Highline Community College has been recognized by The Chronicle of Higher Education, a top news source about colleges and universities, as one of the “Great Colleges to Work For” in their recent survey of colleges and universities nation-wide.

The survey was conducted at 277 colleges and universities and involved more than 42,000 employees. The survey results are based on a two-part assessment process: an institutional audit that captured demographics and workplace policies from each institution, and a survey administered to faculty, administrators and professional support staff.

Highline was recognized in five categories, including:

• Professional/Career-Development Programs
• Teaching Environment
• Job Satisfaction and Support
• Work/Life Balance
• Confidence in Senior Leadership

Highline is also one of the 39 institutions selected for The Chronicle’s Honor Roll, an honor that recognizes the top colleges and universities in their size categories – small, medium and large. Highline won in the medium-sized category.

Recently, numerous Des Moines Police Officers were invited to celebrate “Hero Day” at Parkside Elementary in Des Moines, where they joined students, teachers, parents and grandparents for lunch and recess activities.

Parkside Elementary School Principal Robin Lamoureux invited the officers, who played a big part in student-written definitions describing a “hero.”

One student named Jacob wrote:

“Most people think heroes always have swords and shields.

Really, they are every day people.”

Amanda wrote:

“A hero is not always strong physically, but strong in the heart.”

Here are some photos of the day, courtesy the DMPD:

Highline Community College’s Spring Festival 2010 is coming Friday, May 21st from 9am – 1pm, and is intended for local high school students, current HCC students and the entire community, and will include a college fair, workshops and food and entertainment.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Highline College’s Spring Festival 2010.

WHEN: Friday, May 21st from 9 am to 1 pm.

WHERE: Highline Community College, located at 2400 S. 240th Street in Des Moines.

INFO: This is for Local High School students, current Highline students, and the community, and will include:

• College Fair 9-11:30am (Bldg. 8): Reps from over 20 colleges and universities will be on campus
• Workshops 9:50-11:25am (Various Classrooms): College and Career related – paying for college, powerful resume writing, campus life and much more
• Food & Entertainment 11:30am-1pm (outside of Bldg. 8): $3 barbecue lunch or cafeteria options, live music and interactive activities

More info available at the college’s website here.

“Dollars for Scholars” is a scholarship program that provides thousands of dollars in funds each year to students who live or go to school in Des Moines or Normandy Park. This year they are offering 10 scholarships, and strangely, according to WLB Advertiser Vickie Bergquist, to date there have been NO applicants!

The application deadline is Wednesday, April 21st.

Many generous local businesses and organizations donate to this fund to help further education, and we encourage anyone out there needing tuition assistance to at least apply!

Applications are available online at www.scholarsgetdollars.com.

Here’s more info from their website:

What Is Des Moines Dollars for Scholars?
Des Moines Dollars for Scholars is a locally operated and supported, nonprofit, tax-exempt scholarship foundation. Operated by an all-volunteer Board of Directors, the purpose of Dollars for Scholars is to expand access to educational opportunities by involving and assisting our community in the support of students and in the encouragement of educational achievement. Des Moines Dollars for Scholars is a Dollars for Scholars chapter affiliate of Scholarship America®, a nationally recognized nonprofit student aid service organization.

Why Is Dollars for Scholars So Important?
Rising costs are making it more difficult for individuals to pursue continued education opportunities. Through Dollars for Scholars we have the opportunity to make a strong, collective statement about the importance of education beyond high school. We can provide both encouragement and financial support for local students.

Who May Apply for a Scholarship?
Des Moines Dollars for Scholars believes any sincere and determined person should have the opportunity to continue his or her education after graduation. Scholarships can be for two-year, four-year, or vocational and technical colleges. Students graduating from high school (or who have earned their GED) and adults continuing their education who attend school in Des Moines or who live in the cities of Des Moines or Normandy Park, Washington, may be eligible.

How Are Scholarships Awarded?
By completing a common application form, students become eligible for several local awards. Applications are scored anonymously by trained volunteers serving on an Awards Committee. Applicants receive points for a variety of qualities, including work experience, school and community activities, and academic record. In this way, the selection process is objective and nondiscriminatory, making scholarships available to a wide range of deserving students planning to attend an accredited post-secondary institution.

How Can I Help?
Members of our community are invited to demonstrate their support of local students individually and through group fund-raising activities. Funds also come from the generous support of local businesses, service organizations, and individuals or organizations who desire to sponsor scholarships through Des Moines Dollars for Scholars. Anyone in the community can help in a variety of ways: Make a contribution. We encourage you to give as generously as you can, but be assured that any and all gifts are appreciated. Your contribution of $10, $100, or $1000 reflects your pride in our students and commitment to the ongoing education of people in our community. Share your time, your skills and your ideas. We invite you to assist with any of our fund-raising events throughout the year. Leave a legacy of hope. Des Moines Dollars for Scholars may be named as a beneficiary in wills and insurance policies or receive gifts of property.

On Thursday (Mar. 4), Highline Community College’s Center of Excellence for International Trade, Transportation and Logistics (ITTL) announced that it had received $250,000 to provide additional job training opportunities for positions in the international trade sector.

“As our economy continues to change and adjust so too must our workforce,” said U.S. Congressman Adam Smith (D-WA). “This funding will help do just that by training Washington state workers for a career in a growing sector of our local economy – international trade.”

