NWESD Newsletter May/June

Express May/June 2010

The NWESD Newsletter

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Notes from the Superintendent

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Eighteen schools win Washington State Achievement Awards

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Orcas Island holds Student Chef Competition

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Everett students make global connections

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May/June 2010

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No Cost TOSAs

NWESD Provides Math & Science TOSAs at No Cost to Districts

The NWESD Board is using discretionary reserve funds to provide no-cost direct services to member school districts in the form of math and science Teachers on Special Assignment (TOSAs), to address specific priorities identified by NWESD District Superintendents.

The Board felt strongly that the current economic climate warranted additional support from the NWESD and polled member districts to identify their highest priorities for direct services. The most frequent response from regional Superintendents was a request for special assistance in the areas of math and science. In accordance with this feedback, the NWESD began building coordinated math and science TOSA services, available to participating districts at no cost for the 2010-11 and 2011-12 academic years.

Dr. Kathy Shoop, NWESD Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning, is now working with Curriculum Directors to create a regional service and delivery plan.

Each of the participating twenty-six districts has been asked to identify specific roles that TOSAs can fill in strengthening their math and science curriculum, so common needs can be met more efficiently.

On a broad scale, the TOSAs will be: 1. Deepening math and science content knowledge 2. Differentiating instruction 3. Using formative assessments 4. Coaching in instructional strategies

Registration Open for the Admin Certificate Program The TOSAs will use state and, in the case of math, common core standards to guide their work. These common core standards are part of a larger effort to strengthen education statewide, and regionally.

The NWESD is currently accepting applications for math and science TOSAs. Specific job descriptions can be found at www.nwesd.org/HR. If you have any questions, or would like more information about the TOSA program, please contact Jennifer Longchamps at 360.299.4095 or jlongchamps@nwesd.org.

Registration Now Open for Administrator Professional Certificate Program!

The NWESD is now accepting registrants for the 2010-11 Administrator Professional Certificate Program cohort, set to begin in August. The program consists of (a) one full day entry seminar, (b) three evening seminars over the course of the program, and (c) one culminating evening seminar that will include a panel presentation. Additionally, participants may be expected to invest additional time, as needed, to ensure that all certification requirements are met. A complete program description is available by emailing Dr. Jerry Jenkins, Superintendent, at jjenkins@nwesd.org.

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This proficiency-based program requires a strong commitment from the candidate, their school district, and the NWESD to reach the Professional Certification expectations.

Eligible candidates will have completed two years of administrative employment within the same school district and have an employment contract for an administrative position in the same district for 2010-11.

Interested parties can go to http://www. nwesd.org/AdmProCert and complete a short registration survey. Specific materials will be sent to candidates after the course has been filled, including billing information for the $1,200 course fee and location information.

Seminar sites will be determined by the geographic location of the participants.

The 2010-11 Program Description provides

a more comprehensive overview.

For additional information about the Professional Certificate Program, please contact Dr. Jerry Jenkins at 360.299.4003, or by email at jjenkins@nwesd.org.

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Everett Schools Are Top Earners In Safeway’s Nationwide Fundraising Program Three schools in the Everett School District ranked among the top 200 earning groups in the country during Safeway’s “10 % Goes Back to School Program.” Safeway contributed an additional $1,000 to each school (Evergreen Middle School, North Middle School and Bruin Community Partners at Cascade High School) for a grand total of over $20,000 from the six-week program.

Safeway’s school fundraising program, also known as eScrip, has proven to be an excellent resource for fundraising in the Everett School District. Participating Safeway business partners contribute a percentage of registered patrons’ grocery loyalty cards, credit card, and debit/ATM card purchases to schools and other organizations.

Evergreen Middle School will purchase equipment and pay for student programs with the award funds. North Middle School plans to purchase sports equipment, uniforms, a new trophy case, sound equipment; fund field trips and assemblies; and support Math and Literacy Night events.

“Our eScrip success is a direct result of the strong community support we receive and the phenomenal partnership we have with our local Safeway store,” North Middle School Principal Kelly Shepherd said.

Service Dog Program Teaches Life Skills and Boosts Interest in School Whatcom Discovery Center fifth grade students cannot wait to get to school these days to meet up with their new friends—dogs. Thanks to Brigadoon Youth and Service Dog Programs, nine fifth graders are paired with assistance dogs-in-training during school hours. This Positive Association with Students (P.A.W.S.) youth program is designed to improve school performance for students.

