District News

This month, we say farewell to two Highline school board directors whose terms of office are ending: Aaron Garcia and Carrie Howell.

We're excited to announce that we have a new logo. The students, staff, families and community who make up the Puget Sound Skills Center are champions of choice, and our new logo celebrates that. Our new branding reflects a modern school with a community dedicated to students shaping their futures through our career and technical programs.

“Josie is one of the most patient, kind-hearted people I have ever met and her love for her students and her job is truly inspiring."

Pk-5th grades have no school Nov. 20 to 24. 6th-12th grades have no school Nov. 22 to 24. Read more on how to prepare for weather school closures and ways to support your student’s learning.

This year, Highline is implementing a new instructional approach standards-based instruction and grading (SBI/G). SBI/G measures your student's progress toward the learning goals for their grade. Here are seven ways families, parents and guardians can support students with their learning.

Get ready for an adventure! We're excited to invite your 8th grader to the 8th Grade Experience with UW, a fun and informative event about college exploration. This special day is a partnership with the University of Washington Seattle. It will be on December 12 for  Chinook, Pacific and Sylvester students and December 13 for Cascade, Glacier, Highline Virtual Academy, Big Picture and Choice students. 

Shape your tomorrow by choosing your path for the 2024-25 school year today. Save the date for an upcoming school-specific information session to learn more about schools and programs you can apply to. Students entering high school can also get a taste of their options at a High School Transitions Event on December 13. 
 

This week's Highline Headlines includes information about report cards, CollegeCON, Schools of Choice info nights, family emergency planning and more. 

The ballots are in, but the votes are not all counted in the race for three open seats on the Highline School Board.

We are preparing students for a world that is very different from the one we entered as young adults. Think about how much change there has been in the ways we work, communicate, and access information. To truly prepare our students for their future, our comprehensive secondary schools are listening to students to help them evolve.  

Plan life after high school at this fun event. COLLEGECON is custom-made for families with students in grades 9 through 12. Seventh- and 8th-grade students with the College Bound Scholarship are also invited! Enjoy free transportation, meals and childcare. 

The foundations of the two connected buildings that will be the new Evergreen High School are nearly complete. Watch for a crane to arrive later this month to begin erecting structural steel and mass timber.

We are getting creative to reduce waste by reusing Tyee High School building materials in the new school. And the first concrete was poured to start the foundations of the new school!

Our community-led Capital Facilities Advisory Committee (CFAC) meeting on October 25 was well attended by energized new and returning members.

When we had an opportunity to purchase the former HiLine Lanes next door to our central office, another opportunity opened up: a new team sport for high school girls.

Reminder: No school on November 9 & 10. Read more headlines about Standards-Based Grading, election day on November 7, our work in secondary schools and information about the Maritime Expo this weekend.

Your child's report card will be distributed in the next few weeks. A report card communicates a student's learning progress during the grading period. All Highline schools are using standards-based grading (SBG) this year, and student’s scores will reflect this. 

Like districts across our region, we face significant budget cuts due to declining enrollment and the end of ESSER funding. For 2024-25, our focus is on ensuring that our expenditures support basic operations and the goals of our strategic plan.

The state sets standards for what students should know and be able to do at each grade level.  Standards-based grading (SBG) measures a student’s learning of specific standards. Traditional grading gives students points for individual assignments or effort, but SBG shows a student's progress toward learning standards. SBG ensures that grades reflect a student’s academic performance and understanding of the material, rather than their behavior or effort. This results in a more accurate representation of a student’s abilities and progress.

Join the Highline Schools Foundation on Friday, November 10 for Winter Warm Up—a cozy evening of food and community in support of our students and schools. The evening will include silent and live auctions, a delicious dinner provided by local restaurants, a raffle and more. Buy tickets or volunteer!

McMicken Heights gained national recognition on the Inclusion Stories podcast for their exceptional efforts in integrating students with special needs into mainstream classrooms.

This week's Highline Headlines include information about how to ask your student what they are learning, free routine immunization clinics, photo opt out and much more. 

In shaping the future of Social-Emotional Learning (SEL), we prioritized your voice. From 45 Community Advisory Sessions, clear themes emerged: a need for engagement, belonging, and recognition of each student's uniqueness. Students voiced a need for trust, connection, and tools to navigate challenges. Families, community and staff shared a need for collaboration, cultural responsiveness, and lessons on emotional well-being. These insights will guide our 2023-24 SEL framework, ensuring it's community-focused and student-centered.

Highline Public Schools is partnering with Stepping Stone Pediatrics to host two free vaccination clinics on November 2 and November 14. School-aged children can receive COVID, flu and childhood immunizations. No pre-registration is required. Please present vaccination records.

Have you recently asked your child, “How was school” and “Did you do your homework?” Here are some suggestions for other questions you may consider asking your child about school.

On Highline ballots is the opportunity to vote for school board candidates in Districts 1, 4 and 5. Our five school board directors play a vital role in guiding the direction of our schools. Don’t forget to vote by 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 7. See important election dates, directions and links for more information.

Cyberbullying has emerged as a new form of harassment, causing emotional and psychological distress among students. To provide guidance for students and families, the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) offers the following tips and recommendations to ensure safe online interactions.

