West Seattle schools 5683 results

Just published by our citywide-news partners at the Seattle Times – an update on the state’s list of “lowest-performing” schools. Three Seattle Public Schools are on the list, and the only one in our area is West Seattle Elementary. According to the Times, Seattle Public Schools plans to send letters home to parents. And WS Elementary will get a new principal, because of the district’s plans for dealing with “lowest-performing” schools – if a principal at any such school has been there longer than two years, as has Gayle Everly, the district will replace them. The designation also means that the school may be eligible for a federal grant; the district has until the end of this week to apply. (Two months ago, we covered an at-times-contentious meeting in High Point at which local parents faced district leaders with their concerns, mostly about WS Elementary.) 2:39 PM UPDATE: We’ve now received the district’s news release about all this – focused on the grant possibilities – read on:Read More

Seattle All-City Band hits the road today for a TV tryout

March 1, 2010 6:07 am

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That’s the Seattle All-City Band, performing at the first-ever Band Jam at Southwest Athletic Complex in West Seattle last summer. The student musicians are from all over the city, but they’re led by Marcus Pimpleton, the renowned music man from Denny International Middle School and Chief Sealth High School. Last night, band members rehearsed at Denny to get ready for a road trip today: They’re headed to Portland to try out for the “America’s Got Talent” TV show. We got the tip from Carrie Hewitt, who says someone from the show saw an online video of the ACB and invited them to come try out – this is the second day of a two-day round of tryouts in Portland. Good luck!

Seattle Public Schools “open enrollment” starts tomorrow

February 28, 2010 4:32 pm

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The new Student Assignment Plan for Seattle Public Schools means that starting next school year, thousands of students get default assignments to what the district has designated as their “neighborhood schools.” However, you can still request a different school – and the official period for doing that starts tomorrow. Here’s the info on the SPS site. ADDED 9:58 PM: The district is having several outreach events at which you can get help with the application process; in West Seattle, there’s a session planned 5:30-7 pm March 8 at Delridge Library.

West Seattle schools: Alki parents’ “prom”; Lafayette arts assembly

February 28, 2010 2:45 am

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS culture/arts

We’ve got photos from unique events involving two West Seattle elementary schools: First, Saturday night was Prom Night at Kenyon Hall, for Alki Elementary parents (and friends) who wanted to party like it was the ’80s all over again. Thanks to Kristina for the tip; she explained it’s an Alki fundraiser, with tickets sold at the recent benefit auction. We went over for a couple photos, intrigued by the promise of “big hair, some crazy ’80s music … satin, tuxes with shiny cummerbunds, and the like … a great time with a lot of laughter, and it’s all in the name of helping our kids!” Four promgoers paused to pose – from left, Laurie, Susan, Doreen and Linda:

Also this morning, photos from a special assembly at Lafayette Elementary on Friday – courtesy of Luckie:

She says Boxtales Theatre Company from Santa Barbara, California, enchanted the students (and others!) with stories from afar, including Mexico, Puerto Rico and Cuba. The photo above is from the Mexican story “La Calavera” (Lady Death). The performers also showed some of their masks to Lafayette students:

Luckie adds, “The Lafayette PTA budgets each year for arts assemblies, and this is the first one of the 2009-10 school year. Next, we will have the Grail Theatre of Britain, in June. Yay PTA!”

Tough start in tournament, but Chief Sealth has 1 more chance

February 26, 2010 8:26 pm

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At Bellevue College in the Sea-King 3A district tournament, the Chief Sealth High School boys’ varsity basketball team played a tight first half, but their inability to hold onto the ball in the second half let the Sammamish Totems overtake them for a 46-39 win tonight – our clip is representative of how things went:

Throughout the first half, the game was tight, and the score was tied 22-all at halftime. But the second half saw the Seahawks score only nine points until late in the fourth quarter. Sammamish took advantage of Sealth’s spotty passing and rebounding to go on a 9-point run. High scorer for Sealth was Tomas Ogbaslassie with 14 points. Sealth gets one more chance, with a Tuesday game against whomever loses the game that followed theirs – Bellevue vs. Seattle Prep (it’s still in the 1st half; periodic updates at @seatimespreps).

West Seattle school news: “Hearty” jumping at Lafayette

February 25, 2010 10:26 pm

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After school today at Lafayette Elementary, students got to jump not only for joy, but also to help others – it was the annual Jump Rope for Heart event, which happens around the country as a fundraiser for the American Heart Association. Not just jumping – a little careful balancing, too:

Thanks to Edgar from Captive Eye Media for the photos!

