Showing posts with label shoreline schools. Show all posts
Showing posts with label shoreline schools. Show all posts

School district to hold online community budget meetings - open to all

Friday, September 20, 2024

Superintendent Susana Reyes and Assistant Superintendent
of Business and Operations Angela Von Essen 

As Shoreline School District works to address the budget emergency that they face for the 2024-25 school year and beyond, they are holding a series of community budget meetings that are open to families, students, staff, and community members. 

All meetings will be held via Zoom with an opportunity for Q&A by attendees.

Superintendent Susana Reyes and Assistant Superintendent of Business and Operations Angela Von Essen will share:
  • Budget Emergency Key Points
  • Four-Year General Fund Budget Forecast
  • Where Does the Money Come From?
  • Where Does the Money Go?
  • Compensation and Staffing
  • Enrollment Projections
  • Budget Alignment Options
  • Strategic Plan Guidance
Community Budget Meeting Schedule

Monday, September 23
6:00 - 7:00pm

Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 898 4468 4283
Passcode: 197506
Dial-In Phone Numbers: 1-253-215-8782 or 1-669-900-6833

Thursday, September 26
5:00 - 6:00 pm

Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 881 5288 5227
Passcode: 313956
Dial-In Phone Numbers: 1-253-215-8782 or 1-669-900-6833

Tuesday, October 1
7:00 - 8:00 pm

Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 879 6267 9322
Passcode: 428751
Dial-In Phone Numbers: 1-253-215-8782 or 1-669-900-6833

The district is committed to maintaining the high-quality educational services that students deserve while exploring how to achieve the budget alignment they need. In good faith to our community, district leadership and the School Board will continue to work toward a balanced budget that limits the impact on students.

Learn more here


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Events at Ridgecrest Books: Banned Book Sale to benefit Ridgecrest Elementary and author event on September 22, 2024

Friday, September 13, 2024

Ridgecrest Books aat 512 NE 165th, Shoreline WA 98155, celebrates Banned Books week with a benefit for the Ridgecrest Elementary Library.

Purchased banned books September 22 - 28, 2024 and the store will donate 20% of the sale to the school library.

Then, on Sunday September 22 from 7-8pm meet authors Jane Wong and Lucy Tan for a discussion and book signing.


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Shorewood Drama chosen for nationwide grant to produce 'The Unsinkable Molly Brown'

Thursday, September 5, 2024


Shorewood Drama has been chosen for a nationwide grant through MTI Shows, Educational Theatre Association, and Molly Brown and Meredith Wilson estate to produce "The Unsinkable Molly Brown."

The program is one of only 16 schools nationwide to receive this, and just 1 of 3 on the west coast!

Shorewood Drama will perform "The Unsinkable Molly Brown" April 4-6 and 8-12, 2025.

The grant criteria are to "weave important themes of women's rights, labor rights, and immigration, as well as Molly Brown's historical significance and community-mindedness, into both the students' creative process and the audience's experience of this production."

Congratulations to Drama Teacher Amy Pottinger and the Shorewood Drama students for this amazing honor!


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School starts today - drive carefully around school walk routes and bus stops

Tuesday, August 27, 2024

Photo by Steven H. Robinson

Today, August 27, 2024 is the first day of school for Shoreline Schools.

Children will be walking to school, and waiting at school bus stops. 

In cities with few sidewalks, roadside ditches, hilly twisting roads - and inattentive and impatient drivers - just getting to school can be a dangerous activity.

Be aware, put your phone down, and keep your eyes on the road. 

And remember that you don't get to pass a school bus with its "Stop" paddle out.

--Diane Hettrick


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Capital Projects update from Shoreline Schools

Friday, August 23, 2024

Aldercrest (Cascade K-8 and Home Education Exchange) Field

From Shoreline Schools

As we enter this exciting back-to-school time of year, we are happy to share updates on the projects that you’ve seen in and around our school buildings in recent months.