Navigating special education? Let our Special Education Family Liaison guide you. Get help with system guidance, collaborative problem-solving, IEP meeting support, language assistance, 
 

This week's Highline Headlines include information about Standards Based Grading, Media Literacy week, and a spotlight on safety. 

When you hear of a lockdown at your student's school, it's natural for your mind to race and for concern to set in. We understand that urge to ensure the safety of our young ones. However, it's important to know that lockdowns are often standard, precautionary measures rooted in our commitment to student safety. Read through to learn what scenarios might trigger a lockdown and tips you can take to keep students and staff safe.

Chief Operations Officer Scott Logan will retire at the end of June. Scott's contributions to the district over his 13 years of leadership include multiple school construction projects on time and on budget--and much more.

Standards-Based Grading (SBG) measures your student's progress toward the learning goals for their grade and course. This is a new instructional and grading approach all Highline schools are implementing this school year. Learn about some of the benefits to using SBG. 

Imagine what could happen for students if the entire community rallied around our Highline Promise to know every student by name, strength and need so that they graduate prepared for the future they choose? Our new strategic plan points the way.

Reminder, no school tomorrow! See more headlines about talking with students about world conflict, middle and high school grading, a Maritime expo and more. 

On Saturday, November 4, Maritime High School will be hosting a career expo for current and prospective students and their families to learn about maritime careers. Visit the jobs & resources booth to learn directly from the experts about career options, education pathways and salaries.

This week, our news media and social media are saturated with violent images of war in Israel and Gaza. Disturbing images and videos are especially prevalent on social media right now--especially on platforms used regularly by young people, including Instagram, YouTube and TicTok. 

The US Surgeon General reports that adolescents spending more than three hours daily on social media face double the risk of poor mental health outcomes. As the digital world becomes increasingly entwined with our children's lives, understanding and addressing its impact is essential. See the latest findings, find conversation starters, and access resources to ensure your child's safe and informed online presence.

Standards-Based Grading (SBG) is the new instructional approach we are using across Highline. SBG measures your student's progress toward the learning goals for their grade. We want to share how this will be displayed in the gradebook for middle and high school students. 

Last Friday, Governor Jay Inslee came to Highline High School to learn from the Highline Pirates Environmental Club stars about their successful solar panel project and their future plans.

Join us for a Life After High School Night and Maritime Showcase events. Check out graduation dates, learn about the standards based grading rubric and more. 

New t-shirts and sweatshirts, featuring the Highline logo and supporting our strategic plan, are now available. Proceeds benefit the Highline Schools Foundation to help with continued funding for student programs and scholarships.

The Pacific Design Review Committee met with Hutteball + Oremus Architecture to review the design progress. In other news, Skanska was selected as the general constructor and construction manager for the Pacific project.

Standards-Based Grading (SBG) measures your student's progress toward the learning goals for their grade. One important component of SBG is a rubric. Teachers use a rubric to track student's learning of essential standards. The rubric provides families and students feedback on the student’s current learning and ways to progress.

Shape your tomorrow by choosing your path today. Whether through maritime studies, aerospace exploration, virtual learning, or your neighborhood school—students and families have choices. The application window for most Highline’s Schools and Programs of Choice is now open. Explore, learn more and apply! 

We asked Evergreen alum Khoa Nguyen what he learned during his internship with Cornerstone General Contractors at the Evergreen High School construction project this summer. Read his answers.

The old Tyee is tumbling down. Demolition is about halfway complete. Check out what's gone, what's left and see photos of the demolition in our Facebook post!

Read about new grading vocab, tips for walking to and from school safety, how to join the Special Education Family Panel, plus reminders about our Life After High School Night and routine immunization clinics. 

We welcome eight new members to our community-led Capital Facilities Advisory Committee (CFAC). From a lottery drawing on September 28, eight were selected by service area from the names of 28 Highline residents who entered the lottery for open seats on the Capital Facilities Advisory Committee.

Here are some safety tips and reminders for families and students.

Each fall and spring, Maritime High School students invite families, industry, supporters and the community to their school and learn about the project learning taking place at the school. 

This year, schools in Highline are implementing a new instructional approach called Standards-Based Grading (SBG). SBG measures your student's progress toward the learning goals for their grade. Learn what the terms standards, essential standards and rubric mean. 

This week's Highline Headlines includes information about the pay raise for our paraeducators, a life after high school event, how to join the Special Education Family Panel and the Capital Facilities Advisory Committee and more. 

In response to family feedback last spring and consultation with the Family Action Committee, we are pleased to introduce an improved family calendar for the upcoming year.

Join us for Life After High School Night! Students and families can learn about life after high school, internships and jobs at a College and Career Fair on October 11. 

Highline School District invested $72,000 in an anti-violence workshop, hoping to teach students how to solve conflicts without resorting to violence.

Paraeducators in Highline Public Schools are getting a significant pay raise, starting with their September paychecks. Highline paraeducators will now earn a minimum of $25 an hour.

Students were busy getting ready for their futures outside Highline High School this summer. The buzzing of their miter and table saws, sanders and drills was the first clue. An introduction into the construction trades, the ANEW Youth Exploration Program provided the two-week, paid summer training.

This week's Highline Headlines includes information about Standards-Based Grading, school construction updates and two routine immunization clinics. 

