Webucator is a weekly publication produced by the Tacoma Public Schools Public
Information Office for district staff members. To submit story ideas or inquire about a
published story, contact Pam Thompson at pthomps@tacoma.k12.wa.us or call the
Public Information Office at 253-571-1015.
Dec. 10, 2010
Spanish-speaking parents
learn computer skills
Dates to remember
Dec. 10: CAB holiday bazaar, raffle, garage sale for Tone, third floor, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Dec. 11: Hilltop Artists holiday glass sale, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Dec. 15: CAB employees potluck lunch, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., auditorium
Dec. 16: Wilson H.S. choir concert “Spirit of the Season,” 7 p.m., free; date change
Dec. 16: Mount Tahoma H.S. winter band and orchestra concert, 7 p.m.
Dec. 17: Stanley E.S. Holly Jolly Follies, 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.
Dec. 17: Early release for winter break
Dec. 17: Wilson’s K-5 Kids Night Out, 5 to 10 p.m., Wilson gym
Jan. 5: Mt. Tahoma H.S. College Goal Sunday on Wednesday, 6 to 8 p.m.
Jan. 20: Mt. Tahoma H.S. dinner and talent showcase, 5:30 p.m.
McKinley parent Ailda Soltero
listens carefully as Lincoln Center
student Ivan Rosas-Torres
coaches her on computer skills.
Reed students study birds
Upcoming events
Mount Tahoma to host College Goal Sunday Jan. 5
Mount Tahoma High School will host a College Goal Sunday on Wednesday, Jan. 5,
from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Career Center. This event is part of the High School and
Beyond planning series for students and their families. This free program will help
students fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The application
is required to determine a student’s eligibility for federal grants, work-study and loan
programs. In some cases, it also includes state or institutional aid.
To register and learn what materials you need to bring with you to the event, visit the
Web site at www.collegegoalsundaywa.org. Students and families from other high
schools in the area are invited.
Reed E.S. fifth graders enjoy
learning about birds and animal
adaptations and diversity thanks
to kits supplied by the University
of Puget Sound’s Slater Museum
of Natural History.
Readiness Counts program at several schools
Readiness Counts, a fun and free parenting program for parents of 3- to 5-year-olds
was created by Tacoma Public Schools to help parents learn how to help their child
gain kindergarten readiness skills through playful fun and everyday interactions.
This is a four-part series that will help your child gain skills in literacy, language, math
and social/emotional interactions. Participants will receive fun activities, games and
books to tale home. You will be preparing your child for success in kindergarten and
beyond. This class is designed for parents and guardians, and to participate the
families must live within the boundaries of a TPS Title I school. Classes will start on
various dates beginning in January. Classes will be conducted in English or Spanish.
Fifth graders use preserved real
birds to study adaptations in
Colette Babson, Barbara Powers
and Melissa Schmidt’s classes.
All sessions will start at 5:30 p.m. and run until 7:30 p.m. A light snack will be served
during each session. Childcare will be provided for children ages 2 to 10. For more
information and a registration form, click on one of these school names: Blix, Madison,
Mann or McCarver elementary schools.
Mount Tahoma to host dinner, talent showcase Jan. 20
Mount Tahoma High School will host a family spaghetti dinner and talent showcase
Thursday, Jan. 20, in the school commons. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. and dinner will
begin at 6 p.m. The showcase will start at 7 p.m.
The Mount Tahoma PROSTART culinary arts students will cater the event. Mount
Tahoma staff, students and alumni will provide music and entertainment.
Detailed study guides help Reed
students in Colette Babson’s class
learn about bird adaptations.
Tickets: $12 for adults; $10 for students; and $7 for children ages 5-11. To purchase
tickets, please contact Annie Patu, health and leadership teacher, at 253-571-3632.
Pacific Science Center visits
Roosevelt E.S.
News and updates
Robotic teams move to state competition
District robotics teams did well in the FIRST LEGO League competition conducted at
Lincoln High School Dec. 4.
 Mount Tahoma High School had two teams that competed in the state
qualifying semifinals. William Murray and Madeline Merriman coached the four
teams that entered the competition.
