Seattle Public Schools

March 28, 2008

Photography © Susie Fitzhugh

District News

Seattle School Board Update: March 26 meeting highlights
     At the March 26 School Board meeting, School Board members:
     ● Voted to re-name Hamilton Middle School and Beacon Hill Elementary School to include “International”
     ● Adopted the Facilities Master Plan Update for 2020
     ● Revised the District’s policies related to Sales and Rentals of Closed Facilities and other Real Property
     ● Approved collective bargaining agreements for the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, AFL-CIO, Local 79, and Seattle King County Construction and Building Trades Council
     ● Approved award of contracts for construction projects funded by the Buildings, Technology and Academics Levy (BTA II) passed in 2004. The projects, all focused on ongoing major maintenance, benefit 13 schools, and will be completed during the summer. The schools are: Ballard High School, B.F. Day Elementary, Catharine Blaine K-8, Eckstein Middle School, Gazert Elementary, Hawthorne Elementary, Lawton Elementary, Loyal Heights Elementary, Meany Middle School, Muir Elementary, Schmitz Park Elementary, Thurgood Marshall Elementary, and Washington Middle School. Projects include activities such as roofing, science room upgrades, replacement of flooring tiles, playground and athletic field upgrades, ADA enhancements, interior/exterior lighting, replacement of ceiling tiles and window blinds. For detailed information, please refer to the School Board Agenda, action items 5 – 11.
     Board Members also heard from an instructional director, principal, teacher and parent about the recently completed Transformation Plan update process. The updates brought groups from three schools together to present, reflect, and share insights and ideas about school plans. The presenters said that the conversations were “enlightening,” and that the sharing of ideas and best practices was invaluable. To view a school’s transformation plan, please contact the Principal.
     A second presentation provided an overview of the impact on Seattle Public Schools of the recent state legislative session and final budget. While there are some revenue increases, there are also mandated increases in costs that are not fully funded. The result is a net $5.2 million increase in expenses above funding.
     The next meetings of the School Board include:
     ● Tuesday, April 8: 4-8 p.m. – Workshop 08/09 budget and SE Initiative
     ● Wednesday, April 9: 4-5:30 p.m. – Workshop on high school math
     ● Wednesday, April 9: 6 p.m. – Regular school board meeting.
      For additional information and updates, visit the School Board Web site.

Strategic Plan development update – Final McKinsey Report
     The final report from McKinsey & Company, along with detailed appendices, is now posted on the District's Strategic Planning Web site. The report is organized by the five key theme areas that emerged from initial stakeholder interviews. Those areas are: learning and teaching, supporting talent, efficiency and effectiveness at the central office, performance management, and stakeholder engagement. The report includes a list of potential high-impact initiatives for focus through 2008/2009, some potential activities to implement those initiatives, and opportunities to measure the District's progress.
     Staff and community members are encouraged to review the report and supporting data, and to share impressions and feedback with the Superintendent and strategic planning team. Please e-mail strategicplan@seattleschools.org
     The next steps include:
     ● Integrate findings and recommendations of peer reviews and McKinsey report – March-April
     ● Engage internal and external stakeholders on the plan – March-June; and
     ● School Board Review and Action – May-June

Superintendent to update community on strategic vision
     Dr. Maria L. Goodloe-Johnson, Superintendent, will update the community on her strategic vision for Seattle Public Schools at the Alliance for Education's 6th Annual Community Breakfast on May 14. At the breakfast, Kaaren Andrews, principal of Madrona K-8, also will be presented with the 2008 Thomas B. Foster Award for Excellence. Contact the Alliance for Education at this link for reservations.

     Alliance for Education
     6th Annual Community Breakfast
     Wednesday, May 14
     7-8:45 a.m.
     Seattle Westin
     1900 Fifth Ave.

Student Celebrations

Team xbot wins prestigious award in regional robotics competition
Team prepares for national championships in Atlanta, Georgia

