Mount Rainier Student Wins Top Award in Reflections Competition
Three Highline students received Washington State PTSA awards for their entries in the annual Reflections program; Ellen Van Wyk, Benjamin Niu, and Nicole Mays. The students were honored by the School Board during the April 8 meeting.
Photo caption: (l-r) At School Board meeting, HCPTSA Reflections Chairperson Debbie Thoma, Helen Van Wyk, Nicole Mays, and Superintendent Welch. Benjamin Niu was unable to attend.
This year's Reflections theme was "WOW!" and these students put their creative minds to work in a variety of different mediums to express themselves in response to the theme. They competed at the building level, then the district-wide level, before being sent on to the state level for competition. More than 17,000 students participated in this program- which means some very challenging competition - and only 6 students receive awards in each age division.
Ellen, a senior, representing Mount Rainier High School, received the Washington State PTSA Award for Outstanding Interpretation Award for Visual Arts - Senior Division. There is only one award given for the entire state of Washington in this category for grades 9-12. Ellen's watercolor painting entitled "Fireworks" was sent on to National PTSA Reflections for additional judging and consideration for a national award.
Benjamin, a junior representing Mount Rainier High School, received the Washington State PTSA Award of Excellence for Visual Arts - Senior Division (one of only five such awards in the state). Benjamin's colored pencil drawing is titled "From Possibility to Actuality."
Nicole, an eighth grader from Sylvester Middle School, received the Washington State Award of Excellence for Literature - Junior Division (again, one of just five awards given for the entire state in the division and age group). Nicole's story is titled, "Wow, the Christmas Lights are Back On."
These students will receive medals of honor for their acheivement at the Washington State PTA Convention, during the Reflections Ceremony to be held on May 3 at the DoubleTree Hotel in SeaTac. National PTA Reflections awards should be announced at the ceremony as well.
AAA Student Participates in the Congressional Student Leadership Conference
A junior from the Arts and Academics Academy, Etevise (Vise) Le'iato, was selected by LeadAmerica to participate in the Congressional Student Leadership Conference (CSLC) at the National Leadership Summit 2009 in Washington, D.C. LeadAmerica is a non-partisan educational organization that sponsors academic-based leadership programs for outstanding high school and middle school students. Vise spent six days in our nation's capitol over spring break and was among 40 other student leaders selected from around the country.
The CSLC comprises LeadAmerica's flagship college accredited, leadership immersion and career-focused programs for outstanding high school students. Students delve into a specific field of study, attend special briefings and lectures by prominent leaders and professionals in the field, and participate in realistic simulations.
LeadAmerica seeks outstanding high school, middle school, and junior high school students who have demonstrated academic excellence, extracurricular or civic involvement, and leadership potential. LeadAmerica conferences attract students from many different backgrounds and cultures from across the country and around the world. The one thing they all have in common is that they come to LeadAmerica to learn, have fun, and make lifelong friendships.
Vise is very involved in the Arts and Academics Academy as a student and leader. She is a regular member of the Polynesian Club, a student tutor in the AVID program, and a performer in the drama department. Vise is also an active member of Key Club, Strong Believers, and ASB. At home, Vise stays busy with the Samoan Christian Fellowhip as a member of the youth choir, drama team, and children's ministry. After hearing of her selection, Vise raised over $1000 to help pay for travel and expenses.
A highlight for Vise was meeting Congressman Eni Faleomavaega, Delegate at large American Samoa. Vise was offered an intership with the congressman after she completes one year of college.
I "C" Winners Compete in Global Reading Challenge
Beverly Park Elementary readers, the "ICWs" (I 'C' Winners), represented the Central Region in King County's Global Reading Challenge held on March 27 in Issaquah. Two teams of seven dedicated readers gave up numerous lunches and recesses this year to study, read, and discuss ten children's books, both fiction and nonfiction. The two teams competed against each other to become a school lead team. This team of seven competed against a strong team from Parkside Elementary, winning by one question in the tie-ending, "sudden death" round.
