Friday Open Thread
Did your senior write a great college essay? Here's a link to an award for $5,000 through Medium.com. The deadline is May 19. (Great judges like Anna Quindlen, Wally Lamb, and Mary Roach.)
This is not "new" news but the Gates Foundation invests in a private prison company as well as a company with 19 juvenile detention facilities in the U.S. This from Mother Jones. A Gates spokesperson attempted to, according to The Slog, "philanthro-splained" "The trust invests in a lot of things to make sure we have the most money we can have to do that job." Oh.
Nothing like creating - via your work and your investments - your own school to prison pipeline.
A horrible week for students in two high schools. First, the stabbings at a high school in Murraysville, Pennsylvania where 20 were stabbed with one in critical condition on a breathing machine. Second, the news this morning that bus with seniors from LA/Fresno going to visit Humboldt State when a Fed Ex truck crossed a median and slammed head-on into one of three buses. Both drivers died as well as 5 students and 3 chaperones.
Could you please keep these students, their schools and their families in your thoughts this weekend?
What's on your mind?
This is not "new" news but the Gates Foundation invests in a private prison company as well as a company with 19 juvenile detention facilities in the U.S. This from Mother Jones. A Gates spokesperson attempted to, according to The Slog, "philanthro-splained" "The trust invests in a lot of things to make sure we have the most money we can have to do that job." Oh.
Nothing like creating - via your work and your investments - your own school to prison pipeline.
A horrible week for students in two high schools. First, the stabbings at a high school in Murraysville, Pennsylvania where 20 were stabbed with one in critical condition on a breathing machine. Second, the news this morning that bus with seniors from LA/Fresno going to visit Humboldt State when a Fed Ex truck crossed a median and slammed head-on into one of three buses. Both drivers died as well as 5 students and 3 chaperones.
Could you please keep these students, their schools and their families in your thoughts this weekend?
What's on your mind?
Comments
Have you ever asked, “If I have my child’s test scores and grades, what else do I need to know?” Or wondered, “What does it all mean -- 3rd grade reading to 8th grade math? What are the connections?” Education Results Roundtables are designed to help parents and community members connect with experts and find answers. Please come to learn about resources and opportunities to make a difference!
Results Roundtable - Kent
6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Thursday, April 17
Kent Senior Activity Center
600 E. Smith St., Kent, WA 98030
Results Roundtable - Renton
6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Tuesday, April 22
Renton Community Center
1715 SE Maple Valley Highway
Renton, WA 98057
Maybe this dude will talk Knewton collects millions of data points about student users in order to provide them with more effective timing and content to enhance learning. (thanks for the link James)
Did anyone else have a visceral reaction to speaker talking about "poor schmuck"?? These are the same people that want to use our children for innovation.
Follow-up from Athletics Oversight Session: As requested by board members, attached is information on the revenue collected from sports participation fees, listed by school. Please note: the money collected stays with the schools’ ASB funds; none of this revenue comes to the district Athletics Department. The inequity between schools with wealthier communities and others will be part of the continuing work of the Athletics Department as all Seattle schools come back into the Metro League.
This makes no sense to me. I thought that athletic fees cover those costs. Are the ASBs paying the bills? Because Rainier Beach collected only $1,200 last year and their costs must be higher than that.
Also, on athletic transportation: Athletics is working with schools and the transportation department to determine the best times for student athletes to be excused from classes for athletic competition. As discussed at the Athletics Oversight session, having the flexibility to create our own Metro League schedules will provide both opportunities and challenges to have events at the best times and also create a viable middle school program for the district. There are no dedicated buses for after-school activities; the district would need to add extra buses or schedule events after the routes are done for the day. Having dedicated buses would cost approximately $1.2-$1.5 million which would not be reimbursable by the state. Transportation is working with third-party vendors to provide options for schools to be able to book buses once schedules are established.
Assessment of Data Systems
and
Administrative Applications
It was noted at yesterday's A&F meeting that buildings buy IPads and just hand them out like candy. This report concludes that there is no clear vision of how technology will be used in SPS.
So, then, there's no problem for late start, right? The busses are used mostly for K-5, so they will be available when high school gets out at 4:30, right?
FRL kids pay like $25 to participate (for some kids this is even too much so our Sports Boosters cover it at Hale). For everyone else it is $100 for the first sport and $50 for the second.
