Local students to graduate from ACT program
June 11, 2013
Nine students are set to graduate next week from the Academy for Community Transition, an Issaquah School District program for children with developmental disabilities.
The Celebration of Passage graduation ceremony is at 7 p.m. June 17 at the district administration building, 565 N.W. Holly St., Issaquah. Community members are invited to attend the event.
The ACT program is designed to help developmentally disabled students achieve independent lives by focusing on social, economic and self-esteem issues.
Skyline student accepted into scholars program
June 11, 2013
Kevin Liu, a student at Skyline High School, was one of 160 students statewide accepted into the Washington Aerospace Scholars’ summer residency program.
The residency program will be held in June and July at the Museum of Flight in Seattle. Students qualified for the program through a five-month distance-learning program. The 160-student pool was chosen from 283 applicants.
Washington Aerospace Scholars is a program designed to inspire students to pursue careers in science, technology, math and engineering.
Parents, participate in homework survey by June 14
June 10, 2013
NEW — 6 a.m. June 10, 2013
Community members have until June 14 to share their opinions about homework practices and experiences in the Issaquah School District.
The school district has partnered with the Issaquah PTSA Council on the eight-question survey. Learn more about the homework discussion and take the survey here.
Survey results will be given to the district superintendent.
New law to spread computer science education
June 4, 2013
A version of a pilot program at Issaquah High School recently passed through the Legislature to be available for the whole state.
In a bill drafted and promoted by freshman State Rep. Chad Magendanz, the state has undertaken the commitment to increase the availability of computer science instruction within the schools. In its passed language, the bill states that the Legislature “intends to take additional steps to improve and expand access to computer science education, particularly in advanced courses that could prepare students for careers in the field.”
Though it is not as complex as the Technology Education and Literacy in Schools program Magendanz was involved with while he served on the Issaquah school board, he said he is still very excited about his first co-sponsored bill to be signed into law.
Eagles music program works, plays as a family
May 28, 2013
Participation in band, orchestra or choir doesn’t just mean practicing your instrument or working on your piece in class each day — it is also an after-school commitment.
Issaquah High School’s spirited band, directed by Patrick Holen, fired up fans and cheered on the football team at nearly every game this year. The band marched and played in the annual Salmon Days parade. In winter, there were basketball games, the Solo and Ensemble contest, concerts and “Swingin’ in Vienna.”
Sophie Mittelstaedt
Issaquah High School
In addition, the Greenwood Orchestra and the Evergreen Philharmonic Orchestra, both directed by Doug Longman, have become trademarks through the various concerts they perform each year. The choir, directed by Barbara Irish, is also a much-enjoyed and respected program. Each year, they perform in assemblies, musicals, the Candlelight Concert, the Choir Bash, the Solo and Ensemble contest, and deliver Sing-a-grams.
Students choose many classes for creativity
May 28, 2013
Art students at Issaquah High School express their creativity on a daily basis.
With a wide array of art classes, including “Studio Graphic Arts,” “Ceramics,” “Photography,” “Visual Art,” “Advanced Art” and, starting next year, “AP Studio Art,” students have many opportunities to engage creative outlets.
Madeline Wells
Issaquah High School
Photography classes utilize technology with digital cameras and editing, as well as darkroom techniques with film. Visual art focuses on various forms of painting and drawing, and ceramics involves learning the clay-working process and design and glaze techniques.
Sophomore Hannah Balducci, a student who takes photography, filmmaking, drawing, printmaking and painting, enjoys taking advanced photography at IHS. She also plans to take “AP Studio Art” next year, and said she is looking forward to a challenge.
Drama programs teach practical skills
May 28, 2013
Fine arts credits make up merely 3.5 percent of the total required credits to graduate at Liberty High School and 4.5 percent at Issaquah and Skyline high schools.
While algebraic ability and an understanding of American government are certainly invaluable, skills gleaned from involvement in the arts, particularly drama classes and productions, are equally applicable to the world outside high school.
Veronica Austin
Liberty High School
“I would like to see the arts integrated more into the core curriculum,” Liberty drama teacher and director Katherine Klekas said. “When I taught for a couple of years in Germany, I noticed that every student was automatically signed up for music and art classes… They weren’t ‘electives.’ The ability to read music and sketch things were considered part of a basic education.”
Teen Talk
May 28, 2013
What symptoms of spring fever do you have?
Eastside Catholic High School
“I guess it’s more a symptom of senioritis, but I really hate being in school when the weather is so nice out! I have no motivation to do homework or study for tests when I know I could be out enjoying the sun.”
Katie Martin, senior
“Literally or figuratively? Because I have really, really bad allergies in the spring. On a serious level, I’m just itching to get out of school and enjoy my last summer before I go off to college.”
Madison Blackburn, senior
The surprising benefits of senioritis
May 28, 2013
Every year, second semester seniors bond over, well, not doing anything at all. The feeling of anticipation to get to college and the lack of motivation to do any work when one reaches the home stretch of one’s high school career has been given the moniker “senioritis,” a “disease” that is both contagious and deadly.
Usually, a student catches senioritis after committing to college. With the future secure and bright and the school workload finally lessening after four years of long, hard work, students begin taking early summer vacations. Among my peers, I have already seen the symptoms blow up into full-fledged attacks on the immune system: students skipping class, students sleeping in class, students skipping school altogether. Thankfully, I myself have not fallen victim to the disease.
Lee Xie
Skyline High School
In fact, it seems as if senioritis has made senior year the least stressful and most well-rested period of time in all my years of high school. I’ve discovered that the seemingly crippling infection brings a few beneficial side effects.
Community donates $30,000 to local schools
May 28, 2013
The Issaquah School Board approved nearly $30,000 worth of donations to the district during its May 8 regular meeting.
The bulk of the money, $19,135, came from the Issaquah Schools Foundation to support students in the district with robotics in the classroom. The foundation also donated another $5,245 to provide supplement funding for portable technology throughout the schools.
Students at Newcastle Elementary School got an extra boost from their PTSA, which donated $5,556 to offset the costs of fifth-grade environment camp.