We want to tell you about a new instructional approach we are using across Highline: Standards-Based Grading (SBG). Standards-based grading measures your student's progress toward the learning goals for their grade, as determined by the state of Washington.

Help raise funds for the Highline Schools Foundation at the 2023 Burien Brat Trot on Saturday, October 7. Register to run or walk a new 5k route that starts at Town Square Park in downtown Burien followed by the annual Oktoberfest celebration.. Create a team to receive a discount code for registration. When registering, make sure to note your Highline school affiliation. The school with the most affiliated runners will win $500 for their school or PTA.

This summer, 11 students from Evergreen and Highline high schools had the opportunity for hands-on experience with skilled trades workers in fields such as sheet metal, plumbing, pipe-fitting, and HVAC.  

Preschool start and dismissal times by location. 

The Southern Heights site is the new home of Highline Virtual Academy (HVA)  and Innovation Heights Academy (formerly New Start High School). See photos of the updated spaces.

The 2022 bond is funding synthetic turf and a new track at Sylvester Middle School. Read about additional features, funding, environmental requirements and a revised timeline.

This week's Highline Headlines includes information about expected bus delays, attendance notifications, suicide prevention resources and more. 

Highline residents: we need YOU! You are invited to submit your name to the lottery for open seats on the Capital Facilities Advisory Committee (CFAC) by midnight on Monday, September 25.This committee's charge is to recommend future school bonds.

We want you to know that your mental health is important.

School bells are ringing, classrooms are buzzing and hallways are full. Students are back to school!. Superintendent Ivan Duran joined our teachers and school staff across Highline in giving our students a warm welcome today.

School starts Wednesday, September 6! Check out your bus routes and other information to prepare you for the first day of school. 

New year, fresh start. Highline is waiving all student technology fines incurred during the pandemic between February 1, 2020 and August 31, 2023.

48° North: Maritime High School is featured in this article. "A groundbreaking and innovative partnership between Highline Public Schools, Northwest Maritime Center, and Seattle Maritime Academy has recently been established to help address the increasing need for maritime employees in the Pacific Northwest."

This week's Highline Headlines includes information to help you get ready for school, no cost meals, a reminder to update your student's information and a reminder that all buildings will be closed on August 29. 

The Tyee High School village wore their hearts on their sleeves to celebrate on August 18! The Groundbreaking Ceremony marked the beginning of the construction project for a new modern high school in SeaTac! See the list of speakers and event photos.

Priority Hire grant directs Tyee High School construction jobs to more workers in local zip codes. Learn about the impacts of this $500,000 King County grant.

This week's Highline Headlines includes information about no cost meals, family income survey and tips to stay cool.

The summer sun is setting, and the smell of freshly sharpened pencils fills the air. It's that time of year again–back to school! Check out this back to school checklist to ensure you're prepared, excited and confident for the year ahead. 

The Washington State Department of Health is sharing resources and tips to stay cool.

Preservice teacher residency programs are an innovative student teaching model during which the preservice teacher spends a full school year learning on the job in a classroom while also completing coursework toward their certification. Watch this video by OSPI as they interview Highline educators from Glacier Middle School and Hazel Valley Elementary who have been through the program. 

This week’s Highline Headlines includes ParentSquare resources, Tyee groundbreaking ceremony, free books for children under 5 and registration for sports. 

Highline Public Schools and Stepping Stone Pediatrics will be offering free immunization clinics for all school-aged children. Students can receive routine immunizations required for school so they are up-to-date when school starts.

We are excited to launch our new school-to-home communication platform. ParentSquare is designed to keep families informed and connected to school. Activate your account to get connected to your school. 

Khoa Nguyen, Evergreen High School Class of 2020, snagged an internship with Cornerstone General Contractors to rebuild his own high school! He is entering his senior year at UW in civil engineering. Read his story.

Are you interested in playing a sport next year? Don’t be left in the grandstands. Register through Final Forms beginning May 15, 2023.

Tyee Cares! More than 200 past, present and future students of Tyee High School took an emotional walk down memory lane Thursday evening at a drop-in goodbye event for the old school buildings. Enjoy our Facebook photo album!

This week’s Highline Headlines include information about primary elections, curriculum adoption and sports registration.

After a thorough process of research, review, evaluation, piloting and community input, curriculum adoption committees recommended new instructional materials to the Highline School Board.

This week's Highline Headlines include information about an upcoming free vaccine clinic and a reminder to register for sports. 

Get details and RSVP for two events to say goodbye to the old Tyee buildings and to celebrate the start of construction for a new Tyee High School.

The Highline High School HealthPoint clinic will host a back-to-school vaccine event on July 26. All vaccines will be provided at no cost. Schedule your appointment. 

Highline Public Schools has sold more than half of the bonds approved by voters in November 2022 for building and upgrading schools. Read more about market conditions and savings to taxpayers compared to estimates prior to the election.

Moving trucks are rolling back and forth from Tyee High School to the Olympic Interim Site this week!

Check out three summer opportunities for students: free meals, summer health center hours at HHS and a free MLB baseball/softball clinic. Don't miss the chance to share feedback with Special Education staff.

Families of students with disabilities, you’re invited to share your feedback and experiences with us!

