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High-school basketball: West Seattle HS girls win
November 28, 2012 6:30 am
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 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

At West Seattle High School last night, the girls-varsity basketball team tipped off the season with a win, 45-29 over Foster High School from Tukwila. Top photo, the Wildcats’ Charli Elliott with the ball; next, WSHS’s Lexi Ioane at right, holding off Foster’s Eunyque Patu on the drive:

The next WSHS girls-varsity game is at 7:30 tonight, Highline High School in Burien.

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High-school basketball: Chief Sealth’s season openers
November 28, 2012 6:14 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

Both of Chief Sealth International High School‘s varsity basketball teams played season openers last night. The boys were at home:

That’s Bronte Corbray taking a shot for the Seahawks, who beat Lakes High School from Tacoma, 57-51.

That’s Sealth’s Abdirahman Diriye up against Lakes’ Terrell Toney. Next up, the boys play Tukwila’s Foster High School at home on Thursday night at 6:15 pm.

Foster will also play Sealth’s girls-varsity team at CSIHS the same night (8 pm); the girls opened their season on the road last night, losing to Auburn Riverside 64-29, per our partners at The Seattle Times.

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8th grader in the house? West Seattle High School’s invitation for you
November 26, 2012 1:12 pm
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 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

If your family includes a current 8th grader planning to attend, or considering attending, West Seattle High School, here’s your invitation to an event next week:

West Seattle High School is hosting a Department Fair on December 4th for families with a current 8th grader.

6-6:30 pm: Meet department heads and review course offerings

6:40-7 pm: A 9th-grade panel discusses readiness and support and extracurricular activities

7=7:30 pm: A college and career-prep panel gives an overview of course offerings, AP and Honors classes, and requirements

Find out more on the WSHS website.

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West Seattle schools: Madison students’ hands-on tech trip
November 25, 2012 10:55 pm
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 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

School resumes tomorrow for tens of thousands of Seattle Public Schools students after a holiday break of at least 4 days (longer for the younger students whose schools spent the week in parent/teacher-conference mode). Just before the break, more than 20 Madison Middle School students enjoyed a first-of-its-kind high-tech field trip; counselor Lauren Divina shared the photo and report:

On November 20, 2012, 21 Madison MS female 8th graders went to Microsoft as part of the IGNITE [Inspiring Girls Now In Technology Evolution] program.

Students got hands-on experience at Microsoft with the programming language “Small Basic.” Women from high-tech careers at Microsoft helped students learn to code. They also presented about their careers, followed by a Q & A session. Students had a chance to speak with the volunteers directly over lunch, which was provided. The students were accompanied by technology teacher Mr. Rockwell, and school counselor Mrs. Divina. This is the first year that Madison MS has participated in the IGNITE program, which was introduced to the middle school counselors in June 2012.

IGNITE is a Seattle Schools program, created for Seattle Schools in November 1999. Funding is provided by federal Carl Perkins dollars, which is federal funding for non-traditional education for women and minorities. IGNITE now contributes to the funding of IGNITE as well.

The program has been running in all of the 12 Seattle High schools since 2000. We have expanded to middle schools, more each year. After winning the National Best Practice from the National ACTE, Association of Career and Technical Education organization, the Directors of the National ACTE, the National Women’s law Center, and NAPE, National Alliance for Partnerships in Equity, in 2007, many other schools both nationally and internationally created IGNITE programs of their own, using the comprehensive toolkit created by the founder of IGNITE, Cathi Rodgveller M.S. Ed. Cathi has been a teacher and School Counselor for 30 years. She has taught every grade level, and doing IGNITE is her passion.

Seattle Schools now views IGNITE as a Premier program and best practice for educating young women about STEM careers. STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) educators from anywhere, both nationally and internationally can contact the founder, Cathi Rodgveller, for information on how to start their own IGNITE group.

Here’s how to reach that organization.

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Sports history at Chief Sealth: 1st Nels Enquist Alumni Game
November 25, 2012 8:41 am
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

(Photos by Nick Adams for WSB)
Not only did he organize Chief Sealth International High School‘s first-ever Nels Enquist Alumni Game – that’s Sealth athletic director Sam Reed refereeing as Tosha Brown (’08) gets post-tipoff air supremacy for the women’s Blue Team. That was the color of victory in both games, each one a “red vs. blue” match.


