Seattle Public Schools | School Beat Jan. 23, 2009

January 23, 2009

school beat photo 1-23-09

Photography ? Susie Fitzhugh

District News

School Board vote scheduled for January 29 on final capacity management and building closure recommendations
The School Board is reviewing final recommendations on Districtwide capacity management that include several building closures, a new K-8 school, and a number of program relocations. Superintendent Maria L. Goodloe-Johnson, Ph.D., released the final recommendations on January 6 and presented them to the School Board on January 7. A final public hearing was held January 22 and a School Board vote is scheduled for January 29. In summary, the Superintendent’s Final Recommendations are:
• Five buildings will be closed, one of which will be closed temporarily and may reopen;
• Eight programs will relocate from one building to another;
• One new program will be created (a new K-8 school in Northeast Seattle); and
• Five programs will be discontinued and their students reassigned to new schools in fall 2009.
Comments may be directed to capacity@seattleschools.org. Comments may also be sent to the School Board at schoolboard@seattleschools.org; or via U.S. mail to School Board, P.O. Box 34165, MS 11-010, Seattle, WA, 98124-1165.

Final recommendations report
Final recommendations overview
Frequently Asked Questions

Students use historic inauguration to engage in learning
Superintendent connects with students live from the inauguration

     Teachers across the School District created opportunities for students to be engaged in learning about leadership, democracy, and history as they viewed the inauguration of President Barack Obama on January 20.
     Superintendent Maria L. Goodloe-Johnson, Ph.D., who visited Washington, D.C., for the inauguration, connected with students at Highland Park and Gatewood elementary schools through phone calls. Students asked the Superintendent a variety of questions about her experience, and the Superintendent asked students about their impressions of the inauguration. In addition, the Superintendent sent a phone and e-mail message to all schools that was broadcast or read to all students. Read more.
     The inauguration was also highlighted through several blogs: The West Seattle Blog featured photos and videos at Arbor Heights, Gatewood and Highland Park elementary schools; and Princess Shareef, principal of Cleveland High School who also visited Washington, D.C., for the inauguration, wrote a blog of her experiences in an online journal.

Clarissa Resendez, right, who teaches fifth-graders at Highland Park Elementary, gets ready to connect by phone with Superintendent Maria Goodloe-Johnson in Washington, D.C. The Superintendent talked to the students about her experiences at the January 20 presidential inauguration.

School Board meeting updates - January 21 meeting
     As an update to the final recommendations for school closure, a presentation was given that responded to School Board questions brought up at past meetings. Board President Michael DeBell announced that Board members would be submitting proposed amendments to Superintendent Maria Goodloe-Johnson by January 27. The proposed amendments would be posted by January 28 on the January 29 agenda.
     The Board also approved an application to waive three of the 180 days of instruction for Professional Development for the school years 2009-10, 2010-11, and 2011-12. Also introduced were three items regarding infrastructure: update to the voice-mail system, change order for the Hamilton project, and modification of the architect contract for the Denny/Sealth project.
     The Board also introduced Resolution 2008/09-5, which has been drafted in support of HB 1410 and SB 5444; these two bills would enact the recommendations of the Basic Education Task Force into law. Upon approval, this statement of support will be transmitted to the Seattle legislative delegation.

Snow makeup days set for June 17, 18 and 19, 2009
     Three additional days will be added to the school calendar in June 2009 to make up for school closure days on December 17, 18 and 19, 2008, because of inclement weather. Makeup days are June 17, 18 and 19, 2009. Unless additional makeup days are needed, the last day of school for students will be on Friday, June 19, 2009.
      Click here for an updated online calendar.

Information updated on school tours and open houses
Open Enrollment scheduled for March 2-31
     Updated school tours and open houses for elementary and secondary schools have been posted on the Enrollment Services Web site. Open enrollment for the 2009-10 school year has now been rescheduled to be held between Monday, March 2 and Tuesday, March 31. Enrollment Services will extend its hours until 8 p.m. on the last two evenings – March 30 and 31. Families can also submit applications by mail or fax. Assignment letters will go out by the end of May. The Citywide Kindergarten and Middle School Fair scheduled for Saturday, January 10, 2009, has been canceled due to the timeline of the school closure process. For more information, please see the Enrollment Services Web site or contact Enrollment Services at 252-0760.

Student Celebrations

McClure Middle School students Philip Kiefer and Samuel Altenberger won first place for their 'Break the Habit' video

McClure students win
first place in video contest
McClure Middle School students Samuel Altenberger and Philip Kiefer won first prize in the video category, sponsored by Puget Sound Off.
The Public Service Announcement titled, Break the Habit, is about excessive television watching. Their video can be viewed at the group's Web site. Philip and Sam won a mini computer and flip camera for their effort and attended an award ceremony on January 10.

