Montesano School District

Excellence in Education

Montesano is a community where people learn,
grow and work together.  With high-quality
instruction, every student, regardless of race, class,
language, or disability, can succeed. 

Beacon's Reading to Dogs Program Featured on King 5 News

http://www.king5.com/story/news/local/2015/10/22/students-learn-to-read-reading-to-dogs/74427012/

MONTESANO, Wash. -- Every Thursday, a class of eager 3rd graders comes into the library at Beacon Elementary School for the weekly reading lesson.

Daylon picks Maggie, a mutt who doesn't like water but loves adventure stories.

Haley picks Mitsy, a 12-year-old toy poodle who promises she's listening even with her eyes shut.

Patrick walks over to Maggie, a Shetland sheep dog who prefers fiction.

There are 20 students in total who spend 15 precious minutes each week reading to the dog of his or her choice, thanks to a corps of dedicated volunteers and their canine companions.

"Reading is like playing a sport," said Marlene Vahl, a retired teacher at Beacon who started the "reading to dogs" program a couple years ago. "The more you practice the better you get. But practice is easier to do if it's fun."

Students like Daylon, Hayley and Patrick all say the same thing: They love reading to dogs more than reading alone or reading to people because the dogs just sit and listen.

"Dogs don't stop you in the middle of the story," said Haley. "By myself, it's lonely. With a dog, they just keep me comfortable."

Patrick admits he doesn't like reading alone very much; however, after he started reading to dogs at school, he found a new hobby he enjoys at home: reading to dogs.

"I think it made my skills get higher when I read to dogs," said Patrick.

The school picks students who teachers think may benefit from the program, according to teachers.

Vahl, who taught kindergarten and 2nd grade at Beacon Elementary before retiring, says she's changed her appreciation of teaching techniques after observing kids reading to dogs.

"In our eagerness as teachers and parents to make sure they're reading just right, sometimes we interrupt more than we should," said Vahl. "Sometimes it just works better if you can just let it be, and let them read and enjoy what they're reading."

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Rumor Clarification

There is a rumor going around town that there was an attempted abduction of a student near Simpson Elementary yesterday.  That is not true.  There was some concern expressed by a citizen who saw something that seemed out of the ordinary, so we spent some time yesterday investigating it to make certain there was not a danger to any of our students.  The result of that investigation is that at no time was any student in any kind of danger.  

The safety of our students is one of our primary concerns and we work very hard to make sure they are safe.  If you ever have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to call either one of the buildings or the district office.

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Montesano Jr/Sr High School Open House & Free Flu Shots

Open House at Montesano Jr/Sr High School will be on Wednesday, September 16 from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm.  We encourage you all to come in and meet the teachers and to ask any questions you may have.

During the open house, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm, flu shots will be available for free to anyone age 12 and older with proof of the following insurance policies:  Premera Blue Cross, Premera, Group Health, Lifewise, Health Net and Medicare.  The nurse is not contracted to take any state insurance (Apple).  You must bring a either a copy of your insurance card or the card.  Medicare cards are required, no copies.  Please bring ID as well.

For those who do not have any of the above referenced insurance policies, the cost is $30.  Only checks and cash accepted.

If students come without a parent, they will need to have a completed permission form (see link below to print) in order to receive a shot.  All students under 18 must have a form, even without a parent present.

Minor Consent for Flu Shot

Open Enrollment: April 27-May 1

Will your child be 5 years old by August 31? It's time to enroll your child for kindergarten!

Preschool and kindergarten open enrollment for the 2015-2016 school year is scheduled for April 27 – May 1. Parents who complete the necessary information during the scheduled open enrollment week will have priority placement for their child. Click here for more information on how to register.

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