Seattle Schools Community Forum

CNN is broadcasting a special report tonight, "Being 13: Inside Secret World of Teens."  I'll have to Tivo this one.  It's on at 9 pm EST (but CNN tends to have repeats of these things).  It could be interesting.  It could be painful.  It could be eye-rolling.  I have no doubt that all of it is the reality of teens today (including this line): "I would rather not eat for a week than get my phone taken away. It's really bad," said Gia, a13-year-old. "I literally feel like I'm going to die." Sound familiar? FYI, there is a very good film called, coincidentally, Thirteen, that is a semi-autobiographical film by Catherine Hardwicke.  I recommend it for parents of 13-year old girls.  It is, by turns, funny and scary and you should watch it (before your daughter does and gets ideas). 

From SPS Communications: The Washington Art Education Association (WAEA) announced two Seattle Public Schools’ teachers as Educators of the Year for the elementary and middle school levels. Jennifer Lundgren of Montlake Elementary School and Jennifer Heller of Eckstein Middle School received the award based on their accomplished teaching.

I post this notice from Eckstein because Ms. Allen was a dedicated employee for Seattle Schools and I know others out there knew her as well.  Her passing is a loss for Eckstein and Seattle Schools. 

From the Superintendent's Friday Memo of August 28, 2015: Math Materials Field Test Proposal In keeping with the Executive Director of Curriculum and Instruction’s schedule of adopting textual materials, Math Program Manager Anna Box is proposing a field test of some middle school Math textual resources during the 2015-16 school year. Providing this field test in 2015- 16 will help prepare to launch an adoption during the 2016-17 school year. Additionally, the work aligns with School Board Policy No. 2015, Selection & Adoption of Instructional Materials, amended by the School Board this month to allow for field tests of materials. 

A busy, busy week.

A request was made for discussion on this topic.  Weigh in, please.

Thanks to Kelly Powers, RHS PTSA Legislative liaison for this update: Updated K-8 FERPA:  http://www. seattleschools.org/cms/One. aspx?portalId=627&pageId=14407 Updated high school FERPA: http://www.seattleschools.org/ cms/One.aspx?portalId=627& pageId=14407#Legal