This past weekend, the Washington High tennis team competed in the district tournament in Bremerton.

Maddie Roberts and Marijo Manaois placed second and will go to the state tournament this coming Friday.

Emily Hanks and Jazmine Ortiz will be second alternates for the state tournament.

L to R: Jasmine Ortiz, Marijo Manaois, Maddie Roberts, and Emily Hanks.

The calendar for school year 2013-2014 is now available.

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Pierce County Library System will receive a regional community leadership award from Region 111 of the Washington Association of School Administrators (WASA) on Friday, May 17. WASA’s Region 111 membership is comprised of all Pierce County public school districts. The Association is recognizing Pierce County Library for its partnership efforts with Franklin Pierce Schools.

Franklin Pierce Schools has refinanced its 2005 bonds in order to take advantage of lower interest rates.  The recent refinancing will save the District’s taxpayers a total of over $370,000 during the next four years.  Dr. Frank Hewins, Superintendent, emphasized that these savings flow directly to taxpayers through reduced tax levies and are not available for District expenses.  “This is a direct savings to our community members in the form of taxes they expected, but will not have to pay,” Dr. Hewins said.  

The Franklin Pierce School Board accomplished these savings by approving the issuance of refunding bonds at its meeting held on April 9, 2013.  The District has been monitoring bond market conditions. Recent low interest rates allowed the District to exceed its savings target.  Interest rates averaged 0.97% on the new bonds compared to 5.05% on the old debt.

Each year, the Franklin Pierce PTA Council honors and recognizes individuals from each of the district's schools with PTA awards at the Golden Acorn Banquet. The event is designed to honor the service and contributions that local PTAs contribute on behalf of students, and the dedication of exceptional volunteers.

At the School Board of Directors meeting held the evening of May 14^th, the School Board unanimously approved new administrative appointments recommended by Dr. Frank Hewins, Superintendent for the 2013-2014 school year.

Mr. Lance Goodpaster will become the Assistant Superintendent effective July 1. Mr. Goodpaster is currently Principal of Evergreen Primary School in the University Place School District, where he has been since 2002. He started his public education career in Franklin Pierce Schools twenty years ago, as a teacher at Christensen Elementary School. He is currently working on his Superintendent Credentials through Washington State University. “Franklin Pierce is a special place.  I am thrilled for the opportunity to return and contribute to the outstanding work being done in support of students,” said Goodpaster. Mr. Goodpaster will replace Mr. Tim Stensager, who has been hired as the Director of Data Governance at the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction in Olympia.  

Mrs. Brandy Nelson will become the Principal of James Sales Elementary effective July 1. Mrs. Nelson began her public education career in Franklin Pierce Schools in 2002. She has taught first grade, second grade, and has most recently been an instructional coach and administrative intern. “I am excited and honored to stay in Franklin Pierce Schools, working alongside the dedicated staff of James Sales Elementary as we serve students and their families,” said Nelson. Principal Nelson will replace Mrs. Kristen Schroeder, who has been hired as the Principal of Firgrove Elementary School in the Puyallup School District.

“The appointments of Asst. Supt. Goodpaster and Principal Nelson are an added strength to our already strong administrative team. Both are professionals who represent the values of Franklin Pierce Schools, believe strongly in serving the needs of the whole child as a path to making each student academically successful, and have demonstrated a commitment to working collaboratively with parents and the community to build a strong educational system,” said Dr. Frank Hewins, Superintendent.

In addition to the new administrative appointments, Superintendent Hewins also wishes to acknowledge a retiring administrator – Mr. Gary Benson -- who has served the students and families of Franklin Pierce Schools for the past 21 years. Mr. Benson’s public education career began 40 years ago as a teacher in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools in North Carolina. He came to Washington State in 1983 to teach in Bremerton School District and later on as an Assistant Principal in the Oak Harbor School District. Mr. Benson served as Ford Middle School’s Principal from 1993 until 2010, at which time he was promoted to Executive Director of Human Resources and Interim Executive Director for K-12. Franklin Pierce Schools extends our deep gratitude to Mr. Benson for his service and his many accomplishments providing a quality education to thousands of students.

Franklin Pierce Schools will again be conducting our high school commencement exercises at the Puyallup Fairgrounds. All three high schools will hold their respective ceremonies on Saturday, June 8 for the graduating Classes of 2013. 

• Franklin Pierce High School will begin at 11:00 a.m.
• GATES High School/New Pathways School will begin at 1:30 p.m.
• Washington High School will begin at 4:00 p.m.

 For more information about each graduation, contact the school's main office.

Beginning next year, students will have more options to enroll in CTE courses and be exposed to the exciting world of CTE.

CTE is a critical component to helping students connect academic coursework with their future career, which allows for improvements in academic achievement and performance, and career exploration and development.

New courses will include:

• Keithley Middle School (KMS) will have an Agriculture Science course avaialble for 7th and 8th grade students.
• Ford Middle School (FMS) and KMS will have a Multimedia Production and Photography course.
• Franklin Pierce High School (FPHS) will have an Aerospace Manufacturing and Composites course, while Washington High School (WHS) will receive equipment to strengthen its current Aeronautical Engineering course.
• Both FPHS and WHS will have a Medical Interventions course that will complete the three-course series through Project Lead The Way. FPHS will also receive another science lab, to be equipped over the summer.
• FPHS will have an Advanced Placement (AP) Psychology course.
• GATES High, FPHS, and WHS will have an Applied Biology course. This course will be available to students who did not pass their biology end-of-course (EOC) exam.
• Brookdale Elementary will have a Medical Detectives course that will be incorporated into the Excel Program for highly capable students.
• KMS will have a Medical Detectives and Green Architecture courses.
• The Natural Science Resource Center (NSRC) will be adding a demonstration literacy garden for elementary students.
• Midland Elementary will receive six raised beds for students to plant.
• Brookdale Elementary will receive two more raised beds, for a total of six, for students to plant.
• James Sales Elementary will receive four raised beds for students to plant.
• The NSRC will add wheelchair accessible raised beds for community members and students with limited mobility. Top soil will be donated by H and B Topsoil.

“The value of bringing these additional courses into our district is that students will further engage in math and science in ways that will concrete their success in becoming ready for college and career,” said Sly Boskovich, Assistant Director of CTE.