The project — part of the final version of the 2010 Consolidated Appropriations Act signed by President Obama on Dec. 16, 2009 — will lead to a 20 percent increase in the number of trained ITTL workers in Washington state.

U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and Smith secured funding for the project that will also improve the image of international trade throughout Washington state and create awareness of career and training opportunities that lead to family wage jobs.

“In these tough economic times, it is more important than ever to ensure that our workers have the skills they need to compete in the 21st century economy,” Murray said.

Positions in the ITTL sector include managers, logisticians, cargo and freight agents, shipping and receiving clerks, locomotive engineers, drivers and warehouse workers. Washington state will need nearly 77,000 new employees in ITTL by 2018, according to estimates based on data from the state’s Employment Security Department.

For more information about the Center of Excellence for International Trade, Transportation and Logistics, visit www.ittlwa.com.

Highline Community College was founded in 1961 as the first community college in King County. With approximately 18,300 students and 350,000 alumni, it is one of the state’s largest institutions of higher education. The college offers a wide range of academic transfer and professional-technical education programs, with day, evening and weekend classes. Alumni include:

• Former Seattle Mayor Norm Rice
• Entrepreneur Junki Yoshida
• Washington state poet laureate Sam Green
• And yes, even WLB Publisher/Editor Scott Schaefer

Highline Community College Business instructor Jeff Ward has earned a statewide honor for his leadership and achievements in “eLearning,” also known as electronic learning.

No, it’s not for teaching people about electronics, it’s for helping teach classes online.

Ward, of Lake Forest Park, provides one-on-one support to faculty and encourages them to explore and expand their use of technology in the classroom as Highline’s Faculty in Residence for Technology and Distance Learning.

“With online learning we have erased geographical boundaries. I can have students in class from all over the world, and their different experiences and backgrounds enrich discussions and give topics a more global perspective,” Ward said. “Alternative delivery of classes such as online and hybrid courses are better able to meet the diverse needs of our students – working parents, returning students, full-time workers, etc.”

The Leadership & Innovation in eLearning Award from the eLearning Council of Washington’s community and technical college system recognizes up to two individuals annually for achievements in electronic learning.   The honor comes with a $200 cash award and a grant for all-expenses paid trip to participate in the spring Pacific Northwest Higher Education Assessment, Teaching & Learning conference from April 28-30 in Vancouver, WA.

For more information on the Washington State eLearning Council, visit www.sbctc.edu/college/e_elearning.aspx.

Highline Community College was founded in 1961 as the first community college in King County. With approximately 18,300 students and 350,000 alumni, it is one of the state’s largest institutions of higher education. The college offers a wide range of academic transfer and professional-technical education programs, with day, evening and weekend classes. Alumni include former Seattle Mayor Norm Rice, entrepreneur Junki Yoshida, Washington state poet laureate Sam Green and Scott Schaefer, Publisher/Editor of this here blog and three-time National Emmy winning Writer for “Bill Nye the Science Guy.”

Classes began at Des Moines’ newly rebuilt Parkside Elementary School Wednesday morning (Feb. 17th), as buses arrived and students streamed in for the first day of classes in their shiny new building.

Parents enjoyed a welcome reception and a quick chance to look around at the new facility, and a grand opening event was held for families and the community on Tuesday, March 16th.

Students and staff of Parkside have been temporarily housed at the Manhattan school site during the last year and a half, during which time the old Parkside building was demolished and construction of the new facility took place.

School hours are 9:30am – 4pm weekdays, and the newly renovated building is located at 2104 South 247th Street in Des Moines. Please note that along with a new building, Parkside also has a new phone number: (206) 631-4700.

Here are some photos of the new building, which looks very nice and modern:

For a bus load of more pics of the building, click here.

(Photos courtesy the Highline School District)

Story & Photos by Janet Grella

Highline Schools Foundation for Excellence celebrated their major donors and board participants at a special awards luncheon at The House Restaurant in Burien on Wednesday, Feb. 10th.

According to Holly Moore, Foundation Executive, the luncheon was made possible by an Anonymous Donor’s $2,000 gift.

Chef Will and hostess Stephanie prepared and served a four-course meal to 39 guests, while Board President Maya Mendoza-Exstrom, Highline Superintendent John Welch and the Foundation’s Holly Moore awarded five couples for their personal and financial support to the Foundation over the 10-years since the Foundation was started.

In the first of what will be an annual event plaques of appreciation were give to:

• Eric and Suzanne Aasness
• Sandra and Denny Eliason
• Tom and Leann Russell
• Nanci Tangeman and Chris Blumenthal
• Sharon and David Wilson (who were acknowledged posthumosly for their long-term support Highline Schools Foundation)

Ms. Moore also shared a “traveling plaque” with the audience that included the recipient’s names. It will be displayed at various schools throughout the Highline School system.

Superientendent Welch noted the good efforts and commitments of the Highline Schools Foundation, and their funding of programs during these “challenging financial times.” He particularly called attention to the arts and athletics support given by the foundation.

If you are interested in donating to or learning more about Highline Schools Foundation for excellence, click here.

Here’s Janet Grella’s Photo Slideshow of the event:

Click to View Janet Grella’s Photo Slideshow

Students from Des Moines’ Aviation High School (AHS) gave Port of Seattle Commissioners first-hand descriptions of their experiences and a robotics demonstration during the Commission’s first community outreach meeting of 2010, held last Tuesday, Feb. 2nd.

The Port of Seattle supports AHS through its tax levy along with an airport environmental curriculum challenge, a job shadow program and high school internships.

