Good News February 26, 2019

Federal Way High School has been recognized as an AVID Schoolwide Site of Distinction

We are proud to announce Federal Way High School has been recognized as an AVID Schoolwide Site of Distinction for the 2018–19 school year! This is in addition to being an AVID National Demonstration School.

AVID, which stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination, is a national college-prep program designed to increase the number of students who enter 4-year colleges and universities.

National Schoolwide Sites of Distinction are exemplary models of the AVID College Readiness System.

We would like to recognize the following staff:

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

We are proud of you, Federal Way High School, for your work to help scholars persist to graduation in direct support of Goal 5 of the district strategic plan.

Thomas Jefferson High School boys swim team who won the All-City Boys Swim Meet

Congratulations to the Thomas Jefferson High School boys swim team who won the All-City Boys Swim Meet with a total of 134 points! This meet was against the three other comprehensive high schools in Federal Way Public Schools.

We would like to recognize the Thomas Jefferson High School boys swim team,  Head Coach Tori Head, assistant coaches and other administrators.

Participation in extracurricular activities is in direct support of strategic plan Goal 3, active learners — engaged, empowered, critical thinkers. Way to go scholar-athletes, we are proud of you!

Kiwanis Club of Greater Federal Way donates towards school activities

We would like to recognize and thank the Kiwanis Club of Federal Way for its continued partnership over the years.

Would the president of the Kiwanis Club of Federal Way, Steve Smith, and other Kiwanis members who are here tonight please come forward to be recognized? They will now present a check of $15,366 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. Please remain at the front as we continue this good news announcement.

As part of this partnership, Federal Way Public Schools commits to donating 25 percent of the amount received from the Kiwanis Club of Federal Way to the Bridging A Gap Program. Would Valerie Danforth, president of the "BAG" program please come forward, so the district can present a check of $3,841?

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.

100% of Woodmont classrooms have earned the first banner for "Woodmont K–8 Attendance ROCKS!" 

The scholars and staff at Woodmont K–8 have an exciting achievement to celebrate. 100% of Woodmont classrooms have earned the first banner for "Woodmont K–8 Attendance ROCKS!" In addition, five classes met this goal at least three times before winter break.

ROCKS stands for: Ready, On Time, Committed, Keeping Track, Successful. Each classroom has a banner they fill with a letter each day for all scholars who are in class, on time, all day.

We would like to recognize scholars representing the school and the Woodmont K–8 staff.

Perfect attendance is in support of the district-wide emphasis on Goal 2 whole child: thriving, confident, responsible individuals.

Thank you to Woodmont K–8 for making attendance and student success a priority!

National Board Certification

Tonight, we’re honoring 11 Federal Way teachers who earned National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Certification in 2018. National board certification is an advanced certification program.

These teachers have successfully demonstrated exemplary teaching knowledge, skills and practices. The National Board candidacy process is demanding, and has numerous benefits to students as teachers become even more self-reflective about their practice and increase subject area knowledge. We would like to recognize the following teachers:

• Aileen Panniker, Exceptional Needs Specialist/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood
• Amanda Smith, Generalist/Middle Childhood
• Coley Veitenhans, Career and Technical Education/Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood
• Diana Evans, Exceptional Needs Specialist/Early Childhood through Young Adulthood
• Jana Kelly, Mathematics/Early Adolescence
• Jessica Cochenour, Generalist/Middle Childhood
• Jessica Lee, Mathematics/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
• Joan Bunting, Generalist/Middle Childhood
• Kylie Bertram, Science/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
• Stephen Austin, English Language Arts/Adolescence and Young Adulthood
• Brent Brakke, Mathematics/Early Adolescence

Congratulations to our National Board Certified Teachers and your dedication to our scholars’ bright futures!