Seattle Schools Community Forum

The Issaquah School Board voted to use eminent domain to acquire property for school use.  From The Issaquah Press: The Issaquah School Board voted unanimously Wednesday night to use eminent domain to acquire the 40-acre Providence Heights College property as a site for a new high school and a new elementary school. A majority of the speakers pleaded with the board to repurpose the existing buildings. The Washington Trust for Historic Preservation included the campus on its 2016 list of the state’s seven most-endangered historic properties. State law permits school districts to use eminent domain to acquire private property as sites for schools. If a district and a landowner cannot agree on compensation, the matter goes to superior court. Stiffarm said the process, if it requires a trial, can take at least a year.   Interesting article from the Bellingham Herald about how many Democratic legislators are now running for open statewide seats (like state super...

Well, whoops - it appears that thousands of Northshore students, grades 7-12,  were accidentally sent spam emails that contained porn.  This was not a hacking issue.  The Times reports that the district's tech department was able to block anymore e-mails from coming in and shut down the students' Gmail accounts temporarily. Also on the subject of Northshore, I had written how that district was going to revamp their long-standing highly capable program despite parents' displeasure.  Apparently the parents won the day as their board voted to keep the program the same. Good story from KUOW about music in Seattle Schools via Seattle Music Partners.  The story covers students at Bailey Gatzert, Leschi, Madrona and Lowell.

From SPS Communications: Thanks to the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestras’ (SYSO) Southwest Seattle Strings Project students at Arbor Heights, Concord, Highland Park, Roxhill, Sanislo and West Seattle elementary schools, and Denny International Middle School have paid, musical lessons from professional musicians, but many of them still need instruments. SYSO is partnering with Seattle Public Schools in asking for donations to help build supply baskets that will include replacement strings, chin rests, shoulder rests, rosin, and music books. Learn more about Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestras on their website. Anyone can help by chipping on the  Power2give.org fundraising campaign webpage.

Got this from Facebook (via Leslie Harris) about kids and the arts via a guy named Darryl A. Chamberlain: We must always remember the importance of giving our best to our kids. Here is the Monti's Czardas played by The Kanneh-Mason kids. This is what happens when you are willing to get music lessons for your kids. I always tell anyone who will listen - but especially elected officials - that after class size, the arts seem to be the most important thing to parents for their children.   Mr. Chamberlain speaks of g etting music lessons for your kids which may be difficult for many parents (time, cost, getting your child there) but if we had more arts in our schools, that would be something most parents would be overjoyed to see. Not to start a fight but we were having a discussion on another thread about sports in schools.  Which would you rather see funded and finding the time for - sports or arts?

From the West Seattle Blog: Our area’s most-renowned music educator has announced he’s leaving for a new career direction, in another school district. Multiple award winner Marcus Pimpleton has told the Denny International Middle School and Chief Sealth International High School communities about his departure; he’s staying with the summertime Seattle Public Schools -wide All-City Band program, but otherwise, he is moving into a school-administration role in the Bellevue district.

Just learned about the National Association for Music Education's Broader Minded : think beyond the bubbles program.  Music not only impacts academic achievement, it also shapes the way our students understand themselves and the world around them. Let's think beyond the bubbles and educate the whole student. They have good insights and arguments for supporting music in our schools.  Consider this going forward - as more and more time goes for testing.  

From the Seattle Symphony : The Seattle Symphony and Music Director Ludovic Morlot invite the public to experience the thrill of live music at Benaroya Hall with a FREE Day of Music on Sunday, September 22, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.   More than 35 musical acts representing a wide array of styles — from rock and hip hop to jazz, classical and folk — will appear on multiple stages throughout Benaroya Hall, including the S. Mark Taper Foundation Auditorium, Illsley Ball Nordstrom Recital Hall, Garden of Remembrance, Norcliffe Founders Room and the Samuel & Althea Stroum Grand Lobby. This public event celebrates the 15th anniversary of Benaroya Hall and the start of the Seattle Symphony’s 2013–2014 season. Day of Music is free and no tickets are required for entrance. Soundbridge Seattle Symphony Music Discovery Center, located on the corner of Second Avenue and Union Street, will host a full day of family activities beginning an hour earlier, at 10 a.m., and continu...

