Showing posts with label teachers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label teachers. Show all posts

Gavin Dalziel awarded $2000 scholarship from Sno-King School Retirees

Friday, May 7, 2021

Sno-King School Retirees have chosen four students to receive $2000 scholarships for the 2021-2022 school year to begin their university education.

Our unit consists of retired educators from Edmonds, Northshore, and Shoreline School Districts.

Through the generosity of former member Winnie Smith, who left our unit money in her will, we will be able to offer each of these students an additional three years of financial help to become an educator. 

In Shoreline School District the following student was selected:

Gavin Dalziel will be continuing his education at Linfield University after graduating from Shorecrest High School. In college, Gavin plans to continue his love for sports that has seen him excel in both football and soccer in high school, with leadership positions on both teams. 

Gavin has also been involved in band and worked with Special Olympics Soccer as a team partner.  Gavin comes from a family of educators and wants to continue this tradition as a physical education teacher. 



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Public Health: Starting April 15, all people in Washington age 16 and older are eligible for COVID-19 vaccination

Thursday, April 15, 2021

By Lily Alexander
Seattle and King County Public Health

Starting April 15, all people in Washington age 16 and older are eligible for COVID-19 vaccination

It is exciting to see vaccine eligibility expanding again – as each vaccination brings us one step closer to ending this pandemic. 

As of this week, nearly 50% of all adults in King County have received at least one vaccine dose.

However, limited vaccine supply continues to be our number one challenge to vaccinating everyone who is eligible and who wants to be vaccinated.

We at Public Health—Seattle and King County acknowledge how frustrating it is that there is not enough vaccine. We are hoping vaccine supply increases early next month. Access will increase as providers in King County receive more doses.

Who is eligible?

Everyone age 16 years and older is eligible for COVID-19 vaccination as of April 15. This means approximately 650,000 people will be newly eligible, bringing the total to nearly one million people in King County who are unvaccinated and eligible.

At this time, COVID-19 vaccines are not authorized for children younger than 16 years old. Clinical trials are in process for young children.

Vaccination is available for eligible individuals no matter your insurance status, immigration status, citizenship, place of work, place of residence, or your health condition.

What vaccine options are available for 16– and 17–year–olds?

The Pfizer vaccine is currently the only vaccine authorized for people under age 18. The Moderna vaccine can be given to anyone 18 and older (and the Johnson / Johnson vaccine is currently on pause, but it also was approved for adults 18 and over).

For 16 and 17-year-olds, make sure the location you choose offers the Pfizer vaccine (see here for information on parental consent).

Some vaccine providers list the type of vaccine available on their online registration sites or can provide that information over the phone. You can also check Washington State’s Vaccine Locator for the type of vaccine available at different sites.
 
How do I find an appointment?

Vaccine supplies and appointments are currently limited in many locations. There may be delays in scheduling due to high demand. Getting appointments will be easier as providers receive more doses and more high-volume vaccine sites open.
  • Option 1:  Call your doctor’s office or health care provider to see if they have available vaccination appointments.
  • Option 2:  Check with your local pharmacies to see if they have available appointments. Just like getting a flu shot at your local pharmacy, many pharmacy chains – including grocery stores – have COVID-19 vaccine appointments available.
  • Option 3:  Use Washington State’s Vaccine Locator – Vaccinate WA: COVID-19 Vaccine Availability
  • Option 4:  Visit one of the King County Vaccination Partnership Sites – You can schedule directly at one of these sites. All King County sites are ADA accessible and have language and ASL interpretation available. For the Auburn and Kent sites, registration is prioritized for residents of south King County to ensure equitable access. For more information about these sites, visit kingcounty.gov/vaccine.
  • Option 5:  Schedule by phone if you need language interpretation or other assistance. For language interpretation, please say your preferred language when connected:
    • Call the Washington State COVID-19 Assistance Hotline: Dial 1-800-525-0127 or 1-888-856-5816, then press #. Available Mondays from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Tuesdays – Sundays and  observed state holidays from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
    • Phone support is also available from the Public Health COVID-19 Call Center at 206-477-3977, 8am-7pm. Interpretation is available over the phone.
Veterans, K-12 school employees

For additional appointment options for veterans, K-12 school employees, and others, visit Public Health’s Getting Vaccinated in King County page.

More information here



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Shoreline Public Schools BIPOC Job Fair for teachers and certificated staff

Friday, March 26, 2021


Join Shoreline Public Schools on Saturday, April 10 at 10:00am for their BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) Job Fair for Teachers and Certificated Staff. 

This virtual event is open to everyone but will have a special focus on the school district’s interest in and commitment to diversifying their teacher and certificated workforce. This is the first of several job fairs the district will host to attract and recruit staff for the coming 2021-2022 school year.

The two-hour event will feature a panel discussion with the district’s equity and instruction leaders, students and family representatives and an opportunity to meet their Equity and Family Engagement Department. 

Attendees will also learn about its Ethnic Studies Resolution, staff affinity groups, student advisory groups. Registration will also be available for upcoming screening interviews and application assistance workshops hosted by their Human Resources Department.

Learn more and register to attend the Shoreline Schools BIPOC Job Fair at www.shorelineschools.org/jobfair.



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Sno-King School Retirees donate to Shoreline PTA Council The WORKS

 
SKSR Vice-President Roberta Hawkins presenting the check to
Shoreline PTA Co-President Amy Reed. Photo courtesy SKSR


The WORKS provides free high quality, gently used and new children’s and teen clothing to Shoreline School District families.

It is a project of the Shoreline PTA Council, run by volunteers.



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Sno-King School Retirees award grants to active members

Thursday, March 4, 2021

The front view of Echo Lake Elementary school. Two stories on the left and one story long building on the right. Photo by Steven H. Robinson
Teachers at Echo Lake Elementary were among those receiving grants
Photo by Steven H. Robinson

Each fall Sno-King School Retirees (SKSR), an organization composed of retired and active employees of the Edmonds, Northshore, and Shoreline School Districts, offers grants of up to $250 to its active members for special projects that enrich their students’ educational experience (e.g., field trips, guest speakers, materials for integrated units of study) or for materials/equipment to augment their students’ learning (e.g. noise-cancelling headphones). 

