It’s been three decades since Mt. St. Helens erupted, and while there’s no immediate emergency on the horizon—as the Boy Scout Motto advises: “be prepared!” Being prepared was the task at hand for scouts from Troop 51 in Lakewood as they helped assemble emergency kits for Steilacoom High School.

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===> Posted on June 2, 2010 by Nancy Covert. 3 comments.

Steilacoom letter winners (from left): Micah Donor, Colin Chambers, Sean Hobbs, Sarah Rhodes, Jessica Nepper and Forrest Walters.

Submitted by Karen Hobbs

Bob Connelly read the following poem (written by Eileen Thompson of Huntersville, NC) at the beginning of the Award Night program for this years United Way of Pierce County Letter in Community Service Celebration!Read more...

===> Posted on May 27, 2010 by Ben Sclair. No comments.

More than 30 Steilacoom High School Honor Society students turned out after school on May 21 to work Perkins Park in Steilacoom for the 8th annual “Bark the Park” project. Each spring a group of students from the Honor Society has helped with an on-going park beautification at the corner piece of Paradise near the foot of Union Avenue. The park was named in honor of Steilacoom’s first woman doctor, Dr. Mary Perkins. Four work crews that afternoon spread fresh bark on three sides of the park. Earlier in the year, other students had cleared invasive ivy and planted native plants.

===> Posted on May 23, 2010 by Nancy Covert. No comments.

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===> Posted on May 18, 2010 by Nancy Covert. No comments.

===> Posted on May 9, 2010 by Ben Sclair. No comments.

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===> Posted on April 29, 2010 by Nancy Covert. No comments.

Forty-three members and guests of the Steilacoom Chamber of Commerce enjoyed a “Spring Evening at The Bair” on Thursday, April 22.  Representing the Port of Tacoma, Connie Bacon was the featured guest speaker during the dinner.  She stated that the Port is currently conducting a “nationwide search for a new CEO who is trustworthy, who will tell us the right story in business for the Port of Tacoma, who understands strategic thinking, and is a go-getter.” According to Bacon, the Port of Tacoma is “beginning to see a tiny rise in activity, but anticipates steady growth over the next five years.”  She added that the Port has spent $170M to clean-up Puget Sound and Commencement Bay.  There are ongoing negotiations with the Puyallup Tribe about possibly operating a terminal, as well.  Bus tours of the Port of Tacoma are available to the public and scheduled every couple of months.

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===> Posted on April 25, 2010 by Jaynie Jones. No comments.

===> Posted on April 21, 2010 by Jaynie Jones. No comments.

Each month a staff member at Steilacoom High School is selected for the outstanding volunteer work. For the month of March, Mr. Wusterbarth was selected to be highlighted for Steilacoom High School Staff Spotlight. Mr. Wusterbarth is one of the teachers here at Steilacoom High School and is appreciated for all the work he has done for students.

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===> Posted on April 18, 2010 by Ben Sclair. No comments.

===> Posted on March 9, 2010 by John Cohen. No comments.

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.

===> Posted on March 4, 2010 by Ben Sclair. No comments.

===> Posted on March 3, 2010 by John Cohen. No comments.

===> Posted on February 28, 2010 by Ben Sclair. No comments.

===> Posted on February 22, 2010 by Ben Sclair. No comments.

===> Posted on February 14, 2010 by Ben Sclair. No comments.

A trio of Steilacoom High School Marketing students is looking forward to a trip to Kentucky in April. They’re not going there, though, to investigate the finer aspects of horse racing.

These students: seniors Brittany Walker (above left) and Nolan Russell (above center) and junior Taylor Caluwe, all marketing management students, recently received the School-Based Enterprise (SBE) Gold Level Certification for 2010 for their Guidebook for operating the store.

Their project—a detailed manual about the school store’s operating procedures, covering a variety of topics including product ordering and inventorying procedures, earned them a spot at the upcoming International Career Development Conference, set for April 22-26, in Louisville. The detailed book ensures that anyone can follow the steps and operate a successful business.
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===> Posted on February 9, 2010 by Nancy Covert. No comments.

This Maintenance and Operations Levy provides approximately 20 percent of the funding for Steilacoom Historical School District No. 1. Because the State does not fully fund public education, approval of local levies is necessary to maintain district educational programs and facilities. The current Maintenance and Operations levy is not as new tax. It is a renewal of the current levy at a significantly lower rate.

