West Seattle Blog…

6 highlights for your West Seattle Wednesday

(Male black-headed grosbeak photographed in Fauntleroy Creek area by Mark Wangerin)
Highlights ahead for today/tonight (with even more on the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar):

GIVEBIG TO LOCAL NONPROFITS: The link is atop the WSB sidebar – but if you see this first, go here to see which West Seattle, White Center, and South Park nonprofits are participating this year and eligible, depending on how much is given, for “stretch” funds! Deadline for making your gift count: 11:59 pm tonight.

LAST FULL DAY TO REGISTER ONLINE FOR SUNDAY’S WEST SEATTLE 5K: Tomorrow, online registration closes for the 9 am Sunday (May 19th) benefit run/walk on Alki – and it costs less than same-day signups. So don’t procrastinate – register here right now.

SEALTH TEAMS IN TOURNAMENT PLAY: First, it’s district-tournament softball, 2 pm at Lower Woodland Park, where the Chief Sealth International High School Seahawks play Mercer Island. If they win and then defeat Blanchet at 4 pm, it’s on to state. Meantime, for the Sealth boys’ soccer team, state play starts at 6 pm at Snohomish High School, vs. Glacier Peak. (P.S. As announced a few days ago, CSIHS is launching a new soccer camp for younger students this summer – details in this story.)

SANISLO ELEMENTARY PTA MEETING: Last one of the year and, as explained in the calendar listing, it’s a biggie. 6:30 pm.

DUWAMISH RIVER CLEANUP PLAN MEETING EN ESPANOL: At 5:30 pm at the South Park Community Center, the Environmental Protection Agency makes history with its first-ever public hearing in Spanish, taking comments on its proposed Duwamish River Cleanup Plan. Simultaneous English translation available. Details here, via the Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition. (8319 8th Ave. S.)

DELRIDGE NEIGHBORHOODS DISTRICT COUNCIL: On the agenda for tonight’s 7 pm meeting of reps from community councils and other major organizations around eastern West Seattle: City Council President Sally Clark discusses public campaign financing, Youngstown Cultural Arts Center’s director David Bestock has an update on its status, and DNDC chair Mat McBride, along with Pete Spalding, will have an update on the Delridge Corridor proposal, after feedback from recent neighborhood meetings. The DNDC meeting’s at Youngstown, 4408 Delridge Way SW.

P.S. Not a highlight so much as a reminder – Seattle Public Schools are out 2 hours early today.

Sanislo Elementary School PTA meeting

Sanislo Elementary School is hosting their a PTA meeting on Wednesday May 15th at 6:30-7:30 pm in the school library:

Wednesday May 15th at 6:30 will be our final PTA meeting of the year. Your attendance is crucial for this meeting! We will be approving the budget for next year and voting new PTA members into office. We need a minimum of President, Treasurer and Secretary to have a PTA. These positions are open and need filling in order for our children to benefit from all of our hard work this past year raising money. Being on the PTA board consist of 2 meetings a month (at the most). This a wonderful opportunity to build community, make new friends, get to know other parents and the teachers and continue the tradition of supporting our kids and the wonderful people that make Sanislo the special place that it is.

As always childcare is provided – if it is right in the middle of your dinner time feel free to pack it up and bring it along.

Hope to see everyone there!

West Seattle schools: Bruce Rhodes announced as new Sanislo Elementary principal

Tonight, when Sanislo Elementary parents, staffers, and supporters gather for a benefit at Highland Park Improvement Club, they’ve got a new conversation topic – Superintendent José Banda has just announced their school’s new principal:

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Bruce J. Rhodes as your new principal, effective July 1, 2013

Mr. Rhodes comes to Sanislo from John Stanford International School where he was assistant principal. He is committed to increasing academic achievement, increasing professional development for staff working with English Language Learners, and increasing parent participation, and he will be a great fit for the Sanislo community.

Click to read the rest of West Seattle schools: Bruce Rhodes announced as new Sanislo Elementary principal…

From the calendar: 10 highlights for your West Seattle Friday

Just in from West Seattle pilot/photographer Long Bach Nguyen – that beautiful aerial of our wonderful peninsula – which is awash in cool happenings today/tonight. Full list is on our calendar; here are 10 highlights from that list:

FREE SOUP-AND-SANDWICH LUNCH: Seaview United Methodist Church invites you to this free monthly community lunch, 11:30 am. (4620 SW Graham)

WYATT’S JEWELERS ANNIVERSARY: 5-7 pm tonight, enjoy refreshments, raffle, and Mother’s Day shopping at longtime WSB sponsor Wyatt’s Jewelers. (Westwood Village)

RAINBOW BINGO: Doors open at 6, bingo at 7, with a Las Vegas theme this month – call the Senior Center of West Seattle pronto to make sure you have a reservation! (California/Oregon)

MADISON MS BENEFIT: 6-9 pm, dance with not only Madison Middle School musicians but also the West Seattle Big Band! Details in our preview. (45th/Spokane)

SANISLO ELEMENTARY BENEFIT: 21+ event – community invited! – tonight at Highland Park Improvement Club, with raffles, a mini-auction, and dessert dash. (12th/Holden)

‘THE MAMA-LOGUES’: “Comedy about motherhood,” benefiting nonprofits including WestSide Baby, tonight and tomorrow at 7 at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. Ticket info and more in our preview. (4408 Delridge Way SW)

OPEN PAINTING, WITH MUSIC: Young at Art invites you to Open Studio Painting tonight with live music by Wes Sp8 and live painting by Dave Bloomfield, 7:30-9 pm – details here. (Fauntleroy/Raymond)

