“Wednesdays with WCELI,” a free parental educational gathering, will be meeting again this Wednesday, Aug. 18th from 9am – 10am at the Educate Early Learning Center, located at 625 SW 100th Street, next to White Center Heights Elementary School.

Here are the details:

WHAT: “Wednesdays with WCELI” meeting.

WHEN: Wednesday, Aug. 18th from 9am – 10am.

WHERE: Educare Early Learning Center, next to White Center Heights Elementary at 625 SW 100th St. Seattle, WA 98146.

INFO: From a flier:

Join other parents over coffee/tea to discuss topics and resources in early learning.

Make it Fun! Watch Them Learn!

Get Ready for Kindergarten!

What you can do to make sure your child is ready for school.

• Coffee/tea and light morning refreshments provided
• Children welcome; activities provided for ages 2 – 5

Questions? Call (206) 716-8855.

The White Center Eagles have breakfast every Sunday from 9am – Noon, and this Sunday (July 25) they’ll be doing a fundraiser to help “Stuff the Bus” for WestSide Baby – bring in a package of diapers and you’ll get $2 off.

Most breakfasts are regularly $6 and that includes coffee and juice.  It is open to the public and kids are welcome.

Here are the details:

WHAT: “Stuff the Bus” fundraiser for WestSide Baby

WHEN: Sunday, July 25th, 9am – Noon

WHERE: White Center Eagles Hall, located at 10452 15th Avenue SW; (206) 248-1400‎

The Highline Public Schools recently held a district-wide food drive for the first time this year, bringing in 6,365 pounds of food and over $2,400 in cash, with all proceeds going to three area food banks: White Center, Des Moines, and Highline Food Banks.

“It’s a great start,” said White Center Food Bank’s Resource Coordinator Audrey Zemke. “Now that we have the basics in place, I’m excited to see what we can do next year!”

And, according to the Highline School District, they definitely will do it again next year.

Here is a breakdown of the results, by area:

The White Center Food Bank received a total of 2,297 pounds of food and $39.00.

• 561 pounds of food from Cedarhurst Elementary
• 320 pounds of food from the Honor Society at Evergreen High School
• 1,237 pounds of food & $15.00 from Hazel Valley Elementary
• 100 pounds of food & $24.00 from ERAC
• 79 pounds of food from Shorewood Elementary

The Highline Area Food Bank received a total of 2,684 pounds of food and $365.00.

• 943 pounds of food from Gregory Heights Elementary
• 461 pounds of food from CHOICE
• 239 pounds of food from Highline High School
• 511 pounds of food and $160.00 from Transportation
• 530 pounds of food from Facilities
• $205.00 from ERAC

The Des Moines Area Food Bank received a total of 1,384 pounds of food and $2,003.93.

• 1,384 pounds of food from Parkside Elementary.
• $1,805.00 from Des Moines Elementary’s penny drive
• $140.00 from ERAC

B-Town Blog Advertiser West Seattle Montessori School would like to let our Readers know that they will be hosting a Plant Sale this Saturday, May 1, from 9am to 2pm, with plants for sale grown in their own greenhouse.

West Seattle Montessori is located at 11215 15th Ave SW, Seattle.

“We would like to invite the entire community to come out and purchase plants grown from our greenhouse,” said Tara Requa, spokesperson for the school.

“There will be a coffee cart and lots of plant selection!” Tara told us. “Veggies and flowers both!”

From their website:

The sale includes: fruit and vegetables, flowering bedding plants, free potting soil, a Master Gardener on hand to answer questions, a Mother’s day craft table for kids, an espresso bar and bake sale, and entertainment from some of our middle schoolers. We will also be offering a membership to the “Friends of the Greenhouse” where for a one time annual fee supporters will receive a first option of purchasing special hybrid fruit and vegetables before the day of the plant sale, a discount on holiday wreaths, a biannual newsletter, their name on a scroll in the Greenhouse and more!

We hope to see you there!

West Seattle Montessori School
11215 15th Ave SW
Seattle, WA 98146
(206) 935-0427

Website: www.westseattlemontessori.com

Westside School, technically located in Arbor Heights, but close enough to White Center to be considered “local,” is in negotiations with the Seattle Public School District to lease the historic E.C. Hughes School building at 7740 34th Ave SW, with hopes of starting the 2010-11 school year there in the fall.

