Good News November 28, 2017

Todd Beamer and Federal Way High School AFJROTC instructors and cadets earn highest rating

The Air Force JROTC instructors and cadets of Todd Beamer and Federal Way High School have earned overall unit assessment scores of “Exceeds Standards” – the highest rating attainable during their evaluation. The cadets performed exceptionally well and took great pride in leading and accomplishing their unit goals. These efforts support Goal 3 of the strategic plan: engaged, empowered, critical thinkers.

For Federal Way High School:

• Callistus Tiweyang
• Patricia Arango Lopez 
• Mathew Camat
• Clarence Arenas 
• Trent Lessard
• Cody Tyndall
• Soleil Miyamoto 
• Isaiah Ponce
• Tepatasi Fesili
• Delvin Lewis
• Elian Raspa 
• Aleksander Tompkins
• Grace Tangonan
• Irae Vaiotuolemoso 
• Patricia Kimball

We would also like to recognize Assistant Principal Randy Long, Major Joseph J. Golemboski and Master Sergeant Willie Smith. Congrats, Federal Way High School cadets and instructors!

For Todd Beamer High School:

• Max Torres
• Jonathan Lezcano 
• Carolyn Leoso 
• Kiheon Suh
• Dorian Donahue
• Annalia Guerrero
• Whitney Wilbourn
• Louie Serania 
• Eyleen Moran-Tapia 
• Luis Lopez
• Jaiden Andreasen

We would also like to recognize Major Barry D. Jones and Senior Master Sergeant Wayne Lott Sr. 

Congratulations, cadets. Keep making a positive impact on your school and the community!

TAF Academy School of Disctinction for Sixth Year in a Row

For the sixth consecutive year, TAF Academy has been recognized as a School of Distinction for its commitment to improving student outcomes. 

The School of Distinction recognition is awarded to the top five percent of schools that demonstrate sustained improvement in English Language Arts, Math, and graduation rates over a span of five years. TAF Academy is one of 27 schools in 13 school districts in the Puget Sound Educational Service District region to earn this honor for the 2016-17 school year. 

We would like to recognize the following individuals:

• Trish Millines Dziko, Technology Access Foundation Exec. Director and Founder 
• Chris Alejano, Technology Access Foundation Director of Education 
• Pam Tuggle, Principal 
• Christine Spencer, Principal 

TAF Academy’s innovative approach to education demonstrates work towards Goal Three of our strategic plan, Active Learners: Engaged, Empowered, Critical Thinkers as well as Goal Four, Content-Area Competence: Mastery of All Subjects. 

At the start of the 2017-18 school year, TAF Academy merged with Saghalie Middle School, becoming TAF@Saghalie, a new, innovative, and progressive sixth through twelfth grade STEM-focused neighborhood school. 

Congratulations on this award! We are proud that we are able to offer this award winning model to more scholars at TAF@Saghalie!

Decatur scholar-athlete selected as 4A female WIAA Athlete of the Week

Each week throughout the school year, the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association recognizes athletes who are in good academic standing and exhibit an outstanding performance. 

The Board would like to recognize Decatur High School soccer scholar-athlete Hannah Shires, who was selected as a 4A female Washington Interscholastic Activities Association Athlete of the Week! 

Participation in extracurricular activities is in direct support of strategic plan Goal Three: Active Learners: Engaged, Empowered, Critical Thinkers. 

Congratulations, we are so proud of you!

Kloshe Illahee Reading Brigade Supports Rainier View Scholars

We know schools can’t do it alone, and we’d like to recognize volunteers who donate their time at Rainier View Elementary. This group is known as the Kloshe Illahee Reading Brigade and volunteers at least once a week. Each volunteer is assigned a class, and they rotate through all the students in that class taking time to read with them. 

I’d now like to call these volunteers forward, who are affectionately known as the “grandma and grandpas”: 

• Billie Robinson 
• Susan Karpen 
• Colleen Armstrong 
• Dorothy Perry 
• Bonnie Hargis 
• Anita Coffman 
• Krista Chapman 
• Robert VanWinkle 
• Charmaine Sanders  

We would like to thank our community members for “leaning in” to our schools in support of our efforts in reading, specifically in Goal Four, content area competence: mastery of all subjects. 

Thank you for your generosity of time and support to help our scholars succeed!

Star Lake Elementary Scholars Achieve Perfect Attendance

We would like to recognize Star Lake Elementary for having perfect attendance! Students who have perfect attendance for the calendar month receive a “Bonus Certificate” worth 10 Star Lake Way tickets to redeem at the school store; Eagle Mart. Perfect attendance means no tardies or early dismissals. 

In September, they recognized 174 scholars for perfect attendance and 142 scholars in October. The goal is to increase their overall scholar attendance rate, in support of strategic plan Goal 2 the whole child, and reduce their chronic attendance rate from 21% in 2016-2017 to 15% or lower. 

We'd like to recognize the following students: 

• Karmelo White 
• Jaiden Fernandez-Jenkins 
• Kamilah White 
• Amanda Lopez 
• Ola Saunders 
• Paris Saunders 

We'd also like to recognize the following staff: 

• Principal Kris Rennie 
• Assistant Principal Travis Geving 
• Kathy Miller 
• Marcus James 

Keep up the great work. We are proud of you!

Thomas Jefferson scholar-athlete recognized for her achievements on the soccer field

Thomas Jefferson High School sophomore and scholar-athlete Hailey Still has been named the North Puget Sound League 4A Olympic Division Athlete of the Year for girls’ soccer. The forward, who was the NSPL’s leading scorer with 29 goals, was also picked for the division’s All-League First team. Hailey has also been named to the Seattle Times Newspaper’s 2017 Star Times all-area girls soccer team. 

Extracurricular activities are direct support of the Strategic Plan Goal 3, Active Learners: engaged, empowered, critical thinkers 

We are proud of Hailey, and the entire TJ soccer team for their hard work!