Your Ellensburg Schools
November 2023
A Message from our Superintendent
Snow Days: What to Expect
We understand that the decision to close schools or keep them open in bad weather can have a big impact on families. We also understand that our students are best served, both academically and socially, by being in school. The safety of our students, staff and families is always our top priority.
HOW DO WE MAKE OUR DECISION?
Safety is of the utmost importance, and we continually monitor the weather when snow is predicted or falling. Please understand that we make the decision to open or close schools in bad weather based on a careful analysis of all relevant factors, such as:
- Information on road conditions from transportation staff and other staff that go out and drive certain routes starting at 4 a.m. We give careful consideration to the most dangerous roads in the district. Even if your street looks clear, travel elsewhere in the district may be dangerous. Also, we must consider that some high school students drive to school.
- Amount of snow and/or ice accumulated.
- Whether precipitation is continuing.
- Monitoring of the real-time and forecasted weather continues throughout the morning.
- Building conditions (Do we have electricity and heat?)
- Parking lot conditions. Administrators talk to maintenance and custodial staff members who are responsible for clearing and treating school parking lots and sidewalks.
- Temperature and wind chill. Please remember that some of our students walk to school and some must wait outside for the bus.
- Weather predictions. We prefer not to make our decision based on weather predictions, which are not always accurate. But sometimes it is unavoidable.
- What other school districts are doing? Local districts' superintendents and/or leaders check with each other and find what neighboring districts are doing.
If it is determined that school buses are able to safely transport students on the roads, then school will be in session.
WHO MAKES THE DECISION?
As superintendent, I am responsible for the final decision based on the above factors and recommendations from the Transportation and Maintenance directors as well as consulting with other local superintendents and district staff.
WHEN IS THE DECISION MADE?
I make the decision by 5:30 a.m. or earlier so we can notify radio and TV stations and post the decision on our website. If I wait longer to announce a closing, some parents will have already left for work, leaving their children unsupervised.
WHY DOES THE DISTRICT CALL A 2-HOUR DELAY?
A two-hour delay allows time to further determine if weather and road conditions will improve in time for the safe transportation of our students. During a delay, the Transportation team will continue to drive routes throughout the morning to assess road conditions. If road conditions improve, students are transported at the two-hour delay time. If road conditions worsen or are deemed unsafe for bus transportation, then school is canceled.
HOW ARE FAMILIES AND THE PUBLIC NOTIFIED?
Tune to local TV and radio stations. Information about a delay or school closure is sent first to all parents/guardians and staff via ParentSquare. Please make sure your Skyward account is up to date to ensure you receive these ParentSquare messages. Additionally, delay and closure information will be provided to the media via FlashAlert and posted on our ESD Facebook and website at www.esd401.org. You can also sign up to receive text or email notifications from www.flashalert.net.
WHAT ABOUT NEW TEEN DRIVERS?
If you are the parent of a new or inexperienced driver and you deem weather conditions too challenging for your student, they can ride the bus if they are signed up in advance for bus routing. We encourage you to sign your teen driver up for routing if this is a concern. To sign them up please visit: https://www.esd401.org/departments/transportation
WILL WE CLOSE SCHOOL IF CONDITIONS WORSEN?
Even if weather conditions worsen after school has started, we cannot reverse our decision without endangering students. Once we make the decision to open schools, many parents rely on that information and leave for work. If we then send students right back home, many will return to unsupervised bus stops and empty houses. If conditions get worse during the school day, we may need to have an early dismissal, but we will give adequate notice to all parents first.
WILL A “SNOW DAY” MAKE THE SCHOOL YEAR LONGER?
This year, we have built in one “snow day” within the school calendar. If there is more than one time this year that we need to close schools due to poor road conditions, the school year will be extended.
We work hard to make the best decisions to keep the Ellensburg School District community safe. If you feel that weather conditions are too severe for your student(s) to safely attend school, use your best judgement on whether or not your student(s) will attend. We also ask you to discourage teenagers from driving in bad conditions if at all possible.
I hope this explanation helps everyone understand how we make these difficult decisions in the pre-dawn hours of a snowy morning.
Your Partner in Education,
Superintendent Troy Tornow
Cathie Day Joins ESD Board
Cathie Day became the newest member of the Ellensburg School District Board of Directors when she was sworn-in by Board President Mike Rowley at the meeting of Nov. 29. Day defeated Jonathon Henderson in the general election to win the seat.
Day has a long career in education, and was a librarian and teacher at Ellensburg High School for 20 years before joining the Selah School District as an alternative programs teacher. She has also been an instructor at CWU and is a reserve police officer for the Ellensburg Police Department.
Please join us in welcoming Cathie Day to the ESD Board.
Please Participate in Survey
All Ellensburg School District families are invited to participate in a confidential survey for Ellensburg School District.
This survey has been requested by your district leadership, and it is generated by the Center for Educational Effectiveness. Your perceptions will provide information to support district and school improvement decisions. The survey will take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete and your response is confidential and anonymous.