These projects are all funded entirely or in large part by bonds that the voters of the City of Shoreline and the City of Lake Forest Park voted to approve. 

We are thankful to the local community for their continued support of the structural foundations that literally make learning happen in our schools.

What is a Capital Project?

Capital projects are large-scale, long-term projects that involve building new facilities or making significant improvements to existing ones. Capital projects are often permanent structural changes that are intended to increase the value of an asset, extend its life, or improve its capabilities. 

A school district’s Capital Projects (CP) fund is separate from their General Fund; money from CP cannot be spent on school operations, staffing, or materials.

Reminder: School starts this year on Tuesday August 27, 2024.


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Shoreline Schools start classes Tuesday August 27, 2024

Thursday, August 22, 2024

By Diane Hettrick

This is the first time in years that school has started before Labor Day. 

The last time it happened a lot of families were caught flat-footed. They had made vacation plans, assuming they would have Labor Day weekend before school started.

I talked to one mom who had planned her wedding for the end of August.

Don't assume that people have seen the notices. Mention it to anyone with school aged kids and particularly to people who are new to Shoreline or have kindergartners.



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Hillwood Neighborhood Association project to restore Einstein Salmon now underway

Saturday, August 17, 2024

This explanatory poster is now attached to the vacant pole where the fiberglass salmon has been on the corner plaza at 3rd Ave NW & NW 195th St in Shoreline. The first salmon, the female Coho, will reappear there when it's restored. The male Coho will be next.
Photo by HannahJunePhotography

Hillwood Neighborhood Association (HNA) has begun the process of restoring the iconic fiberglass salmon installed on the corner plaza at Einstein Middle School at 3rd NW & NW 195th in Hillwood Neighborhood.

The fish are owned by Shoreline Schools who have given HNA permission to remove the fish and take them off-site for restoration work.

After safely moving the salmon to the work site, HNA board members Paul Lewing, Kim Brazell (with back to the camera), Jocelyn C. Asher and volunteer Rick Asher discuss the paint removal process. Photo by HannahJunePhotography

Research for this project began at the end of 2022.

In July of 2024, the City of Shoreline approved the funding for the restoration through a Neighborhood Mini-Grant. The project has now begun!

HNA board member Kim Brazell and volunteer Rick Asher transport the first salmon to a carefully cushioned van for the ride to where it will undergo cleaning, repairing, and painting.
Photo by HannahJunePhotography

Once the work is done, the salmon will be reinstalled and dedicated in a public ceremony in October 2024.

If you would like to help with the project, contact Hillwood at myHillwoodmail@gmail.com

The Hillwood webpage will be active later this month.


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LFP Police: Be cautious in school zones

Thursday, August 15, 2024

Photo by Steven H. Robinson
A friendly reminder from Lake Forest Park Police:

The new school term begins in two weeks on Tuesday, August 27th. Please be aware that school zone cameras will be active Monday through Friday during the hours of 7:30am to 9:30am and 2:30pm to 4:30pm.

On Wednesdays with early release, the camera times will adjust to 7:30am to 9:30am and 1:00pm to 2:30pm. Half Day enforceable times are 7:30am to 9:30am and 11:00am to 12:30pm.

Photo by Steven H. Robinson
We kindly ask that you remain extra cautious when driving through school zones, keeping a sharp lookout for pedestrians and school buses. 

Be prepared for potential delays during drop-off and pick-up times.

We sincerely appreciate your patience and dedication to keeping our children safe. 

While we may not always be able to respond to social media posts, please don't hesitate to contact us at 206-364-8216 with any questions.


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School starts in two weeks

Shoreline Schools start classes in two weeks, on Tuesday, August 27, 2024. (Where did summer go?)

Do you know anyone in your neighborhood, around the community, or in the area who hasn't yet enrolled their child for school?

Make sure they visit ssd412.org/enroll ASAP to get their child signed up.

The more accurate our enrollment numbers are, the better we can staff our schools to serve each and every student this year!

