March 16, 2007   

Voters Support Highline Levy

The Highline educational programs and operations levy has passed. With almost all absentee ballots counted, the levy received a 65% "yes" vote. Thank you, voters and volunteers, for your support of our community’s schools.     Back to eHighlights

Carl Jensen Memorial Picnic Scheduled

A picnic honoring former Highline Public Schools Superintendent Carl Jensen will be held Saturday, May 26, at Camp Waskowitz. The public is invited to attend. Jensen, who was superintendent from 1953 to 1971, died last November at the age of 97. Before his death, he had requested that a picnic be held at Camp Waskowitz in lieu of a memorial service, and he set aside money in his will to pay for the function. Perhaps the most respected and best loved leader in Highline history, Jensen made a powerful impact on Highline. He brokered the deal to purchase Camp Waskowitz without district funds and became a national pioneer of outdoor education. His 1947 documentary, Classroom in the Cascades, was sent to every state Office of Education in the nation as a model for public school supported outdoor education. Mr. Jensen remained committed to promoting and protecting Camp Waskowitz until his death. During his tenure as superintendent, Jensen also developed Sea-Tac Occupational Skills Center and was instrumental in establishing Highline Community College.   Back to eHighlights

Chinook Middle School Featured in Real Change

Real Change, a weekly community newspaper, recently featured a story on Chinook’s unique challenges related to WASL performance and the steps being taken to improve school scores. The writer’s goal was to tell "the rest of the story" and personalize the issues faced by staff, parents, and students.   Read the whole story at Real Change,  http://www.realchangenews.org/2007/2007_01_03/wasl.html     Back to eHighlights

Congratulations, Tuyen Nhan, 2007 All-Washington Academic Team Scholarship Recipient

By Joy Milstid, Evergreen’s College & Career Specialist     l-r: Joy Milstid, Tuyen Nhan and Heidi Lyman of South Seattle Community College.     Tuyen Nhan will be recognized as a top community and technical college student for her academic achievement and community service. Tuyen is part of a group of students representing the state’s two-year colleges. She was nominated through a state program modeled after the national All-USA Academic Team, initiated by Phi Theta Kappa, the two-year college international honor society. Tuyen will be honored at an award ceremony on March 22 at South Puget Sound Community College in Olympia. Each student scholar will receive an All-Washington Academic Team medallion, a $750 scholarship, and be personally recognized by Governor Christine Gregoire. Tuyen Nhan is a Running Start student at South and is taking courses toward Pre-Medicine. Her goal to become a pediatrician is reflected in her public service. She has volunteered at the Pacific Science Center helping children with science-based crafts and at Highline Head Start helping teachers and children in the classroom. She served at Highline Medical Center as part of Project HOPE, assisting patients in their care. She has a 4.0 GPA.     Back to eHighlights

Students Working Hard at New Futures

Laura Waldman with Israel Salmeron Vargas With over 500 apartments, many housing multiple families, there are hundreds of kids who call Vintage Park home. According to Burien police, the complex is a high crime area with drugs and gang activity leading the list of trouble. For kids growing up here, the possibilities to break the cycle of poverty may seem limited, but those who have connected with New Futures truly are building a road out for themselves – through education. Although most parents are working hard so their children may have better lives, it is often difficult for them to engage in the school system because of work schedules as well as language and cultural barriers. Many of the parents do not have much formal education, which makes it challenging for them to support their kids in school. "These kids are amazing. They all have a tremendous amount of potential - many are trilingual – but, they do not always have the opportunity to realize that potential," comments Programs Director Kendra Han. Targeting the kids who really have a desire to live a different life and an interest in working hard to get it, New Futures accepts approximately 60 elementary school students for a twice-weekly program from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. The elementary students focus on literacy. Middle and high school students selected for the program attend daily sessions for homework help. Not only do these students get academic help, they also get a healthy snack when they arrive, some supervised physical activity for the elementary age group, and a connection with a caring, interested adult. Laura Waldman, a New Futures staff member, works with the middle and high school students. Several of the students have been coming to New Futures for two or more years – and it’s clear they have a real connection with Laura. It’s fascinating to watch as she helps four different kids – each working on a different project.     Meeah Park with Librado Flores      In another room, Meeah Park, a teacher at Sylvester Middle School, volunteers her afternoon one day a week to help middle school students with math. Even after a full day at school, these students are attentive and engaged – clearly wanting to learn – and Meeah is patient and helpful as she explores different ways of explaining the fraction problems they are solving. Most families in the complex do not have computers, so New Futures maintains a small computer lab. This lab offers middle and high school students access to computers, the internet, and printers to do their research and homework. On this day, two students are working on assignments for an upcoming cultural fair, researching their assigned country on the internet and preparing presentation boards. Always faced with a shortage of resources, New Futures relies on funding from various foundations as well as city, county, and state funding. Board members are also working to increase individual and corporate donations. Han supervises the activities at Vintage Park as well as similar programs at Windsor Heights in SeaTac and Arbor Heights in White Center. Each program is modified slightly to best meet the needs of the particular community. In addition to the after-school programs, New Futures offers enrichment activities including ESL for parents, literacy in Spanish, and social engagement events appropriate for the community.    Back to eHighlights