‘YOU ARE LOVED, A BIG GAY CABARET’: 21+ event at Meander’s in White Center, 7:30 pm – details on the Brown Paper Tickets page – this is the event replacing the canceled Michelle Shocked concert. (9635 16th SW)

MUSICA SACRA CHAMBER CHORALE: “A Taste of (Benjamin) Britten,” 7:30 pm at Holy Rosary – details in our calendar listing. (42nd/Oregon)

MEMPHIS RADIO KINGS @ FEEDBACK: Third night of the Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) 4-night anniversary party – their reunion performance is at 9 pm. (6451 California SW)

Video: Sanislo students tell Caroline Kennedy why they read

1:26 PM: We’re at Sanislo Elementary with a variety of other media crews, as Caroline Kennedy‘s visit as a poetry advocate has drawn quite the crowd. That’s Sanislo librarian Craig Seasholes with her in our cameraphone photo. The students have recited poems for her, as some Sanislo students will be doing during an event she is headlining downtown tonight.

She asked them why they like the library; one boy replied enthusiastically, “Reading makes me happy, and makes my brain work better!” She was asked how she became involved with poetry, and she mentioned her mom shared poetry with her when she was very little.

1:42 PM UPDATE: The visit is wrapping up, but some of the children are crowding around Kennedy to talk with her for a few more minutes. Sitting quietly, smiling, in the back of the library is Sanislo’s principal Ernie Seevers, who is retiring after his school year (he says this is the first celebrity visit they’ve had during his tenure, aside from a pro-football player!). Also here, West Seattle’s school-board rep, Marty McLaren. More to come, including video.

ADDED MONDAY EVENING: The video includes Q/A with students and their visitor, as well as a song.

Caroline Kennedy to visit Sanislo Elementary next week

Though she has a new role on the world stage pending – a potential appointment as U.S. Ambassador to Japan – Caroline Kennedy is reported this morning to be planning to keep her date with West Seattle’s Sanislo Elementary. Sanislo librarian Craig Seasholes sends along formal word of Kennedy’s expected visit next Monday afternoon as part of National Library Week, for which she is honorary chair. Kennedy is coming to Seattle for a poetry event Monday night that isn’t in WS but will also feature Sanislo students (free but tickets required – get them here ASAP). During her visit to their school, she’s scheduled to meet with Poetry Club students. (2008 photo of Caroline Kennedy by Martyna Borkowski, via Wikimedia Commons)

5 highlights for your West Seattle Tuesday afternoon/evening

This week, the daily preview seems to be taking an unplanned brief break from bird photos. These pals turned up in the WSB inbox, courtesy of Eric Shalit from Box Turtle Design – that’s his little Piggy with poodle friend Django, who belongs to Eric’s friend, West Seattle author Conrad Wesselhoeft. Now on to the calendar highlights:

SANISLO ELEMENTARY PRINCIPAL SEARCH: As reported here Monday, a community meeting is planned after school today, 3:40-4:40 pm, so that parents and other interested parties can participate in the search for a principal to succeed Ernie Seevers (who is retiring after this year).

CAREGIVER FOR AGING FAMILY MEMBER? Come to Merrill Gardens-Admiral Heights (WSB sponsor) at 6 tonight for the next open forum on aging, caregiving, and family dynamics – get support and guidance, and share your story/advice if you choose to. 2326 California SW.

WEST SEATTLE BLOCK WATCH CAPTAINS NETWORK: 6:30 pm at the Southwest Precinct meeting room (Webster/Delridge), WSBWCN is scheduled to hear from precinct commander Capt. Joe Kessler, from Community Police Team Officer Jon Kiehn with CPTED (crime prevention through environmental design, around your home) advice, and a victims’-advocacy program rep.

DESC ADVISORY COMMITTEE: The community advisory committee focused on issues relating to the DESC Supportive Housing project under construction in North Delridge meets tonight at 6:30 pm, room 106 at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW). Site/vicinity issues including the alley and drainage are on the agenda.

WEST SEATTLE COMMUNITY ORCHESTRAS’ CONCERT: Rescheduled from last week, WSCO’s second spring concert, “Songs of America,” 7 pm at Chief Sealth International High School auditorium (2600 SW Thistle), free but donations appreciated.

Those are just a few highlights – find MANY more listings on our calendar!

West Seattle schools: Sanislo principal-search meeting tomorrow

Just announced by the Sanislo Elementary PTA:

Our Principal, Ernie Seevers, will be retiring at the end of this year, and the school community has begun a transition process for transitioning to new leadership. There are hiring committees meeting in the next few weeks to recommend a candidate to Superintendent Banda for hiring. Carmela Dellino, our West Seattle executive director for schools, has met with our staff to hear their ideas about the skills and strengths that they believe the new leader at Sanislo will need, and she would like to do the same with families. She has scheduled a meeting at Sanislo Tuesday (TOMORROW) at 3:40 to talk with you. Please make a point to come in and meet with other families and share in a conversation with Ms Dellino. Your thoughts are important and valuable in this process. Children are, of course very welcome to attend with you, and we’ll also have supervised play for the children that don’t like meetings.

West Seattle Saturday: Much to do, morning until night

(Red-breasted sapsucker, photographed by Trileigh Tucker)
Welcome to the first Saturday of spring! So much going on; the following is only part of what’s on the calendar:

TRAFFIC ALERTS – RAMP CLOSURES AND DELRIDGE DETOURS: Two traffic-alert reminders this weekend – from the east end of the West Seattle Bridge, the ramps to Northbound I-5 and Beacon Hill are closed all weekend as part of the I-5 Spokane St. Interchange Special Bridge Repair project. Also, if you aren’t a regular Delridge Way driver and therefore might not traveled this way since Wednesday, a reminder that the Delridge repaving project has moved to Phase 2 and southbound traffic is detoured around the Thistle-to-Trenton work zone.

