Port Angeles School District

Can you believe we are more than halfway through the school year? Keep focused. There are less than four months left until summer break!

This month's newsletter is packed full of events, student success stories, learning opportunities, concert ticket giveaways, and more! Make sure to check out the important article on fentanyl and educate yourself to keep your students and family safe.

Don't forget there is no school on Monday, 2/20 for President's Day!

The weather forecast is calling for some very chilly temps next week. We are not out of the woods with winter yet, so please bundle up and have a plan in place if the weather affects the school day.

Students across PASD are celebrating Black History Month in creative ways by learning about the achievements of Black Americans and exploring Black history from new perspectives.

Despite overwhelming obstacles, African Americans have given people of all backgrounds confidence and courage. Let this month be a reminder that we can appreciate what connects us, regardless of color or national origins

Dry Creek Elementary students in Mrs. Doran's sixth-grade class listened to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech and picked out sections that resonated with them. From these sections, students chose words that stood out and incorporated those words in a poem and in their drawings or paintings of Dr. King. Students explored how words make a difference and the power of our words. Great job, students!

We are excited to recognize the work of the many school counselors across the Port Angeles School District! Join us in thanking our school counselors and celebrating the work they do every day, to help our students dream big!

During the week of February 6th - 10th, we highlighted our school counselors and asked them questions about the great work they do and how they help their students dream big! Check it out!

The U.S. overdose crisis has reached a devastating new height with more than 100,000 people dying over the last year from drug overdoses.

Criminal drug networks are using social media and smartphone apps to flood the U.S. with deadly fentanyl and fentanyl-laced fake pills, sometimes disguised as candy or sidewalk chalk. This is alarming, and we invite you to discuss this with your students and families.

The only safe medications are ones that come from licensed and accredited medical professionals. Pills purchased outside of a licensed pharmacy are illegal, dangerous, and potentially lethal.

If you are concerned about your student and would like to talk with someone locally, please contact Helen Kenoyer - Director of Programs and Personnel at Olympic Peninsula Community Clinic by emailing HKenoyer@opccclinic.org or call 360-461-1614.

Parental Resources

• What Every Parent and Caregiver Needs to Know About Fake Pills
• Lo que todo padre y cuidador debe saber sobre las PASTILLAS FALSAS
• Fentanyl Poisoning Resources for ParentsHow Teens Misuse Medicine
• Drug Overdoses Killed a Record Number of Americans
• Buying Drugs Online – What You Should Know & How to Protect Your Kids
• 10 Strategies to Prevent Your Young Person from Using Drugs
• Severe Opioid Overdoses Rose by Nearly a Third During Pandemic
• Growing Up Drug Free - a Parent's Guide to Prevention

If you are interested in learning more about Naloxone, you can request it for free, online at https://stopoverdose.org/find-naloxone-near-me-washington-state/

Rainbow Fentanyl

Students in Bonnie Clark's art class did a lesson in pop art and created over-sized snacks inspired by the work of Claes Oldenburg, who created large-scale sculptures of everyday items. Pretty cool!

Kaylin Gauble and Ashgen Weitz

Is anyone else hungry for snacks now? These students are amazing artists!

Check out these open job opportunities:

• Assistant Softball Coach
  
• Substitute Bus Drivers
  
• Substitute Custodian
  
• Special Education Paraeducator at Dry Creek Elementary

All residents in Port Angeles received a copy of the 2023 Winter Visions Newsletter from the district. Have you had a chance to check it out yet? If not, you can read it online here!

Seaview Academy students from Mrs. Gochnour’s classroom have joined forces this year with Betsy Shultz and the Captain Joseph House Foundation. Students have met as a group to volunteer their time to help clean up the yard and participate in organizing and cleaning items inside the house to get it ready for the next group of families that are planning to visit at the end of February.

“The Captain Joseph House Foundation is a one-of-a-kind non-profit corporation created to support Gold Star Families of our military’s fallen war heroes since the beginning of the Global War on Terrorism on 9/11. With volunteer and paid staff, donation funding and inspiration, the Foundation will ensure a place for families of the Fallen to gather for respite and will provide a continuum of care for their personal healing.”

If any other Seaview students are interested in volunteering and working with this

foundation, please contact Stephanie Gochnour at

sgochnour@portangelesschools.org.

The Port Angeles High School chapter of Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) had a successful round of competition. We had 19 FBLA members from Port Angeles compete in our Puget Sound Region Winter Conference held February 4th at Pacific Lutheran University. This conference is a qualifier for our state conference held in Spokane, WA April 19-22. There were over 100 students competing from 10 chapters from the Puget Sound Region. We had 14 members qualify for state including six who placed first in their event.

