June, 2012
Jefferson Elementary groundbreaking ceremony
Please join us on the west side of Hart Field for a groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate the beginning of construction for the Jefferson Elementary renovation project.
Jefferson Elementary
3612 S. Grand Blvd.
Contact Info
Kevin morrison
kevinmor@spokaneschools.org
354-4801
Cooks Camping for K-9's
The cooks from Rogers will be camping in front of the school collecting donations of pet food all of which will go to the Spokane Humane Society
Rogers High School
1622 E. Wellesley Ave.
Contact Info
Diane Hardesty
dianeha@spokaneschools.org
509-354-6549
May, 2012
Fifth and Sixth Grade Band and Strings Spectacular
This annual concert is the district's way of thanking the community for its support. The concert is made possible this year by these generous sponsors: Avista
Northwest Neurological (David R Greeley, MD)
Cutler Law Office
Ann Bergstrom Fund
Welty Foundation
Admission to the concert is free, but donations are welcomed.
Spokane Veterans Arena
720 West Mallon
Contact Info
Dave Weatherred
davidwe@spokaneschools.org
354-7350
Quilting Nanas
Teacher selected Cooper students have been journaling all year, at home, about their reading. This has helped to build a connectioin between home and school and is getting reluctant readers to be read and write more. Those students who have completed their contract will be able to choose a handmade quilt made by local senior citizens. The kids have met with these quilters three times throughout the year. The srs. are unable to attend (for a variety of reasons) but they wanted the kids to get the quilts before the end of the year. This will be a great celebration for several students.
Cooper Elementary
3200 N Ferrall St.
Contact Info
Lisa Whitt
lisawhi@spokaneschools.org
354-2483
2012 SPS retiree dinner
Each year, Spokane Public Schools honors its retirees with a special evening that includes music, dinner and tributes.
Rogers High School
1622 E. Wellesley Ave.
Contact Info
Tina Aguilar
tinaa@spokaneschools.org
354-5900
"Explore Your Future" two-day expo for middle and high schoolers
Greater Spokane Incorporated (GSI), in partnership with the Association of General Contractors, Community Colleges of Spokane, and Spokane Public Schools, will host "Explore Your Future," a two-day career expo for regional middle and high school students. More than 1,800 students are expected to attend the event, where they can explore futures in construction, manufacturing, health care, aerospace, STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) fields, as well as other high-demand, high-growth industries. Technical and higher education institutions will also be on hand.
Spokane County Fairgrounds
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Contact Info
Maria Vandervert
mvandervert@greaterspokane.org
321-3629
Shadle Park DECA Takes Over Safeway
Safeway Takeover 2012: Creating Experienced Leaders
Shadle Center, May 10 – Shadle Park DECA members are taking over the Safeway on Wellesley. The Safeway Takeover helps students pursue three of the four purposes of DECA, as well as promoting their Chapter and a growing health issue in their community.
One of DECA’s purposes is professional responsibility. Members will job shadow Safeway employees to see what happens in the 17 departments of the store. Food service stations students will work in include the bakery, deli, Jamba Juice and Starbucks. Some students will work in departments like customer service or check stands where they gain experience in working with the public, while students who would rather be behind the scenes work in stocking departments such as produce and floral displays. Each DECA member will work in various locations and learn lessons they will use for their future careers.
Members also have the opportunity to shadow store managers, providing these students with the skills to become experienced leaders themselves, which is another purpose of DECA. They learn how to instruct their peers and keep an effectively functioning store. Some students even gain careers by networking with Safeway managers during the Takeover.
The third purpose of DECA is civic consciousness. Students learn this through the charity portion of the Takeover. Students raise awareness of Prostate Cancer in their community by posting several students throughout the store and outside at the Safeway fuel station. Inside the store, students are hosting donation “power hours”. At the beginning of each hour, students working at the check stands will compete to raise the highest amount of donations within five minutes. The students working at the fuel station offer to wash car windows for customers and ask for donations. In addition, this year students are handing out facts about Prostate Cancer to heighten the effect. This year’s campaign slogan is DECA Creates Hope, and Shadle students hope to make a difference in their community.