A second challenge was won by the ICWs as they competed against a team from Tukwila on March 11. Moving on to the Grand Challenge, the ICWs took fourth place competing against schools from Mercer Island, Shoreline, and Auburn. Attending the challenge was a special guest, Anjali Banerjee, author of the book, Looking for Bapu, one of the ten books students read for the challenge. Each participant in the challenge received a signed copy of the book as a gift from Ms. Banerjee. Answering very challenging questions, our Beverly Park students represented Highline Public Schools in way that can make us all proud! As King County librarians say, "You always win when you read a book." We definitely saw a team of winners today! Looking for a good read? Here are the other books featured in the challenge:
Project Mulberry by Linda Sue Park
Inkheart by Cornelia Funke
The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo
Emma-Jean Lazarus Fell Out of a Tree by Lauren Tarshis
Room One by Andrew Clark
Holes by Louis Sachar
Silk Umbrellas by Carolyn Marsden
Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
Rules by Cynthia Lord
Cedarhurst Wins Greenhouse, Grant, and Prizes
Cedarhurst Elementary is one of five elementary schools in the greater Puget Sound area to win a free greenhouse, $1,500 in grants, and other benefits from an alliance supporting education, nutrition, and Washington agriculture.
A partnership of the International Greenhouse Company (IGC), the Washington State Potato Commission (WSPC), and Seattle television station KING 5 was joined this year by PCC Natural Markets to conduct the Kids Are Growing competition.
"This promotion is a really great way to give kids the opportunity to experience, first hand, the miracle of growing," said David George, president and owner of IGC. "It really helps them understand where their food comes from and what it takes to produce it. In addition, this promotion also matches our company's passion for horticultural education, as we have provided customized greenhouse solutions for secondary school programs across the United States for the past 16 years," he added.
This year's winning schools were Graham Hill Elementary School, Seattle; Concordia Lutheran School, Tacoma; Cedarhurst Elementary School, Burien; Rainier Elementary School, Rainier; and Explorer Community School, Redmond.
"The competition is part of our efforts to educate the public on potatoes—their nutrition, value to the state, and what it takes to grow them," said Karen Bonaudi, Potato Commission assistant executive director. "This is the fourth year we have collaborated with International Greenhouse and KING 5 on this program." Schools each receive a $1,000 grant and students receive educational materials from the WSPC. Additionally, Marlys Bedlington of Pure Potato in Lynden, Washington, will supply potato seed pieces.
"PCC is so proud to participate in a contest that strives to improve childhood nutrition and education in our schools, a cause that is right in line with the mission of our Kid Picks program," says Tom Monahan, marketing manager with PCC Natural Markets. "We hope that the $500 we provide to each winning school, along with the Kid Picks taste testing event, will aid in each school's continuing educational efforts."
The competition was announced in press releases and in ads on KING 5 and on its Evening Magazine program. The competition focuses on the urban and suburban area of Puget Sound where students aren't as likely to be exposed to agriculture and may not have backyard gardens, according to Bonaudi.
The grants and other prizes are being awarded and celebrated at school assemblies. Grant funds can be applied to supplies, personnel, or upgrading the greenhouse to a larger model.
Global Connections High School Named Earth Hero
Global Connections' student-run espresso stand and Marketing program, supervised by teacher Alana Vinther, have been named a 2009 Earth Hero at School by the office of Ron Sims, King County Executive. Principal Rick Harwood and several students will meet with Sims on April 30 for the formal recognition event.
Global Connections High School has also won the designation of a King County Green School following an application and interview process. The designation was accompanied by a grant of $250 to use toward recyling programs on campus.
The students and staff at G.C. have been hard at work with a myriad of Earth Day-related programs and events. For example, on March 2 the school participated in A Day of Darkness to experience life without computers, electricity, or other equipment. They have held internal competition for the "greenest" advisory class, worked on educating others on what is recyclable and what is not, and food drives to earn a field trip to the local food bank. The activities were funded by a grant from Sustainable Seattle Organization. The students applied for a total of eleven grants and all were approved in part or in full - garnering the group almost $1,800 for their projects.
