West Seattle, Washington
28 Thursday
Seattle Public Schools has just announced a principal change at West Seattle’s Madison Middle School. Dr. Jill Hudson is moving to Nathan Hale High School; assistant principal Henterson Carlisle will become its interim principal. Read on for the full news release, which begins with separate news of a districtwide Executive Director of Special Education:Read More
Thanks to a neighbor’s tip, we broke the news back in April that, two years after the district closed it, Fairmount Park Elementary would reopen for summer school this year. Now, we’ve now from the summer session site coordinator (principal), Angela Sheffey, who says teachers arrive Wednesday and students start next Monday – she wanted to share some data points with the community:
1. Summer school will be in session daily from July 1st to July 30th.
2. The school hours will be 8 AM to 1 PM.
3. We will have approx. 350 students attending summer school.
4. The faculty will need all of the (small) parking lot parking, as well as the street parking.
5. Please report any and all suspicious activity to the police @ 911
Sheffey says the students who will be at Fairmount Park are all grade-schoolers – second, third and fifth grade, to be specific. As for what’ll happen to the building – hit recently by break-ins – in the future: We reported last week that the city has provided opinions regarding possible uses of this closed school and 7 others citywide (including Genesee Hill and E.C. Hughes in West Seattle). The School Board, incidentally, meets Wednesday, with an agenda including a final vote on the sale of Jefferson Square “air rights” to the company that had been leasing them for the apartments over the shopping center.
Though school’s out for Seattle Public Schools, hot issues take no break – like the Student Assignment Plan (which passed one vote last week but still has many details to work out, such as boundaries for schools’ attendance zones). If you’ve got concerns, questions, ideas – West Seattle’s School Board rep Steve Sundquist is having another public coffee hour, 9 am this Wednesday, Uptown Espresso in The Junction. (Hours after that gathering, by the way, the full board has a “workshop” to discuss the assignment-plan boundary-drawing along with “capacity” issues – public’s invited to sit in, albeit without a comment period, 4-8 pm Wednesday at district HQ.)
(The first South Seattle Community College students to graduate with a Bachelors of Applied Science degree in Hospitality Management: Heidi Engeset, Criselda Hermano, Andrea Kwok, Lisa Mantle, Jamilah McWilliams, Khin Naing, Marilyn Peredo, Jaimie Schutter, Soledad Strubhar ,William Schwartze, Celia Waddell. Their instructor and faculty adviser: Tom Mayburry)
Story and photos by Kathy Mulady
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
In the sea of deep blue caps and gowns at South Seattle Community College graduation ceremonies tonight, a small clutch of students stood out, wearing black gowns and waving a banner featuring a pineapple, the symbol of hospitality.
The 11 students are the first to graduate with bachelor’s degrees earned at SSCC – in this case, the Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Hospitality Management.
The program that allows community colleges to award four-year degrees in specific subjects started three years ago.
The hospitality graduates included Soledad Strubhar, winner of one of just three President’s Medals awarded at South Seattle Community College this year.
After last night’s announcement at the Seattle School Board meeting (WSB coverage here) that the district would “recall” 57 of the teachers citywide who’d been told they would be laid off, we asked for specifics on which schools would see cut teachers restored. The district communications team has just provided a spreadsheet with numbers per school – while saying the district would do its best to restore the teachers to the positions they’d previously held. No names or teaching specialties attached, just current school names and numbers at this point, and these are the only West Seattle schools listed: West Seattle High School – 4 recalled; Lafayette Elementary, 1 recalled; Cooper Elementary (which closes after tomorrow), 1 recalled.
“DUMP THE PUMP DAY”: Area transit agencies say today’s the day to take a bus, ride a bike, walk, carpool, anything but drive alone. Side note: Just looked up our D-the-P Day item from last year. It notes that gas at a certain station was about $4.33, while on the same date in 2007, it was more like what it is now, just under $3. (P.S. We just might see you today on the King County Water Taxi.)
