|
October 17, 2008
Photography
© Susie Fitzhugh
District News
Community meetings set to
discuss new Student Assignment Plan
Public invited to
attend meetings on October 23 and 27, November
1
Seattle
Public Schools invites families and community members to a
series of community meetings to discuss a new Districtwide
Student Assignment Plan. The meetings will inform community members
of the overall process to design, develop and implement a new
student assignment plan. Background information on
Student Assignment and on Excellence for All is available on the
Strategic Plan Web site and on the Enrollment
Web site. Meeting times and locations are listed
below:
Thursday, October
23
6:30-8:30 p.m.
Ingraham High School
Library
1819 N. 135th St.
Interpreters: Somali, Spanish, Vietnamese
|
Monday, October
27
6:30-8:30 p.m.
Rainier Beach High School
Paul Robeson Performing Arts Center
8815 Seward Park Ave. S.
Interpreters: Somali, Spanish,
Tagalog and Vietnamese |
Saturday, November
1
10 a.m. to noon
John Stanford Center
Auditorium
2445 3rd Ave. S.
Interpreters: Amharic, Chinese, Somali, Spanish,
Tigrigna, Vietnamese |
Seattle
School Board update – October 15 meeting
highlights
Please
click on the link for information on the
October 15 Seattle School Board meeting. Key topics included
2009-10 Student Assignment Plan and Capacity options; the 2009
Legislative Agenda; updates on the Southeast Education Initiative;
and Enrollment for 2008-09. Motions were approved on a variety of
topics including a building conditions survey to prepare for the
next capital levy program; establishing an unreserved fund balance
level for the 2009-10 general fund budget; and a 2009 legislative
agenda. The next regular legislative meeting is scheduled for
Wednesday, November 5 at 6 p.m. Information about the meeting is
available on the School
Board Web site.
Capacity Planning
update – North Seattle, Queen Anne/Magnolia
Board work session, special Board meeting scheduled
for October 29
Seattle
Public Schools continues its work with families and the community
in developing solutions to short-term capacity challenges for
elementary schools in North Seattle and Queen Anne/Magnolia. A
School Board work session is scheduled for October 29 from 3-7
p.m.; and a special School Board meeting will begin at 8 p.m. the
same day.
Read more.
Community invited to nominate projects for next capital levy
scheduled for February 2010; nominations due by December
1
Seattle
Public Schools invites staff, families and community members to
provide input as the District plans for the next capital levy,
tentatively scheduled for a vote in February 2010. Staff and
community members are encouraged to nominate projects for
consideration as the capital program package is developed.
The nomination form, together with
background |
materials and a presentation
shared at a series of community meetings held in October, is
available on the
capital levy planning Web site. The School Board at its October
15 meeting approved a contract with
MENG Analysis for consulting services, which includes providing
the District with a prioritized list of potential projects along
with cost estimates.
Read more. |
Southeast Education
Initiative schools receive support, funding
Aki
Kurose Middle School, and Cleveland and Rainier Beach high schools
– three schools supported by the District’s Southeast
Education Initiative – have received additional funding the
past year to strengthen its academic offerings and programs.
Additional information is available in this
summary and a
presentation made to the School Board on October 15.
October 21 meeting scheduled on School District's
Bilingual Report
Veronica Maria Gallardo, the School
District's Bilingual Program Manager, will share the findings from
the Seattle Public Schools Bilingual Review at a community meeting
on October 21. Simultaneous interpretation will be available. A
presentation will be followed by small group discussions. This is
the third of three meetings: the first meeting was held in
September and a second meeting was held earlier this month. Click
on the links for the Bilingual Program's
External Evaluation Report and the
Overview and Highlights Report. For more information, click on
the link for the
flier or call the Bilingual Family Center at (206)
252-7750.
Community
meeting on Bilingual Report
Tuesday, October 21
5:45-8 p.m.
