SBLSD News

Giving Edition | Nov. 23, 2021

Sumner High School Food Bowl success; thanks for donating

A nearly two-decade tradition, Sumner High School students once again generated impressive amounts of donations for this year's Food Bowl! You may have likely seen them at Fred Meyer respectfully requesting help toward the worthwhile endeavor to help those in need. We thank our community and partners for their generous donations!

Food: Estimated 25,000 items
Monetary: More than $7,500

BLHS culinary students’ giving gains media attention

Gaining local news attention, Bonney Lake High School’s Culinary Arts students were in the spotlight this week for their planning and preparation of Thanksgiving meals for senior citizens in need. This KING 5 News story tells of the giving partnership between the school and the Bonney Lake Food Bank. Read this food bank blog post, aptly titled Food for the Soul, that explains more about how culinary arts students “rose to the occasion and offered the ultimate gift of nurturing care, a home cooked Thanksgiving meal.” Plus, others in our District and community who came together to make these homemade and heartfelt deliveries extra special.

Schools participate in Bonney Lake Mayor’s food drive

Several of our schools participated in Bonney Lake Mayor Neil Johnson’s 8th Annual Food Drive, with the elementary schools making the drive a “challenge” among grade levels. Adding a fun competition element proved a successful strategy in generating amazing amounts of food for the Bonney Lake Food Bank. At the time of publication, donations were still being counted, but the food collected will serve more than 1,000 families facing food insecurity in the Bonney Lake community. The schools filled nearly three box trucks!

Thank you to the following schools that participated! And we know our other schools also had food drives and fundraisers of their own. There’s definitely no gaps in giving!

Bonney Lake High School
Bonney Lake Elementary
Crestwood Elementary
Donald Eismann Elementary
Emerald Hills Elementary
Liberty Ridge Elementary
Tehaleh Heights Elementary
Victor Falls Elementary

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SBLSD sponsors Community Big Give; employees volunteer to help those in need

The District was once again a sponsor of the Community Big Give, an annual event that directly impacts our families, giving thousands of free holiday meals to those in need throughout the Sumner-Bonney Lake, Dieringer and White River school district communities. Like in years past, many SBLSD employees — with their families and friends — volunteered at the event, assembling and delivering meals last Saturday, Nov. 20.

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Students plan and prepare first-ever Friendsgiving

Students in our Community-Based Transition Program (CBTP), which teaches job skills to special education students ages 18 to 21, enjoyed a special activity last Friday — a first-ever Friendsgiving! They planned the menu, researched recipes and prepared the food for the festive meal together.

We thank the Bonney Lake and Puyallup food banks for providing the food to make this happen. The menu had something for everyone — turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, stuffing, green bean casserole, yams, rolls, pumpkin pie, apple pie and chocolate pie with homemade whipped cream. Their favorite menu item? Top votes went to green bean casserole and mashed potatoes!

Learn more about the CBTP and a list of local businesses that offer internships to help with the transition from high school to employment.

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Transition program students learn proper tree care, prune street trees

The Nov. 17 edition of the City of Sumner’s weekly e-newsletter featured their “special partnership” with the District's Community-Based Transition Program. Students recently worked with the city’s parks supervisor, who taught them about proper tree care as they helped prune street trees along Meade McCumber and Wood Avenue. Students are set to join staff in other departments to learn more skills. Thank you, City of Sumner, for your partnership in this worthwhile program.

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SHS hosts free Community Dinner

Sumner High School’s ASB is hosting the 19th Annual Community Dinner on Dec. 11 from noon to 3 p.m. at the school (1707 Main St). This year’s theme, Walk Through Winter Wonderland, speaks to the new format for the free event, which includes walking through the gym to various grab-and-go stations that include a holiday meal, gifts for children, photos with Santa, and a limited supply of non-perishable food and clothes. If you know a family who would like to enjoy this experience, please spread the word. The event is open to the entire Sumner-Bonney Lake community.

Watch SBLSD Jazz Night

The holidays often mean school concerts. After a year off, we’re thrilled to see our students back on stage performing live and in person! Many concerts are also available for viewing virtually. Please enjoy this video of SBLSD Jazz Night (starting at the 12 minute mark), performed live on Nov. 22.