West Seattle, Washington
12 Wednesday
With dozens of students running alongside, that’s Pathfinder K-8 P-E teacher Lou Cutler scoring a strong finish to his annual birthday run this mornin – one lap around the school playfield for each year of his life, raising money for Make-A-Wish Foundation. This is the seventh time Lou’s done this, but a few things were different this year – for one, it’s the first time around the field at Pathfinder’s new Pigeon Point campus; for two, he tacked on an extra lap – 59th birthday, 60 laps. We’ll check later on the fundraising total; you can donate online here.
(Photos by Cori Roed)
When you’re talking Seafair Pirates (who invade Alki on July 10th) and parades, you know it’s summer, rain or shine. These photos are from last weekend but just came in, courtesy of Cori Roed, who explains:
At a parade in New Westminster, BC, Canada, on Saturday, May 29th, the Denny International MS Marching Band, under the command of Band Director Dr. Marcus Pimpleton, stormed and took over the ship of Seattle’s own Seafair Pirates. (To be fair, it was early and the pirates didn’t put up that much of a fight.)
The Denny music program has its own website here, and of course the Pirates sail the online seas here.
(Photos courtesy Tim Hinthorn)
A few days ago, Susan G. Komen for the Cure volunteer Meg Paynor e-mailed WSB to share the story of a Holy Rosary School class running in the Race for the Cure today to honor their beloved teacher, who’s fighting breast cancer. She explained that they were chosen to start the Kids’ Race because of their touching story; we published that report on Friday night. This morning, they ran in the rain – and Tim Hinthorn just sent a note to share photos along with this report:
Over twenty students and their families from Holy Rosary School didn’t let summer rain drown their spirits as they participated in the Susan G Komen “Race for the Cure” this morning.
The students wore “Running for Robel” t-shirts to express their love and support for Second Grade teacher Karen Robel. Willie McGaughey, Cory Hinthorn, and Ethan Grassley finished the kids’ race first, second, and third respectively, and all participants finished the race with enthusiasm, love, and hope that Mrs. Robel recovers soon!
Though the race is over, the Komen organization accepts online donations year-round – go here.
One day after staffers described as “union members” at Schmitz Park Elementary School voted “no confidence” in Superintendent Dr. Maria Goodloe-Johnson – as noted here – their counterparts at another West Seattle school are reported to have done the same thing. This vote was at Sanislo Elementary, according to this item on the Save Seattle Schools website (a noncommercial, volunteer operation that provides thorough coverage/discussion of district issues). The site says at least two other schools in the district have had similar votes. ADDED EARLY SUNDAY: A group calling itself the “Seattle Shadow School Board” says it’ll be rallying before the 6/16 School Board meeting to show opposition to renewing the superintendent’s contract. 5:30 pm outside SPS HQ in SODO.
Two West Seattle school successes to share! First – on Friday, Denny International Middle School principal Jeff Clark got to show some waterborne solidarity with his school’s mascot – the dolphin. The always-dapper principal went into a dunk tank, suit and all, to celebrate his student body “demonstrating their brilliance through substantial increases on several academic assessments.” The ‘after’ photo:
He says some other staffers braved the water too. Next, north to Holy Rosary School:
That’s the Green Elective Class at Holy Rosary, showing off the award certificate and $500 they got for winning a Terry Husseman Sustainable School Award (a state program, explained here) According to the state website, Holy Rosary was honored for:
Establishes and implements a variety of sustainable programs within the school and community from composting to “no idle zones”. Their overall goal is to encourage a lifestyle that embraces responsible green behaviors.
The same document also reveals that Gatewood and Roxhill Elementary Schools in West Seattle won Husseman Awards too!
