Positively Pasco: Issue #176
January 9, 2022
Celebrating National School Counseling Week
National School Counseling Week is February 6 - 10, a time for us to recognize the tremendous impact school counselors have in guiding students toward academic achievement, social and emotional growth, and career and college planning. They work with students, families, staff, and the community to create a culture where all students can realize their full potential.
Thank you to all of our PSD school counselors for the care you extend every day to help Pasco students succeed. While we take this week to acknowledge our counselors, we appreciate and honor them every day!
School counselors will be recognized during our February 28 board meeting.
Free Tutoring Available for Students Grade K-12
PSD has partnered with TutorMe Ed to offer families up to two hours per week of free, personalized, online one-on-one private tutoring for each student in grades K-12 during the 2022-23 school year.
TutorMe:
- Provides tutoring for all subjects & levels: K-12.
- Provides expert tutors with prestigious backgrounds.
- Specializes in special needs, ESL/ELL, migrant youth, homeless youth, students with IEPs, goal setting, and progress monitoring in academic and social-emotional areas.
- Collaborates with school psychologists, reading specialists, behavior interventionists, and other teachers.
We will be accepting registrations for tutoring during the following periods:
- High School Students: February 6-10
- Middle School Students: February 13-17
- Elementary School Students: February 20-24
Sign up for free tutoring today!
View our Tutoring Support webpage for more information or contact Megan Hockaday.
Application Open for Delta High School Class of 2027
Delta High School is now accepting applications for the 2023-24 school year. Current 8th-grade students living in the Pasco, Kennewick, or Richland School Districts are eligible to apply until February 9 at 3 pm.
Learn more about Delta High School and apply online.
For more information, contact Delta High School at 509-416-7860.
PSD Ambassadors Meet for Session Three
PSD ambassadors met for session three, where they learned about Core Instruction and Special Programs, specifically Dual Language and Highly Capable. The session also included a tour of Chiawana High School, which highlighted their Career & Technical Education (CTE) classrooms.
Learn more about the Ambassador program.
Meet Morgan
Morgan is a junior at Pasco High School, taking and enjoying an auto mechanics class as a part of our Career and Technical Education (CTE) program. She loves cars and wants to be an auto mechanic when she grows up.
Morgan is already an entrepreneur - she has a car detailing business she named MAD (Morgan's Auto Detailing).
After high school, Morgan wants to attend a trade school and work as an auto mechanic for BMW. Her goal is to be a successful woman mechanic and show other women anything is possible.
Learn more about Career and Technical Education.
Pasco Students Raise Salmon in Classrooms
Fifteen elementary schools, one middle school, and the iPAL program received salmon eggs as part of the Salmon in the Classroom Program in partnership with the Franklin Conservation District. Students participating in the program have the opportunity to study the salmon, observe their life cycle, and participate in the Salmon Celebration at Sacajawea Park in March, April, or May, where they will release the grown salmon into the river and participate in learning stations.
For more information, contact Kim Van Eaton.
Pasco Welding Students Participate in Tri-City Sportsman Show
Students in the Pasco Welding Club participated in the Tri-City Sportsman Show at the HAPO Center, where students used their CTE welding skills to build and sell a full line of marine products and accessories to the public. These include Columbia River-style rocker anchors, diamond plate lead and accessory trays, stainless-steel fish-holding hooks, and aluminum captain's chair pedestals.
Students design, fabricate, and manufacture these items in class and learn about sales and marketing aspects. Sales from these events help fund our leadership club and provide industry experience and recognition for our students. Programs of this nature rely heavily on great community support.
For more information, contact Jacob Munden.
WSU School of Medicine Students Visit Pasco High
Students from the Washington State University (WSU) College of Medicine Latinx Medical Student Association visited Pasco High on January 12 where they presented to 29 Pasco High student mentees on a Health Science graduation pathway.
The day’s agenda began with a panel made up of a pediatrician, pharmacist, pharmacy technician, and physical therapist. Respective hands-on stations followed the panel, where panelists and medical student mentors facilitated pediatric intubation, slime-making, and physical therapy workshops. The program concluded with students making or updating their resumes for their professional portfolios using the Grad Planner app in their High School and Beyond Plan.
For more information, contact Amandalyn Rubio.
Pasco High Students Place Gold at Family Career and Community Leaders of America Regional Conference
Pasco High School students attended the annual Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) regional conference at ESD 123 on January 24.
