Public Schools

Conor McClure almost single-handedly snapped the Ballard High School baseball team's two-game losing streak in a March 26 win over Inglemoor.

McClure went three-for-four with a home run, a double and five RBIs in the 6-2 victory

Thursday's performance came one day after McClure went two-for-three in a losing effort.

"He's swinging the stick well," coach John Lamm said.

McClure got some help from starting pitcher Nick Palewicz, who threw five strikeouts in five innings and gave up only one run.

Nico Van Der Ven added a solo shot for the Beavers.

The win puts Ballard at 2-1 in the conference and 3-2 overall.

The Beavers take on Roosevelt at 3:45 p.m., March 30 at Whitman Middle School.

2009 Baseball Schedule.pdf

The Seattle School district has presented a plan to parents that would assign their students to schools based first and foremost on their home address.

At a public meeting at Ballard High School last night, many parents arrived ready to hear where the boundary lines would be drawn for the district's new Student Assignment Plan. But they were told that information would nor be known until this fall.

District representatives said they want to ensure the plan balances every school in every neighborhood with high quality programs, diversity, opportunities for special education and bilingual services and decrease transportation costs by avoiding shipping kids clear across the city.

Tracy Libros, manager of enrollment services at the district, said that the plan would be more predictable and less complex for parents to decipher where their students will attend school beginning at the elementary level and leading to high school.

A major goal with the new plan is to have more families attending schools closer to their homes, thereby bringing services closer to the students who need them and encouraging greater family participation in education, according to the district.

In their first complete match of the season – the March 24 match was called on account of rain halfway through – the Ballard High School girls tennis team fell 6-3 to Garfield.

In singles, only Natasha Noltimier-Strauss was able to pull out a win for Ballard. She beat Garfield's Laura Baron 6-3 and 7-5.

The Beavers fared better in doubles play with two pairs pulling out victories.

Katie Lee and Anna Brokhaug won 8-2 and Sophie Hingten and Kristen Otness won 6-4 and 7-5.

Ballard faces Newport at 3:45 p.m., March 31 at Newport Tennis Courts.

2009 G Tennis Schedule.pdf

3:26 Full Tennis Results.pdf

The Ballard High School boys soccer team was shut out in its second consecutive game, this time 1-0 at the hands of Woodinville.

The Beavers are now 0-2 in the conference and 1-3 overall.

Coach Gary Hunter said the team would spend more time on shooting practice in coming practices and put more emphasis on the offensive side of the ball.

Ballard has a lot of young players – they only started two seniors against Woodinville – and they are still trying to learn the system of the team, Hunter said.

"I think they are playing hard," he said. "The team is a young team."

The Beavers head to Bothell to take on Bothell High School at 7:30 p.m., this Friday, March 27.

2009 B Soccer Schedule.pdf

The Ballard High School girls golf team lost to Woodinville by eight strokes in the first match of the season on an unseasonably chilly March 24 at the West Seattle Golf Course.

"It was really cold for one," coach Casey McMullin said. "And, for the first match of the year, it was our players getting their feet wet."

Ballard's Kayla Wenger tied for first place with Woodinville's Bri Hemming with a score of 57.

Amy Johannsen (62 strokes) and Caime Scott (63 strokes) placed fourth and fifth respectively for the Beavers.

McMullin said a number of girls were ineligible for the game due to grades.

The team faces Inglemoor at 3 p.m., March 26 at the West Seattle Golf Course.

2009 G Golf Schedule.pdf

Mayor Greg Nickels announced today the 26 "outstanding" middle school students, including one from Ballard, who have earned this year’s scholar awards for service to their schools and communities.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the mayor’s Scholars Awards and in celebration, all 189 past award recipients will be honored.

Each of this year’s students will receive $500 that can be used for education or donated to a charity. Criteria for selection include overcoming obstacles or meeting challenges, giving back to the community, and maintaining good academic standing.

“With this award, we recognize Seattle’s next generation of leaders,” Nickels said in a statement. “Service to others is the foundation of a strong community, and I’m glad we can help these promising young people with their education and service goals.”

Students wrote short essays about how they contribute to their community and how they would use a $500 cash award. In addition, students were required to provide several recommendations from adults familiar with the students’ service work.

Ballard area award recipients include:

Sidney Axtell, Salmon Bay School, 8th grade

Mayor Greg Nickels announced today the 26 "outstanding" middle school students, nine in West Seattle, who have earned this year’s scholar awards for service to their schools and communities.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the mayor’s Scholars Awards and in celebration, all 189 past award recipients will be honored.

Each of this year’s students will receive $500 that can be used for education or donated to a charity. Criteria for selection include overcoming obstacles or meeting challenges, giving back to the community, and maintaining good academic standing.

“With this award, we recognize Seattle’s next generation of leaders,” Nickels said in a statement. “Service to others is the foundation of a strong community, and I’m glad we can help these promising young people with their education and service goals.”

Students wrote short essays about how they contribute to their community and how they would use a $500 cash award. In addition, students were required to provide several recommendations from adults familiar with the students’ service work.

Award recipients from West Seattle include:

Luke Asatiani, Madison Middle School, 8th grade

It’s that time of year again. The sun is starting to peak out of the clouds, sneakers are replaced with flip-flops, and the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) is back. But there might be changes coming soon to the WASL people have grown accustomed to.

To graduate high school, students must pass the reading and writing section of the WASL. Math also has a requirement, but there are alternatives. If the math section of the WASL isn’t passed, students need to take a math class each remaining year of high school, and earn a D or better in each of those classes in order to graduate.

Newly elected Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn was the one who proposed changes to the WASL. The several reforms to the WASL will start in 2010, if they are approved. Some of the changes include taking the test via computer, fewer extended answer questions, and faster results, among others. With this new test, Dorn hopes to reduce the amount of time students spend on response, and minimize the cost.

Even though Ssuperintendent Dorn is seeking to improve the WASL, it is easier said than done.

The Ballard High School softball team couldn't keep up with Sammamish's offensive onslaught in a 13-3 defeat March 23.

The Beavers gave up 13 runs on only six hits and had five errors.

Starting pitcher Haley DeGarmo gave up 10 runs in three innings of work.

On the positive side for Ballard, Sophie Overlock-Pauley went 2-2 with an RBI and a walk, while Karissa Marshall and DeGarmo added an RBI each.

The Beavers, 0-2 overall and 0-1 in the conference, don't play again until April 6, when they face Roosevelt at 4 p.m. at Lower Woodland.

2009 Softball Schedule.pdf

On Sunday, April 8, starting at 7 p.m. the Madison Middle School Parent Teacher Student Association PTSA and Southwest Healthy Youth Partnership is hosting an event to provide tools for families to prevent underage drinking.

Alcohol is the number one drug of choice for America's youth and binge drinking is the biggest health problem on America's college campuses, according to the youth partnership group.

Prevention needs to start early, according to the group, and most adult alcoholics develop their drinking behaviors before age 15.

At the event will be nationally acclaimed authors and speakers, Toren and Chris Volkmann, who will share their stories and tips.

Madison Middle School is located at 3429 45th Ave. S.W.

For more information, contact Renaé Gaines, (206) 252-9189 or (206) 396-2945 or email