Friday, June 16 is the last day of school! This will be a 3-hour day starting at your normal start time. Read more news including, free summer meals, summer communication, next year sports and more.

Keep on learning! With interactive games, online libraries and engaging platforms, students can continue to expand their knowledge and skills throughout the summer months. Learn how to access our digital tools for students and resources for parents.

Environmental Club leaders Jordan Powers, Mikah Ramsey and Raidon Sann capped off their senior year with a celebration of a monumental achievement: a 285-panel, 100-kilowatt Environmental Club solar system is producing energy on top of the new Highline High School. It all started with a question in 2020 from Nha Khuc, a 2021 graduate. Find out more about the project, funders and results.

From the bus garage to the classroom and everywhere in between—Highline staff members inspire and support our students and families, ensuring students have what they need to graduate prepared for the future they choose. They serve with kindness, compassion and dedication. Hear their stories. 

Meet some of our graduating seniors from the Class of 2023. We invite you to find hope and be inspired by what they have to say about their future plans, favorite teachers, memories and advice for future students. 

This week’s Highline Headlines includes the Strategic Plan Goal adoption, communication feedback deadline extended, free youth Baseball and Softball clinic, and Waskowitz returns to elementary.

The Highline School Board unanimously approved four goals to anchor the district's new strategic plan. The new plan will guide the district's work for the next three years.

Highline students have attended an overnight outdoor program at Waskowitz Outdoor Education Center for decades. Beginning next year, the program will return to the elementary school experience and will transition from sixth grade to fifth grade. 

You're invited to attend the HHS Solar Celebration & Video Premiere on Thursday, June 8. Celebrate our student leaders and community supporters. Find out how a handful of students put a 100-kilowatt solar system on Highline High School!

This week’s Highline Headlines include information about kindergarten, PSSC Car Show, and two surveys to share your thoughts. 

We have an exciting and free opportunity for you! The Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association (MLBPAA) is hosting a free youth baseball and softball clinic for Highline students this summer.

No school on Monday, May 29 and Tuesday, May 30. Read more headlines about the class of 2023, a free immunization clinic, opportunities to give your feedback and more.

Choice Schools offer a variety of alternative program options, each with its own specialized focus. Schools of Choice require an application. Select schools of choice have space available in the 2023-24 school year. They have reopened their application windows.

Free immunization clinic on Friday, June 2 at Des Moines Elementary School, 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. 

Voices cracked with emotion and jubilance during a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the start of construction for a new Evergreen High School on May 19! Read more to see photos, final designs and construction information.

If you are looking for real-life superstars, look no further than Highline. All of our educators are stars! Throughout May, we shined a spotlight on some of our incredible teachers. Read on to learn more about the stories of some our dedicated educators and statements of appreciation.

We are committed to ongoing, two-way communication. We want to know if you are getting the information you want and need. Help us meet your expectations for strong communication by taking a brief survey to give us your feedback.

Many Highline Public Schools families will receive summer Pandemic-EBT benefits, thanks to a federal funding option for which our school district is eligible. All students enrolled in in-person classes will receive a one-time P-EBT benefit of $120.00.

This week’s Highline Headlines includes information about registering for next year sports, a virtual welcome to kindergarten event, a budget hearing and more. 

Remember the new Evergreen High School Groundbreaking Ceremony, with construction information is today, May 19, beginning at 3:15 p.m. Here are some updates to the event details!

Superintendent Ivan Duran has been selected as the newest member of Transcend’s Learner-Centered Leadership Lab (LCLL), a program designed for forward-thinking and visionary school superintendents.

Tam Nguyen's journey to becoming an educator is rooted in the advice and guidance he received from his father, a Vietnamese immigrant. 

The Highline School Board will hold a public hearing to review the budget for the 2023-2024 academic year. Attend to learn about next year’s budget and give your feedback in a public hearing.

Calling Future Kindergarteners! Get information and resources for the coming school year at a districtwide “Welcome to Kindergarten” Zoom event on June 8 at 6:00 p.m.

Maritime High School Principal Tremain Holloway has been named the Seattle Propeller Club Public Official of the Year for his exceptional leadership in the field of maritime education. The award is presented annually to a local, state or federal policymaker who has demonstrated leadership, understanding and appreciation of the maritime industry.

After months of conversations with students, families and staff, we are thrilled to unveil a new name for New Start High School: Innovation Heights Academy. 

This week’s Highline Headlines include information about our new communication tool, a budget update, teacher month celebrations and more.

Highline Schools Foundation is thrilled to announce scholarships totaling $233,000 have been awarded to 34 graduating seniors from across Highline Public Schools, including students from Evergreen High School, Highline Big Picture, Highline High School, Mount Rainier High School, Puget Sound Skills Center, Raisbeck Aviation High School, and Tyee High School.

Effective and clear communication is critical for the success of our students and schools. We are excited to announce that we are adopting a new form of school-to-home communication in Highline called ParentSquare. 

Similar to school districts across our region, we are facing a significant budget shortfall in the coming years due to declining enrollment, rising costs and the end of ESSER funds. Although we are grateful to our state legislators for some funding increases, the additional funding passed this session is far less than our expected expenditures. See a breakdown of the numbers. 

See how Glacier Middle School teacher Edissa Jaramillo fosters academic and social growth to ensure her students graduate prepared for the future they choose. 

