SEQUIM SCHOOL DISTRICT

Parents and district citizens – Please register online at the district Web site at www.sequim.k12.wa.us. By registering you will be able to receive e-alerts and updates to particular pages that you pre-select during the registration steps. The process is quick and easy. If you have any questions or difficulty, call 582-3264. Our goal is to have 100 percent of our parents and guardians registered so we can communicate quickly and efficiently and keep the community abreast of what’s going on in our school district. Other community residents also may register for this service. The cost is free.

– Annette Hanson, resource and information coordinator

Volunteering – It is school district policy that a volunteer form is required for anyone who works with students. This includes parents and guardians who would like to go on field trips. This form must be filled out and approved at the district office. Because we must allow seven days for approval time, it is best to fill out this form early in the school year. This will help avoid any disappointment if the background check is delayed for any reason. All field trip chaperones must complete this form and have it on file.

HELEN HALLER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

As part of the September Take Charge of Education donation, Target is awarding Helen Haller Elementary with a $51 check. This payout is a direct result of the parents, teachers and school supporters who participate in the program, which has earned this school $1,389.61 since 1997. Through Take Charge of Education, our families and community have an easy way to raise money for our school. When you sign up and designate Helen Haller Elementary, Target will donate 1 percent of every purchase you make with your Target Visa Credit Card, Target Credit Card, or Target Check Card to our school through the PTO. Over the past 11 years, Helen Haller PTO has used the funds to help pay for classroom books, supplies, playground equipment and more. We want to take this opportunity to encourage others to sign up and thank our families already participating.

– Helen Haller PTO & Debbie Buchillo, secretary

GREYWOLF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Mary Koutnik’s second-grade class has been working on writing small moment stories for Writer’s Workshop. Students are writing and building stamina every day and enjoy writing about their lives. The students’ favorite part of the day is the literacy block, which consists of a mini-lesson, workshop writing, conferencing and of course sharing! I am amazed with the excitement for learning and writing by my second-graders. When asked to journal briefly about their experiences and joy for writing, the second-graders wrote:

Edwin Albright

I enjoy writing about different topics, I like to make words rhyme.

Liona Anderson

I like to write because I want to be an artist and during writer’s workshop we make beautiful pictures for our stories.

Markell Bark

You can write about any topic you want. I love to write about the things in my life. Writing a lot helps me get better. Learning new words and writing helps keep you healthy!

Jewel Bell

It is so fun! I practice a lot at school to get smart! I am getting to learn new words!

Scott Brauner

I like to write because it is really fun. I have improved a lot because last year I would only write one page. This year in class I am writing about three pages.

Kayleigh Campbell

It is fun you can write about any topic during Work on Writing. I love to write and tell the things that happen in my life.

Dimitri Cawyer

I like it because it is special and we are all together.

Hunter Clemons

I like writing because it is fun and you can learn how to write new words. You can make lots of things during writing time.

Akira Connary

I like to write because it is fun and I want to be an author when I grow up. I love to write because I love fiction stories and I like making them!

Porter Funston

I love to write fiction stories because it is great to create your own characters in it. I also like to write about my life.

Emmanuel Gomez

Writing is fun and it is very easy!!! I am a good writer now.

Isaac Haley

I love poems and that is fun.

Sadie Hall

In September bright and mellow and we are writing sweet and mellow and relaxed.

Ahslyne LeRitz

Writing is fun, you can write about any topic during Work on Writing. I like writing about the things in my life.

Heidi O’Leary

I like writing because it is exciting!

Brittany Rives

I like to write because it is fun and my words tell about my pictures.

Tanner Robins

I love to read. I love to write. I love to write about everything in sight. From bees, teas, trees and me, I love to write about everything!

Heidi Schmitt

I enjoy writing because I can tell about myself. I like to write while at school because our classroom is so quiet.

Shelby Wells

I love to write poems at home everyday in the morning. I have to get up early in the morning and I am sleepy, writing wakes me up.

Blake Wiker

Writing. It is fun. It gets my brain working. I get to choose a topic. I like sharing in a circle. I like that we have our peace and quiet.

Tanner Woodin

I like to write about fun things like star wars!

