January 2015 Pride on the Rise Tonasket School District 1 Pride on the Rise Tonasket Schools

www.tonasket.wednet.edu JANUARY 2015

Community Support for Education is High Priority By Paul Turner, Superintendent

Looking at the future of the Tonasket School District tugs on some inner strings for me personally. Six years ago I moved to Tonasket with my wife and son wanting to make a difference in the educational opportunities available to the students. Enhancing programs while addressing the districts basic needs during a time of financial uncertainty was the biggest challenge that needed to be addressed. Collaboratively, working with administrators, staff and community we met the challenge and instituted a more robust program district wide. Last year, patrons supported the need to increase the school day. Music, art and PE are now a major educational component for every elementary student. Elementary Our kindergarten preparing for the holiday music performance, what a show it was! students are also able to advance their knowledge in the sciences priority. I applaud you for that. Tonasket is gym expansion will eliminate potential with Lego robotics and the school garden. known as a top K-12 educational institution liability issues with the present bleacher Likewise, new enrichment opportunities and will continue to lead the way in education. situation. The bottom line, educating have been instituted in both middle and high As we move forward we need to keep it that children in a safe and secure environment is way. paramount. In February, you will be asked to support After the bond, you will again be asked Music, Art and PE are now a a bond to address safety and security, to participate in an educational decision. As major educational component accessibility, and space concerns. Having for every elementary student. sought input from the community, the facilities committee addressed the concerns Every member of this brought forth. Safety and security were a community should be proud of school. The vocational program was also common theme throughout the proposed your school district. Support for expanded to allow flexibility with high school construction plan. Access to outdoor athletic education has and continues to course scheduling and cross crediting. events will be safer for disabled and elderly be a high priority. Every member of this community should patrons. Door lock and camera systems will be proud of your school district. Support for be installed throughout the campus for better you may or may not know, I will be leaving education has and continues to be a high monitoring and access control. Additional at the end of this year. There will be new Ag shop space adventures for the Turner family. It has been will allow a blessing to serve this community the past students to use the six years as well as partnering with the high

equipment safely. quality staff who work with your children on Residential Customer Residential Alternative a daily basis.

l e a r n i n g

Permit Number 241 Number Permit Over the next few months, I encourage ECRWSS

Wenatchee, WA Wenatchee, programs will you to really consider the opportunities you

PAID have a functional have to support the education of Tonasket US Postage US educational space students - supporting the bond and hiring a