 The Foss High School robotics team, headed by Paul Hollister, made the
finals in a field of 22 teams.
 The Wilson Botniks came in the top five.
 The Meeker Geeker robotics club placed third out of 22 teams and will
compete Saturday, Dec. 11, at the state competition in Spanaway. The
Geekers also won first place for best robot design. Team members include
Brando Craig, Ana Hamberlin, Isaac Bliss, Lilly Craig, John Hamberlin, Mitch
Fermo, Joshua Vanderhoven and Cameron LaBorn. Jerry Fulwider coaches
the Meeker Geekers.
Point Defiance Zoo sloth visits SAMI art class
“The Science and Math Institute (SAMI) art class had a very unusual model posing for
life drawing recently,” SAMI teacher Mary Mann said. “It was a live sloth named Siesta,
visiting from the Point Defiance Zoo.” Her handler set up a tree armature in the
classroom, and the students used charcoal and newsprint to draw gesture poses while
the sloth was moving. Gesture drawings are quick sketches to try to get implied action.
“The sloth was amazingly active for a sloth, so the students worked hard at drawing a
moving subject,” Mann said.
“When Siesta settled down for a nap, while still hanging upside down in the tree, we
had the chance to draw more detailed studies,” Mann said. “It was a fun lesson
integrating life drawing with anatomy. We prepared by comparing the proportions of a
human skeleton to the skeleton of a sloth. It was a fun opportunity and the students
learned a lot about the unique characteristics of that animal.”
A Roosevelt E.S. student tries out
a game from the Pacific Science
Center.
At a Roosevelt assembly
presenters from the Pacific
Science Center talk about math.
Pacific Science Center employees
show math concepts to Roosevelt
students.
Lincoln Center students teach computer skills at McKinley
Ivan Rosas-Torres and Gairo Duran, Lincoln Center students from Lincoln High
School, are teaching Spanish-speaking parents at McKinley Elementary School to be
computer savvy. Each Thursday and Friday afternoon, Rosas-Torress and Duran
show parents how to navigate through the Internet, send e-mails and compose letters.
Office Coordinator Pam Leach said, “So far, they’ve had a great turn-out and the
parents enjoy using their new-found computer skills.
Roosevelt students play a game
called Buckyball during a visit
from Pacific Science Center staff
members.
Author Peter Bacho visits Jason Lee
Author of the young adult book “Leaving Yesler,” Peter Bacho, visited Anne Hawkins’
eighth-grade AVID class at Jason Lee Middle School. He currently teaches at The
Evergreen State College in Tacoma. Hawkins said, “It was amazing having him visit.
One of my students wrote in her Cornell Notes, ‘I just touched a PROFESSOR! YEAY!’
That was so cute, and what a learning experience for my students.”
Bacho’s young adult book, “Leaving Yesler,” is about a teenager trying to find his
identity and cope with the deaths of his mother from cancer and his brother in Vietnam.
Bacho, a former editorial writer for The News Tribune, has authored several books.
Reed fifth graders learn about birds
Reed fifth graders enjoyed learning about birds and animal adaptations and diversity
thanks to kits supplied by the University of Puget Sound’s Slater Museum of Natural
History. Students were from Colette Babson’s class. Barbara Powers, Melissa
Two Roosevelt girls grin as they
work at a Pacific Science Center
experiment.
Meeker Geekers have best
robot design
Schmidt and Colette Babson’s classes used the kits, which included preserved real
birds.
Washington-Hoyt to make gifts from recycled products
Washington-Hoyt Elementary School will host its third Green Schools Holiday Card
Workshop Dec. 9, from 3:30 to 5:15 p.m. in the school lunchroom. The whole family
can create cards, gift tags and bookmarks from reused and recycled materials.
Participants will learn how to make designs such as pop-ups and mosaic trees and can
make tea light holders as well. The event is free for Washington-Hoyt families. For
more information, contact Felicity Devlin, Green Schools coordinator, at 253-761-8066.
