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May 22,
2009
Photography
© Susie Fitzhugh
Excellence for All: Alliance for Education Community
Breakfast
Our
work in Seattle?s schools would simply not be possible without the
support we receive from families, neighbors and community leaders.
And those supporters were out in force this week to celebrate our
schools at the annual Community Breakfast sponsored by the Alliance for
Education.
Superintendent Maria L.
Goodloe-Johnson, Ph.D., shared information on the many successes of
the last year and the progress that Seattle Public Schools is
making toward implementing Excellence for All. Highlights
of that progress are included in the
2009 Annual Report to the Community posted on our Web site. We
thank the Alliance for funding this publication. Portions of the
breakfast program, including Dr. Goodloe-Johnson?s keynote address,
will be posted soon on our
Strategic Plan Web site.
As Patrick D?Amelio, the Alliance?s
President and CEO, and George Griffin, the Alliance's Board
Chairman and President, noted in a May 20
opinion editorial, that level of community support –
combined with exciting improvements throughout the District –
have led them to feel ?confidence and hope for the future.?
They shared the success stories of
several students, from Cleveland and Rainier Beach high schools,
who are heading to college prepared with rigorous AP courses,
noting that, ?expanding college-ready classes is just one example
of how Seattle Public Schools is committed to bringing outstanding
curriculum to every school, in every neighborhood.?
District News
Historic
reductions in state funding lead to reduction in
force
Due
to historic reductions in state funding for K-12 education, Seattle
Public Schools must close a projected $34 million budget gap for
school year 2009-10. The District has reduced central office
management staff, implemented a hiring freeze, increased
efficiencies in operations, such as transportation and nutrition
services, and closed school buildings, among other cost-saving
measures. A responsible use of reserve funds of $10.2 million has
also been proposed. Due to the unprecedented reduction in state
funding, the District has now made the painful decision to
implement a reduction in force of both certificated and classified
staff. These reductions are made based on seniority and job
category as specified in the
contracts with the Seattle Education Association. For
additional information on budget development and staffing, please
visit the District
news site.
Proposed
school start/end times for school year
2009-10
Based
on feedback from principals, staff and families about school
start/end times for 2009-10, staff has proposed a revised schedule
that will move up start times for all schools by 10-15 minutes.
Making these start/end time changes will ensure that all elementary
students are picked up and dropped off during daylight hours. The
School Board will vote on this change at its June 3 meeting.
Proposed times for each school are posted on our Web site. The
changes in transportation service standards will reduce ride times
for many students, provide more consistency and reliability in
schedules, and improve consistency of drivers on each route. These
changes mean that Seattle Public Schools will transport the same
number of students with 49 fewer buses, saving fuel and reducing
the District's carbon footprint, while also maximizing operational
efficiency and reducing transportation costs by $2.2
million.
Additional principal
appointments announced for 2009-10
Superintendent
Maria L. Goodloe-Johnson, Ph.D., and Chief Academic Officer Carla
Santorno have made additional principal appointments for the
2009-10 school year. The principal appointments announced on May 19
are: Cothron McMillian to Brighton Elementary School; Chris Carter
to Hamilton International Middle School; Beverly Raines to Lawton
Elementary School; Cashel Toner to Leschi Elementary School; Wayne
Floyd to Loyal Heights Elementary School; DeWanda Cook-Weaver to
McGilvra Elementary School, and Jo Lute-Ervin to TOPS K-8 School.
Read more.
School
Board Update - May 20, 2009
Superintendent
Maria L. Goodloe-Johnson, Ph.D., presented information on the
upcoming interviews for the executive director of special
education; timeline for Chief Academic Officer position replacement
(from job posting on May 11 to selection in mid-June); outline of
the Reduction In Force process; explanation of principal
appointments;
Pre-K-12 Assessment Strategy and update on the
2009-10 budget development.
Among iItems approved were a
revision to procedure E02.01 regarding competition on vendor
contracts, acceptance of
grant funds for the Summer Sack Program, and the authorization
to apply for a
waiver of three snow days for schools also impacted by swine
flu.
Among iItems introduced were an
amendment to transportation service standards,
naming the African American Academy building lecture hall after Mel
Streeter; and the purchase of
Eveyday Math consumables.
The next School Board meeting is
scheduled for 6 p.m., June 3 at the John Stanford
Center.
