Clover Park School District just send word that they employ two awesome AFJROTC instructors:

Clover Park High School's lieutenant colonel Gary Roberts and senior master sergeant Maureen Arroyo have been named Air Force Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (AFJROTC) Outstanding Instructors of the Year for the 2013-14 school year. The award recognizes AFJROTC instructors who make a significant impact on their students, unit, school and within the community.

The announcement was made May 15 by AFJROTC headquarters.

Do you think the Clover Park School District bugs out early for Memorial Day Weekend? No, they do not. Just received good news from Gary Sabol, the community relations manage for the district:

Clover Park School District has received a Department of Defense Educational Activity (DoDEA) grant to improve K-12 student achievement at Lakewood Career Academy, Lakes High School and Woodbrook and Mann Middle Schools. The funds will focus on math and science achievement utilizing technology and engineering methods and provide teachers with professional development opportunities in science, engineering practices and computer science. The grant is also intended to improve each student's sense of community, personal responsibility and well-being through further development and expansion of positive school culture-building programs. Teachers will also receive training in positive school culture-building programs. This is the fourth DoDEA grant the district has received.

"These grants have been helpful in improving academic and support services to the district's military-connected student population, strengthening relations between schools and families and cementing the partnership between the district and Joint Base Lewis-McChord," said Maria Flores, supervisor of curriculum and instruction.

The funding of the three-year, $1.755 million grant begins June 15 and runs through August 2017.

THURSDAY, MAY 22 2014 >>>

1. Lights! Camera! Acne! Here is a unique film event for local cinephiles to support. This could be your chance to meet the next Scorsese, or at least DePalma. The Tacoma School of the Arts seniors Dylan and Dustin Rich will produce the Tacoma High School Film Festival, in partnership with the Tacoma Film Festival and The Grand Cinema. The program will include the screening of a collection of original short films by filmmakers who are students at local high schools followed by a film discussion with the filmmakers in The Grand's lower lobby. Our words of advice: Remember these kids' names - chances are you'll be seeing them again soon enough. The Grand turns on the projector at 6:45 p.m.

2. King's Books hosts a special reading from the new anthology Reverberations from Fukushima: 50 Japanese Poets Speak Out at 7 p.m. The U.S. editor, Leah Stenson, will read selections from, and talk about, this important new collection about the horrors of the century's first nuclear disaster and the empathy required to heal our communities.

3. We're not certain if they'll be school hazing inside Tacoma Community College Building 2 Auditorium, be we're certain awesome music will be performed when the TCC Symphonic Band and Jazz Band host the Eastern Washington University Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band, and Code Red (pep band) for a 7 p.m. concert.

4. What happens when you fuse spoken word with deep, funny, tender, raucous Broadway tunes? Claudette Evans, an alumnus of AMDA College and Conservatory of New York City, brings her heavenly powerhouse voice to the B Sharp Coffee House in collaboration with Tacoma poet Lucas Smiraldo, beginning at 7 p.m. "Being Alive" explores the life of one lonely soul in the aftermath of the 911 attacks. 

5. Oregon-based folky Alice DiMicele will drop by Traditions Café at 8 p.m. to bust out a soothing blend of acoustic-soul and folk-rock. She's shared the stage with some of music's best, including Bonnie Raitt, Joan Baez, JJ Cale, David Grisman, Arlo Guthrie and Steve Winwood. Don't screw up.

LINK: Thursday, May 22 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

Margo Myers was on the scene at yesterday's Joint Base Lewis-McChord's Combined Graduation Recognition Ceremony inside the Sharon McGavick Conference Center at Clover Park Technical College. She has the scoop on several of the Brandman University graduates, of which 70 received diplomas. She files the following report. ...

Among the graduates is Anthony DiMascolo, who received his bachelor's in organizational leadership. The retired U.S. Air Force E-8 needed just three years to complete his degree, excelling in his studies with a 3.9 grade point average. "Grueling," explained DiMascolo as he described his efforts to complete ahead of schedule. "But now it's wonderful. I love Brandman. It was challenging, which I like, and there was a lot of research, which I like." He graduated summa cum laude.

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GRAB A CUP AND READ THE MORNING REPORT FOR 4.28.14 >>>

Obama administration imposed a new round of targeted economic sanctions against cronies of Russian President Vladimir Putin and 17 companies in response to Russia's involvement in the crisis in Ukraine.

