West Seattle schools 5690 results

Meet the new neighbors: Westside School announces community meetings at future Arbor Heights site

February 26, 2013 11:02 am

| Comments Off on Meet the new neighbors: Westside School announces community meetings at future Arbor Heights site

| Arbor Heights | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

When we first reported in November that Westside School (WSB sponsor) is seeking to buy the Hillcrest Presbyterian Church site as its permanent home, Westside leadership promised to schedule a meeting with its prospective new neighbors in Arbor Heights. They now have plans for two. From a flyer that’s just been circulated in AH:

Westside School is planning to move to the Hillcrest Church facility in the Arbor Heights neighborhood, and we would like to share our vision and plans and hear your feedback.

Open House #1: Saturday, March 9th, 10 AM-11 AM, Hillcrest Church, 10404 34th Avenue SW [map]
Open House #2: Tuesday, March 12th, 7 PM-8 PM, Hillcrest Church, 10404 34th Avenue SW

You can see the flyer in its entirety here. Westside is in its third year of leasing the former EC Hughes Elementary campus in Sunrise Heights; Seattle Public Schools has not yet decided how to use that school after Westside vacates. Westside, meantime, has said it plans to renovate the church’s structures rather than demolish them.

Chief Sealth IHS gets post-Oscars visit from ‘Argo’ inspiration

February 25, 2013 9:05 pm

| 9 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

The day after “Argo” won the Oscar for Best Picture, one of the six “house guests” whose story it tells was in West Seattle, visiting Chief Sealth International High School, at the invitation of teacher Patrice De La Ossa, Ph.D., who shares photos and a report:

“Argo,” anyone? Mark Lijek, one of the real house guests from “Argo,” visited the IB World History Seniors at Chief Sealth International High School today for Q&A after viewing the film last week. Dr. De La Ossa reached out to Mark Lijek, who resides in Washington, and got lucky!

But today, so did her students. Mark met with the seniors and told his personal story, then answered questions from the curious seniors about his ordeal, his continued career in Foreign Services, and how he felt about the film, which just won Best Picture.

Mark Lijek and his wife Cora Amburn-Lijek live in the Skagit County city of Anacortes. Our partners at The Seattle Times told their story last fall, a few weeks after they were flown to the “Argo” premiere in Hollywood. In 1979, when they were embassy employees in Tehran at the time of the hostage crisis, the two were in their mid-20s and had been married four years.

Tablet to basket, Roxhill Elementary’s PE specialist teaching with tech

February 25, 2013 7:38 pm

| 11 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

Photos by Nick Adams for WSB

Roxhill Elementary PE teacher Chellie LaFayette and her students are getting national attention for unique teaching/learning techniques, and a round of one-handed basketball today was part of it.

It takes practice, as Adam Mendoza learned:

A recent New York Times story pointed to Roxhill as a school where PE class had integrated other forms of learning – like computers, with an iPad helping demonstrate the throwing technique today:

February 25, 2013 9:52 am

| Comments Off on Congratulations! Local students’ success at jazz festival

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS culture/arts

Dozens of young local musicians are back from a big weekend. Ethan Thomas from West Seattle High School‘s music department reports on achievements by students from 3 local schools:

The West Seattle High School, Chief Sealth International High School, and Denny Middle School Jazz Ensembles traveled together over the weekend to the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival at the University of Idaho. The bands had an opportunity to perform and receive feedback from adjudicators, attend workshops and evening concerts by such internationally acclaimed musicians as Maceo Parker, Jeff Hamilton, Regina Carter, Take 6 and the Lionel Hampton Big Band. Three students from our group (Annabel Foucault from WSHS on bass, Cameron Nakatani from CSIHS and Ben Orlin from Denny IMS on trumpet) received honorable mention recognition for their performance. All three groups (WSHS under the direction of Ethan Thomas; CSIHS and Denny under the direction of Marcus Pimpleton) performed very well.

Congratulations to all!

Something to say about Seattle Public Schools? Survey ends soon

February 24, 2013 11:53 am

| 4 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Seattle Public Schools‘ current five-year strategic plan “Excellence for All” expires this year, and the district is working on a new one. An online survey that’s part of the process is ending in a few days, and the district is asking feedback from everyone – “families, students, staff, and members of the community” included, according to a reminder recently sent. It’s a quick survey, the district promises, and it starts here. Find more background – and links to take the survey in more languages – here. This Wednesday (February 27th) is the deadline.

Schmitz Park Elementary hosts first West Seattle Chess Tournament

February 23, 2013 8:14 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

The Schmitz Park Elementary gym hosted a tournament all day – but its standard equipment, the hoops and climbing wall, went unused: This was the first-ever West Seattle Chess Tournament, as announced here a month ago. All day long during the five-round tournament with students from around the city – not just SP – young players faced off (our photos were taken just before a round), then waited for their next opponents to be posted, while the room was set up again:

Parents took photos and judges kept watch.

