May 9, 2008


Photography © Susie Fitzhugh

District News

Strategic Plan Update
Meetings scheduled to share, engage staff and community
     On May 7, Superintendent Maria L. Goodloe-Johnson, Ph.D. presented key elements of a draft Strategic Plan for “Excellence for All” for Seattle Public Schools.  In addition, the School Board heard a presentation related to stakeholder engagement. These presentations were developed based on hundreds of interviews and meetings with internal and external stakeholders, peer review and diagnostic research, and surveys of instructional staff and principals. In addition to the presentations, a series of one page summaries of major themes are available on the Strategic Plan Web site.
     Several meetings have been scheduled this month to share and engage with the School Board, staff, families, and community members. Important dates include:
• May 14 – Community Meeting – 7-8:30 p.m., Roosevelt High School Library (interpreters available)
• May 15 – Community Meeting – 7-8:30 p.m., West Seattle High School Commons (interpreters available)
• May 20 – Community Meeting – 7-8:30 p.m., Aki Kurose Cafeteria (designed with our bilingual families in mind)
• May 21 – Draft plan is introduced to School Board
     The School Board is scheduled to vote on the Strategic Plan on June 4. Updates to the Strategic Plan will continue to be posted on the Strategic Plan Web site.

School Board Update: May 7 meeting highlights
     At the School Board meeting on May 7, Board members heard presentations on the Southeast Education Initiative from Carla Santorno, Chief Academic Officer, and Pat Sander, Lead Director of Instruction; the creation of a District Project Management Program from Don Kennedy, Chief Financial and Operations Officer; and on the Peer Reviews of Human Resources, Finance and Information Technology performed by the Council of Great City Schools by Mr. Kennedy and Gary Ikeda, General Counsel and Interim Executive Director of Human Resources.
     The Board approved three property-related items, the sale of Queen Anne gym for $7.5 million; modifications to the ground lease and redevelopment of the Lake City school property ; and the Garfield High School/Interbay Playfield property exchange. Other action items approved include the transfer of $9.3 million back to program reserves due to favorable bids on the South Shore and Hamilton projects; and a resolution for a certificated Reduction in Force. Items introduced for review and action at the May 21 meeting include a resolution in support of the DREAM Act, and appointments to the Disciplinary Appeal Council.

Mandatory 'Adult Sexual Misconduct' training added for June 18
     Seattle Public Schools reminds employees that there is a mandatory “Adult Sexual Misconduct” training for all District staff members who have student contact (or supervise staff that have student contact). Employees who have not yet received this training, must attend the make-up session on June 18. Employees who are unsure if this training is mandatory for their job description can contact their department administrator for clarification. For more information, contact jusimon@seattleschools.org

     Adult Sexual Misconduct:
     What All Staff Members Need to Know and Do
     Wednesday, June 18
     8-10 a.m
     John Stanford Center, Auditorium
     2445 Third Ave. S.

Traffic Education summer school program to run from June 23 to July 23
     The Seattle Public Schools summer Traffic Education program will run from June 23 to July 23.  Tuition will increase in September to $449 – so this will be the last opportunity to take advantage of the lower fee of $415. Based on sufficient enrollment, classes will be held at Ballard, Cleveland, Franklin, Nathan Hale, Ingraham, Roosevelt, and West Seattle high schools; Denny Middle School; Lawton and T.T. Minor elementary schools; and the building housing the former Martin Luther King Elementary School. Yellow mail-in registration packets are available in the counseling offices at the high schools and at the Traffic Education office.  Call the office at 252-4735 or visit the Traffic Education Web site for more information at www.seattleschools.org/area/trafficed/index.dxml

Student Celebrations

"Roots and Wings" CD      Available through Linny Simkin      Parent volunteer, Sacajawea Elementary      linny.simkin@comcast.net      Suggested donation: $15      Proceeds benefit Sacajawea PTA

Congressman Jim McDermott, left, and Garfield High senior Noah Gallo-Brown, stand by the untitled artwork which will be on display at the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C.

Garfield High senior wins annual Congressional District Art contest      Noah Gallo-Brown, a senior at Garfield High School, won the annual 7th Congressional District Art Competition with an entry that was selected by a three-judge panel. His artwork will be displayed at the U.S. Capitol building tunnel in Washington, D.C. Gallo-Brown’s entry was among 22 submitted by students in schools throughout the 7th Congressional District, represented by Congressman Jim McDermott. Noah will attend the June 25 ceremony when the artwork will be officially placed in the tunnel. The art will be on display for one year.      For winning the competition, Gallo-Brown will receive prizes provided by several companies and organizations.

