High Quality Instruction and Learning for Every Child, Every Day in Every Classroom December 2017

Students throughout the district show their holiday spirit and care for one another Students in schools throughout the district are showing their holiday spirit and care for others by hosting food, clothing, and gift drives to support families through the holidays. One example is Hazen High School’s leadership students who recently collected hundreds of pounds of food from students, families, and staff as part of their annual Thanksgiving Food Basket Drive. The baskets were completely full with green beans, stuffing, dessert options, and many other Thanksgiving staples. Also included was a $25

supermarket gift card to allow families to purchase a turkey. The baskets represent more than $10,000 worth of food.

This year, the Hazen High student effort was assisted by students at Risdon Middle School, who in only 9 days collected food and cash donations of over $1,100 to

make for 44 baskets of their own. The combined effort provided a fullThanksgiving dinner for more than 350 families from schools throughout the district.

Holiday events featuring talented singers, musicians, and actors If you’re looking for ways to get your family into the holiday spirit, make plans to take in great entertainment by student singers, musicians and actors.

Acts; about dual identity, misunderstandings, and love, based on the 1959 movie of the same name. Set design and constructed by students Hazen High’s construction/industrial technology class.

Here are upcoming performances by Lindbergh High School’s award-winning choir, band and orchestra: ·  Vocal Jazz Ensemble helps kickoff the City of Renton’s Clam Lights Holiday event, Friday, Dec. 1, 5:30 p.m. at Coulon Park, 1201 Lake Washington Blvd N, Renton · Vocal Jazz Ensemble perform Dec. 8, 6 p.m. at Benson Plaza

·  Dates: Dec. 1, 2, 8 & 9 at 7 p.m.; Matinee Saturday, Dec. 9 at 1 p.m. Starbucks, 17901 108th Ave SE, Renton · Lindbergh High School Band, Choir and Orchestra annual Winter Festival Concert, Dec. 13, 7 p.m. at Lindbergh High

School, 16426 128th Ave SE, Renton ($7 admission at the door)

·  At: Hazen High School Performing Arts Center, 1101 Hoquiam Ave NE, Renton.

Also make plans to see The Hazen Players production of Pillow Talk: A Comedy in Three

·  Tickets (at box office): $9/ Adults; $7/Students w/ASB and Veterans/Honored Guests.

High school classes continue to provide students with job skills In high school classrooms throughout Renton School District, students are learning hands-on skills that provide knowledge and insight into the world of work. Students take classes that provide an academic foundation, while also instilling a useful framework to aid them in career exploration and study based on personal interests. High school students can choose to study architecture, construction, aerospace engineering, careers in health fields, business management and administration, teaching and education, finance, and many more. Students use these classes to help them plan their education through high school and beyond. Lindbergh High School for instance provides classes that give students hands-on, real-

world experience, and connects education to life skills and future employment. Some examples are: · Students in Creed Nelson’s Aerospace class are working on airplane construction training racks that are the same used at the Boeing plant in Renton. Because the students learn and train on the same equipment that new hires at Boeing are trained on, the Renton students have an advantage over other applicants if they choose to work at Boeing immediately after graduation. · Students in the high school construction program are learning how to set up an electrical system for home wiring. Student work includes building walls to resemble a room in their home, and learn

to wire a full electrical system for that room. ·  Students in Deborah Williams’ robotics class are designing and programming robots, including motor control, gear ratios, torque, friction, sensors, timing, program loops, logic gates, propulsion systems, and binary number systems.

Students who have a career focus will continue their education beyond high school including community and technical colleges, apprenticeship programs, and 2- and 4-year universities. The work is part of Renton School District’s efforts to ensure all students graduate many options for their future, ready to participate in our democracy.

Technology in classrooms provides another tool for meaningful teaching and learning Nearly everyone nowadays has access to some type of computer—a cell phone, laptop, tablet, etc. Computer skills open a world of knowledge, skill, and future earning potential. In schools, students are developing the skills of computer use well beyond just doing Internet searches. With technology, teachers have different types of teaching practices and even more ways to actively involve and engage students in their learning.

intentionally in class to access content, to learn and research, and to demonstrate and share their learning with teachers and other students. Many technical pieces go into supporting this work, and the team at Dimmitt have partnered with others in the district to make things go smoothly, like holding regular meetings with a technical/ logistical team and an instructional team. In staff meetings, Dimmitt staff use Google classroom for their learning and have embedded digital learning strategies into their professional development. In addition to using technology regularly in classes, students at Dimmitt are learning about how to care for their devices; how to use, create, and store digital learning artifacts; and are learning about digital citizenship and their digital footprint. Dimmitt students say they like having access to their learning tools (Office365 and Google apps, the internet, teacher websites, etc.) all the time, and how it’s meaningful to have their own space to store and share their own work and ideas.