Discovery Center students have the opportunity to train service dogs to perform special tasks several times per week. During the training process students learn valuable life skills such as caretaking, dependability, consistency, followthrough, patience, positive motivation, anger management, and leadership.

A similar service dog training program was previously implemented in the Bellingham School District with Brigadoon services.

Brigadoon Youth and Service Dog Programs is a charitable, non-profit organization located in Bellingham and serves people in Washington, Idaho, Oregon and Canada.

For more information on Whatcom Discovery Center’s partnership with Brigadoon’s P.A.W.S. program, contact Whatcom Discovery Center Counselor Mary Allen at mallen@nwesd.org.

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We’re Getting an Upgrade!

The NWESD is upgrading the quarterly publication and we think you’ll be pleased!

For several years, the NWESD has brought you two great publications throughout the year. The “Express” published on alternating months through the academic year, featuring great stories about our member districts and the good works going on in our schools. The “EDvantage” published quarterly and served as your go-to resource for Professional Development classes and workshops.

Starting in September 2010, the NWESD will be putting all your information in one place! A stronger, and even more relevant publication will launch this fall packed with teaching resources, feature stories and articles written by leaders in education.

Of course, the detailed course listings and workshop registration information will be at your fingertips as well!

Your schedule is tight and we want to ensure you have all your professional development tools in one place. If you want to be notified immediately when the quarterly publication is released, email rwillett@nwesd.org.

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May/June 2010

Eighteen NWESD Schoo Washington Achieveme T

he Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction and the Washington State Board of Education recently awarded 18 schools in the NWESD 189 Region with Washington State Achievement Awards for 2009—a total of 174 schools throughout the state received awards for outstanding improvements in student performance.

“We’re proud of these schools,” said Washington State Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn. “They’re showing that great gains can be made for all students.”

These new awards are part of the Washington State Board of Education’s accountability program, adopted in 2009. Under the program, all schools will be indexed according to outcomes and indicators from 2007 to 2009. The five outcomes are student performance in statewide reading, writing, math and science tests, as well as the school’s extended

graduation rate, which includes those students who took longer than four years to graduate.

Each outcome is measured using the following four indicators: • Achievement of students who are not from low-income families; • Achievement of students from lowincome families; • Achievement of all students when compared to “peers” (those with similar student characteristics, such as the percentage of students who have a disability, are learning English, are designated as gifted, come from low-income families, and are mobile); and • Improvement in the achievement of all students from the previous year.

The average of the resulting 20 measures comprises the overall index. “The index will be instrumental in helping schools and districts craft data-driven school improvement plans,” said Edie Harding, Washington State Board of Education Executive Director. “It gives us a better way to track schools in the future and to pinpoint exactly where they are doing well and where they need additional help.”

In the future, awards will be given to schools closing the achievement gap. This year, 70 elementary, 26 middle, 52 high schools and 26 comprehensive schools received awards throughout the state.

“While ‘No Child Left Behind’ tells us only how we’re not making the grade, the accountability index tells us where we are,” Dorn said. “We know we’re doing great work in this state. Teachers, administrators, classified employees—they’re all hardworking people who have a positive impact on our students.”

The accountability system was adopted by the passage of Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 6696 in the 2009 legislative session.

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ols Receive ent Awards

et Plugged In!

OVERALL EXCELLENCE Awarded to schools whose 2-year average put them in the top 5 percent of schools in Washington Anacortes—Fidalgo Elementary Bellingham—Fairhaven Middle School Edmonds—Challenge Elementary Edmonds—Maplewood Parent Cooperative Everett—Silver Firs Elementary Everett—Mill Creek Elementary School Everett—Gateway Middle School Lynden—Fisher Elementary Nooksack—Nooksack Valley Middle School Nooksack—Nooksack Elementary Orcas Island—Orcas Island High School Orcas Island—Orcas Island Middle School Sedro-Woolley—Samish Elementary

SPECIAL RECOGNITION—LANGUAGE ARTS Anacortes—Fidalgo Elementary Edmonds—Challenge Elementary Everett—Mill Creek Elementary School Lynden—Fisher Elementary Mount Baker—Mount Baker Senior High School Mukilteo—Mariner High School SPECIAL RECOGNITION—GIFTED Everett—Cedarwood Elementary Mukilteo—Explorer Middle School SPECIAL RECOGNITION—EXTENDED GRADUATION RATE Lopez—Lopez Middle School/High School Orcas Island—Orcas Island High School SPECIAL RECOGNITION—MATHEMATICS Edmonds—Challenge Elementary SPECIAL RECOGNITION—SCIENCE Nooksack—Nooksack Elementary 5

We are getting plugged in and we want you to join us!

