Superintendent’s Message:

Building a Classroom Culture that Yields Success

As staff gathered at Mount Si High School last Wednesday morning, our keynote speaker delivered a thought-provoking message. Personally, Myron Dueck’s message reinforced some of my existing understandings, reminded me of past learnings forgotten, and provided me new learnings and some different ways of thinking about how students might be more actively engaged in your classrooms.

Dueck is an internationally recognized expert on how both grading and assessment can improve student learning---all of us were exposed to his thinking in this regard. But interestingly to me, he also

expressed how grading and assessment can shape climate and transform relationships in the classroom. To broaden our perspective and check assumptions, Dueck challenged us to consider asking students for their opinions on grading, assessment, and relationships.

In addressing you on Wednesday morning, I noted that the headline speaker at the Powerful Learning Conference in Issaquah, Dr. Thomas Guskey, also hit upon the notion of classroom culture and the importance of making yours a place where students experience success and build confidence. Guskey urges teachers to be particularly focused on ensuring success for students from the very first day of school; as each year brings a new beginning for the students, and nearly all of them come to school on the first day with a relatively positive mindset---regardless of the difficulties and challenges of the previous year. Guskey believes that teachers should leverage this opportunity to build confidence and shape a positive attitude by ensuring that all students find success in the first days and weeks of the new school year.

The predominant theme here is the importance of the relationship between teacher and student; the power of a classroom culture in which students feel emotionally safe, experience success, and are given permission---no, actually encouraged to push the limits and make mistakes. The students in your classroom want to please you. They want to be assured that you know them, and care about them. And yes, this relationship-centered classroom can also be a place of rigor and high expectations---I’ve seen it in classrooms, auditoriums, gymnasiums, and on fields across the District.

Superintendents, principals, and teachers are currently being asked to advance student learning to the highest levels ever. But don’t forget what you already know: it all begins with relationships---relationships that are the foundation upon which you are able to challenge your students and bring out the very best in each and every one of them.

In these first days and weeks of the new school year, I hope you will seize this opportunity to connect with your students and set the stage for what will be the best year ever in your relationship-centered classroom.

All the best to you this week, and for the entire school year. Joel

Snoqualmie Valley School District

At a Glance… An e-newsletter to inform our learning community

Welcome to the 2016-17 school year!

Important Dates:

August 31 — First day of class

for grades 1-12

September 5 —Labor Day Holiday

September 6 — First day of

Preschool & K

September 8 — SVSD Employee

Benefits Fair, 2:30-

7 p.m. at MSHS.

September 8 — Timber Ridge

Community Open

House, 6:30 p.m.

Special Thanks to the Technology and Operations teams for their work throughout this summer preparing all Snoqualmie Valley schools for the return of staff and students.

Our mission is to

educate all

Snoqualmie Valley

children to prepare

them for college,

career and

citizenship.

Edition 33 AUGUST/ SEPTEMBER 2016 Edition 64

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Joel Aune Superintendent

Welcome New Staff to the SVSD:

(Not pictured at right)

Trista Bamer,

STREAM Program

Stacey Chable-Xool, OES Cook Helper

Shelley Cornell, MSHS Paraeducator III

Janelle Coughran, TRES Paraeducator

Melissa Croshaw, MSHS Girls Basketball Asst. Coach

Julie Crowell, NBES Cook Helper

Nicole Edwards*, TRES Secretary

Angela Fowler, TRES K Paraeducator II

Laura Francel, TRES Paraeducator

Rosalva Gonzales, CKMS Custodian

Karen Greer, FCES Paraeducator

Jason Griffith, MSHS Boys Basketball Head Coach

Elayne Grueber, CKMS Math

Kristel Hoebers Harteveld, FCES Paraeducator

Eric Hogan, Computer Technician

Amanda Hollingsworth, Personnel Secretary

Amy Hunter, SES Paraeducator

Krista Jordan, TRES Paraeducator

Angela Krpata, CKMS Secretary

Brian Lamonte, OES Paraeducator

Lindsay Logsdon, TRES Head Secretary

Judy Lore, SES Cook Helper

Joshua Mitchell* MSHS Coach

Lisa Mitchell, TRES Paraeducator

(List continued on page 3)

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Welcome Newly-Hired Educators to Snoqualmie Valley Schools!

This month approximately 95 new employees are joining the Snoqualmie Valley School District.

Welcome! The following photos were taken at the two New Teacher Orientation sessions offered June 30 and August 22. New staff who are not pictured are listed at left alphabetically. If we missed anyone, look for their names in the next edition of At a Glance.

Above photo is from the June 30 New Teacher Orientation. Pictured left to right, front row: Mary Jill Nelson (MSHS/FC Special Ed), Sheryl Dunton (MSHS/FC Speech Language Pathologist), Kelly Hawkins (MSHS Marketing Education), Joyce Bashford (MSHS Special Ed), Laurie Fitzpatrick (SES Kindergarten), Dianna Kraml (NBES 2nd Grade), Kristen Hedger (TRES 1st Grade) and Michelle Hayes (TFMS 7th Math). Back row: Stephani Martinell (MSHS ASL), Danielle Johnson (OES 1st Grade), Britta Perkins (CKMS 7th Science), Debbie Goetz (FCES 2nd Grade), Megan Rice (SES 1st Grade) and Lynn Crumb (TRES 3rd Grade).

