INSIDE
What you’ll find
in this edition
L E A R N I N G
WASL RESULTS
Reading scores increase,
math needs work. 6-7
TEAMWORK
Cougar Moutain Jr. High
teachers work together to
create student success. 3
P E O P L E
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W W W . B E T H E L S D . O R G
O C T O B E R
2 0 0 6
In partnership with University of Washington
District focuses on math
In an effort to boost mathematics achievement, the district is
teaming up with the University
of Washington for a series of indistrict teacher workshops. The
partnership began last summer
when the district sent 35 teachers and administrators to an
intensive one-week training at
the UW’s Seattle campus.
Led by Professor Elham Kazemi, a specialist in how to teach
F A L L
math effectively, the aim is to
build math leadership at each
elementary school. Through a
National Science Foundation
grant, Kazemi and colleagues are
working with 10 districts around
the state.
The training takes a studentcentered approach. It poses the
following questions:
• What does powerful math
teaching look like?
• What skills and understanding do students need for math
success?
• How do we get kids to love
math?
At a training session two weeks
ago, teacher teams, instructional
coaches and principals huddled
at tables in the district office as
they looked at student work.
They talked about how students
approach math problems differently and how teachers might
help each unique student make
connections.
Kazemi bounced from table
to table, listening to ideas and
posing questions to guide the
conversation.
See Focus on Math, 4
F E S T I V I T I E S
COMMUNITY
SUPPORTS
TEACHER
Donations, moral support
provide boost. 8
BOARD LAUDS
TOWNSEND
Board members praise
Dennis Townsend as he
announces resignation. 4
S P O R T S
Signs of the season – chrysanthemums, pumpkins, corn stalks and kids – all come together as schools celebrate fall. Camas Prairie second-graders Isaiah
Thomas, Jose Garcia, Madison Stutheit and Paige Hoskins recently enjoyed a beautiful autumn day.
Top priority – Keeping schools safe, secure
Watch. Talk. Prepare.
In the wake of national concern
about safe schools, the district
continues to ramp up its efforts
to keep local schools as safe as
possible.
“Parents should be aware that
we take safety and security seriously,” said Superintendent Tom
Seigel. “You can’t hold school
unless you have a safe, healthy
and secure environment. We’re
doing all we can to make that
happen.”
Keep your eyes open
FOOTBALL
RECORD
GKHS senior J.T. Albers
sets SPSL record in game
against Beamer. 11
“Everybody needs to be more
vigilant,” said Ken Board, one of
three SRO’s (School Resource Of-
ficers) who help safeguard district
schools.
Pierce County Sheriff’s deputies monitor activity at each of the
three high schools and some junior high and elementary schools.
The armed officers are on-call
and visible at football games,
dances and other activities.
Board encourages anyone
– staff, parents, neighbors – to
watch for unusual activity.
“Confront anyone who seems
out of place,” Board said. “Walk
up and ask politely, ‘Can I help
you?’”
Most people who come into
a school are just lost, he said.
Students can help by reporting
any strange adults to a teacher or
administrator. All district employees wear green badges, so they’re
easy to identify.
Talk it over with someone
In the old days, “telling on”
someone was frowned upon – but
times have changed.
“Snitching, finking or tattling
– whatever you want to call it – is
not a bad thing,” said Seigel. “If
students know about a kid who’s
suicidal, depressed or anxious,
it’s OK to tell a caring adult that
someone’s having trouble. It will
be kept in confidence.”
Parents have a role to play in
diffusing a potentially dangerous
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Bethel School District No. 403
516 E. 176th St., Spanaway, WA 98387-8399
(253) 683-6000; www.bethelsd.org
Bethel School District Resident
situation.
“We encourage parents to talk
to their kids. Ask if they know
anyone who’s having behavioral
concerns.”
Sometimes the problem comes
from the outside.
“People who have violent
thoughts can find help,” Seigel
said. “It’s as simple as calling 911.
Trained people are there to help
them sort things out.”
Plan is in place
Few people want a school to
turn into a fortress.
See Safety, 4
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OCTOBER 2006
BETHEL PRIDE • WWW.BETHELSD.ORG
S H O U T
O U T S
Checking for allergies
Karen Ochsner, the food service
supervisor at Spanaway Jr. High,
took time out of a busy day to check
ingredient labels for possible food
allergies. Thank you for your caring,
Karen and staff.
CONNIE MARTINSON
Federal card count
I’d like to shout out Marty Gross,
a paraeducator at Spanaway Jr.
High, for taking on the responsibility of coordinating and counting
the federal cards every year. This is
huge and thankless job. Thank you,
Marty!
TRACY ZILLY
Naches Trail Elementary
Spanaway Jr. High
High school helper
Kudos to Micaela Metcalf, Graham-Kapowsin junior and Running
Start student, for coming in three
to four mornings every week before
going to college to listen to my firstgraders read. Wow!
DORIS WRIGHT
Kapowsin Elementary
Generous donation
The Bethel Family Center sends a
big shout to South Hill Fred Meyer,
Johnsonville Brats Co. and to our
center volunteer, Vicki Young.
On Sept. 23, Fred Meyer held a
“Johnsonville Brat” promotion and
donated a generous share of the
proceeds to the Family Center.
LAURA MALARCHER
Letter to cherish
Constance Martinson is a wonderful lady who was my daughter’s
second grade teacher at Naches
Trail. Now she’s the assistant principal. As a teacher, she was always
so kind to all the kids and took time
to visit them at home after school.
Mrs. Martinson recently wrote a
letter to my daughter to wish her the
best in her senior year. I know that
my daughter will cherish that letter
forever. It’s just great to see how
much a caring adult can influence a
child’s life.
Bethel Family Center
FJH counselor kudos
Frontier Jr. High counselors had
many scheduling issues to deal with,
and they did an awesome job handling them. My seventh-grader had
problems with his schedule, and
the counselors addressed the issues
quickly and with much understanding and compassion. Thank you for
helping my child ease into seventh
grade with a positive start.
LORI WITTSTRUCK
Parent
MARY CHURCH
Parent
Going above and beyond
A great big shout out for Staci
Maine in the Human Resources department for helping me submit all
my clock hours before the October
deadline. The time and attention
you gave me and my chaotic, lastminute self was above and beyond
the call of duty.
DEBI REED
Spanaway Jr. High
Welcome to the family
A big Cougar Mountain shout
out to our first-year Cougars: Chris
Stickney, Lisa Lange, Jay Hirst, Jennifer Hippensteal, Jeanette Lundy and
Shari Hall. You are a great addition
to our family. Thanks for working so
hard with all our students. We love
you!
CLIFF ANDERSON
Cougar Mountain principal
One in a million
I would like to thank Ron Hare,
our custodian at Rocky Ridge. He
does a million little things all day
long to make students and teachers have a nicer day. He is always
there to hold open a door, help carry
things into the classroom, and put
a smile on your face. He is one in a
million!
N
I
N
Sharon Hagen, the 10th grade
math teacher at Challenger High,
has a unique way of reaching students who are struggling in math.
Our WASL scores went up 10 points
last year due to her dedication and
caring. She calls home when her
students are absent to give them
their assignments. She gives up her
lunch to work with students who
need extra help. And she stays late
almost every night to correct papers.
She is one of the most dedicated
staff members I have ever worked
with.
SUSAN TRINIDAD
Challenger
Thanks to assistants
Bethel High teacher assistants
deserve a big shout out for cheerfully delivering several hundred
uniform items to the AFJROTC
portable. Their positive attitude has
been a bright spot as we stand up
our program. Their service saves us
much time, allowing us to focus on
classroom presentations. Thanks,
TAs, for a job well done!
JUDSON KELLEY, Lt Col, USAF
(Retired)
Bethel High
Help from Key Bank
Band teacher
Key Bank employees assisted
Spanaway Elementary in building
a shed for the Spanaway Garden
S
E
DIANA CRAIG
A
Terrific teacher
I
D
L
O
O
Project. They also completed the
building of the greenhouse. They
provided guidance on the playground, leading students in football,
4-square and volleyball. They’ve
made an incredible impact on our
school.
KIMBERLY HANSON
Spanaway Elementary Principal
Best at the ‘Crest
A shout out to the awesome VIP
staff and students at Cedarcrest.
We had a smooth start of the year
and all are working hard and having
great crucial conversations around
student achievement and differentiated instruction. We are truly
“Achieving our best at the ‘Crest.”
CHERYL BARNETT
Cedarcrest Jr. High principal
Contagious smile
I want to give a big shout out
to Lenny Foster, Challenger’s new
culinary arts teacher. Though this is
only Lenny’s first year teaching, he
shows his caring and compassionate nature for people each day. His
smile is contagious and his energy is
inspiring.
MARCUS DOUGLAS
Challenger
Caring colleagues
I would like to give my thanks to
the staff at Frontier Jr. High. Recent
health issues led to surgery. I tried to
come into work but was in so much
pain, I barely got through the first
five minutes. Several staff members
immediately huddled around me.
Before I knew it, I was back in my
car, my classes were covered, and
my daughter had a ride home. My
co-workers insisted that I take time
off until I was healed. Several staff
members volunteered to donate
time. I am so overwhelmingly grateful for all the wonderful people I
work with.
AIMEE GOWER
Frontier Jr. High
Hard-working counselors
A huge shout out to the two new
counselors, Julie Wiley and Ursula
Scott, at Bethel Jr. High. Both have
worked incredibly long hours these
first few weeks to get students in the
correct classes and level out class
size loads for teachers.
RUTH PITINGORO
Bethel Jr. High
Coming to the rescue
My co-worker, Janet Goatz,
helped me survive the first week of
the year by taking a huge project
off my desk. I was so stressed with
my regular workload of registering
more than 100 new students that I
just could not handle an additional
task. Janet graciously offered to take
charge, and in doing so, saved my
Bethel Jr. High counselors Ursula Scott and Julie Wiley worked long hours to
register students for class and keep schedules balanced.
sanity. It’s co-workers like Janet
who make coming to work such a
pleasure.
LESLIE THORSON
Cedarcrest Jr. High
Thanks for thoughtfulness
We would like to thank everyone
for all of your prayers, thoughts,
calls, flowers, cards, food and donations following the passing of our
son, Cameron. It is all greatly appreciated and has helped us through
this difficult time. We would like to
invite you to visit Cameron’s guest
book at tribnet.com
LYNN KELLEY
Cougar Mountain Jr. High
Solving payroll problem
Donna Gunderson-Grazzini and
her colleagues in payroll went beyond the call of duty to stay late and
solve an issue with my paycheck.
They were gracious about helping
me with a direct deposit problem. I
was impressed – and relieved! – with
their efforts to make sure I got paid.
PAM MURPHY
Shining Mountain Elementary
Welcome to BHS library
Bethel High librarian Morgen
Larsen deserves a big shout out
for turning the library into a place
where students want to be. She
has worked hard to win grants to
make the library more inviting,
more comfortable, and more about
the students. Thank you, Morgen,
for inviting my special education
students to share this with you every
day!
JULIE HAMMOND
Bethel High
Awesome school secretary
We have the best principal’s
secretary in the entire district. For
the past weeks our office has been
short handed. It was not uncommon
K
Thinking about the future
What will schools look like in
20 to 30 years?
I recently caught a glimpse
of it when I watched a video on
Microsoft’s new “School of the
Future.” The company struck
a deal three years ago with the
Philadelphia School District to
build the project. Opened earlier this fall, the new facility is
attracting interest from techies
and educators alike.
So what’s exciting about this
new school? For starters, textbooks, blackboards, paper and
pens are out. High-tech learning
tools such as laptops, digital
whiteboards, and campus-wide
wireless access are in. It’s all part
of creating the “21st Century
learner.”
