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The La Conner School Board on Monday endorsed and approved a four-year replacement levy on the Feb. 11 ballot to bridge the gap between state funding and the cost of staff, materials, services and facilities during a briskly paced 40-minute meeting. The proposal seeks $ 4,745,000 starting in 2026, $1.11 per $1,000 assessed valuation, the present tax rate. The levy and contributions from the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community offset a $1 million shortfall between state funding and rising costs in...
The middle school basketball game between La Conner and Conway here last week was emotional. So, too, was a special pre-game ceremony. Before the teams tipped off for what was a seesaw, down to the wire 49-46 La Conner victory, Braves coach Greg Edwards honored his mentor, the late Rich Watkins. "Rich really helped me out my first five years of coaching," Edwards told the large crowd gathered at the middle school gymnasium. "I had great respect for him." A beloved figure at La Conner Schools – h...
Emmitt Voorhees did some clever sidestepping during the cake walk as part of the La Conner Parent-Teacher-Student Association fundraiser at the elementary school gym Friday night. Bingo and a silent auction for home-baked desserts were also part of the fun. Proceeds from the event will help defray the costs of field trips and end-of-year playday activities....
Life may be just a bowl of cherries, but Young Life offers a full range of desserts. That was borne out once again during the annual Young Life Dessert fundraiser at La Conner Elementary School Sunday night. The event is held here each November to provide financial support for students who attend Young Life summer camps, an experience master of ceremonies Peter Voorhees, a La Conner High School teacher and coach, described as life changing. Young Life donors filled the elementary school's...
Qualified high school students can take advantage of a unique opportunity to explore the world by spending an academic year, semester or summer in Europe, Asia, North or South America, Australia or South Africa as part of the ASSE International Student Exchange Program. A non-profit, public benefit organization, ASSE (formerly the American-Scandinavian Student Exchange) is dedicated to promoting closer ties of friendship between the United States and other countries by fostering intercultural understanding through youth exchange programs....
The Kiwanis Club of La Conner has announced the Students of the Month for October. Kenneth Tronsdal is the high school student. His parents are Curt and DeAnne Tronsdal. Kenneth's favorite class is guitar. He's in the drama club and enjoys the group's creativity. He also helps the preschool class on the school campus. Outside of school, Kenneth likes to walk around town enjoying the shops. At home he plays his guitar and writes movies. After graduation, he wants to attend college to get a...
The La Conner Kiwanis Club is sponsoring a drive to help fill the La Conner Schools Care Cabinet. The cabinet is filled with health care and hygiene items, socks, T-shirts and snacks. It’s available to all students, anytime they need something. “Imagine getting to school with wet feet because of a puddle you didn’t see or you couldn’t find your scrunchie to get your hair out of your face,” said Kiwanian Joy Neal. “Or you spilled lunch down the front of your shirt. Kids need to feel comfortable in order to learn.” Kiwanis members are asking th...
Mike Elliott, president of the La Conner Retirement Inn Residents Council, holds a $5,000 check to give to Tessa Deyo, a La Conner Community Scholarship Foundation member. Witnessing the event are other officers of the council and some of the volunteers that worked to make their September garage sale successful. The money was earned from the Labor Day week-end sale which was directed by Allie Kester, activities coordinator at the Inn. The residents at the Inn are excited to have participated in...
A traumatic past can give way to a healthy future. That was the hopeful message shared with La Conner students by Swinomish Tribal Community members during annual Orange Shirt Day ceremonies at Landy James Gym Monday afternoon. Orange Shirt Day, which symbolizes truth and reconciliation, honors the experiences and raises awareness of those indigenous children who attended residential schools in North America. Dean Dan Jr., of Swinomish, who keynoted the La Conner program, shared the story of...
The La Conner School District is making headlines this fall – in a good way. The strides its students have made improving math scores the last two years is the cover story in the current edition of the Washington State School Directors Association quarterly newsmagazine. President Susie Deyo announced at the close of the Sept. 23 board meeting that the district’s success implementing its new K-12 math curricula – along with several other supportive initiatives – is featured in the fall issue of Direct, the WSSDA publication. La Conner element...
Classes haven't started yet but two La Conner High School students already have homework. Emmalin Goodman and Kellie Cayou-Lockrem will be providing feedback to school board members on the district's new cell phone policy, their first task as the board's new student representatives. "We value your input," board member John Agen told the panel's student reps. "We'd like to have you be the most engaged student representatives we've ever had." Board President Susie Deyo said that rather than assig...
The annual Swinomish Back-to-School Bash, held as summer draws to a close, was again a cut above similar events held elsewhere. That was true both literally and figuratively. The three-hour Aug. 14 gathering at John K. Bob Ball Park had something for all student groups – school supplies, T-shirts and hoodies, general and specific campus and classroom information, school district calendars, snack foods, sno-cones and more. And there were free haircuts, provided by students from the Mount V...
Cell phones have their place. But starting this fall the La Conner Schools campus won’t be one of them. District administrators have rolled out a plan for the new school year that creates a cell phone free zone, a policy approved two years ago. School board members endorsed the plan – designed to assure fewer classroom distractions and greater student focus on academics – during their hour-long Aug. 12 meeting in the adminstrative building. “We’re not changing policy,” Board President Susie Deyo stressed. “We passed the policy in October of ’2...
