Kiona-Benton City Schools - Kiona

Fall 2015 Newsletter
Kiona-Benton City Schools
1105 Dale Ave., Benton City, WA 99320
Then
www.kibesd.org T: 509-588-2000
Superintendent’s Message
Dear Readers,
Welcome back to school! I hope you have
had an enjoyable summer. We are excited to
be starting a new school year and have some
new teachers, administrators, and buildings
that will be featured in this issue. We will also
be reporting on our state test results from last spring.
Our vision is that students are always more important than test results
and that every staff member cares about the safety and welfare of
your child. After all, you send us your very best and we want to
make sure we honor that trust.
Now
In this Issue
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New Staff
Portable Classrooms
School Report Card
Replacement Levy in
February
School Happenings
Highly Capable
Nominations
Sincerely,
Wade Haun
Superintendent
Kiona-Benton City School District does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color,
national origin, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation including gender
expression or identity, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, or the use of a trained dog
guide or service animal by a person with a disability in its programs and activities and provides equal access
to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. Any inquiries regarding compliance procedures may
be directed to the School District's Title IX Officer, Title II and Section 504 Coordinator, the District's Special
Services Director, at 1105 Dale Ave., Benton City, WA 99320; contact number (509)588-2024. A copy of the
district's appeal/grievance procedure is available upon request from the District Office (WAC 392-190-060).
Kiona-Benton City School District, 1105 Dale Ave.,
Benton City, WA 99320 (509) 588-2000 www.kibesd.org
Page 1 of 9
New Staff
Linda Hardy – Primary Principal
Jerry Bell – Special Services Director
Araceli Chavez – 1st Grade (Bilingual)
Karleena Cortez – 1st Grade
Trevor Fields – 3rd Grade
Jared Bailey – Middle and Intermediate Music
Darren Mezger – HS Mathematics
Mark Minaker – MS Special Education
Terri Bakken – MS ESL
Michele Lawrence – HS ESL
Thomas Romero – K12 Bilingual Instructional Coach
Eric Strom – HS English/Language Arts
Kiona-Benton City School District, 1105 Dale Ave.,
Benton City, WA 99320 (509) 588-2000 www.kibesd.org
Page 2 of 9
Portable Classrooms
Questions and Answers
regarding the portable
classrooms
Question: Why does the
Elementary School need
more portable classrooms?
Portable classrooms in July 2015
Kiona-Benton City School District’s space problems will be solved [this] school year,
thanks to Fowler Construction.
The Richland contractor, which is building two new Richland elementary schools this
summer, is giving Kiona-Benton City School District a steal of a deal on five surplus
portable classroom buildings.
One double portable and four singles will give the school district enough space for [this]
year and will buy the district some time to find another solution to its crowding issues,
said Joe Lloyd, the district’s assistant superintendent of federal and online programs
The school board recently approved the $57,000 deal with Fowler Construction so the
portables can be moved this summer to be ready for students in the fall. (Tri-City Herald,
May 18, 2015)
Read more here: http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2015/05/18/3566739_richland-companyhelps-ki-be-schools.html?rh=1#storylink=cpy
Answer: With our increasing
enrollment, we needed more
classrooms than are
available in the main
building for instructional
services. The old portable
classrooms were
condemned and
demolished earlier this year.
Question: What were the
costs associated with the
portable classrooms?
Answer: The new two room
portable classroom cost
about $150,000 with
installation. The used
portable classrooms from
Fowler Construction cost
$63,000 with tax and an
additional $91,000 for
moving and setting them.
Question: What classes are
held in the portable
classrooms?
Portable classrooms in August 2015
Answer: #1 – Computer
Specials and bilingual after
school program, #2 – ELL
tutoring and services, #3 –
ES/MS Life Skills classroom, #4
Positive Behavior classroom,
#5 PE/Health, #6
Reading/Mathematics
interventions and tutoring, #7
Speech Therapy Services, #8
To be determined.