“All the lease options for the inventoried Seattle Public School buildings were presented at the School Board meeting last night, and the vote will take place May 5th,” said Jana Riggin, Westside’s Director of Marketing & Development.

Here’s more info provided by Jana:

Westside School has put in a proposal to lease the E.C. Hughes building on 7740 34th Ave SW, and hopes to start the 2010-2011 school year in this new location.

Westside has been growing since 2006, and has outgrown its current location at 10015 28th Ave SW. Portable buildings have been the short-term solution, but the school is excited about this new building that has enough square feet to meet all its current program needs.

Next year, Westside will have about 230 students, grades preschool – 5th, and has not only run out of classroom space but also room for other important programs like PE, music and art. Currently, Westside shares its space with another independent, private middle school and both schools need more room.

The move to E.C. Hughes will give the needed space for all day PE classes, office space for our Spanish and Chinese teachers, and classrooms for music and art while allowing every classroom to be in one building and bring our community together.

Westside School’s current location goes back to 1993, when they made a deal with the Highline School District to take over the former North Shorewood School on 28th Avenue SW.

And now, like the 230 young kids they teach, they’re growing again.

On a personal note, Hazel Schaefer, grandmother of Publisher/Editor Scott Schaefer, once taught Kindergarten at E.C. Hughes, and if all goes according to plan, Schaefer’s own daughter will be attending school this fall in that very same building.

[PHOTO CREDIT: Joe Mabel, Wikimedia Commons]

The future of New Futures, a local non-profit educational center for low-income children, youth and family, is now in the hands of Mario Paredes (pictured, left), its new Executive Director, who will start June 1st.

New Futures has a facility in Arbor Heights, so Paredes will likely be working with local White Center families.

“I greatly look forward to working together with New Futures’ families and with schools, along with New Futures’ many other community partners, to reduce educational disparities and ensure that all children and youth are able to thrive,” Paredes said in a statement.

Paredes is a “longtime, highly respected community leader in Washington State,” according to a press release, and currently serves as the executive director of Consejo Counseling and Referral Service, an agency that provides culturally competent services to underserved Latino communities, especially families with children. Under Mario’s leadership over the past 12 years, Consejo has grown from a local agency with a $2.2 million annual budget to a statewide agency with a $6 million annual budget. In addition, Mario has led two successful multi-million-dollar capital campaigns during his tenure there. As a result, Consejo has been able to greatly expand its programming and extend its reach to better serve hundreds of low-income, immigrant families in our region.

Paredes will have his coming out party at New Futures’ Get Inspired! Benefit Breakfast on Wednesday, May 5, at the Washington State Convention Center (see poster below). For tickets, or for more information, click here.

According to their website:

New Futures’ mission is to partner with families to create communities where children thrive. Our integrated, culturally relevant programs build skills, foster connectedness, and promote strengths. We operate vibrant community learning centers at four low-income apartment complexes in South King County, providing on-site children and youth, family, and community-building programs for nearly 1,600 people, and positively impacting all of the approximately 4,000 people who live in these communities.

New Futures’ sites include:

• Arbor Heights in White Center
• The Heights at Burien (formerly Vintage Park) in Burien
• Windsor Heights in SeaTac
• Woodridge Park in Boulevard Park

More info on New Futures is available at their website.

Here’s the press release in its entirety:

It is with great pleasure that the New Futures Board of Directors announces that Mario Paredes will join New Futures as our new executive director on June 1, 2010.

A longtime, highly respected community leader in Washington State, Mario is currently the executive director of Consejo Counseling and Referral Service, an award-winning agency that provides culturally competent services to underserved Latino communities, especially families with children. Under Mario’s leadership over the past 12 years, Consejo has grown from a local agency with a $2.2 million annual budget to a statewide agency with a $6 million annual budget. In addition, Mario has led two successful multi-million-dollar capital campaigns during his tenure there. As a result, Consejo has been able to greatly expand its programming and extend its reach to better serve hundreds of low-income, immigrant families in our region.

Mario brings to New Futures a proven track record of successful management, effective advocacy, and strategic coalition building. In recognition of his leadership, both Mario and Consejo have received numerous honors. Mario currently serves on the boards of the Minority Executive Directors Coalition, Washington Community Action Network, and the Casa de Esperanza National Advisory Board, and is a former board president of the King County Coalition Against Domestic Violence. He earned a masters degree in Non-Profit Management from Seattle University and a bachelor’s degree in Human Services from Western Washington University. As an immigrant to the United States from El Salvador, Mario brings a deep understanding of the challenges facing the children, youth and families in New Futures’ programs.

