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No permanent home yet for K-5 STEM at Boren: ‘You will be somewhere’
January 15, 2013 9:47 pm
|      35 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Almost one full year after the Seattle School Board voted to create a new STEM (science, technology, engineering, math)-focused elementary in West Seattle, the district has not yet chosen the school’s permanent home – and district leaders indicated tonight that almost a second full year is likely to pass before a decision.

They spoke at a meeting of the PTA for the school that’s officially known as K-5 STEM at Boren – after the Delridge Way building where it’s currently housed – though the school calls itself West Seattle STEM Elementary.

Names and definitions were at the heart of the evening’s tension, too; the district still sees STEM education as a “program,” it was clear from district administrators, which is a big reason why they had nothing concrete to say regarding where the students, staffers, and family who see themselves as a school will be in the future. And the more than 50 people in attendance were warned not to expect any decisions before fall, meaning that another round of families choosing K-5 STEM will be making a leap of faith without knowing where their children might be educated a few years down the line.

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West Seattle High School basketball: Split night vs. Bainbridge
January 15, 2013 3:33 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle High School basketball: Split night vs. Bainbridge
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

In Monday night high-school basketball, both of West Seattle High School‘s varsity teams played host to Bainbridge HS. Head coach Sonya Elliott‘s girls won, 44-35;
game stats are here. But it was a one-point loss for head coach Keffrey Fazio‘s boys:

Final score Bainbridge 51, WSHS 50; game stats are here. The boys-varsity team plays again tonight (Tuesday), visiting Cleveland High School, 7:30 pm; the girls will be there the same time the next night (Wednesday); both host Ingraham on Friday, 6:15 boys, 8 pm girls.

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Sister cities, sister schools, sister athletes: Chongqing Nankai visits Chief Sealth International High School for historic game
January 13, 2013 12:45 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

(Nankai’s Zhang Yuheng with the ball)
Photos by Nick Adams
Story/video by Tracy Record
for West Seattle Blog

It’s not your ordinary high-school basketball game when you make your entrance greeting your opponents as warmly as your teammates …

(Sealth #11: Zoe Haywood)
… hugging them afterward …

… or when the mayor shows up, shows off ball-spinning skills to the home team’s principal, then stays for the whole game…

(Mayor Mike McGinn with Sealth principal Chris Kinsey)
… or when lion dancers take the floor before tipoff.

… or when your band plays two national anthems:

Or, when you’ve crossed an ocean to get to the gym! That’s the big reason why hoopla and hoops mixed at Chief Sealth International High School‘s gym on Saturday night, with the girls basketball team from Sealth’s sister school Chongqing Nankai, in Seattle’s Chinese sister city, joining the Seahawks for a “friendship game.” While it was close in the early going, the Nankai girls pulled away and eventually won 57 to 40. Here’s video of the final minute-plus:

Far more than just the basketball action will put this game in the history books. See why, with more photos and video, ahead:

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High-school basketball: Sealth-Nankai tonight; plus, Friday roundup
January 12, 2013 2:04 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

International high-school basketball tonight – and updates on last night’s games – in this roundup. First, the Sealth and Nankai (China) teams are getting ready for tonight’s international friendship game:

They had a clinic at Sealth this morning, with former Sonics player James Donaldson as a guest expert:

Tonight’s event is more than basketball – there’s also a lion dance and mayoral greeting – tickets on sale when doors open at 6 at Sealth’s gym.

Meantime, Sealth, WSHS, and Seattle Lutheran all played varsity basketball games last night – girls and boys – reports ahead:

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Next week: K-5 STEM PTSA discusses school’s permanent home
January 10, 2013 9:33 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Where will the new K-5 STEM at Boren eventually find a permanent home? While a recent school-board briefing suggested the district is looking at the former EC Hughes Elementary – now home to Westside School, which is seeking to buy its own site in Arbor Heights – the STEM community has its own ideas, and plans to discuss them at their PTSA meeting next Tuesday night (January 15), 7 pm in the Boren cafeteria. The district’s executive director of southwest region schools, Carmela Dellino, will be there, as will West Seattle’s school-board rep Marty McLaren. The STEM PTSA site has more info, here.

