Be Positive, Be Grateful, Be Involved

• At the Nov. 26th school board meeting the school board approved a two year (2021-22) levy of $878,240 in 2021 and $922,152 in 2022 for a rate of approximately $1.60 per $1,000 of assessed value.
  
  
• The levy election day is February 11, 2020, with ballots mailed around January 24th.

• Congratulations to Trisha Roach for her work last summer with the Association of Washington Student Leaders. They sent us a letter this week recognizing Trisha for her outstanding service to their student leadership programs (CheerLeadership Session). Way to go Trisha!
  
  
• On Tuesday the administrative team did a walk through of the high school looking at student engagement. We compiled data for the building leadership team to review. We will be continuing this practice monthly. In January we will be visiting the elementary school. It is always encouraging to visit our classrooms and to see first hand the wonderful work going on throughout our schools.
  
  
• At the next school board meeting (Dec. 11th) Pauline Cline from Clear Risks Solutions will be presenting to the school board a training called “Superintendent/School Board Responsibilities and Liabilities.” The training will start around 7:30 PM, end around 9:00 PM, and since this is an open board meeting/work session anyone can attend.

• Dr. John Glenewinkel is currently working with staff on improving SEL practices using a classroom based coaching model for interested teachers. His work here is funded by a grant via the Rural Alliance. John has worked as a paraeducator, teacher, principal and superintendent. He has over 30 years of experience in education. He has worked in two states and six school districts, urban and rural, large and small. Much of his experience is in working with and designing programs for disenfranchised youth. He has presented at local, national and international conferences. Presentation topics have included: Credit recovery options-including performance based education, strategies to decrease truancy, gang prevention, positive discipline practices and using a year-round school calendar. Most recently he has been working with OSPI as part of the Social Emotional Learning Workgroup. This work has resulted in a focus on helping schools and districts develop Compassionate Schools and implement Social Emotional Learning programs.
  
  
• We are continuing to collect responses for our Climate Survey for staff and students. We will be collecting responses through the end of next week (Dec 13th). We have completed the Family Climate Survey. The results are being compiled and will be reviewed next week by the administrative team and then the results will be shared with the greater Tonasket School community.
  
  
• The THS ASB hat, glove, and scarf tree is up in the THS commons. The items are free to those in need. If you would like to bring an item you can hang it on the tree column or bring it to Anita Asmussen.
  
  
• Before we let out for Thanksgiving break 63 HS students received a Tiger Thanks for November. These students were teacher nominated and were recognized for having made a positive impact. They received a candy bar and got out five minutes early to lunch. Great job everyone!

• I’d like to extend appreciation to Jerry Asmussen and to Clint Duchow for their service on the school board. Jerry became a board member in 1999, so he served on the board for 20 years. Clint has been on the board for two years. At the last board meeting on November 26, the November election was certified so we had two new members join the board, Lois Rhoads in District 2 and Jennie Wilson in District 5.
  


• Lois was born in Clarkston, Washington and raised in Tonasket. She graduated in 1984 from a small, private school and then attended Corban University. Lois and her husband Jeff, raised three children, then welcomed four more boys into their family, as well as two sons-in-law, a daughter-in-law, and two grandchildren. Lois is a WSMTA Piano Instructor since 1996. She is also a site facilitator for Oroville/Tonasket Children’s Reading Foundation. Lois enjoys many activities with her family, with skiing topping the list.


• Jennie was born and raised in the beautiful Tonasket valley and was a 1996 graduate from T.H.S. Graduating with an AAS degree in Office Administration and a one-year accounting certificate from Spokane Falls which led her to a satisfying online career with MW Consulting Engineers. In addition, she works part-time for VIP Insurance Agency and enjoys her connection with the community there. Jennie and her husband have four children that currently occupy all three Tonasket schools. Her love and passion for her family, community, and school led her to run for a position on the Tonasket School Board. She believes connecting our children to a great educational opportunity and advocating for extracurricular opportunities, as well as, social and emotional wellness for our students will help lead them to be great adults.


• The school board also elected Joyce Fancher as the new school board chair and Sharron Cox as the vice chair. Joyce is also the legislative representative.
  
  
• FFA Christmas Wreaths are now for sale. You can put your orders in with Brian Ellis or any horticulture student.
  
  
• Winter sports are now in full swing, good luck to all our Tiger Athletes!
  
  
• Enrollment for December is 1,077.78 compared to November’s enrollment which was1,077.05. We are staying very steady.