High school students and families are invited to COLLEGECON—a free one, day learning experience for high school students and families. Engage in interactive workshops about college and career options, how to apply and pay for college and more. 

Your feedback is helping us plan a smooth transition to a trimester system, starting in fall 2020. Check out the top-rated comments shared in our spring Thoughtexchange, and read Superintendent Enfield's reflections on the top 10 comments. 

Muddy potholes and rained-out practices may be a relic of the past at Evergreen High School. The school’s dreamed-of synthetic turf field now has the funding to become reality. 

Here is a progress report on projects big and small voters approved in the November 2016 bond.

Do you know a teacher who goes above and beyond, demonstrating excellence in the classroom? If so, nominate them for the Symetra Heroes in the Classroom Award.

Enter your name in our lottery. You could be one of 40 parents and residents working to recommend a long-range plan for building new schools.

Welcome to the 2018-19 school year! It is always a joy for us to welcome new and returning students, staff and families to Highline. As we begin our year together, I want to share with you some of the exciting changes that are underway across the district.

Our schools and classrooms are buzzing again. The 2018-19 school year is officially underway. Students jumped into learning and collaborating. Teachers and staff are ready to motivate and inspire. 

Under a tentative agreement reached this week, we will raise educator salaries by 13% for the 2018-19 school year. This is the latest in a multi-year effort to raise teacher pay. 

We are pleased to announce that Highline Education Association and Highline Public Schools have reached a tentative agreement.

Due to rising costs and federal regulations, the price of school meals will increase by 25¢ starting this fall. Students will pay $1.75 for breakfast, $3.00 for elementary lunch and $3.25 for lunch in middle and high school. Adults who wish to purchase lunch can do so for $4.00.

It is almost time to go back to school! The first day of school is Wednesday, September 5 for students in grades 1-12 and Monday, September 10 for kindergarten students. Here are nine things to do as you get ready for the first day of school. 

Based on input from families, students and staff, high schools will start later, starting in fall 2018. This change will also impact the start times of our middle and elementary schools.

On Wednesday, June 28, the school board adopted a new set of school boundaries within Highline Public Schools. The plan was developed by the community-led Capital Facilities Advisory Committee (CFAC). The revised boundaries will take effect fall 2019.

We are thrilled to launch the new Highline website! Our new site is easier to navigate and accessible to users with disabilities. 

All Highline children can eat free breakfast, lunch and snacks during the summer through the federally-funded Summer Food Program. A child does not need to be a Highline student to participate.

The 2017-18 school year is one to remember! We raised our graduation rate, passed a levy, broke new ground and did what we do best--graduate students prepared to choose their future. Look back at what we did together.

Our graduating class of 2018 represents a richly diverse group of young people. They demonstrate perseverance, humility and excellence. Their goals are big, and their future is bright. They are determined to change the world for the better—and we wholeheartedly believe they will. These two seniors are examples of the outstanding young leaders graduating from Highline ready to choose their future.

It takes a village! And the village leaders came out to celebrate with Highline Public Schools as district officials, architects and project staff broke ground for a new Des Moines Elementary School at Zenith Park on June 8, 2018.

The community-led bond and boundary planning committee for Highline Public Schools presented a recommended set of boundary maps and a list of additional considerations at the June 6, 2018 school board meeting.

After a two year process of researching school schedule options and taking feedback from staff, students and families, we have arrived at a decision on a new high school course schedule. Highline will switch from a semester system with a six-period day to a trimester system with a five-period day, starting in fall 2020.

Following comments to a congressional committee by U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, State Superintendent Chris Reykdal issued a statement reiterating Washington state's stance on protecting our students who are undocumented in our K-12 schools.

The new Highline High School (HHS) will reopen fall 2021 with its grand main entrance reconstructed using the original brick and terra cotta. Community members learned about this and more at the May 17 Ask-the-Architect meeting.

