Positively Pasco: Issue #175

Issue #175

January 9, 2023

Vea la versión en español del Boletín Informativo Positivamente Pasco aquí.

If you're a Pasco resident, check your mailbox for the Bond 2023 booklet that was mailed over break. Grab your copy to find out what's on PSD's February 14 bond, why we're running a bond, and more. You can also view the booklet online.

Don’t forget to vote by February 14! Learn more about Bond 2023.

The Tri-City Americans graciously shared stuffed animals from their annual Teddy Bear Toss with Pasco students for the 10th year. Chess Elementary, Stevens Middle School, and New Horizons High School were given 1,500 stuffed animals to share with students. We want to express how grateful students are for this and say thank you!

Learn more about Tri-City Americans.

PSD is looking for middle school officials for the upcoming sports seasons. Games are held Monday through Thursday around 4-5 pm. If you have experience and are interested, fill out a game worker application on the PSD Website.

Sports Schedule:

Girls Basketball (Winter 2 - Jan/Feb)

Wrestling (Winter 2 - Jan/Feb)

Softball (Spring - Mar/Apr)

Baseball (Spring - Mar/Apr)

For more information, contact Lori Brown.

Pasco and Chiawana High Schools are hosting a Japanese exchange program with students from Yokohama, Japan, this school year. This program has been on pause for a few years due to COVID, and we are excited to bring it back to our community.

Students will be here from April 14 – 28 and live with our students and staff while they attend Pasco and Chiawana High Schools for two weeks before returning to Japan on April 28.

We are looking for 40 families (20 for each school) with students enrolled in the district who would be interested in hosting a pair of students in their homes for those weeks in April. The students will:

• arrive from Japan on the evening of April 14, 2023

• live with you for the two weeks of their visit

• stay in pairs to make their experience less stressful

There will be activities, including an international night and family BBQ, that host families and their students can attend.

If you would be interested in hosting a pair of students, please:

• Pasco High Japanese Exchange Program: Register Online
  

• Chiawana High Japanese Exchange Program: Contact Amy Burke

For more information, contact Carol Kauer, Megan Forsythe, or Amy Burke.

PSD's Bilingual Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) held its Annual Conference on December 3, where 200 families with students in PSD's bilingual program attended. They enjoyed a resource fair, breakfast, lunch, student entertainment by Las Rosas de Ochoa Middle schools, and a keynote speech by Mr. Saul Martinez, Pasco's former Mayor. In addition, families enjoyed workshops on Anti-Bullying at the Middle Schools, reading strategies to use at home, preparing your child to go to a university, and keeping residents safe in the community led by the Pasco Police.

Learn more about our Bilingual PAC.

PSD Ambassador's met for session two where they learned about Bond 2023 and the District's Public Affairs Department. The session included a tour of Pasco High School, which highlighted their Career & Technical Education (CTE) areas which have not been updated in over 25 years! That is one of the reasons that CTE modernizations and enhancements at Chiawana and Pasco High Schools are on the 2023 Bond.

Learn more about the Ambassador program.

The 8th Annual Pasco Cops & Kids event took place, where 26 Pasco students were paired up with a Pasco Police officer to help them with their Christmas shopping. The students met at the Pasco Walmart, where they shopped for family members and had the gifts wrapped, all thanks to generous community sponsors. The students were nominated by their school Principal and selected by the Pasco PD. And they did not go home empty-handed - each student went home with a special gift from Santa.

Thank you to our community for making this a special day for our students.

Pasco High hosted its annual Posada with Frost Elementary and Ochoa and Stevens Middle Schools on December 14 at Pasco High School. Five hundred attendees enjoyed a wonderful night of holiday cheer, including Santa, a Bond 2023 update, and entertainment provided by the Pasco High Dance Team, Mariachi Reyes de Pasco, Las Rosas de Ochoa Middle School, and Grupo Huapango (made up of students from different schools in Tri-Cities).

Thank you to our PAC Parents and sponsors who made this event possible: Progreso Furniture, Domestic Violence Services, Mi Lindo Nayarit, Los Pinos, Morfin Law Firm, Frutas El Rey, Sonido Sensacion, Eagle Media Group (Fire 104.9 FM & La Raza 100.1 FM) and our PEAK! Partners: Gesa Credit Union, Craig Griffiths - State Farm Insurance, and WSU Tri-Cities.

For more information, contact Veronica Machado.

Delta High School is looking for volunteers to help with student Mock Interviews, which provide students with the opportunity to practice real-life interview skills and prepare to apply for internships, college entrance, the real world of work, and more.