FAIRMOUNT RAVINE CLEANUP, THE SEQUEL: Two weeks after their annual cleanup, Fairmount Ravine neighbors and friends are returning this morning to do what they couldn’t finish. You are invited to join them; meet at Fairmount and Forest (just east of the east side of Hiawatha) at 8;30 am.

SCOUTING FOR FOOD: Reminder that Boy Scouts might be in your neighborhood today leaving door-hangers about the Scouting for Food drive – details here.

SANISLO BOOK SALE: 10 am-2 pm, Sanislo Elementary has a book sale – and bake sale! – to raise money for its annual 4th-grade field trip to Camp Sealth on Vashon Island. 1812 SW Myrtle (map).

BOWL WITH THE COMMODORES: 10 am-noon, the Seafair Commodores raise money for the summer festival’s scholarship program, with their annual Bowl-A-Thon at West Seattle Bowl. Here’s our preview story.

SPRING SKI/GEAR SWAP: 10 am-6 pm, at the VFW Hall (3601 SW Alaska), sponsored by across-the-street Mountain to Sound Outfitters.

SPRING PETTING ZOO: 10:30 am-noon, drop by Merrill Gardens-Admiral Heights (2326 California; WSB sponsor) for “Zoo for You!”, a spring petting zoo with bunnies, chicks, chickens and guinea pigs. All welcome!

DELRIDGE GROCERY MEMBERSHIP LAUNCH/LUNCH: 11 am-1 pm, drop by Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW) and find out more about the Delridge Grocery co-op – including buying a membership!

STORY TIME AT BARNES & NOBLE: From Melissa at Westwood Village B&N -

Just wanted to let folks know that everyone’s favorite aardvark, Arthur, will be joining us for our storytime Saturday at 11 am! We’ll be reading “Arthur’s Pet Business” and “D.W. the Picky Eater”, as well as having treats and fun with Arthur!

MAYOR TOURS ADMIRAL DISTRICT: Mayor Mike McGinn has accepted the Admiral Neighborhood Association‘s invitation to tour the district, and is scheduled to be here 1-2 pm today. The tour is set to start from Admiral Safeway (2622 California SW) and end at Alki Mail and Dispatch (47th/Admiral); see the detailed schedule here.

EAGLES’ BENEFIT DINNER FOR MAKE-A-WISH: Pot-roast dinner at the West Seattle Eagles‘ HQ to benefit Make-A-Wish Foundation, 5:30-7:30 pm.

JAZZ WITH YOUR DINNER @ LA ROMANZA: Live jazz starts at 6 pm for music during dinnertime at La Romanza Bistro Italiano in The Junction (4521 California SW; WSB sponsor) every Saturday night.

DOUBLE FEATURE: Repo! The Genetic Opera and The Devil’s Carnival, Episode 1, one night only at The Admiral Theater (2343 California SW), 7 pm – details and ticket link here.

TWILIGHT HOSTS apertureSTOP! A night of spoken word and photography at the gallery/boutique in The Junction (SW Alaska next to Easy Street), 8 pm – details in our listing.

LIVE MUSIC AND OTHER NIGHTLIFE: Follow these links to individual listings -
*Gary Benson at C & P Coffee Company (5612 California SW, WSB sponsor), 6 pm
*The Kings of Mongrel Folk, in concert at Kenyon Hall, 7:30 pm
*West Side Glory variety show @ Skylark, 8 pm
*Dead Sonics, Weird-Ons at Benbow Room, 9 pm
*A Leaf, “melody-based indie folk-rock,” at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), 9:30 pm

School fundraiser: Sanislo’s famous annual book sale tomorrow

Every spring, it’s one of the biggest benefit book sales we’ve seen – and tomorrow’s the day for Sanislo Elementary to welcome the community into the school to shop for something “new” to read! Organizers promise, “You’ll find great kids’ and adults’ books for wonderful prices! Bring extra change for the delicious bake sale. All proceeds will go toward the annual 4th-grade field trip to Camp Sealth on Vashon Island.” The sale runs 10 am-2 pm Saturday at Sanislo, 1812 SW Myrtle (map).

Update: Deputies searching for escapee in Shorewood; schools take precautions; suspect’s West Seattle record

(SCROLL DOWN for updates)

12:02 PM: We started this coverage as part of our earlier story about helicopter sightings – but it’s ongoing, so we’ve moved it here. Here’s the man deputies are looking for in the Shorewood Market vicinity (map) – escapee Alan Polevia:

He had been arrested on theft warrants last week and was being taken to Harborview Medical Center after apparent drug ingestion, when he bolted – still in handcuffs. (Read more about the case in this Monday update from CapitolHillSeattle.com.) KCSO spokesperson Sgt. Cindi West says Polevia’s head is now shaven, since that photo. He is described as 5’8″ and about 170 pounds. ADDED: Here’s what Sgt. West told us a few minutes ago:

12:26 PM: Just checked back in the search zone – deputies still staked out. Will check back again shortly.

12:52 PM: Still searching. We’ll update if and when he’s found. If you see him – call 911.

1:41 PM: See comments for some reports of schools that took precautions, though there is no report at this point that he was seen anywhere near a school. We’ve got an inquiry out to the district for a topline report on public schools’ status. Meantime, we looked up Polevia’s background. In November 2006, he was found guilty of third-degree assault for an incident involving him and his father getting kicked out of Poggie’s in The Junction, then going across the street and attacking a man outside Talarico’s with a beer bottle and a tire iron.