Members of the community-led Capital Facilities Advisory Committee (CFAC) have developed a revised set of boundary maps and school feeder plan. The draft plan incorporates many of the changes suggested by community members.

What started off as a simple check-in with a few of students has turned into a movement at Chinook Middle School. Several years ago, Reid Sundblad and his teaching colleagues were analyzing data to find out what was working and what was not. They noticed something about the school’s Latino male students. As a young teacher at that time, Reid was ignited by the team’s discussion to take action. Today, hundreds of students have been impacted.

Every morning, dual language teacher Isel Betancourt Sanchez greets students as they walk through her classroom door with a high-five and “Buenos dias!” in her native Spanish. Isel hopes the Spanish skills she is teaching her students today will open doors for them tomorrow. Her dedication to language learning is one of the many reasons she is our Rookie Teacher of the year.

If you are looking for real-life superstars, look no further than Highline. All of our teachers are stars, and we want you to meet a few who earned gold stars this year from someone who especially admires their commitment to know every student by name, strength and need.

What does the McCleary decision and new state funding for schools mean for Highline?

Capital Facilities Advisory Committee (CFAC) members met April 25 to begin sifting through feedback, trying alternative boundary suggestions and drafting a revised plan.

What does the University of Washington president want Highline students to know? “Dream big. Our community depends on you. Our country depends on you, so dream big." UW President Ana Mari Cauce shared these words with Evergreen High School students this week when visiting campus.

Walk into a Highline elementary school and it's likely you will hear teacher after teacher ask students, "Will you check-in on the Mood Meter?" The Mood Meter is a tool to teach students how to identify and understand their feelings.

Highline school board members selected names for the two new schools on Wednesday: Glacier Middle School and Des Moines Elementary School.

Community members took a turn suggesting new school boundary lines at a Boundary Design Session on April 17.

Boundary changes are not easy. The deadline for online feedback is extended to April 20. Find out about the April 17 Boundary Design Session and next steps for the planning committee.

Did you know 96 percent of our families want their child to go to college—but only 58 percent of families feel confident they have a step-by-step plan to get there? On Saturday, April 7, eighth and ninth grade students and their families attended CollegeCon to get the plan they need.

A steady drizzle didn’t dampen enthusiasm as Highline Public Schools broke ground for a new middle school in SeaTac on April 4, 2018.

The Superintendent's Family Action Committee works to strengthen our partnerships with families. We are currently seeking nominations for this important committee.

See a list of the 2018-19 school year holidays and tentative breaks.

Two Highline seniors have been awarded the prestigious Act Six Scholarship. As Act Six Scholars, the students will each receive a four-year, full-ride scholarship to college. Congratulations to students Rahel Ambachew and Ty Shanklin.

McMicken Heights Elementary is getting national attention for its focus on social-emotional learning as one way to make schools safer. Scholastic spotlights McMicken Heights as a case study.

The Highline Schools Foundation announced the winners of the 2018 Gold Star Awards at the annual Gold Star Awards BASH on March 8. The Highline community gathered to root on the award nominees. Congratulations to all the Gold Star winners and nominees. You make us all Highline Proud! 

We are honoring the often unsung heroes of our schools, our classified employees—support staff who serve lunches, drive buses, clean schools and support our students in so many ways. We are grateful for their dedication and outstanding work on behalf of our students.

In response to recent incidents of school violence, we are initiating a conversation around school safety. Starting March 22, community meetings are being held at Evergreen, Highline, Tyee and Mount Rainier.

You Are Invited!

Families, students and community members are invited to join community conversations with Highline Public Schools Board President Joe Van and School Board Director Angelica Alvarez.  

The sessions will be open conversations. Participants can ask questions, bring up concerns and discuss possible solutions.

What if the entire community rallied around our promise to know every student by name, strength and need and our goal for every student to graduate prepared for the future they choose? 