“The students at Aviation High School will one day help Washington maintain a competitive edge in aviation, aerospace and high tech industries,” said Bill Bryant, Port of Seattle Commission President. “They are an impressive group! The future is in terrific hands.”

Aviation High School, located in Des Moines, is the only public, college-prep aviation themed school in the Northwest. Founded in 2004, the high school is part of the Highline School District but is open to students throughout the region. Currently 65% are students from the Highline School District with the rest coming from other districts, as far away as Olympia, Bremerton and Everett. With a current student body of 411, AHS has been very successful in providing a rigorous, high quality education to its student body.

The Port of Seattle has pledged $15 million in tax levy funds for Aviation High School, including $9 million in 2010 to help with constructing a new facility to be built at The Museum of Flight at Boeing Field. After 2010, the school will receive $650,000 per year through 2013 from the Port.

The high school prides itself in having the third highest score in the state in math and science as well as a highly diverse population of which 21% qualify for the free or reduced cost lunch program.

The Port of Seattle Commission meets quarterly at community locations.

Aviation High School’s slogan is “Where the sky is not the limit,” and is administered by Highline Public Schools. It is open to students across the Puget Sound region, and serves as a model science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) school. The curriculum is college preparatory, and all subjects are taught in the context of aviation and aerospace.

As we reported on March 26th, Aviation High recently received a $4 million grant from James Raisbeck. It will be re-named Raisbeck Aviation High School, and will move to the Museum of Flight in Seattle; construction is expected to begin in March.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

• Des Moines’ Aviation High School Makes U.S. News “Best High Schools List”
• Aviation High School Kicks Off Fundraising Campaign
• Four Aviation High Students Graduate From Washington Aerospace Scholars Program
• Aviation High School Students Hitch Ride On Delivery Flight Of Brand New 737
• Aviation High School Gets $4 Million Dollar Grant, New Name & New Address

Highline Community College is now accepting nominations for its “Distinguished Alumnus Award,” its most prestigious award for alumni.

This award is meant to honor a former Highline student who has made outstanding contributions through community service, noteworthy professional achievement and/or recognized leadership.

Nominations are due by April 16, 2010.

Previous winners have included:

• Former Seattle Mayor Norm Rice, who attended Highline in 1968–69, was the first recipient of the award in 1990
• Other past honorees include Junki Yoshida, CEO of the Yoshida Group
• Washington state’s first poet laureate Sam Green

Last year’s recipient was Dr. Linda Petter, a family practitioner in Tacoma and author of “Common Medical Sense,” who was honored for her outstanding work in the health care field. She has a regular feature at 7:45 a.m. Sundays on KOMO-AM 1000.

Nominees will be asked to submit a résumé and personal profile that will be reviewed by a campus selection committee. The person selected will be invited to accept the award and participate in Highline’s commencement exercises on June 10, 2010.

Please send your nominations via e-mail to ayoung@highline.edu or hard copy to:

Melissa Sell
Resource Development Office
Highline Community College
PO Box 98000 MS 99-248
Des Moines, WA 98198-9800

For more information, call (206) 870-3774, e-mail rstephen@highline.edu or visit www.funds4highline.org.

Highline Community College was founded in 1961 as the first community college in King County. With approximately 18,300 students and 350,000 alumni, it is one of the state’s largest institutions of higher education. The college offers a wide range of academic transfer and professional-technical education programs, with day, evening and weekend classes.

As many of our Readers also know, Publisher/Editor Scott Schaefer also attended Highline College, where he worked on the student newspaper The Thunderword. Another alum is one of his then-classmates, prolific local Playwright and current HCC Journalism Professor TM Sell.

WLB Advertiser Three Tree Montessori invites parents and kids to their Open House this Saturday, Jan. 30th from 10am – Noon.

Here’s what they’d like you to know:

Come see the beautiful classrooms, gardens and playgrounds, meet the teachers, and learn about Montessori programs for children ages one through twelve.

All are welcome!

Three Tree Montessori is located in Burien at 220 SW 160th, near Sylvester Middle School.

[Would you like to have a “Blogvertorial” story, Ad and/or Event Listing like this on a popular, fast-growing website seen by thousands of interested Local Readers every month? Email us for more info, or check out our Advertise page!]

The Highline Community College Foundation received a $60,000 donation from lifelong resident Justine Richards to help provide emergency assistance to Highline students who are struggling to pay for their college education.

Emergency assistance may include funds to pay for books, supplies, child care or transportation. Funds will be distributed through Highline’s Financial Aid office based on a student’s need.

The endowment is named in honor of donors Justine Richards, of Des Moines, and her deceased husband, Gene J. Newman.

Richards is a lifelong resident of the Des Moines area and taught business classes for the Highline School District for 40 years. She has been a longtime supporter of Highline Community College.

Newman graduated from Lynden High School in Lynden, Wash., and the University of Washington. He served in the 10th Mountain Division (86th Infantry Regiment) during World War II and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal at Monte della Torraccia Ridge in Italy on Feb. 27, 1945.

He spent 60 years as an electrical engineer building cranes, designing hydroelectric plants and other projects. His ashes are interred at the Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, Wash.

For more information on the HCC Foundation and how to donate to help needy students, call (200) 870-3774 or visit www.funds4highline.org.

Highline Community College was founded in 1961 as the first community college in King County. With approximately 18,300 students and 350,000 alumni, it is one of the state’s largest institutions of higher education. The college offers a wide range of academic transfer and professional-technical education programs, with day, evening and weekend classes.