SOUNDWAY “VACATION” TO DESIGN COMMISSION: Why the Water Taxi, you ask? We’re expecting to head downtown for a Seattle Design Commission review at 11 this morning at City Hall – seems terribly appropriate this one’s happening on “Dump the Pump Day,” because it involves greenbelt once targeted for roadbuilding that never happened, the “Soundway” property in the West Duwamish Greenbelt. For this to officially be preserved as greenbelt, its once-planned streets/alleys have to be officially “vacated,” and the SDC has to off on those. (Here’s the agenda.)
ALSO AT CITY HALL: The next big campaign forum is at 5 pm tonight, presented by the City Neighborhood Council. City Council candidates are in the spotlight this time.
SOUTH SEATTLE COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS MAKE HISTORY: Tonight’s SSCC graduation at Brockey Center, 7:30 pm, includes the first 4-year graduates from its Hospitality Management program.
Also from the Seattle School Board meeting: The long-awaited Student Assignment Plan, which will transition the district from “choice”-focused school attendance to neighborhood-focused school attendance starting in fall 2010, has just passed 6-1 (Mary Bass was the lone “no” vote) – after the same vote approved an amendment by board member Sherry Carr creating a transition time so that fewer families face the possibility that siblings will wind up having to attend different schools. Here’s the plan, pre-amendment; here’s Carr’s amendment. ADDED 10:48 PM: While this phase of the plan does not specify boundaries, there’s a board “work session” scheduled next Wednesday (June 24), 4 pm at district HQ, to discuss “how boundaries are drawn” (p.s. for those who’ve asked, yes, that meeting is open to the public, though there’s no comment opportunity). ADDED 11:34 PM: The official district news release just came in – read on to see it:Read More
We’re monitoring the Seattle School Board meeting (live on cable channel 26), where budget boss Don Kennedy has just said they’re cutting the number of teachers they expect to lay off – 103, instead of 160 – districtwide. No word yet what that means to West Seattle schools, but we’ll be checking. $5 million in restored funding is what he said is making this possible – $3 million from the lifting of “restrictions” on “stimulus” money, and most of the rest from savings during the district hiring freeze this year. 8:05 PM UPDATE: Superintendent Dr. Maria Goodloe-Johnson says principals notified the “recalled” teachers today. ADDED 8:29 PM: Here’s the PowerPoint that Kennedy presented, including information about the teacher “recalls.” And the district has just sent an official news release – read on:Read More
Just received from the Seattle Public Schools communications team, a letter that they say is being sent to all Denny Middle School families, in the aftermath of the attack that sent a 12-year-old boy to the hospital (we were first to report the incident; here’s our most recent story). Here’s the full text of the letter:
June 17, 2009
Dear Denny Students and Families,
I want to share with you information regarding an incident that has affected our school community. I am sending you this letter to update you on the facts and to assure you that we are doing everything we can to support our students and provide for their safety.
On Monday, June 15, an incident occurred during lunch time. Student A swung a backpack at Student B. The backpack hit Student B in the head causing Student B to lose consciousness. The Seattle Fire Department and Seattle Police Department were immediately contacted. The injured student was subsequently transported to the hospital. Fortunately, that student was able to return to school the next day. The Student A has been assigned the appropriate consequence in alignment with school district policy. The Seattle Police Department is currently conducting an investigation into the incident.
I do want to alert you that some media reports regarding this incident are not consistent with the facts as we currently understand them to be. As a result, I would like to assure everyone that all of us at Denny Middle School remain very committed to providing an academically challenging environment here at school—where every student is safe both emotionally and physically. As a reminder, if anyone ever has any information relating to bullying or other potential conflicts that students are experiencing, please share that information immediately with school staff. We will follow up with the appropriate next steps right away.
Sincerely,
Jeff Clark, Principal
Friday’s the last day of school – and Monday’s the first day of Basketball Camp at Chief Sealth High School – for students who will be in the 2nd through 9th grades this fall. Sealth’s incoming athletic director Sam Reed just e-mailed a reminder about the camp (here’s the story we published in April); you can see the brochure here, and he notes you can even sign up at the door Monday morning. That’s not the only sports camp in West Seattle this summer – we’ve also published notes on our Announced page about West Seattle High School basketball camp (details here), WSHS volleyball camp for middle- and high-schoolers (details here) and Lee’s Martial Arts summer camps (details here). Got a West Seattle summer camp with room? Let us know!
