February 13, 2009


Photography ? Susie Fitzhugh

District News

School Board appoves capacity management plan
Students reassigned to different school will receive enrollment priority
      On January 29, 2009, the School Board voted to approve the final recommendations for capacity management with specific amendments. The plan is designed to strenghten educational programs across the District; focus resources on improving student learning; protect our long-term fiscal health; and balance availabilty of spaces with where students live. These efficiences will result in savings estimated at $16 million in operating costs over the next five years and avoid $33 million in capital costs.
     Program Design and Transition teams are now working to ensure a strong academic start for fall 2009 and to ensure that students, families, and staff are well supported through the transitions. For the FAQ on Program Design Teams, click here, and to view an updated presentation made on February 11, click here. Click on the following links for tips in talking with your elementary and secondary school students about school closures.

School Board Update - February 11 meeting
     Superintendent Maria L. Goodloe-Johnson, Ph.D., and the School Board held a reception and recognition event for the class of 2009 National Board Certified Teachers. The Board also passed Resolution 2008/09-5, in support of the findings of the Basic Education Task Force found in H.B. 1410 and S.B. 5444. (After the first of the week, you can view the meeting online by going to the Seattle Channel, www.seattlechannel.org/ )
     The Superintendent gave updates on several items including, the Design and Transition teams, Math programs, Bilingual programs, Fiscal Year 2009-10 Budget, and Transportation. The Board also approved a contract for an upgraded voice mail system, a change order for the Hamilton International Middle School construction project, a contract modification for the Denny/Sealth project architects, and early awards for two 2009 BTA summer projects - Eckstein Middle School and Graham Hill and Lafayette elementary schools.

New principal appointments announced for 2009-10 school year
      Superintendent Maria L. Goodloe-Johnson, Ph.D., and Chief Academic Officer Carla Santorno
announced several principal appointments for the 2009-10 school year that are a direct or indirect result of the capacity management process. The appointments will become effective July 1, 2009. Additional appointments will be announced in the coming months. Read more.

High school students selected to attend New York City gala event
      Six high school students from Seattle Public Schools, all enrolled in career academies supported by the National Academy Foundation, will travel to New York City from February 24–26, to attend the foundation's annual gala. Each student was recommended by their Academy teachers because of their leadership, academic success, and involvement in their programs. Read more.
     The students participating are:

Gerald Tolentino - Dunlap Gold Award ($100)

Students honored in annual greeting card design contest      Twelve students from Seattle Public Schools will be recognized on February 21 for their winning entries in Seattle's Department of Neighborhoods annual student greeting card design competition. Dunlap Elementary did especially well, with students taking first, second, and third place awards, as well as two Honorable Mention awards. Winners are listed below.      All the winners will be recognized at a reception on February 21 at the Rainier Community Center.      • Gold Award - Gerald Tolentino (Dunlap)      • Gold Award - Samara Haq (West Woodland)      • Silver Award - Claudia Pharr (Dunlap)      • Bronze Award - Falisha Samuels (Thurgood Marshall)      • Bronze Award - Estifanos Asmare (Dunlap)      • Honorable Mention - Jamila Dec (Thurgood Marshall)      • Honorable Mention - Elisa Sun (Lafayette)      • Honorable Mention - Michelle Tse (Maple)      • Honorable Mention - Elise Morris (West Woodland)      • Honorable Mention - Ellery Haak (West Woodland)      • Honorable Mention - Trang Tran (Dunlap)      • Honorable Mention - Thuy Luu (Dunlap)      There were more than 200 entries from 20 schools, child care centers, community programs, and home schools.      2009 Neighbor Appreciation Day      Student Art Contest Reception      Saturday, February 21      10 a.m. to noon      Rainier Community Center      4600 38th Ave. S.

Samara Haq - West Woodland Gold Award ($100)

Brighton Elementary fourth-grade student Shyrra Nikka Yagumyun is now a published poet. Her poem, titled Hunny Bunnies, is part of the American Library of Poetry 2008 Collection of student poetry in a publication called Brilliance. She has enjoyed writing poetry for years and continues to write poetry using her computer.