Future teaching
But it’s not just the gadgets
that impressed me – though
using a smartcard to open a
locker is pretty cool. It’s how the
nation’s best minds are thinking ahead. Microsoft didn’t just
dump a bunch of money into
the building; a team of hightech specialists spent three
years talking about the future of
education.
Here are some highlights:
• Teachers use specially designed software to give different
assessments to students during
class. The software allows students to work at their own pace,
while the anonymity avoids
embarrassing slower learners.
• The school provides students
with an at-home broadband
internet connection to access
learning materials from school.
Mark Wenzel
Communications Director
customized learning spaces.
Students work together in
groups or come together as a
class. It’s a completely mobile
learning environment.
• Teachers and students learn
to organize, plan, negotiate, deal with ambiguity and
manage relationships.
• A state-of-the-art Interactive
Learning Center includes access
to video conferencing and other
technologies. It allows students
to connect with outside experts
who can help them understand
their various fields of study. It
also aids students in making
informed decisions about posthigh school careers.
• Classroom furniture may
be easily arranged to create
Chief learner
Another appealing part of
this school is that the chief
administrator has abandoned the title of “principal.”
Instead, she is called the
“chief learner.” In doing so,
students and staff see that
the learning process never
ends – no matter how old we
get.
Now that’s a lesson for the
ages.
to see Jerri McKeown going from
desk to desk, changing hats as the
need warranted, and handling the
task with fierce determination and
pizzazz. Even with all the stress of
new staff, new students and added
responsibilities, Jerri always smiles
and offers a pleasant greeting when
people enter the office.
DON FERRON
Bethel High
Landscaping at Evergreen
A million thanks to Greg Reber,
Neil Tolstead and Doug Shock for
allocating the resources and time
to landscape Evergreen Elementary
and re-stripe our parking lot. We
now receive daily comments about
how neat and inviting Evergreen
looks. We appreciate you!
JAY BROWER
Evergreen
Inputting data
I’d like to give a big shout out to
Meg Bushnell and the others who
work with her on WESPAC, the
student information system. They
did a lot of manual data entry that
really helped teachers like me who
have multi-grade classes. We truly
appreciate all they’ve done.
BRENT HOGENSON
Cedarcrest Jr. High
How to shout out:
Want to “shout out” someone who
has done something above and
beyond the call of duty? It could
be a student, staff member, parent,
community business – anyone
deserving. E-mail Mark Wenzel at
mwenzel@bethelsd.org or call
(253) 683-6051. It’s a great way to
recognize a good deed!
bethelpride
Bethel Pride is produced by the
Bethel School District. It is mailed
to 40,000 addresses in the district
during the school year to promote
community/school relations. Please
let us know if you have an item of
interest for publication.
Mark Wenzel:
communications director,
Bethel Pride editor and photographer;
253-683-6051; mwenzel@bethelsd.org
Bethel Pride staff:
Kellie Ham, Irene Hicks, Dodie Raden,
and Jeff Rosczyk
Bethel School District is an Equal
Opportunity Employer and complies with all
federal rules and regulations including Title
IX/RCW 28A.640 and Sec. 504. Bethel does
not discriminate on the basis of race, color,
national origin, sex or handicap including
student participation in educational
programs and extracurricular activities.
Contact Laurie Barckley at (253) 683-6021
about Title IX or Bob Maxwell at (253)
683-6921 about Section 504 compliance
procedures.
bethelpride
OCTOBER 2006
WWW.BETHELSD.ORG • BETHEL PRIDE
3
Teachers team up at Cougar Mountain
“The writing assignments are
exactly like what they would get
in April on the WASL,” said Mrs.
O’Malley.
Mr. O’Malley studies the WASL
– analyzing what kids need to
know.
“He gives them the formula for
writing and a structure to hang
things on,” said Smith.
Hirst offers one-on-one help,
assisting students with specific
learning issues.
“They won’t let students opt
out,” said Smith. “They don’t let
kids put their heads down on the
table and choose to fail.”
Team energy is contagious.
“The teaching never stops. It
goes on solid from bell-to-bell,”
said Mrs. O’Malley.
Goofy? You bet.
Effective? Without a doubt.
Cougar Mountain Jr. High’s
seventh grade communication
arts teachers are a fun bunch of
over-age adolescents. But their
students consistently lead the
pack in WASL scores. As a result,
everyone wants to know the secret to their success.
“People are always asking,
‘What are they doing out there
at Cougar Mountain?’” said Colleen Smith, the district’s TOSA,
communication arts teacher on
special assignment.
The answer: teamwork.
Cast of characters
It’s a two-man, two-woman
team with decades of experience.
Bill O’Malley, “the idea man,”
explains expository and persuasive writing to 12-year-olds.
Kris O’Malley, married to Bill,
is “the mom/counselor.” She can
crunch student data like a pro,
but still finds time to wipe away
a student’s tears.
Nancy Tengesdal, “the gatherer,
scavanger, packager,” finds the
right tools to get through to kids.
Jay Hirst, “the climate-control
guy,” picks up the pieces and
lends an extra boost to kids who
need more help.
And Principal Cliff Anderson
plays an important supporting
role.
“Cliff ’s the lynchpin of our
team,” said Mr. O’Malley.
When the group came to him
four years ago with the idea,
Anderson didn’t blink; he simply
asked, “What can I do to help?”
Power of the team
Washington state’s seventh
grade WASL reading scores
dropped 7 points in 2006. Cougar
Mountain scores fell fewer than 4
points, from 76.3 percent in 2005
Just like farmers
Cougar Mountain Jr. High teachers Nancy Tengesdal, Kris O'Malley, Jay Hirst and Bill O'Malley are helping
students 'catch the wave of success' in reading and writing.
to 73.1 percent in 2006.
Smith said that the success is
“extremely impressive.”
“They came to every training
session. They’d sit down, discuss
ideas, take them back to the classroom and apply them.”
The team divides the workload,
analyzes data, and works together
to interpret what particular skills
their students need to improve.
“All their decisions are datadriven. They get energy from
working together. They play together, laugh together and genuinely like each other,” Smith
said.
Then they get competitive
– with their own record. When
high scores came back, they all
ask, “How can we top this?”
“It’s that internal drive that
keeps them going – the power
of the team,” Smith said. “They
celebrate together and with their
kids.”
Sometimes it’s a little far out.
A full-size surfboard demonstrates their creative approach.
“They hold onto that surfboard
and talk like old surfers,” said
Cliff Anderson. “Taking the WASL
is like riding through a tsunami
– in difficult times you’ve got to be
prepared.”
The four of them have been
heard chanting, “Catch a wave,
catch a wave, catch a wave!”
It must work – their students are
“catching the wave of success.”
It’s really no secret
The team meets students in
three, two-hour blocks. The men
run one classroom; the women
the other. Each block has about
50 students.
The goal is simple: boost
achievement.
“We prepare students to be successful on the WASL – that’s what
the state has charged us with,”
said Mr. O’Malley.
And prepare they do – Anderson said that by test time,
students will have practiced for
the writing test at least 20 times.
Getting a 12-year-old to sit still
and write for a three-hour session
is no easy task.
“It’s just like good coaching,”
said Anderson. “They practice
and prepare before they play.
When the lights come on and the
whistle blows, they’re ready.”
Tengesdal specializes in Internet research. She finds resources
on the OSPI (Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction)
Web site. She creates her own test
questions in WASL format using
state learning objectives.
But these surfers also think of
themselves as farmers.
“Kids are like seedlings – they
require a lot of nurturing,” said
Mrs. O’Malley.
In the fall, it’s labor-intensive.
“We’re tilling the ground,
putting in the seed,” said Mr.
O’Malley. “The watering and
growth routines are being established and the learning begins to
take place.”
Gradually, students learn to
bloom on their own.
“They sit in a circle and read
each other’s papers and come up
with scores,” said Mrs. O’Malley.
Harvest time – the April WASL–
is when it all comes together.
Master teachers
“They’re master teachers,” said
Anderson. “The four of them
together are passionate and emotional about their job. They can be
silly together, laugh together, cry
together, and cheer together – all
things kids look for in their teachers. I don’t know where you’ll find
a more effective team.”
AP tests take learning to the next level
Her sister’s fiance was housesitting this summer when he
picked up the mail for the Edholm
family. Tucked in among the
envelopes was a letter addressed
to Lauren, a Bethel High senior.
He called to ask her if he should
open the envelope. She promptly
said yes.
The news made Lauren’s day
– and will make her college days
even better.
She ear ned
a top score of
“5” on the Advanced Placement (AP) U.S.
Government &
Politics exam.
She’s just one
of the 661 district students
Lauren Edholm w h o t o o k A P
tests last spring.
That’s up from just 202 students
in 2002.
“We’ve worked hard to emphasize the importance of the
Advanced Placement program,”
said Superintendent Tom Seigel.
“We want students to challenge
themselves with more rigorous
content. AP is a great way to do
it.”
Setting a higher bar
The College Board offers the
exams for students in 37 courses
across 22 subject areas. Students
who pass the tests qualify for college credit.
At BHS, 199 students took the
exams, with students earning
passing scores on 73 tests. Twen-
ty-six students passed the U.S.
Government & Politics exam.
Edholm credits BHS government teacher Scott Darby for
helping her prepare.
“Mr. Darby was a ton of help,”
she said. “He created a class assignment where we had to create
a study guide by breaking up into
groups and doing a chapter on an
AP topic. My group did civil rights
and civil liberties.”
Another popular activity in
Darby’s AP class is a moot court,
where students take on the role
of attorneys and Supreme Court
justices in arguing real-life cases.
Students must cite law in their
presentations.
“I don’t let them know ahead
of time how the case was actually
decided,” Darby said. “This kind
of activity prepares them for the
test, gets them ready for college
and helps them become better
citizens.”
tory and US History, in addition
to a “5” on the calculus test. He
plans to attend the University of
Washington or the University of
Arkansas.
“The hardest part with AP is
keeping up with the reading,”
he said.
Building AP culture
At Graham-Kapowsin High,
224 students took the exam, with
students passing 45 tests.
“Our school is working hard to
build this program,” said counselor Mike Stallman, who oversees
the school’s AP program.
“Next year, we expect all 464
students enrolled in AP classes
to take AP exams. We’re seeing
students challenge themselves
– they’re asking to be put in AP
classes. We’re developing an AP
culture with high expectations.”
District AP classes
Biology
Calculus
Chemistry
European History
Language/Composition
Literature/Composition
Statistics
Studio Art
US Government/Politics
US History
Math whizzes
At Spanaway Lake High, 238
students took the exams, with
students earning a passing grade
of “3” or above on 82 tests. A total
of 21 SLHS students passed the
calculus exam, with six students
earning the highest mark. Karissa
Beckman teaches calculus at the
school.
“We were well prepared so I felt
confident,” said senior Sharelle
Pampo, who scored a “5.” “College
is expensive so being able to get
college credit is great.”
Senior Lance Krietemeyer
scored “4”s in European His-
Spanaway Lake High students Junko Kondo, Lance Krietemeyer and Sharelle Pampo all scored a '5' on the
Advanced Placement calculus exam. Their top marks will earn them college credit.
4
I N
bethellearning
OCTOBER 2006
BETHEL PRIDE • WWW.BETHELSD.ORG
B R I E F
Thank you very much,
Dennis Townsend
School board member
Dennis Townsend announced his resignation from
the board effective Nov. 1.
He plans to move to Juneau,
Alaska to take an engineering
job in the telecommunications field.
The board’s longest serving
member, Townsend was appointed in September 1991
and elected to the position
two months later.
“My main issue as a board
member has been to connect
the school district with the
community because there’s
so much the district does to
promote quality-of-life issues
out here,” he said.