1:51 PM: Two more updates. First, from Teresa Wippel at Seattle Public Schools: “Sanislo, Roxhill, Arbor Heights, Sealth/Denny, Boren STEM, Highland Park, West Seattle Elementary” were under “shelter in place” at least for a while – she’s checking on who still is. Second, we are reminded by the West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network leadership that Polevia has one more West Seattle tie: He is the suspect arrested – but apparently to date not charged – in connection with the theft case related to the 36th/Morgan nuisance house in September.

2:12 PM UPDATE: Wippel says no one (in Seattle Public Schools, anyway) is in shelter-in-place – they’re all allowed to end their days as usual.

3:06 PM UPDATE: From Sgt. West at KCSO – an updated photo of Alan Polevia:

4:23 PM UPDATE: Just checked in with Sgt. West again; he’s still on the loose, no new updates. She is researching a case that put him in jail for a short stay in December – we saw that on the King County Jail Register, a four-day stay for investigation of burglary and for a “failure to appear” case involving theft, for which he had spent a day and a half in jail a week and a half before that. The jail register also shows his two-day stay in the 36th/Morgan related case, for investigation of stolen-property possession.

West Seattle schools: Sanislo Elementary celebrates books

Just before the 4 1/2-day midwinter break that ends today, Sanislo Elementary celebrated books and reading in a big way. Above, school librarian Craig Seasholes shows us books that were part of a donation from Westwood Village Barnes and Noble – given last Thursday by Sanislo students to their classmates as part of “International Book Giving Day.” It was also Global Reading Challenge day for teams of Sanislo 4th-5th graders:

Beatriz Pascual-Wallace from the South Park branch of the Seattle Public Library, which presents the “quiz bowl”-style GRC, presided as judge as teams answered questions about this year’s 10 books. Team names are among the fun aspects of the Global Reading Challenge – here are the Enchanted Flaming Shadow Pigs:

We’ll be checking today to see who won. Sanislo is one of seven West Seattle elementary schools participating in the Global Reading Challenge again this year, according to the list on the SPL website. The citywide semifinals are the week of March 11th, and the citywide final – always an exciting event in a packed auditorium at the Central Library downtown – is set for 7 pm March 26th.

Youth music: Southwest Seattle Super String Saturday tomorrow; Denny/Sealth concert last night

Two youth-music notes today:

First, whether you’re interested in enjoying a mini-concert, exploring youth-music resources, or both, tomorrow’s the day for the free Southwest Seattle Super String Saturday event, presented by the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra at Chief Sealth International High School (2600 SW Thistle), including a mini-concert by the SYSO:

The community is invited to hear the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra (SYSO) perform excerpts from (its recent) Benaroya Hall concert at a free mini-concert on January 26th at 10:30 am at Chief Sealth International High School Auditorium.

After the mini-concert, Seattle Youth Symphony musicians will mentor younger musicians who participate in the SYSO in the Schools program at Arbor Heights, Concord, Gatewood, Roxhill, Sanislo, Highland Park and West Seattle Elementary schools, as well as at Denny International Middle School. These student musicians will have the opportunity to participate in master classes, chamber ensemble demonstrations, and play side-by-side with Seattle Youth Symphony. SYSO thanks media sponsors West Seattle Blog and Classical KING-FM for their support of Southwest Seattle Super String Saturday. For more information about the event, contact Kathleen Allen, SYSO Director of Education, Communication and Partnerships at kathleen@syso.org or 206.362.2300.

You can find out more about SYSO here.

Second, band musicians from Denny and Sealth presented the schools’ third and final winter concert last night, and Denny principal Jeff Clark shared photos:

(Those are the Denny Beginning and Junior Bands.) He says it was a great night:

What a thrill it was to hear the fantastic music performed by our amazing bands at Denny and Sealth (Thursday) evening. Equally impressive as the sound of the music was the number of our scholars performing: 73 in the DIMS Beginning and Junior Band, 70 in the DIMS Senior Band, 19 in the DIMS Jazz Band, and 70 in the CSIHS Symphonic Band! Music is thriving in our pathway thanks to our outstanding students, families, and teacher, Mr. Pimpleton!

More photos ahead:

Click to read the rest of Youth music: Southwest Seattle Super String Saturday tomorrow; Denny/Sealth concert last night…

Teachers’ MAP testing revolt: Superintendent to brief media tomorrow

Another development in the movement of some Seattle Public Schools‘ teachers expressing opposition to, or even declining to administer, the testing known as MAP: The district just announced that it will “host a media briefing with Superintendent José Banda and other district officials regarding the district’s Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) testing” at district HQ tomorrow afternoon. The announcement says he will be joined by three district officials – interim teaching/learning assistant superintendent Michael Tolley, research/evaluation manager Eric Anderson, and Teacher Incentive Fund project director Clover Codd (a former Alki Elementary principal, by the way). No word yet whether an announcement will be made or whether it’ll be a reiteration of what the superintendent has already said. This all started when Garfield High School teachers announced they would not give the tests; since then, other expressions of opposition have included letters sent by the teachers at Sanislo (WSB report here) and Schmitz Park (WSB report here) elementaries here in West Seattle.

