May 25, 2007   

Click here for a printer-friendly version.

Staff Climate Survey

Don't forget to complete the staff climate survey survey by May 30. Your feedback helps district leaders know where we need to change and improve. For those without email, contact your department director for a paper survey. Please make sure high school students have a chance to take the Student Survey in their Advisory class. Survey access is located on the district homepage - or paper copies are available through each school's main office.

Classified Employee Awards Announced at Board Meeting

Gail Korakis   Superintendent Welch awarded the Classified Employee of the Year to Gail Korakis - Office Manager/Academy of Citzenship and Empowerment at this week’s board meeting. This award reflects a commitment to excellence and is made to an individual who continues to demonstrate a true and selfless heart. Each year, the district has the privilege of honoring the important work performed by all classified employees through this award process. Originally, this recognition went to just one person but was expanded a few years agoand now, classified employees may be nominated in a variety of categories. There's more..>>

Gold Star Awards Honor Outstanding Education Professionals

l-r: Bobbie Daligcon, Lora Bolding and Rick Healy  Highline Schools Foundation for Excellence recently honored four education professionals at its annual Gold Star Awards luncheon. Bobbie Daligcon from Cascade Middle School received honor as the Outstanding Teacher of the Year, Rick Healy, Facilities service grounds lead, was named Outstanding Classified Employee of the Year and Lora Bolding, PTSA president at Pacific Middle School took the award of Outstanding Volunteer of the Year. Read on..>>

Former Executive Director of Highline Foundation Honored

Kathy McCabe and Superintendent Welch   Kathy McCabe, former executive director of Highline Foundation for Excellence received the Community Leadership Award at a recent Washington Association of School Administrator’s (WASA) luncheon. Selected from a field of nominees from 15 districts, Kathy received the WASA – Metro Chapter Award. In his nomination of Kathy, Superintendent Welch cited her contributions as executive director, "Kathy has done a tremendous job in growing the Foundation and its board. The students and teachers of our district are the grateful recipients of those results." Get the details...>>

Students named as WAVE Winners

Three students were honored May 17 for their selection as winners of the Washington Award for Vocational Excellence (WAVE). They are: Rachel Reynolds of Puget Sound Skills Center, Tessa Lageson of Evergreen High School, and Wendy Kim of Highline High School. The students, along with their instructors, Taija McClure, Vickie Potter, and Dave Craig, were feted at a breakfast celebration, held at the newly renamed Puget Sound Skills Center (PSSC). For more...>>

Congratulations Science Decathletes!

Students from Aviation High School recently won first place in the National Science Decathlon competition! Teams from across the country convened at Seattle Pacific University to test their knowledge and skills in ten events.  Get the details...>>

Evergreen Students to Girls State

Two Evergreen High School students, Carly Dunn and Karina Tupou have been selected as delegates to Girls State. The week-long session will be held on the Central Washington University campus in June. Evergreen Counselor Karen Kirchoff said, "This is quite an honor for these girls." It will also be a great opportunity for the students to learn leadership skills and experience life on a college campus – both of which will serve them well into the future.

Chinook Student Receives Science Award

Chinook Middle School student, Nina Arranza-Riley, has been named a National Science Award winner by the United States Achievement Academy (USAA). Read on..>>

Learning Celebrations at Gregory Heights Elementary

On May 18 fifth graders at Gregory Heights presented Puss In Boots to the school community following a four-day intensive residency with the Hi-Liners adapting a work of literature to musical theater. There's more..>>

Evergreen Student Receives Boeing Scholarship

Charles Loeffler   Charles Loeffler, a senior at Evergreen High School, has received The Boeing Company's National Merit Scholarship.   Congratulations, Charles!

