Liberty’s Kind Club says no to bullying
February 26, 2013
Liberty High School students Autumn Patten and Jessica Pickering were left fundamentally changed after watching the anti-bullying documentary “Finding Kind” at Issaquah High School last year.
The film explores the “mean girl” phenomenon in schools across the country and shows girls they are not alone should they find themselves feeling bullied or isolated.
By Christina Corrales-Toy
Members of the Liberty High School Kind Club share their highs and lows of the week at a recent meeting of the group that promotes positivity and compassion among high school students.
“Saying the documentary changed my life, it sounds really cliché, but it’s the only way you can express it,” Pickering said.
Fast friends
February 26, 2013
Swim coaches form bond at the pool
By Greg Farrar
Laura Halter (left), Issaquah High School swim coach, and Kris Daughters, her counterpart at Liberty High School, greet each other with a hug as the boys swim meet between the Eagles and Patriots gets underway Jan. 24 at Julius Boehm Pool.
Issaquah and Liberty high school swim coaches Laura Halter and Kris Daughters know firsthand what it is like traversing through the state’s most competitive league year in and year out.
The Eagles’ Halter guides her teams, boys and girls, through the KingCo 4A league, while the Patriots’ Daughters manages in the KingCo 2A/3A league.
Performing Arts Center gets new home
February 26, 2013
The beginning of second semester at Liberty High School brought with it the long-awaited opening of the new Performing Arts Center for classes.
Though construction at Liberty is still in full swing, the opening of the center has radically improved the quality of the drama and music classes.
Veronica Austin
Liberty High School
Band and orchestra classes had been held in portable classrooms that, as senior orchestra member Michael Shaw said, “squandered our musical abilities in multiple ways.”
Liberty student honored for work in Israel
February 19, 2013
Melissa Blue, a senior at Liberty High School, is being recognized by the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards programs as a top youth volunteer.
Sponsored by Prudential in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals, the national program is now in its 18th year and recognizes middle level and high school students for their outstanding community service. Blue is one of six students in Washington and 234 nationwide who were named Distinguished Finalists for their impressive community service activities. Each will receive an engraved bronze medallion.
During her two years at the American International School in Israel, Blue conducted research into environmental hazards to encourage farmers to reduce the use of pesticides.
“When you consider the collective impact of each of these individual acts, it’s clear that young people can be a major force for good,” said JoAnn Bartoletti, executive director of the association.
Learn more at www.spirit.prudential.com.
Engagement: Fenn, Krueger
February 19, 2013
David and Ruth Fenn are happy to announce the engagement of their daughter Lauren, to Jeff Krueger, the son of Doug and Deb Krueger, of Selah.
Fenn, Krueger
Lauren is a 2003 graduate of Liberty High School who lives in West Seattle. Jeff, a 2002 graduate of Selah High School, is a resident of Issaquah. Although they met through a mutual friend, both Lauren and Jeff work for Alaska Airlines.
The couple, together with their families, is planning a September wedding
Final Statement
February 19, 2013
All area high school swimmers win team, individual state titles
By Greg Farrar
Raymond Ha, Liberty High School senior, steps up out of the pool after repeating as 3A state champion in the 100-yard butterfly Feb. 16 at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way.
At the 2013 4A Boys State Swim and Dive Championships, Issaquah High School coach Laura Halter wore a T-shirt with an illustration of purple-and-gold eagle wings on the back. Each feather included the name of one of her swimmers.
It proved to be an appropriate symbol, as it took each swimmer working together to help the Eagles take flight toward a fourth-place finish at state.
Patriots’ wrestlers leave state battered, but better
February 19, 2013
Her face was caked in sweat, her shoulders had mat burns and her nostrils were leaking red. And yet, Joanna Moreira could not stop smiling.
The Liberty High School wrestler had just defeated Angelica Vaschenko, from Franklin Pierce High School, in the second round of consolation at the state tourney in Tacoma. The win, a 12-8 tussle of wills, assured that the 137-pound Patriot from São Paulo, Brazil, would finish better at state than in 2012.
“This is a big accomplishment,” she said. “I wanted to be better than I was last year.”
Joanna Moreira, Liberty High School sophomore, complete with nosebleed, is declared the 10-5 winner over Centralia’s Jenna Gillaspie in her first-round, 137-pound bout during the state 3A wrestling championships Feb. 15 at the Tacoma Dome.
By Greg Farrar
In 2012, a freshman Moreira had lost in the second round of consolation. This year, she finished eighth. A week earlier, she had finished third at regionals in Sedro-Woolley, improving her 2012 performance by one spot.
Saving the best for last
February 19, 2013
Tia Riley closed her gymnastics career on a major upswing, competing in three disciplines and setting personal bests in two.
The Liberty High School senior’s scores in floor and vault at the state meet in Tacoma surpassed all her marks in prep gymnastics, she said.
She did not qualify for finals, but nobody could call her final meet a failure, not her coach who said that two minor mistakes kept Riley from the floor finals, nor Riley herself.
By Greg Farrar
Tia Riley, Liberty High School senior, leaps during her floor routine at the 3A state gymnastics championships in Tacoma.
“I’m happy,” she said. “I’m glad I competed so well in my last meet.”
Liberty grad takes food truck to head of the class
February 12, 2013
Michael Kramer grew up in the kitchen. So, it’s no surprise to his closest family members and friends that his food truck Za’aTar is receiving rave reviews.
As a youngster, if he weren’t entwined in his grandmother’s legs while she was cooking comfort food worthy of any diner, he’d be underfoot while his dad whipped up a pretty mean homestyle Italian meal
What to know
|
Now 22, the Liberty High School graduate said that in looking back, it was perhaps his mother who provided the most memorable life lessons to prepare him for what not to do while running a kitchen.
Contributed
Late-night customers line up for fresh Mediterranean food from the Liberty High School graduate Michael Kramer’s food truck Za’atar Dec. 13 when it set up shop at Second and Pike in downtown Seattle.
“One time when we went camping, she was trying to fry up some potatoes for breakfast when she asked, ‘Why is the oil bubbling up?’” Kramer recalled.
Liberty hosts discussion about prevention
February 12, 2013
Families can learn more about alcohol and drug use among Liberty High School students — plus ways to prevent illegal use and communicate with teenagers — at a community event.
Kevin Haggerty, a faculty member at the University of Washington School of Social Work, is scheduled to present a discussion titled “Teens, Marijuana & Alcohol: Setting the Framework for Healthy Communication” from 7-8:30 p.m. Feb. 28 at the Liberty High School Performing Arts Center, 16655 S.E. 136th St.