Non-Profit for learning. The new superintendent. middle school January 2015 2 Tonasket School District Pr Pride on the Rise ROUND OF APPLAUSE School hero Completely committed to famillies Employee steps-up to help On November 19, 2014 some men visited Tonasket Elementary School Martha Wisdom is completely I would like to send out “A to promote the local Cub Scouts to committed to our families. She is one of BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE’ to an our elementary students. They came the hardest working people I’ve ever met. amazing employee in the transportation during lunchtime and visited with our Her compassion department. Our supervisor needed to students telling them about being a cub and genuine have open heart surgery late last summer, love for those we had a new mechanic just starting scout. John Neal, District Executive of and many new regulations regarding our the Wenatchee area was one of those around her is unparalleled. department. This is a very important and gentlemen present. extremely busy time of the year. John sat down at a table of first Thank you Martha. It’s an Christina Silverthorn our graders to visit about what it is all driver trainer (of about to be a cub scout. The young honor to work which is a new boy sitting next to him tapped him on with you. job position for the shoulder to get his attention. The Christina) and boy was holding his hands around his Staphanie also a bus driver throat. John recognized the universal Vassar with her own sign for choking and could see that Martha Wisdom Technology route, president the young boy was in distress. He Secretary of our union, a asked him if he was okay. When the mother, a parent boy couldn’t respond and there was support to our no sound of coughing or breathing he school etc. immediately did the Heimlich maneuver Wonderful performance stepped up and and dislodged the round peppermint took over for our candy that was blocking his airway. Our Christina Silverthorn supervisor in his student was then able to start breathing. A round absence. I am writing to declare that John of applause to Christina handled all new Neal was our school hero that day. In Gail Morris bus students’ arrival to the district, all our busy lunchroom he was willing for organizing bus routes which included changes, to jump in and help during a time of a wonderful scheduling of extra trip transportation urgency to assist our young student. We Christmas for our students, parents and their are truly thankful for John Neal. performance for concerns, drivers and their needs, did our students and our seven-hour training class to get us Barb Warfield community! legally prepared to start our year, did School Nurse the state required training class that Lara Owsley we are required to have, and I could Gail Morris Elementary go on and on. Christina did this with Teacher professionalism, a smile on her face, and was always there and had a minute for Values students us to help and support our needs as bus drivers. Christina you are amazing! Anita Asmussen unswervingly GREAT JOB! Thank You. goes above and beyond in every Elementary school food drive activity or production she is involved A round of applause for our Pat Stevens in. Homecoming and the Veteran’s Day elementary students for sharing many School Bus Driver assembly are only small examples. She food items in our canned food drive values our students with the highest in November. regard, and And a round of always has. She applause for Katie Veteran’s Day dancers was the catalyst Abrahamson for my husband’s and the ASB Thank you the dancers from LFW teaching elementary School of Dance who performed at the career. Thank representatives High School Veteran’s Day assembly and you Anita for for organizing performed to “Sousa” played by our High your consistent the drive and School band. It was a great tribute to our dedication and providing food Veteran’s. Dancers - Aspen Bosco, Janelle care! baskets to so Catone, Naomi Comstock, Megan Dykes, many local Emma Halpin, Rosemary Hickman, Daisy Staphanie Katie Abrahamson families. Ibarra, Haley Montowski and Morgan Anita Asmussen Vassar Tyus. Technology Lara Owsley Bobbi Catone Secretary Elementary Teacher Payroll/Personnel Clerk January 2015 Pride on the Rise Tonasket School District 3

