Seattle Public Schools | School Beat April 9, 2009

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April 10, 2009

school beat photo 4-9-09
Photography © Susie Fitzhugh

District News

Chief Academic Officer accepts Tacoma deputy superintendent job

Carla Santorno

Chief Academic Officer Carla Santorno has accepted the position of Deputy Superintendent at Tacoma Public Schools, effective July 1. Santorno came to Seattle in January 2006 from Denver Public Schools where she was an area superintendent.
Superintendent Maria L. Goodloe-Johnson, Ph.D., said Seattle owes Santorno a tremendous debt of gratitude for her service as Chief Academic Officer. "Carla's leadership in creating Seattle's academic milestones three years ago laid the foundation for the academic vision we now embrace in Excellence for All. She is a cherished colleague and we wish her the best in her new role as Deputy Superintendent of Tacoma Public Schools." Read more.

Ballard principal recognized with outstanding leadership award
     The Alliance for Education and Seattle Public Schools announced that Ballard High School Principal Phil Brockman is the recipient of the Thomas B. Foster Award for Excellence for his outstanding leadership. Ballard High School students and families joined representatives of the Alliance for Education and Seattle Public Schools to give Brockman the award at Ballard on April 9. Brockman is the seventh recipient to receive the award, which the Alliance began in 2000 to recognize exceptional secondary school principals. The award includes a $50,000 cash grant to the school. Read more.

Superintendent named to The Broad Center Board of Directors
     The Broad Center announced recently that Superintendent Maria L. Goodloe-Johnson, Ph.D., was selected to a new advisory board to oversee The Broad Center for the Management of School Systems. The center is a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising student achievement by recruiting, training and supporting executive talent from across America to become the next generation of urban school district leaders. Dr. Goodloe-Johnson is a 2003 graduate of The Broad Superintendent’s Academy. Read more.

School Board approves 2009-10 calendar
     The School Board approved the 2009-10 School Calendar at its April 8 meeting. The school year calendar was developed with feedback from the Seattle Education Association, the Principals Association of Seattle Schools, and other groups. Click on the link for the 2009-10 Calendar.

Advanced math placement test for fifth-graders set for May 4-8
     In order to more consistently place exiting fifth-graders into advanced math courses, and to give more students the opportunity to gain access to those courses, a placement test will be administered to current fifth-graders on May 4-8. This placement test is a collaboration between the Advanced Learning department and Mathematics department.
     Students to be tested include those who:
     • scored 80 percent or higher on the fifth-grade winter benchmark assessment, or
     • scored a 4 on the fourth-grade Math WASL, or
     • are currently in Spectrum, or
     • are recommended by their teacher or principal, or choose to take it (student/parent request).
     For more information, contact Anna-Maria de la Fuente, Mathematics Program Manager, at 252-0062, ahdelafuente@seattleschools.org or Robert Vaughan, Ph.D., Manager, Advanced Learning, at 252-0134, rcvaughn@seattleschools.org.

School Board Update - April 9, 2009
     Superintendent Maria L. Gooodloe-Johnson, Ph.D., updated the Board on several items, including the timeline for the Student Assignment Plan redesign and an update from the design teams for student and staff transition from schools to be closed, a presentation on the high school math materials adoption, and the change to bulk food production changes at the high schools as part of the budget reductions.
     The Board approved the 2009-10 school calendar, the 2008-11 collective bargaining agreement for Teamsters Local 174 and the MOU with Plumbers and Pipefitters, Local 32. Several BTA II summer projects were approved. The Board also approved the agreement with the City of Seattle for the Ingraham parking lot lease, the purchase of four portables for Nathan Hale, the sale of the University Heights property to the University Heights Community Center Association, and the approval of tunnel easements at Lowell and Montlake elementaries for Sound Transit.
     Introduction items included the high school math adoption recommendations, the high level policy revision for Student Assignment, Resolution 2008/09-6 committing the board to a policy audit, BEX proposals for furniture and equipment purchase, Ingraham High School remodel and building addition, and the transfer of funds from BEX III to the Garfield construction project.
     The next School Board meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m., April 22 at the John Stanford Center auditorium.