Traffic
Education Summer School set for June 29 to July 29
Seattle
Public Schools' Summer Traffic Education program will run from June
29 to July 29. Tuition is $559. Based on sufficient enrollment,
classes will be held at Ballard, Cleveland, Franklin, Lawton, Nova,
John Rogers, Roosevelt, Sealth (at Boren) and West Seattle schools
and the Wilson-Pacific Building on North 90th Street. Mail-in
registration packets are available in the counseling offices at the
high schools and the Traffic Education office. Call the Traffic
Education office at 252-4735 or visit the Traffic Education Web
site for more information at www.seattleschools.org/area/trafficed/index.dxml
Student Celebrations
Seattle
Public Schools students earn National Merit
scholarships
Four
Garfield High students and one Ballard High student were each named
winners of a
$2,500 National Merit Scholarship on May 6. The students
were among 2,500 high school seniors from across the nation who won
the scholarships. The students are:
| Student |
High
School |
Probable career
field |
| Rebecca T. Cohen |
Garfield |
Journalism |
| Amandine M. Lee |
Garfield |
Undecided |
| Genevieve M. Lenoir
|
Garfield |
Theater |
| Anna K. Miller |
Garfield |
Medicine |
| Elliot H. Ransom |
Ballard |
Engineering |
On
April 8 , Nicole S. Davis, a Roosevelt High School senior, won the
National Merit scholarship from the
National Achievement Scholarship Program, established to
honor scholastically talented Black American youth.
On April 22, two students were
awarded corporate-sponsored National Merit Scholarships: Joel K.
Dunkelberg, a Ballard High School senior, and Maxwell B. Forbes, a
Chief Sealth High School senior, each won
National Merit Boeing Scholarships from The Boeing
Company, which grants the competitive awards annually to the
children of its employees.
| Gov. Christine
Gregoire, top photo, signs a bill into law on May 12, 2009, at the
Seattle Aquarium. The law declares the Olympic Marmot the official
Washington state endemic mammal. The Wedgwood students who helped
write the bill were at the signing ceremony and in right photo pose
with the Olympic Marmot.. |
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Wedgwood Elementary students
help pass law naming
Olympic Marmot official Washington state endemic
mammal
A group of fourth- and
fifth-graders from Wedgwood Elementary School has helped create a
new state law that declares the Olympic Marmot as the official
State endemic (only found in Washington) mammal. Working alongside
the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture’s Curator of
Mammals, Jim Kenagy, and their teacher Kelly Clark, the students
learned about the Olympic Marmot and successfully testified at two
state legislative hearings to promote the bill. At a signing
ceremony on May 12, Gov. Christine Gregoire signed the bill into
law at the Seattle Aquarium. Wedgwood students who helped research
and draft the bill are Gabe Briggs, Erin Cunningham, Claire
Demorest, Nick Jansen, Garrett Lawrence and Caroline Malone. Read
more.
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SBOC student honored
for winning Mayor's Scholars Award
Fati Abdi, an eighth-grade
student at the Secondary Bilingual Orientation Center (SBOC) was
recognized at the May 20 School Board meeting for winning this
year's Mayor's Scholars Award. Fati was among 26 students from
Seattle-area schools who were honored with the award. She received
a Mayor's Scholars jacket and $500 to contribute to a charity or
cause of her choice, or to further her education.
Mayor's Scholars are middle school
students in good standing who are "unsung heroes," who have
overcome obstacles or met challenges in their lives and
demonstrated commitment to their community through their school,
neighborhood, or religious organizations, or through other
activities.
Fati Abdi, right, receives recognition for winning a
Mayor's Scholars Award. Superintendent Maria L. Goodloe-Johnson
joined the Board in congratulating Fati at the May 20 School Board
meeting. |
Staff Celebrations
Franklin High teacher selected
as 2009 House Fellow
The Office of the
Historian of the U.S. House of Representatives announced on May
15 that Ronald Hailey, a teacher from Franklin High School, was
selected as a 2009 House Fellow. Hailey, who is from Rep. Jim
McDermott’s congressional district, was one of 24 teachers
selected as part of a highly competitive process to participate in
two one-week intensive programs on the history and practices of the
House. Hailey will attend the 2009 program session held between
July 27 and 31. Teachers will experience the House firsthand, then
return to their schools to share their insights with their
students, fellow teachers, and administrators. Read
more.
Seattle
Special Education PTSA selects Green Lake teacher
for Outstanding Educator of the Year award
Joe Kunkel, a fifth-grade teacher at
Green Lake Elementary School, has been selected for the Seattle
Special Education PTSA Outstanding Educator (of the year) award.
