January 26, 2007   

Calendar Revision

Superintendent Welch and his team are working with employee associations to come up with a revised calendar that addresses our weather-related school closures. We hope to have the calendar by early next week.   Back to eHighlights

District-wide High School Fair  -  February 12

Help Spread the Word…Middle school students and parents have a chance to learn about all the small learning communities, 9th and 10th grade academies, and high school reform at Highline. There will be a district-wide high school fair on Monday, February 12 from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. at Evergreen High School. Eighth-graders will soon be making their high school selection so this is a great opportunity to compare the options – all in one place. Here’s a printable, English/Spanish flyer to share.   Back to eHighlights

Replacement Levy on the March 13 Ballot

Highline Public Schools has a rich history of positive stewardship with levy and bond funds - and the Highline community has demonstrated strong support of the district's efforts to improve learning. There will be a replacement Educational Programs and Operations Levy on the March 13 ballot. Public education is not fully funded by the state. Over 18% of the Highline district's funding comes from the levy. Levy funds support teacher and staff pay and benefits, bus transportation, special education, and instructional materials including text books and computers. Approximately 160 teachers and support staff are funded through the levy. Bonds are for building - Levies are for learning The construction bond passed in 2006 is funding new schools and capital improvements. By law, bond dollars cannot be used for education expenses. The levy pays for the costs of educating students - teachers, support staff, books, busing, and other essentials. For more details, please review the attached Fact Sheet and Flyer. Questions? Please contact the district Communication Office at 206.433.2331.     Back to eHighlights

Calendar Change

Board members Phyllis Byers, Susan Goding, Vice President Julie Burr Spani, Board member Tom Slattery, President Matt Pina. School Board Members were honored last night at the regularly scheduled board meeting. Superintendent John Welch read from Governor Gregoire's proclamation, "School directors serve as a vital link between the community and the classroom, making policy, setting budgets, and exerting leadership to prepare our children for the opportunities of the future." Our School Board members contribute hundreds of volunteer hours each year making decisions aimed at promoting student achievement. They have a multitude of responsibilities, including vision- and goal-setting, establishing standards for what students should learn, and working as a team with administrators, teachers, parents, students and the community to foster a safe and productive learning environment.     Back to eHighlights

Three Highline Schools to Receive Boeing "Flight to the Future" Grants

Eric DeJulio holding the check for the Boeing Flight to the Future grant for Odyssey High School.   Introduced in September, 2001, The Boeing Company committed $2.5 million over four years to improve access to quality early learning opportunities and to offer world-class science education programs. In August 2006, they announced a decision to continue offering these Flight to the Future grants, based on the positive results the investments made in local communities.   Aviation High School: "Flight by Design" Students from Highline School District will have an opportunity to participate in a program that will merge math and science in a working model of a Boeing Flight Test facility. Students will create, build, and test a series of model planes, collecting and analyzing data of flight test conditions. Goal is to further develop relationship with Boeing Flight Test Facility, culminating at some point in developing a model "mini" flight test facility, giving students authentic learning experience that can serve as a bridge to future careers in aerospace. Chinook Middle School: "Academic Achievement Club" Participants will spend one afternoon per week with one-on-one tutoring and mentoring. The second afternoon will be devoted to inquiry-based science and math activities: Lab and field work in robotics, environmental science, and rocketry will be included. This is designed to complement the science program and provide extra exposure to science. Odyssey High School: "How is Electricity Used to Make Changes in Sound?" In hands-on projects, students will make content connections between circuits, electricity and sound waves. The culminating activity involves building speakers and analyzing the sound waves that are produced with different types of electronic circuits. Students will compile information to build and market their final product.   "The Boeing Company continues to invest in communities to improve the lives of children and their families. Working together, we can ensure all children have a chance to realize their full potential," commented Joyce Walters, investment manager, learning and K-12 education.     Back to eHighlights

Qwest Technology Grants

Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction Terry Bergeson announced that Qwest is providing a $100,000 technology grant to Washington teachers. Application information is available online at the OSPI website at http://www.k12.wa.us/EdTech/. There's more..>>    Back to eHighlights

Aviation High School to Relocate for 2007-2008

Highline Public Schools will move its Aviation High School to the Olympic site beginning next fall. This move is seen as an interim step while the district continues to seek a permanent location for the school of choice specializing in aviation-related college and career preparation. The Olympic site, located at 615 South 200th Street in Des Moines, has been used for several schools during remodels or construction.     Back to eHighlights