This year the SKSR Board decided to accept a second round of applications and recently awarded $1,454 in eight additional grants for the 2020-21 school year.

In February, SKSR funded the following grants:

EDMONDS SCHOOL DISTRICT

Cedar Way Elementary

Michelle McShane: a grant to purchase Candy Land and Chutes and Ladders board games and decks of playing cards to facilitate play to learn objectives and reinforce math and reading skills. (Kindergarten)

Meadowdale Middle School

Birgit Albiker-Osterhaug: a grant to purchase 35 copies of Ghost Boys to use with ELL students.

SHORELINE SCHOOL DISTRICT

Echo Lake Elementary

Jean Bolivar: a grant for a selection of non-fiction books for intermediate students needing accessible texts. (Library)

Allan M. Rand: a grant to purchase selected titles from the I Survived, the Who Was/Where Is, and the Track series for class genre studies. (5th grade)

Lake Forest Park Elementary

Kimberly Clasen: A grant for Rich Hartman’s online STEM experience on motion and design and the necessary student materials. (5th grade)

Riley Kreutzer: A grant for Rich Hartman’s online STEM experience on motion and design and the necessary student materials. (5th grade)

Tami Thompson: A grant for Rich Hartman’s online STEM experience on motion and design and the necessary student materials. (5th grade)

Syre Elementary

Jennifer Altena: a grant to purchase fiction books that reflect the diversity of the students and their backgrounds. (Library)

Due to COVID-19 constraints, SKSR is not able to recognize these educators at in-person staff meetings; however, most of the schools have graciously invited SKSR to make presentations via zoom meetings.

SKSR is proud to recognize the efforts of its active colleagues by providing these additional resources. 

Since the grant program was started in 1998, SKSR has awarded over $96,000 to its active members in these districts.



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Sno-King School Retirees announce 2021 grants to local teachers

Wednesday, December 30, 2020

Each fall Sno-King School Retirees, an organization composed of retired and active employees of the Edmonds, Northshore, and Shoreline School Districts, offers grants of up to $250 to its active members for special projects that enrich their students’ educational experience. 

These can be for field trips, guest speakers, materials for integrated units of study or for materials/equipment to augment their students’ learning (e.g., noise-cancelling headphones).

Since the grant program was started in 1998, SKSR has awarded over $92,000 to its active members in these districts.  

Because of the uncertainty about when schools would reopen and social distancing restrictions, this year’s applications needed to be for projects and activities that could be conducted remotely. SKSR awarded $3,754 to 16 grants.

This year’s SKSR funded the following grants:

SHORELINE SCHOOL DISTRICT

Briarcrest Elementary
  • Cindy Ebisu:  jump ropes (third grade).
  • Amy Pitts:  digital subscriptions to Scholastic News and stress balls (second grade).
Echo Lake Elementary
  • Kathryn Pihl:  leveled books (first grade).
Lake Forest Park Elementary
  • Frank Kleyn:  11 titles from “Blastoff Readers (Level 2):  World of Insects” series to supplement second grade science curriculum.
Ridgecrest Elementary
  • Joanna Freeman: 30 chapter books from Capstone Publishers (library).
Syre Elementary
  • Maggie Dunleavy: subscriptions to Scholastic News and Scholastic Book Club prize books (fifth grade).
  • Jenny Hodgen: subscriptions to Scholastic News and Scholastic Book Club prize books (fifth grade).
  • Debbie Hubbell:  subscriptions to Scholastic News and Scholastic Book Clubs prize books for (fifth grade).
 
EDMONDS SCHOOL DISTRICT

Cedar Way Elementary
  • Kristi Pihl:  leveled books (first grade).
Hilltop Elementary
  • Matt Grover:  19 copies of Brown Girl Dreaming (fifth grade).
  • Lisa Reid:  decodable Flyleaf Publishing books for emergent readers.  
Lynndale Elementary
  • Kari Park:  18 books from the “Little People, Big Dreams” biography series (second grade).
  • Stacey Sateren:  art supplies, including watercolor paints, crayons, neon pencils, and black lights for art/literature unit (second grade).
  • Jill Walzer:  books that reflect diversity (second grade).
Lynnwood Elementary
  • Debra Comfort:  Capstone leveled readers (D-I) and Step Into Reading sets (second grade).

NORTHSHORE SCHOOL DISTRICT

Canyon Creek Elementary
  • Joanne Burkett:  historical fiction (third grade).

 

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Sno-King School Retirees grants available for 2020-21

Sunday, October 11, 2020

Sno-King School Retirees, an organization of 1,422 active and retired employees of the Edmonds, Northshore, and Shoreline School Districts, is currently offering $9,000 in grants to its active members to facilitate their work with students.

This is an opportunity for them to receive up to $250 to augment their curriculum and enrich their students' learning experiences. 

Unfortunately, the pandemic has forced some changes in this year’s application. Since it is uncertain how COVID-19 will progress this winter and since each district has its own plan for returning to in-person learning, all applications must be for remote learning experiences and activities.

The current application form and relevant information are posted on the SKSR website (sksr.org). If current employees in the three districts are interested in joining SKSR in order to apply for a grant, they can find relevant membership information on the website as well.

The application deadline is Thursday, November 5. Recipients will be notified by the end of November.

Since 1998, SKSR has awarded over $92,000 to fund a variety of proposals (such as field trips, speakers, reading materials, math manipulatives, listening stations, STEM stations, and parent activities).




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Third Place Books announces Teacher Appreciation Campaign

Monday, September 14, 2020


This fall, in gratitude to local teachers, who have worked with grace, aplomb, and the utmost creativity to support their students since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Third Place Books is running a Teacher Appreciation campaign for all greater Seattle educators. 

Third Place Books, which has three neighborhood locations in the Seattle area, will host a raffle for teachers to win a $50 Third Place Books gift card. This raffle is open to all educators in the greater Seattle area, and anyone (including teachers) can nominate an educator. 

Fill out the form to make a nomination, and tell Third Place Books why your rockstar teacher should win! The form will open on September 14, 2020 and close on September 30. Third Place Books will select 10 winners, and notify them by October 9, 2020.

