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Good News October 22, 2019

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Good News October 22, 2019

Good News: October, 22 2019

Posted by Amanda Brasgalla on 10/23/2019 8:00:00 AM

Scholars participate in the Washington State Fair arts show

Congratulations to our scholars for participating in the arts show at the Washington State Fair. These scholars demonstrate strengths in academics and the arts, which supports strategic plan goal 3 — active learners, engaged, empowered, critical thinkers.

For the category of graphic design:

  • 1st place: David Cox and Nathan Warren. Nathan also received best in show for the digital art titled “Spiderman”
  • 2nd place: Ashlynn Jones, Rachel Kimura, Maxim Knot, Rosa Basler and Henry Youngjohn
  • 3rd place: Emma McCann, Hyun Rho, Jamal Afshar

For the category of visual communications:

  • 1st place: Astrid Anderson, Catalina Ramos DeLa Flor, Alexia Mattos, Ella Wagner and Veronica Black. Veronica also won best in show for digital art titled “Shattered Reality"
  • 2nd place: Mohammed Mahmoud, Marisa Dawson, Hyun Rho, Damaris Unat, Zoe Von-Minden, Grace Tangonan and Elizabeth Ouk
  • 3rd place: Erik Sanchez-Contreras, Sasha McGraw and Mareana Den

For the category of photography:

  • 1st place: Alishan Gognadze. Alishan also received Best in Show for his photo "Marina"
  • 2nd place: Mohammed Mahmoud and Brenda Mora
  • 3rd place: Jasmin Flores-Montoya, Chris Kibari, Alondra Pino de la O and Ashlynn Sterling

Congratulations scholars, we are proud of you!


230 Sunnycrest Elementary scholars had perfect attendance in the month of September

Sunnycrest Elementary School recently celebrated an exciting achievement. In September, 230 scholars had perfect attendance! This means these scholars were in class, on time, every day, ready to learn. They all received a perfect attendance ribbon, and a chance to win pizza with the principal! There is a different colored ribbon for perfect attendance each month.

We would like to recognize the scholars who are representing the group who had perfect attendance in September.

Thank you to Sunnycrest for supporting our strategic plan goal 2 whole child efforts and making strong attendance a priority at your school.

Lake Grove teacher receives award from SHAPE WA

Lake Grove Elementary teacher Dana Henry has been selected by the Washington’s Society of Health and Physical Educators for the 2019 Bob Melson Honor Award! This recognizes a physical education teacher who is a true leader and role model in the health and physical education profession.

Dana is the PE lead for Federal Way Public Schools and provides professional development and support for 23 elementary schools in the district. In addition, she regularly presents on best PE practices at conferences around the state.

Dana has worked to secure multiple grants for her school and the district to promote healthy habits. She implemented the “Let’s Move Active Schools” program at Lake Grove.

Thank you, for your commitment to keeping our scholars healthy and ensuring all students are thriving, confident, responsible individuals — goal two of our strategic plan.

181 Lake Grove Elementary students had perfect attendance in the month of September

In the month of September, 181 Lake Grove Elementary Leopards had perfect attendance!

We would like to recognize the scholars who are representing all 181 students. 

Thank you, Lake Grove, for supporting strategic plan goal 2 whole child efforts by encouraging students to be in school, on time, ready to learn each day. Way to go, Leopards!

Do The Right Thing's Paving the Way Program provides support to Running Start students

We are grateful for Do the Right Thing’s Paving the Way Program which supports our scholars’ college and career readiness.

We would like to recognize Cheryl Hurst, founder of Do the Right Thing.

During the 2018-19 school year Paving the Way provided $225 per month to six Federal Way Public Schools Running Start students to assist with expenses such as transportation, lunch, text books and supplies. Paving the Way is providing support again this school year.

Schools can’t do it alone, and we appreciate Do the Right Thing’s support of our strategic plan goal 5 persistence to graduation.

Good News: October 8, 2019

Posted by Ashley Ranan on 10/9/2019 8:00:00 AM

TJHS student earns Athlete of the Week Award

Congratulations to Thomas Jefferson High School’s Hailey Still who was recently recognized as Athlete of the Week by CenturyLink and the Seattle Seahawks! The recognition includes a $1,000 check for Thomas Jefferson athletics and tickets for Hailey and her family to attend a Seahawks game where she will be recognized.

We would also like to recognize Athletic Director Mike Grady and other administrators.

Each year 10 student athletes are selected for this recognition based off their commitment to academics, athletic achievement, and leadership both on and off the field.

As captain of the soccer team this season, Hailey is leading the team in scoring with 15 goals so far this season. She is a two- time Federal Way Mirror newspaper athlete of the year. Also, last season Hailey was nominated for first team all-league in soccer, basketball and fastpitch.

Hailey, as a scholar-athlete, you demonstrate how important it is be an active learner, engaged, empowered, critical thinker — goal 3 of our strategic plan!

TJHS’ Math Team places among top ten in National Math Competition for 25th consecutive year

The Thomas Jefferson High School math team placed ninth at the Annual Mu Alpha Theta National Math Contest! The weeklong event brought together the nation’s top 50 high school math teams to compete in a series of individual and group tests.

We would also like to recognize Math coach Tom Norris and administrators.

This year marks the 25th consecutive year Thomas Jefferson has placed among the top 10 schools in the nation. Also, Lorel Ramirez placed first and Mason King placed second in Gemini Theta, and Zach Botz placed third in Mental Math Open.

This legacy of excellence is in direct support of the district’s strategic plan goal 4, content area competence: mastery of all subjects.

Congratulations, we are so proud of you!

Six FWPS scholars intern for highly-competitive Washington State Department of Ecology program

We are proud of our scholars who interned for the highly- competitive Washington State Department of Ecology Youth Corps program! In operation since 1975, this year the program hired 250 teens from across the state from an applicant pool of nearly 3,000. Our Federal Way Public Schools scholars claimed six of these spots. We would like to recognize:

  • Jaliyah McKay
  • Eiler Wiggins
  • Faith Chung
  • Kiarah Fernandez
  • Naialah Keys
  • Jonah Mizrah

Teens take to the local major highways and freeways to clean-up the roadside environment. The program instills the importance of responsibility, independence, teamwork and self-sufficiency. This is a valuable skillset our scholars can use in school and future jobs and supports our strategic plan goal 3 — active learners, engaged, empowered critical thinkers. Way to make a difference, scholars!

ITS scholar-interns earn Hewlett Packard certification

Congratulations to our Information Technology Services Department scholar-interns who have received industry standard Hewlett Packard (HP) Certification. This indicates they have a high-level knowledge in computer hardware and Windows-based operating systems. This is a valuable skillset our scholars can use in school and future jobs.

We would like to recognize the following students:

  • Bogdan Gavrilyuk
  • Janice Ku
  • Grace Buchanan
  • Grace Chong
  • Benjamin Philipose
  • Douglas Johnston
  • Luqman Shibly
  • Max Eager

We would also like to recognize Chief Technology Officer Paul Ross and other administrators. This effort is in support of strategic plan goal 4 — content area competence.