District News

This week’s Highline Headlines include an updated Community Meeting date, opportunities to join committees, routine vaccination information, bond facts and newsletters for secondary families.

The Secondary Success, College & Career Readiness Team has created newsletters for students, families, and staff to increase college and career knowledge and promote awareness of opportunities available for students for the future they choose. See the full list of newsletters available to you.

You are invited to join Superintendent Duran at an upcoming stop on his Listening Tour. Dr. Duran wants to know how our students are experiencing school and our Highline Promise to know every student by name, strength and need. 

We welcome nine new members to our community-led Capital Facilities Advisory Committee (CFAC). 

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.

The Seattle Kraken and Climate Pledge Arena have partnered with Boeing to offer free tickets to see the LA Clippers VS Maccabi Ra’anana on Friday, September 30 at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are free for students, their families, and staff from Highline Public Schools!

Join Dr. Duran and the Highline Schools Foundation for a family-friendly, fast and (mostly) flat 5k around the streets of Burien, plus a 1k for kids, on Saturday, October 1. The race finishes at Town Square Park in downtown Burien and the inaugural Burien Oktoberfest.The school with the most affiliated runners will receive a $500 grant from the foundation.

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.

This week's Highline Headlines include information about our staffing adjustments, upcoming bond information meetings, opportunities to join our committees and live high school athletics broadcasts. 

Every year, we must make adjustments to classes and staff based on the actual number of students enrolled in each school. We understand that moving teachers to another assignment and shifting students into new classes is difficult for everyone involved, so each decision is thoughtfully considered by a team representing teachers, family engagement staff and administrators. 

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. 

We have a few open seats on our community-led Capital Facilities Advisory Committee (CFAC). Add your name to the lottery by Monday, September 26 at 9:00 a.m. if you live in Highline and are serious about helping prioritize 10 older schools for future bonds.

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 headlines include superintendent Duran's listening tour, high school senior night, and opportunities to join a curriculum adoption committee and the alumni network. 

Superintendent Duran is eager to meet the Highline community! Dr. Duran is launching his first year in Highline with a districtwide listening tour to hear from students, families, staff and community members.

We're back! Classrooms are buzzing with excitement as the 2022-23 school year officially kicks off. We have a lot to celebrate this year as we welcome our new superintendent, Dr. Ivan Duran. Watch this video to learn more about our new superintendent and why he chose to work in Highline. 

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

School starts tomorrow, Thursday, September 1 for students in 1-12th grades. Friday, September 2 is a full day. See our COVID safety updates and the 3 upcoming community forums. 

Learn more about Prop. 1, the Highline Public Schools bond on November Election ballots. See the school designs for Evergreen High School, Tyee High School and Pacific Middle School.

The first day of school is September 1. Check out our bus route information and more on this week's Highline Headlines. 

“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.

All school buildings will be closed on August 23. Read this week's Highline Headlines with important back-to-school information.

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.

With the new school year around the corner, we couldn’t be more excited to welcome our new superintendent, Dr. Ivan Duran, to the Highline team. To help you get to know Dr. Duran, we invite you to watch this story. 

We want you to be ready for the start of the school year. Here are nine things to do as you get ready for the first day of school. 

Today's headlines: Get support with enrollment and ParentVUE, save the date for the first day of school 2022, learn about the Prop. 1 School Bond, and sign up for voluntary student accident insurance. 

"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.

Highline Headlines: Get support with online enrollment and ParentVUE set up. This is the last week of Free Summer Meals.  

"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."

It is a great honor to begin my role as your new superintendent. The opportunity to serve Highline’s students, staff, families, and community is a source of great joy, excitement, and optimism. Thank you again to our school board for its confidence in my leadership. I am also extremely grateful for the tremendous legacy of excellence created by the school board, Dr. Enfield, and the district’s leadership, educators, staff, and community.

See headlines about school options for 2022-23, summer meals and ORCA pass. 

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.

Here is a look at the 2022-23 school calendar. These dates and breaks are reflected on our website calendar. 

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!

This week’s Highline Headlines include information about the final director district boundary map, free summer meals, a 2022 bond announcement and a 4th of July reminder. 

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 article on Maritime High School in the South Sound Magazine. 

Becca Chen has been selected as Highline’s new chief financial officer, starting July 1.

Check out this Seattle Times article featuring Maritime High School! 

We stand with the members of our LGBTQ community during this time of increased intolerance and hate.

The graduating class of 2022 is full of changemakers. They demonstrate a deep commitment to their communities. With big goals and the determination to make a positive impact, we wholeheartedly believe they will change the world for the better. 

Here are the stories of eight graduates who are examples of the outstanding young leaders graduating from Highline ready to choose their future. 

