ConneCtDistrict News, Notes and Events

KSD

April 2013

tAlentS

Mid-Columbia Partnership (MCP) students put on a riveting murder mystery play based off of the book "The Westing Game".

MiD-ColuMbiA PArtnerShiP MurDer MyStery

tAlent At WeStgAteWestgate elementary students participated in a fun filled assembly. Many practiced for weeks on end, sacrificing their recesses to perfect their performances.

eDiSon’S got tAlent!Edison elementary students tried out for Edison’s Got Talent, performing for fellow students and teachers.

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ContentS2 Talent at Westgate

2 Edison’s Got Talent

2 Mid-Columbia Partnership’s Murder Mystery

4 Durbin Clinic

4 Music In the Classroom

6 Jog-A-Thon

6 Shoot for the Arc!

7 Mid-Columbia Partnership Competes in State Archery Tournament

8 Kamiakin Real World Design Team Wins Again!

10 Math Is Cool

10 Math Is Cool

10 Respect Lessons at Southgate

11 Staff Excellence Award Nominations

12 Kamiakin FFA Welding Competition

16 Middle School Teachers “Dig” Paleontology

16 Future Chef Competition

17 Upcoming Events & Announcements

MuSiC

Cheryl Cannard, music teacher at Ridge View elementary school, has been inviting student parents to join her classroom in March for what she describes

as “forever.” This is because March is “Music in our Schools” month. During class Cheryl’s students demonstrated their knowledge of patterns, rhymes and beats through a clapping exercise. These patterns were later used in songs as students taught their parent visitors how to hold xylophone mallets, how to tap the mallets on the xylophones and play a song. Earlier in that day, students from other classes taught their parents how t o play the recorder. Parents were all smiles as they watched their children and played instruments with them. Chris Guerrero, father of two students even came to music class twice in one day! “I had class earlier with my son- we played the recorder. Now I’m here with my daughter,” Chris explained. Like many parents, Chris believes music is extremely important to children. Just after hugging his daughter goodbye, Chris mentioned that, “(Music) teaches them new skills that keeps their minds engaged and it’s something different than the usual classroom setting.”

MuSiC in the ClASSrooM

Cheryl Cannard, music teacher at Ridge View elementary school, has been inviting student parents to join her classroom in March for what she describes

as “forever.” This is because March is “Music in our Schools” month. During class Cheryl’s students demonstrated their knowledge of patterns, rhymes and beats through a clapping exercise. These patterns were later used in songs as students taught their parent visitors how to hold xylophone mallets, how to tap the mallets on the xylophones, and play a new song. Earlier in that day, students from other classes taught their parents how to play the recorder. Parents were all smiles as they watched their children and played instruments with them. Chris Guerrero, father of two students even came to music class twice in one day! “I had class earlier with my son- we played the recorder. Now I’m here with my daughter,” Chris explained. Like many parents, Chris believes music is extremely important to children. Just after hugging his daughter goodbye, Chris mentioned that, “(Music) teaches them new skills that keeps their minds engaged and it’s something different than the usual classroom setting.”

Durbin CliniC Kennewick, Richland and Seattle area high school students were

tightly packed on the Kennewick high school auditorium stage as Timothy Durbin, orchestra conductor from the University of Louisville, Kentucky, emphatically explained that music shouldn’t be studied, it should be explored. After a brief historical introduction of the music, Durbin launched full-speed ahead in to the music. He explained how they were going to explore the tonal ranges and color of the music, demonstrating with his violin that this can be done by changing the pace, length and force with which the bow touches the strings. Along with tone and color of the music, Durbin gave examples of what sections of the music were to sound like to students, such as rain, drums and seagulls. Even though the workshop was intensive and fast-paced, students enjoyed a light-hearted atmosphere thanks to Durbin’s charismatic teaching style.

Southridge high school National Honor Society students raised $2,800 for the Arc of Tri-Cities in their “Shoot For the Arc” event. This student vs. staff basketball competition was held March 8th and brought out a huge crowd!

Shoot For the ArC!