One school where teachers and students are using technology differently is at Dimmitt Middle School where this year they are piloting a 1:1 laptop model, meaning every student is provided their own laptop (most other schools have a laptop or computer for every two students). Students carry their own devices with them all day and use them

Next year, the district will expand the 1:1 laptop program to the three additional middle schools: McKnight, Nelsen, and Risdon. Renton High School will pilot a 1:1 laptop program in 2018-19; and in 2019-20, all secondary schools will have the 1:1 laptop program. (Elementary schools will maintain the current ratios of about one laptop for every two students.) This technology is available to students and teachers thanks to voter support of 2016 Technology Levy.

Presentations planned to help families decide to enroll their student in the new Sartori Elementary School ·  Dimmitt Middle School, 12320 80th Ave South, Seattle, Tuesday, Nov. 28, 6-7 PM

Are you considering enrolling your student in the new Sartori Elementary School for next school year? Want to learn more about the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) based school before you make the choice? Attend upcoming Sartori Elementary Information Nights to hear from Principal Angela Sheffey Bogan, and learn about the school's focus and mission, and the application process to include the lottery process to fill the school.

· Hazen High School, 1101 Hoquiam Ave NE, Renton, Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2018 6-7 PM

Have questions right now? See a list of Questions and Answers about the school at www.rentonschools.us/sartori.

· Nelsen Middle School, 2403 Jones Ave South, Renton, Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018, 6-7 PM

· Renton High School, 400 South 2nd Street, Renton, Thursday, Dec. 14, 6-7 PM · Risdon Middle School, 6928 116th Ave SE, Newcastle, Thursday, Jan. 11, 2018 6-7 PM

·  Lindbergh High School, 16426 128th Ave SE, Renton, Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2018, 6-7 PM

Schools continue to embrace and learn from family cultures and traditions, as America continues to welcome families from all over the world Renton School District continues to provide students and families with inclusive and welcoming places to learn. As our country, our communities, and our school populations grow more diverse with families from all over the world, creating a link between home and school becomes increasingly more important. Staff work continuously to ensure classrooms and schools are guided by culturally responsive strategies that consider and respect students and families who now call America home. Teachers and school staff know teaching that embraces a student’s cultural background also makes education more effective. Demographic changes have made it increasingly likely that a teacher's experiences don't mirror those of her students; so, teachers and staff at schools through the district are working to better know and understand their students and families, and integrate that

knowledge into learning. An example of that work is Lakeridge Elementary School, whose staff recently invited the Seattle Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs to speak about the issues faced by immigrant and refugee families. Staff learned about statistics and other information, as well as

the struggles that many families might endure when they first arrive in America, and work to integrate into their community. Another way schools incorporate their families into schools is by hosting family culture and heritage nights, where students and families present their family’s food, customs, dance, cultures

and more. Benson Hill Elementary School recently held their Heritage Night, where they celebrated the many cultures and traditions of their school community. Schools throughout the district embrace and learn from the many wonderful and diverse cultures that make up their school family.

Hazen High School students are learning to play piano thanks to a new digital keyboard course Hazen High School students are learning to play piano thanks to a new digital keyboard course funded by long-time education, community, and music advocates Marcie Maxwell and Bob Reeder. Maxwell and Reeder provided Hazen High with 30 state-of-the-art Yamaha piano/keyboards along with a teaching/monitoring system that allows Hazen music teacher Josh Viles the ability to listen to individual student work and provide real-time adjustments and guidance through a student’s headset. Viles worked with Hazen High Principal Kate O’Brien to create space at the school and set up the music lab this summer. “Music is a lifelong gift,” said Maxwell and Reeder “and we know the important correlation between music education and career skills.” Maxwell and Reeder provided a combined donation of nearly $17,000 through their funds the Maxwell Fund for Youth & Families and the Reeder Family Fund. The process was facilitated by the Friends of Renton Schools foundation.

Walker’s Renton Subaru again offers opportunity to help teachers and schools better support students Looking to buy or lease a new car? Do it at Walker's Renton Subaru and you'll be supporting Renton school teachers and classrooms. Through the annual Subaru Share the Love event—happening now till Jan 2—when you buy or lease a new Subaru, you can choose to have a donation made to the Friends of Renton Schools foundation. The school foundation provides grants for teachers to purchase classroom materials, and after-school programs, music instruments and repair, robotics, chess and so much more. Through Share the Love, Walker's Renton Subaru has provided more than $600,000 to our teachers and students.

Renton School District is hiring! Want to work in a great environment with interesting people and opportunity to grow and improve? Renton School District is hiring for many fulland part-time positions with great salary and benefits, and for many jobs work schedules are the same as the school calendar, so you can enjoy holidays with the kids! Find all of the district’s job openingsandapplyonlinetodayat www.applitrack.com/ rentonschools/onlineapp. Positions open include: •  Administrative Support/

Secretarial/Clerical • Athletics/Activities •  Bus Driver •  Classroom Aide/Paraeducator • Custodial •  Elementary SchWool Teacher, Grades K-5 • Grounds •  High School Teacher, Grades 9-12 •  Middle School Teacher, Grades 6-8 •  Nutrition Services • Technology •  and many more.

Renton School District | 300 SW 7th Street, Renton WA 98057 | 425.204.2345 | www.rentonschools.us www.facebook.com/renton.schools | twitter.com/Renton_Schools | www.youtube.com/user/RentonSchoolDistrict