Burien’s Highline Medical Center is holding a children’s “Kidz Tipz for Safety” billboard contest in association with Highline Public Schools, in an effort to engage kids in childhood safety.

Each year one in three people in the U.S. visit an emergency room – 40 percent as a result of injury-related accidents and a third under the age of 21.  Highline Medical Center, which serves nearly 50,000 ER patients annually, in concert with Highline Schools, is inviting students to design their own safety billboard.

Elementary school students in the Highline School District are encouraged to design their own billboard featuring an up-to- eight-word safety tip, with three winning entries to be featured on billboards in the surrounding community. Finalists’ artwork will be also featured at the Grand Opening Celebration of Highline Medical Center’s new Emergency Room on April 10. And every child who enters will be eligible to win a party at Family Fun Center in Tukwila.

A panel of representatives from Highline Medical Center and the community will review the entries and select 20 finalists from which final winners will be chosen. Finalists will have their artwork on display at the opening of the new ER from 10 am to 3 pm on April 10.

The deadline for entries is Friday, March 19, and more information and contest rules are available by emailing commrelations@highlinemedical.org.

Every year, Members of Congress are allowed to display one piece of artwork by a high school student from their district in the U.S. Capitol for one year.

Congressman Adam Smith, who represents Washington’s 9th Congressional District (which includes Burien), is holding an annual judged art competition to select which local art receives this honor, with a deadline of April 9th.

The selected student will win prizes and be invited to attend the national reception for a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, May 24, 2010 in Washington, DC.  two round-trip airline tickets are donated for travel to DC.  The winning entry will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year.

Prizes also include a scholarship to the Savannah Collage of Art and Design.

If you have any questions or want to receive electronic updates about Rep. Adam Smith’s Congressional Art Contest please contact Ms. Debra Entenman   (253) 593-6600 or email: Debra.Entenman@mail.house.gov.

For contest guidelines, please download the forms from Adam’s website here.

2010 Congressional Arts Competition:

The Congressional Arts Competition allows each Member of Congress to display one piece of artwork, created by a high school student in their district, in the Capitol for one year.

Entries for the 9th Congressional District Art Contest are due by 5:00 PM on Friday April 9, 2010. All submissions should be sent to:

Congressman Adam Smith
2209 Pacific Avenue, Suite B
Tacoma, Washington 98402

Additionally, during the month of April, most entries will be on display at Tacoma Art Museum (1701 Pacific Avenue).  However, please be advised that due to space limitations it may not be possible to display all entries.

The winner of the competition will be announced at the Art Exhibition and Reception on Saturday, May 1, 2010 at 1:00 pm at The Tacoma Art Museum.

The winning student will win prizes and be invited to attend the national reception for a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, June 17, 2010 in Washington, DC.  Three round-trip airline tickets are donated for travel to DC.  The winning entry will be displayed in the Cannon tunnel of the U.S. Capitol for one year.

2010 Congressional Art Competition Guidelines:

The competition is open to high school students only. Exceptions will be made for schools that have 7th through 12th grades on one campus. Each Member’s office can choose whether or not to include 7th and 8th grades in the art competition if there are schools in its district that fit these criteria. Additionally, official resources are to be used only to the extent authorized by the Committee on House Administration and the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct.

In order to allow artwork to hang in the Cannon Tunnel in the U.S. Capitol, the following restrictions are enforced:

• Artwork must be two dimensional;
• Each piece can be no larger than 28”x28”x 4” (28 inches high, 28 inches wide, and 4 inches deep) including the frame. Artwork cannot weigh more than 15 lbs;
• Each entry must be original in concept, design, and execution and may not violate any U.S. copyright laws. Any entry that has been copied from an existing photo (not the student’s own), painting, graphic, advertisement, or any other work produced by another person is a violation of the competition rules and will not be accepted. Work entered must be in the original medium (that is, not a scanned reproduction of a painting or drawing);
• Artwork must arrive in Washington by May 24, 2010 for inclusion in the exhibition.
• Artwork will hang in the Capitol for the entire year of the exhibition and cannot be returned to the students earlier. Students should, therefore, submit artwork they will not need for other purposes.
  

  Last year's Congressional art contest winner Arunan Mukphrom with Congressman Adam Smith at his office in Washington DC. The winning artist and their family were invited to Washington, D.C. to see their artwork hung in the Capitol.

Artwork accepted mediums are as follows:

• Paintings: oil, acrylics, watercolor, etc.
• Drawings: pastels, colored pencil, pencil, charcoal, ink, markers
• Collage: must be two dimensional
• Prints: lithographs, silkscreen, block prints
• Mixed Media: use of more than two mediums such as pencil, ink, watercolor, etc.
• Computer-generated art
• Photography

Paper Work:

A typed and securely affixed large label must be applied to the back of each piece. Also provide a typed copy of the Student Release form, signed by both the teacher and the student, must be attached to the back of the artwork to certify the originality of the piece.