A lottery was held on February 15 to select students for our secondary schools that require an application or a program transfer. This includes CHOICE Academy, Big Picture Schools, Raisbeck Aviation High School (RAHS) and the International Baccalaureate (IB) program offered at Mount Rainier High School (MRHS).

Making a decision about weather-related school closures and schedule changes is always difficult because so many different situations have to be considered. We do our very best to balance the many interests at stake, but we recognize that no matter what decision we make, it will not please everyone.

It appears our levy measure will pass, with early results showing more than 58% voting in favor of renewal.

Our schools are getting recognized for healthier eating and fitness. Four schools earned awards in the HealthierUS Schools Challenge, three gold and one silver. The three schools receiving gold improved from a silver rating in the previous challenge. We are currently the only district in Washington with any sites awarded gold status.

We are recognizing a few dozen Highline Rockstars this month. Thirty-nine teachers have earned a National Board Certification, and eight additional teachers have renewed their certification.

Thank you to our families, staff and students who gave input on when to move to a later high school start time. The overwhelming response: why wait? Most people want to make the switch this fall

It’s time to name the two new schools we are building in Highline. Our naming committees want your feedback. Pick your favorite names for the new elementary school in Des Moines and the new middle school in SeaTac. Both schools will open fall 2019.

The community is invited to meet the candidates for the open position on the Highline School Board. The school board is hosting a meet and greet on Thursday, February 8.

Highline is making waves in national and local news. Here's what everybody is talking about.

The Highline School Board has a new leader. In January, the board elected Joe Van to serve as the new board president.

Are you interested in becoming a Highline School Board member? The School Board is seeking candidates to fill Director Seat #5, which serves neighborhoods in the Des Moines and Normandy Park communities. 

Highline's Board of Directors invites community, families and staff to attend a Celebration of Service for School Board member Michael Spear as he steps down from the board. 

We are making plans to change to a later start time for high schools. This is in response to feedback from students, families and staff, as well as research that shows teenagers do better in school when they sleep later. 

There is a gap between what the state funds and the education Highline provides to students. Levy funds make up the difference. 

Ready for your review! We invite the community to dig for data and check out schools’ progress in a new online, interactive annual report.

Impact Grant winner Elizabeth Nelson (center) with Chinook Principal Karin Jones, Foundation Board Trustee members Patti Gifford and Aileen Cronin, and Alaska Airlines Pilot Carlos Zendeja. 

Grants totaling more than $110,000 are going to teachers this month. The Highline Schools Foundation awarded a $10,000 Impact Grant and 82 Excel Grants to teachers across Highline. The Foundation gave out more dollars this year than ever before.

Highline voters will be asked to renew a four-year replacement levy in February. Our school board voted on Wednesday, December 6 to place the educational programs and operations levy on the ballot.

How do Highline schools inspire, motivate and prepare students for 21st-century careers? We give them opportunities to explore computer science and technology through innovative courses and programming. And the first spark just might be 60 minutes spent learning to code.

From time to time during the winter months, the weather may force a change in the normal school schedule. We want you to be prepared and know where to get information. 

Now is the time to make sure your student’s emergency contact information is up-to-date. Check with your school office to make sure we have accurate information on file.

“How much more productive could our learning time be if students learned to regulate their emotions, resolve conflicts more peacefully and advocate for their needs?" asks Katelyn.

Want to get the most out of your student conference? Here are seven questions to ask during your conference. Use these questions to build a stronger partnership with your student’s teacher.

The Seattle Times featured Highline's rising graduation rate in a news story. Our graduation rate is up for the fourth year in a row. The class of 2017 graduated at 78.8%, an increase of four points over last year. Graduation rates are rising for all student groups with students of color seeing the greatest gains. Gaps between student groups have decreased substantially.

Students and staff are working hard, and it’s paying off. Shorewood Elementary and CHOICE Academy were recognized with the 2017 School of Distinction Award. The award is given to the top 5 percent of schools in Washington State that have made sustained improvement in reading and math.

