Sno News
February 2022
Message from the Superintendent
Dear Colleagues,
Yesterday afternoon Governor Inslee announced that with declining case rates and hospitalizations across the west, Washington, California and Oregon have moved together to update their face covering/masking guidance. Beginning March 12, Washington and the other two states will be adopting new indoor face covering/mask policies and move to make face coverings/masks optional in schools.
The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) and the Washington Department of Health (DOH) are currently updating their K-12 guidance and have noted it will be available to school districts during the week of March 7. That guidance may include additional adjustments to other COVID-19 parameters in schools, such as social distancing, etc. Until we receive these documents and further clarification, we are asking for patience and cooperation as we navigate these changes and their impact on our operations and safety protocols.
This means beginning Monday, March 14, face coverings/masks will become optional in our school buildings and on school buses. Until that time, face coverings/masks will continue to be required for all students, staff and visitors in all Snohomish School District buildings and on buses. As of March 14, students will have the choice to wear a mask at school, with the expectation that others’ choices will be respected. Our schools and district will be supportive of everyone’s personal decision.
- We are offering personal choice with the expectation that individual choices are respected.
- One should not make assumptions regarding someone’s beliefs or health status, nor should they comment on them.
- Our district will not tolerate bullying of any kind for those who choose to continue or discontinue wearing face coverings/masks.
- We encourage those who may express any anxiety, to please reach out to their school principal or counselors for additional support as needed.
Thank you for your continued efforts to protect the health and safety of our students, staff and their families.
Sincerely,
Kent
Note: This message will be sent to all district families later today.
Education Support Professionals Week - March 14-18
Education Support Professionals Week (formerly Classified Week) is a tradition started in 1975 by Public School Employees of Washington (PSE) to recognize the contributions of education support professionals in the public school system. We appreciate the work that these employees do every day in support of learning and our community. Their contributions help make strong schools and contribute to the well-being of our community.
Please join us in thanking these terrific members of our school team!
March Cultural Awareness and Recognitions: Women’s History, Gender Equality, Irish-American Heritage and Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month
In the Snohomish School District and community, we honor and recognize our diversity. Please join with us this March as we acknowledge Women’s History, Gender Equality, Irish-American Heritage and Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. As a reminder, though these months may be designated as times for specific recognitions, we encourage honor and recognition of our culture and diversity throughout the year.
Women’s History Month began as a national recognition in 1982 as “Women’s History Week”. The recognition grew from a weeklong celebration started by a school district in Sonoma, California. In 1987, after a petition from the National Women’s History Project, Congress designated March as Women’s History Month. Each year the President delivers a proclamation celebrating the contributions women have made over the course of American history.
Each year the National Women’s History Alliance designates a theme for Women’s History Month. For 2022, the theme is “Women Providing Healing, Promoting Hope”. The theme serves both as a tribute to the work of caregivers during the pandemic and the myriad of ways women of all cultures have provided healing and hope throughout history. Check out this link for more information and specific topics related to the contributions of women in our history.
In addition, March is recognized by the United Nations as Gender Equality Month, coinciding with International Women’s Day on March 8. One of the goals of the United Nations is to empower women and girls while also ensuring their equal rights. As we continue our growth and learning in cultural awareness and honoring diversity, please visit this page from OSPI around gender-inclusive schools.
Similarly, the President delivers a proclamation recognizing the contributions of Irish-Americans during the month of March. The timing was originally selected to coincide with St. Patrick’s Day, an Irish national holiday celebrated on March 17.
According to history.com, the first celebration of St. Patrick on the American continent happened as early as 1600 in St. Augustine, Florida. Some of the traditions associated with the holiday are American in origin. In Ireland, ham and cabbage were consumed during celebrations, while corned beef which was a less expensive substitute became a staple of Irish Americans living in slums in lower Manhattan.
March is also a time designated for awareness around developmental disabilities. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in six or approximately 17% of children have one or more developmental disabilities. These include ADHD, autism, cerebral palsy, hearing loss, intellectual disability, vision impairment, and others. Developmental disabilities occur across all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups and are not always clearly visible. For more information on developmental disabilities, please check out this link.
For more information on recognitions throughout the year please check out this link from pta.org.
Spring Into Kindergarten - March 16
Mark your calendars for our Spring Into Kindergarten event. All 2022-2023 kindergarten families and students are highly encouraged to attend. Spring Into Kindergarten will be held on Wednesday, March 16, from 4-7 p.m. at district elementary schools. Families should complete and return their kindergarten registration paperwork that day. Each school will also be conducting school tours and having important information available for families (WaKIDS, PTA/PTO/parent organizations, bus transportation, special services and more). More event information and registration paperwork/materials are available at www.sno.wednet.edu/kindergarten or at district elementary schools.
Happy birthday to our March-born colleagues!
