White Center Now: The blog about White Center

Can you spare some time to help students improve their reading skills? Reading Partners is looking for you – on behalf of 36 students awaiting tutors at Beverly Park Elementary School:

Reading Partners is a nonprofit literacy organization that recruits and trains community volunteers to work one-on-one with elementary students who are behind grade level benchmarks in reading. At each of our school sites we have a dedicated reading center where all tutoring takes place. Volunteers are asked to commit to as little as one-hour of tutoring each week. We ask that each volunteer commits to the same one-hour to work with the same student weekly. During every session tutors follow a structured, research-based curriculum with the support of a full-time AmeriCorps Site Coordinator. Additionally, we offer initial and on-going training and support for every volunteer.

Anyone interested in getting involved can follow this link to sign up or contact Reading Partners at volunteerSEA@readingpartners.org.

RP says Beverly Park (1201 South 104th) has 36 students awaiting a tutor. Tutoring runs 10 am-3:35 pm Mondays-Thursdays.

Received from organizers of a campaign to turn the Evergreen campus back into Evergreen High School:

A coalition called ONE EVERGREEN made up of concerned parents, teachers, and alumni has started a petition to undo what they perceive as a flawed educational model at the former Evergreen High School because they feel it leaves the north end of the Highline School District dramatically underserved.

Please sign their petition if you support reuniting Evergreen Campus into one high school again.

BACKGROUND

In 2008, Evergreen High School was one of several conventional high schools in the Highline School District rendered into three autonomous schools sharing the same campus (“small schools”) under the hope that a reduction in the principal-to-student ratio would improve graduation rates. The sales pitch at the time said teachers would get to know all the students better, which would boost test scores.

Reality has not met expectations. Instead, redundant principals, a limited range of classes, a fractured sense of community, high teacher turnover, and only 35 classes for students to choose from have left families feeling cheated. It is easy to see why when contrasted with the school spirit, sports, band, and 105 classes available to students at conventional high schools in the same district.

The ONE EVERGREEN Coalition asks that you educate yourself on the inequities of small schools and sign the petition to reunite the Evergreen Campus.

For more information, including quotes by students, demographics, charts showing Evergreen teachers’ years of experience over time, and course catalog comparisons from Highline high schools, please visit evergreensuccess.org

Here’s a one-sheet the group is circulating.

We checked with the King County Sheriff’s Office to find out what was going on after getting two messages about a reported “lockdown” at Cascade Middle School, and hearing scanner traffic about someone being tracked down on SW 117th. According to KCSO spokesperson Sgt. Cindi West, there was a report that someone at the Evergreen campus might have had a gun. So the search was on, and Evergreen and Cascade were affected for a while, she said. The person in question was eventually found – no gun. No injuries, no crime, situation over.

It’s the first day of the 2015-2016 school year for most local students, as noted here last month, so just a reminder to be careful out there! In addition to Highline Public Schools, in the White Center area, Holy Family Bilingual Catholic School is back in session too. West Seattle Montessori (in WC) will be starting next Wednesday (September 9th).

A reminder today from Highline Public Schools: Students in grades 1-12 start classes one week from tomorrow, on Thursday, September 3rd. Kindergarteners start almost a week later, on Wednesday, September 9th (which is also the first day of school for neighbors to the north in Seattle Public Schools).

You’re invited! Just in from Mount View Elementary:

Mount View Elementary will host a carnival for the school on Friday, June 12th to celebrate the academic success of the students, to raise money for our sister-school in Honduras, and to support the school’s PTA. There will be face painting, bouncy houses, games, the circus, and MANY awesome raffle prizes! Please come and celebrate TWO fantastic causes!

When: Friday, June 12th, 4-6 pm

Location: Mount View Elementary, 10811 12th Ave SW

(Photo courtesy Highline Public Schools)
Big congratulations in order for a local teacher – here’s the announcement from Highline Public Schools:

Mount View Elementary teacher Jamie Ewing earned first place in The Henry Ford’s Innovative Nation Teacher Innovator Awards. Ewing is one of ten first place winners in the country.

The award recognizes educators who are using the classroom to inspire innovation, creativity, problem-solving, and critical thinking among their students.

“I would like to congratulate this nationwide group of educator innovators who are truly changing the way students are learning in the classroom,” said Patricia Mooradian, president of The Henry Ford. “I look forward to welcoming them here this summer and watching as this program continues to grow.”

Winners were selected by a team of judges based on their original and creative approaches to teaching, their resourcefulness, and the positive impact they make on a daily basis in the classroom. Student engagement, learning goals, and evidence achieving those goals were also taken into consideration.

“Jamie is a collaborative teacher who consistently shares his expertise, commitment, and innovative thinking with our learning community,” said Mount View Principal Lisa Escobar. “He engages students by empowering them to solve meaningful problems using critical thinking and technology.”