(Click image for larger view)
But the night was not about who won or lost – but really and truly, about how they played the game. And that they played the game at all. It was in tribute to former Sealth athletic director Nels Enquist, who’s in the group photo above, holding a plaque. As Reed explained in the original announcement of the event earlier this month, “Enquist has dedicated a majority of his life to Chief Sealth and has walked the halls and athletic facilities as a student, coach, teach, athletic director, assistant principal, and now a retiree who still makes (time) to substitute regularly” – more than 40 years of involvement. The event proceeds will go toward alumni projects including dedicating the gym foyer to Enquist and replacing the championship banners in the Sealth gym. And the hundreds who came Friday night got to enjoy some spirited hoops:

That’s Devon Hall (’02) during the men’s game getting blocked by, from left, John Boyd (’82), Jaray Austin (’02), and Jason Hutson (’93). Along with the alumni games, the night included scrimmages with current girls’ and boys’ players, and a ceremony honoring Enquist – more than two dozen additional photos, ahead:

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Video: West Seattle HS, Chief Sealth IHS, Denny IMS bands march in downtown downpour
November 23, 2012 11:05 am
|      13 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Loud and proud, the marching bands from West Seattle High School (including some Madison Middle School musicians, we’re told), Chief Sealth International High School, and Denny International Middle School were among a dozen-plus bands starring in this morning’s Macy’s Holiday Parade downtown. Though serious rain fell for all but a short time near the end of the parade, spirits were high, and so was the volume. Above, a Salty’s (WSB sponsor) nutcracker preceded the WSHS pass; below, Sealth/Denny musicians stopped for an extended stay near our spot on the route, and you’ll even see mascot Sammy the Seahawk with a flyby in our clip.

(added) Thanks to Bruno for sharing this photo- a guest conductor!

The parade ran about an hour, as usual – good crowd despite the rain. Bands come from miles around – at least one from Canada this year. Downtown tonight, it’s the tree/star lighting near Westlake Park – and here at home, West Seattle Lights start up tonight (sort of a “soft open,” with the ceremony and free concert tomorrow).

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Madison Middle School once again gives the gift of food
November 20, 2012 4:15 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

(One group of Madison students who helped with this year’s food drive)
Again this year, Madison Middle School held a food drive to help families in their school community. School nurse Sami Hoag organized the effort:

Thanks to many staff, students and families who donated a total of 5,850 pounds of food to put into 45 large Thanksgiving baskets for our Madison families in need.

In addition we were able to help 5 Madison families who live in shelters with grocery cards.

Several students bought a large amount of food with their own money. Most of the baskets were delivered by volunteers in the pouring rain.

Our Madison students did the following to help with this project:

-Make signs, made presentations and collected food in their science classes
-Sorted food after school into baskets
-Made Thanksgiving cards for each family
-Moved hundreds of pounds of food into family cars

Thanks to Anne Weglin for sharing the information from Madison.

If you are still looking for a way to help local people in need, before Thanksgiving- we have food-bank-donation information at the end of the Thanksgiving roundup we published this morning. Both local food banks – West Seattle Food Bank and White Center Food Bank – have donation hours tomorrow, and in a word, WS most needs canned hams, WC most needs turkeys.

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New Schmitz Park Elementary at Genesee Hill: Design under way, before full funding finalized
November 20, 2012 1:51 pm
|      11 COMMENTS
 |   Genesee Hill | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Though the vote on the Seattle Public Schools BEX IV construction-project levy isn’t until February, the process of planning one of its designated projects is under way now.

Last night, the Design Team for what’s for now known as the new Schmitz Park Elementary at Genesee Hill convened a “community conversation,” inviting neighbors to come talk about ideas and concerns. The school will be built on the site where the closed Genesee Hill Elementary now stands; it was long home to Pathfinder K-8 until that school moved into what had been Cooper Elementary on Pigeon Point in fall 2009, as part of the school-closure plan that shuttered GH permanently.

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Two quick ways to help local schools in the running for $
November 20, 2012 8:36 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

MOUNT VIEW ELEMENTARY NEEDS BOOKS: West Seattleite Shoshanna Cohen, the ELL Interventionist at Mount View Elementary in White Center, asks for your help as they vie for a $5,000 grant to buy books. Many of the kids at MV Elementary speak Spanish as their first language, and the school has few books in Spanish – Cohen explains, “There is so much research showing that by promoting the student’s first language, their growth in their second language (English) is astronomical.” Just contribute a vote by going to this webpage and clicking the lower-right link that says VOTAR/VOTE. You’ll go to a page with the entries – look for the student in the Cat in the Hat-striped hat, and that’s for Mount View. Just click the “vote” link you’ll find with that specific photo, and that’s it, no strings attached. The contest runs through this weekend.

