Orting School District highlights student achievements, food drive, Playworks and athletic honors
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Summary
The Orting board spent much of the meeting recognizing student and staff achievements: a new middle‑school student store, 24 on-the-spot admissions to Central Washington, a 4,088-item food drive, Playworks recognition for Brandy Cresco and honors for longtime volleyball coach Fry.
The Orting School District Board of Directors devoted the bulk of its most recent meeting to acknowledging student and staff achievements across the district.
Board members highlighted the opening of a student store at Orting Middle School designed to reward positive behavior; the store lets students redeem earned 'gotcha' tickets for prizes on Fridays. District staff also reported that an on-campus admissions event for Central Washington University resulted in 24 students receiving acceptances.
A major community service accomplishment was also noted: Ptarmigan Ridge Elementary completed its annual food drive, donating a total of 4,088 items to the Orting Food Bank. The board singled out classroom contributions, including one class that donated 492 items, another 415 and a third 334.
The board recognized Abby, identified in the meeting as Orting’s daffodil princess and a senior at Orting High School, for her volunteer outreach to libraries and hospitals. Abby told the board she was "really, really grateful for this opportunity" and said the role involves community service and public speaking practice.
Brandy Cresco was presented as Playworks Pacific Northwest Recess "Rockstar of the Month." Cresco described Playworks’ approach — a coach-led program that teaches games and trains fifth‑grade junior coaches to lead activities — and said the program has increased student engagement and cooperative play at recess.
The board also honored Orting High School volleyball coach Fry for leading the team to a postseason run and being named SPSL Coach of the Year. Multiple students and community members offered testimonials about Fry’s 13 years of coaching and the program’s emphasis on leadership and culture.
The meeting’s recognitions emphasized extracurricular programs, student civic engagement and community partnerships as positive influences on student experience in the district.