Alumni include former Seattle Mayor Norm Rice, entrepreneur Junki Yoshida, Washington state poet laureate Sam Green as well as Scott Schaefer, Publisher/Editor of this here blog.

Our intern, Bryan Charles, of Big Picture High School has created another cartoon in his “3 Frog Bros.” series.

Bryan is a budding young artist, and has a passion for comics, cartoons and even creating his own Flash animations.

He also has a twisted sense of humor and a sharp observational eye, and here’s this week’s “3 Frog Bros.,“:

To see more of Bryan’s work, click here.

Highline School District’s Camp Waskowitz will he holding an Open House Fundraiser in cooperation with sponsoring North Bend Christmas Tree Farms and the Puget Sound Youth Foundation from Noon to 2:30pm this Sunday, Dec. 6th.

Visit this Historic CCC facility and home to Highline School District’s nationally recognized environmental education outdoor school program, where you can make holiday nature craft items, have your picture taken with “Smokey the Santa,” and receive discount coupons to purchase your own U-cut Christmas Tree.

Just a short drive up I-90, off exit 34. All proceeds from this fundraising event will go to “camperships” to help financially struggling families send their children to Waskowitz Outdoor School.

North Bend Tree Farm Sponsors include: Keith and Scott Tree Farm and Crown Tree Farm.

Here’s more info from HSD’s Waskowitz website:

Founded in 1947 by a group led by future superintendent Carl Jensen, Waskowitz Outdoor School is recognized as a leader in the field of residential outdoor education. The Carl Jensen Environmental Education Center at Camp Waskowitz serves the students of the Highline Schools, as well as students from surrounding schools and districts, through environmental education and team building programs. When not in use by student groups, the facilities are available to outside groups for rent. Our office is located in Burien at the Woodside site at 18367-8th Avenue South. Our program site is located in North Bend, Washington at Camp Waskowitz. For more information on our programs or facility rentals, contact our office at (206) 631-7626.

Camp Waskowitz was built by the Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC) in 1935 at its present location and was named Camp North Bend. After the CCC was disbanded, the Camp was sold and later renamed after Fritz Waskowitz from the Chicago area. Fritz Waskowitz had been a football player and captain at the University of Washington before he became a pilot in World War II, was shot down and killed. The facility was renamed in his honor. Highline School District began sending students to Waskowitz in 1947 and later bought the property in 1957. Carl Jensen, then Superintendent of Highline School District, convinced the Highline High School student body to use funds raised for a new sports stadium to buy the property with a promise that the school district would reimburse their fund. Some time later, Superintendent Jensen and the Highline School District made additional purchases of surrounding land that increased the Camp Waskowitz acreage to its present 372 acres. Today, Camp Waskowitz is a State and National Historic Preservation site and is one of only two remaining CCC Camps in the United States with all of the original buildings still standing. Since the inception of the Outdoor Education program in 1947, over 200,000 students have experienced this school in the woods.

Mount Rainier High School & Pacific Middle School PTSA are holding a “Together” Auction fundraiser on Friday, Nov. 20th from 5:30pm to 11pm at the Normandy Park Cove.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Mount Rainier High School & Pacific Middle School PTSA’s “Together” Auction fundraiser

WHEN: Friday, November 20, 2009, from 5:30pm – 11:00pm

WHERE: Normandy Park Cove

INFO: The annual 2009 “TOGETHER” will include:

• Master of Ceremonies: Susan West, KCPQ Channel 13
• Auctioneer: Dick Fain, KJR 950 Sports Radio & Voice of the Storm
• International Cuisine: Christi’s Catering
• Boogie Down: KJR FM – Radio Parties !!
• Complimentary Beer and Wine

You truly do not want to miss this opportunity to contribute directly to the “Wish List” submitted by staff/admin from MRHS & Pacific for student academic success! Be a successful bidder for fun, healthy, imaginative, cool, ok…VERY COOL items that have been contributed for sale!  Food is going to be delicious, bidding lively, and we did mention dancing? Yes! Dancing….LOTS of it !!

Looking forward to hearing from You!  Thanking you in advance for your contributions and consideration!

RSVP to either school or mail to:

Kay Duncanson
19625 Marine View Drive SW
Normandy Park, WA  98166

Questions? Contact Lora Bolding at 206-456-9284 or via email: prauction2009@gmail.com.

Des Moines’ very own Mt. Rainier High School Ramblin’ Marching Band will be one of several area participants in Macy’s 24th annual Holiday Parade on Friday, Nov. 27th in downtown Seattle.

More than two dozen high school marching bands and community drill teams will also participate, including marching bands from:

• Chief Sealth High School
• Denny Middle School

• Kentwood High
• Ballard High
• Penninsula High
• Washington
• Centralia
• Sequim
• Roosevelt

In addition to MRHS’ Ramblin’ Marching Band, several other area drill teams will participate:

• Northside Drill Team and Drum Squad
• Lake City Girls
• Marysville Pilchuck High School Marching Tomahawks and Color Guard
• Connect All Stars & Northwest Open Cheer
• Edmonds Woodway High School

Boasting nearly 56 entrants, the parade will also feature:

• 22 balloon floats and inflatables
• 500 costumed characters
• 18 high school marching bands
• Community drill teams
• Four dog clubs

The parade will begin promptly at 8:45am on 7th and Pine in downtown Seattle, travel west to 5th Avenue, south on 5th to University Street, west on University Street to 4th, and north on 4th to Pine street, where it will deliver Santa to Macy’s under a confetti snowstorm.

