Superintendent Brower's Newsletter
December 2023
Dear Eatonville Students, Staff, Families and Community Members,
Hands down, the best part of my job is spending time with our amazing students in the classroom combined with cheering them on at events beyond the school day. Among so many other qualities that I can point out, our students are intelligent, creative, dedicated, determined, friendly and witty. It reminds me daily of the reason why I entered this profession 39 years ago and what keeps me engaged, hopeful and energized 39 years later! Likewise, I really enjoy meeting and visiting with our parents, staff and community members. I also want to stress that our ESD staff members are focusing on student academic and wellness as detailed in our strategic plan. They provide our students with an excellent educational experience.
Outstanding Events-I have really enjoyed attending recent events at all five schools. A sample of the highlights include Literacy Night at Weyerhaeuser Elementary, ELA Night at Eatonville Elementary, a Books and Bonfire Family Reading Night at Columbia Crest Academy and a spring band concert at Eatonville Middle School. The turnout at each of these events was fantastic.
EHS Sports-Our tennis players have started the season 5-0 which is the best start to a season in the past six years.
Fastpitch won three games in a row including a shutout vs 2A Steilacoom.
Track is off to a great start with lots of great times and distances so early in the season. Boys Soccer boasted a five game win streak. Baseball started the season with an impressive road victory over 2A Foster HS.
EMS-The middle school had 193 athletes come out for three sports (Cross Country, Football and Volleyball).
ESD-Special Olympics track season kicks off on April 1st and Special Olympics students will be hiking the Bud Blanchard Trail in the summer!
March Madness Basketball Tournament -Carl Hehemann just held a 3v3 basketball tournament last weekend at EMS. We had 72 students, grades 5-8, competing on 24 teams. Great sportsmanship was shown by athletes and spectators who came to watch.
The EHS-Knowledge Bowl team made State after placing 3rd at Districts. The Knowledge Bowl State competition was held this past Saturday in Wenatchee. Over 550 students from all levels of schools competed in both written and oral rounds. After the morning session EHS placed 11 out of 15 for our division. The students were valiant in their efforts and impressed in several of their rounds. We are very proud of our EHS team as this was the first time at state since 2016.
As we look ahead, I invite you to attend and support our student performances, including concerts and showcases. These events not only celebrate our students' talents but also provide opportunities for community engagement and appreciation.
Thank you once again for your continued support and dedication to our schools. Together, we are creating a nurturing and inspiring environment for our students to thrive. Eatonville Strong!
Warm regards,
Jay Brower
Superintendent
Learning in Action: Dynamic Duo!
Eatonville High School Advanced Placement students work with young children to study early cognitive development. Our AP Psychology course, led by Mr. Moeller continues to be a success in our Social Studies/History department. This course offers students a deeper understanding of human behavior and the opportunity to explore different career pathways related to psychology, nursing, social work, and more.
Studying child development, students explore how children learn at different stages of life. This knowledge is valuable in understanding how young brains develop and grow.
AP Psychology students recently had the chance to engage first hand with young learners at the Eatonville Cooperative Nursery School. This real-world experience provided students with insights into child development and cognitive processes of 3 and 4 year olds.
EHS AP students collaborated with young children, fostering a unique learning experience for both groups. Students were studying Jean Piaget’s preoperational stage of child development and specifically the concept of conservation (the ability to think logically to determine that a particular quantity will remain the same even though there is a change in shape or size.) High school students tested mass, numbers, and length with young learners.
“This engagement between our students and the pre-k kids is so valuable”, Mr. Moeller says, “you can take notes, read books, or watch videos, but being able to get to work with kids live and in person just can not be replicated. My students love it and learn so much from these interactions. One of my favorite activities we do throughout the year.”
ECNS teacher Mrs. Katie Moeller speaks to her child centered learning focus on building social emotional, independence, self help and problem solving skills. There are three classes of students, ages 3 and 4 attending. The ECNS building was the very first school in Eatonville, a one room schoolhouse built in 1892. Mrs. Moeller states how much she loves early learning and the interactions of happy, eager students. Our future ESD students are off to a great start at Eatonville Cooperative; the preschool will be moving 18 students forward to kindergarten in the 2024-25 school year.
Connect with Eatonville School District
Email: communications@eatonvilleschools.org
Website: https://www.eatonville.wednet.edu
Location: 200 Lynch Street West, Eatonville, WA, USA
Phone: 360-879-1000
Facebook: facebook.com/eatonville.school.district
Twitter: @EatonvilleSD