Area 5 Leader Bodies...


We are less than a week away from the WACA conference.  The schedule is in place, the speakers are ready, the entertainment has been arranged, and the class sessions are full.  I’m looking forward to seeing you all.  
 
Some final details to your conference planning:
 
#1:  Attire -  The conference is very casual; jeans and a t-shirt usually work very well.  Since our theme is Tune in to Leadership, how about bringing a concert/music shirt to wear on Thursday.  And Friday, we try to show off our school colors, so find some spirit gear from your school.  Some people like to dress a bit nicer for the Thursday evening awards banquet, but that is very optional.
 
#2:  Clock Hours -  Recall that 10 clock hours are available at the close of the conference.  The sign-in will be quick, but please plan for a few minutes to complete that task.
 
#3:  Area Meetings -  I am looking to having a chance to see everyone, hang out and share resources and ideas at our area meetings.  Looking forward to some great networking!
 
All right, that should do until we see each other next Wednesday.  Please let me know what questions you have.




Make it a great day!


Stacia Hardie
EHS Assistant Principal

​Area 5 Leader Bodies...WACA is only a month away!  I hope you are as excited as I am for this year's conference.


I have two quick conference items for you:
First, Barnes and Noble is managing our Resource Room this year.  That means that they will provide the books and supplies for us.  One of the advantages of using them, is that they are available during the conference, and beyond.  They have set up a special code for us (bookfair ID is 12325999), that is active from March 15 – 20.  So if you don’t pick up an item during the conference, you can go to the local B & N store, or online, and get that item for the same price as during the conference (but only from March 15-20).  
Second, we still have a couple of spots to fill for our conference Meet the Pros session.  Meet the Pros is really nice, because it is just a 10 minute chat (actually less, when you consider discussion and questions!)  You have something cool at your school… so present it!  All delegates that present at Meet the Pros get a copy of all Meet the Pro presenter handouts!!  Wow!    So…

• Have you got a novel way to celebrate students (birthday calendar each month?  Their face in a cut-out star that is taped to the cafeteria wall?)
• Do you have a cool alternative to decorating with butcher paper?
• What cool technology are you using in class?  
• Do you hold a leadership retreat?
• Do you have a great MLK/Black History month assembly?

Share one of the amazing things that is happening at your school!
The presenter application is really easy to find on the website (wacaonline.org).   ;-)
Get your application in TODAY!  

Happy New Semester Area 5!
Are you ready for a March break?  Don't forget to register for WACA 2018...Tune into Leadership!
Just a quick note:
Laurel Robillard, WACA Board President, sent out the following update regarding our conference hotels.  Looks like there a some rooms left for reserving!  I’ve added the contact phone numbers, if that is how you want to contact them.  But you can also find them online.  Please note the address of the Red Lion; there are two of them in the Kennewick area.
February 9th is the reservation deadline...after that rooms not reserved (with names) will be released to the public...we are getting the group rate...
Springhill Suites        (509) 820-3026

• $139/night
• 8 rooms just opened up

Hilton Garden Inn    (509) 735-4600

• $129/night
• 11 rooms left

Red Lion        (509) 396-9979
602 N Young St

• $129/night
• 22 rooms left

A couple more quick items for you:

• Clock Hours:  10 clock hours are available for attending the instructional sessions of the conference.  These are FREE (yep!), and they are available at the end of the conference AFTER THE CLOSING SESSION.  No, I’m not using all caps to “yell” at you.  I’m using them to emphasize when they are available – we have to maintain the integrity of our offerings, so they are not available before the closing of the conference.  So please, plan for this time.  We too are planning; we know that things were a bit slow last year, and we are planning on streamlining the process and offering MULTIPLE pick-up stations.
• WACA Board:  We have elections this year for the following positions:  President-Elect, Middle-Level Rep, Secretary, and Even # Area Reps (Areas 2, 4, 6, and 8). We also have an appointed position up for selection this year:  the Partner Coordinator.  If you are interested in any of these positions, check out the info (and application) on the website. 

​
Please let me know if you have any questions!

Make it a great day!

Stacia Hardie
EHS Assistant Principal

Happy Fall WACA Area 5!
 
Here's an update on all things WACA.
 
Registration is open for our WACA Conference, March 14-16 at the Tri-Cities Convention Center in Kennewick at wacaonline.org.   Get your paperwork in, reserve those substitutes and put it on the calendar to recharge your battery in March.  Here are some conference details.

• The Pre-Conference session topics and the Speakers Showcase speakers are listed on the website, if you’d like a little advance peak at some highlights of the first day of the conference.  The outline for the entire conference is online as well.
• Hotel information is available too.  Book now, so you get a great room.
• When you register, look carefully at the section for menu options/concerns.  We’re trying to serve our delegates as best we can, and trying to be sensitive to dietary needs.

