Communications

Eatonville School District students and teachers were met with multiple challenges on the first day of digital instruction as we launched a new school year in a Distance Learning model. Multiple power outages were noted district wide due to strong winds, powerful fires created unhealthy smoke and technology issues raged on. In spite of the variety of challenges all Eatonville School District students, staff and parents preserved and overcame these issues. 

We spotted parents getting creative and driving their students to school parking lots due to power outages in their homes as they did not allow any obstacle to prevent their children from participating. The district's IT team worked tirelessly to assist with troubleshooting needs. Our teachers are our heroes as they have truly redesigned education and have worked countless hours to implement lessons in a digital fashion that has not been done before. 

From parents creating learning corners in their homes to food service workers going the extra mile to provide heating directions on packed grab and go meals everyone pulled together to make the start of this unusual year the best it could be! 

Fall Science Lesson from Superintendent Bahr

What do you look for in the Fall or Autumn in a traditional year? Is it the crisp fall feel in the air, pumpkins and scarecrows? Is it making soup and staying inside to watch the football game or walking outside when the air is brisk? Do we look for the small things...the changing colors of the leaves...the wooly caterpillars and the geese flying in formation? Many of us have fond memories of starting schools and making new friends.

I hope you take time this season to talk about Fall and all its wonders with kids. This year in this Pandemic many things are different for us, yet nature remains the same: constantly changing with the seasons.

Every year I wonder about this time of year. I have long been fascinated by the changes that we are beginning to see in Fall and the colors that paint the trees with yellow, orange and red. How does this happen? Why are some years so brilliant and others less so?

A science lesson for this question reveals that the color yellow always exists in the green leaves. Carotene, the same pigment in carrots and egg yolks are present in leaves all Summer long. The green Chlorophyll in the leaves bleaches out after the first cold chill to result in the remaining gold color. The new tints we see are not new at all, they are colors that have been there all the time.

Reds, however, are caused by addition, the addition of something that was not present in the leaf before. These are called anthocyanins: the cell sap pigments. These pigments are carried in the sap of the tree. Wherever the sunlight hits the leaves or fruits like apples, the colors occur. This is a genetic tendency so apples that remain green have no anthocyanins.

Addition or subtraction. RED: Something new that circulates throughout the organism and reacts with sunlight or YELLOW: the discovery through subtraction that something brilliant was already there. Perhaps there is a lesson here for our organization this year in particular?

We know that the world continually changes, children grow and learn in leaps and bounds, and families gather each season to renew the year and celebrate the successes. As the leaves turn and fall, we know that they will serve as nutrients for the next batch of spring leaves that will grow green and strong in the Spring and Summer. The cycle of nature reminds us that there is renewal in growth and learning, and that change is welcome.

Take time to enjoy the beauty and changes in nature this Fall.

Have a wonderful October!

Eatonville Strong 2020-2021!

Sincerely,

Krestin Bahr, Superintendent

Award & Donation Announcement

We are thrilled to share Kim Knight and Amy Jean, worked diligently last year to partner with Forecast 5 to enhance our fiscal capabilities and save money while providing excellent service for our students and community.

Our district has been selected as a “Project of the Year” award winner for 2020. The notable award comes with a donation. Eatonville High School will be receiving a $500 donation for a CTE technology/business scholarship for a class of 2021 graduate.

Forecast5 is a program school districts use to review analytics to make data-based decisions. Forecast5 is proud to recognize the work of Kim Knight in analytics which saves money, creates efficiency, and improves opportunities and outcomes for students and the community.

In a statement from the CEO, he wrote, “The work that Kim Knight did relating to analytic driven communication was exemplary— and we believe it deserves national recognition.”

After learning of this honor, Kim Knight stated, “I'm very thankful to the Eatonville School Board and Superintendent Bahr for being willing to invest in the progressive tools Forecast 5 has to offer for ensuring we are using our resources as adeptly as possible to benefit our students. It was very gratifying for Amy Jean and I to be able to share the hard work done by our building principals and staff and the academic return on their investment. Eatonville is truly a special place.”

Please join us congratulating these ladies for their extraordinary work.

After several months of empty fields, courts and locker rooms, athletics returned to Eatonville High School on Monday, October 26th, 2020. For most of the student-athletes and coaches, Monday marked the first time standing side-by-side for nearly three months. At Eatonville High School, there was a feel in the air of how ecstatic players, coaches and the athletic director were just to be back. 

No matter how different it looked on Monday, the feeling of playing sports made up for all of the Covid protocol changes. Athletes arrived energized and smiling. 

