Two Highline School District schools – Health Sciences and Human Services High School (HS3) and Aviation High School – have been selected to U.S. News and World Report’s 2010 list of America’s Best High Schools.
HS3, located in White Center, earned a bronze award and Des Moines’ Aviation High School earned a silver. They were the only two South King County schools to make the list.
The list, published annually since 2008, identifies the country’s top-performing high schools.
“The goal is to provide a clear, unbiased picture of how well public schools serve all of their students – from the highest achieving to the lowest achieving – in preparing them to demonstrate proficiency in basic skills as well as readiness for college-level work,” according to the U.S. News and World Report website.
“HS3 and Aviation are examples of our effort to reinvent high school to better prepare all students for college, career, and citizenship,” said Highline Superintendent John Welch. “Both are innovative schools that are preparing students for the math and science careers that will dominate the new economy.”
Health Sciences and Human Services High School, one of three small high schools on the Evergreen campus in White Center, is the state’s only health sciences-themed high school. According to Principal Paula Montgomery, many students aspire to be nurses, doctors, scientists, social workers and educators. In 2008, HS3 was one of four Washington schools chosen by the Washington Global Health Alliance for a partnership designed to enhance Washington’s position as a leader in health sciences by nurturing the next generation of global health leaders.
Aviation High School is the nation’s first aviation-themed college prep high school. All core subjects are taught in the context of aviation, with an emphasis on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Aviation was the third highest-scoring high school in Washington on the 10th grade WASL in 2009. A hallmark of the school, led by Principal and CEO Reba Gilman, is its many aviation industry partners and professionals who mentor students one-on-one.
To earn the silver distinction, schools 1) exceeded statistical expectations for all students on state achievement tests in math and reading; 2) exceeded the state average on test scores for black, Latino, and low-income students; and 3) had high levels of participation and performance in Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate courses. Bronze awards went to schools that met the first two criteria. The gold distinction was awarded to the 100 top-scoring schools that met all three criteria.
In all, 30 Washington state schools earned bronze awards, 17 earned silver awards, and four earned gold awards.
| Oct ’09 |
| 30 |
| 6:00 pm |
UPDATE 10/28/09: We received word this morning that this event has SOLD OUT!
Highline School District’s Aviation High School’s Skunkworks Robotics Team 1983 is holding its annual Auction/Dinner fundraising event this Friday, Oct. 30th from 6pm to 8:30pm at Aviation High’s Cafeteria, located at 615 South 200th Street in Des Moines.
From their press release:
2009 was our third year and it will be another hard act to follow. We attended the Portland and Seattle Regionals and World Championships in Atlanta. This was the first time we were on the winning alliance in Portland and we were extremely competitive in Atlanta only losing 2 matches.
The team received two awards at the regionals for quality of robot design and our website was given an award for excellence by FIRST.
A program like this one does not happen by accident! We need your support in raising money for team operations.
The Aviation High School Skunkworks Robotics Team 1983 is raising funds for robotic equipment, registration fees, and travel expenses to attend competitions in Portland, Seattle and Atlanta, Georgia.
There are Three Ways to Participate:
- A spaghetti dinner will be served from 6:30-7:30pm.
- Bidding for desserts and a few special items donated by the team and their families will begin at 7:30pm. In addition to these items, participants can “Fund-A-Skunk” by sponsoring a student with a directed donation. Money will also be donated to fund an “anonymous” Skunk for students who have a difficult time fundraising.
- If you cannot attend and would like to contribute directly, tax deductible donations can be mailed to the school address. Please make checks payable to “AHS PTSA Robotics”
Prepaid tickets: $8/student, $10/adult
Tickets at the door: $10/student, $12/adult
For more team information please visit our website: http://www.ahsrobotics.us
- If you cannot attend and would like to contribute directly, tax deductible donations can be mailed to the school address:
Aviation High School
615 South 200th Street
Des Moines, WA 98198
206.716.0006 phone
206.716.0020 fax
Please make checks payable to “AHS PTSA Robotics”
For more information or to purchase tickets:
- Dayna Miller: 253-797-3077 or DaynaMiller1277@msn.com
- Kathy Swan: bswan55234@comcast.net
Four students from Des Moines’ Aviation High School graduated from the 2009 Washington Aerospace Scholars Summer Residency program this summer, and we here at The B-Town Blog would like to give a big shout out to them:
- Thomas Malchodi
- Andrew May
- Andrew Reece
- Michael Thompson
They were among the 150 students who qualified for the Washington Aerospace Scholars (WAS) Summer Residency program from 260 students who applied last November. To qualify for the residency program, they spent six months studying a NASA-designed, distance-learning curriculum via the Internet. Based on their academic performance on these lessons, they were selected to attend one of the four residencies hosted at The Museum of Flight in Seattle this summer. During the residency, the students collaborated with the other participants on the design of a human mission to Mars. WAS scholars are guided by professional engineers, scientists, university students and certified educators as they plan these missions. The WAS program is designed to inspire students to pursue degrees and careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) but the students are divided into teams which also require them to learn about mission management, budgets, the legal aspects of space exploration, and medicine.
