As we have experienced another bright and sunny winter weekend, taking a moment to focus on several pieces of fine work that are occurring in the district and sharing some important information seems a very good idea.

First and foremost, this is the week (March 9-13, 2015) that we honor and appreciate the wonderful work of all of our classified team members! Please join the School Board and our community in taking the opportunity to express how much it means to have such wonderful support in the mission of serving “each child” in the Puyallup School District. As we look throughout the district, the evidence of the committed and caring work of our classified team members is everywhere. THANK YOU for your service to our children!

In visits to our elementary schools there is great evidence of our continual focus on helping each child be a great reader. As we know, there are few gifts as valuable moving forth in life, than the access to information that being a great reader can provide.  This past week, with the celebration of Dr. Seuss’ birthday, the emphasis on the development of the key supporting skills which support high level reading were on display over and over.  Thanks to everyone who makes this work a priority. It changes the starting line, not only for our children today… it changes the experience for generations of children to come. Great Job!

In junior high and high schools it is uplifting to see the connections being made between the learning of our students and their future post-secondary opportunities. Throughout the spring, event after event displays the fine work of our students and educators as we prepare each child for a post- secondary opportunity. Over the past two weeks, celebrations of our students being admitted to local colleges and universities have been a highlight. Since the formalization of our “Pathway to Promise” partnership with UW Tacoma, we have increased by nearly seven-fold the numbers of Puyallup students partaking in higher education locally at UWT. Great work by our counselors and career specialist to make such a significant impact in such a short time.

In April we will again have our Honoring Cultures/STEM Showcase events at the Puyallup Spring Fair. This is such an outstanding representation of the values and focus of our community and the district! I would invite all of our 3,300 full and part time employees to attend the spring fair and support our students in the “Honoring Cultures” celebration and in the STEM showcase (formerly the district science fair) - another great opportunity to see the fine work of all of our classified and certificated team members on display through our great kids!

Over the next month our very committed and supportive school board will be considering potential bond election packages and election dates. I mention this because of the very critical impact we are feeling as a system, particularly in our elementary schools, with regard to student population growth.  The great news is that people want their children in our schools because of the very fine work of our staff members. It is a huge compliment to the quality of the educational experience that children can have in our schools. It also comes with the very urgent need to make sure that our community is extremely well informed about the growth and the very real needs for instructional space in our schools moving into the future. There is information available on the district website and in past issues of the Connections newspaper, also available online. Thank you for your help in keeping your friends and neighbors accurately informed.

Our district is a great place for “each child” to learn, and a great place to serve and work. Thanks to everyone for the great job you do in support of “each child” in Puyallup!

Tim

Dr. Timothy S. Yeomans

Superintendent