District, schools review procedures for Disaster Preparedness Month
      April is Washington Disaster Preparedness Month and serves as a reminder for families, District staff, school administrators, and safety committees to think about disaster preparedness. District administrators are being encouraged to review their schools’ Critical Incident Management plans, update Incident Command Charts and restock emergency supplies. Seattle Public Schools has several events scheduled this month, including “Drop, Cover, and Hold" earthquake drills and emergency communications drills. First Aid /CPR classes will continue to be offered monthly and emergency preparedness videos will be broadcast on SPS-TV. The District's Safety and Security Department has more information and resources on its Web site. Read more.

Middle School teachers invited to apply for exchange program
     All Seattle Public Schools middle school teachers are invited to attend a meeting on Thursday, April 23 from 3-5 p.m. at Eckstein Middle School to hear information about Seattle's "sister city" relationship with Bergen, Norway, and how to apply for the monthlong teacher exchange program. The closing date to apply is May 4. For more information, contact Mary Reece at mjreece@seattleschools.org or Ralph Hammersborg at rmhammersborg@seattleschools.org

Student Celebrations

B.F. Day's The Neon Yellow Pies won the 2009 Global Reading Challenge on April 8. Team members are Anneka Gustafson, Ella Hileman-Kaplan, Zoe Lawrence, Maude Lustig, Katrina Nelson, Mikayla Osbeck, and Madeleine Vaughn. With the team are Librarian Gil Hedges-Blanques and fifth-grade teacher Anne Jackson.

B.F. Day Elementary team wins
2009 Global Reading Challenge
     The Neon Yellow Pies from B.F. Day Elementary School are the winners of the 2009 Global Reading Challenge.
     The B.F. Day team were co-champions with the John Muir Elementary Roaring Readers in the 2009 City Final. On April 8, the two teams met at the John Stanford Center to face the top teams from Coquitlam and Fraser Valley, B.C., Canada, in the Video Conference Final.
     At the video conference final, the Neon Yellow Pies came out on top. This is the second time a team from the United States has won the challenge – and both times, it has been B.F. Day Elementary.

Five high school students receive vocational excellence awards
Five Seattle Public Schools students received the Washington Award for Vocational Excellence (WAVE), a program that recognizes and rewards students who excel in career and technical education. The state Legislature created the award in which students receive help for college tuition. Click on the links for a complete list of WAVE recipients and the WAVE news release. The 2009 award winners from Seattle, based on the legislative district where they live, high school they attend, and subject area they are pursuing are:

• Daniel Ammons, 36th Legislative District Ingraham High School Information Technology	• Sonny Nguyen 37th Legislative District Franklin High School Video Production
• Katherine Lee 36th Legislative District Ballard High School Academy of Finance	• Zulikha Shafi 11th Legislative District Ballard High School Health Occupations
• Luke Neilson 46th Legislative District Nathan High School Radio Broadcast

Students visit National Academy Foundation office in New York
Six students from Ballard, Chief Sealth, Franklin and Ingraham high schools, along with Joanne Patrick from the District's Career and Technical Education department, attended the National Academy Foundation's Annual Gala in New York City in February. The group, above, which included a student from the Highline School District, also visited the office of JD Hoye, National Academy Foundaton president.

Five Madison students accepted into prestigious science program
Five outstanding seventh-grade girls were accepted into Splash this summer, a prestigious science program at Seattle University. Tasha Addington-Ferris, Megan Antalan, Riley Bunch, Michelle Raney and Alex Valenti, will spend July 24 through August 18 at Seattle University studying environmental engineering, aerodynamics, mathematics and computer science along with 25 other girls. In the competitive process, they wrote essays and collected recommendations from their science teacher, Liz Olivere.

