Seattle Public Schools | School Beat Oct. 29, 2009

October 29, 2009

School Beat main photo

Photography © Susie Fitzhugh

Excellence for All:Excellent schools

Nathan Hale celebrates completion of library/radio/arts addition
      The Building Excellence III (BEX III), capital bond approved by Seattle voters in 2007, funds a series of improvements at Nathan Hale High School, including a new library, radio station, visual arts classrooms and fitness center. These improvements, completed this fall, are part of an eco-friendly phased modernization and expansion program at the school. School leaders report that students seem more engaged in learning in the new library. This light-filled space is attracting students to the after-school study program and to the technology area. The hallway leading to the library, which is shared by the art classrooms and radio station, acts as gallery space showcasing Nathan Hale art students’ work.
    Award-winning radio station, KNHC C89.5 began broadcasting from its new studio in October. Now in its 38th year of broadcasting, the station is part of the District’s Career and Technical Education program. Each week, more than 35 student DJs, technicians, and operations personnel reach an audience of more than 350,000 listeners worldwide. The program has been a strong pathway to college and careers. Alumni include local radio personalities, Associated Press reporters and Grammy Award winners, as well as business professionals at Intel, Boeing and Microsoft.
     Photos, full construction project information and updates are available on the BEX Web site, or check out the Nathan Hale Web cam.

Levies help build student learning environments
     Students in Seattle benefit from updated learning facilities that support student achievement, thanks to consistent voter-approval of Seattle Public Schools capital levy and bond measures. These capital programs fund much-needed work to renew and replace aging buildings so that students attend class in schools that are safe and efficient. Just a few project examples include:

• The remodeled Madison (2005) and Hamilton (2010) middle schools offer small learning communities, or "pods," that create a more personalized learning environment to engage students and promote achievement.
• Renovations at Rainier Beach High School (2008) include a new library with flexible spaces to accommodate a variety of classes; a computer lab with up-to-date technology tools to support learning; and a space that provides real-life experience for the Careers and Technology Education (CTE) culinary arts program.
• At Garfield High School, the Quincy Jones Performing Arts Center (2008) includes a theater, music rooms, athletic facilities and locker rooms that support Garfield’s award-winning music and arts.
• The Orca K-8 greenhouse (2008) supports environmental and science education. It includes sustainable features such as a rainwater collection system, "green" building materials, natural light and energy-saving heating controls.
• Many schools across the District benefit from replacement of very old and worn interior finishes, some of which have not been updated in more than 30 years. For example, floor tiles at Washington Middle School and Lafayette Elementary brighten the learning environment; window coverings at multiple schools provide better light and heat control to save energy.

These projects, and many others, have been funded by the Building Excellence (BEX) levies and bond (1995, 2001, 2007) and the Buildings, Technology and Academics (BTA) levies (1998, 2004 and planned for 2010).

District News

Revised attendance area boundary maps available November 3
     During the past four weeks Seattle Public Schools has received thousands of thoughtful comments on the proposed attendance area boundary maps that were presented on October 6. Feedback was received through nine community meetings, a Web-based survey, e-mail, postal mail and public testimony. A high-level summary of feedback is available in the Comment section of our Web site, and answers to Frequently Asked Questions are also posted.
     Staff has been analyzing comments and recommendations and will present recommended maps at a School Board workshop on November 3 at 4 p.m. The maps and an address look-up tool will be posted on the New Student Assignment Web site after the workshop begins. Once adopted by the School Board, these maps will determine initial student assignments based on address and will be phased in beginning in fall 2010. Two community meetings are scheduled, on November 5 and November 7, to share the maps and report back to the community on the rationale for any adjustments made to the boundaries.
     The School Board is holding a public hearing on Monday, November 9 and is scheduled to vote on the maps on November 18. For a complete list of meeting dates and times, please click here. To sign up to give testimony at Board meetings and the November 9 public hearing, please click here.

School Board passes resolution to oppose I-1033
Initiative would limit growth of state, county, city revenues
     The Seattle School Board approved a resolution on October 21, 2009, opposing passage of Initiative Measure No. 1033 (I-1033), which will appear on the November 2009 ballot. If passed, I-1033 would limit the growth of state, county and city revenue to annual inflation and population growth, not including voter-approved revenue increases. Approximately 42 percent of state general fund revenues support K-12 education. The state's Office of Financial Management estimates that I-1033 will reduce state revenue by approximately $5.9 billion by 2015. Read press release and resolution.

