Mission
Camas Prairie strives to achieve the nine characteristics of highly effective schools:
- Everyone at Camas Prairie works and learns together.
- Staff members believe that all students can meet high expectations in academics and behavior.
- Leadership nurtures an instructional program and school culture that promotes learning.
- Staff, students and parents are committed to the value of working as a team to fulfill the Camas Prairie vision.
- The content of student learning at Camas Prairie matches state standards.
- Ongoing assessment and evaluation drive instruction.
- Staff development supports the needs of students and directly improves classroom instruction.
- Students feel safe, respected and connected with staff.
- Parent and community involvement play a vital role in student success.
What Makes Us Special
Camas Prairie is a richly diverse school. Our student population represents a variety of cultures and special-needs students, from which each of us draws strength daily. We work together as a team to continually improve learning opportunities for all our students.
Raising Expectations and Standards
Learning is our top priority. Our teachers are highly trained and work collaboratively to hold students accountable to high academic and behavior standards. We carefully measure student learning and design instruction to meet individual needs.
Community Connections
The Open Door Vineyard Church holds services at our school every Sunday. YMCA provides before and after-school daycare, while Bethel Recreation uses our school year round for basketball, volleyball and baseball. Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts regularly meet in our classrooms.
Parent and Community Involvement in Learning
Our parents create a strong network of support to help each other and all students at Camas Prairie. Our PTA is the largest it has ever been. Successful fundraising over the years has netted funds to provide educational field trip opportunities for every student. Our site council includes parent representatives, and we have begun to host informal parent forums.
Top-notch staff
Camas Prairie has about 40 classroom teachers. They average 12 years of teaching experience and 60 percent have a master's degree. They are joined by a wonderful support staff who have students' best interest in mind in all that they do.
Adequate Yearly Progress
Camas Prairie did not meet adequate yearly progress (AYP), as defined by the No Child Left Behind Act. Of the 36 cells measured, the school met the required benchmarks in all but six areas. AYP is determined primarily by year-to-year student achievement on the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) in reading and mathematics. Each year individual schools and the school district must "raise the bar" in gradual increments so that by 2014, 100 percent of students achieve proficiency in each subject area. We believe in the potential of each and every child and will do all we can to help students succeed.
Bethel School District
Bethel School District serves about 17,500 students in 17 elementary schools, five junior highs (with another opening its doors in 2010), three comprehensive high schools, one alternative junior high/high school, and an online academy. The district has won national awards in technology and communications, as well as state awards in professional development, energy conservation, and the arts. In addition, five district teachers have earned "Washington State teacher of the Year" in the last 25 years - more than any district in the state. The Bethel School District covers 202-square miles in south Pierce County. The area is one of the fastest growing in the Puget Sound region. In 2006, district voters passed both a four-year levy for operations and a $175 million bond to build new schools. As part of the first phase of the bond, two elementary schools and one junior high (temporarily housing Spanaway Lake High School) were opened in September 2009.
In 2007-2008, the district's budget was $158 million, about 80 percent of which went to salaries and benefits. About 1,050 certificated staff and about 1,000 classified (support) staff work for the district. Tom Seigel joined the district in 2001 as superintendent. He previously worked in Boulder, CO as a superintendent. Prior to his work in public education, Seigel served in the U.S. Navy for 25 years, completing his military career as a Commander.
