Nathan Hale High School « Wedgwood Community Council

Wedgwood Area School News Roundup

By Johnson, on November 4th, 2012

Help Nathan Hale’s Highly Regarded Radio Station!

North Seattle KOMO has a story that Nathan Hale’s amazing radio station, C-89.5, is in the midst of a fundraiser to sustain the station. They’re hoping to raise $140,000 and YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE too!

Wedgwood Area Schools Are Still Amazing!

As we’ve report in 2010 and 2011, the public schools in our neck of the woods are pretty amazing. Last week, the Seattle School District’s new superintendent, José Banda released their Annual School Reports and State of the District. Schools are scored 1-5 (5 being the highest score) based on a variety of metrics.

In 2010, the first year that all public schools were scored, there were 12 schools that scored a 5, including Wedgwood, Thornton Creek, and View Ridge Elementary schools while Bryant Elementary, Eckstein Middle School, and Roosevelt High scored a 4 and Nathan Hale High received a score of 3.

Last year, while most school scores remained the same, View Ridge Elementary dropped from a 5 to 4, Bryant Elementary rose from a 4 to 5, and Nathan Hale rose from a 3 to 4.

This year, Wedgwood-area schools continue to score well with Nathan Hale the rising star of the year!

Bryant Elementary scored a 5
Eckstein Middle School scored a 4
Nathan Hale High School rose from a 4 to 5!
Roosevelt High School scored a 4
Thornton Creek Elementary School scored a 5
Wedgwood Elementary School scored a 5
View Ridge Elementary scored a 5

Great work to our local schools, including the phenomenal educators, staff, PTAs, and students that make our schools so successful!

Building Excellence IV Levy – UPDATE

As you may be aware, the Seattle School District has proposed, within a draft list of a projects for their upcoming Building Excellence IV (BEX IV) levy, to construct a new elementary school generally located on the Thornton Creek Elementary School playfields. Their list of projects has gone through several iterations although the new “North Seattle Elementary School” has largely remained unchanged despite vocal opposition by some neighbors. On Wednesday, November 7th, the school board intends to vote on a final list of projects for the BEX IV levy that will go out to voters on February 12, 2013.

At this Wednesday’s school board meeting, the board will vote on Building Excellence (BEX) IV Capital Improvement Program and Authorizing Resolution 2012/13-4. Based on the new version of this resolution, the following language has been added relative to the new North Seattle Elementary School.

“At Thornton Creek, the project list allows for the possibility that any needed additional seating capacity may be built at an alternative location.”

Furthermore, within Exhibit “A” – List of BEX IV projects, which the board will be provided, has the following language.

“North East Elementary @ Thornton Creek or equivalent additional seating capacity at another location – Opens 2016″

We currently are trying to get more information on what this revised language really means, although it appears that the District is providing themselves some ‘wiggle’ room to continue the school siting process while maintaining the necessary timeline for BEX IV to get on the ballot in February.

The upcoming School Board meeting will be on Wednesday, November 7th, starting at 4:15PM at the John Stafford Center at 2445 3rd Ave South. Public testimony is supposed to start at 5PM (see rules if you’d like to testify).

Seattle Public Schools Closed Wednesday

By dock, on January 17th, 2012

Seattle Public Schools will be closed on Wednesday January 18th due to concerns about the impending snow storm. (The SPS site didn’t have an update about this as of this posting, but the automated calls to parents are currently in process). Enjoy the day with your children, leave the car at home, and see you on the sledding hills!

Seattle Schools Close 2 Hours Early on Tuesday

By dock, on January 17th, 2012

Because of deteriorating weather conditions, all Seattle Public Schools will be closed two hours early on Tuesday, Jan. 17. All after-school events will be canceled, including games, practices, events, plays, meetings, etc. SPS will send an automated phone call to all families notifying them of the two-hour early release, asking them to pick up their student from school, if possible.

More snow is on the way, so check the Seattle Public Schools website for their plans for Wednesday classes.

