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

June 2018

Students graduating from district high schools have options for college and careers

Providing students with many options after graduation is important in the Renton School District. In fact, it’s our district motto: “Each student graduating with options and prepared

to participate fully in our democracy.” As part of that goal, high school students recently visited the Northwest Labor Employers training facility in Kingston, Wash. Students

Talley High students refurbish old laptops for families in need Talley High School students are working to refurbish older district computers as part of graduation requirements to complete community service projects. Students have cleaned and installed new operating systems on more than 50 laptops that will be distributed to district families. The plan is to refurbish enough of the older laptops and computers so that eventually hundreds of students and families will have access to technology. This project is part of the district’s commitment to equity.

learned about training and job opportunities in construction, civil, architectural, blueprint reading, and more. Students also learned about apprenticeship opportunities with hands-on learning and experiences. Additionally, nearly a dozen high school students attended a special job fair hosted by the Kenworth truck-manufacturing company in Renton. The students answered questions from company management, completed job applications, and took personnel tests to establish eligibility for employment. They hope to get calls soon for interviews. Kenworth management had a strong interest in hiring students enrolled in the district’s high school Aerospace Mechanics program. The company was so impressed with the students' knowledge and the school program that they set up a special job fair with hopes to hire students. The program is part of the district’s commitment to providing students with a well-rounded education that allows for many opportunities for college and career after graduation.

District to offer school supplies to elementary and middle school students As part of continued efforts to improve Service, Excellence, and Equity for all students and families, Renton School District will provide school supplies for all elementary and middle school students for next school year. The district will purchase the materials and families will pay a one-time, annual fee of $30 per student ($10/per student for families on free/reduced lunch) for the school supplies. For most families, the cost of school supplies at the start of the school year can be well over $100 per child. With the ability to buy direct from wholesalers and in bulk, Renton Schools can purchase

school supplies at a much lower cost, and pass the savings on to families. The one-time fee of $30 per student to provide enough school supplies for the school year (the fee for students on free/reduced lunch is $10 per student). The fee covers both items for individual students to use and for supplies for general classroom use. Families will continue to provide students with backpacks and lunchboxes, along with school planners at middle schools. Families will be able to begin paying the school supply fee online or by check/cash at their school in early August.

Dimmitt Middle School students use art to spread a message of compassion Dimmitt Middle school students this week were guest presenters at a special screening of their anti-bullying short film "Speak Out!" at Third Place Books in Seward Park in Seattle. The film was conceived, written, produced and shot entirely by Dimmitt students known as Agents of Change, with support and guidance from Rashad Medley of Communities In Schools. The students say they want their peers at school, and adults and others throughout the community to be more compassionate and accepting of people from all races and ethnicities. Students say they are paying attention to the escalation of hate speech and mean-spiritedness on the part of adults, and hope their film can help children and teenagers be the catalyst for better behavior and acceptance.

Renton High teachers complete high-level Sandford University program Renton High School teachers recently completed Stanford University’s Hollyhock Fellowship program, a two-year professional development program to help build excellence in teaching for high school educators.Teachers Jessica Hespelt, Gazalle Willecke, and Michaela Clark (pictured) are the second group of Renton High educators to complete the fellowship program; the first cohort that completed the program last year included Annie Fox and Allison Hays.

The competitive-entry program, which includes a two-week summer institute and monthly instructional coaching, allows high-level educators to participate in a sequence of research-based professional development. The Hollyhock program helps educators improve instruction, strength pedagogical content knowledge, develop equitable learning opportunities and build community within classrooms and through the school.

Learning with technology, kindergarten through 12th-grade Students in kindergarten and 1st-grade classrooms throughout the district will have access to iPads next year as part of the district’s focus on providing students with appropriate learning supports and resources. All elementary schools currently have at least one laptop for every three students; but using iPads at primary grades allow more mobility and allow better manipulation by smaller hands. Teachers will use the iPads with students as a valuable and powerful learning resource, and help students learn to be digitally literate and responsible users of technology. Great teaching is amplified by technology and with effective digital curricula. The iPads will be yet another tool teachers will use for meaningful instruction in every classroom.

New, voter-approved elementary school wins Governor’s Award The district’s new Sartori Elementary School project has been awarded the 2018 Governor’s Smart Communities Award. The award recognizes achievements by local leaders/organizations to promote smart growth planning and projects that contribute to thriving communities, a prosperous economy, and sustainable infrastructure in Washington State. Sartori Elementary School opens to families this fall and will serve as a new prototype for school campuses to support high-density development on smaller project sites.The school is made possible thanks to overwhelming voter support in the February 2016 School Construction levy.

Risdon Middle School hosts first student concert for the new school, thanks in part to school’s namesake Vera Risdon Risdon Middle School this week held their first, end-of-year concert to highlight the great gains made by 6th- and 7th-grade students in band and orchestra classes. The concert included band, orchestra and jazz band performances. The concert also doubled as show of appreciation to the Renton Schools Foundation and Vera Risdon (the namesake of the school) for raising more than $35,000 for additional music instruments as the school opened last fall. In fact, many of the students playing at the concert were using instruments purchased by the fundraiser. Ms. Risdon worked with the Renton Schools Foundation to ensure students at Risdon Middle School had many options to choose from when selecting an instrument they, like her, would learn to play and enjoy for the rest of their lives. About 20, of the nearly 100 contributors to the Risdon Music Fund were in attendance for the student concert.

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