Be a Presenter at WACA.  We need you to help make our conference great.  Share your expertise and creativity, by presenting a session at the conference.  If you would rather not do a 50 minute session, we have alternatives with Meet the Pros!!

WACA Hall of Fame:  If you would like to nominate someone for the WACA Hall of Fame, the deadline is December 1, 2017.  Check the menu bar on the left hand side of our homepage (wacaonline.org) to access the Hall of Fame info and application

Don’t forget that you can apply for Washington State Advisor Certification.  We started the program earlier this year, and have thirty or so certified advisors at this time.  If you’re interested, please refer to the application on line at wacaonline.org (it’s the third menu tab on the left side of the home page).  Application deadline is February 1, 2018.  If you have questions, feel free to shoot me an email.

Make it a great day!

Stacia Hardie
EHS Assistant Principal
​WACA Area 5 Representative​

Thanks for joining us!Allow me to take this opportunity to extend my thanks to my fellow WACA Conference attendees.  Thank you for sharing your valuable time with myself and others. Thank you on behalf of students, staff and parents that will all ultimately benefit from your experiences at WACA. The fine leaders of WACA are always appreciative of input to help shape and improve your experience and value.  I am providing a link below for you to share your thoughts.

Please visit the WACA website for all the latest information and news.
I am always available to answer any questions. You can email me at school or home.

Good Morning Area 5 Leaderbodies!!

WACA's Ordinary Heroes Conference is just around the corner!  If you haven't registered yet, it is not too late.  Register today at www.wacaonline.org!

This year's conference is in the Palm Springs of Washington, Yakima!!!!  If you haven't already, mark your calendars for March 11, 12 and 13.

Some tidbits of information!!!

1.  We are excited about our "Hero" theme this year and invite you to wear your Superhero Swag on Thursday, March 12th.

2.  On Friday, March 13th, plan to wear YOUR SCHOOL SPIRIT gear!

3.  As usual, we will have a bit of fun at our area meetings.  We will do a chocolate basket and a favorite drink basket giveaway.  If you would like to participate, bring your favorite chocolate for the chocolate basket and your favorite drink item for the favorite drink basket.  This could be a favorite mug, coffee, gift card, "liquid item", etc.

4.  INCREDIBLE WORKSHOP IN OUR AREA...We have an incredible opportunity to be a part of Servant Leader Training, with John Norlin.  He is coming to Moses Lake HS on Saturday, April 11th.  I have attached the informational flyer to this email.  If you haven't been a part of this, it is incredible...and so is John.

I am so excited for WACA...and hope you are too.  If you have any questions, please let me know!  Hope to see you in Palm Springs in March!

Stacia

If you haven't registered for WACA, it is not too late...the conference doesn't start until next Wednesday!!  You have one whole week !!!  Log on to www.wacaonline.org to get all of the conference registration information and forms (including hotel registration info).

Just a tad bit of information prior to next week...

We had to cancel the Hanford Nuclear Reactor Tour (pre-conference session).  There were not enough delegates signed up, so we didn’t meet their minimum group size.  There are other pre-conference sessions to attend.

A huge bonus of this conference is that Robert Fulghum is coming to speak to us after the banquet on Thursday.  He will also have some of his books available for purchase.  Barnes and Noble is handling the sale.  They want you to have the following information.

Barnes and Noble is handling the sale of Fulghum's books. 

• First, a percentage of the sales will come back to the WACA organization. 

• Second, because the conference is an educator’s conference, the Barnes and Noble educator discount is immediately applied to all sales at the convention.

• Third, if you are not signed up for the educator discount at other times, they will sign you up at the conference, if you wish.

• Finally, if you wish to purchase Fulghum books with a school PO, Barnes and Noble is comfortable with the process.  Wendy Lilly, the Communications Manager at the local Barnes and Noble says that all you need is the Barnes and Noble Institutional Account #  (that your school has).  If you’re not sure, check with your school.  Or Wendy says that you can contact her (crm2879@bn.com), and she will be glad to check the number for you. 

Don't forget that we will have some great give-aways during our area meetings...including my all-time favorite,The Chocolate Basket!  If you would like to participate, bring a package of your favorite chocolate.  We’ll put it in a basket and draw a winner at our last area meeting. 

Clock hours will be available at the conference.  Pre-conference sessions are 3 hours, and the rest of the conference is 10 hours.  Clock hours are available on Friday morning of the conference, through CISPUS and Martin Fortin!