Andrew Reece
In addition to the design of the human mission to Mars, they and the other WAS scholars participated in a number of hands-on engineering challenges. These challenges included: design, construction and deployment of robotic rovers, model rockets, lander devices, and payload lofting systems. Summer residency participants also received briefings from experts in the fields of engineering, science, physics, medicine, project management, risk management, and space exploration, such as Dr. Bonnie J. Dunbar, astronaut and CEO of the Museum of Flight. They also visited the Boeing plant in Everett for a behind-the-scenes tour of Boeing’s Commercial Airplane assembly (including the new 787), and toured engineering laboratories at the University of Washington.
As graduates of WAS, Thomas Malchodi, Andrew May, Andrew Reece, and Michael Thompson join over 380 alumni representing 170 different Washington high schools.
All expenses (including travel, meals and lodging) are provided to students free of charge by the Washington Aerospace Scholars Foundation. The program has been supported through generous grants from The Apex Foundation, The Aldarra Foundation, The Boeing Company, Microsoft, Battelle and individual donors. The Museum of Flight hosts both the program administration and the summer residency sessions. Additional partners include NASA Johnson Space Center for curriculum development, the Washington State Governor’s Office, Washington State Legislators, and the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Washington Aerospace Scholars began accepting applications in early September for the 2009-2010 program cycle to download an application, please visit www.museumofflight.org/washingtonaerospacescholars. WAS participants must be high school juniors with 3.0 minimum grade-point-averages, United States citizens and Washington State residents.
The deadline for student applications is November 6th, so you’d better get ready for take-off now.
by Josh Hart
Thursday morning (March 26th), a press conference was held at Aviation High School’s temporary campus in Des Moines, where a major announcement was made:
The school received a $4 million grant from James Raisbeck, and it will be re-named Raisbeck Aviation High School, and will move to the Museum of Flight in Seattle!
The press conference was exciting – everyone mingled, whilst awaiting the start of the speech.
The principal of Aviation High School, Reba Gilman, started off by talking about Aviation’s mission and some of the work they have done. Everyone seemed anxious to hear who the donor was, but they wouldn’t disclose it yet.
Donnie Dunbar, CEO of the Museum of Flight, spoke after Reba. She spoke about how the museum and AHS are integrated and how they were working together to achieve their mission.
There was still no mentioning of who the big donor was.
Randy Dorn, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, spoke about how excited he was about Aviation High School and that AHS wasn’t just about aviation. It included animation, robotics, and science, among others. He said that he looks for three things in school: Efficiency, Quality, and Innovation.
“You can have quality and efficiency, but innovation is what makes the community great,” Dorn said.
People were getting antsy. The donor’s name would soon be disclosed, but there was one more speaker: John Welch, the Superintendent of Highline School District, had to thank everyone who contributed.
"It will happen!" proclaimed donor James Raisbeck about Aviation High's move to the Museum of Flight.
Than Reba Gilman got up on stage again and announced the big news – Raisbeck Engineering (James and Sherry Raisbeck), and their foundation had pledged $4 million dollars to the construction of the new site of AHS.
“It will happen!” James stated.
He spoke about the crew that was working on it and keep reiterating that it WILL HAPPEN! He plans for the building, located near the Museum of Flight, to be done within three years. The projected finish date is January of 2012.
Since he was the leading donor, the school will now be called Raisbeck Aviation High School. The cost of the project in total is $43.5 million. The cost was estimated in August of last year by Basetti and Highline School District.
They expect to have half the private funds identified by June, and 95 percent of the private funds identified by March of next year. Construction will begin in March of 2010.
They are planning on getting $15 million dollars from Washington State, 15 million from private and non-profit donors, $12 million from the Port of Seattle and Highline School District, and $1.5 million from federal tax dollars.
About James Raisbeck:
Mr. Raisbeck has received many prestigious awards and honors in the field of aviation and engineering, including the Lifetime Aviation Entrepreneur Living Legends of Aviation award in January 2008. James and his wife Sherry started the James and Sherry Raisbeck Foundation to support education, the arts, and the bio-medical field. In 2007, James and Sherry won the annual Seattle/King County First Citizen Award recognizing extraordinary philanthropy and commitment to local communities, both in human services and the arts.
About The Museum of Flight
The Museum of Flight exists to acquire, preserve, and exhibit historically significant air and space artifacts, which provide a foundation for scholarly research, and lifelong learning programs that inspire an interest in and understanding of science, technology, and the humanities. The Museum of Flight’s expansion plan includes a space gallery and a commercial aviation gallery. Currently, The Museum’s programs serve more than 120,000 K-12 students each year. More information at www.museumofflight.org.
