Webucator is a weekly publication produced by the Tacoma Public Schools Public
Information Office for district staff members. To submit story ideas or inquire about a
published story, contact Pam Thompson at pthomps@tacoma.k12.wa.us or call the
Public Information Office at 253-571-1015.
Jan. 21, 2011
Mayor talks with second
graders
Dates to remember
Jan. 21: Boze E.S. Tunnel of Hope event, 9 a.m.
Jan. 28: Dr. Barbara Wesley retirement party, Stanley and Seafort’s, 3 p.m.
Jan. 31: Athletic career forum, UPS, 6 to 8:30 p.m.
Feb. 11: Boze E.S. science fair, open to the public, 6 to 7:30 p.m.
Save the date: Saturday, April 16, Parks Appreciation Day
Save the date: Saturday, April 30, Indian Education Pow Wow
Save the date: Saturday, June 4, Eastside Project Clean Sweep
Mayor Marilyn Strickland talks to
a class at Edison about running a
city government. She also shared
her experiences and how
important education is in life and
the need to have short and long
term goals.
Upcoming events
TPS athletic career forum Jan. 31 at UPS
Tacoma Public Schools will host the first Athletic Career Forum Jan. 31 from 6 to
8:30 p.m. at the University of Puget Sound (UPS). There will be five 15-minute
forums with presenters who currently work in athletic positions of management,
communication, recreation/maintenance, medical and business.
Athletic trainers from the University of Washington, director of communication from
the Seattle Seahawks, athletic director of Pacific Lutheran University, grounds crew
director at Safeco Field, ticket sales director of the Tacoma Rainiers and one of the
20 United States Golf Association agronomists, to name a few presenters, will
share with students their triumphs, tribulations, hard work and the process they
went through to obtain the position they hold today.
Mayor Strickland poses with Carla
Cunningham’s second-grade class
at Edison. She talked about
communities and how to manage
an entire city.
Wall gets CEFPI Award
Each comprehensive high school will have 100 slots to fill. SOTA, SAMI and
Oakland High School will have 25 slots each. Bus transportation to and from the
event will be provided if necessary. The career forum is specifically for 10th-, 11thand 12th-grade students.
Applications need to be turned into the career counselor in each of the buildings,
and are due by Monday, Jan. 24. Please make sure that you also attach a parent
permission form to the application when distributing. The student must return the
application and the parent permission form to participate in this forum.
Informational public meetings on budget crisis set
At the Tacoma School Board retreat on Jan. 15, Superintendent Art Jarvis and the
School Board members agreed on the need for ongoing community conversations
about the budget options available to the district.
The district has organized a series of informational public meetings regarding the
budget crisis facing Tacoma Public Schools. Parents and community members can
choose to attend one or more of the five Informational Budget Overview community
meetings scheduled within the next two weeks at various Tacoma schools.
These Informational Budget Overview community meetings will begin at 6 p.m. and
end at 7:30 p.m., at the following schools:

Tues., Jan. 25—First Creek Middle School, Commons, 1801 E. 56th St.
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Wed., Jan. 26—Giaudrone Middle School, Commons, 4902 S. Alaska St.
Pete Wall, director of Planning
and Construction, received the
2010 Al Beck Award for Service
given by the Council of
Educational Facilities Planning
(CEFPI).
Edison Family Math Night
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Tues., Feb. 1—Jason Lee Middle School, Commons, 602 N. Sprague Ave.
Wed., Feb. 2—Truman Middle School, Commons, 5801 N. 35th St.
Thurs., Feb. 3—Meeker Middle School, Commons, 4402 Nassau Ave. NE
Read full story
Boze science fair Feb. 11
Boze Elementary School will host a science fair Feb. 11, which will be open to the
public from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The science fair will include tables for the Tacoma
Astronomical Society, BeeKeepers, Foss High School ice cream chemistry display,
Envirochallenger and Tacoma City Light, as well as student projects.
For more information, contact Rose Werre, Boze office coordinator, at 253-5714688.
More than 220 people attended
the recent Edison E.S. Family
Math Night event.
Retirement events
Wesley retirement event Jan. 28
Come to Stanley and Seafort’s, 115 E. 34th St., Friday, Jan. 28, at 3 p.m. to help
Dr. Barbara Wesley celebrate her retirement after a 52-year career in public
schools. Dr. Wesley has served as a beacon of hope, passion and inspiration to
those who worked with her over the many years she was in Tacoma Public
Schools. So join her friends as they celebrate her years of contributions to the
pursuit of quality education for all children.
Students participate in math
activities at Edison E.S. following
a spaghetti dinner.