To get started you can scan the QR code provided or log onto https://ceesurveys.questionpro.com/fam-24?CID=313108&DVB=876786
The deadline for submitting your survey response is December 15.
Thank you in advance for your valuable input.
Board Seeks Public Input
The Ellensburg Board of Directors has hired Northwest Leadership Associates to conduct the search for a permanent superintendent.
The ESD Board of Directors are asking for your input to inform the search for a permanent superintendent. Please take a moment to complete the following survey.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/EBURG2023
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/EBURG2023SPANISH
Thank you for your time and opinion!
Board Recognizes FFA Champs
EHS FFA students Cheyenne Shewell, Jamison Philip and Megan Wageneck were recognized by the Board of Directors at the meeting of Nov. 29 for their 2nd Place finish at the 96th National FFA Convention and Expo.
The girls won regional and state competitions for their Marketing Plan to qualify for nationals. At nationals, they competed in two rigorous rounds of preliminary and semi-finals presentations and questioning. The girls were competing against varying size schools, both public and private, from throughout the nation.
In addition to the competition, the girls had an opportunity to take industry tours during the trip. Among the stops were Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse farms, where the girls got to pet million dollar horses. They also visited the Louisville Slugger Bat Factory and Indy Speedway.
Congratulations to our (once again) nationally recognized FFA program and to the students and teachers who make us proud to be Bulldogs!
Ellensburg Schools Celebrate Vets
Students at every Ellensburg School honored our community’s Veterans on Nov. 9, the last day of school before the holiday. Veterans were met with music, refreshments and even a parade.
Students at Lincoln participated in the traditional annual Veterans Day parade before their assembly. At Ellensburg High School, leadership students joined Veterans for brunch after an assembly featuring the choir, band and orchestra. Guest speakers shared stories of bravery, leadership and devotion to our country. Students also participated in the Ellensburg parade held on Veterans Day.
Thank you to our students, teachers, staff and parent organizations for showing our local Veterans that their sacrifices are remembered and appreciated.
How a Field Trip Changed Lives
"A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops." - Henry B. Adams
In the 1970s and 80s there was a biology teacher at Eisenhower High School in Yakima named Ken Bongers. Every spring, Mr. Bongers would take a group of students on a field trip to the ocean. One of his students was so captivated by the field trip, and biology, that she signed on to be his teacher's assistant so she could go again in her senior year of high school. Like her mentor, Lana Carolan became a science teacher who is determined to help students find their love of and appreciation for the ocean.
"I remember going beach combing at 2 a.m. with a flashlight, and going to an oyster plant," says Carolan of her influential field trip. "No one else would try a raw oyster, so I did."
Carolan is currently prepping the EHS Marine Biology Club students for competition in the Orca Bowl, the annual Washington Regional Ocean Sciences Bowl. Competitions have been on hold for a couple of years, so the team is especially excited compete. Carolan began the EHS club in 1996 and in 1998 it became a fully chartered club. Although the club had a few rough years during COVID, they are back with increased numbers and enthusiasm.
When they aren't busy studying for their upcoming competition, students are working to raise funds to cover their competition and field trip. They plan to swim with the sharks at the newly renovated Point Defiance Zoo. "There is no marine life here, so it's a great opportunity to introduce kids to the beach, the aquarium," she says.
Team members have been selling concessions and face tattoos at games to help fund their trip. If you would like to make a contribution to their efforts, contact lana.carolan@esd401.org.
One of Carolan's former students is currently studying oceanography at Florida University in Tampa. Wonder if he'll be a teacher and take his students on a field trip to the ocean.
Carolan is pictured (center) with Marine Biology Club officers Senior Maggie Bryant (left) and Freshman Alexandra Rose.
Academic All Stars Earn Honors
Kittitas County Board of Commissioners proclaimed November 27, 2023, as "Ellensburg High School Boys Cross Country Team Day" in Kittitas County.
The Ellensburg High School Boys Cross Country Team are the Fall 2023 WIAA 2A Academic State Champions and the team has maintained an average GPA of 3.950 throughout their season.
The Kittitas County Board of Commissioners would like to request that the citizens of Kittitas County join in celebrating and honoring the Boys Cross Country Team in recognizing their accomplishment.
First Graders Host Annual Parade
Valley View 1st grade students in Mrs. Masuccio, Mrs. Murrey, and Ms. Selzler’s classes brought favorite fictional animal book characters to life for the annual Valley View Balloon Parade. Engaged in reading, writing, and engineering, students participated in this fun STEAM activity centered around the history of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Way to go first grade puppeteers!
Computer Science Students Present Study Results
Beginning in September, EHS students in Tiffany Price’s Intro to Programming class have been involved in a Project Based Learning project with the guiding question, “How can I use what I have learned about HTML and CSS to create a webpage that educates high school students about e-waste?”
E-waste is a term used to describe old cell phones, computers, and anything electronic that is no longer being used. Students found that only about 15% of e-waste is recycled, with the rest going into landfills.