WEST SEATTLE STEM NEEDS TECH: And while we’re talking about online votes for school grants – West Seattle STEM Elementary (aka K-5 STEM) has a month left in their bid for a $50,000 tech grant – here’s our original story, which explains how to vote.

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New school at Genesee Hill: Offer your ideas @ meeting tonight
November 19, 2012 12:26 pm
|      14 COMMENTS
 |   Genesee Hill | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

From tonight’s calendar: Reminder from the Genesee-Schmitz Neighborhood Council – a community conversation is scheduled tonight with the Design Team for the new school at the closed Genesee Hill site, 6:30-8 pm tonight at Schmitz Park Elementary. Read on for some examples of what they’re looking at, to help inspire your suggestions (and see how to comment even if you can’t go to the meeting):

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1st girls-soccer ‘Battle of West Seattle’: Madison over Denny
November 17, 2012 9:41 pm
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 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

Another West Seattle sports first is in the books:

(Photos by WSB’s Patrick Sand)
Wrapped in the West Seattle Soccer Club scarf – since that’s who organized this – the trophy awaited the winner of the inaugural Battle of West Seattle, a girls-soccer match between Denny International Middle School and Madison Middle School, who didn’t play during the season since they’re in different divisions.

Both had excellent seasons, as noted by WSSC – Denny (in blue) took its division; Madison was third in its division. On Friday afternoon, they played on despite a then-driving rain which sent the teams to respective tents at halftime:

Eventually, Madison emerged victorious.

Final score, 2 to 1. There’s a victory photo on the West Seattle Soccer Club Facebook page.

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Update: Lineups for Chief Sealth’s first-ever alumni basketball games next Friday
November 17, 2012 8:43 pm
|    Comments Off on Update: Lineups for Chief Sealth’s first-ever alumni basketball games next Friday
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

(Editor’s note – the women’s lineups are now added at the end of the story)

ORIGINAL 11/17 REPORT: The field is taking shape for a first-ever event next weekend – the Chief Sealth International High School alumni basketball games! This weekend, Sealth athletic director Sam Reed is announcing the men’s roster (there’s still a spot or two on the women’s side – anyone interested should e-mail kevkat8@yahoo.com ASAP). Friday (November 23rd) is the day, and here’s the rundown so far for the first-ever Nels Enquist Alumni Basketball Game, starting with the lineups:

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Happening now: Early Christmas spirit at 1st Seattle Lutheran bazaar
November 17, 2012 2:47 pm
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 |   Holidays | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Nothing says Christmas like … robotics. No, the robot’s not for sale, but many other handmade items are, at Seattle Lutheran High School‘s first-ever Holiday Bazaar, continuing till 5 pm. And robotics-team members are on hand as an added attraction – in our photo are SLHS junior Carina Andrews and senior Tyler Andrews. The bazaar has filled the gym:

Even if you’re not ready to shop for gifts yet, maybe decorations?

The bazaar and accompanying raffle and bake sale – complete with holiday-music soundtrack! – are scheduled to continue until 5. The gym entrance is on SW Genesee at 40th.

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Westside School proposing to buy Arbor Heights’ Hillcrest Presbyterian Church as its permanent site
November 15, 2012 2:22 pm
|      20 COMMENTS
 |   Arbor Heights | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

(UPDATED 9:32 PM with comment from preschool spokesperson)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Long before the Seattle School Board almost ordered them out of the public-school building they leased and fixed up just two years ago, Westside School (WSB sponsor) had been seeking a permanent site. Now, it appears Westside has found one.

School leadership has sent a letter to Westside families saying they are in the process of purchasing Hillcrest Presbyterian Church at 34th and 104th in Arbor Heights. The city Department of Planning Development website notes the early stages of a plan to renovate the main church building as part of Westside School’s campus.

We just spoke with Westside’s first-year head of school Kate Mulligan to get some answers to questions that are already ricocheting around the community along with copies of the letter.

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Video: Denny-Sealth concert includes tribute to crash victims
November 15, 2012 8:27 am
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 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

A three-school concert at the Chief Sealth International High School auditorium last night – Sealth, Denny International Middle School, and the University of Washington – began with some reflection from Denny’s principal on what’s been a difficult week so far, because of the loss of 13-year-old Denny student Lucie Hernandez, killed along with 16-year-old former Denny student Mario Luis Martinez Herrera in a Sunday night crash. In our video, you’ll hear principal Jeff Clark‘s remarks, followed by Denny/Sealth maestro Marcus Pimpleton‘s introduction to the concert, and then the first number by Denny musicians. (The second number, “Over the Rainbow,” was dedicated to Lucie.) Before the concert, a reception in the Sealth commons included a collection for the families of the crash victims.