We are thrilled to welcome Mario to New Futures, and he is excited to join our team as well.

“I greatly look forward to working together with New Futures’ families and with schools, along with New Futures’ many other community partners, to reduce educational disparities and ensure that all children and youth are able to thrive.”

You will have an opportunity to meet Mario at New Futures’ Get Inspired! Benefit Breakfast on Wednesday, May 5, at the Washington State Convention Center. If you haven’t already made your breakfast reservation, please do join us that day in welcoming Mario to New Futures. And if you have made your reservation, please forward this great news to others and encourage them to join us on May 5 to welcome Mario.

The inaugural “Be a PAL” Luncheon, which will serve as a fundraiser for King County’s Police Activities League (PAL) boxing facility in White Center, will be Tuesday, June 1st at The Golf Club at Newcastle from 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

The featured keynote speaker will be Senator Patty Murray.

Other guests scheduled include Congressman Dave Reichert, Attorney General Rob McKenna and Tina Hendrix of The Hendrix Music Academy (yes, that Hendrix family!).

Here are the details:

WHAT: White Center Police Activities League (PAL) Fundraiser Luncheon

WHEN: Tuesday, June 1st from 11:30am – 1pm

WHERE: The Golf Club at Newcastle, located at 15500 Six Penny Lane in Newcastle.

INFO: Mimi Jung of King 5 News and King County Sheriff Sue Rahr will co-emcee the luncheon as they welcome everyone to this exciting event, including former defensive end and linebacker Joe Tafoya, other current and former Seattle Seahawks and a few surprise guests.

“PAL programs provide positive intervention in the lives of young people who are at risk,” said King County Sheriff Sue Rahr. “Police officers want to do all they can to help kids before they get in trouble and PAL assists them in this goal.”

Visit the Be a PAL Luncheon page here for more details, or for information about the event, sponsorship, underwriting and advertising opportunities, contact Laurie Perkins at (206) 922-2069 or via email at laurie@kingcountypal.com.

Story & Photos by Michael Brunk

Four years ago Washington State launched a project designed to bolster early childhood education by preparing preschoolers for kindergarten. Thrive by Five, a public-private partnership, was chartered to carry the plan forward.

On Saturday, March 27, the most visible product of the White Center Early Learning Initiative was revealed to the public with the grand opening of the new Educare Early Learning Center at 625 SW 100th Street in White Center.

Educare will provide full-day, full-year preschool and child care for 32 infants and toddlers and 102 preschool children ages three to five. Additional programs are available that provide services and support to parents and professional development opportunities for early learning providers.

The new learning center – part of a network of ten similar centers across the country – is supported in part by grants from Thrive by Five and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. It will serve as a pilot project to test new approaches to early learning. If successful, the goal is to eventually replicate what is learned in the White Center project statewide.

Saturday’s dedication was well attended by politicians, business leaders, local educators and members of the community. After speeches and a ribbon cutting, the large crowd took advantage of the opportunity to tour the beautiful new 44,000 square foot facility. The building is LEED Certified for its environmentally positive design, and features natural light, airy classrooms, common areas and ample work space for staff members.

The children in attendance enjoyed art and music projects in the classrooms and spent time testing the outdoor play areas.

While it will take time to determine what affect this investment will have on education in Washington State, judging from the enthusiastic response of the children, the Educare Early Learning Center is already grabbing the attention of their future clientele.

Here’s a Photo Slideshow of the day’s events:

Click to View Michael Brunk’s Photo Slideshow

On Friday (March 26), Seattle’s KUOW-FM Radio did a story on the White Center’s new Educare Learning Center (opening Saturday; details here), calling it a “cutting edge” childcare facility.

It’s worth a listen, especially if you have kids and are considering utilizing this new facility.

Check it out here.

Also, don’t forget the Grand Opening is Saturday starting at 1pm – full details are here.

A group of local middle and high school students from Camp Fire USA have received a $1,000 grant from UnitedHealth HEROES for a new service-learning project focusing on Latino obesity called “Estamos Bien de Salud.”

The grant will give this 15+ member youth group the opportunity to learn about important local Latino health issues by meeting with nutrition experts, physical education instructors and public health officials. From there, the youth will be tasked with creating effective programs as well as developing bilingual educational materials to address important health issues that directly affect their communities, including White Center.