(Forgot I wanted to fire this off so it's on the fly.) When we last left this discussion , the district had received a $1M grant from the Wallace Foundation to improve arts education in SPS.  The money was enough to allow surveys among parents and school staff, create a plan and then plan how to roll it out. The district did not get the implementation grant money (very few districts did) BUT the City of Seattle discovered more revenue from the Seattle Great Wheel and the Chihuly Museum.  We should all be grateful that Mayor McGinn and the City Council directed $500,000 towards arts education in Seattle Schools. The name of the plan is The Creative Advantage.   This program will be rolled out over several years so you may not see the impacts for several years.  However, discussions are starting in schools. SPS is encouraging you and I do, too - ask your principals, "What's the plan for arts at our school?"  Get your PTA to be proactive now and get ideas o...

From SPS: Officials of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced that two Seattle Public Schools students – Tara N. Conley , The Center School; and Derek B. Gasaway , Garfield High School – are among the winners for college-sponsored scholarships.  South Lake High School teacher Web Hutchins received the state’s top honor for civic education - the Civic Educator of the Year award. Hutchins was nominated for the award by State Representative Eric Pettigrew (D-Seattle). Hutchins’ Civics for All Initiative  is under consideration by the School District and has been introduced in Olympia, as well as to teachers and civic leaders in Seattle. Cuauhtemoc (Moc) Escobedo , band director at Eckstein Middle School , has been announced as a quarterfinalist for the first-ever Music Educator Award presented jointly by the Recording Academy and the Grammy Foundation .   Escobedo is an award-winning band director for Eckstein – leading students in nu...

I recently had good conversations with both Carri Campbell, Visual&Performing Arts Program Manager for SPS, and Calandra Childers, Communication and Outreach Manager for the Seattle Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs about what is happening in arts education for Seattle Public Schools. I want to thank them both for their time and efforts.  Both conversations were enlightening and heartening.  (After speaking with Ms. Campbell, I now live in the fear that, like many other really good people who join SPS, she'll leave.  I hope not because she's a gem.) Part One is about what has happened with the planning.  Part Two will be about what is to come. Background: SPS has had a five-year partnership with the City of Seattle - called the Arts Education Partnership - to help build a system and share resources to put arts in all our schools with the understanding that arts are not just a creative outlet but can develop life/job skills.  They have had so...

Garfield and Roosevelt High School jazz bands are once again competing at the Essentially Ellington Festival in NYC.  This year they are webcasting the performances so you can see them for yourself.  Here's a link to SPS with the details.  Roosevelt came in second last year.  Good luck to all the performers and their band directors! Three community meetings with Board directors tomorrow - Carr, Martin-Morris and McLaren. Don't know if you saw this video of a high school student who challenges his teacher's teaching ability.  It's making the rounds and it's interesting viewing.  Both the teacher and student keep their cool but you are not certain if anyone is right. Happy Mother's Day to all the moms.   What's on your mind?

Like pouring over test data?  You're in luck because the Public Data Ferret just released data on Washington State achievement test scores.  The headline reads, "WA Achievement Test Pass Rates Mostly Stagnant since 2006."  New petition to tell Senator Rodney Tom to fund our schools and reduce class sizes. Big shout-out to our classified school employees , thanks for your hard work! Chief Sealth kicks off its annual World Water Week next week starting on the 19th. Beacon Hill International School Principal Kelly Aramaki was named this year’s Washington State Elementary School Principal of the Year by a panel of principals representing the Elementary School Principals Association of Washington (ESPAW), a component of the Association of Washington School Principals (AWSP).  Congrats Mr. Aramaki! Musical groups from Roosevelt rose to the top in three divisions at the 40th Annual Northwest Orchestra Festival. From the heartwarming file: In an u...

From Citizens for Public Schools: Something amazing happened at the Grammy tonight, a new category has been established, an award to the best music teacher of the year. Could someone with connections, please let the members of the Grammy know that due to NCLB and Race To The Top, music teachers have become extinct in most urban U.S. cities? So, maybe the Grammy could use their influence and contact our President to let him know how much more important music education is to high stake testing! From the NY Times: The Grammy Awards are adding a new honor for music teachers. Neil Portnow, the president of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, announced the new award for music educators, which will be presented for the first time next year. He made the announcement on Thursday evening at an event for the Grammy Foundation’s Music Preservation Project at the Saban Theater in Los Angeles. “Music education is perhaps the most vital part of the Grammy Foundation’s miss...