Truly, this is the conference that I look forward to EVERY year.  You will walk away with great ideas, new inspiration, and a re-energized attitude that will take you through the end of the school year.   I look forward to seeing all of you next week...even you Greg Becker!  :)

Make it a great day!

Stacia

Hi Folks!

As your Area 5 Representative and WACA Board Member, I am so excited to let you know that our annual Washington Activity Coordinators Association Conference is right around the corner. 

WACA 2014 -- HELP! (Beatles theme) will take place in Kennewick this year at the Three Rivers Convention Center.  The dates are March 12-14.  If you haven't registered, you can do so now at www.wacaonline.org.  Our website has been update and is super user friendly.  You are only two clicks away from registering...make sure you do this!!

This year’s conference promises to bring new and exciting ideas for you to take back to your schools.  We have a great facility, lots of eating establishments nearby (including a couple Starbucks!), new ideas and presentations, and some cool surprises.

This year, the WACA conference will have a yearbook!  Every delegate that attends the conference will receive a complimentary yearbook!  Fun!   Balfour Yearbooks and their Representative, Kerri Smead, from Renton, will be attending and providing this awesome bonus for us!  Balfour will take photos of the delegates, speakers and breakout sessions, activities, and so on.  Yearbooks will then be delivered to you at your respective schools.  All of us should have better hair now than we did in our HS yearbook!

The WACA Social:  In past years, at the end of the awards banquet, we’ve had some entertainment prior to the official start of the social.  Well, this year we have a special speaker – Mr. Robert Fulghum.  If you’re familiar with the name, you’re already jumping up and down.  If you’re not sure, he’s the author of the book “All I Really Need to Know, I Learned in Kindergarten” (He has a number of books to his name, all great reads, all filled with inspiration, humor, and down-home wisdom.)  So be prepared for an hour of warmth and laughter after dinner on Thursday.  The social will follow our speaker.

We have a neat pre-conference offering this year, specific to the Tri-Cities area.  President Tim Turner thought it would be great to offer a Hanford site tour!  He has arranged for a tour of the historic B-Reactor.  The tour starts early – Wednesday morning at around 8am; we’ll ride out to the site and have a grand tour, and have lunch on the return trip… about 4 hours all in all.  It’s at the regular pre-conference fee.  One condition though – the tour is based on a minimum number of attendees (but has a maximum of 40).  So, if you’re interested, be sure to sign up.  The deadline for reserving your spot is February 15th.

Meals:  If you’re doing a pre-con, lunch on Wednesday is included.  Dinner on Wednesday is “on your own”.  (If you want suggestions for dining in the area, check out the ”conference location” bullet on the conference 2014 menu of the website).  Thursday, all of your meals are taken care of.  On Friday, breakfast is provided, and we’ll close the conference and send you off with a “box lunch”.

Lodging:  The Hilton Garden is already full, but the Red Lion has lots of room.  And there are a variety of other hotels in the immediate area.  Check out the website for a list, and for contact information.

Attire:  Casual attire is the conference norm.  Some folks dress up a bit for the Awards Banquet on Thursday.  And everyone wears school colors on Friday (wear your favorite school shirt/sweatshirt).

Elections:  During the conference, we will also be holding elections for the positions of President-Elect, the Middle-Level Representative, and our even Area Representative.  In addition, we’ll take applications for two appointed positions, the Program Coordinator and the Treasurer.  Check out the website for position descriptions.

 Past-President Kari Bradley is organizing the Resource Table this year.  She wants me to remind you that she will have lots of books and other items to peruse/purchase this year.  So file those POs, warm up those P-cards, dust off those checkbooks, and get ready to haul away some great resources.

In our area meetings, we always have give-aways/drawings.  This year we are going to start something new and fun shared with me by some of the other area representatives.  Who doesn’t like chocolate?  If you’d like to participate in ourChocolate Basket, just bring some of your favorite chocolate.  When you drop it in the basket, you will be eligible for the drawing.  We’ll draw a winner on Friday.  I’ll have some other surprises and drawings as well…

There will be a variety of presenters sharing throughout the conference.  Dig out your favorite leadership lesson or share what your school is doing to increase school climate…BE A PRESENTER!  Let me know if you’re interested in presenting, or if you know someone who does something really neat that THEY should share.  Check out the website for Session Presenters application, or again, just let me know.

I am so excited for WACA!  This has been my all-time favorite conference for over 10 years!  I always walk away feeling as though I can take what I have learned and turn around and use it in my school the next week.  The energy level of the attendees is so incredible.  It is truly an inspiring and rejuvenating conference…well worth your time and money!  COME JOIN THE FUN PEOPLE AT WACA!!

If you have any questions, please let me know…I’m here to serve you!

Make it a great day!

Stacia