NWESD is now using Social Media to share articles, review topics and list upcoming events. Visit us on Facebook and Twitter to join the conversation. Links to both pages are on the home page of the NWESD website.

The NWESD EDvantage, our popular course catalog, is currently undergoing a facelift to include more featured articles and education news.

You’ll find this publication online at www.nwesd.org/ edvantage, with the new easyto-read electronic format.

Want a printed copy? Just print the PDF listed below the electronic version - it couldn’t be easier to stay in the loop!

The NWESD resources are more accessible than ever! Log on, join in and get plugged into NWESD!

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May/June 2010

Orcas Island School District Holds First-Ever Student Chef Competition Kindergarteners to high school seniors on Orcas Island gathered in the high school home economics room on April 17th to compete in the firstever Orcas Island School District Student Chef Competition. The ten student entries fell within ten points of each other with the perfect ten going to Nile Reed, the overall grand prize winner for his smooth and creamy “Maple Vanilla Panna Cotta with Blackberry Sauce” recipe.

Chef Orchid began the day by reviewing safety and cleanliness issues before student chefs started preparing their recipes. Master of Ceremonies Kyle Freeman provided a step-by-step commentary of each competitor’s status as they prepared their dish. Each judge provided feedback to the contestants on their presentation and offered rave reviews about the dishes. Members of the audience were treated to samples of each dish and everyone took home a booklet of all ten recipes.

During the competition, the atmosphere was spirited and bustling as Chef Christina Orchid monitored contestants.

Winner in the Tier 1 Elementary Level was Arla Sutton who cooked a delicious “OrangeAlmond Granola.” Kaya Osborn, Tier II Middle Level winner, baked her “Spiced Blackberry Zucchini Cake,” and Tier III Senior Level winner Kelsey Whitaker showcased her impressive presentation of “Orcas Mélange.” Each of the ten contestants took home ribbons and gifts— memories of a wonderful first-ever event.

“It was a very close competition,” Barbara Kline, an event judge, reported. “Each dish was impressive and it was extremely hard to select the top four.” All judging was done using a point grid system with five categories: recipe, presentation, taste, mise en place (“everything in its place”/ orderliness while preparing and cooking) and cleanliness.

All ten recipes from contestants will be prepared and served during this school year and next school year by the cafeteria staff so students, parents and community members will have the opportunity to taste the scrumptious dishes.

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All the competitiors are shown in top photo: (front row left to right) are Madison Pollock with Cowboy Cooking Wagon Wheel Casserole, Meg Mayhew Waage with Taco Salad, Evan King and Lillyan Otto with Sweet and Salty Breakfast Pizza, Elementary Tier winner Arla Sutton with Orange-Almond Granola (back row left to right) Zach Waage with Sesame Lemon Honey Chicken, Ray Doss with Ray’s Bigfoot Burger, Cedar Parker Pavitt with Caribbean Quesadillas, Grand Prize winner Nile Reed, High School winner Kelsey Whitaker with Orcas Melange and Middle Tier winner Kaya Osborn with Spiced Blackberry Zucchini Cake.

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May/June 2010

Granite Falls Car-Building Team is First All-Girls Team in Shell’s Eco-Marathon The Granite Falls High School all-girls carbuilding team, also known as “The ShopGirls,” is making history as the first all-girl team to enter the Shell Company Eco-Marathon in Houston, Texas this spring. This annual competition is designed to allow students in high schools and universities an opportunity to build a car that can go the greatest distance on the least amount of fuel.

Only a handful of girls participate in the event each year.

The car-building project became a reality last year thanks to a $10,000 federal grant that helps prepare girls for high-demand jobs in nontraditional fields and local fundraising efforts. The school has raised over $41,000 in grants and donations to pay for materials, training and travel.

Maia Hanson, Rita-Mae Hatch, Katie Jackson, Erica Jensen, Semira Kern, Sara Rood, Pooja Sethi, Shante Stowell, and Sarah Turner (alias The ShopGirls) wanted a name for their car that reflected all the hours they have spent designing, engineering, molding metal, and building the car from scratch--they decided on Iron Maiden.