Seattle students win Mayor's Scholars Awards
Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels announced that 21 outstanding middle school students from Seattle Public Schools have earned this year's Mayor's Scholar Awards for service to their schools and their communities. The winners will receive $500 that can be used for education or donated to charity. Nickels will present the awards at a reception in City Hall on May 12. This year's award recipients from Seattle Public Schools are:

• Fati Abdi, Secondary BOC, 8th grade	• Tore Kelln, Madison, 8th grade
• Ramadan Ahmed, Meany, 8th grade	• Emma Khan-Jones, Pathfinder K-8, 6th grade
• Luke Asatiani, Madison, 8th grade	• Mariam Khodr, Madison, 7th grade
• Sidney Axtell, Salmon Bay School, 8th grade	• Adriana Meraz-Gonzalez, Mercer, 8th grade
• Rataya Crenshaw, Madrona K-8, 7th grade	• Kassim Shaibi, Hamilton Int'l, 8th grade
• Gizelle Gando, Mercer, 8th grade	• Lauren Shaughnessy, Madison, 8th grade
• Taylor Gaston, Madrona K-8, 7th grade	• Maleika Thomas, Madrona K-8, 7th grade
• Daniel Gonzalez, Mercer, 6th grade	• Jesse Tibbits, Pathfinder K-8, 8th grade
• Julie Hoang, McClure, 8th grade	• Farhan Vohra, Denny, 8th grade
• Mohammed Jagana, Meany, 7th grade	• Jessica Walters, The New School, 6th grade
• Finn Kelln, Madison, 6th grade

McClure students win Storymakers creative writing challenge
     Two McClure Middle School students were winners as part of KCTS 9's first-ever Storymakers: A Creative Challenge for Young Writers contest. More than 300 sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-grade students from across Washington state and British Columbia competed in the challenge. Sixth-grader Kimi Rutladge won for her entry, Can you Hear Me Now? and eighth-grader Rafael Padilla won for his entry, Nighttime Frenz y. Read more.

Staff Celebrations

Roxhill, Emerson teachers recognized as 'superheroes' for families
     Roxhill Elementary teacher Jenny Dew and Emerson teacher Regina Carter were named Superheroes for Washington Families in this month's issue of Parent Map magazine.
     Dew, who teaches first-grade students at Roxhill, was described as being "born to teach," and "an amazing teacher who makes every child feel welcome and every family part of the learning process."
     Carter, who is a MESA (Math, Engineering, and Science Achievement) teacher, also teaches drama and second grade at Emerson. A fellow teacher said Carter "is an educator who consistently creates purposeful learning that honors children, while fostering positive self-worth through individual successes."

Around the Schools

Photo © Bill Mohn
Graham Hill Elementary students, accompanied by the Graham Hill Chorus, perform at McCaw Hall on March 21.

Students perform with Pacific Northwest Ballet at McCaw Hall
More than 400 elementary, middle, and junior high school students performed on stage at the Marian Oliver McCaw Hall on March 21 as part of the Discover Dance program of the Pacific Northwest Ballet (PNB). Participating Seattle Public Schools included Daniel Bagley Elementary, Graham Hill Elementary, and Summit K-12. The Graham Hill Chorus, led by music specialist Cherrie Adams, also accompanied some of the performances. The students, under the guidance of PNB teaching artists, create original works that connect dance to concepts they are learning in science and social studies. Also featured in the performance were REACH Student Dance Group and PNB Company dancers.

McGilvra students demonstrate science concepts in circus routines

This winter, the second-graders at McGilvra Elementary School studied the skills and concepts involved in balance and weight as part of their science curriculum.
To culminate this unit of study, the students put on a Balancing Circus for their parents and schoolmates on January 30. In their circus skills physical education classes, the second-graders use their balancing skills to walk, run and/or jump on large, rolling spools, stilts of varying heights, jump ropes, and pogo sticks. They rode unicycles in choreographed routines and juggled flower sticks to music. Balancing activities in P.E. reinforce the science concepts second-graders learned in their classrooms.

McGilvra second-graders, above photos, demonstrate their balancing skills during their January 30 Balancing Circus. The circus helped students understand the science concepts of balance and weight. The students were helped by P.E. teacher Joanie Moss and several classsroom teachers.

Coe Elementary School students, left, work with dancer Merlin Nyakam, founder of the world-renowned Compagnie La Calebasse.