STUDENT ASSIGNMENT PLAN: Two years in the making, the new Student Assignment Plan — the Seattle Public Schools framework for deciding which students go to which school — comes up for a key School Board vote tonight. Linked from the meeting agenda, here is the entire SAP, Part One. One point of concern is its policy regarding siblings – here’s an excerpt:
• After both parts of the assignment plan, including attendance boundaries, are approved, the next step will be development of a transition plan. The transition plan will provide specific information for families prior to the next Open Enrollment period.
• The transition plan will include procedures so entry grade siblings and older siblings have the opportunity to be assigned to the same school (which may be the new attendance area school) if requested. This does not assure assignment of the entry grade sibling to the older sibling’s current school.
If the parent/guardian indicates that the priority is to have the siblings attend the same school and space is not available at the older sibling’s current school (or for both siblings at any other schools requested), the siblings will be assigned to the new attendance area school.2
The attendance boundaries for each school, if you’re wondering, have NOT been drawn yet – that’ll come later. Also on tonight’s agenda, the $500,000 sale of part of Jefferson Square, as repeatedly reported here earlier this spring (here’s the document that’s linked from tonight’s agenda). The meeting begins at 6 pm, district HQ in Sodo; if you can’t be there but want to send feedback to school-board members, contact info’s here.
DELRIDGE DISTRICT COUNCIL: 7 pm, Youngstown Arts Center. Wondering what this meeting is really about? Delridge Neighborhood Services Coordinator Ron Angeles explained it best in a recent e-mail announcement of the meeting:
In the City of Seattle, citizens are encouraged to participate in city government and one of the most effective ways of getting involved in through your District Council.
In 1987, the Seattle City Council established the District Council system as a way of soliciting input and advice from citizens on city-sponsored programs and initiatives.
This month the Delridge Neighborhoods District Council will have on its agenda a presentation by Andrea Petzel, Senior Land Use Planner, Seattle Department of Planning and Development, on the proposed legislation to establish more backyard cottages in Southwest Seattle. And a presentation by Erin Taylor, who is representing the Lower Duwamish Waterway Group (LDWG), a group of partners (City of Seattle, King County, Port of Seattle, The Boeing Company) coordinating cleanup of the Lower Duwamish Waterway.
As customary, all Neighborhood Organizations and Groups will have an opportunity to give reports and announcements of activities, programs, and events going on in Delridge.
Please feel free to bring a neighbor, friend, student, co-worker … with you.
FIRST DAY OF THE LAST WEEK FOR SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS: With a few days tacked on to make up for time lost pre-winter break during Snowpocalypse (flash back six months), Friday is the last scheduled day.
AFTER-SCHOOL ACTIVITY – HENNA IN HIGH POINT: 3 pm today, “Hands-On Henna” at High Point Library. More here.
HOUSING LEVY, SECOND-TO-LAST COUNCIL CONSIDERATION: You’ll see it on the ballot this fall, provided nothing unexpected happens today (2 pm) or next Monday as the next seven-year housing levy finishes making its way through the Seattle City Council. All the fine print is here.
MAD CITY CHICKENS: As previewed on Sunday – Sustainable West Seattle is presenting a screening you can see for, well, chicken scratch ($3 suggested donation, Youngstown Arts Center, 7 pm).
Just days left to go in the school year for Seattle Public Schools. That means year-ending events abound – including one-of-a-kind events like the closure celebration Saturday at the Genesee Hill building that’s been the longtime “temporary” home to Pathfinder K-8, which is moving to the Cooper School building on Pigeon Point. As the photos above and below show – memory-sharing was a big part of the Genesee Hill event:
Also on Saturday, Arbor Heights Elementary drew crowds for its carnival – thanks to teacher Mark Ahlness for sharing photos:
Mark noted, “The streets were jammed with cars and the school and playground with happy families enjoying a beautiful day! The Carnival is an annual fundraiser sponsored by our PTSA (arborheights.wikispaces.com/AHPTSA).”