West Seattle school news: Seattle Lutheran students’ surprise

February 23, 2010 1:00 pm

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A high-school gym looking more like a carnival? In the middle of a weekday? That was the scene we found at Seattle Lutheran High School north of The Junction late this morning – as the students romped during CHAD (Crazy, Happy, Awesome Day). Always a surprise – they didn’t know they wouldn’t have classes today until it was announced over the P/A system in the 9 o’clock hour. From there, it was off to the gym for inflatable games including an obstacle course and surfboard ride; Bil Hood tells us Wii and XBOX rooms were planned too. Red Star Pizza was delivered for lunch, and once the inflatables came down, the gym was turning into a movie theater.

Video: Music and mentoring at Denny midwinter break music camp

February 21, 2010 5:07 pm

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Tomorrow, it’s back to school for Seattle Public Schools students (among others) after a week of midwinter break. About 100 students spent four days of the no-classes week at Denny International Middle School in West Seattle, which offered a music camp for 4th through 8th graders again this year. Our video clips are from the week-ending recital at Denny on Friday afternoon. Music director Marcus Pimpleton told the audience that a hallmark of the camp was having the young musicians – who numbered more than 70 – mentored by high-school volunteers (more than 30!). You can see a few of the mentors in this clip of the steel drummers:

The high-school volunteers were from Chief Sealth and Roosevelt High Schools. Click ahead for two more clips from the Friday afternoon recital, including one student group with a ’70s classic:Read More

West Seattle help for Haiti: 2 successes, and a new request

February 20, 2010 2:36 am

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| How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS culture/arts

STUDENTS HELPING HAITI: From left, Lafayette Elementary student council representatives Anna Goldberg, Alyx Hastings and Quinn Gerberding. Proud Lafayette principal Virginia Turner says they “conceived of, publicized and organized the fundraising effort” that brought in $1,460 for Haiti relief — the council sponsored the collection. Lafayette teacher Kent Ferris worked with the students to help them make it happen. Another big announcement:

ARTISTS HELPING HAITI: Last weekend, we brought you a progress report during West Seattle artist/entrepreneur Stephanie Hargrave‘s art sale to raise money to help Haiti. She now has the final numbers: $17,031 raised during the one-day sale! It’s going to Partners in Health, Doctors Without Borders, and Mercy Corps. Stephanie took the above photo of all the art in her studio during the sale, and adds: “My two friends who were instrumental in the effort and worked tirelessly are West Seattleites Anne-Marie Meredith and Bronwyn McNutt.” She also included a full list of the artists who participated by donating work – see that list (with information on how to contact the artists – web links or phone/e-mail) here.

NEW WEST SEATTLE HELP FOR HAITI: Kari Robins e-mailed to say:

I am a West Seattle resident and a high school teacher. I am going to be traveling to Haiti this summer with Global Volunteer Network. I will be working with orphaned children and homeless women. I want to raise money to help offset the cost of travel and participating in the program.

I will be working with children, youth and women within two camps; Pinchinat and Kay Wolf. These camps have more than 3,000 people who became homeless after the quake. I will be helping to run education classes for children as the schools have been closed down until September.

I am looking for community support to help offset the expense and to maximize my time down in Haiti.

Read more about the type of work she’ll be doing, by going here; to e-mail her with questions and/or help, kari.robins@hotmail.com.

High-school basketball: Chief Sealth loses title game, but moves on

February 19, 2010 7:58 pm

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From Seattle Pacific University, where we covered the game via Twitter (@wsblive), the boys’ varsity basketball Metro League title game final score: Rainier Beach 51, Chief Sealth 34. But the Seahawks are still in the district playoffs, which start next week. We’ll add the recap and video here soon.

SUMMARY AND VIDEO ADDED 8:55 PM: Friday night, Chief Sealth found out that it’s not easy to hang onto the ball when you play Rainier Beach. Beach pulled away from Sealth early on in the second quarter and never looked back as the Vikings beat Sealth 51-34 to take the Metro League championship.

While the Seahawks managed to rebound the ball fairly well in the first half, they had a great deal of trouble shooting throughout the game. None of their players managed to make it into double digits on the night. The only player who got close was Tomas Ogbaslassie, with nine points. Also the teams’ foul-shooting percentage, which had been a strong point for them against Prep last Wednesday, fell off dramatically against Rainier Beach. Sealth converted fewer than half their free throws.

One of the high points for Sealth came in the second Quarter when senior Daniel Davis put up a three-point shot.