[EDITOR’S NOTE: Josh Hart is The B-Town Blog’s first Intern!
He’s also a 15-year old student at Highline’s “Big Picture High School” in SeaTac.
Aviation High School, currently housed at the former Olympic Elementary School building in Des Moines, has received a private donation of $4 million, moving it well on its path to flying and landing at the Museum of Flight in south Seattle.
According to Catherine Carbone-Rogers, director of communications for the Highline School District, Aviation High School will continue to be managed by Highline; the Seattle School Board has approved an interlocal agreement with Highline to locate the school within Seattle’s boundaries.
The identity of the donor will be revealed at a press conference this Thursday (March 26th), where “he will accept naming rights”; here’s more info from a press release:
Local officials, students, parents, school administrators, and general aviation advocates will join Highline Superintendent John Welch and Aviation High School Principal and CEO Reba Gilman as they announce the first major private donor investment in the relocation of Aviation High School to The Museum of Flight in South Seattle.
Aviation High School has adopted an ambitious plan to relocate to the Museum of Flight by 2012. Construction costs for the new facility are $43.5 million, of which about $20 million has been raised from public and private sources.
This announcement of a major anchor private donor is the first of what is expected to be several other major contributions from individuals and businesses prominent in the aviation, engineering, and technology sectors of the Pacific Northwest.
The major donor will be in attendance to be acknowledged for his sizable gift, and to accept the naming rights to this unique high school.
Aviation High School’s mission and vision is:
To prepare all students for college, career and citizenship through a personalized, rigorous and relevant learning experience that is facilitated in the context of aviation and aerospace.
To be the premier public high school of choice for students in King County and the region who wish to pursue their passion for aviation and aerospace in a learning environment that prepares them for higher education, citizenship, and work.
The Museum of Flight is located at 9404 East Marginal Way South in Seattle, near Boeing Field, and Aviation High School is currently located at 615 South 200th Street in Des Moines – an 11.6 mile flight:
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Six Highline School District students are among the 260 talented juniors from across the state accepted into the first phase of Washington Aerospace Scholars (WAS).
Five of the six students chosen attend Des Moines’ Aviation High School, which is located at the campus of Olympic Elementary School at 615 South 200th.
Washington Aerospace Scholars (WAS) is an educational program for high school juniors from across Washington. The WAS program emphasizes science, technology, engineering and math, and encourages students to consider careers in these fields. The program is funded by the Washington Aerospace Scholars Foundation, and is offered at no cost to participants.
Phase One of the program uses a NASA-designed online curriculum consisting of ten lessons and a final project. Phase Two is a six-day summer residency experience for 160 students. To be considered for Phase Two, students are expected to meet deadlines and show mastery of the Phase One curriculum. The Museum of Flight hosts the week-long summer residency experience during which students are guided by professional engineers and educators as they design a human mission to Mars. Summer residency participants are also visited by guest speakers, tour engineering facilities, and compete in hands-on engineering challenges.
Highline’s Washington Aerospace Scholars (WAS) are:
- Andrew May – Aviation High School
- Andrew Reece – Aviation High School
- Michael Thompson- Aviation High School
- Isaac Ackerman – Aviation High School
- Thomas Malchodi – Aviation High School
- Alan Soto – Health Science & Human Services High School
| Nov ’08 |
| 8 |
| 5:30 pm |
EDITOR’S NOTE: This listing is for the 2008 Dinner/Auction fundraiser:
Highline School District’s Aviation High School’s Skunkworks Robotics Team 1983 is holding a special Auction/Dinner fundraising event this Saturday, Nov. 8th from 5:30pm to 9pm at Aviation High’s Cafeteria, located at 615 South 200th Street in Des Moines.
From their press release:
2008 was our second year and it will be a hard act to follow!!!
We attended the Portland and Seattle Regionals and World Championships in Atlanta, finishing the competition in the top 2% of over 1500 teams worldwide!
We received five awards for Design, Safety, Business, CAD graphics and Engineering Inspiration. The team also captained the winning alliance in the Seattle Regional. A program like this one does not happen by accident! We need your support in raising money for team operations.
Your investment in Skunkworks will pay off with great opportunities for our students.
For more team information please visit our website: http://www.ahsrobotics.us
- Prepaid tickets: $8/student, $10/adult
- Tickets at the door: $10/student, $12/adult
- A spaghetti dinner will be served before the auction.
- Bidding for desserts, items and services donated by the team and their families will begin at 7:00pm.
- In addition to these items, participants can “Fund-A-Skunk” by sponsoring a student with a directed donation. Money will also be donated to fund an “anonymous” Skunk for students who have a difficult time fundraising.