Kindergarten Entry Greetings, Tiger Cub Families! Requirements ByJeremy Clark, Elementary School Principal All kindergarten students must be As I write this winter Every time I see our Thank you for providing age 5 by August 31 of the year they edition I am filled with the student’s singing, creating funding for this opportunity enter kindergarten. lingering joy and success of art, working hard in PE for our students! If your child turns 5 after this our holiday music program. or spending time with our This year Tonasket date and is significantly advanced Our students shinned and counselor, I am reminded School District will again as indicated in assessment data and our gym was filled to that without your support of be on the ballots as we run a you are considering having your capacity with proud parents, the levy last year this would bond to add the extra space child entered early into kindergarten, parents must meet with the building family and community. not be possible. that our students need. principal by May 1 prior to entry into kindergarten. These exceptions are not typical Did you know that here at the elementary we: and we encourage all families to follow the state kindergarten entry age • Have staff office space in former closets expectation. • Created a classroom in a hallway • Reduced our pre-school numbers to fit in the space we had left New Superintendent Search • Serve some students at the MS/HS because there was no room for their program The Tonasket School Board • Continue to have large numbers in grades 4th and 5th because of no room to is starting the process for the new superintendent search and is inviting the public to attend a meeting These are just some of the many to model it in school and in life. So far we with Doug Asbjornsen, the search difficulties that our staff and I work around have focused on Respect, Responsibility consultant, on Wednesday, January 21: while trying to guarantee the growth and and Honesty and Caring. Thank you again • 6:00 pm in the ES cafeteria (Bilingual); achievement of every student. to our parents and community for support • 7:30 pm in the District Office (English). As with last year’s levy dollars, you of your elementary school. will see a return on this investment that I continue to be impressed with At the meeting, Mr. Asbjornsen is difficult to measure other than saying the dedicated staff and families in this will explain the search process and “priceless”. community. TES is truly a school where will be seeking input from community Our students, families and community students are supported and encouraged members. It will be interesting to hear opportunity will come back year after year to grow academically, socially and how the process works and will be a helping us to continue to meet the needs emotionally. I am fortunate to be a part of good opportunity to be a part of it. of all students. I appreciate the support of this high-quality learning community, and I For anyone who can’t attend the everyone and anxiously look forward to the speak on behalf of the entire staff when I meetings, but would still like to give new year. Come by anytime for a tour of our say we are excited to have each of you as input, an online questionnaire will be space and the great programs we have. part of our school community. It takes all available on January 21 for few days. We are continuing this year with our of us to help each and every child reach The questionnaire will be in both “Tiger Traits” program. You will notice his/her potential, and we look forward to English and Spanish. Please go to the signs around town in business windows sharing in your child’s learning experiences district’s website at: www.tonasket. that say “Tiger Traits” on them. Your child throughout the year. wednet.edu. can stop in and share the month’s character Working together we will continue trait with the business and what they have to have a rewarding year filled with learned about it for a special reward. Each learning, lifelong relationships, and the PRIDE ON THE RISE morning after the pledge we promote the joys of success and accomplishment. I look Published by the month’s trait and teach our students how forward to seeing each of you in our school Tonasket School District 35 DO Hwy 20 East and to working Tonasket, WA 98855 with you and (509) 486-2126 your children www.tonasket.wednet.edu throughout the B. Paul Turner, Superintendent year. Editor/Layout: Janet Glanzer The Tonasket School District Newsletter is mailed to the people of the district in an effort to improve communication between the school, parents, and community. Board of Directors: Jerry Asmussen, Lloyd Caton, Ernesto Cerrillo, Ty Olson, and Catherine Stangland Tonasket School District complies with all state and federal rules and regulations and does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, families with children, sex, mari- This is our hall- tal status, sexual orientation, age, or the pres- ence of any sensory, mental or physical disabil- way converted ity or the use of a trained dog guide or service to a reading animal by a disabled person in its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy classroom, our Scouts and other designated youth groups. This students are holds true for all district employment and oppor- tunities. Inquiries regarding compliance and/ always learn- or grievance procedures may be directed to the ing! school district. January 2015 4 Tonasket School District Pr Pride on the Rise IN BRIEF Greetings Tonasket Community ByJeff Hardesty, High School Principal Capital Improvment Bond This has been a great season to be classrooms, new self-contained space of On February 10, 2015, living in the Tonasket School District. the same footprint (four classrooms) will voters will be asked to approve a The high school continues to receive calls house both the Outreach program and the twelve year, $6,980,000 Capital from school districts and state officials alternative high school. The design will Improvement bond. These funds hoping to gain ideas from us about the allow for much needed parent-student- will enable the District to improve progressive work currently taking place teacher meeting space for the Outreach, academic programs and alleviate in the Tonasket School District. It is safe and two classrooms for the alternative overcrowding by adding classrooms to say that our staff and students have school. Building this space below the and additional space for the been representing our community well. new middle school footprint is an efficient Elementary School, Middle School, Much thanks to our community for the and cost effective use of space. You may Ag shop and Alternative/Outreach support we continue to receive. know that these two successful programs programs. You may know that our district is are currently housed in a deteriorating In addition, these funds will beginning to promote the opportunity to portable and the potential for new space improve safety and security by expand our instructional facilities. The is very exciting. upgrading district-wide cameras and current proposal for the high school Remaining true to our goal to expose door locks, address safety concerns middle school complex is to expand students to more career pathways during with the Ag shop and Middle School the middle school by adding four new their high school experience, the district is bleachers, and modernize and classrooms, which will result in allowing also proposing to expand the agriculture improve safety and ADA access at the high school to take over the old shop complex. Our current shop space is the athletic complex. middle school classrooms. Currently the too cramped. There is no better way to The last bond was approved middle school and the high school share put it. It is impressive how accomplished in 1993. Jurassic Park was in the the upstairs floor of the complex. Not our kids have been within this program movie theaters and a brand new only will the addition elevate cramped especially when considering the lack of car cost $12,500. Since then the conditions in the middle school, the adequate space. The additional space district has expanded education addition will allow the middle school to has presented a number of very exciting programs and technology. The be more self contained and grouped all ideas about the experiences we will offer citizen committee members who together in their own location, while the students. helped develop the bond plan refer high school classrooms will complete the to this as a “stop-gap” measure until high school level of the complex. the district can apply for matching Below the new middle school funds in ten years. For More information . . . Contact the District Office at: 486-2126 or visit the district website New year and another opportunity at www.tonasket.wednet.edu for TMS! Property Tax Exemption Seniors, disabled and low By Jay Tyus, Middle School Principlal income residents may qualify for Tonasket School District is on the is also undersized in terms of width, which a reduction or exemption from MOVE! Our students and teachers has for years caused us space issues as a property taxes. The exemptions are continue to be role models in the region performance gym. outlined in RCW 84.36.400 and for excellence, growth and improvement. The new model being proposed adds WAC 458-16-080. For additional The Tonasket School Board of Directors four new classrooms on the west wall of information contact the Okanogan continues to work tirelessly for an expanded MS gymnasium! Having all County Assessor at 509-422-7188. improvement for the students of this our MS students in our own space, and wonderful community. We thank all of increasing the size of the gym to allow Voter Registration you in your role as parents, grand parents proper and safe use of our bleachers is a Voter Registration can be done and neighbors of students. We appreciate true gift! online by 1/12/14 or in-person your well wishes, support and dreams I am not sure if you are aware, but 2/2/14. for the bright futures of young ones of high school teachers share rooms to allow For information, contact the Tonasket. us to keep our spaces upstairs, currently. I Okanogan County Auditor or go to This winter our District is promoting am so excited for us to have the additional http://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/ an opportunity to expand our instructional instructional spaces connected to the voters.aspx facilities at the Tonasket Middle School. same level as the entire middle school and The plan for the expansion has four new be able to give space desperately needed classrooms being added to our existing to the HS. Keep your eye on our progress facility. As many of you may know or with this plan and feel free to contact me remember, our 6th grade team has taught at the MS office for a tour or a view of our students upstairs, at the end of the high proposed expansion. school hallway. The middle school gym January 2015 Pride on the Rise Tonasket School District 5 Tonasket schools welcomes new staff Anna Munsey Patricia Dagnon Katie is the Speech is a 3rd grade Abrahamson Language teacher in is the ES Pathology the ES. Her Counselor. She Assistant. Anna interests enjoys reading, enjoys kayaking, are family, writing, swimming, horses, and working on playing with photography. her log home, her dogs, and Her family gardening, finding ways to includes her riding horses, immerse herself husband, son racing horses into the Tonasket and daughter. and movies. Community. She is the Anna Munsey Anna is from Patricia Dagnon Katie Abrahamson mother of four Tonasket children.