View the last Highline Headlines of the year with information about 2022-23 school options, the tentative 2022-23 calendar, Summer Your ORCA pass, changes in immunization recordkeeping and news during the summer break.

Today's headlines include information about the last day of school, Dr. Enfield's last message and more. 

On Wednesday evening, we honored our retiring staff and those who have served our students for 20, 25, 30 and 35 years. We are so grateful for the people who have dedicated themselves to our Highline children and families. Thank you to all staff who continue to serve, and best wishes to our retirees in their next chapter. 

In her final video message to the Highline community, Superintendent Susan Enfield shares her gratitude for students, staff, families and the community. Dr. Enfield will leave Highline at the end of June after serving as superintendent for the past decade. 

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

With grateful hearts, it is time to say goodbye to our fearless leader Superintendent Susan Enfield. Her last day in Highline is June 30. To honor her, Sylvester Middle School teacher Joe Bourgeois wrote a song titled Pass the Mic. Watch the video to hear the song and see photos from the last decade under Dr. Enfield's leadership.

Today’s Highline Headlines include information about how to earn your master’s degree, immunization clinic on June 10 and the summer youth ORCA pass.

Azeb Hagos was sworn in and took her seat on the Highline School Board on Wednesday, June 1. Hagos represents District 5, which includes Des Moines and part of SeaTac. Hagos was appointed to replace Director Fa'izah Bradford, who stepped down in March. Hagos's extended family attended the school board meeting to celebrate her appointment. 

Kudos to our 2021-22 cohort of new and renewing National Board Certified Teachers!  Highline now has 200 teachers who have completed this rigorous professional development process. 

The School Board is considering a resolution to place a capital bond before Highline voters in November. The board is slated to vote June 22 on the resolution to place the bond on the ballot.

All schools have been directed to keep their front doors locked during the school day, starting Tuesday, May 31.

The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) allows school districts to require masking during clusters and/or outbreaks “to limit disease transmissions and ensure in-person instruction”.

Do you speak, read and write in more than one language? Are you looking to use your bilingual skills in Highline but need more training and support? Consider applying for our Master Teaching Fellows Program.  
 

No school on Monday, May 30. See more headlines. 

Tekerz Robotics and Skunk Works Robotics are competitive robotics teams based in the Highline area. Both teams are looking for new members.

Highline and its community partners have been awarded a grant for $1,596,798 over two years by King County. We will work closely with grant partners Highline College, Northwest Education Access and Becoming a Man to form the Highline Promise Partnership which will provide enhanced college and career exploration and experiences, family engagement, post-secondary transition support and intensive retention and completion services for males of color. 

Our region is experiencing an increase in COVID cases. Not surprisingly, our schools are seeing some clusters (3 or more unrelated cases in a classroom) and outbreaks (3 or more related cases.) Learn how we are responding.

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.

Qualifying Highline students can sign-up for a FREE Summer Youth ORCA Pass from King County Metro.

Words are inadequate to convey the heartbreak and anger I feel following the senseless loss of life in Uvalde, Texas yesterday. Let’s come together and do what needs to be done, for the sake of today’s children and generations of children to come.

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.

In the wake of the tragic fatal school shooting in Texas, students may be experiencing trauma and fear about their safety at school. Here are some resource to help you support your student.

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. 

Today's Headlines include information about our tentative calendar, our new school board member, immunization clinics, summer ORCA cards and more. 

Have a library card? Check out new  adventure packs (maps, binoculars and more) and Discover Passes at many local libraries to discover local state parks and lands.

Time to start planning! Here is a look at the tentative 2022-23 school calendar. The calendar will be final after Highline Education Association (HEA) members vote on it in August. At this time, the first day of preschool is to be determined.

Superintendent Enfield has received the RAVE Champions Award, given annually to a leader who promotes and supports free play for children and communities where access to play is scarce.

The School Board unanimously voted to appoint Azeb Hagos as the new director representing District 5. District 5 includes Des Moines and part of SeaTac.

Last week, one of our schools was defaced multiple times with racist graffiti. This hateful act was traumatizing for the adults and children who experienced it, and we are working closely with our local law enforcement partners to prevent this from happening again.

Today's Highline Headlines include details about an immunization clinic, redistricting update, and a call to present at our Equity Symposium. 

Every 10 years following the U.S. Census, we review the boundaries of our board of director districts to ensure equitable geographic representation. Please review three draft maps and submit feedback through the online form.

Today’s Highline Headlines include information about District 5 interviews, immunization clinics and an invitation to a farewell celebration for Southern Heights.

Four candidates have applied for the open position on the Highline School Board representing District 5.

See information about 3 ways to give us your feedback and an opportunity to share your Highline story at our 2022 Equity Symposium. 