Roosevelt High School - Commons
1410 N.E. 66th St.
Around the Schools
South
Shore building celebrates 'topping off' on October 16
The South Shore building and
The New School community celebrated
construction progress at a “topping off” ceremony on
October 16. A topping off ceremony is a tradition within the
construction industry, marking the moment when the highest
structural point in a building’s construction is reached. To
celebrate this significant event, a steel beam was signed and
hoisted into place. Construction is expected to be completed
in August 2009 and was funded by a BEX III bond.
Read more.
Beacon Hill International participates in 'Lights on Afterschool'
event
Beacon Hill International School on
October 16 joined more than 1 million Americans at more than 7,500
sites across the nation to send a message that after-school
activities are the key to children's success – and that we
must keep the lights on and the doors open after school. Seattle's
'Lights on Afterschool' celebration at Beacon Hill featured
presentations on afterschool programs available, an after-school
class kick-off, a tour of onsite after-school classes, and a root
beer float social. The event was sponsored by School's Out
Washington, Powerful
Schools, and the Afterschool
Alliance.
Laurelhurst Elementary
fifth-graders spruce up Interlaken Park
| Laurelhurst students use
buckets to transfer and spread woodchips around plants at
Interlaken Park on September 18. |
Students work
with EarthCorps to remove invasive weeds, spread mulch
Fifth-graders
at Laurelhurst Elementary on September 18 cleaned up Interlaken
Park with the help of a team of EarthCorps fieldworkers. The
85 hardworking 10-year-olds removed fields of invasive weeds, such
as blackberry and Herb Robert, known as "Stinky Bob." The students
also spread woodchips under desirable plants to keep them strong
and healthy. By participating in this, and many other
service-learning projects this year, the fifth-grade team is
learning about the importance of working with the community to
improve the lives of everyone. By picking weeds and spreading bark,
students got some good exercise and fresh air, while making a
connection with their neighborhood and community.
Summit's organic garden teaches
students how to be earth-friendly
| Summit
K-12 has a new organic garden thanks to several students who worked
on the garden during the summer. With a grant from the National
Wildlife Federation, the garden will be expanded into the school's
classroom curriculum, including middle school science, art, and
high school language arts. The grant is intended to help students
make a positive effect on the earth. The garden features crops of
carrots, radishes, sunflowers, pumpkins, marigolds, and native
plants. Students will plant more native plants, remove invasive
weeds, prepare beds for spring vegetable gardening, and build a
composting system. |
| Summit students Willie and
Isiah worked on the organic garden most of the summer. |
|
Madison's PAW Academy helps
students reach WASL standards
Students
in the Paving Academic Ways (PAW) Academy at Madison Middle School
are celebrating gains in the Washington Assessment of Student
Learning (WASL) this school year – with 32 percent of the 144
academy students approaching or meeting standards. The PAW Academy,
a two-hour, twice-a-week, after-school program is designed for
students who have not yet met standard on their WASL tests.
Students are given additional instruction and guidance in specific
concepts identified by the assessment. The achievement of
these students has been strong: 37 students advanced from a Level 1
on the WASL to a Level 2 which means that they are approaching
standard; 9 students jumped from a Level 1 on the WASL to a Level 3
which means they are now meeting standard. One teacher and one
assistant principal help in the PAW Academy, which includes 28
sixth-graders, 50 seventh-graders, and 66
eighth-graders.
Ingraham High School students
celebrate Banned Books Week
| Ingraham High students, from
left: Hilary Pickles, Shermona Mitchell, John Ulman, and Jose
Abaoag celebrate Banned Books Week at the Ingraham Library.
|
|
Ingraham
High School students celebrated
Banned Books Week (September 27 to October 4) by participating
in a Book-It Repertory
Theatre program of
"Danger: Books!" presented at several
Seattle Public Library branches. Ingraham students watched
short book scenes from Kaffir Boy by Mark Mathabane, I
know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou, and The
Awakening by Kate Chopin – books banned throughout the
United States for a variety of reasons. Ingraham students also
discussed first amendment rights and censorship. The last
‘Danger Books!’ program will be held at Seattle Public
Library’s
Wallingford Branch on October 29. |
Danger
Books: A Celebration of Intellectual Freedom
Wednesday, October 29
12:15–1:45 p.m.
