Listen to the Story

How athletics fuel higher GPAs

A sixth-grader steps onto the wrestling mat for the first time, nervous but ready to try something new. What they don’t know is that the same discipline required to master a wrestling takedown also helps them focus during a mid-term exam. For most of our 4,817 participating middle and high school athletes, sports aren't about going pro, they are about personal growth. In fact, only one-third of our students play at the varsity level. While our varsity teams get the headlines, our JV and C-Team programs are where the real magic of growth happens. These teams aren't just a bench, they are a laboratory for grit and persistence. “Two-thirds of our kids are playing on sub-varsity, which means they're developmental,” said Bryan Streleski, Director of Athletics and Security. “We're trying to make them better, trying to help them improve, to get better every single day.” In our schools, "developmental" is just another word for "opportunity." It’s where a student who has never picked up wrestling headgear finds their footing and their confidence. That commitment to the game translates directly to the classroom. Student-athletes in our schools maintain GPAs nearly half a point higher than students who don’t participate in activities. These students are also seeing higher attendance and graduation rates as well.  “They’ve got to stay eligible to participate,” said Streleski. “But they're not just staying eligible, they're excelling.” To ensure every student can find a place to belong, our athletic programs continue to expand. This year, we added a middle school girls wrestling tournament to mirror our long-standing high school programs. And girls flag football continues to expand. Perhaps the most powerful example of that community is found in our Unified Sports teams, where special education students and general education students compete together in everything from basketball to track and field. “It's phenomenal,” said Streleski. “It's great for our students with special needs. It's also great for our partner kids to learn and grow and understand how to work within a community.” These opportunities are made possible by our community. The Educational Programs & Operations Levy is the backbone of our athletics program. It ensures our students have the tools to succeed both on the field and in life. Thank you, voters!

Say the word, do the motion

Dena Mariano has spent 27 years teaching in our schools, but she is still finding new ways to grow.  This year, in her first grade classroom at Shining Mountain Elementary, she has seven multilingual students in her classroom. These are students who are learning English, on top of learning the curriculum. It sounds like a heavy lift for a six-year-old. Enter Brianna Kangas, the school’s multilingual education teacher. "Being multilingual is such a superpower,” Kangas said. "There's different neural pathways that are strengthened and created when you are acquiring and learning another language, and so it just makes your brain super, super strong.” To help the multilingual students unlock those superpowers, Kangas and Mariano are using Total Physical Response (TPR) to turn new vocabulary words into actions. A familiar phrase that echoes throughout the classroom describes it well, "Say the word and do the motion!" TPR is not American Sign Language. Kangas and Mariano co-plan their lessons and determine which vocabulary words will get the TPR treatment. Putting an invisible crown on your head is used for the word “British.” For the word “country” students pretend to plant a flag in the ground. This allows first graders, some of whom are still learning English, to define and understand concepts as broad as American Independence, and to get hands on with events like the Boston Tea Party. When students learn the word "government," there is a gesture. When they say "independence," there is a movement.  “Recently, I got a new student who is a newcomer to the United States and on day one he was able to participate in our lesson through the use of those hand gestures,” said Mariano. And the strategy works whether you’re a native English speaker or not. “When you pair a motion with a vocabulary word, when you're saying something at the same time your body's doing something, there's something that happens in your brain that's going to help you remember and connect that word," Kangas said. In other words, every student is benefiting. And the impact continues as those vocabulary words become essays. As students lean over their papers, their free hands often form the gestures they learned earlier that morning. They are rehearsing their sentences before committing the words to paper. “You'll see them doing the hand motions as they write, to help them recall that vocabulary,” said Mariano. ”They can really just focus in on the mechanics of writing.” Kangas co-teachers with Mariano for one period a day. Their partnership is helping students to build the academic language they need to thrive. And in this classroom, students are learning with their voices, their hands, and their hearts.