Promotion isn’t just about charity, however. At the front entrance of Safeway there will be a table to promote SPHS DECA with an informational board and students sharing their experiences with curious customers. Shadle Park DECA members hope you’ll stop by and show support for your students. And don’t forget to get your windows washed and donate to a great cause. We hope this experience Creates Hope in our community!
For more information, please contact:
Erin Ruehl, Shadle Park High School DECA Advisor
Shadle Park High School
4327 N. Ash St.
Contact Info
Erin Ruehl
erinr@spokaneschools.org
509-354-6787
CTE Speaker Series
The goal of the Speaker Series is to provide students with enriching material on professionalism, careers, post-high school options, ethics, money and credit issues, etc. Students from all of the CTE classes are invited to the LC auditorium. The next presentation focuses on Post High-School opportunities. There will be a different speaker from a secondary education organization each period:
1st period - Community Colleges of Spokane
2nd period - ITT Tech
3rd period - Interface
4th period - Carrington College
5th period - Gonzaga University
6th period - WSU
Lewis & Clark High School
521 W. 4th Ave.
Contact Info
Dave Jackson
davej@spokaneschools.org
354-6883
1st Place in Jr. Lilac Parade
Logan Elementary won 1st place in the Jr. Lilac Parade this past Saturday. Logan has ben participating in this event for several years and this is the first time we have received 1st place. This is truly a community event at Logan as many of our students, parents, and staff participate. We are all thrilled to have received this honor and appreciate the recognition for our hard work and dedication.
Additionally, Garry MS won first place for middle school bands.
Logan Elementary
1001 E. Montgomery Ave.
Contact Info
Lisa Pacheco
lisapa@spokaneschools.org
509-998-5415
Rockin' Art fundraiser
The Spokane Public Schools Foundation sponsors one major fundraiser each year that benefits all SPS students: Rockin' Art! The 2011 Rockin' Art event was a great success, generating funds that were distributed through 22 grants to teachers and schools.
A $15 suggested donation is the ticket price for an evening of dancing and entertainment. The 8-Tracks will provide music and guests will have the opportunity to view and purchase unique works of art from our elementary, middle and high school students in a silent auction. SPS art teachers and local professional artists also provide special pieces.
For more information: www.spokaneschoolsfoundation.org
Lincoln Center
1316 N. Lincoln
Contact Info
Terren Roloff
terrenr@spokaneschools.org
354-7338
Awards ceremony for SPS Specially Designed Instruction students
Each high school program can select a Student Employee of the Year, in addition to 2 additional Special Recognition Awards for success in attendance, leadership, employability, etc. The students are presented a plaque and awards to take home in front of staff, students, parents, administrators and community partners.
Spokane Community College Lair Auditorium
Contact Info
Katie Carpenter
katieca@spokaneschools.org
714-7769
Youth Legislature Spokane delegation heads to Olympia
Eleven Spokane Public Schools students are part of the first-ever Spokane delegation of the YMCA Youth Legislature heading to Olympia May 1. They will meet at 5:15 p.m. at the YMCA of the Inland Northwest corporate office (1126
N. Monroe), load up the vans and depart soon thereafter.
The team members write their own bills and meet twice a month to discuss the legislative process and study basic civics. Their hard work will be put to the test during the annual State Youth Legislature, where hundreds of students from all over Washington take over the Capitol for four days, acting as state representatives, senators, lobbyists, journalists etc., and mirror the work of the Legislature by holding committee hearings, debating bills on the floor and voting.
Until this year, Spokane has not had a delegation due to travel and lodging costs. That changed this year, thanks to support from AVISTA Foundation, Smith-Barbieri Progressive Fund and Red Lion Hotels.
various
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Contact Info
Marcus Riccelli
riccelli17@hotmail.com
879-7805
SPS board chooses new student advisors
The Spokane Public Schools Board of Directors recently chose two new students to serve as advisors to the school board for the 2012-13 school year.
Lewis and Clark junior Kate Dinnison and Ferris junior Molly Rubens will be non-voting members of the board, adding a student perspective to board discussions. Their term begins August 2012.