Shyrra Nikka Yagumyun

Marjorie Lamarre

Two Seattle Public Schools teachers will be honored for making a positive difference in Washington state education during a February 25 broadcast of KCTS Television’s Golden Apple Awards for 2008.       The teachers - who received the award in a January 16 ceremony - were: • Marjorie R. Lamarre, a fifth-grade teacher at John Muir Elementary; and • Megan E. Vogel, a science teacher at Ballard High School. Also honored were: • Rainier Scholars, a long-term academic and leadership enrichment program committed to cultivating the academic potential of talented and motivated young people of color. The program serves 320 students and their families. • La Escuelita Bilingual School, a school providing a dual language early childhood environment for children between the ages of 6 months and 6 years.      The February 25 broadcast will be on TV Channel KCTS 9 in Seattle and include highlights of the awards ceremony, as well as short documentary-style segments of the award winners.      Along with “Golden Apple” statuettes, Lamarre and Vogel received $250 and Rainier Scholars received $500. PEMCO Insurance, which helped fund the program, also awarded the winners a $1,500 grant to support their classrooms, schools, or educational programs. Read news release.

Megan Vogel

Chief Sealth High School Principal John Boyd, far left, and Beacon Hill International School Principal Susie Murphy, far right, each received a $20,000 check for their school as part of the 2008 Symetra Heroes in the Classroom MVP Award. Presenting the awards were Seattle Seahawks Director of Partnership Development John Pleas, and Symetra Executive Vice President Roger Harbin.

Ballard High School's remote-controlled robot, left photo, goes through its paces in preparation for the regional competition March 26-28 at the Key Arena. Ballard team members, right photo, work on their robot. They will be competing against about 60 other high schools from around the region, including Franklin High School.

Lions and a dragon leapt and swirled through Kimball class areas and halls on January 27 in celebration of Lunar New Year. The members of the Kimball Lion Dance team devote many hours to practicing their celebratory dance.

Photo by Bill Eichner Julia Alvarez

The Secret Garden Bookshop and Adams Elementary School sponsored a free author reading by internationally renowned novelist, poet and essayist Julia Alvarez on February 6 at Adams Elementary School. Alvarez read from and discussed her 2001 novel for children, How Tia Lola Came to Visit/Stay.      She also discussed her new children’s novel, Return to Sender, published last month. The reading was the final event of Adams Elementary's second annual six-week "Adams Reads the Same Book" program. Read news release.

Loyal Heights students get stage experience in opera performance
     Students in the Artist-In-Residency program between Seattle Opera and Loyal Heights Elementary celebrated with a collaborative performance on February 13 at a school assembly. Two fourth- and fifth-grade classes were selected to work with Seattle Opera artists to rehearse and perform Richard Wagner’s " Siegfried and the Ring of Fire.” Professional singers played the major roles, while students sang, danced and acted in supporting roles. Classes have been studying the music and story of the Ring cycle to prepare for the assembly. This year, the entire school toured backstage at McCaw Hall and also had guest opera singers perform for them during music class. The main portion of the residency took place February 9-13.

Top photo, members of the Ingraham Aerospace Sciences Academy last month hosted 25 members of the Latino Achievers Club for a rocketry workshop. Ingraham students, bottom photo, work with the elementary school students in the classroom.

Members of the Ingraham Aerospace Sciences Academy hosted 25 young members of the Latino Achievers Club for a workshop designed and presented by the Ingraham Team Area Rocketry Challenge Team. Project Managers Nat Mote and Patrick Ma passed on what they have learned about their exciting hobby. The third- through fifth-grade students from Roxhill, Concord, and Beacon Hill elementary schools were treated to a day of fun in which each student got to build their very own model rocket while learning how each part works. Read more.

A Conversation with Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn Thursday, February 26 Registration: 11:30 a.m., Lunch served: noon-12:15 p.m., Program: 12:15-1:30 p.m. Washington Athletic Club 1352 Sixth Ave