tony apostle is puyallup's new schools superintendent

Puyallup School District302 Second Street SEP. O. Box 370Puyallup, WA 98371

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CONNECTIONSVolume 9:7 Published for Puyallup School District's Community Partners for a Quality Future June 2004

Tony Apostle is Puyallup’s new schools superintendent

Susan Gourley bids farewell .......3Arts Downtown .............................5Outstanding seniors ................ 6-8School bond update ....................9Teacher of the Year .................... 11School bus road-eo ...................13

IN THIS ISSUE

Tony Apostle walks the Rogers High School campus with (from left)Principal Scott Brittain and School Board President Greg Heath.Apostle toured Rogers, Ballou Junior High, and Zeiger Elementaryschools as part of his day-long interview process.

Tony Apostle, a 14-year veteranadministrator in the Puyallup SchoolDistrict, has been selected to lead thegrowing District as its new schoolssuperintendent.

The School Board unanimously agreedlast month to appoint Apostle to the topleadership post, effective July 1. Hereplaces Susan Gourley, who leaves theDistrict at the end of this month to becomesuperintendent of Lincoln Public Schoolsin Lincoln, Nebraska.

“We’re excited about the future of ourSchool District,” says Board PresidentGreg Heath. “Dr. Apostle has strongsupport from District staff and the

community. We believe that under hisleadership, the District will continue toprovide excellent educational opportunitiesfor the children in Puyallup.”

Apostle, the District’s Executive Directorof Administrative Services, says he is“truly honored” to have been chosen bythe Board to lead the tenth largest schooldistrict in Washington. He was chosenafter a nationwide search and extensiveinterview process led by a consultant.

“This community continues to provide theneeded support to build strong studentprograms, construct and remodel schools,and attract and retain talented staff to workwith our children,” says Apostle.

Apostle has workedtwo years in hiscurrent position. Healso worked fiveyears as Director ofAdministrativeServices, six yearsas Director ofElementaryEducation, and fiveyears as Assistant tothe Superintendent.

Before coming toPuyallup in 1990, heserved as principalat Central KitsapHigh School, viceprincipal at CentraliaHigh School,principal at KittitasJunior/Senior HighSchool, and teacher

in the Clover Park School District. “Ibelieve I’ve worked hard and developed theskills and experiences to help this District,”he told a roomful of community memberswho gathered last month to ask himquestions during his interview process.

As a father of two grade-school agechildren, he says he has “a vestedinterest” in the success of all of theDistrict’s 20,450 students, especially inmeeting rigorous State academicstandards. He also wants to continue tobuild on strong partnerships that havebeen developed with the business andfaith communities, wants to keep the

community abreast of progress on newschool construction and remodels, andis committed to “infusing diversityacross the curriculum and makingeveryone feel welcome.”

Apostle received his bachelor’s degree inEnglish from the University of Washingtonin 1974, his master’s degree in educationaladministration from Washington StateUniversity in 1979, and his doctorate inelementary and secondary education fromWashington State University in 1989.He and his wife, Lori, a third-gradeteacher at Meeker Elementary School, livewith their two daughters in Puyallup.

Seventh grader Garrett Griffin welcomes TonyApostle to Ballou Junior High School. PrincipalGerald Denman stands behind them.

2 June 2004 http://www.puyallup.k12.wa.us Celebrating Student Achievement

Museum highlights

LloydFreudensteinSchool BoardMember

PUYALLUP SCHOOL DISTRICTBoarBoarBoarBoarBoard ofd ofd ofd ofd of Dir Dir Dir Dir Directorectorectorectorectorsssss

Greg HeathPresident

(253) 770-8797

Bruce DammeierVice President(253) 370-7198

Lloyd FreudensteinLegislative Representative

(253) 841-1599

Kathy Afflerbaugh(253) 840-1185

Diana Seeley(253) 848-4028

Susan GourleySuperintendent(253) 841-8769

District MissionDistrict MissionDistrict MissionDistrict MissionDistrict MissionSupported by families and our diversecommunity, the Puyallup School Districtchallenges students to achieve theiracademic, creative, and physical potential.

Connections Editorial PConnections Editorial PConnections Editorial PConnections Editorial PConnections Editorial PolicolicolicolicolicyyyyyConnections is published periodically bythe Puyallup School District as part of acommunications link between the Districtand the community. Its intent and purposeis to provide the Board and District staff avenue to inform community members aboutprograms, goals, and activities of publiceducation in the Puyallup School District.Please direct questions or comments toKaren Hansen, Administrative Assistant tothe Superintendent, PO Box 370, PuyallupWA 98371 or telephone (253) 841-8703 oremail [email protected]. Re-sponses, as appropriate, will be provideddirectly to those who contact this office.

CoorCoorCoorCoorCoordinadinadinadinadinatortortortortor::::: Karen HansenEditorEditorEditorEditorEditor: : : : : Susan GiffordTTTTTececececechnical Assistance: hnical Assistance: hnical Assistance: hnical Assistance: hnical Assistance: Dale CarringtonContribContribContribContribContributing Wuting Wuting Wuting Wuting Writerriterriterriterriters: s: s: s: s: Brynn Blanchard,Libby Brouwer, and Susan Gifford

Puyallup School District No. 3 complies withall federal rules and regulations and doesnot discriminate on the basis of race, creed,color, marital status, age, national origin,religion, or disability. This holds true for allstudents who are interested in participatingin educat ional programs and/orextracurricular activities. Inquiriesregarding compliance procedures may bedirected to the District's Title IX/RCW28A.640 Of f icer and Section 504Coordinator (William L. Welk, ExecutiveDirector of Human Resources) at 302Second Street SE, Puyallup, WA 98372.Phone: (253) 841-8645.

Kalles Junior High student Destiny Sanders (right) reads withStewart Elementary School second grader Zachery Tant. StewartElementary students have received extra help in reading this pastyear from Kalles Junior High and Puyallup High School tutors. Thesecondary students have been trained to help students by doingletter sounds flashcards, playing word games, listening to studentsread aloud, and timing how many words they read in a minute.

Student tutors help children read

Again we are at the point of departure,sending a large segment of ourcommunity’ s youth on to another stage intheir life. We call it graduation. It is, in asense, the rite of passage practiced bynumerous cultures since the beginning oftime. As parents, we are often choked withemotion, including anxiety, concern, andsometimes a sigh of relief.

We do know that the ties that bind us willbecome stretched. Where will the lack ofrestraints we’ve exercised lead the oneswe love so much? Who will watch overthe ones in which we have invested somuch of our time and emotions? “Timewill tell,” is true in this situation.

I offer this observation to you parents of

graduates from someone who haswitnessed decades of graduationceremonies: No, they will not alwaysperform the way that we would wantthem to. This is true of all youth frombiblical times onward. However, theywill arrive at a time when they look toyou, their parents, for wisdom and

direction. They will value what you havevalued. They will honor those ideas youhave instilled in them. And they willgenerate change.

No generation should be frozen in time.What we hope to see from our class of2004 is their sense of purpose andcommitment for creating a better world.And if the past is any indication of thefuture, the class of 2004 will make atremendous impact on our world.