Raisbeck Aviation High School students recently attended an event at ZeroAvia’s Paine Field research and development site, where Alaska Airlines presented a Bombardier Q400 regional turboprop to ZeroAvia for retrofitting with a hydrogen-electric propulsion system

Our community-led Capital Facilities Advisory Committee concluded its 2022-23 work session this spring by forwarding a living priority list of schools needing replacement to Superintendent Ivan Duran and the school board. The lottery for open seats on CFAC is now open!

This week’s Highline Headlines includes a reminder about giving input on our printed school calendar. Plus, read about two of our awesome teachers!

The National School Public Relations Association selected Chief Communications Officer Catherine Carbone Rogers as its 2023 Barry Gaskins Mentor Legacy Award winner. This national award recognizes an individual for their deep commitment to supporting and mentoring school communication colleagues. 

Math is often perceived as challenging or intimidating. Evergreen High School teacher Mohamad Shibly is out to change that narrative. Watch how Mohamad guides his students toward a future where math is no longer a hurdle but a tool for success.

This week’s Highline Headlines include information about how we communicate during emergencies, next year’s calendar design, new medication authorization form requirements and Highline Teacher Appreciation Month.

If your child in grades 6-12 needs over-the-counter or nonprescription medications, Washington State now requires a licensed healthcare provider to sign a Medication Authorization Form.

The safety and well-being of our students and staff is our top priority. In light of recent events and an increased social climate of concern for safety, we want to share how we as a district communicate during and after safety incidents.

You're invited to attend the historic groundbreaking ceremony for a new Evergreen High School on Friday, May 19, at 3:15 p.m. Following the groundbreaking, learn more about the school design, finish materials and the phased construction plan.

This week’s Highline Headlines include information about the 2023 Tribal Language Summit and a reminder to review and submit feedback on curriculum materials. 

Let's celebrate our teachers all month long in May! 

You are invited to the Tribal Language Summit on Thursday, April 27. Students, cultural and language practitioners and leaders will have an opportunity to share and learn about resources and innovative tribal language learning practices in school districts, tribal communities and higher education spaces.

Last year, the Evergreen Pool Aquatics Center pool gutter system started to show dramatic wear and a sharp spike in water usage of 110,000 gallons per month. Whitewater Aquatics Management partnered with our Capital Planning & Construction staff to apply for two King County Parks grants to repair the gutter!

This week’s Highline Headlines include information about our Curriculum Adoption Showcase next week, the Native Student Success Summit in May and free vaccination clinics.

Learn more about the curricula being considered for elementary and middle school science, secondary music, and math (pre-calculus and higher).  You’re invited to review curriculum materials and share your thoughts! 

Join us for the 2023 Highline Native Student Success Summit on Thursday, May 11, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Highline College. 

King County Executive Dow Constantine announced the opening of a new school-based health center at Highline High School in Burien. He helped school staff, students and health center partners celebrate the opening with a ribbon cutting event after school on March 30. 

There will be no school April 3-7 for spring break. See more information about online safety over break, masks in school health clinics and comprehensive sexual health curriculum in Highline Headlines.

Last spring, Highline joined a class action lawsuit against two major vaping companies, Juule and Altria. Now the suit against Juule has reached a settlement. We expect to net approximately $350,000, which we will use to educate our students about the harm caused by vaping.

In Highline, we teach comprehensive sexual health education in alignment with state law and district policy.  FLASH (Family Life and Sexual Health) is our curriculum that meets state requirements for sexual health education, which is taught in grades 4-12. Families may opt out of any or all sexual health lessons. Read on for more details.

The Washington Department of Health continues to update COVID safety requirements and recommendations based on new research and data trends. Effective Monday, April 3, masks will no longer be required in Washington healthcare settings, including school health clinics within our schools. 

Next fall, Faiza Shire’s son will start kindergarten at White Center Heights Elementary. She is particularly excited that he will be part of the inaugural class to participate in the school’s new Somali Language Enrichment program. 

This week’s Highline Headlines include information about Curriculum Adoption Showcase, Project PROMise shopping appointments, spring break reminder and more. 

This week staff advisory workgroups met to dig into our emerging strategic plan goals. Staff discussed what we are currently doing to meet our goals and what we could be doing. We anticipate the final goals will be brought to the Board for adoption later this spring. 

This week’s Highline Headlines include information about immunization clinics, student learning and grades survey, child tax reminder and more. 

From the bus garage to the lunchroom and everywhere  in between, our school support staff members are often Highline's unsung heroes, ensuring our schools run smoothly and students have what they need to graduate prepared for the future they choose. In honor of Education Support Professionals Week, we turn our spotlight on two of our dedicated support staff and learn what drives them to serve our students. 

There will be no school tomorrow, March 10. Read more headlines including student learning and grades survey, special education information session and free immunization clinics.

The Highline Schools Foundation announced the winners of its 2023 Gold Star Awards, highlighting the outstanding efforts of Highline educators, staff, volunteers and alumni. These eight individuals live the Highline promise to know every student by name, strength and need so that our students graduate prepared for the future they choose. 

Highline Public Schools in partnership with Stepping Stone Pediatrics and Medical Center Pharmacy are offering free routine immunizations and COVID vaccine clinics at some of our school sites. Get your student up to date on their immunizations. No pre-registration is required. Please bring vaccination records. 