Superintendent Susan Enfield is sending an unequivocal message of protection and reassurance to all students and families in the district. She sent the following message to all Highline staff members on October 28. 

Forty-five school superintendents from across the nation visited Highline to observe teachers and students using digital tools and resources in and outside of the classroom.

Election day is Tuesday, November 7. You can read about all the important issues in the voter pamphlet or online. See a list of ballot measures and candidates. Voting in this election is all by mail.

Architects working on Highline High School are drafting concepts for the school’s north wall that reflect the look of the original building. Key facts about the facade are on our FAQ page.

What inspires someone to become a school principal? The answers can be as diverse as the job's responsibilities. 

We are launching an online conversation to get your input on how to support the social and emotional well-being of students. Your ideas will be used as we renew our strategic plan, which will guide our work in schools for the next five years.

The Highline School Board and Superintendent Susan Enfield are sending a clear and strong message of protection and reassurance to all students and families in the district. Read the letter to families below. A similar message was sent to all staff.

Superintendent Susan Enfield wants to hear directly from students. That's why she is launching a new student committee that will give her their views on district-level decisions. Students have until October 6 to apply.

Are you wondering how the new schools are coming along, how they will be named and which students will attend? Here are some answers and ways to get involved.

We are seeking members for two school naming committees.

How many new high school buildings have a working dental lab, a hospital ward with eight beds, and a medical laboratory with a centrifuge and cell incubators?  There is one in Highline.

On September 6, medical and dental students at the Puget Sound Skills Center opened the doors to real-life work experiences in a brand new Health Sciences Building.

We're back! Classrooms are buzzing with excitement as the 2017-18 school year officially kicks off. Our schools are full of students eager to learn and grow. Our teachers and staff are ready to inspire, motivate and educate!

Watch our first-day-of-school video and read a special message to families from Superintendent Susan Enfield.

Many school buses were significantly delayed on the morning of the first day of school due to extremely heavy traffic. Two very serious accidents at the same time -- one on Pacific Highway and one on I-5 -- caused gridlock while buses were on morning routes. We regret that this caused an inconvenience to students and families.

How does the new Health Sciences Building at the Puget Sound Skills Center expand career opportunities? Hutteball & Oremus architects describe the thought and collaboration behind the building in a Daily Journal of Commerce article, "High Schoolers Get Real-Life Work Experience in Health Sciences Building."

Time to gear up! School starts Wednesday, September 6 for students in grades 1-12 and Monday, September 11 for kindergarten students. Here are 9 things to do before the first day of school.

Here are three opportunities to get a look at the latest design work for our three new schools and talk to the architects and project staff.

Does the new state budget truly meet the obligation to fully fund Washington schools? That depends on who you ask, according to a Seattle Times story published August 7.

Highline's proposed budget for the 2017-18 school is now online. District staff scrambled this week to complete the budget document after the state legislature passed a state budget on June 30. The state budget determines public school funding. 

Election day is Tuesday, August 1. You can read about all the important issues in the voter pamphlet. Voting in this election is all by mail.

The hometown heroes of the last school bond are rolling up their sleeves again. Volunteer representatives from all four high school service areas in Highline Public Schools met June 14 to tackle boundary changes and continue planning for the future.

The Capital Facilities Advisory Committee (CFAC) will complete the district’s long range facilities plan and monitor progress on current bond-funded school construction. Members will also study and make recommendations on school boundary revisions.

The Class of 2017 inspires us daily by demonstrating perseverance, empathy and excellence. The two seniors profiled here are examples of the outstanding young adults graduating from Highline ready for college, career and citizenship.

All Highline children can eat free breakfast, lunch and snacks during the summer through the federally-funded Summer Food Program. A child does not need to be a Highline student to participate.

And the winners are... everyone in our community! Thank you to the 49 Highline Public Schools residents who entered their names in the lottery for open positions on our committee that plans school bonds.

