11/9/23

As we approach Veteran's Day, I want to take some time to recognize the importance of this day. Veteran's Day is a time for our school district and our community to honor and recognize the countless men and women who have served or continue to serve in our nation's armed forces. Our veteran's have made immense sacrifices to ensure our safety and freedom.

This day gives us an opportunity to expose our students to the experiences and stories of veteran's. Our schools have planned multiple activities and events throughout our school district to recognize and celebrate our veterans. Thank you to everyone who has helped in the preparation.

Veterans, we are forever grateful to you, and we promise to continually honor you in our thoughts, words, and deeds. We extend to you our deepest gratitude. Thank you for your service to our great country.

Say hello to Carol!!! Carol joins PASD this year as a music teacher at Jefferson & Roosevelt Elementary.

Carol (far left) with her family at Hurricane Ridge.

Where are you from?

I have served the Tacoma community for the past five years. Before this, we settled in the Burbank, California area after traveling with the military while my father served his tour with the Air Force as a helicopter mechanic.

What is your favorite thing about your job?

Assisting our students with their skill-building efforts.

Anything you'd like to share about your family?

I am the oldest daughter of four girls; each of my sisters has a house, husband and two kids.

I am the favored aunt.

Do you have any hobbies?

I love game nights with family and friends. Lately, we have been competing against each other with Quirkle.

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

I would love to spend a day at Icicle Creek, Leavenworth participating in their chamber music quartets. One of my bucket lists items is the play the late Beethoven quartets.

What is your goal for this year?

I am a bit of a learning curve; Even while I learn, I would love to get the string program at Jefferson and Roosevelt elementary into top shape by implementing a few possible tools such as Google classroom, Peardeck and Kahoot learning activities. May be include an activity involving music videos.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

I will always be a music teacher. One example is a high level USC piano teacher is still teaching at 100 years old. I love bringing musicians together with artistic expression. I want to always be involve with musicians making music together.

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

I served on a cruise ship playing in a quartet doing the inside passage cruise into Alaska.

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

I am very appreciative this opportunity to serve our 4th, 5th and 6th grade string students and their families.

Over the past month, 8th grade students collected real water quality data at the Elwha River during field trips, made and presented scientific posters to all 7th graders and the community in the Elwha Investigation Poster Symposium, learned local food web connections from wildlife biologist Kim Sager-Fradkin, and explored the anatomy and importance of salmon by dissecting coho donated by the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe's (LEKT) Hatchery and learning about the traditional first salmon ceremony from Carmen Watson-Charles.

In the upcoming geology unit, students will continue their partnership with LEKT as they analyze the connections between Native American landform stories and geologic evidence for how the Olympic Mountains formed. While listening to Klallam stories, students can eat the salmon from our dissection, as Sunrise Meats is currently smoking the fish.

Native American Heritage Month is a time to acknowledge the vibrant cultures, languages, knowledge, traditions, and ways of life of our Native American people across the United States. Further, we are given the time to recognize the unwavering contributions of native people — civically, economically, socially, culturally, and locally. Click here to learn more.

Hi-Cap referrals are due November 15th. Please share Hi-Cap referral information with families. Click the images below and contact your principal for more info.

PASD is currently below our average percentage of families who have submitted a Family Income Survey. We are asking staff to help spread the word to families. Please share the below image and message with families.

Message to Families

Have you completed the Family Income Survey? If not, we are asking that you take just a few minutes to complete the survey as the information you provide is essential in us securing resources for our schools and students. Your survey response ensures that we can continue offering high-quality education for all students, regardless of their economic circumstances.

You can complete the Family Income Survey by picking up and dropping off the form at your child's school. You can also access the form by clicking here.

Thank you for your support!!!

The Port Angeles High School Thespian Society is pleased to be producing Beauty and the Beast Jr. this fall. It is “a tale as old as time”-- but we are making it our own. Beauty and the Beast will come to the Port Angeles Performing Arts Center for four magical performances on November 16-19th.

We invite you to come along and enjoy some of Disney’s most beloved characters and music. The classic story tells of Belle, a young woman fighting for the life she wishes for, and the Beast, who is actually a prince under the spell of an enchantress. If the Beast can learn to love and be loved, the curse will be lifted and he will be transformed into his former self. We have filled our stage with 37 talented students who want you to all be “Our Guest” this November.

Field Arts & Events Hall invites Port Angeles School District 7th through 12th graders to attend Resilience, a play with music written and performed by Samite Mulondo. Beautiful, powerful, personal and musical - “Resilience” is a play with the urgency of now combined with timeless stories of healing. Celebrated Ugandan musician, actor, and humanitarian Samite Mulondo uses the healing power of song and story to share his message of peace and hope in this multi-media one-actor play. Field Hall is offering a $10 discount on up to two adult tickets when purchased with one or more student tickets. Use code PASD10 at checkout. This offer is valid for both matinee and evening performances on November 18. https://fieldhallevents.org/#/events

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!

• November 10: Veterans Day Observed (No School)
• November 22: 1/2 day for students - NO LATE START. Regular work day for staff.
• November 23 & 24: Thanksgiving Holiday
• December 18 - January 1: Winter Break

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.