
To our Puyallup staff,
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