Clover Park School District

Schools put late-start Wednesday time to good use

Late-start Wednesdays in Clover Park School District (CPSD) provide teachers and staff the chance for consistent professional development in the form of Professional Learning Communities (PLCs).

A PLC is a group of educators who meet regularly to collaborate, share experiences and expertise and sharpen their teaching skills. All of that work happens with one goal in mind: increasing student success.

PLCs also offer the opportunity for educators to get together and discuss delivering and assessing the same content in each classroom so it is aligned to district curriculum.

"PLCs are a great opportunity for staff to be aligned in their work and extend their understanding of district standards," said CPSD assistant superintendent for secondary schools Brian Laubach.

Late-start Wednesdays provide a regular time for PLCs to meet districtwide. Lakeview Hope Academy is an example of how schools put that consistent meeting time to good use.

"One of the biggest impacts we can have on student learning is working with colleagues every week; having time set aside where you can talk about instructional strategies; having data on the table; and talking about how we're moving forward," said Lakeview principal Meghan Eakin.

At Lakeview, PLCs have flexibility in how they utilize their professional development time. They receive a basic topic to focus on, typically the new reading curriculum, but the teams work together to figure out the best way to discuss it.

Lakeview kindergarten teachers discuss the Reach for Reading curriculum with principal Meghan Eakin (left) as part of their professional learning community during a late-start Wednesday.

"We as a team set a goal, we have an agenda so we know what we're going to talk about every week," said Lakeview kindergarten teacher Kathleen Schwartze. "We get a chance to share our good strategies and experiences."

Late-start Wednesdays have been invaluable to her teaching this year. In previous school years, PLCs would meet in the middle of the day, which meant someone else was teaching her class during that time.

"We don't always get into each other's classrooms but all of a sudden, we're all trying these approaches other teachers have said worked for them," Schwartze said. "It really makes a big difference."

Help us celebrate 90 years of creating promising futures!

Clover Park High School students work on printing the school newspaper onto a mimeograph machine in 1941. (Courtesy of Tacoma Public Library.).

In collaboration with the Lakewood Historical Society, Clover Park School District (CPSD) is hosting a 90th anniversary celebration on Tuesday, Jan. 23 at 6 p.m. Festivities will take place at Harrison Preparatory School, 9103 Lakewood Drive SW in Lakewood.

All alumni, current and former employees and Lakewood and JBLM community members are invited to attend.

The event will feature a program from the Lakewood Historical Society highlighting the beginnings of CPSD, the district's early leaders and the expansion and development of the district's schools. The free event will also feature a variety of historical displays, a photo booth and refreshments.

For more information, please contact the district's community relations office at 253- 583-5040.

Four Heroes named Kids at Hope model school

Four Heroes Elementary principal (back right) John Mitchell holds the Kids at Hope model school banner with students and assistant principal Jaclyn Shope (far left) and fourth grade teacher Hilary Schleif (back center).

Four Heroes Elementary School was designated a model school by the Kids at Hope board of directors recently. Members of the Kids at Hope board visited the school and presented principal John Mitchell with a banner indicating the new designation.

Only 30 schools around the country have earned the title since Kids at Hope was founded 17 years ago. The title indicates that Four Heroes successfully implements the three universal truths purported by the organization: believe, connect and time travel.

"John Mitchell has been a leader in Kids at Hope since he was at Oakwood Elementary School (now closed)," said Kids at Hope director of administration and treasure hunter Kim Heredia. "He makes sure our framework allows his school and staff to experience success without exception."

Literacy walks show new curriculum in action

Clover Park School District (CPSD) administrators have been visiting schools to see the new K-5 literacy curriculum in action. Referred to as literacy walks, these visits give district administrators an up-close look at the new curriculum, National Geographic Reach for Reading.

"It has been exciting to see the students"enthusiasm and engagement with the new materials," said CPSD director of teaching and learning Tess McCartan.

Each literacy walk includes CPSD assistant superintendent for elementary schools Ron Banner, members of the district's teaching and learning staff and the school's principal. In previous years, Banner did classroom walks with principals only. The classroom walks were a chance to observe classroom instruction.

Literacy walks are an expansion of that practice.

In addition to monitoring curriculum implementation, the literacy walks also help guide the district's professional development offerings, indicate when teachers may need more materials and provide insight into how they are structuring their classrooms.

"We know we're not all reading experts," Banner said. "These walks let me get out and immerse myself in as much reading professional development as I can. It helps me lend support to principals and staff from a teaching and learning perspective."

Literacy walks will continue throughout the school year. Recent walks have focused on the use of small group instruction.

Parent Connections Council engages parents

Providing the best education is a team effort that involves students, parents and staff. Clover Park School District (CPSD) is giving families a voice in the district's decision-making process through its Parents Connections Council (PCC).

The PCC meets once a quarter and provides parents a chance to give input on major issues facing individual schools and the district at large. The council includes two parents from each district school and district administrators.

"It has been so rewarding to see our parents tackle timely topics and provide us with such valuable feedback," said CPSD director of student services Holly Shaffer. "It's also been a great way to get to know many of our families and build relationships with them. I can't wait to see the impact this will have on our schools."

In its third year of existence, the PCC has evolved to put parents in the lead.