We’re checking for word on Sealth’s first game in the district playoffs. SATURDAY MORNING UPDATE: Sealth athletic director Sam Reed says that since the Seahawks have a first-round bye at districts, they’re scheduled to play at 4:45 pm next Friday at Bellevue Community College – vs. either Sammamish, Bainbridge, or O’Dea (depending on the outcome of two games between now and then).

High school basketball: Chief Sealth in league-finals game tonight

February 19, 2010 10:24 am

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Tonight at 6, Chief Sealth High School‘s boys’ varsity basketball team plays Rainier Beach for the Metro League title. After Sealth’s Thursday afternoon practice, we talked with coach Colin Slingsby:

Sealth has a challenge tonight – they lost to Rainier Beach twice this year, once by 9 points, once by 10, and RB is undefeated in the Metro League, #2 statewide in 3A. No matter what happens tonight though, Sealth still moves on to the district playoffs next week. You can cheer them on tonight at 6 at Seattle Pacific University (map); we’ll tweet live from the game on our “live events” Twitter account (which you can check on the Web even if you are not a Twitter member), @wsblive (twitter.com/wsblive).

High school basketball playoffs: Chief Sealth to league finals

February 17, 2010 8:52 pm

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ORIGINAL 8:52 PM REPORT: We’ve been covering it via Twitter at our live-events account, @wsblive – and now the game’s over. The Chief Sealth High School boys’ varsity basketball team beat Seattle Prep – 66-61, the scoreboard read, when the buzzer sounded. Friday night, they’ll play Rainier Beach, which beat Franklin in the other Metro League semifinal game, 73-63.

DETAILS/VIDEO ADDED 10:47 PM: Seattle Prep made a game of it in the last 90 seconds, but Chief Sealth’s big night at the free-throw line helped them to pull out a 66-61 win. Prep pulled within three points with less than a minute to go, but this foul by Prep’s Julian Mason sent junior Keon Lewis to the free-throw line, where he converted both shots to put the Seahawks up by five with less than 20 seconds to go:

Lewis was roughed up three times on the night, leaving the game in the third quarter after he went down clutching his knee just after the second half started. He returned a few minutes later and managed to put up 14 points. He was only outscored on the night by teammate Tomas Ogbaslassie, who had 18 points, 10 of those from foul shots.

Sealth managed to keep Prep from moving the ball inside for the better part of the night while controlling the rebound for all but the last quarter. The Seahawks two big scoring runs came when they forced Prep into playing a game of run and shoot which made Prep routinely lose control of the ball. It was Sealth’s own foul trouble in the fourth that managed to get Prep within striking distance of a win. Prep’s top scorer was sophomore Mitch Brewe, who had 21 points. Sealth moves on to play Rainier Beach on Friday night at 6 pm at SPU.

West Seattle student success: Hope Lutheran, SLHS, Chief Sealth

February 13, 2010 9:55 pm

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Some tales of student success to share tonight: First, Mike Jensen‘s been reporting from Portland via Twitter on the Hope Lutheran School participants in the Lutheran Elementary Schools Tournament. Above is a tweeted photo of 20 Hope students’ curtain call after “Romeo and Juliet“; this afternoon, he tweeted live as the awards were announced. For Hope (excerpts from tweets at @hopeseattle):

Hope’s blue ribbon instrumental from Aaron Abeyta (clarinet) and Garth Ball (sax)

Hope’s blue ribbon piano performances from; Taylor Kuhn, Kasandra Kruhn, Cooper Honeyman and Grant Doerr

Hope’s blue ribbon vocal performances by; Carina Andrews, Devon Fox, Samantha Hood and Kelly Walsh

Hope’s Faith Pressor places 3rd in the 6th grade math competition at LEST

The Hope cheer team places 2nd in the AAA cheer competition.

5/6th grade drill/dance team gets 3rd place in the 7/8th grade competition!

Last, but certainly not least, 8th grader Kayla Searle wins the Champion of Character award

We covered their sendoff rally (including video of cheer and drill performances) on Wednesday. Meantime, sister school Seattle Lutheran High School has some basketball results to report, thanks to Bil Hood:

Saints girls take fourth in league today. Will play at LaConner Thursday in the first game of district tournament. … The Saints boys beat Rainier Christian today 71-65, advancing the Saints to the district tournament. Drew Burza led the Saints with 28 points.