The winning artist’s student release form along with the Member Approval form should be sent to DC via fax to 202.225.3012, attn: 2010 Art Competition, as soon as you have chosen a winning artwork .

Release forms and Member Approval forms must be received by May 28th. This will allow us to determine if more information is required from the student before actually receiving the artwork.

The final decision regarding the suitability of all artwork for the 2010 Congressional Art Competition exhibition in the Capitol will be made by a panel of qualified persons chaired by the Architect of the Capitol.

Artwork must adhere to the policy of the House Office Building Commission.

In accordance with this policy, exhibits depicting subjects of contemporary political controversy or a sensationalistic or gruesome nature are not allowed.

It is necessary that all artwork be reviewed by the panel chaired by the Architect of the Capitol and any portion not in consonance with the Commission’s policy will be omitted from the exhibit.

Framing Guidelines:

High School students in Washington's District 9 are eligible.

Framing guidelines apply only to the ONE winning artist/artwork that will be sent to Washington, DC.

All artwork must be framed. Frames should be kept as simple and sturdy as possible.

Metal frames are recommended. No “snap on” frames with glass are to be used.

All artwork must be protected by Plexiglas or glass. Plexiglas is preferred. If glass is used, special packing and shipping arrangements are encouraged to ensure that the work is not damaged if the glass breaks.

All works, including frame, should be no larger than 28 inches high, 28 inches wide, and 4 inches deep, to the outside of the frame, and 15 lbs. in weight. Please double check the size before sending the entry to Washington, DC. Due to wide participation of Member offices, framed work larger than the specified dimensions will be turned away.

Matting can enhance or detract from a work of art and should be carefully prepared.

Use sturdy picture hangers on the back of the frame. Two sturdy eye hooks should be attached at the top right and left sides of the back of the work for hanging in order to prevent the work from leaning forward or hanging unevenly. Do not put wire between the hooks for hanging; these will be added when the artwork is hung in the Capitol.

Do not attach labels, ribbons, etc. to the front of the piece or underneath the glass or Plexiglas.

If the artwork is abstract in design, please indicate on the backside which side is “up” with arrows.

As directed by the House Oversight and Standards of Official Conduct Committees, each district winner is responsible for framing his or her own entry. Any hardship case should be assisted at the district level; works can no longer be framed by the Architect of the Capitol.

A typed copy of the Student Information & Release Form must be securely attached to the back of the artwork.

More information on this art competition is available at Adam Smith’s website.

Story and Photos by Michael Brunk

Something a little different happened this past Friday (Feb. 26th) at John F. Kennedy Catholic High School in Burien. As the end of the school day approached, students and faculty gathered in the gymnasium.

That part isn’t so unusual for a high school.

It’s not often though, that they assemble to see a teacher get tattooed. At school. During the assembly!

The event was an outgrowth of the school’s recent “Every Lancer Against Cancer” awareness week. Part of the activities included raising money for several cancer-related funds. To spur the students on, American Government teacher Walt Kostecka issued a challenge (as we first reported here):

Raise $10,000 and he’d get inked.

The students threw themselves into the fundraising effort and Walt put himself in the hands of tattoo artist Bryan Kachel from Emerald City Tattoo & Supply – here’s a Photo Slideshow I shot at the event:

Click to View Michael Brunk’s Photo Slideshow

That the students met their goal shouldn’t surprise anyone. As Principal Michael Prato noted, it’s difficult to find a family that hasn’t been touched by cancer in one way or another. Their enthusiasm for learning about cancer and its affects, and collecting donations, carried over into the assembly. As Walt sat onstage with Bryan and his buzzing tattoo needle, the students conducted a pep rally around him. Complete with the school’s band, shouting cheerleaders and plenty of spirited applause.

Asked afterward how it felt getting his first tattoo, Walt replied:

“It felt like being stuck in a blackberry bush… for an hour!”

Walt shared that the real experience was watching his students get involved and raise the $10,000. He’s already thinking about next year and kicking around the idea of sky diving. Based on the response of his family members in attendance, Walt may have a challenge himself meeting that goal!

The number of Highline Public Schools students heading to college is up significantly over the past four years, and more Highline graduates are going to four-year universities, according to a study released by the school district this week.

In 2004, 52.5 percent of grads went directly to college. That number was up nearly five percentage points to 57.4 percent in 2008.

The study goes on to say that the increase in university enrollment was even more dramatic. The number of Highline seniors enrolling in four-year institutions in 2004 was just over 20 percent. By 2008, that number had increased to 28.6 percent.