At 5pm, Macy’s will light its famous, 161-foot high, 3,600-bulb Holiday Star on the corner of 4th and Pine, in conjunction with the Westlake Tree Lighting Ceremony. The star lighting will conclude with a spectacular fireworks display, weather permitting.

So be sure to cheer on your local, ramblin’ marchers and musicians either in person on or KING-TV beginning at 9am Nov. 27th.

(Photo courtesy Carmen Scott)

UPDATE 10/28/09: We received word this morning that this event has SOLD OUT!

Highline School District’s Aviation High School’s Skunkworks Robotics Team 1983 is holding its annual Auction/Dinner fundraising event this Friday, Oct. 30th from 6pm to 8:30pm at Aviation High’s Cafeteria, located at 615 South 200th Street in Des Moines.

From their press release:

2009 was our third year and it will be another hard act to follow. We attended the Portland and Seattle Regionals and World Championships in Atlanta. This was the first time we were on the winning alliance in Portland and we were extremely competitive in Atlanta only losing 2 matches.

The team received two awards at the regionals for quality of robot design and our website was given an award for excellence by FIRST.

A program like this one does not happen by accident! We need your support in raising money for team operations.

The Aviation High School Skunkworks Robotics Team 1983 is raising funds for robotic equipment, registration fees, and travel expenses to attend competitions in Portland, Seattle and Atlanta, Georgia.

There are Three Ways to Participate:

1. A spaghetti dinner will be served from 6:30-7:30pm.
2. Bidding for desserts and a few special items donated by the team and their families will begin at 7:30pm. In addition to these items, participants can “Fund-A-Skunk” by sponsoring a student with a directed donation. Money will also be donated to fund an “anonymous” Skunk for students who have a difficult time fundraising.
3. If you cannot attend and would like to contribute directly, tax deductible donations can be mailed to the school address. Please make checks payable to “AHS PTSA Robotics”

Prepaid tickets: $8/student, $10/adult

Tickets at the door: $10/student, $12/adult

For more team information please visit our website: http://www.ahsrobotics.us

• If you cannot attend and would like to contribute directly, tax deductible donations can be mailed to the school address:

Aviation High School
615 South 200th Street
Des Moines, WA 98198
206.716.0006 phone
206.716.0020 fax

Please make checks payable to “AHS PTSA Robotics”

For more information or to purchase tickets:

• Dayna Miller: 253-797-3077 or DaynaMiller1277@msn.com
• Kathy Swan: bswan55234@comcast.net

Highline Community College’s StartZone is marking its first-year anniversary with a celebration from 5pm – 7pm on Thursday, Oct. 8 in the Highline Student Union (Building 8).

Since opening in October 2008, StartZone has helped more than 120 women, people of color, immigrants and people with disabilities who want to start or expand their small businesses in Southwest King County.

In addition, StartZone members have started 15 new businesses, created dozens of new jobs and obtained nearly $90,000 in financing.

The celebration, which is free and open to the public, will feature speakers who have found success after receiving support from StartZone’s trained business specialists.

Featured speaker Adugna Wubbie, of SeaTac, originally came to StartZone with the hope of building a successful business and helping his family back in his home country of Ethiopia.

He started Rose Super Clean Services, a commercial janitorial service, and is now earning about $3,000 a month in revenue. By the end of his first year in operation, he hopes to generate at least $10,000 a month in revenue.

“Our StartZone business adviser gave us information on what we needed for success,” Wubbie said. “As part of the StartZone community, we have had an opportunity to meet other business owners, network and find support from our peers.”

Ruth Tial Par, of Kent, will also be sharing her success story during the event.

Tial Par, who is wheelchair-bound and came from Burma more than a year ago, wanted to convert her hobby of sewing clothes into a business opportunity.

StartZone helped Tial Par get new sewing machines and her business, Ruthy Tailoring, recently started accepting customers.

StartZone services are free to members and include assessments, referrals, business consulting and planning, loan packaging, workshops, mentoring and opportunities for networking and peer support.

StartZone offers orientations from 6-6:30 p.m. on the first Thursday of the month at the HCC Outreach Center (Building 99), room 132, 23835 Pacific Highway S. in Kent.

For more information about StartZone, call (206) 878-3710, ext. 3388, e-mail startzone@highline.edu or visit http://startzone.highline.edu.

StartZone is funded by a grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Highline Community College was founded in 1961 as the first community college in King County. With approximately 18,300 students and 350,000 alumni, it is one of the state’s largest institutions of higher education. The college offers a wide range of academic transfer and professional-technical education programs, with day, evening, online and weekend classes.

With the most diverse population of any college in Washington state, Highline takes a multicultural approach to education for the success of all its students and the prosperity of its surrounding communities. Alumni include former Seattle Mayor Norm Rice, entrepreneur Junki Yoshida, Washington state poet laureate Sam Green and yes, even Scott Schaefer, the Publisher/Editor of this here blog.