Photo by Eric Baer Several Pathfinder students spend a rainy day last week scraping and scrubbing the exterior of one of the portables to be painted May 10.

Volunteers to help spruce up Pathfinder K-8 School in West Seattle on May 10      Dozens of city and school community volunteers will upgrade and beautify facilities at Pathfinder K-8 School in West Seattle on May 10. Projects include painting and staining of the portable units that house the upper grades, landscaping the area, and beautifying and restoring the amphitheatre in the lower field. In addition to this one-day effort, plans are under way for continued landscape architecture and transformation at the school. Volunteers from Seattle Works, True Value Hardware, Authentic Home, and Silverleaf Landscape will donate their time to help with projects. Volunteers from the community are also welcomed and will be gathering on the blacktop area behind the school at 51st Ave. S.W. and S.W. Dakota.  For more information, contact Jennifer Giomi at jgiomi@comcast.net or (206) 931-4303.      Pathfinder K-8 Spruce-up      Saturday, May 10      10 a.m. to 2 p.m.      Pathfinder K-8 School      5012 S.W. Genesee St.

Upper Queen Anne Art Walk kicks off May 15
Art work from three Seattle Public Schools included in displays
     The artwork of students from John Hay and Coe elementary schools and McClure Middle School will be included on May 15 with the kickoff of the Upper Queen Anne Art Walk. The student art will be featured during the summer season every third Thursday of the month through October in coordination with local Queen Anne merchants.
     This project encourages the students to learn how to tailor their work to a certain space and prepare their work for display in addition to learning about art. Featured projects will include wood blocks, totem poles, a mixed media showcase and masks done by students at McClure Middle School; frescoes from students at Coe Elementary; and watercolor still life’s and photo extensions by students at John Hay Elementary.
     For additional information, click on the press kit or contact Jaime Bagnariol, event coordinator, at (206) 384-5777 or jaimejac@comcast.net. More event details are at www.upperqueenanne.blogspot.com

     Art Walk 2008
     Thursday, May 15
     Starting at 6 p.m.
     Queen Anne Ave. N. from Galer to McGraw
     Free and open to the public

Activities planned for Washington state’s first Safe Routes to School Month
     The Center for Safe Routes to School in Washington State is coordinating and sponsoring several activities this month to increase the number of students walking and biking to school safely. On May 2, School Board member Steve Sundquist kicked off the event at West Seattle Elementary School. The monthlong campaign will conclude with a walk led by City Council President Richard Conlin on May 30. The Center for Safe Routs provides the necessary tools, resources, and assistance to communities across the state in order to continue building the Safe Routes to School movement. Activities for the month include bike rodeos, walking campaigns, and other community events across Washington. If you would like Safe Routes to School materials for your school or family, please contact Feet First, an advocacy group building walkable communities, at ellie@feetfirst.info or call (206) 652-2310.

Upcoming Events

About 600 Seattle Public Schools students to participate in 2008 MESA Science competition      More than 600 students from 25 Seattle elementary, middle, and high schools will be tackling hands-on math, engineering and science problems at the 7th annual Seattle MESA Day competition on May 10.      In MESA, students of color and girls prepare for college in math, engineering, and science, beginning in elementary school, and continuing through high school. More than 100 volunteers from The Boeing Company, IBM, Microsoft, the Washington State Department of Transportation, University of Washington, and many other organizations will act as judges and role models.      For more information about this event, click on the MESA news release, or contact: Anna-Maria de la Fuente, Seattle MESA Director at (206) 616-9654 or fuente@engr.washington.edu Seattle MESA Day Saturday, May 10 8:30 a.m. to 2:20 p.m. Nathan Hale High School 10750 30th Ave. N.E.

Photo by John and Lisa Merrill Several students at the 2007 MESA Day try out their project during competitions. This year's MESA Day is Saturday, May 10.

Bat Boy: The Musical      May 10, 15 and 16 at 7:30 p.m.      May 17 at 2 and 7:30 p.m.      Nathan Hale High School       Performing Arts Center      10750 30th Ave. N.E.      $12 adults and $6 students/seniors

Opening Night      TOPS K-8 ArtFest      Friday, May 16      5:30-9 p.m.      TOPS at Seward Library      2500 Franklin Ave. E.