Highline’s upward trend was tracked in research conducted by Baker Educational Research Consulting in cooperation with the National Clearinghouse, which has a 92% success rate in locating students who attend two- or four-year institutions anywhere in the United States.

Highline chief accountability officer, Dr. Alan Spicciati, praises the schools’ “intense efforts” at creating a college-going culture. “These results are a reflection of a lot of good, coordinated work in supporting students on their way to a better future,” says Spicciati.

Highline saw a decrease in the number of students staying in college beyond freshman year over the four-year period, from 82.6 to 75.5 percent. Spicciati says that is likely due to economic challenges facing families in the current recession.

Spicciati points out positive trends among Latino and African American students, in particular. Black and Latino students increased college-enrollment at higher rates than other racial groups, enough to eliminate what has been a significant college enrollment gap between White, Asian, and African American students.

“We now have the same percentage of African American students entering college as that of White and Asian students,” says Superintendent John Welch.

Welch, the first in his family to attend college, acknowledges that Highline has much work to do to realize its vision of college readiness for every student. But he is encouraged by the new numbers.

“This four-year upward trend represents several hundred Highline kids who are now going to college,” notes Welch. “We’re heading in the right direction.”

The Museum of Flight is holding an Engineering Fair this weekend, and the one event that stood out to us was the 15th Annual Popsicle Bridge Contest, which is scheduled to take place Saturday, Feb. 13th from 8am to 5pm.

High School engineering students will be busy creating sturdy (and perhaps not-so-sturdy) bridges made entirely of Popsicle sticks and white glue, which to us sounds like a lot of fun (especially if they have to eat a lot of Popsicles beforehand to prepare).

Here are the details:

WHAT: Engineering Fair & the 15th Annual Popsicle Bridge Contest

WHEN: Saturday, Feb 13th from 8:00am-5:00pm

WHERE: William M. Allen Theater at the Museum of Flight, located at 9404 East Marginal Way South in Seattle; Phone: 206.764.5720

INFO: From the Museum of Flight’s website:

The Younger Member Forum of the American Society of Civil Engineers will put on a competition of bridges built using only Popsicle sticks and white glue. Each year teams of high school students from local schools build bridges that are strong, efficient, as well as aesthetically pleasing. The bridges will be judged and then tested to failure with a hydraulic press. Be sure to be in the room as each bridge snaps and broken Popsicle sticks fly everywhere. At 12:00 noon the winners will be announced and prizes will be awarded.

In the Museum’s Side Gallery, the Puget Sound Engineering Council will celebrate the annual National Engineers Week with an Engineering Fair. Local chapters of national societies representing the entire span of engineering disciplines will staff booths all day where those interested in engineering careers can learn more about the exciting opportunities available. Several university engineering departments and student clubs will also be represented.

Here’s a video about the Popsicle bridge competition:

Burien’s St. Francis of Assisi School’s 7th and 8th grade students are presenting “The Pied Piper” musical at the Highline Performing Arts Center on Feb. 26th and Feb. 27th at 7pm.

According to the school’s website, “The Pied Piper” is:

“…the story of a town infested by rats. When the Piper comes to town and offers to get rid of the rats for a nominal fee, the villagers gladly agree.”

Here are the details:

WHAT: St. Francis of Assisi’s 7th & 8th grade students production of “The Pied Piper” musical.

WHEN: Friday, Feb. 26th and Saturday, Feb. 27th at 7pm.

WHERE: Highline Performing Arts Center in Burien (located at 401 South 152nd Street, next to Highline High School).

TICKETS: Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for seniors and children, and are on pre-sale at the school, which is located at 15216 21st Avenue SW (206-243-5690); or you can download an Order Form here (PDF file).

INFO: From the school’s website:

PIED PIPER ALL SCHOOL MUSICAL

This year, the annual play of St. Francis of Assisi School is “The Pied Piper”. The 7th and 8th grade students and their teachers have been enthusiastically at work to rehearse for this performance.

It is the story of a town infested by rats. When the Piper comes to town and offers to get rid of the rats for a nominal fee, the villagers gladly agree. We invite you to come see for yourself what happens when the villagers refuse to pay the Piper for his service.

This wonderful play will be held at the Highline Performing Art Center in Burien on Friday, February 26th and Saturday, February 27th, 2010 at 7:00PM.

Tickets are on pre‐sale at the school. Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for seniors and children.

Thank you for your support of our school!

We are having a contest between all of the classes to see who can sell the most tickets to our school musical, “The Pied Piper”, on February 26th & 27th. Please help them to spread the word and make this the most successful musical ever!

The Highline Community College Foundation received a $60,000 donation from Des Moines resident Justine Richards to help provide emergency assistance to Highline students who are struggling to pay for their college education.

Emergency assistance may include funds to pay for books, supplies, child care or transportation. Funds will be distributed through Highline’s Financial Aid office based on a student’s need.