Third Place Books will also issue a special 25% e-coupon to all teachers signed up for the store’s newsletter. This coupon is for one online purchase placed between September 20-27, 2020. 

Educators can sign up for the store’s newsletter to receive teacher-oriented updates and correspondence. They will need to select "LFP Elementary Schools," "LFP Middle Schools," or "LFP High Schools" to receive updates for this and other campaigns.

In conjunction with Third Place Books’ Teacher appreciation campaign, Honey Bear Bakery in Lake Forest Park is offering free cookies to teachers from September 14 through September 30! Just let Honey Bear cashiers know that you're a teacher! Supplies limited to one cookie per teacher per day.

“Teachers, we hope that these few tokens of our appreciation will help to brighten the start of the new school year,” said Niki Marion, Children’s Outreach Manager at Third Place Books. 
“We see your hard work and appreciate all that you do for your students and community every single day. Third Place Books loves you!”

For any questions, please contact Children's Outreach Manager Niki Marion directly at nmarion@thirdplacebooks.com or 206-366-3333.




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Baseball Stadium Galore - retired local teacher featured in Seattle Times

Thursday, July 30, 2020

Jim Siscel with Ridgecrest elementary kids raising salmon from eggs.
Now he's doing the same thing in Lynnwood
Photo courtesy Shoreline Schools


Have you missed baseball? Then this is for you and non-baseball fans too.

Our local retired school teacher Jim Siscel and his wife Andrea are documented in an engaging Seattle Times article about their 323 trips to baseball stadiums around the country. 

Jim was a teacher at Echo Lake Elementary for many years before he retired. His love of teaching was reflected through his students and their parents too, and he’s still involved today, being active in the Sno-King School Retirees Association.

"Even though he was a tough teacher, all his students loved him. He cared deeply about each and every one, and taught them many useful traits - Like cursive writing. Oh and parents loved him too!"

After retiring, he helped three different Shoreline schools raise salmon from eggs and release them in local streams. Now he's doing the same thing in Lynnwood schools.

Another passion is baseball, and he and Andrea share their experiences about all of the stadiums they have visited on their website. There is everything from highlights about the stadium, attendance, seating, scores, mascots, and, in some cases, even the price of a hot dog.

Enjoy this recent Seattle Times article and then check out their website at baseballroadtrip.net.

The Seattle Times: 323 ballparks down, only 2 to go: Lynnwood couple’s quest on hold due to COVID

We’re rooting for them to reach their goal of 325 stadiums – when it’s safe.

--Three former Echo Lake parents contributed to our article



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Patricia Valle named Washington Excellence in Education winner

Sunday, March 29, 2020

Patricia Valle, winner of Excellent in Education
award from Alpha Delta Kappa

By Mary Jo Heller
 
Patricia Valle, Social Studies teacher at Kellogg Middle School in the Shoreline School District, has been named Washington State Teacher and recognized with the Excellence in Education Award for Alpha Delta Kappa, an honorary fraternal International organization.

The award is based on dedication, knowledge, skills, professional achievement and success, school/community involvement, contributions to the educational process and active participation in Alpha Delta Kappa.

She will be honored at the Washington State Alpha Delta Kappa Convention in Bellevue. Pat will now compete with teachers in the Northwest Region at the ADK Conference in Honolulu. 

Heather Hiatt, principal at Kellogg, said: “Pat is a natural leader inside of her classroom, in our school community, and within our district…. She is leading her colleagues through the curriculum with a lens on equity making sure to identify and analyze the stories being told and omitted.”

Pat holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Northern Colorado, and a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Washington.

She was inspired to become a teacher of the deaf in her ninth grade year after reading an article about Gallaudet College in Washington DC.  With her mother’s help, Pat found a counselor who helped her locate a program at the University of Northern Colorado; however, when the program changed to a Master’s degree only, Pat decided that she was not ready to commit to an advanced degree, and earned a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education.

Pat taught elementary school in Colorado and Okinawa, Japan before moving to Seattle in 1989.  When she began teaching in Seattle, older and wiser, she pursued a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Washington.

Other projects Pat has spearheaded include “Soul of Salmon” with seventh graders at Einstein Middle School in Shoreline. In her Environmental Studies classes, students researched salmon in the Puget Sound area, developing curriculum which they then used to teach classes at Syre Elementary School. 

The project culminated in a fundraising mission to purchase two (male and female) fifteen-foot statues that were then decorated, through their research, by the students. 

Pat has consistently included multiple field trips with her classes. For five years in Environmental Studies, students tested the water and soil in Boeing Creek Park and cleared invasive species. They have also planted trees in Weyerhaeuser forests. They stenciled “no dumping” signs on sewer grates around the city of Shoreline to remind citizens that the water drains into salmon habitat. 

Pat and her students created a “museum” within Kellogg Middle School for their Aztec, Maya, and Inca studies. Objects researched and created were placed on display in the team room, and in various locations around the school.

Pat has piloted and assessed a new evaluation system for the district. She also piloted the ATLAS (Authentic Testing and Learning for All Students) program in Shoreline.

As a teacher of color, Pat is an advocate of equality, and was invited to join the Diversity Task Force for two years in Shoreline. She was the Diversity TOSA (Teacher on Special Assignment) where she aided classroom teachers and administrators in developing curriculum and understanding issues surrounding diversity. 

Pat left the classroom for a few years, as she was elected Union President for SEA (Shoreline Education Association).  She is is an advocate for, and has been working with unions since beginning teaching, starting with a local strike in Greeley, Colorado.

She enjoys the camaraderie, support, and leadership within unions, seeing both the positive outcomes and challenges with those organizations. She saw a chance for real advocacy for teaching and has enjoyed working and thinking about ways to inspire communication between teachers and administration.

Pat currently, and for ten years, has worked with WEA (Washington Education Association) in Minority Affairs. She has taken training in “Difficult Conversations,” a program to aid conversations between teachers, and between faculty and administration. As SEA President, Pat has had many opportunities to use this training.

