Good News in our District

Here are a couple of good news items from our district.

First, a Lowell physical therapist, Cindy Nofziger, founded a non-profit called Schools for Salone.  They build and support schools and educational infrastructure in Sierra Leone, West Africa (Cindy had been a Peace Corps volunteer there in the '80s). They have built 12 schools and are building another.  They have also helped build a library and dig water wells.

This is the real work of building goodwill between nations AND helping to rebuild a war-torn area. 

Cindy was recently notified that she and Schools for Salone were picked to receive a local Jefferson Award for community and public service.   Along with four other Washington State winners, Cindy will be featured at an awards ceremony on March 12th.  But, more importantly, she and her group are now eligible for a national Jefferson award.

I urge you to check out her website or Facebook page at Schools for Salone.  On Monday, March 12th KING 5's Evening Magazine will feature a story on all the Washington State winners.  Then, between March 12-16, you can vote at KING 5 for Cindy and her organization to receive a national award.   They don't have a link up yet but I will put one up on Monday.

Next, from Rainier Beach High School, their Life Science and Biology teacher, Louise Wong, was awarded at $10k grant from Washington STEM.  She will use the money to take 60 students to Olympic Peninsula in May to study the ecosystem of the Elwha River.

From the press release:

Washington STEM Entrepreneur Award grants support breakthrough ideas and promising approaches in STEM education. The one-year investments encourage teachers to take risks, pilot new ideas, and generate promising practices that can be used around the state. Applications for the next round of Entrepreneur Award investments are due May 3. 

For those interested in pursuing multi-year STEM projects that develop or expand innovative interventions in STEM, Washington STEM is also opening applications for its second round of Portfolio Awards with letters of inquiry due March 23. To learn more about Entrepreneur and Portfolio Awards, go to Washington STEM.


Also, from SPS:

The community is invited to the opening celebration of the Naramore 2012 Middle and High School Art Show April 13 at the Seattle Art Museum.

The exhibition of more than 200 artworks will be on display April 13 to May 27 at the downtown art museum. About 150 students from Seattle Public Schools will participate in this year’s Naramore exhibition. Various media and techniques – including ceramics, pencil, oil and acrylic painting, collage, and photography – will be on display.

The evening’s opening night ceremony will feature SAM’s Teen Night Out which will include live music, art tours, open mic, free admission and a showing of Guaguin & Polynesia: An Elusive Paradise.

The Naramore exhibition is named after Floyd J. Naramore, a Seattle Public Schools architect who, from 1919 to 1941, designed more than 22 schools.

Naramore 2012 Middle and High School Art Show
Opening Celebration: 6-7 p.m., Friday, April 13
On Display: April 13 to May 27
Seattle Art Museum
1300 First Ave.
Seattle, WA 98101

What's the good news from your area?

Comments

Maureen said…
Four Seattle Public School students will have their plays performed this week through the ACT Theater's Young Playwright Program. Eight plays were chosen out of over 300 submitted by area Middle and High School students. The four public school playwrights are from Hale (2!), Nova and TOPS. (Click the Festival Schedule Tab on the first link above to see descriptions of the plays and the playwrights' names and schools.)
Christina said…
Seattle U adopts Bailey Gatzert school, awarded Presidential Honor good news/success with low-income Seattle Public School.
Anonymous said…
Here is the link to watch videos and vote for the Washington winner of the jefferson Award:

http://www.king5.com/community/140881883.html
viewer

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