Photo by David Tucker/Seattle Public Schools School Board recognizes National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists The School Board at its October 7 meeting recognized several students, above, who were named Semifinalists in the National Merit Scholarship program. A total of 24 Seattle Public Schools students are among 16,000 students nationwide who earned top scores on the 2008 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. The students have an opportunity to earn several National Merit Scholarships.

The Chief Sealth High School Marching Band took first place for their outstanding performance at the Issaquah Salmon Days Festival parade on October 3. The band was praised for its lines, uniformity, footwork, music choices, intonation, dynamics, and choreography. The Chief Sealth Band is under the direction of Marcus Pimpleton, who is in his first year as band director at Chief Sealth and his eighth year at Denny Middle School.

Photo courtesy of Chief Sealth High School

Photo courtesy of Ballard High School Ballard High School students were winners in three categories at the Young People’s Film & Video Festival in Portland.

The Washington Association of Secondary School Principals will recognize Ted Howard, principal of Garfield High School, as the 2008-09 Distinguished League Principal of the Year for the Kingco 4A League. The event will take place at a luncheon during the association's conference October 19 at the Yakima Convention Center. The association, composed of high school principals and assistant principals from around Washington state, said Howard's contributions to the school, the students, and the community were noteworthy and deserving of the recognition. Howard was selected from principals who are members from the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association's 4A football league.

Ted Howard

Four high school teachers – Rainier Beach teacher Kim Lesig and Cleveland teachers Kate Byers, Nicole Hawkinson, and Phuong Nguyen – presented on the topic Shifting Mathematical Identities at the Teaching for Social Justice conference.

Teachers give presentation at Teaching for Social Justice conference Four mathematics teachers from Cleveland and Rainer Beach high schools were presenters on October 3 at the annual Teaching for Social Justice conference in Olympia. Their presentation, Shifting Mathematical Identities, focused on the use of Complex Instruction as a teaching tool. The presentation showed how it can positively impact students' beliefs about school mathematics and what it means to be a math learner. Attendees worked in groups to solve and present a task, then discussed the ways in which this experience might affect their own beliefs about teaching and learning mathematics.

'Spider-Man' reads to Graham Hill Elementary students Actor Tobey Maguire, who plays the lead role in the "Spider-Man" movies, made a surprise visit on September 11, to Rebecca Bland’s second-grade class at Graham Hill Elementary School. The visit was coordinated by Communities In Schools of Seattle. Maguire, with his family in tow, read stories to the class and answered questions about his role in the Spider-Man movies. Photo courtesy of Communities in Schools of Seattle

Photos courtesy of Seattle Works Volunteers from Brighton Elementary, UBS, and Seattle Works joined on October 3 to brighten up the playground at Brighton Elementary with new game lines; a colorful U.S. map and mural; and fresh mulch and plants. The project was coordinated through Seattle Public Schools' Self Help Project. More photos.

Communities In Schools 'Stuff the Bus' for Seattle Public Schools
     With the help and generosity of 22 partners and more than 100 volunteers, Communities In Schools of Seattle (CISS) collected backpacks and school supplies for 28 schools during its "Stuff the Bus" campaign. CISS estimates that the supplies will reach more than 6,500 students this year. To get involved with next year’s Stuff the Bus campaign, e-mail stuffthebus@cisseattle.org

7th-, 8th-grade students invited to enter biomedical essay contest
     The Northwest Association for Biomedical Research invites 7th- and 8th-grade students at Seattle Public Schools to participate in the 2010 "Biomedical Breakthroughs and My Life" essay competition. Students are invited to explore the process of biomedical research. Students choose topics that impact their lives ? cancer treatments received by a relative, asthma medications that they are taking, or vaccinations given to their pet ? and explain how animal models and/or human clinical trials have contributed to those biomedical treatments and cures. Entire classes or individual students are invited to submit 450-650 word essays with a reflective paragraph. Winners receive cash prizes and will be invited to an Awards Day at a Seattle area research facility. Links to online registration and previous winning essays can be found on the NWABR Web site: www.nwabr.org/education/contest.html. For more information, contact Reitha Weeks at rweeks@nwabr.org or (206) 957-3337, Ext. 305

Free workshops available to help parents support children in math
     Explorations in Math, a nonprofit organization that partners with schools to improve attitudes about math, will be holding two workshops this month to help parents support their elementary-age children in math. Mathways is a series of free workshops, in which parents can learn math games that are quick and easy to play with their children. The workshop will help children increase their own confidence in and enthusiasm for math. Some Mathways workshops will include additional presentations by Seattle school representatives who will discuss the District math curriculum. These presentations will provide tips on how to help children with the Everyday Math assignments they bring home from school. Read more.

Mathways workshop schedule: