Aviation High School Benefits from Partnership with Alaska Airlines
"Alaska Airlines has been a longtime supporter of Aviation High School because we strongly believe in its mission," said Dennis Hamel, vice president/human resources for Alaska Airlines. Hamel, along with other Alaska Airlines executives, members of the Airline Pilots Association, and representatives from The Museum of Flight were on hand to welcome Aviation High School graduating seniors and members of the ACE Club to the "ride of their life" - a flight from Boeing's Delivery Center at Boeing Field to Alaska Airline's hangar at Sea-Tac Airport aboard a brand-new 737-800.
Alaska is joining other local corporations as a major participant in the district's campaign to build a new high school facility at The Museum of Flight. Hamel commented, "Aviation High School's unique approach not only benefits the students but the aviation and aerospace industries, the community, and the ability of our state and nation to innovate and build a better future for all of us."
Hamel, who has served on the board of directors for Aviation High School since its inception, will be retiring this year. Alaska is committed, however, to continuing its active involvement in furthering the success of Aviation High School and its vital education mission.
Superintendent Welch Honored District Retirees
Superintendent Welch honored district retirees just prior to the school board meeting on June 10 saying, "Thank you for the good work you have done over the years and for the impact you have had on children." Each retiree present was given a certificate of appreciation and a district medallion coin for excellence of service. Sharing visions of more time for travel, gardening, and other interests, retirees mingled with board members, colleagues, and community members.
Photo caption: Superintendent Welch with retirees Carole Trout, Lee Ann Robertson, Linda McLeod, Richard Hoffman, Marybeth Fox, and Pat Haworth.
Staff members retiring this year are:
| Retiree | Location at Retirement | Years of Service |
| Bonnie Bailey | Valley View | 17 |
| Janet Bissell | Chinook | 24 1/2 |
| Margie Breed | Gregory heights | 24 |
| Lucinda Curran-Bamburg | ERAC | 9 |
| Marybeth Fox | Sylvester | 16 |
| Carol Fusaro | Marvista | 23 |
| Judy Grohman | Des Moines | 14 1/2 |
| Milton Haworth | Southern Heights | 40 |
| Patricia Haworth | Sylvester | 41 |
| Richard Hoffman | Transportation | 11 |
| Marjean Howard | Mount View | 14 |
| Timothy Juvinall | Transportation | 22 |
| Eileen Kersten | Bow Lake | 22 |
| Darlene King | Hazel Valley | 20 |
| Linda McLeod | Bow Lake | 18 |
| Shirley Mitchell | Southern Heights | 41 |
| Janet Neeley | North Hill | 21 |
| Gail Nutterbrock | North Hill | 12 |
| Bonnie Paasche | Madrona | 18 |
| Maureen Peterson | ERAC | 30 |
| Mary Ann Pyle | Seahurst | 20 |
| LeeAnn Robertson | Bow Lake | 29 |
| Ilene Singleton | Marvista | 40 |
| Barbara Smith | Hazel Valley | 20 |
| Tina Tossey | Mount Rainier | 11 1/2 |
| Carole Trout | McMicken Heights | 16 |
| Patricia Ware | Madrona | 15 |
| Geoffrey Wilke | Beverly Park | 17 |
| Sharon Wilson | Mount View | 19 |
| Roland Wong | TEC | 36 |
PSSC Summer Session Transportation
Highline Public Schools will provide bus transportation from district high schools to Puget Sound Skills Center and back to the high schools for the summer session. Students must have a signed parent form to board the bus. Forms can be obtained from the PSSC office or on the website at www.pugetsoundsc.org. Following is the schedule:
| Location | Leave | Return |
| Evergreen Campus | 7:20 a.m. | 2:30 p.m. |
| Highline | 7:34 a.m. | 2:20 p.m. |
| Tyee Campus | 7:37 a.m. | 2:20 p.m. |
| Mount Rainier | 7:25 a.m. | 2:30 p.m. |
Space is still available in summer session classes. Students are encouraged to sign up.
Marvista Elementary Auction
There will be an auction of surplus furniture and equipment from Marvista Elementary on Saturday, June 27. Registration begins at 8:00 a.m. with the auction starting at 9:00 a.m. The auction will be held at the old Marvista Elementary site, 19800 Marine View Drive S.W. in Normandy Park.
