West Seattle, Washington

21 Sunday

61℉

West Seattle schools 5795 results

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):

Read More

Share This

1st girls-soccer ‘Battle of West Seattle’: Madison over Denny
November 17, 2012 9:41 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   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.

Share This

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:

Read More

Share This

Happening now: Early Christmas spirit at 1st Seattle Lutheran bazaar
November 17, 2012 2:47 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   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.

Share This

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.

Read More

Share This

Video: Denny-Sealth concert includes tribute to crash victims
November 15, 2012 8:27 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   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).

Share This

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.

Share This

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.

Share This

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

Share This

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.

Share This

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.

Share This

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!

Share This

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.

Share This

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!

Share This

West Seattle schools: BEX IV levy plan finalized; on to February vote
November 7, 2012 7:26 pm
|      29 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

7:26 PM: After months of meetings and revisions, the Seattle School Board has just unanimously approved the project list for the $695 million BEX IV levy they will send to voters in February, including expanding and renovating Fairmount Park Elementary to reopen in 2014, building a new Schmitz Park Elementary on the Genesee Hill site to open in 2015, and building a new Arbor Heights Elementary to open in 2018.

There were no amendments proposed before the vote but the list that passed (see it here) included the extra language we have reported here in the past few days – clarifying that the current Schmitz Park Elementary will be kept open as a school (either neighborhood or option, said assistant superintendent Pegi McEvoy tonight) and that the district will rebuild AH sooner if it can figure out a way. The levy will go to voters February 12th, as will the district operations levy also finalized tonight; between the two, they’re asking voters for $1.2 billion, acknowledged board president Michael DeBell, saying, “This is a bold package. We’re asking for a lot of money.” Tonight’s public speakers, pre-vote, included Vicki Schmitz Block and son Dietrich Schmitz, thanking the board for responding to the family’s request that the current school, on a site their family donated to the district decades ago, remain in operation as a school.

ADDED 8:10 PM: The district’s official news release, ahead:Read More

Share This

First-ever alumni basketball games ahead for Chief Sealth Int’l HS
November 7, 2012 3:04 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

The night after Thanksgiving – in other words, two weeks from Friday – Chief Sealth International High School plans its first-ever alumni basketball games. And the school is looking for more alums to be part of the big event. Here’s the announcement shared by athletic director Sam Reed:

– November 23, 2012 will be the date for the inaugural Chief Sealth alumni basketball game. In what hopes to become an annual event, the Nels Enquist Alumni Basketball Game will feature a number of former Seahawks in celebrating the school’s rich basketball history.

Both a men’s and women’s game is scheduled for that Friday evening at the Chief Sealth International High School gym, and will be played in succession with the traditional intersquad scrimmage for the current boys and girls teams that kicks off their respective seasons.

Read More

Share This

West Seattle Crime Watch: Arbor Heights Elementary computers stolen; plus, 3 reader reports
November 6, 2012 10:14 am
|      11 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Starting off this West Seattle Crime Watch report: Arbor Heights Elementary students are without several new computers because of a burglary. It was discovered early yesterday; we got a tip about it last night but weren’t able to get details until this morning. Det. Mark Jamieson with Seattle Police media relations says a school staffer discovered the burglary at 7:15 Monday morning and showed the responding officer how the burglar(s) had removed a louvered vent from the classroom door to get in – though the report says they’re not sure how the burglar(s) got into the school itself. The vent was taken as evidence in hopes it’ll yield fingerprints. The report lists the stolen items as four or five Apple computers that were new at the start of the school year (they were still taking inventory for followup paperwork when the officer filed his report); older computers in the same room were left behind.

We also checked with Seattle Public Schools, whose spokesperson Teresa Wippel says the school’s alarm was tripped at 3:53 am Sunday – “security responded immediately but didn’t find any signs of a break-in from the outside so left.” Then the staff discovered the missing computers when they arrived on Monday. SPS is still checking for us on how or whether the computers will be replaced.

Also in Crime Watch, three recent reader reports – all ahead:Read More

Share This

Another BEX IV list tweak: Current Schmitz Park school’s future
November 5, 2012 9:32 pm
|      15 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

It’s a question that’s been asked by many, including its namesake family: What will happen to Schmitz Park Elementary if the BEX IV levy passes and it moves to a new, to-be-built school on the current Genesee Hill site? The Schmitz family, which donated the site to Seattle Public Schools decades ago, has told the board in a letter and in person that it wants to see the current SP building remain a public school. Today, a new notation on the BEX IV project list (see it here) linked from the updated agenda for Wednesday’s board meeting reflects that. The entry for Schmitz Park now says:

Schmitz Park Elementary @ Genesee Hill with repurposing of Schmitz Park building for elementary seats

That still doesn’t say whether it would become a new neighborhood school or perhaps the yet-to-be-designated home for the new K-5 STEM elementary currently, temporarily housed at Boren on Delridge. (No change to the new language we have already noted regarding Arbor Heights Elementary’s rebuild scheduled for 2018 but “earlier if feasible.”) We’ll be checking tomorrow, and we’ll see what happens when the board takes its vote this Wednesday (meeting starts 4:15 pm at district HQ, public comment at 5, and this will be one of the items after that, probably post-6 pm).