On behalf of the Board of Directors, Icongratulate our graduates, and I expressmy deepest appreciation to their parentsand their teachers for their support ofthese students. They will go on to make adifference in our world.

Graduation marks a time for reflection

Community members joined KarshnerMuseum staff earlier this month incelebrating the arrival of an 11-foot-longcedar log that has been carved into acanoe and will be used as a teaching toolfor classes that visit the Museum.

The canoe, carved and painted by ChiefLeschi School Art Teacher Al Zantua,

was dedicated June 5 during a FamilyDay celebration hosted by the Friends ofthe Karshner Museum. Zantua has beenworking on the project since last fall andused both traditional and moderncarving tools.

Housed in the Northwest Room, thecanoe will provide an opportunity forstudents who visit the Museum to learnabout history outside of the traditionalclassroom setting, says Director SteveCrowell. The canoe is designed so thatstudents can sit inside and experiencewhat life was like for Northwest NativeAmericans.

Celebrating Student Achievement http://www.puyallup.k12.wa.us June 2004 3

Susan Gourley bids farewell; thanks Puyallup communityGraduation … end-of-the-yearcelebrations … it is June in the PuyallupSchool District, and we are celebratingour accomplishments.

At the May 24 Board meeting, werecognized our 60 outstanding seniors— 20 from each of our high schools.What wonderful young adults we met— all eager to begin the next step oftheir lives. For the past several weeks,we have recognized seniors throughoutour schools for their work on theirculminating projects. What outstandingpresentations I have heard! Soon, wewill be saying farewell to our seniors —over 1,325 of them — at graduationceremonies at all four high schools.Each ceremony fills me with emotion

and pride as I watch each of ourstudents say good-bye to their teachersand principals — many of whom haveknown them for their 13-yeareducational career — and take that firststep into their future.

I too am saying good-bye this month — Iam leaving at the end of four years asyour School District superintendent — tobecome the superintendent of LincolnPublic Schools in Lincoln, Nebraska. AsI leave to take the next step in myprofessional career, I look back withpride on the many accomplishments, dueto the combined effort of staff, students,parents, and the community, of the pastfour years. Thanks to all of you formaking those accomplishments possible.

I am also very proud to have worked inpartnership with so many of you whoare committed to providing the best forour students. The support provided byour Communities in Schools partners isoutstanding. Because of this program,we are able to provide Werlin Readingtutors to elementary school children, anasset development survey, and tobaccointervention programs. Through mymonthly meetings with leaders of ourfaith community, we have been able toidentify many other resources for ourchildren. I am very pleased thatmembers of the faith communityworked with us to provide apartnership workshop last Fall —andare planning to sponsor a second onenext October.

Yes, it has been a busy four years —and I have been proud to serve asyour superintendent. You are atremendous community … and youare committed to making a differencefor your children.

When I moved to Puyallup, I learnedthat the name “Puyallup” means“generous people.” As I lived andworked among you, I realized howvery true that name was. You are verysupportive of your community andmost importantly, your children. It hasbeen an honor to have been at thehelm of your public schools duringthe past few years. Together, we haveaccomplished much … and I thankyou for that!


A day in the life of an administrative intern

Administrative Intern Steve Leifsen visits with students (from left)Alexis Wherry and Alex Nugent during recess at Pope Elementary.

It’s not unusual to see AdministrativeIntern Steve Leifsen in a dress shirt and tiedribbling a basketball up and down thegym floor and practicing lay-ups beforethe start of school.

Watching from the sidelines and thentrying the skills themselves are a group ofsixth-grade girls who are among about 30who arrive at Pope Elementary School anhour early twice a week to learn how toshoot, pass, dribble, and play as a team.

The shirt and tie are symbols of Leifsen’snew role this year as an administrative internat Pope Elementary. His decision to keepcoaching basketball and fulfilling some ofhis other sixth-grade teaching duties on theone day a week he interns is representativeof the reason he says he started teaching inthe first place: “I enjoy the kids. The bestpart is seeing the kids in action, whether it’sin the classroom or on the court.”

In return, Leifsen routinely gets high fivesand waves from students who pass by himin the halls or rush up on the playground totell him about their new braces or how theydid on their latest math test.

Leifsen is one of 13 people assigned as anadministrative intern this year at PuyallupSchool District’s elementary and secondaryschools, special services, and career and

fifth-grade classroom to practice a teacherobservation. He videotaped Kraft’s socialstudies lesson on the Siege of Vicksburg,took notes, and then praised himimmediately following for his strengths. “Ilike seeing the excitement of a new teacherand the innovation they bring to thebuilding,” says Leifsen, who is in his seventhyear of teaching at Pope Elementary.

Leifsen came to Pope — the largestelementary school in Puyallup with 860students — immediately after finishingcollege at Pacific Lutheran University(PLU). He taught special educationstudents for the first five years beforebeing hired two years ago as a sixth-gradeteacher. “I like the energy they have,” hesays of the age. “You can joke around withthem a lot and they appreciate that. Theywant to be respected as adults, but they arestill obviously kids.”

He started his 18-month principal’saccreditation program at PLU inSeptember 2002, and the internship is hisfinal requirement before graduation thisAugust. In addition to interning at Popethis year, Leifsen has been a substituteadministrator at a junior high and several

elementary schools.

At 6-foot 6-inches tall, Leifsen — aformer high school basketball forward —is referred to by some students as “Mr.Tall Person,” or “Coach.” Sixth graderRachel Mohr says she likes playingbasketball with Leifsen because, “hemakes it fun, even if you mess up.” Mohrwas all smiles and had loud cheers fromher classmates after she beat Leifsen onemorning at a game of “bump,” wherestudents shoot baskets and are out of thegame once they miss.

On the playground before school or duringrecess, Leifsen is quick to joke with students,but just as quick to enforce the rules.Handling discipline issues is not a bad thing,says Leifsen, because it gives him anopportunity to help students learn about self-control and other life-long learning skills.

Principal Vince Pecchia says Leifsen “hasvery good people skills, not only withparents and staff, but with kids.”

As for Leifsen, he says the more he interns,“the more I feel I’ve made the rightdecision to pursue this as a career path.”

technology education. Their duties includeshadowing veteran administrators;attending school and District meetings onstudent achievement; observing andmentoring first-year teachers; handlingstudent discipline issues; being an extra setof eyes on the playground during recess orat lunch; monitoring the buses during dropoff and pick up; observing schoolprograms; helping plan school assemblies;meeting with parents; and attendingmonthly intern meetings.

Not long after basketball practice was overand school was under way on a recent day atPope, Leifsen gathered video equipment andheaded to first year teacher Mike Kraft’s

“The best part is seeing the kids inaction, whether it’s in the classroom oron the court.”

Steve Leifsen

District seeks old photos,memorabilia for 150thAnniversary eventsThe School District is seeking donationsof photos and memorabilia of Puyallupstudents and schools from 1854-2004 aspart of its 150th year Anniversarycelebration that begins in fall, 2004.Scrapbooks, yearbooks, report cards,other written materials, photos, andmomentos can be dropped off weekdaysover the summer at the School DistrictEducation Service Center, 302 SecondStreet SE in downtown Puyallup. Largerdonations must first be approved bycalling Steve Crowell, Director of theKarshner Museum, at (253) 841-8748.