LC and Ferris
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Contact Info
kristy mylroie
kristymy@spokaneschools.org
354-7387
DECA National Awards
Shadle DECA returns from the DECA International Career and Development Conference in Salt Lake City with a top 10 national winner! Coral Makenzi Ratte placed in the top 10 in Restaurant and Food Service Management out of approximately 100 national competitors. DECA is an Association of Marketing Students and our student members leverage their DECA experience to become academically prepared, community oriented, professionally responsible, and experienced leaders. There are 185,000 members nationwide so a top 10 finish is spectacular. In addition, our Student-Based Enterprise (SBE), the Highlander Hut, was awarded Gold Certification because of the project presented by Nick Bettinson. Our chapter also was recognized for an outstanding Chapter Awards Project which documents all of our work in the areas of chapter membership and standards, chapter activities and promotions and community service. Taylor Robertson and Austin Beekman were both recognized for their work on this project. Congratulations Makenzi, Nick, Taylor and Austin.
Shadle Park High School
4327 N. Ash St.
Contact Info
Erin Ruehl
erinr@spokaneschools.org
509-354-6787
NEWTECH Skills Center is the FIRST green certified school in Spo. County
To achieve certification at Level 1, the NEWTECH Skills Center Green Team conducted a rigorous assessment of Energy use on campus. They found that lights and electronics being left on were leading to higher energy bills than necessary. As a result , the Green Team implemented a school-wide policy to turn off lights and electronics when not in use, greatly reducing energy use.
NEWTECH Skills Center
4141 N Regal St.
Contact Info
Will Sarett
wills@spokaneschools.org
354-7411
April, 2012
Help win a van for Linda Sheridan
Click on the link and vote for Linda to win one of three mobility vans being given away on the Ellen Degeneres Show! The nominees with the most votes win! People can vote once every 24 hours from an IP address through May 13 -- so VOTE FROM HOME AND YOUR SMART PHONE! REMEMBER to input promo code 811 for an additional 5 votes! (promo code can only be used once) Vote daily, share often and show your support for Linda. THANK YOU!
http://www.nmeda.com/mobility-awareness-month/heroes/washington/spokane/1055/linda-sheridan
online
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Contact Info
Kirstin Davis
kirstintuttdavis@yahoo.com
354-7387
LH student named to AAA school safety patrol hall of fame
Hunter Stokes, from Lincoln Heights Elementary, was one of 10 students to be named to the 2012 AAA school safety patrol hall of fame.
Lincoln Heights Elementary
3322 E. 22nd Ave.
Contact Info
Jason Conley
jasonc@spokaneschools.org
354-7250
LC music students win "Spirit of San Francisco" trophy
The LC music students (band, orchestra, and choir)attended the San Francisco Heritage Music Festival and won the prestigious "Spirit of San Francisco" trophy, given to the school that exhibits consistent respectfulness, enthusiasm, good behavior, representing their schools well at every venue and activity of the festival. The Heritage Festival sends people to every venue/event that the students visit: the restaurants, the cruise, the hotel, the park, etc. They even interview the bus drivers. They look for the school with the students that are the most consistently pleasant, respectful, enthusiastic, polite, etc.
In addition, LC students received:
- Choir: Cantible Choir (Silver), Symphonic Choir (Silver)
- Band: Jazz 1 (Silver & 3rd Place), Jazz 2 (Silver), Symphonic Winds (Silver & 3rd Place), Concert Band (Bronze)
- Orchestra: Strictly Strings (Bronze & 3rd Place), Chamber Orchestra (Silver & 2nd Place)
Lewis & Clark High School
521 W. 4th Ave.
Contact Info
Daniel Nord
DanielN@spokaneschools.org
354-7044
SPS elementary schools earn Healthier US School Challenge award
All 34 of Spokane Public Schools’ elementaries have been awarded the Healthier US School Challenge bronze award. The HealthierUS School Challenge (HUSSC) is a voluntary national certification initiative for schools participating in the National School Lunch Program. It supports First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move campaign by recognizing schools that are creating healthier school environments through their promotion of good nutrition and physical activity.
