Latest News and Comment from Education

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

12-10-13 Seattle Schools Community Forum

Seattle Schools Community Forum:




West Seattle High Student Fends Off Would-Be Attacker Outside School
From the West Seattle Blog:"1:58 PM: Seattle Police are searching for a man reported to have jumped out of the bushes near the east side of West Seattle High School, in the Walnut/Stevens vicinity. Police say the man was reported to have grabbed the arm of a passing female, who hit him and ran into the school. Police were not able to tell us if she is a student. She was not hurt. The man was

New Seattle Schools PTA/PTO Resource Page
This new webpage at SPS is a welcome addition.  It has an FAQ page (chock-full of info), Building Rentals page and a Contacts page.  The main page, called PTSA/PTO Resources, also has links for forms/documents, policies and procedures and info for various groups/individuals.  I am also glad to see PTOs given the same rank and recognition as PTA/PTSAs.  It's the right thing to do. 
No Grandfathering for Grades 6/7 at Hamilton or Eckstein Next Year
From the Superintendent:Dear Seattle Public Schools families and staff,As many of you know, the Seattle School Board on Nov. 20 approved boundary changes for the 2014-15 school year to help address our growing enrollment and to plan for three new middle schools.We have heard from several families -- especially from parents of 7th grade Hamilton International Middle School APP students and parents

Orca K-8 Shelter in Place; Everything Fine and Under Control
Reader Southpaw reported that Orca K-8 was sheltering in place (somewhere around 1:15 p.m.). The issue was a person - reportedly a 15-year old - who had been shot somewhere else came to the school to see a family member.  The school likely sheltered in place as a precautionary measure. There was no gunman at Orca. No real info on the victim (who it is and where the person came from) but he/she is

Tuesday Open Thread
So no snow in my area so here's hoping yours is dry as well. I received my Seattle Public Library newsletter and wanted to alert readers with high school students about a new scholarship opportunity.  It's the Stim Bullitt Civic Courage Scholarship.  (This is a bequest from the late Stimson Bullitt who supported public libraries.) High school seniors and undergraduate students who live, work or at
12-9-13 Seattle Schools Community Forum
Seattle Schools Community Forum: If You Can't Say Anything NiceI saw that phrase in needlepoint on a pillow once.  I laughed because well, I did find it apt and funny.Now along comes Gawker with a great (and very long article) by Tom Scocca called "On Smarm."  Boy, does it hit a lot of high points with me."Haters", snark, and smarm - he covers them all.  (And he uses Thumper -