KSD Connection - Kennewick School District

KSD Connection
Staff Newsletter
Education...the bridge to the future
June 2010
KAC Students Volunteer at KDC
It was raining cats and
dogs outside, but the
sun was shining inside
at the Keewaydin
Discovery Center
during the preschool’s
“Field Day” event.
Students from the
Kennewick
Alternative Center
were on hand to help
out as students with disabilities “competed” in fun
sports events and activities designed just for them.
Up and down the
halls the sights and
sounds of kids
having fun were
everywhere. From
face painting, to
gardening, wall
coloring, bean bag
tossing—and even
students acting as
human bowling pins.
KAC students were
sitting in tiny chairs, on
hands and knees and
rolling on the floor, or
digging in the dirt…all
to bring smiles and
giggles to the young
KDC preschool
students.
Southridge and Kamiakin Musicians
Honored at State Contest
Music students from Southridge and Kamiakin High
who competed at the WIAA (Washington
Interscholastic Activities Association) and WMEA
(Washington Music Educators Association) State Solo
and Ensemble Contest held in Ellensburg, WA last
month were among a select few who received top
honors. Katie Chase, a senior at Southridge High took
second place in the state in Viola. Tyrell Wilde, a
senior at Kamiakin High, sings bass and won first
place in the state for that category.
Jack Anderson Takes on New
Challenge in Federal Projects
Jack Anderson, has been selected as the district’s new
Federal Projects Director. Jack will be taking over for
the current director, Mary Pruitt, who is retiring at the
end of the school year. Jack will administer numerous
federal and state programs,
such as Title I, Learning
Assistance Program (LAP),
English Language Learning,
Bilingual, Migrant and Early
Childhood Education
Assistance programs. As
principal at Kennewick High
for the past nine years, Jack
has done an outstanding job
leading his team to improve
student achievement in a
school highly impacted by
poverty, mobility, and the needs of students for whom
English is a new language. Jack will be able to
leverage this experience to assist staff district-wide
with the resources needed to ensure all of our students
get the best education possible.
Our Mission:
To send our youth into the future ready to reach their potential
as adults through a lifetime of learning.

KSD Connection ~ Staff News, Notes, and Events
Kennewick DECA Students Participate in
Project Goodwill
Kennewick High DECA Students
Kennewick High DECA would like to recognize Shelbi
Wood for her outstanding work in putting together a
winning portfolio for this year’s Project Goodwill event.
Shelbi, along with co-presenter Natali Magana, wooed
the judges with their portfolio presentation and brought
home a $250 prize for Kennewick DECA.
Project Goodwill is a partnership between the Barnes &
Noble, Goodwill Industries, and Mid-Columbia
Libraries. Five local DECA chapters competed to create
fashions three runway fashions using only items
purchased from local Goodwill Stores. In addition, each
chapter participated in a Barnes & Noble book fair
fundraiser and developed a portfolio outlining their
chapter’s journey through the process.
Project Goodwill Contestant on the “Runway”
June 2010
Kamiakin DECA Awarded over $10,500
in Scholarships and Grants!
A record seven Kamiakin DECA students were
recognized on stage at the grand awards session of the
DECA International Career Development Conference in
Louisville, Kentucky last month. The team of Taran
Patel, Ronish (Billy) Sharma, and Brandon
En’Wezoh placed 3 rd in the H & R Block Dollars and
Sense Personal Finance Challenge. They were each
awarded a $2,000 college scholarship and a $2,000
travel scholarship. In addition, their teacher, Heidi
Wilson, will receive a $2,500 classroom grant. This is
the first year this challenge was included in the national
competition with the award money surpassing any other
event at the conference!
Kennewick High Artists Complete
School Mural
Pictured: Mural co-designer Ricardo Camache
Kennewick High students recently completed work on a
new mural for the school. Art teachers, Jonah Maysam,
Reba Berry, and principal, Jack Anderson, donated the
funds and materials for the project. Students with a high
drive for the arts, but who may not otherwise be
motivated in school, were engaged to work on the mural.
The students worked hard and experienced success and a
sense of accomplishment in completing the project.
The mural was designed by Juan Polanco & Ricardo
Camache who created the original drawings, drew out
the plan, and painted the panels. Miguel Fernandez &
Roberto Giron assisted in mounting and assembling the
piece. Next time you are at Kennewick High, be sure to
check it out!