HP
- BF Day Fan
Dear B.F. Day Elementary community,
I am writing today to let you know that your principal, Ms. Katie Pearl, is leaving your school at the end of the school year to be Principal at Northgate Elementary. We wish her the best in her new position. I am pleased to share my decision to appoint Stan Jaskot as your new Principal, effective July 1, 2014.
Mr. Jaskot comes to B.F. Day from Northgate Elementary, where he has been Principal since 2010. He is committed to working with staff, students, parents and the community to help B.F. Day continue to build excellence in student achievement, opportunities for enrichment and school pride. His experience and dedication to academics, arts, and strong community partnerships make him a good fit for the B. F. Day community.
Mr. Jaskot is looking forward to transitioning to a larger, well-established elementary school. A Seattle resident since 2002, he recognizes the unique character of Seattle neighborhoods and the influence they have on their schools. He plans to begin getting to know the students and staff by learning about what they value most at B.F Day. This information will serve as the lens to review student achievement data and the plans for intervention and enrichment programs, professional development and priorities for community involvement.
Previously, Mr. Jaskot served as Principal for five years at Meridian Elementary in the Kent School District. He also worked as an elementary school principal and teacher in Elizabeth, N.J. He has over 31 years of experience in education.
Mr. Jaskot earned a Masters degree in Educational Administration and a Bachelor of arts in Music Education from Kean University of New Jersey.
I know Ms. Pearl and Mr. Jaskot will work together this spring to ensure a smooth transition for both schools. Please join me in welcoming Stan Jaskot to B.F. Day Elementary.
Sincerely,
José Banda
Superintendent
Seattle Public Schools
New Principle for K-5 STEM:
Dear K–5 STEM at Boren community,
I am writing today to let you know that your principal, Shannon McKinney is taking a leave of absence, starting at the end of the school year. I know you join me in thanking her for all of her efforts to establish and build the STEM program. She has been an exceptional leader for a new school community.
I am pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Ben Ostrom as your new Principal, effective July 1, 2014.
Mr. Ostrom comes to K–5 STEM at Boren from Highland Park Elementary, where he was Principal for the past four years. He is committed to STEM learning and your future expansion to a K–8 school, and will be a great fit for the K-5 STEM at Boren community. He is passionate about learning, and about students applying STEM subjects to understand and affect the world around them. Mr. Ostrom believes that families are our most important learning partners.
Prior to Highland Park, Mr. Ostrom served as Principal at Orca K–8 for seven years. Previously, he spent three years as Principal at Loyal Heights Elementary and has extensive classroom experience after teaching in the district for six years.
Mr. Ostrom’s professional preparation includes a Bachelor of Arts degree from Brown University and a Masters in Teaching from Seattle University. He also completed the Danforth Educational Leadership Program at the University of Washington. He received a Golden Apple Award for Educational Excellence from KCTS-Washington Public Television in 1999 and an A+ Award from the Alliance for Education in 1998. In 1997 he received an EDS Leadership in Learning award and Washington Software Foundation Innovation in Teaching Award.
I know Ms. McKinney and Mr. Ostrom will work together this spring to ensure a smooth transition. Please join me in welcoming Mr. Ben Ostrom to K–5 STEM at Boren.
Sincerely,
José Banda
Superintendent
Seattle Public Schools
Northgate folks, what's the deal with Jaskot? What can we expect?
- Another Day Fan
-STEM neighbor
Again, elementary schools - no matter regular or option - don't always get input on their principals. It would be good if the district made this clear.
Open Enrollment assignment and waiting list information for 2014-15 is scheduled to be loaded into PowerSchool overnight on April 10 and available for schools the morning of Friday, April 11. Families can get assignment and waiting list information beginning the afternoon of Monday, April 14. The information will be available online through the enrollment website, as well as through our automated phone line at 252-0212. Individual letters, including translations, will be mailed about a week later.
Enrollment Correction: After the Board’s November approval of Growth Boundaries implementation for 2014-15, Enrollment Planning updated the assignment software to reflect those changes. This was the source of information for our annual pre-Open Enrollment mailing, which went to some 51,000 students. Subsequently, we identified 32 students who got an incorrect assignment letter to Eckstein, when they should have been assigned to Jane Addams Middle School.
