Aviation High School will receive more than $600,000 from the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation to create a mentorship and internship program. This program will connect students with the aerospace and aviation community, aid students in the development of leadership skills, and encourage students to apply what they have learned in class during their internships.

Ruth Dickey was recognized by Superintendent Welch and the School Board at the April 16 board meeting. Ruth, who has served as executive director of New Futures, is stepping down next month to relocate to Minnesota. New Futures provides after-school and family support programs in three of Highline's high-poverty apartment complexes. "Ruth a dedicated leader who has been deeply committed to the children of our community," said Superintendent Welch. "We will miss her."

Bang Parkinson, accounting coordinator for Highline Public Schools, has earned certification as a School Business Specialist in Payroll. At the April 16 School Board meeting, Bang received her certificate from John Knutson, chairman of the Washington Association of School Business Officials. Also pictured is Susan Smith Leland, executive director of business services for Highline.

The Skunkworks Robotics Team of Aviation High School competed on March 21 and 22 at the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Microsoft Seattle Regional at the Tacoma Convention Center. Skunkworks was part of 31 teams that participated from all around the Northwest, including British Columbia. After seeding in third place, Skunkworks chose teams from Tahoma High School and Bellevue High School to join them in their alliance.

Roxana Garcia was one of five recipients of the "Diversity Makes a Difference" scholarship presented by Northwest Asian Weekly Foundation. As a senior at Highline High School, Roxana is the ASB President and was on a student panel for a district cultural competency training. She recently has taken part in a program called Dual Language Learning and has met with parents and teachers from a local elementary school to discuss the benefits of being bilingual. Her senior project is to host a multicultural fair for the school district.

If you have been to the Safeway grocery store in White Center, you may have noticed two life-sized cows on display. Diana Nguyen and Rathanak Rath created these cows for the Lucerne Art of Dairy contest and are both finalists. These talented students both attend Health Science & Human Services High School on the Evergreen campus.

Nancy Sparks, Gregory Heights Elementary School teacher, received recognition for remarkable work in supporting foster children in school. The 2008 Foster Care Recognition Award was presented on March 19 at the "Expect Success" Foster Care Summit hosted by King County Children's Administration, Northshore School District, Puget Sound Educational Service District, and Casey Family Programs.

Her award reads: "Nancy went above and beyond for a youth in foster care in her classroom. She advocated for this youth to be assessed. She organized and supervised the tutoring. She communicated effectively with the youth's caregiver and she made sure that scheduling and other considerations were not a barrier to this youth in foster care getting the additional help and services needed."

Seahurst Elementary went live with the new student information system (eSIS) on March 24. Everything went extremely well with no unforeseen issues. Technology Services Director Mark Finstrom, observed, "The staff has been encouraging to work with which has made the transition from SASI to eSIS enjoyable for everyone involved." The teachers are now running their own class lists, taking online attendance with lunch count, beginning to use the eSIS grade book, providing parent access, and using an online report card.

American Idol contestant, Kristy Lee Cook, attended Midway Elementary School in the 1995/96 school year. Retired sixth-grade teacher Gary Favro remembers her and says that during her sixth-grade year she was a "wonderful student with lots of positive energy." Kristy made it through to the top seven contestants.

Puget Sound Skills Center and TCF Architects are working together to enable some of the skills center's students to take part in creating the demolition drawings for the new McMicken Heights Elementary School. TCF Architects is the firm designing the new McMicken Heights Elementary School and have agreed to work with PSSC students in this unique partnership where the students can work alongside the professionals. The students will soon tour the offices of TCF Architects as part of this work.

Caption: Rich Marshall, PSSC instructor

Recently, King5 HS GameTime featured Vince Cordova as an outstanding student and athlete. He attends Health Science & Human Services High School on the Evergreen campus. Vince carries a 3.8 GPA and has had scholarship offers from Ivy League schools. Vince furthers his education by taking college courses through the Running Start program.

Vince is interested in sports medicine or in becoming a doctor. He will go to the University of Washington next year and will join the Husky football team as a walk on wide receiver. As an Evergreen Wolverine this year, Vince played wide receiver and tight end for the football team and is in track and field where he qualified for the high jump, triple jump, and long jump.

Keith Matthews' fourth-grade students were awarded a classroom achievement certificate by the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks Solid Waste Division and awarded Green Team status. They were recognized for their outstanding efforts as waste reducers by starting a composting program. Mr. Matthews' students gave educational presentations about composting to Marvista's third- and fourth-grade classes and got them on-board to collect their compostable food scraps after lunch each day. They are reducing their classrooms' solid waste by 25%. Principal Rebekah Kim donated a large worm bin, in which the scraps are composted to be used as fertilizer for Mr. Matthews' class's pioneer garden. Way to be waste reducers, Green Team!!

From Marvista Messenger March 27-April 24, 2008

Victoria Hall, paraprofessional at Puget Sound Skills Center, received the Educational Leader award from the City of Burien. Victoria is the chairwoman of the Burien Arts Commission's Arts Education Committee and has assisted in developing and implementing the ArtsStart program in several elementary schools. She has worked with students on many projects such as the Trash Fashion Show. Victoria volunteers for Empty Bowls and also volunteers for Highline PTSA's "Reflections" visual arts program.

Marvista Elementary is holding its 50th anniversary party on April 26, 1-4 p.m. at the school. There will be a special event at 1:30 p.m. for alumni and former teachers and principals.

For more information contact Lisa Cowden at lisascowden@yahoo.com.