Townsend says he’s proud
of how far the district has
come in the last 15 years.
“We’ve made huge gains in
both instruction and operations,” he said. “I’m confident
that the district is a better
place that when I started.”
In addition to the school
board, Townsend has served
as a Bethel Recreation coach
for 20 years. He’s coached
students from 10 elementary
schools in basketball, flag
football, volleyball, and fast
pitch.
“I’m going to miss that
almost as much as I miss the
board,” he said. “I’ve really
enjoyed taking a group of
kids and teaching them to
work as a team. The win-loss
record doesn’t matter – it’s
just feeling like a team when
we’re done.”
Board president Joy Cook
will miss Townsend.
“Dennis has brought
wisdom and caring to the
board," she said. “I particularly appreciate his big-picture approach to the issues.
He brings a vision to the
board that always keeps kids
at the core.”
A reception for Townsend
will be at North Star Elementary on Oct. 24 from 6 to 7
p.m. The school board will
vote on a replacement candidate later this fall. Interested
candidates should call the
superintendent’s office at
(253) 683-6010.
Student safety
A recent pedestrian accident has raised concern
about students walking to
school and riding the bus.
The student was hit while
walking to school. The student was transported to the
hospital, but did not suffer
serious injuries.
“This is an important reminder for both pedestrians
and drivers,” said Superintendent Tom Seigel.
“We must all be careful as
the days get shorter and the
driving conditions become
more challenging.”
The speed limit in school
zones when children are
present is 20 mph.
Focus on math
Continued from page 1
“I’m really excited about what’s
happening in Bethel,” she said.
“There’s so much energy. Everyone mentions the work they
did in improving literacy. Now
we have to do the same thing in
math.”
The district focus on reading
has led to gains on the WASL. In
2001, 60.3 percent of fourth-graders met standard on the state assessment. This year, 83.1 percent
met standard – a 23-point jump.
Graham Elementary teacher
Kristin Matheny says the training
sessions helped make her a better
math teacher.
“It’s exciting because it challenges us to get students to dig
deeper into their own understanding,” she said. “A lot of times
kids know more than we think
they do.”
Matheny likes how teachers
and students are thinking about
math these days.
“Ten years ago it was frustrating because kids would just
memorize math facts and then
forget them,” she said. “I feel like
the district trainings – both this
one and the ones for Connected
Math Project – have helped me
understand math a lot better. I’ve
learned a ton.”
Other teacher training
In addition to the UW program,
the district is promoting teacher
training through a variety of other
classes. In summer 2006, Bethel
teachers logged more than 5,200
hours in 20 math classes. Several
prominent math educators from
Washington state and beyond
joined the training.
“Our goal is to provide targeted
opportunities for teachers and
principals on specific areas of
math,” said Kathy Quick-Gunther, director of professional
development.
“We especially
want to find ways to bring struggling math students up to grade
level.”
Quick-Gunther points to teacher learning days, like the recent
one on Oct. 13, as important days
to improve student learning.
“While students had the day
off, teachers worked hard last
Friday,” she said. “We offered
nine different math workshops.
We plan to continue this work
on Learning Improvement Days
throughout the year.”
New math director
Brian Loffer, former math
teacher and assistant principal
at Bethel High, will lead the ef-
Graham Elementary first-grade teacher Molly Winn and and fifth-grade teacher Lindsay Running work with
University of Washington Professor Elham Kazemi during a recent training at the district office. The partnership
with the UW will continue throughout the year.
fort as the district director of
teaching and learning. He plans
to organize trainings for math
teachers and provide support for
principals.
Loffer knows what powerful math instruction looks like.
Seven years ago, he teamed up
with Bethel High veteran math
teacher Wyley Beatty. Together
they examined student work,
planned lessons and observed
each other’s teaching.
“It was one of the best moments
in my teaching life,” he said. “We
learned from each other, and we
both became better teachers as
a result.”
Loffer believes teacher teaming
will strengthen instruction.
He sees the following as keys
to success:
• Be clear about the learning targets: Students must understand
exactly what they are learning
each day and how it all ties together.
• Assess frequently and purposefully: There should be no
surprises about where a student is
in his or her learning. Tests must
be matched with learning targets.
Tests also help inform instruction
by showing student strengths and
weaknesses.
Safety
• Collaborate: When teachers
work together, they share ideas,
question assumptions and deepen their knowledge.
Continued from page 1
• Promote active investigation:
When math comes alive, it’s exciting. Hands-on learning and group
work create a fun environment
for students to develop their own
math learning.
• Involve parents: Parents need
to show a positive attitude about
math and remind children of how
important it is in life. They can
also help by connecting to school
resources like tutoring and other
special programs.
Overall, Loffer believes the
district is on the right track – and
he’s looking forward to student
success in math.
“We have a lot of dedicated staff
who are putting in the effort,” he
said. “Teachers are coming away
from these trainings optimistic.
They want to see huge gains in
student achievement, and they’re
willing to make changes to make
that happen.”
No one is complacent
While the odds are very slim
that similar incidents could occur here, Board says that having a plan in place is crucial.
“Nowadays, we don’t talk
about if it happens,” he said.
“We think in terms of when it
happens – and what we’ll do to
be prepared.”
Family Access
More than 5,000 parents
have signed up for “Family
Access,” an online tool that
allows parents to access student information including
attendance, health information, student schedule,
address and phone number.
The program allows parents
of students in grades 7-12
to view grades. The system
also provides a direct e-mail
link to the student’s teachers.
Parents may register for Family Access at school. Photo
identification is required.
“We want our community
to feel welcome and wanted in
our schools,” Seigel said. “For
our students, school should be
a friendly place – like a substitute home.”
That welcoming attitude
may be the key to safety.
“It’s the relationships that
matter,” Seigel continued. “It’s
kids-to-kids. And it’s kids-toadults. In the case of bullying
or potential harm to others,
kids should feel comfortable
going to an adult to let them
know that something’s not
right.”
Nevertheless, district schools
have a “what-if” plan in place.
Elements include: lockdown
drills, police presence and
school diagrams shared with
law enforcement.
Passage of the April bond
bought even more hardware,
including 28 high-tech security
cameras. New buildings will be
designed with student safety
as a top priority. Older buildings will be retrofitted to meet
higher security standards.
Despite news coverage of
school incidents, Seigel hasn’t
received many calls from parents. Some might conclude
it’s because the district has
been ahead of the game in
preparedness.
Keys to school safety
North Star third-grader Maxwell Cruz works on a math problem involving gummy bears. Teachers and students
are working hard to raise math scores ... one gummy bear at a time.
Watch: Just like in airports, be aware of
suspicious activity. Report it.
Talk: Tell officials about potential threats.
Keep an open dialog with children. It’s
OK to report troubled kids or adults.
Prepare: No ‘fail-safe’ plan exists.
Nevertheless, schools and families should
be prepared for emergencies.
bethelpride
OCTOBER 2006
WWW.BETHELSD.ORG • BETHEL PRIDE
School PTAs make a difference
People really can make a difference in schools – and they do
it every day. For many, getting
involved in PTA can be a first step
in changing kids’ lives.
DeMarco Best, Thompson
“I had always planned to be
involved in my kids’ school,” said
Best. “But I didn’t expect to be the
treasurer right away!”
Best writes the checks and pays
the bills for Thompson’s PTA,
handling a yearly budget of up to
$26,000. Not only does he manage
the money, he also volunteers
three days a week in the school’s
reading program.
“I love to see the look in kids’
eyes when they learn something,”
he said. “They just sparkle.”
Best works nights for Alaska
Airlines and squeezes time in
for Thompson kids during the
day. He won’t give up his day job
anytime soon. He plans to follow
his kindergartener and secondgrader as they move through
school.
“Whenever I see a need, I step
in and help out,” he said. “I told
the school people that they have
me for another 12 years!”
Enola Christian, Naches Trail
“When we first moved here
15 years ago, my husband and I
drove by the school,” Christian
said. Both were disappointed by
the playground. They knew that
someday, their children would go
to Naches Trail.
“We both hoped there would be
something better when our own
children went to school there,”
Naches Trail third-grader Maurteja Holland swings on new playground equipment. The Naches Trail PTA spent
years raising $35,000 through catalog and cookie dough sales to help purchase the equipment.
she said.
Now there is. Through years of
catalog sales and cookie dough
fundraisers, a $35,000 playground
set – complete with a slide, bridge
and chin-up bars – accommodates up to 40 children at a time.
“The parents made everything
happen,” she said. “We have awesome parents.”
Shannon Booth, Bethel Jr. High
“Junior high is my passion,”
said Booth, who’s been a PTA
mom as long as her children
have been in school. “It’s such
an important time to keep kids
busy and away from society’s
choices.”
An after-school homework
program offers great opportunities. Every Tuesday and Thursday
from 2 to 4 p.m. as many as 35 kids
get extra assistance. PTA provides
a free snack, school supplies
and help with homework in the
school’s library.
“One student told me that he
had been grounded due to poor
grades,” Booth said. “He raised his
grade to a B-, and he said it was
all due to the homework program.
That's what we're all about – supporting all of our students.”
Sean McKenzie, Camas Prairie
“PTA is really vital to our
school,” said McKenzie, principal. “I want to invite people to
come on in and get involved.”
McKenzie sees the organization
as a pipeline for parent access to
the school. At Camas Prairie,
parents work closely with the
site council to analyze academic
needs, offer enrichment activities
and materials and create tutoring
opportunities.
“It’s all about partnerships,”
McKenzie said. “Parent involvement is a big factor in student
success.”
p.m. and Holiday Fair on Dec. 1.
A selection of PTA events
Cougar Mountain Jr. High: PTA helps
students who can’t afford ASB cards,
student planners, P.E. uniforms and
yearbooks. PTA sponsors one or two dances
during the year.
Family Mariners Night. PTA sponors a Family
Night at Spooner Farms on Oct. 27 at 4:30
p.m.
Bethel Jr. High: Community pancake feeds
on the first Saturday of every month from
9 to 11 a.m. in cafeteria. Pancakes, juice and
coffee for only $1 a plate.
Elk Plain: Year-long schedule of functions
includes author day, book fair, carnival,
food drive, science fair, bingo night,
staff appreciation week and field day. In
December PTA sponsors the Hampstead
Players Assembly in “The Lion, the Witch &
the Wardrobe.”
North Star: Sponsors BEST scholarships
to sixth-graders. Supports technology.
Organizes food and toy drives. Teddy Bear
Patrol donates stuffed toys to Graham
Fire Department. Box Tops for Education
and Campbell’s soup labels paid for rock
climbing wall in gym.
Evergreen: 81 people recently attended a
Pioneer Valley: Movie Night on Oct. 20 at 7
Clover Creek: Planning a “Fall Dance” in
November.
C O U N S E L O R'S
Graham: Ongoing membership drive.
Halloween Carnival on Oct. 27.
Rocky Ridge: Red Ribbon Week, Oct. 23 to
27. Holiday Shop, Dec. 4 to 8. Holiday Fun
Night, Dec. 8.
Roy Elementary: Book fair during
conference week, Oct. 16-20. Cookie dough
fundraiser starts Oct. 19. Fall carnival,
Saturday, Oct. 28 from 2 to 5 p.m.
Shining Mountain: Meets every month.
Next meeting is Nov. 16 at 7 p.m.
Thompson: Fall festival, Oct. 27 from 6 to 8
p.m. General meeting Nov. 8 at 7 p.m. with
refreshments and door prizes.
C O R N E R
A great time of year for a fresh start
What a great time of the year!
Starting school once again
signals a fresh start, a chance to
make friends, and an opportunity to set new goals. And one of
my favorites – an excuse to buy
new shoes!