All three major West Seattle high schools have now sent their 2009 graduates out into the world, after Chief Sealth High School‘s commencement ceremony earlier this afternoon at Seattle Center’s Memorial Stadium. (Our video shows some of the grads acknowledging family and friends as they enter the stadium.) [photo added 8:36 pm]
This is the first of two classes finishing their high-school years at Sealth’s temporary location at Boren; the school is scheduled to be there one more year while renovation work is completed and a new Denny Middle School is constructed on the campus. (West Seattle HS and Seattle Lutheran HS graduated Thursday night; here’s our coverage.)
MORGAN JUNCTION PARK DEDICATION: 10 am today, right before the Morgan Junction Community Festival, which is happening in and around the park 11 am-6 pm. The park’s been open a couple months just north of Beveridge Place Pub, on the former Fauntleroy Auto Works site once tabbed for a monorail station. (More on the festival shortly – we’ll be there all day, reporting “live.”)
GOODBYE, GENESEE HILL: The elementary school building atop the hill had already been closed once when it was reopened to serve as “temporary” home to West Seattle’s only public alternative school, Pathfinder K-8. More than a decade later, the district is closing it again and moving Pathfinder to the Cooper building in Pigeon Point. The Pathfinder community is leading a closure ceremony/commemoration 10 am-2 pm today.
CHIEF SEALTH HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION: Members of the Chief Sealth Class of 2009 end their high-school years with a commencement ceremony at 1 pm. This year, it’s at Memorial Stadium at Seattle Center, same place West Seattle HS had its graduation two days ago.
For more of what’s happening around the peninsula today, see the West Seattle Weekend Lineup.
(video no longer available due to blip.tv shutdown)
After both the West Seattle High School and Seattle Lutheran High School commencement ceremonies on Thursday night, we published photos here – now we’re adding video. Above, it’s the WSHS Class of 2009 — 265 grads — on the field at Memorial Stadium (here’s our earlier coverage on their Awards Night); below, members of the SLHS Class of 2009 (45 grads) doing the wave while waiting to enter the gym for their ceremony:
(video no longer available due to blip.tv shutdown)
Since our photographer got a little closer to the SLHS grads, he noticed special detail work on some of their caps, like this:
And here they are in the gym:
The SLHS ceremony, by the way, was streamed live online! Graduations yet to come: Chief Sealth High School on Saturday, and two ceremonies at South Seattle Community College next week (schedule here).
Tonight both West Seattle High and Seattle Lutheran held their graduations. Here’s two quick pictures. The first is from Memorial Stadium, where the WSHS graduation took place. The second features the Seattle Lutheran class of 2009 waiting to make their grand entrance.
Later we’ll be adding an update that includes highlights of the West Seattle Art Walk, the grand opening of the new art studio and birthday space at Curious Kidstuff, and the Fraternal Order of Eagles Band performing at The Kenney.
That’s Mandy Greer in a shot we captured on Delridge Day May 30th, as she continued adding to the crocheted river she’s creating as part of Mater Matrix Mother and Medium, art to be installed later this month at Camp Long. And that’s where you’ll find here today, noon-4 pm, as she invites anyone and everyone interested to join her in crocheting more of the rest of her work. That’s not today’s only art event:
WSB sponsor Click! Design That Fits is one of the 40-plus stops on tonight’s West Seattle Art Walk, 6-9 pm, with a “fresh” theme – read about it here. For the full list of Art Walk stops, check out the official website; here’s a direct link to the printable map. And while you’re in The Junction, remember tonight is the grand opening for Curious Art Kids and Curious Party Kids at Curious Kidstuff (WSB sponsor), 6-8 pm (with cupcakes!) – read more here. Finally, for hundreds of West Seattle teenagers and their families – this will be remembered as graduation night:
That’s a photo from the 2008 West Seattle High School graduation at Memorial Stadium (Seattle Center downtown). That’s where WSHS’s Class of 2009 will graduate at 5 pm tonight; then at 7:30 at the Seattle Lutheran High School gym, the SLHS Class of ’09 has its commencement. (Here’s a full list of West Seattle-linked graduations taking place over the next week.) This is just part of what’s happening today/tonight – check out the WSB West Seattle Events calendar for more (including the Alki Idol finals!).
