Puyallup School District POSTAL CUSTOMER NON-PROFIT ORG. 302 Second Street SE U.S. POSTAGE PAID P. O. Box 370 D.N.B. CO. IN THIS ISSUE ECRWSS Puyallup, WA 98371 Schools' food drive .................2 Poster contest ..........................3 Volunteer training ...............4 Marine science class ............7 Math exemplars ..................8 CONNECTIONS Red Ribbon Day ................12 Volume 6:3 Published for Puyallup School District's Community Partners for a Quality Future December 2000 Students learn new skills in aquatic lab rom the moment water began flowing into tanks in includes tanks for breeding and harvesting fish, as well as a the aquatic education lab at Emerald Ridge High simulated river and wetlands system. FSchool, students quickly moved beyond their textbook pages to tackle their first scientific challenge: The 4,000-square-foot lab features eight 435-gallon poly how to lower levels of copper and maintain a healthy pH tanks, which will encourage growth and production of balance for salmon, trout, and other fish to survive. young fish. The four warm tanks will house fish such as bass and catfish, and the four cold tanks will feature “We found out our water is fed from copper pipes,” says trout, salmon, and steelhead. There are also twelve 185- Gary Hibbs, marine resources and aquatic education gallon acrylic tanks for breeding and experimentation. teacher. “The kids are now Students can observe courting behavior, how fish are learning how to solve this problem made aware of predators, how they react to light, and and be able to get to the fun part other behavioral science, says Hibbs. of adding fish to the tanks.” A simulated river system will provide an environment for Wearing protective goggles, junior students to track the growth of trout and different Shaun Pelland filled a test tube grasses, and a simulated wetlands system will house duck with water from one of the lab’s weed, macro-invertebrates such as sea urchins and sea 12 acrylic tanks, then added a few cucumbers, and cattails. Experimental trays in the corner drops of chemicals. As he held of the lab allow students to study snails and the metamor- Gary Hibbs the tube high above his head, he phosis of pollywogs. took his reading and shook his head. The pH levels were still too Emerald Ridge High School junior Monique Other long-range plans include having at least one high to support marine life. Alicea inserts a chemical into her test tube marine touch tank set up somewhere within the school so of water to test for water hardness. students can feel sea anemones, starfish, and sea urchins. Getting the right mixture of chemicals to stabilize the water will be an ongoing challenge at the aquatic lab, which Students in Hibbs’ marine resources class handle all routine For more information on Emerald Ridge High School's new is the largest high school lab of its type in Washington. care and management of the aquaculture system, which aquatic lab and marine science program, see page 7. NEWS SHORTS Karshner Museum announces Family Days Schoolhouse Tour to visit Ferrucci and Pope Family Day at Karshner Museum offers a Hours are from 10 am to 2 pm and admission The February 14 Schoolhouse Tour in Puyallup. Following the program, variety of activities and is $1 per person or $4 per family. Topics for will feature a tour of Ferrucci Junior buses depart for the tour and will information. With a upcoming Family Days include Story Behind High and Pope Elementary. return at 1:30 pm. Lunch is served; different theme each the Artifacts on January 6, Oral History cost is $3. month, families can Month on February 3, Picture Writers on The tour begins with a short program create a craft, hear a March 3, Sing Me a Story on April 7, and at 9:30 am at the district’s Education For reservations or more information, story and talk to a pro on a particular subject. Bentley’s Tale on May 7. Service Center, 302 Second Street SE call 841-8703. 2 December 2000 http://www.puyallup.k12.wa.us Celebrating Children PUYALLUP SCHOOL DISTRICT Superintendent's Message Board of Directors Karen Pickett President Children are our greatest resource! 841-1080 Mindy Thompson Theodore Roosevelt once said, “Far and Within our classrooms, I found that our Vice President away the best prize that life has to offer is the teachers and support staff are deeply 840-4438 chance to work hard at work worth doing.” committed to providing their students with That is how I would describe our work in the the best. Our staff works hard at improving Kathy Afflerbaugh Puyallup School District on behalf of the student learning, providing appropriate Legislative Representative children of this community. It is my honor 840-1185 learning environments, creating cultural and pleasure to be part of that work. awareness and inclusiveness, and being Gary Lent certain that their students—who deserve the 