Breanne Hanson Brett Franklin is the HS English is the 7th grade Xochitl Flores is teacher. She has History/English an ES Bilingual an interest in Language parapro. Xochitl sports, hiking Arts teacher. and her husband and taking her Brett enjoys have two boys. dog for walks. spending time This year in with family, school, she She enjoys sporting events, vacationing and music, anything wants to give camping and history related, hope to students reading. She is traveling and and to cheer from Chelan, WA. trying new them on in their foods. He and achievements. Breanna Hanson Brett Franklin his wife have a daughter. Xochitl Flores

Andi Womack Joe Swenson is an Ag Science JoAnn Huber is is the assistant the HS Cafeteria teacher in the mechanic. His Clerk. She HS. Andi enjoys interests are enjoys camping, photography, classic vehicles fishing, golfing being outdoors, and outdoor and working in and football. sports. He and her yard. She She is from the his wife have and her husband Idaho Palouse. two sons and a have a son and She is excited granddaughter. a daughter and to expand the lots of family in opportunities for the area. students in the Andi Womack district. Joe Swenson JoAnn Huber

Brittany Jones Jennifer Kevin Anderson is the ES Life Willson is a 4th is the HS Art Skills/Resource grade teacher. teacher. His Room parapro. She enjoys interests include She loves to read, kayaking. radio control garden, cook and Jennifer has airplanes and play board games four children. golf. This with her children. Previously, year, Kevin She and her she has taught would like to husband have kingergarten, reinvigorate two daughters. 2nd, 4th, 5th the art program Brittany hopes grades and while adding to bring love and was a child science and Brittany Jones dedication to Jennifer Willson sponsorship Kevin Anderson technology to her work in the coordinator in projects. school. Africa. January 2015 6 Tonasket School District Pr Pride on the Rise