More West Seattle teachers back MAP testing revolt: Now, Schmitz Park Elementary

Teachers at a second elementary school in our area are voicing their support for others around the district who are declining to give the Measure of Academic Progress (MAP) tests. As with Sanislo Elementary School‘s teachers (see their letter here), Schmitz Park Elementary teachers are sending a letter voicing support without going so far as to say they won’t give the tests. We received this tonight:

Dear Superintendent Banda,

The staff of Schmitz Park, by a nearly unanimous vote, joins in its support of Garfield High and all other schools and individuals around the district that boycott the MAP test. We agree with Garfield’s position about the harmful, ineffective, and wasteful nature of the MAP test and its deleterious impact on instructional time and consequently student achievement. We join SEA in asking you to not discipline our colleagues for standing up and speaking the truth.

We also agree with the Sanislo Elementary letter of support, which points out a deep concern around MAP. Apparently, district officials told Garfield staff the test was “not valid” because the margin of error can exceed the expected growth score. Given this information, it seems unthinkable that these scores would be used to determine the “effectiveness” of teachers. The teacher’s collective bargaining agreement allows the use of low scores to impact the placement of teachers into more comprehensive evaluations, en route to performance improvement plans and termination. The threatening of teachers with invalid data simply is not right.

There is a similar problem brewing in the elementary schools. Not only are our teachers concerned about the time taken away from instruction to administer the test, but the current version of the MAP test is aligned with the old state standards and it is clearly an unsuitable vehicle for evaluating students currently being taught the new required Common Core Standards. So not only are the results of little instructional value, but this discrepancy between what is taught and what is measured will yield falsely low scores making the MAP test invalid for the purpose of measuring student growth/teacher effectiveness.

The idea of using MAP scores as a component of teacher evaluations is disconcerting and needs to be addressed. As such, in response to Superintendent Banda’s e-mail of January 14, we recommend suspending the MAP requirement until the promised review has been completed.

We hope you will interpret the “boycotts” around the district not as disrespect but as a sign of deep concern and needed change.

Sincerely,
Schmitz Park Elementary School Staff

Here again is Superintendent José Banda‘s published message about the MAP revolt from earlier this week, saying the district will review it, but needs right now to proceed with it.

ADDED 11:25 AM MONDAY: The Schmitz Park teachers have revised their letter to add the word “nearly” before “unanimous,” and at their request, we have also added that word (toward the start of the letter) to reflect the change.

Video: Second of three winter concerts for Denny/Sealth musicians

This year’s winter concert for the Denny International Middle School and Chief Sealth International High School student ensembles has been spread across three Thursdays. We stopped in last night, during the second of the three free concerts in the Sealth auditorium. Above, the Denny Junior Orchestra; below, the Sealth Choir.

In both of our clips, the students were conducted by Heather Shaffer. The final concert of the series is next Thursday, with the Denny International Concert Band and the Chief Sealth International Concert Band, 7 pm.

P.S. Also coming up, another youth-music opportunity at Sealth – more than just a concert – also a chance for interested students and families to explore – Southwest Super String Saturday on January 26th:

The community is invited to hear the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra (SYSO) perform excerpts from last Sunday’s Benaroya Hall concert at a free mini-concert on January 26th at 10:30 a.m. at Chief Sealth International High School Auditorium.

After the mini-concert, Seattle Youth Symphony musicians will mentor younger musicians who participate in the SYSO in the Schools program at Arbor Heights, Concord, Gatewood, Roxhill, Sanislo, Highland Park and West Seattle Elementary schools as well as at Denny International Middle School. These student musicians will have the opportunity to participate in master classes, chamber ensemble demonstrations, and play side-by-side with Seattle Youth Symphony. SYSO thanks media sponsors West Seattle Blog and Classical KING-FM for their support of Southwest Seattle Super String Saturday. For more information about the event, contact Kathleen Allen, SYSO Director of Education, Communication and Partnerships at kathleen@syso.org or 206.362.2300.

West Seattle schools: Sanislo support for MAP test revolt

You might have seen citywide media coverage – including this story from our partners at The Seattle Times – about Garfield High School teachers revolting against the district testing known as MAP (Measures of Academic Progress). A source has sent word of the first organized West Seattle concern about the test, saying Sanislo Elementary teachers are sending this letter to district Superintendent José Banda – note, however, it does NOT say that Sanislo teachers will boycott the test, only that they support the Garfield teachers’ decision:

We the staff at Sanislo Elementary, by a unanimous vote, write to express our support for Garfield High School’s decision to not administer the MAP test. We share many of their same concerns, including the impact on a struggling student’s esteem and the lack of usability of the results when given the current text adoptions. We similarly decry the loss of instructional time, the loss of computer lab access and the loss of instructional assistants who are used as test proctors, in addition to the financial costs of the subscription itself and the tech support for implementing it.

Garfield and all high school teachers find themselves in a Kafkaesque situation in which their employment (including career ladder and termination) will be determined by a test which district officials told them is invalid, since the margin of error can exceed the expected growth score. The collective bargaining agreement allows teachers to be put on ‘improvement plans’ if their test scores are low on two different tests. However, if one test is faulty, then in all fairness, this portion of the contract cannot be implemented.

Elementary teachers are approaching a similar situation, where the MAP test is not correlated with the standards we are required to teach. Common core standards are now taught in the classrooms so how reliable are this year’s MAP results and how useful will they be to elementary teachers since the test questions are not aligned with these new standards? Further, this misalignment will result in a false reading of student growth and those lower test scores will put elementary teachers in a Garfield-type predicament where a solid teacher could feel threatened due to faulty test results.

For these reasons, we urge you to recognize the Garfield teachers’ stance as an opportunity to correct an injustice initiated under a former administration and to publicly announce that no teacher will be put on plans of improvement as the result of test scores until such time as a statistically-reliable (and more humane) second measure of student growth is in place.