Chess Master Visits Highline

By Teresa Matthews, Highline High School community liaison Highline High students, staff, and community members participated in a Simul Chess Challenge and lesson on Tuesday, February 13, at Highline High School. Dr. Leo Stefurak discussed development of moves in his chess lesson, and challenged students and staff to a simul chess game. Over 45 chess players (adults and students) played Dr. Leo in continuous play. Jeff Nguyen and Pieter Hoolboom outlasted all and received game set awards. Dr. Leo will be back this spring to teach the investigative principles of advocacy to math and science classes. The public is invited – please call Teresa Matthews for info (433-2511). Thanks to the Highline Schools Foundation for Excellence and the Excel Grant for making this fun event happen!   Back to eHighlights

Evergreen Running Start Student Travel Abroad

Thuc-Chi Nguyen 2nd from left      By Joy Milstid, Evergreen’s College & Career Specialist Thuc-Chi Nguyen traveled to Nagasaki, Japan, last December as a recipient of a scholarship to participate in the "Leadership Abroad" program through South Seattle Community College. Students met with faculty members at the Nagasaki College of Foreign Languages. They also toured the Atomic Bomb Museum, government and non-profit agencies to compare and contrast with our American systems. The Leadership Abroad program was created to provide access to a global experience to students who would otherwise not consider travel abroad, while also encouraging leadership development.     Back to eHighlights

Des Moines Third-Graders Receive Dictionaries by the Dozens

Parkside third graders use their dictionaries while Rotarians look on. For the fourth year in a row, the Des Moines Rotary Club has presented a dictionary to every third-grade student in the city. Over the past few weeks, Rotarians have visited third-grade classrooms at Parkside, Des Moines, North Hill, and Midway elementary schools. About 350 dictionaries were given out in this year's "dictionaries by the dozens" project. The illustrated children's dictionaries are for the children to keep. The books may be kept in the classroom during the school year, but they will be sent home with the students when school is dismissed for the summer. "The students are so incredibly excited to get their dictionaries," said Tami Greene, president of Des Moines Rotary, who has helped distribute the dictionaries at schools. "They are really surprised when we tell them they can write their names on the inside cover."     Back to eHighlights

Highline Teachers Selected as WASL Administrators

A number of Highline Public Schools teachers have either been selected by the state and ESD to be trainers for the Collection of Evidence or selected as scorers for the upcoming WASL. It is a real honor for both the district and the individual teachers to be selected for this work. (click here for more) In addition, Wendy Sayan, secondary curriculum and instruction specialist, has been asked to be a trainer for the Collection of Evidence. Two Highline teachers Joani Bishop and Royce Badley, currently CTE instructors, were selected from this ESD to be trainers as well. "Taking on these roles provides an opportunity for excellent professional development," commented Assistant Superintendent Carla Jackson. Those selected to be on the "WASL scoring" docket include:   Pacific Middle School Cindy Bennight Mathematics Grade 7 Seahurst Elementary School Laura Bohn Mathematics Grade 6 North Hill Elementary Gerri Goss Mathematics Grade 6 Global Connections High School Jessica Apitz Reading Grade 8 Global Connections High School Jessica Apitz Writing High School   Global Connections High School Mary Edwards Writing High School Global Connections High School Linda Barker Reading Grade 5      Back to eHighlights

March 19-23 Proclaimed School Retirees Appreciation Week

Click for the proclamation.     Back to eHighlights

Gregory Heights Reader Board Missing

This 4' x 6', wall-mounted reader board is missing. If you have any information about it, please contact Lori White at 206-755-1245 or Gregory Heights Elementary School at 206-433-2323.            Back to eHighlights

Chinook Freedom Fighters at SeaTac City Council Meeting

By Kim Ustanik, Chinook family/community support liaison     l to r: Nick Hawthorne, Shaffi Osman, Laneisha Robinson, Unai Elisara, and Mayor Gene Fisher      Members of Chinook Middle School leadership group, Student Ambassadors, found their power to make a difference at the February 27 City of SeaTac city council meeting. Chinook’s Student Ambassadors have made a commitment to their peers, their parents and teaching staff, younger students, and community members to create change in a manner that will ultimately make the world a better place for all people. These four young leaders calling themselves the Freedom Fighters have chosen to focus their efforts on the community in which they live. So, 8th graders, Unai Elisara, Laneisha Robinson, Nick Hawthorne, and Shaffi Osman went directly to the leaders of their city. The students brought three things to the city leaders: a notice of partnership, a proposal, and a request. The notice of partnership was to inform the community that the Freedom Fighters of Chinook are doing their part to make the city a better place. Laneisha shared the goals of this years group and the accomplishments of last year. Nick made a proposal to the city leaders that the City of SeaTac join in the Freedom Fighters' "Clean Up Graffiti" day planned for this spring AND make it an official annual event inviting other community organizations to jump in. Finally, Unai and Shaffi let the Council know that the students of this community would really love to have a great community center in the south SeaTac area. They shared reasons for this need, activities they’d like to have included, and even suggested ideas for locations. The Freedom Fighters were joined by the entire Drills and Skills program from Chinook in the audience. This program is a fabulous leadership and mentoring program presented by City Year and led by Mr. James Hampton. Drills and Skills serves about 30 students attending Chinook Middle School and the three Tyee Educational Complex high schools. The SeaTac city Council, with Mayor Gene Fisher in the middle, simply seemed to beam acceptance at all "their" young people in the audience. It is very clear that the City of SeaTac and Highline Public Schools will see big things coming from unexpected places!     Back to eHighlights

Board Minutes

Click the date to read the minutes from the February 28, 2007 board meeting.       Back to eHighlights

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