First place winners will receive a week long “Innovation Immersion Experience” at The Henry Ford in Dearborn, Michigan, taking place July 25 – July 31, 2015. The experience includes behind-the-scenes tours with curators and archivists, a teaching innovation workshop, and a special recognition ceremony.

Ewing is a National Board Certified Teacher. Microsoft inducted Ewing into its Expert Educator Program in 2013, and he was named a 2015 Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert (MIE Expert). He has also been named a 2013 Innovative Teacher of the Year recognized by the Academy of Arts and Sciences in Education and 2014 Teacher of the Year recognized by the Museum of History and Industry.

Students at West Seattle Academy (11215 15th SW) know the power of something simple. Heather Aquino shared the photo and explains:

Last week West Seattle Academy was up to something AWESOME. They sold scones during morning arrivals to support Big Life Foundation. Big Life is a anti-poaching group in East Africa. Scones were sold for $1 each and these kids raised $750!

Big Life was the first organization in East Africa with coordinated cross-border anti-poaching operations.

As of July 2013, Big Life’s rangers had made 1,030 arrests and confiscated 3,012 weapons/poaching tools since November 2010. Recognizing that sustainable conservation can only be achieved through a community-based collaborative approach, Big Life uses innovative conservation strategies to address the greatest threats, reduce the loss of wildlife to poaching, defeat the ivory trade, mitigate human-wildlife conflict, protect the great predators, and manage scarce and fragile natural resources.

Big Life’s vision is to take the successful holistic conservation model in the
Amboseli-Tsavo ecosystem and replicate it across the African continent.

(UPDATED EARLY THURSDAY with more video, photos)

The youngest students at White Center Heights Elementary School got a lesson today that will last their whole lives: Finding out firsthand about public-safety personnel and what they do, during the school’s second annual Emergency Services Day. In our video, above, the star of the show was the King County Sheriff’s Office helicopter Guardian One, which landed right on the school’s playfield after circling a few times. Once it had come to a full stop, the students got to go over for a close-up look:

But the helicopter was not the only visitor. Public-safety vehicles including a North Highline Fire District engine and crew rolled onto the WC Heights playground for show and tell:

Ever wonder how a fire engine works and what equipment’s on board? Listen to the explanation and Q/A for this group of students:

An AMR ambulance was there too, with an EMT who has a special connection to the school – David Sonsteng is WC Heights Elementary’s PTSA president:

And a KCSO Gang Unit detective showed the students a patrol car as well as explaining his gear, from weapons to radio:

The students included WC Heights kindergarteners who had been working on their “community helpers” module, and preschool and Head Start students who were finishing up a “transportation” module. Introducing young children to emergency personnel in a non-emergency situation is helpful in case of a future emergency – firefighters, police and others might look scary with their uniforms and equipment unless a child recalls having learned about who they are and what they do. So all these little ones went home today with stories to tell:

(Here’s our coverage of the first WCH Emergency Services Day last year.)
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EARLIER: Below, the short version of our story, originally published Wednesday afternoon:

During a burst of sunshine between showers, White Center Heights Elementary students greeted special visitors for the school’s 2nd annual Emergency Services Day – King County Sheriff’s Office (including the Guardian One helicopter and a Gang Unit detective), North Highline Fire District, AMR (ambulance), and more. Above, a quick bit of video from right after Guardian One’s landing on the school playfield – we have much more to add later this evening.

The Evergreen Wolverines need you to help them take the field for this year’s high-school baseball season. Simple and tasty way to do that – breakfast, one week from tomorrow! Here’s the announcement:

The White Center Eagles Club (FOE) is holding a fundraising breakfast on Saturday, March 7, 2015 from 9 AM to 1 PM at the White Center Eagles Club located at 10452 15th Ave. SW, in support of the Evergreen High School boys’ baseball team – the “Wolverines.”

Because of recent thefts of equipment and lack of funding, the team is in desperate need of basic equipment and field improvements to field a team this season. Baseball lovers from Southwest Seattle, White Center, Burien, SeaTac and surrounding areas are asked to contribute to help put a team on the field for 2015. Members of the team and coaching staff will be present to help serve breakfast. For any further information please contact the White Center Eagles Club at 206-248-1400.

The first votes were counted tonight in the special election for two Highline Public Schools measures. The operations levy Proposition 1, which required only a simple majority, is passing with 57 percent – here’s the full look, from the county website:

Construction/renovation Proposition 2 needs 60 percent to pass, and while it was close in the last election, it’s further back this time, at least so far:

Another round of votes will be counted tomorrow.

If you’re shopping for a school for next year, you’re invited to this afternoon’s open house at Holy Family Bilingual Catholic School at 20th/Roxbury in White Center:

Holy Family Bilingual Catholic School (Pre-K to 8) welcomes all parents to our Open House on Thursday, 1/29. Three sessions are scheduled, and each session includes a short presentation and brief school tour.