School offices are open to support families who may need help. Find office contact info here


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Stanley the Dragon is ready for the new school year

Friday, August 9, 2024

Stanley is ready for the new school year
Photo courtesy LFP Elementary

Stanley the Dragon was looking quite tired and run down after decades of being well-loved in the playground at LFP Elementary on Ballinger Way NE.

A public fund drive raised the money to spruce him up and he now has a fresh paint job and is looking ready for the school year. 

Thank you to LFP Rotary, LFP alumni, and to our district painter. 

LFP Dolphins used to be the LFP Dragons until the early 1980's.


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Shoreline Public Schools Foundation donates $100K to Shoreline Schools for classroom enrichment projects

Sunday, July 21, 2024

Mural created by Einstein students with "Engagement Grants"

The Shoreline Public Schools Foundation and the generous donors who contribute to help enrich our schools funded over $100K in 46 Engagement Grants submitted by teachers during the last school year.

At Einstein Middle School, grant funds were used for a visual arts project that involved more than 300 students who collaborated on a theme, drafted ideas and then each painted a tile. When combined, a mural was created and permanently installed.

If you are a Shoreline School District employee, grant applications for 2024-25 are now available here


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Heads up! School starts in August this year

Saturday, June 22, 2024

The Shoreline School District has announced that school will start early for the next school year - August 27, 2024 for grades 1-12.

Here's the schedule:
  • August 12: School offices open
  • August 27: First day of school grades 1-12
  • August 30: First day of school kindergarten
  • September 3: First day of preschool at Edwin Pratt Early Learning Center
  • December 23 - January 3: No school - Winter Break
  • February 17-21: No school - Presidents Day and Mid-Winter Break
  • April 21-25: No school - Spring Break
  • June 12: Likely last day of school and half-day release
Downloadable calendars:
Noteworthy:
  • The January staff work day falls on Tuesday, January 21, 2025 the day after Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, which creates a four-day weekend for families to plan for. This will not be used as a snow make-up day.
  • The June staff work day falls earlier than normal, on June 2. This is snow make-up day #1, if needed.

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Lake Forest Park and Ridgecrest removed from closure consideration list

Saturday, June 15, 2024

A map from the Shoreline school district website shows the current nine elementary school boundaries 

By Oliver Moffat

At the June 6, 2024 School Capacity Review and Closure Consideration meeting, the task force voted to remove Lake Forest Park elementary and Ridgecrest elementary schools from the list of schools that may be recommend to the school board for closure in 2025.

In an email, the school district said Lake Forest Park and Ridgecrest were removed from closure consideration because:

  • Lake Forest Park Elementary School: Lake Forest Park serves a relatively diverse population and a large number of families supported by subsidized housing, including families who speak English as a second language. Closure of this school would also have a relatively greater impact on middle school enrollment patterns and other schools during a boundary process.
  • Ridgecrest Elementary School: Ridgecrest serves a diverse population of students and receives federal funding to allow all students to receive free meals through the Community Eligibility Provision. Closure of this school would also have a relatively greater impact on middle school enrollment patterns and other schools during a boundary process.

The task force previously removed Briarcrest, Cascade K-8, Meridian Park, and Parkwood from closure consideration. 

There are four schools left that may be considered for closure: Brookside, Echo Lake, Highland Terrace and Syre.

Like school districts across the state, Shoreline is facing budget shortfalls and dwindling enrollment. But unlike other districts the district assembled the task force to make a closure recommendation.

The final decision on whether to close a school and if so, which one, will be entirely up to the elected School Board and Superintendent Dr. Susana Reyes.

The closure decision and any new school boundaries is expected to be finalized in time for Kindergarten open enrollment in January of 2025.

Information on the School Capacity Review and Closure Consideration task force and how to attend a school board meeting and submit public comment is available on the district’s website.


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Free summer meals for children under 18 from Shoreline School District

Thursday, June 13, 2024

Photo courtesy OSPI

The Shoreline School District announces the sponsorship of the Summer Food Service Program for children. Meals are available at no charge to children 18 years of age and younger.