The endowment is named in honor of donors Justine Richards, of Des Moines, and her deceased husband, Gene J. Newman.

Richards is a lifelong resident of the Des Moines area and taught business classes for the Highline School District for 40 years. She has been a longtime supporter of Highline Community College.

Newman graduated from Lynden High School in Lynden, Wash., and the University of Washington. He served in the 10th Mountain Division (86th Infantry Regiment) during World War II and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal at Monte della Torraccia Ridge in Italy on Feb. 27, 1945.

He spent 60 years as an electrical engineer building cranes, designing hydroelectric plants and other projects. His ashes are interred at the Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, Wash.

For more information on the HCC Foundation and how to donate to help needy students, call (200) 870-3774 or visit www.funds4highline.org.

Highline Community College was founded in 1961 as the first community college in King County. With approximately 18,300 students and 350,000 alumni, it is one of the state’s largest institutions of higher education. The college offers a wide range of academic transfer and professional-technical education programs, with day, evening and weekend classes.

Alumni include former Seattle Mayor Norm Rice, entrepreneur Junki Yoshida, Washington state poet laureate Sam Green as well as Scott Schaefer, Publisher/Editor of this here blog.

Former Washington Gov. Al Rosellini, who celebrated his 100th birthday Thursday (Jan. 21st), will be the guest of honor at Burien’s Kennedy Catholic High School this Sunday, Jan. 24 at a 3pm Italian dinner to raise funds for a scholarship named after him.

The “Governor Albert D. Rosellini Scholarship” benefits deserving students at Kennedy Catholic, where two of his great-grandchildren are students, and which all four of his grandchildren attended, according to Joe Faccone of the school’s Advancement Department.

Sponsored by the school and Sons of Italy Lodge 1390, the event starts at 3 p.m. with a reception in the cafeteria of the school, which is located at 140 South 140th Street. A dinner featuring traditional Italian fare will be served at 4 p.m., with a program celebrating the former governor’s centennial at 5 p.m.

Tickets are $50, and can be purchased at the door.

An invocation will be given by Oratorian Father Clarence Jones, parochial vicar of Our Lady of Mount Virgin Parish in Seattle, the Rosellini family’s native parish.

Gov. Rosellini, who served two terms from 1957 to 1965, noted in a 2008 letter to the Kennedy Catholic community that he has strong ties with the school in addition to the fact that his offspring went there. He met President John F. Kennedy, the school’s namesake, on several occasions and in 1962 was selected chair of the U.S. governors to represent their collective concerns to the president.

“Then in 1964, shortly after his tragic passing, I was pleased to learn that the first high school in the nation to bear his name was going to be the new Catholic high school in Seattle,” the governor wrote.

For more information, or to donate to the scholarship fund, call 206-246-0500.

Burien’s Hi-Liner’s 2009 Annual Fundraiser will be a Halloween Murder Mystery Dinner and Silent Auction on Friday, Oct. 30th from 6pm to 10pm at the Normandy Park Cove.

The Hi-Liners is funded from ticket sales, tuitions and donations from a variety of sources. The average MainStage production costs exceed $75,000, and this annual fundraiser will help offset those costs as well as support area youth.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Hi-Liner’s 2009 Fundraiser Halloween Murder Mystery Dinner & Silent Auction

WHEN: Friday, Oct. 30th from 6pm to 10pm

WHERE: Normandy Park Cove, 1500 SW Shorebrook Drive in Normandy Park

TICKETS: Click HERE to purchase event tickets and raffle tickets.

COST: Adults 18+ – $30 • Children 7-17 – $20

INFO: From their website:

Join us for a thrilling evening of food, fundraising, entertainment, who-done-it’s and more, that children ages 7-100 will enjoy! (Children must be 7 and up and be accompanied by an adult)

Enjoy a buffet dinner catered by long-time favorite, Sal’s Deli. There will be a silent auction, a cash bar and a raffle or two, along with director/acting coach Tony Curry and Events On The Edge as our fabulous entertainment! All proceeds of this event will go towards supporting The Hi-Liners theatrical programming for students and young adults.

MURDER MYSTERY THEME
Reality Bites: A TV/Film producer and director from L.A. are in town auditioning new talent and looking for new ideas for a new reality television show and film work. They heard that The Hi-Liners organization is bursting with talent and they want to find their next star! Director/ acting coach Tony Curry, Kate Moyer, Lynne Randall and other Hi-Liners will be there to audition for the part. After an unfortunate turn of events, they all become suspects in the murder of a private investigator who was investigating their backgrounds before they get signed. More suspects are discovered as the night unfolds, until eventualy, the murder is revealed.

Want to get even closer to the action? Would you like the opportunity to make your loved one a potential suspect in the evening murder mystery? Here’s your chance to snitch on your spouse, rat out your children, and set-up your friends…all for just $5!

