May 19, 2006

District News

Community Advisory Committee Announces Preliminary Recommendation on School Closure and Consolidation -- On Wednesday, May 17 the Community Advisory Committee on School Facilities and Programs (CAC) announced its preliminary recommendation for school closure and consolidation for Seattle Public Schools. To view the recommendations, click here. This announcement begins a ten-week period of review and community input that is scheduled to end with the final School Board vote on July 26.

The committee, appointed by the School Board in March, is comprised of 12 members (three from each of four quadrants of the city), and two co-chairs. The team has worked intensively to develop its preliminary recommendation. Guided by principles, criteria and targets approved by the School Board, the committee has studied data related to student achievement, enrollment, demographics, facilities and other factors. The group sought community input at Town Hall meetings and in writing; visited every elementary, K-8 and alternative school in the city; and spent countless hours discussing all of the data and input prior to developing its recommendation.

The community will have additional opportunities to give the CAC feedback on the preliminary recommendation at a series of five Town Hall meetings from May 20 to May 25. To view the complete Town Hall schedule, click here.

During this ten-week period of review, the recommendation may change. For a complete timeline and for more information about the school consolidation and closure process, go to the Investing in Educational Excellence website.

School Board Update -- At its May 17 regularly scheduled meeting, School Board members voted unanimously to approve a resolution to commit 50 percent of net operating costs savings from closures to academics. The savings realized through school closures would be used to increase the academic effectiveness of remaining schools. The board also introduced action items related to the New School Partnership Agreement, WSSDA Legislative Agenda Proposals, Garfield BEX II GMP Amendment, and policy revisions to Policy H47.00 - Selection of Contractors for Small Construction Projects.

Around the Community

Archbishop Desmond Tutu visits Washington Middle School to launch “Worlds Apart, HeARTS Together Project” -- During an all-school assembly on May 11, Archbishop Desmond Tutu spoke to Washington Middle School students, encouraging them to be compassionate and understanding as they begin a month-long project about race and equity with their peers in Cape Town, South Africa.

The Worlds Apart HeARTS Together project will bring together eighth grade students from Washington Middle School with peers from Cape Town, South Africa for three weeks of intercultural dialogue, dramatization, writing, listening and performing arts. Professional actors from the Book-IT Theater Company will guide students as they explore themes of tolerance, healing, conflict, compassion, human rights and reconciliation in the novel Cry, the Beloved Country. The educational lessons will encompass the history of Apartheid, The Truth and Reconciliation Commission and current American issues of race and identity. Facilitated by graduate students from the University of Washington’s College of Education, Comparative History of Ideas (CHID) and School of Social Work, the workshops will provide unique opportunities for students to engage in important conversations about race and equity as it affects their own lives. The project is sponsored by Bridges to Understanding and Passport Schools NW. For more information, log on to www.bridgesweb.org.

Seattle Public Schools hosts Family Math Meeting at Meany Middle School on May 20 -- Seattle Public Schools invites families to a Family Math Meeting at Meany Middle School on May 20 to learn about the district’s mathematical curriculum. Topics include:

• Helping Your Child With Math At Home: Questions Parents Can Ask
• Computational Fluency, Algorithms, and Mathematical Proficiency
• Relationships Between Research and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) Standards

Gini Stimpson (University of Washington Mathematics Educator and Senior Researcher) will present and share examples of student work and explain what a particular student understands and has yet to learn. There will also be discussion and suggestions for helping students with math homework. For more information, call Meany Middle School at 206-252-2500.

Family Math Meeting at Meany Middle School
Saturday, May 20
Noon to 2:00 p.m.
301 – 21st Ave. East

Special Education Public Forum on May 25 offers community an opportunity to give district feedback on Special Education programs and services -- Seattle Public Schools is hosting a Special Education Public Forum on May 25 to provide an update and an opportunity for the community to give feedback on Special Education programs and services. Families will be able to provide input to staff through an open-mike format. Families with students who are served by Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) and community members who are interested in the Special Education services offered by Seattle Public Schools are encouraged to attend the forum.

Special Education Forum
Thursday, May 25
6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
John Stanford Center, 2445 Third Ave. South, Room 2700

Facilities Self-Help Program: Partnerships to help schools -- Self-Help Program Coordinator Gretchen DeDecker and volunteers have been busy with some exciting projects. On Saturday, April 29, Bank of America and City Year volunteers completed a community project at Denny Middle School. More than 150 people turned out to beautify, clean the grounds, plant native plants, wash windows and paint murals. This Saturday, May 20, approximately 100+ Microsoft volunteers will be at Mercer Middle School for Seattle Works Day (SWD). SWD includes over 30 sites in the region, with Mercer being the only district site.