Photo © Lee Tainer

Renowned dance company teaches students Afro-style moves
Students and teachers from schools across the District on March 24 learned and performed dances through the world-renowned dancers of Compagnie La Calebasse. Students from Bryant, Coe and Wing Luke elementary schools were led by Merlin Nyakam, the company's founder, as he demonstrated and taught the roots and traditional meanings of each dance movement in their company’s mix of African and Afro-contemporary style. The company's dancers hail from Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Guinea, and France. The UW World Series brought the dance company to the schools as part of a professional development program to integrate dance with music instruction. The program is provided to Seattle Public Schools music and multiarts specialists who are learning from master teaching artists of the Whistlestop Dance Company.

Students fill the classrooms, left and right photos, during Denny Middle School's Spring Break Camp.

Denny Middle School Spring Break Camp attracts record crowd
Denny Middle School's Spring Break Camp was a success with about 225 students at the school increasing their skills in reading, math, writing, science and music. The camp programs were designed to create learning opportunities for students beyond the regular school year calendar. The previous attendance record for a spring break camp at Denny was about 100 students.

Students at John Muir Elementary School, above, work on some art projects. The school's arts program teaches several hundred children from kindergarten to fifth grade the basics of drawing, painting and ceramics. Funds raised through the Art of Hospitality auction and art show will go toward the purchase of art supplies and equipment.

Art of Hospitality raises $10,000 for John Muir arts program
Students and teachers of John Muir Elementary School were presented with a check last month for $10,000 to help the school's arts program. The funds were raised at the 4th Annual Art of Hospitality Silent Auction and Art Show held November 20 at the Mayflower Park Hotel in Seattle. More than 300 guests, 75 works of art and 30 artists representing Seattle?s hospitality industry attended the fund-raiser. Art work for the event's promotional materials were provided by John Muir third-grader, Chardai Thomas, with the help of her art teacher, Susie Moriguchi, and John Muir Principal Awnie Thompson. Read more.

Denny students perform an acoustics set during Denny Middle School's Jazz Dinner Fund-raiser on March 28.

Cooper Elementary School students were part of the guest performers at the Denny Jazz Dinner Fund-raiser.

Denny hosts Music Department Jazz Dinner Fund-raiser
Denny Middle School hosted their annual Music Department Jazz Dinner Fund-raiser on March 28 with a combination of fund-raising, food and entertainment. Joining the students from the Denny Jazz Band and Denny Steel Drum Band were student performers from Cooper Elementray School, local jazz band Septimus, and the West Seattle Big Band. Guests at the packed cafeteria also recognized Denny Band Director Marcus Pimpleton, the performers, and the volunteers. Read more.

Highland Park students make science trip a family affair

Seventy-two Highland Park Elementary students and family members visited the Pacific Science Center on March 20 as part of the School District's Family Support and Community Partnership Program. The program offers help to students and their families in overcoming barriers to student achievement, including helping families assist in their children's learning at home and at school. Students and families learned more about the dinosaurs on exhibit at the Pacific Science Center after looking at Time Flies, a picturebook about dinosaurs and playing the Dinosaur Days Game in which family members learn facts about dinosaurs.
The group also visited other areas and exhibits at the science center.

Highland Park student with mother at Pacific Science Center

A Highland Park Elementary student and his family visit the dinosaur exhibit at Pacific Science Center on March 20.

Around the State

Families encouraged to apply for free camping at Mount Rainier
The National Park Service and Seattle Parks and Recreation Department are inviting Seattle-area families and youth ages 6-15 with little or no camping experience to camp at Mount Rainier National Park for two nights this summer. The program, Connecting Youth and Family to Our Parks, will provide free meals, transportation and camping gear. Families are encouraged to apply by April 22. For more infomation or to apply, contact Brad Carlquist at (206) 220-4229. Read more.

Upcoming Events

Alliance for Education Community Breakfast scheduled for May 20

     The Alliance for Education will be hosting its 7th Annual Community Breakfast on May 20 where Superintendent Maria L. Goodloe-Johnson, Ph.D., will speak on the state of Seattle Public Schools and on the progress of the District's Strategic Plan, Excellence for All. At the breakfast, Ballard High School Principal Phil Brockman, the 2009 winner of the Thomas B. Foster Award for Excellence, will also be honored. The award recognizes an outstanding Seattle Public Schools K-8, middle, or high school principal exemplifying excellence. Click on the links for the invitation and to RSVP.