Seattle Public Schools receives award for role in helping small businesses
Superintendent Maria L. Goodloe-Johnson, Ph.D., accepted the "Pillar Award" for Seattle Public Schools at the first annual 2009 Regional Small Business Development Program (RSBDP) breakfast held October 13. This program assists small business owners and their employees in developing the knowledge, skills and capabilities to compete for government contracts. Also receiving the Pillar Award are program partner-sponsors Sound Transit, Port of Seattle, Washington State Department of Transportation, City of Seattle and Tacoma Public Schools.

Photo by Flyright Productions
From left: Fred Stephens, Director of Facilities and Construction; Superintendent Maria Goodloe-Johnson, Ph.D.; and Silas Potter, Coordinator of Small Works/HUBS; receive the Pillar Award for Seattle Public Schools' role in helping small businesses.

After-school driver training registration begins November 12
     Registration for the next after-school driver training program is November 12. Other registration dates for after-school programs are in January and April. Registration for the next Saturday program starts in January. Registration for the summer program begins in May. The course fee for the program is $559. Counseling offices at all high schools have forms and information regarding times and room numbers. For additional questions, call the Traffic Education Office at 252-4735 or visit the Traffic Education Web site at www.seattleschools.org/area/trafficed/index.dxml.

District's Asbestos Management Plan available for review
     In accordance with the federal Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act, Seattle Public Schools notifies parents, teachers, and other employees each year of the availability of Asbestos Management Plans and actions the District is taking to maintain asbestos containing materials in its buildings. Read more.

Applicants sought for state History Materials Adoption Committee
     The District's Instructional Services department is seeking fourth- and eighth-grade teachers to serve in the Washington State History Materials Adoption Committee. The committee's goal is to review and select a set of Washington State History instructional materials for Grades 4 and 8, which will be aligned with the Washington State Social Studies Standards. Deadline for application is November 13. For more information, contact Wendy Kimball, Social Studies Instructional Coach, at wkimball@seattleschools.org or (206) 252-0695. For more information, including purpose, goal, expectations and who should apply, click here.

Student Celebrations

Ingraham High students represent state at leadership academy

Two Ingraham High School students represented Washington state at the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America's nationwide academy program in Washington, D.C. Anna Nguyen, Washington state director of Parliamentary Law and Finance, along with Justin It, Ingraham's chapter director of Finance, joined 150 other state FCCLA officers in D.C. from September 30 to October 3. The students attended the FCCLA Ultimate State Officer Academy (USA), created to equip FCCLA officers with advanced skills, experiences, tools, and the support network to successfully carry out the important duties of state office. Students also met with legislators and visited historical monuments and national museums. Following their return to Washington, Anna Nguyen and Luke Allen, state vice president of Region 3 and 4, hosted the Regional Fall Leadership Conference for 250 students from Pierce and King Counties at Renton Technical College on October 8. Read more.

Anna Nguyen and Justin It, Ingraham students and FCCLA members attended a leadership academy program in Washington, D.C.

Cleveland, Franklin students win medals in Web-based contest
The Upward Bound Program at the University of Washington recognized Cleveland and Franklin high school students Samuel Abera, Jazmine Calhoun, Michael Dugar, Emil Floresca, Sherese Hooper, Jia Jun Huang, Rayman Hui, Wilson Huynh, Akerei Iese, Annie Ng, Jade Pruitt, Sushen Tu, Cynthia Wanjiku, Hannah Wei, Christopher Williams, and Jessica Velasco who competed in the national 2009 TRIO Quest activities sponsored by the University of Washington. The students won both gold and silver medals and the teams were semifinalists in the ThinkQuest TRIO activity. Students were required to work in teams of 3-6 to research information, write, design and collaboratively create educational Web sites. The sites of these students were chosen out of more than 100 Web sites created by more than 400 TRIO students across the country. Coffee won a gold medal and Smoking won a silver medal. Winners received digital cameras, medals and certificates. Read more.

