Camano Community

Student Advisors selected

The Stanwood-Camano School District Board of Directors welcome students, Ashley Glenn and David Thomas, to represent Lincoln High School and Stanwood High School, respectively, as Student Advisors to the Board for 2009-10. 

via districtweb.stanwood.wednet.edu

Susan Fortner is SCSD Classified Employee of the Month

Susan Fortner, Port Susan Middle School Para Educator, received the first Classified Employee of the Month award.  The superintendent, award sponsor, the principal, and two teachers made a surprise announcement during a brief intermission of her assignment. 

The Board of Directors will recognize Mrs. Fortner at the regular board meeting October 20, 2009, at 7:00 PM at the Administration and Resource Center.  The public is invited to the meeting to help celebrate this recognition.

via www.stanwood.wednet.edu

Merrick selected 2009 Secondary Art Educator of the Year

Gail Merrick was selected as the recipient of the Washington ART Education Association 2009 Secondary Art Educator of the Year! 

This annual award recognizes outstanding professionalism, service, promotion and support of the visual arts by individual art educators in Washington state.  Mrs. Merrick teaches graphic arts and advanced placement studio/graphic arts II for Stanwood High School Career and Technical Education department.  This award is WAEA's highest honor.  Gail is also eligible for future nominations for regional and national recognition. 

via districtweb.stanwood.wednet.edu

Parenting workshop on kids drug issues

A five-week class for parents with children ages 9 to 14, focuses on helping parents learn new skills to reduce their child's risk of developing problems with alcohol and drug use issues.

Classes begin Tues., Oct. 6, and run through Nov. 3, 6 to 8 p.m. at Elger Bay Elementary School. Pre-registration required, child care provided. The workshop is sponsored by Island County Human Services in partnership with the Community Resource Center and the Stanwood-Camano School District.

For more information, call Jon Evavold, 629-1290, Elger Bay Elementary; or Janet Mott, Stanwood-Camano Community Resource Center, 629-5257. Visit janet@stawoodcamanoresources.org.

Budget cuts kick kids off bus and to the curb

State budget cuts and declining enrollment have led the Stanwood-Camano School District to reduce bus transportation for some students this year.

The district no longer picks up about 50 middle and high school students who live within a mile of schools where sidewalks and crosswalks are available. Secondary school students living on dead-end roads that are less than a mile long now must meet the bus at the main road.

via heraldnet.com

School District Swine Flu update

As you are aware there have been confirmed cases of H1N1 Swine Flu reported across the United States.  Our school district works closely with local, state, and national health agencies to investigate any illnesses and/or infections.

H1N1 Swine Flu in people is characterized by fever (100 degrees or more), sore throat, cough, body aches, headaches, chills, and fatigue.  The illness may last up to seven days, but people are considered to be contagious as long as symptoms persist.  If you or your child have mild flu-like symptoms, monitor and telephone your physician to consult if necessary.

via districtweb.stanwood.wednet.edu

School Resource Officer is focused on school safety

From the Stanwood School District:

For six years, Snohomish County Sheriff’s Deputy Shane Jensen has been bringing the community, schools, and law enforcement together. As the School Resource Officer (SRO) at Stanwood High School (SHS) Deputy Jensen’s work is focused on law enforcement, preventing criminal activity through education, and providing counseling services within the school. His hard work and dedication recently earned him then SRO of the Year award from the Washington School Safety Organization.

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State patrol gives district "outstanding" score in bus safety

From the Stanwood School District:

The Washington State Patrol does an annual inspection of all vehicles in the district. District vehicles include buses, vans or similar large vehicles that children ride for school purposes. For the past several years in a row, the district passed with an outstanding score, and has again received praise from the State Patrol and Randy Dorn, Superintendent of Public Instruction, for their exceptional results. The State Patrol determined that our fleet of vehicles, including 55 buses, are safe.

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Solar Power at Stanwood High School

From the Stanwood School District:

This fall, Stanwood High School students will witness solar power in action thanks to a grant from Snohomish County Public Utility District in partnership with the Bonneville Environmental Foundation.

A portion of the $14,500 grant paid to install the 1,360 watt solar photovoltaic system, or solar panel, in late July on the east side of the SHS campus, near the agriculture department. This allows for unobstructed southern, eastern and western exposure to the sun to maximize electrical power output. 

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Concussions in youth sports: Informative meeting August 26th

From the Stanwood School District:

Stanwood High School athletics presents Dr. Stan Herring, medical director of The Spine Center at Harborview Medical Center on August 26th at 6:30 p.m. in the performing arts center at Stanwood High School.  Dr. Herring will be presenting on concussions in youth sports and the recently enacted Lystedt law.  This presentation is open to all youth, middle school, and high school coaches and parents.  Healthcare providers, game officials, and school administrators are also welcome and encouraged to attend.