Mike Schick, athletic coordinator atEdgemont Junior High School, has beenawarded the Athletic Director ServiceAward by the Washington SecondarySchool Athletic AdministratorsAssociation. Schick received the honor

in April during theassociation’s annualconference inSpokane. He alsoreceived a certificateof recognition at thePuyallup SchoolDistrict Board ofEducation meeting.

“Mike has been very,very active in keeping our junior highprogram running at a high level andestablishing a tradition of excellence,” saysTerry Cavender, District Athletic Director.

Schick has worked in the PuyallupSchool District for 27 years, 21 of whichhave been at Edgemont Junior High. Hehas represented the District in a varietyof ways, including serving on theWashington State Coaches AssociationExecutive Board and the WashingtonSecondary School AthleticAdministrators Association ExecutiveBoard. He is currently Acting Presidentof the Puyallup Extra CurricularAthletics and Activities Association.

Mike Schick wins AthleticDirector Service Award

Mike Schick


A frieze of daffodils and a pyramid of feathers will taketheir place in the Valley Arts United’s outdoor gallery,Arts Downtown. Rogers High artists Merritt Riley andSamie Stamaris were selected to have their art piecesshown in the 2004 Arts Downtown program.

Designs for the pieces were submitted in December, andthe District Appropriateness Committee and the ArtsDowntown Installation, Citing, and Durability sub-committee reviewed the designs for artistic merit anddurability.

Samie Stamaris, a senior at Rogers, created “FeathersEverywhere,” a 6-foot- tall pyramid-shaped structuredecorated with ceramic tiles. The structure featuresfeather and hand designs, as well as seasonal motifs.

“This project is inspired by my attempt to capture andconnect my dreams and subconscious thoughts with myown reality,” says Stamaris. Stamaris has beenrecognized previously for her art at the Dan Vesey AwardsExhibit, Puyallup Spring Fair Ceramics Competition, thePuyallup Fair Junior/Senior Art Show, and the RogersStudent Art Shows. She volunteers for Valley Arts Unitedand is a diversion program volunteer.

Cindy Tate, art teacher at Rogers High, has beenStamaris’ ceramics instructor for the past three years.“She is one of the most prolific young artists that I have

had during my teaching career,” says Tate. “She isinquisitive and her ability to follow through with ideasand new concepts makes her a leader in the art studio.”

“Spring Portrait,” the work of Rogers senior MerrittRiley, is a relief-style frieze depicting spring daffodilsmounted on a steel frame.

“While creating this piece, I thought about what daffodilsmean to me,” says Riley. “This piece represents who I amand what I do.” Riley serves as the Rogers Art ClubPresident and has led volunteer efforts for the HauntedHayride, Daffodil Parade, Santa Parade and the ArtClub’s Winter Assembly.

Riley has taken art classes from Rogers art teacher,Debbie Munson, for the past three years. “Merritt takespride in every assignment that she does and has shown agreat deal of personal growth in the last three years,” saysMunson. “Her involvement with Arts Downtown and theart program at Rogers sparked her interest in producingwork for this year’s gallery.”

Work represented in the Arts Downtown gallery isavailable for purchase. The pieces by Riley and Stamarisare on display outside of the School District offices.Riley’s art is in front of the Education Service Center at302 Second Street SE., and Stamaris’s work is across thestreet near the corner of Pioneer Avenue and SecondStreet SE.

Rogers High School students’ art joins2004 Arts Downtown outdoor gallery

Rogers High School student Merritt Riley withher “Spring Portrait” relief frieze.

Rogers High School student Samie Stamariswith her “Feathers Everywhere” structure.

SandraMcCord

The importance of accurately reporting a student’sactual residence on school enrollment forms isunderscored in a newly revised policy that givesprincipals permission to revoke a student’s enrollment ifthere is a misrepresentation of information.

The revised enrollment policy, which is particularlyapplicable this time of year as families enroll studentsfor the next school year, is one of a long list of policiesthat have been updated over the past several monthsfollowing extensive review by District staff, legalcounsel, and an outside research and development firm.Final approval rests with the District Board ofEducation.

Policies set the groundwork for the operation of theschools and the District. They also are an example ofthe School Board’s accountability to the community.

In the case of the enrollment policy, providing accuratestudent enrollment information isessential because the District relieson enrollment projections whenconsidering available classroomspace in schools and budgetary needssuch as staffing and transportation,says Sandra McCord, AssistantSuperintendent for K-12 Education.

This information is especially criticalat the District’s overcrowded schools,she says, which are closed to studentswho reside outside of the District. In some cases, thoseschools do not even have room to serve all of thestudents who live within the school attendanceboundaries.

Another policy revised this spring addresses the needfor every school to develop a Comprehensive SchoolImprovement Plan (CSIP) developed by the principaland staff and overseen by a planning team which meetsregularly to review progress. School improvementplanning is the process schools use to ensure that allstudents are achieving at high levels. Student learning isat the core of the School District’s mission, and indeveloping and implementing these plans, the policystates, “schools must work closely with parents,community members, and, where appropriate, students.”

The thorough process of reviewing all District policiesincludes staff, legal counsel, and the NorthwestRegional Educational Laboratory — a research anddevelopment firm in Portland, Oregon. The public canview the policies at the District Education ServiceCenter, 302 Second Street SE, Puyallup.

School Board updates policiesthat guide District operations


Puyallup School Board recogEmerald Ridge High School

Leslie Brooks Erica Carlson Anthony Ciocca Kathryn Cumby Cole Davis

Jenelle Delegard Brant Duncan Gregory Ferry Zachariah Franklin Raymond Gee

Katie Hargett Jordan Melin Angela Meyerhoff Young Min Darren Moss

T wentyoutstandingseniors from

each high school arerecognized eachyear by the PuyallupSchool Board.Students selectedare recognized fortheir leadershipqualities and arenominated for thishonor by teacherswithin the variousdepartments at eachschool.

Eliud Rodriguez Jr. Emily Ryan Bridget Schramm Carl Watts Hannah Wells


nizes outstanding graduatesPuyallup High School

GRADUATIONDATESJune 11, 2004

Walker High School graduationat the Sumner Performing Arts Center

7 pm

June 12, 2004Puyallup High School graduation

at the Western Washington Fairgrounds10 am

June 12, 2004Rogers High School graduation

at the Western Washington Fairgrounds2 pm

June 12, 2004Emerald Ridge High School graduationat the Western Washington Fairgrounds

6:30 pm

Michael Bean Pawandeep Chatha Max Denny Jessica Egeland Greta Erickson

Katie Fellows Tommy Haynes Danielle Henry Claire Herold Kelly Hobson

Graham Kirn Jessica Luppino DonRay McKnight Scott Palmer Jolynn Rawson

Shelby Robertson Justin Terry Dean Tomlinson Amy Williamson Amber Wyberanec


Rogers High School

T wentyoutstandingseniors from

each high schoolare recognizedeach year by thePuyallup SchoolBoard.

