Message from the Principal

As I meet with my staff to talk about student achievement, I am constantly impressed by how deeply they care about the students. Not just the students in their own classroom, but all the students at this school. I hear them talk about student scores and academic performance, but I also hear them talk about characteristics of students such as their leadership skills, keen sense of humor, kind nature, or respectfulness. At Spinning Elementary, we want to nurture and celebrate the positive acts that our students do. Learning to be kind, honest, respectful to others, or helpful, especially when it is not directly asked of students or monitored by the teacher, is true character development! As a way of reinforcing exceptional acts of positive behavior, staff give students a “Viking Victory”. This is a slip that acknowledges the behavior of the student that was above and beyond the expectation. Students bring these slips to the office, and their names are announced the next day in the morning announcements. Then, the slip is put into a drawing for “Pizza with the Principal”. Our gracious PTA provides pizza and drinks for a small group of students, and I get to enjoy hearing funny pet stories or about the students’ recent adventures. There is a poster that has the saying, “Character is doing the right thing… even when no one is looking”. This saying captures what every parent wants their child to learn, and that is that sometimes, we help someone out, pick up that garbage, or share without being asked. Even when there is nothing “in it” for us, we still do it, because it is the right thing to do.

SPINNING ELEMENTARY — 1306 EAST PIONEER — PUYALLUP, WASHINGTON 98372
Telephone: (253) 841-8742, Fax: (253) 840-8942
Laura King, Principal Pam Nelson, Counselor Karen Smith, School Nurse
Barb Schmitten, Office Manager Robyn Buck, Secretary Ozzie Futch, Chief Custodian

Puyallup School District does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation including gender expression or identity, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability in its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups.

Questions and complaints of alleged discrimination may be directed to:
Lorraine Wilson, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources ~ (253) 841-8764
Executive Director of Diversity Affairs ~ (253) 840-8966
Title IX Coordinator ~ (253) 841-8785
Section 504 Coordinator ~ (253) 841-8700

Harrassment Policy:
The Puyallup School District has an anti-discrimination policy(Policy 3211)and a policy covering harassment, intimidation and bullying (Policy 3207). The policies were revised and adopted by our Board of Directors in August 2003 as a means of providing the safest and most optimum learning environment for all students. Copies of these policies are available on the district website www.puyallup.k12.wa.us or by calling the office of Diversity Affairs at 253-840-8966.