Help us ELEVATE at our 2022 Equity Symposium on August 23. Share your Highline story or equity work by speaking in our opening session or presenting at a breakout session. Students, families, and community presenters will receive a $100 honorarium. Sessions will be held virtually. 

You are invited to a farewell celebration to mark the closing of Southern Heights Elementary School. This drop-in community event is Saturday, May 21, from noon to 3:00 p.m.

May 6 is School Lunch Hero Day, a national day of celebration for school nutrition staff. Our Highline Nutrition Services team will serve an estimates 2.6 million meals by the end of the school year!

Highline Public Schools plans to adopt new curriculum for music--and we want your input! We invite families and staff to a community review of the curriculum under consideration for adoption for elementary music in grades K-5.

Today’s Highline Headlines include information about childhood immunization clinics, ways to give feedback on music curriculum and your child’s school, and insurance information for COVID testing. 

Calling Future Kindergarteners! Get information and resources for the coming school year at a districtwide, “Welcome to Kindergarten” Zoom event on May 19 at 6:00 p.m.

For many of our educators in Highline, teaching is a calling. Some were always drawn to the profession. Others found it later in life.

In recognition of Teacher Appreciation Week, we are sharing the stories of three Highline teachers. We asked what inspired them to become educators and what keeps them motivated. While each story is unique, they all share a deep commitment to student success. 

Is your child up-to-date on their childhood immunizations? We are partnering with Stepping Stone Pediatrics to host two immunization clinics for students on May 21 and June 10. 

Today’s Highline Headlines include a board district boundary survey, extended deadline for our spring feedback survey, Superintendent Enfield’s next position, and a reminder of teacher appreciation week.

Every 10 years following the U.S. Census, we review the boundaries of our board of director districts to ensure equitable geographic representation. Highline is divided into five geographic districts, each with one board seat. As part of the process to review and update boundaries, we are seeking feedback from the Highline community.

Superintendent Enfield has been appointed by the Board of Trustees of Washoe County School District as the next superintendent. Washoe County School District surrounds Reno, Nevada. The Board of Trustees voted Tuesday evening to offer Dr. Enfield the position.

Today’s Highline Headlines include our feedback survey, Highline Virtual Elementary application, kindergarten enrollment and a conversation about mental health.
 

Former Highline Superintendent Joe McGeehan passed away on April 16 in Indiana. He was 82. Dr. McGeehan served as Highline superintendent from 1995 to 2005.

See Headlines about today's enrollment event, a feedback survey reminder and RSVP to A Decade Delivering on Our Highline Promise event. 

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.

Join us in celebrating a decade of delivering on our Highline promise. We will highlight the progress we have made on our bold goals for students under the leadership of Superintendent Susan Enfield and say farewell to Dr. Enfield before she moves on to her next challenge.

Today’s Highline Headlines include our Spring Perception Survey, information about our enrollment event, vaccine clinics and a webinar to learn about COVID-19 vaccines for children under five. 

This week’s Highline Headlines include information about enrollment events, School Board position opening and Highline Virtual Elementary application deadline.

It was a surprise within a surprise! The $40,000 STEM scholarships arrived in Amazon delivery boxes to not one, but two seniors in Highline Public Schools this week.

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.

You may have heard the federal government is giving millions of dollars to schools to address COVID-related expenses. Congress is providing these funds through the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Act (ESSER). 

These are one-time funds to help schools maintain operations through the challenges of the pandemic and to respond to the impacts of the pandemic on student academic progress and socio-emotional wellbeing.

Here is a look at some of the ways we are investing COVID-relief funds in Highline. 

The Highline Schools Foundation’s Board of Trustees has named Fred Swanson the Foundation's new executive director. Fred’s experience as an executive director for more than two decades, combined with a deep passion for promoting community support and educational equity, will help advance the mission of the Foundation. Fred is also a proud Highline parent and member of the Family Action Committee. 

The Highline School Board will appoint a new member to fill the board seat vacated by Fa'izah Bradford. Bradford resigned from her position representing Director District 5 on March 16.

Residents of District 5 can apply to be considered.

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.

Read headlines about spring break, COVID at-home tests, tutoring and other COVID related updates.

We recognize the need for families with a person who is at high risk for severe illness–whether that is a student or someone in their household–to know when the risk of exposure has occurred at school. As a result, we are updating our processes to ensure that each school has a system in place for alerting the school community when there is a positive case.

This week's Highline Headlines include a reminder of spring break, enrollment events, Highline Virtual Elementary and more. 

The winners are.... The Highline Schools Foundation announces the winners of its 2022 Gold Star Awards, highlighting the outstanding efforts of educators, staff, volunteers and others in Highline. These seven extraordinary individuals live and breathe our Highline promise to know all students by name, strength and need.