Team xbot, a robotics competition team with students from Franklin High School and the surrounding Seattle Southend high schools, won the Chairman’s Award – the highest and most prestigious award – at the FIRST Microsoft Seattle Regional competition in Tacoma held March 20-22. Team xbot designs, builds and programs a 120-pound, 5-foot-tall robot that competes in game challenges. The Chairman’s Award honors the team that best represents a model for other teams to emulate and best embodies the purpose and goals of the nonprofit organization, FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology). Team xbot was also awarded the Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers Entrepreneurship Award, in recognition of the entrepreneurial spirit of a team that, since inception, has developed the framework for a comprehensive business plan to scope, manage, and achieve team objectives. At the Oregon Regional held February 28 to March 1 in Portland, Oregon, the team’s robot '”OCHO” earned the second-seed position out of 55 teams. “OCHO” successfully competed in the finals and placed as a semifinalist winner alongside alliance partners from California and Oregon. To view the team’s animation entry, click on the link http://research.microsoft.com/~rcutler/xbot/488_AVA2008.wmv. Team xbot is now preparing for the FIRST National Championships held April 17-19 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Ballard High Jazz Band wins third place at Jazz Northwest Festival
     The Ballard High School Jazz Band, under the direction of Michael James, won third place at the 2008 Jazz Northwest Festival held March 14-15 in Spokane. Music performed included Wind Machine by Sammy Nestico, Here's That Rainy Day by Johnny Burke, and an acclaimed performance of Harlem Nocturne by Earle Hagen, with alto saxophone soloist Elliot Ransom.

McClure Middle School students awarded top three prizes in writing contest
     Three McClure Middle School sixth-graders recently won the top three prizes in a citywide writing contest on the themes of Lois Lowry, a Newbery-award-winning author. Henrik Mansfield, Hannah Oliason, and Kate Wiley won the Writers in the Schools contest for their poetry or short prose pieces. The contest was open to fourth- to eighth-graders from Seattle and Highline schools that offer the Writers in the Schools program. WITS is sponsored by Seattle Arts & Lectures and brings trained writers-in-residence to the classroom. The three students won free tickets for their families to see Lowry talk about her writing at Seattle's Town Hall on March 15. They were invited onto the stage, where they shook Lowry's hand, received signed copies of one of her books, and were introduced as the three contest winners.

Roosevelt Drama troupe invited to perform at Thespian Festival in Nebraska
     The Roosevelt High School Drama troupe has been chosen to perform James Still’s And Then They Came for Me: Remembering the World of Anne Frank at the 2008 Thespian Festival June 23-28 at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln. Roosevelt was given the honor during the State Thespian Festival held March 13-15 at Central Washington University. Roosevelt also won the Superior Trophy for And Then They Came for Me – Remembering the World of Anne Frank; and an Excellent Certificate for Night of January 16th.

Ballard High filmmakers to be featured at national festival for talented youth
     Four short films by students in the Ballard High School Video Production Program have been named Official Selections of the National Film Festival for Talented Youth. The festival opens at Seattle Center’s McCaw Hall on Friday, March 28 and continues through Sunday, March 30. It features 73 films from across the country by filmmakers age 21 and younger. The honored Ballard films are:
     ● Bittersweet by Coburn Erskine, Becca Rice, Devan Sizemore and George Westberg;
     ● Nice Touch by Alec Maclurg, Ben Steiner and Kevin Vitz-Wong;
     ● The End is Near by Will Livesley-O’Neill, Vange Spracklin and Ben Steiner; and
     ● Spaced Out by Justin Amorratanasuchad, Mike Hipp and Devan Sizemore.
      Among these shorts, several have previously been honored by the National Association of Television Arts & Sciences, the Westport Youth Film Festival, the Young People’s Film & Video Festival, the Derek Freese High School Film & Video Festival, and the Northwest High School Film Festival. For a complete schedule of events, show times, and ticket information, visit http://www.nffty.org/festival.html.

Around the Schools

Seattle students to make 5,200-mile bike ride for environmental awareness
Trip to end with Earth Day celebration at Benaroya Hall, Global to Local event

Six students from Chief Sealth High School and one student from Gatewood Elementary School will fly to Washington, D.C. this weekend to begin a 5,200-mile bicycle trip to Seattle to spread the word on environmental and climate protection. Called An Inconvenient Ride, the group will stop in cities that have signed on to Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels’ Climate Action Now Initiative. The trip will be documented by Sealth student producers and camera operators. The group will arrive in Seattle on Earth Day, April 22, and will be escorted to Benaroya Hall for a Global to Local celebration. Proceeds from the event will go to Project Earth Care, a program created at Sealth, in which students coordinate with K-12 schools, government and neighborhoods to work on environmental projects.

Chief Sealth High students, right photo, train for the 5,200-mile bike ride.