Portable classrooms in September 2015
Kiona-Benton City School District, 1105 Dale Ave.,
Benton City, WA 99320 (509) 588-2000 www.kibesd.org
Page 3 of 9
School Report Card
New State Tests
This was the first year for the
state’s Smarter Balanced
Assessments. These tests were
not required for 11th graders this
year (hence our low 11th grade
scores) but were required at
grade levels 3-8. The former
MSP and HSPE tests are being
phased out but the scores from
past years can be accessed at
OSPI’s website at k12.wa.us.
Select the State Report Card
button on the right and then
select our school district from
the pull down menu at the top
left side of the page and hit the
go button. Additional reports
can be generated from there.
Kiona-Benton City School District, 1105 Dale Ave.,
Benton City, WA 99320 (509) 588-2000 www.kibesd.org
Page 4 of 9
School Events:
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Welcome back to another great year here at KiBe High School and I hope everyone
had a relaxing summer. Last school year at Kiona-Benton City High School was a
recipient of the 2014 Washington Achievement Award for READING GROWTH
from our state education office (OSPI). We also had many students represent our
school and community at FFA, FBLA, Band, Choir, and Athletic competitions at a
high level.
I would like to introduce my fundamental building beliefs which I have coined
as the real 4 R’s.
Respect: For self and each other and guests to our building. Give
respect get respect!
Responsibility: Be at school every day and working at a student’s
personal highest level to graduate on time.
Reality: There are consequences for our personal choices both in
the classroom, grading and discipline.
Rated “G” Language: No swearing on campus which includes
students who represent our community out of town.
My hope over the coming years is to support four pillars that I believe will improve
building and community support. They all start with the letter “A”. I believe that
Kiona-Benton City High School can become a destination school where people will
want to move/send their child to our school and we will become a leader in state.
Academics: Increase the rigor and level of courses taught in the high school
Arts: Keep building on our already strong and vibrant arts programs to raise them
to the next level.
Athletics: Continue to build a strong athletic program that starts the implementation
of “Proactive Coaching” philosophies that support athletes, coaches, and families in
a positive climate.
Attitude: Continue building strong relationships with our local community to
support all areas that help support a total student that graduates on time with a
plan for their personal future success.
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Sep. 28-Oct. 3
Homecoming Week
Oct. 9 No School
Oct. 14 & 28 Early
Release
Nov. 2-6 Conferences
(Early Release)
Nov. 11 Veteran’s Day
(No School)
Nov. 12, 6:00 PM HS Wtr.
Parent/Clearance mtg.
Nov. 16 HS Winter Sports
Begin
Nov. 18 & 25 Early
Release
Nov. 26 & 27
Thanksgiving (No
School)
Dec. 2 & 18 Early
Release
Dec. 21 – Jan. 1
Christmas Break
Jan. 4 School Resumes
Jan. 6, 20, 21,& 27 Early
Release
Jan. 18 Martin Luther
King Day (No School)
Jan 22 Semester Break
Day (No School)
Please feel free to stop in my office if you have any questions or concerns. “It’s a
GREAT Day to be a KiBe Bear!”
Clay Henry, High School Principal
Kiona-Benton City School District, 1105 Dale Ave.,
Benton City, WA 99320 (509) 588-2000 www.kibesd.org
Page 5 of 9
Welcome back to our Middle School families. We are excited about the excellent opportunities that
are available to our students. We have a continuous growth mindset in the Middle School that is
championed in our school slogan, “Everyone Learns”. Our expectation is that everyone at the Middle
School from the Office to the Teachers to the Students improve daily. In order to accomplish this goal
we want to work hand in hand with families and our community to enhace our programs. We will work
very hard to improve our communication; please consider following us on Facebook (Kiona-Benton
Middle School), through the Parent Portal on our Tyler Information System, and on the District Website. We will also
be using the SchoolMessenger system to notify parents of upcoming events.
We have Fall Conferences coming the first week of November, we look forward to meeting with each family during this
time. There is no need to wait until November to find out about your student’s progress, we send progress reports
home every two weeks and grades are updated regularly on the parent portal. Additionally, at your request we will set
up a meeting with one or all of your student’s teachers. Feel free to stop by or call if you have any questions or
concerns. Chuck Feth, Middle School Principal
I want to officially welcome back all of our students and their families to a new school year.
