DISTRICT

Schools are closed for winter break from Dec. 21-Jan. 1. School resumes after winter break on Monday, Jan. 4.

HELEN HALLER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Bill Houghton, historian, made his annual visit to Sheri Suryan’s classroom recently. Students are studying Ancient Civilizations (Common Knowledge Language Arts) and he brought in some artifacts he collected many years ago. Some items were from the Mayan, Aztec and Inca civilizations. The students were enthralled as they were allowed to carefully handle the items and consider what it was like to have lived during that time in history.

SEQUIM MIDDLE SCHOOL

Staff and students competed in the annual holiday door decorating contest and showed off their “ugly” holiday sweaters, as well. Doors were judged by Assistant Superintendent Ann Renker, Greywolf Elementary School principal Donna Hudson, Helen Haller Elementary School principal Russ Lodge and assistant principal Becky Stanton, and several elementary students from Helen Haller Elementary.

Doors in each hall were decorated by students before and after school, and bribes of holiday cookies and hot chocolate from the students “encouraged and fortified” the judges as they walked about, viewing each hall.

One class from each hall was designated first place and they had the privilege of being served cinnamon rolls and milk as a reward on Dec. 18, the last day of school before winter break.

OLYMPIC PENINSULA ACADEMY

On Nov. 24, Rebecca Bullard’s fifth-grade class took a field trip to Railroad Bridge Park. Here they took part in the Dungeness River Audubon Center’s watershed monitoring for fifth-graders.

A huge thank you to Tom Butler from the Audubon Center for organizing the activities.

The class was presented with the question of whether or not the Dungeness River at the Railroad Bridge Park was a healthy river for salmon. To determine the answer they made observations, measured temperature (air and water) and dissolved oxygen, conducted rock surveys and collected, identified and counted aquatic invertebrates.

The class was able to determine that there was not enough data to support the question, but was able to have fun and learn first-hand a lot more about rivers.

Being a chilly 40 degrees outside, the class members did an amazing job of wading in the river with high boots and sticking their hands into the icy water to collect specimens. Back in their classroom, the fifth-graders continue to learn more about salmon and