1707 Main St.
Sumner, WA 98390
(253) 891-5500
Attendance (253) 891-5510
Fax (253) 891-5585
Noteworthy
Sumner High School hosts "Pack the Gym" for Special Olympics!
Sumner High School is proud to host “Pack the Gym Night” for our Special Olympics Basketball players. Come join the revolution as our Special Olympics athletes from Sumner High School and Bonney Lake High School take on the Rams from Rogers High School. The evening is set up with a skills section and then a basketball game between the two schools. Don’t miss out on what will undoubtedly be one of the best nights of your life!
Sumner High School students have a goal to completely fill the stands at the Sumner High School gym with parents and students from both schools to cheer on the Special Olympics Athletes.
DATE: Wednesday, February 10, 2010
PLACE: Sumner High School Gym, 1707 Main Street in Sumner
TIME: 6:00 PM Skills Demonstration followed by Basketball Game
Show your support for the Sumner School District and Rogers athletes and Pack the Gym!
Sumner High School ASB to host 4th annual Benefit Night
You’re invited to an evening of talent, laughter, and sheer entertainment at the Sumner Performing Arts Center -- a talent show supporting Ms. Stacey Webber and her fight against cancer and to help raise funds to support the Webber Family.
Benefit Night features a variety of performances making for a fun evening of entertainment for the whole community. Choose to make a difference and show your support for our local community member.
February 18 & 19, 2010
7:00 pm
Performing Arts Center, 1707 Main Street in Sumner
Admission: $8.00
Donations are greatly appreciated
Of Interest: This event is held each year to benefit a member of our community. This fall, Stacy (mother of two) was diagnosed with breast cancer. Though she is undergoing weekly chemo-therapy, she continues supporting the Sumner High School staff and community with her work in the Tiny Sparts Day Care. Student and staff wish to honor and support her by providing the family with donations from the Benefit to offset medical expenses.
Sponsored by Sumner High ASB
High School Schedule Changes for Next Year
Bonney Lake and Sumner high schools are planning for a change to their master schedule from the current schedule to a more traditional schedule for the 2010-11 school year. This means students will have a 6- or 7-period day next year, in place of the 4- or 5-period day they now experience.
Why the change to the student schedule? The current economic downturn and the decline in state funding for education over the past few years has caused districts around the state to substantially reduce spending. The Sumner School District has reduced budgets every year for the last five years, and cut $3.5 million from this year’s budget. Fortunately, these cuts have been kept away from the classroom and absorbed in other areas throughout the district. However, the Governor’s proposed budget has further cuts that will negatively impact education funding. Our district must prepare for additional reductions.
The shift from a four-period day will help the district save money as we continue to find ways to minimize the impact to educational programs. District data does not demonstrate that the current schedule has a direct and positive impact on student achievement. Data does reflect growth for current students in grades 9 and 10 who have yearlong courses. This data supports the change to a more traditional schedule. This new schedule will support student success and provide nearly 30 hours of additional instruction.
A task force is meeting next week to prepare for student registration. All students will have the ability to graduate on time, earn the credits they need for graduation, and have additional opportunities for academic assistance during the school day. There is no plan to change the start and end times of the school day. We will continue to provide students and families with updated information about the new high school schedule.
Questions?
2010 Community Scholarship Application
Now available online
Application deadline February 26, 2010
From the Principal's Desk
SHS Grading Practices: A continuation of information from Principal, Bill Gaines...
Last year, after much research and study, revised grading practices were adopted to improve student motivation and help prepare students for life beyond high school. Some of the changes were:
1) Discontinue awarding course credit for a D grade. This grade shows they have not met the established standards for the courses. Meeting the standards allows students to earn the credit, rather than accumulate seat time.
2) The D mark was changed to NTY to reflect the student’s “approaching standard” or “not there yet” status.
3) To reduce the .5 credit dilemma by giving students the opportunity during the full year to get credit in a year long course by using NC at the semester rather than F.
Why the changes were made:
Reason 1) To more clearly communicate how a student is performing and the reason for the performance.
Reason 2) Because F and D grades negatively impact student motivation. We want to send a message of hope to struggling students (rather than labeling them) while maintaining high standards. The research on academic motivation is clear that low grades do not work as motivators; this gives students reasons to quit rather than reasons to persevere.
Reason 3) We want to align classroom credit earning to the learning that the student has mastered, while maintaining or raising academic expectations.
After our first year under the new system we reviewed our outcomes. While we did see a slight increase in F grades in some areas, we observed a larger increase in the number of students who moved from the D/F range to C’s. We also saw more students using the academic assistance opportunities to make up assessments and receive help as they prepared for their tests. This year we are working to offer our students more assistance opportunities during the school day.
We view our work with the grading system as ongoing and as one piece of our efforts to assist all students in their learning. With the combined efforts of the student, our staff, and your support, we are confident that we will see even more of our students being successful as they work towards their graduation and life beyond high school.
Bill Gaines, Principal
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