Staff Celebrations

Career counselor listed as one of 21 Leaders for the 21st Century

Cathy Rodgveller

Cathi Rodgveller, nontraditional career counselor for Seattle Public Schools, was named one of the winners in the 2009 Women’s eNews search for “21 Leaders for the 21st Century.” She was included in the category “Seven Who Stretch the Possible.” Rodgveller was recognized for her efforts in creating, coordinating and expanding IGNITE, a program that has connected more than 15,000 Seattle girls to women in engineering and technology. Rodgveller will be officially honored, along with the 20 other newly recognized leaders, in May at a gala benefit dinner in New York City. Read more.

Garfield principal named KingCo League Principal of the Year

Ted Howard, principal of Garfield High School, was named KingCo League's Principal of the Year. His name will be forwarded to the Association of Washington School Principals for consideration for state recognition. Howard is in his fifth year as principal at Garfield and has led his school through reform efforts that increased performance by students of color who previously have struggled. Garfield's efforts were recognized by being selected as a Silver Medal school by the USNews and World Report for two years in a row and a School of Distinction by the state Superintendent for increased scores on the Reading and Writing WASL. Howard also led Garfield through a complete building remodel over the past two years. In addition to his duties during the work week, he often runs Garfield’s Saturday school program and volunteers to tutor elementary students in math on Sundays.

Ted Howard

Around the Schools

Roosevelt recognized for raising awareness in international issues
Roosevelt High School was honored last month with the Global Classroom Award, a national award that recognizes schools that incorporate international issues and global awareness into the school and community. The Council on Standards for International Educational Travel noted that the cultural and student exchange programs at Roosevelt were top-rated over 50 schools nominated from around the country. Roosevelt will receive a $1,000 scholarship for its students to study abroad, or equivalent funds to put towards global awareness projects in the school community. Read more.

A fifth-grader at Brighton Elementary School, above, checks her vision at an Eye Test display at the Pacific Science Center. Another Brighton fifth-grader, left, tries to stay centered at a Balance Test machine.

Martin Luther King, Jr., honored
at math and science celebration
More than 400 fourth- and fifth-graders honored Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., on January 15 at the Pacific Science Center's Martin Luther King Jr. Math and Science Celebration. The event, presented by the University of Washington's College of Engineering, and Seattle Public Schools, is held annually to motivate and inspire youth about math, science and engineering through the example of Dr. King. Participating elementary schools were Graham Hill, Kimball, Brighton, Beacon Hill and Van Asselt. Read more.

Roxhill teacher celebrates MLK Day, inauguration with special song
Roxhill Elementary School teacher Chris Robert and his students celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. Day and the historic presidential inauguration with a special song he wrote after reading a comment about Rosa Parks. His inspiration came from the sentence: "Rosa sat so that Martin could march so Barack could run." Read story or hear radio report.

Nationally recognized string quartet a bright note for Bagley students
The Harlem Quartet, a group of four young musicians who are First Place Laureates of the Sphinx Competition, played for fourth- and fifth-grade students at Daniel Bagley Elementary School on December 12. The ensemble was in Seattle for a concert at the University of Washington's Meany Hall for the Performing Arts as part of the UW World Series. The mission of the Harlem Quartet is to advance diversity and engage young audiences in classical music.

APP, Special Education students work and play together at Lowell
lowell students APP and Special Education

     Every day at Lowell, a number of students from the District’s Accelerated Progress Program (APP) leave their classmates to join special education classes to work and to play with the students. Together, the students may play music, chase balls, draw, or just sit and listen to a story.
     Maki Ichikawa, a teacher whose students live with severe physical and mental impairments, says that interacting with APP students gives her kids the chance to practice their communication skills. Functioning within a mainstream environment, they experience the stimulus and joy of being part of a group pursuing goals.
     APP students are taught to work with the special education students - for example, talking directly to them, even though they may not be able to answer, or learning why it is important to work their buddy’s muscles slowly.
     Special education teachers say the APP students learn empathy, and will be more likely to grow up, not only unafraid of difference and disabilities, but perhaps to work as an activist, scientific researcher, or lawmaker working on behalf of people on a spectrum of abilities and challenges.

Lafayette Elementary student council officers James M., Macy C., and Shelby W. help keep track of the food donations during their food drive competition for the White Center Food Bank.

Lafayette contest fills shelves at White Center Food Bank
Lafayette Elementary School's annual food drive for the White Center Food Bank was a huge success, thanks to a new food drive competition created by the school's student council. The contest was so successful that donations quickly filled the collection barrel and started to take up the school's front lobby. The White Center Food Bank team had to make two van trips to transport all the donations to their facility in White Center.
All the classes participated to collect more than 2,100 food items. The top collections came from classrooms of Ms. Sharon Rollins (251 items) and Mr. Dano Beal (203 items). Read news release.