Staff Celebration

Principals honored for distinguished work for 2008-09 school year

The Washington Association of Secondary School Principals (WASSP) recognized Franklin High Principal Jennifer Wiley, Garfield High Principal Ted Howard, and West Seattle High Assistant Principal Anitra Pinchback-Jones, as the 2008-09 Distinguished League Principals and Assistant Prinicpal of the Year. Wiley and Pinchback-Jones were selected from the association's Metro 3A league. Howard was selected from principals who are members from the association's 4A football league. A recognition luncheon was held during the association's October 19 conference at the Yakima Convention Center. WASSP is composed of high school principals and assistant principals from around Washington state.

Around the Schools

Denny Middle School new home for Jazz Scholars Program
The Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra has selected Denny Middle School as the new home of the Jazz Scholars Program. In previous years, the Jazz Scholars program provided private lessons to students throughout the Seattle area. Due to changes in funding sources, the orchestra revised the program to focus on one school. Last spring, Denny partnered with the orchestra to pitch a grant proposal to the Clowes Foundation to fund private lessons for Denny music students. As a result of this grant, 18 Denny students will receive 45-minute private lessons, every other week throughout the school year. Families will be asked to contribute $5 per month toward the lessons (which are valued at upwards of $40 per week). During weeks the students do not have private lessons, the teachers will come to Denny to provide sectional instruction to large groups of students, so that those students not participating in the private lessons can also benefit from the instructors' knowledge and experience.

A Homewaters teacher shows Broadview-Thomson K-8 students how to collect water samples at Bitter Lake for later study in their science classroom.

Broadview-Thomson science students learn about 'Tiny Neighbors'
The fifth-grade students at Broadview Thomson K-8 recently participated in a field study at Bitter Lake called "Tiny Neighbors." The students are currently on the Science unit called "Microworlds," and the visit to Bitter Lake gave them an opportunity to learn about the habitat of the area. Students learned how to take deep and shallow water samples, which were brought back to the classroom and viewed under microscopes. Students saw the many microorganisms that live the in Bitter Lake's waters and they concluded that it is a healthy habitat, because of the great diversity of life. They also practiced identifying the creatures, and writing about them in their science notebooks. The hands-on, science class was sponsored by the Homewaters Project, an educational nonprofit organization that works to connect students with nature.

Roxhill students use World Cup theme for educational activities

Roxhill Elementary kicked off its CARES Cup 2010 program this month, designed to engage students and staff in various team-building educational activities. The 28 CARES CUP teams are led by a staff member and meet every 3-4 weeks. The team uses the game of soccer and the upcoming World Cup 2010 as its theme. Teams were assigned 28 of the qualifying World Cup countries. For the remainder of the year, each team will learn more about their adopted country and follow the progress of their World Cup team. Students will learn about culture and environmental issues that are impacting the people in those countries. At the end of the year, efforts will culminate in an all-school celebration for students, staff, families and community members to showcase what students have learned and to celebrate the relationships formed.

Roxhill Elementary students, top and bottom photos, work with their CARES CUP team during a team-building activity.

Maple Elementary teachers to receive classroom supplies
Maple Elementary teachers Andy Allen, Kristen Cater, Elyse Litvack, Marcia Ingerslev, Terri Nettke, Haley O’Neill, Rachel Projansky, Vera Robinson, Elena Sanchez, Julie Savas, Diane Trudnowski, Laura Tyler, and Connie Wood were adopted by the eSurg Adopt-a-Classroom Program. Each of these teachers will receive $150 worth of classroom supplies

Ingraham garden shows students how earth and science relates
For several years, students at Ingraham High School has been using a 50-yard-long garden at the back of Building 20 to learn how the earth relates to science. Maggie Rose, science teacher at Ingraham, began the garden with the help of The Foundation House at Northgate about six years ago. The company gave about $2,500 for students to purchase soil, garden implements, seeds, food dehydrator, and other supplies. Through the years, the garden has also received funds from the school PTSA, Seattle School Retirees Association and Sustainable Seattle for various other purchases. Students learn how to grow and harvest vegetables, flowers, and other plantings. They have sold flowers and vegetables to help fund trips.

Maggie Rose, a science teacher at Ingraham High School, stands in the middle of some plants and vegetables in the school garden.

