Professionals and business people from the community visited Hazel Valley Elementary on March 5 for Career Day. Among the guests were a judge, a banker, a sales director, an engineer, the head of a public agency, business owners, and leaders of two colleges. Guests spoke with students about the educational steps that led to successful careers.

Kudos to staff at Hazel Valley and Principal Johnathan Letcher for helping students think about post-secondary education at an early age!

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Superintendent Welch presents proclamation for Read Across America to HEA President Stacey Hawkins.

Click here to read the proclamation.

At the February 27 school board meeting, representatives of the various classified employee groups were presented with copies of the Classified School Employee Week proclamation by Superintendent Welch.

(Pictured in photo: l-r) Executive/Administrative Assistants' representative Jan May, Local 763 Business Agent Jason Powell, Shop Steward Ed Smith, President/Business Agent Local 763 Evie Gradilla, and Shop Stewards Betty Albright, Rose Clark, and Alita White.

Teachers from ACE were featured in UWeek, the U.W. faculty and staff newspaper.

Click to read the full UWeek article.

On March 6, the students at McMicken Heights Elementary received an inspirational message from Seahawks Fullback David Kirtman. The library was filled with excited students eagerly responding to David's message, "The Three Components of Success: Hard work, Education, and Passion." Second-grade student Zach McConnell told us he learned, "Work and Education is really important because then you can learn more stuff."

Story submitted by Principal Tom Symons

After-school programs for students and their families are being developed for secondary schools in SeaTac, and staff has been hired to coordinate the programming. Highline Public Schools has partnered with Community Schools Collaboration of King County (CSCKC) on the project, with funding from the Seattle Foundation.

Jennifer Davis at the podium and Michaela Clancy to the right present to special education teachers and math coaches to learn strategies to best meet the needs of their students.

The final version of the revised mathematics standards for Washington State students have been delivered to state legislators.

"The new standards go a long way toward improving math education in Washington," said Terry Bergeson, state superintendent of public instruction. "They will help students understand and apply math. And they will provide an essential springboard for the future, whether it's college or the workforce."

Two Hazel Valley students, Thais Pedro (6th grade) and Nabil Adam (5th grade), have been selected to represent the Seattle SCORES program at a national poetry slam in New York City in April. They are the only two students selected from the Seattle area.

Seattle SCORES is a non-profit organization that provides after-school programs in 15 elementary schools in South King County, including Hazel Valley, Beverly Park, Bow Lake, Cedarhurst, Mount View, and White Center Heights. SCORES is a unique program that combines soccer and poetry. It is the only after-school program to use the world's most popular sport - soccer - to inspire literacy in elementary school children.

The U.W. Center for Education Leadership (CEL) brought leaders from Central Point School District in Oregon to observe Highline classrooms.

Central Point administrator talks with an ACE student Juan Simental.

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Rexanne Forbes was recognized by Superintendent Welch at the February 27 school board meeting for her work as the district United Way campaign chair. "Rexanne spent many hours organizing and promoting United Way, above and beyond her regular duties," said Superintendent Welch. "She inspired a spirit of giving in our staff."

Highline increased its total giving by more than 13% this year - raising more than $88,000. This year's campaign netted over $16,000 for the Highline Schools Foundation, an increase of more than $5,000 over last year. Highline ranks second in United Way contributions among our neighboring school districts.

United Way Ambassadors from around the district enjoyed an appreciation event on February 28. Hosted by Superintendent Welch and Campaign Coordinator Rexanne Forbes, the Ambassadors had a chance to share thoughts and ideas about their experiences.

The Superintendent praised the efforts of the group, thanking them for their leadership roles. Forbes added, "Through your hard work, creative ideas, energy and enthusiasm, and organizational skills, we had one of the most successful campaigns in Highline's history with United Way."

A group of Cascade students visited the Seattle studios of Univision, the nation's major Spanish-language TV network. The trip was a reward for the students' good grades and conduct.

At the March 12 school board meeting, Superintendent Welch proclaimed March 17-23 as School Retirees Appreciation Week.

Southwest King School Retirees Association members Chris Rohr and Nancy Rudy accept the School Retirees Appreciation Week proclamation from Superintendent John Welch.

Click here to read the proclamation.