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Budget Update |
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Superintendent Welch and the district budget committee
comprised of cabinet members, Interim Business Services
Director Barb Piguet, and two principals, continue to work
on the budget for the 2006-07 school year. The district
faces a shortfall of $3.1 million. Most of the shortfall
is due to raises granted by the state legislature to
state-funded employees. Highline must fund raises for an
additional 550 positions that are funded out of local levy
funds. Utility and employee benefit costs make up the rest
of the shortfall.
The budget committee is working to identify new revenue as
well as spending cuts. Significant RIFs are not
anticipated.
A complete package of cuts and revenue enhancements will
be presented to the school board on May 24. Community
informational meetings will be held this summer. The board
is expected to adopt a final budget in August.
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Small Schools Students Go to Washington |
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Opportunity of a Lifetime
Four students from A.C.E., Global Connections, and Odyssey
left yesterday for Washington, D.C., to attend Congressman
Adam Smith's annual 9th District Day. This special
opportunity was extended by Superintendent Welch to the
students of the Tyee complex for their perseverance during
this year's transition to small schools. Representing
Congressman Smith's alma mater are: Janay J. – Global,
Matt K. – Global, Betty F. – Odyssey, and Michael S. –
A.C.E.
Read on...
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WAVE Scholarship Grant Winners Announced |
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| (l-r) Highline HS
instructor Dave Craig, Senator Karen Keiser, WAVE
scholarship recipient Ajla A. |
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Highline Students Recognized
With more than 450 applicants for the Washington Award for
Vocational Excellence (WAVE) scholarship grants, Highline
is proud to have four students selected to receive these
awards! The WAVE scholarships provide for two years of
post-secondary tuition (or other educational expense) in
Washington State.
The scholarship winners and nominees were honored at a
special breakfast held May 10 at the Occupational Skills
Center. Present to make the awards were several teachers,
principals, and the legislative members of the State
Education Committee. Highline's Superintendent John Welch
and Superintendent Tom Murphy of the Federal Way District
both offered their congratulations to the students and
their families.
Read on...
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Get more
photos...
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Cinco de Mayo Activity Draws Community |
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 Midway Elementary Hosts Event
Hundreds of students and their families joined together
with community members and the Midway Elementary School
staff on Friday evening, May 5, to celebrate the
traditions of Mexican culture. Organized by Rebecca Brito, an ELL tutor, the event included Mexican music,
jumpers, and the traditional piñatas as well as a
delicious array of specialty foods. In addition to the
entertainment, students received a book and a passport to
the activities around the school.
For more...
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Highline Schools Foundation for Excellence |
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Teacher Appreciation Proclamation |
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Click
here to read the proclamation read by Superintendent
Welch at the May 10 School Board meeting.
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STAR 101.5 Teacher of the Week |
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Marvista's Michelle Paris is a Star
Marvista teacher Michelle Paris has been named Teacher of
the Week in a western Washington contest conducted by STAR
101.5 Radio! She was nominated by her second-grade
student, Regan H.
Read on...
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U.S. Congressman Adam Smith's Solar Science Expo |
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Middle and High School Students Invited to Participate
U.S. Congressman Adam Smith invites you to participate in
his first annual 9th Congressional District Science Expo.
Congressman Smith's commitment to finding new and better
alternative/renewable energy sources, technologies, and
applications, and his belief in the American can-do
innovative spirit to bring this vision to fruition
motivated him to organize a science exhibition in his
congressional district. His inaugural event will focus on
solar energy.
Get the scoop...
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Washington State Patrol Inspects Buses |
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"Impressive" Outcome
The Washington State Patrol inspects school buses twice
yearly. During the winter months the officers show up
unannounced and inspect 25% of the bus fleet and other
district vehicles that are used to transport students.
During the spring or summer months the Patrol generally
issues a notice of an upcoming visit to inspect 100% of
the fleet. Because of the number of vehicles in the
district, these visits usually last three to four days.
On their most recent fleet-wide inspection, the
Washington State Patrol scored Highline's transportation
department at 100%! That means there were zero 'out of
service' items found during the inspection!
Learn
more...
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OSC Student Receives Art Institute Scholarship |
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 Well-deserved honor
Kyle C. has been named the recipient of the only full
scholarship at the Art Institute of Seattle for this year.
Kyle attends the Sea-Tac Occupation Skills Center (OSC)
where he is enrolled in the Engineering Design class and
has served as president of the SkillsUSA Chapter.
Read on...
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Sylvester Middle School Recognized |
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Students to be Published
Shawna Moore is doing something very special with her
students…in addition to teaching poetry writing, she's
inspired 38 of them to excel in this form of writing!
These students, along with a student from Joanna
Michelson's class, will be published in A Celebration of
Young Poets. As part of this process, Sylvester Middle
School has received the Poetic Achievement Award for
Spring 2006.
Congratulations to all the winners! And, congratulations
to Ms. Moore and Ms. Michelson for inspiring the hearts of
these young writers!
