February 2012

Press release:

As Highline was shopping for global positioning systems (GPS) for school buses, ZONAR Systems Incorporated offered to supply GPS equipment for all 104 Highline buses, with no charge for the hardware.

That contribution saves the school district nearly $20,000. ZONAR also dramatically cut the service fees, for an additional annual savings of $8,700 per year.


ZONAR President and CEO Brett Brinton lives in Highline School District, and says this is his way of supporting his local community and schools.


GPS allows the district’s transportation department to track the location of every bus at any time. The ZONAR equipment also shows the buses’ mechanical systems on a desktop computer at the transportation office.

“If a dashboard light flashes on and the driver doesn’t know why, we can look at the desktop and tell them, ‘all your mechanical systems are okay, stay on the route’ or ‘your engine is overheating, stay put and we’ll send another bus,’” says Transportation Director Scott Logan. “The GPS supports student safety and it supports efficient stewardship of taxpayer dollars.”

Press release:

For many high school girls, going to the prom is an event anticipated for years, but not going to the prom because the family can't afford a formal dress can be devastating.

This year, thanks to the Highline Schools Foundation for Excellence, a number of high school students will be going to the prom in beautiful dresses donated by local organizations and members of the community. They will also have opportunity to select shoes, bags and other accessories contributed by the local community.

In its 4th Annual Project PROMise™, the Highline Schools Foundation collects beautiful new and gently worn formal dresses and gowns, shoes and accessories from throughout our community and invites high school students in need to "go shopping" for the perfect dress for their prom. The dresses are offered to the girls to keep, or they may return them to the Foundation to be used the following year.

Please bring your clean, new or gently used prom dresses, prom jewelry and prom shoes to the following schools by March 1.
Aviation High School
Evergreen High School
Mount Rainier High School
Highline High School

Press release:

Five Highline Schools earned the Washington Achievement Award for 2011. The statewide award celebrates schools for overall excellence and special recognition in language arts, math, science, graduation rate, improvement and closing achievement gaps.
The Highline schools and the categories for which they are being recognized are:
Southern Heights Elementary (Improvement)
Chinook Middle School (Improvement)
Global Connections H.S. (Achievement Gap)
Health Sciences and Human Services High School (Extended Graduation Rate)
Aviation High School (Overall Excellence, Math, Science)

This highly selective award is based on school’s performance according to the Washington Achievement Index, a comprehensive measurement of how schools in Washington are performing over time. It is awarded jointly by the State Board of Education and the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Interim Superintendent Alan Spicciati notes that Highline has more schools earning the award than all but one other South King County school district.

Press release:

Josh Sandell, a senior from Highline High School, was chosen as the January Business Student of the Month. Josh has taken a number of business courses, including business law, accounting, international business, retail management, marketing, and business management.

Josh earned a 3.5-3.9 GPA in 2008-2009, and also had perfect attendance for the first semester of that year. He was DECA Student of the Month in September 2011, and won 3rd place in Hospitality Management and Network Design at the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Regional Conferences.

Josh was elected executive vice president of Highline's Future Business Leaders of America chapter, and selected by his peers as student store general manager. After graduating high school, Josh plans to attend a four-year university to earn his bachelor's degree in business, and then obtain his master's in business administration.

Press release:
Twenty-four schools in the Road Map Region of South Seattle and South King County are receiving Washington Achievement Awards for 2011. The Washington Achievement Award is sponsored by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction and the State Board of Education.

The Road Map Project’s goal is to double the number of students in South Seattle and South King County who are on track to graduate from college or earn a career credential by 2020. The project is committed to nothing less than closing the unacceptable achievement gaps for low income students and children of color, and increasing achievement for all students from cradle to college and career. The Road Map Region includes the Auburn, Federal Way, Highline, Kent, Renton, South Seattle and Tukwila school districts.

“There are bright spots of achievement throughout the Road Map Region,” said Mary Jean Ryan, Executive Director of the Community Center for Education Results. “I applaud the hard work and dedication of the staff and students in these award-winning schools.”

