Winter break quickly approaching

Schools will be closed for winter break starting Monday, Dec. 19 through Monday, Jan. 2. The Student Services and Auxiliary Services Center will be closed Friday, Dec. 23 through Tuesday, Dec. 27 and Friday, Dec. 30 through Monday, Jan. 2. Schools will resume regular schedules on Tuesday, Jan 3.

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School Board recognized as Board of Distinction

Along with 23 other school boards in Washington, Clover Park School District’s Board of Directors was recently named as a Board of Distinction by the Washington State School Directors’ Association (WSSDA). This is the largest number of boards receiving the honor in the eight-year history of WSSDA’s program.

“The increase in the number of boards of distinction reflects the rise in expertise on boards across the state to improve the quality of public education for each and every child,” said WSSDA President Chris Nation. “Each of these boards demonstrates the excellent work done by Washington’s 295 school boards and 1,477 school board members. This program gives us a chance to acknowledge that commitment to their students and communities.”

The annual Boards of Distinction program honors school boards that demonstrate effective use of the Washington School Board Standards. The standards, developed and adopted by WSSDA in 2009, promote research-based governance practices that lead to high levels of student and district achievement, and help close the opportunity gap.

“We are honored to have our board members recognized for the hard work and dedication to the community they demonstrate through their service,”

said superintendent Debbie LeBeau. “To be commended along with so many other excellent boards across the state makes this designation even more special.”

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Inside Schoolsw w w. c l o v e r p a r k . k 1 2 .w a . u s

December 2016

- Continued on page 2 as MIDDLE SCHOOL

Middle School Counts events ease transition to high school

(Left to right) Debbie LeBeau, Superintendent/Secretary of the Board; Becki Kellcy, Director District 1; Joe Vlaming, Director District 3; Dr. Marty Schafer, President, Director District 4; Carole Jacobs, Vice President, Director District 2; and Paul Wagemann, Legislative Liaison, Director District 5.

Hudtloff Middle School counselor Jen Salstrom talks to Hudtloff eighth graders about applying for scholarships.

“What you do now matters,” said Clover Park High School assistant principal Matthew Fiteny to a group of Lochburn Middle School students.

That’s the message administrators and counselors from Clover Park and Lakes High School hope eighth grade students and their parents take from Middle School Counts seminars held at Hudtloff, Lochburn, Mann and Woodbrook Middle Schools this fall.

Clover Park High School counselor Jennifer Dixon and Fiteny made appearances at the seminar at Lochburn Middle School last month. Both encouraged students to show up, get involved and reach out to counselors, teachers or administrators to work through issues that might get in the way of their success.

At Hudtloff Middle School, school counselors Sandra Hughes and Jen Salstrom, Lakes High School counselor Michael Warren and Lakes principal Kären Mauer-Smith spoke to students and parents on topics ranging from athletics to Advanced placement classes.

Ninnis named to Hall of FameClover Park High School head basketball coach Mel Ninnis was recently selected for the Washington Interscholastic Basketball Coaches Association’s Hall of Fame.

Ninnis has worked in the district since 1984 and has served as Clover Park High school’s head basketball coach since 1995 with a win/loss record of 339 and 175. His teams have made it to the playoffs each year but two. Under his leadership, Clover Park High School has 14 league and district boys’ basketball championships, six state appearances and one state championship in 2011.

“This honor is the result of years of consistently building kids up, holding them to high expectations, believing in their potential and pouring more sweat and tears into them than one man should possess,” said Clover Park High School principal Tim Stults.

Ninnis and other Hall of Fame inductees with be celebrated at a banquet in July 2017.

Ninnis has coached at Clover Park High School for 21 years, leading the boys’ basketball team to a state championship in 2011.

Evergreen Elementary SchoolLocated on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, construction of the new Evergreen Elementary School is expected to reach substantial completion soon, which means any remaining work is minimal. The district has begun moving in furniture and equipment.

After winter break, students and staff are scheduled to move in to the new school in January 2017.

Spotlight on Schools

Construction Update

Daffodil princesses lead by example

(From left to right) Olivia Cheng and Dustin Dreyer share a moment at Donuts and Dads.

Lakes and Clover Park High Schools have selected two outstanding students from a pool of exceptional candidates as their Daffodil Princesses. Lakes senior Christine Lew and Clover Park senior Vilma Alvarado Garcia will represent their schools and the Lakewood community as part of the 2017 Daffodil Festival.

