Mount Si High band students honored
Thirteen Mount Si High School band students were recently honored for their dedication by being named to 2021 All State High School bands.
The Washington Music Educators Association announced that Samuel Boysen and Simon Boysen were also selected for the 2021 All-State Concert Band. Samuel Boysen is a 10th grader who plays tuba, and Simon Boysen is a 9th grader who plays French horn.
A total of 13 students from the high school were selected for the Western International Band Clinic to comprise the WIBC Honor Bands for High School Students, according to a press release from the Snoqualmie Valley School District. These students include:
Haven Beares, bass trombone, 11th grade
Samuel Boysen, tuba, 10th grade
Simon Boysen, French horn, 9th grade
Walker Byford, percussion, 12th grade
Rachel Chai, flute, 9th grade
Samuel Chen, trombone, 11th grade
Liann Downs, clarinet, 11th grade
Thomas Lewis, euphonium, 11th grade
Urielle Lockwood, trombone, 10th grade
Eleanor McEneaney, flute, 11th grade
Ethan Palomo, trumpet, 11th grade
Saumya Suripeddi, flute, 10th grade
Andrew Wall, trumpet, 10th grade
As part of this group, the students will participate in the WIBC Virtual Event that includes master classes, rehearsals, leadership events and other opportunities during the weekend of Feb. 20 – 21. They will also be recording virtual honor band performances premiering later in March.
School board adopts remote learning grading resolution
Remote learning continues to present challenges for students, staff and parents as the pandemic keeps most students learning remotely. As a result, the School Board at its Jan. 26 meeting adopted a resolution for temporarily changing its grading policies for the first semester of the 2020-21 school year for high school courses.
A press release from the city spells out the changes:
The temporary policy will acknowledge students who demonstrate improved learning during the second half of the school year, in the following ways:
For year-long courses, the resolution allow for second semester grades to replace first semester grades, if those grades are higher. If grades go lower second semester, both grades will be posted as they stand.
For semester-long courses, these details will apply:
If the student does not need the credit to graduate, the course will remain an NC on the student’s transcript. This has no impact on the student’s GPA.
For courses that are graduation requirements, students will work directly with the teacher to extend the semester to complete work to earn a passing grade.
Look for communication from MSHS about semester-long courses that went out after first semester grades were posted.
SVSD seeks staff
Snoqualmie Valley School District is looking for bus drivers, emergency substitute teachers, substitute paraeducators, health room assistants and bus mechanics as in-person learning is gradually phased in.
“The pandemic, coupled with the related new public health requirements for schools, is presenting new challenges for adequately staffing our schools,” a press release from the district states.
The district will provide paid training and will reimburse bus drivers for obtaining a commercial driver’s license. Once trained, wages start at $26.13 an hour and the district is offering new hires a $1,500 bonus.
Emergency substitute teachers should have at least an associate of arts degree and an interest in working in the classroom Substitute teachers at the elementary level can earn $200 for an 8.5 hour day. For the secondary level, the rate is $166.43 for a 7.5 hour day.
Substitute paraeducators are paid between $17.43 and $18.65 per hour.
School bus mechanics can earn up to $29.33 per hour.
More information can be found online at the school district’s website.