With Respect,

The Sanislo Elementary School Staff

In a response to the Garfield boycott, the superintendent said the district is reviewing MAP but expects the tests to be administered this winter as planned.

Southwest Seattle Super String Saturday: Free event January 26

Three weeks from today, on January 26th, you are invited to Southwest Super String Saturday – a free event celebrating students, families, and music teachers from Roxhill, Arbor Heights, Gatewood, Sanislo, Concord, Highland Park, and West Seattle Elementary Schools, plus Denny International Middle School. It’s presented by Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestras (SYSO, a WSB sponsor), which explains:

This event showcases the efforts of students, professional music coaches and Seattle Public School music teachers who are part of the SYSO in the Schools program. SYSO in the Schools provides free small-group lessons during the school day and out-of-school time to young musicians who have historically had inequitable access to music education. This program has resulted in a dramatic increase in the number of students in orchestral music playing at higher levels of musicianship. Students have also gained self-confidence, built their skills in self-discipline, concentration and collaboration, and have had higher levels of academic achievement and school engagement.

As Carmela Dellino, former Roxhill Elementary principal and current SPS Executive Director for West Seattle Schools, explains: “We are so pleased to have SYSO’s continued support of the young string musicians in our Southwest Seattle schools. The free coaching provided by SYSO gives these students access to high quality, individualized music lessons that families in this area might not otherwise be able to afford. When I was principal at Roxhill Elementary, I saw students who, because the SYSO coaches were there to nurture their musical skills, not only persevered in their instrument playing, but brought that same focus to other areas of study. These skills prepare students, even at the elementary level, for college and career.”

Activities at Southwest Seattle Super String Saturday include: a mini-concert by the Youth Symphony Orchestra performing Emmanuel Charbrier’s España and Dmitri Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5 in d minor, Op. 47.; violin, viola, cello and bass master classes led by Youth Symphony musicians; chamber ensemble demonstrations; parent education sessions; and information from SYSO partner the West Seattle Community Orchestras. All students attending Super String Saturday are eligible for a full or partial scholarship to SYSO’s Marrowstone-in-the City summer program.

For more information about Southwest Seattle Super String Saturday, please contact Kathleen Allen, SYSO Director of Education, Communications and Partnerships at kathleen@syso.org or 206-362-2300. To learn more about SYSO and all of its programs supporting young musicians visit syso.org

On January 26th, you’ll find this all happening 10 am-1 pm at the Chief Sealth International High School auditorium (2600 SW Thistle).

FYI from Seattle Public Schools: Sanislo phone problem

Seattle Public Schools‘ Lesley Rogers asked us to mention this: Sanislo Elementary‘s phone system is having trouble right now with receiving incoming calls from outside the district system, but outgoing calls and incoming district calls are working fine. They hope to have the problem fixed soon.

Happening now: Holiday Shopping Spree for almost 100 students, courtesy of West Seattle Rotary Club and friends

The first students have crossed the bridge and arrived at Sears SODO for the biggest event the Rotary Club of West Seattle organizes every year, the Children’s Holiday Shopping Spree. They’re coming here from five elementary schools in West Seattle – 96 kids [updated number], greeted by a corps of volunteers more than double that size:

A little breezy this morning! Inside, volunteers of all ages – from high-school students to retirees – have already been busy in the pre-dawn hours, getting ready:

The tasks range from assembling bags for the kids – who are from Arbor Heights, Highland Park, Sanislo, Schmitz Park, and West Seattle Elementaries – to keeping track of the volunteers:

They’re not just West Seattle Rotarians, but also Panhellenic sorority and fraternity members, as well as the aforementioned students, including University of Washington Rotaract members and Mercer Island High School Interact members. They’ve all just heard the morning’s order of events from West Seattle Rotary president Andy Horner:

He noted this has been growing since 1972, when the West Seattle Rotary held the first shopping spree … for nine students. With him in that photo, at left, is Martha Sidlo, who organized this year’s shopping spree. Next up – volunteers are paired with kids, for breakfast, followed by shopping – $100 gift cards, to be used to purchase essentials (with a 10 percent discount) – Santa photos, and lunch.

ADDED 8:14 AM: Before shopping, there’s the waiting …

Then the smiling (with Rotarian Josh Sutton):

The shoe-fitting:

The coat-choosing (with Rotarian Dr. Susanne Gee):

And inside Sears, the shopping (that’s Anissa the Elf, offering a greeting)

ADDED 11:48 AM: Santa listened to many wishes, and posed for many photos, but this scene said it all:

To make this happen, it takes many donors and sponsors – they had big thanks, for example, for their baked-goods donors The Essential Baking Company and Macrina Bakery, as well as for SODO Kitchen, the venue in the Sears/Starbucks building where everyone gathered – and you can donate too: A link to the Shopping Spree fund is on the Rotary home page.

P.S. Some extra info from WS Rotary president Andy: 256 was the final volunteer count – 35 Rotarians, 221 non-Rotarians. Four drivers from First Student transported the kids – Chuck, Robert, David, Jim. The schools each had coordinators – including Arbor Heights principal Christy Collins, Pam Rago from Highland Park, Nina Bowman from Sanislo, Jennifer Toth from Highland Park, and Tracie Thompson from West Seattle Elementary.

West Seattle Saturday: The shops; the lights; the music; more

The brant are back! So reports Danny McMillin, with that photo shared via the WSB Flickr group. Meantime, two groups of highlights again for today/tonight, first, starting with a few from the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide:

‘SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY’: We of course highly recommend “Small Business Every Day,” but if you’re making an extra effort today, note that the West Seattle Junction Association has a list of deals (including one at longtime WSB sponsor Click! Design That Fits). Also check out the fab shops in The Admiral District, on Alki, in Delridge, Morgan Junction, White Center, South Park … good things are everywhere.