“It is a tough name,” Erica Jensen, the car’s driver, said. “Iron Maiden also was a [18th century] torture device,” said Maia Hanson, who worked on the car’s drive train, engine and electrical system, “and we have all been tortured by it at some point.”

The ShopGirls main goal was to see if they could build a car that runs—they have done just that! The Iron Maiden is a one-seater with two wheels in front and one in back, measuring 10 ½ feet long and 2 ½ feet tall.

“I knew absolutely nothing,” Sarah Turner, who built the steering system and is plan-

ning to major in engineering at Washington State University, explained. “I had no idea what they were talking about.” Today Turner knows what she is talking about and can give a 10-minute technical description about Ackerman steering geometry which she needed to understand before designing the steering system.

The teammates have shared the workload by splitting up grinding, sanding, cutting, drilling and welding duties. They learned how to choose the right drill bits and speeds for different metals. They have also spent hours with face masks and Latex gloves crafting fiberglass into the nose and rear sections of the car. It has been a long and dusty journey from models to molds to auto body. They have designed and assembled drive train components, including the diesel engine, fuel system, transmission, and exhaust systems.

The Iron Maiden will compete in the diesel car category at the Shell Eco-Marathon.

They will find out how far the car can go on a 250-milliliter fuel tank; that is about 100 milliliters less than a 12-ounce pop can.

Mike Werner, Granite Falls High School Manufacturing and Industrial Arts teacher, has witnessed the growth in confidence and skill among The ShopGirls over the past year. “That tangible product is not the instant gratification that so many of today’s youth are used to,” he said. “This [car] came together slowly. It challenged them in so many ways.”

Source: “All-female team pours heart and soul into car-building contest,” March 21, 2010, Eric Stevik, Everett Herald, www. heraldnet.com

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High School Drop-Out Prevention Turns to Improv Jumping on stage each Wednesday afternoon is making a difference for Bellingham and Nooksack Valley high school students. Improv for Education, a high school dropout prevention program created

by Community in Schools in Whatcom County, provides area high school students the opportunity to “let go and learn how to play again,” explained one Improv for Education student.

The theater program is designed to help atrisk teenagers overcome tough obstacles in life by building confidence, understanding teamwork, and learning to have fun. “What I like most about this [program] is that it gives me a chance to see students outside of school, see different sides of them shine,” Leslie Umberger, Improv for Education instructor, said. “I think it’s important for the community to look at teenagers in a positive light.”

Students have the opportunity to work with

Upfront Theater performers and learn improvisational skills during the four-month program. “I have always been interested in drama and improv,” a 17 year-old student said. “But, I also joined because I’m going through a hard time in my life. If I wasn’t coming here, I don’t think I’d be really motivated to do anything else.”

Improv for Education was created last school year as a way to offer new extracurricular activities for teenagers. Communities in Schools of Whatcom County has been working with Bellingham and Nooksack Valley school districts for two years and is the local branch of the national nonprofit organization that connects schools and students with community services.

Source: Bellingham Herald, “Improv for Education brings students together for laughs and entertainment,” Kira M. Cox, March 22, 2010, www.bellinghamherald.com

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May/June 2010

Everett Students Raise Their Voices and Open Our Eyes

Students making global connections thanks to the vision of their teachers and the power of technology The technology of visual communications is empowering students at Cascade High School in Everett to make their voices heard. They are making a powerful impact, thanks to their teachers, Yvonne Linnabary and Scott Shafer, and the vision of a grant program called “Adobe Youth Voices.”

The two Cascade High School teachers received the grant last summer, one of only 47 awarded worldwide.

This prestigious grant provides teacher training, software, equipment, and production assistance. Linnabary’s Photography/Advanced Photography class and Shafer’s Advanced Video Production class, both of which are Career and Technical Education courses, are participating in the grant. The grant’s goal is to teach students to create meaningful art through digital media.

in their community and the greater world, and how they can communicate their ideas and the skills they are learning to their own community and to the world visually through technology.

Shafer pointed out that the project is designed to “bring more of what’s around us into Cascade High School,” to help students understand where they “fit in to this community called Cascade High School, called Everett, called Washington, called the world.” He stressed the significance of eliminating the adult voice from the students’ work, “to give them a voice. We really want them to show us what it’s like in their world.”

