Queen Anne Group Created to Support All Schools in their Community
In reaction to the less-than-kind, less-than-welcoming actions of others in Queen Anne, a group has been formed to explore how to make the placement of Interagency, across from John Hay Elementary, a win for all.
As you may or may not be aware there has been an incredibly misleading campaign against the placement of Interagency Recovery School program at the site of the Old QA High School Gym across from John Hay Elementary.
I, amongst many many others, strongly support the implementation of this clean and sober academic wrap-around program at this site. The program is unique and small, and will begin with less than ten students and will eventually grow to a maximum of 80 students. It fills a critical need for students whose success is so vital. The program supports students who have addressed and made the commitment to facing their addictions and remaining clean and sober. For many of these students this is their stepping stone to also returning onto a path towards achieving academic successes and graduating -- some may graduate high school through this Interagency program, while others may mainstream back into traditional high schools when they are ready.
These students are not "criminals" nor are they "safety threats", these are children, vulnerable, young and emerging adults (and please know that two of the first registered students are QA residents) whose resilience in addressing and maintaining sobriety should be supported by communities and neighbours not turned away, shunned or feared. Interagency's zero-tolerance policy and drug testing, assures that this unique and critical program is, from my perspective, the cleanest and most assuredly drug-free of all our middle and high-schools.
I personally look forward to opportunities to support, volunteer, work with and celebrate the continued success of Interagency, this program and its students.
I urge you to sign and share this petition and continue this momentum of community support for a vital and critical program that is of benefit to all now and in the future. Let us achieve and exceed the goal of having more than 500 signatures by the December 10th Community Meeting at John Hay Elementary.
Thanks for your time and consideration... and continuing to spread the word!
Lisa Reibin Evans
Petition in support
As you may or may not be aware there has been an incredibly misleading campaign against the placement of Interagency Recovery School program at the site of the Old QA High School Gym across from John Hay Elementary.
I, amongst many many others, strongly support the implementation of this clean and sober academic wrap-around program at this site. The program is unique and small, and will begin with less than ten students and will eventually grow to a maximum of 80 students. It fills a critical need for students whose success is so vital. The program supports students who have addressed and made the commitment to facing their addictions and remaining clean and sober. For many of these students this is their stepping stone to also returning onto a path towards achieving academic successes and graduating -- some may graduate high school through this Interagency program, while others may mainstream back into traditional high schools when they are ready.
These students are not "criminals" nor are they "safety threats", these are children, vulnerable, young and emerging adults (and please know that two of the first registered students are QA residents) whose resilience in addressing and maintaining sobriety should be supported by communities and neighbours not turned away, shunned or feared. Interagency's zero-tolerance policy and drug testing, assures that this unique and critical program is, from my perspective, the cleanest and most assuredly drug-free of all our middle and high-schools.
I personally look forward to opportunities to support, volunteer, work with and celebrate the continued success of Interagency, this program and its students.
I urge you to sign and share this petition and continue this momentum of community support for a vital and critical program that is of benefit to all now and in the future. Let us achieve and exceed the goal of having more than 500 signatures by the December 10th Community Meeting at John Hay Elementary.
Thanks for your time and consideration... and continuing to spread the word!
Lisa Reibin Evans
Petition in support
Comments
I urge everyone reading this to sign the PRO Interagency petition as well.
QA Resident
HP
Our district does a lot of things wrong. This is one thing they're doing that shouldn't change. I know parents who have sued to force a school to honor an IEP. I don't understand suing to exclude students from your neighborhood. I want to know what they're telling their kids about why they're doing this.
For all this talk of community, to the point where the very word makes me cringe, neighborhoods don't OWN our schools. This is why the people at the top are so important. I never met Kaaren Andrews. Her reputation is well known. I just remember the teachers and counselors at two Interagency schools and how they helped my daughter. How dare a group of PARENTS try to stand in the way of a student who wants to graduate. The needs of your children equal the needs of mine.
Westside
**Lyon Terry, WA Teacher of the Year
**Sarah Morningstar, TOPS Asst. Principal & widow of the late Cheryl Chow
**Susan Vaughn, regional chief of operations for Catholic Community Services King County
as well as other local teachers, counselors, and parents of current or recent IA students. This is wonderful to see!