School’s sustainability programs win state award
June 1, 2010
Newcastle Elementary School is the recipient of a $300 grant from the state Department of Ecology, officials announced May 18.
The annual Terry Husseman School Awards program recognizes and rewards schools for their commitment to ongoing sustainable programs, including waste reduction efforts, creating new environmental awareness programs, and developing and implementing innovative curricula.
Newcastle, part of the Issaquah School District, is one of 45 public and private schools from across the state to win an award ranging between $150 and $3,150. More than 70 applications were received.
Newcastle won a Sustainable School Program Award for its ongoing waste reduction and composting program as well as its program to encourage alternative commuting options for energy conservation.
Two other types of awards were given. A Seed Award is given to schools or communities to initiate a new waste reduction or sustainability program and the Creative Environmental Curriculum Award is given to students, teachers or school officials who introduce original curricula to further conservation efforts in schools.
In total, more than $28,000 in funding will be given out.
Funding for the program comes from the Waste Reduction, Recycling, and Litter Control Account, generated by a tax on industries that sell, manufacture, or distribute products and packaging that tend to become litter, a press release said.
See a full list of winners here.
Cascade Ridge Elementary School gets new principal
May 25, 2010
Issaquah School District officials announced May 6 that they had hired a new principal for Cascade Ridge Elementary School.
Natalie Fowler, a program assistant for Cougar Ridge and Newcastle elementary schools, will begin in July. She is also a teacher for the gifted program at Apollo Elementary School.
Cascade Ridge Principal Colleen Shields announced her resignation earlier this spring after her husband was relocated to California.
Fowler has worked in the district for six years. She came to the district after relocating from the Austin, Texas, area, where she worked as a teacher for two years.
She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in textiles and apparel from the University of Texas at Austin, and holds a post-baccalaureate degree in education from there as well.
In her six years with the district, Fowler went back to school to earn her master’s degree in education and educational leadership certification from City University in 2009.
Superintendent Steve Rasmussen wrote in a letter to the community that it was clear from community survey responses that the next Cascade Ridge principal should be a person who builds relationships through honesty, openness and approachability. The next principal also needed to remain committed to helping every student succeed while retaining a unique sense of community, he wrote.
“It’s a tall order — justifiably so — and I believe I have found a match in Principal Fowler,” Rasmussen said. “For the past six years, Principal Fowler has shown tremendous instructional leadership in the Issaquah School District.”
Shields will help Fowler transition into her new role at Cascade Ridge in the coming months.
Newcastle school’s sustainability programs win state award
May 25, 2010
Newcastle Elementary School is the recipient of a $300 grant from the state Department of Ecology, officials announced May 18.
The annual Terry Husseman School Awards program recognizes and rewards schools for their commitment to ongoing sustainable programs, including waste reduction efforts, creating new environmental awareness programs, and developing and implementing innovative curricula.
Newcastle, part of the Issaquah School District, is one of 45 public and private schools from across the state to win an award ranging between $150 and $3,150. More than 70 applications were received.
Newcastle won a Sustainable School Program Award for its ongoing waste reduction and composting program as well as its program to encourage alternative commuting options for energy conservation.
Two other types of awards were given. A Seed Award is given to schools or communities to initiate a new waste reduction or sustainability program and the Creative Environmental Curriculum Award, is given to students, teachers or school officials who introduce original curricula to further conservation efforts in schools.
In total, more than $28,000 in funding will be given out.
Funding for the program comes from the Waste Reduction, Recycling, and Litter Control Account, generated by a tax on industries that sell, manufacture, or distribute products and packaging that tend to become litter, a press release said.
See a full list of winners here.
