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Newspaper Archive of
Shelton Mason County Journal
Shelton, Washington
September 7, 2023     Shelton Mason County Journal
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September 7, 2023
 
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Page 14 — Shelton-Mason County Journal — Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023 Grapeview seeks to make parents part of education team By Kirk Boxleitner kboxle/‘menéjmasoncounty com Grapeview School District Superintendent Gerry Gruhbs noted the changes students and families can expect as they start the new school year, beginning with a new administrative team, which he said is “working toward unity in leadership and vision.” Cynthia Breeze is the district’s director of student services and athletics, while Hannah Nelsen is its new principal. Gruhbs touted their efforts to bring back the “robust volunteer program” the district had prior to COVID. Grubbs promised students and families that they can expect STEAM (science, technology, engineer- ing, art, math) activities throughout the elementary and middle school grades, thanks to a newly devel— oped schedule designed to create “more purposeful opportunit ” The disti ts middle school science teacher now has opportunities to work with elementary school teachers and students built into his scheduled col— laboration time to provide hands—on science lessons up to the eighth-grade level. “Inclusionary practices are also a priority for our school, as we train for and implement Universal De— sign for Learning strategic '5 well as Character Strong curricula,” Grubbs said. “UDL helps teach- ers ensure diverSe learners can succeed in the class— room. It’s so much easier to include students with disab ties in general education classrooms when teachers can plan lessons that afford those students diverse methods of taking in, then demonstrating the information they’ve learned.” Grubbs said he aims to foster team-building be- tween teachers and parents to yield “healthy, happy learning environments, with strong communication and collaboration,” and hopes parents will incor- porate the vocabulary of Character Strong in their home. “The Character Strong curriculum addresses so- cial and emot onal issues that students face in the course of life,” Grubbs said. “It seeks to teach the nine characteristics ofrespect, empathy, cooperation, Satu rd 3 .3 ¥ é i r x .2? “ v 325i"floona50979_ LitttiCk‘EEKfipM . recccownz e mend-older a; seem-Aim: Above, a sign at Grapevuew School. Right, school employees talk to students in the school cafeteria. Photos courtesy of Grapeview Schoo/ District responsibility, perseverance, courage, gratitude, honesty and creativity, which even us adults need to be reminded of occasionally.” Grubbs asked that parents stress the importance of school attendance by scheduling their appoint- ments and vacation times in ways that allow the dis— trict to return to its pre-COVID attendance rates, which he estimated were in the upper 90%. “Yes, every year comes with its own set of surpris— es that are hard to anticipate, but we have such a supportive community that, with clear communica- tion, most of our issues are easily worked through,” Grubbs said. Grubbs reported on tl $1.6 million Small School Modernization grant the district received to upgrade its HVAC systems in its elemental” school in its main building and in its middle school classrooms. “Having a new, more efficient system will be well worth any inconveniences we experience,” Grubbs said. “The previous superintendent applied for this grant almost five years ago. We got onto the list by being ; all and rural, but we had to wait our turn for the state to provide enough money.” .flstrtxgaym Last year, the Grapeview School District secured grants totaling ,000 to improve its gardens, out- door learning trail and interpretive stations as part of an ongoing project set to be expanded over the next two years. “Being surrounded by forests made having an outdoor learning trail a very natural thing to em- brace,” Grubbs said. “I believe We qualified for these grants because we could show how we would utilize these resources to get students outside, where they would learn experientially.” Grubbs said the district intends to work with nat- uralists to create stations around its trail, using QR codes and iPads to “merge technology and outdoor learning,” through stations describing flora and fau- na along the trail, with their digital devices enabling students to access more in-depth information. ay OCTOBER 14 float seeds m cab m 4061335514,