Chief Sealth principal awaits move: ‘Champing at the bit’

| Denny-Sealth | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

With the Chief Sealth International High School renovations close to completion – and the first day of school just three weeks away – the project-management team at DKA Architecture just sent along a new aerial. (Ever wonder about unmarked choppers/planes in the area from time to time? Keep in mind, some are taking photos like these!) It shows the Chief Sealth campus from the south side along Thistle, looking northward. Note the paved parking areas, among other touches. We talked to Sealth principal John Boyd a short time ago to find out how soon his staff will be moving in; as the quote in our headline indicates, they’re eager. Right now, Boyd says, they’re awaiting the results of fire/safety inspections. If those go well, the contents of administrative offices and classrooms – what Sealth teachers have already boxed up – will be moved over the weekend, with the hopes that administrators can come in Monday and Tuesday to start getting settled, with teachers following on Tuesday and Wednesday. “We’re anxious, we want to get over there, but we want everything to be done (right) – and we’re still operable at Boren” till then, Boyd tells WSB, adding, “The facilities are beautiful.” The upgrades have been under way for two years, and the new Denny International Middle School is being built on the same site, though its completion/move aren’t scheduled till next year. (More project background can be found here.) ADDED 1:12 PM: Also just got a new photo taken at the site today and shared by DKA, described as “the installation of the new water feature in the CS Galleria entrance”:

More new outside/inside photos here.

Celeste August 18, 2010 (2:40 pm)

Looks nice. Do we know if another school is going to use the old Boren site?

WSB August 18, 2010 (2:43 pm)

Not scheduled for this year.

Joe Blogs August 18, 2010 (2:41 pm)

Chomping, not champing. I know you’re just a little blog, but at least learn how to spell/edit.

WSB August 18, 2010 (2:42 pm)

No, it’s champing. Look up the AP Stylebook.

Girasol August 18, 2010 (2:48 pm)

The core of champing is not to “chomp” on a bit. The term is “chomping at the bit”…like a horse chomps on the bit.

On a side note, Sealth looks great!

WSB August 18, 2010 (2:52 pm)

Guys, don’t challenge on this one. It’s “champing.” Chomp is the frequently made mistake. I looked this up twenty-seven ways to Sunday before using it at all and was going to hyperlink the references but didn’t think anybody would bother trying to correct what wasn’t an error. I would include my 27 ways to Sunday but am also working a police-officer-involved crash right now. Thank you! – TR
.
(added, a few)
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/champ
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/champ
.
scroll down to “colloquialisms”
http://www.langston.com/English/

KBear August 18, 2010 (3:36 pm)

I wonder what James Kilpatrick would have said about “chomping at the bit”…

J August 18, 2010 (5:44 pm)

Actually, I opened the comments to congratulate John Boyd on correctly using “champing”!

WSB August 18, 2010 (6:08 pm)

Thanks, Julie. In this case, it was a phone conversation (though we DO conduct a lot of interviews/info-gathering by e-mail) so I can’t speak for how Mr. Boyd would have spelled it – his pronunciation sounded like “chomping” but we’ll give him the benefit of the doubt, since after all, he is An Educator. I just knew better than to type “chomping”!

grammar grrl August 18, 2010 (9:35 pm)

Stand your ground, WSB! Go, you! You are correct, and you don’t have to kowtow to people who don’t know their stuff.

I actually came here to comment on the story, though. I’m really confused by this — there’s a water feature at a galleria? And these are… for schools? When teachers are being laid off right and left, they’re spending good money to build asinine things like water features? Updating schools and facilities is one thing; putting in gallerias and water features is a whole other thing. What is wrong with the Seattle school board? I just don’t understand this.

GenHillOne August 19, 2010 (10:20 am)

“A new, large Galleria space between the two schools offers the flexibility of either separate schools, joint school or community uses. The light-filled and expressive structure will accommodate student services, student activity spaces, large display areas, and dining facilities.” – maybe if they just called it the “commons” like all the others that would make people feel better? It sounds like there will be a lot of bang for the buck on the space and perhaps a *gasp* beautiful and inspiring place to learn. The Galleria is also listed as having something to do with attention to energy use (maybe WSB knows the details). I’m pretty sure you can’t use construction dollars for salaries, different/separate pots, so moot point. And Grammar Police too? Jeez people. Our family can’t wait for the open house and it certainly is making the thought of going back to school more palatable ;)

bridge to somewhere August 19, 2010 (10:23 am)

Hey Joe Blog, look up the word “ironic.” Here’s a sentence with the word, so you understand how it’s used: “It is ironic that Joe Blog challenged WSB to ‘learn how to spell/edit’ when it was he who did not know how to spell/use ‘champing’.”

John Boyd August 19, 2010 (11:01 am)

As a former teacher of English Language Learners, I appreciate a good debate on the proper use of idioms. My language and grammar pet peeves are “irregardless” and “all intensive purposes.” I appreciate the WSB’s diligence in their efforts to always be both accurate and timely.

The Galleria will serve as the cafeteria for both Denny and Chief Sealth and as a space for large school and community events. The Galleria will be divided during the day so that the students from each school are in their own space, but will be opened up for activities, meetings, and community events. The water feature is actually tied into out efforts to be more eco-friendly. It collects rainwater from the butterfly roof and is part of a system to help better regulate storm water discharge.

We are very grateful to the voters of Seattle for passing the levy that funded this project, are proud of how well the building has turned out, and invite everyone to join us at our Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on September 7 at 9:30 am.

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