Simply purchase a $5 raffle ticket for each individual that you’d like to incriminate and we’ll take care of the rest. Several suspects will be chosen from all of the raffle ticket purchased.

To purchase event tickets and raffle tickets, click HERE.

The Hi-Liners is independent and has received no financial or material support from the Highline School District since 1987.

For more information, visit www.hi-liners.org.

According to representatives from Highline Community College, scam artists are apparently posing around Burien as Highline art students and soliciting donations.

The scam artists claim they are painting addresses on street curbs for donations that will benefit the college and HCC’s Art department.

Highline received information about the scam from residents in Seattle, Burien and Renton.

“The college is unable to prevent people from misrepresenting themselves as college solicitors,” said Larry Yok, Vice President for Administration. “If people are suspicious, they should ask for the contact information of the person who sponsors the solicitation and obtain confirmation of the legitimacy of the request.”

He added, “If people want to donate to the college, they can safely do so through the HCC Foundation.”

Residents who want confirm the legitimacy of a fundraiser should call (206) 870-3705.

For more information about protection against scams, visit the Washington state Office of Attorney General’s Website at www.atg.wa.gov.

If you’d like to make a real donation through the HCC Foundation, call (206) 870-3774 or visit www.funds4highline.org.

Begin planning your future at Highline School District’s “Life After High School Fair” (wait..there’s actually life after high school?) on Wednesday, Oct. 7th from 3:30pm to 8:30pm at the Tyee Educational Complex, located at 4424 8th S1reet in SeaTac.

Here are the details:

WHAT: “Life After High School Fair”

WHEN: October 7th from 3:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m

WHERE: Tyee Educational Complex, located at 4424 8th S1., SeaTac, 98188

INFO:

• Food will be available to purchase from DECA Students
• For more information, call the Office of College and Career at (206) 433-2430

SCHEDULE:

5:30-6:00: Keynote Speaker from the Partnership for 21st Century Skills Polly Stansell, director of Product Development Whatskills are critical for student success in the 21stt economy?

6:00-8:30: College and Career Booths – VIsit with representatives from universities, community and technical colleges, as well as apprenticeship programs, military programs and civil service opportunities.

6:00-6:45: Middle School Rally and Parent Workshop – How to help your middle schooler prepare for success in high school, college, career, and citizenship.

7:00-7:45: Workshops:

• Finding money for college (financial aid and scholarships)
• College application (helpful hints for completing the college applications, SAT scores, essays, and your personal statement application.

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.

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.

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.

Students from the Puget Sound Skills Center’s Welding Careers Program, in association with Plumber and Pipefitters Local 32, installed “To Be Named Later,” an original sculpture of an eagle swooping down onto a salmon at the Burien Interim Art Space on Friday, June 5th.

“This is where Puget Sound Skills Center students came to Local 32’s Weld shop to learn Welding Skills and Trade Related Confidence,” said Dale Copeland of UA Local 32. “This piece is made primarily out of steel and other materials, and we plan on letting nature create the patina that we are looking for and the movement of the piece. We started with an initial design, but the students have come up with several ideas of there own. All the students worked on the piece, with the students doing most of the work.”

More information on the project, as well as B/ IAS, available at www.interim-art-space.com.

Photos courtesy Dane Johnson.

by Gina Bourdage

Here are notes from Monday night’s (April 6th) Burien City Council meeting (link to PDF agenda here):

LEVY SUPPORTS VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES:
A recent survey found that 50% of homeless men in our area are veterans. In 2005, the Veterans and Human Services levy was passed to generate funding to veterans, military personnel and their families housing and support services. The levy approved $13.3 million dollars dedicated  to help both veterans and residents in need of human services.

Two citizen boards were appointed to allocate the funds to reach specific goals within the program.

Sadikifu Akina-James from the King County of Veterans Affairs broke down the five strategies within the program;

• Enhancing services and access for veterans
• Ending homelessness through outreach, prevention, permanent supportive housing and employment
• Increasing access to behavioral health services
• Strengthening families at risk
• Increasing effectiveness of resource management and evaluation
• Beginning in 2005 the levy will remain until 2011.

For more information visit www.kingcounty.gov

CITY MANAGER MIKE MARTIN’S NEWS FLASH:
Wednesday, April 8th at Dottie Harper Park the city will celebrate Arbor Day by planting a tree in memory of former mayor Dottie Harper. Bring your family and celebrate the holiday starting at Noon.

Burien is proceeding with low watt radio project for emergency broadcasts. In the case of emergency tune to AM 540. The project is projected to be complete by the end of April 2009.