The students will kick-off their campaign at this Saturday’s Grand Opening of the Educare Center in White Center (625 SW 100th St. Seattle, WA 98146), and their project will be implemented during spring semester.

Here’s a press release:

SEATTLE ORGANIZATION RECEIVES GRANT TO HELP PREVENT CHILDHOOD OBESITY

UnitedHealth HEROES grants supports innovative Washington program to help children get and stay healthy

Washington grant part of national effort to help fund schools and community organizations

HEROES program is a community-based, service-learning initiative in collaboration with Youth Service America

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) has awarded a $1,000 grant to a Seattle nonprofit seeking to develop a creative program aimed at preventing childhood obesity in the state. Camp Fire USA, one of the nation’s leading nonprofit youth development organizations, received a $1,000 grant for its “Estamos Bien de Salud” program in the Seattle area.

The program will work with more than a dozen Seattle-area Latino middle and high school to create an interactive program that raises awareness about obesity and eating disorders among Spanish-speaking family members and classmates. The participating students will first assess the health of the local Latino community, meeting with nutrition experts, physical education instructors and public health officials. The students will then create an interactive presentation and perform it for their families and their peers in Seattle and South King County on April 23, which is Global Youth Service Day.

The HEROES program is especially important in Washington, where approximately 30 percent of Washington children ages 10‐17 years are considered overweight or obese, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

“With UnitedHealthcare HEROES, young people in Washington have the wonderful opportunity to not only improve their overall health and quality of life, but the health of their peers as well,” said David Hansen, CEO for UnitedHealthcare’s Northwest Region. “This program gives youth in our community the opportunity to learn about important health issues and create effective, engaging programs that address these issues.”

The HEROES service-learning projects are implemented during the spring semester and will culminate on YSA’s 21st Annual Global Youth Service Day (GYSD), April 23-25, 2010. GYSD provides an opportunity for students to include their projects in a larger, global youth service movement that seeks to improve communities in all 50 states and more than 100 countries.

UnitedHealth Group collaborated with Youth Service America (YSA) to develop the UnitedHealth HEROES program. To date, UnitedHealth Group and YSA have awarded more than $250,000 in grants. A list of all the 2009-2010 grant winners will be available online at www.ysa.org.

Obesity is a critical problem in America. According to the 2009 America’s Health Rankings™, if left unchecked or untreated, obesity will affect 43 percent of adults by 2018 and will add nearly $344 billion in that year alone to the nation’s annual direct health care costs, accounting for more than 21 percent of health care spending. America’s Health Rankings is an annual comprehensive assessment of the nation’s health on a state-by-state analysis. It is published jointly by United Health Foundation, the American Public Health Association and Partnership for Prevention.

More information about the UnitedHealth HEROES program and service-learning is available at www.ysa.org.

About Youth Service America
Youth Service America seeks to improve communities by increasing the number and diversity of young people, ages 5-25, serving in important roles. Founded in 1986, YSA is an international nonprofit resource center that partners with thousands of organizations in more than 100 countries to expand the impact of the youth service movement with families, communities, schools, corporations and governments. For more information: www.ysa.org.

About UnitedHealth Group
UnitedHealth Group is a diversified health and well-being company dedicated to making health care work better. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minn., UnitedHealth Group offers a broad spectrum of products and services through six operating businesses: UnitedHealthcare, Ovations, AmeriChoice, OptumHealth, Ingenix, and Prescription Solutions. Through its family of businesses, UnitedHealth Group serves more than 70 million individuals nationwide.

The tenth Educare Center in the U.S. has its grand opening in White Center this Saturday, March 27th beginning with a ceremony at 1pm and children’s activities from 2pm – 4pm.

It will be held at the Educare Early Learning Center, located at 625 SW 100th Street.

The entire White Center community and supporters of the Educare Center, including children and families, caregivers, funders, partners, educators, builders and state and local leaders are all invited to celebrate the grand opening of the Educare Early Learning Center.

Schedule:

• 1:00-1:45 pm – Ceremony: Opening Remarks and Recognitions
• 2:00-4:00 pm – Open House: Tours and Activities for Children and Families

The Educare Early Learning Center is located at 625 SW 100th St. Seattle, WA 98146. Click here for a map and driving directions.