Attachment: Adugna Wubbie, of SeaTac
Ruth Tial Par, of Kent

Four students from Des Moines’ Aviation High School graduated from the 2009 Washington Aerospace Scholars Summer Residency program this summer, and we here at The Waterland Blog would like to give a big shout out to them:

• Thomas Malchodi
• Andrew May
• Andrew Reece
• Michael Thompson

They were among the 150 students who qualified for the Washington Aerospace Scholars (WAS) Summer Residency program from 260 students who applied last November. To qualify for the residency program, they spent six months studying a NASA-designed, distance-learning curriculum via the Internet. Based on their academic performance on these lessons, they were selected to attend one of the four residencies hosted at The Museum of Flight in Seattle this summer. During the residency, the students collaborated with the other participants on the design of a human mission to Mars. WAS scholars are guided by professional engineers, scientists, university students and certified educators as they plan these missions. The WAS program is designed to inspire students to pursue degrees and careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) but the students are divided into teams which also require them to learn about mission management, budgets, the legal aspects of space exploration, and medicine.

In addition to the design of the human mission to Mars, they and the other WAS scholars participated in a number of hands-on engineering challenges. These challenges included: design, construction and deployment of robotic rovers, model rockets, lander devices, and payload lofting systems. Summer residency participants also received briefings from experts in the fields of engineering, science, physics, medicine, project management, risk management, and space exploration, such as Dr. Bonnie J. Dunbar, astronaut and CEO of the Museum of Flight. They also visited the Boeing plant in Everett for a behind-the-scenes tour of Boeing’s Commercial Airplane assembly (including the new 787), and toured engineering laboratories at the University of Washington.

As graduates of WAS, Thomas Malchodi, Andrew May, Andrew Reece, and Michael Thompson join over 380 alumni representing 170 different Washington high schools.

All expenses (including travel, meals and lodging) are provided to students free of charge by the Washington Aerospace Scholars Foundation. The program has been supported through generous grants from The Apex Foundation, The Aldarra Foundation, The Boeing Company, Microsoft, Battelle and individual donors. The Museum of Flight hosts both the program administration and the summer residency sessions. Additional partners include NASA Johnson Space Center for curriculum development, the Washington State Governor’s Office, Washington State Legislators, and the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Washington Aerospace Scholars began accepting applications in early September for the 2009-2010 program cycle to download an application, please visit www.museumofflight.org/washingtonaerospacescholars. WAS participants must be high school juniors with 3.0 minimum grade-point-averages, United States citizens and Washington State residents.

The deadline for student applications is November 6th, so you’d better get ready for take-off now.

Wednesday, Sept. 9th is the first day of school for Highline School District students, and since there are some serious schedule changes this year (like “early release Fridays”) we thought we’d share some info for parents wondering things like:

“There’s now early release every Friday???”

“I’m so confused – early release is exactly what time every Friday?”

“OMG early release means I have to change my schedule! WTF?”

Early release Friday will range from 1:40pm to 2:30pm depending on the school, so in order to help all our Readers who may have kids who are just jonesin’ to get back in class, below are two charts (download/view them here) showing the exact early release schedules (NOTE: click on each image to view larger version):

For more information, visit the Highline School District website here.

Luckily, for those in Federal Way Public Schools, classes already began last Thursday (Sept. 3rd); the FWPS school calendar is here.

Candidates for the “Des Moines Pool Metropolitan Park District Commissioner Positions” (try saying that three times quickly) have been formally announced by the King County Elections Board:

• Position No. 1: Gene Achziger
• Position No. 2: Eric Kasnick
• Position No. 3: Bernadette Barrett
• Position No. 4: Marty Martinson
• Position No. 5: Nancy N. Kuehnoel

It appears that all will run unopposed. The special filing period for these positions ended Friday, Aug. 28th.

This new “pool district” will create a property tax of up to 20 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation, so a home valued at $300,000 would pay an additional $60 per year to fund the pool. According to city documents:

“Des Moines Resolution 09-095 proposes creation of  the Des Moines Pool Metropolitan Park District coextensive with the City’s boundaries pursuant to 35.61 RCW, including the authority to levy a general tax on property within the District each year not to exceed twenty cents per thousand dollars of assessed valuation, for the purpose of acquiring and operating a pool facility. A five-member board of commissioners, elected at large, shall govern the District.”

Here’s the language used in Resolution No. 1109:

RESOLUTION NO. 1109: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF DES MOINES, WASHINGTON

Establishing November 3, 2009 as the date for an election on the question of the formation of a Metropolitan Park District within the City of Des Moines to generate funds for acquisition, maintenance, operation, and/or capital improvement/construction expenditures for a pool facility within the boundaries of the City of Des Moines, and on the election of the five initial Metropolitan Park Commissioners.

WHEREAS, RCW 35.61.010 provides that a metropolitan park district may be created for the management, control, improvement, maintenance, and acquisition of parks, parkways, boulevards, and recreational facilities. A metropolitan park district may include territory located in all of one city, when created, and

WHEREAS, in December of 2002, Des Moines and the City of Normandy Park entered into an Interlocal Agreement to assume ownership of the Mt. Rainier Pool from King County in order to continue operation of the Pool as the Mt. Rainier Pool Owners, and

WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of the original agreement between King County and the Highline School District, the terms of which were continued under the ownership agreement entered into by Des Moines and Normandy Park, the ownership of the Mt. Rainier Pool reverted to the Highline School District on March 6,2009, and

WHEREAS, in March of 2009, the Highline School District and the City of Des Moines entered into an ILA for the continued operation of the Mt. Rainier Pool until December 31, 2009, and

WHEREAS, the City of Des Moines and the Highline School District do not have the resources to continue to manage, maintain, and operate a Pool, and