As the day progressed, trophies awaited:

The tournament was presented by the educational Chess Mates Foundation, led by chess champion/International Master Georgi Orlov, whose organization is working on something that has people excited for next year, when for the first time, the Washington State Elementary Chess Championships will be held in Seattle in 2014 (a website is in the works here). That event’s project manager Ryan Schmierer talked with us on the sidelines of today’s event and told us it hasn’t been held in Seattle before because of venue size challenges – but it’s set now for the relatively new Seattle cruise terminal at Magnolia’s Smith Cove.

West Seattle schools: Arbor Heights’ Global Reading Challenge day

February 23, 2013 8:50 am

| 3 COMMENTS

| Arbor Heights | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Meet the 7 Pirate Pandas – from left, Max, Ethan, Jonathan, Marcel, Lucas, Max. They are the winning Global Reading Challenge team from Arbor Heights Elementary after competition on Friday afternoon. Ten teams of 4th and 5th graders started the afternoon, answered questions about the 10 books that had to be read by this year’s competitors — and the Pirate Pandas, all 4th graders in Ms. Boitano’s class (per a parent volunteer who shared info and the photo), emerged victorious. The GRC is a Seattle Public Library-led program, and seven West Seattle elementaries are among the contenders again this year. The semi-finals are at the downtown library the week of March 11th, and then the finalists face off there on March 26th.

‘100th day of school’ food drives: West Seattle Food Bank’s thanks, plus Schmitz Park, Alki, STEM results

February 22, 2013 12:33 pm

| 8 COMMENTS

| How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

We photographed that big pile of donated food this morning at the West Seattle Food Bank – just part of what’s been brought in as part of the “100th day of school” food drives at several local schools, with more on the way. Marveling at what the local schools accomplished so that WS Food Bank could help its clients, operations director Steven Curry told WSB, “This drive could provide us with the largest food buffer we have ever had at this time, (during the) usual lull in giving after the holidays. What a fantastic story on how something so simple communicated to a community, listening and caring, will serve so many people.”

He says the donated food in the photo is from Schmitz Park and Alki Elementaries – both of whom, in fact, sent in their reports overnight. First, from Schmitz Park, kindergarten teacher Mandy Cook reports:

Schmitz Park Elementary totaled in at 1,193 food items!!! The West Seattle Food bank had to come back and collect overflowing barrels 4 times! Staff and students had fun collecting, competing and tallying by classroom. Thanks again for the wonderful opportunity Arbor Heights. Count us in for next year!

And from Alki, fourth-grade teacher Anna Coghill reports:

Alki Elementary is happy to report we collected 1,319 items for the West Seattle Food Bank. Thank you for the inspiration Arbor Heights students and teachers. It was a great success.

That’s a reference, of course, to AH teacher Marcia Ingerslev and her class, which issued the original challenge to other schools/classes in the area. We reported their results (4 AH classes in all) here; Gatewood Elementary here: Holy Rosary School here; Cometa Playschool here. Still awaiting at least one more report. Congratulations to all!

ADDED 5:53 PM: Robin Graham from the West Seattle STEM PTA reports their donation is part of what you see in our photo from the food bank:

STEM dropped off our food Thursday afternoon … At least 200 items donated from the families at STEM. Thanks, Arbor Heights, for the great idea – we would love to do it again next year!

And from Arbor Heights, Marcia Ingerslev shared a photo of her visit to the White Center Food Bank:

She explains in the comment section below – and expresses her pride at everyone’s contribution, too.

From the original ‘100th day of school’ food drive: 500+ items from Arbor Heights!

February 21, 2013 3:51 pm

| 5 COMMENTS

| How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

As we’ve noted in previous coverage, the “100th day of school food drive challenge” originated at Arbor Heights Elementary – where teacher Marcia Ingerslev just shared photos and this report on what they collected for the West Seattle Food Bank:

We collected 501 items of food. Rooms 16 (Ingerslev), 12 (Salter), 10 (Fisk), and 24 (Kennewick) participated. Thank you to everyone who participated. We will have to do this again next year. Maybe we can benefit the White Center Food Bank.

Here are just some of the students who took part at AH:

Even if you/your school didn’t participate, you can help local food banks any time – there’s information about how to donate money and/or food on the websites of both – westseattlefoodbank.org and whitecenterfoodbank.org.

‘100th day of school’ food drive: Gatewood Elementary results

February 21, 2013 1:03 pm

| 5 COMMENTS

| How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

More results from the “100th Day of School Food Drive Challenge” started by Arbor Heights Elementary teacher Marcia Ingerslev and picked up by several other schools/classes in West Seattle! Jennifer Dempsey shares the photo with this report:

Ms. Schwendeman’s first-grade class at Gatewood Elementary collected over 100 items for the food bank and will be taking a field trip to deliver them soon.