Getting off on the right foot
requires good communication
skills. When I look back on students’ school problems, as well
as issues in my own work and
personal life, most can be linked
to a breakdown in communication.
Q. My son, 12, started 7th
grade this year. His last few
years in elementary school
were not easy. He and I both
had a hard time talking with
school staff, especially when he
was in trouble. How can I help
my son have an easier time in
junior high?
A. The beginning of the year is
the perfect time to make adjustments. Remember that we are
all teachers for our children.
While children might HEAR
what we say, they will more
likely copy what they SEE. We
B R I E F
News about grads
Bethel Pride is looking
for updates on the lives
of graduates from Bethel
and Spanaway Lake high
schools. What did they do
after graduation from district
schools? Where have they
traveled? What have they
achieved? Submit information to mwenzel@bethelsd.
org. Include name, year of
graduation and up to five
short sentences about life
after graduation. Also include
name of person submitting
the information and a phone
number for verification.
Deadline for the December
issue is Monday, Nov. 27.
Energy savings
It’s impossible to list every school and every
PTA project. The best way to get involved
is to directly contact a school and ask
what you can do to help. The following is a
sampling of PTA-sponsored activities:
Camas Prairie: PTA Family Night on Oct. 19
and fall carnival on Oct. 27.
I N
5
Ann Waybright
Counselor
need to model what we expect.
First, model and teach good
communication anytime you
can. Choose words carefully.
Keep your tone of voice calm
and mid-volume. Be aware of
your body language. Use “Imessages”, rather than placing
blame. For example, “I feel disrespected when you don’t return
my phone calls.”
Second, model active listening. Give your full attention
to your child when speaking.
Listen more than you talk. Show
that you are listening...nod your
head, ask questions, say, “I see.”
Show that you are trying to
understand. Accept your child’s
feelings. If he is having trouble
describing his feelings, you can
offer a suggestion or say, “It
sounds like you are worried.”
Anytime you and your son
are with other people (school,
grocery store, neighborhood),
model good communication.
He will learn by watching you
and seeing how well it works. As
he learns to be a better communicator, he will develop better
relationships and have an easier
time in junior high.
Q. Our children are 7, 10 and
15. The 10-year-old girl gets
herself in all kinds of messy
situations. She can never seem
to take responsibility or own up
to her part in things. It’s always
someone else’s fault. We used to
jump in and defend her, but we
now see that she reacts this way
most of the time.
A. Wow! Once again, a great
chance to model and teach a
very important skill. Learning
to take responsibility for our
choices is a huge step to becoming a successful citizen. The earlier we know that, the sooner we
can understand that our choices
affect how others treat us.
Here are some tips:
• Allow your daughter to feel the
consequences of her decisions.
The consequences we feel as
children are less life-altering
than those we may experience
as adults (loss of job, failed marriage, being arrested).
• Build character and skills in
your child by giving her opportunities to try new things safely.
Let her try, fail, try again, until
she reaches some level of success. She will gain confidence
and self-esteem as she gains
skills.
• Model how to solve problems.
Life presents us with a variety
of problems. Talk out loud as
you work to resolve any of these
(leaky faucet, late bill payment,
getting to work late). As your
daughter hears you take pride
in your ability to find solutions,
she will learn that she too is
capable of fixing her “messes”
without blaming others.
Children are lucky – each
school year brings a chance to
start over. It’s a new day, and it’s
a new year. Help your children
make it the best one yet!
The district reported energy savings of $281,000 from
September 2005 to August
2006. The savings represents
an 18 percent reduction from
the previous year. The top
three buildings in energy
savings were: Bethel High
(27 percent), transportation
department (26 percent), and
Elk Plain School of Choice
(26 percent).
“We want to thank custodians, teachers and other
school staff for their outstanding cooperation to
make our energy conservation program so successful,”
said Rob Van Slyke, executive
director of operations. “We
look forward to even more
savings in year two of the
program. It’s great because
every dollar saved is another
that can be used to positively affect learning for our
students.”
The program is managed
by Michael Knaack.
Difficult children
Trainer Gary Benson offers
a course on Thursday Nov. 16
from 6 to 9 p.m. at Thompson Elementary to teach
techniques for dealing with
young children who are difficult, challenging or angry.
The class also addresses
strategies for encouraging
self-discipline and building
responsibility. A light meal
will be served at 5:30. Clock
hours are available for a
small fee. To register, email
donnasailing@comcast.net
The class is open to parents, educators, counselors,
childcare workers and other
interested parties.
Budget news
The school board approved
a general fund budget for
2006-2007 of $145.8 million.
Direct classroom support
comprises $107.3 million
or 73.6 percent of the total.
Indirect student services
such as utilities, maintenance, safety, transportation
and food services comprise
$25.9 million or 17.7 percent.
District level support such
as insurance, technology,
business office, print shop
and curriculum and instruction department comprises
$12.6 million or 8.7 percent.
For more information on the
budget, call (253) 683-6060 or
go to www.bethelsd.org
Family in need
A Katrina family recently
relocated here by FEMA
needs help with household
furniture and supplies. If
you can provide, clothing, a
bed, sofa, kitchen supplies,
bathroom supplies or other
household items, please call
Shannon Booth at 253-8475361. Donations should be
high-quality goods.
Washington Assessment of Student Learning
Bethel 2006 Test Results
GRADE 3
Statewide
Bethel School District
Camas
Centennial
Clover Creek
Elk Plain
Evergreen
Graham
Kapowsin
Naches Trail
North Star
Pioneer Valley
Rocky Ridge
Roy
Shining Mountain
Spanaway
Thompson
Passed all
3 Subjects
-
Math
2005
-
Math
2006
64
58
62
49
62
64
54
68
64
58
66
69
59
53
43
52
38
Reading
2005
-
Statewide
Bethel School District
Camas
Centennial
Clover Creek
Elk Plain
Evergreen
Graham
Kapowsin
Naches Trail
North Star
Pioneer Valley
Rocky Ridge
Roy
Shining Mountain
Spanaway
Thompson
46
39
28
33
37
57
22
48
32
48
47
55
31
21
38
42
25
61
53
45
48
44
70
47
64
55
56
60
66
42
50
49
45
51
59
55
40
58
56
69
34
67
49
59
61
76
46
34
47
60
43
80
79
75
75
70
91
63
89
87
74
77
92
66
84
81
77
82
Statewide
Bethel School District
Camas
Centennial
Clover Creek
Elk Plain
Evergreen
Graham
Kapowsin
Naches Trail
North Star
Pioneer Valley
Rocky Ridge
Roy
Shining Mountain
Spanaway
Thompson
33
26
16
16
23
49
18
42
30
31
37
34
14
20
13
17
19
-
56
49
41
33
41
65
46
65
48
56
69
56
33
47
40
38
54
-
Statewide
Bethel School District
Camas
Centennial
Clover Creek
Elk Plain
Evergreen
Graham
Kapowsin
Naches Trail
North Star
Pioneer Valley
Rocky Ridge
Roy
Shining Mountain
Spanaway
Thompson
-
-
49
44
48
50
39
55
35
56
38
47
44
49
41
38
32
57
18
-
Statewide
Bethel School District
Bethel Jr. High
Cedarcrest
Cougar Mountain
Frontier
Spanaway
Statewide
Bethel School District
Bethel Jr. High
Cedarcrest
Challenger
Cougar Mountain
Frontier
Spanaway
Statewide
Bethel School District
Bethel High
Challenger
Graham-Kapowsin
Spanaway Lake
39
23
27
17
29
25
19
36
18
22
12
25
19
15
52
38
33
34
42
38
51
40
41
36
42
38
42
-
48
40
40
30
41
49
33
40
26
39
37
25
49
30
34
23
14
34
29
29
51
39
37
40
42
38
69
64
64
60
76
64
55
Reading
2006
68
65
71
63
71
87
50
73
80
58
72
69
53
55
65
64
46
Writing
2005
-
GRADE 4
81
83
79
82
82
94
70
88
86
80
81
92
85
76
87
84
79
58
56
55
53
47
72
46
66
56
62
50
70
41
51
44
60
53
GRADE 5
76
73
68
67
57
80
63
83
84
76
80
78
69
71
76
63
79
-
GRADE 6
67
64
68
66
71
61
58
76
74
67
49
63
51
57
63
69
49
-
GRADE 7
62
52
58
39
73
49
42
61
58
58
54
73
53
54
GRADE 8
-
73
72
72
79
72
70
55
58
52
33
61
56
48
-
GRADE 10
82
80
79
85
83
76
65
70
70
77
69
Writing
2006
-
Science
2005
-
Science
2006
-
Free &
Reduced Lunch
37
35
39
41
39
20
59
26
31
28
29
23
35
44
44
51
59
School
Enrollment
735
626
547
453
612
813
453
841
624
851
642
290
655
404
489
60
56
41
49
53
83
48
55
55
67
61
69
57
36
59
50
43
-
-
37
35
39
41
39
20
59
26
31
28
29
23
35
44
44
51
59
735
626
547
453
612
813
453
841
624
851
642
290
655
404
489
-
36
26
15
37
14
26
15
43
23
40
26
33
13
29
22
36
13
36
30
17
26
24
51
24
43
39
33
43
42
17
29
15
16
21
37
35
39
41
39
20
59
26
31
28
29
23
35
44
44
51
59
735
626
547
453
612
813
453
841
624
851
642
290
655
404
489
-
-
-
37
35
39
41
39
20
59
26
31
28
29
23
35
44
44
51
59
735
626
547
453
612
813
453
841
624
851
642
290
655
404
489
65
50
59
45
54
46
50
-
-
37
35
32
40
32
27
43
844
864
820
913
789
-
80
75
73
65
78
74
36
24
21
23
9
24
30
21
36
27
28
22
26
43
27
38
16
7
31
34
18
35
20
16
18
22
24
37
35
32
40
43
32
27
43
37
35
25
43
21
33
844
864
820
424
913
789
1257
424
1322
1317
WASL
bethelpride
OCTOBER 2006
WWW.BETHELSD.ORG • BETHEL PRIDE
Raising the bar in learning
Tests show
where kids
need help
parents to work with us to make
sure that happens. We simply
can’t let kids fall behind because
too often they never catch up.”
Making math work
In spite of the math challenges district wide, individual schools showed signs of
promise. At seven elementary
schools, math scores increased
from a year ago. Pioneer Valley
Elementary posted the highest
scores at the fourth-grade level
with 76.3 percent of students
meeting standard.
“I wish I could say there was
a silver bullet, but there just
wasn’t,” said Pioneer Valley principal Stephen Rushing. “We
were very consistent all year on
focusing on math. When you pay
attention to something, it really
makes a difference. We also assessed our students regularly so
we knew where each one was in
his or her learning. It was simply
hard work on everyone’s part.”
Reading is a success. Writing
is improving. Math and science
need work. That’s the bottom
line of district results on the
2006 Washington Assessment
of Student Learning (WASL).
Eight out of 10 students at the
fourth and 10th grade levels met
standard on the reading test. But
only half passed the math test.
Reading: Scores keep rising
In the fourth grade, 83.1 percent of students met standard
in reading, up 4 points from a
year ago – and 2 points above
the state average. In 10th grade,
79.9 percent of students met the
mark, an increase of 8 points.
“I’m excited that we’ve come
this far in reading,” said assessment director Linda Dugger.
“There was a time when we
thought 80 percent in reading
was out of reach. But these scores
prove that it can be done.”
Rocky Ridge Elementary led
the pack in improvement – a
20-point increase in reading
over 2005.
“Teachers worked in a more
targeted way than ever before,”
said Ellen Eddy, principal at
Rocky Ridge. “We targeted our
teaching to the particular style
of the individual student. And
when kids were struggling, we
changed our teaching.”
