West Seattle High School culinary students will meet a TV chef next month, when Maneet Shauhan comes to campus to judge a cooking contest. Word comes from the Seattle Public Schools website. The event is set for 1:30 pm May 8th, and will feature three ProStart students who “will compete in the 40-minute cooking challenge to create an entree that represents contemporary American cuisine.” Shauhan’s achievements include serving as a judge on the Food Network show “Chopped” and having been the first Indian woman to appear on “Iron Chef.” The announcement says the winning student gets a chance at a trip to a competition in Washington, D.C.
This fall – probably around October – one big question should be settled for West Seattle’s trailblazing STEM elementary school: Its permanent home.
That’s what the Seattle School Board’s West Seattle rep, Marty McLaren, told us last night at the school’s current home, the former Louisa May Boren Junior High School that sprawls along the 5900 block of Delridge Way SW.
But the school’s staff and families aren’t waiting for that big decision to map out their future. That’s why McLaren was at the school last night, in fact – watching and listening as its community went public with the first draft of a five-year strategic plan, and invited the first round of feedback.
That feedback came in the form of sticky notes added to the huge yellow scroll of paper representing the envisioned timeline, posted along the biggest wall of Boren’s cavernous cafeteria. In our top photo, teacher Craig Parsley stands alongside the timeline during the presentation he led, laying out what were described as “the building blocks of a project-based-learning school.”
All the individual touchpoints along the timeline – and everything from the slide deck that started last night’s presentation – is published on the K-5 STEM PTA website; see it here.
But that doesn’t cover everything seen and heard by the more than 50 people in attendance last night – including hints of future hopes even bigger than a timeline might contain:
West Seattle High School‘s varsity baseball team played Franklin on Tuesday afternoon to make up for the game rained out last Friday. Greg Slader shares the photos and recap:
11-2 was the score of the game and is also West Seattle’s record in Metro League play. Three games left in the Season and they have the inside track to Metro Sound Division first place. In today’s makeup game with the Quakers, TK Snow #18 (top photo) pitched 4 & 2/3 innings holding Franklin to two runs on five hits. Spencer Elder made a rare appearance on the mound to close it out. The team hit well, with RBI doubles by Tim Adams, Spencer Elder, Sam Hellinger and Cameron Slader. Next game is Wednesday @ Chief Sealth, 3:30 pm.
That’s Tim Adams #24 catching a fly ball with the WS softball team plays on the other field in the background. (Unfortunately, we don’t have the score on that game, nor do our partners at The Times. But the schedule shows they play Sealth today, too!)
Spring sports got another dose of spring sunshine today – the state’s #2-ranked varsity soccer team, the Chief Sealth International High School Seahawks, hosted their division rivals Ingraham on this sunny Tuesday, and came away with a 3-1 win.
Our partners at The Seattle Timespublished the scoring summary here. Sealth’s next game is at home too – 4 pm Friday, hosting Eastside Catholic.
An extra-innings loss on Monday for West Seattle High School‘s varsity baseball team – 4-3. The summary and photos are courtesy of Greg Slader (thank you!):
In a battle of aces, West Seattle found themselves down 0-3 in the sixth inning when Cameron Slader #6 (top photo) hit an RBI double into the gap. Morgan McCullough #3 followed with another hit as the varsity team tied Eastside Catholic through seven innings 3-3. But Eastside was able to score in the top of the eighth inning to hand West Seattle their second league loss on the season. Sam Hellinger pitched Seven innings for a no decision, Cameron Slader went 1-2, RBI, run scored, walk; Morgan McCullough (next photo) went 1-3 with two RBIs:
Next game is Wednesday @ Chief Sealth (Southwest Athletic Complex) – 3:30 pm.
This time last year, the first families to seek enrollment at K-5 STEM at Boren were getting word of their assignments. Now, as the trailblazing public school goes into the final months of its first year, the K-5 STEM school community is ready to look ahead at its strategic plan, to be presented by staff members, with time for feedback to follow. If yours is a K-5 STEM family now – or planning to be next fall – you’re invited; 6:45-8:15 pm at the school (5950 Delridge Way SW); more info here.