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Tonight: Student variety show to benefit Children’s Hospital
January 10, 2013 9:10 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Chief Sealth International High School students Chloe Behar and Tia Collins have organized a student variety show as their senior project, benefiting Children’s Hospital, and are hoping you can come enjoy and support it tonight: “Doors open at 6:30 and the fun will start at 7 at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center! There will be numerous acts from around our school … and the community. There will also be food available for purchase! This is to support a great cause. Thank you so much.” More details on the complete version of their flyer; Youngstown is at 4408 Delridge Way SW. (More on what’s up today/tonight, later this morning.)

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Followup: South Seattle CC’s AANAPISI center now open
January 8, 2013 11:52 pm
|    Comments Off on Followup: South Seattle CC’s AANAPISI center now open
 |   Puget Ridge | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

(Photo by SSCC’s Glenn Gauthier)
Thanks to South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsor) for sharing that photo from today’s grand-opening celebration at the new Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPISI) center, highlighted in our “West Seattle Tuesday” morning roundup. SSCC communications director Kevin Maloney explains, “The AANAPISI center staff provides culturally appropriate student services to support and assist students in achieving their educational goals and increase the mobility of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in higher education.” Joining in the ribboncutting were SSCC president Gary Oertli and college-system chancellor Dr. Jill Wakefield, who are on the left side of the photo with SSCC student Mathew Apelu, while at right is Kendee Yamaguchi, executive director of the Washington State Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs. The new center is on the second floor of the SSCC Library.

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Resolved to be more helpful in 2013? Go to school(s)!
January 8, 2013 3:08 pm
|    Comments Off on Resolved to be more helpful in 2013? Go to school(s)!
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

EDITOR’S NOTE: We often publish requests for volunteer help – and over the years, some have asked, what about a regular feature listing such needs? Fauntleroy resident Judy Pickens, who volunteers her time and talent to a variety of endeavors including local schools, is gathering and reporting information on volunteer needs at West Seattle schools where the need is greatest, and shares it here periodically.

By Judy Pickens
Special to West Seattle Blog

If you have resolved to help more in the community during 2013, area schools invite you to consider investing a couple of hours a week (or more!) to boost student learning.

Whether the task is tutoring math or putting up bulletin boards, every school volunteer makes a difference, for both students and teachers. An e-mail to the address given will bring you more information about any of the following opportunities to lend a hand during the new year:

At Highland Park Elementary (1012 SW Trenton)
Contact stpaolone@seattleschools.org

Ongoing: Adults or high-school-aged students to support classroom teachers with tasks such as listening to students read or copying/cutting; varies by teacher/grade – your choice. Pick any hours on any day, 9 AM-4 PM.

Ongoing: Adults or high-school-aged students to tutor students in a reading/math club. Mon., Tues. or Thurs., 3 PM – 4:30 PM.

********

At West Seattle Elementary (6760 34th SW)
Contact smtaylor@seattleschools.org

Ongoing: Adults to tutor fourth graders eager to improve their reading skills. 1-3 PM any day.

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West Seattle Preschool Fair next Monday: Reminder for families, and last call for schools
January 8, 2013 9:00 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Preschool Fair next Monday: Reminder for families, and last call for schools
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Looking for a preschool – or expecting to be in the market for one soon? More than a dozen local preschools are expected to be part of next Monday’s fourth annual West Seattle Preschool Fair, presented by the WS Preschool Association. Its president Renée Metty of The Cove School tells WSB there’s still room to includelocal preschools who aren’t already signed up. Most of those on the list so far are half-day programs, she says, but a few offer before- and after-school care. Tomorrow is the deadline for schools to sign up – e-mail info@westseattlepreschoolassociation.com or call 206-923-2683. As for prospective families – it will be free to attend the fair, and children are welcome, according to Metty. It will be open 5:30 to 7:30 pm on Monday (January 14th) at St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church, 3050 California SW (just south of West Seattle High School).