Math: Area for improvement
District math scores remained
stagnant at the fourth and 10th
grade levels and decreased at the
seventh grade level. The following percentage of students met
standard in math: 56.3 in fourth
grade, 33.0 in seventh grade and
39.1 in 10th grade.
Rocky Ridge students celebrated improvement in WASL scores this year. Eight-five percent of students met standard in reading, an increase of
20 points. Writing scores jumped 16 points.
Superintendent Tom Seigel
expressed concern about the
district’s math performance.
“While the reading scores represent strong growth, our math
scores indicate a serious challenge,” he said. “We’ve invested
heavily in math the last couple
of years with new textbooks and
intensive professional development, and we expect to see that
pay off in the coming year. We
are determined to do all we can
to support our math teachers to
improve achievement. It’s going
to be a team effort.”
District math initiatives in-
Bethel Jr. High
Centennial
Challenger
Clover Creek
Clover Creek
Clover Creek
Elk Plain
Elk Plain
Double-digit increases
17 points in science
12 points in math
10 points in math
12 points in reading
10 points in science
12 points in math
25 points in science
11 points in writing
clude new high school math
textbooks, the addition of a
district director of teaching
and learning, who is focusing
Kapowsin
North Star
North Star
Pioneer Valley
Rocky Ridge
Rocky Ridge
Shining Mountain
Spanaway
16 points in science
17 points in science
11 points in writing
10 points in math
19 points in reading
16 points in writing
15 points in writing
15 points in math
➠ ➠ ➠➠ ➠➠ ➠➠
OCTOBER 2006
BETHEL PRIDE • WWW.BETHELSD.ORG
➠➠ ➠➠ ➠➠➠➠
6
on math, a program called
“Ramp Up” at the junior high
level for students one to three
years behind in math, a high
school alternative program
called “Applied Mathematics”
that offers hands-on learning
opportunities, and ongoing
professional development for
math teachers.
At this year’s Summer Institute,
the district offered 20 courses in
mathematics with teachers and
administrators clocking more
than 5,200 hours of learning.
“Math is a huge challenge,
both in our district and around
the state,” said Seigel. “But we’re
determined to do everything
possible to make sure our students gain mastery. We need
Class of 2008
Members of the Class of 2008
– this year’s juniors – must meet
standard on reading, writing
and math to graduate. Students
had the opportunity to re-take
the test in August if they did
not meet standard in spring
2006. The district offered WASL
summer school to help prepare
them. In all, 59 students re-took
the test in reading, 76 in writing
and 235 in math.
The district will offer three
more re-take opportunities, as
determined by state law, as well
as alternate assessments for those
who need additional support.
“We’re determined to do all
we can to help these high school
students succeed,” said Seigel.
“And we’re going to hit math
and science hard at every grade
level from kindergarten to grade
12. It’s our students’ future we’re
talking about.”
Teacher tips: Hard work pays off in high scores
‘It’s not
simply
you can
do it and
working
hard to get
there.’
—Stu Winnie, Naches Trail
Basic questions
about state exams
Who takes the WASL?
In 2006, students in grades
3, 5, 6 and 8 joined students in
grades 4, 7 and 10 in taking the
WASL, as required by the No
Child Left Behind Act. The new
assessment schedule allows the
district to monitor each student,
grade by grade, as he or she progresses through the system.
What subjects does it cover?
The WASL covers reading and
math in every grade. Students
in grades four, seven and 10
also take a writing test. Science
is included in grades five, eight
and 10.
What are the stakes for students?
Students in the class of 2008
– this year’s juniors – must pass
reading, writing and math to
graduate. They took the test
last spring. Those who failed
will have four more chances to
retake the full test or parts of it.
If students fail twice, the state is
developing alternative methods
for them to demonstrate academic proficiency.
How is the WASL scored?
Students receive a score on a
scale of 1-4 for each section. A
score of 1 is “below basic,” 2 is
“basic,” 3 is “proficient” and 4 is
“advanced.” A score of 3 or 4 is
meeting standard.
What does the free and reduced-price lunch rate indicate?
It measures the poverty rate
in schools. Children from lowincome families qualify for free
or lower cost meals. National
standardized tests link poverty
with lower achievement. The
district’s free and reduced-price
lunch rate is 34.5 percent. It is
just below the state average of
36.7.
What is AYP?
AYP, or “adequate yearly progress,” is a benchmark set by
the federal government. To
make AYP, schools and districts
must demonstrate progress
in student achievement for
all students and for subsets of
students, including five ethnic
groups, low-income students
and students in special-education and English-as-a-second
language programs.
What schools did not make AYP in 2006?
Schools missed the mark for
specific groups. The following
schools did not make AYP in
math for low-income students:
Bethel Jr. High, Spanaway Jr.
High, Bethel High and Spanaway Lake High. The district
also fell short in math for lowincome students at the fourth,
seventh and 10th grade levels.
In addition, Bethel High and
Spanaway Lake High did not
make AYP in math for African
American students, and Spanaway Lake High missed the
target in reading and math for
special-needs students.
What are the different steps in AYP?
The federal government puts
AYP in six steps. Corrective action increases each year that a
school or district doesn’t make
it. Spanaway Jr. High, Bethel Jr.
High and the district are on Step
1; Bethel High and Spanaway
Lake High are on Step 3.
What does this mean for district schools?
luck – it’s
believing
Q&A
7
SCIENCE – the WRITE way
Cathy Patterson, 5th grade
Graham Elementary
• “Write, write, write” – that’s the advice I got
from Elk Plain’s Ron Elliff whose student science
scores were high. Ron gave me some practice
worksheets, and I found other helpful resources
on the state (OSPI) Web site.
• Students must be able to understand
science, and be able to communicate their
knowledge. By spring, I make sure my students
know what it takes to earn a 4-point answer.
They know how to analyze their own work and
make their responses stronger.
• In March, all fifth-graders put their knowledge to use in our science fair. They create
projects that use the scientific method – make
a prediction, use evidence, and come to a conclusion. The whole idea is to get kids to think
and use what they’ve learned.
MATH – It’s not just luck!
READING – “Read-alouds”
Tammy Sonovich, 4th grade
Pioneer Valley
WRITING – Write more, talk less
Stu Winnie, 4th grade
Naches Trail
• Before every test, I tell my students, “Good
luck!” Together they chant their response, “It’s
not luck!” And it’s not luck – it’s mostly believing you can do it and working hard to get there.
I have high expectations and always encourage
students to reach a little bit higher.
• We’re reading “Poppy” by Avi. A mouse,
Poppy, battles an owl named Ocax to save her
family. We do it as a read-aloud, and the kids absolutely love it. It builds a sense of excitement
and invites students into the world of books. A
story turns into a movie in their heads.
• Students write every day. I’ve learned to
“talk less; let them write more.” I used to talk
about writing for about 45 minutes of class, and
students would write for about 10. Now it’s the
opposite.
•It’s important to make math lessons apply
to real life – time, money or food. Humor also
helps. I never repeat my jokes. That way, they
have to listen!
• “Strategies that Work” by Stephanie Harvey
and Anne Goudvis gives advice as to how to
help students make connections, ask questions
and understand inference – or “read between
the lines.” I help them go beyond the written
word and dig deeper to understand.
• Advice to parents: During homework sessions, encourage your child to look back in the
book and remember what the lesson was about.
•Students were successful because they
genuinely and authentically worked hard all
year. They deserve the credit – not me.
• Everyone at our school gives 200 percent.
People stay here until 5 or 6 o’clock at night.
Each teacher works hard to prepare students
for the next level. Parents also help by volunteering in classrooms. It makes a big difference.
In terms of funding, it doesn’t
mean much. Since the district’s
junior high and high schools
don’t get federal money, there’s
no financial penalty for missing AYP. In terms of helping
educators focus on teaching
and learning, it means a great
deal. The WASL shines the light
on areas where improvement
is needed. The district is committed to helping all students
succeed. New learning materials, teacher training and a
renewed focus on individual
student achievement should
boost scores. It has resulted in a
vigorous, district-wide effort to
bring all students up to higher
standards.
Jim Warnke, 4th grade
Elk Plain School of Choice
• I read literature and students write about
it. A “writer’s toolbox,” a cut-out on the wall, lists
writing terms like personification, alliteration
and hyperbole. When I read a story, we look for
personification in it. Then students use personification in their own stories.
• I read the beginning of books to show how
writers hook their readers. “Shrek” by William
Steig starts: “His mother was ugly and his father
was ugly, but Shrek was uglier than the two
of them put together.” Doesn’t that make you
want to read the book?
Clover Creek Elementary saw reading and math WASL scores increase
significantly in 2006. Pictured from left to right (back) are: Chad
Honig, dean of students, Marie Demme, fourth grade teacher and Don
Garrick, principal; (front) Ian Milatz, David Glessman, Connie Smith
and Maxim Gorash.
8
I N
bethelpeople
OCTOBER 2006
BETHEL PRIDE • WWW.BETHELSD.ORG
B R I E F
Early childhood events
The Early Childhood
Learning Department sponsors an event next month
for parents of 3 to 5-yearolds, child care providers
and community pre-school
teachers. On Nov. 6 from
6 to 8:30 p.m. at SLHS, the
department hosts a workshop on reading, childhood
development and responding
to challenging behaviors. The
event includes a light supper
and child care. For reservations, call Jeanie White at
253-778-7975.
Two other events are designed for community child
care and preschool staff.
Parents are also welcome to
attend. The first event, on
Nov. 14 from 5:45 to 8:30 p.m.
at Frontier Jr. High, will focus
on developing math skills in
children from babies through
kindergarteners. The second
event on March 13, from
5:45-8:30 p.m. at Cougar
Mountain Jr. High, will focus
on science for young children. Each event will include
activities to do in the classroom and at home. For more
information, contact Mary
Fischer at 253-683-6942.
BHS Class of ‘96
Bethel High Class of 1996
will celebrate its 10-year
reunion Nov. 25 at the Muckleshoot Casino. Participants
must register online at www.
reunionsunlimited.com or
call (888) 866-8842.
Art winners
Six district students won
top art prizes at the Puyallup
Fair Junior and Senior High
School Art Show. Of 152 district entries in photography
and visual arts, the following students earned a blue
ribbon: BHS – Ryan Cross,
Savannah Culp, and Russell
Tuller; SLHS – Jessica Brown
and Nadine Sumulong; and
SJH – Vanessa Day. Each
student earned $100. Their
instructors are Linda Woehl
(BHS), Alan Pankau (SLHS),
Nina Taniguchi (SLHS), and
Kristen Kress (SJH). Twentyfive other students earned
honorable mentions.
New assistant principal
Michelle Scott-Beach is
the new assistant principal at
Cedarcrest Jr. High. ScottBeach replaces Nate Pulley,
who moved to the Tumwater
School District to become an
elementary principal. ScottBeach taught drama at Bethel
Jr. High for 14 years before
joining the BJH administrative staff as an intern last
year.
“She has a great rapport
with students and is a true
team player,” said Principal
Cheryl Barnett. “She has
already proved herself to be
a great resource for teachers.
She is a VIP – Very Important
Person – to me and the rest of
the Cedarcrest family.”
SLHS Craft Fair
The Spanaway Lake High
Craft Fair is Nov. 11 from 9
a.m. to 5 p.m. and Nov. 12
from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at
the high school (1305 168th
Street E.). The school is
transformed into a holiday
wonderland with more than
180 vendors, a Deli Square,
free parking, free child care
for customers and door
prizes. Admission is $3 per
person, with children 6 years
and under admitted free. All
proceeds will benefit SLHS
programs.
