Vision: Chimacum School District recognizes that every student has unique individual needs. We will provide a flexible and equitable program that meets the needs of the whole child so that each student has the desire and confidence to flourish and become an engaged member of a global society.

Mission: In order to create a supportive and inclusive learning environment for our students with wrap around services, we will set aside time to collaborate and seek out meaningful professional development with the purpose of developing a wide array of vocational and strength-based options that meet the specific needs of every child.

Chimacum School District's Special Education Department is pleased to welcome eight new staff members to our schools. Julia Franz, our new Speech Language Pathologist, currently has her own private practice and has had multiple years working as a SLP in healthcare and rehabilitation centers. Although she has worked mainly with adults who have speech and language disorders, Julia has enthusiastically dived in to working with children and brings a fresh perspective and approach to the Special Education Department.

Matthew Mitchell, our new Occupational Therapist, comes to us with sixteen years of experience, with six years of that experience working in public schools, most recently in the Sequim School District. His approach to therapy involves really getting to know the students and designing therapy sessions that are built off the students’ strengths and interests.

Special Education Resource Teacher/Interventionalist Kyle Golphenee comes to us from Oregon, most recently from the Youth Progress Association, which is an organization that works with students in the Juvenile Justice system and with youth in child welfare situations. Kyle has both a Special Education and English Language Arts endorsement. He has twenty-seven years of teaching experience, including teaching Math, Social Studies, Art, and Health. Much of his teaching experience has been with students with IEPs.

Special Education Teacher Wendy Daley, also from Oregon, arrived just in the nick of time from the Stepping Stones Group to teach in our primary level program at CCP. She has acclimated nicely. The Kindergarteners and first and second graders as well as the rest of the staff are fortunate to have an experienced and caring individual to deliver special services.

Kristin Ozuna, Lacey Tuttle, and Elizabeth Keim join our CCP staff as Para Educators. They all have made a tremendous difference in working with students with very special needs. Jacob Fenton joins our Flexible Learning staff as a Para Educator. He is working with the "littles" and is a big hit with the kids in Flex.

New staff at CCP: from left, Elizabeth Keim, Kristin Ozuna, Lacey Tuttle, and Wendy Daley

Matthew Mitchell

We are very excited to be able to offer an integrated Transitional Kindergarten option for the 4- and 5-year-old children in our community, starting on December 1. Our teacher, Traci Meacham, has been working hard to get the word out about this much needed opportunity. The classroom is furnished, curriculum has been secured, and enrollment is almost full. We are working in partnership with other childcare and educational facilities in our community with the goal in mind of offering the best option for every family.

Chimacum schools' places importance on inclusionary practices. Our Transitional Kindergarten program will provide an inclusive and diverse environment for kids at all different levels of performance. Early intervention is vital in helping all children continue in their educational journey successfully. Please call Chimacum Creek Primary at 360-302-5820 for more information.

The students in Flexible Learning have been busy making crafts for their booth at the Chimacum Arts and Crafts Fair on December 10th and 11th. They will be selling the following items: wooden vehicles, jump ropes, soap jewelry, dream catchers, cards, custom crayons, gift filled mugs, and assorted ornaments. The crafts are all made by students. The proceeds go to the Flexible Learning Transition Program and to community access learning experiences.

Chimacum School District does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical 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 employee has been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination: Civil Rights, Title IX, and Section 504 Coordinator: Melinda Miller, (360) 302-5886, melinda_miller@csd49.org and/or PO Box 278, Chimacum, WA 98325.