Students from the Flight and Space classes at Maple View Middle School took to the field last week, to launch 2-liter bottle rockets that they had worked in teams to design and build. Grouped on the grass out past the track and baseball field, the students took turns placing their rockets on the launch pad and using a bicycle pump to add pressure to the bottles before releasing the valve.

"The whole point of this unit is the engineering design process, and working to fix your errors," said Shavon Modin, who teaches the Project Lead the Way class. Students created their rockets using the same basic design: a 2-liter bottle, fins, and a nose cone. Some groups modified their design or added details specifically for the look of the rocket. The challenge calls for students to attempt to build the highest-flying rocket possible; a functioning parachute would earn them extra credit.

"The name of our rocket is 'Clutch'" one group announced before launch. Another group named theirs "Blue Origin" after Jeff Bezos' Kent-based aerospace company.

The team members observed that on their first flight they pushed the nose cone down tighter and it flew higher. Lily O. said their biggest challenge was probably working with a parachute, because theirs never ejected properly.

Team member Madi H. said that she liked the fact that the project allowed variation.

"It's super creative. She gives you the general concept and you can design however you want," Madi said. "Mrs. Modin always has great ideas and makes everything really fun."

A few groups added a paper cutout of a person inside their rocket. One group built a triple-decker rocket, which looked so large that it didn't seem likely to fly high -- however, their excellent test flight proved they had calculated the weight, fins and other elements well.

While out in the field testing their rockets, students had access to duct tape, scissors, and other tools and items needed to make modifications and adjustments in between test flights.

In the classroom, examples of prior students' rockets hang from the ceiling as inspiration; the walls are covered in photos of scenes such as the Boeing assembly line. Project Lead the Way STEM curriculum that Tahoma is now using in the elementary and secondary levels. All Tahoma elementary students are now studying coding and robotics; to read more about that curriculum, click here. 

Eighth-grader Laina M. said she has enjoyed the rocket unit.

"It explores the engineering design process in a way that actually lets you materialize it. It's not just another seminar," Laina said. "It's not only fun; it's really immersive."

Students at Maple View Middle School test their 2-liter bottle rockets.

"I was pretty excited," Sherick said. "I didn't think I would get the grand prize."

The scholarship, sponsored by the Dairy Farmers of Washington and Les Schwab Tires, is awarded for achievement in academics, athletics, and community service.

Sherick, who was selected as a first-team outfielder by the North Puget Sound League this season, has won seven varsity letters at Tahoma, including four for tennis and three for baseball. He is a 4.0 student, has earned 25 college credits, and is a member of the National Honor Society. His service to the community includes participation in the Northwest Harvest Fights Hunger Program, Maple Valley Food Bank, and a memorial wreaths program to honor military veterans.

Sherick plans to attend Seattle University next fall, where he will continue to play baseball. He has been a three-year starter and leadoff hitter for the Bears baseball team. "The scholarship couldn't have gone to a more deserving young man," coach Russ Hayden said.





The Phase One curriculum is designed by NASA and the University of Washington, and students were able to register to earn five UW credits if they completed it successfully. Phase Two is a six-day experience that will be held at the Museum of Flight during three sessions in June and July. In each session, student teams work together to plan a human mission to Mars with support from professional engineers/scientists, university students and certificated educators. They also receive briefings from aerospace professionals, tour engineering facilities and compete in hands-on engineering challenges.

Student and teacher applications for the 2018-19 program year will be available starting August 2018 at www.museumofflight.org/was


There were 57 pieces submitted by high school students from throughout the Eighth Congressional District; the winning piece, Addeline Piippo's "Gold," will hang in the U.S. Capitol for the next year. Piippo attends Bethel High School.

Roof repair, other School Board business

Maple View Middle School's roof will be cleaned, repaired and re-sealed this summer to ensure that it will last another 20 years.

The Tahoma School Board approved the work at its May 8 meeting by awarding a contract to Garland/DBS Inc. The company will apply a waterproof coating called White-Knight Plus to the 89,000 square foot roof and repair a portion of the Maxwell Stadium roof. The board approved spending $1,023,598.44 for the entire project.

In other business May 8, the School Board:

• Selected names of volunteers to serve on the superintendent interview panels May 25. Using a blind draw, the board selected Laura Meyers and Elaine Chu as the parent members; Melissa Bean and Martina Morgan as teacher representatives; and Robert Bernard and Alan Eades to represent support staff.
• Offered thanks to the volunteers who campaigned in support of the Educational Programs and Operations levy that was approved by voters in the April 24 election.
• Postponed further discussion about establishing advisory committees on finance and school safety until the full school board can meet. Board member Val Paganelli was absent from the May 8 meeting due to a family commitment. The topic was added to the board's inquiry tracking system and will be addressed later this year.

Erin Jones visits THS Activists for Change group

Erin Jones, a former Tacoma Public Schools administrator who ran for State Superintendent of Public Instruction in 2016, spoke during a lunch hour meeting of the THS Activists for Change group.

