Saying Thank You to Our Community Partners the Relationship Between Schools and Communities Has Been a for Teachers, They Free up More Time for Teaching and Learning

EAST VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT

Volume 33 • Number 2 express Summer 2018

Saying thank you to our community partners The relationship between schools and communities has been a For teachers, they free up more time for teaching and learning. In favorite topic of educational researchers since the beginning of short, our volunteers are a valued and essential part of our team. time. While virtually all agree close relationships are important While a full accounting of our partners’ contributions would to student success, views vary on the essential ingredients. consume more pages than are possible here, this newsletter Is the foundation built on funding? Curriculum? Tradition? provides a glimpse into a much larger story. In this issue, we Expectations? Sports? In most districts, to one degree or highlight just a few of our diverse community partners and the another, the answer might be yes to all. equally diverse ways they assist our students. In East Valley, by contrast, the answer goes much deeper. In This is not a one-time salute. Future issues of this newsletter will this district, perhaps more than most, school and community continue to feature more of the great people and organizations ties are inexorably built on personal relationships – on the self- contributing to the richness, unity, culture and success of the less dedication of caring, committed people who roll up their East Valley School District. sleeves and get involved in their neighborhood schools. To all, we offer our heartfelt thanks. They ask for nothing in return. They seek no recognition. They contribute because they believe in kids and providing them learning opportunities that will contribute to their lifetime success. While the importance of volunteers is not often discussed in the news, the fact of the matter is that their value in schools is enormous. It cannot be overstated. In fact, this entire newsletter is devoted to our East Valley community partners – to thank them for the many ways they help our students, in large ways and small, every day of the year. They do so in myriad venues … donating school supplies, food, clothing and other essentials required for student success. They also raise school spirit through special activities and prize give- aways that encourage participation and ultimately bolster our sense of community. But perhaps most importantly, our benefactors give of them- Josh Johnson, right, is a mentor at Trentwood Elementary School. Every Thursday, he joins 2nd grader Hudson Hume selves through generous contributions of time and effort. For for lunch and a quick game of Slamwich. students, our volunteers tutor, mentor and inspire.

Continuous Curriculum School (CCS) Two of CCS’ most visible partnerships are for students, using animal hearts to show the with the American Heart Association (AHA) parts and functions of a heart. In the most and Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center. recent edition, the hospital allowed its team For more than a quarter-century, CCS has to spend two full days with CCS students. hosted an AHA community fund-raiser, The partner organizations also provide Jump Rope for Heart. Since its inception, the school assorted educational resources Nadia Nguyen of Providence, left, CCS students have raised more than including messages and posters regarding and Lisa Vesciano from AHA, center, $93,000; $8,787 of that coming in 2018. heart health, nutrition, exercise and com- have been difference-makers at CCS, munity service projects. From the bottom says Principal Steve Pointer, right. Concurrent with this annual event, physicians from Providence have set up a teaching lab of our hearts, we thank them. EAST VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT East Farms STEAM express Magnet School Randall and Hurley, a retirement plan Volume 33, Number 2 consulting company, sponsors the East Summer 2018 Farms Friday Food Program. Twice each East Valley School District No. 361 month, company staffers deliver two weeks’ 3830 N. Sullivan, Building 1 worth of Bite 2 Go food bags distributed Spokane Valley, WA 99216 to 30 students. The bags are discreetly (509) 924-1830 • www.evsd.org distributed every Friday to ensure that the students have weekend meals. This newsletter is published during the academic year by the East Valley Donations to the program by Randall School District Board of Directors and Hurley employees are matched by and the superintendent. Comments, the company. suggestions or questions may be Throughout the year, the firm also directed to the superintendent. supplies students with shoes, hats Randall and Hurley’s Christina Rolfe, Board of Directors and gloves in winter, treats during center, receives a formal thank you Todd Weger conference week, frozen fruit snacks from East Farms Counselor Savannah District 1 during the annual Color Run and Maxwell and Principal Tammy Fuller. Laura Gates contributions to the hygiene drive and District 2 summer snacks drive. by the staff members who are regularly Justin Voelker For Randall and Hurley, helping out on site, working with students in the 4th District 3 isn’t limited to just writing checks. It’s grade reading buddies program. Thank Fred Helms District 4 also about donating time, as exemplified you, Randall and Hurley. Mike Novakovich District 5 Superintendent Otis Orchards Elementary Kelly Shea St. Joseph’s Catholic Church of Otis Orchards graciously funds the Bite 2 Go Upcoming Board Meetings backpack program, providing weekend July 24, 2018 meals for 24 of the most needy families. August 28, 2018 Over the holidays, the church also September 25, 2018 made dreams come true by providing All at 6 p.m. Christmas presents for 26 students. Administration Building Beyond these formal contributions, the church also makes significant, ongoing District Calendar donations including notebooks, pencils, Otis Orchards counselor Kevin Kirk- First day of school erasers and more. patrick, center, flanked by St. Joseph’s (except Kindergarten) “Our partnership with St. Joseph’s has August 29, 2018 Church members Mary Henry Cameron truly been a blessing for all of us at Otis and Jim Baumker. Labor Day (no school) Orchards,” says Principal Suzanne Savall. Monday, September 3, 2018 First day of Kindergarten Tuesday, September 4, 2018 Veterans Day (no school) Monday, November 12, 2018