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Update: Arbor Heights Elementary burglarized again
January 7, 2013 10:04 am
|      28 COMMENTS
 |   Arbor Heights | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

FIRST REPORT, 10:04 AM: For the second time in two months, Arbor Heights Elementary has been burglarized. Seattle Police spokesperson Det. Mark Jamieson tells WSB the break-in was discovered after an alarm went off around 5 am; officers found a door, hinge pins removed, propped open on the south side of the school, and started searching. Though the final report isn’t in yet, so far, it appears that one classroom was broken into and “a couple computers removed,” according to Det. Jamieson. That’s also what happened at the school two months ago, as reported here November 6th, though we don’t know yet if it was the same classroom. We have an inquiry in with Seattle Public Schools, seeking more details. (Thanks to the WSB’er who tipped us to this by reporting police were seen at the school early today.)

11:50 AM UPDATE: District spokesperson Teresa Wippel says this is not the same classroom as the November break-in mentioned above. So far, they know “at least two Apple computers” were taken this time. The alarm tripped at 4:52 am, and the call got to police within minutes, but the burglar(s) were gone.

4:29 PM UPDATE: More information from SPS’s Wippel: Four computers were stolen today, worth $1,800 each – $7,200 total – “And no budget to replace them. The four stolen last November weren’t replaced either. (Principal) Christy Collins said the kids ‘feel violated’.”

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West Seattle schools: 68 attend Denny’s Winter Break Academy
January 6, 2013 8:10 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

(Math teacher Gary Lai with students; photo courtesy Denny International Middle School)
Classes resume tomorrow at Seattle Public Schools campuses, including Denny International Middle School, whose administration shares this report of another Winter Break Academy in the books:

Wednesday, January 2nd through Friday, January 4th Denny International Middle School held its annual Winter Break Academy. Teachers, students, staff, and volunteers spent three days engaged in skill building work in math and literacy. The camp had 68 Dolphin scholars attend.

Denny teachers and staff showed great teamwork, flexibility, and effort as they worked with our students to practice skills in math, reading, and writing. Students practiced math equations and word problems, assessed their reading skills, analyzed different genres of text, and honed their critical thinking skills.

Denny ended the week with 62 scholars being eligible for the field trip to Skate King for having exceptional attendance during the camp. Students worked hard during the week in order to demonstrate their skill level and growth in math and literacy. Denny would like to thank all staff members, volunteers, Community In Schools, Seattle Parks and Recreation, and volunteers for making this a successful academy for our scholars.

SIDE NOTE: While the just-concluded winter break was two weeks as usual, mid-winter break is different for Seattle Public Schools starting this year: It’s a 4 1/2-day break instead of the previous full week; students will get out three hours early on Thursday, February 14th, be off Friday through Monday, then return on Tuesday, February 19th.

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High-school basketball: ‘Biggest win … in 15 years’ for WSHS boys, & other Friday games
January 5, 2013 5:31 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

A one-point win for the West Seattle High School boys-varsity basketball team topped a full Friday night slate, with WSHS and Chief Sealth International High School boys and girls teams all playing on their respective home courts, and Seattle Lutheran High School‘s two varsity teams on the road. First: WSHS boys varsity. Our photo above is from the early going; the game was won in the final seconds, according to this report from Coach Keffrey Fazio:

The West Seattle Boys Basketball team improved their record to 5-5 on the season with a clutch home win last night against number-five-ranked Franklin Quakers, 70-69. Senior LaTrey Newsome made two game-winning free throws with three seconds left to seal the deal for the Wildcats. Newsome finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds. West Seattle was powered by senior Jimi Martin, who finished the game with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Also for the Wildcats, junior DeAndre Love finished with 19 points and seven rebounds. This win is arguable the biggest win in WSHS basketball in 15-plus years.

