Highline School District on Wednesday (Aug. 19th) announced that, beginning this September and continuing through the 2009-2010 school year, students will be released 90 minutes early on “most Fridays.”
This new policy will replace the half-day Wednesdays and most of the non-student “waiver days” HSD has had in past years.
“This has nothing to do with budget cuts,” said Catherine Carbone Rogers, Director, Communication and Community Engagement for HSD. “The purpose is the give teachers time to learn and collaborate with the goal of improving instruction and student achievement. Most school districts do some form of early release or late start for this purpose, and have for many years. Students will have about the same amount of time out of school as they have for the past few years.”
School begins in three weeks for Highline students, on Wednesday, Sept. 9th, which would make the first early-release day Friday, Sept. 11th 18th (so parents, mark your calendars).
“After students are dismissed on Fridays, teachers will use the time for training, professional development, and collaboration,” states the letter. “The 90-minute sessions, called Professional Collaboration Time (PCT), will include activities such as learning new and better ways to deliver instruction, analyzing student work together, and sharing ideas and plans that will improve student performance.”
Also, as printed in the letter, “The school district surveyed parents and teachers, and the majority preferred a weekly early release of less than two hours, versus a less frequent but longer block of time as we have had in the past.”
Here’s the letter, which will be sent out to families from individual school principals:
DATE
Dear [name of school] Families:
We want you to be aware of a change our school schedule. This year, school will be dismissed 90 minutes early on most Fridays. This will replace the half-day Wednesday schedule and most of the non-student “waiver” days we have had in past years. Overall, the amount of time students will spend out of the classroom is comparable to past years.
After students are dismissed on Fridays, teachers will use the time for training, professional development, and collaboration. The 90-minute sessions, called Professional Collaboration Time (PCT), will include activities such as learning new and better ways to deliver instruction, analyzing student work together, and sharing ideas and plans that will improve student performance. While you might not expect that giving time off school could lead to increased student learning, research shows that time invested in teacher training and improvement of instruction does indeed result in improved student achievement.
Students must be dismissed early in order to provide time for teacher learning and collaboration within teachers’ state-funded work day.We recognize that shortened school days impact families and parents’ work schedules. The school district surveyed parents and teachers, and the majority preferred a weekly early release of less than two hours, versus a less frequent but longer block of time as we have had in the past.
The most significant impact will be to families of half-day Kindergarteners. Morning and afternoon classes will alternate attending school every other Friday. On Fridays, Kindergarteners will be on the same schedule as students in grades 1-6.
For example, on September 18, morning Kindergarteners will attend school the same hours as grades 1-6; afternoon Kindergarteners will have no school. On the following Friday, afternoon Kindergartners will attend school with grades 1-6; morning Kindergarteners will have no school.
We hope the consistency of the weekly early release will be beneficial for students, families, and teachers. If you have questions, please contact me at [phone number and/or email address]
Sincerely,
[name]
Principal
For more information, visit the Highline School District website here, or download a PDF of the school year calendar here.
| Jul ’09 |
| 4 |
| 10:00 am |
Our nearest neighbor to the south, the beautiful City of Normandy Park, has posted the following schedule for what’s going on there on the 4th of July – everything from a 2.8K Fun Run to a Children’s Parade to a Social at The Cove:
“Join your neighbors and friends at the Normandy Park 4th of July Social sponsored by the Normandy Park Community Club and the City of Normandy Park from 10am until 1pm. All Normandy Park residents are encouraged to join in the fun for these morning and early afternoon festivities:
10:25am: 2.8K Fun Run. It’s free, but pre-registration is highly suggested. The course is from Marvista Elementary to Marine View Drive & Shoremont. Runners be sure to arrive at the starting area before 10:10am as number pick up will close at that time. This year’s custom designed race t-shirt can be ordered in advance by all runners for pick it up at the finish line. Non-runners may purchase any left over shirts at the end of the race. They are only $15 each. Contact the Cove office to register 206-242-3778 or visit www.npcove.org
10:30am: Children’s Parade. Everyone is welcome to join in, either from the start (be at Marvista no later than 10:15!) or from anywhere along the parade route, which ends at the Cove Building. Classic cars, floats, wagons, bicycles, strollers, horses, marching bands – - all are encouraged to participate. Paint your face, decorate your bike, get out your flags; be festive or plain. Please, however, no campaigning or political signs. The Normandy Park Arts Commission will once again offer children prizes for the best decorated bicycles. Children who participate in the Parade are encouraged to decorate their bikes in the holiday spirit and enter the Bike Decorating Contest. Prizes will be awarded for the Best Patriotic decorations
11:15am: Social at the Cove. After the parade everyone is invited for free Ice Cream at the Cove. To satisfy your lunchtime hunger, hot dogs and beverages will be offered. Festivities include Classic Car Show and, Large Blow Up Toys and Temporary Tattoos for youngsters. All of this will be accompanied by Live Patriotic Music on the lawn.