Celebrations

District Scholarship Fund provides 24 scholarships in 2006 -- The Seattle School District Scholarship Fund rewarded 24 graduating high school seniors for their initiative and excellence in academic achievement (photo above). Each of the 24 students - 10 from Seattle's traditional high schools and three from non-traditional schools - will be given up to $1,500 to be used towards their postsecondary education. Established in 1974, the Scholarship Fund provides financial assistance to Seattle Public School graduates. The Seattle Retired Teachers' Association and individual donations support the scholarship fund. To view the list of students who received the scholarship this year, click here.

Washington Middle School places tenth in the National Geography Challenge -- A ten-student team from Washington Middle School led by teacher Richard Katz placed tenth in the National Geography Challenge. This year more than 50 schools from across the nation competed in the challenge, sponsored by the National Council for Geographic Education (NCGE). To view the list of students on this year’s winning team, click here.

Martin Luther King School Dream Foundation Awards Scholarships to Elementary School Alumni -- The Martin Luther King School Dream Foundation recently announced that it is awarding college scholarship to 11 Seattle high school seniors. The scholarships range from $1,500 to $3,500. To be considered for the scholarships, students need to have attended Martin Luther King Elementary, performed community service in high school and submit an essay describing how they would personally fulfill Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s dream. Scholarship recipients will be honored at the eighth annual scholarship banquet on May 22 by Superintendent Raj Manhas and Mayor Greg Nickels. To view the list of students who received the scholarship this year, click here.

Four Greenwood Elementary students selected for Rainier Scholars program -- Olachi Anamelechi, Jessica Andrade, Jai Anderson and Sarah Hooper have been selected for the Rainier Scholars program. The Rainier Scholars program offers students access to exceptional educational opportunities and ongoing academic and financial support. The program works with students of color to increase their college graduation rates and to develop new generations of leaders in this region. The program provides a comprehensive support system to selected students from grade six through college. For more information, click here.

Lawton Elementary student travels to People to People World Leadership Forum -- Sophia Nicholson-Keener, a fifth grade student at Lawton Elementary School, was accepted into the People to People World Leadership Forum. Nicholson-Keener joined a select group of students in Washington, D.C. in April to earn high school credit while studying leadership and exploring some of the United States' most prominent monuments and institutions. She was nominated and accepted for the honor based on outstanding scholastic merit, civic involvement and leadership potential. The program is coordinated by People to People Student Ambassador Programs to fulfill the vision Dwight D. Eisenhower had for fostering world citizenship when he founded People to People during his presidency in 1956.

Dunlap Elementary student wins 2007 Poison Prevention Week poster contest--Kyesha Martin, a 5th grade student from Dunlap Elementary School, received first place in the annual Washington State Poison Center’s Poison Prevention Week poster contest. Her artwork will be used on billboards and posters throughout the state during the 2007 Poison Prevention Campaign.

Coming Up

Kids Helping Kids Campaign hosts music concert to raise funds for the Elementary Instrumental Music program -- In an effort to expand the district’s Elementary Music Program for fourth and fifth grade students, the Kids Helping Kids Campaign is hosting an all-city Elementary Music performance to raise funds for the program. The district currently offers one half day of instruction in all 70 elementary schools in instrumental music. District volunteers are raising funds to expand the program to increase instruction by another half day or more. For more information, contact Pam Paris at paparis@seattleschools.org or 206-252-0051.

Kids Helping Kids Campaign
All-City Elementary Instrumental Music Performance
Saturday, May 20
3:00 p.m.
Ingraham High School, 1819 North 135th Street
Free performance, donation of $5.00 or more appreciated

School Board Members Schedule District-Based Community Meetings--Several School Board members schedule meetings in their communities.  Parents, guardians, students, staff and community members are encouraged to attend. This is an opportunity to share thoughts and concerns, and to raise questions.

Meetings scheduled for May include:

* Friday, May 19, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., District V, Director Mary Bass, at Garfield Community Center, 2323 East Cherry Street. District V includes schools located in Central Seattle.

In addition, School Board President Brita Butler-Wall invites constituents to drop-in on Mondays, 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. at Honey Bear Bakery at Third Place Books Ravenna, at NE 65th and 20th Avenue NE.

School and District Events Calendar

If you would like to know about current special school events, fundraisers or other district events, go online to the District Events Calendar where you can see what’s going on monthly at Seattle Public Schools or search for specific events by date, school and event type.

In the News

For a sampling of this week’s local newspaper stories on Seattle Public Schools, please click here.

School Beat is an electronic newsletter covering news from Seattle Public Schools that is published twice a month for our community.

Photos feature students from Seattle Public Schools. Photos © Susie Fitzhugh.