Cedarhurst Grand Opening Celebration

The Cedarhurst neighborhood, students, and families all joined together on February 21 to celebrate the grand opening of Cedarhurst Elementary. Over 400 people took advantage of the opportunity to see the 67,000 square foot facility, which incorporates a highly energy-efficient, two-story plan with two classroom wings, an activities wing, and the administration area with the library above. The library features sweeping views of the surrounding mountains - for which the school's wings are named; Mount St. Helens, Mount Rainier, Mount Olympus, and Mount Baker.

Principal Leslie Perry served as master of ceremonies for the program, which featured a slide show provided by TCF Architecture. Following the program, TCF and Babbit Neuman Construction hosted a taco bar dinner for the community and visitors toured the building.

Student Leaders staffed stations around the school to share with visitors information about special features including the grass rooftop, the cistern system that captures rainwater runoff for landscape use, and other energy-efficient aspects of the building. Student musicians entertained guests with a drumming performance.

Included in the celebration were representatives of the Burien/Normandy Park Fire Department, which headed up efforts to save the new building when it caught fire on July 14, 2007, during construction.

Just prior to the grand opening event, Superintendent Welch hosted the staff of Cedarhurst at an appreciation dinner. There, he recognized the staff for their flexibility and patience during the multiple relocations while maintaining high-quality learning for students.

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U.W. Brings Oregon Educators to Observe Literacy, Highline-style

The U.W. Center for Education Leadership (CEL) brought leaders from Central Point School District in Oregon to observe Highline classrooms on February 25. The visitors spent time at Shorewood Elementary and Academy of Citizenship and Empowerment (ACE) to see how schools have incorporated literacy work and how the CEL-Highline partnership has impacted teaching and learning.

CEL has helped Highline establish new practices in literacy instruction over the past several years, resulting in significant improvements in students' reading and writing skills.

Teachers and Coaches Meet for Math Summit

Math teachers and coaches gathered for the second district-wide math summit in February. They focused on understanding the new math standards developed by the state. District leaders had the opportunity to hear teachers' questions about how the new standards will impact teaching and learning in their classrooms.

A new math WASL will be developed to match the standards in the next 18 months. This year's 8th graders will take the new WASL in 10th grade.

Gold Star Award Nomination Time - Now Includes Teacher of the Year

The Highline Schools Foundation is accepting nominations for this year's Gold Star Awards. Nomination forms are available through school administrators and on the Foundation's website, www.fund4excellence.org.

The Gold Star Awards honor outstanding employees and volunteers in the Highline Public Schools and all members of the school community are invited to nominate their peers. Winners receive a $1,000 award and will be honored at the Foundation's Gold Star Luncheon on May 30.

New this year, the Gold Star Teacher of the Year will also be eligible to represent the district in the region's Teacher of the Year contest. An Outstanding Administrator of the Year award has also been added. Look for more details in future issues of e-Highlights.

Science Scholarship Available for Teachers

Teachers, are you looking for ways to ramp up your instructional skills in science? Do you know a college student going into science education? A $1,500 scholarship dedicated to the promotion of equity in science and math is available through the Washington State Science Teachers Association.

The Peggy Vetter Memorial Scholarship is for:

An individual (targeting African American, Hispanic, Native American, and women) with an intent to become certified in science education or in elementary education with an emphasis in science, at a college or university in Washington State. Funds must be used to defray tuition or certification program costs.

One or more certified teacher(s) who show intent to improve skills in providing equitable science education through professional development.

Interested individuals are invited to submit an application. Past recipients of the Scholarship are not eligible.

Get the application

The application packet must be postmarked by May 1, 2008. Faxed copies will not be accepted. Mail Packet to Sally Luttrell-Montes, 5769 61 Ave. NE, Seattle, WA 98105 or e-mail to sallylm@comcast.net.

Global Connections Hosts Iraqi Delegation

A delegation of women from Iraq visited Global Connections High School last week. The women are in the US as part of the US Department of State's International Visitor Leadership Program. They are here to explore the role of women as agents of social and political change in America and to share strategies with women decision-makers for promoting human and civil rights.

The guests spoke to several classes, then joined staff and students for a lunch reception.

Student Information System (SIS) Update

Here's the latest progress on the new SIS:

• eSIS software is installed on district system.
• Student data for Seahurst (our pilot school) has been converted from SASI to eSIS. Seahurst is scheduled to "go live" with eSIS on March 24.
• Training for Seahurst personnel began this week.

Here's a look at what is to come:

• Training for elementary personnel this spring and summer.
• Elementary schools to be converted to eSIS by September 2008
• Secondary schools to be converted to eSIS by September 2009

Tyee Wrestlers Go to State Tournament

Two wrestlers represented the Tyee Educational Complex in the state wrestling tournament last weekend.

Jesus Torres of Odyssey made it all the way to the championship round, finishing 2nd in the state.

Ben Molina of Global Connections, ranked 12th going into the tournament, made it to the third round of the tournament.

Congratulations to both wrestlers and their coaches for the great effort!

Read Across America Proclamation

At the February 27 Board meeting, Superintendent Welch proclaimed March 3 as Read Across America day, honoring Dr. Seuss's 104th birthday.

Click here to read the proclamation.

Northwest African American Museum Opens March 8

Inside The Museum Brian Carter, Education Director; Barbara Earl Thomas, Deputy Director/Curator
The Northwest African American Museum will open its doors with exhibitions in The Journey Gallery and The Northwest Gallery. As the Museum's anchor galleries, these spaces provide the proper stage for NAAM to realize its curatorial vision, which is to tell the story of African Americans in the Northwest.

Students may visit for free during the inaugural week March 8-12.

The Journey Gallery will host a permanent exhibit that provides visitors a visually rich narrative starting in the present and working back through time to the 1790s, where we discover the first arrival of African Americans by ship with the Spanish and American maritime exploration.

Starting on a high step, The Northwest Gallery will house an exhibition entitled: Jacob Lawrence and James Washington, Jr.: Creating a Life, Creating a World.
This inaugural exhibition will feature the work and lives of two artists who profoundly reshaped our regions cultural landscape, Jacob Lawrence and James Washington, Jr. Although neither man was born in the Pacific Northwest, each settled and lived significant portions of their lives in the Northwest. The community embraced them because of their cultural commitment and the evocative power of their artistic creations. Bringing the works of Lawrence and Washington together, in this yearlong exhibition staged in two parts, will illuminate the many ways in which this region's people, history, and geography affected their creative processes and conversely, how the Northwest was affected by their presence. The museum is located at:
711 Third Avenue West
Seattle 98122

For more information, email info@naamnw.org or call 206.267.1823.

Critical Need for Foster Homes in Highline Area

Burien, White Center, and the surrounding neighborhoods are in desperate need of foster homes. Children from this area are being transferred to Spokane, Yakima, and other communities as a result of the lack of homes here. On average, King County transfers 30 children per week to other communities - a significant number of these children should be students at Highline Public Schools. Are you able to help?

Foster Parent Liasion/Recruiter Marilynn Burton offers an informal, free class at the Burien Community Center the second Wednesday of every month from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. for anyone interested in learning more. Her contact information follows:

Marilynn Burton - 253.332.6263
email: marilynn-bur@comcast.net