Highline Chief Financial Officer Kate Davis has been named the 2022 Distinguished School Business Official of the Year by the Washington Association of School Business Officials (WASBO.) 

Today's Highline Headlines include information about our new superintendent's contract approval, school board changes, enrollment events and more.

Superintendent Enfield has appointed Jenniffer Reinig as our permanent Chief Academic Officer, effective immediately. Jenniffer has served as interim CAO since December 2021.

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.

At Wednesday's School Board meeting, Trustee Fa'izah Bradford submitted her resignation from the board, effective immediately. Bradford's resignation leaves the board position representing District 5 open.

At it's Wednesday night meeting, the Highline School Board voted to approve the contract for Dr. Ivan Duran as Highline's next superintendent. Dr. Duran will take the helm on July 1.

More than one million dollars are heading to Maritime High School! Funding for the school was recently passed in the House of Representatives through a government spending package.

Today's Highline Headlines include information about masks, adoption committees, Highline Virtual Elementary and more. 

Highline Virtual Elementary, a new online school, will open in September 2022. The school will accept a limited number of students in kindergarten through 5th grade. Apply now! The application window will close on April 15, 2022. 

Revised COVID Guidance, A Message from the School Board and Superintendent, No School on March 11 and COVID-19 Vaccination clinics.

Next week, we will enter a new phase of the pandemic in our schools. As of Monday, March 14, masks will no longer be required for staff, students and visitors. As a Highline community, we must respect each individual’s decision without judgment, and show respect, compassion and courtesy.

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.

On Tuesday, the Washington Department of Health (DOH) issued updated guidance for COVID safety in schools. These changes reflect declining COVID case rates and hospitalizations in King County and Washington state. 

As we have since the beginning of the pandemic, we will continue to follow DOH guidance. New guidelines are effective Monday, March 14.

We are selecting new curriculum materials for elementary and middle school science and upper-level math. We want you to be part of the process. Join a curriculum adoption committee.

Every week, but especially this week, we applaud our school support staff members—our behind-the-scenes heroes—paraeducators, custodians, bus drivers and monitors, nutrition services staff, office staff, interpreters, school nurses, facilities and grounds crews, maintenance and operations staff, recess monitors, technology staff, safety and security staff, and more.

No School on Friday, March 11. This week's Highline Headlines include COVID-19 Vaccination and Education Support Professionals Week. 

Governor Inslee has announced that the statewide mask mandate for indoor spaces, including schools, will be lifted on March 12. The Washington Department of Health (DOH) is expected to release new guidelines for schools on Monday, March 7. As we have since the beginning of the pandemic, we will follow DOH guidelines.

A lottery was held on March 1 to select students for our secondary schools that require an application or a program transfer. This includes CHOICE Academy, Big Picture Schools, Highline Virtual Academy, Maritime High School, Raisbeck Aviation High School (RAHS) and the International Baccalaureate (IB) program offered at Mount Rainier High School (MRHS).
 

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!

Masks continue to be required at school at this time. Seattle & King County Public Health are hosting COVID-19 vaccination events.

This fall, the communities of Chinook Middle School and Tyee High School chose new mascots, and now they have the opportunity to design new logos for the Tyee Titans and the Chinook Dragons. We are currently seeking a graphic designer to give life to these new mascots! Read about the scope, deliverables and requirements and submit your interest by March 11.

See headlines about the Test-to-Stay strategy, COVID vaccine Q&A video and resources for talking with student about the war. 

The impacts of global conflict are often inconceivable and reach far beyond physical borders. Images and descriptions of war in the news may be traumatizing for students who have experienced war or wartime conditions. Images of war can be frightening to students even if this is not part of their lived experience. With the situation unfolding in Ukraine, we want to share some resources with families about how to support and talk with students about war. 

Starting March 1, all Highline schools and departments will begin offering the Test-to-Stay program. Test-to-Stay is a strategy to minimize the spread of COVID and maximize time in school. It offers a modified quarantine option for people who are not up to date on their COVID vaccines and are identified as close contacts. Participation is voluntary.

As we celebrate the many brilliant contributions of Black Americans during February, it is also important for us to reflect on the reason why we have Black History Month.

The School Board has named Dr. Ivan Duran as Highline’s next superintendent, following a community engagement process that ended with a week of in-person tours, stakeholder meetings and virtual town halls. 

Governor Inslee announced today that as of March 21, the state will not require masks in indoor spaces, including schools. Local health jurisdictions may still require masks after the state mandate is lifted.

Masks are still required in all schools and district buildings at this time. 

There will be no school on February 18 & 21. Read more headlines including the superintendent selection process, COVID-19 vaccination events and mask mandate. 

And the nominees are... the Highline Schools Foundation unveiled the 2022 Gold Star Award nominees. This year's list of impressive nominees includes well-deserving teachers, staff, administrators and volunteers. Congratulations to all. 