Seattle Public Library, Wallingford
Branch
1501 N. 45th St.
Upcoming Events
Washington Middle School to
hold Wellness Fair on October 22
The Wellness Team at Washington
Middle School will host a schoolwide health fair for students on
October 22. More than 15 organizations will set up booths in the
gymnasium for students to visit throughout the day. Organizations
will be addressing health issues such as helmet safety, fitness
(Wii video game console, Body Mass Index, circuit training), gang
prevention, nutrition, pedestrian safety, eating disorders, crisis
clinics, multicultural health issues, and cyberbullying. All health
and science teachers will be bringing their students down to
participate. For more information, contact Wendy Miller at (206)
252-2625 or wamiller@seattleschools.org.
Washington Middle School
Wellness Fair
Wednesday, October 22
8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Washington Middle School
2101 S. Jackson St.
Students
invited to enter contest for National Safe Schools
Week
| Middle
and high school students are invited to participate in a
Creative Expression Contest sponsored by National Safe Schools
Week October 19-25. The contest is designed to convey students'
thoughts about the issue of school violence in America and to offer
solutions. Submissions can be in the form of an essay, |
song, rap, poem, drawing,
painting, or computer-based design. Deadline is October 27 to send
in entries. All contestants will receive a prize. Winning
contestants will receive a iPod touch, and their school will also
receive a School Safety Package worth $2,500. For more information,
click here or e-mail
at speakup@paxusa.org |
Oct. 30
forum set for Arts Education in Seattle Public
Schools
The community is invited to the
fifth annual public forum on the
State of Arts Education in Seattle Public Schools on October
30. Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels will welcome participants to an
evening devoted to strengthening arts in our city schools. Speakers
will include Dr. Maria L. Goodloe-Johnson, Seattle Public Schools
Superintendent and Carla Santorno, Chief Academic Officer. Learn
about the first year of the city of Seattle’s Arts Education
Initiative with the Seattle Public Schools and about the next
steps. RotaryMusic4Life will
collect instrument donations at the forum to enable Seattle
elementary school students to study instrumental music this year.
To sign up, call (206) 684-7372 by Monday, October 27.
State
of Arts Education in Seattle Public Schools
Thursday, October 30
7-8:30 p.m.
Seattle Asian Art Museum
1400 East Prospect St., Volunteer
Park
GBLT Families Dinner to be held November
6
Seattle Public Schools' Health
Education Office, along with Superintendent Maria Goodloe-Johnson,
Ph.D., invite the community to join gay, lesbian, bisexual, and
transgender families and friends at a dinner on November 6. The
dinner and activities are complimentary thanks to donations from
the community. The theme is Hawaiian and guests are encouraged to
dress for the theme. For more information, contact Lisa Love at
(206) 252-0982 or llove@seattleschools.org.
Read
more.
GBLT Families Dinner
Thursday, November 6
6-8 p.m.
Meany Middle School
301 21st Ave. E.
November 20 Art of
Hospitality to benefit John Muir Elementary
The Art of
Hospitality silent auction and art show will be held on
November 20 to benefit the art program at John Muir Elementary
School. In 2006, the event raised more than $8,000 for the school
– almost double the school's art budget. Funds went toward
the purchase of a new kiln, art aprons, new brushes, and paper.
John Muir's art program teaches several hundred children from
kindergarten through fifth-grade the basics in drawing, painting
and ceramics. The Art of Hospitality originated in 2003 to
promote creativity and recognition of Seattle's hotel and
hospitality industry. The event offers original artwork for sale,
as well as a silent auction, including vacation packages, jewelry,
artwork, and dining at local restaurants.
Read more.
Art of
Hospitality
Thursday, November 20
4-8 p.m.
Mayflower Park Hotel
405 Olive Way, Seattle
|
| Artwork for the 2008 Art of
Hospitality invitation was drawn by third-grader Chardai Thomas and
is titled 'Mountain Top.' |
|
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 October 27 for the October 31
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 unsubscribe
to this e-newsletter by clicking here and typing
in "unsubscribe" in the subject heading. |