We’ve also published reports from Cometa Playschool (here) and Holy Rosary School (here). Anybody else! editor@westseattleblog.com – thanks!

‘100th day of school’ food drive: Cometa Playschool’s results

February 20, 2013 1:07 pm

| 7 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

The photo is from Manuela Slye of Cometa Playschool, one of the local schools that responded to the “collect 100 food items by the 100th day of school” challenge from Arbor Heights Elementary teacher Marcia Ingerslev and her students. (First report was from Holy Rosary School, whose “100th day” arrived earlier. Anyone else with results to report today? Please let us know!)

West Seattle schools: From Madison to Microsoft, high-tech field trip

February 19, 2013 9:38 pm

| Comments Off on West Seattle schools: From Madison to Microsoft, high-tech field trip

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Madison Middle School counselor Lauren Divina shares the photos with news of a recent high-tech field trip:

We had another group of girls on an IGNITE field trip to Microsoft on Feb. 8, this time doing ROBOTICS (Learning with Robotics) conducted by Technically Learning and IGNITE. They were taught how to build and program a robot and again introduced them to professional women with fulfilling careers in STEM fields. Technically Learning is a Seattle-based non-profit organization that enables teachers to inspire and engage students in science, technology, engineering and math.

We hope that activities like this allows students to realize that learning and school can be creative and fun.

Opportunities like this hopefully advances their science knowledge and that along with skills development, they may think more critically, make better life decisions through more informed choices, and work more creatively and collaboratively.

SIDE NOTE #1: Microsoft, by the way, was one of many companies represented at Madison’s recent Career Day (as was WSB!), where dozens of professionals came to the school to talk about what they do. It was a terrific morning, and we especially appreciated the chance to answer students’ insightful questions about West Seattle news and how we cover it.

SIDE NOTE #2: Madison’s evening open house/tour event for prospective families is coming up this Thursday, 6:30-8 pm.

West Seattle schools: Sanislo Elementary celebrates books

February 19, 2013 5:58 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

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.

Video: Chief Sealth Percussion Ensemble to state competition

February 17, 2013 7:07 pm

| 6 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS culture/arts

That just-published video shows a winning performance – the Chief Sealth International High School Percussion Ensemble, led by student leaders Farhan Vohra and Francisco Leon, under the direction of CSIHS band director Marcus Pimpleton – as they won the Elliott Bay Music Educators‘ Solo and Ensemble competition last weekend at Seattle Pacific University. In April, they will represent the Seattle area in the large percussion category at the WIAA/WMEA State Solo and Ensemble competition in Ellensburg. Congratulations!

New Genesee Hill school plan: New renderings, more meetings

February 16, 2013 9:02 pm

| Comments Off on New Genesee Hill school plan: New renderings, more meetings

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

The new Genesee Hill elementary school to be funded by the voter-approved BEX IV levy is advancing through the design process. The Genesee-Schmitz Neighborhood Council has published new design graphics, both for the building and its landscaping – with a caveat that the district has told GSNC the building schematics need to be updated again, because the school will definitely be built for a 650-student capacity. (As noted by GSNC, and reported here earlier this month, the current Schmitz Park Elementary – whose community is planning the new Genesee Hill school – is expected to teach almost 600 students next year.) You can see the new graphics in multiple posts on the GSNC website at genesee-schmitz.org, where there’s also a list of upcoming “community conversation” meetings about the project: February 26, March 14, April 30, all at SP Elementary, all at 6:30 pm.

High-school basketball: Another close game for Seattle Lutheran boys

February 16, 2013 12:18 am

| Comments Off on High-school basketball: Another close game for Seattle Lutheran boys

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

Two close games in a row for the Seattle Lutheran High School boys’ basketball team. Two nights after their one-point last-seconds win over Auburn Adventist (WSB coveage here), the Saints went into double overtime in La Conner tonight – losing to LC 56-53. Here are the game stats as published by our partners at The Seattle Times.

High-school basketball: Finale for West Seattle High School girls’ successful season

February 15, 2013 10:03 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

(WSHS’s Lexi Ioane)
It’s a season to remember for the West Seattle High School girls-varsity basketball team, and tonight it ended at Bellevue College with the Wildcats losing to Juanita High School, 63-36. With head coach Sonya Elliott chosen as Metro League Coach of the Year as her team won their division and moved into the playoffs, the memories are many. As for tonight’s game ….

(WSHS’s #10 Charli Elliott, #24 Lydia Giomi, #21 Gabby Sarver)
The game was the second tough one this week for the Wildcats, who led at the end of the first quarter and stayed close through the second, despite having trouble hanging onto the ball.

(WSHS’s Shelby Walker)
In the second half Juanita became more assertive, grabbing the ball and maintaining a full-court press till the end.