A Facility To Be Proud Of Alternative School and On the Go Outreach Program students are By Christine Olson, ES Outreach Teacher very excited that a new facility for our programs is a part of the “On the Go!” is the theme for elementary bond. The Alternative School Outreach students this year. Our most recent serves high school students, studies focused on the Lewis and Clark and the Outreach Program is a expedition. We tried to put ourselves in the shoes Parent Partnership Program for of the Corps of Discovery at every stage of the students in grades K-12. These journey...applying to be part of the expedition, programs have been housed planning supplies, collecting plant specimens, in the portable by the tennis and writing in our journals. We even “portaged” courts for the past 19 years and (with a kayak) around “Great Falls” (the steps to 18 years respectively. the upper campus). Having a new building We were delighted at the end of our “journey” would provide our students to make contact with Churchill Clark, the great- with a facility they can be great-great-great grandson of William Clark! proud of. The present building We visited him at work on his dugout canoe, and has served the district well, but he presented his re-enactment of the Lewis and keeping up with maintenance Clark expedition in a special assembly. has always been a challenge We look forward to the rest of our year in such an old building. The with excitement, and are appreciative of the bond plans for our building will opportunity the program provides for alternative Churchill Clark demonstrates how to measure provide a multiple use space approaches to learning. the depth of a dugout canoe. in a more efficient manner, which will support both of our programs. Outreach students make a difference Nutrition and Physical By Carol Lanigan, Outreach Director/Teacher Fitness In language arts this year, students read bread kitchen. So on December 12, Outreach The Tonasket School stories in Real Kids, Real Stories, Real Change students cooked a meal for the Free Community District will annually put a and got inspired by the many projects that Dinner, which was served at the Community notice in the Pride on the Rise students around the world have undertaken to Cultural Center on December 14. The menu district newsletter inviting make a positive difference in their communities. consisted of chili, potato soup, and cornbread. parents to review Policy With that inspiration in mind, students wrote Thanks to Emma Sutton, grade 6, for the 6700, Nutrition and Physical about their own ideas to make a difference and great idea and for all the students who helped Fitness (which is available on presented their essays to the class. Then we with the cooking. A special thanks to Val Wells the district website at: http:// made plans to implement the projects. who guided us in the kitchen. www.tonasket.wednet.edu/ One of those projects was to have a soup and pages/tonasket SD/District_ Office/Links/School_Board/ Board_Policies/6000_Policies) and to inform them that they are invited to participate in the development, review, updating, and implementation of this policy.

