DISTRICT
All schools are closed for winter break from Dec. 22-to Jan. 2.
The district office will be open throughout the winter break from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Friday, except for Dec. 24-26, Dec. 31 and Jan. 1.
GREYWOLF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Monique Brasher’s first-graders visited the First Teacher program recently. First Teacher, facilitated by Nicole Brewer, offers reading time for preschoolers accompanied by their parents each Monday at the Boys & Girls Club and features guest readers. The first-graders brought books with them and sat with toddlers to read to them.
Brasher asked her students afterwards about the experience of reading to preschoolers and this is what they said:
It was fun because the preschoolers just sat down next to me and listened. Khloee Carbis and Azlynn Judd
It was fun because when I read the rhyme to him he laughed. Riley Chesterfield and Taylor Hancock
I like it because they listened to me! Gracie Stoudt
I was a little nervous because I had never read to preschoolers before. Connor Croft
I liked it … I like reading to preschoolers. Devyn Dearinger and Max Stanford
It was good because it is fun to read to preschoolers. Cameron Robinson
They were really good when they listened to my book. Ariya Goettling
I wish there were more preschoolers to read to. Raimey Brewer, Collin Welch, Cayden Robinson and Kaesha Larsen
I liked reading to my preschooler because he pointed at the pictures. Aslan Bordwell
It rocked because the mom of the preschooler pointed to the pictures. Levi Bellis and Skyler Farris
HELEN HALLER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Kindergartners in Judy Flynn’s classes have been learning about holiday traditions around the world. Each family has their own holiday traditions and some students have shared theirs:
Decorating the tree and house, and putting the star on top of the tree — William Dickson, Thomas Atkins
Leaving out milk and cookies for Santa and carrots for the reindeer — Taycie Fatherson, Ann Marie Tillman, Brycen Gorr
Spending time with family — Peyton Dinius
Decorating the tree while drinking hot chocolate and/or listening to Christmas music — Trenton Hopson, Drew Wallen
Waking up Christmas morning to see what Santa brought me — Alabama Cassidy, Glenna Krieger
Helping the fire department collect food for the food bank because it feels so good to help others — Gavin Albers
Going out and looking at Christmas lights — Harper Moore
Making Christmas cookies for family and Santa — Lillian Anderson
Celebrating Three Kings Day on Jan. 6. I leave out my shoes for a present when I wake up — Jair Mendoza
OLYMPIC PENINSULA ACADEMY
Students in Timothy Wilkinson’s seventh- and eighth-grade language arts and social studies class were each assigned to select a different famous American who lived between the years 1865 and 1913.
They researched this person’s life and accomplishments, and then portrayed them while being interviewed by fellow classmates. In this way, all the students in the class heard a short biography of 26 famous Americans.
As part of a study unit on Native American culture, Wilkinson’s sixth-grade language arts and social studies students performed Native American legends from a variety of tribes around the United States.
SEQUIM HIGH SCHOOL
Nellie Bridge’s senior classes are discussing the famous “To be or not to be” soliloquy from “Hamlet.”
They are using the Harkness discussion method where 12 participants are seated around an oval table and the discussion is cooperative, not competitive. Prior to the discussion, they read the play and watched different film versions of the soliloquy scene.
They also employed some of their highlighted close reading handouts during the discussion.
In their group discussion, students grappled with such questions as is Hamlet actually crazy or sane? What is Gertrude, his mother, thinking or feeling as she listens to Hamlet speak? Why hasn’t Hamlet killed the king yet? They also pondered what Hamlet must have felt to discover his uncle killed his father to marry his mother and become king.
Don’t miss the winter holiday choir concert at 7 p.m. Dec. 17 in the auditorium.
The band also is giving a concert at 7 p.m. Dec. 18 in the auditorium.
The Winter Wishes assembly is at 9:55 a.m. Dec. 18 in the gym.