This renewal rate is set to decrease from the current $2.57 per $1,000 of assessed valuation, to $2.18 per $1,000 by 2014. Your vote ensures the educational future of our children. For details about the 2010 Steilacoom Historical school district levy, please visit the website: www.SupportSHSDStudents.com.

Lenore Rogers, Chairman
The Committee to Support SHSD Students

===> Posted on January 25, 2010 by Ben Sclair. No comments.

===> Posted on January 17, 2010 by Ben Sclair. No comments.

On Friday, Jan. 15 at 8:30 a.m. at Steilacoom High School, students will revisit and re-examine the legacy of 20th century leader Dr. Martin Luther King, as well as that of other black leaders and their achievements.
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===> Posted on January 13, 2010 by Nancy Covert. No comments.

According to Mr. Randy McConnell ESGR Washington Chair, “The Patriot Award was created by ESGR to publicly recognize individuals who provide outstanding patriotic support and cooperation to their employees, who like the citizen warriors before them, have answered their nation’s call to serve. Janice McCrimmon was nominated for being highly supportive of the National Guard by her Reserve component Mr. Charles Workman. Supportive supervisors are critical to maintaining the strength and readiness of the nation’s National Guard and Reserve units.”

As the 1.3 million members of the National Guard and Reserve continue to perform an increasing number of unique missions with America’s borders and beyond, ESGR will continue to be the resource for the employers of citizen warriors. ESGR provides education, consultation, and if necessary mediation for employers of Guard and Reserve employees. More information about ESGR Employer Outreach Programs and volunteer opportunities is available at www.esgr.mil, or by calling 206-280-8180.

===> Posted on January 6, 2010 by Ben Sclair. No comments.

By John Cohen

It was a triple celebration on Dec. 26 at Steilacoom High School. The yearly holiday basketball game marked SHS coach Gary Wusterbarth’s 25th year of coaching at the school.

It also marked the 15th year for the post-holiday basketball game when SHS basketball alums return to prove they “still have it”—despite some players being away from competitive basketball for more than a few years.

The event began with a fashion show of sorts. Current high school students modeled men’s basketball uniforms worn throughout Coach Wusterbarth’s career at the school (above).

Before the court action began, “Wustie” introduced alumni players, some of whom traveled from as far away as Pennsylvania and Massachusetts to participate in the night’s contest. In the course of the action, athletes put on an impressive show of talent; playing two 20-minute halves.
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===> Posted on December 28, 2009 by Ben Sclair. No comments.

Granger, who plans a career in Law Enforcement after graduation this coming June, currently is a Police Explorer with the Tacoma Police Department. He crafted the stars in fulfillment of a suggestion made by SHS teacher, Fletcher Mann.

In his role as an Explorer, Dallas recently took part in the Memorial Service for the officers, held at the Tacoma Dome earlier this month. “Mr. Mann suggested the Star project,” Dallas said. “It was a challenge to fit together the five separate pieces for each star.” The final project can be viewed at the high school.

===> Posted on December 20, 2009 by Nancy Covert. No comments.

Steilacoom High School science teacher Bob Mize was recently honored by the Washington State Air Force Association as its Teacher of the Year. Mize, a retired AF veteran and AFA m ember has been teaching at Steilacoom High School for the past 15 years.

“I am deeply honored to receive this award, and I am thrilled that the school district has given me the opportunity to continue to introduce technology to our students. This recognition would not have been possible without the assistance of district administrators such as SHS Principal Jan McCrimmon,” said Mize.

Mr. Mize was the first teacher in our district to earn National Board Certification from the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards in the field of Adolescent and Young Adulthood Science. He was one of only 57 science teachers in Washington State to hold these credentials at the time of his certification.Read more...

===> Posted on December 17, 2009 by Nancy Covert. No comments.

The scene: Steilacoom High School, Friday, the 13th. Three light blue buses made their way along Steilacoom Blvd. in the early morning hours of Friday, Nov. 13. Their objective? Steilacoom High School where they set up camp to gather life-saving fluid that day.