The Wildcats travel across town to face Rainier Beach on Tuesday (1/8/13) 7pm, and then back home against O’Dea Friday (1/11/13) 6 pm.

Before the boys’ game, the WSHS girls faced Franklin.

They fell, 55-38.

Meantime, the girls varsity at Sealth emerged with a Friday night win, 49-36 over Nathan Hale (stats here), but the boys’ team was defeated, 43-38.

Finally, the Seattle Lutheran games at Tacoma Baptist, both losses for the Saints: 27-21 in the girls game, 46-42 for the boys.

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South Seattle Community College reveals ‘Gifts from the Earth’ lineup
January 2, 2013 2:48 pm
|    Comments Off on South Seattle Community College reveals ‘Gifts from the Earth’ lineup
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsor) is famous for its food and beverage programs (among other things), so there’s no surprise its Gifts from the Earth benefit on January 26th features a lineup of star chefs and well-known wineries. Just out of the WSB inbox, the official announcement – read on:

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‘Battle of the Bands’ voting time: Chief Sealth is Seattle’s sole rep
January 1, 2013 4:10 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS culture/arts

Voting started today in the KJR Radio “Battle of the Bands” competition – and Chief Sealth International High School is this year’s only Seattle entry. Above, Sealth’s official video – watch it for the choreography as much as the music! This is the third year that Sealth is competing, and they’re hoping to top their previous finishes (2nd last year, 6th in 2010) – because the big prize is $10,000, which goes a long way for a school program. Look for Sealth on this KJR webpage, where you can vote daily from now through the 18th.

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High-school basketball: West Seattle HS tournament report
December 29, 2012 2:53 pm
|    Comments Off on High-school basketball: West Seattle HS tournament report
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

Winter break often means road trip – and so it is with West Seattle High School‘s boys-varsity basketball players, who just wrapped up a tournament. Thanks to new head coach Keffrey Fazio and staff for this report:

The West Seattle High School Boys Basketball team participated in the 2012 Findlay Las Vegas Prep Championship basketball tournament (12/26-12/28).

The team played four games and finished with a record of 2-2. All four teams that the Wildcats drew were from the state of California. The team was led by 6’4″ senior LaTrey Newsome. He averaged 13 points per game during the tournament.

West Seattle also had strong tournament contributions from senior DiAndre Jackson and junior DeAndre Love, who both averaged 10 points per game during the tournament.

The Wildcats travel home Sunday, and will begin to prepare for a key league game vs. Franklin, Friday, January 4th at 745 pm at West Seattle High School.

Chief Sealth also is at a winter-break tournament, in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and we’ll be checking on how that’s going.

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Sealth soccer players to coach younger students at camp next week
December 29, 2012 9:00 am
|    Comments Off on Sealth soccer players to coach younger students at camp next week
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

Middle-school or 9th-grade soccer player in the house? Next Wednesday-Friday (January 2-4), they’re invited to join a student-athlete-led soccer camp at Chief Sealth International High School. The camp, to run 9 am-noon each of those three days, is intended:

… to prepare younger students for the level of play that high-school soccer requires. It will cover basics, fitness, and what it’s like being a high-school athlete. The camp will be directed and coached by current Chief Sealth Varsity Soccer players, and supervised by a member of the coaching staff. These player coaches will be able to demonstrate the drills and actively coach and play alongside the kids.

The camp is being organized by Sealth varsity-soccer team member Mori Tsuchiya, and it’s for both boys and girls, with the fee just $10 for all three days, according to the official brochure, which contains many more details. Since the camp is just days away, please RSVP by e-mail to Sealth athletic director Sam Reed at sjreed@seattleschools.org as well as to the student organizer at mori.tsuchiya@comcast.net – you can sign up the first morning of camp, but they want to know you’re coming!