Student voices are shaping our schools

“Speak a lot! Do not be afraid to express your opinion.” That’s the advice Lyllian, a senior at Bethel High School, offered to those following in her footsteps. It is empowered advice, and likely not something she would have shared three years ago. Her confidence blossomed through a unique opportunity in our district called the Superintendent’s Student Leadership Council. “I felt like SSLC pushed me past my comfort zone of talking to other individuals,” Lyllian said. “It helped me step into the realm of what's happening at my school and what's happening at other schools.” Now, finishing up her third year with the council, Lyllian finds it powerful to advocate for change that can impact students districtwide. “You are representing this entire district,” she said. “You are representing all of the high schools, all the elementary schools and middle schools.” The SSLC recently put their representative power into action during their annual roundtable dinner with the School Board. This isn’t a dry presentation from a podium. Instead, Board members visit individual tables to listen, learn, and engage in in-depth conversations about the student experience. And the students did not shy away from heavy topics. They led discussions on staff diversity and the need for more multicultural programs and interpreters. They also brought practical solutions to the table, requesting updates to the advisory curriculum to include "real-life skills" like financial literacy. While algebra has its place, they want to graduate knowing how to handle loans, credit, taxes, and mortgages, while also mastering professional skills like resume building and interviewing. Board President Marcus Young thanked the students for bringing both concerns and solutions to the table. “I felt like I heard the voice of those individuals that you all serve in your schools,” he said. “You did it with conviction, you did it with clarity, and you actually caused me and the Superintendent to have to reassess our thoughts.” School Board Vice President Teresa Cosio said the candor was a breath of fresh air for the Board. “Continue these conversations, but bring them to the board more often,” she told the students. “We need feedback throughout the year on how well we're doing and how our staff is doing on supporting you.” As for Lyllian, her journey of self-expression is just beginning. After she crosses the Bethel High graduation stage next month, she plans to attend The Evergreen State College in Olympia to major in performing arts and fine arts, with a goal of minoring in creative writing. While she’s there, the change she championed here will continue to support students across our district for years to come.

Sunshine and stories with a school librarian

The spring sun has finally arrived, and at Kapowsin Elementary that means Amy Dalin’s library is on the move.  While some might picture a library as a place of hushed silence and heavy curtains, Dalin prefers a bit of "controlled chaos" and the fresh air of the Pacific Northwest. Dalin is in her second year as a teacher librarian, but her journey to Bethel began in a very different setting. After graduating from WSU with a biology degree and working as a nursing assistant, she realized her true calling lay in the classroom. She spent three years as a high school science teacher before finding her home in the library. This shift was fueled by a desire to reconnect students with the joy of discovery through pages rather than just lab reports. “It’s incredible to see these kids grow and get excited about books," Dalin said. "That’s why I became a librarian. I saw a lot of kids just not being excited about books and I was like, that’s what I want to do. I want them to love reading.” Her inspiration stems from a family legacy of teaching and the impact of her own high school mentor. He was a steady presence for her during difficult times, and she strives to be that same "rock" for her students today. Whether she is leading the Battle of the Books team or helping students dig into the school’s garden club, her focus is always on fostering growth. As the weather warms, Dalin often trades the bookshelves for the school grounds, proving that literacy doesn't have to be a sedentary indoor activity. “We like to take the kids outside to read sometimes when it’s really beautiful," Dalin said. "We have bins of books and I'm like, let’s just go out, sit down on the ground and enjoy some sunshine and read some books.” By bringing stories into the sunlight, Dalin is ensuring that her students don't just learn to read, but learn to love the experience of getting lost in a great book.

A warm welcome to the neighborhood

The smell of fresh coffee is filling the staff room at the old Naches Trail Elementary this week, but the faces gathered around the table aren't familiar ones. Following an electrical fire at Puyallup’s Ferrucci Junior High, our district stepped in to ensure their students had a place to finish the school year. To make the Ferrucci staff feel at home, Naches Trail staff stocked the lounge with snacks and drinks, accompanied by a handmade “Welcome to the Neighborhood” sign. This spirit of partnership is possible because of our 2019 School Construction Bond [../../fs/pages/14021]. The bond funded the new Naches Trail Elementary, leaving the old building available as a vital resource for our staff and the community, and now, for our neighbors in need. Thank you, voters! In the end, Superintendent Brian Lowney said we are here to support all students, and that includes being a good neighbor when Puyallup needed us. “We are more than happy to step in and help, and we’ve ensured this won't impact our students here in Bethel or cost our taxpayers anything extra.”