WHEREAS, Mt. Rainier Pool or another pool facility provides a benefit to the citizens of Des Moines as a multi-generational facility that serves as one center of our community, one that provides health and recreation benefits to all ages, strengthens the community, and enhances the quality of life, and

WHEREAS, the continued operation beyond December 31, City, and City Council strongly supports that the of the Mt. Rainier or other Pool facility 2009 would be in the best interest of the

WHEREAS, after consideration of various alternatives, the Council has recommended formation of the Des Moines Pool Metropolitan Park District, organized under chapter 35.61 RCW, to acquire and operate the Mt. Rainier or other pool facility; now therefore, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DES MOINES RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:

Sec. 1. requested to be November 3, 2009 electors of the Request for election. An election is hereby held within the City of Des Moines on Tuesday, for the purpose of submitting to the qualified City, for their ratification or rejection, a Resolution No. 1109 proposition creating the Des Moines Pool Metropolitan Park District.

Sec. 2. The boundaries of’ the proposed Des Moines Pool Metropolitan Park District are coextensive with Des Moines city limits pursuant to chapter 35.61 RCW.

Sec. 3. The Director of Records and Elections of King County, Washington is requested to conduct this election on the November 3, 2009 ballot.

Sec. 4. The Director of Records and Elections of King County is requested to include a ballot measure that shall allow the election of five Metropolitan Park Commissioners of the District, as set forth in RCW 35.61. 050, and to set, announce and hold a special filing period for those positions.

Sec. 5. The City Clerk is directed to certify to the Director of Records and Elections of King County, Washington by a date no later than August 11, 2009, acopy of this resolution and the proposition to be submitted at that election in the form of a ballot title as follows:

• This PROPOSITION NO. FORMATION AND FUNDING OF DES MOINES POOL METROPOLITAN PARK DISTRICT Des Moines Resolution 09-095 proposes creation of  the Des Moines Pool Metropolitan Park District coextensive with the City’s boundaries pursuant to 35.61 RCW, including the authority to levy a general tax on property within the District each year not to exceed twenty cents per thousand dollars of assessed valuation, for the purpose ofacquiring and operating a pool facility. A five-member board of commissioners, elected at large, shall govern the District.
• For the formation of a Metropolitan Park District to be governed by a five-member board of commissioners to be elected at large.
• Against the formation of a Metropolitan Park District.

ADOPTED BY the 23rd day of July, City Council of the City of Des Moines 2009 and signed in authentication thereof 2009.

City Council of the City of Des Moines.

If you’d rather wade through this actual document in all its glory, click here to view a PDF.

We’d like to welcome our latest Advertiser Three Tree Montessori School, which serves student learners from the Highline and West Seattle area – you know, that’s the school behind those whimsical columns on SW 160th in Burien. They’ve been guiding students in this area since 2003. “Guiding,” as in not “teaching” – well that’s the Montessori philosophy, you see.

Montessori is a time-tested (since 1907 in Europe, and the mid-50s in the US), child-centered developmental education method that is focused on the individual child’s potential, giving the child hands-on experiences that nurture the love of learning. It emphasizes collaboration, self-expression, and self-motivation in beautiful learning environments, which foster respect, peace, and joy.

Every Thursday morning from late October through May, Three Tree Montessori welcomes interested parents and the community to experience Montessori by watching classroom activities. BTB recently spent time viewing Three Tree’s students at work. It wasn’t like any classroom we knew of, being products of public school, but it was interesting and worth explaining to our readers who are interested in public school alternatives.

Montessori divides classes by age, not grade level. The Toddler Program includes children aged 1 (and walking) to 3. This is where young children experience their first structured contact with other children. There are two toddler classes with 12 students in each class guided by a Montessori-certified teacher and an assistant teacher. There is one half-day class and one full-day class.

To give you an idea of what the Three Tree Montessori is like, here’s a slideshow of photos:

I was paired with an anxious mother from West Seattle who needed to watch her 1-1/2 year old son in his first week in class (he was doing much better than Mom!).

The Toddler environment is prepared to meets the needs of the child and to foster independence, motor coordination and language acquisition. This is where young children experience their first structured contact with other children. We observed tea parties, biscuit-baking, sweeping and cleaning—all performed with age appropriate tools.

Next we were off to the Primary Program for ages 3 to 6. We observed one of three primary classes. There is one teacher/guide, one assistant, and one support staff. One of the basic tenets of Montessori theory is the multi-age classroom. Here students learn practical life, sensorial, cultural, math and language activities and of course, outdoor play. There isn’t a desk in sight – instead there are chairs and tables that are age appropriate. Many of the children were using floor mats, studying math and geography working in groups or individually, with the older students mentoring the younger. We noted how quiet it was as they were learning at their own pace.

Finally we were welcomed into the Elementary classroom for ages 6-12. Yes, welcomed. Two girls (class greeters) welcomed BTB and offered tea. Students were working in small groups. Elementary children are noted for their questioning minds and their imaginations. The ability to reason is at its greatest capacity in the child of this age. The elementary classroom is designed to be the stepping-off point into the universe. The study of language includes writing, reading and oral expression. Math includes arithmetic, geometry and algebra (and we’re talking little kids learning this stuff!). Once again, all this learning is done on the floor or at tables.

After our tours of the classrooms were complete, we toured the gardens. Outdoor education is as important as indoor education at Three Tree Montessori. Each age level has their own garden area planted outside their classrooms, and are all aspiring gardeners. Their gardens include a compost pile as well as rain barrels (which were overflowing).

