Pathways: News and Information About Highline Public Schools

​​What does the state budget hold for Highline? The answer is, we don’t know yet. The House and Senate continue to be locked in a budget battle. The school district can’t finalize its budget until lawmaker’s decide what and how much funding will go to public schools.

​What does the state budget hold for Highline? The answer is, we don’t know yet. The House and Senate continue to be locked in a budget battle. The school district can’t finalize its budget until lawmaker’s decide what and how much funding will go to public schools.

There are significant differences between the House and Senate versions of the state budget. Puget Sound Educational Service District has published this analysis of the two budgets.

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Waiting on a Washington State Budget

The Legislature returned to Olympia on May 13, where the focus continues to be on education.  Lawmakers in both the House and Senate have made additional investments in education and opportunity a high priority. However, the House budget proposal goes much further in making the key investments that expand early learning opportunities and fulfill the state’s obligation to fund basic education.

Due to last year’s McCleary ruling by the State Supreme Court, policymakers must take significant steps toward fully funding basic education over the next five years. Among other things, increased investments must be made to reduce class sizes, transport kids to and from school, phase in full‐day kindergarten, and maintain school buildings and supplies. Yet investing in these things alone is not enough to ensure that opportunity is widespread and readily accessible. Greater investments in early learning, closing the achievement gap, and making higher education more accessible are critical to continued prosperity in Washington State.

Overall, the House budget invests $1.1 billion - nearly $400 million more than the Senate – in expanding opportunity through education. The two budgets present a stark contrast in funding for education:

Early Learning:
Both the House and the Senate make sizable investments in expanding the state’s early-learning system.  The Senate expands access to pre-school opportunities for more than 800 kids while also increasing the reimbursement rate to early-learning providers by 10.3 percent.  The House nearly doubles this investment, putting $45 million into increasing early-learning access to over 1800 additional families while also expanding home visiting care to new mothers and infants.

Basic Education:
The House budget puts a much larger down payment towards meeting our obligation of fully funding basic education – investing $1.2 billion towards McCleary compared to $760 million in the Senate proposal. The House invests $225 million into reducing class sizes as well as another $90 million for implementing full‐day kindergarten.  The Senate puts no additional dollars into reducing class sizes and only $43 million for full‐day kindergarten.

Expanding Opportunity:
The House makes a much broader range of investments geared toward closing the opportunity gap, putting nearly $13 million into bilingual education along with additional funds for drop-out prevention.  The Senate, however, makes a $240 million investment in the Learning Assistance Program (LAP) – the state’s major educational support program for struggling students – $200 million more than the House proposal.

Higher Education:
Neither budget proposal takes steps to adequately address rising tuition costs paid by students and families across the state. The House proposal allows for moderate tuition increases at four-year institutions and technical colleges, but provides additional funding for financial assistance through the State Need Grant and College Bound programs. The Senate restricts universities from raising tuition and provides minimal additional funds –leaving colleges and universities holding the bag in terms of how to make ends meet.

​​Highline Public Schools Athletics is offering sports camps this summer for students entering grades 1 through 12. Twenty camps will cover ten sports: Basketball, Cheer, Cross Country, Dance/Drill, Football, Soccer, Swimming, Tennis, Volleyball, and Wrestling.

​Highline Public Schools Athletics is offering sports camps this summer for students entering grades 1 through 12. Twenty camps will cover ten sports: Basketball, Cheer, Cross Country, Dance/Drill, Football, Soccer, Swimming, Tennis, Volleyball, and Wrestling.

The summer sports camp program is a new initiative of the school district. The camps are taught by Highline coaches and teachers, and are geared for young athletes at all levels of experience.

“Our summer camps program is an effort by district coaches to provide fundamental skills instruction to students throughout the district,” said Highline Athletic Director Terri McMahan. “It is an opportunity for younger students to learn from skilled coaches and high school student-athletes in a fun and instructional environment.”

Registration forms are available online at www.highlineschools.org/athletics. 

Information can also be obtained by contacting Debbi Mathews at debra.mathews@highlineschools.org, or 206-431-2418.

​​Highline will add several new sports programs at the middle school level over the next two years, as recommended by the district’s Middle School Athletics Assessment Committee. 

​Highline will add several new sports programs at the middle school level over the next two years, as recommended by the district’s Middle School Athletics Assessment Committee. 

Starting next fall, middle school athletes will have the opportunity to turn out for wrestling (Season 3), girls’ soccer (Season 2) and running-conditioning clubs (Seasons 2 and 3). 

