West Seattle, Washington
16 Sunday
From the West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor), we have word tonight that youth baseball/T-ball signups are wrapping up for ages 3-10 – there’s still room on some teams; you can sign up at westseattleymca.org until this Sunday, or in person at the Y’s Junction and Fauntleroy locations. Practices start the week of April 26; the season ends June 26. Meantime, another victory for the West Seattle High School varsity baseball team, now 6-1 on the season – we have the latest report from assistant coach Scott Meaker – read on for the recap!
The WSHS Varsity Baseball team hosted Bainbridge HS Tuesday afternoon at Hiawatha Sports Complex. The mighty hitting attack of the Wildcats overwhelmed the Spartans earning an 11-4 win. The Varsity is now 6-1 with their only loss coming to Bishop Blanchet, the number one ranked team in the state.
Freshman Sam Hellinger started the game pitching and had a terrific outing with 4 1/3 strong innings of pitching on 2 hits and 9 strikeouts. Sophmore Jeff Freeman actually earned the win by pitching 2 1/3 innings allowing only 2 runs, walking none.
In the barrage of 17 hits , sophmore Jeff Watkins led with a 4-for-4 performance hitting 2 HRs and 4 RBI. Senior Stephan Adams went 2-for-3 with a triple and scored 3 runs. Sophmore Tim Tinkler continued his hot hitting going 2-for-3 with an RBI, a stolen base, scoring 2 runs. Senior Trevor Martin also added a HR . The Varsity hosts Nathan Hale HS on Wed. at Hiawatha at 3:30.
The WSHS JV traveled to Bainbridge HS on Tues, losing 10-0. Freshman JT Snow pitched well, giving up 3 runs in 5 innings of work. There are no other highlights to report on this game! The JV travels to Nathan Hale on Wed. and hosts Hale’s JV at Hiawatha on Friday.
Thanks again to Coach Meaker for taking the time to provide these reports!
(Photos courtesy Tilden School)
It’s all about partnerships. Our previous story included a public-private partnership to fix up a stretch of local sidewalk, and here we have what you might call a public-private partnership with local students adopting a park. In this case, Tilden School‘s fifth-grade class has been taking care of their closest park, and sent along this story:
Tilden School has officially adopted the beautiful Dakota Place Park, and we, the fifth grade class, are enjoying being park stewards! We will visit the park weekly to clean up trash, pull weeds, and remove invasive species. Before the end of the school year, we will teach the fourth graders how to care for the park so they can be the park stewards next year.
We would like to thank MARK SINDELL of GGLO for designing such a beautiful green space for the West Seattle community and for all of the many small mammals, birds, and insects that are native to the area. Mark gave us a tour of the park to explain its history, design, and plant life.
We would also like to thank all of the kind donors for giving us the tools we needed to begin our stewardship project. Thanks to JUNCTION TRUE VALUE, MCLENDON HARDWARE WHITE CENTER, and WEST SEATTLE NURSERY. Your generosity is truly appreciated!
Come visit the extraordinary Dakota Place Park, and bring all your friends and Fido on a leash!
Dakota Place Park is at California/Dakota (map) and itself, like many local park projects, involves community partnership, with community volunteers playing a huge role in making it a reality. Tilden is less than a block south of the park.
Holy Rosary School vice principal Ted Mohrbacher is excited about the preschool that HR is opening this fall, and not just because it’s a project on which he’s worked intensively for a year.
The biggest thrill comes from the fact his son will get to be a pre-K student there. “He’s very excited; he asks every day, when does he get to go to school?”
We talked with Mohrbacher (photo right) and principal Dr. Randal Peters (photo left) after hearing they’re trying to get the word out that Holy Rosary is adding preschool as of this fall, while they realize the news comes “a bit late in the game,” after many if not most families have made 2010-2011 school decisions already.