Let the games begin! Roosevelt to host Greek, Roman Classics convention
Students to compete in oratory, athletic, academic and art events
Roosevelt High School will host hundreds of students from around the Northwest region on April 11-13 for the 61st Washington/British Columbia Junior Classical League Convention. The league helps promote and sustain the learning of classics in primary and secondary schools and encourages an interest and appreciation of the language, literature, and culture of ancient Greece and Rome. The conference will begin on April 11 with an evening at the Seattle Art Museum, where students will view the current Roman Exhibit from the Louvre. On April 12, students from 12 delegations will converge at Roosevelt to participate in social, academic, athletic, oratory, drama, and art events. The day will conclude with a lavish Roman banquet in the Commons, accompanied by student musicians and entertainers. April 13, the final day of the convention, will be dedicated to Olympika (track and field events), skits and awards. For more information, contact Roosevelt Latin Instructor Nora MacDonald at 252-4932 or njmacdonald@seattleschools.org

Maggie Cross, a volunteer parent, with the University of Washington America Reads/Counts, is just one of the tutors who support student learning at Washington Middle School.

Tutoring program blooms at Washington Middle School
Along with the daffodils, the onset of spring is being heralded at Washington Middle School by the numbers of bright golden lanyards seen in the hallways each day. The lanyards are sported by the 43 tutors working with students in classrooms, the Learning Resource Center, or the counseling office. Those participating in the thriving tutoring program, which started in March of 2007, include service-learning or work-study students from the following programs: Seattle University’s Children’s Literacy Project and its Bachelor of Arts in Humanities for Teaching; University of Washington’s Pipeline Project; America Reads/ Counts; and Seattle Central Community College’s Tutors to Teachers Program. They are joined by a host of parent volunteers and other community members, and are currently serving more than 70 students in one-on-one pairings, as well as 36 classroom assistant periods per week.

Jamey Schmidt, third-grade teacher, top photo, goes over some math concepts with parents.
In bottom photo, Cori Jaeger, second grade teacher, and Roberto Gandoffi, bilingual instructional aide, explain a math problem to parents.

Parents learn new math
concepts at Cooper's
Family Learning Nights
It was the turn of several Cooper Elementary families to sit at school desks last month as they learned the new math curriculum and concepts their children were studying. Sookie Baek (Cooper’s bilingual teacher), Suad Ibrahim (Somali Instructional Assistant), and Roberto Gandolffi (Spanish Instructional Assistant) conceived of the idea of Family Learning Nights after hearing from families about their desire to help their children do math homework. Kindergarten through fifth-grade teachers instructed on different evenings, which drew about 10 to 15 families from each grade. Dinner, child care and interpreters were provided. These nights are supported and funded through the Family and Community Partnerships Grant.

Musicians Joe Craven, Darol Anger to join Washington Middle School's
Senior Orchestra in Fifth Annual Gypsy Jazz Concert on April 18
     String jazz, symphonic music, bluegrass and the aromas of Cajun food will fill Town Hall, Seattle’s community cultural center in the First Hill neighborhood, at the fifth annual Gypsy Jazz Concert. Grammy-nominated violinist and composer Darol Anger and multi-instrumentalist Joe Craven will join the Washington Middle School Senior Orchestra in a program that crosses musical boundaries. Elizabeth Fortune, orchestra director at Washington Middle School, will conduct the award-winning Senior Orchestra. Fortune said the idea of the Gypsy Jazz Concert is to “step outside the box – move beyond what we normally think of as orchestral music.” Cajun culinary specialties are available during the intermission. Washington Middle School received a $1,500 grant from 4Culture (King County's office for the arts) and a $1,000 grant from the Office of Mayor Greg Nickels to help cover concert expenses. For more information, contact Fortune at 252-2572 or eafortune@seattleschools.org.

     Gypsy Jazz Concert
     with Washington Middle School Senior Orchestra
     Friday, April 18
     Doors open at 6 p.m.
     Town Hall
     1119 Eighth Ave. (at Seneca Street)
     Tickets: $20 in advance/$25 at door for adults
     $8 in advance/$10 at door for those 18 and under.
     Tickets: www.ticketleap.com, using search words “gypsy jazz 5”

Washington Middle School students, top photo, surround coins they collected during the annual Penny Harvest. Students at Brighton Elementary School, bottom photo, hold a Roundtable meeting to decide which community-service organization will receive the money they collected. Photos courtesy of Penny Harvest.