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Winter break fun: Sign up ASAP for WSHS Mini Cheer Camp
December 26, 2012 11:59 pm
|    Comments Off on Winter break fun: Sign up ASAP for WSHS Mini Cheer Camp
 |   Fun stuff to do | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Last June, Bev Corey shared that photo from the West Seattle High School Cheerleaders‘ Mini Cheer Camp for elementary-age students – and now they’re planning another one, coming up a week from Saturday; there’s still time to sign up:

The West Seattle Cheerleaders will be holding a Mini Cheer Camp Saturday, January 5th in the West Seattle Gym from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm.

K-5th grade kids will have a great time learning fun cheers and making crafts with the Westside cheerleaders. Campers will receive a T-shirt, pom poms, official team hairbow, picture of themselves with the cheerleader of their choice AND perform as an honorary West Seattle Cheerleader at an upcoming home basketball game!

The cost of this camp is $40. Registration paperwork and payment are due by December 31, 2012. Space is limited so register early to ensure your spot.

Contact Bev Corey at 206-423-5450 or coreym_b@comcast.net or Christina Ruzzine at caruzzine@seattleschools.org if you have any questions.

The registration form is part of the official brochure/flyer – which you can find here.

UPDATE: The form link has changed because of some problems – so if you tried before and had trouble give it another try! – and Bev says the deadline is now extended to January 2nd.

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International basketball game ahead! Nankai to visit Sealth
December 26, 2012 6:05 pm
|    Comments Off on International basketball game ahead! Nankai to visit Sealth
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

Big international sports event ahead: The Nankai girls’ basketball team from Chongqing, China, is coming to Seattle and will play the Chief Sealth International High School girls on January 12th. It’ll be a cultural celebration as well as a sports event, with a halftime Lion Dance and a pre-game program with Mayor Mike McGinn. Ticket sales ($5 students aged 7 and up, $7 adults, sold only at the door that night) will benefit a Seattle-Chongqing student-exchange program as well as Sealth girls’ basketball. Mark your calendar! Doors will open at 6, program will start at 6:30, then it’s tipoff time at 7.

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Designing a new school: Notes on the Genesee Hill site plan
December 26, 2012 10:30 am
|      10 COMMENTS
 |   Genesee Hill | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

If you’re not on the Genesee-Schmitz Neighborhood Council e-mail list – or otherwise involved in the process, you might not know they’re sharing early updates from discussions about the new school to be built on the Genesee Hill Elementary site and opened in fall 2015 (assuming funding is approved by voters in the February vote on the Seattle Public Schools BEX IV levy). This morning’s GSNC update includes notes from a meeting earlier this month, outlining how the current site will be used:

On Dec. 15 (which happened to be the day after the Newtown, CT, school tragedy), the School Design Advisory Team (SDAT) met to explore possible layouts for the new elementary school to be built on the Genesee Hill site. A variety of possibilities were explored, and the design was narrowed down to one for the architects to further explore and assess from a feasibility and cost standpoint.

Here is a summary of what was included in this design (apologies that it is a text description, but no drawings or plans are currently available):

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West Seattle holidays: Eat, drink, be merry … and read!
December 23, 2012 1:30 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

We’re reminded that besides “eat, drink, and be merry,” another good holiday exhortation is: Read! Kids from Gatewood Elementary got in that spirit with a brisk stroll to a Morgan Junction coffee shop on Friday; principal Rhonda Claytor shared the photo and report:

Students from Gina Frazzini’s class at Gatewood Elementary had a reading celebration at Starbucks (Friday). The students walked to Starbucks to enjoy a book and a hot cocoa. It was a great way to start a great book for the Winter Break! Thank you, Starbucks!

Yet another reminder – we’ve compiled holiday hours (Christmas Eve/Day and New Year’s Eve/Day) for coffee shops around West Seattle (and a couple in White Center), in case you’re looking for a place to read – or just to get your favorite beverage – see the list here.