The mid-November blood drive, coordinated by SHS’s Key Club, took place between 7:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. “Steilacoom High School has a reputation,” explained Patricia Hernandez, “for being one of the biggest blood donor sites among high schools in the county.” She is Donor Resources Consultant for Cascade Regional Blood Services and has been coming to SHS for the past eight years.
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===> Posted on November 18, 2009 by Ben Sclair. No comments.

The three-day session, held at Bellevue’s Meydenbauer Center, attracted about 1,600 DECA students from around the state. Steilacoom’s DECA group belongs to Area 7. There are 12 areas total. Other sessions, added Germaine Archeta and Meghan Ruff, included “how to interview for a job,” and ways to communicate effectively. The experience enabled the students to “get close to students from other places.” The Chapter Leadership Academy was another opportunity to gain “lessons that will definitely benefit us for years to come.”

===> Posted on October 29, 2009 by Nancy Covert. No comments.

A near capacity crowd listens to council and school board candidates respond to issues affecting the community and school district. Candidates are (left to right) Town Council candidates Mayor Ron Lucas, Lowell G. Bier, Marion V. Smith, Connie Aboubaker and Steven L. Stovall and school district candidates Vincent Stewart, Michael Winkler and Kevin M. Callanan. Photo by Ed Kane, Freelance Graphics.

Candidates for the Steilacoom Town Council and Steilacoom Historical School District #1 took part in a forum Thursday night at the Steilacoom Town Hall. The event, sponsored by the Steilacoom Chamber of Commerce and moderated by Dave Sclair, reporter for TheSuburbanTimes.com, attracted nearly 100 residents from Steilacoom and DuPont.

Only one Town Council seat is being contested and candidates Connie Aboubaker and Steven L. Stovall were on hand to answer questions and offer voters their views on a wide variety of issues. In the school district election both Position 1 and Position 3 attracted two candidates but unfortunately, only person seeking each seat was able to attend the forum. Vincent Stewart, seeking position 1 and Kevin M. Callanan, candidate for position 3, spoke while their opponents, Donald Denning and Philip Ayles were out of town.

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===> Posted on October 25, 2009 by Dave Sclair. No comments.

Resplendent in bright red “special occasion” T-shirts, Toni Taylor Goodwin and Karan Taylor Vanderwarker were honored guests at the Sept. 25 re-dedication of the renovated/modernized Steilacoom High School’s Athletic Fields.

The women, daughters of the district’s first superintendent Blair Taylor, along with their husbands, Ralph Goodwin and Robert Vanderwarker, took part in the pre-game field dedication held on Friday evening.

Mr. Taylor, a history teacher at Steilacoom Grade School, became principal there and eventually superintendent of the district. He was responsible for starting Steilacoom’s early sports programs.
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===> Posted on September 30, 2009 by Nancy Covert. 2 comments.

Ted Cohn

Cohn teaches English at Lakes High School. He consistently works with the entire English Department to assure students make solid progression throughout the high school experience, according to Lakes Assistant Principal Matt Oberst.

Eric Miller

Heading up Steilacoom High Schools athletic department, Miller is now in his tenth year in the district. He has ushered in to the students an emphasis on healthy lifestyles such as walking fitness, eating right and doing what’s best. In 2002 he was named Washington’s 2A football coach of the year.
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===> Posted on September 28, 2009 by Ben Sclair. No comments.

The spotlight will be on Blair Taylor Field at Steilacoom High School on Friday, September 25. After 25-years, the complex received a major renovation including a new announcer’s booth, installation of bleacher seating and handicap-accessible ramps to seating at the top of the stadium.

A tailgate party kicks off the celebration that afternoon, beginning at 4:30 p.m., according to Steilacoom High School’s Athletic Director/Assistant Principal Andre Stout. It will feature a BBQ, sponsored by the SHS Booster Club and “will be held in the school’s main parking lot”, said Darrin Lowry, SHS’s Assistant Principal.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place at 6:45 p.m., with Steilacoom Mayor Ron Lucas and SHSD School Board Chairman Sam Scott doing the honors. The SHS choir will sing the National Anthem, and everyone is encouraged to join in on what will become “a tradition at all home games,” Stout said.
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===> Posted on September 20, 2009 by Ben Sclair. No comments.

Don’t miss this outstanding performance by an outstanding group of musicians from SHSD No. 1.

===> Posted on September 17, 2009 by Nancy Covert. No comments.