Bryan Nolan and Emma Sutton make soup for the free community dinner held on December 14. January 2015 Pride on the Rise Tonasket School District 7 Tonasket Alumni IN BRIEF By Joe Buchanan, Tonasket Alumni Association Tonasket Athletic Booster Club Get Togethers... notices will be sent. A copy of the notice will be The Tonasket Athletic Booster On December 5, 2014, eleven folks met for the posted on the School District web site – www. Club is in the midst of the annual Tonasket Christmas luncheon in Kirkland, WA. tonasket.wednet.edu. Everyone is invited so pass membership drive. In case you Those in attendance were – Orval and Evelyn the word. REMINDER – our attendance is are not familiar with what we Wilson Cohu, Barbara Eberlein Skarperud, Gary getting smaller and we need rosters for the classes do, the Booster Club is a non- and Patty Kirchner, Joanne Workosky Stubbs, of 1961, ’62, ’63, ’64, and ’65. We can’t send them profit organization devoted to Roy Gavin, Mary Jane Haney Matheson, Caroline a notice with out contact information. helping all athletic programs May Trigg, and Joe and Marliene Buchanan. maximize participation and student There were a lot of fun discussions and more Tonasket Community Scholarship Fund experiences by providing additional family names mentioned than you can shake a Don’t forget to plan for contributions to this funds and support required for stick at. We had a good time and look forward to worthy cause – giving Tonasket’s bright young efficient and effective operations. a larger group for our June lunch. high school graduates a leg up on extending Here are a few highlights of what their educations. Make donations to Tonasket we have done this year: Swimming Pool Update Community Fund and send to US Bank, P.O. Box • Provided over $5,000 for Things are really moving with The Tonasket 508, Tonasket WA 98855. uniforms and equipment Swimming Pool Association (TSPA) with very across 10 separate sports impressive progress. The City Council has • Provided two $750 approved the design for the new facility, and the Surely Christmas was a merry one and the scholarships to graduating positive direction of the project. As of December New Year will be a happy one. Best wishes to all. senior athletes 2014, the committee has received donations of Thanks to those who send comments, suggestions • Organized summer physicals cash and pledges totaling $438,000, plus several and subjects to pass on for others to enjoy: for incoming athletes pledges for labor once the construction begins. • Operated concessions at both The TSPA is now a non-profit 501 (C) (3) Joe Buchanan Football and Basketball organization and will issue an IRS tax-deductible 425-765-6177 games receipt for each donation to the project. If you [email protected] would like to donate and keep up with the progress 21915 NE 24th Ct. If you are interested in being you can check the newsletter on their web site Sammamish, WA 98074 part of the organization, whether www.tonasketpool.com for information on how to you have kids in a program or donate and what’s going on. You can also contact simply want to support the athletes them by email – [email protected] , by in our great community, please phone – 509-486-2517. or drop a note to TSPA, In Memoriam... let us know. You can write to P.O. 1217, Tonasket, WA 98855. us at P.O. Box 1621, email at Bob Garrett (90), July 19, 2014, Class of ‘42 [email protected], or All Class Reunion Edna Rounds Schertenleib (86) July 13, 2014 find us on Facebook at https://www. The 2015 All Class Reunion is scheduled for Larraine Grant, July 25, 2014 facebook.com/Tonasket-Athletic- the latter part of next June. As soon as all the Violet Dornel Utt, August 5, 2014, Class of ‘45 Booster-Club for membership arrangements are made – date, time and place – Joy Burberry Workman, Augsut 14, 2014, Class of ‘52 information.

Thank you Tonasket communities for your support By Tonasket School Board

This past fall, after hearing your voices Board present to voters a $6.98 million bond meetings for this purpose will be held on through online surveys and district-wide to provide for these many needs, which it has Wednesday, January 21: meetings, a broad-based, committee of done. community members, parents, staff, and It is the Board’s hope that voters will administrators extensively reviewed the obtain all the information needed to make • 6:00 pm in the ES cafeteria (Bilingual); facilities needs of the district. well-informed decisions. There is a significant • 7:30 pm in the District Office (English). It determined that our students need more amount of information available on the school classrooms in the elementary and middle website, and any board member will willingly The Board looks forward to hearing your schools, more space in the MS gym and the answer questions, as will Superintendent thoughts. If you cannot make either meeting, Ag shop, and relocation of the alternative Turner and his administrators. Tours of the there will be online opportunities in both programs, it’s recommendation being to a buildings are available upon request. English and Spanish to make your voice space created beneath the new gym extension. In other news, the Board has begun an heard. Additionally, it noted safety needs executive search for a new superintendent Thank you for the many ways you invest requiring attention throughout the district, to replace Paul Turner who is leaving June in children to enhance their future. It is you and especially on the athletic track and fields. 30. You are all encouraged to aid the search who make public schools possible. The committee thus recommended that the process by providing your insights. Two January 2015 8 Tonasket School District Pr Pride on the Rise Capital Improvement Bond•Vote by February 10, 2015 For detailed information and additional site plans, please visit the school website at: www.tonasket.wednet.edu

If bids are less than the projected budget, alternative bids will be added to the project.

HOW MUCH WILL THE BOND COST TO PROPERTY OWNERS?

The bond will be paid for with a property assessment based upon taxable value. For each $1,000 in assessed tax value the cost is $1.56. The bond will be paid off in 12 years or less