Andy Buffelen Jenna Elliott Craig Gocha Sarah Goho D.J. Heltsley

Dan Hope Paepaega Lei Lindsey Marburger Tristan Morris Maggie Nordberg

Kristine Palkowetz Lauren Parris Megan Rains Bailey Rasmussen Ryann Schwarm

Reece Spears Steven Storwick Nick Then David Wu Latasha Young

Outstanding graduates


Work begins this summer on school bond projects

WillSamuelson

This is the first in a series of articlesscheduled to appear in each issue ofConnections providing information on theprogress of the school bond.

Work begins this summer on severalschool renovation and technology projectsincluded in the $198.5 million schoolbond approved by voters in February.

With the first $85 million of bonds sold inMarch at a near historic low interest rate,the District is moving forward withpreparations for the opening of two newelementary schools and a junior highwithin the next four years. In April, theSchool Board approved a list ofarchitectural firms in rank order tocomplete projects included in the bondand agreed to proceed with an elementaryand junior high school boundary study.

One bond project that will be completedon South Hill this summer is a new roof atFerrucci Junior High, which has beenalmost impossible to maintain, says Will

School bond update

Samuelson, Construction Supervisor in theDistrict’s facilities department. The newroof will be single ply, or one layer, which

is easier to maintain andstays water tight longerthan the existing roofmade up of manylayers, says Samuelson.New insulation will alsobe replaced in areasthat have suffered waterdamage.

On North Hill,community members

will see a flurry of activity in and aroundNorthwood Elementary School, which willget a long-anticipated renovation of itselectrical system. Additional electricaloutlets and computer ports, for example,will be added to classrooms and selectedareas of the buildings. A new transformerwill be added on site, and new electricalwire will be run from the street to theschool building.Northwood students also will see new,

modern clocks on the wall when theyreturn in September, replacing others thatare so old repair parts are difficult to findor no longer available, says Samuelson.Additionally, an intercom and bell systemwill be installed with improved speakersthat will allow the bell to be heardthroughout the school and on theplayground. Finally, the school will get anew fire alarm system and an upgrade tothe security system.

Plans to upgrade the heating andventilating system at the Rogers HighSchool pool will move into the designstage this summer. Construction work isexpected to begin on that project overspring break, 2005.

In the area of technology, classroomphones are scheduled to be installed thissummer in every classroom at the 11schools that do not already have thistechnology. Work also will get under wayto upgrade computer servers and installhigh speed communication lines at schools

throughout the District to increase thecapacity to use technology.

A 12-member Bond Oversight Committeewill oversee the construction andrenovation projects. The committee is anadvisory to the School Board and willconsider things such as site selection,building design, project sequence,timeline, and budgets. It will also keepabreast of plans developed by theDistrict’s Technology SteeringCommittee, which will oversee thefunded technology projects.

The Bond Oversight Committee hasalready met several times this spring andquickly went to work discussing issuessuch as site selection for elementaryschool #22 and the timeline for openingthe two elementary schools. The existingplan calls for opening the first newelementary school, Elementary #22, inSeptember, 2007. Elementary #23 and theDistrict’s seventh junior high school arecurrently scheduled to open in fall, 2008.

Community member Alan Cunninghamhas been selected to co-chair the BondOversight Committee with Debra Aungst,Assistant Superintendent for ManagementServices. Other members include JeanneRynne, Capital Projects ProgramManager; Rudy Fyles, Director ofFacilities; and eight other communitymembers appointed by the School Board.

The nine citizens chose numbers out of ahat to determine who would serve one,two, or three year terms. They are: PeteAddison, Ben Heeb, and Kevin Kever,one-year terms; Eddie Rodriguez, AlanCunningham, and Pat Donovan, two-yearterms; and Joanne Gaspard, Ellen Sas, andDave Maxwell, three-year terms.

In other related news, Casey Cox, currentprincipal of Emerald Ridge High School,has accepted the position of CapitalProjects Educational Planner. GlennMalone, current principal of FirgroveElementary, has accepted the position ofCapital Projects Technology Planner.

Hunt second graders learn to make breadAn integral part of the curriculum forsecond graders in the Puyallup SchoolDistrict is social studies. Each yearduring the community helper unit of studyat Hunt Elementary, parents andcommunity members are invited to sharetheir jobs with second graders.

Julia Hauntz, a Puyallup High Schoolalumna, returned to Hunt for a secondconsecutive year this spring to shareculinary skills she has gained throughThe Art Institute of Seattle.

Students excitedly gathered aroundHauntz as she explained the breadmaking process. Each student then madean individual loaf of bread and ate itshortly after it was taken out of the oven.

As part of this curriculum, second gradersparticipate in learning activitiesintegrating each of the subject areas.They did measuring, predicting, reading,

Puyallup High School alumna JuliaHauntz teaches second graders at HuntElementary School how to make bread aspart of a social studies lesson.

learning about the day in the lifeof a chef, and writing about thebread making process using anorganized method of writingcalled, “Step Up to Writing.”

Assistant Principal VincentPecchia rolled up his sleeves andassisted students while askingquestions to broaden theirthinking.

Applying the skills students learnthrough making bread providesan opportunity for them todemonstrate their learning in afun, meaningful way, says LibbyBrouwer, second-grade teacherat Hunt Elementary.

Article and photo submitted byLibby Brouwer, TeacherHunt Elementary School


Spotlight on student achievement

Aylen Junior High teacher Amanda Peterson assists students whowork on homework after school in the Aylen Academy.

This is the first in a series of articlesscheduled to appear in each issue ofConnections spotlighting school programsthroughout the District that promotestudent achievement.

Doyle Cook knows the value of finishing hishomework. After failing reading in his firstsemester of junior high school, the seventhgrader signed up to get extra help with hisschoolwork and homework habits in a new,after school “Aylen Academy” program.

Cook is one of 55 seventh graders at AylenJunior High who stayed after school for twohours, three days a week since February toreceive extra help with class assignments.In just a few weeks, he went from an F tonearly a C in reading simply by completingand turning in his homework. “I can seenow how much homework helps me withmy grades,” he says.

Similar academic gains have been seenamong students participating in a 10-weekafter school “Learning Circles” programthis spring at Maplewood ElementarySchool. Open to Native American and

Students show gains in learning circles and Aylen AcademyAlaska Native students, the new programreinforced math skills through small groupinstruction and the use of manipulativessuch as counting cubes and colored woodblocks.

Programs such as the Aylen Academy andLearning Circles are two examples of howthe Puyallup School District is working toboost student achievement and helpstudents meet rigorous State and federalacademic performance standards.

The federal government has mandated thatschools across the nation leave no childbehind, close the achievement gap amongall learners, and show progress each yearin the number of students meetingstandards. Puyallup schools haveresponded by offering creative learningopportunities, both during and afterschool, especially in the core academicsubjects of reading, writing, and math.

Aylen Academy was so popular that nearlyevery seat in the library was taken and awaiting list created of students whowanted to participate but could not because they hadn’t qualified by failing

one or more classes last semester.

The program was open to 25 students whofailed one class and 30 students who failedmore than one class in their first semester.“We made personal phone calls to eachparent to invite their child and ask themwhy they think their child is failing,” saysAssistant Principal Terrie Garrison.

“We saw there was a huge need, and wewanted to turn their academic achievementaround,” says Garrison. “This has beenvery successful, and teachers say studentsare turning in assignments like neverbefore.” At a recent meeting of Districtprincipals, assistant principals, andbuilding learning specialists, Garrisonreported more than one-third of thestudents enrolled showed academic growthof a half a grade level or more.