848-1116 Children are our greatest resource—and Susan Gourley best—receive the best. our most accurate record. Not only do Terry Asbjornsen they carry within them the shape of Superintendent Within this issue of Connections, you will 845-3760 tomorrow; they also bear witness to our read of the work of many of these Susan Gourleyy, Superintendent values and choices. They are the living dedicated staff members. For example, a 841-8769 messages we send to a time we won’t be Here are a few examples of the kinds of story describing Kelly Shepherd and Chris around to see. It is our challenge and partnerships I have discovered over the past Humphreys and their work with the new District Mission responsibility to nurture them in infancy, few months. I learned of the work of math exemplars can be found on page In partnership with our families and protect and train them in childhood, guide members of Puyallup’s First Presbyterian eight. A couple pages later, we featured community, we provide all students the them through adolescence and help them Church and others who assist our students the work of Puyallup High School teacher best educational opportunities necessary to reach their full potential grow into responsible adults and future with the Puyallup Giftmaker project. I met Bob Dore and his students who and become responsible, productive community leaders. with senior ambassadors George Duncan, manufactured a part of the Pierce County citizens of good character. Edna Webster, and Mimi Shoup who lead Fantasy Lights display. And many other When I joined the district last July, one of tours through our buildings to help others stories just like these can be found in Connections Editorial Policy my hopes was that all of us—staff, parents Connections is published periodically by learn firsthand of the work of our students classrooms and schools throughout the the Puyallup School District as part of a and community members—would join and staff. I visited Firgrove and Wildwood district—dedicated teachers and staff communications link between the district together as partners to accept this classrooms where community volunteers members who are doing their best to and the community. Its intent and purpose challenge and fulfill this responsibility. tutor children in reading through their prepare students for successful futures. is to provide the Board and district staff a venue to inform community members Since I arrived, I’ve met with parent HOSTS programs. I learned that our about programs, goals, and activities of groups, civic leaders, faith community secondary schools recently began volunteer As we approach the year 2001, the doors of public education in the Puyallup School leaders, and business and community programs where community members opportunity stand wide. Together, we must District. Please direct questions or comments to Karen Hansen, Administra- leaders to talk about ways we can come regularly engage in activities with junior equip and support our children to walk tive Assistant to the Superintendent, PO together to meet the diverse needs of our and senior high school students. And the through them. I am pleased and grateful to Box 370, Puyallup WA 98371 or telephone students. What I’ve been gratified to find list goes on—throughout the district, be a member of such a caring community— (253) 841-8703 or e-mail is that our community cares deeply about thousands of other parents and community [email protected]. Re- one which is willing to “work hard at work sponses, as appropriate, will be provided our children and is willing to work volunteers working hard to help our worth doing” and values its children as its directly to those who contact this office. together to meet their needs. children become the best they can be. greatest and most precious resource. Coordinator: Karen Hansen Editor: Teresa Josten Technical Assistance: Carrington, Ink! Students serve community with food drive Contributing Writers: Susan Gifford, Penny Lent, and Chris Stewart Students at seven schools recently collected claimed leadership teacher and advisor Russ more than a busload of food items to donate Picha. “In fact, it was so successful that we Puyallup School District No. 3 complies with to local food banks. Students at Aylen had to get a second bus!” Picha and his all federal rules and regulations and does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, Junior High’s leadership class invited students counted more than 28,500 items of color, marital status, age, national origin, students at Karshner, Maplewood, River- food which were delivered to Bob Cline at religion or disability. This holds true for all side, Fruitland, Waller Road, and All Saints the Elks’ Club where he will distribute them students who are interested in participating in educational programs and/or Elementary schools to join forces and “Help to local food banks.