From their website:

This is the 10th Educare Center in the United States, providing the highest quality early learning experiences for children and families.

Educare is part of the White Center Early Learning Initiative (WCELI), a partnership of community members and public and private organizations working to create comprehensive child development and family support services that reflect the diverse cultures, strengths, and needs of White Center families. WCELI provides education and support for parents, caregivers, and child care and early learning staff to help ensure that all children in the community begin school ready to succeed. The partnership is supported by grants from Thrive by Five Washington and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

The Highline School Board voted unanimously Wednesday night (Mar. 3rd) to move ahead with a federal grant application that would require major changes at White Center’s Cascade Middle School, as well as SeaTac’s Chinook Middle School.

Cascade Middle School is located at 11212 10th Avenue SW in White Center.

Here are more details from a press release sent to us:

The grant opportunity is part of new federal regulations that identify high-poverty schools with large numbers of struggling students. In order to get the funds, districts must agree to restructure the schools by next fall.

Last week, a team of 45 people, including teachers, central office staff, parents, and community partners, gathered for a two-day summit to begin formulating a restructuring plan. Sarah Weir of the White Center Community Development Association, one of the community partners to participate on the planning team, said she left the summit “feeling really optimistic about the passion and commitment of the people who serve our kids.”

“We recognize the need for school reform. We believe all students are capable of reaching their dreams, and we’re excited about the possibilities these changes will mean for our students,” said Chinook teacher Amber Larson. She emphasized that “school staff, central office leaders, the school board, and parents all hold responsibility and need to work together to make changes.”

Theresa Carlson, Cascade teacher and vice-president of the Highline Education Association, agreed, “We need to start climbing this mountain and taking some risks. We are all in this together.”

The school board endorsed the planning team’s outline and directed the district to submit the federal grant application on Friday. Elements of the plan include:

• Increasing accountability of the school board, central office administrators, and parents, as well as teachers; and giving a senior administrator authority to make bold decisions to support the schools.
• Increasing involvement of parents and community organizations in the schools through two-way communication, bi-lingual staff, parent advisory teams, and other means.
• Developing new ways of evaluating staff and providing meaningful incentives for staff and administrators.
• Rethinking the way school is delivered, such as trying innovative ways of structuring the school day.
• Use strategies that have been successful in other high-poverty, highly diverse schools, such as adjusting schools schedules to provide more learning time.
• Setting ambitious goals for student improvement and expecting all students to become prepared for post-high school education and the workplace.

The planning team also calls for the school district to support the restructuring plans through policy, technical assistance, commitment from the school board, and creation of a plan to sustain the changes beyond the life of the three-year grant.

Superintendent John Welch told the school board the plan “builds on the great work that is already happening at Chinook and Cascade.”

The federal accountability program requires school districts to choose one of four restructuring models:

• Closure: Close the school and send students to other schools in the district. The school board ruled out this option for Chinook and Cascade because other middle schools do not have room to accommodate all students.
• Restart: Open the school under a third party education management organization. This option was also rejected since charter schools are not allowed in Washington and the state has not issued a list of approved third parties.
• Turnaround: replace principal and at least 50% of staff. This option was also eliminated.
• Transformation: Replace the principal, reform the instructional model, develop teacher evaluations with student growth as a factor, increase community engagement, and extend learning time.

The school board decided last week to use the “transformation” model at both schools.

Highline Superintendent Welch acknowledges that the four federal models take a narrow approach to improving student achievement.

“The models imply that sole responsibility for getting middle school students to grade level is with the middle school teachers and principals,” said Welch. “We know there are other issues that need to be addressed—in elementary schools, in our system as a whole, and in the community. Still, this is an opportunity to gain some resources we haven’t had before to tackle issues at the middle school level.”

The school district expects to know by March 26 if the funds will be granted. The money could start flowing to the schools by April. If that happens, teachers would start professional development this summer. There could also be summer programs for incoming 7th graders. The schools would open in September with the changes in place.

King County Parks has officially unveiled what they consider a “very groovy” new playground at White Center’s Steve Cox Memorial Park, which is located at 1321 SW 102nd Street.

Here’s the verbiage taken directly from the county’s website:

The new playground at Steve Cox Memorial Park in White Center is now officially OPEN!

Featuring some very groovy Scandinavian-designed equipment for kids aged 2-5 and 5-12, there are slides, swings, and lots of spinny things.

And of course, safety surfacing so you don’t get hurt when you fall down and go boom.

