9/29/23

I hope you are doing well. As you read this message, schools are in the process of hosting or have already hosted their open house events. I want to express my heartfelt thanks for hosting these important community experiences. School open houses are not just events. They are windows for families to peer into their child’s daily life away from the home. Families and students succeed when they feel connected to staff and the school's culture.

These events allow us to showcase our incredible work and strengthen our connection with families. Your enthusiasm and passion during open house events make a lasting impression. Thank you for your continued efforts in making these events meaningful.

Stephanie is joining the PASD team this year as our new Food Services Director. Welcome aboard Stephanie!

Stephanie and her Boston Terrier Remy.

Where are you from?

San Diego, CA

What is your favorite thing about your job?

Seeing kids get excited about school lunch!

Anything you'd like to share about your family?

I have a 2-year-old red Boston Terrier named Remy-- he is a big part of my family and very well loved. He rubs on people's legs like a cat!

Do you have any hobbies?

Baking/cooking & traveling. I also have a sourdough starter and make bread almost every weekend!

If you could choose to do anything for a day, what would it be?

That's a hard question! Maybe go whale watching or visit a farm/orchard.

What is your goal for this year?

To increase the number & variety of tasty meals for all students in PASD.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

I hope to become a mom in my personal life, and in my professional life I hope to continue to climb the ladder of management to better support food service, food quality and nutrition throughout the region.

What is a fun fact that most people don’t know about you?

I used to be a ballet dancer throughout middle & high school.

Anything else you'd like to share with your co-workers?

Looking forward to an exciting school year!

Staff and students across the Port Angeles School District worked hard on new and existing school garden projects during the 2022-2023 school year. Before heading off to summer break, students and teachers at Lincoln High School built a beautiful garden that is now flush with fresh fruit and vegetables.

Tony Seidl and his son, Jack, did an incredible job this summer building an outdoor classroom area at Dry Creek Elementary that includes 7 new garden beds, a white board space, and an open area for outdoor classroom use.

Franklin and Jefferson Elementary Schools are also lush with flowers and varieties of plants and fresh vegetables! Franklin Elementary has a new Native garden space that includes Native plants of the Olympic Peninsula.

Port Angeles High School’s garden brought in the pollinators this summer with its beautiful display of hollyhocks, poppies, lavender, lavatera, crocosmia, iris, daylilies, and so much more! The garden produced lots of vegetables and some of the juiciest plums.

WSU Extension and SNAP-Ed are working with schools in Port Angeles to support garden education and access to fresh food. If this sounds like something you or someone you know could be interested in, please send an email to clallamfarm2school@gmail.com.

Want to know more about school gardens in Clallam County? For more information, check out the website at sites.google.com/view/port-angeles-school-gardens

PAEF grant applications must be submitted by next Thursday, 10/5!!! Don't miss out on these opportunities for your classroom and school buildings. The applications can be found here: Check it out!

The PAEF has also created some helpful grant application tips. Check it out!

A Roth option for the state’s Deferred Compensation Program (DCP - a 457 plan) will be available October 1, 2023. If you missed the educational DCP Roth webinars that were provided from August 1 – September 7, check it out here.

Do you have a fun event, classroom activity, or want to share a success story from your school building?

If so, fill out this communications request form ahead of time, and let's celebrate!

• September 29 & 30: Orange Shirt Day
• October 9: Indigenous Peoples' Day
• October 31 - November 1: Parent-Teacher Conferences (1/2 day for students)
• November 10: Veterans Day Observed (No School)
• November 23 & 24: Thanksgiving Holiday

Port Angeles School District is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Port Angeles School District does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following employees have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination: Title IX Coordinators, Civil Rights Compliance Coordinators: Scott Harker, 905 W. 9th Street Port Angeles, WA 98363, (360) 457-8575, sharker@portangelesschools.org, for Section 504/ADA Coordinator, Dr. Rachel Summers, 905 W. 9th Street Port Angeles, WA 98363, (360) 457-8575, rsummers@portangelesschools.org.