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West Seattle schools: Posada celebration at Denny
December 21, 2012 11:57 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Holidays | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Though school’s out now for two weeks, students and families returned to Denny International Middle School tonight for a tradition – the Posada Navideña celebration, with music, dancing, potluck food, and fun. Decorations, too, including the snowman collection set up in the cafeteria:

The first-ever Denny Posada was back in 2010 (WSB coverage here), organized by the Denny PTSA as a multicultural celebration for a multicultural school, rooted in the Latin American pre-Christmas Las Posadas tradition.

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Jazzy night on campus: Denny, Sealth winter concert #1
December 21, 2012 1:15 am
|    Comments Off on Jazzy night on campus: Denny, Sealth winter concert #1
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS culture/arts

Thanks to Denny International Middle School principal Jeff Clark for photos from Thursday night’s Denny/Sealth winter jazz concert at Chief Sealth International High School – above, the Denny jazz band; below, Sealth’s Jazz Band II (JB I performed as well). He writes:

The jazz musicians of Denny and Sealth did a fantastic job performing at our Winter Jazz Concert. Under the skilled direction of Mr. Marcus Pimpleton and Mr. Jorge Morales, our scholars shared their musical skills and talents to the delight of all in attendance!

Other Sealth and Denny ensembles have winter concerts coming up next month.

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Another principal change for Lafayette Elementary
December 20, 2012 5:36 pm
|      48 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

(WSB photo of Shauna Heath making an entrance aboard a fire engine at Lafayette’s first assembly of the year)
Seattle Public Schools just announced that another elementary principal from West Seattle is being promoted to management downtown – this time Lafayette Elementary‘s newest principal Shauna Heath, after just a few months. Here is what was sent to Lafayette families late today:

>Dear Lafayette Elementary community:

Today I’m announcing a leadership change at Lafayette. Your principal, Shauna Heath, has been appointed Executive Director for Curriculum and Instruction. In her new role, Ms. Heath will oversee Early Learning, College and Career Readiness and core content areas.

I know Lafayette staff and families went through a principal search process last summer, and I understand it is a hardship to have a leadership change mid-year. But we need Ms. Heath’s leadership to help all of our nearly 50,000 students. Congratulations to Ms. Heath, and I know she will be missed at Lafayette.

Birgit McShane has been appointed interim principal. This is effective Jan. 7, and Ms. Heath will be available to ensure a smooth transition. Ms. McShane is a long-time educator and retired principal. She is a graduate of Seattle Public Schools and spent more than 30 years as an educator in the District – including serving as the principal at Graham Hill Elementary and Daniel Bagley Elementary — before retiring in 2006. She also recently served as interim principal at Leschi Elementary when the principal was on maternity leave.

We will move quickly to form a hiring committee. Carmela Dellino, Executive Director of Schools for West Seattle, will attend the Jan. 17 PTA meeting, along with our Human Resources staff, to gain parent input regarding desired qualities of their principal. We will also meet with Lafayette staff next month.

We will also draft and send out an electronic survey to gather additional input from families. We hope to post the position by Jan. 21. A team of staff and family members will interview candidates, with a first round of interviews completed by the end of February. Our goal is to have someone in place by the end of March.

I recognize that leadership change creates a distraction in the school. But I am confident the Lafayette staff will ensure strong teaching and learning continues during the next several months.

Sincerely,

José Banda

Lafayette is the second local elementary this year to see its principal moved up into district management; Carmela Dellino – mentioned in the memo above – became executive director of Southwest Region schools after serving as Roxhill’s principal until earlier this year. Heath’s predecessor at Lafayette, Jo Lute-Ervin, was there just one school year, as the successor to Virginia Turner, who had led the school for seven years before that. Lafayette is the most populous public elementary in West Seattle, with about 550 students at last count.

P.S. Thank you to the WSB’ers who forwarded this announcement to make sure we had seen it. Meantime, turns out the announcement about Heath is part of a larger districtwide leadership announcement – read on for the superintendent’s memo on that:Read More

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