AthletiCS

linColn Jog-A-thon

Lincoln elementary school Jog-A-Thon students raised $17,000! In honor of the school exceeding its goal, by $2,000, Principal Campbell dressed up as a Leprechaun. Pictured above are the top lap runners (boy and girl) per grade level and below, the top money collectors with their prizes.

Daisy Lerma getting ready to shoot at the National Archery in Schools Program. Daisy took 3rd in the 8th grade girls division and 6th overall in the female middle school division.

Twenty-five Mid-Columbia Partnership (MCP) students were among 550 students representing 38 schools/teams across Washington State who traveled to Ellensburg, WA on Saturday, March 16th, to compete in the National Archery in Schools Program State Championship. Students aimed for individual awards as well as school team trophies and the opportunity to participate in the national championships to be held May 10-22 in Louisville, Kentucky. Team scores were comprised of each school's individual top 12 scores. MCP student Daisy Lerma finished 3rd for 8th grade girls and 6th overall in the female middle school division. The middle school team score earned a 5th place finish.

MCP At the WAShington StAte ArChery ChAMPionShiPS

ACADeMiCS

The Kamiakin high school Real World Design Team took first place at the design challenge competition at Central Washington University. Their at the Kamiakin library and they have booked their plan ve booked their planes tickets for their next competition. Pictured above from left to right: Robin Rakowski, Paul Pierson, Kyle Deatherage, Devin Gerboth, Sangeetha Thevuthasan, Cooper Atkinson, and Joe Luey.

reAl WorlD DeSign teAM

The Kamiakin high school Real World Design Team took first place in the state for the fifth year in a row. The award was presented to them award was presented to them at the Kamiakin library ane tickets for their next competition in Washington D.C.. Pictured above from left to right: Robin Rakowski, Paul Pierson, Kyle Deatherage, Devin Gerboth, Sangeetha Thevuthasan, Cooper Atkinson, and Joe Luey.

ACADeMiCS

reSPeCt leSSonS At SouthgAteCharacter: what is it and how can it be defined? Counselor June Shelp of Southgate elementary school works to answer these questions each month with her character trait program. Each month brings a different trait into focus. Shelp, for example, taught respect in the month of March.

Shelp seeks to involve students by first having them help her define respect. With a solid definition in place, students then participate in a combination of video lessons, which depict relatable examples, and practice lessons with their classmates. At the end of each lesson, Shelp challenges students to embody the character trait of the month. When students demonstrate these traits, they can be nominated by their peers and faculty for an honored spot on the Character Trait board posted in the Southgate hallway.

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MAth iS Cool WinnerS

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Vista Elementary School’s “Math Is Cool” teams posed with their ribbons and trophies with Principal, Matt Scott. Vista placed 2nd in the tournament. Nikhil Devanathan placed 1st in the individual competition. Pictured standing: Mr. Scott, Duncan Paul, Aiden Arends, Alexis Hart, Sonnet Cooper, Rosa Martinez, Emily, Reynolds, Makenna Morgan, Derek Fisher. Seated: Eunu Lim, Nikhil Devanathan, Antonio Armenta, and Carlos Varela.

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Staff Excellence Awards Nominations are due by May 31st! Please e-mail or pony them to Lorraine Cooper in the Administration Center. Forms are available by clicking here.

MAth iS Cool At CottonWooD

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Cottonwood’s fifth grade Math Is Cool team took 3rd place at the regional competition! Pictured above are Cole Childers, Aidan Gaspar, Caleb Hoxie, Allie

Peterson, Stanford Smith, Molly Stephenson, Blake Strand, and Jonah Wilcott, as they posed with their ribbons. This was their first competition.

WelDing

The Kamiakin FFA hosted a state-wide metal art competition at Columbia Basin College (CBC). This competition was open to students in shop class who were members of

the FFA. Denise Senor, Kamiakin High School teacher and founder of the metal art competition explained that she started this competition over 12 years ago, at Kamiakin’s shop class for local schools. Now, the event has grown into a state-wide competition held at CBC. For most students in shop class, welding is more than just a credit, it’s a passion. Rachelle Lizotte, Kamiakin High School student explained that she first tried welding at MAGIC (Mentoring a Girl in Construction) Camp, and has been hooked ever since. Students worked in groups to create a concept design and practice prior to the competition.