For more information, contact Russell Phillips, school counselor, First Creek Middle
School, at 253-571-2723 or rphilli@tacoma.k12.wa.us.
News and updates
Young Ambassadors activities canceled through Jan. 28
Tacoma Public Schools has canceled all practices and performances of the Young
Ambassadors of Physical Education through Jan. 28 on the recommendation of the
Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department.
Due to concern for ongoing transmission of pertussis and the need to prevent the
spread of the recent outbreak to multiple schools, Tacoma-Pierce County Health
Department is recommending that practices and performances be canceled at this
time. The cancellation involves three performances.
Families and their students at
Edison E.S. work on math
activities at a recent family night.
Foss AFJROTC delivers food
The 37 members of Young Ambassadors represent public and private elementary
schools throughout the Tacoma area. The performers, who must have good
citizenship and academic standing, showcase their jump-roping abilities and
rhythmic and gymnastic skills at school assemblies, halftime of basketball games
and other community events throughout the Northwest and Canada.
Read full story
Edison received $5,000 grant for garden expansion
The Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation (LCEF) had awarded Edison
Elementary School a $5,000 2010-2011 Lowe’s Toolbox for Education grant for the
garden extension project because of the enthusiasm and commitment of Edison
students, teachers and administration. The grants are given for projects that can be
completed within one year of grant receipt.
The LCEF mission is to improve communities that Lowe’s serves and the LCEF is
committed to having a positive impact on the lives of its customers, neighbors and
employees. Now in its fifth year of helping build better schools and communities,
the Lowe's Toolbox for Education program has provided more than $20 million to
nearly 5,000 schools across the country.
Foss H.S. Air Force JROTC cadets
deliver food boxes for Operation
Thanksgiving Relief and
Operation Breadbasket.
For more information, go to the Toolbox for Education Web site. The spring grant
application cycle will close Feb. 18 or sooner depending on the number of
applications received.
Retirees’ Association offers grants to schools
The Pierce County School Retirees' Association announced that the school minigrant program offered for the first time in 2002 will be available again this year
(2011) for active Pierce County teachers employed by Tacoma Public Schools.
Have a great idea? Not enough materials for the project planned? Kids need a
boost? Time to apply for a Pierce County School Retirees' Association mini-grant.
To apply, just fill out the application form and mail to: Mini-Grants, Pierce County
School Retirees' Association, P.O. Box 112493, Tacoma, WA 98411-2493.
This program is open to all school districts in Pierce County on a rotating basis.
Grants will vary from a minimum of $75 and range upward to $150 or more,
depending on excellence of the plan submitted. At least one grant will be awarded
in participating districts. Deadline for applications to be mailed in is April 15.
Winners will be notified as soon as possible, and funds awarded soon after the
deadline.
Please note: The staff member applying for a grant does not have to be a teacher; it
can be anyone who is part of a school district, such as a bus driver.
For more information and the application, click here.
Manitou Park E.S. honors Dr. Martin Luther King
The birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was recognized during the “Dream the
Dream” assembly at Manitou Park Elementary School Jan. 14. Parents and
community members were invited to join the school in celebrating the birthday and
contributions of Dr. King.
Assistant Principal James Neil acted as Master of Ceremonies and Reginald
Pearsall, music teacher, produced the event. The fifth-grade teachers served as
directors. Several classes expressed their dreams, thoughts and praise in a variety
of forms, such as songs, poems, speeches, pledges and dance. Pearsall worked
very hard to include all tributes in the assembly activities.
Pearsall was also able to use his connections to get community members involved.
Manitou Park staff and students were honored to include performances by Morris
Northcutt, principal trumpet player for Tacoma Concert Band, who played a trumpet
solo “The Prayer” by Celine Dion/Josh Groban; and Alfred Enlow who sang “We
Shall Overcome.” Jacqueline Harmon, a Title 1 paraeducator at Manitou Park,
started the assembly singing “The Star Spangled Banner.” Nadia Coughran’s fifthgrade class sang “The Power of the Dream” by Celine Dion, directed by Curlie
Evans, a friend of Manitou Park. Manitou Park always appreciates Evans for her
help in directing many performances at the school.
The assembly ended on a very strong and positive note when all students and
parents stood and danced the electric slide, led by fifth-grade students and Manitou
Park’s physical education teacher, Carl Conzatti. He has been teaching the dance
to all grades in preparation of the assembly. The dance was an example of
everyone working and moving together toward the same goal. Thank you, Carl
Conzatti for your contribution.
Manitou Park thanks also go out to everyone who made this assembly an event to
remember and to the families who are always there to support their children.