After discovering that the City of Seattle is the only city with laws extending beyond the State of Washington, Burien is now looking into developing or adopting new requirements to set a higher standard for renters in the Burien area [EDITOR'S NOTE: This was an issue brought to the City Council meeting a few weeks ago by a concerned resident who wanted to be heard and it looks like the city is truly listening. It pays to speak up!].

Disputes over Puget Sound Park, located in the northern part of North Highline, cause the areas fate to up for discussion. The City of Seattle wants to sell and build low income housing and just about everyone else wants to keep the area a community park. White Center councils are not in favor of the proposed transition. A public review meeting is set for April 22nd from 4-6pm at 1000 Oaksdale Ave SW in Renton. Everyone is encouraged to attend and voice their opinion.

“Because we are so close to annexation we don’t feel this is a good idea to be making this sort of decision.” – City Manager Mike Martin

NEW SUBDIVISION AT 13032 AMBAUM BLVD. SW:
The council approved preliminary proposal 291, granting use of land in the neighborhood of 132nd to be developed into single family homes. Currently the lot is wooded and unused. The proposal includes six subdivisions, including a five-foot sidewalk and a storm water run off which current residents would be able to access to prevent drainage issues.

SEAHURST PARK AND DEVELOPMENT PROJECT:
Seahurst Park Master Plan presented a restoration project including restoration efforts to return the area to a more natural environment, improve access to trails and improve natural seawall . Several options for direction area were proposed and are available at www.burienwa.gov/index.asp?NID=311.

Currently the Parks Department is seeking funding to move forward.

LIVING ROAD OF REMEMBRANCE:
Preservation efforts for Des Moines Memorial Drive and creation of a new memorial park were proposed. The NE corner of South 136th and Des Moines Way South is one suggestion for the location of a new memorial park which would include a memorial wall, seating area and more. Improvement plans would include the current memorial wall at Sunnydale Elementary, but expansion is not likely due to space restrictions.

The current wall does not include all of the Highline residents that died in World War I. The restoration project, with the help of Highline Historical Society, would include all of those names which have been compiled.

The city of Seatac would take on the majority of the cost for the new park. Some fundraising will have to be done to supplement the cost. The Burien City Council supported the efforts.

The restoration committee hopes to have the project complete by 2012. For more information visit www.roadofremembrance.org

BURIEN TO REFUND TAXES:
Due to an oversight in the wording of the Business and Operations tax bill the City of Burien collected too much in taxes from some business owners. In all about 35 people were effected to a total of $900.

The City is planning on refunding the $900 and correcting the wording of the tax measure to prevent future issues.

“It’s not only a legal, but a moral obligation to refund the money.” said council member Kathy Keene.

STUDENTS TO MAKE SCULPTURE FOR ART PARK:
A recent arts commission meeting proposed installation of a sculpture with a fish and a revolving eagle above the fish, made by the Puget Sound Skills center students and designed by a welding instructor.

The sculpture would be included in the BIAS Interum Art Space.

The city council’s next regular meeting will be held at 7pm on Monday, April 13th.

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

BTB Advertiser Three Tree Montessori School is holding an Open House this Saturday, Jan. 31st from 1-3pm, where interested families can meet Executive Director Paula Walters, teachers and staff, as well as get a tour of the school.

You’ll find them at 220 SW 160th in Burien (map below).

For more information about Three Tree Montessori, the open house or to schedule a visit, contact Administrator Jennifer Mason at (206) 242-5100.

Tuition assistance is available.

There are 120 students at the school, with room for a few more this year in the Toddler and Primary Programs.

Plus for your student learners, it’s never too early to look ahead to next school year!

Here’s a slideshow of photos taken at the school:

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by Mark Neuman

One of our area’s hidden gems is Seahurst Park.

And tucked away at the beach there is another diamond – the Environmental Science Center.

The Environmental Science Center (ESC) is the only community-based, not-for-profit environmental education organization in south King County with programs for all ages.

With a primary focus on K through 12, ESC offers school-day programs including classroom lessons and field trips, after school programs, summer camps, and community presentations.

Since its founding in 1999, rapid expansion in programs has led to an increasing number of program participants served, with more than 8,000 clients during 2008, up from 5,000 clients in 2006.

“We want to foster the next group of environmental stewards,”  said ESC Executive Director Julie Burr. “Kids don’t get out there, really out-of-doors, like they used to. We reach out with special effort to minority or lower-income children.”

Julie recently spent time showing the B-Town Blog around the Center, and brought us up to speed on a big project they have in mind.

“We have a vision for an Environmental Learning Center,” Julie said. “And we have the perfect spot to build it on.”

Years ago, when Seahurst Park was the property of King County, a park caretaker actually lived in a cottage just a few yards from the building ESC currently works out of.

The caretaker is long gone, and the cottage is boarded up.

“We will renovate inside and expand the cottage a bit on its south side.”

The result will be a 2,200 square foot facility which will seat fifty students.

