Three District Schools Qualify for Math Honor Roll
International Community School, Kamiakin Junior High and Redmond Junior High all qualified for the 2008 American Math Contest 8 (AMC 8) Honor Roll in the contest on November 18. Schools qualified for the Honor Roll by attaining a score of between 66 and 75 when adding together their top three student scores. Only 12 schools in the state of Washington have qualified. The Mathematical Association of America sponsors the AMC 8.
The AMC 8 is a 25-question, 40-minute multiple-choice mathematics exam for students in grades six through eight. This contest is designed to promote the development and enhancement of problem solving skills by allowing students to apply the concepts taught at the junior high level to problems that cover a wide range of applications. High scoring students are invited to participate in the AMC 10.
Green Teams Featured in King County Newsletter
The November issue of King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks Solid Waste Division’s “Class Act” newsletter (the school recycling program newsletter) featured three Lake Washington schools’ Green Teams. The Green Team at Franklin Elementary was featured for its Waste Free Fridays that encourage students to bring their lunch to school in reusable containers instead of plastic bags. In September, the team had 45 participants in Waste Free Fridays, and by October, the number jumped to 120. The Green Team at Evergreen Junior High was featured for its efforts to reduce food waste and recycle food scraps. Thoreau Elementary was featured for looking beyond recycling efforts to start learning more about alternative energy sources, including solar power.
FireBolts win Judge’s Award at State Robotics Competition
The FireBolts (Redmond Elementary Robotics team) recently competed in a regional robotics competition and took fifth place. They then went on to the state robotics competition, held on Saturday, December 13 at Bellevue High School. They won the "Judge's award” at this competition, recognizing their accomplishments in robotics. There were only two judge’s awards given. This is the first robotics team from Redmond Elementary and was made up of students in fifth and sixth grade, as well as Quest students. The team’s coach was Vinay Deo, assisted by David Xu. Chitra Bhardwaj and Jessica Falkner-Horine assisted with practices and in many other ways to make this team happen.
Environmental & Adventure School Holiday Drive
Prior to winter break, students of the Environmental & Adventure School (EAS) completed their seventh annual Hopelink Holiday Drive. This year’s drive was another success, as EAS families donated over 700 pounds of food and more than 50 new toys for needy families of our community. The annual holiday drive benefits Hopelink, stocking their local food banks and gift rooms.
Student places in King County Civil Rights Commission Essay Contest
Indigo Trigg-Hauer, a student at Kirkland Junior High, won third place in the King County Civil Rights Commission Essay Contest. Her essay was about “Breaking Barriers” and she will receive her award at a banquet on January 15 from 11:45 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Paramount Theater in Seattle. Joia Poort, a teacher at Kirkland Junior High, encourages her students each year to participate in this Martin Luther King essay contest. Indigo is her first student to place in the competition.
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News from the Schools is compiled by the Lake Washington School District Communications Department. For more information or to submit your school's news, please e-mail Kathryn Reith or Shannon Parthemer.