Public Turns Out for Budget Forums
About 230 people came out last Thursday evening and another 100 participated on Saturday morning in community budget forums designed to get feedback on potential budget cuts for 2009-10. A third budget forum was held Monday evening.
Parents, students, staff, and community members came together to review 35 possible budget cuts. In groups of six to ten, they tried to reach consensus on several million dollars worth of cuts. Participants were also encouraged to submit cost-saving ideas of their own.
"It was really hard to find cuts we could agree on," said the parent of a Mount Rainier student. "I learned a lot about the budget process," she added.
In each of the forums, about 30 Spanish-speaking parents participated in the process in Spanish. Somali, Vietnamese, and Cambodian interpreters were also available.
The school district faces budget cuts up to $8 million due to state funding reductions. The state legislature adopted a budget over the weekend; district staff is analyzing it to determine how Highline's funding will be impacted.
The list of possible budget cuts is posted at www.hsd401.org. Feedback can be given through an online comment form.
ACE Student is Named a Gates Millennium Scholar
Chasmon Tarimel, a senior at the Academy of Citizenship and Empowerment (ACE), has been named a Gates Millennium Scholar. He will receive a full-ride scholarship to college. Chasmon plans to attend the University of Washington next year.
In addition to paying for college, the Gates Millennium Scholarship program offers leadership development programs with personal, academic, and professional growth opportunities including mentoring services. The program is designed to identify young people of color who have exceptional potential and to develop them to become leaders who will contribute significantly to building a better society.
Chasmon is one of only 1000 students across the nation to be selected.
Month of May Heritage Celebrations
The month of May is celebrated as both Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month and Jewish American Heritage Month. Please learn more by visiting these links.
http://www.loc.gov/topics/asianpacific/
http://www.jewishheritage.gov/about.html
Teacher and School Nurse Appreciation
Superintendent John Welch proclaims May 4-8 Teacher Appreciation Week and May 6 School Nurse Day in Highline Public Schools.
Teacher Appreciation Proclamation
School Nurse Day Proclamation
North Hill's Sherry Edwards is an Earth Hero at School
Sherry Edwards, fifth-grade teacher at North Hill, has been named a 2009 "Earth Hero at School" recipient by the Office of Ron Sims, King County Executive. Ms. Edwards is advisor of North Hill's Ecology Club. With the help of staff and students, Ms. Edwards is working toward North Hill's designation as a King County Green School.
Ms. Edwards and sixth-grade teacher Stephanie Nichols have set up worm bins at North Hill to use as fertilizer for the courtyard area and to teach students about decomposition.
The Ecology Club student members conduct audits of classrooms and offices and award a "Green Certificate" to those who consistently recycle and turn off lights. In addition, they collect and clean juice pouches for recycling, as well as cell phones and printer ink cartridges.
Mary Hanson, the school custodian, has implemented a recycling program for all milk cartons from the cafeteria.
North Hill has been working with Jim Branson, a native plant steward, to transform the grass-covered courtyard into a native plant habitat.
Ms. Edwards receives her Earth Hero award at a ceremony April 30. With her will be Mrs. Hanson, Mr. Branson, and Ecology Club president Angie Cuadra-Palacios.
Gold Star Nominations Are In...
Highline Schools Foundation for Excellence announces the nominations for the Gold Star Awards. Congratulations to all those nominated! View the list of nominees here: http://www.highlineschoolsfoundation.org/schpages/gs/goldstarnoms.html
Winners will be announced at the Gold Star Luncheon on May 29.
Aviation High School Student Named Washington Scholar
Shawn Stern, a senior at Aviation High, has been selected as a Washington Scholar. The Washington Scholar award includes a full-tuition scholarship to the University of Washington for four years.
AHS Principal/CEO Reba Gilman said, "Shawn has maintained a 4.0 grade point average over the past four years. He is an all-around, exceptional young man."
Former MRHS Coach Brenneman Inducted to Wrestling Hall of Fame
Former MRHS Wrestling Coach Dick Brenneman will be inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame for his lifetime of service to the sport of wrestling. The event will be held Saturday, May 16, at the King Oscar Hotel and Convention Center in Tacoma. The reception will begin at 3:00 p.m., with the banquet and inductions ceremonies following at 4:00 p.m.
Dick Brenneman was the wrestling coach at Mount Rainier High School from 1962 - 1980. He was responsible for starting the program in 1962. At that time, only about ten high schools in the state had wrestling. MRHS Wrestling Coach Frank Brandt commented, "Thanks to Dick, Mount Rainier was one of the first programs in the state. He coached many state champions. Many of his wrestlers went on to wrestle at the University of Washington."
The 2009 honorees are Dick Brenneman, Bruce Cook, Bryce Cook, Gery Gehrmann, Fred Kalal, and Phyllis Meyerhoff. These individuals have given countless hours of their time instilling in young people the skills needed to succeed in all areas of life. They will be permanently recognized at the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum in Stillwater, Oklahoma. http://www.wrestlinghalloffame.org
Jim Meyerhoff, Western Washington State Chapter Vice-President of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, and the Washington Chapter said, "This is the ultimate award for an individual who has devoted their life to our great sport."
HS3 Student Wins Civic Scholar Contest
Neelofer Vahora has been named the winner of the 2009 Civic Scholar award by the Municipal League of King County for outstanding contributions to the community. Neelofer is a junior at Health Sciences and Human Services High School (HS3) and a Running Start student at South Seattle Community College.
She has represented the unincorporated neighborhoods of Boulevard Park and White Center on the Mayor's Youth Council, where she has coordinated youth community meetings on gang violence in the South End. Neelofer is also a founding member of the Make the Dash Count Foundation's Seattle Youth Board. Make the Dash Count works to inspire youth in our communities to become the next generation of philanthropic leaders. There she researches grants for local nonprofits that help youth reach their full potential. She has given over 400 hours of service to these and many other nonprofit and community groups.
The Municipal League is a volunteer-driven, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that works toward better government in King County, Washington.
PSSC Alumn Excels in Fashion Design and Marketing
Puget Sound Skills Center alumnus Lindsey Hagen (photo center) is now in her senior year at Washington State University's apparel design program. In the culminating event prior to graduation, Lindsey's designs were selected as the "Most Marketable Line" in the fashion show. PSSC Fashion Design and Marketing Instructor Jill Price-Crawley attended the show to cheer on her protégé. Lindsey said, "I was so excited because, after the show, people were asking where they could get MY designs!"