Seattle schools help collect more than $64,000 in annual Penny Harvest
Thirty-two schools from the Seattle School District participated in the annual Penny Harvest this year, helping bring in $64,333.73 to the Seattle area. A total of 55 Seattle-area schools were involved in the program, in which students collect pennies and other coins from families, friends and neighbors, then donate the money to selected community organizations. Penny Harvest starts in October and continues into January. After coins are collected and counted, Penny Harvest student leaders at each school sit on a Philanthropy Roundtable and allocate the money they raised – typically $1,000 – as grants to community organizations. In the spring, students hold check presentation ceremonies at their school. At Brighton Elementary School, for example – where students have participated in the Penny Harvest program since 1995 – students will announce on May 12 which organization will receive $1,200 they have raised. Brighton Elementary students have donated more than $7,000 to a variety of community social services since participating in the program.
Registration for the 2008-09 Penny Harvest is open and any schools that are interested in participating can contact Maryellen Ferro, Penny Harvest Program Coordinator, at (206) 957-4779, Ext. 118 or sign up at www.PennyHarvest.org/SignUp.

TOPS elementary students to get a taste of world culture on April 9
     About 250 elementary students at TOPS K-8 will deepen their knowledge of the world on April 9 when about 30 University of Washington students arrive on campus to share crafts, language, music, games and activities from other countries. Students from the Foundation for International Understanding Through Students (FIUTS), a nonprofit organization, will represent 19 nations, including China, India, Germany, Kuwait, and Burkina Faso. The “World Cultures Day” is part of the TOPS' monthly TOPICS program, which introduces students to subjects outside of the normal curriculum, often engaging parents and community members with unique knowledge or skills. For more information, contact Andy Davey at (206) 616-6409 or andy@fiuts.org.

      TOPS World Cultures Day
     Wednesday, April 9
     1-3 p.m.
     TOPS K-8
     2500 Franklin Ave.

Students 'fuel their imagination' for National School Breakfast Week
Students in Seattle’s elementary schools had a blast “fueling their imagination” by participating in activities promoting National School Breakfast Week, March 3-7. Each day, students who came for breakfast were given a fuel credit card that they could use to power one of the three breakfast “rockets” on the cafeteria launch pad to “Planet Breakfast.” Of the three choices – Sausage Saucer, Bagelstar Galactica, and Lunar Eggsplorer – Sausage Saucer was the overall winner. In addition to the daily incentives (pencils, rulers, activity sheets and Disney books), students were challenged to create a “Fuel Your Imagination” poster with messages about the importance of eating breakfast.

Breakfast poster on right was created by a student from Maple Elementary School

Ballard High School All Class Alumni Benefit Concert raises $16,000
The Ballard High School Foundation and the BHS Music Boosters raised $16,000 during their All-Class Alumni Concert on March 8 – with funds all going to support the BHS Music Department. More than 70 alumni from the Class of 1935 through the Class of 2007, along with friends and family, participated with current instrumental and vocal groups in an evening of musical entertainment. Highlights included participation by BHS Principal Phil Brockman (BHS 1976) and a reunion performance by the Ballard Chorale under the direction of former BHS Music Director Bob Bune. In addition, the BHS Foundation announced the inauguration of a Music Wall of Recognition for those BHS alumni who have had careers in music. These eight alumni from the 40s and 50s were honored at the concert: Elna Solberg Haynes, 1945, (career with Seattle Symphony, french horn); William Goleeke, 1946, (vocal soloist, music educator); Wallace Goleeke, 1951 (Choral Director); Randy Baunton, 1953 (career with Seattle Symphony, percussion); Thomas Goleeke, 1954 (music professor, UPS); Bob Flick, 1956 (vocalist, Brothers Four); Jan Skugstad, 1957 (professional drummer); and Donald Funes, 1957 (music educator).

Ingraham High students and staff team up to fight stereotypes
As a part of Ingraham High School’s “Peace Week,” a group of peer mediators worked with Seattle Public School’s Equity and Race specialists and community organizations to show how stereotypes can influence student learning and test performance. This unique project was generated based on their research – with students, staff, and administrators engaged in the discussions. The peer mediators also conducted and shared a school-wide survey on discrimination and helped facilitate discussions for staff and students on a video about “stereotype threat.”

Wedgwood students help write legislation declaring Olympic Marmot the state indigenous mammal; bill likely to be considered in 2009 session

Thanks to students from Wedgwood Elementary School, the Olympic Marmot is closer to being officially declared the state indigenous mammal. As part of their studies on Washington state government and in anticipation of a visit to the state capitol in Olympia, fourth-graders in Ms. Kelly Clark’s class researched and wrote bills to be presented to the Legislature. Students also collectively wrote a bill proposing that the Olympic Marmot, the only mammal indigenous to Washington, be declared the state indigenous mammal. Ms. Clark received an e-mail this month confirming that Senator Ken Jacobsen introduced the bill, SB 6957, and should be considered in the state’s 2009 Legislature session.