From the August 22 New Teacher Orientation... front row, left to right: Lori Stanton (TFMS 8th Science), Madison Meredith (NBES Kindergarten), Emily Bates (SES Counselor), Liane Venezia (MSHS/FC Nurse), Lindsay Clark (MSHS Counselor), Lena Baunsgard* (TRES Physical Education), Marci Eubanks (ELL & Title III Program Specialist at MSHS), Alison Channita* (MSHS/FC Paraeducator), Heather Holmes* (TFMS 8th Science), J. Johnson (MSHS/FC Science), Ann Miller (SES K-5 Resource Room), and Jenni Geel (NBES 1st Grade). Middle row, left to right: Nancy Flanagan (NBES Tech Lab), Jennifer Nelson (FCES 4th Grade), Hannah Ferguson (OES 2nd Grade), Julia Dorn* (OES 4th Grade), Gaude Gorel-Trujillo (MSHS French/Spanish), Kathleen Clancy (OES/SES Speech Language Pathologist), Kristin O’Riordan (CKMS 8th US History), Melanie Jarocki (NBES Physical Education), Ryan Vidos (OES Resource Room), Lara Davia (District Title 1/LAP Program Specialist), Damaris Melton (OES 1st Grade), and Stephanie Corell (OES Kindergarten). Top/back row, left to right: Claudia Christen (SES Kindergarten), Sue Frederick (FCES Physical Education), Heidi Huches (CVES 2nd Grade), Bill Leather (MSHS Band), Chantell Eng (CKMS Language Arts), Matt O’Hare (TFMS 7th Science), Eric Johnson (CVES K-5 Special Education), Tyler Baxter (MSHS Math), Lesley Pace (PPP 2nd/3rd Grades), Heather Guck (CVES 5th Grade), Becca Cohn (FCES 2nd Grade), and Mark Bernatz (MSHS Math). *MSHS alumni

Imagine what a classroom grant could provide your students?

Click here to apply for a Snoqualmie Valley Schools Foundation innova-tion classroom grant. Deadline is Friday, October 7, at 5 p.m.

More New Staff to the SVSD...

Bryan Norgard, CVES 5th Grade

Julia Olsby, TRES 3rd Grade

Natalie Opsvig*, TRES Kindergarten

Carly Petrzelka, MSHS Girls Swim Asst. Coach

Megan Rea, Psychology Intern

Rebecca Rice, TRES Music

Robert Richey, MSHS Girls Basketball Head Coach

Jodie Rosenlund, NBES Head Cook

Monica Rutherford, TRES K Paraeducator II

Sierra Shaller, TRES 5th Grade

Amy Soltys, TRES Librarian

Colleen Schmidt, MSHS Special Ed Para III/Job Coach

Julie Silverman, CVES Paraeducator I/II

Robby Sortore, MSHS Cheer Competition Coach

Chloe Thomsen, NBES Paraeducator I/II

Kaitlyn Usselman, TFMS 6th/7th Teacher

Oracio Valdez, MSHS Counselor

Bethany Waller, CVES Paraeducator I

Keely Wayne, OES Special Ed Para II

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Have a Great Start to the 2016-17 School Year!

Save the Date...

Timber Ridge Elementary School

Community Open House

September 8, 2016 6:30 p.m.

All are invited.

SVSD Employee Benefits Fair & Enrollment Deadline

The 2016 Employee Benefit Fair is Thursday, September 8, in the MSHS Main Campus Commons from 2:30 to 7 p.m. Flu shots will be provided for employees and depend-ents who are currently enrolled on our medical plans.

Online Open Enrollment is now available through Employee Access in Skyward. The deadline for new employees to submit insurance selections and for existing employ-ees to make any changes is Thursday, September 15, by midnight. See the August 25 email from Lori Becker for instructions and plan updates.

If you are an existing employee making no changes to your plan, you do not need to submit anything. The system will automatically apply your previous plan.

Staff Celebrations:

Salina Fassler, Elementary Instruc-tional Coach for OES & NBE, had a baby boy, Oliver, June 26!

Sarah Davis, NBE 3rd grade teacher welcomed her 1st grandchild June 27.

Two CVES teachers had baby girls this summer. Julie Pugh, K teacher, had Heidi Carolyn on June 3; and Elizabeth Cronin, 4th grade teacher, welcomed Lily Grace August 12.

Three teachers got married this summer:

Brian Tawney, MSHS Special Ed teacher

Kayla Supkoff, NBE 1st grade teacher now goes by Mrs. Stoll.

And, Amy Christen-sen, SES 1st grade, is now Mrs. Hartl.

Emma Smith, MSHS senior and daughter of CVES teacher Kellie Smith, attended a prestigious leadership camp at Harvard in Boston this summer.

Help tell the positive stories of your school. Email story ideas to malcolmc@ svsd410.org or call Carolyn at: 425-831-8423.

Snoqualmie Valley

School District PO Box 400

Snoqualmie WA

98065

425-831-8000

www.svsd410.org

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Enjoy more staff photos...

Have a fabulous year!

Best Wishes to Upcoming Retirees:

Robert Christensen, Groundsworker, 9/30

Randy Pribbernow, Warehouse, 9/30

Kenneth Rambow, Maintenance, 9/30

Greg Wilson, Network Specialist, 8/31

Thanks for all you have done for SVSD schools!

Find more photos on the web-site soon.