Then, we have a followup from last weekend – right about this time last Saturday, Chief Sealth High School music supporters, student musicians, and special guests like the West Seattle Big Band were sharing a gala dinner/performance experience. Monica Kenny just shared two photos and a recap:

If last Saturday you thought you heard some beautiful night music in the West Seattle air, you weren’t imagining it! February 6th was the Chief Sealth Jazz Band’s Big Band Dinner Dance held at the temporary Boren site. The Jazz Band students spent all day decorating the band stage, dance floor and dinner tables then put on their tuxedos and hit the stage. The event included a spaghetti dinner and free swing dance lessons so there was no excuse not to hit the dance floor. Once the Sealth Jazz Band’s set was compete the ever-popular West Seattle Big Band took the stage, allowing the student musicians the chance to join in on the swing dancing. This popular event is held every February and is lots of fun so mark your calendars for February 2011!

Thanks to everyone who shares school news – from event listings (got a fundraiser or show coming up?) to achievement reports, and more – lots of ways to share the news!

More basketball notes: Chief Sealth wins, WSHS honors seniors

February 12, 2010 9:24 am

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A few more notes from high-school basketball last night: Chief Sealth High School‘s boys’ varsity team solidified its 2nd-place ranking in the Metro Conference by beating Bainbridge last night, 72-56 (stats here). In girls’ varsity, Bainbridge defeated Sealth, 57-35 (stats here). Meantime, there’s more to report from WSHS’s games besides the melee we mentioned last night – ceremonies honoring senior players, and game highlights – read on:Read More

Melee shortens boys’ basketball game at West Seattle High School

February 11, 2010 10:25 pm

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Police had to help break up a melee that led to tonight’s boys’ varsity basketball game at West Seattle High School getting cut short. At the gym, WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand, who’s covered numerous games around WS this season, says the game had less than five minutes to go when he saw two players, one from Rainier Beach HS and one from WSHS, get into a confrontation on the floor, then someone “came out of nowhere” to join the melee, police stepped in, someone in the stands was yelling at the refs, and others joined in the criticism of the refs. Police stepped in and started helping get things under control, but the game was officially called with 4:22 to go, score RB 58, WSHS 22, and we are told it will count. No word of any injuries. Patrick talked with WSHS principal Bruce Bivins as the gym was clearing; he said, “The students acted correctly – (but) the actions of hotheaded adults” are what resulted in the melee. 11:02 PM: Long before the game’s abrupt ending, this was Senior Night and Open House night at WSHS, and we’ll have a separate story on all that a bit later.

West Seattle school news: Pathfinder K-8 celebrates science

February 11, 2010 7:50 pm

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The elementary-school science fair is nowhere near as common as it used to be – so Pathfinder K-8 is excited that it’s continuing to have one each year. Tonight, the cafeteria at Pathfinder’s new site was abuzz with projects by about 100 students, and most of the young scientists stood nearby, ready to talk about them – like Anthony Giomi (above), who enlisted the help of his brother Xavier and sister Lydia to study the performance of certain types of bubble gum. He wasn’t doing a demonstration during the fair, but others were – like the group with “Oobleck, a non-Newtonian fluid” – cornstarch, water and coloring, firming up as it was squished hand-to-hand:

We got a whirlwind tour from longtime Pathfinder parent/volunteer Eric Baer, who’s a scientist himself and was judging tonight’s exhibits – those who get the orange certificates you see on this next one, get to move on to the state tournament:

Winners in the state tournament in turn get to move on to a tournament in Washington, D.C., according to Baer.

Video: Hope Lutheran School tournament sendoff

February 10, 2010 9:11 pm

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Cheerleading isn’t just for sports – this routine was part of a mega-pep rally this afternoon at Seattle Lutheran High School on behalf of the Lutheran Elementary School Tournament participants from sister school Hope Lutheran. More than 60 students from Hope’s fifth- through eighth-grade classes have headed south to Concordia University in Portland for the 48th annual edition of the tournament, where more than 1,000 students from around the West are competing in academic and athletic events. According to Bil Hood, Hope students are participating in 10 events including swimming, music, math, drama, Knowledge Bowl, science, spelling, chess, basketball, plus cheerleading – the students in the top video – and drill team – the ones you see here:

Read more about LEST here; we’re expecting updates from Portland over the next few days.

Art that helps: Mural Project update; “Fundred Dollar Bills”

February 10, 2010 2:21 am

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An update on one of the most recent “West Seattle Help for Haiti” projects mentioned here – Victoria Shaw of The Mural Project asked for art-supply donations (see the original request here). She now sends word that KeyBank in The Junction (California/Alaska) “has graciously volunteered to be the dropoff point for anyone wishing to donate new or used art supplies for the school in Haiti. There will be a box in the lobby through the end of February.” Meantime, we have news of an art project involving a local school, related to a natural disaster within our own borders:

From Madison Middle School art teacher Lisa Baker:

Students in 7th Grade Art at Madison Middle School in partnership with Eckstein Middle School designed Fundred Dollar Bills to help raise awareness about lead-contaminated soil in New Orleans post Hurricane Katrina . The art project focused on contemporary artist Mel Chin who uses his artwork for environmental and social issues. The students learned about certain plants that can absorb chemicals from the soil to return it to safe levels. The bills will be collected in an armored truck from Eckstein Middle School on February 11th, 2010, and delivered to Congress to help raise the necessary $300,000,000 for clean-up of the soil in New Orleans.