It will take about $1.3 million to fully renovate. The fundraising has been going on for a while, with $900,000 having been raised to far.

“The remaining $400,000 is proving the toughest. Several major corporations sincerely want to help, but have had to drastically cut back their civic donations” due to the current economic state of affairs.

Corporate groups who have contributed toward the Learning Center include Boeing, Alaska Airlines and Waste Management.

“We greatly appreciate, as well, our funders who help keep our regular programs running,” Julie said. These groups include:

• The Russell Family Foundation
• The JiJi Foundation
• The Bottler Charitable Trust
• The City of Burien
• The Horizon Foundation
• The Seattle Foundation
• King Conservation District, WRIA 9

Julie received a special gift last month.

“My daughter, Jesann, bless her heart, went out and raised $1,540 from her friends for the Learning Center. She didn’t tell me about her efforts at all,” Julie recalled. “Then on Christmas Day she gave me the checks. What a sweetheart.”

No gift is too small (or too big!), so if you would like to contribute, please feel free to contact Julie anytime:

Julie Burr
Executive Director
Environmental Science Center
Julieb@envsciencecenter.org
phone 206-246-2144

DIRECTIONS:: From Ambaum Blvd. go west on 144th. Turn right on 13th. That road will take you all the way to the beach, where parking is available.

The Environmental Science Center and the cottage are about 200 yards north of there.

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Highline Public Schools is encouraging families of all high school seniors to attend “College Goal Sunday,” a special event this coming Sunday, Jan. 25th that will help students obtain financial aid for college.

As part of the district’s laser focus on college readiness, many staff members will volunteer at the upcoming College Goal Sunday events at four campus locations.

College Goal Sunday is a free, on-site program that helps students and families complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the form that is required to apply for federal financial assistance for higher education. Students receive step-by-step instructions for completing and submitting their FAFSA. The event is organized by the College Success Foundation.

“Part of our strategic plan – and our everyday work – is to make certain students graduate from Highline Public Schools ready for college, career, and citizenship,” said Superintendent John Welch.  “In today’s world the academic requirements for being successful in an apprenticeship program, a community college, and a four-year university are nearly the same.  We want to make sure our students have choices when they graduate – that means preparing all students academically. It also means informing families of the financial resources available for college.”

On Sunday, Jan. 25th, from 2pm – 5pm, experts will be on hand at these locations to assist students and families (map below):

• Highline High School
  225 South 152nd St., Burien
• Tyee Educational Complex
  4424 South 188th Street, SeaTac
• Mount Rainier High School
  22450 – 19th Ave. South, Des Moines
• Evergreen Campus
  830 SW 116th Street, Seattle (White Center)

Students and parents are strongly encouraged to attend College Goal Sunday together because household financial information is needed to fill out the FAFSA.

Participants should bring:

• Student’s Social Security number, driver’s license (if any) and any financial records related to income.
• If available: student’s FAFSA pin number

Participants 23 years old or younger should bring:

• A parent and their 2008 income data (W-2’s or a pay stub and/or 2008 tax return)
• Participants 24 years old or older should bring:
• Student’s 2008 income information.
• Any other financial records related to income.

Participants who are not U.S. citizens should bring:

• Alien registration card

Families should attend even if they do not have all these documents.  Those who don’t have this year’s income tax returns, may bring copies of last year’s forms and/or last pay stub for making estimates. They should also bring any other financial records related to income. Even families with have no paperwork at all can get help completing part of the FAFSA.

Students may attend on their own, but they’ll need to bring parents’ recent income tax returns and/or last pay stub and other financial records. Parents are strongly encouraged to attend with their children.

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Highline High School’s Drama Club is performing “Clue the Musical” at the Highline Performing Arts Center, located at 401 S 152nd Street, from Wednesday, Jan. 28 through Saturday, Jan. 31 at 7pm.

Tickets are FREE, (oops…we misread: tickets are $20 general admission and $16 for Seniors/ASB Students) and the show sounds even more fun and interesting than say, Col. Mustard in the Kitchen with a Lead Pipe.

Here’s a blurb from the creators of the play’s website:

Based on the popular board game…this rousing, fun-filled musical brings the world’s best-known mystery suspects to life on the stage, and invites the audience to play along to solve a mystery.

CLUE The Musical is an international theatrical sensation, wowing both audiences and press.

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Highline Community College’s Student Nursing Club is sponsoring a blood drive on Tuesday, Jan. 20th to help with the recent blood supply shortage.

The blood supply dropped dramatically as a result of snowy weather in December and donors are needed, according to the Puget Sound Blood Center (PSBC).

The blood drive is open to everyone – community members and Highline faculty, staff and students.

Those interested in donating blood can schedule an appointment through the PSBC’s Website, www.psbc.org, or walk in without an appointment during the blood drive’s hours.

