Superintendent’s Message:

Congratulations to you all, as the 2017-18 school year is off to a great start! In my visits to departments and schools last Wednesday, the planning, preparation, pride, and passion of support staff, teachers, and administrators was on full display.

Working with fellow staff throughout the summer and during the past five days, you have put in place a solid foundation for the coming school year; a year during which our students will find success and enjoyment.

Thank you for your good work, and for your commitment to the students in our schools. The stage has been set for an outstanding school year!

Regards,

Joel

Snoqualmie Valley School District

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

Important Dates:

September 7 — SVSD Employee

Benefits Fair is

2:30-7 p.m. in the

MSHS Commons.

September 15 — Deadline to enroll

for benefits (new

staff) or to make

changes to past

plans.

October 6 — Deadline to apply

for Snoqualmie

Valley Schools

Foundation

Classroom Grants.

Open to all SVSD

educators, classified

staff, and associated

school groups, the

Classroom Grants

program supports

innovation and

forward-thinking

ideas. Apply online

by Friday, October

6 at 5 p.m. at:

http://www.

svsfoundation.org/

classroom_grants.

Our mission is to

educate all

Snoqualmie Valley

children to prepare

them for college,

career and

citizenship.

Edition 33 SEPTEMBER 2017 Edition 76

1

Joel Aune Superintendent

Welcome Newly-Hired Educators to Snoqualmie Valley Schools!

Welcome… to approximately 82 new employees who are joining the Snoqualmie Valley School District this year.

Pictured left-to-right, photo from the July 12 New Teacher Orientation features: Front row: Shauna Jacobs (MSHS Counselor), Miranda Partridge (MSHS Counselor), Lovelyn Okada (NBES Kindergarten), and Melissa Scott (OES 5th). Middle row: Wyn Brawner (TRES 4th), Diane Robbins (SES Preschool/SLP), Cathy Templin (PPP Math), Dana Verhoff (FCES 3rd), Mackenzie Bradburn (NBES K), and Cori Bolstad (NBES 1st). Back row: Morgan Espeland (CKMS 7th Science), Sarah Collom (CVES 1st), Lori Boyle (CVES K), Ashley Hutchison (MSHS Science & Engineering), Charles Kroiss (TRS Social Studies), Kelli Marek (FCES 1st), Jenny Ketner (NBES 2nd), and Julie Lewis (3rd STREAM).

Welcome New Staff to the District (continuing the list of new hires from the August At a Glance)

Cassandra Bomgardner, MSHS JV Tennis Coach

Linda Mickelson, TRES Cooks Helper

Sophie Rockow, MSHS Head Girls Soccer Coach

Kirstyn Scholin, OES Teacher

Melissa Scott, OES Teacher

Alicia Slebos, MSHS Custodian

Corbin Smith, MSHS Teacher

Joanna Soren, Bus Driver

Nicole Summers, TRES Teacher

Sana Tariq, MSHS Assistant Principal

Molly Taylor, Bus Driver

2

2017-18 District Strategic Plan

In 2013, a five-year strategic plan for the Snoqualmie Valley School District was developed. The current edition, approved by the School Board on June 27, articulates school district priorities for the 2017-18 school year. See the new 2017-18 Strategic Plan brochure (pictured at right). The plan includes goals that focus on teaching and learning (GOAL 1); school safety, operations, and business practices (GOAL 2); and communication (GOAL 3). The plan is built upon a set of core values which describe the culture of the Snoqualmie Valley School District.

WE VALUE: • A focus on success for all students • A clear and open communications environment • Collaboration at all levels • Dedication to continuous improvement and best practice • Mutual respect • Positive relationships • High quality instruction • Honesty and integrity • Leadership • Striving for innovation and excellence • Transparent governance

The plan is ambitious in its vision, and focuses on advancing learning and achievement for all students. To view the District Strategic Plan in its entirety, visit the district website.

August 21 New Teacher Orientation Introductions

Pictured left to right, front row: John Tuttle, Dylan Roberts, Jennifer Dwight, Shannon Fischer, Malia Louie, Hannah Hobi, Taylor McCombs, Nicole Huber, and Ali Mayher. Middle row: Dawn Chappelle, Jackie Coscarart, Matt Hurst, Adam Schaak, Ellen Hurst, Lauren Bryant, Kathy August, Mariah Thompson, Kirstyn Scholin, Andrea Ribary, and Jennifer Chapman. Back row: Neil Harbel, Jill Dais-Brenne, Kristina Schmitt, Megan Rea, Jay Knowles, Patrick Ardinger, Kristina Thorson, Makenna Davenport, Blake Kimmel, Nicole Summers, Colleen Schmidt, Rebekah McFarland, Heather Kitterman, Jennifer Williams, Corbin Smith, Rick Dempsey, and Eileen Truitt.

Staff Celebrations:

Megan Botulinski, TFMS assistant principal, and husband Steve Botulinski, MSHS teacher, had a baby girl in August.

Vanessa Englehart, school psychologist, had a baby boy this summer.

Haley Isaacs, MSHS choir director, had a baby girl at the end of last school year.

Madison Meredith, NBES kindergarten teacher, got married. She will now go by

Madison Meis.

Nancy Parsons, Food Services secretary, welcomed her 5th grandchild this summer— a baby boy!

More new hires... Welcome!

Kristin Tetuan, NBES Paraeducator II

Mariah Thompson, FCES Teacher

Kristina Thorson, TRES Teacher

Benjamin Tost

Kinney, Bus Driver

John Tuttle, MSHS Teacher

Hemalatha Vaddi, CVES Paraeducator II

Dana Verhoff, FCES Teacher

Jennifer Williams, TRES Teacher

John Wolkenhauer, Bus Driver

Sharon Zheng, TFMS Paraeducator III

3

Coming soon…

Look for the

“Start of School” slide show on the district website for more fun photos from all the schools.

Celebrating the First Week of School

To follow SVSD school construction progress…

explore this icon on the district website, and sign up for District E-News for monthlyupdates.

If you missed the July construction update, click here for a cool video created by Joe Dockery that featured the skilled steel workers assembling the frame of the new high school.

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

4

Employee Benefits Fair & Enrollment Deadlines

The 2017 Employee Benefit Fair is TOMORROW— Thursday, September 7 — in the MSHS Main Campus Commons from 2:30 to 7 p.m. Flu shots will be available for employees and their dependents who are currently enrolled in SVSD medical plans (not new hires). Employees will need to show their medical cards to get a shot.

Online Open Enrollment is now available through Employee Access in Skyward.

The deadline for new employees to submit insurance selections and for existing employees to make any changes is Friday, September 15, by midnight. Please refer to email from Lori Becker (from August 8 and August 25) for plan options.

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.