Positively Pasco: Issue #171

Issue #171

September 12, 2022

Vea la versión en español del Boletín Informativo Positivamente Pasco aquí.

Pasco School District kicked off the school year during the 2022 All Staff Expo and Rally, where nearly 1,500 employees gathered at Edgar Brown Stadium to visit with community partners and businesses, enjoy breakfast and student entertainment, and participate in the rally!

Thank you to STCU for sponsoring the event and Dutch Bros Coffee for sponsoring coffee. We also want to thank our student entertainment, the Chiawana High School cheerleaders and dance team, Mariachi Halcón del Río and choir members who sang the National Anthem, Pasco High School Marching Band and cheerleaders, and the Schwanna Bulldogs Dance Team, which consists of current and past Pasco High School students.

PSD is running a bond in February 2023 as a part of our Long-Term Facilities Management Plan, which addresses ways to alleviate overcrowding in our schools and improve the learning environment for students in our district.

Our comprehensive high schools are over capacity.

• Chiawana was built to serve 2,348 students and last year served 3,126 students at its peak in October 2021.

• Pasco High School was built to serve 1,808 students and last year served 2,448 students at its peak in October 2021.

• The district estimates that over 1,300 students between both schools will be served in portable classrooms for the 22-23 school year.

The City of Pasco projects its population will grow by 50,000 within the next 20 years, leading to continued enrollment growth for Pasco schools. The 2023 bond preliminary scope includes adding a new third comprehensive high school and a small innovative high school, which would create room for 2,600 students, alleviating current high school overcrowding and allowing enrollment growth.

The bond also includes:

• Adding a softball field at Pasco High School.

• Enhancing Career & Technical Education (CTE) equipment and space at Chiawana and Pasco High Schools.

• Purchasing land for future growth.

View more details on our Bond 2023 webpage.

We can all help prevent suicide. Every year, mental health organizations and individuals across the U.S. and around the world raise awareness of suicide prevention during September, National Suicide Prevention Month. If you or someone you know needs support, call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.

Learn more about 988 by visiting their website.

Pasco High School is looking for mock interviewers who will provide students with an opportunity to practice their interview skills. The interviews will take place in the Pasco High School Library from 8:30 to 10 am, and light refreshments will be provided.

Dates:

• October 14

• November 4

• January 27

• February 24

• April 28

• May 19

This is your chance to make a difference in our future workforce. Register today!

For more information, contact Amandalyn Rubio at 509-547-5581 X-3610 or amrubio@PSD1.org.

Are you looking for a rewarding and meaningful career? Join our PSD team today! We have many positions open including:

• Substitute Custodians

• Bilingual Paraeducators

• Special Services Paraeducators

• And more!

Apply today!

During the calendar art contest for the 2022-23 district calendar, we received a painting submission from a student named Gabe Scheel, a 7th grader at Ray Reynolds Middle School. Gabe's painting had a photo and story attached to it, which described how Gabe suffered a traumatic brain injury at age 5, leaving him disabled. Ray Reynolds Middle School was the first school he attended, and his teachers taught him how to communicate and paint through eye gaze technology.

Congrats to our 2022 Staff Achievement Winners who were recognized during our 2022 All Staff Expo and Rally on Monday, August 29.

• Devin Olson, Science Teacher at New Horizons High School

• KC Flynn, Math Coach & Visual and Performing Arts Director

• Jamie Chavez, Teacher Interventionist at Captain Gray STEM Elementary

• Amy Rodriguez, Instructional Coach at McLoughlin Middle School

• Dawn Bastin Hernandez, Facilitator for iPAL

• Wendy Nansel, Special Services Paraeducator at Ray Reynolds Middle School

• Eric Whitemarsh, Math Teacher at Stevens Middle School

• Sofia Soto, Home Visitor for New Horizons High School

Staff Achievement winners are individuals who make outstanding contributions to the district and are nominated by their colleagues. They will each receive up to $1,500 for professional development opportunities.

Pasco School District is proud to welcome our new administrators.

