Improving Communication  

Among All Staff 

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This is the final District News of the 2005-2006 school year. We hope this bi-monthly newsletter succeeded in improving communications among the work groups in the district. District News continues to be the publication where announcements, recognition, current events, and featured stories are circulated to all employees. In our pursuit of continual improvement, we will be making some changes to District News over the summer.  Your input and suggestions would be really helpful as we develop those changes.  Please let us hear from you! Have a great summer, and we look forward to welcoming you all back in September.  Our first issue will be September 21. Signing off for the summer, The Communication Office

Congratulations and Best Wishes to Our Retirees

It is an honor and a privilege to recognize an outstanding group of educators and support staff as they retire from Highline Public Schools. Each of them has made a significant contribution to our mission to Educate Every Student and Expect Excellence. Each has made a difference in the lives of children. And in so doing, each has helped to build a stronger foundation for the society in which we live. As teachers and others who have worked to support the education of students, you truly are the pillars of our civilization. To you who have devoted many years of your lives to nurturing the next generation – our future leaders – we say thank you. John P. Welch Superintendent Look who's retiring... »

Rebecca P. Receives Outstanding Scholarship

Last month, Highline High School junior Rebecca P. (photo center) received the scholarship awarded to one outstanding junior in King County by the Executive Women International Organization. She was the top place winner of over seventy high schools and was honored at an event held at the Columbia Tower. Congratulations, Rebecca.

Evergreen’s Recycling Program Recognized

King County Executive Ron Sims Visits Classes On June 5, King County Executive Ron Sims visited Evergreen to recognize students in ELL and Leadership for their successful implementation of a recycling program on campus. Ron Sims spoke exclusively with the classes of Sara Esrick and Michael Sita for over an hour and answered questions from students about current political issues, leadership, and life in public service.

Foundation to Offer Excel Grants

Once again, Highline Schools Foundation will offer Excel Grants for the 2006-07 school year. More than $58,000 has been distributed to HPS teachers since 2002. What is an Excel Grant? Established to inspire innovative teaching & enrich student learning, an Excel Grant is an award of $50 to $1,000 for a specific project. According to one teacher, "The Excel Grant from Highline Schools Foundation allowed me to share one of my passions with my students & strengthen their academic skills at the same time." Read on... >>

And Starring...

Three Excellent Cascade Teachers   On June 5, 6, & 7, three math teachers from Cascade Middle School, Mikayla Paris, ELL teacher; Sara Nollette, 8th grade math; and Michael Szott, special education math teacher, became film stars! America’s Choice, the publishers of Ramp Up to Math and Algebra, came to film these three teachers teaching Ramp-Up to Mathematics. They have been visited numerous times throughout the year and were so impressive, the company wanted to capture their teaching on video to use for future training and professional development. We are very proud of them and their accomplishments. They have really made a difference for the kids in their classrooms this year! Contributed by Pat Larson Principal, Cascade Middle School

Gail Barnum Honored at Awards Ceremony

Preparing Students to Attend and Complete College Evergreen High School Principal Gail Barnum was honored at the South Seattle Community College Annual Academic Year Excellence Awards Ceremony held on June1. Ms. Barnum received the Upward Bound Program’s Ida B. Wells Award. This award symbolizes the spirit of Ida B. Wells, an African-American woman in the late 1800’s who fought for educational opportunity and social justice for all Americans. In his nomination, Henry Johnson, director of Upward Bound at SSCC, commented, “Your hard work and dedication to the success of our students at Evergreen High School and your support of the Upward Bound program provides the opportunity for students to be fully prepared to attend and complete college.” Congratulations, Gail!

Highline CHOICE Academy

Wall Project For a spring project-based learning experience, the students of Highline CHOICE Academy petitioned the district for permission to create murals on two plywood wall sections of the inner courtyard at their school site, Woodside. The project involved creating the designs, soliciting donations, volunteer help, organizing work teams, mixing paint, working together, and, of course, clean-up. The Academy was fortunate to have the professional assistance of Katherine Caughey as an artist-in-residence to teach paint mixing, shading, sizing, and all that goes into creating wall murals. Also many parents gave volunteer time to create the wall murals of a sunset reflecting over onto a Seattle cityscape. The murals will be sealed to preserve them for years to come. Contributed by: Donna Smith and George Wheeler Highline CHOICE Academy

The Survey Results Are In

In April, employees were invited to participate in an online employee survey. The results have been tabulated. You can find the data posted on the district intranet at http://eracinet/Intranet/Ancillary/Documents/Documents.aspx?Folder=/Documents/Communication Tools/Climate Survey.

Mount Rainier Arts Festival

Service Area Students Perform   North Hill fifth graders perform. On June 1, schools in the Mount Rainier service area came together to present the first-ever Mount Rainier Arts Festival at Pacific Middle School. The program showcased a display of art and a drama presentation from the students at Parkside Elementary, plus many musical performances of our younger students in the elementary grades to the award-winning bands at the middle school and high school. Congratulations go out to all the students who performed and a huge thanks to the efforts of the music teachers from Des Moines, North Hill, Parkside, and Midway Elementaries and the band teachers at Pacific and Mount Rainier. It was a success and we had a wonderful turn out from the community. Contributed by Elaina Malcolm Midway Elementary Music

Bragging Rights

We are very pleased to share good news about the educational accomplishments of staff members and their families. View the list... »

Employee Assistance Program

Please click the link to read APS Healthcare’s Monthly Tip Sheet, Coping with Change.

Professional Development

To see the latest new courses being offered, changes and updated information in Professional Development, please go to this link: http://www.hsd401.org/StaffDevelopment/index.htm

Board Minutes

Click the date to read the minutes from the May 24, 2006 board meeting.