Lew has maintained a 3.98 GPA throughout the past three years while taking Advanced Placement (AP) language and calculus classes. She has served as her senior class president, Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) president and National Honor Society vice president for two years. She was a member of the cross country team for one year, and the softball team for three years. Lew’s favorite extracurricular activity is drama. She says her fondest memory and greatest achievement has been spending every waking moment for four months writing, managing, directing and producing a full-length adaptation of “The Princess Bride.” Lew has accumulated more than 150 hours of community service. She is also fluent in American Sign Language. She wishes to pursue a career in foreign language studies or journalism.

Garcia has earned a GPA of 3.63. She is a recipient of a Palmer Scholarship and was the algebra II and biology student of the year. Garcia has participated in the Latino/Latina Educational Achievement Program conference for three years, meeting with state legislators to discuss the educational opportunities for students in the Hispanic community. She serves as the vice wing commander of Unit WA-931 and is also on the cross country team. Outside of school, Garcia volunteers as a mentor to students at Tyee Park and Park Lodge Elementary Schools. She is active in her church, serving as a first communion teacher and a member of the youth choir.

Lew and Garcia will compete for the title of Queen of the Daffodil Festival in spring 2017.

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Lakes Daffodil Princess Christine Lew and Clover Park Daffodil Princess Vilma Alvarado Garcia are both excellent students, and are dedicated to their volunteer work and extracurricular activities.

(From row) Elisha Stewart and Jeremiah Stewart spend time with (back row) Anthony Caldwell-Love, Julius Brown and Samar Stewart.

Oakbrook Elementary School students welcomed their male role models onto campus for Donuts and Dads. Similar to Moms and Muffins events, the Dads and Donuts event series encourages parental involvement. It’s also part of the Watch D.O.G.S. (Dads of Great Students) program.

Evergreen Elementary will open on Joint Base Lewis-McChord in January 2017

On Nov. 7, 2016, the Lakewood City Council unanimously approved a resolution officially recognizing the vital role and public purpose of the Lakewood Community Foundation Fund.

The Lakewood Community Foundation Fund – a donor-advised fund of The Greater Tacoma Community Foundation – was formed as a 501 (c)(3) charitable organization by the Lakewood Rotary Club and Clover Park Rotary Club to address critical needs in Lakewood and to serve Lakewood residents more directly.

The two Rotary clubs wanted to be more Lakewood-oriented in their charitable efforts, and all the money raised benefits Lakewood organizations and citizens.

The Foundation’s goal is to establish a $1 million

endowment in order to fund projects and scholarships to benefit children, families and charities in Lakewood. The $1 million endowment should generate $50,000 or more each year for grants to deserving students and charities that work to meet the needs of Lakewood’s low-income population.

To date, the Foundation has made more than $94,000 in community grants, $25,000 in student scholarships, and facilitated more the $300,000 in specific community projects.

The Foundation Fund is governed by a nine-member board of volunteer directors: three from Lakewood Rotary Club, three from Clover Park Rotary Club and three community representatives.

Clover Park High School assistant principal Matthew Fiteny and counselor Jennifer Dixon meet with eighth graders at Lochburn Middle School.

Seniors: Get your Golden Clover Card!The Golden Clover Card is a partnership opportunity that allows senior citizens living in Clover Park School District to attend high school activities, performances and athletic events at no charge. The card provides a way for senior citizens to connect with our schools and is a way to appreciate our seniors by sharing the amazing experiences students bring to our community through education and activity.

The Golden Clover Card admits one senior citizen (65 years of age and older who qualify for the Senior Citizen and Disabled Person Property Tax Exemption Program) to high school sporting events, concerts, plays and other district events for which admission is charged.

Golden Clover Card applications are available at the Student Services Center, 10903 Gravelly Lake Drive SW, or by calling the Community Relations Office at 253-583-5040. Apply today and celebrate our seniors and students!

“Middle School Counts supports parents and students by providing information they need to make the transition to high school successful,” stated Mauer-Smith.

The district currently has three high school options: Clover Park High School, Harrison Preparatory Academy (grades 6-12) and Lakes High School. Students who wish to attend a school outside their neighborhood attendance boundary must apply for a waiver, a process counselors reviewed at the seminars.