Cross country, softball, and tackle football will be added in 2014-15. Also in 2014-15, to increase the pool of potential coaches, traditional fall and spring sports will swap seasons. Track and field, boys’ soccer, and softball will run in Season 1; volleyball, football, and cross country will run in Season 4.

“It has been our mission to improve the connection between our middle and high school programs to ensure strong communication, leveled instruction of basic skills, and a belief system that ensures growth and success,” said Director of Athletics Terri McMahan. “Expansion of middle school sports provides the opportunity to rebuild the foundation of our athletics program, involve more students, and galvanize the entire secondary program.” 

Highline’s middle schools will join its high schools as members of the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) beginning fall of 2013. WIAA membership ensures compliance with rules, regulations, and professional coaching standards at the middle level. 

Sports physicals, good for 24 months, will be required of all middle school participants. The Athletics Department is currently revising middle-level participation forms to reflect the new programs and sports schedule. New participation forms will be available at www.highlineschools.org by mid-June. Questions should be directed to Terri McMahan, Director of Athletics, 206-988-4773.

Click here to view a chart with the two-year, phase-in plan.

​​Highline is named a leader for its decision to offer free, full-day kindergarten at all schools in a Seattle Times editorial published May 27. Superintendent Susan Enfield announced the change last week.

The Times praises Highline and Washington State University as two public education institutions in the state that are raising the bar.

Editorial writer Lynn Varner writes, “I’m delighted by the bold steps taken by Highline Superintendent Susan Enfield and WSU‘s President Floyd.  Both have been around long enough to know that nothing is certain in Olympia. Enfield and Floyd stepped up for the students and families they serve.”

Read the entire article here. 

​​The Pacific Middle School Wind Ensemble walked off with the Outstanding Band Award at this year’s Heritage Music Festival in Anaheim. While Pacific typically wins Gold performance ratings at the Heritage Festival, this is the first time it has won the award for the festival’s best performance.

Pacific's Award Winning Wind Ensemble

​The Pacific Middle School Wind Ensemble walked off with the Outstanding Band Award at this year’s Heritage Music Festival in Anaheim. While Pacific typically wins Gold performance ratings at the Heritage Festival, this is the first time it has won the award for the festival’s best performance.

During the Heritage Festival Award Ceremony last Saturday at Disneyland, some members of the Pacific Middle School Wind Ensemble were initially disappointed.

 “They watched as the big trophies were carried off by winning band directors from other schools,” said band parent Mysty Beal. “Then the Heritage Festival director announced the award for Outstanding Band, and the Pacific band members were stunned to hear their name called out.”

During the festival, the band qualified to participate in a soundtrack recording session at Disneyland. They were ushered into one of Disney’s soundstages and handed a sheet of music. The conductor gave them one minute to look it over, and then they recorded the piece.

Animation from “The Lion King” was overlaid on the recording, and students watched Simba accompanied by the soundtrack they had just played. The session gave the students an appreciation of what would be required from a professional soundstage musician. 

​​Superintendent Susan Enfield will speak about how Highline is innovating to meet the needs of students at Creating New Models of Teaching and Learning: From NYC to Highline.  Educators from New York City schools will join Dr. Enfield on the panel.

​Superintendent Susan Enfield will speak about how Highline is innovating to meet the needs of students, at Creating New Models of Teaching and Learning: From NYC to Highline. Educators from New York City schools will join Dr. Enfield on the panel.

“These leaders are re-imaging school and what happens in the classroom,” said Chris Korsmo, CEO of the League of Education Voters Foundation.  “They are redesigning systems and using new strategies that can change the game for kids.”

The free event, hosted by the League of Education Voters Foundation (LEVF), is June 13, 7:00 p.m. at UW at South Lake Union. Register at www.educationvoters.org.

Click here to learn more about the speakers.

​Now is the right time to enroll your child for kindergarten in the fall. Once enrolled, you and your child will be invited to participate in a Jump Start session in August at your school.

​Now is the right time to enroll your child for kindergarten in the fall. Once enrolled, you and your child will be invited to participate in a Jump Start session in August at your school.

“Enrolling early ensures your child will be fully prepared to start school in the fall,” said P-3 Director Anne Arnold. “Early registration gives parents and students the opportunity to take part in various activities leading up to the school year which help connect students with their elementary school community.”

You will be invited to attend back-to-school nights and other community-building events, including Jump Start, a week-long transition program in August for parents and incoming Kindergarteners.

Early enrollment also gives you time to prepare for any special medical needs your child may have. Students with medical conditions that requires medication at school or other accommodations must have a medical plan in place before the child can attend school. By registering early you will have access to help with that process so your child can start school on time.

If your child will be five years old on or before August 31, he or she is eligible to register for kindergarten. 