"If you aren't carrying a book around with you, you're doomed."
Sherman Alexie visited Highline High School on Tuesday, April 7, as part of Seattle Arts & Lectures' Writers in the Schools (WITS) program. Alexie spoke to two groups of 100 Highline students in the library.
Sherman Alexie is an internationally-renowned fiction writer, poet, and filmmaker. Alexie's young adult novel, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, was winner of the 2007 National Book Award for Young People's Literature and received a host of other honors including a 2008 Washington Book Award and a 2008 Pacific Northwest Book Award. In a March 2009 interview with Gary Sundt, Alexie offered the following advice to aspiring writers: "Read, read, read. Read 1,000 pages for every one you try to write. Everybody wants to come up and ask 'What advice do you have?' and I say 'What's your favorite book' or 'What book did you last read?' If you don't have that information... If you aren't carrying a book around with you, then you're doomed."
About Seattle Arts & Lectures' Writers in the Schools
Seattle Arts & Lectures' Writers in the Schools program places professional local writers in public elementary, middle, and high school classrooms to spark interest and develop skills in reading and writing. Since its founding in 1994, the program has served 67,500 K-12 public school students and 1,200 teachers in the Puget Sound region. In the 2007-08 school year, the program has established 25 writer residencies in three districts: Seattle, Highline, and Tukwila. By encouraging students to write about what they know best -themselves-WITS helps students find their own, authentic voice.
For more information about Writers in the Schools, please contact WITS program manager Elizabeth Ames Staudt at 206-621-2230, x13 or elizabeth@lectures.org.
Top Photo: HHS Language Arts teacher Alanah Baron and Sherman Alexei
Teachers Shop Free at New Teacher Resource Center
World Vision of Seattle Tacoma will open a Teacher Resource Center at Highline Public Schools' Salmon Creek campus this month. Designed like a store, qualifying teachers can visit the center and "shop" for items needed in their classrooms including books, backpacks, and other school-related items. Area businesses and large corporations donate school supplies to World Vision to stock the center, and the items are given to the teachers at no charge.
The Teacher Resource Center will serve schools with a 70% or greater number of students who qualify for free or reduced meals. Planned hours of operation are Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:00 - 6:00 p.m.
"We are pleased that we are able to provide this space and have such a program available to our children and schools," said Assistant Superintendent Geri Fain.
In 2007, World Vision provided more than $50 million worth of goods through the World Vision Storehouse - which benefited more than 1.5 million people, including 21, 440 teachers who put school supplies into the hands of more than 361,000 students.
About World Vision: World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice.
Healthy Kids Day - Free Community Event for Families
The YMCA of Greater Seattle invites families to attend a free community event.
- Free t-shirts for the first 100 kids
- Games for all ages
- Fun Snacks
- Make and Take Art
- Information on Nutrition and Healthy Snacks
- Facility tours
- Teen and Youth Summer Program information
Saturday, April 18, from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
At all YMCA of Greater Seattle branches
http://www.seattleymca.org/page.cfm?id=healthyKids
Get the flyer in English or Spanish.
"To Give Anything Less Than Your Best..."
As educators, we often encounter students that just amaze us. Ty Ivy, head girl's track coach/throw coach at Evergreen and building computer support technician, has one such student to share with us - Devante Botello.
For as long as his mom, Toni Botello, can remember, Devante has maintained a 4.0 GPA. He works really hard in the classroom - and takes that same work ethic when he heads outdoors.
Devante is a bright star of Evergreen athletics, excelling in the Field part of Track & Field. He's always willing to work until the work is done. He takes instruction well and never fails to impress his coach and family with amazing feats of javelin. Devante worked very hard over the summer, going to numerous clinics and track meets including the Iron Wood Throws Camp in Idaho, 2008 Washington Games, and qualifying for the 2008 Junior Olympics at the AAU Track Meet (although he was unable to make the trip to Detroit).