The competition was an all-day event, where students had six hours to completely start and finish their metal art pieces. Katie Havenor, Kamiakin High School student said that the judges were looking for 3D metal art that was appealing, textured, had great coloring, layering and welding, plasma cutter welds, and mig welds. Students showed off their creativity and ability to work well in teams by welding a turtle, a scene with a cowgirl leaning against a fence, and a fish. This competition was a chance for students to show off the skills they had learned in shop class. After a grueling six hour competition, some students were scrambling to put the finishing touches on their pieces, whereas others were just glad to be done, taking a light-hearted approach to the experience. After judging, metal art pieces were auctioned.

KAMiAKin FFA WelDing CoMPetition

Three teams from the Kamiakin FFA competed in the welding competition.

teACherS

MiDDle SChool teACherS “Dig” PAleontology

A group of Kennewick Middle Science teachers got their hands dirty at the Coyote Canyon McBones

Mammoth Dig site in Kennewick. We are fortunate to have a paleontological/paleo-ecological project and outdoor classroom right here in our own backyard. “Teachers need to learn too!” notes Linda Barnes, teacher at Desert Hills Middle School. “It’s great to be using math and science in a real life scenario.”

The science teachers took advantage of this opportunity to experience excavating as well as identifying, washing and sorting the bones. According to Bax R. Barton, M.S., Museum Research Associate, Paleontology, “This isn’t just dirt and a shovel blasting away at the ground. We’re working on the relationship of things that are found, so we can find patterns and give context to the bones.” The insight gained from this day in the field will be brought back into the classroom and help teachers develop exciting lessons and activities for their students

CooKing

Elementary school students in Kennewick School District learned about the importance of healthy eating and honed some new culinary skills during the Future Chef Challenge,

sponsored by Sodexo. Sixty students submitted healthy salad recipes and the eleven best were selected to participate in the finals held at Tri-Tech last March. The young chefs prepared their recipes for a panel of local judges and were assessed on originality, taste, presentation, kid friendliness and use of healthy ingredients. Every student walked away a winner better prepared for a lifetime of healthy eating.

Future CheF ChAllenge

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3rdSecret Ingredient

AWArDS

Kennewick has great schools! Several schools received recognitions this month. Congratulations to the staff at Washington, Sunset View,

Southgate, Lincoln and Cascade Elementary schools whose schools earned Washington Achievement Awards. The Washington Achievement Award is based on statewide assessment data for the three previous years. Washington received an award for Overall Excellence, Cascade and Southgate for Closing the Achievement Gap, and Lincoln, Southgate, and Sunset View for Science. Only 381 schools statewide earned this honor.

In addition, Kamiakin High School was named one of America’s Most Challenging Public High Schools in a study published by the Washington Post. The study calculated the number of Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate and Advanced International Certificate of Education tests given at a school each year divided by the number of seniors who graduated that year. Kamiakin ranked 21st out of the 29 high schools in Washington State that qualified for this study and is among just nine percent of 22,000 U.S. public high schools nationally to earn placement on the list. Congratulations to everyone at Kamiakin for creating a culture of high expectations for themselves and their students!

SChool reCognitionS

1000 W. 4th Ave., Kennewick, WA 99352

(509) 222-5501 . www.ksd.org

April 2013 Newsletter

Look for the Safe Schools Newsletter on anti-bullying! Copies can be found in the front offices of your school.

uPCoMing eventS2 Orchestra Festival at the Toyota Center 7:30-9pm

9 Southridge HS Musical Review Show 7pm

11 Highlands MS Band Jr. Lilac Parade All Day

11 Southridge HS Musical Review Show 7pm

16 Desert Hills Spring Band Concert 4pm

16 Southridge HS Musical Review Show 7pm

18 Southridge HS Musical Review Show 7pm

21 Southridge HS Final Jazz Concert 7pm

21 Vista Spring Concert at Kamiakin HS Auditorium 7-8:30pm

23 Canyon View Multicultural Concert 6:30-8pm

23 All Mallet Showcase at Southridge HS Gym 6:30pm

30 Canyon View Nursery Rhyme Night 6:30-8pm

30 Horse Heaven Hills Band Concert at Southridge HS 7-8pm