6th Grade – 4 (all Gen Ed students)
7th Grade – 17 (16 Gen Ed students, 1 Spectrum student)
8th Grade - 11 (all Gen Ed students)
Individual letters were sent to each of these families on March 24, apologizing for the error and providing the correct assignment to JAMS. Because they didn’t receive this information until after the Open Enrollment deadline, we offered them the option of submitting an application and having it processed as an on-time Open Enrollment application so they would not be penalized for our error. Two families responded to the letters. If you have questions about this, please contact Tracy Libros,
I rarely hear adults make this argument. Usually only children use it. They will say "Why do you care? It's no big deal." To which, of course, the rational response is "If it's no big deal, then why not accomodate me on this matter? If it's no big deal, then why do YOU care? Clearly, it is a big deal and your claim that it isn't is a false claim." The tactic is so feeble that even children quickly abandon it. I don't recall ever hearing it from an adult before.
I am writing today to let you know that a leadership change will take place at the end of the school year. Your Principal, Mr. Chris Cronas, has been appointed Principal for Highland Park Elementary, effective July 1, 2014.
I know Mr. Cronas has provided excellent leadership as Principal of your school for four years and has been deeply engaged with the school community. He has had a strong relationship with families and has established opportunities for parents to support classroom teachers. I know you join me in wishing him the best in his new assignment.
Under his leadership, Wedgwood has become the highest achieving school in our District. I am proud of all of the work he has accomplished, and I know much of that success is because of the hard working staff, families and students at Wedgwood.
Kim Whitworth, Executive Director of Schools for the Northwest Region, will be in contact with you soon to talk about next steps for hiring a new Principal to continue the great work Mr. Cronas provided for Wedgwood.
Sincerely,
José Banda
Superintendent
Seattle Public Schools
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvUMk1ro27E#t=111
Walmart. Pearson. Dept of Defense. Jeb Bush. Condi Rice.
Among those with ties to CC.
very thought-provoking
-hs parent
KP
HIMSmom
-sleeper
A Parent
"I'm curious how they define "highest achieving school in the district."
APP@Lincoln vs Wedgwood"
Wedgwood does not have any scores higher than Lincoln's.
I did hear something interesting recently from a senior staff member about K-5 STEM. I was wondering why any of Arbor Heights should have to be in portables when Boren is a large building that would house K-5 STEM (at what, 500?) and Arbor Heights (I think about 350 or less). The person said something about well, with a K-8 you need more room.
I said, but the STEM school is K-5 and was told "oh they want to go K-8."
Now I know they want to go K-8 but I thought that was a future issue. If it comes into play for AH being at Boren, I have to wonder if it will sooner rather than later.
befuddled
http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/23063-revolution-against-corporate-education-targets-achilles-heel
“Without the testing,” Rodriguez says, “there is no profit to be made.”
-districtWatcher
I think the statement, Under his leadership, Wedgwood has become the highest achieving school in our District, is perhaps the point of contention. Wedgwood has ranked near the top of the district for over a decade.
Wedgwood Elementary
Frequent checker
-wterlogged parent
Dear North Beach Elementary School community,
I am writing today to let you know that your Principal, RJ Sammons, is leaving at the end of the school year to serve as Principal at Broadview Thomson K–8, effective July 1, 2014. I wish him the best in his new assignment. I know his strong instructional leadership, along with his community building skills, will continue to be of great benefit to your school.
Today I am pleased to appoint Julie Cox as your new Principal, starting July 1.
Ms. Cox has served as a Principal for both Seattle Public Schools and abroad (Jordan and India) for 15 years. Currently she is the principal at Catharine Blaine K-8. An educator for 28 years, Ms. Cox began her career as an elementary teacher before taking on the role of a Literacy Curriculum Specialist.
Ms. Cox has her administration credentials from the University of Washington and her Master’s of Education from Seattle Pacific University. She holds a BA in mathematics education from Oregon State University.
Ms. Cox brings a wealth of experience to North Beach Elementary and I know she will be a good fit for the community. Her 7-year-old daughter, Ava, will also be joining the North Beach community. She said she looks forward to getting to know the students, staff and families of North Beach. Mr. Sammons and Ms. Cox will collaborate this spring to help ensure a smooth transition for next year.
Sincerely,
José Banda
Superintendent
Seattle Public Schools
--Frequent checker
http://www.seattleschools.org/modules/cms/pages.phtml?sessionid=fcb774dbb031312c8d85935ebf41d5b4&sessionid=d2189ca0e395175f6acf47b8dda50886&pageid=172239&sessionid=
--Joe Curious
http://www.seattleschools.org/modules/groups/homepagefiles/cms/1583136/File/Departmental%20Content/enrollment%20planning/WaitingListSummary%202014-15.pdf?sessionid=d2189ca0e395175f6acf47b8dda50886
I'm sorry for Tolley's political messes and Banda's cluelessness.
CCA