He's also an outdoorsman, enjoying camping, rafting, hiking, and mountain climbing.
Devante is a sophomore who has competed in football, wrestling, swimming, and was nationally ranked (#11) among freshman javelin throwers last season. He has set both the freshman and Evergreen High School javelin records at 157' 5". Coach Ivy says, "By all rights, he should break the National High School Javelin Record by the end of his senior year."
"Devante's the kind of person that you dream of coaching," says Ivy. "Whether it's in the classroom or on the track, Devante always gives everything he's got, EVERY DAY! A great American athlete, Steve Prefontain, once said, 'To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift.' Devante's got the gift."
TEC Principal Eric Hong echoes that thought, "Devante is a great student and works really hard. He's the kind of kid we want to hold up and recognize."
Learn More About Financial Aid
Tips for Getting the Best College Financial Aid Package...
Check out this article from the Seattle Times on how to tackle the financial aid process.
Big Picture Featured in The Learning Network
Excerpt from The Learning Network, a newsletter from the Small Schools Project.
Highline Big Picture sophomore Laura Smith LOVES architecture. In fact, it's the reason why she chose to attend Big Picture. "I love buildings, especially really big, new ones. I've been building things ever since I was two, and I would build houses with my blocks," she says. "I came to Big Picture because I really, really want to be an architect, and this school will help me reach my goals."
Read the rest of the story plus several others about Highline Public Schools' work in innovative student learning in the latest issue of The Learning Network, a publication of the Small Schools Project.
Southwest King County Chamber's Student of the Month
Meet Rebecca Bartinetti, a senior at Puget Sound Skills Center. Ever since she was little, Rebecca has been captivated by the glamour of the movies. She loved to dress up and pretend. The whole idea of making characters come to life thrilled her. It was this excitement that sparked her desire to be a costume designer.
Rebecca is currently enrolled at PSSC in the Fashion Design and Marketing class for the second year. She is studying marketing, manufacturing, and design. Rebecca also interns 10 hours a week with Outrageous Inc., where she is gaining hands-on experience in the costume design business.
Rebecca is a member of the Student Advisory Council, which represents the needs of students and allows student leaders to practice decision-making skills. She is also a member of DECA and worked with the Washington State Fire Marshal's Office on their "Celebrate Safely Campaign" to make a safety video about fireworks.
Rebecca attends Mount Rainier High School part-time, where she is heavily involved in drama productions.
Rebecca plans to further her education at Seattle Central Community College, where she will earn her degree in fashion design and marketing.
Congratulations, Rebecca!
Sea-Tac International Airport Scholarship (STIA) Application is Available
Established by HMS Host & Port of Seattle, the STIA scholarship is awarded to three students who will be pursuing a higher education in 2009. Two $12,000 scholarships will be awarded toward a university/college education, and one $6,000 scholarship will be awarded toward a vocational/community college education. All scholarships are distributed over a two-year period. The STIA scholarship is a needs-based scholarship. Deadline for applications is April 15, 2009.
Click here for an application form.
South King County Fire and Rescue Donates Defibrillator to Mount Rainier
Mount Rainier High School now has an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED), thanks to South King County Fire and Rescue. The fire department donated the $1,500 piece of equipment to the school to be used in the event that a staff member or student goes into cardiac arrest.
Highline is fortunate to have community partners like South King Fire and Rescue that support our schools in many ways!
Film and Discussions Series Explores Slavery's Legacy
Understanding the lasting impacts of slavery is important for educators of African American children.
The Seattle Public Library will present, "Facing the Future: Families Explore Slavery's Legacy," a three-part film and discussion series exploring the efforts of three families to reach an understanding of slavery's legacy. Each film explores efforts to reach an understanding of the legacy of slavery and to take personal actions to reconcile the past. The program is free; no registration is required. For more information, go to click here.