Future Interpreters Test in Olympia
Six students from the Translation and Interpretation Program at Puget Sound Skills Center recently participated in a state-wide test to become certified medical interpreters for the Department of Social and Health Services. The program is a relatively new addition to the course offerings at PSSC, and this is the first year students have tested for certification. Testing subjects include interpreter ethics, medical terminology, and basic language skills.
"These are bright, motivated students who are using their bilingual skills as a springboard for future employment," said program instructor Betsy Ainsworth-Grimm.
Bragging Rights
We are very pleased to share good news about the educational accomplishments of staff members and their families.
STAFF
Alejandra Rios Blakeslee, math teacher at Pacific Middle School, will be receiving her Master Teacher MEd from CWU this summer.
Pam Wangsness, Bow Lake Elementary, will also be receiving her Master Teacher MEd from CWU this summer.
FAMILIES
Leanne Michelle Burns graduated from Washington State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in foreign language and cultures. She graduated Magna Cum Laude and is now attending grad school at WSU/Vancouver. Leanne graduated from Mount Rainier HS in 2005.
Leanne is the daughter of Vickie Burns, Bow Lake DHH teacher, and Michael Burns, former HHS librarian.
Charalyn Easton is graduating from New Start High School.
Charalyn is the step-daughter of Trudie Nichols, New Start office manager/registrar.
Stacey M. Gannaw, 2004 Highline HS graduate, is graduating from Western Washington University. She majored in liberal arts and minored in business management.
Stacey is the daughter of Carey Gannaw, Mount Rainier HS.
Haley Gansneder is graduating from Mount Rainier High School and will be attending New Mexico State University this fall.
Haley is the daughter of Kim Gansneder, Seahurst Elementary.
Kaitlyn Grady graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in informatics from the University of Washington Information School.
Kaitlyn is the daughter of Colleen Grady, Midway Elementary librarian.
Jeff Hammond, Highline High School class of 1999, is receiving his PhD in chemistry from the University of Chicago this month. In his dissertation, he acknowledged Art Zink (retired HHS teacher), Darryl Edmunds (HHS teacher), Cheri Clymer (former Sylvester teacher, now at HHS), and Mary Richards (former Sylvester teacher, now at HHS) for the part each of them played in his education.
Jeff is the son of Alice Hammond, HHS teacher.
Peter Harmon graduates from Mossyrock High School on June 6. He will be leaving for Marine boot camp in August.
Peter is the grandson of Janice Burley, tech services, and Ray Burley, retired from maintenance department.
Curt Ivy graduated in May from the University of Texas with a degree in social work.
Curt is the brother of Ty Ivy, Evergreen campus and Cascade, and Breck Ivy, Sylvester teacher.
Jehna Korakis, 2005 Tyee High School graduate, is now graduating with honors from the Pacific Lutheran University Nursiing Program. She spent her last semester of college as a student nurse at Valley General Labor & Delivery, where she hopes to continue employment.
Jehna is the daughter of Gail Korakis, ACE office manager.
Kurt "Nathan" Rauschenberg, Jr. will be graduating this month from Seattle University with a degree in marketing. Throughout the past four years, Nathan has been a regular member of the Dean's List and was even chosen as an Outstanding Sophomore in Accounting. He was 1 of 16 students chosen to pioneer Seattle University's new Business Leadership Program.
Nathan is the son of Kurt Rauschenberg, maintenance department.
Lexi Smart is graduating in the top 1% in the State of Washington from CWU. She's graduating Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in interdisciplinary studies, with a minor in sociology.
Lexi is the daughter of Susan Smart, HS3 Read Right tutor.
Joel Smith will graduate this month from Kentridge High School and will be attending the University of Washington in the fall.
Joel is the son of Jayne Smith, Seahurst Elementary.
Clarence LaMont Terry, 1994 Tyee HS graduate, is receiving his Ph.D. in education from the UCLA Graduate School of Education and Information Studies. LaMont's research examines the experiences of high school-aged African American males within and outside of the secondary mathematics classroom. Specifically, his work explores the impact of participatory action research models that use critical math literacies on students' racial identity, mathematics identity, and social agency.
LaMont is the grandson of Janet Macready, Valley View Early Learning Center teacher assistant, and Ralph Olsson, HPS bus operator.
Krista Welsh graduated from Washington State University with a bachelor's degree in zoology. She has been accepted into the WSU School of Veterinary Medicine, class of 2013. She will be returning to Pullman in mid-August to start vet school.
Krista is the daughter of Dianne Welsh, Facilities Services.
