Hundreds down picnic favorites to promote community at barbecue
September 21, 2010
Eighth-grader Nicholas Meinhofer (left) ladles barbecue sauce for a student, in the cafeteria during the annual back-to-school barbecue Sept. 10. Photo by Christopher Huber
PTA volunteers greeted them, handed each a small plate and student leadership class members served pulled pork, coleslaw, root beer floats and other barbecue elements. Read more
Girl Scouts host open houses
September 7, 2010
Local Girl Scout troops are hosting informational meetings or open houses. Learn more by calling 641-1126. Middle and high school troops are welcoming new girls as well. All events are from 7-8 p.m.
Information meetings (all take place in school multipurpose rooms)
-Newcastle Elementary — Sept. 23
-Clark and Issaquah Valley elementary — Sept. 27, Clark multipurpose room
-Apollo Elementary — Sept. 28
-Cougar Ridge and Sunset elementary — Sept. 29, Cougar Ridge multipurpose room
-Briarwood and Maple Hills elementary — Sept. 30, Briarwood multipurpose room Read more
Ideas sprout at ‘green’ schools
August 17, 2010
For many students heading back to school this year, green is the new black.
From the clothes and appliances they buy to the way they conserve energy and recycle waste, green students are infusing their lives with an environmental perspective.
But even students with the greenest of intentions need guidance, and many got it from King County’s Green Schools program. Out of Issaquah’s 25 schools, 10 have participated in the program: Cascade Ridge, Challenger, Clark, Discovery, Endeavour and Newcastle elementary schools, Beaver Lake, Maywood and Pine Lake middle schools and Liberty High School.
Jack Sansing (left) and Katie and Noah Springborn directed their classmates to use the correct bins after lunch as members of Cascade Ridge Elementary's 2009 Green Team. By Christopher Huber
King County Green School began as a pilot program in 2002 and opened to K-12 public and private schools in 2003, Project Manager Dale Alekel said.
Issaquah students turn building into art gallery
July 6, 2010
Avery Felix and Dhara Patel
The Issaquah School District administration building received an artsy makeover June 9.
Five students from across the district submitted masterpieces they created for the annual installation of the Kateri Brow Memorial Student Art Collection. Their art will hang in the building for the next few weeks before being hung in permanent locations.
Each year, district officials ask educators across the district to submit their students’ artwork as recommendations for the collection. The program is designed to encourage students to study and practice the arts.
“Art and art appreciation is a fundamental part of the Issaquah School District educational experience,” Superintendent Steve Rasmussen said in a press release. “Creativity is what brings learning to life, unleashing new ideas and beauty into the world.
“That’s why it is such a privilege to be able to acknowledge our burgeoning student artists and display their work for the community through the Kateri Brow collection.”
The collection began in 1998 as a tribute to former superintendent Brow, who championed school art programs during her tenure, 1986-1992. Private donors created a fund allowing the district to purchase pieces from students for the collection each year.
The artwork and artists are:
- “Beauty Is …,” an acrylic painting on canvas by Issaquah Valley Elementary School second-grader Sabrina Peterson.
- “Within your Heart,” a textile piece by Endeavour Elementary School fifth-grader Avery Felix.
- “Calmness Comes,” a textile piece by Endeavour fifth-grader Dhara Patel.
- “The Melody,” a watercolor painting by Liberty High School junior Kyle Stewart.
- “Paradise,” an acrylic painting on canvas by Skyline High School senior Destiny Whitcomb.
You can view the pieces between 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday-Friday at 565 N.W. Holly St.
King County honors Issaquah’s green schools
June 22, 2010
Issaquah School District schools are lean and green and were honored for being so by King County officials.
King County’s executive, Dow Constantine, and the Department of Natural Resources and Parks honored 65 schools June 14 for their conservation work as part of the county’s Green Schools Program, according to a press release.
Liberty High School, Maywood and Beaver Lake middle schools and Clark, Endeavour and Newcastle elementary schools were each honored.
Since its inception in 2003, the Green Schools Program has helped more than 400 schools provide hands-on assistance and education to put new recycling techniques in action which help save the environment and schools money.
There are two levels of awards county officials gave to Issaquah Schools.
The first level represents schools that have entered the program and initiated or improved their recycling programs by focusing on waste reduction strategies. The second level awards go to schools who also engage in energy conservation techniques, like turning off lights in unoccupied rooms, changing out lighting and water systems for ones with better efficiencies.
Walking for a cure
June 8, 2010
Relay for Life tops $225,000 goal
Above, more than 800 people, on 83 different teams, showed up to walk around the clock and raise money for cancer research at Issaquah’s Relay for Life event June 5 and 6 at Skyline High School. Photos By Chantelle Lusebrink
This year, 813 people ran, walked and wheeled in support of finding a cure for cancer at the annual Issaquah Relay for Life June 5 and 6.
Teachers receive schools foundation grants
April 20, 2010
Issaquah School District educators have received grants to help students achieve big ideas next year.
Issaquah Schools Foundation officials released more than $73,000 in Academic Enrichment Grants to more than 30 educators March 18.
The funding helps bolster programs in classes throughout the district, amid a year when district officials aren’t sure whether state cutbacks will affect their budget.
“School district resources are in short supply for even the basics like new curriculum, much less the extras that help learning really come alive for students,” foundation Executive Director Robin Callahan wrote in an e-mail. “In addition to supporting teachers looking for those enriched learning opportunities for their students, these grants seed innovative programs that often become districtwide initiatives.”
There are two types of grants foundation officials give out, the Kateri Brow Big Idea/Biggest Need Grant and the Classroom Enrichment Grant. Both enable teachers to fulfill educational goals in classrooms throughout the district.
Endeavour students bring history to life
April 20, 2010
Fourth-grader Rose Didcock donned James Cook’s captain’s uniform for the third annual Night at the Museum event. All fourth-graders participate in the culminating project where they create reports, 3-D models and dress in costume to bring state history to life. By Chantelle Lusebrink
Ever wonder what James Cook, the famous Northwest Passage explorer, was like? Or maybe what Meriwether Lewis and William Clark would say about the Pacific Northwest?
Well, at Endeavour Elementary School, they break out the wax historic figures for the one night a year they come to life. Read more
An advocate for arthritis
September 29, 2009
10-year-old named honoree for fundraiser
U.S. Rep. Dave Reichert, Alicia Seidel and her mom Cynthia pose for a photo during Alicia’s lobbying efforts for research funds during the 2009 Arthritis Advocacy Kids Summit in Washington, D.C. Contributed
She swims, she plays soccer and she snowboards. By all accounts, Alicia Seidel is like many other 10-year-olds in the area: There’s just one difference — she has arthritis.
“I’m the only one at my school with arthritis,” said Alicia, an Endeavour Elementary School student.
“A lot of people know about arthritis, but they think it is something you get when you’re old,” said her mother Cynthia Seidel, who was also recently diagnosed with an arthritic condition.
Alicia is one of 294,000 children living with arthritis in the country. But she hasn’t let it slow her down. In fact, because of her determination and her message for research and a cure, she was named the honoree for Bellevue’s second annual Arthritis Foundation Walk Oct. 10. Read more
School district awards Golden Acorns
March 30, 2009
Kimberly Montague (left), Alison Meryweather, Robin Callahan and Ramona Lawrence, and Susan Evans (not pictured), received districtwide PTSA Council Golden Acorn Awards March 24. Contributed
Seventy-five school volunteers and community members were recognized by Issaquah School District’s PTSA council at the annual Golden Acorn Awards at Liberty High School March 24. Read more