Hazel Valley and Midway elementary schools have been selected as Spanish-English dual language schools starting with kindergarten students entering in the fall of 2018.

In the dual language program, students receive half of their instruction in English and half in Spanish so they are able to read, write, and learn in both languages. 

We want to know if you are getting the information you want and need about our schools, the way you want to get it. We've launched a survey to check the effectiveness of our communication with community, families, and staff. 

The survey will tell us what is working and what we need to do better. The more families and community members who participate, the more we will learn about how to improve. 

Once a month, every Midway Elementary School classroom buzzes with students and families working side-by-side on art projects. The schoolwide tradition is bringing art to life in the classroom and simultaneously building family partnerships.

"I wanted something unique that combined arts, culture and family engagement," says Principal Rebekah Kim. 

Teachers and staff credit the success of Family Art Fridays to a three-year partnership with the Seattle Art Museum (SAM).

Four to five times a year, artists from SAM show teachers how to incorporate art into the classroom. Teachers also walk away with art projects to teach families and students during Family Art Friday. The projects honor all cultures and encourage families and students to collaborate.  

We are sculpting our students into artists with the help of the Seattle Art Museum (SAM).  

Second graders from seven elementary schools are exploring art first-hand during field trips to SAM's Olympic Sculpture Park in Seattle as part of a pilot partnership this year. While touring the park, students learn about both the artwork and the local ecosystem through a program called Drawing from Nature. 

"We want to have an impact. Our number one goal is to reach students who wouldn't normally be able to visit the museum," said Anna Allegro, SAM manager of school and education programs.  

District leadership and the Highline Education Association (HEA) have agreed on a calendar for the 2017-18 school year. 

The calendar will be final after HEA members vote on it in August. At this time, we do not anticipate changes. 
 

Highline Public Schools is looking for community members to help complete the district’s long-range facilities plan, monitor the progress of school construction, and assist with planning boundary adjustments. 

The architects and design review committees will host community meetings to share progress on the early design of the new schools approved by voters last November. Your questions and feedback are important and welcome. 

Community Meeting | New Middle School at Glacier 
Tuesday, June 6
7:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Hilltop Elementary School cafeteria

12250 24th Avenue South, Burien 

• You are invited to see the progress on schematic designs by Integrus Architecture.
• The future middle school will be located at the site of the former Glacier High School, 2450 South 142nd Street, SeaTac, WA 98168. 

In a school district where all teachers are stars, it's hard to pick out just a few who are stellar. Highline has a whole constellation of great teachers, but here are 30 who shine particularly bright. 

In celebration of Teacher Appreciation Week, we are putting a spotlight on teachers who were nominated for a Gold Star award through the Highline Schools Foundation.
 

Delila Leber's kindergarten dual language classroom is a place of magic.

At the beginning of the year, young learners are cautious and nervous, but Delila guides them to become strong, independent, empowered learners. Her students enter her classroom at different levels in academics, school experience and social-emotional growth. They all leave at or above grade level and ready to tackle first grade.

Demand for language immersion programs in Highline is growing, and we have been gathering input from staff and families on expanding our dual language program.

After considering the feedback and other factors that make a school a good candidate for dual language, four schools have been identified as potential sites for dual language expansion.

The four schools are Cedarhurst, Hazel Valley, Midway, and Seahurst. Two of these will be selected to transition to full dual language schools.

Why are we expanding language learning opportunities? The ability to speak, read and write in more than one language is a major asset. We have a goal for students to graduate bilingual and biliterate by 2026. 

Prom is a celebration, a milestone no high school senior wants to miss. But add up the cost of a dress, shoes and accessories, and it can quickly go from big celebration to big financial burden. 

"There is a lot of pressure. I don't have that type of money. I kept telling myself I don't really need to go to prom," explained student Adara Thao. 