Around the Community

Alliance for Education announces strategic refocusing
     The Alliance for Education announced the results of an extensive strategic refocusing process, representing the organization’s biggest refinement in focus since it was founded in 1995. The Alliance, whose mission is to help every child in Seattle Public Schools achieve academic success, secures seed capital for innovations in learning and fosters city-wide support for excellence in schools. The results of the strategic refocusing are detailed in the Alliance’s “Update to the Community,” posted online at www.alliance4ed.org/update.

Upcoming Event

Sealth, Secondary BOC meet in annual Carne Asada Bowl soccer match
Friendly game a time to play, eat, listen to music, relax
     The second annual Carne Asada Bowl between the Mighty Chief Sealth Seahawk Soccer Team and the Super Secondary BOC Soccer Team is set for Friday March 28 at Sealth’s Southwest Athletic Complex at 3:30 p.m. A special guest will award the winning team with the magnificent 4-foot-high trophy. The Chief Sealth Mariachi band will provide entertainment for the event. Food, including carne asada and veggie burgers, will be served immediately following the game to soccer participants. All SBOC and Chief Sealth staff are invited to eat free along with the family members from both teams.

     Carne Asada Bowl Soccer Match
     Chief Sealth vs. Secondary BOC
     Friday, March 28
     4 p.m.
     Chief Sealth Southwest Athletic Complex
     2600 S.W. Thistle St.

Registration being accepted for May 29 Healthy Schools Summit
     Join the Washington Health Foundation on May 29 for the Healthy Schools Summit as participants learn how healthy schools can boost academic performance and close the achievement gap. Sessions will focus on the skills, strategies and tools needed to make your school a healthier place. Small group sessions following the keynote address will be led by professionals who have successfully created coordinated school health programs and have seen positive academic outcomes as a result. The conference will be tailored to meet the needs of individuals with a variety of backgrounds and experiences. For registration or information, contact Carolyn Kramer, STEPS Schools Coordinator at 252-0754 or cjkramer@seattleschools.org

     Healthy Schools Summit:
     Closing the Achievement Gap by serving the Whole Child
     Thursday, May 29
     8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
     University of Puget Sound, Tacoma
     1500 N. Warner St.

Rainier Beach schedules 'Polynesian Potpourri' auction and dinner March 29
     Rainier Beach High School will present “Polynesian Potpourri,” its first auction and dinner on March 29. There will be a silent and live auction to include Seahawk game tickets, a lunch and conversation with Dr. Maria Goodloe-Johnson, a one-week time share anywhere in the world, restaurant and service certificates, artwork, and sports memorabilia. Rainier Beach students will also perform several Polynesian dances during the evening. Tickets can be reserved by calling 252-6350 or guests can pay at the door. Proceeds from the evening will help support and supplement student activities, scholarships and other programs. For more information, e-mail Annie L. Patu at alpatu@seattleschools.org or call 252-6350.

     Rainier Beach High School Auction and Dinner
     Polynesian Potpourri
     Saturday, March 29
     Doors open at 5:30 p.m.
     Rainier Beach High School, Gymnasium
     8815 Seward Park Ave. S.
     $15 admission

Nominees sought for Patsy Collins Award; application deadline April 1
    IslandWood, a 255-acre outdoor education center on Bainbridge Island, is taking applications to award an outstanding K-12 educator the Patsy Collins Award for Excellence in Education, Environment and Community. The award is given to a Puget Sound educator who is dedicated to creating powerful learning experiences for students by connecting students’ education to the real world, while inspiring them towards community and environmental stewardship. The awardee will receive $5,000, in addition to a $2,500 donation to a school or charity of choice. The deadline to nominate a teacher for this award is April 1. For more information, contact Cathy Sanford at (206) 855-4397 or cathys@islandwood.org.

'Night with the Sonics' fund-raiser to benefit Franklin High athletics program
     Aaron Brooks, a 2003 graduate of Franklin High School and now a point guard with the Houston Rockets, is helping to raise funds for Franklin's Athletic Department. Franklin is holding a “Night with the Sonics” fund-raiser on April 4 with a portion of each ticket sale benefiting its athletic programs. While a senior at Franklin, Brooks led the Quakers to the Washington 4A State Championship and was later drafted 26th overall by the Rockets. For questions, contact Joann Fukuma, Franklin High's Athletic Director/Dean of Students at 252-6164.