"At first, we were just talking at them, kind of like a lecture," said CPSD family and community partnership coordinator Holly Bocchi. "We had to change because we weren't getting their feedback. Now it's more of a discussion and collaboration."

Those changes were on clear display at the PCC's last meeting on Oct. 25. The council talked about student attendance and what the district's policy should be on the issue. Members broke into small groups to discuss the issue, with parents facilitating the discussion.

"We have a rule. No one with a district badge on is allowed to take notes or facilitate," Bocchi said. "We want parents to take the lead."

CPSD started the PCC with two goals in mind:

• Foster parent leadership in the district; and
• Obtain more meaningful two-way communication feedback.

"It seems like they are really willing to hear what we have to say," said Oakbrook Elementary parent representative Daisy King. "I also feel like it gives me more of an insight into the district and the "why" behind a lot of their policies."

The next PCC meeting will be held in January. To get involved, parents should talk with their school's principal.

CPSD schools celebrate veterans

Clover Park School District schools held special assemblies to honor Veterans Day. The district has a special connection to the military with six schools on Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) and 30 percent of students connected to the military.

Fourth grade students at Meriwether Elementary performed the musical, "Red, White and Blue" for families and community members.

At its Veterans Day assembly, Harrison Preparatory School invited teachers who formerly served in the armed forces and military spouses to come forward and presented them with roses.

Carter Lake Elementary students sang a number of songs, including "God Bless the USA," at the school's Veterans Day assembly.

Lakes JROTC cadet Amber Nealy stands next to a vacant table meant to honor fallen, missing or imprisoned military service members at the school's Veterans Day assembly.

The Clover Park High School Air Force JROTC color guard presented the flag at four different Veterans Day assemblies in Clover Park School District along with an appearance at a Lakewood City Council meeting.

Bus rider ID system expands districtwide

CPSD's new bus rider ID system electronically monitors students entering or exiting district school buses. The next phase of implementation will include Idlewild and Lake Louise Elementary Schools, Hudtloff Middle School and Harrison Preparatory School

Clover Park School District's (CPSD) transportation department is expanding its student bus rider identification (ID) system to all elementary and middle schools this year.

The ID system electronically monitors students entering or exiting district buses. The program was successfully implemented at six schools last year as a pilot program.

As the program rolls out, each student at the newly participating schools receives an ID card, called a ZPass, with their photo. School staff provide students with a lanyard or zip tie so ZPasses can be worn around the neck or attached to backpacks.

Once implemented, all students will need to bring their ZPass with them every day. Whenever a student enters or exits a bus, they scan their card, which submits time and GPS information to the district for real-time monitoring.

"An important part of the new ID system is making sure students bring their pass to school every day," said CPSD director of transportation Paul Vigil. "Parents and students should put their ID cards in a safe place every day when they come home."

This year's expansion began with phase one when Dower, Hillside, Meriwether and Tyee Park Elementary Schools and Woodbrook Middle School implemented the program in November. Phases two and three will commence in the second half of the school year and include the remaining elementary and middle schools in the district.

Daffodil Princesses selected at Clover Park and Lakes

Kira Korsmo (left) from Lakes and Karina Mercado from Clover Park and were elected as daffodil princesses for 2017-18. They will represent their schools throughout the school year and compete for the "Queen of the Daffodil Festival" in the spring.

Clover Park and Lakes High Schools selected their 2017- 18 Daffodil Princesses at ceremonies held at each school earlier this year. Clover Park crowned Karina Mercado, while Kira Korsmo earned the honor at Lakes.

Mercado is the only youth member of the Lakewood's Choice advisory board and is a member of the Lakewood Youth Council. A Running Start student at Pierce College, she is also part of the drug prevention team at CPHS and is the president of the CPHS National Honor Society.

"To me, being a daffodil princess is a great opportunity to help my community," Mercado said. "This town has given me so much, it's only right that I give back to it."

Korsmo is the ASB president at Lakes, participates in cross country and tennis and has her sights set on a career in teaching. She currently assists in a CPSD kindergarten classroom as part of Lakes' Careers in Education class.

"I have always looked up to all of the past daffodil princesses and how they love their community," Korsmo said.

The girls will represent their schools throughout the school year and will compete for the title of "Queen of the Daffodil Festival" on April 1, 2018.

CITY OF LAKEWOOD:

Improvements to Fort Steilacoom Park

If you've been to Fort Steilacoom Park lately you've probably seen heavy equipment at work on the ball fields that run parallel to Steilacoom Blvd.

Earlier this fall the city embarked on an improvement project aimed at updating the youth sport fields at the park to make them more accessible, user-friendly and a true destination for sport leagues looking to host games and tournaments in the area.

Improvements include:

• Building at-grade dugouts;
• Adding outfield fencing;
• Adding storage for pitching mounds and maintenance equipment;
• Creating a soccer field adjacent to Angle Lane;
• Connecting pedestrian pathways; and
• Installing picnic shelters.

Earlier this month the project was put on pause after the contractor found an old brick foundation underground. An archeologist reviewed the foundation and doesn't think it is historical - it is believed to have been a greenhouse or gardener's cottage - but an official review and documentation will be done to make sure.

Construction will continue around the site while the review is completed, but not the area where the foundation was uncovered.

We're excited for the work to be done so our sports teams can get back out on the new and improved fields!