Preschool options in West Seattle include community-center-based programs, like the one Wendy wants you to know about:
Bright Beginnings Preschool is operated by the Associated Recreational Council in partnership with the Seattle Parks and Recreation. We are located in the Hiawatha Community Center and serve children ages 3 through 5 years of age, with a teacher-child ratio of 1:8. We provide a safe, happy, healthy, learning environment that fosters a love of learning for all the children in the program. Our program meets the developmental needs of young children, focusing on emotional, social, physical, and cognitive skills. The children in the program are provided with rich environments with fun-filled learning areas, consistent schedules and routines, large and small group times, and outdoor play.
Bright Beginnings Preschool is currently accepting enrollment for the Fall 2013/2014 school year. Please contact the Preschool Director with any questions, or to set up a tour of the program – 206-321-3187 or wendy.westover@seattle.gov.
If you like to plan ahead – Our Lady of Guadalupe School is looking right now for adult volunteer tutors who can help out starting this fall. Here’s the request:
Adult volunteer tutors are needed in the fall for OLG School’s after-school tutoring program. The program meets on most Wednesdays of the school year from 2:15-3pm and pairs tutors with 1-2 students in grades 1-5. Tutors help students with reading, math, and/or writing skills.
The school has a strong need for math tutors for grades 4 and 5, but needs other grades and subjects as well.
Previous experience helpful but not required. Training is provided. Called to Protect and background check are both required.
For more information please contact Katie Bucy, Early Intervention Specialist, kbucy@guadalupe-school.org , 206-935-0651 extension 127 or visit this website.
The program has been in existence since the fall of 2000, and serves approximately 50 students each year.
(Morgan McCullough hits the ball)
Yet another win for the division-leading West Seattle High School varsity baseball team – 17-2 over Franklin on Wednesday afternoon at Hiawatha. Thanks to Greg Slader for the photos and summary:
Ben Wexler (photo above) gets the win by pitching 4.1 innings, with nine strikeouts, holding the Quakers to two runs. The varsity team started off strong, adding four runs in the first inning thanks in part to Sam Hellinger’s continued hot Hitting – 2 for 2, 2 doubles, and 3 RBI. The rest of the team contributed to the offense, as they continue to hit well. The Quakers get another chance on their home turf, Rainier CC, Friday @ 3:30.
Generosity’s breaking out all over West Seattle – and starting at a very young age! Renée Metty from The Cove School sends word of a big gift from her little students:
The Cove School delivered 2 barrels of toys and clothes for Treehouse for Kids. Our Junior K visited Treehouse last month so they could see where their donations would go and to see what Treehouse needed. The Junior K decided to run a drive for Jeans and toys for our school. The whole school brought in donations and our Junior K went back (Friday) to deliver the items. In addition to basic items like food, clothing and toys, The Cove School is committed to contributing time and talents. As one of our values, generosity is one of the core elements to success.
Treehouse provides advocacy and assistance for foster children.
(Sam Cook, WSHS #30, getting ready to hit)
Second win in a row on Friday for West Seattle High School‘s baseball team over Rainier Beach – this time 13-0. Greg Slader shares the photo and summary:
West Seattle varsity baseball adds to their division lead, now 8-1 in league play. On a very cold and wet day, the entire team contributed to Westside’s effort to complete the sweep of Rainier Beach. Wexler, Rex, & Snook combined for Five innings of shutout pitching. Sam Hellinger hit a long home run into the trees, and the rest of the team added to the offense for 13 runs in Five very cold innings. Did I mention it was cold? ‘ Next game is on Bainbridge Island , Monday @ 3:30.
Gatewood Elementary School held their Second Annual Science Fair Palooza last night, starring 83 students with 62 projects! WSB contributing photojournalist Nick Adams captured the scenes. Above, children play with fog from a mix of water and dry ice; below, a crowd gathers around to watch Samera Mroczkowski make a bubble out of dry ice and water during the Gatewood Science Fair Palooza. “I wanted to do something unique, I was nervous at first that it wouldn’t work,” said Mroczkowski.