The Outstanding Educator Award is offered by the Washington State
PTA to recognize individuals who go beyond the normal expectations
of their jobs to make the learning environment fun, beneficial, and
challenging. Local PTA units choose the individuals to
receive the award. The Seattle Special Education PTSA will
present Kunkel with the award on May 26 at 7 p.m. at their general
meeting, held at the John Stanford Center.
Around the Schools
| Artist rendering of the South
Shore Commons area, left, and the new South Shore logo,
right. |
Architect gives South Shore
students, staff glimpse of new school
Scott
Hogman, construction administrator for BLRB Architects –
architects for the BEX III construction of the new South Shore
School – presented a 30-minute slide show to the entire
student body on April 24 that showcased the many features of the
new building. The presentation included drawings and artist
renderings of the new, spacious commons/cafeteria, library, gym,
science room and small flexible learning spaces. A 30-member team,
composed of teachers, staff, students and South Seattle community
members, worked with the architects to determine the needs for the
school and community. The presentation concluded with Principal
Sherrie Encarnacion revealing the new school mascot and logo, along
with the announcement of the formal name change to South Shore
School. Click on the link for South
Shore construction photos and more information on the Building Excellence III
Program.
SBOC to
hold 'Thank You and Goodbye Party' on May 30
SBOC
(Secondary Bilingual Orientation Center) will be leaving the Queen
Anne neighborhood next school year and is holding a "Thank You and
Goodbye Party" on May 30. SBOC staff and students want to thank the
Queen Anne community for its support during the 10 years the school
has been at the location. The community is invited for an afternoon
of ethnic dancing, sale of student art, henna painting, and
refreshments. There will also be a silent auction to raise funds
for supplies and services for new students as they continue their
education at the Meany Middle School building in September. The
event is free. To learn more about the school, go to: www.friendsofsboc.org or
contact Diane Steen at 252-1000 or ddsteen@seattleschools.org.
SBOC Thank You and Goodbye Party
1-4 p.m.
SBOC, Old John Hay building
411 Boston St.
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Summit
K-12 to hold ‘One Last Glimpse’ event May
29-30
The Summit K-12 program is
discontinuing next school year and is holding a farewell
celebration May 29-30. Some of the events will include:
| Date |
Event |
| Friday, May 29 |
Field/Barbeque Day, 11 a.m. to
3 p.m. |
| Friday, May
29 |
Summit Alumni basketball
tournament, 4-7 p.m. at the gymnasium |
| Saturday, May 30 |
Staff brunch, 10-11:30 a.m. at
Summit cafeteria |
| Saturday, May 30 |
Summit Alumni reunion, 1-3
p.m.; visiting time will be scheduled according to decades
attended: 1980s, 1990s, or 2000s. |
| Saturday, May
30 |
One Last Glimpse ... Farewell
to Summit K-12, will be held 4-7 p.m. in the Cathy Smullyan
Auditorium. This event will showcase past and present Summit
students. |
To RSVP and
find additional information, please click on the link: www.summitk12.webs.com
Once
Last Glimpse: A Farewell to Summit K-12
Friday and Saturday, May 29-30
Summit K-12
11051 34th Ave
RSVP: 252-4500
Van
Asselt to celebrate centennial as building prepares to close;
South Seattle community invited to June 12
celebration
Van
Asselt Elementary School, which opened as a four-room schoolhouse
in 1909, will celebrate its 100th year as preparations also begin
to close the building. Based on recommendations on Districtwide
capacity management, the Van Asselt program will relocate to the
African American Academy building at the start of the new school
year. Events for Van Asselt's June 12 event include an open house,
tours, performances, a reception, and displays of historical
costumes and the school's history.
Read more.
Van Asselt's 100 Years
Celebration
Friday, June 12, 2009
4:30-7:30 p.m.
Van Asselt Elementary
7201 Beacon Ave. S.
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Photo by Gabriel
Bienczycki
David Leventhal, a senior dancer at the Mark Morris Dance Company,
leads a group of students through some dance moves. |
Dearborn Park, Van Asselt
students refine dance skills
Students
from Van Asselt and Dearborn Park elementary schools honed their
dance skills earlier this month through a series of workshops with
David Leventhal, a senior dancer with the world-renowned Mark
Morris Dance Company. Seattle Theatre Group, the non-profit
organization that operates the Paramount and Moore Theatres,
offered the residencies as part of their education programs.