King’s Books provides books for schools
King's Books is the largest used and new independent bookstore in the South
Puget Sound, and they are placing much needed books into the classrooms of
Tacoma, according to an article on the CityArts Web site. Owner Sweet Pea
Foss cadets in the Air Force
JROTC program deliver 54 boxes
to elementary and middle school
families in need during the
holidays.
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Webucator
Flaherty began the Books For Schools Program last October. In previous years,
Kings held a books arts auction to help raise funds for school libraries (raising most
recently $6,500), but Sweet Pea wanted to devise a less time-intensive plan and
born from this urge was the Books For Schools Program.
A Tacoma school is picked each month in need of a book that librarians and
teachers are determined to make a part of the curriculum. This title is then featured
and offered both in store and online for purchase to donate to the classroom. At the
end of the month or when a set of thirty books has been reached, the books find
their new home in the school.
It is ideas like this that will help keep real, bound, paper books in the hands of our
youth, while school libraries are often met with the obstacle of being underfunded.
Help spread the goodness that is literacy and book love.
Applause
Edison math night draws more than 220
Edison Elementary School hosted a family math night Jan. 13 with more than 220
in attendance from 5 to 7 p.m. Title I provided a spaghetti dinner for families and
grade-level teams shared math activities from Math Expressions.
“Staff members met with parents in a general session and shared our building-wide
plans for the year which incorporate math/health/fitness/PE aligning with state
standards for all students,” said Principal Renee Rossman. “Our Washington State
University nutrition teacher, Danielle Harrington, and her supervisor, Linda
Matthews, spoke to the parents and students about the schoolwide vision for this
year's curriculum at Edison.” Lisa Leen, Edison's math coach, spoke the parents
about activities that are happening this year including homework club, Math
Wizards and Lincoln High School tutoring beginning March 2011.
Steve Johnson, Edison's physical education teacher, shared data with parents
about healthy eating and exercise and the goals for all Edison students to improve
their health and fitness this year. Edison recently received two grants: one from
Lowe's for $5,000 and another from the Pierce County Health Department for
$5,000 for increased student and parent information and activities regarding health
and fitness, along with the installation of vegetable gardens/beds. This spring,
parents and students will help to build and maintain 24 new garden beds on the
Edison property to provide fresh vegetables during student's lunches and parent
events.
Mason hosts Benton for talk on successful relationships
Gary Benton with the Community Outreach Program of Life Center gave an hourlong presentation on “Successful Relationships” for Mason Middle School parents
and staff members Jan. 13.
Benton’s talk was filled with useful information for parents and staff on core values,
child development and harassment, intimidation and bullying. Parents were given
warning signs of bullies and victims, tools to help their children deal with stressful
situations, and the psychological needs of students. As he spoke, parents shared
personal stories that related to their children. During his presentation, children
participated in organized games in the gym.
Mason hopes to invite Benton for additional visits. His experience and knowledge
helped many parents understand how to relate to their teens.
CBTP collects more than 200 pairs of glasses for Lion’s Club
Sherman, Stafford and Crescent Heights elementary schools, the Madison complex
and Stadium High School have collected more than 200 pairs of eyeglasses for the
Lions Club Recycle Center. A great big thank you to all schools and staff members
for their continued assistance with the Community-Based Transition Program
(CBPT) project. We will continue to process eyeglasses for the center for years to
come. While you are reorganizing during your spring cleaning “fever,” just save
those glasses for the CBTP. Send your old eyeglasses and sunglasses to the
CBTP office at the CAB annex.
—Cathy Sanderson, CBPT transition specialist
Baker students places third in Lions Club contest
Baker Middle School student Duyen Le will accept a third-place art award Jan. 26
from the Western Washington District of the Lions Club for her entry in the peace
poster contest. She will receive her award at the IHOP restaurant at 74th and
Hosmer streets.
Each year, Lions clubs around the world sponsor the Lions International Peace
Poster contest for local schools and youth groups. This contest encourages young
people worldwide to artistically express their visions of peace. The theme of the
2010-2011 contest is "Vision of Peace." Students, ages 11, 12 or 13 on Nov. 15 are
eligible to participate.
Foss JROTC supports community
The Foss High School Air Force JROTC continued supporting the Tacoma
community through its delivery of food boxes during the Thanksgiving and
Christmas holidays. Under Operation Thanksgiving Relief and Operation
Breadbasket, cadets delivered 54 boxes to families in need at several local
elementary and middle schools.
More than 3,000 food items, including canned goods, were collected with many of
those items being donated by cadets, students and staff of Foss. Cadet Dawn
Sarmiento directed these two operations and Cadet Lorra Burgess made the
contacts with the schools and families to coordinate the deliveries.
