

Thanks to first responder presenters Joe Lancheros and Capt. Derrell Sharp from Clallam County Fire District 3, Deputy Andrew Wagner and Jim Borte from the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office, Officer Maris Larsen and SRO Randy Kellas from Sequim Police Department, and Troopers Matt Phillips and Jamieson Hodgson from the Washington State Patrol; community members Mickey Davis, Barbara Tyson, Kathy Petree, Ed Evans, Carol Wagner, David Piper, David Lyke, Keith Sandell, Shawn Langston, Michael Dashiell, Stephen Rosales, Mary Kniskern, Jim Heintz, Angela Bucholtz, Sean and Monique Gallaher; and local businesses Sequim Valley Chapel, State Farm Insurance, Sequim Boys &Girls Club, Subway, Domino’s Pizza, Starbucks and Evergreen Collision Center of Sequim.

A final choir concert of the year, directed by John Lorentzen, is at 7 p.m.Wednesday, June 7, in the auditorium.

Graduation ticket distribution for graduating (walking) seniors is Wednesday, June 7. Seniors will need to pick up and sign for their tickets in the main office. Sorry, family and friends are not allowed to pick up the tickets. Please note that lost or stolen tickets will not be replaced.

The Graduation ceremony is Friday, June 9, in the stadium. Ticket holders will be admitted to the stadium between 5-6 p.m. and non-ticket holders will be able to enter at 6 p.m.

Seating will be on a first-come basis; there will be no reserved seating. A section will be marked off near the bleachers for those that need wheelchair access.

Also, the first row of the bleachers will be for those not able to climb stairs/steps.

Update from Erin Dwyer: Every year in early June, the incoming leadership officers spend the night at Camp Ramblewood. They discuss and plan activities for the next school year and get to know the team they will be working with. This is an amazing time for everyone there to get to know the next officers and create bonds that will benefit them throughout next year and will allow them to be the best leaders they can be for next year!