It's a highlight of the year!! Nova bands, including those formed in Nova Band Class, perform for all ages!  Nova Band Showcase and Benefit Sunday, June 10; 6:30pm at  the Vera Project ; Warren Ave/Republican Ave N (Seattle Center) All Ages!! $7.00 Featuring: El Mago Pink Pajamas The Specifics Robot Mermaids Wolves in the Walls & Street Logic! The Nova Project is a democratically run public alternative high school that has its philosophical roots in the arts and social and environmental justice. We strive to create a safe place for students of all races, genders, and sexual orientations. Classes are thematically and inquiry based and non-graded. The staff and students work very hard to help each other find our voices to express ourselves through a variety of mediums. And, we ROCK! The Nova Band Show is a benefit for The Nova Project’s band program. It is the only way that our music program can earn money to buy and repair our instruments and equipment. Most of ...

Does the Seattle Symphony have a great deal for you - the Symphony's Family Connections offers FREE companion tickets for up to two children between 8 and 18 when you pay for an adult ticket.  This offer is good at any of their 53 Masterworks concerts at Benaroya Hall during this season.  Companion tickets are available starting THREE weeks prior to each Masterworks concert and only by phone or in person at the Symphony ticket office at Benaroya (206-215-4747). They also have a program called Community Connections to help underserved communities attend concerts. And last, but not least, this Sunday (the 18th)  is their Day of Music in and around Benaroya.   From their blog: The Seattle Symphony and Music Director Ludovic Morlot invite the public to experience live music at Benaroya Hall with a FREE Day of Music on Sunday, September 18, from 12 noon to 6 p.m. Over 40 musical acts representing a host of genres — from rock and hip hop to jazz, classical ...

First day of July so bring on the summer weather.  (I'm an Arizona girl so about this time of year I get mighty jumpy.)  From the district: The Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation has donated musical instruments to four Seattle elementary schools, a middle school and a high school.  The Foundation, which donates new and refurbished musical instruments to under-served schools, community music programs and individual students nationwide, awarded $130,574 worth of instruments to the following schools: Bailey Gatzert, Concord International, Highland Park and Northgate elementary schools, Denny International Middle School and Chief Sealth International High School.  Also, more good news: Seattle Public Schools has been awarded $300,000 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to expand a program that provides a fresh fruit or vegetable snack to every student nearly every day. The money will go to 14 elementary schools where 70 percent or more of students re...

I got there about 5:10 p.m.  A lot of the Mayor's staff, district staff and a middle school rock band warming up.  For all those people, there was no one to officially greet you or tell you anything about the event.  (I get that they needed staff but seriously, it was a lot of people for a simple Q&A.)

The Essentially Ellington contest, the premier high school jazz band competition in the country, announced the finalists for the competition today. Roosevelt made the cut as did Mountlake Terrace High School. Garfield, the first place winner for the last two years, did not make the cut. I'm sure this is a blow to their fine program but I'm sure it will just be a blip and they will come back strong next year. Good luck, Roosevelt.

I picked up an announcement at Town Hall last night about upcoming Saturday Family Concerts. They sound like fun and hey! kids 12 and under are free, adults with a kid just $5. Info at Town Hall. Upcoming dates are Feb. 26th, March 19th, April 9th, and May 7th.

We had a comment in the "One Last Survey: Middle School LA" thread that I have pulled out for discussion here. I'll just copy and paste it. Stand Up! said... Can anyone hear how bad the music at Eckstein sounds? I have hope, However, the idea that no one in the the Seattle area is outraged by Eckstein, the flagship of a horribly mismanaged and segregated school district, is anathema to me. Both Eckstein and Washington have failing music programs by national public standards. These standards are defined first by inclusion and ethical practice, not by showboating and the extolation of a few privilaged kids - much less trophy accumulation. Exclusion, segregation and remunerative practices mark the poor and cheating programs of the Seattle Public Schools. The presentation of a facade of accomplishment is foisted upon the public by an incopetent administration and a horribly mismanged district. This district goes so far as to give "jazz" instructors cred...