Congratulations to Jeffrey M. Koch of Highline High School and Megan M. Martinson of Mount Rainier High School. Both of these students are recipients of the 2008 Washington Scholar grant. They will receive scholarships equal to up to four years of full-time resident undergraduate tuition and fees.

Three Highline Public School teachers are recipients of a $27,000 technology grant from the federal Enhancing Education Through Technology initiative. (l-r in photos) Tracy Drum/Bow Lake Elementary, Ann Magyar/New Start, and Marianne Shibly/Gregory Heights Elementary will each receive $9,000, which will cover a 10-session training program and its related costs, such as substitute teachers and new technology for their classrooms. When they return to their schools as peer coaches, they will work closely with fellow teachers to share their newly acquired skills and technology.

Neelofer Vahora, a sophomore at Health Sciences & Human Services High School (Evergreen campus), has been named Youth Volunteer of the Year by the Sokico (South King County) Women's Club, an affiliate of the General Federation of Women's Clubs (GFWC).

Neelofer was honored for her many hours of service on behalf of underprivileged youth and members of her community. A donation has been given in her name to the White Center Food Bank. Her name has been submitted to GFWC - Washington State for consideration for state Youth Volunteer of the Year.

At recent School Board meetings, Superintendent John Welch read the following proclamations for Teacher Appreciation Week (May 5-9) and School Nurse Day (May 7).

The month of May has been designated as Asian American and Pacific Islander (AA/PI) Heritage Month to honor the accomplishments of AA/PI and to recognize their many contributions to the United States.

More than 21 percent of Highline Public Schools' students are Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders and two of the district's top languages are Cambodian and Vietnamese. During the month of May several schools will be holding special activities to celebrate the event. Additionally, community events will commemorate this heritage month in various ways. More information can be found at http://www.seattlecenter.com/news/detail.asp?ME_MediaNum=1280

Family Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) will meet their match in July at the national meeting in Orlando, Florida. Mount Rainier was quite successful this year at the FCCLA State Leadership meeting held in Wenatchee over spring break. Two-person team Denaya Blaylock and Alex Flood represented MRHS and competed in the Chapter Service Manual STAR Event. They earned the rating of Gold with a score of 98.3 out of 100. They scored the highest in the state and earned a place at the National FCCLA Leadership meeting.

In other FCCLA news, Alex Flood won the election for Region 4 (King County) for an at-large position on the FCCLA State officer board.

FCCLA is a Career and Technical Student leadership group similar to FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America). FCCLA has the family as its focus, and student work on a variety of projects to prepare them to be leaders in families and their communities. http://www.fcclainc.org.

Gregory Heights Elementary School was recognized by King County Executive Ron Sims at the Earth Hero Awards ceremony on April 24. A truly collaborative effort among students, parents, the PTSA, teachers, office and support staff, and the principal resulted in a comprehensive recycling program with widespread participation. The PTSA purchased new recycling bins, students decorated bulletin boards with recycling information, student leaders and lunch assistants guided students on proper recycling, and a recycling ethic is evident throughout the school. Congratulations Gregory Heights community!

Photo (l-r) PTSA President Rikke Maudslien, Camilla Maudslien, Mellya Vargas, Steena Maudslien

Puget Sound Skills Center was chosen as one of four sites nationally to coordinate a kickoff event for Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) 4th Teen Summer Job Safety Campaign. This event focused on teen worker safety in residential construction and taught the students how to use construction tools safely. The national event was featured on the NBC Today Show on April 21.

http://media.vmsnews.com/MR.pl?id=042208-874594-E001386733

The sophomore class of Health Sciences & Human Services High School (HS3) participated in a variety of events during the school's first annual Human Services Week. Per the objectives of the week, students explored the concept of "service to others," (a component of the HS3 mission statement), explored careers in the human services field, and participated in a service project. In addition, students spent a day at the University of Washington, with special visits to the College of Education and School of Social Work.

Visual arts instructors, Carol Skvorak (HS3 & TEC) and Lisa Bade (Highline High School), have been accepted to the School of the Art Institute this summer.

SoCoCulture, the South King County Cultural Coalition, warmly invites Highline staff members to attend its Open House and Resource Fair on May 14. Comprised of over 60 arts and heritage groups in South King County, SoCoCulture and its members work closely with educators to provide enriching cultural experiences for local students.

Recently, Kevin Plough's third- and fourth-grade challenge class at Hazel Valley Elementary School had the opportunity to work with a professional writer, director, and actress, Gail Sehlhorst, through the Arts Impact program. A film crew from KCTS, the local PBS affiliate, filmed the students as they worked with Ms. Sehlhorst on March 28. In a letter home to the students, Mr. Plough, said it was "quite an honor for our class to be asked to participate in this activity."

Last fall, Chinook Middle School partnered with Students Go the Distance to start a running club for seventh- and eighth-grade students. Four students completed the Seattle Half Marathon and several others trained during the season. Through the support of Students Go the Distance (a non-profit designed to support youth in running) students were provided free Brooks running shoes and entry fees for the race.

Recently, MSNBC featured a news segment warning families of an increased effort from illegal drug pushers to get cocaine into children's hands.

Parents and school staff are being urged to be on the alert for a new form of cocaine that has recently emerged in California and is likely to make its way to our area. It is candy-flavored powder cocaine that looks like powered candy such as Pixie Stix.

Though cocaine cut with powdered candy or Jello is not new, the new product is a full-strength powder into which strawberry, coconut, lemon, and cinnamon flavoring have been chemically synthesized. It is much more potent than cocaine cut with candy powder. Authorities are especially concerned because young people may mistake the flavored cocaine for the less-potent cut product.

Drug agents say to watch for any powdered products, especially those not contained in commercial packaging.

The full story can be found at: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24018918/