     Night with the Sonics fund-raiser
     Friday, April 4
     7:30 p.m.
     KeyArena
     305 Harrison St.

Town hall meeting on prevention of underage drinking set for April 8
     Madison Middle School's Strategic Prevention Framework - State Incentive Grant Project has scheduled a town hall meeting for April 8 to discuss ways to reduce and prevent underage drinking. The town hall meeting is part of Madison's "Stop Youth Drinking, Start Thinking Coalition" and will be held in conjunction with a series of similar town hall meetings scheduled to take place across the country during March and April. For more information, contact Rena? Gaines at (206) 252-9179 or (206) 396-2945 or e-mail at rtgaines@seattleschools.org

     West Seattle town hall meeting
     Tuesday, April 8
     6 p.m.
     South Seattle Community College (Brockey Center)
     6000 16th Ave. S.W.

Teachers invited to informational meeting on National Board Certification
     Join the growing numbers of National Board Certified teachers in Washington state in an opportunity to reflect on your teaching practice, develop in your profession, and expand the learning opportunities for your students. An Introduction to National Board Certification will tell you the "how" and some of the "whys." The presentation is open to all K-12 certified staff with a minimum of three years successful teaching experience. Participants will:
■ Become familiar with the standards for certification processes required in the NBPTS portfolio
■ Learn about timelines, the application, and scholarships
■ Have an opportunity to ask questions of current Board Certified Teachers.
For more information regarding National Board Certification, visit the National Board Certified Web site: http://www.nbpts.org/ For questions, contact Jane Dudley at 252-0067 or jedudley@seattleschools.org.

     Introduction to National Board Certification
     Tuesday, April 15
     4:30-6 p.m.
     John Stanford Center, Room 2700
     2445 Third Ave. S.

     Monday, April 21
     4:30-6 p.m.
     John Stanford Center, Auditorium
     2445 Third Ave. S.

Plaque to be dedicated at former site of Administrative and Service Center
     The public is invited to the dedication on April 17 of a historical marker at the former site of the Seattle Schools Administrative and Service Center on Fourth Avenue North. Merrill Gardens at Queen Anne, a retirement and assisted living housing community, allowed the Trustees of the Seattle Schools History Fund to place the marker on an exterior wall of the building. Light refreshments will be served after a brief ceremony. The Mercer Grammar School occupied the property from 1890 to 1940 and the Central Office between 1949 and 2002. Please RSVP at: archives@seattleschools.org.

     Plaque dedication at former
     Seattle Schools Administrative and Service Center
     Thursday, April 17
     3 p.m.
     Merrill Gardens at Queen Anne
     800 Fourth Ave. N.

Secondary BOC to hold open house and art show on April 19
     Join students from around the world for an open house and art show fund-raiser at the Secondary Bilingual Orientation Center (SBOC) on April 19. There will also be ethnic refreshments and entertainment. For more information, call the SBOC office at 252-2200 or contact Maria Ramirez, Chair of the Friends of the SBOC at mariagramirez@mac.com.

     Secondary BOC
     Community Open House and Art Show
     April 19
     2-6 p.m.
     Secondary BOC
     411 Boston St.

Join Boardwalk 5K Run & Walk on April 27 to support SPS Athletic programs
     Seattle Public Schools staff and community members are invited to walk, run or play on April 27 at the third annual Boardwalk 5k and Walk of Champions to benefit school health and fitness programs for elementary and middle school students. The event will be held at the University of Washington Husky Stadium with activities to include:
     • Free Walk of Champions – A free noncompetitive one-mile walk on the track at Husky Stadium.
     • Boardwalk 5K Walk/Run – A scenic certified 5K (3.1 miles) run or walk starts at Husky Stadium, up into the UW campus, past the famous Drumheller Fountain, the Allen Library, and through the Quad before finishing inside Husky Stadium. Cost is $25 for adults and $10 for children, if paid in advance.
     • Free Carnival of Activities – The carnival will feature “giant-themed” events, such as giant speed jumping, giant football kicking, and giant soccer juggling.
     Register or learn more at www.schoolkidscomefirst.com or contact Dick Lee at 252-0476 or rjlee@seattleschools.org.

     Boardwalk 5K Run & Walk
     Sunday, April 27
     10 a.m.
     University of Washington, Husky Stadium
     315 Hec Edmundson Pavilion

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 Public Affairs 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. The deadline for submissions is April 7 for the April 10 issue of School Beat.

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 unsubscribe to this e-newsletter by clicking here and typing in "unsubscribe" in the subject heading.