DUWAMISH LONGHOUSE HOLIDAY GIFT FAIR, DAY 2: The Duwamish Tribe invites you to its Longhouse in West Seattle again today for the Native Holiday Gift Fair, continuing today and Sunday, 10 am to 5 pm: “Unique gifts in every price range. Fine art, native crafts, regalia, cards, jewelry, T-shirts, smoked salmon and more. Lots of snacks – frybread, baked goods, hot chocolate and more. Free admission and parking for shoppers.” 4705 W. Marginal Way SW; Friday coverage here.

CHRISTMAS TEAS BEGIN AT LA ROMANZA BISTRO: Christmas Teas on Saturday and Sundays at La Romanza Bistro (WSB sponsor) through January 6th. (More info and reservations, here.)

LIGHTING CEREMONY AND CONCERT @ WEST SEATTLE LIGHTS: Tonight’s the “block party” for the Helmstetler Family Christmas Spectacular/West Seattle Lights display at 3908 SW Charlestown – the street will be blocked off, tonight only, between 39th and 40th, for the 7 pm gala opening-weekend lighting ceremony and a free concert by Judy Pancoast, who, as you can read here, is launching a coast-to-coast tour of homes that feature her music in their animated lighting displays. The light show is always free too – but donations to the West Seattle Food Bank and Northwest Parkinson’s Foundation are appreciated, through the WSL website (or bring WS Food Bank donations to the show).

‘WINTER WONDERETTES’: ArtsWest‘s holiday production continues at 7:30 tonight – full details here.

SANTA PHOTOS, CHRISTMAS TREES, MORE … find EVERYTHING holiday, here.

Now, from the regular WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

BLOOD DRIVE: Miss the one on Friday? Another chance today, at Westwood Village, 9:30 am-3:30 pm (closed 11:30 am-12:30 pm). More info here.

HELP RESTORE SANISLO’S WETLAND: 10 am-2 pm work party today, planting trees – spend an hour, or two, or three, or four. 1812 SW Myrtle; details here on what to wear/bring.

VIETNAMESE CULTURAL CENTER: Every Saturday, it’s scheduled to be open 12-3 pm to the public. (This is the same place that has coordinated volunteers the past two Saturdays to go to Nickelsville – as reported here.) 2236 SW Orchard.

WAYNE LOVEGROVE AT C&P: 6-8 pm, acoustic guitar, free performance at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 5612 California.

CASEY MCGILL AND ORVILLE JOHNSON: Performing at 7:30 pm tonight at Kenyon Hall (7904 35th SW).

WEST SIDE GLORY: Billed as a “queer variety show,” this production will hit the stage at Skylark Café and Club tonight at 8 pm, 3803 Delridge Way SW. Details here.

A West Seattle wetland needs you! Help @ Sanislo tomorrow

The weather looks better tomorrow – cloudy and only MAYBE showery – so here’s an outdoor idea:

Join us at Sanislo School the Saturday after Thanksgiving – to give thanks by giving back – and to work off those calories from feasting! We’re restoring the wetland headwaters of Puget Creek, a culturally significant watershed upstream of the Duwamish Tribe’s efforts to restore salmon habitat, and important to King County’s Wastewater’s efforts to improve water quality in the Duwamish River. It’s tree-planting time – evergreen trees reduce sewer overflows by intercepting winter rains. Come alone or bring a friend!

Time: 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM (Join for an hour or all day)

Where: Sanislo School Wetland; 1812 SW Myrtle … Meet at front of school.

What to bring: We have gloves and tools (write your name on any personal tools). Wear long sleeves/pants, sturdy shoes or boots, & hat/rain protection. Snacks and water provided.

West Seattle Weather Watch, afternoon/evening update: Wind, rain, downed trees, more

(Our morning storm coverage is here)

(Added 2:30 pm: Tree down in Junction; photo courtesy Marty Sweetman)
1:25 PM: We’re launching afternoon storm coverage now, with widespread reports of power flickers – we were in a Junction business where it flickered twice a few minutes ago, and the wind is gusty out of the south here too. More to come.

(Added 2:40 pm: Nickelsville resident JS, building a walkway; WSB photo by Nick Adams)
1:32 PM UPDATE: We’ve received a request for help from Nickelsville via intermediaries – they need gasoline to power generators to pump out floodwaters at the camp (West Marginal and Highland Park Way). If you can help, just take some down.

1:36 PM UPDATE: Serious wave action south of Alki Point, as is usual with wind out of the southwest. We checked on the flickers – there is NO larger outage anywhere, so far. Just widespread flickers. Just in case it does go out later, be sure you have what you need nearby – charge your phone, have batteries for whatever needs batteries, keep a flashlight handy, etc.

1:52 PM UPDATE: Just got back to WSB HQ in Upper Fauntleroy for the first time in an hour or so – we’re out of power here. City Light map says about 150 customers (homes/businesses).

(Added 2:30 pm: Tree down on 18th near Sanislo Elementary; photo courtesy Cary Swain Seely)
2:25 PM UPDATE: There is some good news – the rain stopped. For now. But there are scattered reports of trees down – saw one along Fauntleroy in Fairmount Springs; Kevin sent word of one in Endolyne; no major road blockages reported, though. (Update – see the photo added above from 18th SW – that may be causing trouble.) City Light, meantime, says it doesn’t know yet what’s to blame for the outage in Upper Fauntleroy/Gatewood.