- Jay Adams
- Kris Akerman
- Kathryn Allyn
- Holly Appelgate
- Jeri Austin
- Esther Bak
- Lane Barnhill
- Lindsay Barstad
- Michael Bond
- Kristin Botuchis
- Scott Bracken
- Ian Cameron
- Jean Carwin
- Trevor Chatterton
- Kati Clites
- Jessica Crowder
- Angela Dennis
- Caleb Ellefson
- Vanessa Elliott
- Kristin Foley
- Cassandra Fontenot
- Iris Forbus
- Patricia Francesconi
- Julie Francois
- Britta Grass
- Gretchen Hanna
- Sharon Harrington
- Melanie Harris
- Jennifer Harris
- Jessica Hegarty
- Carol Henle
- Rebecca Hoepcke
- Visala Hohlbein
- Sarah Hui
- Lorraine Jacobsen
- Patrick Kelly
- Barbara King
- Lori Knight-Ackerman
- Jonathon Koerber
- Edward Kowalski
- Timothy Lagerwey
- Cynthia Lambert
- Cristina Leffingwell
- Ellen Lipinski
- Shannon Marty
- Dara Massena
- Susan McGowan
- Theresa McGrath
- Danielle McHugh
- Peter Mohn
- Seanantinia Moran
- Elizabeth Neale
- Zachary Nelson
- Ruthie Nicholson
- Patricia Noggle
- Heather Northup
- Kathleen Ober
- Olivia Palenscar
- Scott Partington
- Mark Perry
- Dara Pierce
- Sarah Polczynski
- Electa Pratt
- Julie Ray
- Benjamin Richter
- Edson Rodriguez Ibanez
- Brittany Rudd
- Jamie Rufert
- Suzanne Schimpf
- Tammy Schmidt
- Angela Schoenbeck
- Sheri Sebastian
- Yulia Shadyrya
- Lauren Sholdt
- Tamara Skeen
- Michelle Somerville
- Kelli Songstad
- Wendy Stewart
- Robert Sumner
- Lisa Suydam
- Heather Talent-Mitchell
- Anne Tompkins
- Janet Towns
- Michael Trautman
- Richard VanDuine
- Kerrie Vespaziani
- Bobbie Wear
- Jennifer Whitney
- James Wilson
- Kacie Zelmer
- Noah Zermeno
Spread the (good) news!
- John (GPHS) and Melinda Bonner (TF) are excited to announce that their daughter Ellie (SHS grad) and her husband Elliott Russell will be welcoming a baby boy in July. Melinda and John are thrilled with the news that they will be grandparents!
- Breanna and Jordan Gere welcomed Miles Jordan Gere on February 8 at 12:53 a.m.! Congrats on the new family addition!
- Ashley Maphis (MA/CV) got engaged to Mat Crawford on February 13! Ashley is also the daughter of Vivianne Maphis (SH).
Rose Flaherty's (LC) four granddaughters (sisters ages 5-11) were in a Broadway Bound Play (Ariel) in Seattle. The oldest had the lead role as Ariel. According to Rose, "They love the ‘drama’!" Rose's daughter also had her second child, a daughter named Cora Rose, on January 23. Cora Rose has a big brother who is 2 1/2 years old.
Retired teacher and band director Pete Wilson (SHS) was inducted into the Washington Music Educators Hall of Fame this year. Pete, who spent his entire career teaching in the Snohomish School District, was honored during a dinner at the state conference on February 17.
Ben Richter (DH) celebrated his one--year wedding anniversary on February 13!
Glacier Peak High School freshman Brady Proctor-Long is one awesome and inspiring individual! When Brady was a 4th grader at Totem Falls Elementary, he saw a need and decided to do something about it to make Totem Falls Elementary a better place for all. Brady, who is currently a freshman at Glacier Peak High School, is the creator of the school's playground Buddy Bench. Brady has talked about feeling left out as a young boy and wanting everyone to feel as though they had friends. Brady raised money to create the bench through making dog cookies and ornaments. Totem Falls Elementary staff have noted how inspirational it was for students to get to hear from a former Totem Falls Elementary student who made a lasting difference. It also sparked great conversation around the Buddy Bench and inclusion within our school communities. Thank you Brady! You are truly a model of the quote on the bench! It's true ... “One kind word can change someone’s day." Brady is the son of Gary and Sheila Proctor-Long (GPHS).
Congrats to Mackenzie Kienitz (VVMS) on passing four state exams this past month that she needed to get her teaching certificate and take her one step closer to graduation!
The Panther Pause, the school-based enterprise at Snohomish High School, was among 461 school-based enterprises achieving Gold-Level Certification for the 2021-2022 school year and will be recognized during DECA’s International Career Development Conference in Atlanta, GA. The Panther Pause was certified Gold Level in both it’s retail and food operations. Congrats to Ben Doucette (SHS), DECA chapter advisor, and Gina Hinton (SHS), operations manager.