Meals will be served at the following locations:


Resources
  • National Hunger Hotline 1-866-3-HUNGRY (1-866-348-6479) For Spanish, families can call 1-877-8-HAMBRE (1-877-842-6273)
  • United Way Summer Meals Locator - English or Spanish.
  • Texting Line - Families may text “Food” or “Comida” to 304-304 to find free summer meals near them.
  • Meal Site Locator website

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form or available from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by: mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or email: program.intake@usda.gov

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.


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2024 Shorewood Lip Dub

Saturday, June 8, 2024


Shorewood High School student have released their lip dub video.



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Task force removes four schools from Shoreline district closure list

Saturday, June 1, 2024

A map from the Shoreline school district website shows the current nine elementary school boundaries

By Oliver Moffat

An advisory task force removed Meridian Park, Cascade K-8, Parkwood and Briarcrest from its list of Shoreline elementary schools they will recommend be closed in 2025. At the May 30 meeting, the task force continued the work of winnowing schools from the list and will reconvene within two weeks to identify more schools to spare.

With enrollment dwindling, districts across the state are closing schools to fill budget shortfalls and closure announcements in Seattle and elsewhere have caused controversy.

Seeking to avoid the kind of acrimony and distrust deep budget cuts caused in 2022 and 2023, the Shoreline school district assembled three advisory groups comprised of parents, staff and members of the community:

The Budget Advisory Team meets monthly to review detailed presentations on the districts financial situation.

The Strategic Planning Coalition has been working since January to help draft the district’s first strategic plan which was reviewed by the school board at the May 21 meeting and is scheduled to be voted on after hearing public comment at the June 4 meeting.

And in February, the district assembled the School Capacity Review and Closure Consideration task force to make a recommendation on whether or not to shutter one of the district’s ten elementary schools and if so, which one.

At the May 16 meeting, the 21-member school closure task force, removed four elementaries from its list of schools it will recommend be shuttered.

The task force struck Meridian Park (the district’s largest elementary) from the list because, as District Academic Officer Mike VanOrden said, “if you were to close Meridian Park there simply wouldn’t be enough space to put those students in other schools.“

Because it serves both elementary and middle school students, closing Cascade K-8 Community School would have saved less than half the amount of money compared to other schools and so was removed from the list.

The task force chose to spare recently-rebuilt Parkwood and currently-being-renovated Briarcrest because they will have lower building maintenance costs compared to other schools.

Now the task force must pick more schools to save while minimizing the impact a closure could have on historically marginalized communities, making the choice of which schools get spared next more complicated.

State and federal funding for lower income students could be impacted.

More than 40% of Ridgecrest students currently qualify for free meals, which (under current state and federal rules) means the entire school receives lunch and breakfast at no cost.

A new Washington State law (House Bill 1238) lowers the threshold to 30% and next year four additional Shoreline schools will qualify for school-wide free meals: Briarcrest, Echo Lake, Parkwood, and Meridian Park.

Closing a school will relocate kids and change school demographics, potentially lowering the percentage of students who meet the eligibility requirements below the 30% threshold in the all-kids-eat-free schools.

Ultimately, the district’s budget, academic priorities and the final decision on whether to close a school and if so, which one, will be entirely up to the elected School Board and Superintendent Dr. Susana Reyes.

The closure decision and any new school boundaries is expected to be finalized in time for Kindergarten open enrollment in January of 2025.

Information on how to attend a school board meeting and submit public comment is available on the district’s website.

School Board meetings are televised here


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Some appointments remain at free vaccination event May 22, 2024

Wednesday, May 15, 2024

There are still some appointment times open, but they are going fast for the free vaccination clinic on May 22, 2024.