Students performed excerpts from the "Mozart Dances" from Morris'
latest production at the Paramount Theatre. The founder of the Mark
Morris Dance Company attended Seattle Public Schools.
Sixth-,
seventh-graders invited to attend free tech, science
camp
Current
sixth- and seventh-graders will have an opportunity this summer to
learn how to design and program video games, build and race a car
that runs entirely on solar energy, or learn how to make objects
float. Cleveland High School will be hosting an ?Eagle Tech? Camp
from June 29 to July 16 for these and other technology and science
subjects. Camps will be held from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Monday
through Thursday. Technology classes include: DigiPen Project FUN, Project Lead the Way, and
Pre-Engineering/Science. A selection of science classes include:
Earth Science, Chemistry, Physics and Biology. Click
here for the flier. For more information, contact Cleveland
Assistant Principal Marjorie Milligan at 252-7800 or mamilligan1@seattleschools.org.
Seattle
Schools team at top of Bike to Work Commuter
Challenge
About 30 teams from Seattle Public Schools are regularly commuting
by bike to work as part of the Cascade Bicycle Club and Group
Health's Bike to Work
Commuter Challenge. As of May 15 (halfway through the
challenge), Seattle Public School teams have a combined total of
3,197 miles logged, and is in 21st place out of 738 organization
teams. The Seattle Public Schools team will most likely finish in
the top 100 at the end of the challenge. Overall, all teams have
saved the equivalent of 3,197 pounds of carbon
dioxide.
Upcoming Events
Roosevelt Drama and
Music to present CATS May 21-22; May 28-31
The Roosevelt High School Drama and Music programs will be
presenting exciting performances of the razzle-dazzle Broadway
musical CATS this month. See 62 Jellicle Cats singing and dancing
on the Roosevelt stage.
Roosevelt
CATS
May 21-22 and 28-30 at 7:30 p.m; May
31 at 2:30 p.m.
Roosevelt High School Theatre
1410 N.E. 66th St.
Tickets: www.rooseveltdrama.org or
Roosevelt box office at (206) 252-4967.
Seattle
University displays featured at Bailey Gatzert science
fair
Seattle
University science students and Bailey Gatzert Elementary School
students will put on a science fair at Bailey Gatzert’s Community
Learning Center on May 27. People attending the fair will be
able to see displays and exhibits from Seattle University students
studying ecology, molecular biology, nursing, physics, diagnostic
ultrasound, mechanical engineering, chemistry, civil engineering,
electrical engineering and other fields. Bailey Gatzert students
will also have their own displays and exhibits.
Bailey Gatzert Science
Fair
Wednesday, May 27
4:30-5:30 p.m.
Bailey Gatzert Elementary
1301 E. Yesler Way
Healthy
Schools Summit to be held May 28-29
Registration
is now open for the third 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.
Community invited to attend
June 2 symposium on gang violence
The
public is invited to attend a June 2 symposium regarding gang
violence in Puget Sound. Keynote speaker will be the Hon. Richard
A. Jones, U.S. District judge. National and local experts,
community leaders and involved citizens are also scheduled to
attend to discuss the growing problem and work toward finding real
solutions. The event is free. For more information, contact event
organizer the Thomas C.
Wales Foundation, at (206) 233-2801. Seattle Public Schools'
Safety and Security Department is a co-presenter of the event.
Click on the links for the Web page
and flier.
Gang Violence: Real Problems
and Real Solutions for Puget Sound
Tuesday, June 2
7-9 p.m.
Seattle City Hall, Bertha Knight
Landes Room
600 4th Ave.
Seattle
students to read prose, poetry at June 3 and 4
events
Elementary,
middle and high school student writers from 23 schools will share
their finest poetry and prose on June 3 and 4. Seattle Arts and
Lectures: Writers in the Schools and Seattle Public Schools is
presenting
Imagination into Ink – The 2009 WITS Student Readings and
Celebrations. Elementary and middle school students will
read their works on June 3 and high school students will read their
works on June 4. Both events are free and open to the public. For
more information, go to www.lectures.org or call (206)
621-2230.
Imagination
into Ink
Wednesday, June 3 – elementary
and middle schools
Thursday, June 4 – high
schools
6 p.m.
Seattle Public Library, Central
Library
Level 1, Microsoft Auditorium
1000 Fourth Ave.
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 June 1 for the June 4
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.
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