Good News: February, 25 2020

Posted by Nicole Soto on 2/26/2020 10:30:00 AM

Federal Way High School recognized as an AVID Schoolwide Site of Distinction for the fourth year in a row

Congratulations Federal Way High School, an AVID National Demonstration School since 2006, who has recently been recognized as an AVID Schoolwide Site of Distinction for the fourth year in a row! 

AVID stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination and is a national college-prep program that helps increase the number of students who enter 4-year colleges and universities.
We would like to recognize the following Federal Way High School staff:

Thank you for setting our scholars up for success in college and career!

• Principal Dr. Matt Oberst
• Karin Weberg
• Sue Clark

Totem 6th graders experience STEM event that is the first of its kind in the Northwest

Recently, Totem Middle School 6th grade scholars experienced an incredible STEM opportunity thanks to our partnership with IGNITE, also known as Inspiring Girls Now In Technology Evolution Worldwide! This is the first event of its kind in the Northwest. Students learned the importance of collaboration in technology and created a digital book. They learned best practices from mentors at Alaska Airlines and Red Hat, and applied the basics of circuitry, programming and open source principles by building on each other’s work.

We would like to recognize the following students:

• Liliy Celmar
• Marianna Chhim
• Eden Chisholm
• Leyla Giles-Garrido
• Alaiza Kemp
• Adrianna Le
• Trevi Madrid
• Emmalyn Morgan
• Maritza Ramirez-Avina
• Julia Vo
• India Wagner
• Sharaya Williams

Also, we’d like to acknowledge the work of these Federal Way Public Schools staff members who supported this event:

• Executive Director of College, Career Readiness and CTE Sammy Anderson
• College and Career Readiness Facilitator Charissa Eggleston 
• Totem Middle School Counselor Gil Simmons

This experience has inspired all students who participated to take more rigorous courses and continue exploring career opportunities in high-demand STEM fields, directly supporting Goal 5 Persistence to Graduation. Way to go!

Kiwanis Club of Federal Way present check for $15,020 towards school district activitites

The co-presidents of the Kiwanis Club of Federal Way Gordon Goodsell and Bill Capestany, and other Kiwanis members presented a check for $15,020 to the district that goes towards support of school activities. We appreciate your steadfast service within our community, and all you do to support our scholars.

As part of this partnership, Federal Way Public Schools commits to donating 25% of the amount received from the Kiwanis Club of Federal Way to the Bridging A Gap Program. The BAG Program was established in 2014 to provide food for students in Federal Way Public Schools who might not otherwise have a reliable source of nutrition over the weekends and school breaks. The program continues to grow and expand, thanks to a strong partnership with the school district and many community partners.

Schools can’t do it alone and we appreciate your support of strategic plan Goal 2 whole child: thriving, confident, responsible individuals.

Girls Bowling team at Federal Way High School receive award for a team GPA average of 3.968!

Congratulations to the Federal Way High School girls bowling team who are back-to-back Washington Interscholastic Activities Association academic state 4A champions with a team GPA average of 3.968! The Scholastic Awards program recognizes the team with the highest-grade point average among all Washington high schools in their enrollment classification.

We would also like to recognize Coach Sami Isaacs and Coach Marcus James and other administrators.

Scholar athletes, we are proud of your high achievement in sports and academics, demonstrating the importance of Goal 4 content area competence and mastery of all subjects. We’re so proud of you!

Good News: February 11, 2020

Posted by Nicole Soto on 2/12/2020 9:30:00 AM

88% of last year's 8th graders signed up for the College Bound Scholarship Program

Federal Way Public Schools is pleased to report 1,026 — or 88 percent — of last year’s eligible eighth graders signed up for the College Bound Scholarship program by the June 30 deadline. 

The Washington Student Achievement Council has recognized Federal Way Public Schools as one of the top school districts to exceed the statewide average sign-up rate of 72 percent. 

We would like to acknowledge the work of our district leaders Deputy Superintendent Dr. Dani Pfeiffer and Executive Director of College, Career Readiness and CTE Sammy Anderson, and members of the College and Career Readiness team.

We’d also like to acknowledge our middle schools for their effort which has earned them the Gold Star Award. 

• Dean of Students Steve Anderson, Federal Way Public Academy 
• Principal Brianna Ward, Illahee 
• Assistant Principal Crystal Emerson, Kilo 
• Principal Angela Williamson, Lakota 
• Principal Stacy Lucas, Nautilus K–8 
• Principal Dominique Dennis, Sacajawea 
• Principal Joseph Rush, Sequoyah 
• Principal Christina Spencer, TAF@Saghalie 
• Principal Shana Watkins, Totem 
• Principal Jordanne Nevin, Woodmont K–8 

The College Bound Scholarship is an early commitment of state financial aid to eligible students who sign up in middle school by June 30 and fulfill the College Bound pledge. Thanks for all you do to support scholars persisting to graduation and beyond!

Fourth grade scholars excel in Federal Way Math Contest

The annual Federal Way Math Contest is designed to reward excellence in mathematics. Our fourth through eighth grade students placed very well against 200 students from schools around the region.

We'd like to recognize the following scholars:

• Crosby Snow, 4th grade, 2nd place Ciphering and 1st place Individual
• Leo Von Ruden, 4th grade, 3rd place in Individual
• Solomon Kim, 6th grade, 1st place Ciphering and 1st place Individual
• Justin Lee, 7th grade, 2nd place Ciphering and 2nd place Individual
• Nash Heo, 8th grade, 1st place Ciphering and 1st place Individual

Congratulations, math-scholars for striving towards content area competence and subject mastery — Goal 4 of our strategic plan. We are proud of you!

Federal Way scholars place well in Thomas Jefferson Invitational Speech and Debate Tournament

Our scholars placed well at the Thomas Jefferson Invitational Speech and Debate tournament against 120 students from 16 schools across the region. Federal Way Public Schools was represented by students from TAF@Saghalie and Decatur, Todd Beamer, Thomas Jefferson and Federal Way high schools.

These engaged, empowered, critical thinkers placed in the following categories:

• Kobe Taylor, Oratory, 2nd Place and Informative, 3rd Place
• Ankita Sharma, Oratory, 3rd Place
• Cindy Kibue and Joshua Navos, Duo, 2nd Place
• Lisette Octaviano, Dramatic Interpretation, 3rd Place

We would also like to recognize the speech coaches who helped put on the tournament: Isaiah Parker and Meykia Smith from Thomas Jefferson High School and Paul Sealey from Federal Way High School. Congratulations speech-scholars and coaches — we are proud of you!

Two scholars selected for prestigious Air Force scholarship

Two Federal Way Public Schools students are among 200 cadets from around the world selected for the Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps Flight Academy Scholarship!

Todd Beamer High School Junior Alexis Lewis and Federal Way High School Senior Patricia Kimball.

The program is an Air Force level initiative in collaboration with the commercial aviation industry. The scholarship, valued at $22,500, covers transportation, room and board, academics and flight hours required to potentially earn a private pilot license.

Patricia is currently participating in an afterschool aeronautical science pathway program held at the Museum of Flight and offered through the Puget Sound Skills Center. She is earning college credit in this program.

Congratulations to our scholars for persisting towards graduation, Goal 5 of the strategic plan!