Tag Archives: stem

Beacon Bits

Beacon Bits: Cleveland Eagles championship edition

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Go Eagles! Photo by Tambako the Jaguar, via Creative Commons.
We have been remiss in not mentioning that Beacon Hill’s own Cleveland High School won the girls’ basketball state championship on Saturday night, beating Holy Names by a score of 47-44 in the Class 3A final and ending the Cougars’ 19-game win streak. Not only is this Cleveland’s first state title, but two years ago the team finished 3-16. Congratulations Eagles!

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In other Cleveland High School news, the school, which was recently named one of the state’s lowest-performing, will be starting their STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) option program this fall. But the $800,000 contract with the New Technology Network to help phase in the program is being revised from the version approved by the School Board last month. The Seattle Times (BHB news partner) explains the delay here.

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Willie Weir finds that the new Google Maps Bike Route option is, sadly, “not ready for prime time,” sometimes sending cyclists on dangerous routes like Rainier Avenue South.

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Overheard on Twitter recently, from @danaeK: “Bars in Beacon Hill and Lake City have more in common than one might expect.”

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Yesterday’s hot topic on the Beacon Hill Mailing List was the search for a good local vet. Anyone have any good suggestions for vets in the Beacon Hill/Rainier Valley area?

Also on the mailing list: the local canines seem to have spring fever. There have been two reports of dogs running loose in the last couple of days. The first, reported by Alex, was “an unattended mid sized beagle looking dog running freely west on Stevens St. toward 23rd avenue… it seemed a bit skittish and was enjoying freedom and kept going before I could get to it.”

Yesterday neighbor Francine reported “an adorable little black dog west up Columbian Way toward the Beacon Avenue… She/he crossed the BUSY Columbian and I tried to coax her in my car, but no luck. She tore off again.” We hope that both of these dogs have returned home safely.

Education

Husky Promise at Cleveland, STEM contract approved

Tomorrow from 1 to 2pm, the University of Washington Husky Promise financial aid program will be at Cleveland High School:

Learn about the Husky Promise program – how it works, how it’s benefitted current UW students, and what it takes to qualify for the program. Meet University of Washington students who have excelled in their pursuing their passions at UW. And find how college tuition and programs like the Husky Promise may be affected by the outcomes of the current legislative session in Olympia.

More at the Husky Promise blog.

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The Seattle School Board approved the $800,000 contract for the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math program starting at Cleveland this fall. From the Seattle Times:

Under the new boundary plan, Cleveland will no longer be a neighborhood high school. Instead, it will be an “option” school, one which students must sign up to attend and with spaces assigned by lottery if necessary.

The STEM program will be phased in, starting with freshmen and sophomores this coming fall.

Read the rest in The Times.

Education

Cleveland changes apparent at STEM open house

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Charlie Mas (a Beacon Hill neighbor) attended the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) option program open house at Cleveland High School on Saturday, and has posted his experience there at the Seattle Public Schools community blog.

He discusses the potential changes in the student demographics and some of the challenges the STEM students may face, including budget cuts, transportation issues, and a staff that will probably need to adjust to the school’s changes themselves. According to Mas, staff members at the open house at times seemed unprepared for the possibility that many of the STEM students will be working at or beyond grade level and will want to take advanced courses in subjects such as world languages.

However, Mas also describes what he sees as positive aspects of this new program on Beacon Hill:

“My daughter is looking for a small school, and I am convinced that STEM will be small. She is looking for project-based learning and they are definitely going to have that. She wants to escape the ‘Discovery’ math, and it looks like STEM will offer an escape from it. She is looking for a lot of science, and oh boy will she have that.”

The Seattle Times (BHB partners) also reported about STEM yesterday, focusing on concerns about budget issues and whether the District will be able to support the program.

To set up the STEM program, the District may spend $800,000 for curriculum and training from the New Technology Network, a network of schools with a STEM focus. Some, including School Board President Michael DeBell, are not certain this expenditure is necessary in a time of tight budgets.