Line the streets, enjoy the parade, and attend the Community Social at the Cove!
Road Closure Information:
- Marine View Drive and Shorebrook Drive will be closed to motor vehicles during the festivites from approx. 9:30am-12:00pm. Please use caution and consider alternate routes.
If you’re considering other local fun on the 4th, here’s a link to the schedule for 3 Tree Point’s all-day block party.
It’s looking like it’s going to be a great, sunny, summery day for this Saturday’s 4th of July, and here’s the schedule for the goings-on down at 3 Tree Point’s annual Independence Day Block Party, courtesy 3treepoint.org:
9am-11: COMMUNITY BREAKFAST on the strip near 3142 SW 172nd with great food prepared by a host of local chefs. Donations appreciated!
10:30am-1pm: FIELD GAMES & INFLATABLE KIDS STUFF will be hosted at 3750 SW 171st.
1:30pm-2pm: FLAG RAISING CEREMONY at 5 SW 3TP Lane with awards, speeches and the annual crowning of the new King and Queen of the Point.
2:30pm-3:30pm: KIDS PARADE & CARNIVAL GAMES after the Flag Raising Ceremony, kids will parade their colorful bicycles, scooters, strollers & whatever else down SW 172nd. Immediately following the parade, there will a Treasure Hunt on the south beach and Carnival Games at 3568 SW 172nd.
3pm-8pm: LIVE BANDS at the South Beach Amphitheater, 3568 SW 172nd, including music from Jack Johnston, Jim Herron, Joe Delgreco, John Brim, and Todd Anderson, as well as Full Force, 3TP Blue Band, Terri Derr and Boomerang Summer (featured here on the BTB on 6/26): with Trevor Ras, Ian McKamey, Ben Johnston, Paul Davis, a four-piece group with Burien roots.
Noon – 5pm: ART SHOW in the historic Three Tree Point Store, 16957 Maplewild Ave SW. Over a dozen local artists will be displaying their works along with contact information for purchase of artwork. Artists will include Mike Reid, Alex Sasonoff, Guy Harper, John Unbehend, Betty Vacca, Pam Harper, Sheila Jeffery, Beth Gasser, Laurel Mercury, Tina Rout, Sheri Brim, and Chris Stiles.
10pm: FIREWORKS! A great, professional, $21,000+ fireworks show from a barge anchored off the Point by Western Fireworks. Thanks to the generous donations of people like you and the 3TP Fireworks Committee.
9am-7pm: BOOK EXCHANGE – bring your books that you’re done with and exchange them for new ones at the Book Swap near 3324 SW 172nd.
*Times, events and weather are subject to change without notice.
Also, if you’re planning on coming down, why not chip in a few bucks at the 3 Tree Point Fireworks Fund website here? It takes a lot of money and volunteer love to make this event happen, and you can donate online in just a few seconds!
The City of SeaTac will be hosting its FREE, annual International Festival beginning this Friday, June 26th through Sunday, June 28th at Angle Lake Park.
The festival will include:
- A grand parade
- A family fun run
- Skateboard competition
- Model-hydroplane race
- Craft and food vendors
- Children’s play area and more
FRIDAY, JUNE 26th:
“Under the Lights 5″ 5th Annual Skateboarding Competition
Valley Ridge Park, 4644 S. 188th St.
6:00 p.m.: Registration
7:00 p.m.: Contest
Click here for more information!