(Added 2:40 pm: Tree down at 45th and Wildwood in Fauntleroy)
2:49 PM: Scott reports via Twitter that Admiral is closed between 58th and 59th because of a power pole that looks to be in danger of falling.

3:04 PM UPDATE: Cami says it’s actually closed at 57th. We’ll have a crew in the area shortly. Also via comments, Cait says Webster is closed in the Delridge vicinity. THANK YOU to everyone continuing to share information and photos.

3:14 PM UPDATE: Photojournalist Nick Adams, out on storm coverage for WSB today, is at 58th/Admiral with the power-pole problem and says traffic is now open again, one lane each way.

(added later) This photo courtesy of Don Brubeck shows the pole while it was leaning:

NEW traffic problem that might affect some people headed toward West Seattle – southbound Battery Street Tunnel is closed, apparently because of a crash, per SDOT.

3:37 PM UPDATE: City Light map shows the Gatewood/Upper Fauntleroy outage over – we’re working away from HQ right now so can’t verify. Couple other scattered, very small outages in spots around West Seattle. (Few minutes later) Battery Street Tunnel southbound now OPEN again, per WSDOT. Meantime, some bus reroutes out there – just got one from Metro re: Route 128 routed off 16th between Henderson and Cambridge.

4:23 PM UPDATE: No new problems reported lately. But still give yourself extra time to get home. Any break in the weather is just temporary, the forecasters say. And take note this is already the rainiest November 19th on record.

5:27 PM UPDATE: Got e-mail saying that the Admiral exit from the West Seattle Bridge has a major puddle/pond, so avoid if you can. Meantime, the rain comes and goes – raining hard again about 20 minutes ago, not so bad right now, but still lots of water everywhere. P.S. If you’re on a bus and have some time, here’s a new West Seattle-specific survey from Metro, explained and linked here.

Community meeting with School Board director Marty McLaren

Community meeting with School Board director Marty McLaren on Saturday morning, March 9th from 9:30 to 11 am in the Common House of Puget Ridge Cohousing, 7020 18th Ave. SW. It’s just north of SW Myrtle; across 18th SW from Sanislo Elementary. Park on the street, walk up the path and follow signs to the Common House.

Native Plant Restoration Workparty at Sanislo Wetland

Hi neighbors! We have a workparty this Saturday October 27th at Sanislo, 10 am to 2 pm, and if you volunteer for more than two hours, you may take home a sword fern (small 1 gal) for your own yard. Sign in at the front of the school near SW Myrtle, but we’ll be working near the east side of the playground.

Native Plant Restoration at Sanislo Wetland
Join us at Sanislo School to restore the wetland headwaters of Puget Creek – a culturally significant watershed upstream of the Duwamish Tribe’s efforts to restore salmon habitat – and important to King County’s efforts to improve water quality in the Duwamish River. We’re clearing blackberry, mulching, and planting native trees. Come alone or bring a friend!

Date: Saturday Oct 27, 2012 (4th Saturday of every month except December)
Time: 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM (Join for an hour or all day)
Where: Sanislo School Wetland; 1812 SW Myrtle, Seattle, WA 98106.
Between South Seattle Community College and Home Depot on Delridge SW in West Seattle (Bus # 125, 120, or 128). Meet at front of school.
What to bring: We have gloves and tools (write your name on personal tools). Wear long sleeves/pants, sturdy shoes/boots, hat/eye/rain protection. Bring personal food/water/bottle. Snacks and water provided.

Steve Richmond (206) 650-9807 for info; http://pugetcreekwatershedalliance.org

Can West Seattle’s past save its future? Southwest District Council continues preservation conversation

(Image by Christopher Boffoli, meshing present and past along California SW north of SW Alaska in The Junction – click for larger view)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

As we continue to cover big new development projects like 4755 Fauntleroy Way (in-depth coverage here), some wonder if there’s still time to preserve some of what Southwest District Council leaders call West Seattle’s “Main Street character.”

Grappling with the topic over the past few months, a core group of the council’s members has been exploring whether historic-preservation options exist to serve that goal. Wednesday night’s monthly SWDC meeting continued the conversation, with special guest Karen Gordon, the City of Seattle’s Historic Preservation Officer.

Details on the discussion, what might happen next, and other toplines from the meeting – ahead:

Click to read the rest of Can West Seattle’s past save its future? Southwest District Council continues preservation conversation…

West Seattle school questions answered at Superintendent Banda’s regional meeting in South Park

(Superintendent José Banda listens as Concord Elementary principal Norma Zavala speaks)
Story and photos by Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

One month into his first school year as Seattle Public Schools superintendent, José Banda came to the city’s southwest sector last night for a “regional meeting.”

It happened at Concord International School in South Park, but it was intended for the West Seattle community too. And they turned out in force, including – as promised in this letter published here last week – Sanislo Elementary, which got some reassurance relating to its kindergarten-class-size concerns during the Q/A period, which also brought questions from Arbor Heights Elementary, K-5 STEM at Boren, and Schmitz Park Elementary parents.

After Superintendent Banda was introduced with a biographical outline, including his 30 years of work in education, he turned the floor over to Concord Principal Norma Zavala, who spoke to the crowd about the school and its programs. she described its highlight as being “a school that is truly truly diverse – linguistically, ethnic, geographical, gender orientation, everything … and that’s the beauty of being an international school – we’re working every single day to apply a global perspective to our problems, to our successes, as adults and as children.”

The superintendent acknowledged parents were wondering “what IS IT we’re focused on?” and “where are we going?”

Click to read the rest of West Seattle school questions answered at Superintendent Banda’s regional meeting in South Park…