WHAT: Highline College Nursing Club’s Blood drive

WHEN: Tuesday, Jan. 20 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; closed for lunch from 11-11:45 a.m.

WHERE: Highline Community College’s main campus, Building 2; Highline’s main campus is located midway between Seattle and Tacoma at South 240th Street and Pacific Highway South (Highway 99); address: 2400 S. 240th St., Des Moines, WA 98198 (see map below).

WEBSITE: http://flightline.highline.edu/nursing/

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Our friends at the Highline School District send us this update – Health Sciences and Human Services High School (HS3) is one of four chosen for a new global health program:

Highline’s Health Sciences and Human Services High School (HS3) is the first of four Washington schools to be chosen for new global health program developed by the Washington Global Health Alliance (WGHA). The WGHA Ambassador program is a pilot project designed to introduce global health issues to high school students. The goal is to enhance Washington’s position as a leader in global health by nurturing the next generation of global health leaders.

Through the Ambassador Program, WGHA members will partner with HS3’s principal and teachers to create 11th grade curriculum focused on science, math and social studies, as well as offer on-site learning opportunities and internships. The program will start this spring with a two-week workshop hosted by Seattle Biomedical Research Institute’s (SBRI) BioQuest science education program and Washington State University. After the workshop, teachers will use the curriculum in class, and students will visit SBRI, WSU, PATH, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and other WGHA member institutions for hands-on instruction with scientists.

Funding for the Ambassador program comes from a $1 million, three-year grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to support WGHA’s goal of encouraging the development of future global health leaders.

“We are thrilled that the Gates Foundation is looking towards the students of White Center/ Burien as the next generation of doctors, scientists, and leaders in global health,” says Paula Montgomery, HS3 Principal.  “This partnership is the right next step for developing our school’s focus on the health sciences.”

The Washington Global Health Alliance is a new collaboration of leading Washington State global health organizations. WGHA strives to connect, organize, and motivate Washington state groups that share the goals of improving health conditions for people around the world. Founding partners include Seattle Biomedical Research Institute, PATH, University of Washington, Washington State University, Infectious Disease Research Institute, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle Children’s GAPPS Program and The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

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

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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BURIEN – Two Highline Public Schools students have been named Governor’s Scholars, and we here at the B-Town Blog extend a double Borat-style thumbs-up with a hearty “High Five!” shouted in a weird accent in their general directions: 

• Mary Magdelene (Madel) Rogulj of Global Connections
• Byron Maye of HS3

Both received four-year scholarships to any public or private university or college in the state of Washington, which is pretty cool considering that the average tuition for a resident is over $25,000.

In addition to the free education, they will also get a mentor to help them along the way.

Six former Washington governors joined forces to support youth in foster care when they created the Governor’s Scholarship program.  Former Governor Gary Locke stated, “Only 3% of foster kids ever make it to college – primarily because they can’t afford to support themselves and go to school at the same time.”  The state foster care system support for youth ends at age 18.

Trina Hickey, a recipient of the Governor’s Scholarship early on, has graduated from UPS and is working to help transition foster youth into adulthood.

In the seven years since its inception, the Governor’s Scholarship has been awarded to 144 foster care youth from around the State.

SOURCE:

• Highline School District

VANCOUVER, WA – A Burien man was arrested today in Vancouver, accused of robbing four students and attempting to rob others while driving a stolen car.

Ari Watson, 21, of Burien, was booked into jail on two counts of second-degree robbery and one count of second-degree burglary, police said. Watson was a passenger in a car driven by William J. Upham, 21, of Federal Way, who is being held on two counts of second-degree robbery, driving under the influence, attempting to elude a police officer, possession of stolen property and a felony warrant for second-degree auto theft in Seattle.

Officers spotted the two in the area of East 18th Street after a Heritage High School student told school officials he was robbed of money near school by two men in a white car, the Vancouver Police Department said.

The driver lost control of the car at Mill Plain Boulevard and Morrison Road, and the suspects fled on foot. The driver was caught after a short chase, and the passenger was found a short distance away by a K9 unit, police said.

After the two were taken into custody, police learned that three middle school students waiting for a bus on East 18th also were robbed, but they did not report it until reaching school, police said.

SOURCE:

• Oregon Live

The Highline School District has received a $600,000 grant to help immigrant students and their families at three elementary schools: White Center Heights, Beverly Park and Mount View.

At White Center Heights, for example, parents can come to school three mornings a week, where they attend English-language classes, spend time in their child’s class, learn what’s happening at school and receive parenting tips.

The program is limited to families with students in kindergarten through third grade.

Highline is one of five school districts to receive grants this year.

The program is funded by Toyota and coordinated by the National Center for Family Literacy.

SOURCE:

• The Seattle Times