This is your chance to tell us how we are doing with communicating what you need and want to know. Help do better by taking an online survey by Sunday, May 7. 

To get a true picture of how the community views district communications, enough people need to participate to make the survey statistically sound.

As of Monday…

• Only 119 staff members have taken our survey on district communications – but we need at least 811 responses.

• For families, we need 1,050 responses – but only have 234.

• Finally, we need 1,103 community responses – but have received only 33.

Your response will make a difference.

Make up credits and keep your mind active during summer break in one of our summer learning opportunities. Now is the time to register and secure your spot. 

High School Summer Scholars

We are offering a variety of classroom-based and online courses to students currently in grades 9-12. Students can earn up to 1.0 credit. 

High schools in Highline will stay on the current six-period semester schedule for the time being. Superintendent Susan Enfield said she has concluded that district staff needs more time to adapt lesson plans and curricula to a schedule that could have longer periods and shorter terms.

The Superintendent's Family Action Committee (FAC) works to strengthen our partnerships with families. We are currently seeking nominations for this important committee. The application deadline is Friday, May 12.

For the 2017-18 and 2018-19 school years, this committee is charged with:

1. Holding the district accountable for progress on goals outlined in the strategic plan. District staff will report out on specific metrics each time the FAC meets.
2. Providing the superintendent and staff with input on strategies for meeting the strategic goals. 
3. Participating in sub-committees that will focus on various topics, including Common Core, Family Engagement, School Safety, Language Learning, and other important issues.

What happens when you put a preschool inside a retirement community? Magic! And it's happening for Highline pre-kindergartners at Wesley Homes in Des Moines.

Four days a week, a group of four-year-olds attend a new preschool located on the 45-acre Wesley Homes campus. The Montessori classroom supports student learning through self-directed activity, hands-on learning and collaborative play.

Pedro Montoya discovered his love for carpentry while attending Puget Sound Skills Center (PSSC). The 2015 graduate is now paying it back by helping to build the school's new state-of-the-art learning center.  

"This brings back a lot of memories. I learned all the basics of the trade thanks to PSSC," said Pedro. "It feels good to give back to the community."  

People are quick to form opinions-- sometimes too quick, when it comes to complex issues like international conflict, national policy, or local initiatives. Understanding all perspectives, debating respectfully, separating fact from fiction, and coming to a common understanding require critical thinking, empathy, and problem solving. 

Nearly a decade ago, Highline launched an innovative program for students to master two languages in school. The Dual Language program transformed the school day for dozens of children, who spend half their day learning in English and half their day learning in Spanish. 

Raisbeck Aviation High School is ranked No. 4 in the 2017 U.S. News ranking of best high schools in Washington. 

This year’s report spotlights the school’s 93% participation rate in Advanced Placement coursework and exams. Approximately 77% of Raisbeck students who took AP tests for college credit passed at least one of them. The school's graduation rate is 98%. 

Ongoing hard work and dedication is paying off at White Center Heights Elementary. The school has been honored with a 2016 Washington Achievement Award (WAA) for Math Growth and English Language Arts (ELA) Growth. The honor is the state’s highest education award.

“I am incredibly proud of our students and staff at White Center Heights Elementary,” Superintendent Susan Enfield said. “This recognition is a testament to their hard work and dedication.” 
 

The survey closed on Friday, April 21, 2017.

Highline plans to expand Dual Language programs in 2018. Take an online survey to give feedback and come to a meeting to learn more.

Highline will select two elementary schools to transition to dual language schools, starting with students entering kindergarten in September 2018. Each year as students move to the next grade, the schools will make that grade fully bilingual.

Families, community members, and staff are invited to join Superintendent Susan Enfield at a community conversation on Tuesday, April 18, 4:15 – 5:15 p.m. in the Tyee cafeteria. 

Can you guess how many people support a given student on a single school day? The answer might surprise you. 