KSD Connection ~ Staff News, Notes, and Events
June 2010
Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Honors Kennewick School District Staff
Kennewick
High Math
Teacher, Oscar
Garnica, was
named
Outstanding
Educator of the
Year by the
Hispanic
Chamber of
Commerce at
their award
Oscar Garnica with his wife, Laura ceremony last
month. Oscar’s
involvement in community and commitment to
helping his students succeed helped earn him this
honor. In addition to teaching math, Oscar is the
Girl’s Bowling Coach and heads up the Chess Club.
He started a school supply drive for his building and
is working with service clubs in the area to help
students get the tools they need for school.
Gabriel Portugal, who teaches fifth grade at
Eastgate Elementary and Betty Guizar, the heart and
soul of the
district’s Migrant
program, both
received lifetime
achievement
awards at the gala.
Gabe served two
terms as the
Commissioner of
the Washington
State Commission
on Hispanic
Affairs from 2003-
2009. He’s also
been President of
La Clinica and the
Tri-Cities Cinco de
Gabe Portugal and his wife, Alejandra
Mayo Committee
and has been a member of the Pasco Police Advisory
Board since 1997. Gabe has is also the host of
“Nuestro Pueblo”, a weekly one-hour live radio show
featured on KZHR, 92.5 FM since 1992.
Betty Guizar began working at KSD 35 years ago.
She has been instrumental in reaching out to the
district’s migrant families and helping them with
everything from meeting basic food and clothing
needs to navigating in a new culture and an
unfamiliar school system. She has touched the lives
of thousands and recently announced that she intends
to put off retirement and stay on at KSD for at least
another year!
Betty Guizar pictured here with Vicki Rynd, former KSD Federal
Projects Director and Nat Noyola, retired KSD Teacher.
John Mauch Recognized by the ACS
Kennewick High Chemistry Teacher, John Mauch,
was honored by the American Chemical Society on
May 13, 2010 with the “Theodore William Richards
Award for Excellence in Teaching Secondary School
Chemistry”.
The award, presented to
Mauch by the Northeastern
Section of the American
Chemical Society, states the
following, “John Mauch is a
one of a kind chemistry
teacher….(who) brings his
expertise, classroom
experience, and understanding
of what teachers can do to
push their students to new
levels of understanding.”

KSD Connection ~ Staff News, Notes, and Events
John Rannow Named ARC of Tri-Cities
Teacher of the Year
The ARC of the Tri-Cities has named Kennewick
High’s John Rannow their area “Teacher of the
Year”. John was nominated by ARC staff and
parents who cited his
classroom
accomplishments,
“vision for inclusion”,
and belief that all
individuals can
participate in their
nomination. John was
chosen from a field of
nominees from four
surrounding school
districts.
Says John of this award, “No one does this on their
own, especially me. I have a wonderful team, from
the para-educators who work with me to the support
of Coleen Culmer and Doug Christensen (Special
Services Coordinator and Director) who help with
the resources we need to provide these kids with
opportunities they wouldn’t otherwise have.”
Kids Helping Kids Service Picnic
January June 2010
Amistad students in the school’s KOG (Kennewick
opportunities for Gifted) recently participated in a
special picnic held in Keewaydin Park. The picnic
was special because the focus was on service with
local community organizations sharing with students
how they can volunteer and make a positive impact
on the lives of other children.
Kennewick High student, Akshai Baskaran, who is a
former KOG student, also spoke to students about
the new club he has started at his school called,
“Children’s Rights and You.”
Essay Contest Winner Awarded
Congratulations to Delaney Wilde! Delaney was
presented a $25 award from the American Legion
Auxiliary for her essay "What is my Patriotic Role as
a US Citizen." Delaney, a student at Amistad, was
selected as the grand
prize winner in the
3rd/4th grade
category from all of
the entries received in
the Tri-Cities. She
received her award
today in front of the
school at their final
assembly of the
school year.
According to teacher and organizer, Debbie Devine,
everyone had a lot of fun. “The kids were very
attentive and learned a lot about services for kids in
the community, along with ways they can help.” She
hopes to expand on the event next year.

