tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post1793861315433415914..comments2024-03-28T02:21:17.452-07:00Comments on Seattle Schools Community Forum: Pinehurst: Final Notes - Pinehurst SavedMelissa Westbrookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comBlogger69125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-91346092928371969922013-11-22T16:47:42.931-08:002013-11-22T16:47:42.931-08:00It won't fix the lunchroom problem, ragweed, b...It won't fix the lunchroom problem, ragweed, but we can make it work in other ways. Kids who don't need to buy lunch can eat in the classrooms or hallways. Kids won't care as long as they are with their buddies. Now, if you can help us fight for any type of playground, my kid's heart and lungs will thank you! PE 30 minutes a day every third week isn't doing much for the ticker.playground pleasenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-44117621064428829852013-11-22T07:50:57.291-08:002013-11-22T07:50:57.291-08:00Not if anyone is still following these comments, ...Not if anyone is still following these comments, but I wanted to add a note about the lunchroom situation. <br /><br />The Capacity and Facility Condition Review: North and South Wings of Lincoln Building says "The modernization project includes restroom improvements/additions, and will expand the capacity of, and ingress/egress to the lunchroom in the Central Wing." <br /><br />So hopefully that will address some of the issues.Ragweedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12491896585801927302noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-84646489223030558052013-11-21T15:05:36.747-08:002013-11-21T15:05:36.747-08:00Polly,
Could you please take a look at Attachment...Polly,<br /><br />Could you please take a look at Attachment 2 to the Intermediate Capacity Management Plan on the SPS website? It's part of the Nov 20th agenda for the board meeting.<br /><br />In that attachment, it states that for "APP in Eckstein AA", the assignent for 2014-2018 is "JAMS 6, 7 & 8; can stay at Eckstein as GenEd".<br /><br />I do hope you are right that current HIMS APP kids would get a Spectrum guarantee, but I fear that is not the case.<br /><br />I think this was the district's response to families who said they would just go back to their neighborhood school. That would mess up enrollment projections, and JAMS would not have a sufficient number of kids. I do think they are playing hardball here.<br /><br />I would love to be wrong! Can anyone provide<br /><br />Clarity please<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-49031145205400230532013-11-21T14:48:59.371-08:002013-11-21T14:48:59.371-08:00I mean there are 7th graders in geometry as we spe...I mean there are 7th graders in geometry as we speak as there are at other middle schools. Algebra II will be available at Eckstein and Whitman and McClure, I don't know about down south.<br />What I want to see is biology.<br />Pollynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-9893446151859233582013-11-21T14:45:58.097-08:002013-11-21T14:45:58.097-08:00Two things,
Geometry is a given, there are 7th gra...Two things,<br />Geometry is a given, there are 7th graders in Algebra 1 as we speak. My hope would be that APP parents and their students who decide to go to Eckstein would join with others already there to demand biology. APP has the argument of kids having to repeat 8th grade science, which should be compelling. My understanding for other middle schools was an APP designation was a guarantee of Spectrum placement, or honors, in LA. This must be the case for Eckstein, not a gened assignment. I think the issue is not trying to force APP into JAMS, but having the cohort available there. It rings of a hardball play and perhaps down the road, JAMS will be the only cohorted APP middle school site in the north. If Eckstein gets a sizable number of of APP next year and some sort of blending works out, when Whitman gets its contingent and Hamilton APP shrinks sufficiently, they may both go blended. If the district wants that to fly, they have to offer bio and honors science leading up to It.Pollynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-47381953406447810842013-11-21T14:15:54.372-08:002013-11-21T14:15:54.372-08:00Further clarification on Thornton Creek / Decatur ...Further clarification on Thornton Creek / Decatur building.<br /><br />Thornton Creek is currently in the Decatur building. The Building is full and they have a wailist. There would be no option for Pinehurst to land at the TC site in the interim period (2014-2016) and it was never on the table. It was and is not an alternative to Lincoln.<br /><br /><br />There will be a new, 650 seat K-5 school that will be built on the TC property, which will open in 2016 and is the expected future home of Thornton Creek. At that time Decatur will be empty (at the moment slated as an emergency / interim site. The Thornton Creek community was very welcoming of the idea of Pinhurst landing here in 2016 as an Independant school with its own staff.