About 230 people came out last Thursday evening and another 100 participated on Saturday morning in community budget forums designed to get feedback on potential budget cuts for 2009-10. A third budget forum was held Monday evening.

Chasmon Tarimel, a senior at the Academy of Citizenship and Empowerment (ACE), has been named a Gates Millennium Scholar. He will receive a full-ride scholarship to college. Chasmon plans to attend the University of Washington next year.

The month of May is celebrated as both Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month and Jewish American Heritage Month. Please learn more by visiting these links.

http://www.loc.gov/topics/asianpacific/

http://www.jewishheritage.gov/about.html

Superintendent John Welch proclaims May 4-8 Teacher Appreciation Week and May 6 School Nurse Day in Highline Public Schools.

Teacher Appreciation Proclamation

School Nurse Day Proclamation

Sherry Edwards, fifth-grade teacher at North Hill, has been named a 2009 "Earth Hero at School" recipient by the Office of Ron Sims, King County Executive. Ms. Edwards is advisor of North Hill's Ecology Club. With the help of staff and students, Ms. Edwards is working toward North Hill's designation as a King County Green School.

Highline Schools Foundation for Excellence announces the nominations for the Gold Star Awards. Congratulations to all those nominated! View the list of nominees here: http://www.highlineschoolsfoundation.org/schpages/gs/goldstarnoms.html

Winners will be announced at the Gold Star Luncheon on May 29.

Shawn Stern, a senior at Aviation High, has been selected as a Washington Scholar.  The Washington Scholar award includes a full-tuition scholarship to the University of Washington for four years.

Former MRHS Wrestling Coach Dick Brenneman will be inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame for his lifetime of service to the sport of wrestling. The event will be held Saturday, May 16, at the King Oscar Hotel and Convention Center in Tacoma. The reception will begin at 3:00 p.m., with the banquet and inductions ceremonies following at 4:00 p.m.

Neelofer Vahora has been named the winner of the 2009 Civic Scholar award by the Municipal League of King County for outstanding contributions to the community. Neelofer is a junior at Health Sciences and Human Services High School (HS3) and a Running Start student at South Seattle Community College.

Puget Sound Skills Center alumnus Lindsey Hagen (photo center) is now in her senior year at Washington State University's apparel design program. In the culminating event prior to graduation, Lindsey's designs were selected as the "Most Marketable Line" in the fashion show. PSSC Fashion Design and Marketing Instructor Jill Price-Crawley attended the show to cheer on her protégé. Lindsey said, "I was so excited because, after the show, people were asking where they could get MY designs!"