The number of Highline Public Schools students heading to college is up significantly over the past four years. And more Highline graduates are going to four-year universities.

Students huddle around a computer in a classroom, their advisors-professional engineers from Microsoft-look over their shoulders. The students are diagramming plans for a robot. In the coming weeks, they will build the robot from scratch and run it through the paces of the exercise it will perform in regional and national competition.

Buses arrived and students streamed into Parkside Elementary for the first day of classes in their new building on February 17. Parents enjoyed a welcome reception and a quick chance to look around at the new facility. A grand opening event will be held on Tuesday, March 16 from 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. Families and the community are invited to attend the celebration and tour the new school.

Administrators and teachers from school districts in Vancouver, Everett, Federal Way, and Bellingham visited Midway to see how AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) works in the 4^th, 5^th, and 6^th grades. AVID is a class that helps prepare students to be successful in college by teaching study habits, organizational skills, time management, and college awareness. It is typically used in secondary schools. This is Midway's second year of using AVID Elementary.

Boeing staff recognized National Engineers' Week (February 8 - 12) with visits to Global Connections High School and Pacific Middle School. Students at both schools had the opportunity to connect their classroom learning to real-world careers.

A team of Mount Rainier High School staff members are becoming "web masters" as a means to increase the communication capabilities with students, parents, and the community. "The intent is to begin shifting to web-based communication," said Principal Julie Hunter. "Not only is that the expectation of our students and community, it's also a smart way to provide more timely information and save money on printed material."

Megan Johnson, a Running Start student from CHOICE Academy, has been selected as Washington's top high school youth volunteer in the 2010 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program. She will travel to Washington, D.C., on May 1-4 to receive her award.

Mohamed Sambou, a senior at TEC High School, has been awarded the Act Six scholarship to attend Gonzaga University. Mohamed was one of just 19 students from the Puget Sound area chosen to participate in an on-campus experience.

Cathy Jimenez, a senior at Global Connections High School, has been named Student of the Month by the Southwest King County Chamber of Commerce. "Being a part of Global Connections DECA has been one of the biggest life- changing experiences I have had," said Cathy. "It has helped me to become a more confident person who believes in myself and in the power of youth." DECA is an international association of high school and college students studying marketing, management, and entrepreneurship in business.

Mount Rainier High School ninth grader Samuel Oppong, Jr. was chosen to serve as a legislative page in Olympia where, for one week he had the opportunity to learn first-hand about the democratic process, working on the floor of the Washington State House of Representatives.

Many students around Highline have been touched by the recent events in Haiti and responded generously to help those in need.

School Board member Angelica Alvarez (in photo background) is helping to organize Latino parents at Highline High School.

Now's your opportunity to tell the world about that outstanding coworker you admire - or the teacher who brings about amazing results with students. Nominations are now being accepted for this year's Gold Star Awards, sponsored annually by the Highline Schools Foundation for Excellence and Highline Public Schools.

Two teachers with Highline Public Schools have recently had articles published in professional publications. Derek Byne, elementary P.E. specialist at Madrona Elementary, and Jessica Towbin of Health Sciences and Human Services High School.

Mount Rainier High School boys swimmers are Seamount League Boys Swim and Dive Champions, and Omar Crowder, head swim coach for Mount Rainier High School swim and dive team, was awarded Coach of the Year at the Seamount League Championships on February 6, 2010.

Annual Hispanic Night. Families came dressed in their traditional dress for their culture and prepared dances to share with the community. Their cafeteria was filled with color from costumes, the stage was filled with dancers, and there was food brought by parents from all cultures to share. Everyone enjoyed the full two-hour program.

The Highline Schools Foundation for Excellence held a "Gifts of the Heart" luncheon on February 10 to recognize and thank major donors.

The City of SeaTac has invited Construction Technology students from Puget Sound Skills Center (PSSC) to participate in the city's 20-year anniversary celebration. As part of SeaTac's anniversary, PSSC students will cut out materials needed to assemble bird houses, which will allow the youngest members of the community, along with their parents or guardians, to go through a simulated process of building a home in SeaTac.

In response to parent requests for tools to better understand the terms used in schools, the Office of the Education Ombudsman (OEO) has created a dictionary of K-12 education terminology.