Do you have what you need to understand your student's grades and learning? We are seeking feedback from families of middle and high school students. Take 60 seconds to answer seven questions about your student's learning.

Families, students and staff are invited to attend an information session to learn about what types of community and disability resources are available in our area and how to navigate and access them.

This week’s Highline Headlines include information about the thoughts shared about our proposed strategic plan goals and an invitation to learn about our sexual health education curriculum. 

A lottery was held on March 1 to select students for our schools and programs that require an application. This includes CHOICE Academy, Big Picture Schools, Highline Virtual Academy, Highline Virtual Elementary, Maritime High School, Raisbeck Aviation High School (RAHS), the International Baccalaureate (IB) program and the Waskowitz Environmental Leadership Service program.

March 5-11 is National School Social Work Week. We checked in with Janet Ceballos, bilingual social worker who serves students at Hazel Valley Elementary and several of our other elementary schools, to find out what drives her and what she likes about social work.

What values does our community share? We asked you to provide feedback on the proposed goals for our new strategic plan. Now, we want to share the thoughts that rose to the top. To help us develop our new strategic plan, we created a series of ThoughtExchange conversations about each proposed goal. Across the four conversations, there were nearly 1,200 participants who shared 943 thoughts and gave nearly 28,500 ratings.

FLASH (Family Life and Sexual Health) is our adopted curriculum that meets state requirements for sexual health education. You are invited to an education night to review the curriculum materials and learn more about state requirements. 

Join the third informational session to learn more on special education on Tuesday, March 28, at Central Office.

This week’s Highline Headlines include a reminder about the Winter Job Fair on 2/25 and deadline extensions to give feedback on our proposed strategic plan goals and to apply for Highline Schools Foundation scholarships.

Juniors and Seniors: Sign up to attend the Career Showcase at ShoWare to learn about career opportunities with over 75 companies. Bring your resume! 

What draws someone to the field of education? For some, it’s a calling inspired by their earliest interactions with teachers and school. Meet one of our principals and hear the story behind her why.

It's time to celebrate the 2023 Gold Star Nominees! The Highline Schools Foundation announced this year's Gold Star Awards nominees. Winners will be revealed at the Gold Star BASH on Wednesday, March 8. 

No school tomorrow, Friday, February 17, for mid-winter break and on Monday, February 20, in observance of Presidents Day. See more headlines. 

Juniors, it’s time to start planning for life after high school. This March juniors will attend FutureU at Green River College on March 29. 

On Tuesday, February 21, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. The Highline Special Needs PTA meeting is for everyone. Guest presenter, Ellen McGuire, special education family liaison, will share resources for families. Resources will include school district, community and summer camps.

During school on Wednesday, March 1, all Highline Public Schools 11th-grade students will take the SAT. The test is free.

Due to weather and road conditions, all schools are on a two-hour delay on [DATE]. Buses will stop at regular stops–two hours later than normal. 

This week’s Highline Headlines include an opportunity to share feedback about our strategic plan goals, the annual report, Project PROMise, and more.

Your input is helping us develop a strategic plan that will guide our work in the coming years. Based on what we heard from you and with feedback from students and staff, Highline leaders developed four strategic plan goals.

Prom is a milestone no high school student wants to miss. But add up the cost of a dress or suit, shoes and accessories, and it can quickly become a financial burden. Enter Project PROMise. The Highline Schools Foundation program provides free dresses, suits, shoes and accessories to students across Highline. Find out the donation locations and volunteer.

It's report card time! Use our interactive annual report to track our progress toward our five strategic goals. The report is designed to show where we are finding success and where we need to do better. 

Do you know a child who will be 5 years old on or before August 31? Families can enroll their incoming kindergarten student for the 2023-24 school year now! 

At their January meeting, members of Highline’s community-led Capital Facilities Advisory Committee (CFAC) reviewed enrollment information, heard bond project updates and planned for building tours.

This week’s Highline Headlines includes important dates to note. See the updated 2023-24 school year calendar, enroll for Kindergarten starting Feb. 6, and don’t miss the IEP 101 information session. 

Please read this message from Superintendent Ivan Duran about his listening tour and next steps on the strategic plan development. 

There will be no school for grades 6-12 tomorrow, Friday, January 27. Students in grades K-5 will have early dismissal as regularly scheduled. There is no preschool. Read more headlines including Schools of Choice application deadline approaching.

Any 10th or 11th grade student across Highline Public Schools has an opportunity to join WELS starting next year. Learn more at an upcoming information night this week

The 2023-34 school year calendar is here! Take a look at the school break schedule and other days to note. 

This week’s Highline Headlines include information about the PSSC info night, Schools of Choice, special education info sessions and a reminder about the upcoming winter job fair.

As we begin developing our 2023-24 budget, we are taking a careful look at enrollment projections. This helps us estimate the number and types of staff positions we need. Our enrollment has been declining since 2016. Next year's enrollment is still projected to go down, but not as much as in previous years.

There is no school on Monday, January 16. Read more about Schools of Choice, Winter Job Fair and Highline Schools Foundation scholarship in this week’s Highline Headlines.

