Contact: Scott Pineo, Board Chair
(509) 427-5674
PO Box 850
Stevenson, WA 98648

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

STEVENSON-CARSON SCHOOL DISTRICT HIRES NEW MIDDLE SCHOOL/HIGH SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION

The Stevenson-Carson School District Board of Directors has approved hiring administrators for Wind River Middle School/Stevenson High School. Sarah Marino of Juneau, Alaska, will succeed the late Kim Meche as the next middle school/high school principal. In addition, Craig McKee of Stevenson, has been hired as a high school assistant principal and athletic director, and Brian Morris of North Bonneville, has been hired as a middle school assistant principal and technology director.

Ms. Marino currently serves as an educational administrator in Juneau, Alaska, where she has been since 2009. She is currently administrator and Principal of Optional Programs. Prior to that, she has worked in various educational roles throughout Alaska since 2004. She holds a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from University of Alaska – Anchorage and a Master of Art in Teaching from University of Alaska – Southeast. She is an alumna of Stevenson High School.

Mr. McKee has been an educator since 1988 and has worked in the Stevenson-Carson School District since 1989, teaching math and physical education. He will finish his administrator credential from Gonzaga University this month and also has a Masters of Arts in Teaching from Grand Canyon University. He graduated from Stevenson High School in 1983.

Mr. Morris began his career as a math teacher at Wind River Middle School in 1997. His experience includes time teaching history, math, and computer technology. He is currently the District Technology Director. Mr. Morris earned a Bachelor’s degree from Eastern Washington University, a Masters from City University of Seattle, and his Principal Certification from Gonzaga University.

Dr. Teena McDonald, superintendent, and Mr. Dan Read, incoming superintendent, stated that after much deliberation regarding the candidates and their respective strengths, plus consideration of potential upcoming administrative staffing changes, the proposal was brought to the Board. The interview committees were impressed with all of the candidates. Dr. McDonald and Mr. Read believe this administration will help the District achieve improvement goals, assist with the implementation of TPEP, and help focus on individual student needs.

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Contact: Twyla Barnes, ESD 112
360-750-7500

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

STEVENSON-CARSON SCHOOL DISTRICT NARROWS SEARCH FOR NEW MIDDLE SCHOOL/HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL TO THREE FINALISTS

The Stevenson-Carson School District has selected three finalists to interview for the position of middle school and high school principal beginning with the 2013-2014 school year.

Kids who are between one and eighteen years old who live in Stevenson, Carson, and North Bonneville will have the opportunity this summer to have free breakfast and lunch at selected sites. Through the work of Chris Youngren, SCSD’s food service director, the federal food service program will be available in our area to make sure nutritious meals are available for free to ANY child between the ages of 1 year old and 18 years old. “This is such a great program for our kids! I have had community members call me to ask if we had any kind of program to help provide nutritious food to our community’s children during the summer months. Thanks to Chris Youngren’s hard work, we are able to respond to community requests for this valuable program. Depending on the turnout this summer, this could become a yearly opportunity,” said Dr. McDonald, superintendent.

The dates, meals available, times, and sites are below:
SHS June 24-July 26
Breakfast—8:00-8:30
Snack—10:00-10:30

SES-July 8-August 8
Breakfast 8:00-8:30
Snack 10:00-10:30

CES-June 24-August 8
Lunch 11:00-11:30

N. Bonneville Park- June 24-August 8
Lunch 11:00-11:30
All sites Monday thru Thursday.

Chris remarked, “It would be great if there were groups or volunteers in the different communities who want to run some sort of activities, i.e. Reading, games, or crafts in Carson or North Bonneville in conjunction with the meal times!”

According to the OSPI Summer Food Program’s website, “Good nutrition is essential for effective learning every day, all year long. Just as learning does not end when school lets out, neither does the need for good nutrition. Children who aren’t hungry learn better, act better, and feel better. The summer feeding programs help children get the nutrition they need to learn, play, and grow throughout the summer months when they are out of school.

Summer sponsors receive payments for serving healthy meals and snacks to children 18 years of age and younger. Meal sites must be located in lower-income areas and must be approved to operate by the state agency.” If you have any questions about the summer feeding program, please contact the District Office at 427-5674.

SCSD is committed to finding the absolute best instructional leader to be the new principal at WRMS/SHS. According to Twyla Barnes, ESD 112 Superintendent, who is helping with the search, the District has several internal and external candidates who will be thoroughly screened. A panel made up of a student, parents, staff members, administrators, and board members will carefully pick candidates to be interviewed.

College Spark Washington announces nearly $1.4 million in community grants – Stevenson-Carson School District is one of eleven grantees!

College Spark Washington recently announced grants totaling nearly $1.4 million through its Community Grants Program focused on building the effectiveness of grantees that have demonstrated experience serving low-income students and generating knowledge related to college-readiness and degree completion. Stevenson-Carson School District received a three-year $150,000 grant as one of the grantees.