Middle School

City of Lakewood newsCouncil Officially Recognizes Lakewood Community Foundation Fund

Spotlight on Schools

www.cloverpark.k12.wa.us

Executive Director of Washington State Association of Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) and Head Start Joel Ryan visits an Early Learning Program (ELP) classroom.

Clover Park School District held an open house for the district’s Early Learning Program (ELP). The open house, at the site of the former Southgate Elementary School, celebrated the relocation and centralization of district early learning programs that were formerly located in Lakewood-area elementary schools.

Students from the Early Learning Program lead the Pledge of Allegiance at an open house to celebrate the consolidation of Lakewood-area Head Start and Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP).

Lake Louise Elementary finds superheroes at bus stops

Lake Louise parents make sure their students get on the school bus on time and safely.

“We want to show these parents, grandparents and neighbors that we are grateful for their support...”

Miriam Webb,Lake Louise family

involvement coordinator

Not all superheroes wear capes – in fact, some wear pajamas as they wait with their children at early morning school bus stops. Just ask Lake Louise Elementary staff. “Lake Louise Elementary’s bus stop heroes are making a big difference in their children’s day – and contributing to their overall success in school–by ensuring their child makes it onto the bus safely and on time,” says Lake Louise family involvement coordinator Miriam Webb.

Webb and partners from the district’s transportation and student services departments launched the Bus Parent Appreciation (BPA) program this fall, recognizing guardians waiting with their children by surprising them with chocolate bars. The chocolate bars have a custom label with superhero graphics that say, “Our volunteers are super!”

“Everyone appreciates being recognized for the things they do, however big or small,” said Webb. “We want to show these parents, grandparents and neighbors that we are grateful for their support in keeping their children and other students safe while waiting at the bus stop. The reaction from the adults has been very positive, and the students love it too. I have heard lots of students say to me, ‘I saw you at my bus stop today!’”

BPA is one component of a larger districtwide focus on family engagement. Lake Louise and other schools in the district adopted the National Network of Partnership Schools (NNPS) model from John Hopkins University in 2010 to develop and maintain programs that are intended to increase involvement.

“NNPS gives us great guidelines to organize and sustain family involvement. We ask each school, ‘What is one issue we can work on together to increase family engagement?’ then work with them to develop a plan within the framework set by the action team for partnerships committee. So far we’ve seen great success, and BPA is just one of these initiatives,” said district family and community partnership coordinator Holly Bocchi.

The next step in Lake Louise’s bus safety plan is to reward students for good bus behavior. Bus drivers keep track of students’ conduct throughout the year, and students on the bus with the best overall score will get free tickets to a Rainiers game.

Veterans are honored across Clover Park School DistrictVeterans and active duty military members were honored for their service by all schools in the district recently through speech, song and art.

Each school held an assembly with its own style of showing respect for the sacrifice of service members from the US Army, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard and Air Force. Tributes included speeches, slideshows, patriotic musical medleys as well as handmade banners and murals.

At Clover Park High School (CPHS), the band and choir performed the service song for each branch of the military for their honored guests, veterans and active duty members in the community. JROTC cadets spoke about what Veterans Day meant to them.

“Men used to lie about their ages just to serve. If it weren’t for these brave people, we may not be a free nation,” said CPHS junior Kristopher Rapier.

Junior Teresa Lyons said, “I feel grateful to live in a country that is free. They gave up everything just so we could have a future.”

At one point in the CPHS assembly, students were asked to stand if they had a family member who had served in the military.

Nearly every student stood.

Clover Park High School’s band and choir perform the service songs of all military branches.

Meriwether Elementary school students perform a patriotic medley in front of a banner reading, “Thank you, Veterans.”

Carter Lake Elementary School students join together in song.

Superintendent’s ColumnBoard looks to committee for recommendations on district facilitiesWith a catalog of buildings old, new, repurposed, renovated or under construction, along with the constantly changing needs of students and staff, the Clover Park School District Board of Directors relies on its Facility Advisory Committee (FAC) to survey, monitor and make recommendations on the best plan for district facilities. The FAC’s members include architects, district staff and involved citizens.