Highline Teachers Receive 21st Century Technology Grants
Three Highline teachers have been awarded Teaching and Learning in the 21st Century grants. Cherie Clymer of Highline High School, Carrie Robeson of Gregory Heights Elementary, and Melissa Sokolik of New Start High School have been selected by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction to receive this two-year, professional-development course designed to merge effective instructional and assessment techniques with real-world technologies. The grants are valued at $11,100 each.
"The majority of teachers need the basics of effective technology integration," said Dennis Small, OSPI Educational Technology Director. "This training starts at the beginning. The course is designed to introduce powerful, new instructional practices that can take advantage of a technology-rich learning environment, which is step one on the journey toward 21st century teaching and learning."
The Teaching and Learning in the 21st Century grant program is federally funded through the Enhancing Education Through Technology program, a component of Title II, Part D of the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act. (ESEA, passed in 1965, was re-authorized in 2002 by the No Child Left Behind Act.)
"Technology integration is not an end in itself," Small said. "The hardware and software are just two elements of the learning environment. The key to powerful teaching and learning is to couple the right technology with the right instructional strategy and build every learning activity around strong, standards-based curricula. That's what the Teaching and Learning in the 21st Century grants are designed to do."
Money for the grants will come from the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Awardees will be given $7,600 in 2009-10 and $3,500 in 2010-11.
Highline Holds First Data Fair
How can you make data come to life? Share best practices across schools and departments? Have "accountability" be described as "fun" and "a celebration"? Over one hundred teacher leaders and administrators found out at Highline's first-ever "Data Fair" on June 1.
A data fair is like a science fair, but for adults. Participants created a three-panel display that shows their needs assessment, strategies and implementation data, and inferences and conclusions for one of their "STAR goals" (Strategies, Targets, and Results). All 33 schools and more than a dozen departments participated. Even the work of the school board, superintendent, and HEA president was represented on a data wall. The Data Fair caps a year of learning about creating and monitoring action plans through data. During the 2007-2008 school year, school and department leaders participated in five accountability trainings that followed the continuous improvement cycle.
Participant evaluations captured the enthusiasm of the Data Fair:
- "It was great to see what other schools/departments are doing. I'm excited about the possibilities for next year!" (elementary teacher)
- "I found it helpful to talk with different grade levels and see their strategies to solve similar problems." (secondary teacher)
- "While it was time consuming to put it together, it was great to see the 'story' of our work." (elementary principal)
- "I got some very useful ideas on simplifying data tracking." (secondary principal)
- "It required us to step up our examination of the results, to look beyond 'it feels like…' to actual hard data." (secondary principal)
After the fair, many data walls were displayed in the main hall at ERAC. On June 10, two schools and one department presented their work to the school board. Principal Deborah Holcomb shared Shorewood's work improving achievement through Response to Intervention (RTI). Principal Mark Demick represented Mount View's attendance letter initiative, which has dramatically reduced absenteeism. And showing that support services are also focused on improvement, Chris Neal, director of Child Nutrition Services, presented on CNS cost savings, an important Strategic Plan goal. The Data Fair will return next year, with a goal of involving even more Highline staff.
Photo caption for above photo: Daniel Yarborough, Madrona
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| Vicki Fisher and Patty Chin, Sylvester | Mary Carr, Transportation |
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| Bernie Dorsey, School Board President | Lauren Wilson, Cascade |
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| Marissa Gaalema, Cedarhurst | Johnathan Letcher (Hazel Valley), Kathy Anderson (Beverly Park), and Vic Anderson (AAA) |
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| Tom Symons, McMicken Heights | |
New Mount Rainier Track Dedicated
On June 9, school staff, community members, athletes, and local dignitaries gathered to dedicate the new running track at Mount Rainier High School.
At the dedication ceremony, the track was officially named after former Mount Rainier track coach and teacher Jim Kennett. Kennett led the Rams to seven straight North Puget Sound League championships from 1969 to 1978 and to their first state championship in 1972. Kennett was inducted into the Washington State High School Track and Field Coaches Hall of Fame last year.
Mount Rainer parent Ray Prentice spearheaded the effort to raise funds to resurface the track. Major contributors were Highline Public Schools, the City of Des Moines, King County, and the state, along with many individuals.
Photo caption: Ray Prentice (left) and Jim Kennett (right) hold the ribbon for the inaugural run on the new MRHS track.