The School Board named three finalists for Highline’s next superintendent. Read more Highline Headlines.

The School Board named three finalists for Highline’s next Superintendent. 

Highline is planning to launch an online elementary school to meet the needs of families who want to continue with remote learning beyond this year. The new school will open in September 2022, with a principal, teachers and support staff similar to other elementary schools. Learn more about the new school. 

You may have heard Governor Inslee and state schools superintendent Chris Reykdal talk about the possibility of lifting the masking requirement in schools. While state leaders are beginning to discuss ending the mask mandate sometime this spring, nothing has changed yet. 

Once a week after school, a group of students at White Center Heights, Mount View, Des Moines and Bow Lake elementary schools are immersed in the Somali language and culture. It’s part of an after-school program called Somali Club. 

As we enter the two-year mark of the pandemic, staff throughout Highline are reflecting. Is the work still worth doing with all this craziness? We asked Highline teachers, office staff, paraeducators and principals what inspired them to become educators and what keeps them motivated. Everyone's story is different. But one common theme is children—all Highline staff want to see students succeed.

Today's family message includes information about vaccines and superintendent town halls. 

Members of our community-led Capital Facilities Advisory Committee (CFAC) toured five of our older school buildings on Saturday, January 22.

Starting next week, some of our schools will begin a new Test-to-Stay program. Test-to-Stay is a strategy to minimize the spread of COVID and maximize students' time in school. It offers a modified quarantine option for people who are not up to date on their COVID vaccines and are identified as close contacts. Participation is voluntary.

Our strategy for connecting every student with a caring adult during the pandemic and beyond is getting national press. These one-on-one connections made the cover of the February issue of AASA Magazine, the publication of the national superintendents association. 

The idea sparked in Nha Khuc’s brain back in the summer of 2020 during an environmental internship prior to her senior year. “What would it take to put solar panels on the roof of the new Highline High School?” 

Today's family message includes information about the future superintendent virtual town halls, vaccine clinics and kindergarten enrollment. 

Do you know a child who will be five years old on or before August 31? Maybe it's your neighbor, family friend or even your own child. Help us spread the word: families can enroll their incoming kindergarten student starting February 1 for the 2021-22 school year. 

Today's family update includes important information about Test-to-Stay, rapid tests, PCR testing, contact tracing and a superintendent search update. 

Out of a pool of 60 people who were recruited, recommended or expressed interest in becoming Highline's next superintendent, 23 people submitted applications. The school board will interview the semi-finalists on February 9 and 10. After the semi-finalists' interviews, the school board will select up to three finalists. Each finalist will spend a day in Highline, ending with a virtual town hall. 

We want to create a safe and healthy learning environment for your child. The COVID-19 vaccine can protect your child and is the best way to prevent the spread of COVID. That’s why we’re hosting two vaccination clinics for students five years and older in February. 

It's no news that school districts are experiencing a significant shortage of test kits. This is due to distribution issues at the state level. Here is how we are responding and how we are moving forward to prioritize school safety.

Bassetti Architects met with the Evergreen Design Review Committee on January 20 for their eighth work session. The architects, staff and community members  looked at a slightly revised site plan that represents the nearly completed schematic design, as well as sketches of the exterior and interior of a proposed new building.

First semester ends Thursday, January 27. Due to the recent surge of COVID-19, teachers will have additional time to input first semester grades for middle and high school students. We now expect grades will be entered by February 17. Report cards should arrive in early March.

Experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or have a known exposure? Make an appointment at one of Highline's testing sites. You can also now order at-home tests for free through the federal governement. 

With staff absences trending down this week, we will begin to dial back the number of central office staff being deployed to schools starting next week. We will continue to monitor COVID cases and absences and will increase school support again if needed.

Learn the considerations for shifting to remote and watch Superintendent Enfield's video message on the outlook for the coming weeks.

Volunteer. Student advocate. Leader. These are just a few words to describe our school board members.  Our five board members volunteer their time and energy to lead our public schools and ensure students graduate prepared for the future they choose. During these especially challenging times, we appreciate their commitment to serving our students, staff, families and community.

You can now order at-home tests for free. Each home is eligible for four at-home tests.

Make sure to order your tests now so you have them when you need them.

While we remain committed to keeping our students in school, we must prepare for the possibility of switching all schools to remote learning for a short period of time. If we need to make this transition, we will notify you by email and text with as much advance notice as possible.

Please read this family update for Friday, January 14.

It’s looking a whole lot like the 2016 school bond is coming in on time and on budget, despite some pesky equipment delays due to COVID-19. Find out what the Capital Projects Oversight Committee learned in January.