Newcastle Elementary PTSA hosts unique student fundraisers
May 18, 2010
Rory Brown, a Newcastle Elementary School fourth-grader (front), prepares to send a ball down the lane at the PTSA social at Lucky Strike in Bellevue April 25. Meanwhile, from left, Newcastle fourth-graders Adam Morrison, Mason Vold and Shaan Luthra, and second-graders Drew Blik and Ryker Vold strike a pose for the camera. By Tim Pfarr
The Newcastle Elementary School PTSA hosted two unique, back-to-back fundraisers the weekend of April 24 and 25 — a recycling drive at Lake Boren Park and a social at the Lucky Strike bowling alley at Lincoln Square in Bellevue. Read more
Newcastle Elementary School’s sustainability programs win state award
May 18, 2010
NEW — 3:35 p.m. May 18, 2010
Newcastle Elementary School was the recipient of a $300 grant, the state Department of Ecology announced Tuesday.
The annual Terry Husseman School Awards program recognizes and rewards schools for their commitment to ongoing sustainable programs, including waste-reduction efforts, creating new environmental awareness programs, and developing and implementing innovative curricula, a press release said.
Newcastle, in the Issaquah School District, is one of 45 public and private schools from the state to win an award ranging between $150 and $3,150. More than 70 applications were received.
District hires new Cascade Ridge Elementary School principal
May 6, 2010
NEW — 2:45 p.m. May 6, 2010
Issaquah School District officials announced Thursday that they had hired a new principal for Cascade Ridge Elementary School.
Natalie Fowler, a program assistant for Cougar Ridge and Newcastle elementary schools, will begin in July. She is also a gifted teacher at Apollo Elementary School.
Cascade Ridge Principal Colleen Shields announced her resignation earlier this spring after her husband was relocated to California.
Fowler has worked in the district for six years at the three schools. She came to the district after relocating from the Austin, Texas, area, where she worked as a teacher for two years.
She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in textiles and apparel from the University of Texas at Austin, and holds a post-baccalaureate degree in education from UT as well.
In her six years with the district, Fowler went back to school to earn her master’s degree in education and educational leadership certification from City University in 2009.
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.
Dr. Seuss helps make reading fun for students
March 16, 2010
Liberty High School senior Alexis Court and Alexander Munson (above) enjoy the annual Read Across America Read Aloud, held March 4 to coincide with the birthday of ‘The Cat in the Hat’ author Dr. Seuss. Below, elementary students and their families from Apollo, Briarwood, Maple Hills and Newcastle attended the event. Contributed
With more than 300 students reading, March 4 was a night at Liberty High School to do Dr. Seuss proud — after all, it was the famed author’s birthday
Newcastle Elementary School principal moves to Grand Ridge next year
February 8, 2010
NEW — 11:07 a.m. Feb. 8, 2010
Newcastle Elementary School Principal Christy Otley recently announced that she will transfer to Grand Ridge Elementary School in the Issaquah Highlands at the end of the school year.
Otley, who has been at Newcastle Elementary since it opened, announced the news in a letter.
“For the past six years, this school community has been such a family to me,” Otley wrote in her resignation letter. “I am following an important life lesson that we try to teach all of our students: Challenge and change are often necessary for growth and fresh perspectives.”
Issaquah School District officials created a survey to help in selecting a new principal for Newcastle Elementary. Take the survey here by 4 p.m. Feb. 23.
District’s newest school named Creekside Elementary
December 15, 2009
Creekside Elementary School as seen from the northeast, with the main entrance at left and classrooms at right. By Issaquah School District
The Issaquah School District’s 15th elementary school finally has a name.
Creekside Elementary School, 20777 S.E. 16th St., Sammamish, will open in fall 2010 for students on the Sammamish Plateau near Pine Lake.
The school board unanimously voted on the name at its Dec. 9 regular business meeting.
The Chang family, of Sammamish, couldn’t be more thrilled with the choice, since it was their submission, Melody Chang said.
Jesse and Melody Chang’s two daughters, Emma, 7, and Erin, 4, will attend the school.
“When the community was asked to submit names, we came up with the name Creekside because it was simple, yet true to the area,” Melody Chang said. “We think it is indicative of the surrounding area and the nurturing environment that the elementary school has such an important role in playing.” Read more
