Jan+5th+District+Update


 * District Doings…** **Jan 5th 2007** **+**

//Community meetings scheduled for Jan. 16, 17, 18//
 * School board seeks public input on superintendent search**

The Seattle School Board will hold a series of meetings on Jan. 16, 17, and 18 to gather public input on the superintendent search process. Specifically, community members will be asked to discuss the characteristics and qualities they want in Seattle Public Schools’ next superintendent. These meetings will provide the board, and the consulting firm assisting in the search, with information they will use in recruiting candidates for the next leader for Seattle Public Schools.

A series of eight open community meetings are planned Jan. 16-18. In addition, the consultants will meet with representatives of community associations and organizations; school employees; school leaders; and the district’s senior leadership team. The meeting scheduled only for employees is at 4:15 p.m., Jan. 16 at the Mercer Middle School lunchroom. Employees may also attend any general meeting. For the news release and complete meeting schedule, visit the district Web site at http://www.seattleschools.org/area/news/releases.xml.

For West Seattle schools, the annual Kindergarten fair will be held 9 a.m.-noon, Saturday, Jan. 20 at the South Seattle Community College’s Jerry Brockey Center.
 * Misc. Enrollment Info**

Middle School Family Info Night is this Wednesday, January 10th from 6:30-8 at Gatewood Elementary School in the cafeteria. 4th and 5th grade families are invited to attend.

On-time open enrollment for 2007-08 begins Jan. 16

On-time open enrollment in Seattle Public Schools for the 2007-2008 school year is scheduled from Jan. 16 to Feb. 28.

This is the time when families register and apply for school for: n children entering kindergarten in September 2007; n students advancing from elementary to middle school or middle to high school next year; n students wishing to change schools; or n students who will be new to the district in September.

All registration and application information, including enrollment guides, forms, and a list of school tours and open house dates, are available at Enrollment Service Centers, the Bilingual Family Center, and on the district’s Web site at http://www.seattleschools.org/area/eso/story.dxml.

Students who apply during the open enrollment period receive priority assignment for September 2007. Assignment letters will be mailed out the first week in April 2007.


 * Public invited to attend Partnering for Student Success conference**

Parents and guardians are encouraged to attend the “Partnering for Student Success” conference from 3-9 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 11, at the Seattle Sheraton hotel. Parents who usually shy away from school involvement are especially encouraged to attend and invited to come with another parent who usually don’t come to these events.

Workshops include: //Supporting school mathematics:// //What parents need to know//; //What it takes to graduate//; //Families achieving math standards//; and //What is parent involvement?//

Registration fee is $20, which includes dinner. Register online at [|http://www.k12.wa.us] or by phone at 360-725-6165. For more information, call Alyssa Westall at 360-725-6165 or e-mail Alyssa.westall@k12.wa.us; or call Janet Hayakawa at 360-725-6164 or e-mail janet.hayakawa@k12.wa.us. More information is also available at https://inside.seattleschools.org/area/pcomm/studentsuccess.pdf.

3-9 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 11 Seattle Sheraton Hotel 1400 6th Ave. S.
 * Partnering for Student Success**


 * Bond and levy propositions scheduled for Feb. 6 special election**

King County Elections has scheduled two Seattle School District ballot measures for the Feb. 6, 2007, special election – Proposition 1, a $490 million Capital Program Bond, and Proposition 2, a $397 million Educational Programs and Operations Levy.

The Capital Program Bond replaces an expiring capital levy and provides funds for the design, construction, and renovation of school facilities, infrastructure and technology improvements throughout the district. The measure includes a program to renovate or replace four high schools, two middle schools, and one K-8 school.

The Educational Programs and Operations Levy, which replaces the expiring 2004 levy, represents 24 percent of the district’s annual general fund budget and supports basic educational services not fully funded by the state. The levy will help pay for instructional programs, technology support, student activities, staff salaries, bilingual and special-education services, continuation of full-day kindergarten, student transportation, and security and maintenance for school buildings and grounds.

For more information on the bond and levy propositions, visit the Seattle Public Schools Web site at http://www.seattleschools.org/area/main/homepage-levy.xml

//Arbor heights parents can help in this effort by volunteering at the phone bank Tuesday Jan 9th from// //7-9 pm// //carpools are available. Contact Beth Dwyer BDwyer@gglo.com if you can make it.//

//Community meetings scheduled for Jan. 16, 17, 18//
 * School board seeks public input on superintendent search**

The Seattle School Board will hold a series of meetings on Jan. 16, 17, and 18 to gather public input on the superintendent search process. Specifically, community members will be asked to discuss the characteristics and qualities they want in Seattle Public Schools’ next superintendent. These meetings will provide the board, and the consulting firm assisting in the search, with information they will use in recruiting candidates for the next leader for Seattle Public Schools.

A series of eight open community meetings are planned Jan. 16-18. In addition, the consultants will meet with representatives of community associations and organizations; school employees; school leaders; and the district’s senior leadership team. The meeting scheduled only for employees is at 4:15 p.m., Jan. 16 at the Mercer Middle School lunchroom. Employees may also attend any general meeting. For the news release and complete meeting schedule, visit the district Web site at http://www.seattleschools.org/area/news/releases.xml.


 * Deadline extended to apply for membership in PE review committee**

Seattle Public Schools has extended the deadline to Jan. 15 in its search for members for the Physical Education Curriculum Review and Adoption Committee. The committee will recommend a physical education curriculum for K-12 students.

The district is looking for physical education teachers, classroom teachers, administrators, school nurses, health professionals, community physical activity professionals, community members and families to serve on this committee.

For more information about the process and to apply for the committee, visit the PE Curricula Adoption Web site at http://www.seattleschools.org/area/peadoption/index.dxml.


 * King** **County** **seeks nominations of Earth Heroes in local schools**

Nominations are being accepted for the annual Earth Heroes at School, an event that recognizes exceptional programs, teachers and other staff, volunteers and students who implement projects at school or beyond.

King County Executive Ron Sims honors the winners each year at a reception featuring entertainment, refreshments, and presentation of awards. Last year, King County presented awards to 17 Earth Heroes at School. Projects included developing environmental education curriculum, improving or expanding recycling programs, and creating native plant gardens.

Seattle Public Schools winners last year were: Kevin Barth, a teacher at West Seattle High School; Susan Moon, a teacher at Lowell Elementary School; the Greenhouse and Garden Project at Montlake Elementary; and the Native Plant Garden project at Orca Elementary.

Nomination forms are available online at [|www.metrokc.gov/dnrp/swd/education/earth-heroes.asp] or by calling Donna Miscolta at 206-296-4477. Nominations will be accepted until Feb. 16 and winners will be notified in March. The awards reception is scheduled for April 19.


 * //Perhaps Mr. Wilkie’s salmon restoration project!!!//**

The school board has realized the district’s significant impact on the environment and adopted a Natural Resource Conservation Policy last month with a district goal to reduce natural resource consumption by 5 percent. To view more details on Natural Resources Conservation procedures, please visit the Web site at http://www.seattleschools.org/area/policies/h/H25.01.pdf. For suggestions regarding additional opportunities to conserve, contact Resource Conservation Specialists Beth Dolan at 252-0618 or eadolan@seattleschools.org; or e-mail Nicole Riss at nariss@seattleschools.org.