At West Seattle High School tonight, the WSHS Alumni Association‘s annual All-School Reunion included even more special moments than usual. This is the centennial anniversary of the first WSHS graduating class in 1910 (12 seniors, per a WSHS history summary) – in their honor, the half-centennial-anniversary class of 1960 appeared together onstage with emcee Gary Smith (Class of ’66; photo above). Then, there were three Hall of Fame inductees:
The trio included WSHS’s highest-ranking current alumnus, King County Executive Dow Constantine (Class of ’80), shown above with Karen Seamens Dobbs (Class of ’71), current WSHS Alumni Association president. The other inductees are internationally accomplished photographer Harald Sund (Class of ’61) and retired business executive Wendell Hurlbut III (Class of ’49). Hurlbut couldn’t be there, but Sund was on hand:
Another big part of the program – presenting scholarships; this year, the first-ever Tim Brenton Scholarship, in honor of the WSHS-alum Seattle police officer killed in the line of duty last year, went to Genneva Machmiller:
That’s Genneva with the WSHSAA president. She’s planning to major in nursing at UW. Other scholarship recipients from the Class of 2010:
*Korinne Ainsworth (Friedline, WSHS Alumni scholarships), planning to major in English at UW
*Sam Ameny (WSHS Alumni scholarship), planning a business law/sports agent major at UW
*Raymond Carter (Duke/Radar scholarship), planning a chemical enginering major at UW
*Triston Endreao (Blauert scholarship), planning an environmental-studies major at Whitman
*Karen Lowe (WSHS Alumni scholarship), planning a biochemistry/medical research major at UW
*Carl Swenson (WSHS Alumni scholarship), planning a nursing major at Gonzaga
*Biniaim Woldehaimanot (Bacas Delimitro scholarship), planning a law major at Western Washington
Before the award ceremony, attendees got to “roam the halls” and admire classic cars displayed along SW Stevens before joining in one of more than three dozen by-class reunions assigned to various WSHS classrooms. The West Seattle Big Band then played a set in the theater before the award announcements got under way.
(Photo by Evan Miglorie)
That’s Quin Hopkins, one of many Lafayette Elementary School students whose work was on display tonight during for a special school-wide Art Walk. Family, friends and neighbors thronged the Admiral District school to admire the creations:
(Photo courtesy Luckie)
It wasn’t all hangable work, either:
(Photo courtesy Luckie)
And if you missed tonight’s Art Walk – some of the work is on display in neighboring businesses, too!
(Photo by Evan Miglorie)
Performing arts were showcased at Lafayette tonight too, with performances by the choir and the Popcorns jump-rope team. And tomorrow, they’ll focus on writing, with Young Author’s Conference sessions. ADDED 1:21 AM: We have video of some of the onstage performances from Thursday night, courtesy of Edgar Riebe from Captive Eye Media:
South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsor) is expanding its automotive-technology-training facility – and it will get a new name, one that’s widely known around West Seattle. Here’s the official announcement, just received from the college:
In recognition of more than 30 years of support for South Seattle Community College, the college is honoring the Huling family, of West Seattle, in the naming of an expanded and remodeled automotive technology training facility.
The Seattle Community Colleges trustees will name the facility the Steve and Sharon Huling Automotive Center. The new center will ensure that students work with tools and equipment that closely match current industry standards.
“We deeply appreciate the Hulings for their generous, long-time support of the college,” said Jill Wakefield, chancellor of the Seattle Community Colleges and former South president. “Their on-going partnership with the college has resulted in nearly $2 million in equipment, funds, and other support, which has advanced and improved the training opportunities for our automotive students.”
The announcement continues with more details on the expansion, after the jump:Read More
With two days to go till Thursday night’s open-house celebration at Fauntleroy Schoolhouse, one of its major tenants, the Fauntleroy Children’s Center, is welcoming some outdoor cleanup help today – a small herd of goats. Four of them were at work on various ivy-and-other-invasive-infected spots around the back parking lot when we stopped by, so no big group shots, but FCC’s Kim Sheridan says, “They should be here for the day, cleaning up our planting beds and miscellaneous greenery that needs their attention.” (The one in our photo was taking a quick break to stare – wistfully? – at the nursery stock on the other side of the fence from his designated ivy patch.)
Hard to believe the school year only has three weeks to go (June 22 is Seattle Public Schools‘ official last day) – lots of school events happening as the year wraps up; we have two reports to share today, sent along with photos recently by Jeanne Merritt of Madison Middle School:
On May 21 Madison Middle School had its annual May Day Bash. The evening included a spaghetti dinner, a sundae bar, a cake walk, and a silent auction. Funds raised will help support the school library, plus school and classroom activities.
Silent auction items included some truly fine art and craft items that were donated, classroom baskets (e.g. a gardener’s basket, a dog lover’s basket, etc.) and more. [Photo below] Ms. Myers’ math students did an artistic rendering of their name by using reflectional and rotational symmetry. Then the names were put together into a large work of art for another auction item. (If you don’t know what reflectional and rotational symmetry are, you will need to ask a Madison sixth grader!)
Madison staff are very appreciative of their PTSA for all their hard work putting together this fun event.