Debbie Henry gains strength from community
Graham teacher fights leukemia
June 2006. School had just
gotten out for the summer. Graham Elementary teacher Debbie
Henry waited for her blood test
results at Rainier Oncology, a
new cancer treatment center
two blocks from Puyallup’s Good
Samaritan Hospital.
She had become good friends
with her doctor, who had helped
in her fight against breast cancer
the last 15 months. Henry seemed
to be on the mend. Rounds of
radiation and chemotherapy had
apparently killed the tumor.
Bu t s u d d e n l y e ve r y t h i n g
changed.
“Debra, these are not your
counts!” the doctor exclaimed.
She marched Henry back to a
nurse to draw blood for a second
round of tests. Usually test results
came back within five minutes,
but this time it took much longer.
More than 20 minutes passed.
Henry and her husband, Oliver,
a district bus driver, exchanged
worried glances.
When the doctor finally reappeared, their worst fears were
confirmed.
“You have leukemia,” the doctor said softly, with tears in her
eyes.
It felt like a death sentence.
Grace under fire
It seems unfair how life slams
some people with a double dose
of misfortune. But Henry is the
kind of person who takes things
as they come, good or bad.
Until March 2005, the good had
far outweighed the bad.
A 1977 Bethel High grad, Henry
enjoyed long-distance running.
She attended PLU and Western
Washington University, earning
a teaching degree. She ultimately
landed at Graham Elementary in
1988 after stints at Spanaway, Roy
and Elk Plain.
In the meantime, she married
Oliver, who had been a classmate
both in high school and in college.
They and their two children, Margaret (BHS ’01) and Oli (BHS ’08)
enjoyed an active life of sports,
fishing and family outings.
The kids participated in Bethel
Rec and school sports including
football, baseball, basketball,
track and cross country. Margaret
placed at state her senior year in
shot put and discus; Oli, a junior,
is the starting quarterback this
year for the Braves. He also has
his eye on the school’s shot put
and discus records, currently held
by his dad.
At Graham, the fifth grade
teacher is known as a hard worker
who has a special touch with kids.
She engages her students in fun
writing assignments and serves
as the outdoor plant specialist
during annual field trips to Camp
Cispus.
March 2005
Henry learned she had breast
cancer in March 2005. It had already progressed to stage 3.
“The scary part is that I never
felt sick,” she said. “I was running and everything. And I never
realized it.”
From April to August 2005,
she had to undergo an intense
regimen of chemotherapy. But
her body reacted well. She “flew
through” session after session of
three-hour intravenous drip in an
attempt to shrink the tumor.
“To get the cells that are causing the cancer, the chemicals
essentially kill them all,” she said.
“Then the good cells slowly start
to build back up.”
A one centimeter growth was
found during surgery – even
though an MRI had showed that
she was cancer free.
Graham Elementary teacher Debbie Henry was diagnosed with leukemia in June. Her husband Oliver, son Oli,
daughter Margaret and the entire community have rallied around her. 'It does my heart good,' she said.
That led to more treatment
– five days of radiation per week
for 10 weeks. The prolonged radiation caused a serious sunburn.
Prior to this time, her father
was diagnosed with lung cancer.
Their treatments overlapped, but
his cancer had gone too far. He
passed away in September 2005.
“While it was very sad, it was
an incredibly special time for us
as a family. We came together at
the end to celebrate his life with
him,” she recalls.
Living with leukemia
The leukemia diagnosis in June
sent the Henrys reeling.
Leukemia causes abnormal
white blood cells to run rampant.
They overproduce and take the
place of oxygen-producing red
blood cells and blood-clotting
platelets. As a result, the body can
no longer fight infections.
Henry has Acute Lymphocytic
Leukemia (ALL), one of four major types. This one usually occurs
in children.
A healthy person has a white cell
count between 4,000 and 12,000
per microliter. In her routine testing last June, Henry’s count had
skyrocketed to 123,000.
Perfect match
Her new diagnosis calls for
eight rounds of chemotherapy by
the end of November. But Henry’s
greatest chance for a cure is a
bone marrow transplant.
Bone marrow is the spongy
tissue found inside bones. It contains stem cells that produce the
body’s blood cells. Bone marrow
is often damaged when a patient
undergoes chemotherapy and radiation. A transplant replaces the
damaged marrow, allowing the
body to produce healthy cells.
Just 30 percent of those needing a bone marrow transplant are
able to find a suitable donor. The
more siblings a patient has, the
better the chances of a match.
Henry’s three siblings submitted blood. They had to wait a little
longer for samples to come back
from her oldest brother, Bobby,
an Alaska fisherman.
“I got a call from Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, and they said,
‘We just faxed the results over to
your hospital,’” Henry said. “I
called the hospital, but I couldn’t
get through.”
The next day the results finally
came in. It was well worth the
wait – Bobby turned out to be a
perfect match.
“That’s when I cried,” she
said.
Now, the challenge is to keep
her white blood cell count low.
To be approved for a bone marrow transplant, the percentage of
leukemia cells in a patient’s bone
marrow must be less than 5 percent. When Henry was diagnosed
last June, her bone marrow contained 90 percent; now it’s down
to .08 percent.
Good days, bad days
Daughter Margaret is proud of
her mom.
“She’s one of the strongest,
most courageous people I know,”
said Margaret. “She doesn’t let a
lot of stuff get to her.”
Even during the illness, Henry
completed her master’s degree.
For Margaret, that’s even more
proof of her mom’s fighting spirit.
“She’s taught me how to deal
with things in a more positive
way.”
Still, there are good days and
bad days.
“When she’s having a hard day,
I just try to be there for her,” said
Margaret. “I hug her, sit there with
her and rub her back. We don’t
necessarily talk. We just sit quietly
together.”
Building community
Henry relies on family, faith
and a strong sense of community
to stay strong. She regularly walks
the fourth floor of the cancer
center, talking to patients and
offering hope.
“I’ve learned so much about
community,” she said. “You see
some patients who are all alone,
and you realize how lucky you
are.”
The Bethel community, in turn,
has reached out to the popular
teacher.
Many employees have donated
sick leave so Henry can take the
year off without worrying about
finances.
Community member Robin
Pellerin partnered with the Bethel
High football team and Graham
Elementary to organize three car
washes, raising $3,704.
Amici’s Restaurant in Graham,
meanwhile, is donating 50 percent of proceeds to Henry on
Thursday, Oct. 19 from 5 to 8
p.m. The event includes a silent
auction.
“It makes my heart strong to
know how much support I have,”
said Henry. "I really want to thank
Bethel employees and the community for all they've done."
About 50 people showed up to
wash cars Sept. 30 at the Shell station on Meridian and 200th Street
East. Workers faced a long line of
cars all day long.
“Even people who don’t know
her reached out,” said Margaret.
“One of the customers went and
bought pizza for all the workers.
Another person donated $50,
even though he didn’t have time
to get his car washed. And BHS
football coach Gavin Kralik went
out and bought us a bunch of car
wash soap. It made me realize
what community is all about.”
‘She’s a fixture’
Back at Graham Elementary,
staff and students miss Henry’s
smile, positive energy and allaround friendliness.
“People just love Debbie,” said
longtime colleague Bev Dorough.
“She’s a fixture at our school –
we’re really missing her a lot. Her
positive attitude has been such a
good influence on all of us.”
Dorough takes heart from the
community outreach.
“You hear about so much negativity in the media, but when it
comes right down to it, people
really do care about others,”
she said. “It’s been incredible
to see the community response
to Debbie’s illness. They’ve just
wrapped around her.”
bethelbuildings
OCTOBER 2006
WWW.BETHELSD.ORG • BETHEL PRIDE
New Spanaway Jr. High construction moves forward
Eagerly awaiting September 2007
Just six months ago, district
voters approved a bond issue to
build new schools and upgrade
older facilities. Since then, the
district’s construction department has faced a flurry of projects.
Two new elementary schools
and the district’s sixth junior high
top the list of new schools on the
drawing board.
Junior high #6
The district’s sixth junior high
school is also in the planning
stages. It will be located near Pioneer Valley Elementary on 78th
Avenue and 204th Street. Frontier
Jr. High principal Tom Mitchell
will be the planning principal.
The 1,000-student school will
open in the fall of 2009.
Another of the district’s “green”
buildings, the new junior high will
be designed for energy efficiency.
The high performance building
will make use of the latest in environmentally-friendly design. The
district recently won a $350,000
grant to help off-set the cost of
facility upgrades.
Works in progress
• SJH rebuild
Crews are dry walling and
installing doors inside the new
Spanaway Jr. High. The old junior
So much to do
Boynton won’t be too far away.
His new school will be near Frontier Jr. High, just a short hop south
of his current school.
Eddy, on the other hand, will
move to the northern border,
about three miles west of Fred
Meyer at 74th Avenue E. 176th
Street.
While students and families
might have lots of questions,
most answers are still on the
drawing board.
Boundaries: Many families will
Spanaway Jr. High rebuild
• Finishing interior
• 2-story facility will serve
1,000 students
• Opens September 2007
• #16 located block north
of 176th Street and 74th
Avenue
• #17 adjacent to Frontier Jr.
High on 108th Avenue
• Architect hired (EricksonMcGovern)
• Educational specifications
complete (fitting facility to
site and school programs)
• Planning principals selected (#16 – Ellen Eddy;
#17 – Kelley Boynton)
• Construction begins fall
of 2007; schools open fall
of 2008
Spanaway Jr. High students Alex Stuart, Ed Pendon and Jackie Tarrant recently joined Principal Roger Samples
for a close-up view of their new school. The two-story building will open next fall.
high building will be torn down
next summer and ground-source
heating coils will be buried in the
ground on that site. Ball fields will
cover the area.
The two-story building will
house 1,000 students. It will open
in the fall of 2007.
“Brick work is going up the
sides – it looks more and more
magnificent all the time,” said
Roger Samples, principal. “On
the inside, it looks really spacious.
Our students deserve the best,
and they’re going to have it. This
is a state-of-the-art building.”
• SLHS remodel
The search is on this month for
an architectural firm to remodel
Spanaway Lake High School. The
project is expected to be complete by September 2010.
Skills Center
Still about five years from
completion, the district’s career
technical education director,
Mike Christianson, is working
with nearby school districts and
businesses to determine community needs. The district recently
received a $100,000 state grant
for a feasibility study.
projects at Bethel High, Bethel Jr.
High, Cedarcrest, Rocky Ridge,
Centennial, Camas Prairie, Roy
and the district office.
“Most classrooms had only one
computer port. Now they have
six,” said Doug Leber, district
network manager.
Transportation
Painting
A north-end satellite transportation center is also in the works.
Currently, the district is searching
for a suitable site for the facility. Once the site is selected, the
design process will begin. A bus
wash and an emergency generator will be installed at the current
bus site within the year.
Technology
Bond money also went into a
$1.4 million upgrade to re-cable
eight sites during the summer.
The technology team completed
Exterior painting is expected
to be complete this month at
Cedarcrest Jr. High and Graham,
Centennial and Naches Trail elementary schools.
Parking lots
About a quarter of Bethel High’s
parking lot used to be submerged
in heavy rain. Old “Lake Bethel,”
is now a thing of the past. Additional improvements have been
made to the parking lot by the
tennis courts between Bethel
High and Bethel Jr. High.
How to design a brand-new school
“It’s a learning curve that goes
straight up,” said Graham Elementary Principal Kelley Boynton
about his new side job as planning principal for Elementary
School #17. “I’m learning a whole
bunch about engineering.”
He’s not alone. Rocky Ridge
Principal Ellen Eddy has also
taken on the challenge of creating
a new school – Elementary #16.