Fifth-grade student Rosalyn Orellana typically interacts with at least three staff members at Hazel Valley Elementary School before she sees her teacher in the morning. By the end of the day, it’s not uncommon for Rosalyn to have gotten support from up to 13 staff members. 

"Every person that I see at school, they are trying to be nice. They are kind and respectful,” said Rosalyn. “They come to school every day to help me learn. They are all important because we learn so much from them all.”

You are invited to give feedback on high school schedules changes we are considering in response to new state graduation requirements. 

The new Career- and College-Ready Graduation Requirements (also known as Core 24) increase the number of credits needed to graduate to a minimum of 24 credits. 

Act Six Scholars April Reyes of MRHS, Lesley Baeza of MRHS, and Karishama Vahora of HS3.

Three Highline seniors have been awarded the prestigious Act Six Scholarship. As Act Six Scholars, the students will each receive a four-year, full-ride scholarship to college.

High school course schedules will change in September 2018 to help students meet new state graduation requirements. Come to a meeting to learn about schedule options and give your feedback. 

Preparing Students for New Graduation Requirements 

In Highline, all students are important and valued in our schools. That message came across loud and clear at Chinook Middle School, where all 600 students received a special welcome as they arrived at school on Valentine's Day.

The group of students behind this gesture are members of a mentorship program called Los Siete, (the Seven Principles), led by physical education teacher Reid Sundblad.  Los Siete students gave each of their classmates a small gift with an important message attached to it. 

What does the word love mean? The world's greatest poets, authors, musicians, teachers, and philosophers have struggled with that question for centuries. For Valentine's Day, we asked the smartest and most thoughtful people we know-- our students. 

The snow make-up day for Monday, February 6, will be Tuesday, May 30. 

Making a decision about weather-related school closures is always difficult and we take the decision-making process very seriously. Learn more about our decision making process and how we communicate with families about school schedule changes. 

Did you know 96% of Highline families want their children to go to college? But only 61% of families feel confident that they have a step-by-step plan to get there.

To help our families and students create a successful pathway to college after high school, Highline Public Schools is excited to host the first annual COLLEGECON, a college-bound conference for middle school students and families.

Over the course of ten days, nearly 700 citizens provided input in a three-part online conversation about what we're doing right and how we can improve. More than 2,500 ideas were shared. Now, we need our community's help to prioritize the submissions.

In the second phase of the conversation, the community is invited to place a star on ideas they agree with or value most. Get started on the Star phase in English or Spanish. 

KING 5's Natalie Swaby visited Midway Elementary School on Wednesday to interview teachers showing support of all students and families through handmade posters and special events.

The Highline Education Association (HEA) has planned special events across the district for students and families as they arrive at school this month with banners and greetings that express to all students that they belong and are loved.

You are invited to give your feedback on high school schedule options designed to help students meet new state graduation requirements. See sample schedules, ask questions and give your input. 

The Highline School Board is sending an unequivocal message of protection and reassurance to all students and families in the district. At its meeting on Wednesday, January 19, the school board adopted a resolution that ensures all students feel safe, welcome, and respected at school.

A copy of the resolution was sent to all families and staff, along with a message from Superintendent Susan Enfield. Read the letter to families and the resolution passed by the school board Wednesday evening: 

Do you know a child who will be five years old on or before August 31? The time to register for kindergarten this fall started January 17. The first 500 families to register will receive two free tickets to the Woodland Park Zoo. Learn about other opportunities if you register now!
 

Please visit your neighborhood school during regular school hours. After the zoo tickets run out, those who register early will receive a new book.

Students begin learning long before they enter kindergarten. A child's first learning experience happens at home, daycare, and preschool. Children who have high-quality early learning are much more likely to be successful in school. With that in mind, we are partnering with local early learning providers to help them get preschool-age students ready for kindergarten.