Read on for more about what they’re offering and why:Read More
In case you haven’t seen it in the Events calendar, we received this announcement from the Seattle Mariners (who don’t start play at Safeco Field till April 12th):
The West Seattle High School Baseball team will be playing in the 4th Annual High School Baseball Classic at Safeco Field this Saturday April 3rd at 12:30 pm. West Seattle will be playing Auburn Mountainview (currently ranked 8th in 3A state baseball). The gates at Safeco Field open at 11:30 am. Entry into the game is free. Parking in the Safeco Field parking garage will be $5. Following the West Seattle game, Nathan Hale High School will be playing Foss of Tacoma.
Following up on our weekend report that Westside School has reached a lease agreement with Seattle Public Schools to move into the former EC Hughes building in Sunrise Heights, we have updates on three other “closed” schools in West Seattle: First, SPS communications 
manager Patti Spencer says the district did not receive any lease proposals for either the former Genesee Hill or former Fairmount Park elementary campuses, which were offered in the same round as Hughes; Fairmount has been vacant since summer 2007 (photo left). As for the Westside lease terms at Hughes, in its second year of vacancy after two years of temporarily housing South Lake High School, Spencer says they’ll be made public when the agreement is signed and finalized. Meantime, we also asked about the Boren building‘s status once Chief Sealth High School moves out at the end of this school year – will anyone be moving in this fall? Nothing planned, but this is the future vision for the site, she says:
We are asking the School Board to designate BOREN as our Essential – Interim / Emergency building for the district – in case of a catastrophic failure at any secondary school (larger K-8 also) that we could move into with minimal costs.
The board’s next meeting is April 7th, but the agenda’s not posted yet.
On this second day of spring break (for most), hundreds of students are no doubt still buzzing about last weekend’s FIRST Robotics regional competition at KeyArena. West Seattleite Jim Edwards was there both days, Friday and Saturday, and provided these photos and info; he was there as proud dad to Kyle Edwards, an Aviation High School student who led the systems-integration team for Skunkworks, which competed:
Jim says Kyle “designed the scouting system for this year’s game.” The game, he explained, is not disclosed by FIRST until six weeks before the competition – that’s how long teams have to design and build their robot: “Once built, the robot is crated up and travels to events the team specifies. Other than limited pit times at regional events, no further work can be done on the robots.” This is animation of the game they had to play this year:
The competition’s workings are pretty complicated, but it all started with 66 teams playing 96 qualification matches all day Friday and early Saturday, Jim says; then Aviation was chosen to be part of the finals – as was the one West Seattle-based team that was there, Seattle Lutheran High School:
The Saints had a great run, making it to the semifinals, Jim reports; Aviation, meantime, got the prestigious Regional Chairman’s Award:
AHS also is going to the finals in Atlanta next month and was featured in this article from our citywide-news partners at the Seattle Times. And watch closely for an orange-shirted Seattle Lutheran team member’s soundbite in this KING5 story:
FIRST’s Washington chapter has a website too – see it here.
Thanks to WSB Forums member “String Cheese” for the indirect tip on this, via what started as an inquiry about a “rumor.” Not a rumor, turns out: According to the website for local independent Westside School, it’s reached a deal to lease and move into the vacant Hughes School property in Sunrise Heights (map). Westside’s current campus is on Highline Public Schools-owned property on 28th SW, a few blocks south of the city/county border. Even before learning about this, we’d had an inquiry out to Seattle Public Schools to ask about future plans for Hughes – which is in its second school year of vacancy, after 2 years as temporary home to South Lake High School – and Genesee Hill, in its first school year of vacancy after Pathfinder K-8 moved to Cooper. Turns out the district had a request for proposals out earlier this year (all due March 3rd) for leasing not only Hughes and Genesee Hill, but also Fairmount Park, in its second year of vacancy. Both Westside and Seattle Public Schools are out for spring break this week, but we’ll be seeking to follow up with both, including finding out whether the district received lease proposals for the other two vacant schools. Meantime, the Westside website says they’re hoping to move into the new location this fall.