Each will continue to head up
their home schools, while finding
time to lay the groundwork for
the district’s newest elementary
schools. They will become the
new schools' principals when
doors open in September 2008.
“Both principals really understand the key ingredients of
powerful teaching and learning,”
said Gary Morrison, assistant
superintendent for elementary
education. “They’ll do a great job
in designing a school that benefits
teachers and students alike.”
CONSTRUCTION
U P D AT E
Elementary school #16
and #17
Two new elementary schools
Elementary #16 will be located
about a block north of 176th
Street on 74th Avenue, along the
district’s northern border. It will
be built on a 20-acre site, with
wetlands covering 12 of those
acres.
The new school will most likely
be a two-story building due to
site constraints, said Jim Hansen, director of construction and
facilities planning.
The second, elementary #17,
will be on an 18-acre site adjacent
to Frontier Jr. High in Graham.
9
Rocky Ridge Principal Ellen Eddy and Graham Principal Kelley Boynton
observe features of Thompson Elementary's library. As planning
principals for the district's two new elementary schools, they are helping
with the design process. The new schools will open in September 2008.
find themselves shifted from one
elementary school attendance
area to another. The fast-growing district has lots of experience
in mapping population growth.
Citizen committees will aid in the
realignment process.
Staffing: Both planning principals expect to hire a core team
of teachers who will help develop
the schools’ mission and vision.
What’s new in schools
With architects from Erickson
McGovern by their side, the
two planning principals have
visited other new elementary
schools and even critiqued their
own buildings. They always ask,
“What’s good and what should
be changed?”
Safety: “No blind spots,” said
Boynton. “We want a layout
that’s easy for an adult to supervise without a lot of turns and
corners.”
Instruction: Classrooms will
be designed to maximize learning opportunities. One popular
model is two classrooms that
fit together like puzzle pieces,
each with an area in the back for
small groups to work together. An
interior door connects the two
classrooms.
“It’s great for small groups,
while the teacher is still able
to scan the entire classroom,”
Boynton said.
Public use: The gyms will be
accessible from the outside, with
convenient parking and restrooms nearby. “We want them
to be community-friendly,” said
Eddy.
“Green” buildings: Schools
will use natural light, a state-ofthe-art air circulation system and
ground-source heat pumps.
Boynton likes the planned watering system.
“It collects data regarding
weather patterns and sets up
a watering schedule. A sensor
monitors the moisture in the
field,” he said.
Eddy is excited about another
“green” possibility – the use of
wetlands on the school site to
promote learning about science.
“We try to connect all that we
do in school to the real world,”
she said. “And this is a perfect
opportunity to do that.”
Leaving home
After 11 years as Rocky Ridge
principal, Eddy knows that moving on will be tough.
“I can’t even think about leaving,” she said. “This is such a
special place. The kids here forget
about recess because they’re having so much fun learning.”
Boynton has put in five years
at Graham.
“Graham is a super school,”
he said. “It has always been a
wonderful place. But these new
schools will extend our reach.
When we’re done, the community
will be proud.”
Junior high #6
• New junior high located near Pioneer Valley
Elementary, 204th Street
and 78th Avenue
• Architect hired (McGranahan)
• Planning principal: Tom
Mitchell
• Extra $350,000 state grant
just received will add energy-saving, environmentally-friendly features
• School opens fall of 2009
Transportation
• Satellite facility: working on
land purchase, construction schedule depends on
permitting process
• Bus wash: to be located at
existing facility, scheduled
for next summer
• Emergency generator: to be
installed within next six to
eight months
Skills Center
• At least four to five years
from completion
• Received $100,000 state
grant for feasibility study
• Career Technical Ed director Mike Christianson
heads up planning
• Working with adjacent
school districts and community to assess needs
SLHS remodel
• Interviewing architects this
month
• Completion: fall of 2010
Other capital projects
• Painting: Cedarcrest, Frontier, Graham, Centennial
and Naches Trail
• Communications upgrades:
Bethel High, Bethel Jr. High,
Cedarcrest, Rocky Ridge,
Centennial, Camas Prairie,
Roy and the district office
• Land purchases: working on
buying land for skills center
and satellite bus facility
• Parking lots: fixed low spot
at Bethel High, asphalting lot near tennis courts
between BHS and Bethel
Jr. High
• Playgrounds and other
projects: ongoing
10
bethelpeople
OCTOBER 2006
BETHEL PRIDE • WWW.BETHELSD.ORG
Spanaway Jr. High teen chefs recently baked about 700 peanut butter-chocolate chip
cookies to send to the 817 Expeditionary Air Lift Squadron in Turkey and Kurdistan.
Squadron members stationed at McChord Air Force Base came to the school to collect the
sweets. 'When the packages come in, it’s like Christmas morning,' said Cpt. Anne Lueck. The
teen chefs program is sponsored by the Boys & Girls Club.
A
Spanaway Elementary fifth-grader Kodjo Awadje shakes hands with Gov. Christine
Gregoire Sept. 22 in Tacoma. Students presented projects, including vegetables from
the school garden, as part of “E3 Washington,” a statewide initiative to promote
environmental education. The school's garden leadership project teaches the importance
of environmental awareness. Photo courtesy of The News Tribune.
job well done deserves a pat on the
back. This month’s spotlight shines
on students and staff who work hard to
make a difference. Their efforts reflect on
the entire Bethel community.
In the
Spotlight
Pioneer Valley Principal Stephen Rushing was recently appointed to the Professional Educators
Standards Board by Gov. Christine Gregoire. The 20-member group is responsible for setting policy
for educator licensing, administrator and teacher credentialing.
Cougar Mountain Jr. High band teacher Jim Craig and elementary music teacher Diana
Craig recently received the Margaret Williams Arts Education Award, the top arts
recognition in the county. The husband-and-wife team has taught in the district for
more than 20 years. 'Our district is extremely fortunate to have these two teaching our
students,' said arts director Mike Sandner. 'They're as good as they come.'
Spanaway Lake High took fourth place in the nation at the Math Engineering Science
Achievement competition in California this summer. The team took first place in two
events: academic display and the hill climb for multipurpose vehicles (mousetrap cars).
‘They did astoundingly well,’ said adviser Matt Turner. The team consists of (back row)
Lewis Salers, Cody Mitchell, (front) Dagmara Monfort and Deuteronomy Tugaga.
bethelsports
OCTOBER 2006
WWW.BETHELSD.ORG • BETHEL PRIDE
11
GKHS back sets league TD record
A T H L E T E
P R O F I L E
Out there on the field – it’s a
bird! It’s a plane! It’s ... GrahamKapowsin High running back J.T.
Albers.
The Eagles star offensive player
did his best Superman imitation
Oct. 7 against Beamer. Carry after
carry, he pounded the opposition with quick feet and power
moves.
The final result: 28 carries, five
touchdowns and 206 total yards.
The five TDs represent a South
Puget Sound League record. To
add a happy twist to this tale,
Albers’ relatives were visiting
from Spokane so they got to see
the record-breaking performance
in person.
Albers credits his offensive line
for creating openings in the game
against Beamer.
“A lot of my success came from
the blocking,” he said.
Linemen include Aaron Lenk,
Cameron Persian, Will Matney,
Justin Calloway, Matt Shimada
and Bobby Thiel.
So far, Albers has more than 700
yards on the season. A former
Puyallup resident, he looks forward to the Eagles Oct. 19 game
against Rogers. He attended Rogers his sophomore year.
“All my buddies have been
talking it up the whole year,” he
said. “I’m just really excited to
play them.”
Albers, who also plays varsity
basketball, believes the Eagles
squad has a lot of potential.
“We’re not that big, but we have
a lot of speed and great coaches,”
he said.
Head coach Eric Kurle is impressed with the senior's performance.
“He’s a hard-working kid who
has a lot of heart,” said Kurle.
“He’s the only player on our team
who plays both offense and defense all the time. He really makes
things happen out there.”
District diversity director
Nick Jones was inducted into
the Portland Interscholastic
League
Hall of
Fame Oct.
9 based on
his success as a
stand-out
Nick Jones
basketball
player in
high school.
Jones scored 858 points in
his high school career, placing him second all-time in
the state upon graduation.
Jones played for the University of Oregon. He was
picked first team All-Conference while at Oregon.
He played professionally
for five years in the NBA with
the San Diego Rockets (now
the Houston Rockets) and
the Golden State Warriors.
Wulf joins PLU elite
Graham-Kapowsin High senior J.T. Albers runs for a touchdown earlier this season. Albers rushed for five
touchdowns Oct. 7 in his team’s 35-19 win over Beamer. The five TDs set a SPSL record.
Photo by Tony Sirgedas. Go to www.picturetrail.com/rainierphoto
BHS cross-country runner leads the pack
She’s just a wisp of a girl – but,
boy, can she run.
At 5 feet 6 inches and 103
pounds, Janae Larson is making
her mark on the Bethel High girls
cross-country team.
And it is remarkable – because
Larson didn’t start running until
two years ago. She didn’t even
know she had talent.
“I would run on the treadmill
at home,” said the 17-year-old
senior who is home schooled.
“I ran the mile at the YMCA. My
best friend said I should turn out
for track.”
Larson’s mom made the call
to long-time track coach Paula
Brown. She asked if her daughter
could come try out.
Brown knew she was watching
something special right from the
start.
“I told her mother that she’d
be one of the best runners in the
state,” Brown said.
And it looks like Brown got it
right.
Lots of potential
The Tacoma News Tribune
recently named Larson as one of
seven 4A “runners to watch.” She
was also honored as athlete of the
week earlier this month.
In her first year competing in
cross-country, Larson has placed
first in three meets so far this year.
She also took second in the prestigious Fort Steilacoom Invitational
last month.
Larson runs the 3,200 meters
during track season, and decided
to run cross-country this year to
Jones wins honor
train for the spring. She’s aiming
for more wins as she heads into
sub-districts and districts. The
state meet is Nov. 4 in Pasco.
Cross country coach Gwen
Hundley says Larson has the potential to be a contender.
“She runs five to nine miles a
day. She’s dedicated to the sport
as a whole – physically and mentally,” said Hundley.
As for speed, she’s got that too.
Her personal record for the mile
is 5:27.
And for the finish
Larson’s looking at a variety of
college options – depending on
what’s offered.
“I’ll take the classes and then
run,” she said. Eventually, she’d
like to become a flight attendant.
But first, more running.
“She’s almost ready for the
junior nationals,” said Brown. In
a non-Olympic year, the nation’s
best athletes under 19 compete in
the Indianapolis event.
“Janae is a natural – an elite
athlete,” Brown said. “Her form
is beautiful.”
Being named athlete of the
week was quite a surprise.
“It was shocking,” she said. “I
never thought of myself as an
athlete.”
Student highlights
• BHS golfer Sadena Parks
led the Braves to a win over
Beamer recently. Parks won
the state tournament last
year.
• BHS golfer Joe Doyle led the
Braves to wins over GKHS,
SLHS and Franklin Pierce
with a round of 39.
• SLHS golfer Jon McCallum
led his team to a win over
Graham-Kapowsin with a
round of 81 at the Classic.
Practice makes perfect
Larson is the first in her family
to gain success as a runner.
“It’s a God-given talent,” she
said. “I’m blessed to have it.”
Hard work doesn’t hurt either.
“I’m up early. I brush my teeth
and go on a run,” she said. The
family lives on a long, U-shaped
road. She runs the 1.8- mile loop
and keeps going until she’s done
more than five miles.
She eats healthy – fruits, veggies, bran muffins and beverages.
“I’m big on drinks,” she said.
She’ll put down a bottle of Gatorade, a glass of water and a glass
of milk at one meal.
Attitude makes the biggest difference.