The Philippines and the United States announced they would sign an agreement today to allow a greater US military presence on Filipino soil for the next decade.

America's Treaty Allies: worth going to war over?

U.S. Official: Iran must prove it's not building nuclear weapon.

An Iranian newspaper is reporting that the country's military plans to target a mock-up American aircraft carrier during upcoming war games.

Sequestration is forcing the Defense Department to "literally build two budgets" and, if the automatic cuts are continued, will damage the quality of U.S. weapons systems and deter innovation.

Report: Pentagon to destroy $1B in ammo.

The U.S. Air Force's decision to divest itself of the A-10 has created a massive headache to the service.

An investigation is underway into whether Marine Corps higher-ups retaliated against an officer who accused the commandant, Gen. James Amos, of meddling in a prosecution.

America's gazillion-dollar Joint Strike Fighter is supposed to go virtually unseen when flying over enemy turf. But that's not how things are working out.

More leaders in government, industry and academia disapprove of U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel's job performance than approve.

U.S. Army Brig. Gen. David Bassett: the decades-old Paladin 155mm mobile howitzer system has undergone such a radical upgrade that it's managed essentially as a new program.

Soldier Pay: How much is enough?

West Point wants more women to keep the academy ahead of the curve as the Pentagon lifts restrictions for women in combat jobs.

What Google's really working on.

The Food Luminati have you everywhere you turn: Exposing the Satanic roots of energy drinks.

List: 15 words "you didn't know were coined by famous writers."

John Oliver's new show, Last Week Tonight, has posted a bunch of clips from the premiere on YouTube.

Are These Real?: Lost art of the lurid VHS cover.

Thanks!: Game of Thrones handy family tree.

Wedding crashers apologize after their drunken antics go viral.

This movie looks cool ...

Original photo by Lt. Col. Keith Moore, Arkansas National Guard Public Affairs

Clover Park School District has plans for you Thursday night. Let's take a look ...

Nearly a dozen Clover Park High School (CPHS) art students will be honored Thursday, April 24 by members of the U.S. Army's 513th Transportation Company for designing and painting a mural in the company's boardroom. The mural shows scenes of the company's history. Company representatives will present students with special coins and certificates. 

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Late in the 3rd quarter of Super Bowl XLVIII, Lakes High School graduate Jermaine Kearse broke five tackles and danced into the end zone to give the Seattle Seahawks a 36-0 lead over the Broncos.

You know the rest of the story.

Saturday, April 12, Kearse returns to his hometown of Lakewood so the community can give him a giant hug. 

Check that, it won't be that giant of a hug as the 2-2 Stryker Brigade Combat Team will run crowd control. Seize the High Ground Hugs!

The community celebration for the Lakes High alum will take place at 1 p.m. in Harry E. Lang Stadium (6615 111th St. SW, Lakewood), the same field where he made countless plays as a Lakes Lancer.

The Clover Park School District board of directors will present Kearse with its Board Values Coin and unveil a special banner that will hang at Lakes High School. The Lakewood City Council will also recognize Kearse with a proclamation and a Key to the City.

The event is free to the public. Those planning to attend are encouraged to carpool as parking and seating will be limited. Gates will open at 11:30 a.m.

For more information about the celebration, call Clover Park School District at 253.583.5000 or the city of Lakewood at 253.589.2489.

Kids aren't the only ones with summer break on the brain. The Clover Park School District has announced administrative changes that will go into effect July 1, 2014, including changes at Joint Base Lewis-McChord:  

• Meghan Eakin, current principal of Beachwood Elementary School, will be the principal of the new Meriwether Elementary School being built on Joint Base Lewis McChord (JBLM)-Lewis North in the Meriwether Landing housing area.
• Paula Gayson, current principal of Clarkmoor Elementary School, will move to Beachwood Elementary School, which will be temporarily housed at the former Greenwood Elementary School on JBLM-Lewis Main for the 2014-15 school year.
• Southgate Elementary principal Charlotte Clouse will be the principal of the new Rainier Elementary School being built on JBLM-Lewis Main.
• Oakwood Elementary School principal John Mitchell will be the principal at Southgate Elementary School.
• Michael Vincent, assistant principal at Woodbrook Middle School, will be the supervisor of technology and instruction in the teaching and learning department for the 2014-15 school year.
• Tillicum Elementary Principal Taj Jensen will be the new principal at Tyee Park Elementary for the 2014-15 school year and will replace current principal Gail Gillis, who is leaving the district.
• Current assistant principal at Evergreen Elementary, Leila Davis, will be the new principal of Oakwood Elementary for the 2014-15 school year.