Share This

Final draft before school-levy vote: Arbor Heights Elementary rebuild ‘earlier if feasible’
November 4, 2012 9:00 pm
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

If you are interested in speaking at this Wednesday’s School Board meeting, before board members’ final vote on the project list for the BEX IV levy that goes to voters in February, you need to call or e-mail starting at 8 am tomorrow (as explained here). The agenda is available online now, and it contains the final levy draft, pending any amendments proposed Wednesday. Here’s what’s in that draft (see the list here) for West Seattle:

*Expanded/renovated Fairmount Park Elementary to open 2014

*Rebuilt Schmitz Park Elementary at Genesee Hill site to open 2015

*Rebuilt Arbor Heights Elementary to open 2018, with the added language “or earlier if feasible” (district officials have said they could explore alternative financing, but not until after the levy passes)

*Roof work at Gatewood Elementary

*Earthquake-safety work at Alki, Gatewood, Lafayette, Roxhill Elementaries

The levy would collect almost $695 million over six years, as noted in the full text (which you can read here). Tuesday’s agenda also includes the proposed final vote on the $550 million operations levy that would go to voters in the same election next February (resolution text here). Here’s the full agenda for Wednesday’s board meeting, which starts at 4:15 pm – with public comment at 5 – at district HQ in SODO.

Share This

West Seattle schools: Schmitz Park students donate Halloween candy
November 4, 2012 11:10 am
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Those boxes photographed at Schmitz Park Elementary contain 700 pounds of candy collected after Halloween. The SP P.E. teacher, Carole Sealey, organized the drive for “Operation Stocking Stuffers,” with beneficiaries including troops serving away from home during the holidays. Ms. Sealey says, “The kids did an amazing job and I am so proud of them.”

Share This

High-school football: Senior Night for Seattle Lutheran HS
November 4, 2012 4:54 am
|    Comments Off on High-school football: Senior Night for Seattle Lutheran HS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

(Photos by Nick Adams for WSB)
At West Seattle Stadium on Friday night, it was Senior Night for the Seattle Lutheran High School football team — our area’s last regular-season game of this year’s high-school-football season. While they didn’t come away with a win against visiting Tacoma Baptist – which went home the winner, 46-8 – it was a memorable night, with much to cheer for:

Eleven more game photos by WSB contributing photojournalist Nick Adams, ahead:

Read More

Share This

High-school postseason: Sealth, WSHS volleyball finales
November 3, 2012 4:52 pm
|    Comments Off on High-school postseason: Sealth, WSHS volleyball finales
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

The postseason has come to an end for West Seattle’s two biggest high schools, after one last round of play.

Both Chief Sealth International High School (above) and West Seattle High School (top) played their final games of this postseason Thursday night in Bellevue. Neither won, but both had seasons to be proud of. WSB contributing photojournalist Nick Adams was at the games at Sammamish High School, and we have a few last looks at the hard-hitting athletes:

Read More

Share This

Election 2012: Not old enough to vote, but they hope you will
November 2, 2012 9:46 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Gatewood | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

A message for you from Gatewood Elementary students, forwarded on their behalf by teacher Darren Radu (who also shared the photo):

We are 4th grade students of Team Mt. Si at Gatewood Elementary. Our big goal is to have a positive effect on the systems in our world. We’ve been studying the electoral system and watching the election. Did you know that many people who can vote forget to or choose not to? Today we did some service to encourage people who think that it’s not important to vote. What happens in elections affects all of us because the people who are elected make big decisions and create our laws.

We walked from Gatewood to Morgan Junction while we were holding up our signs. We did a bunch of chants like, “when I say vote, you say ‘for America’!’. We chanted: “Vote! For America!” A lot of people honked and waved at us as we marched and chanted. People were interested in what we were doing. Many people told us that they already voted and we cheered for them.

We made signs and showed people that we kids care about the election. We can’t vote because we’re all little, but we’re encouraging our elders to vote. We think it’s a shame that not everybody votes who can. If we could vote, we definitely would!

We hope that you can help us spread the word about why voting is important.

Thanks!

The 4th Grade Students of Team Mt. Si
Gatewood Elementary

Share This