JAWS student’s grandfather made Seattle Center mural
On a recent field trip to the Seattle Center, Jan Thorne’s students in the Browns Point
third-grade JAWS program learned that the grandfather of one of the JAWS students,
Hannah Horiuchi, was the designer of the large mural that has graced the Seattle
Center Grounds since the Seattle World's Fair there in 1962. Many of the students
joyfully posed in front of it, as well as Hannah's father.
Meeker Geekers came in third out
of 22 teams competing in the
recent robotics competition and
won first place for the best robot
design.
Wilson helps at party for
foster children
First Creek leaders support ban on ‘boobie’ bracelets
Leadership students at First Creek Middle School were confused and sought
understanding. “What was so wrong with ‘I heart boobies’ bracelets?” a seventh-grade
senator asked. A sixth-grade leader said, “They raise money for cancer, don’t they?”
An eighth grader asked, “They raise awareness, don’t they?”
Rachel Smith-Mosel, leadership teacher, facilitated students as they brought up many
sides of this controversial issue. She said to her students, “You’ve surfaced the
reasons in favor of the bracelets, and clearly you are very passionate about your right
to have them. What have you heard against them?”
The Wilson H.S. Scintillation
Show Choir performed at the
Catholic Community Services
Christmas party for foster
children.
A fiscally-minded student said, “I’ve heard speculation that little profit actually makes it
to cancer research.”
“Mrs. Beason told me it creates a distraction in the learning environment and can be
interpreted as disrespectful,” said another leader.
“My mom says ‘boobie’ is an immature word for a very serious matter,” another student
said.
Smith-Mosel shared how she was with a colleague when she received news of her
cancer diagnosis and that she never once heard the term “boobie” used by the doctors
as they discussed frightening treatment options.
Wilson Key Club member Taylor
Gomsrud helps foster children
choose food at the cookie table.
Colleen Cline, career counselor at First Creek, came to the class to plan the upcoming
ASB food drive, and shared her experiences as a cancer survivor with the students.
They voted to donate all the proceeds from the December “civi” day ticket sales to the
Susan G. Komen for the Cure organization—and to stand behind the school policy
against the bracelets. Students can wear non-uniform clothes on civi day.
“We got it! It is a First Creek tradition that all civi ticket sales go to charity,” said Nodia
Rogers, ASB president. “Last year, we raised money for the Red Cross and the
Veterans Administration. We bought gift card for food baskets. And, now we are
supporting research for breast cancer. It keeps us grateful and aware.” The First Creek
leadership students encourage all staff and students to consider joining them in their
support for Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
Stadium students participate in Dia de los Muertos at TAM
For the second year in a row, Laurie Brown’s students at Stadium High School
participated in the Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebration at the Tacoma Art
Museum. Brown is the commercial printmaking instructor at Stadium.
Karla Tanori from El Centro Latino talked to Brown’s class about this cultural event,
then, about 12 students created prints for the Day of the Dead, which hung at the
Britanny Mitchell, a Wilson Key
Club member, helps foster
children decorate cookies at the
Catholic Community Services’
Christmas party.
Lincoln H.S. students help
out at First Creek M.S.
museum from Oct. 23 through Nov. 9. Two of Brown’s students created a banner for
the celebration at Centro Latino on Nov. 7.
Oaxacan artist Fulgencio Lazo created a tapete, or sand painting, as he has done with
his crew for several years at the museum. Four of Brown’s students helped Lazo,
along with students from high schools in other districts, assisted Lazo in making the
tapete.
Dorn delivers bullying model policy to Legislature
Nearly one in five 10th graders don’t feel safe at school, according to the most recent
Healthy Youth Survey. Nearly one in four have been bullied in the past 30 days.
A new model policy and procedure on harassment, intimidation and bullying could
improve those numbers. The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction delivered
the policy and procedure to the state Legislature on Dec. 1 as part of Substitute House
Bill 2801, passed by the 2010 Legislature. All districts must adopt at least the new
policy and procedure by Aug. 1, 2011.
