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Archive for the ‘Not sports? Tough!’ Category

Wolves on the prowl in the great outdoors. (Photos courtesy Kelly Powers)

Never stop moving but leave no trace behind.

A pack of Coupeville athletes were at the front as a local Scout troop ventured deep into the forest recently, covering 10 miles and over 2000 feet in elevation gain.

Allie Powers, who capped the school year by playing a key defensive role for a CHS softball team which went to state, was the senior patrol leader.

Joining her were incoming freshmen Zariyah Allen, Claire Lachnit, and Anna Powers, with the latter two tackling meal planning for the group.

Rounding out Troop 4058 were middle schooler Daniel Powers, who is considering following in his sister’s footsteps as a cross country runner, and Ghengis and Tiberius Carrol, on loan from Florida Troop 313 during their summer vacation.

Scoutmasters Kelly Powers and Matt Lachnit were also on hand.

While out on its trek, the troop explored the crash site of a B-17 bomber, ventured into the cave of a deserted mine, slept while it was in the 40’s and hiked under a blazing sun.

Allie noted she packed and needed both shorts and fleece-lined jeans!” said Kelly Powers.

While this adventure is in the books, more beckon, as the troop is already planning a future three-day trip in the same region with a further reach.

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Jonathyn Driscoll and Bettie Woolworth performed strongly at the state SkillsUSA competition. (Photo courtesy Amber Waldner)

Build for the future, shine today.

Three Coupeville students impressed the judges at the state competition for SkillsUSA, showcasing their aptitude for vocational excellence.

CHS freshman Bettie Woolworth earned 1st place in Pin Design, while also being selected as a State Officer, while sophomore Max Ohme claimed 1st place in Motorcycle Service Technology.

Rounding out things was middle school ace Jonathyn Driscoll, who collected 2nd place in Pin Design.

Woolworth now advances to the national competition in June.

For Pin Design, each competitor created a pin and artwork while participating in an oral presentation to explain “how the pin represents their state, its unique qualities and why another SkillsUSA student or adult member would want to wear the pin.”

Ohme and his fellow motorcycle enthusiasts performed “tasks representative of those encountered in a dealership’s service department.”

This includes things such as electrical diagnostic work, precision measurement, brake service, and fuel delivery system inspection and repair.

SkillsUSA is a career and technical student organization serving more than 442,000 high school, college and middle school students across the country.

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Deb Sherman hangs out with one of her grandkids at a basketball game a few years back. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

She came from the big city and built a vibrant life on the prairie where her husband’s family has lived for generations.

Along the way, Deb Sherman, who ran at the state cross country meet for Everett High School back in her Deb Dire days, has become forever linked to Coupeville.

This is where she and husband Don raised their three sons, this is where her countless grandchildren now frolic, this is where her kindness and joy have taken root.

When the school year ends, she is stepping away after 27 years of guiding Cow Town’s children, retiring from the teaching profession she has honored, and which has given her so much in return.

Not that she’s going away anytime soon, just that she won’t be in a classroom at the elementary school anymore, one of the best to ever do the job.

As she prepares for the transition, Mrs. Sherman offers a fervent farewell:

 

These years have been filled with moments I’ll carry with me forever.

I’ll never forget standing at a Coupeville parade a few years back, watching float after float go by filled with students in various sports and activities.

They were shouting, “Hello, Mrs. Sherman!” from every direction.

The woman standing next to me finally turned and asked, “Who are you?”

That’s when it hit me — in Coupeville, we teachers are rock stars.

At games, at community events, even in the grocery store, we’re recognized and valued in a way that’s rare and precious.

I will deeply miss that connection.

I’ll miss the kids who grew up before my eyes, the families who trusted me with their children, and the colleagues who became friends.

This community has given me far more than I could ever give back, and I’m grateful for every moment — the challenging ones that made me grow and the joyful ones that reminded me why I chose this profession.

Thank you for 27 years of support, laughter, and shared purpose.

While I’m ready for what comes next, leaving this small district family will be bittersweet.

With gratitude and warm regards,

Debra Sherman

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Free dinner and childcare, plus sage advice to battle the screens trying to sap the life from your child.

That’s what the Coupeville School District is offering next Tuesday, Feb. 24, when it will host author Katherine Martinko.

Katherine Martinko

Martinko is a professional editor and writer with a decade-plus of experience in digital publishing whose work has appeared on numerous platforms including the Huffington Post and CBC Radio and National TV.

As a freelance editor she has worked for major brands such as Martha Stewart and the Discovery Network.

Plus, fun side fact, Martinko is also a classically trained violinist.

For the pertinent details on her upcoming talk in Coupeville, scroll down to the photo below.

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A simple yes vote can help fund the future.

The Coupeville School District has two replacement levies on the Feb. 10 ballot — the EP&O Levy Renewal and the Capital Technology Levy Renewal — and both earn my support.

They’re not new taxes but instead replace levies previously approved by local voters in 2022.

Keep them in place and they help shore the district up against shortfalls created by lawmakers in Olympia who continue to mouth platitudes to education while frequently leaving schools to save themselves.

Levies do NOT build new schools or fund major construction projects — that’s a bond.

Instead, levies “support the people, programs, and tools that make learning possible every day.”

So, what’s the breakdown on these levies?

 

Proposition 1: Educational Programs and Operations (EP&O) Levy Renewal

Supports day-to-day operations and programs including:

*Additional classroom staff to keep class sizes low
*Programs including advanced classes/Highly Capable, language services, and social-emotional supports
*Athletics, clubs, and extracurriculars
*Career and technical education and hands-on learning opportunities
*Music and performing arts classes

 

Proposition 2: Capital Technology Levy Renewal

Continues funding to ensure students have access to secure facilities and modern learning opportunities, including:

*Repairs and maintenance at every school
*Student, staff, and school technology, including devices, security, software, and accessibility
*Security updates, including cameras and entry access systems

 

Over the past couple of months, I have been part of a group which meets to discuss the facilities in the Coupeville School District.

During that time, I’ve seen some of the behind-the-scenes work, and it’s deepened my appreciation for what district employees, on every level, accomplish each day.

Every school system has its good points and bad points, but Coupeville overwhelmingly remains a positive place for your child to be educated.

Stand with our educators and administrators, with our para’s and our coaches, with the men and women down there in the trenches working their rears off to make sure Coupeville’s kids are successes.

Vote yes when you get your ballot in the mail.

It’s simple. It’s easy. It’s the right thing to do.

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