Fairmount Park Elementary’s landmark nomination to be reviewed

February 14, 2013 2:02 pm

| 8 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

(2011 WSB photo of Fairmount Park Elementary School, 38th and Findlay)
As Seattle Public Schools gets ready for construction on three West Seattle sites (and others around the city), now that the BEX IV levy has passed, the schools are going through the city landmark-nomination process – generally routine if major changes or demolition is planned for buildings of this type and age (almost half a century, in this case). The review of Fairmount Park Elementary‘s nomination is on the agenda for the next Landmarks Board meeting, 3 pm next Wednesday on the 40th floor of the Muni Tower downtown. While FP is not slated for demolition, it is scheduled for major work, including an added classroom wing, so it can reopen in fall 2014, seven years after the district closed it.

Postseason basketball: Seattle Lutheran boys’ last-minute win

February 14, 2013 8:50 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

The only local boys team still in the postseason-basketball picture had a big win last night: Seattle Lutheran High School senior Bryce Morgan (#3, above) put up a three-point shot with 32 seconds to go in the game, which gave the Saints the one-point lead that netted a win over visiting Auburn Adventist Academy, 48-47 – with a round of photos following:

Ahead, more photos and game notes:

February 12, 2013 8:29 pm

| 55 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

8:29 PM: Tonight’s first and only vote count is in for the two Seattle Public Schools levies on today’s special-election ballot, and both are passing handily. – #1 is for operations funding, and #2 is the BEX levy for projects including building large all-new elementary schools on the current Genesee Hill and Arbor Heights sites, as well as reopening Fairmount Park, and other projects citywide. From the King County Elections website, here are the percentages and totals (each needs only a simple majority to pass):

OPERATIONS LEVY:
Yes 74 percent (80,112)
No 26 percent (27,990)

BUILDING EXCELLENCE LEVY
Yes 72 percent (77,222)
No 28 percent (30,659)

The next vote count is expected tomorrow afternoon.

ADDED 11:52 PM: “Wonderful results” is how Superintendent José Banda described the vote, according to Seattle Times (WSB partner) coverage.

High-school basketball: WSHS downed by Mercer Island

February 12, 2013 4:59 pm

| Comments Off on High-school basketball: WSHS downed by Mercer Island

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

(Photos by Nick Adams for WSB)
As the postseason play continues for West Seattle High School‘s girls-varsity basketball team, they lost to Mercer Island HS this afternoon in Metro League play at Chief Sealth IHS‘s gym, 38-32.

As we tweeted live during the game at @wsblive, the Wildcats were ahead at halftime, but fell behind in the third quarter. They have at least one more game – Friday in Bellevue (details TBA).

ADDED 11:03 PM: Toplines and more of Nick Adams‘ photos, ahead:Read More

Centennial celebration announced for Alki Elementary School

February 11, 2013 9:16 am

| 10 COMMENTS

| West Seattle history | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

(From Southwest Seattle Historical Society collection: Alki Elementary School 5th graders line up for a group photo in May 1928)
Big birthday ahead for Alki Elementary – and all of its alums (along with the rest of the community) are invited to the party. Here’s the official announcement:

Calling everyone who has ever attended Alki Elementary School: Mark your calendars to come celebrate the school’s 100th birthday on March 28.

The Alki PTA and the Southwest Seattle Historical Society, co-sponsors of the celebration, are planning a slate of activities to engage students and community members of all ages.

February 10, 2013 6:15 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS culture/arts

From the Total Experience Gospel Choir (above) to the Chief Sealth International High School Choir (below) …

… to student/pro collaborations like Septimus with the Denny International Middle School Jazz Band:

… last night’s third annual “Soul Jambalaya” (free, with donations benefiting the Denny and Sealth music programs) “was truly incredible,” reports Denny principal Jeff Clark (who also shared the photos):

Congratulations to the Denny and Sealth Jazz Band and Choir students! A huge thank you to our guests from Septimus and the Total Experience Gospel Choir!

This musical celebration is the creation of our inspirational band director, Mr. Marcus Pimpleton. He described the thinking behind this amazing event this way:

“Three years ago, I had the opportunity to take a group of Denny students to the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival’s ‘Jazz is Blues and Sacred Roots Concert.’ That concert, through the language of music, provided students with a musical history lesson connecting the jazz music our students study in their school ensembles to its musical roots in the blues and to the spiritual songs of hardship and struggle that grew initially out of the experience of negro slaves … My primary hope in organizing Soul Jambalaya is to recreate that synergy that I felt that night at Hampton, to expose my students to the music they may have limited experience with, and in the tradition of Black History Month, to celebrate the influence of African-American music styles to the musical landscape of America.”

Thank you, Mr. Pimpleton, for bringing that synergy and celebration to our scholars and our community!