Please congratulate the following students for their success:

• Ryerson Dougherty - Accounting I -Sixth Place
• Trystin McDonald - Accounting II - First Place
• Faith Carr – Advertising - Sixth Place
• Elizabeth Munro-Sanders - Broadcast Journalism - Sixth Place
• Cindy Liang - Business Communication - First Place
• Liberty Lauer - Business Communication Second Place
• Justyce Soiseth Business Law - Fifth Place
• Elizabeth Munro-Sanders - Impromptu Speaking - Sixth Place
• Liberty Lauer - Impromptu Speaking - Third Place
• Danute Duffy - Impromptu Speaking - Fourth Place
• Lilly Pena - Introduction to FBLA - First Place
• Stone Schaack - Intro to Information Technology - Second Place
• Becca Manson - Intro to Marketing Concepts - Third Place
• Natalie Brigandi/Lilly Pena - Intro to Social Media Strategy - Second Place
• Cindy Liang – Journalism - Fifth Place
• Angelina Maldonado - Public Speaking - Sixth Place
• Danute Duffy - Public Speaking - First Place
• Cindy Liang/Lilly Sanders - Social Media Strategy - First Place
• Faith Carr/Ryerson Daugherty - Social Media Strategy - Third Place
• Lilly Sanders - Website Design - Second Place

MARK YOUR CALENDARS: Join us for our annual paper shredding event on Saturday, April 29, 2023, from 10 AM – 1 PM at Steve Methner’s State Farm, 611 E. Front Street. Bring your paper to shred and make a donation. Proceeds from this event will help fund our Back to School Fair held in August, where children in need receive supplies for the 2023-24 school year.

Thanks to our community for supporting this event year after year! Special thanks to our trusty volunteers and 2022’s Sponsors: Sound Community Bank, Port Angeles Kiwanis, and Steve Methner-State Farm.

AmeriCorps Volunteers Luca Sorensen and Drew Nelson having fun while raising money for school supplies.

Please join us in congratulating Javen Descala, one of Mrs. Rhyne's hard-working, Seaview Academy seniors! Javen completed 2 credits with Seaview, during semester 1, while working full-time at Wilder's Auto as a Toyota Specialist Mechanic.

Javen enjoys salmon fishing and building muscle cars. Javen's dream is to someday race in NASCAR. Javen earned many honors while in PAHS's ROTC program, including Drill Team and Marksmanship.

His parents are Joe and Makayla Descala of Port Angeles. Joe is the originator of the 4 PA! His Grandmother, Jan Descala, is a paraeducator at Stevens Middle School.

Javen plans to move to Florida and pursue a career in the near future. Javen will earn his diploma in June with Seaview Academy, Home of the Orcas!

A quote from Javen, "I love the PNW and am proud to be from here." We all wish you the very best, Javen!

Seaview Teacher Janice Rhyne with Early Grad -Javen Descala

Empire Trio is an exhilarating and unique classical crossover ensemble that has taken concert halls by storm all over the world, selling out Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, The Redlands Bowl, and hundreds of venues across the US, Canada, and the UK.

Local high school choir and orchestra students will share the stage with the Empire Trio. Don’t miss this incredible collaboration between students and professional touring artists!

Enjoy the show on Friday, March 3rd, 7pm, at the Port Angeles High School Auditorium.

Enter to win two standard tickets here: https://forms.gle/ckmCWQX7ddVavxVy5

More about these artists: https://www.empiretrio.com/

Get tickets: https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?ticketing=jffa

• $38 for Premium
• $28 for Standard
• $18 for Economy
• $15 for Students (18-21 with Valid Student ID)
• $10 for Youth 17 & Under

Tickets are $5 more at the door

Details: The winners will be announced on Facebook and notified via email on Friday, February 24th!

Is there a Port Angeles School District employee that you'd like to nominate

Nominations are now open for Teacher and Classified School Employee of the Year.

Every year, the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) recognizes Regional and State Teachers and Classified School Employees of the Year

Here are three opportunities to share with both the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History and OSPI:

• Teacher: https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/7127358/2023-EoY-Nominations
• History Teacher: https://www.gilderlehrman.org/.../national-history...
• Classified Employee: https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/7127358/2023-EoY-Nominations

The Senior Party is a safe, sober event for all Port Angeles graduates. This year the Party will be at Vern Burton. The party begins 45 minutes after Graduation ends and lasts until 5:00 am. Students will not be allowed to enter the party late, but they can leave at any time.

We have food, entertainment, and prizes GALORE! To make this huge celebration happen, we need everyone's help! And it's not too late!!

• Here's the link to sign up to work at the party. Please understand that once you sign up to chaperone, you'll have to find a replacement. (Parents will not be allowed to stop by and say hi during the party.)

• Please have your senior stop by to see Mrs. Sanders in room 417 - any time during the school day - to pick up a Party RSVP/Lei Order form. The party is free, and leis are optional ($25.00). The leigh order form is due Friday, March 17.

• The Senior Parade will take place on Friday, June 16. We'll stage on Ediz Hook at 1:00 pm; the parade begins at 2:00 pm.

• A slideshow featuring the graduates will play continuously during the Party. Families can submit up to 5 photos to pahs2023seniorslideshow@gmail.com.

Families who have questions should contact Stacey Sanders at ssanders@portangelesschools.org.

• February 20 - President's Day - No School
• February 23 - School Board Meeting, 6pm at Lincoln Center
• March 9 - Billy Frank Jr. Day
• March 9 - School Board Meeting, 6pm at Lincoln Center
• March 23 - School Board Meeting, 6pm at Lincoln Center

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.