Evergreen Students Were Banquet Guests

(l-r) Marlys Lewis, Jackie Lewis assistant principal Evergreen High School, Vincente Cordova, Ron Sims King County Executive, Charles Webster, Nebiat Gebreziabher, and Kirt Terry-Spring.   Evergreen High School had the honor of being the only high school invited to attend the recent Region X Blacks In Government 25th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Banquet. As guests of the state DSHS and Francis Carr, the staff and students heard Muhammad Nassardeen, CEO of Recycling Black Dollars as the keynote speaker. The theme for the evening's dinner and gala was Assuming Responsibility in a Struggling Nation. Jackie Lewis, assistant principal, commented, "It was a great experience for the students to begin to see themselves as successful business people."     Back to eHighlights

Global Connections Students Excel at DECA Competition

On Tuesday, January 9, sixty students from Global Connections High School attended and competed at the 2007 Area IV DECA Competition at the Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue. Each student participated in marketing role-play presentations to a business person who then evaluated their performance. Students also took a 100-question test on general, economic, and marketing knowledge. Test and role-play scores were added together to determine final placement. The following students won awards. Those students placing 8th place and higher will be competing at the DECA State Competition in March. State Qualifiers: Susan Nordquist competed in Accounting Application and placed in both the test and role-play and placed 6th overall. Aaron Sherman competed in Marketing Management and placed 7th overall. Michael Snyder competed in Quick Serve Restaurant Management and placed in one role-play and 6th overall. Jacob Lee competed in Retail Merchandising Management and placed in both role-plays and 4th overall. Jennifer Hulings competed in Apparel & Accessories Marketing and placed 6th overall. Juan Vargas competed in Business Services Marketing and placed in both the test and one role play and 3rd overall. Lou Vargas and Dianne Huynh competed in Hospitality Team Management Event and placed 8th overall. Abdikhabar Ali competed in Food Marketing and placed 9th overall. Becky Davis competed in Automotive Services Marketing and placed in the role-play. Crystal Rivera competed in Hotel & Lodging management and placed in the role-play. Matthew Kennedy and Jimmy Cheng competed in E-Commerce and placed 10th overall. In addition to our many winners, Lou Vargas and Jacob Lee (Global Connections HS students), provided leadership for the Area IV officer team who organized many elements of the competition for the entire Area IV DECA region. These students together with their three other officers coordinated the best opening and closing session Area IV DECA has ever seen. They also worked with advisors from across the region to visit schools, order plaques, coordinate signage and room set up at the Meydenbauer Center, confirm business persons for the events and much more. Global Connections High School is proud of their efforts. Contributed by Alana Vinther, Global Connections High School     Back to eHighlights

Gates Foundation Salutes Tom Vander Ark

Vander Ark with students Josh Dobson, David Sandoval, and Stacy Rost   Executive director for the foundation’s education initiatives, Tom Vander Ark has been influential in Highline’s high school reform. When Vander Ark announced he was leaving the foundation, a special going away event was planned – and students from the Academy of Citizenship and Empowerment (ACE) were anxious to be heard about the impact of small schools in their lives. Teacher Carrie Howell introduced senior student David Sandoval, who had an amazing story to share. An African American young man who had a 1.5 GPA before enrolling at ACE last year, David read his prepared statement with great emotion, nearly breaking down as he described how ACE had changed his life. "At old Tyee, you slept when you felt like it and some of the teachers didn't even know your name," he said. Now, he's doing so well that he's writing poetry and tutoring other students. At the end, teary eyed, he looked Tom in the eye and thanked him for changing his life. The audience burst into a spontaneous standing ovation. Following David's dramatic commentary and the audience’s response, MC Steve Seleznow, head of west coast programs for the Gates Foundation just said, "After that, if you don't walk out the door understanding what this business is all about, just keep on walking."      Back to eHighlights

Highline High School Graduate Named to Academic All-American Women’s College Soccer Team

Senior forward Heather OReilly of North Carolina and senior midfielder Katrina Morgan of Embry-Riddle University (Florida) head the 2006 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Women’s Soccer Teams, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America. Morgan, a product of Burien, Washington, led Embry-Riddle to an 11-4 overall record. She started all 16 games and finished the season with nine goals and three assists for 21 points. Morgan was one of six members on the team with a 4.00 grade index. Highline Principal Pat Dunn commented, "Congratulations to the Highline staff for giving Katrina Morgan ('03) the foundation to excel in college! Even as a full-time athlete, Katrina is earning a 4.0 GPA in Applied Meteorology/Research at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida."     Back to eHighlights

Intersession is Underway at Odyssey!