The contents of a Bite 2 Go pack, like Back to School Fair the one shown here, are acquired The district’s 3rd annual Back to School and assembled by Spokane’s Second Harvest, a community organization Fair is scheduled at East Valley Middle distributing food to 250 neighbor- School on Saturday, August 25, 2018 hood food banks and meal centers. between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. The event will feature fun, friends and school supplies galore. See you there. East Valley High School East Valley Middle School Brothers Justin and Josh Fabio – EVHS classes of 2000 and For several years, Foothills Community Church has assisted 2002, respectively – own and operate a local Farmers Insurance students, staff and families on many levels. Support has agency. While nearly 20 years separate them from school, time included sponsorship of major events such as parent/teacher has not diminished their love of and commitment to East Valley. conferences, plus generous and routine donations of food, Over the last two years, they have partnered with EVHS in a pair clothing, school supplies, volunteer time, mentoring and even of meaningful ways. First, they began by contributing to a bank of entertainment at school functions. rewards for students recognized for positive behaviors in school. Leading the parade of volunteers are Pastor Steve Stager and In the 2017-18 school year, the brothers approached the church members Susie Morgan and Brig Jackman. Morgan school administration with another idea to positively affect also serves as the school’s volunteer mentor coordinator, lining school spirit by stimulating attendance at home football up adults to work with students needing an academic lift or games. At each home game during the 2017 season, the perhaps seeking a wise adult Fabio Farmers Insurance to simply listen, advise and Agency sponsored a free provide encouragement. halftime drawing for a Morgan is a generous contribu- Seattle Seahawks jersey. tor of her own time, regularly Their willingness to con- spending two days a week at the tribute to school activities school. Language arts teacher is much appreciated by the Tim Busse calls her an invalu- EVHS staff, students and, able presence in his classroom. of course, the lucky winners Of the entire Foothills team, Susie Morgan and teacher of Seahawk jerseys. School Fans of the Knights and the “They have incredible servants’ Seahawks: EVHS Assistant Tim Busse form a dynamic spirit has been raised by hearts,” says EVMS interim Principal Alec Vermaire with duo at EVMS. the generous spirit of the Josh and Justin Fabio. Principal Kathy Williams. Fabio Brothers. Trent Elementary Trentwood Elementary Mirabeau Chapel contributes to Trent Elementary in many Valley Real Life Church partners with Trentwood, providing 10-16 ways, beginning with the Bite 2 Go program feeding more regular volunteers who pitch in across a wide spectrum of need. than 140 students on a weekly basis. In addition, Groups and Volunteer efforts can be seen in art projects, reading buddies, Partnerships Pastor Scott Langhans is a regular volunteer in the library help, recess/lunch buddies, mentors and many other classroom who encourages others to volunteer as well. activities. The church also is a Bite 2 Go sponsor. Other contributions include Christmas presents for every stu- The mentoring program is carried out in conjunction with dent in the school; sponsorships of school events, summer camp Communities in Schools of Spokane County, which operates a enrollments and the districtwide Back to School Fair. Church PrimeTime Mentoring. PrimeTime mentors spend one hour a week members also fulfill special requests (e.g., clothing) for students with students, joining them for lunch, games and other activities. with emergency needs. “We have a tremendous partnership with Valley Real Life Church Mirabeau, a next-door neighbor of Trent Elementary the last 16 that has truly matched adult strengths and talents with student years, is serious about its commitment to service. The school is needs,” says Principal Barbara Cruse. “Together, we have created grateful to Mirabeau for extending its generosity so close to home. an atmosphere that is positive for both the volunteers and students.”

Trent Boosters include Scott Langhans, Sue Walker and Difference-makers at Trentwood include volunteers Cindy Sherri Wagemann, all from Mirabeau Chapel; and Greta Pool, Vanhoff, Linda Lentz, Wendy Chavez and Josh Johnson. a retired Trent employee who still volunteers. East Valley School District No. 361 3830 N. Sullivan, Building 1 Non-Profit Org. Spokane Valley, Washington 99216-1601 U.S. Postage PAID Spokane, WA ECRWSS Permit No. 739 Postal Customer

Saluting all of East Valley’s community partners:

811 Dig Liberty Lake Rotary Spokane Valley Fire Department Albertsons Lions Club Spokane Valley Girls Fast Pitch Allstate Insurance, Liberty Lake Lynn Page Association American Heart Association McDonalds Spokane Valley Sunshine Rotary Audubon Society Mirabeau Chapel St. Joseph’s Catholic Church Avista Multicare Valley Hospital STCU BECU Native Project Timberline Truss Big Brothers/Big Sisters Newman Lake Grange Turnbull Wildlife Refuge Children’s Home Society Newman Lake Ladies Auxiliary U-District City and County Library Districts Northern Quest Casino US Federal Courthouse City of Spokane Solid Waste Disposal Numerica Valley Real Life Church Communities in Schools Origin Forensics Valley Rotary Daybreak Pizza Pipeline Vision Marketing EV Coalition PrimeTime Mentoring Wagstaff, Inc. Fabio Brothers, Farmers Insurance Providence Sacred Heart Medical Walgreens Foothills Community Church Center Wal-Mart Frontier Behavioral Health Randall and Hurley Washington Association for Language Teaching Golden State Foods Rite-Aid Washington Poison Control Greater Spokane Substance Abuse Rivercity Pizza Council Roundtable Pizza Washington Trust Bank Grocery Outlet Save the Spiders Foundation Water Resource Center Hagan Foundation SCOPE Washington Drug Free Youth Helping Hands Second Harvest Food Bank Wildlife Department of Washington Inland Empire Paper Spokane Area Rocket Club WinCo Inspirus Credit Union Spokane Chiefs YMCA Irv’s Jewelry, Rocks and Gifts Spokane County Health District Yokes Itron Spokane County Joint Aquifer Jimmy Johns Spokane Gymnastics JoAnne’s Fabric & Craft Stores Spokane Indians Kurt Krauth-Windermere Spokane Indians Youth Baseball Larson Family Spokane Realtor Leo’s Photography Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency