As you browse the internet or work on your computer, we invite you to listen to these quality performances by Richland School District music groups. Enjoy!

From the Bellevue Jazz Festival, May 2, 2008

From the 2008 Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival.

The Richland School District's summer ceramics class draws kids of all ages as instructor Robert McMinn explains in this Tri-City Herald video story (2:43).

October 2008

"Today was the best day ever!" That was the comment from a Jason Lee Elementary School third grader after a playground visit from some Richland High football and volleyball players.

"We like to do fun things on Fridays so we invited the RHS student-athletes to come over and play with the younger kids during recess," said Jason Lee principal Kathy Page. "They interacted with our students in such a positive way. They certainly are excellent role models."

It's 5:30 am on a dark November morning and there's activity inside the Richland High gymnasium. Twenty-two girls are leaping, twisting and kicking to high energy music. While most of their fellow students are still sound asleep, members of the RHS Goldrush Dance Team are trying to nail their routines for an upcoming performance.

"Every girl puts in a lot of time to make the dance routines the best that they can be," says Goldrush coach Wendy White. "We practice ten months a year so it takes a lot of dedication."

White is a professional dance instructor who has led the successful RHS program for the past 14 years. The team practices every Tuesday and Thursday morning, Monday after school and one Saturday a month.

"It's all about commitment and giving your best effort," emphasizes White. "If you're going to be on the team, then give 110%. Don't do anything half way. The girls know my expectations when they join the team."

Current and past Goldrush dancers have bought into White's philosophy. The Richland High girls have won four national dance titles in recent years. They've also won the 'Hardest Working' and 'Most Improved' awards at team camps.

Every year, Goldrush dancers earn dance scholarships at colleges such as Gonzaga, Boise State and WSU. Many have gone on to teach at studios and camps while others have coached school and professional dance teams.

"I coach dance with the idea that I am here to nurture and build up these young women so they will be positive contributors to their world," says White.

Flint knapping is the ancient art of making stone tools, such as knives and axeblades, out of raw stone. While most people have never heard of flint knapping, some Carmichael Middle School students have not only learned about it, but also tried it. In photo at right, longtime flint knapper Greg Greger shows some Carmichael students how obsidian is turned into a tool. The flint knapping and many other discovery activities are part of the highly capable (Hi-Cap) Washington State History class.

"The Hi-Cap history class encourages analysis and outside-the-box thinking," says teacher Kristina Rawlins. "The course is rigorous, requiring a high degree of student participation in discussions and projects."

Students analyze how historical conditions shape the emergence of ideas and how ideas change over time. They use maps, charts and other geographic tools to understand the spatial arrangement of people, resources and environments in Washington State. Discovery is emphasized through the many and varied hands-on learning activities.

"The students are inquisitive and eager to learn," adds Rawlins. "They are a joy to teach."

Find out more about flint knapping at: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flintknapper

For more information on the RSD middle school Hi-Cap program, contact Mike Johnson at mike.johnson@rsd.edu

Richland High physics students observe how a 50 gram weight extends the length of a spring. The students added mass in 50 gram increments and measured how far the spring extended in each instance.

"Students are learning about graphical analysis and proportions," explains teacher John Bittinger. "In this lab, the extension of a spring is directly proportional to the mass applied. Students graph their data to discover a direct proportion. Later in the unit, we'll apply this knowledge of Hooke's Law to more complex scenarios - like bungi jumping."

November 2008

Foundation grant helps students learn about agriculture

How does a crop of winter wheat end up as a basket of baked rolls on a dinner table? How do rainfall, sunshine and soil affect the growth of beans or tomatoes? A mini farm in the Sacajawea Elementary School courtyard is helping students answer questions like this.

"The Tri-Cities is surrounded by agricultural land so it makes sense to teach our kids something about it," says Benita Brown, librarian at Sacajawea Elementary School.

Science units at various grades are being enhanced because of the working garden. One example is when first grade students planted a small plot of winter wheat, harvested it and then baked bread. The first graders wrote about what they had learned, creating a picture book with photos. In the photo above.... after students had threshed and winnowed a small crop of winter wheat, Brown explained that the wheat straw will be composted to enrich the soil of the school's mini farm.

Financing of the outdoor learning lab was made possible through a grant from the Richland Education Foundation. Courtyard development was accomplished thanks to help from WSU Cooperative Extension Service, WSU Tri-cities, Washington Native Plant Society and Sacajawea staff.

Fall 2008

West Side Church in Richland has stepped up in a big way to help Marcus Whitman Elementary School. For the past two years, 40 members of the congregation have tutored students in reading and provided them with breakfast.

"It's a meaningful partnership," says Paul Dann, Marcus Whitman principal. "The church members care about these students and are showing it in a tangible way."

The 25 students arrive at the church on Tuesday and Thursday mornings at 7:30. The Tuesday sessions are one-on-one with students reading to their mentors. Small group learning (photo above) takes place on Thursdays.

At 8:10, the church provides breakfast along with an adult volunteer who reads a story out loud. The students are then escorted the two blocks to Marcus Whitman for the start of the school day.

"The tutors are overseen by state certified teachers from the West Side congregation," explain Ken and Karen Gasper, co-directors of the West Side Tutoring Program. "The church purchased curriculum materials from the same company which provides the school materials. Students are receiving consistent instruction throughout the day."

And what are the results? Is the before school program making a difference in the students' reading abilities?

"A majority of the students achieved grade level by the end of the school year," adds Dann. "Some even made it by midyear and were able to exit out of the program."