Over 100 Elementary Students Participate in Chess Tournament

by Teresa Matthews, community liaison, Marvista The 12th Annual Highline Elementary Team Chess Tournament was held on Wednesday May 9, and was hosted by Marvista Elementary. Eight Highline schools participated in this scholastic and fun event. The schools were Beverly Park, Bow Lake, Cedarhurst, Des Moines, Gregory Heights, Marvista, Seahurst, and Shorewood elementary schools. Read on...>>

High School Math Graduation Requirements Change

State lawmakers recently made changes to the state’s high school graduation requirements.   Beginning with the class of 2008, students who meet the reading, writing and mathematics high school standards will earn a Certificate of Academic Achievement (CAA) or Certificate of Individual Achievement (CIA). A certificate, however, is not required for graduation. The mathematics graduation requirement is delayed for the graduating classes of 2008-2012. The graduating class of 2013 will now be the first class required to meet the state’s reading, writing, mathematics and science standards. For more information and frequently asked questions, visit the OSPI website.   The complete text can be found in Engrossed Substitute Bill 6023 (ESSB 6023).

District Social Worker Breaks National Swim Record

Jean Blackburn, a social worker for the district, knows it’s important to include healthy activities and personal goal-setting in her life. When she’s not at work, Jean swims competitively with the Pacific Northwest Aquatics team. She just broke a national record for age 55+.   Way to go, Jean!

Valley View Elementary Remembers

In anticipation of the school closure at the end of this school year, staff at Valley View Elementary will host two events for current and former students, families, and staff to walk down memory lane together. On Saturday, June 2, from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m., the school will be open to celebrate familiar traditions. That evening, adults are invited by the staff for a program at the Doubletree Hotel SeaTac Airport. The event includes dinner and a RSVP is required. For more information or to RSVP, go to: http://valleyview.myevent.com

Understanding One Another

"Sentenced Home", a program featuring the stories behind Cambodian American families – including two families from the Highline area – as they struggle to maintain their family in the U.S., will be shown on PBS May 27, at 11:00 p.m. The film features a former White Center Heights student and a cameo appearance of one of our teachers. It was partially filmed in White Center and focuses on an issue that that is important to some of our immigrant families. For more information, see: http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/sentencedhome.

$10,000 for Schools that Act as Community Centers

This award recognizes design and educational excellence in "schools as centers of community," and the winning school will receive a $10,000 prize. Schools that serve as centers of community provide a rich array of social, civic, recreational, and artistic opportunities to the broader community and to students, often clustering educational and municipal buildings together. Get the whole story...>>

Legislative Youth Advisory Council Seeks New Applicants

Lt. Gov. Brad Owen is encouraging Washington youth who may be interested in advising the state Legislature on legislation and policy matters of importance to them to apply for a seat on the Legislative Youth Advisory Council (LYAC).    Get the details...>>

Music Students Successful at Competitions

by Dan Fosberg, Mount Rainier High School band instructor The Mount Rainier Wind Ensemble had an extremely successful tour of Anaheim, California, in late March. The group won first place, a Gold Superior rating, Judges Trophy for performance of distinction, Outstanding Soloist award (Matthew Kent, Alto Saxophone), and was awarded the trophy for being the "Best Band of All Bands" by having the highest composite score at the Heritage Music Festival, which was held at Fullerton College.   Read on...>>

Puget Sound Skills Center Students in Master Builders Competition

Students from Puget Sound Skills Center (PSSC) participated in the Master Builders "Building Your Future" student Competition and Career Fair on Friday May 11. Students compete in four events.      Get the whole story...>>

Bragging Rights

We are very pleased to share good news about the educational accomplishments of staff members and their families.   Get the details...>>     If you have educational information to share, please e-mail the following information to Judy Balko, balkojl@hsd401.org: For staff member recognition please include employee name, worksite, school, and degree. For a family member’s recognition please include employee name, worksite, family member, school, and degree. Last day to submit Bragging Rights is Tuesday, June 12.

Board Minutes

Click the date to read the minutes from the May 9, 2007 board meetings.

	Quick Links... Subscribe to eHighlights We encourage our readers to forward the eHighlights to friends and community members. They can then subscribe for future issues. Thank you.     Highline Schools Foundation for Excellence    Building for the Future: Construction Update Wall of Fame In Memoriam   Robert Guenther Submit a Story

eHighlights Archives