The Governor’s Office and Washington State Department of Health issued new guidance for returning to education-based sports and activities. The guidelines vary based on the sport. Sports are leveled in risk categories.  WIAA (Washington Interscholastic Activities Association) extended the traditional summer recreational practices through December 19th, 2020. For the first time since July, organized high school athletic activities took place on Monday around the district.

A record number of 205 student athletes are participating in one or more sports. The practices consist of a rotating schedule which includes two practices days per week for each sport.  Fall sports, winter sports and spring sports each have their own two practice days that switch bi-weekly. The practices occur Mondays through Saturdays. Three sport athletes have the flexibility to participate in three sports without having to choose. 

During the practice sessions there are no competitions between districts during this eight week practice period. Most sports with large turnout numbers are splitting the athletes into two groups with a buffer of thirty minutes in-between groups to help minimize exposure. Additional safety measures were put in place to ensure safety for all. 

Every sport participates in a  screening process and all athletes enter and leave wearing face coverings. Additional Covid protocol changes include social distancing signage in the locker rooms, sanitizer readily available, coaches remain masked throughout the practice, and coaches coach from a six foot distance. 

For most sports student athletes are divided into pods of six.Each pod is separated by at least thirty feet. The student athletes are already playing with an awareness of keeping space in-between each other. 

Some sports look quite different. Wrestling practices are divided into three sections. Wrestles rotate through leadership training, mat work without contact between wrestlers and reviewing videos of past practices. Coaches are getting creative in their practice session to limit risk factors. 

Athletic Director, Gavin Kralik, stated he is “extremely proud of the coaches. All of the coaches grasp the role of the Coach has drastically changed. They understand athletics is instrumental in providing students an outlet that they need more so now than ever before to meet their social and emotional needs.” 

At this time, Winter Sports are set to begin on December 28th, 2020. 

We are pleased to announce that the Eatonville School Board has been selected as a 2020 Washington State School Directors' Association (WSSDA) Board of Distinction! 

The Eatonville School District School Board presented exemplary evidence of ongoing professional development, addressing opportunity gaps and practicing governance that reflects the Washington School Board Standards into practice during the 2019-20 school year. The panel of judges, which included Educational Service Districts and State Board of Education, agreed that our board met the standards to be recognized as a WSSDA Board of Distinction.

There will be an awards ceremony at the Annual Conference celebrating the Boards of Distinction. The event will differ slightly from previous years since the conference is virtual. The virtual Awards Ceremony on Thursday, November 19th from 12:15-1:00 p.m. will honor our Board along with the other Boards of Distinction. The three 2020 Boards of the Year will also be announced at that time.

We are so thankful for the ongoing advocacy and dedication all of our Board members contribute to our schools.

New Educational Technology Lead

We are pleased to announce Travis Rush has been hired as the Teaching and Learning Department's new Education Technology Lead. In this role he will be supporting teachers with technology integration to enhance student learning.

Congratulations, Mr. Rush!

Mr. Rush stated, "It is with a heavy heart that I leave the classroom but am excited about my new opportunity to lead the Eatonville School District Technology Education Program. With children of my own in the district, and many years living within the community, I look forward to continuing to make this the best place in Washington to educate, learn and grow. Looking forward, using technology and modernization only makes us better if we hold on to what already makes us great! I am excited to assist in this process!"

Northwest Trek is offering an Online Wildlife Academy! Local students, teachers and parents are enjoying the online science lessons. Check out more here! 

https://www.nwtrek.org/making-online-science-fun/

Mr. Timothy Leipold has been named the official Principal of Eatonville Elementary School, effective July 1st, 2021.

Congratulations to Mr. Leipold, who has been the acting Interim Principal since October 2020. The District is thrilled to have him continue to lead the great work at Eatonville Elementary!

Mr. Leipold stated, “I am honored to be chosen to continue in my role as the proud principal of Eatonville Elementary School.  I am so fortunate to be surrounded by a talented staff that works tirelessly on behalf of the students and families that we serve in Eatonville.  I am also very excited to continue in my work with the district leadership team as we continue to address equity, blended learning, and universally designed instruction.”

Mr. Jay Cash will complete his Principal Internship at Eatonville Middle School during the 2021-2022 school year as  the Assistant Principal and Athletic Director for Eatonville Middle School. He will have all of the responsibilities of a traditional Assistant Principal. Eatonville School District supports a “grow your own” philosophy by encouraging internships in building.  Mr. Cash says, ‘I am very honored to be asked to help on the Admin team this year and look forward to helping with another year of stability at the middle school. I hope I can live up to the proven high standards established by the staff and students at EMS. Warrior PRIDE!”

During Spring 2022 the official Assistant Principal and Athletic Director position will be posted for applicants.