<br /><br />There is still a chance that Native Heritage AS1 could land there in 2016, but the Native community feels stronly about the Wilson Pacific site due to the old Indian Heritage School, Andrew Morrisons murals (which look like they will be preserved in the new WilPac buildings) etc. But for the interim site, the choice is Lincoln or John Marshall, unless they wanted to bus us 15 miles south to Van Asselt. <br /><br /> Ragweedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12491896585801927302noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-43947820674968236962013-11-21T14:07:15.317-08:002013-11-21T14:07:15.317-08:00I know that that is the current policy and plannin...I know that that is the current policy and planning, better classes for what we do offer, not new offerings. Generally I am hearing about fewer offerings, aren't you? Are you there now? APP students won't be app students if they go to Eckstein, they'll be gen ed or Spectrum. This is what happens when app students go to Roosevelt, too. They repeat. Classes are offered to programs, not to students. There is no program that receives biology. And even if a third of APP kids opt for Eckstein, it's 20 kids. Not a lot. And who knows how many of those kids would take geometry, probably not enough for a whole section, so that will probably stay they same. I agree a larger cohort can increase math offerings., if the principal is supportive.<br /><br />I should temper this with saying I think there could be biology some day, if the district increases rigor in middle schools across the board. But nothing about the Eckstein situation makes it likely that it will be next year.<br /><br />Advocate for it anyway, though! I would much rather be wrong and have biology for my Eckstein student than right and not! But it'll be you, not the magic of APP students, getting it.<br /><br />-sleeperAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-45967998852565290102013-11-21T13:57:41.559-08:002013-11-21T13:57:41.559-08:00For some APP students, Eckstein will work out fine...For some APP students, Eckstein will work out fine. Others who need more of the cohort support for their individual learning needs will do better with APP. At least there is a choice. Call me an optimist, but the ground is moving. This madness may very well be the thing to shake up entrenched eckstein.<br /><br />mo<br /><br /><br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-62756564574254379542013-11-21T13:57:27.282-08:002013-11-21T13:57:27.282-08:00If my read is right, then the district will not al...If my read is right, then the district will not allow current APP kids to be Spectrum at Eckstein. They will have to be GenEd, or will have to go to JAMS.<br /><br />That way the district doesn't have to provide biology, or any offering more advanced than is already offered at Eckstein. <br /><br />No silver lining for Eckstein Spectrum students as a result.<br /><br />Clarity pleaseAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-4646679521673368802013-11-21T13:53:48.723-08:002013-11-21T13:53:48.723-08:00Sleeper,
Do you know this are you being cynical? I...Sleeper,<br />Do you know this are you being cynical? It may be a bad deal for APP to go to Eckstein, but, a silver lining for Spectrum kids and other advanced math and science students if the district would allow biology. It must be on the radar downtown.Pollynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-36028894396882129832013-11-21T13:47:26.227-08:002013-11-21T13:47:26.227-08:00Here's my question: will kids who live in the...Here's my question: will kids who live in the Eckstein attendance area but currently attend HIMS APP be allowed to enroll in Spectrum at Eckstein rather than go to JAMS? Attachment 2 to the Intermediate Capacity Management Plan states that these for these kids it's "JAMS 6, 7 & 8; can stay at Eckstein as GenEd".<br /><br />Does anyone have a definitive understanding of this issue? I thought this was the District's way of forcing APP to JAMS.<br /><br />Clarity pleaseAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-52213653277613300402013-11-21T13:17:40.676-08:002013-11-21T13:17:40.676-08:00We don't hate to hear it, it's just not tr...We don't hate to hear it, it's just not true. There won't be biology. Eckstein won't add classes because of a few students who might like it (at most, what, 20? They'll be Spectrum students, like the hundreds of Spectrum students already there, not able to get biology. It's 68 total students). APP students certainly do not increase the rigor of the schools they come from before they leave for not being served.