The delivery of 545 totally full boxes to families is a record for Foss. Principal Thu
Ament said, “Our school helped others help themselves during a time of need.” This
is Foss' second year of sponsoring Operation Thanksgiving Relief and 17th year of
sponsoring Operation Breadbasket.
Lincoln welding team heads for state competition
Congratulations! The Lincoln High School Skills USA Team finished first in the
regional welding contest and now is moving on to the state competition. Fred Hall is
the team advisor.
—John Page, director, Career and Technical Education
Printing and Graphics staffer gets kudos
Thank you, David Gjertsen, and the rest of the Printing and Graphics staff for being
so patient and courteous during our conversations regarding my recent request for
some Dibels testing booklets. I did not quite know which booklet and, David, you
were so patient helping me figure out the correct one for Stanley. And, you had
such a timely “turn-around” just one day! Thank you for making my job easier and
for being so professional and helpful.
—Jerry Adams, Title 1, Stanley E.S.
Professional development, staff opportunities
Lesley University offers teacher programs
Lesley University is currently accepting applications for two Bachelor’s degrees
designed for those interested in becoming a teacher:


Human Development Major with Special Education Minor Leading to
Residency Certification in Special Education. Start date: June 2011
American Studies Major with Elementary Education Minor leading to
Residency Certification in Elementary Education. Start date: June 2011
Application deadline: March 7.
Students attend Lesley classes at Tacoma Community College one night a
week and one weekend a month to complete the program in just two years.
Applicants must hold an Associate’s degree or equivalent.
For more information, click here.
Tech tips
Where has my little file gone - Part 3: Thumb drives
Where, oh, where has my little file gone? Are you feeling all thumbs when it comes
to saving files on a thumb drive? In today’s lesson, we will take the mystery out of
saving to this device.
Thumb drives come in a variety of storage sizes between 128k to over 16 gigabits.
The sweet spot in storage value is currently in the 2 to 8 gigabits storage size. I
recommend paying a little bit more and getting a brand-name device that comes
with a warranty. Read full tech tip.
Commute trip reduction
Parking measures to be reinforced at Transit Centers
Sound Transit soon kicks off an enhanced parking enforcement program at its
Sounder stations and park-and-ride lots in an effort to ensure these popular
commuter areas are properly used. The move comes after concerns expressed by
Sounder commuter rail and Sound Transit Express bus riders that parking is
overcrowded as a result of vehicles being parked overnight in lots, as well as other
infractions.
Of the 21 transit centers Sound Transit operates in King, Pierce and Snohomish
counties that provide parking, six are at 99 percent capacity or above, and seven
are at least 90 percent full.
Beginning Jan. 15, parking guidelines will be emphasized for vehicles parked:

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


Over 24 hours
In emergency lanes, “no parking” and loading zones
In ADA-designated spaces, where a vehicle is not marked by a state-issued
disabled parking placard or license plate
In more than one parking space
In a manner blocking other vehicles and/or pedestrian pathways
Sound Transit will provide a one-week grace period for transit lot users. Between
Jan. 15 and Jan. 22, warning notices will be given to vehicle owners who park
outside the guidelines. Starting Sunday, Jan. 23, cars that either exceed the 24hour limit or fail to observe other regulations may be immediately towed.
The transit agency has installed additional signage at its busiest transit centers to
advise lot users of parking regulations. Signs at other Sound Transit-operated
locations will also be installed. Additional rider information is available at
www.soundtransit.org under “How to Ride.”
Schedules for all Sound Transit services are available at www.soundtransit.org.
If you have any questions, contact Kimberly Reason at 206-689-3343 or
kimberly.reason@soundtransit.org.
Community opportunities
Library to close branches, reduce hours
As a result of a $1.8 million shortfall in the Tacoma Public Library's 2011-2012
budget, the library will close two branch libraries and reduce hours at the downtown
main library effective Monday, Jan. 31. The library's Board of Trustees approved
the closure at its December board meeting after reviewing options to balance the
library's budget. In reaching the decision, trustees considered four factors:
circulation and usage, the size of the library, the distance to nearby libraries and the
condition of the building.
Tacoma's Main Library will be open from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. Monday through
Saturday.


The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library will close on Monday, Jan. 31. The
last day to check out materials is Saturday, Jan. 29. Items on hold will be
available for pickup at Wheelock Library, unless another preferred pickup
location has been specified. Patrons of the King Library are encouraged to
visit two nearby libraries: the Main Library at 1102 Tacoma Ave. S.; and the
Anna Lemon Wheelock Library at 3722 North 26th St. in Tacoma's Proctor
District.