Learn more and pre-register: bit.ly/SSDvax24
  • Do you have a child entering kindergarten in the fall who needs school-required immunizations?
  • Do you have an older student who needs to stay up to date on their vaccines?
  • Do you or does someone in your household need a COVID-19 or flu shot?
Attend our free vaccination event on Wednesday, May 22, to check one or more of these off your to-do list and help keep your family and our community healthy!

Shoreline School District Vaccination Event
Wednesday, May 22 from 3:00-7:00 pm
Meridian Park Elementary School parking lot: 17077 Meridian Ave. N, Shoreline, WA 98133
 
No ID or insurance card required


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LFP Mayor: Please take the time to slow down on our local roads

Sunday, April 28, 2024

Lake Forest Park Mayor Tom French
From Lake Forest Park Mayor Tom French

Kindly do your part and set the tone on our streets for everyone, including those who visit our community. We all lead busy lives and sometimes we find ourselves running behind—this is not the time to speed on our roads.

The City Council just accepted a Safe Speed Study which will inform changes on our neighborhood streets, arterials, and connectors. This is part of a larger pedestrian and multi-modal safety program that we have been working on for more than two years.

In the coming months, watch for changes in speed limits on our roads. Smaller neighborhood streets will be reduced from 25 mph to 20 mph and to a uniform 25 mph on arterials and collectors. 

The City has also made an application to the Washington State Department of Transportation for reductions in the speed limits on our two State Routes.

Tragically, each of the past several years, the number of fatalities on Washington’s roads has increased at an alarming rate. Last year was no exception with more than 800 fatalities setting a new record for the past 30 years. For context, the State of Washington has more than 100 cities and towns that have less than 800 residents. This alarming fatality number is equivalent to the loss of an entire small community.

Speed infractions and traffic volume in our two school zones continue to climb. Near Brookside Elementary in 2022 over 1.3 million vehicles trips were logged. In 2023, traffic volume was over 1.6 million vehicles logged or a 23 percent increase.

The two school traffic safety cameras on 178th reported a 14 percent and a 12 percent increase in violations over the previous year. The increases in the number of citations near LFP elementary were smaller, but still significant.

More alarming are the recorded speeds near schools: 137 of the citations in 2023 were for speeds more than 40 mph, with the top speed being 56 mph. 

Also concerning are the 980 more citations that were issued for speeds between 35 and 39 mph. 

These citations were issued when the warning lights on the sign were flashing and when children were present on the sidewalks and in the school area.

These trends are deeply concerning.

Please do your part and slow down -- our children and loved ones depend on all of us to keep them safe.

With respect,
Mayor Tom French

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75th Anniversary of Ridgecrest Elementary is a massive family reunion

Saturday, April 27, 2024

Standing room only at the Ridgecrest Elementary 75th Anniversary event

All photos by Steven H. Robinson

Ridgecrest Elementary School celebrated its 75th Anniversary on April 17, 2024 with a standing room only crowd.

The school choir sang as people arrived

Generations of PTA volunteers, students, teachers, administrators gathered in their home school to see if there was anyone they knew, and to reminisce about school days of the past.


Former PTA President Ellen Sullivan greets former principal Jim Schaffner.
Speakers included current principal Daniel Navidad and former principal Jim Schaffner, who led the school for 17 years. Shoreline Mayor Chris Roberts, the music teacher, Joe Peterson, and students past and present added to the mix.

Rocky the Ram and friends

In the hallway Mascot Rocky the Ram posed with a couple of fans.



Displays of historical artifacts documented the 50th Anniversary celebration and notable events. Photos showed a new Ridgecrest.

The pictures on the wall are student artwork explaining what they love about Ridgecrest.


PTA volunteers were everywhere, selling tote bags and cookies.

The mood was happy and upbeat.


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After a 15 year break - Shorecrest students create a new Lip-Dub video

Saturday, April 20, 2024

Screenshot from 2024 Shorecrest Lip Dub video

15 years after students at Shorecrest High School created a lip-dub video featuring hundreds of students and teams, the 2024 class has created a current lip dub video.



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