Chief Sealth International High School (CSIHS) held the official ribbon cutting ceremony Sept. 7 with the Sealth marching band providing a rousing soundtrack for the many dignitaries and community members who came to the event.

Principal John Boyd welcomed Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Maria Goodloe-Johnson , Mayor Mike McGinn, and was assisted in the welcome by Denny International Middle School Principal Jeff Clark who took a few moments to offer greetings in multiple languages.
The Sealth Cheerleaders kept the energy going with a well rehearsed cheer and after some more music from the marching band, led by Marcus Pimpleton, the flag was raised by Project Manager Robert Evans. The Pledge of Allegiance was read followed by Gina Thomsen's rendition of the National Anthem.

Cecile Hanson Chairperson of the Duwamish Tribe and great niece of the school's namesake Chief Sealth, gave her thanks, pointing out she had prayed for good weather, and introduced Mike Evans, Chair of the Snohomish Tribe who along with Hansen's granddaughters, grandson and daughter sang a Native American song of blessing.

Amy Daly-Donovan, Chief Sealth PTSA President and Debbie Taylor, Friends of Sealth President both spoke briefly and called everyone to the ribbon. It was an unusual ribbon cutting in that the number of participants estimated to be more than 40, each equipped with scissors and place to cut.

The celebration then moved into the Galleria, the new shared dining and meeting space on campus where Principal Boyd introduced a series of speakers. Sharon Rogers, Schools First President who reminded the crowd about the importance of supporting school levies, Dr. Goodloe-Johnson who touched on the international designation for the school and said, "We are incredibly proud of that designation and the hard work that it took to get here. All of us wanted it to happen yesterday(...) That means that they feature a global perspective. We are talking about ensuring that our students are competitive globally as well as nationally." She also mentioned the "world acclaimed Confucius Institute" the new feature within the school that will focus on Chinese language and culture and noted that Sealth in only school in the state to host such a facility.

Mayor McGinn had some words of praise for the band and noted that his own offspring in High School and Middle School are excited about the upcoming school year. "My Dad was the son of immigrants and for him education was the pathway. Without education he wouldn't have had the opportunity to make his way into the middle class and raise his family and send them off to good schools." He touched on the Youth and Families Initiative and efforts the City of Seattle is making to support youth and families. McGinn said, "We went out to the community and asked parents and youth what was important to them. We had over 3000 people participate (...) We came out with a list of specific recommendations which we're working on in partnership with the community, in partnership with the school district." He pointed out that next year a Families and Education Levy will be on the ballot and added, " We spend $60 million a year supporting youth and families, that's over and above what the school district spends on education." He closed by saying, "I'm honored to be here amongst so many people who take education so seriously."

Principal Boyd closed by thanking all those who participated in the construction project and everyone who, "put a screw in or mopped the floor or put a panel up (...) It's going to be a phenomenal facility for generations of Seahawks to come."

Steve Sundquist, School Board Director for District VI, which includes Chief Sealth International High School, thanked Seattle voters for making the project possible. “We have a terrific new facility that supports completion of the district’s first international school pathway from Concord Elementary to Denny Middle to Chief Sealth,” Director Sundquist said. “By finishing this project on time and on budget, it is a win for voters and our community. We also look forward to the completion next year of the new Denny International Middle School, now under construction on this campus, which will foster collaborative learning opportunities between these two International schools.”

The 230,000-square-foot Sealth building includes all newly remodeled classrooms and significant technology upgrades to enhance teaching and learning, a career center, computer labs in the library, classrooms equipped for students with special needs, music labs and music classrooms, and science rooms for the “Project Lead the Way” program (a pre-engineering program) for high school and middle school students. The facility also features the new galleria/commons for learning, collaboration, dining and community use and includes student services, a health center, large display areas and a new kitchen. In addition, a new performing arts auditorium will seat 900 and is available for community use.

The school’s International high school designation is defined by a global perspective in courses, world language for all students, international artist-in-residence and partnerships with local and global organizations. This includes Spanish, Japanese and Mandarin Chinese courses, exchange programs to both Guatemala and China, and international recognition as a certified International Baccalaureate (IB) World School. In addition, the school is home to the Confucius Education Institute, which is located in its own classroom and provides educational resources, web support and materials related to Chinese language and culture.

“We‘re thrilled to be moving back into our permanent state-of-the-art building that will serve generations of Chief Sealth International students,” said Sealth Principal John Boyd, “and we look forward to next year, when we will be welcoming our Denny International Middle School colleagues. It is also fitting that the Duwamish Tribe is present here today to honor of our building’s namesake by blessing the building,” Boyd added.

Sustainability features are integral to Sealth’s environment: re-use of the existing structure, walls and salvageable building elements to reduce environmental impact; natural ventilation and skylights in the commons and most classrooms (including ceiling fans); energy-efficient heating and lighting systems (with occupancy sensors) throughout the school, which significantly reduce consumption and carbon emissions; individual heating/ventilation units in each classroom with user controls and carbon dioxide sensors and drought tolerant landscaping.

Sealth International High School is one of seven major building projects made possible by the 2007 voter-approved Building Excellence III capital bond. Other projects funded by the bond include Denny International Middle School, Hamilton International Middle School (which celebrates its opening on September 2), Nathan Hale High School (several phases of the project are complete), South Shore school (opened fall 2009), Rainier Beach High School and Ingraham High School. The bond also funds infrastructure and technology projects that benefit schools all across the district.

Our previous coverage of the school renovation can be seen here.

The print edition of the West Seattle Herald features a commemorative section on the opening of the newly remodeled school available for a limited time in all newsstands and in retail outlets where the West Seattle Herald is sold.