In case you have not yet heard, last spring the district announced a change to our elementary school
configuration. While we are all still under the same roof, we have divided the school in two or; a
Primary School, Pre-school to 2nd grade and an Intermediate School, 3rd – 5th grade. Mrs. Hardy is the
principal for the Primary School and I, Mr. Castillo, am the principal for the Intermediate School and Ms. Christy Petty
is our secretary. Our new Intermediate School Office is located in room #128. When you come to visit or come for a
meeting you will still need to enter through the main primary office to check in. Our direct telephone number is 5882078.
Once again welcome and I hope to see you all soon at our Fall Parent-Teacher Conferences during the first week of
November. Bernardo Castillo, Intermediate Principal
With the first month of the school year behind us, we are off to a good start for the 2015-16 school
year!
On October 1, we kicked off the “Read With Your Child” program for preschool through grade
2. This program supports families reading together 20 minutes a day, EVERY day! The research
states that children who are read to become better independent readers and we are hoping that that
will be the case at our school, too!
At the end of October, we will start having monthly assemblies to give recognition to those students who are making
progress on personal goals to be better citizens and learners. “Positive Paws” will be a way to encourage students to
keep up the good work toward meeting their goals.
Please contact the primary school office if you are interested in donating time as a school volunteer. A volunteer
training will be held later this fall.
Linda Hardy, Primary Principal
Kiona-Benton City School District, 1105 Dale Ave.,
Benton City, WA 99320 (509) 588-2000 www.kibesd.org
Page 6 of 9
Parking and student drop-off & pick-up at the Middle and Elementary Schools
Crosswalk
Crosswalk
Safety doesn't happen
by accident.
~Author Unknown
Kiona-Benton City School District, 1105 Dale Ave.,
Benton City, WA 99320 (509) 588-2000 www.kibesd.org
Page 7 of 9
Highly Capable Program Referral Form
We, as a community, believe highly capable students are those who perform or show
potential for performing at significantly advanced academic levels when compared with
others of their age, experiences, or environments. Outstanding abilities are seen within
students’ general intellectual aptitudes, specific academic abilities, and/or creative
productivities within a specific domain. These students are present not only in the
general populace, but are present within all protected classes.
The following behaviors are often observed in highly capable students. Use a highlighter
(or circle) to show each behavior you observe in the child almost always. It is unlikely
that a student will demonstrate all these behaviors. If a child almost always displays
several of these behaviors, please complete the referral form on the next page.
Kiona-Benton City School District, 1105 Dale Ave.,
Benton City, WA 99320 (509) 588-2000 www.kibesd.org
Page 8 of 9
If a child almost always displays several of the behaviors from the list, please complete the
referral form and return it to:
The Highly Capable Program Office
Attn: Debbie Alexander
Kiona-Benton City School District
1105 Dale Ave.
Benton City, WA 99320
Forms MUST be received no later than November 13, 2015
in order to be considered for Fall testing
Student name ________________________________ School ___________________________
Teacher _____________________________________ Grade ___________________________
Person completing the form _____________________ Relationship to child ________________
Phone number for person completing the form ___________________________________________
Check potential areas of giftedness
Math
 English/Language Arts
 Other __________________
If you are not the parent/guardian of the child, submit the form completed to this point
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As the parent/guardian of ______________________________ (student name) I
acknowledge and support this referral for highly capable program services.
Parent/Guardian signature _________________________________________ Date ________________
Notice to Parents of Right to Appeal:
If for any reason, it is determined that a child does not qualify for the Highly Capable program, the parent has
the right to appeal in writing to the School District Highly Capable Program Director (Joe Lloyd, KionaBenton City School District, 1105 Dale Ave., Benton City, WA 99320) and schedule an appointment with
him to discuss the concerns. He in turn will forward that information to the selection committee to reevaluate
their decision. If the parent is not satisfied with the determination of the committee, they may request an
appointment with the School Principal to discuss the concern. If a satisfactory resolution cannot be reached at
that point, the parent may appeal the decision to the School District Superintendent, Wade Haun who will
meet with them to discuss the issue.
Kiona-Benton City School District, 1105 Dale Ave.,
Benton City, WA 99320 (509) 588-2000 www.kibesd.org
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