Seattle School District – Late Open on Tuesday

By dock, on January 16th, 2012

Announced Monday evening (check the Seattle School website for more current information!):

Because of inclement weather, schools will open two hours late Tuesday, Jan. 17. Buses will be operating on snow routes. There will be no door-to-door service and no Preschool or Head Start. No morning breakfast will be provided. See Seattle School website any updates.

Nathan Hale High School a member of the International Thespian Society

By Johnson, on December 23rd, 2011

Coming on the heels of a major renovation and improved school report card (which is apparently a trend in Seattle’s high schools), Nathan Hale High School has been welcomed into the International Thespian Society for its 47-year old theater program. This is a major achievement for the school’s theater program and thespian troupe, as membership into the ITS is based on a points system. Bravo to all the theatrical Raiders who helped achieve this major milestone.

The NHS Theater Program’s next major production during Spring 2012 will be the musical, Hairspray! Mark your calendars for May 10-12th and 17-19th for these performances. A full calendar of their events can be found HERE.

More information about this accomplishment can be found HERE.

A Slew of School Stories

By Johnson, on December 5th, 2011

Over the past couple weeks, holidays and life have kept us from sharing several school-related stories. We’ve tried to wrap up all these stories into a single-post. This could be the Iron Man equivalent of blog posting.

Report Cards

First, kudos again go to our NE Seattle Schools for their excellent report cards. Last year, we shared the exciting news that Wedgwood-area schools were some of Seattle’s best schools during the 2009-2010 school year with Wedgwood Elementary, Thornton Creek, and View Ridge Elementary all receiving a 5 out of 5 in what the district calls segmentation level. Only 12 schools in the City achieved this highest score. Eckstein Middle School, Bryant Elementary, Laurelhurst Elementary, and Roosevelt High School recieved a 4 out of 5. Nathan Hale received a 3.

During the middle of last month, the School District released the most current score cards for each school in the district for the 2010-2011 school year, along with the District Score Card. Students, faculty, and parents of Wedgwood-area schools will be pleased to know that Wedgwood Elementary and Thornton Creek Elementary again received a segmentation level score of 5 out of 5. Laurelhurst Elementary, Eckstein Middle School, and Roosevelt High School remained a 4.

Wedgwood-area schools who’s segmentation level score has changed since the last report include:

View Ridge Elementary, which dropped from a 5 to 4 this year;
Bryant Elementary, which rose from a 4 to 5 this year; and
Nathan Hale High School, which rose from a 3 to 4 this year.

Congratulations to all of these schools for such great performances.

Thornton Creek is the Most Innovative

Speaking of great performances, the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) designated Thornton Creek Elementary as one of the State’s most innovative school’s of the year. View Ridge KOMO has a great story covering the event. Congratulations to the teachers, staff, and everyone involved with the Site Council. Bravo!

Capacity Management Planning

The School District has been experiencing a surge in enrollment and are quickly trying to identify solutions to what they believe will be an increasing problem in years to come. Last week, the District held their 2nd of 3 Capacity and Management Planning Meetings at Eckstein Middle School. While we couldn’t make it to the meeting, our review of the meeting’s presentation (see Slide 26 of 34 of this presentation) appears to suggest that potential short-term solutions to the Eckstein Service Area include:

Adding 1 portable to Wedgwood Elementary

Moving the audiology lab from View Ridge to Lowell

Reducing the kindergarten back to 2, and modify geozone.

New School District Representatives

The elections have been verified and congratulations are in order for the new and reelected school district representatives. The newly elected representative include Sharon Peaslee and Marty McLaren.

A Call to Service

The Seattle School District and City of Seattle are looking for volunteers to serve on several committees relating to our schools and the education of our youth. The School District have two committees where they are seeking community volunteers:

Meanwhile, the City Council is looking for community volunteers to serve on the Families and Education Levy Oversight Committee, which voters passed during this last election.