Deadline extended! Applications for Highline Schools Foundation Scholarships are now due by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 3. Nineteen scholarships, with 32 total awards, are available for eligible students graduating from any of our high schools in June 2023.

Interested in working in your community, for your community? Learn about current and future job opportunities, district culture, schedules, employee benefits and more at our in-person job fair on February 25. 

Several schools will be relocated for September 2023. The moves support new construction and site upgrades.

You may have heard the federal government distributed millions of dollars to schools to address COVID-related expenses. These one-time funds are helping schools respond to the pandemic’s impact on student academic progress and social-emotional well-being. Thanks to these federal funds, we have expanded two partnerships in Highline that provide in-school and after-school learning and enrichment opportunities for students. 

This week’s Highline Headlines include graduation dates, School Board recognition, special education info sessions, COVID testing and more.

Do you know someone who has made a significant impact on our students and schools? Perhaps it’s a teacher, principal, counselor, bus driver, custodian or another staff member. Now is the time to nominate them for a 2023 Gold Star Award through the Highline Schools Foundation.

District 3 School Board Director Joe Van was elected president of the Highline School Board in December and step into his new role this week. Director Angelica Alvarez is the school board's new vice president.

January is School Board Recognition Month. Let's take this opportunity to thank our five school board directors for dedicating their time to leading our schools. Congratulations to newly elected board President Joe Van and Vice President Angelica Alvarez!

The new Highline High School design landed another award: Outstanding Project Award. The school design, by Bassetti Architects, is featured in the Fall 2022 Learning by Design magazine's Educational Facilities Design Awards. 

The 2022-23 Family Liaisons for Special Education are excited to host two information sessions for all Highline parents and families who are interested in learning more about special education.

Today’s Highline Headlines include information about COVID test sites, a new students survey about life skills and a request for feedback on Social Emotional Learning. 

We are grateful to our families for being valued partners as we work together to educate students in Highline. One of our priorities is to support students in developing life skills. Over the next several weeks, students in grades 3-12 will be asked to reflect on their own skills.

Grants totaling nearly $47,000 are going to teachers and staff across Highline. The Highline Schools Foundation awarded nine Impact Grants and 13 Excel Grants to Highline staff this year. 

Highline Headlines includes a reminder that winter break is December 19 through January 2, the Schools of Choice application deadline and information about staying healthy during the break. 

Superintendent Ivan Duran asked for a round of applause at the last meeting of our community-led Capital Facilities Advisory Committee (CFAC) to celebrate the committee’s planning work and recommendations in previous years that laid the foundation for the approval of the 2022 bond in November. Read a summary of the November CFAC meeting.

New FDA regulations require food manufacturers and suppliers to list sesame as a food allergen on their products. Nutrition Services staff will begin adding this allergen to the online menus. Our bread supplier has also informed us that beginning in January, sesame will be a new ingredient in the hot dog and hamburger buns and hoagie and dinner rolls served in our school meals.

Highline Headlines include information about winter break, alternate bus routes, Schools of Choice information sessions, special needs PTA and an invite to a Social Emotional Learning community meeting. 

This year, our Social Emotional Learning (SEL) team is engaging with students, staff, families and our community in a Community Advisory Process (CAP) to learn from our community about their hopes for and experiences with Social Emotional Learning Instruction in Highline.

In January, we will begin our annual budget development process. We will experience a shrinking of our resources for 2023-24, as our one-time federal COVID-relief dollars will be spent by the end of this school year.

Learn more about our budget outlook for next year...

As we are nearing winter break, we want you to have tools to stay healthy. Learn more about upcoming vaccine clinics, test kit distribution and a new test that offers combination rapid testing for COVID & FluA+B. 

Did you hear…the federal government distributed millions of dollars to schools to address COVID-related expenses. These are one-time funds to help schools through the challenges of the pandemic. One way we are using these funds is to improve air quality in all of our schools and to purchase cleaning supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE).

The 2022 bond is passing at an overwhelming 68.8 percent approval rate. Take a moment to savor this historic milestone by watching our "Thank You, Voters!" video featuring students saying "Thank you, Voters!" in three languages.

Report cards may look a little different this grading period. All elementary schools and some middle and high schools are using standards-based grading, and report cards will reflect this. 

For many of our principals in Highline, education is a calling. Some were always drawn to the profession. Others found it later in life. Meet one of our principals and hear the story behind his why. 

Initial election returns are in. Proposition 1: Highline Schools Bond is passing! Read the letter from Superintendent Duran.

See Pacific Middle School site conditions and read quotes from staff and students to get information on the need for a new building. You can also follow a link to the proposed school design information.

We unveiled a new piece of public art featuring eight former Glacier Middle School students bigger than life in the library! Read the story of the art and the dedication ceremony.

Our community-led Capital Facilities Advisory Committee (CFAC) held its first meeting of the 2022-23 school year on Wednesday, September 28, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the district central office. Read a meeting summary and learn more about planning for future bonds to rebuild other aging schools.

School meals today look a lot different than they did when many of us attended school. Our school kitchen staff prioritize local ingredients and scratch cooking when possible. And, they work hard to create recipes that reflect the many cultures our students represent. 

This week’s Highline Headlines include information about community meetings regarding the bond, a reminder about the Burien Brat Trot and an opportunity to see a NBA preseason game.