Madison also celebrated its Super Science Night this month – click ahead to see that report, and photos, plus the answer to an unusual question:Read More
That photo was taken two years ago, overlooking what was then the Pathfinder K-8 schoolyard atop Genesee Hill, while P-E teacher Lou Cutler led students on his annual birthday run to raise money for Make-A-Wish Foundation. This year, as Pathfinder gets close to wrapping up its first year at its new campus on Pigeon Point, Lou’s getting ready to run again. June 7 is the day – one week from tomorrow – and he’s put up a link for pledges (go here – you can donate one flat sum or make a pledge for each lap). Lou traditionally runs one lap for every year he’s been around, so this year that means 59, according to the Facebook invite for his birthday run (you can also find more info on the school website).
Just a few hours after Seattle Lutheran High School won the state championship in 2B baseball, the jubilant players were welcomed home just after 10:30 tonight – our first clip shows the honks, whoops and cheers as their bus rolled up outside the gym, where they, their coaches, and a spirited group of family and friends celebrated. They beat Colfax 10-6 in a late-afternoon game in Yakima. ADDED 12:51 AM: As the players joined well-wishers and coaches inside the SLHS gym, they first gathered for “one last prayer as a team,” before another burst of exuberance:
And a few words from the coaching/athletics team (Steve Meehan speaking, with – from left – Dan Imori, William Clowney, Mike Hay):
Bil Hood of SLHS tells WSB that two players also won individual sportsmanship awards over the past two days – Jordan Webb on Friday, Mike Register on Saturday. This is the school’s first baseball championship and its first state championship in 12 years – they have a boys’ soccer championship from 1990, boys and girls cross-country championships in 1992, and boys track in 1998.
From our regional-news partners at the Seattle Times: West Seattle High School‘s boys’ track team took second in the state championships with 53 points, two behind defending state champ North Central. WSHS won the 400-meter relay, and Markeem Adams won the 100-meter race. (Detailed results here.)
(Photo added 8:11 pm, sent by Bil Hood of SLHS)
Congratulations to the Seattle Lutheran High School Saints baseball team – within the past half hour, according to the @seattlelutheran Twitter feed, the team won the 2B state championship, beating Colfax 10-6. The game was played in Yakima. More details later!
As promised, Seattle Lutheran High School sent updates on Twitter all day on how their athletes were faring in big games/meets – and the biggest news of all, the Saints baseball team beat Mossyrock 14-7, advancing to the finals tomorrow. They’ll play Colfax at 4 pm in Yakima. In other sports, the softball team lost its first game of the day but rebounded for a win later and is still alive in the state tournament, and two runners are off to their finals too – check here for all the tweets.
(Photo by Mark Ahlness)
A big day at Arbor Heights Elementary School – the annual Young Authors’ Day. The celebration of writing and books includes projects by students, and the Book-It Assembly during which the photo above was taken (each year has a special commemorative T-shirt – red last year, teal this year). And tonight, according to the AH Facebook page, it culminated with a library dedication in memory of Lynn Barnicle, the beloved teacher lost to leukemia at age 50 last year (here’s a WSB report about a memorial last summer).
From Bil Hood at Seattle Lutheran High School:
Congratulations
1. to the baseball team for getting to the final 4. They will play in Yakima Friday @ 4:00 opponent to be determined. They are 2 wins away from being a State Champion.
2. to the Fast Pitch team they are 3rd in Tri-District and will be playing Friday in the 16 team State Tournament in Yakima.
3. to the following track individuals who will be going to Eastern University to compete in the State Track Meet Friday: Jilllian Smith in Long Jump and Pole Vault, Elyssa Watord in the Long Jump and shot Put, Alina Yovetich in the 400, Lucas Driscol in the Shot Put, Dylan Heckett in the Shot Put, Gordy Mueller in the Javelin, Jake Nigon in the Pole Vault, Shot Put and the 400.
We will be Tweeting results all weekend long @SeattleLutheran
South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsor) has gained fame for a variety of academic and vocational programs – and they were all on display to prospective students tonight during “College Night.” The most visual, of course, were from the Culinary programs – flambé above, spun sugar below:
Also showcased, a variety of programs including options for transferring to four-year schools, and options for completing a four-year degree at SSCC. If you’re thinking of enrolling at SSCC, enrollment just opened yesterday for the summer and fall quarters – here’s the calendar, and links to more info. P.S. Earlier today, we interviewed SSCC’s newly announced (2 weeks ago) president Gary Oertli, who’ll be on the job by fall – look for that story tomorrow.