Pat is a founding member of the Edmonds City Diversity Commission. This group recommends policy for the city, while also developing opportunities for cultural development. The Commission sponsors a series of six movies at the Edmonds City Theater, several World Cafes and other events meant to highlight and celebrate Edmonds’ respect for the diversity of its citizens. 

At Kellogg, Pat is the faculty sponsor of the Gay/Straight Alliance, the co-chair of the social studies department and a representative for Kellogg to the Shoreline Education Association. Pat has also sponsored and facilitated a Youth Forum at Edmonds/Woodway High School.

Pat is also the proud mother of two children, a son, Ismael, who is currently teaching English/Language Arts in Mukilteo, and a daughter, Ciela, pursuing a linguistics degree at the University of Washington.  She has recently returned from Spain, where she taught pre-school.

Does Pat have any spare time? Perhaps. And she spends it with Do-it-Yourself projects, like demolishing and remodeling of her kitchen, building a deck, and smaller creative endeavors, such as card making.

She loves hosting joint dinner parties with her daughter and cooking traditional family recipes like red chili enchiladas and green chili stew, which answers the New Mexico State question of green or red! She has recently learned how to make scones, created in Scotland but introduced to Washingtonians at the Puyallup State Fair!



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Shoreline Schools recognized for high percentage of National Board Certified teachers

Saturday, October 5, 2019

The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards recently recognized Shoreline Public Schools as one of 81 school districts in the country with at least 20 percent of its teachers having achieved National Board certification.

Shoreline has 90 National Board Certified staff (listed below).

National Board Certification is a methodical, thought-provoking process for teachers to increase their understanding of the art of teaching while demonstrating the skills and characteristics of excellence in education.

The lengthy application process is an extensive series of performance-based assessments that includes teaching portfolios, student work samples, videos and thorough analyses of the candidates’ classroom teaching and student learning.

Teachers also complete a series of written exercises that probe the depth of their subject-matter knowledge, as well as their understanding of how to teach those subjects to their students. The entire process can take between 200-400 hours.

Shoreline’s National Board Certified Teachers:

Eric Allen
Jennifer Altena
Andrew Bagley
Donald Ballard
Martin Ballew
Jennifer Breed
Stephanie Butorac
Cristi Camp
Stacey Carr
Marcella Caruso
Tammy Ceesay
Amy Chertock-Koehler
Mikael Christensen
Linda Cobb
Hannah Crowder
Jeanette Derry
Rebecca Drury
Jennifer Etter
Alicia Favreau
Tammy Fawcett
Christina Francescutti
Joanna Freeman
Daniel Gallagher
Matthew Gallagher
Cheryl Gardiner
Patricia Gerlicher
Crystal Gifford
Brenda Gilman
Andrew Harrington
Ann Hayes-Bell
Ariel Hernandez
Suzanne Hibbert
Danielle Hickmott
Lily Higgins
Jennifer Hillger
Andrea Holsten
Allison Hoover
Gloria Horne
Siri Hulbert
Jeremy Hunter
Marie Hurtado
Ranice Innocent
Kristianna Johnsen
Barbara Keeley
Andreas Kidd
Dana Knox
Barbara Lachman
Nathan Lee
Caroline Mann
Robert Mann
Juan Martinez
Emily Maschman
Trisha Massot
Sarah McFarlane
Trenton Mitchell
Megan Nandi
Christina Nelson
Maureen Nemeth
Rhonda Okazaki
Kimberly Olsen
Janet Paden
Catherine Petersen
Jerica Reyes-Jech
Pamela Richards
Brynne Saskor
Marybeth Scherf
Roberta Schrote
Leslie Silver
Emily Slack
Ellen Smith
Wayne Smolinsky
Sarah Soares
Nathan Stearns
Lara Sukol
Stacia Tellefson
Mary Thomas
Jeb Thomas
Kurt Thompson
Mary Thurber
Brandon Torrey
Rachel Trudelle
Alisan Tucker-Giesy
Linda Vassallo
Paul Villanueva
Linnea Wheaton
Trent Wieburg
Allyn Woods
Clark Youmans
Stacey Zachau
Jennifer Zadow



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Frank Workman on Sports: What makes a great manager, coach, or teacher?

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Frank Workman
By Frank Workman

I went to a ballgame last week with a new (albeit 90 years old) friend, a historian of Baseball who has forgotten more about our National Pastime than I can ever hope to know.

At one point during the game, Norman inquired as to who was the best manager the Mariners have had. Given Norman’s professorial mien, I knew I needed to get the answer exactly right, so I paused for half a second before I responded with the obvious, Lou Piniella.

As that question had been of the simplest fill-in-the-blank variety, his follow-up was more an essay question.

“What makes for a great manager?” (This from a man who wrote a three-volume / 1600+ page biography on Connie Mack.)

Again I paused.

For once in my life, I chose not to be a smart-aleck by responding with “Great players.”

This time I took a breath. I didn’t exactly answer his question directly. Instead, I recited all the duties a manager today needs and the skills required to carry out those duties. There was a litany of them.

As the face of the franchise, he has to deal with the press on a daily basis, a time-consuming (and patience-testing) endeavor.

He has to work with his bosses upstairs, whose long-term and short-term goals may not always align with his, and with whom he may occasionally have profound philosophical differences.

He has to know his players’ abilities, personalities, moods, and temperaments. He has to know which buttons to push on each player to get their best effort as close to 100% of the time as possible. Some old southern football coach used to say “It’s not all about the x’s and o’s. You still need to know about the Jimmies and Joes.”

The ability to communicate clearly with all the entities listed above is paramount.

It could be expected that by the time a player makes it to the Big Leagues, he’s pretty solid in his physical abilities. Yet even the greatest of players needs to be coached-up along the way.

Likability isn’t essential, but it would seem to come in handy most of the time, although the annals of Baseball are filled with championship teams who didn’t much care for their manager. By the same token, there would seem to be enough examples of well-liked failures to prove Leo Durocher’s point that ‘nice guys finish last’.

Our conversation was interrupted by some action in the game (or maybe by the incessantly loud music played between innings that renders simple conversations impossible), and we didn’t speak on the matter any further.