During the two hour after school sessions,students received help with classassignments from two certified teachers, ateaching assistant, and parent, student, and

community volunteers. Other teachers andschool staff, including Principal MikePrato, also routinely dropped in to helptutor or catch up on students’ progress.Cookies, crackers, or other snacks wereserved, and students who finished theirwork early were allowed to move fromtables to comfy library couches to read.“We’ve tried to keep this from being apunitive thing,” says Garrison.

Since the State and federal government arewatching how the District meets academicneeds of specific groups of students, Aylencarefully tracked the ethnicity and otherdistinguishing student characteristics todetermine the number of minority groupsand special education students whobenefited from the program.

Being sensitive to the needs of differentcultures is critical to the success ofinterventions for some students. The nameLearning Circles, for example, was chosenfor an after school math and reading

continued on page 11

Maplewood Elementary School teacher Melissa Ryan helpsNorthwood Elementary student Alysha Todd, of the Mohawk Tribe,learn math skills during the District’s new Learning Circles program.


.

program because of the importance ofthe circle in the Native American culture.

“Seeing a circle is symbolic forcompleteness,” says ChristineBloomfield, the District’s IndianEducation Coordinator. Bloomfield’sprogram serves nearly 200 studentsthroughout the District.

“Nature is a circle, families are circles,and communities are circles,” saysBloomfield. “Native Americans dothings in small groups all the time, sohaving small group study like LearningCircles is culturally familiar. This is oneway of closing the achievement gapamong Native American students.”

The small group instruction in the circlesis also consistent with research that listsone of the nine characteristics of highperforming schools is offeringinstruction that is personalized, as wellas providing smaller learningenvironments that increase studentcontact with teachers.

During a recent Learning Circle atMaplewood Elementary, teacher MelissaRyan used plastic counting cubes toshow students how to round up or downto the nearest tenth. Ryan worked withseven students twice a week from 5 to 6pm. She used the cubes, for example, todemonstrate whether students needed tobring 80 or 90 cents to the store to buy apack of bubble gum.

“The important thing about educationreform is we are looking at how we aseducators can help every student to besuccessful and prepared,” says AssistantSuperintendent for K-12 Education,Sandra McCord. “We know somestudents need more time to learn things.”

McCord heads up a newly createdIntervention Design Team, a committeeof educators, which was formed inJanuary to examine academic needsthroughout the District and ways toprovide — in partnership with thecommunity — support for students.

Student achievementcontinued from page 10

Lisa Kusche is Puyallup’s Teacher of YearAs a social studies teacher for nearly 20years, Lisa Kusche knows her subjectmatter and provides strong leadership toher colleagues in the field. But what trulysets this educator apart, say staff andstudents, is that she also takes time toknow each of her students — theirinterests, their concerns, and their dreams— and dedicates countless hours to makelearning relevant to their lives.

Doing what’s best for students is a toppriority for Kusche, who has been selectedas this year’s Teacher of the Year in thePuyallup School District. The veteranteacher, who was recently hired as aSmaller Learning Communities GrantCoordinator at Emerald Ridge HighSchool, was honored last month with areception and standing ovation at theDistrict Board of Education meeting.

“Kids first — that’s the cool thing aboutworking with her,” says Emerald RidgeHigh Principal Casey Cox. “She truly is avisionary instructor, and her kindness andcompassion, combined with that visionaryapproach, makes her truly one of the finestteachers I’ve ever had an opportunity towork with.”

Kusche has spent her teaching career inthe Puyallup School District. She began in1984 at Kalles Junior High teaching UShistory, QUEST, and Washington Statehistory. She later taught Pacific Rimstudies and physical education, in additionto coaching basketball and track.

During those first 10 years as a teachershe and retired teacher Sandra Bueler,who she considers her mentor, co-authored a teacher’s curriculum guidecalled, “A Unit About Women: WriteWomen Back into History,” which wasdistributed throughout Washington andneighboring states by the Office ofSuperintendent of Public Instruction. Shetaught staff development workshopsbased on the unit and continues to shareit with other educators.

In 1994 she moved to Puyallup High School,where she taught advanced placement UShistory. There were a dozen students signedup for the class in her first year, andenrollment skyrocketed to 75 students after

the second year. Kusche also taught regularUS history and health and served as chair ofthe school’s health department.

“I remember watching Lisa when she wasthe health department coordinator …teachers from our building (and across ourDistrict) came to Lisa time and again forcopies of units, worksheets, ideas, etc. Herreputation for organization, clarity, andcreativity is unmatched,” says EmeraldRidge High math teacher Tracie Shepard.

When Emerald Ridge opened in 2000,Kusche moved there to teach advancedplacement American studies and alsoserved as social studies department chairbefore being hired this winter in a newlycreated job as Smaller LearningCommunities Grant Coordinator. She alsohelped establish the school’s first honorsociety, coordinates World Week, andworks with student teachers like CoreyEvans, who is now the school’s socialstudies department chair.

“She is an amazing teacher,” says Evans.“She works really well building relationshipswith the kids. Her expectations are high, andthe kids produce.”

In her new role as coordinator, Kuscheoversees an advisory program that pairs

one teacher with a group of about 22students in the same grade. The transitionfrom teacher to coordinator has beenchallenging, she says, but one that hasbeen made easier by the fact that sherequested overseeing one of the advisoriesfor a half hour, four days a week. Thisway, she says, she is able to be in theclassroom with students on a regular basisand model the program.

The former junior high and high schoolcoach also helps supervise basketballgames and keeps score at school trackmeets. “It’s important to me to be involvedand see kids in different areas of theirlife,” she says.

Family is also a priority for Kusche, andher children are often seen with her atschool functions. She and her husband,Michael, have three sons: Ryan, whoattends Ferrucci Junior High, and Keithand Matthew, who attend Shaw RoadElementary.

Emerald Ridge sophomore MichelleAuton, one of about six students who oftenjoin Kusche in her classroom for lunchand who attended the School Boardcelebration, says Kusche is “like ourschool mother. She’s our advisor, but sheis also our friend.”

Lisa Kusche receives Teacher of the Year plaque from School BoardPresident Greg Heath.


Even in the face of State cuts toeducation funding, the Puyallup SchoolDistrict is proposing a budget for 2004-05 that maintains student programs andbegins planning for costs associated withopening two elementary schools and ajunior high over the next four years.

“Puyallup schools face a challengingbudget year in 2004-05, but thanks tostrong community support and carefulfiscal management, we will notexperience the deep cuts many of oursister districts are being forced to make.This is basically a hold the line budget,”says Debra Aungst, AssistantSuperintendent for ManagementServices.

The first of two public hearings on thebudget is scheduled at 5 pm June 14 atthe District Board of Education meetingheld at Ballou Junior High School, 9916136th St. E., Puyallup. The public willhave a final opportunity to comment at a

hearing on August 9, which is the date theBoard is scheduled to adopt the budgetplan. The August meeting begins at 7 pmat Ballou Junior High.