To enroll your child, visit your neighborhood school. If you need help identifying your neighborhood school, please call 206-433-2424.

When you go, it is important to take:

• Your child’s birth certificate.
• Proof of your address. (This can be a rental agreement, purchase agreement, or utility bill.)
• Your child’s immunization records.
• Two emergency contacts, including addresses and phone numbers.

​The secret to success at Southern Heights Elementary is having a great teacher in every classroom, intently focused on instruction. Southern Heights is one Highline school that is producing significant student achievement results using these principles.

​The secret to success at Sourthern Heights Elementary is having a great teacher in every classroom, intently focused on instruction. Relevant lessons that engage students in critical thinking and problem solving provide the foundation for gaining confidence and competency.

Southern Heights Principal Deborah Holcomb and teachers Jennifer Matthews and Kaia Tomokiyo with Highline Deputy Superintendent Carla Jackson, State Superintendent Randy Dorn and state officials.

Southern Heights is one Highline school producing significant results using these principles. The school received the Washington Achievement Award for High Progress, recognition for making big strides in student learning.

Principal Deborah Holcomb says the school is focused on a school-wide goal of increasing deep student discussion around math and literacy. Through a variety of methods, teachers encourage students to not only think critically about lessons, but discuss their rationale with peers.

To keep educators aiming for the same goal, Southern Heights teachers meet weekly and participate in several professional development exercises at the school throughout the year. This includes studying data, researching best practices, planning high quality lessons, and developing interventions to support students.

“We are already seeing our students feel empowered by the opportunities they have to share their thinking,” said Holcomb. “All kids can think and learn, we just need to give them the opportunity to shine.”

Five other Highline schools were honored with Washington Achievement Awards including Aviation High School, Global Connections High School, Health Science and Human Services High School (HS3), Marvista Elementary, and Gregory Heights Elementary.

​Sixteen high school senior athletes received college scholarships at the Scholar-Athlete, Coach, and Community Recognition Banquet.  The banquet honors students that shine in multi-sport athletics, academics and community service.

Sixteen high school senior athletes received college scholarships at the Scholar-Athlete, Coach, and Community Recognition Banquet.  The banquet honors students that shine in multi-sport athletics, academics and community service.

Two boys and two girls from each of Highline Public School’s four main high school campuses were awarded $1000 or more. This is the second annual awards ceremony.

Student athletes were honored at the Scholar-Athlete, Coach, and Community Recognition Banquet.

“We know participating in athletics has a positive impact on students, their academics, and their future,” Director of Athletics Terri McMahan. “The opportunity to partner with others and provide scholarship dollars for our greatest community resource is a tremendous experience for all involved.”

The athletic department partnered with the Highline Schools Foundation, community members, and local businesses to provide the scholarships for the students.

High school and middle school coaches, and community members who support the district’s athletic programs were also honored at the ceremony, emceed by the “Voice of the Seattle Storm,” Dick Fain.

“Much of the success our student athletes achieve is in large part due to the support and mentorship from coaches and community members,” said Superintendent Susan Enfield. “The tireless work and dedication from these individuals creates a lasting effect on the young people they serve.”

2013 Scholar-Athlete Scholarship Winners:
Evergreen Campus: Kelly Beck, Johnny Le, Thaolam Ngo, Pulemau Savusa
Highline High School: Breana Brookbank, Samuel Gustafsson, Joshua Nord, Kristen Rodal
Mount Rainer High School:  Amanda Goucher, Allen May, Cameron Stedman, Natalie Welch
Tyee Educational Complex: Jacob Alerte-Pichardo, Crystal Matson, Martin Obrero, Savannah Williams

2013 Honored Coaches:
Evergreen Campus: Tasha Hicks, Head Girls Basketball
Highline High School: Dawn Tessandore, Head Gymnastics
Mount Rainer High School:  Brian Jacobson, Head Cross Country, Asst. Track & Field
Tyee Educational Complex: Tremain Mack, Head Baseball, Asst. Boys Basketball
Chinook Middle School: Heather Herbison, Head Volleyball, Head Track & Field, Asst. Boys Basketball
Pacific Middle School: Bryan Howisey, Head Track & Field
Cascade Middle School: Jesse Julius, Head Volleyball, Head Boys Basketball, Asst. Track & Field
Sylvester Middle School: Ed Sullivan, Head Football, Head Boys Basketball

2013 Community Contributors:
Evergreen Campus: Fia and Carol Faletogo
Highline High School: Mike Mansanarez
Mount Rainer High School:  Brooks and Heather Powell
Tyee Educational Complex: Mike Condon