A couple days later, while I was waiting for the light to turn green, it occurred to me the same question could be asked about our school teachers, as I recognize many similarities between teachers and managers/coaches.

In one sense, managers have it easy. They’ve only got 25 guys on their roster to contend with, while some teachers are apt to have 125-150 students each semester.

Teachers aren’t likely to have any students earning millions more per year than they are, with equally inflated egos to match, but then managers don’t deal with teenagers and their raging hormones.

While managers spend a portion of each day talking to the media, teachers get to correspond with parents, some of whom are capable of criticism every bit as much as the local sportswriter can be.

There are some players/students who just seem to perform better for one manager / teacher over the other.

The Houston Oilers old head coach, Bum Phillips, admired Miami’s Don Shula, paying him the highest compliment. In his best Texas drawl, Phillips said of Shula, “He can take his’n, and beat your’n…. and he can take your’n, and beat his’n.”

What makes a great manager, coach, or teacher?

Having seen many coaches and teachers from up-close-and-personal over the years, the best ones don’t make their players / students do the extra work that’s necessary to be successful. They get them to want to do the work.

And figuring out just how to do that…… that’s what makes for a great manager.



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Symetra and the Seattle Seahawks head back to school by honoring two Parkwood Elementary teachers

Saturday, August 31, 2019

Carla Salmon (left), Parkwood Elementary School Principal Ann Torres (center),
and Renee Iverson (right).

Symetra and the Seattle Seahawks kicked off the 14th season of Symetra Heroes in the Classroom® yesterday with a first for the teacher-recognition program, simultaneously honoring not one but two teachers from the same school in Shoreline.

Parkwood Elementary School kindergarten teacher Carla Salmon and third grade teacher Renee Iverson thought they were attending the regular district staff meeting that precedes a new school year for Shoreline Public Schools.

Carla Salmon (left) and Renee Iverson (right) learn more about
what their Symetra Heroes in the Classroom honors entail.

Both were curious when Superintendent Rebecca Miner deviated from the agenda to invite Parkwood Elementary School Principal Ann Torres to help her introduce two surprise guests — and stunned when Symetra Public Affairs AVP Sharmila Swenson and Seattle Seahawks Partnership Activation Manager Emily Sikma announced their names.

Iverson and Salmon are two of the 16 K–12 teachers that will be honored for educational excellence by the Symetra Heroes in the Classroom program during the 2019 NFL season.

“The difference Renee Iverson has made in our daughter’s life and in those of the students who have been fortunate to have her as a teacher simply cannot be overstated,” wrote district colleague Curtis Campbell in his nomination. 
“My wife and I will often refer to Mrs. Iverson as the ‘child whisperer’ because she has an innate ability to connect with each student she works with to develop a trusting relationship and understand each child’s needs and strengths. She leverages those relationships, along with her exceptional teaching knowledge, to support students reaching their true potential.”

Superintendent Rebecca Miner (red jacket) reacts


Parent Annie Culliton applauded the dedication and imagination Carla Salmon brings to the classroom in her nomination. 

“Kindergarten is a tricky age. I've never seen a more equipped teacher than Carla, who fosters and nurtures individuality, creativity, diversity, teamwork and confidence in young minds. Society will be much better served having more teachers like Carla mold these minds at an early age, setting them on the path of loving school as a goal above all else,” wrote Culliton. 
“I'm excited to see a brighter future because of the foundation and passion Carla is building in our future leaders because she sees the big picture and is coloring it in one day and child at a time.”

“High 5” for Renee Iverson on her way down to the floor
to accept her Symetra Heroes in the Classroom honors.


Both teachers will receive $2,000 from Symetra for classroom supplies and two tickets to the Seattle Seahawks season-opening game with the Cincinnati Bengals on September 8.

Since 2006, Symetra Heroes in the Classroom® has celebrated 264 K–12 teachers across the Puget Sound and contributed $640,000 for schoolbooks, classroom supplies and equipment, and in support of innovative student programming.

Symetra Life Insurance Company is a subsidiary of Symetra Financial Corporation, a diversified financial services company based in Bellevue, Washington. In business since 1957, Symetra provides employee benefits, annuities and life insurance through a national network of benefit consultants, financial institutions, and independent agents and advisors.



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Rob Oxford: School’s out for Deanna Mar

Monday, July 8, 2019

Former students drop in to say goodbye to Deanna Mar
Photo by Rob Oxford


By Rob Oxford

One could safely assume that for a teacher, the greatest compliment they could ever receive might come from a student who remembers them and their influence many, many years after graduation.

Obviously, a teacher may not necessarily remember each of her students, having taught thousands over the length of their career, but that in itself might make such an honor even more special.

Now I don’t mean that a teacher should consider it a compliment for being remembered for the same reasons I remember my 8th Grade Teacher and Football Coach. To me, he will always be remembered for the many times he sent me into the hallway for being a disruption in class.

No, I’m referring to those teachers who because of their passion, dedication, understanding and genuine love for their profession, forever hold special places in the hearts of the students they’ve taught.

A former student congratulations Deanna Mar
on her retirement
Photo by Rob Oxford


I’m talking about teachers who develop personal relationships with their students. Teachers who can identify specific students who require extra attention and then provide it without hesitation. Teachers who temper instruction with humor. Teachers whom, despite their meager salaries spend their own money on school supplies.

Teachers who spend their weekends grading papers who sometimes sacrifice spending time with their own children in order to spend time with ours.

One such teacher is Ms. Deanna Mar. Ms. Mar is retiring from Briarcrest Elementary School after 32 years and will be greatly missed I can assure you.

A graduate of the University of Washington with a Master’s in Education, Ms. Mar has been teaching for a total of 42 years. 10 of which were spent at the Fircrest School working with the severely disabled. It is there that she says she learned the most about herself by developing patience and understanding for those in desperate need of assistance.

At the end of her final week as a 5th Grade Teacher, for which she spent 9 years and the rest teaching 6th Grade, I sat down and had lunch with Ms. Mar and her good friend Phyllis Woodward.

