Good News November 8, 2016

Thomas Jefferson HS girls swim team wins academic award

At Federal Way Public Schools, our belief is every scholar athlete participating in the athletic program will be empowered with ownership of their education.

The Thomas Jefferson High School 4A girls swim team won the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association Fall Academic State Championship with a team GPA of 3.899. There are 64 4A schools in the state of Washington and this is a very special award! This awards program recognizes the team with the highest grade point average among all Washington high schools in their respective enrollment classification.

The board would like to recognize these scholars:

• Jamie Grall
• Makayla Herzman
• Rachel Ho
• Abigail Hyde
• Gwyneth Kang
• Danielle Lam
• Saejin Myung 
• Emily Nguyen 
• McKenzie Nicholls
• Audrey Park
• Julia Sheats
• Amara Swartz
• Jessica Truong 

This recognition is in direct support of Strategic Plan Goal 4: Content-Area Competence with the focus on each scholar meeting or exceeding standards of performance.

Scholars, we are so proud of your persistence and dedication to academic success!

TAF Academy student shines

The board would like to acknowledge a TAF Academy student, Jaylon Proctor, for involvement in a few exceptional programs: The Tomodachi Leadership Program in Japan and an aeronautics academy. 

Two summers ago, Jaylon went to Japan with the Tomodachi Leadership Program. He has been taking Japanese at TAF since the 7th grade.  While in Japan, he visited many places including the Microsoft headquarters and a high school in Fukushima that was destroyed by the tsunami. Upon returning from the experience, Jaylon gave a presentation about the experience at TAF.

Additionally, this past summer Jaylon applied and was accepted to a four week aeronautics program presented by the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals called Seattle Taking Flight Academy. The academy is sponsored by Alaska Airlines.

The purpose of the academy is to provide minority kids an insight into the aeronautics industry. A memorable part of the experience was flying with his instructor, and finally solo. He flew to OshKosh, Wisconsin to attend a flight convention. At the end of the program Jaylon got a pilot's license. 

Extracurricular activities are direct support of the Strategic Plan Goal 3, Active Learners: engaged, empowered, critical thinkers and Goal 5, Persistence to Graduation: High School Graduation through Successful Transitions. 

Jaylon, we are proud that you followed your interests outside of the classroom to help gain experience building toward a bright future!

Olympic View Elem. Scholar Success Conferences

Olympic View Elementary has launched a new effort called Scholar Success Conferences. Staff met with over 60 of school families during two weeks in October to communicate their child’s academic progress such as literacy and targeted steps families can take at home to support their student scholar.

Olympic View staff members are utilizing the recently adopted IRLA curriculum resources, specifically the Skills Card in both English and Spanish, to support our diverse community.

Parents and family members have been excited about the opportunity to meet with teachers early in the year.  One particular parent was so empowered she created a plan to limit screen time for her children, take them to the library once a week, and monitor their daily reading!

The board would like to recognize the Olympic View leadership team:

• Principal Chris McCrummen
• Stephany Wright
• Jordan DeGrande
• Kay Gbenro 
• Terumi Anderson
• Danielle Brown
• Steve Stewart
• Don West
• Jacina LaBoo
• Carly Hancock
• Diana Aguilar
• Rosa Pena

The Olympic View staff have embraced the idea of Scholar Success Conferences and are committed to holding conferences four more times to ensure our scholars have a voice, a dream, and a BRIGHT future!

This aligns with our Strategic Plan’s core belief that families are critical partners in each child’s learning. It also aligns with Goal 4: Content-Area Competence.

Nice work, team Olympic View Elementary!

Decatur HS's Michela Walker wins national FFA singing competition

The board is pleased to announce that Decatur High School Future Farmers of America member Michela Walker won the National FFA talent contest! She competed in this singing competition and beat out 300 participants in three grueling rounds!

This is in support of the Strategic Plan Goal 3, Active Learners: engaged, empowered, critical thinkers.

Michela sang “I Was Here,” by Beyoncé and performed before 15,000 people in Indianapolis. She started singing when she was four-years-old, and can remember singing with mom and her sisters while traveling with their sunshine band.

We are so proud of the courage you demonstrated to follow your dreams. Congratulations on the win!

Teri Galloway wins High School State PE Teacher of the Year

The board would like to acknowledge a PE teacher who recently won the High School State PE Teacher of the Year award presented by Washington’s Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE). This teacher is Teri Galloway.

Teri incorporates technology in teaching physical education to our 21st century learners. Teri’s innovative use of tech tools is featured in a video created by our district. The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction shared the video, and reached the CDC, SHAPE America and other organizations dedicated to public health, gaining attention on a national scale.

Teri will be competing at the district level for the northwestern states and then hopefully on to the national level.

Thank you, Teri, for your creativity and commitment to student learning and ensuring all students are healthy, college- and career-ready by the time they graduate — Goal 5 of our Strategic Plan!

Hailey Still breaks Thomas Jefferson HS soccer record

Hailey Still has broken the TJ school record for total goals scored in a single girls soccer game!

The Raiders' freshman striker netted seven goals in the team's 11-1 season-opening win on Sept. 13 over Auburn — her first game as a member of the Thomas Jefferson soccer program. Hailey has been described by her coach as very hard working, with the ability to score at any moment’s notice.

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, and wish them all the success in the North Puget Sound Olympic division games!

AT&T and the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction provide $30k in grants

The board would like to recognize our community partners AT&T and the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction for supporting the Jobs for Washington Graduates program in Federal Way Public Schools.

The JAG program supports students in overcoming barriers, finding a career path, and graduating with a plan to pursue either college or career after high school.  JAG has a 100% graduation rate in FWPS.  While JAG has been active in FWPS for a few years, this year the district added the JAG program at Thomas Jefferson and Todd Beamer High Schools. Currently FWPS has 77 students enrolled in JAG.

Thank you to AT&T and OPSI for the supporting the JAG program through generous grant money totaling $30,000!

• Carol Tagayun, AT&T
• Ryan Bayne, AT&T
• Ken Emmil, Assistant Superintendent of Public Instruction
• Mary Kanikeberg, State JAG Supervisor
• Obe Quarless, State JAG Coordinator
• Royce Badley, Director of Career & Technical Education
• Laurie Beaver, JAG Instructor

JAG Students:

• Misael Alfaro
• Diana Diaz
• Christopher Finwell
• Trey Kingston
• Mikayla Thomas

The grant money will be used to support a teacher to increase JAG classes at Decatur and mentor teachers at our two new schools — Thomas Jefferson and Todd Beamer.  It will also provide funds for student field trips to businesses and colleges, interview support, and student follow up after graduation.