The Swan Creek Library will close on Monday, Jan. 31. The last day to
check out materials is Friday, Jan. 28. Items on hold will be available for
pickup at Mottet Library, unless another preferred pickup location has been
specified. Patrons of the Swan Creek Library are encouraged to visit the
nearby Mottet Library at 3523 E. G St. or the Moore Library at 215 S. 56th
St.
Bookdrops at both locations will be closed starting Jan. 31. Library materials need
to be returned to other locations.
For more information, call the library at 253-591-5666 or e-mail David Domkoski,
media relations, at ddomkoski@tacomapubliclibrary.org.
Building healthy communities from the ground up
Learn how to make your neighborhoods safer, cleaner and greener at a free
evening workshop Jan. 26 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the Portland Avenue Community
Center, 3513 E. Portland Ave. The workshop is sponsored by Cascade Land
Conservancy and the City of Tacoma. Share a potluck meal and hear South
Tacoma and Eastside community members who have made their neighborhoods
healthier:
 Dan Fear and David Whited, First Creek Neighbors and Puyallup Tribeneighborhood restoration and crime reduction;
 Carol Ramm-Grammenz, McCarver Elementary School-safe routes to
school and the Zina Linnik Park; and
 Octavia Hathaway, Caffetteria Octavia, starting a local business.
Talk with Cascade Land Conservancy representatives and people from Tacoma’s
community-based services about how to be successful in bringing about change.
Please RSVP to Cascade Land Conservancy. For more information, contact Skye
Schell at 206-446-8981 or skye@cascadeland.org.
Shaun White to be at MultiCare’s Do Something Healthy
Olympic Gold Medalist Shaun White will be the featured speaker at MultiCare’s 11 th
annual Do Something Healthy event Tuesday, Feb. 8, 6 to 9 p.m. at the Greater
Tacoma Convention and Trade Center, 1500 Broadway. The theme of the event is
“Reaching for the Gold – Inspiring Healthy Youth, and White will help students find
the passion and commitment to fuel their dreams.
Tickets are limited and pre-registration is required. Tickets cost $3 for youth age 18
and under, and $10 for those age 19 and older. Fifty students will also have a
chance to meet Shaun White by entering a drawing.
A health and fitness fair will be from 6 to 7 p.m. with interactive booths for the entire
family.
To get details and register, visit the Web site at www.multicare.org or call 800-4850205.
Government Leadership Institute offers free sessions
The Government Leadership Institute, a cooperative effort of the City of Tacoma’s
Neighborhood Council Office and the University of Washington Tacoma’s Urban
Studies Program, invites you to six free public sessions Monday nights from 5:30 to
7 p.m. in the Keystone Building, Carwein Auditorium, 1900 Commerce St. The first,
Financing Development in Tacoma, will be Jan. 24.
This is the seventh year of the Government Leadership Institute (GLI). The purpose
of the GLI is to bring together students from the UW Tacoma Urban Studies
Program’s Urban Government and Organizations course and citizens to learn about
the organization, operation and management of the City of Tacoma.
Guest speakers are invited to the class to discuss their work in relation to course
themes and urban development concerns. In addition to enrolled students, guest
speaker events are open to local citizens and others interested in the governance
of the city of Tacoma. The goal is to create space for thinking critically and
creatively about urban politics and policy in Tacoma and to open a dialog between
citizens and local public officials and decision makers about the present and future
conditions of the city.
This year, the GLI will focus on the theme: Planning the Economic Future of
Tacoma. Please direct questions to Elton Gatewood at 253-591-5229.
For a list of sessions, click here.
Tacoma School District No. 10 complies with all federal and state laws and regulations and does
not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation,
national origin, or ancestry, the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability or use of a
trained guide dog or service animal by a person with a disability, age, familial or marital status,
honorably discharged veteran or military status. This applies to all educational programs and extracurricular activities. Inquiries regarding the application of the above should be directed to Laurie
Taylor, assistant superintendent, Human Resources, telephone 253-571-1252. Inquiries regarding the application of Title IX should be
directed to Jennifer Kubista, director of Student Life, telephone 253-571-1123. Inquiries regarding the application of Section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act (concerning students with disabilities who are not eligible for special education) should be directed to Jennifer Traufler,
executive director, Student Services, telephone 253-571-1224. Inquiries regarding accommodations for disabled employees and the public
should be directed to Leslie Nohr, Disability Accommodations Office, telephone 253-571-1021. These individuals may be contacted by mail
at P.O. Box 1357, Tacoma, WA 98401-1357.