We are already seeing the benefits of this partnership. Students are assessed in six different areas when they enter kindergarten: physical (gross/fine motor skills), social and emotional, math, literacy, language, and cognitive. This year, 73 percent of our students were kindergarten-ready in five or six areas. That's up from 61 percent four years ago, when we began partnering with early learning providers. 

Highline is working hard to get all students at or above grade level by Grade 3. It's one of our big strategic goals. To get there, we are investing in our teachers and staff. Teachers collaborate, learn together, and share their expertise with each other.

Our kindergarten through third-grade teachers have had opportunities for intensive professional learning, much of it led by teachers supported by our early learning team.

What is important to you? How can we partner to make our schools better? It's time to share your thoughts with us. We want your feedback and ideas for our schools and students.

After you share your ideas, we'll show you what others are saying. You will also find out what is important to our community as a whole. 

Here is what we want to know:

• What are some concerns you have about our school this year?

• What are the things you appreciate about our school this year?

• What are some other things you would like to share about your experience at Highline Public School?

Highline voters approved the sale of $299 million in school construction bonds last November, and today the first set of bonds was sold. The $236.8 million proceeds will fund a majority of the school construction and improvement projects in the bond package, including:

• Electronic door locks for every classroom in the district

• Upgraded video surveillance systems at every school

• Design, permitting, and construction of Olympic interim school

• Design, permitting and initial construction of Highline High School, the new elementary school at Zenith, and the new middle school at Glacier

• Replenishment of the capital fund, which pays for critical needs and emergency repairs

Pause before you post. Think before you type. Share responsibly.

All families and students are invited to our Internet Safety Workshop where you will find out how to stay safe online. This workshop is Tuesday, January 24, from 6:00-7:30 p.m. in the Pacific Middle School cafeteria.

Help us decide between options. A change in Washington graduation requirements will affect the high school class of 2021. We need your feedback now about which class schedule will be best for our high school students in Highline starting in Fall 2018. Learn about the options and take the survey.

Preparing Students for New Graduation Requirements
Washington state has updated requirements for high school graduation. The new Career- and College-Ready Graduation Requirements (also known as Core 24) increase the number of credits needed to graduate.

Check out our online, interactive Annual Report that puts a sharper focus on student progress. The digital tool gives our community the opportunity to dig deep into the data, celebrate our success, and includes videos that tell the stories behind the numbers and goals. 

Use the interactive report to learn more about the types of assessments use to measure student success, examine results broken out by school, see progress over time, and watch videos that tell the story behind Highline’s bold strategic goals.

An innovative after-school program is transforming the lives of our young female students by engaging them in science, technology, and engineering learning. Through role models, hands-on activities, and career exploration, Techbridge is empowering girls to realize their dreams in STEM.

Techbridge has been a partner in Highline since 2014.  The program serves more than 200 students and operates in six elementary schools, two middle schools, and on one high school campus. 

Highline is preparing students for 21st-century careers, by offering cutting-edge computer science courses. Only 40 percent of schools in the U.S. offer computer science, but Highline students can take computer science courses across the district. In an introductory course, Exploring Computer Science, students learn about the fundamentals of computer science.

This week, 40 students at Mount View Elementary will lead their classmates and school in a one-hour introduction to computer programming, commonly called coding.

The students are members of the school's Coding Club. They spend every Thursday afternoon mastering their computer science skills. This week, they will fan out across their school to teach a coding lesson in every classroom.

Nohan Mahgoub with Rep. Mia Gregerson's office meets with students the White Center Heights Vietnamese dual language program. 

Highline's Dual Language program is being recognized as a statewide leader. Representatives from the offices of State Rep. Tina Orwall and Rep. Mia Gregerson toured White Center Heights Elementary to get an up-close look at the dual language program. 

People are taking notice of Highline’s rising graduation rates. On October 20, the Seattle Times published an op-ed by Matt Halvorson praising Superintendent Susan Enfield and Highline’s work to close the achievement gap.