Gatewood teacher Charlene Higuchi looks over the science project “dog body parts and how they work.” Students Clarie Jacobson, Alexandra Robelo, and Isabella Bryant worked on the project.
Above, 4th grader Virag Carlile-Kovacs‘ poster of different plant dyes and which plants and materials worked the best.
A red-light glows from the power of lemons at “Lemon Power,” a science experiment by Andews Hood.
Gatewood teacher Jeffery Case talks with Sean McCormick about his science experiment of meaning the speed and distance of a rocket with three variables.
Gatewood teacher Mike McCormick praises Dominic Tatro for the accuracy of his data for his project wingless D. Melanogaster development. When asked what he plans on doing with the fruit flies, Tatro answered “I’m going to feed them to my poison dart frog.”
A carnation that has turned blue after absorbing food coloring from its water for a project by Amelia Vegors to see which flowers would absorb the most coloring.
(Screenshot from home page of new website)
If you attended West Seattle High School – the WSHS Alumni Association has news for you: A brand-new website! Jim Biava (Class of 1971) shares the announcement about what you’ll find there:
ATTENTION, WEST SEATTLE HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI! You can now access our new website with our own Social Network. It’s awesome! Check out the site at (officially) www.wshsalumniassociation.org however you can get there a variety of ways, one being www.wshsaa.org. Check it out the site! There is too much to mention here but the main Menu tabs, full of information, include Scholarships, Reunions, Hall of Fame, Merchandise and other links to videos. The Alumni Chinook will be on there soon too including Archived Editions. Wow there’s a lot of great stuff and more being added!
A couple video slideshows will be added to the site after this year’s All School Reunion, which will premiere a show of Westside High’s History and how we are all connected through time and space. The video slideshow contains more than 600 photos from 1920 through 2012. Are you in any of them? Seriously, are you immortalized in the video? Check it out at this year’s All School Reunion on June 7th, starting at 5 pm at the school.
Who are those people in West Seattle High School’s Hall of Fame? Find out in a video slideshow about the members of the Hall of Fame presented in a way that you’ve never seen before also to be added to the site after its premiere at the ASR. There is even a cutting-edge Alumni Social Network within the site. I’ve talked with some who buy WSHS merchandise from for-profit sites pretending to be the West Seattle Alumni Association, thinking they are helping out our own. Now you can get your high-quality WSHS gear made by West Seattle Grads, made in West Seattle, for West Seattle. The proceeds benefit your Alumni Association.
I can go on and on but just go check it out for yourself and sign up for the Social Network – free and exclusive (password protected) for WSHS Alumni only. Go see who’s already a member. Check it out and then pass the word.
As spring-sports season continues, with just two months left in the school year, we’ve been tracking a few of the sports – and just got word of another one: Parent Lynda Eronimous e-mailed to let us know about Chief Sealth International High School‘s junior-varsity lacrosse team. She says it’s a partnership between Supersonics Lacrosse and Sealth, started this year “under the coaching of Scott Pattinson, who started SuperSonics Lacrosse two years ago. This is a very young team with kids from across Seattle coming together to play under the Chief Sealth name. They are always looking for more players and have equipment to loan to those that may not have any. Their season is underway and would love more crowd support at their upcoming home games played at SWAC on SW Thistle.” Lynda says you can check them out the next three Fridays at home, 6:30 pm tomorrow (April 12th) vs. Kennedy Catholic JV; April 19th at 6:30 pm vs. Mount Si JV; and 6:30 pm April 26th vs. Skyline’s C team. The Sealth team has a Facebook page, too.
