ESD: A message from the superintendent

STUDENT CELEBRATIONS

Each month I look forward to highlighting our students for their efforts and accomplishments and this month is no exception. The following is but a small sample of the great work that our students are doing.

• Our Eatonville High School Knowledge Bowl Team placed second at regionals! They competed against 12 other teams in our region, round after round to finally secure second place. Congratulations and good luck at state.

• Our Eatonville Drama students displayed great talent as they provided entertainment in six performances of Mean Girls, JR.

• Eatonville High School (in association with the WSCA) had the privilege of hosting the Pierce County Regional Championships for both Middle Schools and High Schools. Forty eight middle and high school chess players converged at Eatonville High School to compete for individual and team awards. It was at this tournament that the EHS Chess Team took first place and qualified to compete at the 2024 State Championships for the second year in a row.

• One of our assistant wrestling coaches, Oscar Springsteen won WIAA Assistant Coach of the Year!

• Kasey Whitney took third in his weight class at the State Wrestling tournament.

• Our girls basketball team has made it to the State Tournament in Yakima. This is the first time since 2010 they advanced to the final 12.

• The Eatonville High School Chess Club is a group that teaches new players the game of chess and strengthens experienced players for competition. Many of the club's members experienced competitive chess for the first time and rose to the challenge. This year, the club fielded a team to its first ever appearance at the Mini Teams Championships where Club President: Brynden Olson took 10th out of 77 of the states top chess players. Eatonville High School (in association with the WSCA) had the privilege of hosting the Pierce County Regional Championships for both Middle Schools and High Schools. Forty eight middle and high school chess players converged at Eatonville High School to compete for individual and team awards. It was at this tournament that the EHS Chess Team took first place and qualified to compete at the 2024 State Championships for the second year in a row. There, the team will compete against the best high school chess players of Washington State. With talks of creating a Pierce County Chess League, the EHS Chess Club shows no signs of slowing. They look forward to growing their membership, sharing the joys of chess with the community, and providing opportunities to hone their skills in competition.

• Spring sports turnouts:

Track — girls 45; boys 63

Baseball — 34

Boys soccer — 43

Fastpitch — 25

Girls tennis — 27

• There are many other notable student accomplishments highlighted in the newsletter.

SCHOOL FUNDING MEASURES

I want to express my sincere appreciation for your active engagement in the electoral process. Thank you for your overwhelming support, resulting in the passage of both measures!The Replacement Educational Programs and Operations Levy (Proposition 1) passed with 57.97% yes votes, surpassing the simple majority requirement of 50% + 1. Similarly, the Capital Projects Levy (Proposition 2) secured substantial backing, passing with 57.29% yes votes.

Your unwavering support for these measures is invaluable, and we extend our heartfelt gratitude for your trust in our mission. The approved measures will empower us to sustain and enhance vital educational programs and opportunities for all Eatonville students, both within and beyond the traditional school hours.

The Replacement Educational Programs and Operations Levy (Proposition 1) will enable us to continue funding programs, services, and staff that are unfunded or underfunded by the state. This includes support for extracurricular activities and classroom initiatives aimed at enhancing our focus on student achievement.

Likewise, the Capital Projects Levy (Proposition 2) signifies a substantial investment in the future of our students, schools, and community. The funds generated will address critical needs such as playground equipment, track and field replacement, technology upgrades, and more, leaving a lasting impact for generations to come.

We acknowledge the weight of the trust you have placed in us and are dedicated to utilizing these funds wisely and transparently. Our commitment is to serve our students and maintain excellence as stewards of our community’s funds, both in the present and the future.

Your dedication to education is greatly appreciated, and we are profoundly grateful for your role in ensuring educational opportunities and excellence for all learners. Thank you for entrusting us with the education of our students and for your continued support in building a stronger school community.

EATONVILLE STRATEGIC PLAN

I also want to express my deep appreciation and gratitude to each one of you for being an integral part of our recently completed Eatonville Strategic Plan.

I am excited to present our final version of our Eatonville Strategic Plan—a culmination of collective efforts and commitment from our supportive school community. This comprehensive five-year plan is designed to steer our educational decisions, ensuring academic success for every student from their first day in Eatonville Schools to the day they graduate. The plan is dedicated to empowering our students to reach their full potential, providing necessary support, and equipping them for success beyond graduation.

Our Eatonville Strategic Plan fosters collaboration among our board of directors, dedicated staff, students, parents, and community members. As we unite in our focus on academic rigor and student well-being, Eatonville students will not only achieve their academic goals but will also be well-prepared for a lifetime of success in pursuing their dreams and aspirations.

I want to extend my gratitude to the 1,330 students, parents, staff, and community members who contributed by completing surveys, identifying educational priorities crucial for Eatonville Schools and our community. Special thanks to the 84 members of our focus groups who meticulously analyzed survey results, generating insightful notes summarizing our values and priorities.

Furthermore, appreciation goes to the 34 individuals who provided feedback on the proposed plan, followed by the dedication of 21 members from the Steering Committee and the School Board of Directors, who met multiple times to analyze and operationalize the notes, ultimately crafting our strategic plan. Special recognition to the planning team members and Education Elements' Lauren and Sarah for their guidance throughout this process, ensuring a plan unique to Eatonville students and community.

I also want to express my gratitude to our dedicated board of directors, Sally Keeley, and Allison Burslem for their leadership over the past 12 months. After careful consideration of thousands of community responses, collaboration with our steering team, and championing this work alongside our board of directors, I am committed to ensuring the strategic plan's effective implementation as your superintendent.

Our Promise: Every student will be known, valued, and supported.

Our Quest: Discover and promote student interests that motivate and encourage movement toward academic and human potential.

In summary, after nearly a year of involving around 1,500 individuals and thousands of hours of dedicated effort, our five-year strategic plan is ready for implementation. I am eager to begin working together to provide our students with a quality education through the strategic plan that we collectively created. Eatonville Strong!