North Hill Elementary Science Fair
North Hill Elementary held their first-annual science fair on May 29. It was a wildly successful event, with over 300 people attending and 68 entries. Students received winner's ribbons for 1st, 2nd, 3rd places, and Honorable Mention. Each child received a Certificate of Participation. Also entertaining the science fair attendees was Aviation High School Robotics Team with one of their models, and Usborne Science Books were offered for sale during the evening.
Submitted by: Sherry Edwards, North Hill Elementary
Three Named Students of the Year for Southwest King County Chamber
Three students from Highline Public Schools were named Students of the Year for the Southwest King County Chamber of Commerce. They are: Devon Powell and Alyssa Lew of Mount Rainier High School and Sara Flores of Global Connections High School. As winners, each will received a $1,000 scholarship from the Chamber. The students were honored at the Chamber's luncheon on June 12, where State Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn was the keynote speaker.
Winners were selected from eligible business students from Tukwila School District, Cascade Christian Schools, and Highline Public Schools.
Upcoming Board Meetings
The next regular meeting of Highline's School Board will be June 24 at 6:00 p.m. at the Educational Resource & Administrative Center (ERAC). This meeting will include a Public Hearing of the proposed 2009-2010 budget. The community is encouraged to participate.
Beverly Park Math and Farmer's Market Night
The library at Beverly Park Elementary School was transformed into a beautiful Farmer's Market on May 19, allowing students and their families to purchase a variety of Washington-grown fresh fruits and vegetables with "Beverly Park" bucks. Produce that was featured included: granny smith apples, pink lady apples, yellow onions, green onions, russet potatoes, red potatoes, carrots, red, yellow and green peppers, asparagus, rhubarb, purple cabbage, bosch pears, anjou pears, and lettuce.
Nutrition Educators from Food $ense set up recipe displays and provided nutrition information for families to take home. Families were first treated to a healthy and delicious baked potato dinner with salad bar before attending the Market and Math festivities. Families then worked together in classrooms to investigate the nutritional value of popcorn, cereal, and soda. Activities included: reading nutrition labels, comparing sugar content, estimating serving sizes, converting metric and U.S. customary units, and thinking about smart food choices. Students had "hands-on" opportunities to do math with real-world applications that they can continue to practice at home and will hopefully influence them to build healthier eating habits. This event was funded through the Washington State Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program and the generous support of the Beverly Park PTA.
Submitted by: Brianna Smith, manager, Nutrition Services
Students Earn Amateur Radio License
A group of students from the Highline CHOICE Academy have earned the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Technician Class Amateur Radio License. Corinne Headman, Mark Escobar, Jesse Ingalsbe, JJ Cowin, Riley Flanegan, Lucas Sharman, and Austin Hause are members of an Electronics Technology & Amateur Radio elective class taught by George Wheeler. Since mid-January, the students have studied radio & electronics theory, FCC rules & regulations, and communications & operating procedures in preparation for the 35-question exam.
The newly licensed "ham" radio operators will have many opportunities to develop their communications skills and serve their community. During emergencies, students can volunteer to assist with communications and event coordination. They also have an opportunity to participate in other exciting and engaging activities, such as building antennas and radios, contacting astronauts aboard the International Space Station, and talking to other ham radio operators using orbiting satellites.
The group will return in the fall as student leaders. They will mentor new members of the class and help prepare them for the FCC exam. For our licensed students, amateur radio is a fantastic source of recreation, friendship, and personal growth and can be a gateway to careers in electronics, wireless communications, and technology.
Submitted by: George Wheeler, CHOICE Academy teacher
Author Gary Paulsen Visits Cascade Middle School
Gary Paulsen, author of numerous young adult books including Hatchet and Dogsong, visited Cascade Middle School on June 3. Paulsen, who has not spoken at a school in years, wanted to visit one while he was in town for the 2009 Alaska Yukon Pacific Exposition Centennial celebration. Cascade was chosen because of its socio-economic and cultural diversity.
Paulsen spoke to the staff and student body about his life growing up and what lead him to become a writer. He spoke about how he came from a disadvantaged background, was a poor student in school, ran away from home as a teen, and was even put in jail a few times as a young adult. He was on a fast track to nowhere when he happened upon a library; the librarian offered him a library card and a book to read. His library card opened doors to him that he had not known before, and he became an avid reader. His love of reading later translated into a career as a writer.
The program was sponsored by the King County Library and the National Endowment for the Arts. The King County Library donated 530 copies of Hatchet so that all students at Cascade would have a copy of Gary Paulsen's book. Paulsen remained at Cascade after the assembly to sign autographs. Cascade was honored to have him visit and, in gratitude, presented Paulsen with a keepsake album of student work inspired by his books.