Lincoln H.S. students “pay it
forward” by helping First Creek
M.S. students fill out paperwork
to sign up for the Youth
Legislature trip to Olympia.
Foss chooses Daffodil
princess
“We know that bullying is a big issue,” said Randy Dorn, superintendent of public
instruction. “I take the safety of our students very seriously. We know that bullying is
affecting some students’ education, and that’s not acceptable. Creating a model policy
and concrete procedures for dealing with these issues will give kids a safer
environment to learn.”
Read the full story, click here.
Foss H.S. candidates for Daffodil
Princess pose with their escorts.
Potential K-12 funding reductions may help balance state budget
Washington Association of School Administrators (WASA) published a Legislative
Update on Dec. 8. The following is an excerpt from the update.
According to state law (the Budget and Accounting Act), whenever the state projects a
budget deficit, action must be taken to “balance” the budget. Absent legislative action,
the governor must require an across-the-board cut to keep the budget from going into
the red. Because of a project shortfall of nearly $520 million in the current 2009-2011
Operating Budget, the governor issued an Executive Order directing a 6.287 percent
across-the-board cut beginning Oct. 1. Basic education, debt service and pension
payments were exempt.
The November revenue forecast increased the current shortfall by an additional $385
million. Coupled with projected increases in caseloads, the current shortfall is
approximately $1.14 billion. If the Legislature fails to take action, another across-theboard cut of 4.5 percent would be required.
K-12 budget reductions may be necessary. Governor Gregoire’s proposals include:
 Transfer federal “Edujobs” funds to the General Fund
 Reduce education reform
 Eliminate school-based Medicaid services
 Reduce OSPI administration and program funding
 Eliminate the summer vocational program
 Reduce Local Effort Assistance (LEA or levy equalization), retroactively, by 6.3
percent
 Eliminate the K-4 enhancement-full year, retroactive
 Delay school districts’ June K-12 apportionment payment to July
Senate Republicans and House Democrats and House Republicans also have K-12
budget reduction proposals. To read WASA’s full Dec. 8 Legislative Update which
includes these House and Senate proposals, click here.
By law, the governor must release a biennial budget proposal by Dec. 20. She
tentatively is scheduled to release her proposal on Tuesday, Dec. 14.
Resources to help observe special days available
Bianca Gonzaga was crowned as
the Foss 2011 Daffodil Princess
Nov. 15. Her escort is Luan
Nguyen-Tran.
Author visits Jason Lee
Author of the young adult book
“Leaving Yesler,” Peter Bacho visited
Anne Hawkins’ eighth-grade AVID
class at Jason Lee Middle School.
Stadium students help with Day
of the Dead celebration
Resources to assist teachers and schools in their 2010-11 observances of Constitution
and Citizenship Day, Veteran’s Day, Temperance and Good Citizenship Day and
Martin Luther King Jr. are listed in the second half of the memorandum. Click on
Memorandum 054-10M for the resources.
Applause
Stadium music students selected for All-Northwest groups
Outstanding music students from the six Northwest states (Alaska, Idaho, Montana,
Oregon, Washington and Wyoming) have received top honors by being selected to
participate in the biennial MENC: the National Association for Music Education’s AllNorthwest band, orchestra, treble choir, mixed choir, jazz band and/or jazz choir.
Students in Laurie Brown’s class
at Stadium H.S. assisted
Oaxacan artist Fulgencio Lazo
create a sand painting or tapete
at the Tacoma Art Museum for
the Day of the Dead celebration.
Stadium High School students Brendan Griffiths, Brandon Hart, Emma Goodwin,
Nicole Coffen, Evan Hulbert, Will Hamel, Zach Miller, Hallie Peterson, Tommy
Hawthorne, Henry DeMarais and Sarah Kim will join nearly 1,000 other outstanding
high school student musicians in this gala event.
The MENC All-Northwest band, orchestra, choirs and jazz groups will convene in
Bellevue Feb. 16-20. The finest high school musicians in each of these musical genres
will rehearse under the direction of the world-renowned conductors and present their
final concerts in Seattle’s Benaroya Hall.