April 12, 2013

Dear Parent or Guardian,

You may have heard that Ms. Kim Meche, our beloved former principal, died yesterday from complications of the cancer she has been valiantly fighting for the last seven years. With this sadness, we are making every effort to respond to the needs of all of our students and staff. Students had an opportunity to learn about and discuss this event today in their classrooms. Our teachers and counselors have been available throughout the day to talk with kids and help them with their sense of loss and grief. We will have additional counseling services available here, as needed.

There has been an outpouring of care and concern by our school community. We know that a death can trigger other feelings for adults and children. Some students might express sadness over other losses as they experience this grief. This is natural for young adults, and we want them to be able to address their feelings. Checking in with your son or daughter about Ms. Meche will give them a chance to talk about how they are doing.

Ms. Meche was important to many of our students and teachers. We can expect that students may experience signs of grief such as sadness, tearfulness, and perhaps anger. The Stevenson-Carson School District staff is doing everything possible to respond to this loss. Please join us by keeping Ms. Meche’s family and friends in your thoughts. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call me or one of our counselors at 427-5674.

If you feel you or your student would like to do something, there is a Kim Meche Memorial Service Project planned on April 20th, where volunteers will be giving WRMS/SHS and Carson Elementary a facelift, with cleaning and landscaping. This is being organized by Dan Black. If interested in helping, please email him at danblack@topgeardriversed.com or call (360)975-2799.

Thank you for your support,

Dr. Teena McDonald
 

The SHS Knowledge Bowl team has won the 1A state championship!  

Saturday, March 23, in Arlington, Washington, the top 102 Knowledge Bowl teams converged for the state tournament.   There were 18 teams in the 1A division.   After the first five qualifying rounds, Stevenson was ranked fourth.  In the semi-final round SHS eliminated the top seed (Lakeside HS) to qualify for the championship round.   In the final playoff, Stevenson faced Eatonville and Cascade (#2 and #3 seeds respectively).  SHS got off to a quick start in the final round, and it quickly became a showdown between Eatonville and Stevenson – much of the 50-question round within one or two points of each other.    SHS answered the last question of the round correctly to tie it up and force a tie-breaker!   After nine questions in the 10-question tie-breaker round, the score was tied 3 – 3, and Stevenson rang in first and answered the final question (“A place in Scotland and a song ….” – Loch Lommond) to win the championship by one point!

SHS has sent a team to the Knowledge Bowl state tournament eight years in a row!    In the past ten years, SHS has brought home two 3rd place trophies, two 2nd place trophies, and twice won the state championship title (previously in 2006).

Attention parents of students within Stevenson-Carson School District:

The district’s Highly Capable referral procedures are now underway for students who are currently in grades 2-8. The Highly Capable program serves students in grades 3-12. Nominations may be made by teachers, parents, students, or any other interested party. Referral packets may be obtained from the secretary at your school and are due by April 26, 2013. This notice is in accordance with WAC 392-170-042 and Chapter 28A.185.

Contact: Scott Pineo, Board Chair

(509) 427-5674

PO Box 850

Stevenson, WA 98648

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

STEVENSON-CARSON SCHOOL BOARD HIRES NEW DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT

Following a three-month recruitment and selection process, the Stevenson-Carson School District Board of Directors has hired Dan Read of Cusick, Washington to succeed Dr. Teena McDonald as the District’s next superintendent of schools.

A 22-year education veteran, Mr. Read has served as superintendent of Cusick School District in Cusick, Washington for the past eight years. Mr. Read has also served previously as principal in both Republic and Onion Creek School Districts. Other administrative experience includes holding the positions of Technology Director, Career and Technical Education Coordinator, and Business Education Teacher.

Mr. Read holds a Masters Degree from Heritage University. “I’m honored to succeed Teena McDonald as Superintendent. It is obvious that the District has made substantive progress in so many ways!”

Read plans to move his family to the community early this summer. In the meantime, he will make several trips to Stevenson to ensure a smooth transition. According to Scott Pineo, chair of the Stevenson-Carson School District Board of Directors, “We’re very pleased with our new superintendent’s qualifications and experiences! He seems like a great fit for the district and for the community. Teena McDonald has been an excellent leader and we’re confident that Dan will lead just as effectively!”

Dan and his wife, Lynn, have three boys: Austin, David, and Zack. He also claims to be “a pretty good hunter and fisherman… when he has time!”

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Carson Elementary School will host a Scholastic Book Fair next week.

DATES & TIMES
March 19, 20, & 21
Open Daily 9:30 am to 4:30 pm
*Parents can shop, too!*

Family Shopping Events
March 19 & 20
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm

Literacy Night
March 20
5:30 pm to 7:30 pm

Lunch With Someone You Love*
Grades 3 & 6 = Tuesday, March 19
Grades 4 & 5 = Thursday, March 21
*Separate bulletin sent home last week.
 

If you would like to find out more about the fair, you can visit: http://bookfairs.scholastic.com/homepage/carsonelemsch