We are pleased to describe the Spanish language immersion program and answer questions regarding our school community.

Thank you for your consideration in sending your student(s) to Holy Family Bilingual Catholic School. We believe the educational and emotional experience will be positive for your student(s) and positive for the entire family.

You’re welcome to visit today between 1:30 pm and 3 pm.

Announced today by Highline Public Schools:

Highline Public Schools is the first school district in Washington to offer an acclaimed program that gives girls an opportunity to explore technology-related fields. Techbridge, a non-profit organization dedicated to inspiring girls in science, technology and engineering, has selected Highline Public Schools as the first site of its national expansion.

Beginning in October, Techbridge will engage up to 200 girls in grades 5 through 8 in science, technology and engineering learning through hands-on activities, role models and career exploration. The program will be offered at five elementary schools (Beverly Park, Hazel Valley, Madrona, McMicken Heights, and Mount View) and two middle schools (Chinook and Sylvester.)

“We welcome the opportunity to partner with Techbridge to inspire our girls to become tomorrow’s scientists and engineers,” said Highline Superintendent Susan Enfield. “Techbridge is one more way we are supporting our goal for 19 out of 20 of today’s first graders to graduate tech-savvy and tech-literate.”

National expansion was made possible by a five-year $2.7 million grant from the National Science Foundation to bring Techbridge’s award-winning after-school program to three cities across the U.S.

“I am thrilled to be part of an organization that truly inspires and empowers girls through science, technology and engineering,” said Elizabeth Pauley Hodges, Techbridge Greater Seattle Executive Director. “We are very excited to partner with Highline Public Schools and give girls at our partner sites the opportunity to benefit from the high quality programming Techbridge provides.”

For the past 14 years, Techbridge after-school programs have served more than 5,000 girls in grades 5-12 focusing on underrepresented communities in the San Francisco Bay Area.

School-zone lights are flashing again near Holy Family on Roxbury this morning, and starting today, they are not just a reminder of the 20-mph speed limit in school zones – they are also a reminder of new speed-enforcement cameras. In both the Holy Family zone around 20th (where school starts today) and the Roxhill Elementary zone around 30th (where school starts tomorrow), automated enforcement cameras were installed last spring and are starting operation today. Seattle authorities have said that the first month, tickets will be warnings, but then in early October, they’ll come with triple-digit fines.

P.S. The BIG back-to-school day is tomorrow – that’s when Highline Public Schools get going.

If you didn’t make it to Friday’s fundraising carnival at Mount View Elementary, you missed more than a chance to play games and support good causes … you missed talented local kids showing their stuff! Above, the Seattle Derby Brats showed off their skills on wheels, and promoted their upcoming weekly camp days in August (one for girls 8-11, one for girls 12-17, more info on both at seattlederbybrats.com). Below, young artists from SANCA – the School of Acrobatics and New Circus Arts:

Big crowd was there when we stopped by about midway through the carnival. P.S. June 17th is this year’s last day of school – one week from Tuesday.

Something awesome to do tonight, to support students from White Center AND one of WC’s special natural spots:

I’m a science teacher at Cascade Middle School who also helps run an after school science club for girls called STARS. STARS stands for Students Tackling Authentic and Relevant Science, and aims to provide a space for middle and high school girls to use science to investigate and solve real problems in their community. The ladies chose to focus on the health of Hicklin Lake (which neighbors our school) for their project this year. This is our first year as a club, and we have students from Cascade and the neighboring Evergreen High school as members. A few students from Mount Rainier High School help us out, as well. STARS is run as a joint effort between Cascade (Anna Kramer, science teacher), HS3/Evergreen (Liz Savage, science teacher), and the University of Washington (Sara Hagenah, doctoral student).

(Tonight) we are hosting a film event at the Highline Performing Arts Center. We are premiering a documentary that our students made that showcases what we have learned about the lake, as well as what the ladies are doing about it.

Who: Everyone is invited!
What: The premiere of the first STARS documentary, focused on the issues that currently exist at Hicklin Lake and how we are tackling this problem with our science knowledge
When: Tuesday, April 15th at 6:30 pm
Where: Highline Performing Arts Center, Highline High School, 401 S 152nd St, Burien, WA 98148
Why: Join us in order to:
*Support local students as their share a year of learning and action with you
*Learn more about what’s wrong with Hicklin Lake and what you can do to help
*Support the idea that girls and women have powerful voices in science and in their communities
*Other info: Event is free, and refreshments will be provided. STARS members will be recognized individually, the documentary will be shown, and there will be a short Q & A session. Spanish and (we hope) Arabic interpreters will be available with headsets.

For more information, email anna.kramer@highlineschools.org.