SEQUIM MIDDLE SCHOOL

Sequim Middle School is kicking off its annual QSP Magazine Sales, the prime fundraiser and class competition. Oct. 1 marks the beginning of the sales with an assembly hosted by Tom George from QSP with assistance from the ASB officers. All of the SMS students can get involved by selling magazines to their friends, family and other members of the community. Students will be rewarded prizes and will participate in class competitions as a result of selling magazines. During the assembly, students who have turned in completed postcard booklets will be entered into a drawing for "Crack The Code" combinations. They will be given a chance to try their combination on the safe that holds great prizes. As the magazine sale proceeds, students who turn in magazine subscription orders or renewals will receive a "Crack The Code" combination and try their luck at opening the safe. If a student gets the lucky combination before the end of the sales drive, the safe will be reprogrammed and refilled with treasures and the game will continue. Many students will be sporting beautiful lanyards with a variety of Weepuls hanging from them. Don’t know what a Weepul is? Just ask any SMS student and they will be happy to show you one or at least tell you all about the little creatures. The money raised will go toward ASB-sponsored events. That includes all middle school sports teams, History Day Club, Art Club, Book Club, Science Club, Harvest Festival, Spring Fling and all the other amazing ASB activities at the school. Lasting until Oct. 17, the students have plenty of time to sell as many magazines as they can so that we can make the ASB the best it can be. So be sure to stock up with your favorite magazines to help SMS ASB!

– Caity Karapostoles, ASB advisor/secretary

SEQUIM COMMUNITY SCHOOL

Thank you to the following art students who helped with the library banners that will be hung in Sequim. They generously gave some after school time to make sure that the banners were completed on time. The students are Crystal Grant, Anna LaBeaume, Turi Anderson, Shaina Clark and Angela Heller.

– Martha Rudersdorf, art teacher

Thursday, Oct. 16 – New Parents Tea at 10 a.m. This is an opportunity for new parents to come get acquainted with the First Teacher room and hear about local resources available, receive books for their new babies, have a chance to meet other parents whose children may be future classmates, and enjoy refreshments. Speakers will include Pam Arnott from OMC New Family Services to talk about breastfeeding and establishing good sleep patterns for your baby, Sara Folden from First Step to talk about services available to families, and Erica Van Calcar, nutritionist from OMC to talk about your baby’s first feeding. First Teacher mom Amber Mitchell will demonstrate Baby Wrap techniques.

– Patsene Dashiell, secretary

Sequim’s Head Start Preschool program currently has openings. It is free to qualifying families. Children ages 3-5 are eligible. Both part-day and full-day services are available. To apply, contact a Head Start office in the Sequim Community School at 683-3117 or on Sequim Avenue at 683-3709.

SEQUIM HIGH SCHOOL

SHS open house will take place on Monday, Oct. 6, from 6-8 p.m. The intent of this evening is to invite parents/guardians to visit their students’ classes following their daily schedule and learn about their instructional programs. Parents and guardians who would like to spend additional time with an individual teacher are requested to schedule a conference at another time. The group meets briefly in the cafeteria at 6 p.m. for an overview of the evening. Parents/guardians will then follow their son/daughter’s regular six period schedules throughout the evening. You only have to be in class 10 minutes per period. Following sixth period, refreshments will be served in the cafeteria.

The Sequim High School Life Skills Class is ending a summer garden growing season by "winterizing" our organic garden. The special needs group, under the direction of Barbara Cooper and Louise Chitwood, is a part of COGS (Community Organic Garden of

Sequim). This past spring, the students weeded their plot, prepared a rich organic soil and planted radishes, bush beans, zucchini squash and carrots. The harvest was bountiful! The vegetables have been used in the Life Skills cooking program and so far the students have made bread, soup and stew. We plan to continue our garden project next year. COGS is located on West Fir Street, behind St. Luke’s Episcopal Church.

– Louise Chitwood, teacher

Sequim High School has started off its Link Crew events with enthusiasm and school spirit.. Link Crew is a large group of juniors and seniors who mentor freshmen throughout their first year of high school. Along with their monthly meetings, on Aug. 28, all 50 Link Leaders along with the two advisors spent their night getting ready for the Freshmen Orientation on Sept. 2. They stayed up from 10 p.m.-

7 a.m. Because of the intense preparation, the Freshmen Orientation went perfectly. To keep the momentum going, Link Crew hosted a Freshmen Tailgate near the football fields. We had good attendance and ate lots of food. Everyone dressed up and had a blast. Link Crew will be hosting another social event next month and will be teaching a freshmen class each month. Thanks to all who were involved.

– Jennifer Lancheros, Link Crew commissioner

The Star Dust and Jazz Band Dance is Saturday, Oct. 11 and will showcase the bands in the high school cafeteria at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are for sale at The Buzz and the high school office for $25 per couple and $15 single. A small buffet is included with the price.

– Laurie Campen, band parent