Do you have some good news to share for the March SnoNews newsletter? E-mail communications@sno.wednet.edu with your good news!
District-approved community fliers
- Art Wizards
- Chess at Cathcart Elementary Strategic Kids Activities
- Chess at Totem Falls Elementary Strategic Kids Activities
- Everett Mall COVID-19 Vaccines and Boosters
- Everett Rowing Spring Registration
- FAFSA and WASFA Bilingual Family Nights
- Foreign Language for Youth Online Spanish, French, Japanese and Mandarin Classes
- LEGO Ninjas and LEGO Architecture at Totem Falls Elementary Strategic Kids Activities
- Leprechaun Quest March 5-17 Historic Downtown Snohomish Association
- Meals for Meals Recycling Event in support of the Snohomish Community Food Bank
- Reflections School of Dance
- Snohomish Cooperative Preschool Registration
- Snohomish Student Mountain Biking Team
- Snohomish Youth Volleyball
- SPJFA Spring Flag Football and Fall Tackle Football Sign Ups
- Taekwondo for Kids February 2022
- Teen Love and Dating Information from Domestic Violence Services of Snohomish County
- Teen Storytellers Project Winter and Spring Film Classes
Recent media
- Glacier Peak boys’ season ends with loss to Graham-Kapowsin, Everett Herald, 2/26/22
- Basketball state regionals: Matchup previews for local boys teams, Everett Herald, 2/25/22
- Basketball state regionals: Matchup previews for local girls teams, Everett Herald, 2/23/22
- 4 local wrestlers take home state titles at Mat Classic, Everett Herald, 2/20/22
- Snohomish girls stymie Terrace to punch ticket to state, Everett Herald, 2/20/22
- Jackson boys swim earns program-best 3rd-place team trophy, Everett Herald, 2/20/22
- Brackets released for high school basketball state tournaments, Everett Herald, 2/20/22
- State boys swim preview: Top local swimmers, divers, teams, Everett Herald, 2/16/22
- Stanwood girls knock off Snohomish to earn 3A state berth, Everett Herald, 2/16/22
- Snohomish School District levies pass, Snohomish Tribune, 2/16/22
- Glacier Peak grad finds a home with Virginia swimming, Everett Herald, 2/15/22
- Stanwood takes 2nd, sends 10 boys to state at regional wrestling, Everett Herald, 2/13/22
- Shorecrest rolls to 2nd consecutive 3A district swim title, Everett Herald, 2/13/22
- Lake Stevens rides terrific depth to 4A district swim title, Everett Herald, 2/12/22
- A preview of Saturday’s regional wrestling tournaments, Everett Herald, 2/10.22
- Reynolds selected for USA Softball teams, Everett Herald, 2/9/22
- School funding measures failing in 7 county districts, Everett Herald, 2/8/22
- Olympic Hopeless: Figure Skating, KING5 TV, 2/7/22
- With a labor shortage, schools scrounge for substitutes, Everett Herald, 2/6/22
- Time running out to turn in ballots for Tuesday special election, Everett Herald, 2/6/22
- Top local wrestlers to watch heading into the postseason, Everett Herald, 2/3/22
- Snohomish 12U flag footballers qualify for national championship, Everett Herald, 2/2/22
School & district news
- School newsletter subscription preferences - If you would like to receive district and school newsletters, or if you have a high school student who wants to receive the school Daily Bulletin, please subscribe to our listserv subscription tool. For directions on how to subscribe or change your subscription preferences (for those already signed up), please click here.
- Keep up to date through Facebook - Today, 10,000 Facebook fans receive regular district updates through our district's Facebook page - www.facebook.com/snohomishschooldistrict. This site is just one of many ways we communicate with our students, staff, families and community. Although we are aware of other Facebook pages, please note that this is the only verified Facebook page of the Snohomish School District and is where official information is posted.
- School Messenger - Our district uses the School Messenger automated system as a tool for communication with our parents, families and staff. School Messenger works with the district’s student-data system (Skyward/Family Access) to notify families and staff through phone and/or email of emergencies, critical school and district messages, school/district closures, inclement weather, attendance issues, underfunded student meal accounts and other events/activities. The overall goal of using this service is for parents and families to receive critical information about Snohomish schools - especially information that affects their children - in a timely manner. As long as we have accurate primary phone numbers and email addresses on record for our students in Skyward/Family Access, families should automatically receive these messages when they are sent out. Please make sure this information is accurate when reviewing your student’s demographic information that is distributed closer to the start of school.
Non-Discrimination Notice
Our mission
The Snohomish School District, in its commitment to excellence, places the success of each student at the center of all decisions and actions. Partnerships and strong academic programs ensure competent, responsible, lifelong learners.
Email: communications@sno.wednet.edu
Website: www.sno.wednet.edu
Location: 1601 Avenue D, Snohomish, WA, USA
Phone: 360-563-7300
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/snohomishschooldistrict/