Contact Info
Doug Wordell
dougw@spokaneschools.or
354-7391
Sixth grader wins state Holocaust Writing Contest
Finch Elementary sixth grader Madison Gruenig won first place in the 5th/6th division of the writing contest put on by the Washington State Holocaust Education Resource Center. This is the second year in a row one of Paul Regelbrugge's students has won the contest.
Finch Elementary
3717 N. Milton St.
Contact Info
Paul Regelbrugge
PaulR@spokaneschools.org
354-2542
LC student named National Achievement Scholarship winner
LC student Jenika Newsum was the only Spokane student to receive a 2012 National Achievement Scholarship. The $2500 awards were given to approximately 800 outstanding Black American high school seniors from throughout the United States by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.
Lewis & Clark High School
521 W. 4th Ave.
Contact Info
Shawn Jordan
shawnj@spokaneschools.org
354-7000
March, 2012
Distinguished Educator Teams, second semester
The second semester Distinguished Educator Teams for 2012 are the John R. Rogers High School Advanced Placement Photography Team ofKirk Hirota and Richard Bech, and the Logan Elementary Second Grade teachers and instructional coaches: Julie Rypien, Becky Madden, Helen Schutts and Janet Parker. Thank you to corporate sponsors Avista, STCU and Luigi’s for making this program possible.
Rogers HS and Logan Elem.
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Contact Info
Robin Fiorillo
robinf@spokaneschools.org
354-7277
CyberPatriot national results
In the CyberPatriot IV National Finals, Open Division, Lewis and Clark High School took first place in Forensics, and second place in Computer Defense. In the Services Division, the Rogers AFJROTC team was named the AFJROTC service champion, and also took second place in Computer Defense.
Various
Contact Info
MSgt William L. "Loyd" Patton
WilliamP@spokaneschools.org
354-6609
Music educator awards
Spokane Symphony recently honored Westview Elementary Principal Cathy Comfort with the Arts Advocate Administrator Award. Her nominator said she is very excited about music education, that she understands and appreciates how music is a part of life, and that she values music and music teachers.
The Symphony also honored Shaw Middle School Band and Orchestra Teacher Jeff McMurtery with an Outstanding Music Educator Award because he is “remarkably eager to provide quality opportunities for his students,” he “makes great repertoire choices for his classes,” and “insists that his students take personal responsibility and work together,” his nominator wrote.
Spokane Falls Music Educators Association, the local branch of the Washington Music Educators Association, named former LC choir director Kathleen Blair the Outstanding Music Educator of the Year. They also gave SPS volunteer Catherine Shipley the Friend of Music Award.
Various
Contact Info
Dave Weatherred
davidwe@spokaneschools.org
354-7350
NEWESD 101 art competition winners
Ruth and Valerie took first place awards in the NEWESD 101 art competition.They won under the Special Ed award and will be honored on Friday March 23rd from 3:30 to 4:30 at the downtown Spokane Public Library along with the other artists from around our ESD.Their art art will travel to Olympia in late April with winners announced by April 24.
In addition, Hannah Patten won the Avista award and Shane Anderson took the Staff NEWESD Award.
Shadle Park High School
4327 N. Ash St.
Contact Info
Dave Weatherred
davidwe@spokaneschools.org
354-7350
Gold Level Certification/Re-Certification for the 2011-2012 school year
Congratulations! The DECA operated School-based Enterprise (SBE) at Shadle Park High School was recently awarded Gold Level Certification/Re-Certification for the 2011-2012 school year. Of approximately 1500 school stores across the country, only 137 were awarded Gold Certification/Re-Certification this year. Nick Bettinson (Senior) specifically worked on the certification as well as Erin Ruehl their advisor. They are to be commended for this outstanding achievement.
This school store will be recognized for thier accomplishment at DECA's upcoming International Career Development Conference (ICDC) in Salt Lake City, Utah in April. For those attending ICDC for this recognition, they will also be participating in the SBE Academy, where they will learn school store best practices from over 130 of the nation's top school stores.
Through this certification program, DECA hopes to provide recognition for outstanding school stores and to motivate SBEs to strive for excellence and to grow. DECA strongly feels that the certified school stores are among the best learning labs for our Business and Marketing Education programs across the country.