Election results: Both Seattle Public Schools levies winning, big

February 9, 2010 8:18 pm

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King County Elections has published first-night results – and both Seattle Public Schools levies are winning in a big way. They only require a simple majority, but each so far has at least 71% yes votes. See the results here. Of note for those who live in (currently) unincorporated King County areas, such as White Center, the King County Library System levy is passing narrowly, with 50.5% yes. (Results from elsewhere in King County are here; the next round of numbers will be released around 4:30 tomorrow.) 9:56 PM UPDATE: Seattle Public Schools’ communications team has sent out a “thank you” news release on the district’s behalf – read on:Read More

“Hello, Gatewood”: Madison, WSHS principals pitch their schools

February 9, 2010 10:00 am

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By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

“Helloooo, Gatewood!”

That’s how West Seattle High School principal Bruce Bivins (photo left) greeted the Gatewood Elementary PTA last night as he and 1st-year Madison Middle School principal Henterson Carlisle (photo right) made a guest appearance to tout, and ask questions about, their schools. It was an introduction of sorts, because until the new Student Assignment Plan attendance-area maps were finalized, designating Gatewood as a feeder for Madison and WSHS, it had been more aligned with West Seattle’s other middle/high-school pair, Denny/Sealth.

Because of the way the feeder groups are set up, projections suggest Madison and WSHS could be under-enrolled within several years, while their south-end counterparts could be stuffed, so the principals are faced with the task of marketing their schools as well as running them – to make sure potential enrollment is maximized. (WSHS has its open house coming up this Thursday night, 6 pm, as Bivins mentioned more than once.) Their selling points – and Q/A – after the jump:Read More

“Take Your Family to School Week” next 2 days @ Madison

February 8, 2010 7:34 pm

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Thanks to Madison Middle School PTA president Kim Early for sharing word of two days of special events at the school, tomorrow and Wednesday, because of Take Your Family to School Week … everything from cooking demonstrations, to class observations, to learning something you might not know about the art of raising a middle-schooler (for example, “breaking the code” of texting — do you know what KPC stands for?) .. Read on!Read More

Cross-peninsula rivals, the rematch: Chief Sealth vs. West Seattle

February 5, 2010 9:58 pm

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Scores now, video and details to be added to this story later: In high-school varsity basketball at Chief Sealth High School tonight, both Sealth teams beat West Seattle High School – girls CSHS 40, WSHS 31; boys (just completed) CSHS 50, WSHS 39.

(Added 12:36 am Saturday, the details) GIRLS’ VARSITY: Chief Sealth’s Lady Seahawks combined a near perfect night of free throw shooting and a big defensive outing to beat West Seattle 40-31. The game was largely decided in the third quarter when Sealth managed to keep the Wildcats from moving the ball upcourt. Between effective rebounding and sharp passes, the Lady Wildcats found themselves spending most of their evening under Sealth’s basket. At times, both teams tried to shoot the ball from the perimeter, but neither had any success.

February 5, 2010 7:55 pm

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Three updates tonight on West Seattle help for Haiti post-earthquake relief: First, we’ve got word that The Community School of West Seattle preschoolers’ Bake Sale for Haiti today brought in $422! The kids, ages 3-5, helped manage the money themselves – above, just a few of the preschoolers involved when we stopped by during the sale – pretend cash register, but real cash! Meantime, Kristina just e-mailed this update from Alki Elementary School about a fundraiser happening there right now:

Alki Parent Jill Rose has organized a movie showing of Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs in the school cafeteria to raise money for the victims of the Haiti earthquake. It looks like we are going to be at capacity! 100% of the proceeds are going to the Red Cross to benefit the people of Haiti, and the families of Alki Elementary are out in force. The school did a penny drive for Haiti, as well, and tonight we’ll be announcing to the students that their small change added up to over $1200!

And the third update: While working on a project for WSB, reporter Mary Sheely learned this afternoon that all Matador locations, including West Seattle, plan to donate 100 percent of profits on Fat Tuesday — which is one and a half weeks away, February 16th — to Haiti relief.