November 12, 2025
ISSUE 46
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Cruiser Swim Team Shines at District Championships By Skip Smith
T
ANGIE TOMYN
he Eatonville High School girls swim team capped off a season of relentless effort and steady improvement with a standout showing at the West Central District 3 Championships on Friday and Saturday at Curtis High School, finishing 7th overall among 14 teams and putting up some of their best times of the year. The Cruisers scored 104 team points to secure their spot in the top 10, edging out league rivals Fife (100), Clover Park (61), and Washington High School (12). Nearly every swimmer posted a personal record over the two-day meet, a result that left the team’s coaches and fans beaming with pride. Assistant Coach Tira Hancock said the weekend was the culmination of months of dedication, discipline, and teamwork. “The girls went to the blocks with sheer determination to race and do their best, and they did,” Hancock said. “Almost every swimmer earned personal records during prelims and then broke those PRs again in finals! They swam
The Eatonville High School swim team posed for a photo at the West Central District 3 championships this past Friday. each race with a plan and worked that plan to finish the district meet with Cruiser pride.” Hancock said the results reflected how hard the swimmers
had worked throughout the season to improve their endurance, technique, and mental strength. “The Cruisers put their learning into practice, and all their hard
work provided the foundation for faster turns and stronger finishes,” she said. “I am so proud of these girls. The strength and grit they showed by swimming through pain
We are Eatonville Strong! Dear Eatonville Students, Staff, and Community Members,
GRATITUDE FOR OUR STAFF AND COMMUNITY s we enter the month of November, I want to extend my deepest gratitude to each of you for your continued support and dedication to promoting student attendance and academic achievement. Thank you to all who attended our school conferences in October. Your presence, insights, and collaboration with staff play a crucial role in helping our students achieve their best academic outcomes and prepare for success beyond Eatonville schools. Each day, I am reminded of how remarkable this community is. When I visit classrooms, I see dedicated staff focused on student learning; when I speak with parents, I hear about their volunteer efforts to enrich the educational experience; and when I attend community events, I meet people eager to support our schools in any way they can. Our athletic events are filled with fans who cheer for our students wholeheartedly, win or lose. The unwavering support of our families, staff, and community members makes a tremendous difference in the lives of our students. I am truly grateful to each of you. It is an honor to serve alongside you.
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SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLANS Last month, principals from all five of our schools met with our School Board during a
study session to share their schools’ academic progress from the 2024–25 school year and to present their improvement plans for 2025–26. They also outlined strategies for reaching those goals. This transparency was well received by both the Board and our community, and I’m pleased to share that our students showed strong progress overall in English Language Arts and Science. This year, we will continue our focus in those areas while placing additional emphasis on mathematics. I look forward to providing updates on our efforts and achievements throughout the year. It is inspiring to see how every school in our district is taking meaningful steps to recognize and encourage students for their commitment to great attendance and academic success.
TUTORING SUPPORT I’m also happy to report that the $2.3 million Joe Harned Student Support Trust Fund—established to expand tutoring in every school—is making a significant impact. Each building is using this generous resource to identify and assist students who benefit from additional academic support. This investment allows us to provide more personalized help, ensuring every student has access to the tools they need to succeed. If your student would benefit from tutoring, please reach out to your school’s staff to learn more about available opportunities.
STADIUM PROGRESS Our new track, field, and stadium project is taking great shape! Excavation for the track and field is complete, and the construction team is now working on the drainage system, curbing, fencing, and foundations for track-and-field events. Preparations are also underway for the stadium and restrooms. We are deeply grateful to Ohop Mutual Light Company for removing the old lights and poles, to LeMay Pierce County Refuse for hauling debris, and to Land Recovery, Inc. (LRI) for disposal services. A special thank-you also goes to the Greater Eatonville Community Foundation (GECF) for raising more than $100,000 through their Sponsor a Seat campaign, your support is truly remarkable. Many have asked when the project will be completed. Some portions are weather-dependent, but our goal is to finish the field and stadium by the end of 2025, with the remaining elements, including the LED lighting system, the new EHS Class of 2025 flagpole, scoreboard, restrooms, and track, completed by April 2026. We are once again grateful to our voters for approving the capital projects levy that made this new facility possible.
to race a strong, fast finish is inspiring. They poured everything into each stroke to drop their times and earn allocations to the state meet.” Senior captain Annika Howard led the way with two standout swims. In the 500-yard freestyle, she touched the wall at 6:06.16, just six seconds off the Eatonville school record. She also trimmed seven seconds from her personal best in the 100-yard breaststroke, finishing 6th in the district with a time of 1:17.17, earning an alternate position for the state championships. Fellow senior captain Nicole Tomyn also shined under pressure. She cut 0.08 seconds off her previous best in the 50 freestyle for the 7th-fastest time in the district and dropped 3.5 seconds in the 100 freestyle to finish 6th with a 1:00.16, another state alternate performance. Senior captain Charlotte Stumph turned in strong relay splits throughout the meet, posting new personal records in every event and helping propel Eatonville to a new best in the 200 freestyle relay.
CHAMPIONSHIPS, 6
experiences with members of the Washington State House of Representatives Education Committee. The visit, organized and led by former Eatonville School Board member Representative Matt Marshall, showcased how the GRITS program builds leadership, communication, and practical skills through real-world applications in science, natural resources, and farm management. This event was a powerful reminder of how experiential learning at GRITS continues to shape confident, capable, and communityminded leaders. A SEASON OF GRATITUDE As Thanksgiving approaches, I wish each of you a season filled with joy and gratitude. Together, let’s continue our shared focus on attendance, academic success, and preparing every student for a bright and successful future. Our collective vision bears repeating: Together with our families and community, Eatonville Schools will empower students to achieve excellence in education and future success.
BOARD OF DISTINCTION Congratulations to our Eatonville School District Board of Directors, recently recognized by the Washington State School Directors’ Association (WSSDA) as a 2025 Board of Distinction! This honor highlights their strategic leadership, community engagement, and unwavering commitment to ensuring that every student has the opportunity to learn and thrive. Their consistent dedication to academic achievement and student wellness is making a lasting difference. GROWING RELATIONSHIPS IN THE SOIL (GRITS) FARM Students, both past and present, recently gathered at the GRITS Farm to share their
Superintendent Jay Brower Eatonville School District