Columbia Crest A-STEM Academy highlighted at board meeting

On April 26, the Eatonville School Board conducted a work study meeting at Columbia Crest A-STEM Academy. Prior to the meeting, various staff members opened their classrooms for an open house. The school hosted a showcase event to highlight the work happening at the school.

Prospective families also attended the open house to learn more about what the school has to offer in consideration for enrolling in the upcoming school year. Leadership students greeted families at the door and showed them the campus and every classroom. There are openings at all grade levels from preschool to 8th grade for the 2023-24 school year. Interested families can sign up for a tour of the school by calling the main office at 360-641-1700.

The main presentation started with After School Art Club students presenting the school poem in an artistic manner to the School Board directors. Students included Kayden Johnson, Jakob Howard, Rollins Barrett, Evelyn Hoversten, Chloe Hanson and Phoebe Dorsey.

The school’s poem, written by Tod Marshal:

“Right near the biggest mountain in the State,

“You’ll find a place full of love and no hate”

“Where students work hard to do their best,

You’ll find a school called Columbia Crest”

Principal Allison Burslem presented the School Improvement Plan for 2022-23. Burslem shared academic data and systems supporting the SIP along with goals for the rest of the year.

Third-grade teacher Mrs. Hight and six of her students presented their math strategies. Student presenters included: Boone Ackerman, Wyatt Davis, Karmah Floyd, Blake Johnson, Joyce Martin and Abigail Hight. The students partnered with board members to demonstrate how they use their representation math mats.

Burslem shared with the board successes of the school yea, which include English/language arts and math boost intervention classes for middle school students and the partnership between middle school and primary classes.

Next, she shared challenges, including the desire to have another bus route added back to the fleet and new playground equipment as outdated structures have been deemed too unsafe for students to use.

Finally, she presented things to look forward to, including the start of the transitional kindergarten program next school year and keyless entry safety enhancements.

Burslem thanked the School Board, Interim Superintendent Lucy Fountain and district office staff for continued support with creative staffing options to provide additional opportunities for students at Columbia Crest.

Fountain announced at the end of the board meeting that the school was awarded an energy efficiency grant from Lewis County Public Utilities District. The grant will outfit new HVAC in exterior buildings and every bulb in the school will be converted to LED. All expenses are covered by the grant. The district will save money in electric and heating costs. The total grant awarded is over $41,000 for HVAC installation and over $31,000 for the LED conversion. Both projects will get scheduled soon.