NASA astronaut Gregory C. Johnson, left photo, blue jumpsuit, presents West Seattle High School principal Bruce Bivens with a 1972 school basketball jersey signed by staff and students that was taken into space during the Hubble repair mission in May 2009. Johnson, right photo, later met with Schmitz Park Elementary students to talk about his experiences in space.

NASA astronaut shares experiences with West Seattle schools
NASA astronaut Gregory C. Johnson, a graduate of Schmitz Park Elementary School and West Seattle High School, was the special guest at the two schools last month where he attended a breakfast fund-raiser/presentation and a school assembly. Johnson was the pilot for the May 2009 fifth and final shuttle mission to repair the Hubble space telescope. On September 24, Johnson attended West Seattle High's Back to School Breakfast, sponsored by the WSHS Foundation. Johnson, a 1972 graduate from WSHS, presented principal Bruce Bivens with a West Seattle High basketball jersey he took with him on the mission. Later, he met with about 350 math and science students – showing videos from his youth, the shuttle launch, and the repair of the Hubble telescope. At Schmitz Park Elementary, he showed a shorter version of the video, did a science demonstration and answered questions from students.

Mayor reads to Roxhill students for Read for the Record campaign

Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels visited Roxhill Elementary School on October 8 in celebration of the nationwide Read for the Record campaign. He read Eric Carle’s, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, to two kindergarten classrooms taught by Christopher Robert and Elzena Johnson. In addition to reading, the students had the opportunity to ask the mayor questions about his job. The mayor also visited several fifth-grade classrooms.

Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, right photo, reads to Roxhill Elementary students in Christopher Robert's kindergarten class.

Around the Community

State's 8th-grade math scores increase on 2009 national assessment
Washington state's eighth-grade students increased their average math scores on the 2009 National Assessment for Educational Progress (NAEP), according to a news release from the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. The scores, which were announced October 14, showed that Washington was one of just 15 states to see eighth-grade scores increase on the national assessment. Read more.

Upcoming Events

Arbor Heights to hold dinner auction on November 6
Arbor Heights Elementary is holding its first Dinner Auction on November 6. Reserve your seat for this fun community event that includes a no-host wine and beer bar, dinner, silent auction, and live auction. Auction items include Storm tickets, an Argosy cruise, vacation packages and gift baskets. Proceeds will be used to fund music, tutoring and artist-in-residence programs, the purchase of recess equipment and computers, and other needs. Guests are invited to wear their favorite hat. Contact Sara Murphy, Arbor Heights Elementary Auction Chair, at (206) 200-4555 for tickets or more information.

     Arbor Heights Elementary
     HATS OFF TO YOU! Dinner Auction
     Friday, November 6
     5:30 p.m.
     South Seattle Community College,
     Jerry Brockey Center
     6000 16th Ave. S.W.

Math festival scheduled for November 12
     Explorations in Math is hosting a special outreach event called MathFest 2009 on November 12. The event is the organization's third annual celebration of elementary students and math, and is designed to celebrate the thousands of children with whom it has worked over the past six years, which includes hundreds of Seattle Public Schools students. Held in a carnival-like atmosphere, more than 750 students, teachers, parents and community members “play math” at MathFest. Students build their confidence in and enthusiasm for math, and see that the community supports their achievements. The event is free. Click here for registration or call 206-325-0774 for more information.

     MathFest 2009
     Thursday, November 12
     5-8 p.m.
     Rainier Community Center
     4600 38th Ave. S.

Greenwood Elementary celebrates centennial on December 5
     Greenwood Elementary School will turn 100 years old this year and the school is celebrating with a communitywide birthday party on December 5. Activities include a family bike fest, an environmental educational fair, art projects, performances, birthday celebration, open house, and much more. Greenwood Elementary invites all neighbors and alums to participate. To learn more, contact Marcy Harrington or Susan Tye at 100th@greenwoodpta.org or (206) 252-1401 or visit http://www.greenwoodpta.org.

      Greenwood Elementary's
     Centennial Celebration
     Saturday, December 5, 2009
     noon to 5 p.m.
     Greenwood Elementary
     144 N.W. 80th 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 November 3 for the November 5 issue.

In the News
     For a sampling of this week's local newspaper stories on Seattle Public Schools, please click here.

This e-mail was sent by goodnews@seattleschools.org.        Subscribe to School Beat
Update Profile/E-mail address | Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe™ | Privacy Policy