Here is a summary of updated guidance on quarantine and isolation, based on recently updated guidance from the Washington State Department of Health. The guidance is effective Tuesday, January 18 and applies to cases from the week of January 10, 2022.

It's report card time for Highline! We invite you to dig deep into data and track our progress using our interactive annual report. Our digital report card includes metrics that show how we are doing in becoming a more equitable school system. View results by goal, school, year and student group. Scroll over numbers and graphs, and read pop-ups with more information.

Our director of Camp Waskowitz and WELS, Dr. Roberta McFarland, has announced she will retire at the end of this school year. Dr. McFarland’s leadership of Camp Waskowitz for nearly 25 years has built upon and strengthened the long legacy of Camp Waskowitz in our community and beyond.  She developed and has been a tireless advocate for our WELS program. We are grateful for her leadership.

Next month, the School Board will interview candidates to be the new superintendent. The School Board wants your input on what to ask candidates during the interview process. Submit your recommendations for interview questions using ThoughtExchange.
 

Since returning from winter break, we have experienced high absence rates among staff and students. We are grateful to our amazing staff in our schools who are pulling together to keep our schools operating.
 

 Do you work with someone who has made a significant impact on our students and schools? Nominate them for a Gold Star. The Highline Schools Foundation Gold Star Award nomination process closes Friday, February 4. 

Please ready today's family update. 

COVID-19 vaccines are now available for individuals ages five years and older. Individuals ages 16 and older are eligible for boosters. We have several vaccine clinics scheduled at our schools this week.

Due to weather and road conditions, all schools are on a two-hour delay on Monday, January 3. Buses will stop at regular stops–two hours later than normal. 

As we prepare for returning to school after winter break, Superintendent Susan Enfield shares this message with families, students and staff.

The Highline Schools Foundation awarded close to $69,000 in Excel and Impact grants this year. Foundation representatives made the rounds surprising and delighting staff with oversized checks. 

At last night's school board meeting, the Highline School Board voted to close Southern Heights Elementary at the end of this school year.

Input gleaned from surveys, focus groups and individual interviews has been compiled into a Leadership Profile Report that will guide the selection of Highline's next superintendent. Hundreds of students, staff, families and community members contributed to the profile. 

Our students aren't just dipping their toes into the maritime industry, they're diving in. Since the first day of school on September 2, Maritime High School’s inaugural class of 37 students has quickly gotten to work in boats and on the shores of the Puget Sound

Our Promise is to know every student name, strength and need so they graduate prepared for the future they choose. One way we do that is by offering schools that match student needs and interests. To support students in preparing for their future, we give secondary students the opportunity to attend their neighborhood school or apply to one of our schools of choice

Any family with a 4th grade student of color is invited to apply. Families must attend an information meeting to receive an application. 

Explore your schools of choice for middle and high school. Attend an upcoming information session to learn more about schools and programs. Applications for schools of choice open January 3 and close January 31. 

Starting Monday, December 20 through Friday, December 31, students are on winter break and schools will be closed. School resumes at the normal time on Monday, January 3.

Students have a lot of options when it comes to secondary schools. We encourage students and families to find the best fit. The application window for secondary schools of choice is January 3 - 31, 2021. Applications close at 11:00 p.m. 

Staff from Bassetti Architects returned to their work on the schematic design of a new Evergreen High School. They met again with members of the Evergreen High School design review committee on December 2. Find out what is next in the design process and when the next school bond — to pay for construction — is expected to go before voters.

If inclement weather prevents us from safely transporting students to school, we will close schools as we have in the past. We will not switch to remote learning on snow days. 

In the past 20 months we’ve gone from school closures to distance learning to hybrid learning and now to full-time, in-person learning with remote options. Families, secondary students and staff have the opportunity to share feedback, input and ideas on how to support learning experiences in Highline so we can adapt to current needs. Hearing from you is the key to addressing what isn’t working and capitalizing on what is. 

Chinook Middle School and Tyee High School will choose new mascots this month. The Thunderbird and Totem mascots must be retired by December 31, in compliance with a new state law prohibiting schools from using Native names, symbols, or images as mascots, logos, or team names. The law reflects many years of advocacy by tribes in Washington state. 

As we prepare to roll out a K-12 implementation plan for Ethnic Studies, families are invited to an information session to learn about Ethnic Studies and provide feedback about Highline's plan.

We recognize that with the availability of COVID vaccines for 5- to 11-year-olds, you may be considering a move back to in-person instruction for your child. If you want to make this transition before the end of the school year, we suggest that the best time would be after winter break.

We want to provide opportunities for families, secondary students, and staff to share feedback, input and ideas on how to support learning experiences in Highline. We recognize that this is an overwhelming time for many of you and we appreciate hearing from you. Your participation is completely voluntary, and we value your feedback. The survey closes on Friday, December 17. 