Nathan Hale's award-winning radio station turns 38
KNHC C89.5, Nathan Hale High School's award-winning radio station, will celebrate is 38th birthday on January 25. Now transmitting at 30,000 watts, the station boasts 100,000 weekly listeners on the FM dial with more than 200,000 visits on the Web. The new digital broadcast facility on Cougar Mountain allows extended coverage in HD quality across the Puget Sound region to more than 3.2 million people. The radio station is embarking on a $4 million "Tune-in To Tomorrow" or T3 Capital Campaign, to include purchase of new digital radio equipment and establishment of a college scholarship fund for graduating seniors. For more information on the Tune-in To Tomorrow (T3) Capital Campaign, contact Alexis Ross Miller at (206) 252-0739 or armiller1@seattleschools.org. For general C89.5 information, contact General Manager Neilson at (206) 252-3801 or gneilson@seattleschools.org. Read more.

Roosevelt girls basketball team wins hearts of tournament officials
The Roosevelt High School basketball team didn't bring home a trophy, but they did win over the hearts of tournament officials in Delaware. The team was recognized for its respectful, fun-loving attitude and their special bond with their "Hero," Pearce Quesenberry. The young girl, who is fighting a brain tumor, was paired up with the team while in Delaware.
The president of the B+ Foundation, one of the beneficiaries of the basketball tournament, sent an e-mail to Roosevelt school officials noting how the "girls embraced Pearce as if she was their little sister." Read e-mails.

The Roosevelt High School girls basketball team pose with their "Hero," Pearce Quesenberry, who is fighting a brain tumor. The team met the young girl while participating in the 2008 Diamond State Classic in Delaware.

Around the State

New state superintendent announces plan to replace the WASL
     Newly elected State Superintendent Randy Dorn unveiled his plans for a new state assessment system beginning in 2010, including the replacement of the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) with two new tests: the Measurements of Student Progress in Grades 3-8 and the High School Proficiency Exams (HSPE). The new state assessment system will be called the Washington Comprehensive Assessment Program (WCAP). Dorn released details of his plan at a press conference on January 21. Read news release.

Achievement gap studies now available online
     Several reports being conducted on closing the achievement gap for five student groups - African American, Asian, Latino, Native American and Pacific Islander - are now available for viewing. The findings and recommendations were presented recently to the State Board of Education and the House Education Committee. Read more at these Web sites: Center for Improvement of Student Learning; and Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs.

Legislature's Basic Education Finance Task Force finalizes report
     The Washington State Legislature's Basic Education Finance Task Force has finalized its recommendations and published them in a final report which can be viewed at the following link.

Upcoming Events

Students, parents encouraged to attend College Goal Sunday
     Students and parents are encouraged to attend College Goal Sunday, a free onsite program that helps students and families complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for college. Experts will be available to help families fill out the FAFSA form, which is required to apply for federal assistance. The event takes place at Seattle Central Community College for residents who live in Seattle, but is also being held at multiple locations across the state.

     College Goal Sunday
     Sunday, January 25
     2-4 p.m.
     Seattle Central Community College
     1701 Broadway

Seafair Ambassador Program invites students to Feb. 27 symposium
     The Seafair Ambassador Program is inviting high school sophomores and juniors to attend the Youth Leadership Symposium to be held on February 27 at Qwest Field. The symposium will feature guest speakers on business, international relations, and community involvement. Following the symposium, participating students will produce statements and 12 will be interviewed to become ambassadors. Six students will be selected to receive a $1,000 college scholarship and a chance to visit Kobe, Japan in the fall of 2009. Read more.

     Seafair Ambassador Program
     Friday, February 27
     8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
     Qwest Field
     800 Occidental Ave. S.
     Free

Nomination deadline April 1 for Patsy Collins Award
     The deadline is April 1 to nominate a K-12 educator for the Patsy Collins Award for Excellence in Education, Environment and Community. The award, presented by the nonprofit organization IslandWood, is open to K-12 educators who have made an exceptional contribution to the community in which they live and the students they taught. The selected educator will receive $5,000 and another $2,500 to donate to a school or charity. Read news release.

     Patsy Collins Award nominations
     Deadline: April 1, 2009
     IslandWood
     4450 Blakely Ave. N.E.
     Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
     Contact: Cathy Sanford at cathys@islandwood.org

School and District Events Calendar
     If you would like to know about current special school events, fund-raisers 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 type.

We Need Your Ideas
     The Communications Office is always looking for stories on interesting classroom projects, inspirational people, or events in our schools to share with the greater Seattle community. We often highlight stories submitted by school staff for potential media coverage as well as District and community publications. For examples of stories we have published in the past, please visit this link. We would like to hear from you. If you have a unique story to share, please send your ideas directly to goodnews@seattleschools.org. Deadline for submissions is February 9 for the February 12 issue.

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 District and school-based news and is published twice a month for the staff and community of Seattle Public Schools. Community members can subscribe or unsubscribe to this e-newsletter by clicking here.