After the webpages were created, students worked together to build presentations for the class, with the following students volunteering to present their research and websites to Information Technology and Administrative Management (ITAM) Department faculty at Central Washington University to receive feedback on their work: Cameron Cavazos, Kayley Ceja-Flores, Israel Cox, Johnny Knutsen, Caleb Reynolds, Carlos Tecuanhuey, and Finley Woods-Vallejo.
On Nov. 13, the students presented to the ITAM Chair and three other faculty members, including Professor Rivera, who specializes in IT Sustainability at CWU. Students shared their research and explained how they used HTML and CSS to create their web pages on e-waste. The ITAM faculty were very supportive and gave many compliments as well as a few pointers on how to improve the presentation and ideas to further their research.
"Many thanks to the ITAM faculty, especially Professor Rivera for helping make this opportunity possible," says Price. "And a big congratulations to our EHS students for doing such an outstanding job presenting!"
Students Learn About Opportunities in Healthcare
Our friends at Kittitas Valley Hospital hosted a wonderful day of learning for the students of Ellensburg's Big Picture High School.
The day began with a virtual tour of the KVH campus to familiarize students with the services offered. In the morning the group heard from non-clinical staff and learned about the many jobs in healthcare that expand beyond patient care. Kyle West, KVH Student and Volunteer Coordinator shared information about apprenticeships. Students also had an opportunity to hear from clinical staff. After lunch, provided by KVH, students toured the lab and got to participate in some hand-on demonstrations with state-of-the-art equipment.
Thank you to the many KVH employees who took time out of their day to share their knowledge and expertise with Big Picture students!
If you would like more information about Big Picture or any other Ellensburg Choice School, contact Principal Haley Naboychik at haley.naboychik@esd401.org.
Archery at Ida
For the Birds
EHS students in Brian Taylor Wilson's shop class, cut down and created 300 birdhouse kits for Knudson Lumber to distribute at their birdhouse days event on Dec 2-3. Parents can pickup the kit(s) at Knudson's and take home to build with the kids!
Thank you to Knudson's for creating this learning opportunity for our students! And congratulations to our student for bringing a little holiday cheer to Ellensburg families.
Off to the Rodeo!
The 65th Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, that is. Morgan Middle School teacher Daniel Beard will have two of his animals in the competition. Game Trail, an 11-year-old bareback, and Megavolt, a five-year-old bull will be bucking away at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas Dec. 7-16. Congratulations!
(Photo courtesy of the Daily Record)
Leadertech
Thirteen EHS Technology Student Association participated in Leadertech at CWU. Students learned about leadership skills and participated in events such as forensic science, tech problem solving, solar sprint, Extemporaneous Speech, prepared presentation, coding, and more.
Student Coders
Joe Wahle and his team of Ida student coders had an opportunity to share their learning with the Ida Nason Aronica PTO. Students have access to coding with Lego Prime kits during Library STREAM Specialist time. The kits not only make learning fun, but foster teamwork, critical thinking and creativity.
Winter Concerts
Ida Nason Aronica Elementary
Dec. 5 at 2 p.m. - Choir, 4th Grade, and Kindergarten Winter Concert for the school
Dec. 6 at 6:30 p.m. - Choir, 4th Grade, and Kindergarten Winter Concert for friends and family
Lincoln Elementary
Dec. 12 at 10:30 a.m. - Music Club Concert at Pacifica Senior Living
Dec. 13 at 5:30 p.m. - Lincoln Music Club Winter Performance
Dec. 14 at 5:30 p.m. - Lincoln K-2nd Grade Winter Program
Mt Stuart Elementary
Dec. 4 at 2:30 p.m. - 2nd and 3rd grade
Dec. 4 at 6 p.m. - 4th and 5th grade
Dec. 5 at 2:30 p.m. - Kindergarten and 1st grade
Valley View Elementary
Dec. 12 at 6 p.m.: TK through 2nd grade
Dec. 13 at 6 p.m.: Grades 3-5
Morgan Middle School
Dec. 7 at 6 p.m. - Morgan Band at Morgan Performing Arts Center (MPAC)
Dec. 11 at 6 p.m. – Morgan Choir at MPAC
Ellensburg High School
Dec. 11 at 7:30 p.m. – EHS Choir featuring EHS Orchestra at MPAC
Dec. 12 at 7 p.m. – EHS Jazz Band at MPAC
Dec. 14 at 7 p.m. – EHS Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble at MPAC
Dec. 15 at 7:30 p.m. - EHS Jazzmas Christmas Dance at EHS Commons
EHS Choir in the Community
Dec. 11 at 6 p.m. - Chamber Choir performs at Hal Holmes Center for Field and Stream Club
Dec. 13 at 9:30 a.m. - In Vox/Bella Voce Choirs at Hearthstone Commons
Dec. 16 at 11 a.m. - Chamber/Jazz Choirs at Leavenworth Gazebo
Dec. 19 at 6 p.m. - Chamber/Jazz Choirs at Patricia Place