When: January 27, 9:15 - 11:15 am

Where: Delta High School, 5801 Broadmoor Blvd, Pasco

To register, please submit the form by January 13.

For more information, contact Heather Hoppe.

Chiawana High School's Natural Helpers Club hosted its annual Holiday Hot Cocoa Send-Off, where more than 900 staff and students received free hot cocoa while they listened to holiday music in the student mall. Students were encouraged to wear pajamas as part of the last day of CHS's spirit week. The goal of this event was to send students into the holiday break in a positive way.

Chiawana High School’s Future Farmers of America (FFA) students had another successful Adopt A Family service event with the help of Communities in Schools. In less than a week, FFA members rallied and provided multiple gift items to a family of seven, ages nine and up. Students gave great care and attention to the project to ensure each family member had a joyful Christmas day.

Emerson Elementary School students were challenged to read 40,000 books by the end of the school year, and they did it before winter break! Students read at home and school each day and ended up reading 42,326 books. More impressive is that 100% of students participated.

Excellent job, students! Keep reading and learning.

The sweet sound of joy is what we heard from 460 Captain Gray STEM Elementary students when they discovered surprise gifts after their character assembly before the holiday break. When they returned to their classrooms, they had a package on their desk with a brand-new pair of pajamas, a book, hot chocolate, and a candy cane!

This was a special day for staff, students, and all community members who helped make this happen. Thank you to Restore City Church for hosting the Packing Party and Bethel Church West Pasco for collecting the pajamas.

The Pasco Police Department (PPD) and Pasco Police Foundation recently partnered with PSD on a Wordmark Logo and Video Contest. Students at our high schools had a chance to win a $100 Visa(R) gift card by identifying a font and creating a wordmark logo that best represented the PPD.

Students from Chiawana and Pasco High School's digital art classes participated and presented their projects to the PPD and district staff, who voted on first, second, and third-place winners. The winners and prizes included:

• 1st Place, Mariana, Chiawana High School

• 2nd Place, Nada, Chiawana High School

• 3rd Place, Kevin, Pasco High School

Congratulations to our winners and thank you to the students who participated.

The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is inviting students to participate in the 2023 Cesar E. Chavez & Dolores Huerta drawing Poster Contest. All entry forms with artwork must be submitted before March 17. Winners will be honored on Saturday, April 8, 2023, at Gjerde Center on the Columbia Basin College Campus at 6 p.m.

Information about guidelines and the entry form can be found on LULAC's Facebook page.

For more information, contact Gabriel Portugal or by phone at 509-420-0596.

Betyna Oucharek, a PSD Developmental Preschool Teacher, was recently awarded a $1,500 Operation Helping Hero's Award from Country Financial to use for her classroom. Betyna was nominated by Ronica Bishop, the parent of one of her students, for being caring and compassionate and advocating for her students as if they were her own.

"Betyna has partnered with our family, and our son has grown immensely in her class," said Ronica. "She went out of her comfort zone to learn new technology for his cochlear implants and is learning sign language to supplement his learning. I have seen her embrace each child's unique and individual needs and connect with each family."

Congratulations, Betyna, and thank you to Country Financial and Ronica Bishop for the award and nomination.

Superintendent Whitney invites you to attend an informal discussion over a light lunch.

When: Friday, January 20, 12 – 1:30 pm

Where: Booth Building Board Room 1215 W. Lewis St., Pasco

For more information, contact Jennie Richardson.

Attend this 30-minute virtual information session to learn more about Bond 2023, and why we are running a bond now, the bond scope, rates, and more! This is also a great time to ask questions. Spanish translation services will be provided.

When:

• Thursday, January 19, 2023, 6 – 7 pm, Zoom

• Wednesday, January 25, 2023, 6 – 7 pm, Zoom

Where: Zoom

For more information, contact Ana Munguia.

PSD employees, students, and families are invited to the Pasco School District Winter Carnival.

When: Thursday, February 23, 2023, 5:30 – 7:30 pm

Where: Chiawana High School Student Mall

PEAK! Partners and non-profit organizations will also be distributing giveaways and prizes for the whole family. In addition, students from our schools will host carnival games for children and student entertainment. Admission is free, but non-perishable food items will be collected for donation to Second Harvest. Guests can also purchase food at the event from one of several local vendors.

For more information, contact Ana Munguia.

Spend a morning with Pasco students, engage in classroom activities, listen to school highlights, and experience what makes Pasco schools an exciting place to learn. Breakfast and lunch are provided during this FREE event. Spots are limited, so RSVP today!

When: February 23, 8:45 am – 12 pm

Where: Columbia River Elementary School

Register Today!

For more information, contact Ana Munguia.

January 16

January 18