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| The Seattle Shakespeare Company and The Renaissance School Team Up |
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Highline High School art students have been asked to create artwork for the Seattle Shakespeare Company. The project involves interpreting words of love and hate and creating art. This artwork will be on display at the Seattle Center Shakespeare Theatre during the showing of Romeo and Juliet. For more information, please contact Lisa Bade at The Renaissance School, Highline High School, 433-2511.
See
more art...>
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| New
Teacher Project - Grant for Retention |
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Highline Public Schools was selected to participate in a project aimed at keeping new teachers in our schools. The work, funded by the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation and coordinated through the Center for Strengthening the Teaching Profession (CSTP), focuses on keeping new teachers in our schools through mentoring and other induction practices that better support teachers' growth and development through the crucial first five years.
According to analysis of the state's teaching workforce, one of every four new teachers in Washington leaves the profession in the first five years. The Highline Peer Mentor Program was created in 1999 because of concerns about retention of beginning teachers in the district, according to Marcy Yoshida, who facilitates the program. Highline was invited to participate in this New Teacher Project grant because it is a large district with multiple challenges and because we have a successful mentoring program in place.
According to Dr. Carla Jackson, assistant superintendent for teaching, learning, and school improvement, "We are encouraged by the support of the Allen Foundation in this important work. Highline's peer mentoring, which is viewed as a model in the state, has had a tremendous impact on our ability to retain new teachers. This new initiative will help us develop recommendations for a five-year new teacher induction program, which will include our current or revised mentor plan as an integral part of this work."
While Highline has programs in place to support teachers, the district has not been able to meet all the needs. Over the next nine months, Highline staff will complete a thorough examination of the current induction programs, identify gaps in the system, and create a plan to address the gaps. This work for the district is under the direction of Dr. Jackson.
The ultimate goal for this project is to accelerate teacher learning so that we can accelerate student learning. It is the hope of the CSTP and the district that through this work, there will be a proven set of cost-effective programs in place that will keep high-quality teachers in our classrooms.
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| Jean Thurber Receives School Board Recognition |
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 Student Services Program Manager Jean Thurber was recognized at the October 25 board meeting by the superintendent and school board for her outstanding service to Highline Public Schools during a time of change in our district.
Jean handles all student transfer requests for our district. After the closure of three schools and boundary changes, we saw a significant increase in the number of students requesting transfer to different schools. Jean handled 1,500 transfer requests for this fall! Not only was that a lot of work in a short time frame—she was often dealing with parents who were unhappy with the changes. Yet Jean maintained a positive attitude and represented the district well.
Jean is the first point of contact between the district and many, many families. Her caring and helpful attitude welcomes families into our school system.
Jean is a great role model as a learner. She has taken the initiative to enroll in a Spanish course so that she can learn to communicate with Latino parents in their native language. Jean is a true example of excellence in staff.
Thank you, Jean, for the contribution you make to Highline Public Schools. We are fortunate to have you on our team.
Superintendent John Welch
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NO LIMIT! Project |
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Pacific and Sylvester Middle Schools were awarded grants through the
NO Limit! Project to continue their work on enhancing the teaching and learning of mathematics. Bruce Moore and Mary Fernley, both secondary math teachers, are leading teams which have received $28,200 each for their portions of the work.
The goal of the NO Limit! Project is to develop classroom models where students in grades 5-9 are engaged in activities that lead to a deeper understanding of mathematical concepts and improvements in mathematics achievement. This project will include components designed to assist teachers in developing understanding of the math curriculum and provide the teachers and students with greater access to classroom materials and resources (including hardware and software) that support problem-based learning. Other features of the project include development of a structure for administrative and parental support as well as ongoing professional development for teachers and paraprofessionals on problem-based teaching strategies in math. Finally, the project is committed to promoting sound assessment strategies the increase student achievement in mathematics.
Congratulations to Mary, Bruce, and their teams for the outstanding efforts that prompted this second tier grant. Keep up the good work!
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| Highline Public Schools Employees’
2005-2006 United Way Campaign |
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United Way
Identifying Issues…Investing in Solutions…Improving Lives
“Choose the Way”
Our 2005-2006 United Way campaign kicked off district wide November 1 and will run through November 15. Your United Way Ambassador will provide valuable information and will be available to answer questions before you “Choose the Way” and make a giving decision.
Thanks to this year’s ambassadors:
| Elementary |
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| Beverly Park |
Bonnie Omura |
| Bow Lake |
Maggie Lewis |
| Cedarhurst |
Dacia Serrihini |
| Des Moines |
Megan Parnell |
| Gregory Heights |
Kaylynn Griffee |
| Hazel Valley |
Barb Smith |
| Hilltop |
Dan Davis |
| Madrona |
Kathy Allen |
| Marvista |
Sue Goheen |
| McMicken Heights |
Pat Bale |
| Midway |
Keitha Bryson |
| Mount View |
Vivienne Alcantara |
| North Hill |
Mia Burris |
| Parkside |
Christie Brown |
| Seahurst |
Rosemary Krsak & Lucy Taskar |
| Shorewood |
Lara Davia & Margie Paynton |
| Southern Heights |
Rosanne Jamison |
| Valley View |
Georgia Bailey |
| White Center Heights |
SeAnn Sivly |
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| Middle Schools |
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| Cascade |
Kathy Webster |
| Chinook |
Lynda Johanson |
| Pacific |
Matthew Smith |
| Sylvester |
Kathy Bledsoe & Phil Robinson |
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| High Schools |
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| Aviation |
Nancy Flynn |
| Big Picture |
Jeff Petty |
| Evergreen |
Jackie Lewis |
| Highline |
Alice Hammond |
| Mount Rainer |
Ed Hiestand |
| OSC |
Dave Estes |
| Tyee – A.C.E. |
Lynda Maraby |
| Tyee – Global Connections |
Debbie Melchior |
| Tyee – Odyssey |
Gene Mineo |
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| Department/Off-Site |
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| Admin/ERAC Upper |
Judy Balko |
| Computer Services |
Barbara Enghusen |
| Facilities |
Sharon DeWaele |
| Human Resources |
Lynda Heimbigner |
| Lower ERAC |
Pam Hallenius |
| Security |
Suzie Junell |
| Transportation |
Debbie Irving |
| Waskowitz |
Sherri Richardson |
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| PSESD
is Moving |
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Puget Sound Educational Service District is moving from Burien to Renton in November. They plan to open for business in their new Renton office on November 7.
New address: 800 Oakesdale Avenue SW
Renton, WA 98055
New switchboard numbers:
425-917-7600
1-800-664-4549
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| Board
Minutes |
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| Click
to read the minutes from the October 26, 2005 school board
meetings.
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Please help to get the word out about the upcoming After High School event on November 15, from 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. at the PAC. This promises to be an informative and fun evening for all Highline district freshmen, sophomores, juniors, seniors, and their parents.
Click here for the event flyer.
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