The musicians were selected through auditions to participate in this event, which is
sponsored by the Northwest Division of MENC: The National Association for Music
Education.
Mount Tahoma hosts first Turkey Bowl
Enrigue Garcia in Laurie Brown’s
printmaking class at Stadium
H.S. had a print on display at the
Tacoma Art Museum.
The Mount Tahoma High School Class of 2011 would like to thank all who came out
and supported the first Mount Tahoma Turkey Bowl at Tower Lanes on Nov. 18, along
with the countless donations from staff, students, parents and community members.
The fundraiser was a huge success! "T-Bird Pride is Justified!" Thank you!
—Ronald Gordon, Mount Tahoma English teacher
Point Defiance hosts safety/harvest festival
Point Defiance Elementary School sponsored a Safety/Harvest Festival recently.
Twelve Foss High School ROTC cadets helped make the event for families a success.
Principal Olga Lay said, “Tacoma police and fire department personnel were at the
school with their squad car and fire engine to allow students the opportunity to learn
more about what they do for our community. The K-9 dog ‘Oscar’ even showed up to
have kids pet him and learn more about how he protects our community.”
Stadium student Susana Rios
stands next to her print that was
on display in the Tacoma Art
Museum as part of the Day of the
Dead celebration.
Dirt Alert, Envirochallenger, and organizations were at the event to help families
understand recycling and saving the community. The Point Defiance PTA organized
the festival and had candy corn races and caramel-apple dipping. Participants made
book marks and bird feeders to help animals during the cold. It was an awesome time
for all. The pie-walk was our favorite and big pumpkin pies were given for the person
standing on the correct number at the end of the song.
Youth and Government students pay it forward
Twelve Youth and Government students from Lincoln High School "paid it forward" on
Nov. 30 during their visit to First Creek Middle School to work with students signing up
for the Youth Legislature trip to Olympia. Two of the 12 had made this journey before.
Zandra Jones and Chris Canche began their participation in Youth and Government as
Gault eighth graders three years ago—before ground was broken on the new Eastside
school.
"The way the Youth and Government academic program has taken off on the Eastside
is a testimony to the strength of this academic program," said Rachel Smith-Mosel,
Youth and Government advisor. "In my four years as advisor, our traveling delegation
has grown from 12 to 30, and the program has expanded vertically into Lincoln High
School. The180 First Creek students this year are learning how to write and debate
Stadium students helped create
this sand painting at the Tacoma
Art Museum for the Day of the
Dead.
Grant performs at TAM
pieces of legislation."
Principal Delores Beason, a strong supporter of the program, knows well the lifechanging work taking place in Roger Moran's social studies class and Rachel SmithMosel's leadership class. "Our kids learn the power of their voice, how to express and
debate their ideas, and, most of all, how to write and pass policy that has a direct
impact on their lives," Beason said. First Creek Middle School and Lincoln High School
owe a debt of gratitude to the YMCA's Don Brevik who has partnered with the Youth
and Government students for four years, changing the lives of hundreds of Eastside
young people.
CBTP thanks those collecting eyeglasses
Grant Center for Expressive Arts
students sang songs from three
musicals at the Tacoma Art
Museum’s “Let It Snow” event.
Thank you to Judy Smith’s Introduction to Nursing class at Stadium High School,
Sheryl Rytkonen’s fifth graders at Crescent Height Elementary School, Sherman and
Sheridan elementary schools, Transportation Department, Tone/Madison staff
members in helping the Community-based Transition Program (CBTP) trainees collect
eyeglasses for the Lions Club.
Your help with collecting eyeglasses for people in third-world countries is terrific. You
are making these people happy, and we know that they are grateful for all your help.
For some, this might be the first time they can see clearly. Many of these people or
families can’t afford eyeglasses for their children or themselves.
CBTP staff members had a great training session with Ron Reierson, their contact
person with the Downtown Tacoma Lion’s Club, learning all basic facets of eyeglass
collection, sorting and washing.
Your continued support is very appreciated by all of the CBTP trainees. Thank you,
from CBTP trainees at MultiCare Health Systems site.