• Eriberto Frias, Assistant Principal at Pasco High
  

• Michael Garcia, Interim Assistant Principal at Maya Angelou

• Daniel Garza, Assistant Principal at Curie and Emerson

• Laura Jones, Director of CTE

• Tony Langdon, Principal at McGee

• Shelly Crump Peterson, Assistant Principal at Chiawana

• Chris Pope, Assistant Principal at Stevens

• Alicia Quackenbush, Director of Special Services

• Jaime Silva, Principal at Rowena Chess

• Jay Simon, Executive Director of Support Services

• Bob Smart, Interim Director of Employee Services

• Michelle Smith, Assistant Principal at Pasco High

We wish you all a successful year!

Alex Wilson, a Chiawana High School graduate, has begun her career as an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter for PSD.

Alex took ASL classes all four years of high school, and during her fourth year, she was given the opportunity to intern in the Deaf Education classroom at Chess Elementary. "This was a great learning experience that I enjoyed," said Alex.

After high school, she spent several years improving her skills in ASL. Eventually, Mrs. Henn, her ASL instructor from Chiawana, strongly encouraged her to apply for an interpreter position with PSD.

"I am thrilled to work for PSD," said Alex. "I am a product of Pasco. I went to Pasco schools from kindergarten through high school, and my mom is a teacher in Pasco. Pasco is a great place to be."

Congratulations to 3rd-grade teacher Ashley Zahn of Maya Angelou Elementary, who was selected as a 2022 Washington State Employees Credit Union (WSECU) Teacher of the Week. Ashley received a $500 grant for her classroom and a $500 grant for the school.

Ashley was nominated and chosen along with 24 other teachers throughout the state and plans to use the funds to buy new classroom books, new book boxes, more flexible seating options, classroom management incentives, an easel for anchor charts, brand new student headphones, and new table caddies.

Congratulations, Ashley!

Congratulations to Meagan Brantley and Camille Martinez, our North Star winners from Livingston Elementary! Meagan, a kindergarten teacher, was nominated by a parent for being ‘exactly what her child needed to have a successful year.’ Camille, a 2nd-grade teacher, was nominated by a colleague for helping her grow as an educator.

Superintendent Michelle Whitney presented them with an award to acknowledge them for shining brightly in their profession and putting students first!

Thank you to McCurley Integrity Subaru, who adopted ten classrooms at Livingston Elementary school during their Subaru Loves Learning event. The following lucky teachers received $500 to spend on classroom supplies to help their students succeed this school year:

• Kim Myers

• Kelly Longsdorff

• Lindsay Bates

• Alicia Anderson

• Shirley Fairfield

• Kayla Fitzgerald

• Beth Olson

• Lindsey Collins

• Joyce Johnson

• Becky Booth

Congratulations teachers!

Congratulations to Carol Travis, CTE Agriculture Teacher at New Horizons High Schools, for being selected as a Washington State’s 2022 National Association of Agriculture Educators (NAAE) Teacher Mentor Award winner!

"This award is meaningful to me because I love helping others," said Carol. "If you ask teachers why they entered and stayed in the teaching profession, it's usually because other agricultural teachers have helped them. So I am happy to help others and watch educators grow and see their impact on students."

Carol has been a CTE Agriculture teacher at New Horizons High School since 2010, where she helps students grow in their awareness of agriculture and agricultural careers, as well as helps students earn credit for their diploma and gain valuable work experience.

Congratulations, Carol!

You’re invited to spend the morning with Pasco students at Three Rivers Elementary! You’ll have the opportunity to engage in classroom activities, listen to school highlights, and experience what makes Pasco schools an exciting place to learn.

When: Thursday, October 20, 8:45 am – 12 pm

Where: Three Rivers Elementary School, 3901 Road 84

Breakfast and lunch be provided during this FREE event. Spots are limited, so RSVP today!

Pasco High School Volleyball is having a clothing sale through September 16 to raise funds to help send athletes to summer camps and clinics. The shirts are $10 each and sizes are available in small to 3X. You can choose from three color choices including black, purple, and white.

Order your shirt today!

September 21