Shadle Park High School
4327 N. Ash St.
Contact Info
Erin Ruehl
ErinR@spokaneschools.org
509-354-6787
February, 2012
Avista helps SPS save energy and dollars
Energy efficiency improvements made by SPS to district schools and facilities have qualified for about $429,000 in energy efficiency rebates and incentives from Avista. The measures are expected to save SPS approximately $207,000 in annual energy costs through the efficiency improvements made at 10 schools and the district warehouse in 2011.
Contact Info
Terren Roloff
terrenr@spokaneschools.org
354-7338
Distinguished Educator Team announced
In her nomination, Rogers Principal Lori Wyborney said, “the effectiveness of the team is driven by their passion for their curriculum and a willingness to do whatever it takes to see an idea through.” For example, the Reading Incentive Team offers quarterly reading celebrations for every student who achieves his or her reading goal. Fundraising, plus a grant from WalMart, allowed them to have drawings for gift cards and special recognition for the top readers at each grade level. Nationally acclaimed Spokane author Jess Walter spoke at the final reading celebration of the year. A plaque recognizing the four top readers hangs in the library. Team members take turns dressing up as “Book Man” and going room to room to hand out prizes to students with reading program books in their backpacks. And, using a grant, team members purchased books that would likely be of high interest to males to try to narrow the gender reading gap.
Rogers High School
1622 E. Wellesley Ave.
Contact Info
kristy mylroie
kristymy@spokaneschools.org
354-7387
Seven SPS CyberPartriot teams on to nationals!
Four teams from John R. Rogers High School and one team each from North Central, Lewis and Clark and Ferris high schools will be among the 24 competing for the national title in March. CyberPatriot is a unique competition that replicates real-life cyber security situations faced by network administrators. Created in 2008 by the Air Force Association, CyberPatriot provides students hands-on learning about cyber security while exciting, educating, and motivating them to be the nation’s next cyber defenders.
Various
Contact Info
MSgt William L. "Loyd" Patton
WilliamP@spokaneschools.org
354-6609
Academic achievement awards for 2011
The State Board of Education (SBE) and the state superintendent’s office chose three Spokane Public Schools elementaries to receive a 2011 Washington Achievement Award, which celebrates the state’s top-performing schools. For the third year in a row, two elementary schools – Wilson and Moran Prairie – received special recognition in science. Wilson also was awarded for overall excellence. In addition, Balboa Elementary received an award for closing achievement gaps,
Various
Contact Info
kristy mylroie
kristymy@spokaneschools.org
354-7387
January, 2012
NC IST to partner on Celiac Disease Study with Whitworth University
Empire Health has funded a grant to support the collaborative work of the NCHS IST and Whitworth University. The research we will undertake is on Celiac Disease to determine why certain gluten sequences are toxic. They will be studying lactic acid fermenting bacteria. Celiac Disease affects one out of every 133 people.
NC students will also be involved in construction of PEPX mutants and may even propose their own PEPX constructs for testing. Whitworth will mentor four summer high school science interns in the biochemical techniques necessary to express, purify, and assay the PEPX mutants their class constructed during an intensive five-week research experience at Whitworth.
North Central High School
1600 N. Howard St.
Contact Info
Steve Fisk
stevef@spokaneschools.org
509-354-6233
Meyer named GSL asst. principal of the year
Theresa Meyer was selected GSL Assistant Principal of the Year for 2011-2012.
Lewis & Clark High School
521 W. 4th Ave.
Contact Info
Theresa Meyer
theresam@spokaneschools.org
354-7000
November, 2011
LC named to Spokane Matters list
Lewis and Clark High School will be included in the first Spokane Matters List, created by Spokane Preservation Advocates. The list contains a dozen historical places that a committee selected from nominations submitted by the community. LC was chosen for its architectural and historical significance, and its status as one of Spokane’s landmark schools.
