Public Schools

Press release:

Highline High School Avid students are helping to raise awareness about the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Somalia and the Congo. After hearing a presentation about the crisis, they pledged to get involved in the One Million Bone Challenge.

AVID students will make 2,500 bones out of newspaper and masking tape. The bones, representing the commonality of all people and the strength of the human spirit, will be sent to Washington, D.C., where they will be part of a display on the National Mall in June.
AVID is a program to prepare students to be successful in college.
Highline High School AVID students participating in the project are: Jakeline Franco, Alex Rodriquez-Marquez, Citlaly Ramirez, David Villegas, Michael Devos, Veronica Gonzales, Mia Alvarez, Ivonne Aguiniga, and Jerry Lo. They have been assisted by Stephanie and Pauline from One-Million-Bones.

Press release:

For the fifteenth consecutive year, Highline’s Transportation Department has received outstanding marks on the school bus safety inspection conducted by the Washington State Patrol.

Every year the Washington State Patrol conducts an annual and a surprise inspection to ensure the proper working order, maintenance, and safety of Highline school buses.

All buses and vehicles are examined during the annual inspection and 25 percent of the fleet is inspected during the surprise visit. The inspection covers all aspects of student transportation safety, including 300 separate points on each vehicle.

“Student safety while riding the school bus is our number one priority,” said Scott Logan, Interim Director of Transportation and Security. “Highline transports nearly 10,000 students every day using more than 100 school buses and a dozen other vehicles."

“This outstanding track record demonstrates the high level of commitment to student safety of all of our mechanics, drivers, departmental staff, and administrators,” said Logan.

Press release:
Bow Lake, Madrona, Mount View, and White Center Heights Elementary Schools and Chinook Middle School are now offering the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) After-School Meal Program.
The USDA program was expanded as part of the Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act of 2010, and is available to schools where 50 percent or more of the student body qualifies for free- or reduced-price meals and where there is a planned after-school program. There is no charge to participating students.

“Seventy percent of Highline students qualify for free- or reduced-price meals, so many of our families are not able to provide their children with a nutritionally-balanced meal at home,” said Chris Neal, director of Nutrition Services.

“This program helps students receive the balanced nutrition that is so important to their health, minds, and bodies," said Neal. "My hope is to expand the program to other schools in the near future."

Press release:

Highline Community College was selected by the Community College Futures Assembly as a 2013 finalist for the 19th annual Bellwether Awards.

The competition was held Jan. 26-29 in Buena Vista, Florida. Established in 1995, the Bellwether honor is given to colleges that implement exceptional and innovative programs in their institutions.

Ten finalists were selected in three categories: Instructional Programs and Services; Planning, Governance and Finance; and Workforce Development.

Highline competed in the Planning, Governance and Finance division. Each year, between 100 and 500 applications are submitted from community colleges around the world for a chance to become a Bellwether finalist.

“It is a huge honor that Highline Community College was selected as one of 10 finalists for this Bellwether award and to receive this external validation for the college’s innovative initiative around alumni relations,” said Highline President, Dr. Jack Bermingham.

Press release:

Fourteen additional Highline elementary schools have earned certification as HealthierUS Schools (HUSSC) bringing to 18 the number of Highline schools certified.

The program, initiated in 2004, recognizes schools that have created healthier school environments through promotion of nutrition and physical activity.

Seven schools earned the Gold Award of Distinction, four earned the Silver Award, and three earned the Bronze Award.

“These awards reflect a true collaborative effort by nutrition services staff at our schools, school principals, and staff at central office,” said Chris Neal, director of Nutrition Services. “The level of achievement and number of schools recognized means that many people across the district are working on behalf of the welfare of Highline students. It is just awesome to be recognized by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in this way, and I want to thank every person in Highline who contributed to this achievement.”

Press release:

WHO: KeyBank is proudly partnering with Highline Community College and United Way of King County to present its eighth annual Super Refund Saturday, a free tax preparation day for local residents who are filing a federal income tax return. Tax filers do not have to be KeyBank customers to participate. Media are welcome to attend.
WHAT: Super Refund Saturday is a one-day event during which community volunteers and banking professionals provide free income tax preparation assistance to low- and moderate-income wage earners and help them identify their eligibility for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). Maximum refunds resulting from the EITC can range anywhere from $475 to $5,800 for qualifying families, depending on income and family size.
WHEN: February 9, 2013 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

WHERE: Highline Community College Outreach Center (Bldg. 99)
23835 Pacific Highway South, Des Moines, WA 98198

Some 150 students and staff at Highline High School in Burien were tested for Tuberculosis (TB) after a student was diagnosed two weeks ago with an active case of the disease.

Public Health--Seattle and King County staffers supervised testing at the high school on Tuesday, Feb. 5. Those contacted by letter last week were given the option of being tested at the school or at the office of their health care provider.

By Friday, Feb. 8, test results for 79 people had been reported. One person tested positive for a Latent TB infection, according to Kathryn Ross, Public Health spokeswoman. She said no one tested positive for an active case of TB.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website, “Persons with latent TB infection do not feel sick and do not have any symptoms. They are infected with M. tuberculosis, but do not have TB disease. The only sign of TB infection is a positive reaction to the tuberculin skin test or TB blood test. Persons with latent TB infection are not infectious and cannot spread TB infection to others.”

Press release:

The Washington Traffic Safety Commission has approved a grant for SeaTac elementary schools to receive funding of up to $2,000 for its existing school zone safety programs.

The grant, applied for by the SeaTac Police Department, will give Bow Lake, Hilltop, Madrona and McMicken Heights Elementary schools upwards of $500 towards new safety equipment for their safety programs.

Equipment will include items such as flashing arm lights, raincoats, crossing guard hats, gloves, windbreakers, crossing guard paddles and illuminated vests.

Madrona Elementary School was the first to receive their new equipment on Jan. 25. Bow Lake, Hilltop and McMicken Heights will be receiving theirs within the coming weeks.

Press release:

Global Connections High School Wind and Jazz Ensembles received the highest possible rating, Superior with Distinction, for their performances at the Presidential Inauguration Music Festival.

During their trip, January 18 – 21, the students also witnessed the Oath of Office and the Presidential Address, toured famous monuments, visited Smithsonian museums, and had the chance to interact with music groups from across the country. A special highlight was the tour of the U.S. capitol, arranged by US Congressman Adam Smith.

“The trip to Washington, D.C., was an amazing and inspirational experience for our students,” said Rick Harwood, Principal, Global Connections High School. “Our students were fully engaged in every aspect of the trip, as they experienced one exciting event after another.

“The chance to be part of one of the most important events in the world made a lasting impression on our students and expanded the possibilities they see for themselves as contributing members of their communities, local and global.”

Recommendations that could include disarming Highline Public Schools security officers are on hold until April.

Superintendent Susan Enfield said Jan. 9 that recommendations would be made within a week and a half. But after meeting with local police chiefs and a King County Sheriff’s captain, Enfield decided to hire former Des Moines Police Chief Roger Baker as a consultant to review a whole series of issues around school security.

Enfield said at the Jan. 23 board meeting that after the police chiefs’ meeting, she felt it would be irresponsible not to do a much more thorough review. She estimated new proposals could come by April 1.

A district steering committee studied Highline’s security plan and presented a report at a Dec. 12 board work session.

The session occurred two days before the shootings at a Connecticut elementary school. After the shootings, the possibility that Highline security officers was highlighted in several media reports Board members heard several pleas at their next board meeting not to disarm the officers.