     Alliance for Education
     Community Breakfast
     Wednesday, May 20
     Doors open 7 a.m.,
    Program 7:30-8:45 a.m.
     Seattle Westin
     1900 5th Ave.

Best in student art to be highlighted in Naramore Exhibition
More than 200 high quality visual artworks created by middle and high school students will be on display starting April 20 at this year?s annual Naramore Exhibition. Various art media and techniques will be showcased, including ceramic, pencil, oil and acrylic painting, collage and photography. Some of the artworkd will be for sale through a silent auction. At the April 20 opening ceremony, Superintendent Maria Goodloe-Johnson, Ph.D., and guest speaker Sandra Jackson-Dumont, Seattle Art Museum Deputy Director of Education and Public Programs/Adjunct Curator, will recognize the students and teachers participating in this year?s exhibition. The exhibition is named after Floyd Naramore, a Seattle Public Schools architect who, from 1919 to 1941, designed more than 22 schools.

Naramore Exhibition
Opening Reception
Monday, April 20
5-8 p.m.
John Stanford Center
First floor lobby
2445 3rd Ave. S.

Exhibition runs Monday-Friday
April 20 to May 1 during regular lobby hours

Renowned psychiatrist to speak on ADD/ADHD on April 22
     The Pathfinder K-8 PTSA will host Dr. Vern S. Cherewatenko, director of Functional Medicine at the Amen Clinic, Northwest in Tacoma, on April 22. He will talk about Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Cherewatenko is a published author, has appeared in numerous national television programs and has been highlighted in various print media. At the April 22 event, he will answer questions, such as: What happens when some parts of the brain are underfunctioning or over-excitable? What happens when a brain is diagnosed with ADD/ADHD or other medical conditions? What do you do and where can you find resources? The presentation is open to families in the greater West Seattle community. Please RSVP to Marvalee Ahlen at (206) 829-8850 or marvalee_ahlen@yahoo.com by April 15.

     A.D.D.: Your Attention Please
     Wednesday, April 22
     7 p.m.
     Pathfinder K-8 at Genesee Hill, Cafeteria
     5012 S.W. Genesee St.

4th annual Boardwalk 5K Run/Walk Fitness Carnival set for April 26
     The 4th annual Boardwalk 5K Run/Walk Fitness Carnival has been scheduled for April 26 at Husky Stadium. The event will help raise funds for the support of physical education programs at Seattle Public Schools. The event has something for everyone and includes a 5K run/walk, Walk of Champions inside Husky Stadium, and a fitness carnival with games and activities. For more information, contact Dick Lee at rjlee@seattleschools.org or (206) 252-0476.

     Boardwalk 5K Run/Walk Fitness Carnival
     Sunday, April 26
     8:30 a.m.
     University of Washington
     Husky Stadium
     Cost: $30 adults, $10 ages 18 and under

Franklin High to hold Community Arts Festival May 9
     Franklin High School will be holding their annual Community Arts Festival on May 9 which will feature a display of student drawings, paintings, sculptures, woodcrafts, and ceramics, as well as student musical, theater, spoken word, and dance performances. There will also be local craft and food vendors, student club fund-raisers and fun activities for children. For more information, contact John Dunkerley at 252-6150 or jwdunkerley@seattleschools.org.

     Franklin Community Arts Festival
     Saturday, May 9
     10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
     Franklin High School
     3013 S. Mt. Baker Blvd.

Healthy Schools Summit to be held May 28-29
     Registration is now open for the 3rd annual Healthy Schools Summit 2009. The keynote speaker will be Dr. Gene Carter who served as the executive director and CEO of the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development since 1992. The summit will be especially useful for healthy school advocates, school staff, district administrators, PTA/PTSA members and students. The public is also invited. Read more.

     Healthy Schools Summit 2009
     Thursday and Friday, May 28-29
     7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
     SeaTac Airport Marriott
     3201 176th St.

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 April 20 for the April 23 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.