Phyllis worked as a Paraeducator alongside Ms. Mar for many years and they have remained good friends. Phyllis shared some details about Deanna’s passion and the type of person she is that Ms. Mar may not have revealed on her own. Somewhat humble, getting her to share her accomplishments was more difficult than I had first imagined it would be.

When Phyllis was dealing with a medical issue that kept her sidelined for an entire summer, it was Deanna who spent her days offering assistance, while Phyllis’ children took over that duty at night. Described by her friend as a kind, caring and giving person, prior to her release from the hospital, Ms. Mar had air conditioning installed in Phyllis’ home in order to keep her cool during her recovery.

Born at Seattle General Hospital, which merged with Swedish back in the mid 70’s, Deanna’s grandparents immigrated from China and her aunt was Ruby Chow, the famous Seattle restaurateur and politician. Ruby Chow's restaurant on First Hill in Seattle was the first Chinese restaurant outside of Seattle's Chinatown and once employed a young man by the name of Bruce Lee.

Before becoming a world-renowned master of martial arts and the founder of Jeet Kune Do, Bruce taught a young Deanna Judo. Ms. Mar chuckles when remembering that because of her size, she was often chosen by her instructor to demonstrate the proper technique for throwing an opponent.

Deanna’s involvement with her students reaches far past her classroom. She was also co-producer of the many fabulous stage productions at Briarcrest and supervised the School Patrol whose responsibility it is to make sure children arrive safely each morning and get to their classes.

An avid reader, lover of all things Mickey Mouse and an expert at Needlepoint, Deanna was also a member of the Chinese Girls Drill Team. The same drill team you see marching each year in the Seafair Torchlight Parade. Her father managed the drill team’s equipment, while her mother was responsible for hand-stitching the extravagant costumes they wear.

Goodbye to Ms Mar
Photo by Rob Oxford


Because I have known her since my wife started working at Briarcrest, it would be difficult to describe Ms. Mar without some obvious bias. Dedicated, intelligent, funny and a bit sassy are all words that fit her description, but you may get a better sense of who she is from someone who was actually in one of her classes.

Make no mistake, with her deep voice Ms. Mar speaks with authority and commands respect. It’s been said that at the end of the year when teachers are assigned, lists are posted and students gather at classroom doors to search for their names, some are initially hesitant when they find they will be in Ms. Mar's class the following year. That is until they get to know her. From that moment on lifelong friendships are often made. I know she has several in our family.

Having taught at the same school for so long, I asked Deanna how often she gets a student whose last name she recognizes? Her answer was occasionally and in fact, some former students actually request their child be put her class.

I’m don't recall the exact words Ms. Mar used when I asked if she had considered returning to teach on a part time basis, but I can tell you that it’s not out of the question.

However, until that time, her immediate plans include sleeping in until 7 and finalizing arrangements for a much-anticipated Mediterranean cruise with friends.

On behalf of my son and all those students who have benefitted from your years of experience and love of teaching, Thank You Ms. Mar. Enjoy your retirement.



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Shoreline Schools retirement celebration moved to Shoreline Room

Wednesday, May 29, 2019

You are invited to the Shoreline Schools Retirement Celebration on Thursday, May 30 at 6:00pm in the Shoreline Room at the north end of the Shoreline Center, 18560 1st Ave NE
We hope you’ll join us in celebrating and thanking the retirees attending this year's celebration!


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Alpha Delta Chapter of Washington State awards scholarship to Shorecrest student

Friday, May 24, 2019

From left: Karen Novstrup, Scholarship Committee, Mrs. Anu Sharma,
Bhavana Sharma, Kimberly Haff, Scholarship Committee.


Alpha Delta Kappa is pleased to announce the awarding of its annual scholarship. Alpha Delta is a fraternal group of teachers whose work includes creating altruistic opportunities.

Every year Alpha Delta awards at least one $1000 scholarship to a graduating senior entering the field of education. Students are chosen from schools represented by teachers in Alpha Delta Chapter.

Bhavana Sharma, of Shorecrest HS, is this year’s recipient. She is the daughter of Bimal and Anu Sharma. Bhavana became interested in studying education during her experiences as a summer school volunteer. She went on to assist at local elementary school programs and at the YMCA.

Her goal is seeing that all students have an equal chance at success and that no one is excluded. Bhavana has worked hard in high school, taking some honors, AP, and Running Start courses. She plans to use her $1,000 scholarship at either Seattle Pacific University or the University of Washington, Bothell. Bhavana plans on pursuing elementary education.

Karen Novstrup and Kimberly Haff, both retired teachers in the Shoreline School District, were on the Scholarship Committee that evaluated applicants.

As Karen stated, "For me, the heart of ADK is altruism, and in particular, the scholarship program. What better way to support our students and the community than to encourage bright, talented young people to pursue a career in education. It is such a joy to see the enthusiasm of our scholarship winners and feel their excitement at the prospect of becoming a teacher. "

ADK is an international fellowship of women educators established to promote excellence in education and support worthy community programs relating to education, families, and world understanding. Teachers in Alpha Delta Chapter represent Shoreline and Edmonds School Districts. Alpha Delta Chapter was organized in Shoreline in 1963 and also contributes to local schools and charities.




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Shoreline Schools retirement celebration Thursday May 30

Thursday, May 23, 2019



Join Shoreline Schools for their 2019 Retirement Celebration on Thursday, May 30 from 6-8 pm in the Shoreline Room, Shoreline Center, 18560 1st Ave NE.

Retirees attending the recognition event this year include:
  • Debbie Black, Parkwood Elementary
  • Lisa Faidley, Shorewood High School
  • Vicki Gorman, Shorewood High School
  • David Johnson, Shorewood High School
  • Zina Levit, Shorewood High School
  • Nancy Nissen, Shorewood High School


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Shoreline Invitational Track and Field meet dedicated to Juli van Pelt

Saturday, April 27, 2019

Juli van Pelt
Shorecrest coach / teacher
Photo courtesy Shoreline Schools
The 2019 Shoreline Track and Field Invitational was dedicated to Juli van Pelt.

Juli van Pelt has contributed to the Shoreline School District Track and Field world for 29 years. 

She began coaching at Shorecrest in the spring of 1991. Juli is also a long time teacher both in Edmonds and Shoreline.