Submitted by Dawn Lindgren, Cascade Librarian
Highline Council PTSA Recognizes Volunteers
The Highline Council PTSA celebrated in fiesta style at their annual Awards and Recognition Reception with wonderful desserts, children sharing Mexican dancing, high school seniors receiving scholarships, and Highline employees and volunteers being recognized for their outstanding service to children in our district. HCPTSA President Jill Wunch presented a variety of awards, including employee recognition awards given to 22 staff members of our schools. Special guest Superintendent John Welch commended the efforts of all those who volunteer, as did State Representative Tina Orwall.
Congratulations to all who were nominated and recognized!
Submitted by: Debbie Thoma of HCPTSA
Outstanding Education Professionals Honored - Foundation Raised $65,500
Highline Schools Foundation for Excellence honored five outstanding individuals in the field of education at its ninth-annual Gold Star Awards Benefit Luncheon at the Doubletree Guest Suites in Southcenter. Linda Drahn of McMicken Heights Elementary received honor as the Outstanding Teacher of the Year, Dr. Steve Grubb received the Outstanding Administrator of the Year, ZZ Newman received Outstanding Classified Employee of the Year, and Aviation High School's Tamera Nason received Outstanding Volunteer. A Lifetime Achievement Award went to Geri Fain, Assistant Superintendent, Support Services.
The Gold Star Awards Benefit Luncheon is the primary fundraiser for the Foundation and was attended by over 280 local businesses, education, government , and community leaders raising $65,500. Before the lunch began, guests took a few moments to view presentation boards showcasing classroom grants from the Foundation while Kevin Rodal, a student of Highline High School, preformed a wide selection of music on his guitar. The program began with the National Anthem, sung by Amy Pinon, a student from Evergreen High School. John Keister, the Emmy-winning host for Almost Live and former host of KIRO TV's the John Report with Bob, emceed the event.
The Foundation was featured in a video production by GreenHuman that explained the need in our district and what the Foundation is doing to level the playing field through Excel Grants and community support. John Keister interviewed a panel of students (Sebastian Hill, Aviation High School; TC Hacke, Pacific Middle School; Victoria Puckett, Gregory Heights Elementary; and Julie Pinson, STIA Scholarship Recipient) who have benefited from the Foundation's efforts. The executive event sponsor was The Boeing Company, and event sponsors were BECU and Rogers & Norman Insurance. The event's media sponsor was Robinson News.
All in all, it was a very successful event, leaving people informed on what the Foundation does and inspired to do their part in providing community resources to help the Highline Public Schools succeed.
Highline Schools Foundation for Excellence was established in 2001. With a mission, "To provide community resources to help Highline Public Schools succeed," the Foundation is the only 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization supporting all Highline schools. The Foundation supports academic achievement, classroom grants, college and career readiness, community programs, and the arts.
Submitted by: Highline Schools Foundation for Excellence
To view a slideshow of more photos of the event, go to http://www.b-townblog.com/2009/05/30/highline-schools-awards-benefit-luncheon-raises-65k/
Family Night at Cascade Middle School
Parents, students, and community members gathered at Cascade Middle School to celebrate the final Family Night for this school year. Juan Perez, a parent and community member, honored the work of Principal Colin Ryan, Assistant Principal Jacob Ellis, and teachers Chris Peterson and Ramona Grove. Mr. Perez praised the staff for their support of the Latino community at Cascade.
Organized by Nelly Lizarraga, family liaison at Cascade and Etuale Noga of Community Schools Collaboration, the evening included music, dancers, raffles, and awards. The celebration would not be complete without food - which was donated by La Estacion and El Paisano.
Caption for above photo: Samoan dancers performed
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Cascade parent, Juan Perez, presents award to Cascade Assistant Principal Jacob Ellis. |
Cascade Principal Colin Ryan
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PSSC Welding Careers Students Create Public Art
A giant, metal eagle swooping down onto a salmon now stands in the City of Burien Art Space thanks to students from Puget Sound Skills Center and the Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 32 Welding Careers Program. The art piece, primarily made of steel, is the work of students learning welding skills and trade-related knowledge through a cooperative program with the Pipefitters union. Principal Sue Shields said, "It's very impressive and our students loved the opportunity to be involved in this project."
The Art Space is located at SW 150th Street between 5th and 6th Avenue in Burien.