- If you cannot attend and would like to contribute directly, tax deductible donations can be mailed to the school address:
Aviation High School
615 South 200th Street
Des Moines, WA 98198
206.716.0006 phone
206.716.0020 fax
Please make checks payable to “AHS PTSA Robotics”
For more information or to purchase tickets:
- Dayna Miller: 253-797-3077 or DaynaMiller1277@msn.com
- Kathy Swan: bswan55234@comcast.net
| Oct ’08 |
| 25 |
| 5:30 pm |
Reba Gilman, Principal and CEO of Highline School District’s Aviation High School, will receive the Museum of Flight’s 2008 Pathfinder Award recognizing pioneering achievements in flying, engineering, education, operations, and manufacturing.
The award will be presented at the Museum’s William M. Allen Theater this Saturday, Oct. 25th. The evening’s program will start off with a cocktail reception at 5:30 p.m. in the Museum’s Great Gallery and a procession of past Pathfinder awardees at 6:15 p.m. followed by dinner and presentation of the 2008 Pathfinder Awards in the Side Gallery. Seating is limited and by reservation only. Individual tickets start at $100 per person, and table reservations start at $1,500 per table of 10. To purchase tickets or request an invitation, please call (206) 764-5709 or email sewing@museumofflight.org.
The Pathfinder Awards honor individuals or teams from the Pacific Northwest for significant contributions to aeronautics and astronautics. Previous recipients include William Boeing, Sr. and former astronaut (and current Museum of Flight CEO and President) Bonnie Dunbar.
Awardees are selected by representatives of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, Air Force Association, Civil Air Patrol, Federal Aviation Administration, The Museum of Flight, Ninety-Nines, Navy League, OX-5 Aviation Pioneers, Society of Experimental Test Pilots, Society of Experimental Test Engineers, University of Washington, and the Washington State Department of Transportation.
Gilman is the founding principal of Aviation High School, a small college-prep high school where teaching and learning is framed in the context of aviation and aerospace. The curriculum emphasizes STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) and aims to develop the talents of young people to take leadership roles in a technology-based society.
Aviation High was named a Model School this past year by the International Center for Excellence in Education, one of only 23 schools in the U.S. to be chosen. The school is administered by Highline Public Schools but is open to students from across the Puget Sound Region.
The award lauds Gilman as a “quintessential and entrepreneurial education leader” for conceiving the concept for Aviation High School and developing it into a school that is a national model for innovative education.
More info on Aviation High School can be found here; on the Museum of Flight here.
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Students from Highline School Disctrict’s Aviation High School in Des Moines have developed two inventions and are applying for a patent for one of them.
Students developed one invention while designing and building a hovercraft in science class. Students decided a practical use for hovercraft might be to use them to move heavy store shelves, allowing staff to clean under them and re-arrange displays. The concept of the hovercraft was joined with shelving to produce “hovershelving”. Students researched the idea and found that there was nothing like it in existence. They have applied for a patent through the United States Patent Office.
“How many high school students can add ‘patent pending’ to their college applications?” asked Aviation High School teacher Larry Welch.
Studying house systems led to another invention. While looking at electrical, heating, and plumbing systems, students learned that the average person uses about 50 gallons of water today–about 200 gallons for a family of four. With the goal of conserving water, students designed a model home that separates graywater (non-sewage wastewater) from total wastewater. The graywater can be stored and used to irrigate lawns and gardens. Many states allow graywater use, but Washington does not, citing environmental and health issues.
On Monday, October 20, students will present their model home idea to State Representative Dave Upthegrove. Students hope to convince Representative Upthegrove, chairman of the ecology committee, to promote legislation to allow graywater use in Washington.
Aviation High School’s mission is to be the premier public high school of choice for students in King County and the region who wish to pursue their passion for aviation and aerospace in a learning environment that prepares them for higher education, citizenship, and work.
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| Sep ’08 |
| 17 |
| 9:15 am |
Just received word from the Highline School District that an actual Astronaut will be visiting Aviation High School in Des Moines tomorrow (Wed. Sept. 17th).
Hank Hartsfield is a former Air Force pilot, Shuttle pilot, and spacecraft commander, logging over 6,000 hours in jet aircraft and almost 500 hours in space over three space flights.
He joined the ranks of NASA in 1969 and, in addition to his work as pilot and commander, has served in a variety of capacities including:
- Astronaut support crew (Apollo 16 and Skylab 2, 3, and 4 missions)
- Backup pilot
- Deputy Director for Flight Crew Operations
- Director of the Technical Integration and Analysis Division
- Deputy Manager for the Space Station Projects Office
- Manager, International Space Station Independent Assessment
Hartsfield will be visiting Aviation High School, which is located at 615 South 200th Street, Des Moines (map below) on Wed. Sept. 17th, from 9:15am to 10:15am.