By Coach Rob Mathison

In a thrilling game between local competitors that saw two overtimes, clutch free throw shooting and dramatic drives to the hoop, the Seattle Swagger earned their first victory of the season last Saturday against their rival, the 13-year-old Loyal Heights Boys Basketball Team.

After jumping out to an early 5-0 lead on a steal and lay-up by Antonio Diaz-Mitchell and a long three-pointer by Josh Brown, the Swagger surrendered their lead to free throws before the two teams leap-frogged each other for most of the game.

During regulation play, Diaz-Mitchell poured in 16 points and Michael Scherrer had a key blocked shot on a layup, but their heroics were matched by sparkling drives to the basket and well-executed back-door cuts by the rival Loyal Heights team.

The Swagger were up 21-19 until two clutch free throws tied the game with 23 seconds to go, sending the crowd into a frenzy as both teams tried desperately but fruitlessly in the final seconds for a game-winning score.

Press release:
Twenty-four schools in the Road Map Region of South Seattle and South King County are receiving Washington Achievement Awards for 2011. The Washington Achievement Award is sponsored by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction and the State Board of Education.

The Road Map Project’s goal is to double the number of students in South Seattle and South King County who are on track to graduate from college or earn a career credential by 2020. The project is committed to nothing less than closing the unacceptable achievement gaps for low income students and children of color, and increasing achievement for all students from cradle to college and career. The Road Map Region includes the Auburn, Federal Way, Highline, Kent, Renton, South Seattle and Tukwila school districts.

“There are bright spots of achievement throughout the Road Map Region,” said Mary Jean Ryan, Executive Director of the Community Center for Education Results. “I applaud the hard work and dedication of the staff and students in these award-winning schools.”

Chief Sealth High School and Denny International Middle School showed improvement.

REMINDER:

The district will host each finalist on a separate day, February 22, 23, and 24. ​
Each candidate will face a long day, starting with a breakfast with community leaders and ending with a public forum.

All community members and staff are invited to attend the forums, held February 22, 23, and 24, 6:00-7:15 p.m. in the Burien City Council Chambers (located at the Burien Public Library).

UPDATE FEB. 12

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR FAMILIES

Highline School Board Selects Three Finalists for Superintendentt

The School Board has named three finalists in its search for a new superintendent.

Dr. Susan Enfield

Dr. Susan Enfield is currently the interim Superintendent for Seattle Public Schools. She came to Seattle as Chief Academic Officer from Evergreen Public Schools in Vancouver, WA where she served as the Deputy Superintendent from 2006-2009.

Three finalist candidates for the position of Superintendent of Schools for the Highline School District will have a chance to meet the public over three days beginning Feb. 22. The School Board will select the three finalists by the middle of the month.

Each finalist will spend a day touring Highline and meeting staff, parents, students, and community members seeking input.

The district will host each finalist on a separate day, February 22, 23, and 24. ​

Each candidate will face a long day, starting with a breakfast with community leaders and ending with a public forum.

All community members and staff are invited to attend the forums, held February 22, 23, and 24, 6:00-7:15 p.m. in the Burien City Council Chambers (located at the Burien Public Library). Interpreters will be available. The forums will also be streamed live on the internet, and viewers will be able to send in questions to the candidate via email or Twitter. Participants will have an opportunity to share their feedback via an online survey after the forums.

The Beavers were on the road last night against Issaquah for their second to last game of the regular season.

The lady Beavers suffered a big loss as Issaquah outscored them 60 to 30.

Starting in the first quarter, Issaquah was strong on the offense but even better on the defense, allowing the Beavers only five points while scoring 13 themselves. This continued to the remainder of the game and at halftime, the Lady Beavers were trailing by 13 points.
Issaquah steadily build on their lead while the Beavers struggled to make a comeback.

Beverly Verduin netted eight points and Nancy MacGeorge did her part in helping the team by scoring seven points.

Currently tied with Garfield for fourth place, Ballard has one shot left to make the playoffs but only if Garfield loses their remaining two games and Ballard wins against Bothell on Saturday.

The boys basketball team played a very tight and exciting game.