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Group from Japan Visits White Center Heights |
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 Tour Emphasizes Innovative Public Buildings
Cornerstone Architectural Group, the firm who designed the
new White Center Heights Elementary School, recently
played host to some visitors from Japan. The group of 15
architects, structural engineers, and university
professors of architecture were on a trade association
mission to see the best the West Coast has to offer in new
design. Cornerstone chose to showcase White Center Heights
Elementary School as an example of an innovative
educational facility using engineered wood products and
wood/hybrid construction methods.
For more...
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King County Celebrates Earth Heroes |
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2006 Earth Heroes at Schools Awards Honor Environmental
Stewards
At a ceremony held on Mercer Island May 4, King County
Executive Ron Sims honored students, teachers, school
staff, and volunteers for the 2006 Earth Heroes Awards.
"We recognize Earth Heroes at Schools for their invaluable
contributions to protecting and preserving King County's
natural environment, and their education of young people
about the importance of becoming committed earth
stewards," said Sims. "Together we are integrating
environmental understanding and protection into the
education process."
Get the
details...
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Five Students Win Awards in State Art Competition |
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Theme "I wonder why…" Sparked Creativity
Washington State PTA Reflections Art Program chose five
students from Highline Public Schools to receive awards in
its annual arts enrichment program. Each of these students
created artwork based around a theme that changes each
year. This year's theme was "I wonder why..." The students
entered their artwork through local PTAs and were chosen
as award winners at their schools, as well as at the
district-wide Highline Council PTSA level of Reflections,
before being sent on to the state level of Reflections.
For more...
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Mount Rainier Wins First Place at Jazz Festival |
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 Trombonist Named Outstanding Soloist
For the fourth straight year, the Mount Rainier Jazz
Ensemble was selected to perform in the final competition
of the Bellevue Jazz Festival. This honor came as a result
of great performances during the early hours of the
competition where the group out-played many schools from
throughout the Puget Sound area. The group, under the
direction of Dan Fosberg, won first place in the AAA
division! In individual competition, Mount Rainier senior
trombonist Ben W. was named most outstanding soloist.
Fosberg commented, "It's so good to see our students
recognized for music excellence – it's well deserved!" He
continued, "A big thank you goes to Principal Toni Pace
who has been very supportive of the music program at Mount
Rainier!"
Congratulations to Ben and the entire Jazz Ensemble!
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National Science Decathlon Tourney |
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Aviation High Team Places 2nd Overall
A group of Aviation High School students traveled to
Monroe High School to compete at the National Science
Decathlon tournament and brought home a total of 26 medals
and won 2nd place overall!
Read on...
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Highline Students Receive Superior Rating |
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Music Event Highly Competitive
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| (l-r) HHS Grace
P., MRHS Matt P., and HHS Kristen D. received
special recognition from the Superintendent and
Board Members at the May 10 School Board Meeting.
(Tyler K. was unable to attend the meeting.) |
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Get the
story...
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New Nutrition Standards Coming |
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District Wellness Plan to be Implemented
The District's Wellness Committee is preparing to roll out
its nutrition standards in compliance with state and
federal guidelines. Representatives from many stakeholder
groups have been hard at work to develop district policies
and implementation plans to meet these new requirements
for student wellness. Those plans will soon become reality
as representatives from the Wellness Committee introduce
the new standards to those responsible for implementing
them in the district. The program will be in effect for
the 2006-2007 school year.
The committee, headed by Shorewood Principal Deborah
Holcomb, has developed detailed recommendations to meet
requirements set out in the legislation. The plans call
for changes in food and beverage sales, selection of
snacks and beverages available, using food as a reward and
fund raising, as well as health and fitness guidelines.
Stay tuned for more to come on this important issue.
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Highline High School Academic Awards Breakfast |
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| On Friday, May 12,
Highline High School held their annual Academic
Awards Breakfast to honor students for Academic
Letters, Academic All-Stars, National Merit
Finalists, National Honors Society members, and
Students of the Year. Keynote speaker Justice
Richard Sanders (class of 1963) is pictured above
with the Students of the Year. |
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Bragging Rights |
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We are very pleased to share good news about the
educational accomplishments of staff members and their
families.
View the
list...
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Insights |
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Get an update regarding the Classified Employee of the Year award process,
details regarding a summer paychecks process change,
information regarding an office staff in-service and the
benefits wellness fair and a union representative list
in this
month's edition of
Insights.
May 2006 Insights... »
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Health Matters |
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Find
facts regarding food allergies, learn how to join Weight
Watchers at Work, learn about the HCPTSA Social Service
Fund, get a recipe for Very Berry Smoothie, and read the
details regarding May's trivia contest in this
month's edition of
Health Matters.
May 2006 Health
Matters... »
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Board
Minutes |
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| Click
the date to read the minutes from the
May 10, 2006 board meetings.
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 Upcoming Events |
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5/25 |
Teen Parent Program Open House |
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5/1-6/3 |
Evergreen’s art show at Geno's Bakery |
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6/2 |
Parkside Orchestra Performance |
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6/3
& 4 |
Evergreen HS Yard Sale |
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6/9 |
Debbie Weed's Retirement Party |
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Summer |
Frye
Art Museum Summer Courses |
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8/31 |
Benefits/Wellness Fair |
Get event details...>
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John's
Journal |
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Read the May edition of John's Journal - Reflections from the Superintendent
by John Welch,
click here.
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