—Cathy Sanderson, CBTP
Foss chooses 2011 Daffodil Princess
Grant students play the recorder
at the art museum’s “Let It
Snow” event Dec. 5.
JAWS class goes to Seattle
Center
A panel of seven judges selected Foss High School senior Bianca Gonzaga as the
2011 Foss Daffodil Princess Nov. 15. Daughter of Rolando and Delia Gonzaga, Bianca
has a 3.79 grade point average and is a senior class senator for ASB and cheer
captain. She would like to major in cellular biology and begin a career in cancer
research.
The other candidates included Ashley Bonning, escorted by Ross Cowart; Lisa Ngo,
escorted by Khiem Tran; Danay Jones, escorted by Gerdon Jones; Tasia Baldwin,
escorted by Andrew Huo; and Erica Wood, escorted by Jake Nelson. Bianca was
escorted by Luan Nguyen-Tran. All six girls did an outstanding job, and Foss is proud
them.
—Brenda Klein, Foss H.S.
Grant students sing at Tacoma Art Museum
The grandfather of one of the
Browns Point E.S. JAWS
students, Hannah Horiuchi,
designed this large mural, which
has been on the Seattle Center
grounds since the World's Fair.
Siesta Sloth poses for SAMI
Students from Grant Center of the Expressive Arts performed at the "Let it Snow"
event at the Tacoma Art Museum Dec. 5. The event was a free family day with a
chance to sip on hot cocoa, decorate gingerbread cookies and make holiday cards.
The Grant students sang songs from three musicals and enjoyed the many art
activities the museum offered.
Professional development, staff opportunities
Paraeducator assessment test Jan. 12
Tacoma Public Schools is offering a two-hour para test prep class Dec. 13 from 5 to 7
p.m. and the para assessment test Jan. 12, from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Both sessions will be
at the Professional Development Center, 6501 N. 23rd St. An AA degree, 72 collegelevel credits or more or passing the para test is a requirement for employment as a
paraeducator in Tacoma Public Schools.
The cost for the prep class is $10 and the test is $75. Registration is required. The test
Siesta the Sloth from Point
Defiance Zoo was the live model
for SAMI students, who made
gesture drawings of the sloth.
David Lay drew this picture.
fee must be paid at time of registration. A link to the registration information can be
found on TPS Web site at the address.
If you have any questions, contact Andrea Frazier, secretary for Professional and
Organizational Development, at 253-571-1061.
Tech tips
For teachers: SWIFT Events – Using the Calendar
The Events calendar in your SWIFT classroom Web site allows you to quickly share
information and details with your students, their families and your colleagues. Click
here to view a video tutorial for this.
For more information, contact Emily Bannon, Instructional Technology, at 253-5713524.
For teachers: SWIFT Image Gallery – Create a Photo Album
The Image Gallery in your SWIFT classroom Web site allows you to create and share
photo albums of pictures with your students, their families and your colleagues. Be
sure to have proper parental permission before taking and/or posting photos online.
Click here to view a video tutorial for how to create a photo album in SWIFT.
Grant Carillo drew Siesta hanging
from her tree stand. Sloths have
large, curved claws to hook
around branches.
Mt. Tahoma bowling raises
funds
For more information, contact Emily Bannon, Instructional Technology, at 253-5713524.
Commute trip reduction
Cuts to services could limit options in winter months
Fewer vehicles on the roads will cut down on the number of accidents when we have
snow- and ice-covered roads. You might want to try carpooling, vanpooling or riding
the bus during the winter months when the conditions are too harsh for walking or
biking.
The first Mt. Tahoma H.S. Turkey
Bowl at Tower Lanes was a huge
success. “T-Bird Pride is
Justified.”
Birney celebrates twice
If Pierce Transit’s Proposition 1 on the Feb. 8 ballot does not pass, there will be
significant cuts in bus service. Without additional funding, 35 percent of the service
provided today is projected to be cut by the end of 2012. As bus service is reduced,
SHUTTLE paratransit service for people with disabilities will also be reduced.