Juli graduated from Camby High School in Oregon. She was an All American Heptathlete at Seattle Pacific University. During her career there, she cleared 6’0” in the high jump. 

Her coaching accomplishments include over 20 Wesco Champions and 35 State qualifiers. She coached a State Meet Record holder in the long jump as well as 4 school records in long jump. 

Juli was part of the coaching staff for Shorecrest’s Girls State Championship team in 2015/2016.

Juli and her husband Morlin’s two sons, Liam and Craig, continue the love of Track and Field by competing in Cross Country and Track at Goshen College and Inglemoor High School.

Shorecrest Head Coach says “Known to most as “VP”, she is the ‘mamma’ of the team. Her athletes cherish her, her coaches respect her and she is simply the best. 
“VP” has the distinct ability to know exactly when to push an athlete to the max, hold their hand for comfort and when to turn them loose and let them fly. She’s an amazing coach, fabulous human being and a great friend.”


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Dan Wing holds his last school concerts at Shorewood and Einstein before retiring

Tuesday, June 19, 2018

Dan Wing and the Shorewood orchestra
Photo by K Carpp


Beloved orchestra teacher Dan Wing conducted his last two school concerts June 5th and June 12 at Shorewood High School and Einstein Middle School where he has taught for the past 30 years.

The Shorewood concert audience was full of family and friends of the students, but also included former students, including one group of friends who played in his orchestras 20 years ago.

Wing conducts the elite chamber orchestra
Photo by K Carpp

From his baton, thousands have learned to love the symphonic works of master composers, and have performed both at Carnegie Hall, and as featured orchestras in numerous festivals. 
We, as a staff, are beyond thankful for his dedication and to the teaching profession, for the profound impact he's had on the student and families (and staff!) who have studied under him, and for the strong program he has developed at the secondary level in Shoreline. 
His contributions reached beyond the walls of our school, and our music community is better because of his leadership Dan's passion, patience and masterful teaching have helped connect students to school, as well as to each other. The arts are a crucial part of our society, and Mr. Wing's program reminds us of the many reasons why. --Shorewood concert program notes

Einstein orchestra
Photo by Thom Foreman

At the Einstein concert (7th and 8th graders), one parent reported that "The place gave him multiple standing ovations, and the kids grabbed the mic and gave several small speeches praising him. It was very touching."

His orchestras have been frequent award winners at the Northwest Orchestra Festival (Gresham, OR), the Washington State Championships, and have produced many All-State musicians. Over the years, the orchestras have toured Hawaii, British Columbia, Oregon, California, New York and Florida and five appearances at Carnegie Hall.

Receiving a standing ovation at Einstein
Photo by Thom Foreman
He is Past President of both the Washington Music Educators Association (WMEA) and the Washington String Teachers Association (ASTA).

He is a member of the WMEA Hall of Fame, has been named ASTA-Washington "Outstanding String Educator,” as well as Shoreline School District "Teacher of the Year."

His 30 year school career followed 15 years as a professional orchestra musician, performing throughout Europe with the orchestras of Radio Luxembourg and West German Radio (Cologne), among others.

He served as Principal Violist in the orchestras of Heidelberg (Germany), the Spoleto Festival (Italy), Sacramento (CA), Evansville (IN) and Charlotte (NC).


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Hua Zhang: Portrait of a dedicated teacher of Mandarin Chinese

Saturday, June 2, 2018


Teacher Hua's Chinese calligraphy presentation at Syre elementary school

Mandarin teacher Hua Zhang has passionately cultivated Chinese language and culture in the Shoreline community for 12 years. Now she is developing an immersion Montessori Mandarin program for preschoolers

By Jenny Nguyen
with contributions from Sam Frederickson, Jingyi Wang, Linda Tsai, John Higgins, Susan Lovelace, and Hannah Peterson

“Hua has poured all her heart and soul into presenting the Chinese language as well as the culture, history, art, cuisine and everyday life revealed by the language. It has also been a great experience for her to take a second look at her native language and culture, to find out fascinating folklore that we used to take for granted, and to share it all with the American people.” –ZYZ

On an early February morning, Shoreline Mandarin teacher Hua Zhang packed two dragons, two lions, two big head dolls, ten fans, and twenty performance costumes into her car and drove to Meridian Park Elementary School to help students celebrate the 2018 Lunar New Year.

Hua and five parent volunteers helped students to change into traditional Chinese costumes, recording the kids’ excitement on their phones.

Then they joined two kindergarten classes in the annual dragon parade, bringing Lunar New Year best wishes to all of the school’s students and staff. They walked around the whole building, waving dragons and performing the lion dance to traditional Chinese music. Many students, teachers and staff members came out of their classrooms, excited to see the dragon parading by with three little boys performing the lion dance.

Chinese story time at Shoreline Library

When the parade ended, Hua hurried to drive all the costumes to her next stop, the Shoreline Library, so that the children to whom she read during “Chinese Story Time” could also celebrate.

During the past 12 years, Hua Zhang has been doing the same thing: teaching children who love learning the Chinese language, culture and art. A natural storyteller and a native Chinese Mandarin speaker, Hua is an award-winning public speaker, journalist, and editor. Ever since she arrived in the United States, she has been honing her teaching skills, developing a student-centered curriculum and engaging learning materials.

In addition to instruction in Chinese language and characters, she brings to life the rich and evolving history, customs and traditions, as well as important Chinese festivals, filled with stories, songs, and crafts.

Chinese cooking at Kellogg Middle School class

To further engage students in language development, she instructs the little linguists in Mandarin (and English when necessary) to make dumplings, noodles, egg rolls and pot stickers, and more – fun cooking activities that students particularly enjoy.

Hua has innovated beyond what she can gather from various Chinese textbooks and learning materials. She has developed her own teaching materials and curriculums for students of different ability levels and of different backgrounds. Additionally, Hua has created 142 magnets of basic Chinese puzzle strokes, 22 picture-writing books, 200 Chinese pictography words in calligraphy, plus calligraphy practice notebooks, diary/essay writing notebooks and all kinds of lesson worksheets.

