Show and Tell: Schools and youths in the news
State encourages use of free online education tools
Washington will join the #GoOpen Initiative, which encourages states, school districts and educators to use openly licensed educational materials to transform teaching and learning.
Open education resources are free online materials that can be shared by users. For the past four years, the state superintendent’s office has worked with local school districts to bring quality classroom materials to students at a lower cost, allowing districts to redirect funding to other critical areas.
The Bethel School District serves as one of 11 ambassador districts nationwide helping schools design and implement strategy for transitioning to open education resources.
Tacoma School Board wins national award
The National School Boards Association has named the Tacoma School Board the winner of its 2016 CUBE (Council of Urban Boards of Education) award for urban school board excellence.
The CUBE Award recognizes school districts where effective board governance has an impact on student achievement.
Tacoma will be honored at a CUBE conference that opens in Miami Sept. 29. Board President Karen Vialle, Vice-President Catherine Ushka and Superintendent Carla Santorno will accept the award and offer a presentation highlighting district initiatives.
Vialle said the board sets parameters, but Tacoma teachers, staff members and community members do the work.
“It is a privilege to serve the kids of this community,” Vialle said.
Puyallup donates boatloads of school supplies
Each year, Communities In Schools of Puyallup collects school supplies for area children.
The organization partnered with the Red Canoe Credit Union for the annual “Fill the Canoe” school supply drive, collecting more than 2,900 pounds of supplies, and matched by the pound by the Red Canoe Credit Union. The drive was held from Aug. 1 to Aug. 19.
Bethel ABC Day is Oct. 1
Honoring local military service members, showcasing student talent and connecting families with school, business and resources, the All Bethel Community Day will take place 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday at Spanaway Lake High School, 1305 168th St. E., Spanaway. There will be food, entertainment, Point Defiance Zoo animals, LeMay classic vehicles, Seahawk mascot Blitz and fun for the family. For more information, call 253-683-6052 .
Sumner FFA going for the gold
After being named a finalist in the Future Farmers of America competition, Sumner High School has the opportunity to compete for the national title in Indianapolis in October. The Sumner FFA Organization is holding a fundraising spaghetti dinner to pay for expenses to travel to the national competition. The dinner is at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Sumner High and will also include a silent auction. Tickets are $10 and are available by emailing Jessica_olaiya@sumnersd.org.
McCarver grand opening Oct. 18
Tacoma Public Schools will host a grand opening for the newly remodeled McCarver Elementary School, 2111 S. J St. It is scheduled for 6:30-7:30 p.m. Oct. 18.
Christian college fair is Tuesday
Life Christian Academy is hosting a free National Christian College Fair 6:30-8:30 p.m. Tuesday. The community event will feature representative from more than 40 Christian college and universities from the United States and Canada plus a financial aid workshop for parents.
Students planning to attend should register at myblueprintstory.com and bring the printed bar code with them to the event at the school, 1717 S. Union Ave., Tacoma. The registration eliminates the need to fill out contact cards for each college. To contact the school, call 253-756-5317.
Skanska workers give to Tillicum Elementary
Skanska construction workers and subcontractors who are building the new Evergreen Elementary School on Joint Base Lewis-McChord held a back-to-school supply drive for students at Tillicum Elementary. Both schools are part of the Clover Park School District.
On Sept. 16, they delivered donated supplies and money amounting to $4,800 to Tillicum Elementary students. Student representatives presented Skanska workers with cards of thanks and Tillicum Elementary T-shirts.
This story was originally published September 26, 2016 at 7:29 AM with the headline "Show and Tell: Schools and youths in the news."