Lacey Chamber : March Thrive Article

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Submitted by:  The Lacey Chamber of Commerce

March is here and Spring is just around the corner. If we were in school right now we’d be thinking about the future, and Spring break. So what a great opportunity for the Chamber Forum to focus on Schools.

As you know, our theme this year is about the great partnerships we have in the community. And one of those great partnerships is with the folks at North Thurston Public Schools. Our good friend Courtney Schreive has helped us out with our Kidweiler Scholarship and Education committees. And she’s been instrumental in bringing us great talent from the schools to entertain us at forums and chamber events. She also helped line up this month’s program. And what a great talent pool to draw from. The North Thurston Public School district is huge.

Imagine for a moment that it was your business. You would have 1600 Training Supervisors. And they would be training and overseeing at 21 different locations, putting 14,000 trainees through a skill set development process. 39% of your trainees would be below the poverty line, and need food, clothing and other assistance to be able to focus on the work at hand. You would have to provide 10,000 meals a day. And assist in the transportation of a significant portion of your trainees¾6700 daily bus riders.

Sound like a big endeavor? And a big company? It sure is. The North Thurston School District is bigger than a lot of cities. And they do a fantastic job.

When you come to the Forum on March 2nd you’ll see some examples of that work. The North Thurston Schools Visual and Performing Arts Program involves practically all students in elementary school, with 690 students in Band and 555 students in Orchestra. By High School there are still 77% of all students involved in visual, musical or dramatic arts. 

Study after study has shown students perform better academically when they are also involved in the arts. When it comes to well-rounded individuals ready for the work force, North Thurston excels.

It goes without saying well-rounded students and graduates keep a community strong.  Our future leaders are in training today. And you can help. Maybe you do so already. Because the city-sized district also enjoys the aid of 1000 active volunteers, serving 48,000 hours last year.

Be sure to come out to the Forum and see some of the results of those efforts, by one and all, and experience some great entertainment. We’ll have the Timberline High School Quintessential Strings, instructed by Swanee Pearson and featuring Courtney Flaten and Chante’ Mack on violin, David Vo on viola and Caitlyn Snyder on cello; the Chinook Middle School Band/Jazz Band led by Thom Mettler; and the impressive River Ridge High School Taiko Drum Group led by John Theine. We’ll have lots of Visual Arts on display also. This stuff is incredible. Prepare to be amazed.

Karen Eitreim, who leads the Visual and Performing Arts program, and District Superintendent Raj Manhass will also say a few words.

Here’s your opportunity to see the future. Don’t miss it.

About the Lacey Chamber

The Lacey Chamber was established in 1961. We are a direct link to the business community! Formed from unincorporated areas of Olympia, Lacey has been an independent, pro-business community since its beginning. A nine-member board of directors oversees the Chamber’s activites along with an executive committee of five members. The Chamber works hard to maintain Lacey as an economically dynamic community and to ensure an outstanding qaulity of life. From taxes to school bonds, sign ordinances to parades, the Lacey Chamber has taken an active role in community life.

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