Austin Gillihan, a student in Linnabary’s photography class, proudly showcases his work on a computer screen, pointing out the various photo editing techniques he has used to create dramatic images. “Photography is definitely my favorite class, hands down,” he said, as he described his plans for a career in studio photography. “Austin is what Adobe Youth Voices is looking for,” said Linnabary.“He is going beyond the framework of the class.”

Cascade High School senior Karen Reynolds presented her history/ photography/art retrospective at Solid Rock Coffee in north Everett.

Here she stands before some of her 1950s display. Combining her love of the subjects and the medium, she portrayed the changing style of high school portraiture with a timeline of historic events: 1954 and Senator McCarthy; 1955 and Rosa Parks; 1957 and Sputnik, for example. The restaurant audience was treated to her multi-decades retrospective as part of the Adobe Youth Voices project and her required senior project.

“Scott and Yvonne are quite advanced in the process because they have so many skills,” Tina Aufiero, Adobe Youth Voices Media Mentor, stated. She explained that the grant program is designed to connect students and teachers with their own community and with peers around the world and to “create with a purpose.”

The two teachers hope to help students gain perspective and understanding through the project, including understanding themselves, their family histories, their role

An incredible example of that vision was expressed through the senior project of a very creative student and member of Cascade’s yearbook staff, Karen Reynolds. She melded her love of history with her love of photography to create a retrospective display of high school portraiture depicting changes from the 1950s through the present. She took senior photographs of several student models for each decade, created displays of her photography along with a historical timeline. She recently exhibited her work at Solid Rock Coffee in north Everett.

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Soon, Reynolds, Gillihan and their Adobe Youth Voices classmates will have the opportunity to showcase their work to a broader audience. The grant includes competitions, festivals and online sharing of ideas and projects. “I’m really excited,” said Gillihan. “It’s not every day you get to do something like this.”

Take a look at the worldwide gallery of student work on the Adobe Youth Voices website at http://plantandinspire.org/gallery/.

Source: Everett Public School District

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A “Hole in the Wall” Senior Project At the Lakewood School District’s March 3rd Board meeting LHS Senior Mitchel Gogert made a presentation on his senior project entitled “Hole in the Wall.” The project is based on the Cross Country Invitational meet that Lakewood High School has hosted since in 1984.

Mitchel studied the history of the “Hole in the Wall” by contacting retired Cross Country Coach Mike Evans who was instrumental in establishing this invitational Cross Country meet. He learned from Mr. Evans that this popular Cross County event was established as a means to make a little money for the three year old sport and to help create a cross country atmosphere around the school in which to build the program. Mr. Evans shared that the athletes, a few parents, and himself started clearing away brush where Lakewood Elementary School is now located. Mr. Evans added that although the current trail follows the footprint of the original trail, many changes have occurred over the years.

Mitchel’s project went on to tell how the name “the Hole-in-the-Wall” came about. Mr. Evans shared with Mitchel that when he was young, his friends and he would read about different cowboys of the past. One of these characters of the ‘wild west’ was Jesse James. Jesse James had a gang of robbers and their name came from where they would hide out. When the gang was not robbing and stealing, they would sequester themselves in a canyon that had only one entry. If they were to enter their hideout, it was through an arched opening in a rock face wall. The gang’s name….”The Hole-in-the-Wall Gang.”

The opening of the Cross Country race back in 1984 reminded Coach Evans of the Jesse James gang and he dubbed the opening….The Holein-the-Wall.

Source: Lakewood School District 11

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May/June 2010

Technology Services unlock your potential

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he NWESD Technology Services Department, your partner in Education Technology, offers a wide variety of key services at a reduced cost for your district.

The Technology Services Team operates on a philosophy of continuous improvement and keeps a finger on the pulse of evolving technology.

They stay current on modern techniques and tools so you don’t have to!

Your budget is our priority. When you partner with the NWESD, you join other members of our 35 districts to access services at a group rate.

Save money on technology training and utilize the cost-effective resources provided by experts in Education Technology.

Call today to determine what services the NWESD can offer your district! For more information, or to request a brochure, call Tammy Lee at 360.299.4056 or email tlee@nwesd.org. Your entire district could be running faster by fall!

Services Available E-Rate Support ETSC Google Apps Network Support

Network Cooperative Microsoft Terminal Server Support RITU Data and Video Linux and Open Source Support Microsoft Exchange Upgrades Client Imaging

SIF Implementation Planning Technology Program Review

1601 R Avenue Anacortes, WA 98221 Ph. 360.299.4000 Fx. 360.299.4070 www.NWESD.org 12