Furthermore, Hua’s classroom is rich with Chinese calligraphy brushes, ink bars, ink stones, stamps, fans, Beijing Opera face, paper cutting, shuttlecock and folk-dance costumes, not to mentions an array of tailored student- sized dragon parade costumes, to enhance students’ learning experiences.

Morning Mandarin class at Meridian Park elementary

Putting her teaching tools to use, Hua started the first Shoreline Schools’ Mandarin program at Meridian Park Elementary in April of 2006. Her programs expanded to other public schools in Shoreline including Cascade K-8 (formerly Room Nine), Parkwood, Ridgecrest, Brookside, and Kellogg; the Shoreline Library; private schools; and Shoreline Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Services.

She has worked hard to sow the seeds of 5,000 years of rich history of Chinese culture and language in the hearts of countless children and has prepared them for the multicultural world of the future, many of whom continue to learn Mandarin in middle schools, high school and beyond.

In order to improve, broaden and enrich her teaching experience, Hua has participated in a Chinese Language Teacher Professional Development Training Program and other training seminars in Seattle, PSU, and Beijing. She loves working with schools, and she’s always willing to assist students and teachers with promoting diversity.

Teacher Hua substitutes in the Mandarin class at Shorewood High School.
Around her are some of her elementary school Mandarin class students 

In 2013, after Hua’s initial seven years of establishing Chinese culture and language in Shoreline, the school district decided to offer Mandarin language classes for secondary students. Excited that her students could now continue their Mandarin education, she felt that all her hard work had been valuable for the Shoreline community.

The district’s public information officer at the time, Mr. Craig Degginger, affirmed Hua’s dedication and commitment to Shoreline schools: “We are glad to be offering Mandarin language to our students. You should be proud of the role you have played in establishing that interest throughout the district.”

Chinese paper art at the cultural room
at the Shoreline Arts Festival

Ryan Stege, one of Hua’s students from a non-Chinese speaking household, has been earning straight A’s in his Einstein Middle School and Shorewood High School Mandarin classes. He deeply appreciated Hua’s preparation for his middle school and high school Mandarin learning:

“Attending Hua’s class is a fun time and she has prepared me for middle school and high school Chinese classes very well.”

Whether instructing children in her Mandarin studio, facilitating language immersive summer camps, providing before / after-school enrichment / club, reading Chinese stories to all ages of kids at the Shoreline Library, or substitute teaching Mandarin in Einstein middle school and Shorewood high school, Hua Zhang invites enthusiastic feedback from the community.

“Hua is very quick at building good relations with students, because she is cheerful, friendly, sociable, and treats students with trust and respect. At the same time, she sets high expectations for students and provides strong support in helping them meet those expectation. Hua has a tremendous amount of energy, is very detailed oriented and takes ownership for making sure thing are done right. I have been very impressed with the work she puts into her classes and how much the students learn.” -- Principal David L

Teacher Hua's Chinese cooking class at Meridian Park elementary school

“Hua has an excellent rapport with the children, while keeping them engaged with a mix of reading, writing, acting and singing and even integrating Chinese cuisine. She is open for parental feedback and will adjust her teaching depending on your desired emphasis for writing, reading, or speaking. Although Mandarin is a very challenging language to learn on a weekly basis, Hua is an excellent teacher and has expanded their vocabulary by over 350 characters. More importantly, my girls enjoy coming to their weekly Mandarin lessons.”--Mr. Kim L commenting on his kids’ Mandarin learning

It was impressive how Ms. Hua had a comical story to tell for every new vocabulary word she taught and how she made writing practice more interesting by allowing us to use her calligraphy brushes. 
She taught a difficult Chinese ancient poem into beautiful Chinese traditional brush painting. 
She could transform our class from being just language class into a true Chinese class as she effectively balanced and captured the essential essence of the language as well as the culture in all of her lessons. 
With such an captivating dedicated teaching style, it makes us admire the Chinese language and culture more; it was no surprise that all of us got almost perfect grades on our unit exam. --Comments from Einstein middle school and Shorewood high school Mandarin class students
Bringing Chinese art into the Mandarin class at
Shorewood High School

Looking ahead, what are Hua’s goals for herself professionally and her vision for Mandarin in Shoreline?

At the beginning of 2018, Hua finished six weeks as a substitute Mandarin teacher at Einstein and Shorewood. With a deep sense of conviction, she had concluded that the overall Mandarin skills of secondary school students could be further enhanced and improved. Throughout her teaching career, Hua has always believed that the most effective methods of learning language have revolved around opportunities for students to hear and speak Mandarin and to be exposed to Mandarin at earlier ages.

Afternoon Mandarin class at Meridian Park Elementary


After careful consideration, Hua has decided to apply a new set of Montessori teaching aids. Her goal: to develop a new immersive Montessori Mandarin learning program for the Shoreline community by combining Montessori methods with her 12 years of Chinese teaching experience.

Hua explains:

“Early childhood is the most sensitive period of language development. I will organically integrate Montessori educational concepts and methods with Chinese language learning tools in order to firmly capture this unique time of learning. 
"By using colorful teaching aids and daily practice sessions, I will provide young children with a new Chinese language and cultural learning environment that will make the study of Mandarin interesting and lively for them. 
"Furthermore, I want to engage children on this exciting journey of enrichment, maximize their interest in learning Mandarin, and establish a solid foundation for long-term learning of this language, as well as to support the development of the Chinese language courses at Shoreline schools.”

Cultural presentation at Ridgecrest Elementary school

What does the community think of Hua’s plans?

“It will be a fantastic opportunity for young children to learn Mandarin with Hua during their early formative years. My eldest daughter was 2.5 years old and my youngest daughter was 6 months old when they were exposed to Hua’s Mandarin story time at the Shoreline Library.

"We are not native speakers. My daughters are now 8 and 10 years old, and they are still taking Mandarin lessons with Hua. Learning a second language can be challenging, especially Mandarin, but Hua has developed a curriculum that keeps children interested and motivated as well as progressing rapidly in both oral and written Mandarin.” –Ms. Jasmine A

Teacher Hua’s contact information: huazhang98@yahoo.com

Website here



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