“I stay determined. I don’t
give up. I keep on working,” she
said. She plans to focus on longer strides and work on her hill
running.
“I know how to do hills,” she
said. “Smaller steps, pump arms,
and at the top, don’t slow down.”
Cedarcrest Jr. High P.E.
teacher and coach Minta
Wulf was
recently inducted into
the Hall
of Fame
at Pacific
Lutheran
University.
Wulf holds
the SPSL
Minta Wulf
record for
the halfmile and was state champion
in that event.
At PLU, she was an AllAmerican in the 1,500 three
times, 800 once, and 3,000
once. She was also an Academic All-American.
“I was surprised, flattered and very honored to
be inducted into the Hall
of Fame,” she said. “When I
listened to them talk during
the induction, I thought to
myself, ‘Did I really do all
that?’”
• Cougar Mountain student
Jordan McCann placed second in the freshman race out
of 80 girls at the Bellarmine
Invite last month.
• GKHS runner Matt Smith
won a cross-country race
against Beamer with a time
of 17:38 for the 3.1 mile
course at Frontier Park.
• SLHS swimmer Sora Moon
set a school record in the
500 freestyle with a time of
4:41.73.
• Shelan Swick, Chynna
Swick, Chantilly Watson,
Krystal Blackburn and Paige
Dinsmore led the SLHS
volleyball team to wins over
Bethel and GKHS.
Janae Larson, who runs cross-country for Bethel High, earned recognition
as The News Tribune's 'Athlete of the Week' earlier this month.
• Kelsy Villegas, Brooke
Robbins, Sarah Pierce, Kylee
Villegas, Stacie Pearson, Andrea Sperberg and Aysia Lix
led the GKHS soccer team to
wins over BHS and SLHS.
12
bethelnews
OCTOBER 2006
BETHEL PRIDE • WWW.BETHELSD.ORG
CALENDAR
October
Oct. 16-20: Elementary Conference
Week; elementary students will be
dismissed early; no school for half-day
kindergarten students
Oct. 17: HIV/AIDS junior high and
high school parent preview night,
7-8:30 p.m., Cedarcrest Jr. High library
Oct. 19: Graham-Kapowsin High
Daffodil Pageant, 7 p.m.
Oct. 20: Bethel High Open House, 5:15
- 6:45 p.m. at the school
Oct. 20: Bethel High Homecoming
(vs. Emerald Ridge), 7 p.m. at Art Crate
Field
Oct. 20: Band auction, 2-10 p.m. at
Graham-Kapowsin High
Oct. 23-27: Red Ribbon Week (DrugFree America)
Oct. 23: Bethel High fall choir concert,
7 p.m.
Oct. 23: Fall choral concert (SLHS &
SJH), 7 p.m. at Spanaway Lake High
Theater
Oct. 24: School board meeting, 7 p.m.
at North Star Elementary
Oct. 25: Bethel High fall band concert,
7 p.m.
Oct. 25: Spanaway Lake High Daffodil
Pageant, 7 p.m.
Oct. 25: Graham-Kapowsin High fall
band, choir, and orchestra concert,
7 p.m.
Oct. 26: Graham-Kapowsin
Homecoming (vs. Emerald Ridge)
7 p.m. at Art Crate Field
Oct. 26: Bethel High Daffodil Pageant,
7 p.m.
Oct. 26: Fall choral concert (SLHS &
CJH), 7 p.m. at Spanaway Lake High
Theater
Oct. 27: Spanaway Lake vs. Bethel,
7 p.m. at Art Crate Field
Oct. 27: Graham-Kapowsin High
School talent show, 7-10 p.m.
Oct. 29: Return to Standard Time;
move clocks back one hour
November
Nov 1-4: Graham-Kapowsin High’s fall
play, “Fools,” 7 p.m.
Nov. 2: Secondary Orchestra MiniFestival (all junior high & high school
students), 7 p.m. at Bethel Jr. High
Nov. 3: Secondary students will be
dismissed early for first quarter report
card preparation
Nov 5: Graham-Kapowsin High
presents, “Fools,” 2 p.m.
Nov. 7: Election Day
Nov. 10: Veterans Day; no school
Nov. 11: Spanaway Lake High’s
Annual Holiday Craft Fair, 9 a.m. to
5 p.m., $3 admission (children under
6 years old free), performances by
various district groups
Nov. 12: Spanaway Lake High’s
Annual Holiday Craft Fair, 10 a.m. to
4 p.m., $3 admission (children under
6 years old free), performances by
various district groups
Nov. 13: Teacher Training Day, no
school for students
Nov. 14: School board meeting, 7 p.m.
at district office
Nov. 15-18: Spanaway Lake High fall
play, “Picnic,” 7 p.m.
Nov. 16-18: Bethel High fall play, “Up
the Down Staircase,” 7 p.m.
Nov. 19: Bethel High fall play, “Up the
Down Staircase,” 2 p.m.
Nov. 22: Bethel High Multi-Cultural
Heritage Pageant, 7 p.m.
Nov. 23-24: Thanksgiving Break, no
school
Nov. 29: Spanaway Lake High MultiCultural Heritage Pageant, 6:30 p.m.
December
Dec. 1: Elementary report card
preparation, elementary students
will be dismissed early; no morning
kindergarten classes; afternoon
kindergarten classes attend morningtime session
Dec. 1-15: School holiday concerts
(see Web site for details – www.
bethelsd.org)
Dec. 7 & 9: Bethel Jr. High musical,
“Once On This Island, Jr.,” 7 p.m.
Dec. 18-Jan. 1: Winter Break – no
school
F R O M
T H E
T O P
Straight talk about math
Each fall, I report on the state
of our schools. It is essential
to remain accountable to the
people we serve. Only then can
we work together to build on
our strengths and address our
weaknesses.
WASL results
One way to assess our progress is to analyze the results of
the Washington Assessment of
Student Learning – or WASL.
This issue of Bethel Pride lists all
scores in all subjects for grades
3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 10.
Like many things in life,
there’s something to celebrate
and something to improve.
The celebration is our reading
scores: 83 percent of fourthgraders and 80 percent of 10thgraders met standard in reading.
Five years ago, those scores were
60 and 56, respectively. That’s
cause for celebration – and a
testament to how hard our students and staff have worked.
Focus on math and science
However, the results in math
and science fall far short. While
we’ve made significant gains in
the last five years, our scores are
A
W I N
F O R
far too low. There’s no denying
it: We’ve got a lot of work to do.
MATH: In 10th grade math,
we’re 11 points behind the state
average. In seventh grade, we’re
19 points behind.
SCIENCE: In 10th grade science, we trail the state average
by 14 points. In eighth grade,
the gap is 16 points.
We must do all we can to fix
the problem. Passing the math
WASL is a requirement for
graduation in 2008; passing the
science WASL is a requirement
for graduation in 2010. We must
take a long, hard look at our
work in these two critical areas.
We need to make significant
improvement, and we must do
it immediately.
What we’re doing about it
Several district initiatives
are under way to turn things
around. They include new textbooks, a concentrated teacher
training program, after-school
tutoring, an increase in math
course offerings and a partnership with the University of
Washington.
I’ve also recently visited all
junior high and high school
T H E
Tom Seigel
Superintendent
math departments to engage in
a frank discussion about raising
student achievement and asking
staff members how the district
can support their efforts. We’ve
begun a conversation that needs
to include all teachers, administrators, students, parents and
community members.
Raise expectations
One of the obstacles we must
overcome is the idea that it’s OK
to be bad at math. We sometimes send signals to children
that reading is somehow more
important than math. It’s simply
not true. Both are vital.
Many high school graduates
report that they would have
taken harder math classes if
they had understood the importance of math in the real world.
The truth is that half of the students attending community and
technical colleges have to take
remedial math classes because
they’re unprepared.
Choosing a rigorous math
program can greatly increase future learning and employment
opportunities for all students.
Parents and community members must join us in getting this
message across.
Looking ahead
I’ve never given up when
I’ve faced a tough challenge. In
fact, it makes me redouble my
efforts. I hope every single one
of you is also up to the battle
ahead to help all our students
meet or exceed state standards
in all subjects.
That’s the challenge for this
school year. With a united, committed and concentrated effort
by every student, parent, staff
member, and the community as
a whole, we can show what we’re
truly made of. We can intensify
our efforts and expect nothing
less than excellence for every
single Bethel student.
The time to act is now. Let's
get the job done.
C O M M U N I T Y
District lands anti-meth grant
A half million dollar federal
grant will help fight drug abuse
in the community. And there’s
no waiting to see it go into action – grant money will be put
to use immediately to help area
families.
Hundreds of organizations applied for the highly competitive
grant, but the Bethel Community
Coalition was the only one in the
county and one of the few in the
nation to bring home the government support.
The $500,000 allotment is
spread out over a five-year period,
with $100,000 coming in each fiscal year. It is specifically aimed at
improving the lives of junior high
students and their families.
Working together to fight
substance abuse
Rural Pierce County continues to fight drug abuse – particularly meth.
“About 15 years ago, meth
use really started to grow,” said
Helen Myrick, executive director
of the Greater Pierce County
Community Network.
One reason is that meth manufacturing creates an odor that’s
harder to detect in sparsely
populated areas.
“And there’s not as much police presence here,” she added,
“although it’s improved considerably over the past years.”
At one time, Pierce County was
the third worst county in the nation for its number of meth labs,
but Myrick said the numbers are
beginning to come down.
If parents are running meth
labs, their children’s lives are in
chaos.
“These parents don’t value
education; it’s just about how to
get their hands on the next meth
high,” Myrick said. “Children miss
more school, don’t do their homework, stay up until odd hours and
seldom get a good night’s sleep.”
right one,” said Myrick.
Parents and adult mentors
are vital in keeping kids healthy
and safe.
“A lot of the kids aren’t the
problems – it’s the parents,” said
Steve Brown, district director of
community connections.
The grant has a three-pronged
approach:
• Increase parental involvement in kids’ lives
• Raise level of parenting skills
• Involve strong adult mentors
as guides
How it’s done
The first emphasis will be at
Spanaway Jr. High, where Project
Pride is already in place. It will
expand its role in linking community resources to family needs.
Adult mentors will work with atrisk students.
“It’s an amazing grant,” said LaMar Hudson, a prevention/intervention specialist who’s worked
with Spanaway students for the
last two years. “It gives us the
freedom to touch so many lives
and make a positive change.”
An expanded range of parenting classes will be offered through
the Bethel Family Center. Eventually, each district junior high
will be directly involved in the
project.
Bethel ‘gets it’
A group of community partnerships will make it all come
together, said Myrick, and that’s
unusual.
“Your superintendent and
school board really get the value
of community collaboration and
partnerships,” she said. “They
recognize that there’s a lot more
to helping kids succeed than just
reading, writing and arithmetic.
Kids have to be ready to learn.
For that, we need specialized
community help.”
For more information, contact
the Bethel Family Center at 6836850 or Myrick at 531-9725.
How to help
School staff
• Watch for signs of trouble
• Do children miss school? Hungry?
Sleepy? Unkempt?
• Report potential problems to
counselors or social workers
Parents
• Seek help if you need it
• Help all children lead safe, healthy
lives
Neighbors
• Be aware of suspicious activity or
odors
• Report problems to Meth Action
Team at 253-272-6824 or call sheriff
Community
Volunteer at Bethel Family Center
to become a mentor to guide youth
Organizations, churches may
donate time or money
Junior high is critical time
Experts agree that junior high is
a critical time in children’s lives.
“At this age, either kids go down
the wrong road or stay on the
Helen Myrick, executive director of the Greater Pierce County Community Network, worked with Steve Brown,
district community connections director, to secure a $500,000 grant to fight drug use in the community.