Tips From The Top

Back to school is always a troubling time. It can get so hectic. So Patch asked Enumclaw Schools Superintendent Mike Nelson to share 5 things students and parents can do to make it easier. He decided to do it the David Letterman way. Patch also shares a little about new staff in the district.

Tips from the top

5. Take advantage of school supply sales. Stock your cupboards with notebooks, pens and pencils now and your pocketbook will thank you later.

4. Carefully read correspondences from your school, peruse the ESD website daily during these final weeks before school begins, attend back to school days and walk your child around their school as a family outing. This information gathering and family activities will lessen anxiety for all of you.

3. Talk about your expectations for your home routines with your children (bed time, homework, curfews). Establish them before school begins.

2. Demonstrate to your children how much you value learning. Engage in daily conversations with them about their day at school and let them know what you are learning at work or about what book you are currently reading.

1. Make it a family ritual to hug, kiss and/or say “I love you” as your child leaves for school each morning. This helps them arrive at school settled and ready to learn.

There are only four new staff this year. Dewey Sullivan of Black Diamond is the librarian, Deborah Ogborn of Kent will teach Spanish,
and Raeann Webb of White River is the family health and consumer science teacher. Caspar Van Haalen is the new assistant principal, coming from Pocatello, Idaho.

Kim Hatzenbeler is the district’s bilingual specialist, Lori Patrick is now teaching at Methow Valley, and Assistant Principal Ed Hatzenbeler is principal at Orting High School.

Gone are Eilen Stevens, Martha Blodgett and Susan Stedham, who all retired.