Departing La Conner Schools Superintendent Will Nelson, who is leaving after three years to accept a teaching post at Western Washington University, was among special honorees during the year-end Swinomish Education Dinner at John K. Bob Ball Park on June 13. Nelson received a ceremonial blanket representing warmth and protection as part of a program that also honored the first-ever cohort of Swinomish-trained teachers, the tribal community’s corps of classroom student advocates, Swinomish K-12 students and college graduates, and La Conner Sch...
Most Washington K-12 students failed to meet basic math and reading proficiency standards in recent years, according to a new report. The analysis from the Annie E. Casey Foundation shows that in 2022, 66% of Washington fourth graders were not proficient in reading and 72% of eighth graders were not proficient in math. A spokesperson for the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction pointed to progress the state is making based on other measures and called into question “the methodology and the narrative being pushed by the Foundation i...
The seating chart is a tool used in school classrooms across the country. Same with the La Conner School District’s meeting room, where board members and administrators sit in order of seniority. That being the case, interim superintendent David Cram – now the district’s finance director – slid into seat formerly held by Superintendent Will Nelson during the board’s 90-minute June 10 public study session. Nelson, who officially departs the district June 30 after three years, isn’t attending this month’s board meetings and didn’t partic...
The Kiwanis Club of La Conner has announced the Students of the Month for May. La Conner High School Student of the Month for May is Kendall Lee, a junior. Her parents are Jason and Dawn Lee. Kendall's favorite classes are chemistry and trigonometry. She is a member of the Prevention Club because mental health is important. Kendall loves sports. She plays tennis and soccer. After graduation, Kendall would like to attend the University of Washington to study health sciences and become a...
Students from the La Conner area have been named to the dean’s list at the University of Washington. To qualify for the dean’s list, a student must have completed at least 12 graded credits and have a grade point average of at least 3.50 (out of 4). Students are notified that they have achieved this distinction when they receive their grades for the quarter. Autumn 2023 Quarter MacQuaid Hiller, junior Kylee Marie Navarro, junior Winter 2024 Quarter Eleanor Drews, freshman MacQuaid Hiller, junior Andre Knudson, junior Preston Miguel Rivas, jun...
La Conner Little Braves Preschool graduates broke through a tribute sign on the way to their outdoor graduation ceremony May 31. Each graduate received a diploma, gift bag and award certificate. The program is closing due to national Head Start budget cuts, perhaps to be replaced with a district transitional kindergarten next year. - Photo by Bill Reynolds...
In preparation for becoming interim superintendent of the La Conner School District, Dave Cram took the oath of office during the district’s board of directors meeting Monday and he did not stop there. The school board methodically and unanimously passed seven resolutions authorizing Cram to sign documents, invest funds, pay bills and designating him as agent and auditing officer and more. Board President Susie Deyo told Cram, “You are official. On July first, you have all the authority of the school district. Have fun.” Deyo had first recogn...
Math can be serious stuff, but it's also a great vehicle for fun and games. That was spelled out at La Conner Elementary School during the annual campus Math Night celebration May 1, when parents, students and staff geared up to experience the magic of numbers. "It's great that people can come in and see how math is fun," said Beth Clothier, La Conner School District's director of teaching and learning. "It's nice to see so many families here to do math games." The mood was festive, akin more...
The Kiwanis Club of La Conner announced its Students of the Month for April. High School Student of the Month is Samuel Williams. His parents are Carl and Naomi Williams. Samuel is a senior and his favorite class is wind ensemble. He plays trumpet in class and with the pep band. He also plays golf on the school team. Outside of school, he plays golf and does rock climbing. After graduation he would like to attend college but has not decided what he will study. Middle School Student of the Month...
Christmas came early for more than 40 La Conner Elementary School fifth graders. Rather than waiting to awaken Dec. 25 to find a new bicycle under the tree, students ended their school day May 2 with a bike of their own. They earned it – in both name and deed. The bikes were presented as part of a three-tiered, school-based Bicycle Safety Education program and its Earn-a-Bike initiative. Earn-a-Bike is an equity opportunity allowing youth to apply their new cycling skills in the real world by p...
Meet Josilynn Straathof, La Conner Soroptimists' February Student of the Month. She is the proud daughter of Brian Straathof and DeAnna Young and has attended La Conner High School since her sophomore year. She is currently senior class president and the student representative to the La Conner School Board. She said it has been interesting experiencing the workings of the board. She uses her leadership skills as class president leading the fundraising and attending the many events required. She...
The Kiwanis Club of La Conner has announced its students of the month for March. High school student of the month is Tyler Cicotte, a junior. Tyler's parents are Vince and Barb Cicotte. Tyler's favorite class is Spanish and he's excited to be going to Honduras with the Spanish class in June. He likes to play basketball, golf and video games. After graduation, he wants to attend college, but has not decided what he might study. Middle school student of the month is Annika Keith. Her parent is...