SATURDAY, JUNE 27th:
10:15 a.m. ~ Family Fun Run, approximately one mile and follows the same route as the parade. A medal will be given to all registered finishers. No registration fee. Register by calling the SeaTac Community Center at 206.973.4680 by Thursday, June 25th. Or register the day of event at Valley Ridge Park. For information call 206.973.4680.
10:30 a.m. ~ Grand Parade begins at Tyee High School and travels west on S. 188th St., then proceeds southbound on 33rd Ave. S. traveling through Angle Lake Park and finishing at the Alaska Airlines parking lot (download/view Parade Map PDF here).
12:00 p.m. ~ Teen Idols (Song & Dance routines)
1:00 p.m. ~ Kane Mathis (Traditional Mandinka Music)
2:00 p.m. ~ Jimmy Free – African Allstars (A fusion of world music)
3:00 p.m. ~ Tor Dietrichson – Mambo Cadillac (Salsa & Latin Jazz)
4:00 p.m. ~ Smilin’ Scandinavians (Polka music)
5:00 p.m. ~ Show Brazil (Brazilian Music & Dance)
6:00 p.m. ~ James Whetzel (Indian fusion music played on a sarod)
7:00 p.m. ~ Kris Orlowski Band (Jazz & Goth – This unusual combination delivers an edgy roots-rock mix)
SUNDAY, JUNE 28th:
12:00 p.m. ~ Chris Patin Band (Jazz incorporated with R&B, Blues & Latin music)
1:00 p.m. ~ Vicci Martinez (Folk Rock, Blues & acoustic music)
2:00 p.m. ~ Kellee Bradley (She’s been compared to Karen Carpenter & Sheryl Crow, but she has a sound all her own)
3:00 p.m. ~ Rhys Thomas – Juggle Mania (Juggler)
4:00 p.m. ~ Cory Wilds (Blend of Rock, Blues & Jazz)
A variety of ethnic and cultural bands from around the Pacific Northwest will also perform throughout the weekend.
“With more than 83 languages spoken throughout the city, SeaTac is a growing, vibrant and diverse community,” said Todd Cutts, Assistant City Manager. “The International Festival is an annual tradition to really kick off the summer and celebrate that diversity together.”
Festival Hours are as follows:
- Friday, June 26, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
- Saturday, June 27, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
- Sunday, June 28, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
- Craft and food vendors will be open throughout the festival.
Please consider bringing a donation of canned or nonperishable food, diapers, toilet paper, soap or pet food to the SeaTac Domestic Violence Task Force tent to benefit Highline Area Food Bank.
Admission to the festival is free. All events will take place at Angle Lake Park, located at 19408 International Boulevard in SeaTac. For more information and a full schedule of events, please call (206) 973-4680 or visit the website at www.ci.seatac.wa.us/park/seinternationalfestival.htm.
There’s still time to come to the Burien Strawberry Festival, where you’ll see things like this belly dancer from Abyssinian Dance Studio:
Gates close at 5pm, so get slathered and get up here now for the following:
Some scenes from today’s Strawberry Festival – sunny/hot, great location, lively folks, food aplenty, amazing music and arts:
We’ll be uploading video from the event over the next few days so be sure to check back – we’ve got some great footage of skateboarding competition, interviews with artists and live music and more.
And don’t forget, gates open at 10am tomorrow so be sure to come on by and see us at our booth near the bouncy kids area!
The gates are open (until 6pm), the sun is out (be sure to slather), the vendors are set up, the bouncy fun inflatable kids area is ready, we’ve got power and Internet (thanks Clearwire!) and all that’s needed now for the Burien Strawberry Festival is YOU!
We’re located in a booth near the inflatable bouncy Kids Area, so bounce on by and say hi – here’s a short video shot this morning for reference:
Some events we’re looking forward to today (full schedule here):
1pm: Skateboard tournament in the Skatepark
1:30+: Trash Apes picking up trash in their hot costumes
1:45pm: Bird Show of North America on the Gallery Stage
2pm+: Anunnaki Project Stilt Walker strolling around
3:15pm: Hot Club Sandwich on the Gallery Stage
4:30pm: Andalibre on the Gallery Stage
4:30pm: Capt. Leroy and the Zydeco Locals on the Main Stage
We’ll be posting photos and video throughout the day, so if you can’t make it stay tuned to this here website for updates!