Lewis & Clark High School
521 W. 4th Ave.
Contact Info
Shawn Jordan
shawnj@spokaneschools.org
354-7000
SPS grad honored at White House with highest civilian award
While on vacation with her family in February 2007, Janice Langbehn’s partner, Lisa Pond, suddenly fell ill and was rushed to the hospital. Langbehn was refused access to her partner, who had experienced a brain aneurysm and later died alone. She filed a federal lawsuit and her story received attention from President Obama, who went on to revise hospital visitation rights for gay and lesbian couples for hospitals receiving federal Medicare or Medicaid funds. Langbehn receives the Citizens Medal for her efforts to ensure all Americans are treated equally.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/photos-and-video/video/2011/10/26/janice-langbehn-2011-presidential-citizens-medal-recipient
Contact Info
John Hagney
JohnHag@spokaneschools.org
354-6948
October, 2011
Bemiss receives state awards
Bemiss was one of four schools recognized by the state for outstanding achievement this year through the Distinguished Schools program. Bemiss was chosen as a State Distinguished School for exceptional student performance for two or more years in math.
Bemiss also was one of six WA schools chosen to receive Academic Achievement Awards for student achievement in math and reading.
Bemiss Elementary
2323 E Bridgeport Ave.
Contact Info
Jennifer Keck
jenniferk@spokaneschools.org
354-2300
September, 2011
LC student named National Achievement semifinalist
National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced that Jenika Newsum from Lewis and Clark High School is among the more than 1,600 Black American high school seniors who have been designated semifinalists in the 48th annual National Achievement Scholarship Program. These scholastically talented young men and women now have an opportunity to continue in the competition for approximately 800 Achievement Scholarship awards, worth more than $2.4 million.
The National Achievement Scholarship Program was initiated in 1964 to recognize academically promising black students throughout the nation and to provide scholarships to a substantial number of the most outstanding program participants.
Lewis & Clark High School
521 W. 4th Ave.
Contact Info
Shawn Jordan
shawnj@spokaneschools.org
354-7000
SPS again honored for sound financial practices
For the eighth year in a row, Spokane Public Schools has earned one of the highest achievements in school finances and financial reporting.
The Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) awarded the district its Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting. This award, given to the district for its 2010 comprehensive annual financial report, represents Spokane Public Schools’ commitment to high standards and keeping a careful eye on the use of taxpayer dollars.
Admininistration Building
200 N Bernard
Contact Info
Mark Anderson
marka@spokaneschools.org
354-7272
Bev Lund named Elem. Principal of the Year
The Spokane Elementary School Principals Association named Bev Lund the Dick Stannard Distinguished Elementary Principal of the Year for 2011.
The award, named for a much-loved Spokane Public Schools’ principal who passed away in 1996, honors the Spokane Public Schools principal who shows purposeful leadership, excels at instructional leadership and resource development and possesses exemplary interpersonal skills. Principals are nominated by their peers.
Whitman Elementary
5400 N. Helena St.
Contact Info
Bev Lund
bevl@spokaneschools.org
354-4320
Four SPS students named National Merit semifinalists
Four Spokane Public Schools students are among the approximately 16,000 nationwide semifinalists in the 57th annual National Merit Scholarship Program.
More than 1.5 million juniors from about 22,000 high schools entered the 2012 National Merit Program by taking the 2010 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, which served as an initial screen of program entrants. The nationwide pool of semifinalists, which represents less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest scoring entrants in each state.
Various
Contact Info
Kristy Mylroie
kristymy@spokaneschools.org
354-7387
Student-run coffee shop opens at Shadle
Sept. 12 is the opening day for the Bagpipers Bistro. It is Shadle's student-run coffee shop, which gives our students some real world experience serving customers. It will be open both lunches (11:00-11:30 & 12:00-12:30) and is supervised by teacher Gordon Nelson.
Shadle Park High School
4327 N. Ash St.
Contact Info
Eric Sylling
Ericsy@SpokaneSchools.org
509-354-6700
August, 2011
Rogers student's photo chosen for soda label
Brennen Bailey's photo image of the circus was selected as one of the six finalists for the Jones Soda Label Project. That means his image will appear on 250,000 bottles of Jones Soda sometime in the next year.
Rogers High School
1622 E. Wellesley Ave.
Contact Info
Richard Bech
richardb@spokaneschools.org
354-6692