During a July 22nd, 2021 special School Board Meeting, Krista Heersink was approved as the district's new Business Manager. Krista has worked in the district as the Accountant since 2017. In a recent statement Krista said, "I'm pleased to be selected as the next Business Manager to carry on the same level of work Kim Knight led in her time in this role. I plan to meet the needs of students and staff while being fiscally responsible. I appreciate the community, staff, students and Board of Directors and wish everyone a successful 2021-2022 school year!"

2022 Daffodil Parade 

Cruise Control Dance Team

Daffodil Float: The UP theme proved popular with the crowd. A huge shout out to Eatonville Lions member Ernie Wolf for taking his job as Mr. Fredrickson very seriously. He powered through all 4 parades with a smile on his face (when he wasn’t grimacing for the camera). We also want to acknowledge “Dug” (the sweet and well-behaved dog we borrowed from Annie Datillo). He was perfection and a crowd favorite!

Thanks to all who helped make this happen: Everyone you see in these pix plus the Town of Eatonville, Eatonville Lions Club, EHS ASB, Arrow Lumber, Dogwood Garden Club, Krystal Benham, and many other private donors. Huge thanks also to EHS band and dance parents for the delicious hot meal and Ms. Rodrigues’s mom Monica for providing warm cover and a real bathroom at the end of the day (much appreciated).  We look forward to growing this tradition and gathering more community members for 2023 so stay tuned!

Mr. Timothy Leipold has been named the official Principal of Eatonville Middle School, effective July 1st, 2022.
 
Congratulations to Mr. Leipold, who has been the Principal of Eatonville Elementary since October 2020. He has over two decades of experience working at the middle school level. His extensive experience will serve the students and staff of Eatonville Middle School well.
 
Mr. Leipold stated, “I am honored to become the Principal of Eatonville Middle School. I am grateful to continue working with the Eatonville community and the staff that have supported me since I first was hired in Eatonville in 2020.”
 
The Eatonville Elementary Principal position will be posted in the coming days.

We are pleased to announce, Sally Keeley has been hired as our new Director of Teaching and Learning upon Board approval at the June 22nd, 2022 Board Meeting. Please enjoy learning more about her by reading her introduction statement:

"I am currently the Special Services/ECE Director in the Bethel School District. I have experience with developing programs and implementing new programs like transitional kindergarten, and reading and math intervention programming for K-12. Prior to that, I taught in the Eatonville, Bellevue, and White River School districts. I have worked as a building administrator, director and elementary and middle school teacher.

I earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education K-8 and Reading K-12 at Washington State University and a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership with principal certification at Pacific Lutheran  University.  The reason I pursued a career in education is based on a handful of teachers who had made a difference in my childhood and were key influencers and advocates for students, and I realized I'd like to play that role for students.

My “why” for working in education: To ensure that every student counts and has the academic and social capacity to build a happy and healthy future. I have high regard for building connections with students, staff and community. A favorite quote by Jackie Mutcheson, "It takes each of us to make a difference for all of us." speaks to my values of teamwork and collaboration.

When I am not at work, I enjoy traveling. I have visited many different countries and have lived in a number of different states, growing up as a military kid. When not traveling, I enjoy spending my time with family, friends, as well as reading and hiking.

As the new Director of Teaching and Learning, I'm looking forward to being a part of the Eatonville School District Team again, as well having the opportunity where I can inspire teaching and learning endeavors, while renewing relationships with staff and community."

We are pleased to announce, Mr. Nick Birklid has been hired as the new Principal of Eatonville Elementary School. 

Please enjoy learning more about Principal Birklid:

"I grew up in the Sumner/Bonney Lake area and attended Sumner High School growing up.  After graduating I attended Washington State University where I majored in Social Studies Education.  After that I taught for 7 years in Sumner and Federal Way. I then became the Dean of Students at Todd Beamer High School in Federal Way for 2 years.  During this time I also coached Football at several High Schools.  I then became the Assistant Principal at Komachin Middle School for North Thurston Public Schools for 5 years.  Then I had the opportunity to be a Principal for several schools including Mountain View Middle School in Bremerton, Winolequa Learning Academy, and Winlock Miller Elementary in Winlock. Now I have the pleasure of coming to Eatonville Elementary.

I am married to my wife Callie, who is a Social Studies teacher at River Ridge High School, and I have two daughters, Raylie (13) and Hadley (10). My free time is mainly taken up watching my daughters play Softball. When we are not running to all of their events I like to trail run, golf, and watch WSU sports, the Seahawks, and Mariners. My parents lived in Eatonville for about 10 years after I graduated from college and I enjoyed visiting.  I really like the community.  I also like the ability of getting to know everyone in the school and community."   

Welcome, Principal Birklid!