Students and new staff enjoy robust welcome back to school

After slogging through a spring and summer beset with budget woes, La Conner Schools officials and staff shifted gears last week to focus on what they do best – create priceless memories for local students and families.

The 2023-2024 year launched with a soft-start half-week of instruction beginning with Aug. 29 Braves Day orientation activities.

Building principals Heather Fakkema-Hovde and Christine Tripp said Braves Day, which provided a relaxed atmosphere for students to meet teachers and advisors, obtain class schedules, pose for photos and complete related first-day tasks, went exceptionally well despite being moved indoors due to rain.

“I thought it was a fantastic day,” said Fakkema-Hovde of the elementary school. “We had a really good turnout. About every family came. I know our teachers appreciated connecting with our families in a low-stress environment and it helped our kids feel more comfortable. So, it was a really good day.”

Starting classes ahead of Labor Day weekend rather than the day after also had its advantages, Fakkema-Hovde believes.

“I think it helped everybody build up their stamina after summer vacation,” she said, “and the kids have responded really well to being back in school.”

“The best feedback we’ve had on Braves Day has come from our teachers,” Tripp, principal of the middle and high school, told the Weekly News. “Our staff has said they really liked making connections with students in a relaxed format prior to the first day of classes.”

It was the same for new staff, some of whom will fill part-time roles, as the district copes with reduced state and federal funding due to declining enrollment and loss of COVID-19 pandemic monies.

Elementary students greeted music teacher Karen Rentko, who will be on campus mornings Monday through Friday.

“We’re very excited about her,” Fakkema-Hovde said. She’s been a music educator for over 20 years. She brings a lot of experience in vocal and instrumental instruction. So, she’s been able to hit the ground running.” Rentko formerly taught in the Marysville district. “

Eric Crinklaw succeeds retired longtime middle and high school counselor Lori Buher. Crinklaw’s previous assignment was at Bonney Lake in Pierce County, but he hails from Friday Harbor.

“He has an NW2B background,” Tripp said, “so he’s a good fit for us.”

Aaron Gruber arrives from Arizona. He will teach physical education, taking the teaching position vacated by C.J. Woods.

“We’re glad to have him,” Tripp said. “He has a passion for physical education and a passion to help others. One of the things he’ll do is help students develop lifetime fitness plans.”

Julia Johnson will serve as a part-time math teacher, focusing on statistics, business math and algebra.

“She taught in Kent a long time and has a strong math background,” Tripp said.

Johnson’s math colleague will be Dan Hansen, who has taught here previously and will carry a diverse workload teaching pre-calculus, geometry and algebra, plus serving as yearbook advisor.

“We’re happy to have him back because he can do so many things,” said Tripp.

Juliene Wall, who has substitute taught in the district, joins the faculty as the high school’s special education teacher.

“We’re glad to have her here at the secondary level,” Tripp said, “and she’s doing great.”

Sheena Jones moves over from the elementary level, where she was a para-educator, to succeed the retired Juli Olson as the secondary office and administrative assistant.

“She has a great personality and knows the kids and families,” said Tripp.

Getting to know one another was the key theme of Braves Day, an opportunity to set the tone for the long school year ahead, said Tripp and Fakkema-Hovde.

“It was a great way to start the year,” Fakkema-Hovde stressed. “It was 100 per cent worth the time invested.”