Today, King County Elections certified that local voters approved the Highline Education Levy renewal at a rate of 62.50%. Superintendent Susan Enfield said she is deeply grateful to Highline voters for supporting Highline students and staff.

In this video message, Superintendent Susan Enfield shares her gratitude for all of you and wishes everyone a restful, joy-filled Thanksgiving holiday.

There will be no school on November 24, 25 and 26 for Thanksgiving break.

Highline Superintendent Susan Enfield has been named Superintendent of the Year by the Washington School Administrator's Association (WASA). 

“Since 2012, when Dr. Enfield was named superintendent of the Highline Public Schools, she has led with a consistent and unrelenting focus on achieving more equitable outcomes for all students in the district,” said WASA Executive Director Joel Aune.

This January we are hosting ReadyK!, a pre-kindergarten program for children who have not had access to a high-quality early learning experience. If you know of a family that may benefit from the program, urge them to apply.

Integrus Architecture staff resumed meeting with community members, staff and students from Tyee High School in November. The Tyee design review committee provided input and feedback to the architects as they draft design plans for a new high school building.

Come work in the Highline community and make a difference in the lives of children–no specialized degree required!

This week, we are implementing new health and safety measures from the Department of Health. Here is an overview of these changes. 

After 18 months of distance and hybrid instruction, you may be concerned about whether your student can master this year’s grade level. Highline teachers are committed to a strategy called grade-appropriate learning, which prioritizes content for the current grade level and reviews skills from previous grades only when students need them to learn current grade-level work. Watch a video to see how one teacher uses grade-appropriate learning to capitalize on her student's strengths and support students when they need it the most.

We want to remind you that our current face mask guidelines remain in place. South Seattle Chamber of Commerce is seeking feedback on what a Creative District should look like.

During distance and hybrid learning, you likely had a front-row seat to your child’s learning. We want to continue to work as partners in learning, even when most of our students are back to learning in person, full time. Conferences are one opportunity to connect with your child’s school and teacher(s). We want you to get the most out of conferences. To help, here are seven questions to ask during your conference. Use these questions to build a stronger partnership with your student’s teacher and school. 

We know some students need different support following 18 months of distance and hybrid instruction. This year, our teachers are committed to a strategy called grade-appropriate learning. We want feedback from families. What questions, concerns or comments do you have about this strategy? Participate in our ThoughtExchange to give your input.

The Highline School Board is gathering feedback to help them select our next superintendent. We want your input about the strengths of our schools and district, the challenges the district is currently facing, what the new leader's priorities should be, and what professional characteristics the next superintendent should have.

The Highline School Board will hear comments from staff and families at a public hearing on the recommendation to close Southern Heights Elementary. The hearing will be held on Zoom.  Get the Zoom link here.

This year we are experiencing challenges we have not seen before. We have had to adapt menus around supply chain shortages. Due to product availability, we may have to substitute one school favorite for another more frequently.  

High school is right around the corner. Explore your neighborhood school and schools of choice now. Attend an upcoming information session to learn more about schools and programs. Applications for schools of choice open January 1 and close January 31. 

We are graduating more students bilingual and biliterate than ever before! The Class of 2021 included 336 students who received the Seal of Biliteracy, Highline's highest number yet! This number will continue to rise as we expand dual language, world language and heritage language programs throughout Highline.

Eighth through 12th-grade students are invited to COLLEGECON—a free learning experience for students AND families. On Wednesday, November 17, and Thursday, November 18, the Secondary Success and College Readiness Department will host COLLEGECON for high school students and families. Check which day you should attend!

We are updating our music instructional materials! The Instructional Materials Committee (IMC) is launching a process to select new materials for music instruction and want you to be part of the process. 

With early returns in, it appears voters will renew Highline Public Schools’ local education levy for another four years. The current approval rate is 62.5 percent.

November 3 Update: Vaccine clinics are currently full. If you would like to be added to the waitlist of one of our sites, please complete our waitlist form. | The FDA and CDC approved the COVID-19 vaccination for children ages 5-11 years old. We’re hosting multiple vaccination clinics for students ages 5-11 years old starting Tuesday, November 9.

The school board is slated to consider closing Southern Heights Elementary at the end of this school year due to low enrollment. Enrollment has declined by 114 students since 2013-14, and significant growth is not projected in the coming years. Current enrollment is 216 students. 

Our community-led Capital Facilities Advisory Committee (CFAC) added some new members, chosen by lottery, and met on Zoom in October.

"Impressive." "So much light and wood." "It's beautiful." "It feels like a college student union building." These are comments we heard during the self-guided tours of the new Highline High School, offered on October 22 and 23 after the grand opening events were postponed. Approximately 300 alumni and community members walked through the new school. See photos.