Two of the six Pasco High students who attended completed a project and presented. Dulce Gonzalez, a senior interested in pursuing a career as a multilingual kindergarten teacher, used her experience in the Teaching Academy course at Pasco High to create a Spanish presentation on her skills and experience that will help her accomplish her goal of becoming a teacher. K'mwee Hser’s presentation, titled "You and Me," focused on her personal story and advocated the importance of mental health for teenagers. The presentation included strategies she learned in a Mental Health and Counseling course at Pasco High. Both students placed gold, the highest category.
Dulce and K'mwee will move on to compete at State in Wenatchee, WA, for a chance to qualify for nationals in Colorado. Donations are welcome to support the Pasco High FCCLA Club.
For more information, contact Yesenia Ledezma.
Raquel Martinez First Latina Selected to Lead National Principals Group
Raquel Martinez, Principal of Stevens Middle School, was elected as the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) President-Elect for the 2023-24 school year and will be the first Latina to lead the organization as its president.
Raquel shared that she’s humbled and grateful for the opportunity to lead the group, which provides professional development and support to thousands of private and public middle and secondary school principals and lobbies on their behalf. NASSP also oversees the National Honor Society.
Read Raquel’s full story from EducationWeek.
Congratulations, Raquel!
Miguel Taboada Named PSD Crystal Apple Award Winner
We are pleased to announce Miguel Taboada, Stevens Middle School English Language Development Math and Science Teacher, is this year's Crystal Apple Award winner.
Michelle Whitney, Superintendent, district staff, co-workers, and family members surprised Mr. Taboada with the news, a plant, and a $100 gift card from Stevens PEAK! Partner, Gesa Credit Union.
Several people nominated Mr. Taboada for the Crystal Apple Award, and the nominations voiced a similar theme. He is an educator who motivates students to overcome obstacles in their personal lives and school.
He has an excellent way of celebrating his students' cultures and native languages and using those assets to build their foundation in English. He has transitioned many newcomer (students who have limited English proficiency and/or no formal education in their native countries) students from middle school grade-level general education math classes to advanced high school math courses. Not only have students accessed these courses in middle school, but they have also been able to continue to take college-level math courses upon entering high school.
Miguel will be presented with a Crystal Apple Award on March 9 at the Educational Service District (ESD) 123 in Pasco. He will also be a nominee for the Washington State Teacher of the Year award.
Carol Travis Inducted into Mid-Columbia Agriculture Hall of Fame
Carol Travis, New Horizons HS Ag Science Teacher, and FFA (Future Farmers of America) Advisor, was inducted into the Ag Hall of Fame, earning the Agriculture Advisor Award. This is a tremendous honor and recognizes Carol’s enthusiasm, dedication, and success as an Agriculture Science teacher. She also is a teacher leader who mentors other teachers and supports Ag education at the local, state, and national levels.
The Agriculture Advisor Award recognizes individuals who have significantly impacted Ag-advancement and educational programs through their leadership, guidance, and community involvement. Carol is truly an outstanding educator and champion for student success.
Congratulations, Carol!
Valentine's Day Floral Sale
The New Horizons High School Floral Shop is having their Valentine's Day floral sale. Give the gift of love while supporting Pasco students.
Items include:
- 1 dozen roses in a vase: $55
- 6 red roses in a cubed vase: $25
- Candy kiss rose: $1
The deadline to place your order is February 9. All orders can be paid for at the time of pick-up. To order please, fill out the Floral Shop Form.
For more information, contact Carol Travis.
Class of 2027 High School Information Night
Are you the parent of a student graduating in 2027? Join us for High School Information Night! Your attendance is essential to ease your student’s transition to high school. We will cover important graduation requirements, PowerSchool access, and more. You can attend any of the sessions in-person or via Zoom.
When: February 9, 7 pm
Where:
- Ochoa Middle School
- Stevens Middle School
- McLoughlin Middle School
- Reynolds Middle School
- *Virtual Option also available via Zoom
For more information, contact Julia Dudley.
Join Us for VIP Day
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 by February 15!
When: Thursday, February 23, 8:45 am – 12 pm
Where: Columbia River Elementary School
For more information, contact Ana Munguia.
Save the Date for Winter Carnival
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 provide 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.
Soup with the Superintendent
Superintendent Whitney invites you to attend an informal discussion over a light lunch.
When: Friday, February 24, 12 – 1:30 pm
Where: Booth Building Board Room, 1215 W. Lewis St., Pasco
For more information, contact Jennie Richardson.