FIT Day Competition
On Friday, March 20, nearly 200 fifth and sixth graders (along with their parents) and PE teachers from nine different elementary schools, gathered at Bow Lake Elementary for the annual FIT Day competitions. Students had an opportunity to compete at 16 fitness stations, ranging from rope climbing to juggling to the shuttle run. Elementary PE teachers, together with Highline High School student volunteers, oversaw the stations.
Caption for top photo: (l-r) Highline High School students Samantha Erben, Kathy Nguyen, Alyssa Monti, and Latu Tuipolutu.
After the competitions ended, PE teacher and M.C. Heidi Jacobson-Beal convened all participants in the gymnasium for a special performance by the Marvista Circus Arts Club. Under the guidance of "Ring Master" PE teacher Alexey Samaraev, students performed stunts on unicycles, juggled, walked on stilts, performed gymnastics routines, and even entertained with a magic show. The teacher leaders were assisted by students from Highline High School.
Following the highly entertaining circus acts, certificates and medals were awarded to the top placing boy and girl in each of the 16 events. Below is a complete list of winners:
Cup Stacking
Kyle Rivera - Marvista
Lexi Pedersen - Marvista
Cone Dribble
Marcelous Guy - Bow Lake
Caleb Feller - White Center Heights
April Tuiloma - Madrona
Free Throw
Peter Paul Swaab - Marvista
Yemeserach Bishaw - Madrona
Spot Shooting
Jordan Duncan - Madrona
Cecelia Tafia - Cedarhurst
Partner Volley
Jack Hohimer - Marvista
Alec Burke - Marvista
Sophie Hilsen - Marvista
Olivia Shiffer - Marvista
Pickle Ball
Alex Vu - Marvista
Olivia Shifer - Marvista
Soccer Juggle
Juan Hernandez - Bow Lake
Rebecca O' Sullivan - Marvista
Double Unders
Sarey Savy - White Center Heights
Hannah Goebel - Des Moines
Shuttle Run
Julio Esparza - McMicken Heights
Aqeelah Williams - Madrona
Pull Ups
Jacob Schnell - Madrona
Haley Sagmoen - Marvista
Word Wise
Dean Tief - Hilltop
Ruta Faifaiese - Marvista
Rope Climb
Esteban Olvera - Madrona
Jasmin Washington - Des Moines
Speed Jump
Daniel Song - Marvista
Zara Gore - Marvista
Double Dutch
Regan Hunt - Marvista
Hailely Sagmoen - Marvista
Marissa O'Keef - Marvista
Handstand
Hailey Sagmoen - Marvista
Jordan Larson - Bow Lake
Juggling
Alex Vu - Marvista
Anneliese Gill - Marvista
Future Firefighters to Compete in "Muster"
King County Zone Three Fire Explorers, including a group of students from Puget Sound Skills Center, will participate in a "fire muster" on Saturday, April 25, between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
The participants are between the ages of 14 and 21 and are typically youth who have an interest in firefighter/emergency medical services careers. Many fire departments sponsor fire explorer or cadet programs to expose young people to the typical duties of firefighters. Events for the muster will include competitions in mass-casualty triage, turnout clothing and breathing apparatus donning and relay, search and rescue, ropes and hoisting, "make-and-break," and hydrant connection.
New this year: The "combat challenge relay" is loosely based on the SCOTT Firefighter Combat Challenge. Four-member teams will divide up to complete the relay stations, which include carrying a hose bundle up the tower, hoisting a section of hose, search & rescue, and repositioning a charged hose line. If they want to win this demonstration of basic firemanship, competitors will not only have to work well as a team, they'll also need to bring their 'A' game individually.
PSSC Fire Services Instructor Robb Lovre invites students, staff, and community to watch Fire Explorers and Cadets from around the region compete in firefighting and emergency medical skills events at King County Fire District 20's training center, located at 12424 76th Ave. S. in Skyway.
Highline Schools Foundation for Excellence
The Highline Schools Foundation for Excellence is a non-profit organization that exists to generate community resources to help Highline Public Schools succeed. Click here for the Foundation's website.