Enjoy!

As you may recall, Steve Cox was the King County Sheriff’s officer who was was killed in White Center in the line of duty in December of 2006. Formerly White Center Park, the park was re-opened in Cox’ honor in 2007.

Here’s a pic of the “very groovy” playground, courtesy King County Parks:

The Salvation Army has a youth basketball league called “HYPE,” and tryouts for 4th through 8th graders will begin Tuesday, March 9th at the Salvation Army Community Center, which is located at 9020 16th Ave SW in White Center.

This is a competitive basketball league, and is meant to provide kids with an athletic outlet to develop both teamwork and leadership in a competitive, healthy environment.

Here are details on the tryouts:

WHAT: Salvation Army HYPE Basketball League.

WHEN: Open tryouts will be:

4th, 5th, and 6th Grade:

• Tuesday March 9th – 5:30pm to 7:00pm
• Thursday March 11th – 5:30 to 7:00pm

7th and 8th Grade:

• Tuesday March 9th – 7:00pm to 8:30pm
• Thursday March 11th – 7:00pm to 8:30pm

WHERE: Tryouts will be held at the Salvation Army Community Center, which is located at 9020 16th Ave SW in White Center.

INFO: For more information, contact Sean or Charles (206) 767-3150 ext 113.

The Museum of Flight is holding an Engineering Fair this weekend, which will include the 15th Annual Popsicle Bridge Contest, which will be held Saturday, Feb. 13th from 8am to 5pm.

High School engineering students will be tasked with creating bridges made entirely of Popsicle sticks and white glue, which to us sounds like a lot of fun (especially if they have to eat a lot of Popsicles beforehand to prepare).

Perhaps the winner of this contest can help fix the deteriorating South Park Bridge just down the hill?

Here are the details:

WHAT: Engineering Fair & the 15th Annual Popsicle Bridge Contest

WHEN: Saturday, Feb 13th from 8:00am-5:00pm

WHERE: William M. Allen Theater at the Museum of Flight, located at 9404 East Marginal Way South in Seattle; Phone: 206.764.5720

INFO: From the Museum of Flight’s website:

The Younger Member Forum of the American Society of Civil Engineers will put on a competition of bridges built using only Popsicle sticks and white glue. Each year teams of high school students from local schools build bridges that are strong, efficient, as well as aesthetically pleasing. The bridges will be judged and then tested to failure with a hydraulic press. Be sure to be in the room as each bridge snaps and broken Popsicle sticks fly everywhere. At 12:00 noon the winners will be announced and prizes will be awarded.

In the Museum’s Side Gallery, the Puget Sound Engineering Council will celebrate the annual National Engineers Week with an Engineering Fair. Local chapters of national societies representing the entire span of engineering disciplines will staff booths all day where those interested in engineering careers can learn more about the exciting opportunities available. Several university engineering departments and student clubs will also be represented.

Here’s a video about the Popsicle bridge competition:

Story & Photos by Janet Grella

Highline Schools Foundation for Excellence celebrated their major donors and board participants at a special awards luncheon at The House Restaurant in Burien on Wednesday, Feb. 10th.

According to Holly Moore, Foundation Executive, the luncheon was made possible by an Anonymous Donor’s $2,000 gift.

Chef Will and hostess Stephanie prepared and served a four-course meal to 39 guests, while Board President Maya Mendoza-Exstrom, Highline Superintendent John Welch and the Foundation’s Holly Moore awarded five couples for their personal and financial support to the Foundation over the 10-years since the Foundation was started.

In the first of what will be an annual event plaques of appreciation were give to:

• Eric and Suzanne Aasness
• Sandra and Denny Eliason
• Tom and Leann Russell
• Nanci Tangeman and Chris Blumenthal
• Sharon and David Wilson (who were acknowledged posthumosly for their long-term support Highline Schools Foundation)

Ms. Moore also shared a “traveling plaque” with the audience that included the recipient’s names. It will be displayed at various schools throughout the Highline School system.

Superientendent Welch noted the good efforts and commitments of the Highline Schools Foundation, and their funding of programs during these “challenging financial times.” He particularly called attention to the arts and athletics support given by the foundation.

If you are interested in donating to or learning more about Highline Schools Foundation for excellence, click here.

Here’s Janet Grella’s Photo Slideshow of the event:

Click to View Janet Grella’s Photo Slideshow