January 12, 2007   

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Family and Community Engagement Grants
Highline Public Schools is soliciting proposals from community-based organizations that are interested in establishing partnerships with Highline focus schools to increase academic achievement and family and community engagement.   Community-based organizations will be partnering with schools to provide culture-specific services to the schools, families, and students. These services will directly impact the academic achievement, WASL scores, and family and community involvement at the schools. Read on..>>

Chinook Middle School Celebrates Cultural Fair

Jazmin Amaro with her home town in Mexico.   Wafting down the hallways of Chinook Middle School are delicious smells of a melting pot of cultural foods. Visitors are greeted by Student Ambassadors who lead the way. The closer you get, the more interesting the sounds – a cacophony of conversations representing languages from around the world. It’s the Chinook Family Cultural Fair and students have prepared presentation boards with background information on their families and the country they come from. Many students are wearing traditional clothing from their home country, and they have made special foods for "visitors" to sample. From Vietnam to Cambodia, from Ethiopia to Somalia, from Mexico to El Salvador to India…around the world we go! More story and photos..>>

Generosity at Highline

"Your charity and kindness are unforgettable to us. Please accept my profound gratitude." From one of the many notes received at the Family Center. The generosity of Highline’s staff and students made a real difference for many families over this holiday. For more..>>

Highline Administrators Help Out at Des Moines Food Bank

(l-r) Alan Spicciati, John Welch, and Mike Fosberg sort food at the Des Moines Food Bank.   Just before winter break, 35 Highline Public Schools administrators and support staff spent a morning volunteering at the Des Moines food bank. They were joined by administrators from Highline Community College. Together, they divided bulk foods into family-sized portions and prepared holiday food boxes that were distributed to families in our community. The Des Moines food bank distributes over a million pounds of food every year to families in Des Moines, SeaTac, and west Kent.   See another photo..>>

Highline High School Principal Pat Dunn Announces Her Retirement

Highline High School Principal Pat Dunn announced that she has made the decision to retire at the end of this school year. This June marks Pat’s 30th year in public education—ten years as an administrator and 20 as a teacher. Read on..>>

Pacific Teacher Shares Lessons from Another Culture

You can hear the excitement in his voice as Jeff Ferry shares his experiences in Peru. Fascinated by the people and their traditions, Jeff and his wife planned a two-week trip to visit three areas of the country – the cities of Lima and Cuzco, Machu Picchu, and the Amazon region. There's more..>>

Happy New Year from PSETV!

January on PSETV is just the beginning of a great year of new shows. This month, we bring you "Howe About Science: the Rainforest Module" (yes, there are other modules on the way!). This fantastic, 32-part series is designed for grade school kids with lots of cool experiments they can try at home or in the classroom. Why just talk about weather systems when you can build your own tornado in a box? Short films, guest experts, and the lively and engaging host - David Howe himself - make every 30 minute episode a fun filled journey of discovery. Check it out - Monday through Saturday, at 7:00 a.m., noon, and again at 7:00 p.m. Get the whole story..>>

Burien to Support School Readiness Program

The City of Burien has announced that, beginning in 2007, they will support a new initiative to address early childhood education and better prepare children just entering school. The City Council in 2006 reserved $50,000 for a School Readiness Initiative after studies conducted by Seattle-King County Public Health Department and United Way of King County found that many students entering Burien elementary schools had reading deficits that made them less ready to become successful learners. Story Continued..>>

Big Picture Students and Highline Staff Benefit from Recycling Effort

ReUse Resources opened shop at Highline Big Picture High School this fall. ReUse Resources founder and Director Denise Henrikson began discussions with Highline Public Schools and Big Picture last spring, and the nonprofit is now based at the school. Thanks to the HPS facilities staff for their support of this partnership and helping to make space for it at Big Picture. Read on..>>

School Board Considers Change in Math Requirements

At the December 13 meeting of the Highline School Board, board members heard discussion regarding the merits of adding a graduation requirement for a third credit of math. Current graduation requirements include only two math credits. The proposed change, which is recommended by the district’s administrative staff, would take effect beginning with the class of 2011.

School Board Transition

Also at the December 13 meeting of the Highline School Board, Matt Pina was elected president for the coming year. Julie Burr Spani was elected to serve as vice-president. The changes took effect immediately following the vote. Pina has been on the school board since 1999 and Burr Spani was first elected to the board in November of last year. This is the first of several changes to come. Long-time board members and past board presidents, Phyllis Byers and Tom Slattery, have both said they do not intend to run again in November 2007.

Change in WASL Graduation Requirement Proposed

Governor Chris Gregoire and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Terry Bergeson have proposed that the legislature consider modifying the requirement that all students pass the math WASL in order to graduate. The option of allowing students to graduate without passing the math WASL would remain in place for three years – for the graduating classes of 2008, 2009, and 2010.

Mount Rainier Junior Named to All-Star Team

Congratulations to Ryan Prentice who was named to the Seattle PI all area all-star team for cross country! Ryan finished 3rd at the State Cross Country meet, only the second Mount Rainier runner to place in the top three. Ryan won his age group at the Junior Olympics held in Spokane and was the only Highline district athlete recognized by the PI from fall sports. According to the PI, Ryan said he couldn’t have accomplished this much without the support of his parents, coaches, and teammates. He went on to say, "My teammates were awesome this season. Even when they weren’t competing, they continued to support and cheer for me, all the way to state." Ryan is the son of Ray and Jenny Prentice of Normandy Park.

Winter Recreation Guide now Online

The Winter 2007 edition of the Burien Recreation Guide is now available online at the Burien Parks Department’s website. The guide covers all recreation activities for youth, families, adults and active seniors offered through the Burien Parks & Recreation Department for this coming season through April 2007. The Recreation Guide features a number of new and exciting recreation activities. Learn more about recreation classes and trips for families and seniors, places to go swimming, and the schedule for upcoming special events and programs. Copies of the Guide are distributed locally to those on the Parks Department’s mailing list and at a number of local locations, including City Hall, Burien Library and the Burien Community Center. If you don’t receive a copy, you can go to the City of Burien Parks Dept. website at www.burienparks.net and click the appropriate link. If you do not have online access or are unable to pick up a copy, and you would like to be on a mailing list to receive the Guide, please contact Burien Parks Department at (206) 988-3700.

Board Minutes

Minutes for the December 13, 2006 board meeting will be posted in the next edition of eHighlights.