Superintendent's Update
February 2022
Hello ESD Team,
Additionally, this is National School Counselors Week. Please take time to thank our incredible school counselors. Counselors are truly the heart of the school, and their skillful empathetic work with students help every child to feel valued and affirmed. Thank you again counselors for making a positive impact on our students and staff every day!
As you may remember, the District sent a letter to Gov. Jay Inslee in the Fall indicating our desire for local control regarding COVID protocols. The Governor is expected to make an announcement later next week regarding risk mitigation measures in schools, and we will share that information with you when it is available. We will continue to partner with Kittitas County Public Health to make the best decisions for the students and staff in our District.
News
- Levy Results
- Moving to Four Elementary Schools: Attendance Zones Committee Recommendations
- Board Seeks New Member
Celebrations
- Student Spotlights
- "Legally Blonde"
- Elementary choir and orchestra
- Early Learning Preschool Pajama and Pancakes Day
- FBLA Celebrations
- Black History Month
Thank you for your partnership. Together we accomplish more!
Sincerely,
Jinger
Levy 2022
Attendance Zone News
The Attendance Zone Committee has been hard at work since early November. Everyone who applied to be on the committee was accepted, and a few members joined when the process was underway. We are so proud of the work this group did, the thoughtful and forward looking questions they asked, and their desire to create an equitable system for all Ellensburg families. The work and recommendations of the Attendance Zone Committee were shared with the Board at the Regular Meeting on Feb. 9. Information related to the work of the Attendance Zone Committee can be found here.
Parent information sessions will be held on Feb. 17 and 22. There will also be a presentation for Spanish-speaking families on Feb. 22. All meetings will be held via Zoom, and participants will have an opportunity to post any questions they may have while viewing the presentation. Zoom links will be sent out to parents via Blackboard on each day of the presentations. On Feb. 23 all recommendations from this committee will be presented to the Board of Education for the process of approval. Towards the end of February, the District will have an Enrollment Page on the website. This live webpage will allow families to type in their home address to determine their Elementary Attendance Zone.
I had a recent opportunity to tour Lincoln Elementary. The building is still under construction, but the remodeling efforts are already noticeable and positive, including the addition of more natural light and a new HVAC system. I am excited for staff and students at all of our elementary schools. We have to get through this change, and change is always difficult, but this is a positive move into the future for Ellensburg schools.
Board Seeks Applicants for Open Position
Board member Meg Ludlum will be leaving Ellensburg in March. We are sad to see Meg leave, as she has been a valued teammate and advocate for the students of Ellensburg. We wish her all the best in her future adventures.
With Meg's resignation, the Ellensburg School District Board of Directors will have an open position and is currently accepting applications for ESD 1 District Boundary. Any U.S. citizen and qualified voter, who lives within the ESD 1 District Boundary is welcome to apply. Applications will be accepted until February 16 at 5 p.m. Interviews will take place on February 23 from 4-6 p.m. Applications can be found here.
If you or someone you know is interested in helping to support the growth of the District, then we would love to see your application.
Student Spotlight
Kaelynn Smith
“I want to be a physical therapist,” she says. “Being in physical therapy helped me realize how much I love what they do, and that I want to be a part of that.” Kaelynn adds, "Being in sports has motivated me to get good grades. You have to have good academics to play in college. And I have made great friends.”
Cristian Caballero-Barajas
“I thought of music as a fun hobby on the side,” says Cristian “But then I realized I want to make a career out of this, land a good job, and perform, hopefully around the world. Performing in front of a crowd -- it’s a feeling I can’t describe. I love it.”
Ryker Fortier
“Sports have taught me to be a good student, a good friend, and a good son. Without sports, I don’t think I’d be prepared for what comes next," says Ryker. "I have always been taught to be a leader, not a follower. I hope that through my leadership, and playing by example, that young players will continue, even when it’s hard. Hard work will take you a long way. If you put in the effort, good things happen.”
Lydia Blaisdell
“I was in my first musical when I was a baby,” says Lydia. “I was carried on stage, so yeah, I was basically a prop.”
She is currently in rehearsals for the EHS winter musical production of “Legally Blonde,” in the lead role of Elle Woods. “If I didn’t have these opportunities, I don’t know if I would be graduating,” says Lydia. “Being involved in music and theatre gave me the motivation to push in all my classes, so I could be involved in extracurricular activities.”
Valley View Choir Underway
Ode to Joy
Members of the Valley View orchestra play Beethoven's “Ode to Joy,” under the direction of Ellensburg Orchestra teacher Kara Hunnicutt, with the assistance of CWU violinist Cecilia Lakin.
According to Hunnicutt, there are 136 Ellensburg students enrolled in orchestra, ranging from grades 2-12. About 50 students participate in two beginning orchestra classes held at Valley View and Ida Nason Aronica, which include students from Lincoln and Mt. Stuart. Both beginning orchestra classes meet before school.
“It is rare to have an orchestra program in a public school district,” says Hunnicutt. “In central Washington, only Yakima, Wenatchee, Sunnyside, Ellensburg and the Tri-Cities have orchestra programs. It is a gift to be able to teach these remarkable young musicians!”
PJs, Pancakes and Early Learning Fun
Preschool students at the Early Learning Center (ELC) enjoyed a Pajama Pancake day recently. The day included mixing a pancake recipe, a pancake obstacle course (don’t drop the pancake!) and of course a delicious pancake feed.
“Though our littlest students rarely realize it, the intentionally designed play-based learning opportunities are creating rich opportunities for every child to build their foundational skills in literacy, math and social emotional learning,” says ELC Director Juli Hamilton. “Our dedicated Early Learning Center Preschool Team is passionate about supporting our students in their diverse language, occupational therapy, and behavior needs all throughout the day."
“Our Preschool Teachers Cathy Idler and Effany Martinson and phenomenal preschool team (Leticia Acevedo, Nicole Linares, MacArthur Wood, Ashley Ackerman, Dawn Grenning, Kristen Floan-Wood, Tracy Strom, Diana Wilson, and Tiffany Moenoa) work hard every day to assure that students are engaged in deep, meaningful learning experiences all throughout their day,” says Hamilton.
EHS FBLA Students Earn Entry to State Competition
The results are in from the North Central Region Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) competition and Ellensburg High School is full of future business leaders! Under the guidance of Marcy Matthews, EHS business and marketing instructor, students placed in 18 categories at the North Central Region competition. These FBLA members are now eligible to compete at the State competition, which will be held in April in Spokane.
Please join us in congratulating our FBLA students for their hard work and dedication, as well as the educators who help them find success.
Black History Month: Health and Wellness
History Website: https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/black-history-monthSince
Since 1976, every American president has designated February as Black History Month and endorsed a specific theme. The Black History Month 2022 theme, “Black Health and Wellness,” explores "the legacy of not only Black scholars and medical practitioners in Western medicine, but also other ways of knowing (e.g., birthworkers, doulas, midwives, naturopaths, herbalists, etc.) throughout the African Diaspora. The 2022 theme considers activities, rituals and initiatives that Black communities have done to be well."
Ellensburg School District
Email: leslee.caul@esd401.org
Website: https://www.esd401.org
Location: 1300 E 3rd Ave, Ellensburg, WA, USA
Phone: 509-925-8010
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ellensburgschools