Thanks to Roxhill Elementary‘s award-winning librarian Pat Bliquez for sharing this report and the accompanying photos:
Roxhill kindergartners left school this week with a smile on their faces and a colorful, handmade hat on their heads. It was “hat week” in our kindergarten classes where students read “hat stories” (The Magic Hat by Mem Fox and What a hat by Holly Keller) and created artwork with a hat theme. The hats were a gift from Kristine Dembiczak of Kent, Roberta Martin of West Seattle, Roxhill librarian Pat Bliquez, and teachers Anndrea Beaty and Mary Elizabeth Ezenwaka.
It took approximately an hour and a half to make each hand loomed hat. Each hat was unique: one sported a pom pom, another a crocheted bow; another was accented with sparkly thread. This is the third year that Roxhill kindergartners have participated in “Hat Day,” a tradition started by Ms. Kristine Dembiczak and now expanded to other volunteer hat loomers.
The Roxhill community especially wants to thank Kristine and Roberta for the generosity of their gifts of time and creativity.
“West Seattle enjoyed a Day at the Beach” is how Greg Slader began his report on the division-leading WSHS baseball team’s 28-0 Wednesday win over Rainier Beach HS. He continues:
The weather cleared up enough for a baseball game, as West Seattle added to their lead in first place. Everyone hit, everyone played, as the team put up a season-high 28 runs. Graham French (#25, top photo) hit a home run to deep center field – 380 feet. Andy Snook (#16, next photo) drove in several runs:
TK Snow pitched a complete game (five innings), giving up only one hit. Next game is Friday against Rainier Beach, 3:30 pm @ Hiawatha.
Thanks again to Greg for sharing recaps and photos from the WSHS games!
Another win for the West Seattle High School Wildcats! Greg Slader shares photos and toplines (thank you!) from this afternoon’s victory:
Timely hitting and outstanding pitching keeps West Seattle top of the Metro Sound Division with a 6-4 win over O’Dea.
Sam Hellinger (#20, above) pitched a complete game – 7 innings, 9 strikeouts, five hits, and four runs earned. Bobby Swamy (#23, top photo) had two hits, two runs scored, and Tim Adams (#24) hit a two-run homer as the offense outpaced O’Dea. Next game is Wednesday, 3:30 pm, @ Rainier Beach.
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.
Though their playing season is still a ways off, Chief Sealth International High School‘s football team is keeping busy. They’re joining in Seattle’s Walk MS next weekend and asking you to support the cause on their behalf. Here’s the message Sealth head football coach Luther Carr asked us to share:
This annual walk is a community service event organized throughout the country to increase awareness and fundraise for the research of Multiple Sclerosis. Multiple Sclerosis is an autoimmune disease that affects the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system). This condition affects millions worldwide. Some of the symptoms of those with this condition experience periods of numbness, loss of sensitivity, muscle spasms, loss of speech, fatigue, and blindness. Episodes can occur without warning and without any inciting factors lasting days, weeks or months. I personally decided to get involved because a friend lost his sight in one eye as a result of MS. Early and ongoing treatment with an FDA-approved therapy can make a difference for many people with Multiple Sclerosis. To learn more about MS go to nationalmssociety.org. To learn more about WALK MS Seattle 2013, go (here).
Walk MS 2013 is a great opportunity for Chief Sealth High School football players. They are fundraising for a worldwide condition that affects millions, and has no cure. They are also learning the act of service! As an added benefit, each player will also earn community service credit hours needed to graduate from Seattle Public Schools.
No donation is too small or too large, says Coach Carr – you can donate through the CSI team page by going here.
West Seattle High School‘s baseball team is atop its division and celebrating its latest win, 11-1 over Nathan Hale on Friday afternoon. Thanks again to Greg Slader for game photos and summary:
The varsity baseball team returned home for a rematch against Nathan Hale after Wednesday’s loss. Ben Wexler (#28, top photo) pitched a complete game (six innings) with five strikeouts and one earned run. Graham French (#25, photo below) added to the offense with a double and two runs scored as the team hit very well and scored 11 runs in six innings.
Next WSHS baseball game is also at home, so it’s your next chance to go cheer the team on: Monday against O’Dea, 3:30 pm at Hiawatha (next to the school).
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