Saghalie Middle School
School Profile
School Website: http://www.fwps.org/saghalie/
33914 19th Avenue S.W. |
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What is Special About Our School?
Saghalie is a Chinook word meaning "uppermost" or "highest point."
Our student body is culturally diverse, reflecting the changing composition of the Federal Way community. We draw on the strengths of that diversity to foster respect for all at Saghalie and in society at large.
To meet the educational needs of each of our young Skyhawks, Saghalie sets high academic standards for its students. Standards based instruction is the label we give to planning and delivering instruction that reflects students’ academic performance relative to Washington state’s essential academic learning requirements (EALR) and associated grade level expectations (GLE). The primary, and immensely important, way to measure performance on these standards is the Washington Assessment of Student Learning, or WASL, that is administered presently at grades 6, 7 and 8.
Standards based instruction requires some familiar, as well as some possibly unfamiliar, tools and methodology. During student-led conferences parents and guardians will have the opportunity to view your youngster’s academic performance through a standards based lens. As you listen to your son and or daughter explain contents of the portfolio (a collection of evidence) and how a particular assignment relates to a rubric (the guide that describes progress toward standards across four levels), be prepared to ask questions.
While its terms may be new, standards based instruction is more familiar than you realize. Did you take music lessons, play a sport, or take part in a competition in school? If so, that situation required standards based instruction. For each, there was a desired level of performance, a known skill set to learn and practice, and ongoing evaluation by you and by your teacher, tutor, or coach. You moved along a developmental path that led from second string to varsity, novice to concertmaster, intern to professional. At Saghalie we label these levels of performance as Exceeding, Meeting, Approaching, and Beginning or below.
The goal of standards based instruction is proficiency or mastery by the student. Infallibility is not a desired outcome. Practice and mistakes are essentials. If you have other questions about how all this relates to the students and classrooms at Saghalie, please feel free to give me or your child’s teacher a call. We expect them to increasingly direct and motivate themselves in setting and accomplishing realistic goals. We expect them to develop sound thinking and problem-solving skills. We expect them to learn to be responsible citizens who pursue a quality, healthful life style.
To ensure that that each student’s academic, social, emotional, and physical needs are being met, we are committed to a safe, positive environment where students can learn and achieve their potential and have fun in doing so.
The staff at Saghalie is committed to working with parents, guardians and community members in providing and promoting positive and healthy activities for our young SKYHAWKS both in and out of the classroom setting.
Please stay involved in what your child is doing at school and ask questions of both teacher and administration. Our young Skyhawks need us, the adults, working together to help them reach their full potential.
Thank you for the gifted and wonderful students you send to us each day!
No Child Left Behind Report Card
The No Child Left Behind Act requires all schools and school districts in the United States to prepare annual reports for parents and the public detailing their academic achievement. The State Superintendent of Public Instruction’s web site makes this information available on-line. Find your school’s report card on-line at http://reportcard.ospi.k12.wa.us/, Click on Federal Way in the “Summary” box, then choose your school from the list. You may also request a paper copy of the report card at your school’s office. For more information about the NCLB Act, go to http://www.nclb.gov/index.html.
Academic and Student Programs
- AVID
- Band, Orchestra and Choral Music
- Basketball (boys and girls)
- Computer study and research
- English Language Learning (ELL)
- Football
- Full-time counseling
- Gymnastics and Volleyball
- Intramurals (boys and girls)
- Pre Advanced Placement Classes
- School newspaper, broadcasting
- Softball
- Wrestling
- Yearbook
AVID
Advancement Via Individual Determination
Saghalie is a nationally certified AVID school. AVID is an international program that has been in existence for 26 years. We began AVID three years ago at Saghalie as a way to reach our diverse population of students who are intelligent yet might not see themselves going to college or having a career other than professional sports. Students meet a certain criteria including ability, effort, and desire. Once accepted into the program, they learn the skills they need to be successful in Advanced Placement classes. They learn to take notes, organize themselves, advocate for their learning through tutorials, and visit college campuses and college fairs. We currently have 120 students enrolled in our AVID program that spans all three-grade levels.
Saghalie’s Equity Team
Saghalie’s equity team will be instrumental in bringing our school community together. We will embrace diversity and teach tolerance and understanding. There will be forums just for students who will have a voice discussing issues at school. There will be forums for parents to get involved in our school community -- showing and teaching how to support their own child at school. We will have staff development teaching and learning about the cultures that exist within our own walls. We are looking for parents who would like to be a part of our team. You may contact Elaine McDonald (Counselor) at 253-945-5008 or Karin Kovach (Dean of Students) at 253-945-5014.
Student Characteristics
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Distribution of Student Ethnicity |
2005 | 2006 | 2007 |
| African American | 21.31 | 20.25 | 21.90 |
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Asian American |
16.39 | 13.71 | 12.30 |
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Hispanic |
15.35 | 18.69 | 22.60 |
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Native American |
2.09 | 1.87 | 1.90 |
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White |
43.07 | 42.99 | 36.40 |
| Pac Islander | 1.19 | 1.25 | 2.20 |
| Multi-Racial | .60 | .93 | 1.90 |
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Other Student Characteristics |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
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Number of Students (Oct.) |
674 | 632 | 585 |
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Free/Reduced Meals |
50.8% | 52.9% | 59.9% |
How Are We Using Our Financial Resources?
| Our District | Our School | ||
| “Per Pupil” Expenditures for 2007-08 | Funding | ||
Total Expenditure |
$8,296.00 | Building Expenditures |
$166,034.10 |
Supplies & Instructional Materials |
$432.00 | ASB (Associated Student Body) Expenditures |
$51,450.39 |
Equipment |
$52.00 | ||
School resources were used for planning time, staff in-service time, workshops, conferences, computer software and hardware, materials, photocopying, curriculum materials, and computer supplies.
How Are Our Students Doing on Required Tests?
Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL)
*Beginning in spring of 2006, the state of Washington requires that the WASL be given at sixth grade.
Percentage Meeting Standard in:
| Grade 6 |
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Reading |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
School |
.0 |
.0 |
59.0 |
61.8 |
District |
.0 |
.0 |
69.0 |
68.5 |
Math |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
School |
.0 |
.0 |
44.0 |
47.5 |
District |
.0 |
.0 |
49.0 |
48.3 |
| Grade 7 |
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Math |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
School |
37.8 |
41.0 |
47.0 |
42.8 |
District |
46.6 |
53.0 |
51.0 |
54.0 |
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Reading |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
School |
60.4 |
64.0 |
57.0 |
66.5 |
District |
65.4 |
75.0 |
66.0 |
72.4 |
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Writing |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
School |
58.1 |
53.0 |
55.0 |
67.4 |
District |
64.2 |
66.0 |
67.0 |
70.7 |
| Grade 8 |
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Math |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
School |
.0 |
.0 |
39.0 |
45.7 |
District |
.0 |
.0 |
48.0 |
50.0 |
Reading |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
School |
.0 |
.0 |
67.0 |
66.1 |
District |
.0 |
.0 |
76.0 |
69.0 |
Science |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
School |
37.1 |
25.0 |
33.0 |
38.0 |
District |
42.0 |
33.0 |
42.0 |
40.0 |