<br /><br />-sleeperAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-58944332969078406872013-11-21T13:06:51.260-08:002013-11-21T13:06:51.260-08:00HIMS APP 8th graders may or may not choose Eckstei...HIMS APP 8th graders may or may not choose Eckstein over JAMS, depends on if they are in advanced music and what JAMS will offer and how they feel about JAMS in general vs. Eckstein. If they go to Eckstein it would make geometry classes larger and biology an option there, one would think, if it's going to serve those students; biology is not currently not available. I know APP hates to hear it, but those students can increase rigor for students not in the program and this could make Eckstein a stronger school academically.Pollynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-44412474346968059602013-11-21T09:57:01.206-08:002013-11-21T09:57:01.206-08:00Putting Pinehurst at Lincoln was just a way to val...Putting Pinehurst at Lincoln was just a way to validate the "need" to put all of NE APP at JAMS (no Hamilton annex at Lincoln).<br /><br />It will be interesting to see how many APP kids with a dual assignment to Eckstein go there, instead. Maybe enough to compensate for the north-end kids would will get ripped out of their middle school (Eckstein) and placed at JAMS?<br /><br />Yet, they are creating "diversity" (where?) by putting APP at JAMS and keeping Wedgwood at Eckstein. <br /><br />I wish Pinehurst (AS-1)/Indian Heritage much luck, and hopefully Cedar Park will be an option for them at some point, because assigning 400 kids, mostly FRL and ELL, into a sub-standard building that is smaller than John Rogers is a scenario that I hope does not survive to see the light of day.<br /><br />JR MomAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-39482255996208873902013-11-21T09:30:11.045-08:002013-11-21T09:30:11.045-08:00I am sure tc was perfectly nice when they said &qu...I am sure tc was perfectly nice when they said "sorry, but it just won't work." just like Lincoln would have said...<br />-sleeperAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-58664197633512804972013-11-21T08:47:20.536-08:002013-11-21T08:47:20.536-08:00Thanks Ragweed. I was about to chime in. TC is w...Thanks Ragweed. I was about to chime in. TC is willing to co-locate (but not merge) with Pinehurst, but there is no space available in the interim (I haven't been to Lincoln but we have a portable farm and dinky bathrooms.) We would welcome PH as neighbors in the Decatur building or sharing the new one - as soon as it is built.<br /><br />Remember, the district could net another building by maintaining two at the Olympic Hills site, like they are doing at the Decatur site. <br /><br />Chris S.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-13826558905325318582013-11-21T08:40:39.224-08:002013-11-21T08:40:39.224-08:00Ragweed, this was a prime example of the district ...Ragweed, this was a prime example of the district not telling the Board the ENTIRE story. I was a bit surprised at the explanation around TC and thank you for that update. <br /><br />I think TC would have been a bit site choice than Lincoln (given the logistics at Lincoln). I am very glad for the "well, we can make it work" attitude of APP@Lincoln parents. <br /><br />My goal is for the blog has always been two-fold.<br /><br />One, a place for discussion and discourse (maybe heat but civil and looking for solutions).<br /><br />Two, a place where we put it ALL on the table. Not just what the district wants or parents want but here's the whole enchilada. THEN, you can make an informed choice about what you support, like, whatever.<br /><br />Only when you have the fullest picture can you make an informed opinion/choice. <br /><br />That is what has always mattered to me.Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12588239576000641336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-26577745474107075712013-11-21T08:13:54.246-08:002013-11-21T08:13:54.246-08:00We can look to the board itself for some of this m...We can look to the board itself for some of this misrepresentation, as Michael DeBell himself said in the meeting last night that Lincoln was not given notice of this new plan to bring Pinehurst to their facility.<br /><br />What a failed board, and failed leadership.<br /><br />-FrustratedAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-27830022195577141992013-11-21T08:03:54.029-08:002013-11-21T08:03:54.029-08:00I'm confused! Ragweed says " Thornton Cr...I'm confused! Ragweed says " Thornton Creek was very welcoming of Pinehurst in the Decatur building and very clear that they felt the district should save Pinehurst and support it. THey did not want to merge or share staff with Pinehurst, or in any way endanger the integrity of their program, but were supportive of Pinehurst sharing the grounds with them. SOoooo, TC was Ok with Pinehurst - co-locating but not merging /sharing staff. So why did they abandon this site in order to have them co-locate Lincoln ( unless SPS actually has a secret plan afoot to merge admin/staff with Lincoln as well) ? TC has a huge amount of space and is geographically closer to the original school. Tell me why TC was rejected in favor of a less appropriate site -it is going to be much more challenging (for both schools) to roll this out. Where is the transparency - all we hear is that TC didn't want them and apparently that is misrepresenting the situation. <br />This district SucksAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-61813002286017998372013-11-21T07:44:40.683-08:002013-11-21T07:44:40.683-08:00Couple of comments:
1. The response of the Thornt...Couple of comments:<br /><br />1. The response of the Thornton Creek community meeting has been seriously misrepresented by omission. Thornton Creek was very welcoming or Pinehurst in the Decatur building and very clear that they felt the district should save Pinehurst and support it. They did not want to merge or share staff with Pinehurst, or in any way endanger the integrity of their program, but were supportive of Pinehurst sharing the grounds with them.<br /><br />2. We know that there will be a lot of challenges with the core space at Lincoln, particularly with regard to outside play areas. In some ways this will be more of a challenge for us than APP, since we have some vulnerable students where playgrounds can already be a challenge. I know that there are plans in the south wing renovation that will help partly address some concerns, and we will be engaging the planning team for the renovations to see what can be done. We would love to see that climbing wall come back online - Pinehurst currently has a climbing wall and a very successful climbing program, and we know there are some significant head-winds to trying to keep that program in another location.<br /><br />3. I am perplexed by comments that JAK8 was not engaged. Enrollment planning documents going back to the fall of 2012 propose scenarios where JAK8 and PK8 were placed together at John Marshall. We did explore co-location with JAK8 last year and there was a general feeling the programs were not compatible for a long-run co-location. <br /><br />There is more that could be said, particularly about how badly treated we have been by district staff in all of this. Our costs have been grossly misrepresented, community meetings have been overtly twisted to try to get the outcome they want, community input has been misrepresented, and some absurd arguments have been used against us. It has been a painful process.<br /><br />We look forward to engaging with the APP community to share the space at Lincoln. I know it will not be easy, but I think we can make it work for two years. Ragweedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12491896585801927302noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-73638041656269284362013-11-21T07:08:48.565-08:002013-11-21T07:08:48.565-08:00@welcome, ben, 2boysclub
as an alum parent, i am ...@welcome, ben, 2boysclub<br /><br />as an alum parent, i am so heartened to see app activists taking such a welcoming position. we are parents working for what is best for our kids but also for ALL of the kids. framing outcomes positively is the first step to making our children step into their schools ready to learn. oldmomnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-9004280733169447922013-11-21T06:27:42.332-08:002013-11-21T06:27:42.332-08:00Ben at 11:08,
Exactly!Ben at 11:08,<br /><br />Exactly!mirmac1https://www.blogger.com/profile/10183460709639638172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-32050977155274566772013-11-21T06:27:25.165-08:002013-11-21T06:27:25.165-08:00The reason that 8th graders are being moved is bec...The reason that 8th graders are being moved is because parents campaigned so hard against roll-ups. It was more important for some kids to have a larger middle school for 6th grade,than for other kids not to be ripped out their schools for 8th grade. It's all about what I want for my kid & to heck with any other kids. Well now we know the winners & losers.<br /><br />-sadAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-11787093670614543832013-11-21T01:07:09.478-08:002013-11-21T01:07:09.478-08:00Glad Pinehurst and IHP have been saved. We can mak...Glad Pinehurst and IHP have been saved. We can make it work at Lincoln.<br /><br />But what about the last-minute amendment by Directors Debell and Martin-Morris that kicks out 68 Hamilton APP 8th graders next year and sends them to JAMS?<br /><br />Where was the community engagement on that?<br /><br />Chances are good these families will instead choose their neighborhood Eckstein, especially music students.<br /><br />--Sick of the SplitsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-47784453357221169602013-11-21T00:04:11.197-08:002013-11-21T00:04:11.197-08:00Exhausting! Lincoln will certainly welcome Pinehu...Exhausting! Lincoln will certainly welcome Pinehurst, because most of us probably are glad that Pinehurst lives to see another day. <br /><br />But as good as Peaslee has been to Pinehurst, she has never darkened the door at Lincoln nor made any effort to reach out to APP parents for any kind of community engagement. So the fact that this space was off-limits to Hamilton APP middle-schoolers (many of whom are older sibs of the Lincoln population and will now be reassigned to JAMS) but can now be used to house another program - well, it's a little bitter pill to swallow at first.<br /><br />We'll all get along in the end, though.<br /><br />Lincoln family<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com