Lots of talented athletes playing for West Seattle’s high schools, and while we can’t promise you every-game-all-the-time coverage just yet, we’re working on spring-sports coverage, with some help. Two games to report from Friday – Chief Sealth beat Nathan Hale 6-5 (our partners at the Seattle Times have stats here) at SW Athletic Complex in Westwood, and West Seattle High School beat Ingraham at home. WSHS assistant baseball coach Scott Meaker has again written up the Westside highlights for us to share with you – those are ahead, along with a reminder about tonight’s WSHS baseball/fastpitch fundraising dinner, and today’s WSHS-Seattle Lutheran JV game – read on!Read More
Even if this is potentially relevant to your family, you won’t be able to use this for a while, since there’s no class next week for Spring Break, but after that – Seattle Public Schools just launched a webpage that they promise will carry updated info about school-bus delays. See it here.
HIgh-school baseball season is starting to intensify. This morning we have a West Seattle High School report courtesy of assistant baseball coach Scott Meaker – looking ahead to games today and tomorrow, recapping wins on Wednesday, and also noting the big fundraising dinner/auction Saturday to raise money for fastpitch softball as well as baseball – read on:Read More
(Photos courtesy Tilden School)
“T” is for Tilden, as in Tilden School, which is celebrating a milestone today – a quarter-century in operation. That’s Whitney Tjerandsen, Tilden director, who signed the papers creating Tilden on this date in 1985. She joined students and staff in a party with not only the mini-cupcakes, but also a round of “Happy Birthday”; we’re told she explained to the students, “We’re celebrating with you, because you’re the reason we’re here!”
Tilden is a K-5 school at 4105 California SW, north of The Junction.
Future Blue Thunder drummers? Maybe! We recorded those student musicians and others in the recital that ended the mid-winter-break music camp at Denny International Middle School – and now, the spring break version of that same camp is days away, with Donna sending word there’s still room:
Band students, 4th through 8th grade: Come make music with friends from schools all over West Seattle during spring break!
All-Star Spring Break Music Camp
Mon., Mar. 29 – Fri., Apr. 2, 2010 – 9 AM to 3 PM
Grades 4 thru 8
Suggested donation for tuition: $100 (or pay what you can) – Lunch provided
More info as the announcement continues after the jump:Read More
As of this fall, Madison Middle School no longer will be the only Seattle Public Schools middle school without the Spectrum program for academically gifted students. That’s of great interest to Spectrum-qualified West Seattle students, many of which attend nearby Lafayette Elementary, where a meeting was held Tuesday night to try to answer families’ questions. Photojournalist Matt Durham was there and says about 100 parents heard from West Seattle’s school board rep Steve Sundquist (above) as well as Madison principal Henterson Carlisle (below).
Also at the meeting, the man who runs the district’s Advanced Learning programs, Dr. Robert Vaughan (seated in the background). Matt reports that parents were reminded that if they are interested in having their children attend Madison’s Spectrum program this fall, they must file enrollment paperwork making that choice, even if the students are currently in Spectrum at Lafayette or elsewhere. (That’s explained at the bottom of this page.) P.S. If you have an education topic to take up with Steve Sundquist, his next community-chat gathering is this morning (Wednesday), 11 am, at High Point Library.
Exactly three months from today, June 22 will be the last day of school for Chief Sealth High School in its temporary quarters at the former Boren Junior High on Delridge. In September, after two years away, Sealth moves back into its permanent location – while the new adjacent Denny International Middle School is built. The project team has just provided the latest site aerial:
Compare that shot (taken last week) to a similar view seven months earlier:
Denny isn’t scheduled to move to its new site (the lower left of those photos) till 2011, so Sealth students will still have the campus to themselves when school starts this fall. The project’s official website is here; it includes a webcam, looking currently at the Galleria that both schools will share – see that here.