Tomorrow at 10am, the gates open for the Burien Strawberry Festival (where we’ll have a booth so be sure to drop by and say hi), and here’s another sneak peek at something (or someone) a bit different you might see there:
Say hello to the “Trash Apes”, who will be strolling around the Fest, picking up (you guessed it…) trash.
In ape suits.
I guess you could call it “Helpful Gorilla Performance Art”?
Full Strawberry Festival schedule is here.
Here are the finalized schedules for this weekend’s Burien Strawberry Festival – be sure to find our booth, drop by and say “Howdy B-Town Blog“!
Only two more days until this weekend’s Burien Strawberry Festival (where we’ll have a booth so be sure to drop by and say hi), and here’s another sneak peek music sample of a featured band.
Today’s band is Amber Tide, who play the Kids Stage at 1:30pm Saturday June 28th, and describe themselves as:
Soaring vocals, 12 string jazz, upbeat blues, wild stories, rowdy harmonica, folk gospel, solo trombone, soulful ballads, the relentless bando-fluke, awful jokes, mariachi swing, the world’s smallest trap set and thirty years of wedded bliss.
Today’s track is “Cheek to Cheek,” a classic old swingin’ and scattin’ song:
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Full Strawberry Festival schedule is here.
Only three more days until this weekend’s Burien Strawberry Festival (where we’ll have a booth so be sure to drop by and say hi), and here’s another sneak peek music sample of a featured band.
Today’s featured band is Mariachi Fiesta Mexicana, who will be strolling through the Festival playing their authentico Mexican mariachi music (and tell me, who doesn’t love a live mariachi band?); here’s a sample video:
Full Strawberry Festival schedule is here.
Only four more days until this weekend’s Burien Strawberry Festival (where we’ll have a booth so be sure to drop by and say hi), and here’s another sneak peek music sample of a featured band.
Today’s track is “Slowdown (The 12th St. Blues)” by the Staxx Brothers, who play the Main Stage at 2:45pm Sunday June 29th, and are described as:
A Blind Black Rapper, a ½ Puerto Rican Jagger, and Gypsy-walk out of a bar with one of the seminal Rock & Roll Records of the past decade. Backed by Seattle Jazz & Rock heavyweights Joe Doria, Dave Carter, Andy Coe and RL Heyer, The Staxx Brothers have created a living document that uncovers Seattle’s lost identity as an urban crossroad for classic R & B, Hip Hop and Hard ASS Soul.
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Full Strawberry Festival schedule is here.
In order to help all our B-Town area neighbors decide on what to do and see at this coming weekend’s Burien Strawberry Festival (where we’ll have a booth so be sure to drop by and say hi) we will be releasing one sneak peek music or video track per day leading up to it.
Today’s track is “Johnny Can’t Dance” by Captain Leroy and the Zydeco Locals, who will be on the Main Stage on Sturday June 28th at 4:30pm:
[display_podcast]
Full Strawberry Festival schedule is here.
Less than a week to go until the Burien Strawberry Festival (where we’ll have a booth so be sure to drop by and say hi), and here’s a sneak peek music sample of a featured band.
Today’s featured band is Caela and the Dangerous Flares, an all-woman R&B Seattle band that specializes in sultry R&B vocals, and have been described as:
From the sultry pipes of their lead vocalist, Caela, to the smooth harmonics and seductive looks of the fiery babes, you will be smitten. The exciting singing and dancing of Caela and her backup singers has thrilled and entertained…rhythm and blues meets comedy/Varietè.
They will play the Main Stage next Sunday June 29th at 4pm, and for a taste of their music, listen to this track, called “I Couldn’t Be Rude”:
Full Strawberry Festival schedule is here.
From Burien Parks comes a Winter iteration of “Camp Craz,” which we know from personal experience is quite a load of fun for the kiddie-o’s:
Week 1: Snowball Express – Click here to register
December 24 – December 28 $95 (no camp 12/24)Week 2: Sunshine & Summertime – Click here to register
December 31 - January 4 $95 (no camp 1/1)Scholarships Available
Call (206) 988-3700 for more information!
The Burien Parks Winter Program Schedule has been released, and is available by clicking and going here.