The proposed budgetunveiled last monthreflects input fromcommunity and staffover the past severalmonths. Hearing fromstakeholders about whatthey want to seesafeguarded or cut fromthe budget is a criticalpart of the District’s budget development,says Aungst.

Aungst traveled throughout the Districtlast month to meet with staff and thecommunity to share the draft budget,provide some history about the District’sfinancial status, and listen to thoughts andconcerns. With more State reductionslikely in 2005-06, Aungst also asked

help students struggling in reading andmath.

With the passage of the $198.5 millionschool bond in February, spendingpatterns beginning in 2004-05 reflectpreparations for the opening of three newschools. A Bond Oversight Committee iscurrently reviewing a timeline thatsuggests opening elementary school #22in 2007 and elementary #23 and juniorhigh #7 in 2008. “We need to work nowto plan for the day those doors open,”says Aungst. It costs about $800,000 tostaff and open an elementary school, and$1.1 million to open a junior high.

Other budgeted expenses proposed fornext year include doing a boundary studyfor elementary and junior high schools,purchasing textbooks and instructionalmaterials for math and science curriculain secondary schools, adding half-time,

meeting participants to put in writingsuggested reductions that the Districtshould begin planning next year.

In building the 2004-05 budget, Aungstsays there have been several key areas offocus: student achievement, preparing toopen new schools, and addressing interimhousing and transportation needs until thenew schools open. The District — thetenth largest in the State — expects toenroll 248 more students next year, andprojections show that growth is expectedto continue throughout this decade. Manyof the new students are expected to enrollin schools on the south end of the District,where buildings are already overcrowded.

The District will get $766,000 more nextyear in I-728 school achievement funds,and a committee made up of staff andcommunity members recommends the bulkof that additional money be used for juniorhigh and high school interventionprograms, especially those designed to

The Daffodil PTA Council celebrated the38th Annual Golden Acorn and ZeigerAwards Banquet on April 16 at EmeraldRidge High School.

About 200 PTA members and supportersgathered to recognize the Daffodil PTACouncil’s three Districtwide Golden Acornwinners. Edgewood PTA President JanaWhite, Hilltop Elementary School PTAPresident Jill Starks, and BrouilletElementary School PTA member PatrickDonovan were recognized for their effortsin the school community. Forty-sevenindividuals were also recognized as GoldenAcorn winners from individual schools.

White is known as an all-around activevolunteer in the Edgemont schoolcommunity, Starks participated on thecommunity committee in support of the2004 school bond, and Donovan alsoparticipated in the school bond campaignefforts.

The Zeiger Award was established in 1994to honor Edward Zeiger for 42 years of

service to students in the District. It isgiven annually to two employees of theDistrict who emulate Zeiger’s ethic ofservice to the educational community.“The people who are selected for thisaward are involved in the communitybeyond just the school community,” saysZeiger. “While it is an award to recognizeindividuals, in a way it’s really a teamaward because anyone who is recognizedwith this award is usually part of asuccessful team and surrounded by peoplewho help them succeed.”

Zeiger was on hand to congratulate this year’shonorees. Kim Vesey, a kindergarten teacherat Maplewood Elementary, and Brian Fox,Zeiger Elementary Principal, were named the2004 Zeiger Award winners by the awardscommittee. Vesey leads severalextracurricular youth athletic programs inaddition to her involvement with theMaplewood community, while Fox holdsleadership positions in regional and statewideelementary principal leadership associations.Both are involved in a variety of schoolprograms at their respective schools.

Annual Golden Acorn and Zeiger winners announced

Edward Zeiger (right) congratulates this year’s Zeiger Award winnersBrian Fox, Principal at Zeiger Elementary, and Kim Vesey,kindergarten teacher at Maplewood Elementary.

Draft budget maintains programs and plans for new schools


Debra Aungst


assistant principals at Fruitland,Woodland, and Zeiger elementaryschools, and hiring administrativesupport at the District’s six junior highsto assist until junior high #7 opens.

Close attention is also given in theproposed budget to protecting staffinglevels and fulfilling contractualrequirements. Puyallup spends about 85cents of every dollar on its staff. A surveyof the 20 largest school districts in theState shows that Puyallup ranks second inthe amount of money spent on people.

Keeping the District’s operatingreserves, which are similar to anindividual’s savings account, at a levelnecessary to maintain a strong bondrating is also an important factor in thebudget process. In the past three years,the District has balanced its budget andsucceeded last year in its goal ofmaintaining 5 percent of the budget inreserves. “Good bond ratings save ourtaxpayers millions of dollars in interestcosts,” says Aungst.

One area of State revenue that has beeneliminated next year is money thatsupported lower class sizes inkindergarten through grade four. Even so,the District is working hard to keep classsizes as small as possible, says Aungst.

continued from page 12

Draft budget

They parallel parked with precision,steered clear of tennis balls lined on theroadway, and swiftly evacuated specialneeds students in a mock safety drill.

Nearly 75 bus drivers from Puyallup and16 other surrounding school districts spenta full day at Emerald Ridge High Schoollast month demonstrating safety skillsduring the annual “Bus Road-eo.”

This is the first time in more than 30 yearsof the competition that the PuyallupSchool District has hosted the event,which showcases teams of bus drivers,many of whom spent months outside ofwork sharpening their skills. Winners ofthe regional competition advance to aState competition next month in Pasco,and finalists there go on to compete atNationals.

“The amount of practice and skill thatgoes into an event like this is tremendous,”says Henry Hammond, Supervisor ofDistrict Transportation. Hammond joinedwith 200 co-workers, family, and friendswho gathered on the sidelines to watchand cheer as the buses rumbled throughthe school parking lot completing theassigned tasks.

This year was Puyallup Bus Driver

Michale Claudio’s third consecutive yearin the road-eo. “There is a sense ofcompetitiveness, and it’s a lot of fun,” saysClaudio, whose daily bus runs transportstudents from Stahl Junior High, EmeraldRidge High School, and Firgrove andPope elementaries. “It helps us to sharpenour skills and can make you a better

driver. Safety is number one forthe children.”

Claudio joined Shana Schmolke,Michele Schreiber, JenBeckman, Donnie McKay,Tammy Harrison, Wayne Barker,and Jean Smith on the regulareducation bus team. MichelleBall and Barb Purgatoriocompeted on the special needsbus team. Puyallup placed fifthoverall among the special needsteams and sixth overall amongregular education bus teams.Schreiber also took fifth placeoverall in individual regulareducation bus events.

Bus driver Stacy Cook, whochaired this year’s event, saysparticipants started at 8 am witha brief orientation to the coursethat was kept secret until the day

of the competition. Each entrant wassequestered from other drivers during thewritten test at the start of the day and wasthen escorted to a school bus to perform apre-trip inspection. The goal, says Cook,was for each driver to find six defects thata bus mechanic had purposely plantedsomewhere on the vehicle. These rangedfrom a missing handle on the rearemergency exit window to a windshieldwiper that was not properly secured.

Drivers were then scored on skills eventssuch as how well they turn corners, pull upalongside a curb, drive in a straight line,use side and rearview mirrors, and backinto a parking stall. One of the morechallenging events required drivers tosteer the bus, which has 24-inch tires, in astraight line between tennis balls set 27inches apart on the roadway withoutknocking over any of the balls. Thespecial needs bus category is a skills testas well, however drivers were also scoredon how well they managed studentbehavior.