Three West Seattle schools have teams at the citywide Global Reading Challenge finals tomorrow night – and everyone’s invited to go cheer them on – Arbor Heights, Highland Park and Lafayette Elementary Schools are all in the running (as is Concord International School from nearby South Park). Read on for the announcement we just received from the Seattle Public Library:Read More
Thanks to Madison Middle School‘s Jeanne Merritt for sharing a report and photos from last night’s big event:
Madison Middle School celebrated its annual Literacy Night on Thursday. Students and their families were treated to free pizza in the Commons, then sat down to play games that build literacy skills such as Scrabble. Some visitors were busy making beautiful bookmarks.
In the library there was an open mike for students to read stories and poems they had written — Madison’s own Reader’s Theater.
Also in the library online literacy activities were available.
Books were of course a key ingredient of the evening. A representative from a local bookstore was present, plus hundreds of donated books were available for exchange or free. Hundreds of student-written books were displayed and visitors genuinely enjoyed reading them.
Seventh graders had written ABC biographies of people in U.S. history. Eighth-grade Washington State History students wrote travelogues of an imaginary trip around Washington. They had to include what went in their suitcases, expenses, mileage, photos, information about places they visited, etc. Other eighth-graders had created their own journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Sixth-graders displayed comparative religion essays.
All in all the evening was a very fun celebration of literacy.
School news always welcome – either with information and photos you provide, or tips on events we can cover – here are all the ways to reach WSB!
A meeting is planned tomorrow for the next step in organizing a new West Seattle cooperative preschool to open at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center beginning this fall. From organizer Benni Sack:
We have a preliminary commitment for space at Youngstown beginning in August, 2010, and now it is time to figure out who is interested in participating in this new coop!
Here is what the preliminary parameters might be for an endeavor like this:
– Your toddler will be at least 24 months by August, 2010, and no older than 4.5 years old by August 2010
– You are interested in volunteering in the coop on a regular basis (the volunteer positions and duration of them will be decided by the coop board)
– You are potentially interested in belonging to the coop board, which will need to meet online and in-person on a regular basis to bring together the particulars of the coopHere are the meeting particulars:
Saturday, March 20th, 2010 @ 10:00 a.m.
Mosaic Community Coffeehouse – in the demitasse room (kids playroom), 4401 2nd Avenue Northeast (map)They have coffee, tea, and pastries there which can be purchased by donation (it’s a community, not for profit coffeehouse). I will bring some extra treats as well. PLEASE BRING YOUR LITTLE! We can have a play date!
This will be an informal meet and greet to try to ascertain the level of interest and participation from the community. Please RSVP to blackbirdrosie1973@gmail.com. If you can’t make it but would still be interested in participating, please contact me by e-mail and let me know your level of interest. Board members are encouraged! We have a lot of fun stuff to get done this spring and summer to get ready!
She says the meeting’s being held at this particular coffeehouse because it has that kids’ playroom.
That’s the phrase Luckie used as she shared that photo taken in a kindergarten class at Lafayette Elementary:
Mrs. Bell decided to combine Dr. Seuss’s birthday (March 2) and St. Patrick’s Day (today) with a reading of Dr. Seuss’s Green Eggs and Ham, followed by a banquet of green eggs and ham and a few other green foods. A little green food coloring turned the ham and eggs into a Seussian spectacle! And, just like the protagonist of Green Eggs and Ham, the kids were willing to try them. They polished off pretty much everything!
Thanks to Tim McMonigle for sharing photo and summarizing the latest milestone for newly renovated Hiawatha Playfield and the players who have been waiting a long time for it:
West Seattle High School (in blue) had their first varsity soccer game of the season today and played on the beautiful new turf at Hiawatha in front of local students and fans, beating Franklin HS 3-0. This is a great improvement over playing their home games at Memorial Stadium the last several years where many fans could not see them. The weather cooperated and the boys played their hearts out. Their next game is Thursday afternoon at Ingraham HS and Friday evening against Sammamish HS, hopefully at a local venue. Come on out and support your local WSHS Wildcat soccer team!
