WHS students are creating opportunities

Wahkiakum high school students are creating opportunities where they find none.

One such student, Luke Stacy, presented the Wahkiakum School Board this Tuesday with plans to start a Patriot Club. The club will have projects and contests for interested students. He also wants to invite local veterans and politically minded people to speak. The club’s first project is to raise money for a motorized flag to be placed in the gymnasium.

“They had one at Pomeroy,” said Stacy. “It was honestly the most patriotic pledge of allegiance or national anthem that I’ve ever been to. I would like permission for the club to go forward and start raising money.”

“I commend you for taking pride in your country,” Tina Schubert, a member of the school board said, “and doing something about it. I think that that is really admirable. I don’t think there is anybody that wouldn’t support you.”

Corissa Blix, a graduate of Eastern Washington University, has joined the staff at Julius A. Wendt Elementary School and will take on the kindergarten class in her first year as a teacher.

Lisa Frink, already a prevention interventionist with Educational Service District 112, will also provide some instruction to students, giving elementary teachers more time to prepare for class. Cathy Murphy will be the alternative learning experience or ALE instructor approximately one day a week, which will allow Jamie Cothren to focus on elementary instruction for the second grade class, which according to Bob Garrett, the superintendent, is “fairly large."

Garrett presented preliminary information to the school board about the upcoming February 2014 Maintenance and Operation Levy and made the case for the purchase of a second SUV.

Garrett was happy to share that enrollment was higher than projected and that the school continues to be in compliance with the Minimum Basic Education requirement, the regulations that the state board of education has put in place for K-12 school districts. These regulations set the standards for the length of the school year and minimum instructional hours as well graduation expectations.

“We exceed the state requirements for graduation,” said Garrett.

WHS Principal Stephanie Leitz reported that staff is using a Gear Up grant to focus on STEM (Science Technology Engineering Math) based projects with science teacher Jeff Rooklidge. He and another staff member have been working together to order extra support materials for his physical science class to incorporate more technology and hands on learning.

District staff continues to work on the accreditation application, Leitz said, but because of staffing changes with the company that provides mentorship on this issue, there has been a temporary stall.

Theresa Libby, principal at JA Wendt Elementary and John C. Thomas Middle School followed with her own report. Of the new kindergarten teacher she said, “She’s excited to be here and we’re excited to have her.”

Spirits have been high at middle school sporting events. According to Libby, one referee was obliged to ask students to quiet down during a recent volleyball game.

The board closed the meeting to the public for an executive session. The next meeting is set for October 22 at 5:30 p.m.