“The drivers deserve our appreciation andrecognition for the hard work they do everyday transporting precious cargo,” says Cook.“Washington School bus drivers have one ofthe best safety records in the nation.”

School bus drivers demonstrate safety skills

Peninsula School District bus driver Candace White demonstratesan emergency evacuation from a special needs bus.

Puyallup School District bus drivers (fromleft) Barb Purgatorio, Michale Claudio,Michelle Ball, and Jen Beckman(kneeling).

Wave winnersEmily Ryan, a senior at Emerald RidgeHigh School, has been selected toreceive the Washington Award forVocational Excellence (WAVE) for the25th Legislative District.

The Washington State Legislatureestablished the WAVE program to honorstudents for outstanding achievement invocational-technical education. Ryanwas nominated by her Marketing andDECA teacher, Randy Walden.

Randy Lippold, technology teacher atRogers High School, was honored as theWAVE Teacher of the Year. He has beenteaching at Rogers since 1998.


Pam Kinkela enjoyed three months ofretirement before she found herself backon the high school scene two years agohelping students plan dances, organizefund raisers, and promote studentleadership and school spirit.

After 30 years in education, including 14years as activities coordinator at RogersHigh School, Kinkela says she couldn’twait to get back to working with students.

Kinkela was asked to return to the classroom— this time at Emerald Ridge High School— to teach English and coordinate thatschool’s student activities program. Evenafter being hired this year as the school’snew Building Learning Specialist, Kinkela— at her request — continues to advise thejunior and senior class officers withschoolwide activities. She helps at schooldances, fundraisers, and spirit activities, and

It seemed like a page right out of thehistory books as cowboys on pack horsesmade their way across the RiversideElementary School playfield, tipping theirhats to the cowpokes who gathered towatch them move westward past theportable classrooms to the hitching post atthe covered play shelter.

Even their own principal, dressed infringed chinks, a denim shirt, westernboots, and a brimmed hat, took thefourth and fifth graders back to the olddays when early settlers packed smalland dreamed big as they headed overthe mountains in search of newdiscoveries.

A traditional classroom lesson on thewestward movement came alive for thestudents this spring thanks to a visit fromthe Pierce County chapter of theBackcountry Horsemen of Washington.

Principal Valeria Smith, who is aneducation trainer in the serviceorganization, assisted the guests as theyshowed students how settlers packedhorses and survived in the wilderness.Smith is an education “Leave No Trace”trainer in the service organization and

arranged for some of the members toconnect America’s past to the futureduring visits to Riverside and seven otherDistrict schools.

Trail Maintenance Coordinator RonDowning captured students’ attention as heshowed how to tie a double diamond knotto secure belongings on a horse. “You

need a lash that will keep things in place,”he says. “If not, you might end upgathering your gear 300 feet down themountain.”

He and fellow Backcountry Horsemenmembers also showed students the modestbelongings that early settlers carried withthem on mules or pack horses compared tomany of the modern conveniences carriedtoday. Throughout the presentation,Downing and his fellow Backcountrymembers stressed the importance ofleaving no trace behind on visits to thewilderness to protect natural resources foryears to come.

“I thought it was really cool andinteresting, because we learned a lot abouthorse packing and how they fix the trails,”says 11-year-old Dalton Chamberlin. “Itreally helped me understand the history byseeing it in person.”

The principal, who owns seven gaitedmountain horses and has been riding sinceshe was young, says the presentation wasan opportunity for teachers to extend thelearning beyond the classroom. “It bringshistory alive, and that is what isimportant.”

often can be found meeting with studentleaders at lunch or after school.

Her belief in and dedication to studentactivities was recognized Statewide thisspring when she was inducted into theWashington Activity CoordinatorsAssociation (WACA) Hall of Fame. Sheis the fourth person from Washington toreceive this honor and is the only Hall ofFame member to still be working in aschool. WACA is the professionalorganization for activity coordinators,leadership teachers, ASB advisors, andothers involved in student activities.

Students and co-workers gave Kinkelathunderous applause and a standingovation when she was honored in April atthe District Board of Education meeting.Board President Greg Heath presented

Riverside students relive frontier days with lesson on pack horses

Ron Downing, with the Pierce County Chapter of BackcountryHorsemen, shares a lesson on pack horses with Riverside Elementarystudents. Principal Valeria Smith, Education Trainer with the group,is on the left.

Pam Kinkela enjoys a laugh with Emerald Ridge High students (fromleft) Kristina Stambaugh, Allison Clark, and Adrain Ball.

Pam Kinkela joins Hall of Fame



continued from page 14 As the rain pelted down and thunderrumbled in the distance, Dick Halleenwalked across the stadium field, stop-watch in hand, preparing to time highschool track runners at the finish line.

Halleen, Athletic Coordinator at Rogers HighSchool, kept smiling as he sloshed throughthe puddles to help set up hurdles and prepareother events for the annual high school trackmeet last month at Sparks Stadium.

Not much dampens the spirits of Halleen,who recently called the past 42 years ofwork in the Puyallup School District “thefinest 42 years of my life.”

Halleen was honored at the State level inApril when he was inducted into theWashington Secondary School AthleticAdministrators Association (WSAAA)Hall of Fame.

The District Board of Educationcongratulated the long-time athleticcoordinator for the prestigious honor byawarding him a certificate of recognition.District Athletic Director Terry Cavenderintroduced Halleen during the Board meetingand shared highlights from his more than fourdecades of contributions to athletics. “He hasbeen and continues to be an unbelievableasset to this District,” says Cavender. “Hisaward is very well deserved.”

Halleen started hiscareer in 1962 in theathletic program as anassistant boysbasketball coach andboys golf coach atPuyallup High School.He moved to RogersHigh School when itopened eight years later

and worked as a PE teacher and head coachfor boys basketball and golf. He was namedathletic coordinator in 1986 and retired in1998, only to be rehired in 2000 aftertraining other District athletic coordinatorsand helping launch the athletic program atEmerald Ridge High School.

In his role as athletic coordinator, Halleenoversees the Rogers High School athleticprogram. One of his major duties is toclear between 800 and 1,000 students each

Rogers Athletic Coordinator inducted into Hall of Fame

year who want to participate in athletics.The task involves checking student formsand records for up-to-date physicals,satisfactory grades, parent permissions,and emergency contacts.

Halleen also oversees the budgets for allof the 22 Rogers High athletic programs,monitors coaches and coaching standards,runs league and District contests held atRogers, and makes transportation, hotel,and eating arrangements for teams thatmust travel to tournaments.

Athletics gives students a chance to learnthings they can’t learn anywhere else, saysHalleen, who played basketball in highschool and junior college in Michigan, aswell as at Washington State University.“Life is competitive, and the athletic fieldis truly a place where you can learn to becompetitive and how to play fair and dothings correctly.”

Halleen’s goal for his coaches is to makeathletics a positive experience for everyone,including coaches, officials, and students.“Less than one-third of one percent of kidsinvolved in high school sports nationally getcollege athletic scholarships,” he says. “Ourgoal is not to devote time to college athletesor professional athletes or to win contests orleague titles. It is to do things right.”