KSD Connection ~ Staff News, Notes, and Events
ECEAP Picnic Attracts Big Crowd
January June 2010
Angelica explained that they chose Cooper’s Corner
to be the beneficiary of the drive visiting the facility
on an ECEAP field trip. “We decided because it was
a great place for kids that teaches them about road
safety and also that police officers are our friends and
they can help us,” said Angelica. Lilana and Angelica
say that thanks go to PAC President Heidi Harvey,
who they describe as “amazing”, for putting on the
drive. Heidi is studying to be a nurse at CBC and still
found time to be the PAC President, work on this
fundraiser, and be a mom!
More than 200 children and their parents attended the
annual ECEAP picnic in Keewaydin Park on
Wednesday. Joining them were local law
enforcement officials and volunteers, State
Representatives Larry Haler and Jerome Delvin, KSD
administrators, and of course Sam Shick and Denise
Dixon from Nutrition Services were on hand to make
sure no one left hungry!
Liliana Villasenor and Angelica Contreras, PAC members
A special presentation of a check for $250.00 was
made by ECEAP Parent Advisory Committee
members, Lilana Villasenor and Angelica Contreras
to the Kennewick Police Department to benefit
Cooper’s Corner at Columbia Center Mall. Cooper’s
Corner is an educational interactive bicycle and
pedestrian safety exhibit run by the KPD and
volunteers from their Citizens Helping in Police
Service or “Chips” program. Chief Ken Hohenberg
accepted the donation and thanked all of the kids who
have been bringing in their pennies for the cause.
KOG Students Present Gift of
Friendship to Amistad
The Kennewick Opportunities for Gifted or KOG
program will be moving from Amistad to Ridge View
Elementary next year. Students in the program
wanted to leave behind something special for
Amistad as a way of saying goodbye. The students
created and painted a mural on the theme of Amistad,
which means friendship. The mural was presented at
the last day of school assembly.

KSD Connection ~ Staff News, Notes, and Events
January June 2010
Stuff to do this Summer
KSD Dates to Calendar
06/20—Mariachi & More Festival
Columbia Park East, Free admission, $3.00
to park or bring 3 cans of food for Second
Harvest.
06/27—06/28—Ye Merrie Greenwood
Renaissance Faire
Several stages full of performances,
including jugglers, sword fights, jousting,
belly dancing, and musical performances.
07/05—Drums Along the Columbia
Don’t miss the only major drum and bugle
corps show in the State of Washington! Held
at Edgar Brown Stadium in Pasco, tickets are
only $12-$20! at Ted Brown Music, The
Bookworm in Kennewick or Richland,
Adventures Underground or Music Unlimited.
You can even buy them online.
07/17—Miss Tri-Cities Pageant and Miss Tri-
Cities Outstanding Teen—50th Anniversary
The Miss Tri-Cities Scholarship Program
celebrates 50 years. The pageant will be held
at Art Fuller Auditorium at 7:00 p.m.
07/23-25—Tri-City Water Follies
Whether you are the type that plans to attend
or plans to get out of town—this is “Boat
Race Weekend”
07/23-07-24—Art in the Park - 60th Annual
exhibition and art sale at Howard Amon Park
08/24—08/28—Benton Franklin Fair and
Rodeo
08/09—Leadership Team Retreat will be
held at Kamiakin High from 7:15 to 4:00
p.m. All you need to know to start the year off
right in one easy session!
08/17—Secretaries Welcome Back will be
held at Park Middle School from 8:00 a.m. to
noon, with breakfast served from 7:00-7:45
a.m.
08/23—Intervention Training Day will be held
at Southridge High.
08/24—Focus on Instruction will also be held
at Southridge High
08/27—Welcome Back Breakfast and
Assembly at Kennewick High School.
Breakfast at 7:00 a.m., Assembly at 8:00
a.m. Combined High School Marching Band,
energizing speeches by administrators and
school board members, and staff Excellence
Awards presentation.
08/30—First Day of School—Over 15,000
students are ready to come back to school,
are you ready for them?
12/20—12-31-—Winter Break
04/04-04/08-—Spring Break