Community opportunities
Dickens Festival at Stadium Dec. 11
The sixth Dickens Festival at Stadium will be Saturday, Dec. 11, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Numerous free activities will be offered from carriage rides, open houses and
entertainment on indoor stages to open houses. The Stadium Jazz Band and Jason
Lee Middle School Strings will perform for the event.
Birney E.S. students and staff
had two celebrations in one day.
They thanked Sgt. Frank Krause
on First Responder’s Day in an
all-school assembly where they
presented him with a basket of
cards and letters and treats to
take back to his office to share.
For a list of performances and details of the Victorian costume contest, visit the Web
site at www.dickensfestival.net.
First Night family-friendly New Year’s celebration
First Night Tacoma Pierce County is a substance-free, family-friendly New Year’s Eve
celebration of the arts with music, dance, magic and lots of fire taking place in the
downtown Tacoma Theater District from 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 31 to the stroke of
midnight. To learn more about First Night, visit the Web site at
www.firstnighttacoma.org.
First Night 2011 buttons are on sale now. Take advantage of advance purchase
pricing through Dec. 30:
Birney also celebrated Principal



Adults, $10
Kids, ages 7 to17, $5
Family, two adults and up to four kids, $30
Chris Hinds’ birthday. With a
special poster and a cape.
Tacoma's Last Mile at First Night
Run or Walk the Last Mile of 2010 at First Night at Metro Park's Fun Run: Tacoma's
Last Mile. This event starts at 6:15 p.m. on Dec. 31. Sign up now.
For more information about this and other Metro Parks Fun Runs, please visit the Web
site at www.metroparkstacoma.org/races.
Grand Cinema shows free kids’ movies once a month
The Grand Cinema, 606 S. Fawcett Ave., will show a 1983 version of “A Christmas
Story” on Saturday, Dec. 18. Doors will open at 10 a.m. for a 10:30 a.m. show; only the
first 100 people are admitted to this free showing.
TCC Gallery offers post pop art competition
The Gallery at Tacoma Community College (TCC) invites district students, teachers,
staff members and parents to participate in a special post pop art exhibition and
competition Jan. 20 at The Gallery. Grade-level lesson plans have been developed by
Gallery Director Jennifer Olson-Rudenko for this community learning experience. The
final deadline for all submissions is Jan. 10 for district schools. Please contact OlsonRudenko or Sidnee Wheelwright at 252-566-5192 if you have any questions.
Free conference to help military children
The Military Child Education Coalition’s Supporting Children of the National Guard and
Reserve Institute is a professional development program for educators and
professionals to reach out in a support network to the children and families of the
National Guard and Reserve. A free conference will be Jan. 12-13 in Renton at the
Blackriver Training and Conference Center, Puget Sound Educational Service District,
800 Oakesdale Ave. S.W. from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Attendance is required for both
days.
Register online at http://www.MilitaryChild.org. For more information, contact Laura
Wood at 254-953-1923 or e-mail Laura.Wood@militarychild.org.
Tacoma School District No. 10 complies with all federal and state laws and regulations and does not discriminate
on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, or ancestry, the
presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability or use of a trained guide dog or service animal by a person
with a disability, age, familial or marital status, honorably discharged veteran or military status. This applies to all
educational programs and extra-curricular activities. Inquiries regarding the application of the above should be
directed to Laurie Taylor, assistant superintendent, Human Resources, telephone 253-571-1252. Inquiries
regarding the application of Title IX should be directed to Jennifer Kubista, director of Student Life, telephone 253-571-1123. Inquiries regarding the
application of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (concerning students with disabilities who are not eligible for special education) should be
directed to Jennifer Traufler, executive director, Student Services, telephone 253-571-1224. Inquiries regarding accommodations for disabled
employees and the public should be directed to Leslie Nohr, Disability Accommodations Office, telephone 253-571-1021. These individuals may be
contacted by mail at P.O. Box 1357, Tacoma, WA 98401-1357.
Birney Office Coordinator DeeDee
Fraga made a huge castle
birthday cake for Chris Hinds
much like the one in the poster.
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