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School District News

by Cathy Britt

I hope you have been enjoying the summer months. The Stanwood-Camano School District has had many reasons to celebrate the achievements of our students and staff at various competitions this summer.

I encourage you to browse through some of our news, staff recognition and student recognitions on our website, www.stanwood.wednet.edu.  Inside this e-mail you will find helpful information for families and students as they prepare to head back to school. Please forward this message on to families you know and watch for the summer edition of the Community Schools newsletter to arrive in your mailbox sometime next week for more information.

We look forward to welcoming each and every one of our students and families back to school on Thursday, September 3rd.

Fewer opportunites for local athletes next year

From the Herald:

Tom Wilfong, Stanwood High’s athletic director, said he has nearly $90,000 less in his 2009-10 sports budget compared with the 2008-09 school year. The school district cut eight sub-varsity high school coaching positions. JV golf teams and several sophomore/C teams are gone.

On the bright side, Stanwood did not add pay-to-play fees. The fees might discourage kids from playing multiple sports and make athletics unaffordable for families with several athletes, Wilfong said.

“Luckily, our district was well off enough where we didn’t have to do that,” he said. Fees might be considered next year, he added.

“Things are going to get worse,” Wilfong said. “Nobody’s going to expect anything to get better.”

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Hard times for teacher negotiations throughout Snohomish County

From the Herald:

The tough economy could lead to painful contract negotiations between teachers and school officials throughout Snohomish County this summer.

Several local districts will try to iron out deals with their teachers before classes begin in September.

The list includes Everett, Granite Falls, Lake Stevens, Monroe, Stanwood and Sultan.

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School District Notes

by Cathy Britt

Today!

All SCSD schools will close June 30th. Secondary school offices will reopen on August 10th and elementary school offices will reopen on August 17th.

District Office Summer Hours

The Administration & Resource Center (ARC) will soon be starting the summer office schedule. The office will be closed each Friday in the month of July and August 7th. During that time, the office hours are Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. through 4:30 p.m. Regular office hours for the remainder of the summer are Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

School District Reductions

The transportation department needs to reduce costs and has had to make some adjustments in 2009-10 bus routes due to the decrease in  funding. Please follow this link to read the following information posted on  our district website: http://districtweb.stanwood.wednet.edu/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1024&Itemid=1

SHS Senior off to MIT this fall

From the Herald:

During her freshman year at Stanwood High, Christy Swartz set her sights on MIT after reading a story in Scientific American magazine about students with a passion for math and problem-solving.

“I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, I belong with those people.’ It became an obsession. It always has been my dream.”

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Several School District Positions Saved

By Cathy Britt

As a result of a change in the status of our special education rating, additional federal stimulus funding has been released to use in an unrestricted manner which allows the district to reinstate several positions in our district.

This change frees up 50% of the one-time only stimulus funding, or $510,389 to help pay for special education cost overruns in 2009-10. The district will now be able to use local and state revenues to reinstate several positions including several para educator positions, and 3.1 teaching positions.

We had originally projected that only $109,301 of the stimulus funding could be used in this unrestricted manner. Follow this link to download the revised Reduced Educational Program (REP) document. 

Stanwood Camano Rotary Club’s Students of the Month

Destiny Redform and Chad Beidas were named the June Rotary Club Students of the Month.  Both students attend Stanwood Elementary.  Students are selected through a competitive process based on multiple factors including academic progress, activities and overall academic plans at each of the Stanwood Camano School District’s schools.  Both students were strong selections according to Stanwood Elementary Principal, Victor Hanzeli.

School District News

Last day of school will be Wednesday, June 17

Stanwood-Camano School District needs to make up one day of school that was missed earlier this year when the weather was not so nice outside. The new last day of school will be Wednesday, June 17 and there will be no late-start Wednesday that morning.

School Dates for 2009 - 2010

The tentative Stanwood-Camano School District 2009-10 student calendar is now available for families to begin planning for next school year! The full student calendar can be found on our website under "Calendars" or by clicking here.

School district newsletter wins award

The Stanwood-Camano School District's community-wide newsletter, Community Schools, has received the Washington School Public Relations Association's Award of Excellence in recognition of exceptional performance in promoting education.

The Community Schools newsletter is written and designed by Cathy Britt, SCSD Public Information Coordinator, and it is delivered 3-4 times each school year to every address within Stanwood-Camano boundaries.