Seattle Schools Community Forum

I received this query and wonder if there is a high school parent who meets her qualifications that would be willing to help with her assignment: I'm a student in a master's of teaching program at University of Maryland University College and need to conduct an informal interview with a parent of a high school student for an assignment.  The requirements are that the parent be of a different race and socio-economic background from myself, which for me means that they are something other than Caucasian and from the middle class. Let me know if you can help and I will put you in contact with her.   sss.westbrook@gmail.com

Let us presume that Spectrum is dead. Nevermind if you think that's a good thing or a bad thing. Our views on that topic simply don't matter. What does matter, however, are students working beyond Standards in need of an appropriate academic opportunity. So let's hear the ideas for how to provide an appropriate academic opportunity for students working beyond Standards if ability grouping is off the menu. A number of solutions have been proposed over the years: differentiated instruction, project-based learning, individualized instruction on computers, MTSS, parallel curricula, and grade skipping - just to name a few. Which of these work and can be reliably implemented? Let's hear your answers. The only answers that are not allowed are ability grouping and doing nothing. The District and the majority of the schools - for whatever reason - are opposed to ability grouping so don't suggest that. Please don't pretend that the general education classroom reli...

News from Thornton Creek: The Seattle school district has only budgeted Thornton Creek to have two 4th grade classes, two 5th grade classes and one mixed 4th/5th class for 2015-16, even though there are three 3rd grade classes and three 4th grade classes moving up.  Grades 4 and 5 are currently 140 students.  The plan would be to have 2 fourth grade classes and 2 fifth grade classes of 29 kids each, and 1 slightly smaller mixed age class for 4th/5th grade.   A group of concerned parents has created an online petition requesting a sixth class at 4th/5th grade. http://tinyurl.com/ohfqrxh

Update :  another Denny parent let me know there was no separate Denny opt-out form.  What appears to have happened is that only students who took the SBAC  and completed a "Denny Way"form got to go the school carnival.  The form was given ONLY to students who took the SBAC. So for the students who didn't take the SBAC, they were "empowering" students by having them write "appeals" to go to the carnival.   I don't know how many students who opted out got to attend the carnival  based on appeal. end of update A Denny parent let me know that their opt-out info from Denny had a tiny notation at the bottom about if a student opts out of the SBAC, he/she might not get to do some activities. That apparently has now taken the form of the principal, Jeff Clark, not allowing students who opted-out to attend a school festival that was held last Friday. I'm thinking some people would find that punitive and unfair but that's just me. I...

From SPS Communications: Seattle Police chief talks safety with middle school students Seattle Police Chief Kathleen O’Toole will visit Denny International Middle School’s Youth Ambassador (YA) class this afternoon.  The class, facilitated by Lori Markowitz and Denny staff Mathew Riippa, emphasizes peer mentorship, leadership and compassion. The YA’s are currently culminating their acts of compassion projects. The scholars felt compelled to explore issues of student safety by writing a grant to help promote safety awareness. In preparation for the Chief O’Toole’s visit, the YA’s surveyed approximately 150 eighth graders to acquire a sample of youth opinions on how they feel safe in their neighborhood as well as questions and comments they would want to share with the chief.  This will be a great opportunity for the Seattle Police Department and students to share ideas and create visions for the community.

Seen the new district website ?  I haven't used it yet but I think it looks much better.  (I do think their Facebook/Twitter/Instagram section is too big and too prominent.  Also,  the district calendar is way too hard to find. And again, why do they call Enrollment "Admissions?") Monday, June 1 Community Meeting with Director McLaren from 6-7 pm at the Southwest branch Library. Tuesday, June 2nd BTA IV Capital Levy Community Meeting from 6:30-8:30 pm at the JSCEE. This is likely the ONLY community meeting until the fall so try to make it if you want to give input.  I suspect that after the meeting we will know the preliminary ideas for this levy.  My stand will be if more than one-third is for technology, I'm not supporting it.  You will likely be asked - after their draft plan is presented - to weigh in via e-mail.  I'll get that info for you later this week. Wednesday, June 3 Board meeting starting at 4:15 pm at the JSCEE.  (T...

I got a query from a parent about changes coming to Washington Middle School and its Spectrum program. The parent stated that he/she was not able to attend the PTSA meeting where this was presented but that it seemed to others to be fairly vague and no one is really sure what is coming.  The parent also asked: I see that there are similar changes happening at McClure, so wonder if this is district-wide? Well, the district has said very, very little about Spectrum and is seemingly allowing principals to chart their own course.