One more note from the Denny/Sealth Music Pathway – next week, both schools’ marching bands will be in the Macy’s Holiday Parade downtown (9 am Friday, November 23rd), as will the West Seattle High School Marching Band (noted here last week).

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Auction season: West Seattle Community Orchestras’ success; WSHS tomorrow, Arbor Heights Friday
November 14, 2012 6:30 am
|    Comments Off on Auction season: West Seattle Community Orchestras’ success; WSHS tomorrow, Arbor Heights Friday
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Before the holidays take centerstage, fundraising-auction season holds the spotlight:

(Photos courtesy Trileigh Tucker)
WEST SEATTLE COMMUNITY ORCHESTRAS’ SUCCESS: If you haven’t yet been to a WSCO benefit – keep in mind that they are full of music, given the talent and creativity in the organization. The woodwind quintet above was just one of multiple performing acts last Saturday night at Highland Park Improvement Club – from left, Margaret Shields-Belisle, Kristin Delaney, Carole Smith, Dean Odenthal, Brenda Sullivan. The dinner, Trileigh reports, was “amazing”:

Though WSCO doesn’t have the official tally yet, orchestra manager Mariane Hermanson reports they expect to net the highest total ever – and that will help them continue to offer participation in the youth orchestras to any students who want to play.

THURSDAY NIGHT – WEST SEATTLE HIGH SCHOOL: The Fall Harvest Auction for WSHS is tomorrow at 5:30 pm at The Hall at Fauntleroy. The ticket deadline has passed but you can still help out by contributing a dessert and/or volunteering to help with setup 11 am-3 pm tomorrow. See the Westside Weekly online newsletter for details.

FRIDAY NIGHT – ARBOR HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY: Last-minute tickets are still available if you’d like to go to Arbor Heights’ dinner/auction, according to auction chair Lucy Weber. It’s also at The Hall at Fauntleroy, with doors open at 5:30 pm Friday, bidding starting at 6.. More details are on the auction’s Facebook page here, and on this event page. Tickets are $55 and you can contact Lucy at lucyweb2@yahoo.com to get yours.

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Followup: Denny, Sealth students among victims in South Park crash
November 13, 2012 1:56 pm
|      12 COMMENTS
 |   South Park | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

(Tribute to Lucie Hernandez; photo courtesy Denny International Middle School)
The two teenagers killed in Sunday night’s South Park crash were current and former Denny International Middle School students, confirms principal Jeff Clark, who also identifies one of the survivors as a student at adjacent Chief Sealth International High School. He is publicly sharing this letter sent home to Denny families today:

On Sunday evening there was a car crash in South Park. Tragically, the driver, Mario Luis Martinez Herrera, a former Denny student, was killed; four other teens were transported to Harborview Medical Center. One additional person died from injuries sustained in the accident at Harborview shortly after arriving.

We were deeply saddened to learn that the teen who passed away at Harborview was a Denny eighth-grader, Luciana “Lucie” Hernandez. Lucie’s older sister, Karla, a ninth-grader at Chief Sealth International High School, was also in the accident and is being treated for very serious injuries at Harborview. Our thoughts and deepest sympathy go out to the family and friends of all three students.

Today at school we had a moment of silence, an eighth-grade class meeting, individual and group grief counseling, and a place for interested students to come together at lunchtime. Additionally, students had an opportunity to begin to create a tribute which will be displayed at school and then taken to the service to be given to Lucie’s family.

While we are working to support students at school, you know your child better than anyone. You can help your child simply by talking and listening to her or him. If there is anything in particular we can do to support your child, please contact Assistant Principal, Ms. Rangel, at 252-9006 or pjrangel@seattleschools.org.

As a community, we will be developing plans to support the impacted families. Current ideas will be discussed at our Family PTSA meeting tonight at 7:00 pm in the Denny library.

Police are continuing to investigate the crash, which we covered in more detail on our South Park site, The South Park News.

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Designing the new school on Genesee Hill: GSNC’s early hopes
November 12, 2012 5:27 pm
|      26 COMMENTS
 |   Genesee Hill | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Though the BEX IV school-building levy won’t go to voters till next February, the process of designing its first potential projects is starting now – including the creation of a community/district Design Team for the new school that’s currently described as Schmitz Park Elementary at Genesee Hill. That school will be built on the site where the closed ex-GH Elementary now stands. The Genesee-Schmitz Neighborhood Council is announcing its hopes for the site – looking ahead to a community conversation next week:

GSNC is pleased to announce that Kerrie Schurr, the group’s Communications Chair, has been selected to represent the council on the Seattle School District’s Design Advisory Team for the new Genesee Hill school building (future location of the Schmitz Park program, if the capital levy passes in February). This is a great opportunity for the community to have input into the design considerations, either via the council or directly to the district at the Community Conversation for this project.