Tim Chang’s grandmother teaching Chinese watercolor painting.   In one room, Tim Chang’s grandmother, an accomplished watercolor artist, is teaching her Chinese Watercolor Painting class. In another, Renee Gallagher, who has solicited donations from all over Seattle for materials is teaching Mosaic Madness class. Amy Vattuone is teaching photojournalism, Karen Ikegami and Eric DeJulio are team-teaching 60 students in pinhole photography, Karen Kupferman is singing with students in choir class, Karen Herschleb is coaching students in Dance from Around the World, and guitar class and comedy class and the list goes on. The teachers are excited about the chance to teach this unique and focused curriculum. It’s hard work but well worth it as the students seem positive and engaged.     Renee Gallagher and her Mosaic Madness class.   Odyssey students and staff will be hosting an Intersession Performance and Exhibition Day on January 26. We asked Principal Joan Ferrigno to share some background on Intersession: Winter Intersession started right after break on January 3 and runs for 3 ½ weeks during which time students will earn their fine arts credit. Spring Intersession will run for 3 ½ weeks in June and students will earn credit for P.E. and Health. Students take two classes during Intersession, one for three hours in the morning and another for three hours after lunch. The courses were designed by students and staff and some students are sharing the responsibility for teaching some lessons. For example, in Dance Around the World, students are instructing their classmates in Salsa and Tango; and in guitar class, some advanced students are tutoring beginners. We also have one guest artist teaching Chinese Watercolor.       Karen Herschleb coaching students in Dance from Around the World. The rationale for intersession include: In a small school, especially one with so many students who are well below grade level in their core classes, it is difficult to offer electives, when they would take the place of longer and double doses of reading, writing, and math classes. Since intersession is taught by all teachers, we were able to hire an additional Language Arts teacher in lieu of a P.E. teacher. Intersession allows us to enroll all students in a college-prep schedule; during the regular semester, all students are enrolled in Language Arts, Social Studies, math, science and foreign language or technology. Scheduling an intersession, allows us more time during the regular semester for Advisory, which we believe is an essential aspect of personalization and building community. During the regular semester, teachers teach only four classes instead of five and students take only five classes instead of six, allowing both groups to put more effort into teaching and learning. Intersession provides us with many more interesting and relevant elective offerings than if we had one art or P.E. teacher on staff.   Back to eHighlights