(2008 WSHS ceremony @ Memorial Stadium, where WSHS and CSHS both graduate this year)
Just in case you were wondering:
WEST SEATTLE HIGH SCHOOL: 5 pm tomorrow, Memorial Stadium at Seattle Center.
SEATTLE LUTHERAN HIGH SCHOOL: 7:30 pm tomorrow, SLHS gym.
CHIEF SEALTH HIGH SCHOOL: 1 pm Saturday, Memorial Stadium at Seattle Center.
MIDDLE COLLEGE (NON-TRADITIONAL), SOUTH CAMPUS: 7 pm next Wednesday (6/17), Brockey Center at SSCC.
SOUTH SEATTLE COMMUNITY COLLEGE: 7:30 pm next Thursday (6/18), Brockey Center at SSCC
And since of course many West Seattle teens attend other schools; here’s the full list of Seattle Public Schools graduation dates/times/places.
As we’ve reported in coverage of the upcoming court hearing on the challenge to the Cooper Elementary School closure, those who’ve brought the case are asking for supporters to join them in court this Friday. Joy Anderson just sent their flyer with information on two buses that have been arranged to offer transportation downtown – see it here. The hearing on the “motion for summary judgment” is at 10:30 am Friday, King County Superior Court Judge Greg Canova‘s courtroom. (Previous stories, with links to legal documents from both sides, are here and here.)
Even with graduation coming up Thursday night (5 pm at Memorial Stadium) and summer vacation around the corner, things haven’t slowed down at West Seattle High School, where local professionals answered the call again to judge competition among Michelle Sloan‘s marketing students. This time, the competition on Monday included photography and fashion merchandising as well as marketing. Gatewood’s own New York Vinnie brought the video camera to show the scene, and Highland Park’s Dina Johnson shared a whole gallery of photos (see them here) – including these two:
Some of the volunteer judges also helped out two weeks ago (here’s our followup on that). Thanks again to those who stepped forward, and speaking of volunteers, be sure to get in your nomination for recognition of West Seattle’s unsung heroes – deadline June 17!
You can’t have a farewell party without a cake. That’s one of two we saw this afternoon while stopping by two celebrations we had previewed – first, the one for Ingrid Olsen-Young, the popular veteran preschool teacher at South Seattle Community College Co-Op Preschool who’s leaving for Walla Walla. “Teacher Ingrid” agreed to take a quick break from mingling with well-wishers to pose with friend Janet Ko (thanks again to Janet for help with our preview story):
The party was, of course, at SSCC, Brockey Center to be precise; photos were shown on the big screen, and albums were out for perusal:
Now a bit northwest to Pigeon Point, where Cooper School‘s “closure celebration” opened the school to visitors this afternoon, 4 months after the School Board vote to end the Cooper Elementary “program”:
Outside, kids got the chance to bounce:
Cooper Elementary classes continue until Seattle Public Schools‘ last day of the year on June 19; between now and then, the legal challenge brought by closure opponents (first WSB story here, followup here) gets a hearing next Friday.
By Kathy Mulady
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
On her last day teaching at the co-op preschool at South Seattle Community College, Ingrid Olsen-Young was holding her ink stamp, ready to place a happy message on the hands or tummies of the tots in her class, a ritual at the end of each day.
Suddenly she stopped and smiled. The little tummies were already stamped — each with a simple “thank you.”
Sunday, the “thank you” will be a little more elaborate as 20 years of preschool students gather to honor Ingrid with a farewell reunion at the Jerry M. Brockey Center on campus from 2 to 5 p.m.
“Losing Ingrid is kind of devastating,” said Margaret Pyfer. “She personally cares about each family. She truly cares about each child.”Read More
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