Parents, community invited to "Jazz Nite" tomorrow

The jazz bands from Maple View and Summit Trail middle schools and Tahoma High School would like to invite you to the annual "Jazz Nite" concert, at 7 p.m. on Friday, May 18 at THS.

This marks the first year for this event in the new auditorium; the concert will also feature special guest artist Darren Motamedy, who will fly up from Las Vegas for the event. Motamedy is a saxophonist, flutist and composer who has released 12 smooth jazz albums since his debut, "First Generation" in 1989. Two of his albums have been selected as Jazz Album of the Year. Motamedy has performed with artists such as Kenny G, Jeff Lorber, Tom Scott, Ronnie Laws, Steve Oliver, Gerald Veasley, Paul Taylor, Marion Meadows, and has also performed for the Seahawks, Mariners, SuperSonics, Bill Gates and for the Russell Wilson Foundation. His current album, "Live a Special Day" is receiving kudos from fans across the globe.

Admission is free, and the directors have a surprise planned that you won't want to miss!

Safety and Emergency Preparedness Committee reviews new plan

Tahoma School District's Safety and Emergency Preparedness Committee is reviewing an updated emergency plan that will be put into effect next school year. The plan provides guidance to staff and students in the event of an emergency. The revised plan was constructed over the past year by members of the committee, led by Tahoma High School Safety Officer Karin Weihe.

The committee, which has representatives from every school and department as well as local law enforcement, fire district, and parents, held its final meeting of the year on May 2 and will resume meeting in September.

Rock Creek families, staff gather for fun with reading, math

A student and parent play "Walk the Dogs," a game that helps players practice counting and multiplication during the recent family reading and math game night at Rock Creek Elementary. Students who attended were also able to select a new book to take home.

Third-grade teacher Andy Planellas, right, and STEM teacher Michelle Hagen, left, play "HedBanz" with a student during the game night. Teachers, reading & math specialists, Principal Chris Thomas, Dean John Schuster and other staff played games with students.

Computer science, software engineers wanted at THS

Volunteers who work in the computer science or software engineering field are wanted for the TEALS (Technology Education and Literacy in Schools) program at Tahoma High School.The Microsoft Philanthropies program recruits, mentors and places passionate high tech professionals into high school classes as volunteer instructors.

The experts bring their subject knowledge into the classroom, where they join a Tahoma teacher in a team teaching model. The program provides training, curriculum and support for the volunteers and the classroom teachers.

Tahoma High School has applied to this program for the 2018-19 school year. We are looking for volunteer Teaching Assistants (TAs) to assist the classroom teacher in teaching "AP Computer Science A: Introduction to Java Programming," which is based on the University of Washington's CSE 142 course. These classes will be held first period so that volunteers can get to their regular jobs.

Anyone who is interested may contact Marty Barber, Tahoma's CT E director, at [email protected] or submit a volunteer application at tealsk12.org/volunteers . For more information about TEALS, visit their website . 

Registration open for robotics camp sessions

The Bear Metal Robotics Boosters will offer three sessions of summer camp this year, for campers ages 8 to 14. During the camp, student counselors will teach attendees how to build a robot in groups using VEX robotics parts and programming. Participants will be given a game to play with specific tasks to score points much like what members of Bear Metal do during the year, but on a smaller scale. On the fifth day of camp, campers will compete against each other in a small competition that family and friends are invited to watch.

Sign-up forms for each camp available here:

*Camp session #1 for students entering grades 3-5, June 25 to June 29 ($200): bit.ly/BearMetalCamp1
*Camp session #2 for students entering grades 6-8, July 9 to July 13 ($220): bit.ly/BearMetalCamp2
*Camp Session #3 for students entering grades 3-5, July 16 to July 20 ($200): bit.ly/BearMetalCamp3

Questions may be sent to [email protected] Or, for more information, visit www.tahomarobotics.org

Public invited to meet, hear superintendent candidates May 21

A full day of interviews and meetings for three superintendent finalists concludes with a public session in the Tahoma High School performing arts center, beginning at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, May 21. Candidates will answer questions submitted by staff and community members.

The three finalists will be chosen from a field of candidates who applied for the position as part of a national search to find the next Tahoma School District superintendent, following the retirement of Superintendent Rob Morrow June 30. A group of semifinalists will be interviewed by the School Board on Saturday, May 19. The finalists then will be invited to participate in an all-day interview process on Monday. Three interview panels, which include parents, students, staff, community leaders, administrators, and School Board members, will question the superintendent candidates. Candidates also will tour the school district.

Following Monday's interviews, the School Board will receive feedback from the interview panels and then will begin deliberating to determine which candidate will be offered the job. A final decision is expected by May 24.

Students, families and community members are invited to participate in the 35th annual Maple Valley Bear Run/Walk 5K during Maple Valley Days on Sunday, June 10. The event is a fundraiser for the Tahoma Cross Country team.