The Times quotes Cleveland principal Princess Shareef, who feels the New Technology Network support is vital: “If we want to do this correctly, we’re going to need the professional development that the New Technology Network affords. I hope, hope, hope that the board approves it.”

Starting in Fall 2010, Cleveland will not be a neighborhood “comprehensive” high school, but instead an “option” school, open to everyone in the District. The STEM program will be phased in for freshmen and sophomores in the classes of 2013 and 2014, while juniors and seniors will be enrolled in a College Readiness Academy.

Education, Volunteering and Giving

Education roundup: Open houses and more

Photo by Doug Wilson.
The STEM Open House and recruiting fair is happening at Cleveland High School on Saturday, January 23rd from 10am to noon. STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, and is a curriculum with where students may choose from two academies: Life Science and Global Health or Engineering and Technology. See the PDF flyer. More information on the program at seattleschools.org.

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Jerrod Gonzales, the Director of Childcare at Jefferson Community Center, shares:

[O]ur After-School program was lucky enough to receive a $3,000 grant from School’s Out Washington for quality improvement. We are very excited for the opportunity to add new reading and homework materials to our site to help our kids succeed!

The community center currently has openings in their after-school program — contact Jerrod if you’d like more information.

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Romina Rivera, Volunteer Coordinator for Youth Programs for Neighborhood House, writes:

WANTED: Mentors for Middle School Students

January is National Mentoring Month. To celebrate, Neighborhood House is launching the Recruit-A-Mentor Challenge. We’re trying to double the number of our CASASTART volunteer mentors for our middle school students.

Mentors are an important component of CASASTART. Each month, mentors join our students in various activities during after-school hours. These activities range from educational to simply hanging out. By being present each month, mentors become positive adult role models to our students which they may not otherwise have if it were not for the CASASTART program. The time commitment is two hours per month with the students plus some planning time with the other mentors. We ask that mentors commit at least six months to the program.

If you (or anyone you know) are interested in becoming a mentor, please e-mail RominaR@nhwa.org for more information on how to get started as a mentor.

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Lissa Munger, a teacher at Van Asselt Elementary, writes concerning an Open House there on Thursday, January 28th from 6:30-8:30pm:

We want to welcome community members, not just current Van Asselt families. At the open house, neighbors can:

  • Learn more about the Student Assignment Plan
  • Find out which schools your family is assigned to
  • See our facilities
  • Meet current Van Asselt staff and families (and district officials)
  • Hear about Van Asselt’s programs
  • Participate in a parent meeting

Please plan to join us!

Education, Meetings

Public invited to learn about Cleveland STEM program on December 5

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News Release From Seattle Public Schools
Contact: Patti Spencer, Communications Manager, (206) 252-0204
Community invited to learn about new STEM program at Cleveland High School

SEATTLE – Seattle Public Schools is committed to providing an excellent education so all students graduate from high school ready for college, careers and life. To help meet this goal, a new Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) program is being implemented beginning fall 2010 at Cleveland High School. Cleveland has been designated an option school – providing high school students from across Seattle access to this innovative program.

The community is invited to attend two events to learn more about STEM and its implementation.

A meeting will be held December 5 at Cleveland High School. Students, staff, and families of current and prospective students are welcome to attend. The meeting will include a presentation, opportunity to ask questions, and a small group discussion to include:

  • the vision for the STEM program at Cleveland;
  • the goals and benefits of STEM;
  • course offerings and program structure;
  • next steps for the STEM program and how to get involved; and
  • how to determine if STEM is a good option for your student.

Cleveland High School will also hold an Open House and Recruiting Fair on January 23, 2010, where staff can answer questions about the STEM program.

Dates, times, locations for the two events are listed below:

Community Meeting
Saturday, December 5, 2009
9-10:30 a.m.
Cleveland High School
5511 15th Ave. S.

Open House/Recruiting Fair
Saturday, January 23, 2010
10 a.m. to noon
Cleveland High School
5511 15th Ave. S.

Interpretation services will be available at both meetings. For more information about STEM, please e-mail: stem@seattleschools.org.