When he hears others ask whatsportsmanship has to do with winning orlosing, he tells them, “It has everything to dowith winning or losing. When you buildcharacter in them, it’s something they willcarry with them the rest of their lives.”

Outside of school, Halleen enjoysspending time with his wife of 42 years,Nancy, who is retiring this month fromteaching piano out of their home. Theyhave three grown daughters, includingJayne Hofstrand, a math teacher atEmerald Ridge High School, and fourgrandchildren. He is also a hobby trainenthusiast and runs up to four Lionel trainsat a time in an expansive layout in thebasement of his home.

Halleen joins a long list of WSAAA Hallof Fame members, including two formerPuyallup educators: Ray Barnes, whowas inducted into the Hall of Fame in1991, and Pat Hoonan, who washonored in 1997.

He says there are many people responsiblefor him achieving the Hall of Famerecognition, as well as a long list of leagueand District awards he has received overthe years. “All of their contributions arewhy the Puyallup School District is held insuch high esteem athletically.”

Kinkela with a certificate of recognition.

“Student activities is all about life skills,”says Kinkela. “They learn to come up witha plan, work as a team, problem solve, andmanage a budget. These kids have such anenthusiasm for life, and I’m continuallyamazed with their intelligence,compassion, and commitment.”

Kinkela’s motto is simple: “Advisorsadvise, kids do.” She believes that studentactivities can make adifference in theatmosphere of a schoolwhen students feelconnected to theirlearning environment.“It’s not always theproduct that’s important,but the process they didto accomplish it,” shesays.

Junior class officer Allison Clark describesKinkela as “a great teacher. She is reallypositive and always encouraging.”

Over the past 32 years, Kinkela hasadvised activities including homecoming,awards nights and recognitions, studentcouncils and leadership classes, cannedfood drives, spring fests, and summerleadership camps.

Kinkela praises the many staff she hasworked with over the years for the successof these and other student activities. “Ihave worked with so many people whoput their hearts and souls into kids.” Shealso thanks her husband, Dave, whoworked 25 years as a teacher and headfootball coach at Rogers High beforeserving as District Athletic Director in theBethel School District until his retirement.They have a son, Tony, who is a senior atWashington State University (WSU), anda daughter, Katlin, a freshman at WSU.

Her induction into the Hall of Fame isthe second time in two years she hasreceived State recognition. In 2002, shewon Activities Coordinator of the Yearfrom the Washington Association ofStudent Councils and the Association ofWashington School Principals.

Dick Halleen

Pam Kinkela

Dick Halleen times runners at a Districtwide high school track meet.Pam Kinkela


Wildwood Elementary Schoolremembered former teacher Anne Nakaowith a celebration of music and art thathonored her Japanese heritage andthanked her family for an $8,000 gift thatthe school used to purchase more than 300library books in her memory.

“Her family wanted tocelebrate her byremembering you,”Principal RobynGoodwin told a gym fullof students, staff,retirees, and Nakao’sfriends and family.

Nakao, who retired in1999, spent the majorityof her 32-year teachingcareer at Wildwoodworking as a third-grade teacher andreading specialist. She also taught a shorttime at Waller Road Elementary. She diedof cancer two years ago.

Each of the more than 300 bookspurchased with the family donationcontains a bookplate on the inside cover

Wildwood students receive new books in teacher’s memorywith the former teacher’s photograph.A wood plaque with her photo also wasdisplayed during the ceremony and willhang in the school library as a permanentreminder of her contributions to childrenand her love of reading.

Nakao’s parents andfamily members,including some who flewin from California,attended the celebrationand were greeted at thefront of the school with awelcome sign and colorfulconstruction-paper carpwindsocks that swung inthe breeze from the eavesof the building. TheJapanese believe the carpis a symbol of strengthand determination.

“For the benefit of all students here, thevery best thing you can give our familyis to read these books and enjoy them,”says Nakao’s brother, Bill, who sharedhow growing up his sister was alwaysbusy reading. Her mother and father, Kazuko (Kay) and

Isami (Sam) Nakao, were visibly movedby the outpouring of thanks from thestudents and staff. “It was a big surprise,”says Kazuko. “Anne would be loving it.She was such a reader.”

Each of the 585 Wildwood students madea piece of Japanese artwork that hung onthe gym walls and lined entry halls. Paperfans, painted cherry blossom trees, carpdesigns that sparkled with glitter, andhaiku poetry greeted the family as theymade their way to the celebration in thegym and a reception immediatelyfollowing in the library.

Every class also designed a page that wasbound in a thank you scrapbook for thefamily. Entries included origami designs,poetry, construction-paper handprints, andsignatures and thank you notes fromstudents and staff.

Students also wrote wishes and dreamsfor the future on multicolored papertanabata strips, which are traditionallyhung on bamboo branches on Children’sDay, May 5, in Japan. Wildwood hung

these strips on maple tree branches in theparking lot and rhododendron bushes infront of the school. Fifth grader ZachHovde used different colors of crayon tosend his wish: “I wish everyone withcancer will be healed.”

The celebration included traditionalJapanese music, a play performed by JulieSchlumpf’s third graders, a song that theentire school learned in Japanese duringtheir music classes, and the presentation ofbooks, which lined the steps in front of thestage. Sixth graders in Mike Skillingstad’sclass assisted younger students by creatingthe play props and scenery.

The event was the culmination of twoyears of planning by the Wildwood staff,led by an organizing committeeincluding retired teacher NancyNickelson, and Wildwood ElementaryLibrarian Teri Litt, Teacher PeggyBiller, and Paraeducator Vicki Egeland.“We wanted to say thank you to thefamily in a big way for their generousgift, and we also wanted to honor Anneand her Japanese heritage of which shewas so very proud,” says Egeland.

Kazuko (seated on left) and Isami Nakao celebrate more than 300books that will join the Wildwood Elementary School library inmemory of their daughter and former teacher, Anne Nakao. Joiningthem are students (from left) Anna Decaterina, Austin Kelley, andGarrett Metz.

The community is invited to cometogether this fall to address howindividuals and groups can work togetherto support area youth.

The conference on Tuesday, October 26 atBethany Baptist Church in Puyallup willfocus on the results of recent surveys thatasked students in the Puyallup SchoolDistrict questions pertaining to a nationally-recognized list of 40 developmental assets.The Search Institute, a researchorganization in Minnesota, has identified 40concrete, positive experiences and qualitiesthat have an influence on young people’slives and choices, especially duringadolescent years.

About 1,800 students randomly selectedin grades six, eight, and 11 throughoutthe School District were surveyed in

Community is invited to Octoberconference to review assets survey

February, and the results of theircomments and those from communitysurveys will be released this summer.Organizers hope to attract a wide varietyof community members at the Octobermeeting, including parents, students,educators, service groups, senior citizens,and representatives from the faith andbusiness communities.

“The survey will help us to get a betterunderstanding of where our energies needto be spent in serving our youth,” saysChris Loftis, Executive Director ofCommunities in Schools of Puyallup(CSIP), which spearheaded the assetssurvey. CISP is a locally led, non-profitorganization that works to match theresources of the community with theneeds of students. For more information,contact Loftis at (253) 840-8917.

tony apostle is puyallup's new schools superintendent

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