We had another great trip to Olympia for "Day on the Hill 2023". This time, I was joined by School Board Director Jacob Wright, School Board Student Representative Yau Fu, School Board Director Katie Marks, School Board President Sarah Methner, and School Board Vice President Dr. Sandy Long

Check out this news clip from King 5, showcasing the importance of the student voice in our legislation. Our very own Yau Fu is featured in the opening clip!

Pictured left to right: Superintendent Marty Brewer, School Board Director Jacob Wright, School Board Student Representative Yau Fu, School Board Director Katie Marks, School Board President Sarah Methner, and School Board Vice President Dr. Sandy Long.

Pictured left to right: School Board President Sarah Methner, School Board Vice President Dr. Sandy Long, School Board Student Representative Yau Fu, School Board Director Jacob Wright, Superintendent Marty Brewer, and School Board Director Katie Marks.

We are excited to announce that our strategic plan is done! This plan will guide our work in achieving equity, engagement, and success for all students.

Our plan contains specific goals created through community surveys and focus groups that included staff, students, community members, business owners, and parents. Thank you to all of these contributors! Feedback from these surveys and focus groups contributed to the creation of the Port Angeles Priorities, which are:

• Equity
• Teaching & Learning
• Facilities
• Social-Emotional Learning
• Dynamic Communication

To read our district's full strategic plan and see what goals will support or priorities in the years to come, visit: https://portangelesschoolsorg.finalsite.com/about/strategic-plan

Save the date and join us at the annual paper shredding event on Saturday, April 29, from 10 am – 1 pm at Steve Methner's State Farm, 611 E. FrontStreet.

Bring your paper to shred and make a donation. Proceeds from this event will help fund our Back to School Fair held in August, where children in need receive supplies for the 2023-24 school year.

Thanks to our community for supporting this event year after year! Special thanks to our trusty volunteers and 2023's Sponsors: Sound Community Bank, Port Angeles Kiwanis, and Steve Methner-State Farm.

Staff and students enjoyed a special day of reading and celebrated in many wonderful ways! Read Across America is the nation’s largest celebration of reading.

Franklin Elementary staff and students dressed up in their favorite Seuss characters and played "Day of Reading" games with PASD administrators. They also took class time to read their favorite books and had admin guest readers in different classrooms.

Hamilton Elementary students were read to by a special guest appearance from the Cat in the Hat himself!

Jefferson Elementary sixth graders read to younger students and made meaningful connections.

There's one thing for sure in Port Angeles, and it's that students, staff, and families sure do love to read!

You are invited to join North Olympic Healthcare Network for an Open House on Friday, March 3 from 3:00-5:00pm and help us celebrate the beginning of a new chapter in the history of this long-standing building!

Eastside Health Center
1026 E. 1st Street
Port Angeles, WA 98362

www.nohn-pa.org/files/nohn-ehc-insert.pdf

Roosevelt Elementary fifth-grade students in Cassy Matthew's class were surprised to come to school and see their classroom entryway magically converted to a tollbooth!

Mrs. Matthews decorated her classroom to help excite students and get them ready to read, The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster.

This novel is a part of the Wit and Wisdom curriculum that helps students study the way we use words to define and organize our world. What a fun adventure!

Our amazing friends Jen and Jess who manage the clothing closet for our school district need our help! For the month of March, they are asking for donations of gently used or new boys and men’s pants.

You can drop off donations at the Lincoln Center from 8am-4:30pm

This year’s Doodle for Google theme is: I am grateful for…

Taking a step back to think about what we’re grateful for can be a great way to take care of our mental health and refocus on what’s most important. What moments, people, places and things are special to you? What or whom can you not imagine living without? What are the things that get you through the day? Our theme this year encourages you to share what you appreciate most.

What is the "Doodle for Google" contest? Doodle for Google is an annual art contest open to students in grades K-12. Students are invited to create their own Google Doodle for the chance to have it featured on Google.com, as well as win some great scholarships and tech packages for their schools.

Why is Google doing this contest? Doodles are meant to surprise and delight people when they visit Google.com. Past Doodles have celebrated some of the most brilliant, talented, and passionate people throughout history. The Doodle for Google contest offers students K-12 an opportunity to display their own Doodle creativity on Google.com and win some awesome prizes while doing it!

How long has Google been doing this contest? We've been hosting the Doodle for Google contest every year in the U.S. since 2008, so this is our fifteenth year. This website shows details for the U.S. only contest, but the Doodle for Google contest takes place in other countries throughout the year as well.

Can I see the previous Doodle for Google winners? Yes! Check here to view previous winners and the 2022 winner’s artwork.

Entry information

Alright, I'm ready. How do I get started? Check out the instructions on the How it works page and be sure to use the Enter page to send us Doodles before the March 14 deadline.

How cool would it be to see a Doodle for Google from a student in the Port Angeles School District?

Joshua Modeste is learning how to cope with student loss & anxiety but feels like he's alone. Experts say addressing teacher trauma can aid learning

“If you have to deal with traumatized people all the time and you don’t have the skills, you can try to numb yourself as a way to protect yourself from feeling those feelings... You can also become kind of challenged or jaded, sarcastic as a way to protect yourself. And you can also become very overwhelmed and feel depressed and hopeless."

Read more from "What One Educator's Grief Reveals"

These workshops are designed for teachers, staff, and administrators.

Healthy staff and teachers are our most valuable resource for creating safe and supportive learning environments. The Way to Staff Well-being in Schools workshop series explores resources and tips to strengthen staff well-being at the individual, collective, and policy levels. Free clock hours are available.

Our foundational course, The Way to Staff Well-being in schools – Creating a Culture of Well-being, will be offered 3:30-5:00pm PST on a bi-monthly basis (repeat):

• March 15, 2023 – Register on PDenroller

• May 10, 2023 – Register on PDenroller

Deep Dive Way to Staff Well-being in Schools. Presented by Kaiser Permanente, subject matter experts and offered 4:00-5:00pm PST:

• February 15, 2023: Mental Health for Educators – Register on PDenroller

• April 19, 2023: Stress Management for Educators – Register on PDenroller

• June 7, 2023: Healthy Habits for Educators – Register on PDenroller

PASD is fortunate to have an amazing and supportive team of counselors, family navigators, and behavioral health specialists to assist our students and families. Our schools have support staff available for any staff member or student that needs a safe place to share their feelings or get additional assistance. They are also available as a resource for parents. Our support staff teams also have the ability to refer you to others in the community, if needed.

Did you know our district website has some great resources for you and also suggestions to discuss a tragedy, violent event, or crisis with students? Check it out here: https://www.portangelesschools.org/students/suicide-prevention-and-crisis-resources

• March 9 - Billy Frank Jr. Day
  
• March 9 - School Board Meeting, 6pm at Lincoln Center
• March 13 - School In Session for Snow Make-up Day
• March 13 to 17 - AmeriCorps and Classified Employees Week
• March 17 - St. Patrick's Day
• March 20 - First Day of Spring
• March 20 to 24 - School Retirees Appreciation Week
• March 23 - School Board Meeting, 6pm at Lincoln Center
• April 3 to 7 - SPRING BREAK!
• May 5 - School In Session for Snow Make-up Day

Port Angeles School District does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following employees have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination: Title IX Coordinators, Civil Rights Compliance Coordinators: Scott Harker, 905 W. 9th Street Port Angeles, WA 98363, (360) 457-8575, sharker@portangelesschools.org, for Section 504/ADA Coordinator, Dr. Rachel Summers, 905 W. 9th Street Port Angeles, WA 98363, (360) 457-8575, rsummers@portangelesschools.org.