The advance announcement of Seattle Lutheran‘s “Global Connections” dinner/auction Friday night at South Seattle Community College‘s Brockey Center promised “an announcement about future plans … that will have a lasting impact on our school and community.” While full details are yet to come, Head of School Adair Hinds said the main announcement was that they’ve received a “seven-figure donation” to launch a capital campaign for a building project affecting “both the school and community,” including “major upgrades.” Hinds told us a little more on camera, with SLHS Director of Advancement Bil Hood alongside:
This time last year, Seattle Lutheran and neighboring Hope Lutheran School had big news too – that’s when they announced that after decades of operating separately, they would begin to operate together as Seattle Lutheran Schools (WSB coverage here). That was just as an expansion/renovation project was wrapping up at Hope (WSB coverage here). Meantime, right now the extended enrollment period for the two schools (preschool-12th grade) continues; tour schedules and other info can be found on the schools’ website.
Tuesday night, the Gatewood and Roxhill Elementary Schools‘ music programs will benefit from a mini-concert by Westside Symphonette at Gatewood – with the minimum admission price just $1 (they hope you’ll give more, of course). Here’s the plan, from Westside Symphonette’s Toni Reineke (April 2009 photo at right):
Concert in the Community
Come hear West Seattle’s very own orchestra, 45 members strong!
Program Highlights
Orchestra classics: Finlandia, Intermezzo from Hary Janos, Bugler’s Holiday (with a twist!)
Sing along: Sounds of Simon and Garfunkel
Special guests: Gatewood and Roxhill advanced strings and their coachesGatewood Elementary, 4320 SW Myrtle [map] in the cafeteria
Tuesday, March 16, 7:30 p.m.Sponsored by the Gatewood and Roxhill PTAs; funds will benefit both music programs
The Gatewood PTA also plans a bake sale, so bring $ for treats. (P.S. Westside Symphonette’s on Facebook now – you can join its group page here.)
Thinking of going into politics – or just need/want to understand more about how that realm works? Here’s a rare chance to learn more about the practicalities of politics – without being right in the middle of it. It’s an upcoming course just announced by South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsor) – read on:Read More
All three community councils meeting this week have announced their agenda highlights:
TUESDAY – WEST SEATTLE CRIME PREVENTION COUNCIL: This meeting’s scheduled guest is Benjamin Kinlow, Crime Prevention Coordinator for the Southwest Precinct, which means he also helps coordinate the Block Watch program. The newly formed West Seattle Blockwatch Captains’ Network – which you can join on Facebook – is urging members to be there. This meeting also routinely includes a crime-stats update from local police leadership, and time to discuss your neighborhood concerns. 7 pm Tuesday, Southwest Precinct (Delridge/Webster; map).
WEDNESDAY – DELRIDGE NEIGHBORHOODS DISTRICT COUNCIL: Scheduled guests include City Councilmember Sally Bagshaw, Nathan Torgelson from Seattle Parks (to discuss the Camp Long Lodge renovations), and Mark Ufkes and Peggy Weiss from the pro-Seattle-annexation White Center Homeowners’ Association. DNDC members also will discuss their recent retreat, as they meet at 7 pm Wednesday, Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way; map).
THURSDAY – ALKI COMMUNITY COUNCIL: West Seattle’s school board rep Steve Sundquist is a scheduled guest, along with Seattle Parks staff. ACC meets at 7 pm Thursday, 6115 SW Hinds (map); get the latest info at alkinews.com.
ONE MORE BIG MEETING NEXT WEEK: Monday night, 7 pm at Denny International Middle School, it’s the next in a series of meetings around the cities to talk about Mayor McGinn’s Youth and Families Initiative (explained here). Previous meetings in other neighborhoods have drawn hundreds of people. This initiative involves almost every issue you can imagine – safety, education, health, environment – so whatever you care most deeply about, be ready to advocate for it.
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