Tuesday, November 2 is Election Day. Local ballots include our Highline Education Levy renewal and two Highline School Board races. Learn where to vote and get answers to your levy questions.

To make the Staff Hub more secure, all staff are now required to log in to view and access information. Starting Friday, October 29, you will sign into the Staff Hub using your regular Highline network username before being directed to ClassLink to enter your password. Once authenticated, you will be able to navigate the Staff Hub. 

We have been experiencing districtwide internet outages that are interrupting instruction at times for both remote and in-person students. 

Schools and district facilities have been experiencing persistent internet outages over the past couple of weeks. Our Tech Services team has identified the problem and is working with our internet service provider on a permanent fix.

The four-year levy would provide $208.5 million for educational needs not fully funded by the state. Prop. 1 would allow the district to collect up to $268 million if the state Legislature raises the levy cap. This will protect critical student services from cuts if the Legislature cuts state funding.

One way to keep our schools safe and open is to offer free COVID-19 tests to students, staff and household members. To make it easier and faster to get a COVID test, we are launching a new consent form that can be used for the entire school year. We encourage all families and staff to complete the form now, so if and when you decide to get a test, you are ready.

If you are on Facebook, why not log on Monday, October 18, at 7:30 p.m. for a Facebook Live event to provide information about the Highline Education Levy?

Schools now have the option to send families a weekly summary on Fridays informing you of any cases reported in your school during the past week.

Read first-hand stories from nurses, counselors, social workers and other staff whose positions are funded by the local Highline Education Levy. The levy is up for renewal on November 2 ballots. 

Washington State Department of Health (DOH) has updated its guidance on when students need to stay home and when they can return to school.

Washington State Department of Health (DOH) has updated its guidance on when students need to stay home and when they can return to school. The new guidance distinguishes between likely COVID symptoms and symptoms that are more likely to be due to garden-variety illness.

Local levy dollars provide critical funding for education programs so all Highline students have equitable opportunities to succeed in school. Renewal of the Highline Education Levy is on the November 2 ballot. Watch this video to see why we have a levy measure on the ballot and what it funds.

Middle and high school students have access to free live tutoring 24/7 in all academic subjects through Paper tutoring. Students connect with Paper's tutors online through live chat. Get help with homework questions or get feedback on a written assignment. Help is on-demand and unlimited.

Chief Academic Officer Susanne Jerde has announced that she will retire from Highline at the end of December 2021. Susanne has given more than 37 years in service to Highline students as a teacher, principal, director, ILED, and since 2014, as CAO. We are deeply grateful for her leadership and dedication to delivering on our Highline Promise.

We welcome seven new lottery members to our community-led Capital Facilities Advisory Committee (CFAC). 

From bow to stern, the new Highline High School is drawing Pirate praise. "It's gorgeous. And that's an understatement," says Scott Logan, district chief of operations. “We’ve been flooded with positive early reactions from staff, students, community and alumni to the beautiful rebuild of a school with nearly 100 years of history, delivered on time and within budget."

We have a few open seats on our community-led Capital Facilities Advisory Committee (CFAC). Add your name to the lottery by September 26 if you live in Highline and are serious about helping prioritize 11 older schools for future bonds.

This week, we experienced a delay in updating our COVID dashboard, which shows all reported positive COVID cases in our schools. Our practice is to update the dashboard every 24 hours. 

In the last week, our COVID response team has reported that posting new cases has taken longer than 24 hours for two reasons.

Highline Public Schools' local education levy is up for renewal on November 2. "The levy helps us provide equitable opportunities for all students across our district," said Highline School Board President Angelica Alvarez. Find out more information about the levy.

In this video message, Superintendent Susan Enfield looks ahead at her 10th and final year at Highline Public Schools. Dr. Enfield assures families, students and staff that together we can create a safe, happy, healthy school year. Let's go, Team Highline!

While the transition to hybrid in-person learning will start with our youngest learners, we want everyone to be prepared for when it's their turn to go back to school. What should students expect when going to school in-person? What do families need to know? Our safety expectations and plan are based on current information from local, state and federal public health agencies. Each layer of protection keeps us safer.

Free breakfast, free lunch, full bellies! During the 2021-22 school year, all enrolled students can participate in their school’s breakfast and lunch program at no cost.

Certain school funding is based on the percentage of students who qualify for free or reduced-priced meals. See how you can help us qualify. 

Time to gear up! It is almost time for school to start. Here are 11 things to do as you get ready for the first day of school.

Student schedules have been posted in ParentVUE. Check your student's assignment there. We'll be sending individual confirmations by the end of the week. If you have questions, please call your school.

On the last day of Jump Start Kindergarten, families and staff at Hilltop Elementary School celebrated with a ribbon cutting for their new kindergarten building, rain garden, grass field and outdoor learning spaces.