Joseph Seia, Pacific Islander Family Advocate at West Seattle’s Southwest Youth and Family Services, shares that photo, with news of the big achievement just scored by the kids who posed for it:
I just wanted to pass on this awesome piece of news! At the “Washington’s Strongest School” competition held last Saturday at Memorial Stadium, the kids from Southwest Youth and Family Services placed second!
This group of South Pacific Islander kids has been working for about a year now in becoming more active, and this illustrates how far they’ve come. It was exciting for them to be competing against schools like Juanita, Garfield and O’dea, and they were really proud of themselves for doing so well.
A little online research about this first-ever competition reveals that West Seattle High School had a team there too. They and SWYFS are among the schools featured in a photo report on the Bulky Boy Clothing Company’s website.
(Our main report on the West Seattle 5K, with video of the winners and of all starters, can be seen here)
Just crossing the finish line at Sunday’s West Seattle 5K – like any race/run/walk – is an accomplishment. From left, with the big smiles, that’s Irene Stewart (former School Board member), Sharon Nickels (wife of former mayor Greg), and Stewart’s husband Bruce Butterfield (Fauntleroy Community Association president). Just before the finish line, we also spotted Stroller Strides‘ Athena Frederick (and, of course, kids in stroller), whose business includes workout classes that routinely meet on Alki:
More than a few kids crossed the finish line under their own power, like this little girl:
We didn’t see her number, but since we can see this next guy was 111, we know that’s 8-year-old Oliver, who finished in 29:33:
For everyone who wore timing chips, the results are available now online – see them here. For those too impatient to wait for that, there was quite the crowd around the posted result sheets immediately afterward:
We reported the top female and male finishers, and showed video of their finish-line crosses, in our Sunday morning coverage. Another note – according to the online results, the oldest finisher was 81-year-old Philip Norton of Seattle, crossing the line in 58 minutes. And last but not least – on behalf of the organizers, the West Seattle High School PTSA, Jo Bader sent out an acknowledgment note last night – including our fellow co-sponsors, dozens of volunteers, and more – click ahead to read it:Read More
Two local high-school baseball-playoffs notes: Seattle Lutheran is in the 2B Final Four, scheduled for next weekend in Yakima – thanks to Dan I for the tip; the SLHS scores page on SeattleTimes.com (WSB partner) reports they beat Northwest Christian (Lacey) 8-0 and Napavine 8-2, both games yesterday. Meantime, a heartbreaker for West Seattle High School yesterday, as they lost to Enumclaw 13-8 in Mount Vernon (here’s the Times‘ report).
(Photos courtesy Craig Harrold)
By the end of next week, more than a dozen groups (mostly from local schools) will have visited Fauntleroy Creek to release salmon, with guidance from creek steward Judy Pickens, in addition to the proud teachers and parents who accompany them. It’s an annual tradition, after the kids watch the fish grow from eggs, usually placed in aquariums in hallways or classrooms. One of the groups that released salmon this past week was from Arbor Heights Elementary School, and parent Craig Harrold shared a few of the scenes from their visit. Above, that’s Jesse inspecting one of the fry; next, Alec carefully pours water and fish into the creek:
With the students were Arbor Heights kindergarten teacher David Wilkie (below left) and 5th-grade teacher Ruben Gonzalez (below right):
According to the latest creek update on the Fauntleroy Community Association website, the groups participating this year are releasing about 1,800 fry to join the “home hatch” at the creek. This is also the time of year when smolts migrate toward Puget Sound, and the online update says monitors have seen 23 so far – up from last year’s 18.
Thanks to West Seattle High School assistant baseball coach Scott Meaker for sharing information on what’s next for WSHS baseball, including information from head coach Velko Vitalich: This Saturday, WSHS plays in the 3A Region 1 state championships at Mount Vernon’s Dream Field on the Skagit Valley College campus (map), facing Enumclaw High at 1 pm. If the Wildcats win, Coach Vitalich says, they play at 4 pm Saturday vs. the winner of the 10 am Mount Rainier/Meadowdale game. And if they win THAT – it’s on to the Final Four at Safeco Field on May 28. Also announced by the team: 4 West Seattle HS players were voted to the All-Metro League first team last night: infielder Trevor Martin, outfielder Stephan Adams, pitcher Brandon MacKinnon, and catcher Ryan Wiggins. Trevor subsequently was voted Metro League MVP. Coach Meaker adds, “Trevor Martin was a unanimous choice for Metro League MVP! That is very rare … Trevor is currently committed to play at Western Nevada College in Carson City next year, a perennial playoff team nationally for junior colleges.”
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