The Community Conversation will be held on Monday, November 19, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Schmitz Park Elementary School. A second Community Conversation will be held during the week of January 21 (details forthcoming).

At the short (1-hr.) GSNC meeting last Thursday evening, those in attendance came up with the initial list below of desired features for the new Genesee Hill school. Additional ideas may be submitted to gsncouncil@gmail.com by 5 p.m. Sunday, November 18.

The GSNC requests, after the jump:Read More

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West Seattle schools: K-5 STEM partners with Arbor Heights, Schmitz Park in $50,000 contest – and your votes are needed!
November 12, 2012 2:26 pm
|      10 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Voting is open today in the latest online contest for school grants – and there’s a West Seattle entry in this one. K-5 STEM at Boren – aka West Seattle STEM Elementary – is in the running for a $50,000 prize in the “Power a Bright Future” contest. WS STEM is partnering with Arbor Heights Elementary and Schmitz Park Elementary in hopes of getting the money for projects such as a tablet-computer lending library. Voting will continue till December 19th, and you can vote by text and online once (each way) per day – as explained on the STEM PTA website. You can vote online (but note, you will have to register) by going here; easiest way to vote is via text message – just text 2646pbf to 95248.

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Video: State Supreme Court Justice Steven González @ Sealth
November 9, 2012 10:30 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

A high-profile visitor at Chief Sealth International High School today, on the last day of school before the three-day Veterans Day weekend: State Supreme Court Justice Steven González. In our short video clip, he introduces himself to Sealth 9th graders, whose visit was scheduled as part of their studies of free speech, according to teacher Luke Azinger – he arranged the visit along with fellow Language Arts teacher Heather Griffin:

Justice González was appointed to the Supreme Court this past January, and was unopposed on last week’s ballot after winning more than 50 percent of the vote in the August primary.

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West Seattle High School Band to march in Macy’s Holiday Parade
November 9, 2012 7:02 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

(October 28 photo by Nick Adams for WSB)
Going to the downtown parade the day after Thanksgiving? More local participants to cheer for! From the brand-new edition of Westside Weekly, the online newsletter for West Seattle High School:

On Friday, November 23rd, come cheer on the WSHS Band as they march in the Macy’s Holiday Parade in downtown Seattle. The parade begins at 8:45 am. What a great way to start the holiday season!

That’s the latest high-profile gig for the newly resurgent band, which also led the costume parade at the first-ever West Seattle Junction Harvest Festival (photo above). P.S. If you’re going to be in the Macy’s parade, please let us know – editor@westseattleblog.com – so we can be on the lookout for even more West Seattleites!

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West Seattle schools: K-5 STEM mascot, colors, hoped-for name
November 9, 2012 12:32 pm
|      14 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

West Seattle’s newest public school has chosen its mascot, colors, and hoped-for name. The K-5 STEM PTA shares the news that principal Dr. Shannon McKinney made the announcement this morning: Their mascot is the owl; their colors, blue and green; and they will ask the district to approve the name West Seattle STEM Elementary. In the photo from the PTA website report, that’s Dr. McKinney at right with Heidi Baughman, the parent who designed the new logo she and the principal are holding.

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West Seattle High School students on the run – to help!
November 9, 2012 6:33 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle High School students on the run – to help!
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Here’s a different way to raise money while running/jogging – not a 5K, but an ongoing event. West Seattle High School PE teacher Sylvia Hahn explains “Monday Runday”:

Every other Monday, students participate in a twenty-minute jog that serves quite a few purposes. It contributes to the recommended 60 minutes of activity per day for a person. It helps to build upon cardio respiratory endurance, which in turn can create healthy habits for the future and help prevent cardiovascular disease. Yet, in our classes, we have another purpose related to this 20-minute jog.

For each lap that each student runs, they have chosen to fund a non-profit entity within our West Seattle community that helps animals. I have chosen the non-profit Kitty Harbor as our recipient of the funds raised throughout this semester. For each lap I will donate ten (10) cents out of my pocket to Kitty Harbor.

So far, students have raised over $183. I am rounding that number to $200 and will be making our first donation this weekend, November 10th. My hope is that parents/guardians and other community members will be willing to donate, along with these hard working students, to Kitty Harbor. You can do so by visiting their website at www.kittyharborseattle.org. Thank you so much!

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