Profile on Big Picture High School

Imagine a classroom with students all working independently on different projects; one making phone calls, another creating a movie using a specialized computer program, and another working with an adult advisor to create a children’s classroom game. At Big Picture, each student has a unique, individual learning plan based on their personal interests or passion. The learning plan is made up largely of Learning Through Internship (LTI) experiences. Teachers, known as advisors at Big Picture, work with just 17 students and the advisor’s role is not only to teach, but to facilitate the overall learning plan of each student. Advisors work to get to know their students and families well and to establish trusting relationships. Advisors follow their students through all four years of high school, and as such act as teachers, counselors, mentors, trusted advocates, and other roles as needed. The school program is based on the belief that some of the most powerful learning takes place in one-on-one relationships and when people are doing something that interests them. When students work among adults and develop projects of real value in those workplaces, they see the relevance of their learning and aspire to higher quality work. Five learning goals frame the work at Big Picture: quantitative reasoning, empirical reasoning, communication, social reasoning, and personal qualities. The goal is to teach students how to learn. Adults interact in multidisciplinary contexts rather than in discrete steps labeled by category of learning such as "this is math." The goal of quantitative reasoning is to be able to do math but more importantly to be able to think like a mathematician, to see the numbers in an issue and understand which numbers are meaningful. The goal of empirical reasoning is to think like a scientist, and the goal of social reasoning is to think like an historian or anthropologist. So if a group is discussing the war in Iraq, they might use the various learning goals as lenses through which to examine that conflict. As students do increasingly complex projects, progressing through the program, part of the advisor’s job is to ensure that all learning goals are being addressed. Because students are learning in settings and ways that are of interest to them personally, their participation level is higher than in traditional settings. Many students who struggled to attend school regularly in middle school find their interest sparked at Big Picture and they attend regularly because they want to be there and learn. After-school workshops are also well attended. Students stay for workshops on math, weight conditioning, and yearbook, among others. Initially, students and advisors work together to identify areas the student is passionate about. Then, they are guided to contact adults who share their interests. For example, 9th grader Genesis Hernandez loves animals. So, she contacted a local pet hospital. Since starting her internship, Genesis has participated in several procedures at the vet hospital. Another 9th grader, Julian Cruzat-Anderson chose an internship at Manik Skateboards where, as an expert skateboarder, he is able to share his knowledge of the sport while learning what it takes to run a business. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, students make arrangements for informational interviews, where they travel to businesses and other workplaces to talk with people about what they do. Through these interviews, students experience different work settings and often discover new interests. They also learn how to schedule their time, how to get places, and how to present themselves professionally. Students are encouraged to do as many informational interviews as possible, ideally several each week as they work toward an internship. Students write thank-you notes after informational interviews, and if interested they follow up with a request for a shadow day with the person at their workplace. A shadow day involves spending half or all of the workday learning more about what it’s like to work there. Students often do shadow days at many different places as they explore a variety of interests. If the shadow day is a success for the student and the host, school staff and the host discuss the possibility of an internship. Once an internship is established, the student reports directly to the internship site on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Soon after the internship begins, the team of student, mentor, and advisor meet again to develop an internship project. Ideal projects challenge students to develop new skills and add value to the host site by providing a needed service. For example, a student might develop a website for their host company. Or, a marketing plan might be created. Last year a student advised his host, an airplane mechanic, on how to redesign the shop layout for improved safety and efficiency. This year, 10th grader Keyanna Chambers is interning with Christy Brown’s class at North Hill. Keyanna also worked with a class at Madronna where she developed a bingo game around a toxic waste lesson plan. Through the internship program, students gain experience in adult workplaces and learn how to get things done, how to get help when needed, and how to be resourceful in pursuing their learning goals. For example, 10th grader Travis Brewer is in his second year interning for CRS Marine in Des Moines. Travis thought he wanted to be a welder but by doing an internship in that field he learned that it wasn’t what he expected. His next internship was with CRS and there he found his passion. Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays are school-based work days for students and staff. Students engage in a variety of group and independent work related to their individual Learning Plan. This work is based in the advisory room, but students may work with different staff through the day. These are also the days students have time and support to develop and complete their internship project work. Students also present exhibitions for parents and advisors three times during the year. During the exhibition, students share their learning and demonstrate their new-found skills. Big Picture does not have a traditional school day with a bell schedule where students go from one class to the next throughout the day. Instead, because of the unique Learning Plans, each student’s day may look a little different. Flexible scheduling is needed when each student has a unique Learning Plan. The openness of the schedule enables staff to personalize instruction and meet the needs of each student. Advisors teach in various ways through the day, and there are workshops to help students develop skills they will need to be successful in college and beyond. Students at the 301 and 401 (junior and senior) level are encouraged to take community college classes through the Running Start program to increase their preparation for college success. One of the biggest challenges facing college students (and adults) is how to manage projects and structure time so as to effectively meet one’s goals. Students are given the responsibility of managing their time wisely. From their first year at Big Picture, students begin researching colleges. This includes school-based work as well as visits to college campuses. College representatives will also visit the BP campus. By the time of the Gateway exhibition (required to move on to upper level) in the 201 (sophomore) year, students will have an understanding of what is required of them for admission to various schools of interest to them. Their tasks in the 301 and 401 years, with support from advisors and other school staff, will include preparing themselves to be competitive in the admission process. In addition, Big Picture staff are working with representatives from various colleges and universities to create relationships that will help students gain admission to schools of choice. Big Picture graduates nationally show very strong college data, with more than 75% of students going on to college immediately after graduating and an additional 5% going at some later point. In its second year of operation, Highline’s Big Picture High School now has 68 students in 9th and 10th grades. A class of 34 new students will join the school each year. Because of the unique structure of the school program, students entering Big Picture make a four-year commitment. Big Picture2 Connections is the parent group for the school. They are involved in field trips, dances, procuring and providing supplies as well as participating in the students’ exhibitions. Travis mentioned that his mother, like many, is actively involved in his school for the first time since becoming part of Big Picture. Big Picture students are eligible to participate in extra curricular activities through their home high schools – and many do. Justin Scipio, a 10th grader whose current internship is at KUBE-93 radio station, enjoys after-school sports at his neighborhood school. At Big Picture, he is one of the Talented Ten, the student leaders who are involved with peer mentoring, school improvements discussions and represent the students at staff meetings. His love of basketball led him to organize a tournament for one of his projects. He was responsible for everything from arranging the facilities to making sure each team had appropriate jerseys. He learned a lot about himself through the process – including his ability to stick with it even when things didn’t go smoothly. If you or someone you know is available for informational interviews or job shadows, please contact Dan Posel, internship coordinator, at 206.444.7726 or poseldz@hsd401.org. We also welcome volunteer support in many capacities. Please start by contacting the school office. To learn more about the Big Picture concept, go to www.bigpicture.org.     Back to eHighlights

Evergreen Art on Display at ERAC

ERAC staff and visitors thank the Evergreen art students and instructor Carol Skvorak for the fine display in ERAC's lobby this month.   Back to eHighlights

Board Minutes

Click the date to read the minutes from the December 13, 2006 and January 10, 2007 board meetings.       Back to eHighlights