Other responsibilities of the FAC include updating the capital facilities master plan, and recommending short- and long-term solutions related to the district’s deferred maintenance, educational adequacy of schools, safety and security, future plans and use of district property. The FAC also provides input on capital bond propositions.

To come to a consensus on its recommendation to the board on district facilities, the FAC relies on data from third parties. “For its current facilities overview, the district has contracted with Meng Analysis, an architecture and engineering firm. We look to them as our technical experts through the entire process,” said Rick Ring, the district’s administrator for business services and capital projects.

Contractors, surveyors and architects, such as Meng Analysis, supply the FAC with information to identify and prioritize potential facility modifications, replacements, additions and/or closures to best enhance student achievement opportunities, and support ongoing economic development and a healthy community.

Data the FAC reviews includes:• Facility condition assessment - deferred maintenance;• Educational standards;• Safety and security standards;• Technology;• School capacity;• Enrollment;• Demographics; and• Financial data.

The next FAC meeting will be Wednesday, Dec. 14. Past FAC meeting minutes are available on the district website under the “About” tab.

Deborah L. LeBeau, Superintendent

Debbie LeBeau, Superintendent

www.cloverpark.k12.wa.us

Production CrewWriter & Editor: Community Relations

Layout & Design: Shelley Thornton-SimonPrinting: Swarner Communications Group

Clover Park School District Board of Directors

President, Marty SchaferVice President, Carole Jacobs

Becki KellcyJoe Vlaming

Paul WagemannDeborah L. LeBeau, Superintendent

and Secretary to the Board

Clover Park School District does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal, and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. Address correspondence to one of the following individuals who have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination at Clover Park School District, 10903 Gravelly Lake Dr., SW, Lakewood, WA 98499-1341: Title IX Coordinator, Brian Laubach, Deputy Superintendent, (253) 583-5050; Section 504/ADA Coordinator, Brian Laubach, Deputy Superintendent, (253) 583-5050; Civil Rights Compliance Coordinator, Lori McStay, Executive Director for Human Resources, (253) 583-5080.

Inside Schools

Stay UpdatedCheck out the Events Calendar

District, school and athletic events are listed on the district website under “Calendar” and “Events Calendar.”

Attention, Alumni

Our alumni webpage highlights Clover Park School District alumni who graduated from Clover Park, Lakes or Harrison Prep and are contributing positively to their communities. If you would like to be featured, visit the Community Relations Department page on the district website and click “Alumni Information.” An easy-to-use questionnaire has been created for you to add your information. Take a moment to look at the alumni profiles and create your own! If you want to recommend a classmate as a featured alum, please call the community relations office at 253-583-5040 and give us their contact information. We’ll follow up with them to create an alumni profile.

Featured alum Alejandro Ramirez is an engineer at Kongsberg, a technology corporation based in Norway.

Lakes High School students focus on STEM fieldsLakes High School students considering a future in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) careers have found ample opportunity to explore their options through local military partnerships, including a school visit from the US Army’s robotics team and a new cyber security club affiliated with the US Air Force.

The US Army STEM – Interactive Robotics Demonstration Team visited Lakes, giving students the chance to watch live demonstrations, manipulate robots through controllers and talk with the robotics team about how the army develops and utilizes STEM in its many career paths.

Another exciting opportunity for students is the JROTC CyberPatriot team. Started by Lakes’ new JROTC advisor Lt. Col. Allen Patty, Ph.D this fall, the team currently has six members, all JROTC cadets.

The Lakes team is a chapter of the national CyberPatriot program started by the Air Force in 2005. CyberPatriot teams at elementary, middle and high school levels learn cyber security tactics, then compete at regional, state and national levels in all-day workshops, tackling simulated cyber security threats. In 2015, 3,379 teams from across the country competed.

There are 20 CyberPatriot high school teams in Washington state.

Patty thinks the club will provide a great experience for JROTC students exploring STEM career options. “Developing the ability to understand systems and solve problems quickly in a stressful environment is great experience for the type of challenges students will face later in high-tech careers,” Patty stated.

Lt. Col. Allen Patty observes Lakes High School sophomore Nikolai Guido and senior Dahyun Seo watching a tutorial

to prepare them for CyberPatriot’s upcoming competition.

The US Army’s Interactive Robotics Demonstration Team

visited Lakes High School. Students operated robots

and learned more about the science, technology,

engineering and math (STEM) careers available in the military.