High school seniors and their families are invited to Senior Night on October 5. We are hosting workshops for students and families and a College and Career Resources fair with local college, universities, trade, apprenticeship, and military representation.

Ten quotes and photos from Highline High School 2022 graduates, and a senior at HHS, help explain the impact and value of learning in a safe, modern high school building.

Each year, families are required to verify student emergency information and submit updated health information. This ensures we have a current home address, phone number, emergency contact and health information on file. All of these items help us keep students safe while at school. 

The 100-kilowatt solar panel system is nearly complete on Highline High School. See what it looks like on the roof.

“I attended the old Highline in 9th grade. I’ve been to Tyee. Our old schools are just barely getting by, when they could be great."

Are you a Highline Public Schools alum? Join our Alumni Network and help our students follow in your footsteps, introduce them to a career path, help them refine their professional skills and share your pathway. 

“This school makes us feel like somebody cares about us, so we want to come to school and we want to learn. I hope that Tyee and Evergreen have the same opportunity for a beautiful, modern school, so they can also thrive."

We celebrated our first three electric school buses with a ribbon cutting on Thursday. Superintendent Duran rode the bus to Seahurst Elementary School with guests and staff to watch some of our brilliant JumpStart kindergarten students hop on the shiny, new bus and wave goodbye after their second day of JumpStart.

Join a curriculum adoption committee for the 2022-23 school year. In addition to continuing the adoption process for 6-12 music, K-8 science and upper-level math, new committees are being formed for a biology and health curriculum adoption. Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. on September 16.

"The design of the new school makes me feel special, like we earned the school."

“Safety-wise this school is a lot better than the old Highline High School. With automatically locking classroom doors, it was even hard to pull a senior prank."

Tyee alumni from across the decades gathered with staff, students and community partners to mark the transition from Totems to Titans.

"My favorite places at the new high school are the music practice rooms."

"I think school should be a fun, safe, clean place, because we spend a good chunk of our day here, from six to eight hours, and as an athlete, I spend up to 10 hours here some days. Kids should want to come to school and be proud of what their school looks like."

Help us retire the Tyee Totem mascot and introduce the Titan mascot in a ceremony. Tour the campus, see the design plans for constructing a new school and learn about the November school construction bond on local ballots.

High School Students: Join us for a day of workshops and summer fun to kick off your post-high school planning!

Our new Highline High School is an award winner. Bassetti Architects won the 2022 Polished Apple Award for educational design from the Washington chapter of the Association for Learning Environments (A4LE) for its work on HHS.

"I think replacing the old building with a modern learning facility has definitely impacted students like myself in a positive way," --Anni Tadesse, Highline High School Class of 2022

Read about the HHS Opening Year Celebration & Ribbon Cutting on June 15. Get links to the livestream, more event photos, alumni recollections and the online HHS History Wall!

The Highline School Board voted unanimously to place the next school bond on November 2022 election ballots. If approved by 60 percent of voters, the bond would fund new schools for Evergreen, Tyee and Pacific.

We are hosting college campus visits for rising seniors on Wednesdays from July 13 to August 3. 

Check out this Seattle Times article featuring Maritime High School! 

Maritime High School's recent canoe launch was featured on KING5 this week. Watch the story! 

Former students, teachers and principals gathered to connect and reminisce in the sunshine before the school closes it doors at the end of this school year. Enjoy this album of photos.

Hutteball + Oremus Architecture released the design images for a future new Pacific Middle School this month.

Integrus Architecture's Daniel Gero, senior associate and project architect for the new Tyee High School design, visited Tyee teacher Allison Thomas's Environmental Studies class in May.

Two community member co-chairs and a high school student, all representing Highline’s volunteer Capital Facilities Advisory Committee (CFAC), recommended the next school bond at the school board meeting this week. 

The 2020 Technology Levy is funding new interactive display panels for every classroom before the start of next school year, and the deliveries have begun!

You're invited on Wednesday, June 15, at 5:30 p.m. for our ribbon cutting--finally! The HHS Opening Year Celebration will include refreshments and tours of the beautiful new Highline High School designed by Bassetti Architects. The RSVP form includes an opportunity to suggest an alumni speaker and enter a drawing to help cut the ribbon.

As the 2016 school bond construction, design and critical needs projects wind down, district staff continue to meet with and provide quarterly reports to the Capital Projects Oversight Committee. Here is a summary of the April meeting.

In March, community members from Highline’s volunteer school bond advisory committee overwhelmingly voted to recommend an updated fall 2022 bond package to the school board on May 18.

We are excited to announce a 10-year lease agreement with Bezos Academy to open a tuition-free, Montessori-inspired preschool on the Madrona Elementary School campus. The Bezos Academy preschool will follow a full-day, year-round schedule. It is slated to open two classrooms in fall 2023.

The Enrollment Team is available to support you with enrolling a new student or activating your ParentVUE account for a current student. Support events are scheduled for a virtual event on March 29 and an in-person event on April 22 at Central Office.

Here's what a new Tyee High School will look like... after voters approve a future school bond to pay for construction. The images represent the 100% schematic design phase of Integrus Architecture's work.

Thirty-five committed Highline residents are continuing a legacy of community service and involvement in long-term school bond planning. And now they are back to meeting in person… mostly!