Mission

Shining Mountain Elementary School strives to provide the highest quality education for each of our students: an education that reflects community needs and enables all students to reach their full potential. The staff is dedicated to the proposition that all children can and shall learn.

We strive to develop each child's academic preparation, social and emotional development and physical capabilities. The task of our school is to enable children to use their abilities and efforts in the most efficient and effective manner. We are committed to acknowledging and addressing the diverse needs of all children.

We are willing to explore new techniques and strategies to enhance each child's unique learning experience. Our ultimate goal is that each child becomes a life-long learner and happy, contributing member of society.

Raising Expectations and Standards

To help students prepare for tomorrow's challenges, we use Washington State's Learning Goals, the Technical Manual for Essential Learnings, and Bethel School District's FUTURESCHOOLs document to facilitate our decision-making. Student success is enhanced through the use of developmentally appropriate teaching practices, interactive learning strategies and technology. Students are served in the least restrictive and most appropriate environment.

Parent and Community Involvement in Learning

Parents and community members help our students learn in a variety of ways. Volunteers help bolster our reading achievement by helping our primary-aged students take Accelerated Reader tests.

Furthermore, parents and community members allow us to experience fascinating, real-world activities when they take time to chaperone field trips.

What Makes Us Special

Shining Mountain is a unique school for many reasons. Perhaps our most distinctive program is the Ignite Mentorship program. Ignite pairs each first, second, and third grade student with a mentor from the fifth or sixth grade. Mentors help younger students make their way through the ranks of elementary school.

We also take the Accelerated Reader program to new heights. Students set reading goals and celebrate reading achievements with assemblies.

Community Connections

Shining Mountain's facilities are used for many community activities. The Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Brownies, Bethel Recreation, PTA, and the Boys and Girls Club all use our building.

Top-notch staff

Shining Mountain has 38 classroom teachers. They average 11 years of teaching experience and 74 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

Shining Mountain did not meet adequate yearly progress (AYP), as defined by the No Child Left Behind Act. Of the 36 areas measured, the school met all but four of the required benchmarks. 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.

Shining Mountain is continuing to develop and implement a wide range of intervention strategies to help all students achieve their best.

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.