Stories for Schools
Pierce College prepares to open new math/science building
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Pierce College's new Rainier Math/Science Building. The new facility is scheduled to officially open on May 12, 2010. Photo by Nancy Covert.
A spiral sculpture crafted with dichromatic glass, a rock garden, a planetarium-style classroom, solar panels, “green” roofs — these are just a few of the many amenities featured in Pierce College’s new Rainier Building on the Fort Steilacoom campus. The approximately 70,000 sq. ft. structure, ready for occupancy at the end of March, is scheduled to be formally dedicated on May 12.
An early March visit to the site–east of the current campus–revealed an impressive, contemporary structure, consisting of three separate sections joined by vertical glass structures. Perched on a hillside above Ft. Steilacoom Park–an area that once was part of Western State Hospital’s Hill Ward–construction work on three pod buildings has been underway since 2008.
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Steilacoom Headed to State Basketball Playoffs
Posted by | CommentsAfter a victory on Saturday night against North Mason, the Steilacoom High School boys’ basketball team is headed to the playoffs. The Sentinels face Mark Morris High School (Longview) in a State 2A championship game that takes place on Wednesday, March 10th at the Sun Dome in Yakima. The game, slated for broadcast on www.bsports.org, begins at 9 p.m.
Pierce College music concert series
Posted by | CommentsPierce College’s musical groups will be celebrating winter’s end and the start of spring with three concerts in the coming weeks. The low-cost or free concerts are open to everyone and promise a good time for lovers of live music and performance. The shows are as follows: Read More→
Korean art featured at Pierce College
Posted by | CommentsThe diverse art of local Korean artists will be featured in the spring gallery show at Pierce College Fort Steilacoom. The show will run through April 25. A reception for the artists will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 3. Refreshments will be served. All are welcome to attend.
Featured artists include: Read More→
Mentor/mentee profile from NorthwestMilitary.com
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Senior Airman Katherine Lamb helps Lochburn Elementary School eighth-grader Selena Verduzco with her homework Tuesday morning during the pair’s weekly one-hour meeting. Photo by Tyler Hemstreet
Communities in Schools Lakewood the subject of a story at NorthwestMilitary.com. A Lochburn eighth-grader and a Senior Airman partner up to learn and laugh. From the story:
“During the pair’s one hour a week meetings, Lamb works with Verduzco on a variety of school assignments, assisting the 13-year-old on whatever subjects she needs help with. The two also share stories and talk about their interests.”
CPTC students conduct “waste audit”
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Students from the Clover Park Technical College’s Environmental Sciences program conducted a “waste audit” in conjunction with Pierce County Solid Waste and LeMay Enterprises, conducted a “waste audit” on the Lakewood Campus of Clover Park Technical College. See the full story with more photos at CPTC’s In The Spotlight blog.
Jones, Saunders to facilitate youth panel
Posted by | CommentsAssistant superintendent of public instruction Erin Jones and former Lakewood Police Chief Larry Saunders will facilitate a panel discussion of Clover Park School District students at Communities in Schools of Lakewood’s (CISL) annual Champions for Youth Breakfast on Wednesday, March 24. The breakfast begins at 7 a.m. at the Old Country Buffet in the Lakewood Towne Center.
Jones’ passion is working with students in urban communities. She has received a Milken Award and served as the director for the Center for the Improvement of Student Learning, prior to becoming an assistant superintendent at OSPI. Currently, her work focuses on the achievement gap and dropout prevention throughout the state. Read More→
Steilacoom’s Lynch named Student of the Month
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Shannon Lynch, a Steilacoom High School senior, was recently recognized as the Rotary Club of Lakewood’s Student of the Month. Rotarian Bob Peterson, a retired Clover Park teacher and principal, made the presentation at the regular Friday noon meeting.
Nominated by Steilacoom High School Principal Jan McKrimmons, Lynch sports a 3.88 GPA. She serves as president of the Senior Class, captain of the cheer squad and serves as Pacific Region summer school liaison for Junior Statesmen of America. She’s not firmly decided on where to attend college but is strongly considering Georgetown University.
The Rotary Club of Lakewood recognizes a student each month from Clover Park and Steilacoom School Districts. A teacher from each district is also recognized each month by the club which has been serving the community for more than 50 years. Greg Horn is currently serving as president of the 125-member organization.
Students to read and raise revenue for University Place Library Campaign
Posted by | CommentsUniversity Place School District and other local schools’ students will be hitting the books to support the new University Place Pierce County Library during the Read for UP readathon fundraiser, March 1–7.
Students in kindergarten through middle school will receive pledge forms and reading logs at school. People may also pick up forms at University Place Library, 7315 27th St. W. or download forms at Pierce County Library’s Web site, www.piercecountylibrary.org, search site: Read for UP.
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Steilacoom beats North Mason, moves on
Posted by | CommentsTuesday night, the Steilacoom Sentinels boys’ basketball team beat North Mason’s squad by a score of 44-39. The Sentinels play rival Fife High School in round 6 of the West Central District 3 playoffs this Friday night. The game at Foss High School in Tacoma starts at 6 p.m.
CIS earns Presidential accolade
Posted by | CommentsEditor’s Note: Following is a letter from the CEO of Communities In Schools (CIS), Daniel Cardinali, regarding Barak Obama’s recent recognition of CIS.
Dear Colleagues,
It was my great pleasure to represent you at a gathering of national education leaders with President Barack Obama at a White House event yesterday. While I was quite pleased to hear the President’s commitment to reducing the dropout rate and to helping young people graduate from high school prepared for success I was especially gratified to hear him recognize the work of Communities In Schools by name.
That recognition, with some of the lead-in from President Obama’s speech to give it context, went as follows:
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Long lines, lots of ambition
Posted by | CommentsLakewood, WA – At 4:30 a.m. Monday, Carolyn Nartnik and Jennifer Jessie were at Clover Park Technical College hoping to get into their programs. They were not alone and they were not the first in line.
Carolyn Nartnik (left) and Jennifer Jessie arrived at 4:30 a.m. to register. Open registration began Monday, March 1 starting at 7:00 a.m.
Although they knew the wait would be more than three hours, both say they wanted to arrive early to get in and get the classes they need for their chosen programs. “I’m coming to Clover Park to enroll in the Health Unit Coordinator Program,” said Carolyn Nartnik (left). “I want to get into my program, so I got here really early.”
Both are military spouses and want to get an education before they move again. “I chose to come here because of the Human Services program and the location of the college,” said Jennifer Jessie, “We’re stationed here for almost two years,” Jessie said.
“The demand from individuals who are seeking an opportunity to retrain for their future is unparalleled,” said Lori Banaszak, Vice President for Instruction. “Clover Park is doing everything it can to meet this need and yet it is not enough,” said Banaszak.
Maryann Dick is coming to Clover Park from WSU. She wants to be closer to home and have smaller class sizes.
Last in line is Maryann Dick, who showed up about 7:00 a.m. She expects to wait for hours before signing up for the Culinary Arts program.
“My sister is a student here in the Medical Assistant program and I decided I needed to be closer to home,” said Dick, who recently left Washington State University. “I like smaller class sizes that are more focused,” said Dick.
“Every college in the state is facing this situation and it is critical that a solution be found to fund additional training slots and financial assistance for those who are trying to improve their lives. The road to recovery is found through a highly skilled workforce and with appropriate funding the two-year colleges will provide the pathway to a brighter future,” Banaszak said.
Back of the line Monday, March 1, 7:15 a.m.