Service to the community is an important aspect of the Elementary program. Over the years, the children of Elementary have raised money for a Montessori school in Kenya, organized food drives for Northwest Harvest and holiday gift drives for the non-profit organization Baby Boutique, and held a clothing drive for a local family who lost all their belongings in a fire. And this past school year, the Elementary class has sent a work party of students each Friday to Marra Farm, a non-profit community farm promoting sustainable agriculture and education that donates tons of fresh produce to local residents.

We sat with the Elementary guide/teacher and learned there are no grades given in Montessori School. Rather there are two annual parent teacher conferences and a year-end evaluation (the ITBS is given to the equivalent of third and sixth graders).

Three Tree Montessori offers a diverse student and teacher population, and they work at keeping classrooms diverse and balanced (by race and sex). Tuition assistance is available. There are 120 students at the school, with room for a few more in the Toddler and Elementary Programs.

Three Tree Montessori is located at 220 SW 160th in Burien. Imported columns grace the front of Three Tree Montessori.

For more information about Three Tree Montessori, please contact the school office at (206) 242-5100, or click on their Ad for more info.

And about those columns – the originals were found in Cawa Cawa, New Zealand. They are replicas designed and built by parents from originals done by famous New Zealand artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser.

Would you like to have a “Blogvertorial” story like this for your Business, along with an Ad on every page seen by thousands of interested Local Readers every month? Email us for more info, or check out our Advertise page!]

Des Moines’ Pacific Middle School’s Wind Ensemble won Gold, First Place recently at the Heritage Festival in Anaheim, California, a repeat of last year’s perfect award.

The Pacific Choir improved on last year’s performance by winning Silver, First Place. Eighth grader Sierra Miller, Tuba player, was nominated by Director Jeffrey Steen for the Festival’s “Celebrate You” award to recognize her for winning a seat on the Mt. Rainier High School Wind Ensemble without ever having taken a private lesson.

After a visit with Fullerton College Clinician Dr. Tony Mazzaferro (“This is NOT a democracy, you follow ME!”), the students rehearsed for the competition. Parents who attended the rehearsal noted that Mr. Steen reminded the kids of the release notes and the quality of sound. The kids were ushered into an auditorium where they played the emotionally-charged “Of Wizards and Warriors” flawlessly; the chorale “Intermezzo”, and a march, a favorite of the students, “Colonel Bogey”. An adjudicator showed them a finer point with this piece, and a brass player admitted that it was exactly as Mr. Steen had told them twenty times, and they blew it! A parent who watched their student said that they’d never seen their teen look so adult as when they were in command of their instrument and the music. The kids left proud of their perfomance, but wondering if they could have done better – in and of itself, a mark of maturity.

The kids participated in a Soundtrack Recording Session conducted by Disney Entertainment director, Doug Strawn. He told them he would treat them as professional musicians and expected to be treated the same. He gave them a piece of the score from the animated movie “The Emperor’s New Groove” and told them to take a minute to review. He conducted the piece, made a few adjustments, and then they were recorded. Before showing them the results, he stated that “You are playing well above your age group, as far as I’m concerned.” The scene from the movie was shown without the score, then re-played with their recorded score and the results were astounding. As Mr. Strawn noted, the score initiated emotion – “We tell people who are watching a movie how to feel.” A parent of a 7th grader provided a different perspective – “I’ve seen her play in dozens of concerts, but I’ve never seen her take a sheet of music that she’s never seen before, interpret the composer’s intent in less than a minute, then sight-read and play it flawlessly.” It gave us a tremendous appreciation for the musical instruction they’ve received.

Next was a piece from “Atlantis”– the music conveyed a sense of urgency as a submarine was being lowered into the water, so added feeling to this otherwise lifeless scene. Mr. Strawn had them overdub – or play the piece exactly as the first time to record over the first to double the volume, so every note had to be played exactly as the first. This demonstrated the importance of timing, and to make that point, he sang “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” off by one beat (try it!) – the results were hilarious.

He allowed for a few questions at the end – most questions regarded careers as a studio musician. He said that these musicans were enormously qualified, and would come to work and play through a piece one time prior to recording – and they’d play that one time just to ensure that the sheet music was accurate, not because they needed help with interpreting or playing the piece. Then came the inevitable question of whether Walt Disney’s brain was buried somewhere in the Matterhorn (thanks, Alex), and Mr. Strawn assured us that this was not true.

The kids arrived home tired but happy after the stress of the competition, and the euphoria of chasing through Disneyland and California Adventure with their friends. Mr. Steen was pleased by the maturity they displayed, the performances they gave and the awards they brought home.

“Thank you again to EC Computers, Dr. Osterhout, Dr. Peyton, Brown Bear Car Wash and the Pacific Band Boosters for helping us out on this trip. And parents: I saw your kids over the last four days – what a fine job you’ve done!”

Aa Des Moines second grader was surprised in his school Thursday when his father, Lieutenant Colonel Gary Kaminski, walked through the door after spending a year in Iraq.

According to WIVB-TV, the unsuspecting son rushed over and gave Dad a bear hug, muttering the words, “Hi, dad.”

“It was really hard for me, cuz he was gone for a long time and I really love my dad,” said Stephen Kaminski.

Lieutenant Colonel Kaminski oversaw logistics in Iraq, making sure troops were equipped with bullets, food and fuel.

He said he can’t buy back lost time, but said he did make it home in time for his son’s first communion.