The four military police officers snaked down a darkened hallway before stopping in front of room 203.

"JBLM Military Police! Come out with your hands up!"

Silence.

The four then quickly opened the door and decisively entered the room.

A man with a gun appeared.

Shots were exchanged; the shooter went down.

While one MP kept his weapon trained on the downed man, another MP cautiously approached the downed man, kicked his gun away and began putting handcuffs on him.

The two other MPs checked several other rooms.

"We're good," one MP called out as he and his partner finished checking a closet.  "We'll call for medics for the guy down."

The four MPs had been told that shots had been fired.  Their task was to locate and stop the threat.

They accomplished the mission.

>>> Lt. Rayvaun Smith, directorate of Emergency Services, briefed soldiers, who played the role of "bad guys and gals," before a training scenario. Photo credit: J.M. Simspon

This active shooter scenario conducted at the closed Heartwood Elementary School at McChord Field was designed to add a sense of realism and raise the level of difficulty for the 42nd Military Police Brigade soldiers taking part in the training.

The two-day training conducted at the school is a part of the larger Protector Professional Police Course, a month-long series of learning events coordinated by the 593rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command.

>>> Moving through dark rooms looking for "shooters" during a training exercise confronted soldiers in the 42^nd Military Police Brigade. Photo credit: J.M. Simpson

"Soldiers learn what to do and what not to do," commented Lt. Rayvaun Smith, an officer attached to Joint Base Lewis-McChord's Directorate of Emergency Services.

"These soldiers are great to work with; they are willing to learn and remember."

One of the key points that Smith continually stressed to the young soldiers was the need to talk to each other as they worked.

"Communication is key," he said repeatedly when he stopped training to make a point. "Talk to one another, and make sure that you always work as a team."

In a quiet, professional and clear manner, Smith took the time to talk through the challenges each training scenario presented.

"Can you tell where I am?" he asked as he walked down a dark hallway and turned off his flashlight.

"No," came back the answer.

"By turning your flashlight on and off like this, you don't give the bad guys an idea as to where you are," Smith pointed out.

Heads nodded; the lesson had been learned.

"This has been outstanding training, the instructor is very good," 2nd Lt. Erin Hilt said. 

"Understanding urban ops and how to move systematically is great for us to know in keeping this community safe."

>>> Soldiers from the 42nd Military Police Brigade subdue a "shooter" during a Protector Professional Police Course, a month-long training exercise. Photo credit: J.M. Simspon

Hi! My name is Alexandria Kling. I am the "Tacoma School of the Arts Intern of the Year" at the Weekly Volcano!

OK, I'm the only SOTA intern at the Volcano.

I am currently a junior at SOTA. I have been writing for the Volcano for almost two weeks. I have been writing the McChord and Fort Lewis history sections for the Northwest Airlifter and The Ranger, the newspapers covering Joint Base Lewis-McChord, and sister publications of the Volcano.

Fun fact for you: I was born at Madigan Hospital in 1997, so being able to learn more about Fort Lewis, and McChord, is pretty interesting to me.

I have also written some "blurbs" - as Publisher/Editor Pappi Swarner calls them - for the Agenda section of the Volcano. As a student at SOTA, I have been studying music, specifically vocals, songwriting, and music composition, for almost 2 years now. This makes my internship with the Weekly Volcano exceptionally fun, because I enjoy arts and entertainment, especially if it's in Tacoma.

With the Volcano I have also been updating the concert alert, and the nightlife calendar section of the weekly newspaper. This week, after previewing the Itty Bitty Kitty Committee book release event at King's Books, I attended the event Tuesday night. My review will be posted soon here on the Walkie Talkie blog.

Through this internship, I have gained so many skills, and I am glad to be able to continue to grow with the Volcano for another week. Overall, I am not a complex girl. I love music, I love to write and I want to go to college for both.