Budget Meetings Draw Hundreds
Hundreds of parents, community members, staff and students have attended the first two public input meetings on the Lake Washington School District 2009-10 budget. About 120 people packed the first meeting at Lake Washington High School on Tuesday, April 14, for a presentation by Superintendent Chip Kimball followed by an exercise in which each attendee provided input on their choices for items to save from proposed state cuts and what alternative cuts they would choose. The second input meeting, at Redmond High School, drew about 220 people, completely filling that cafeteria as well.
“I’m heartened by the number of people willing to spend their evening helping us determine what priorities we should have as a school system,” noted Dr. Kimball. “A budget really reflects what is important to an organization: we will be able to do a better job of reflecting what is important to our community because of this input.”
One more budget input sessions is scheduled at Juanita High School in Kirkland at 7 p.m. on April 22.
Redmond Students Receive Highest Scores in State in American Mathematics Competition 12A Test
Redmond High School (RHS) had the highest team score in the state for the American Mathematics Competition 12A Test. The team score is the combination of scores from the three highest scoring individuals in the school. Those Redmond students were Sam Keller, Stefan Mellem, and Jonathan Shi.
Sixty-five high schools in the state participated in this competition.
Sam Keller’s score was the highest individual score in the state. Eleven RHS math students were invited to take the American Invitational Math Exam. Sam Keller’s score on the AIME was also the highest in the state. Five Redmond Junior High (RJH) math students also were invited to take this exam. Four hundred eighty-six students in the United States and Canada have now qualified to take the United States of America Math Olympiad exam (USAMO). Sam Keller will be participating for the fourth year in a row and RJH seventh grader Kolya Malkin has also qualified. The USAMO is a six-question, nine-hour exam spread over two days.
Franklin Elementary Teacher a 2009 Earth Hero at School
Kristin Wobker, a teacher at Franklin Elementary, was selected as a 2009 Earth Hero at School by King County Executive Ron Sims. Each year, the executive’s office invites nominations of teachers, staff, programs and local schools doing exceptional work to protect our natural resources. Kristin is being recognized for her enthusiastic and dedicated leadership of the Franklin Elementary “Green Team.” Kristin is invited to attend the Earth Heroes at School award ceremony on Thursday, April 30, 2009 from 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. at Maplewood Greens in Renton.
Redmond High Senior Recognized with Environmental Scholarship
Eastside Audubon chose Hailey Hargraves, a senior at Redmond High School, to receive the Len Steiner College Scholarship Award. The award recognizes Eastside students who have demonstrated leadership in environmental issues. Len Steiner will present Hailey with the $500 scholarship at the April 23 meeting of Eastside Audubon, where the members will honor this outstanding young woman.
An ardent environmentalist, Hailey plans to attend Smith College, where she will major in environmental science and policy making. No matter where her degree leads her, Hailey is “committed to making a difference and to convincing others that green should be their favorite color.”
At Redmond High School, Hailey excels academically, maintaining a 3.6 G.P.A. while taking Advanced Placement classes and serving as a leader among her peers. Her list of accomplishments is long and includes participant in the Johns Hopkins University Summer Program in Bioethics; SEAFAIR ambassador and scholarship recipient; president of the Environmental Club; Honor Society member; treasurer of the Key Club; delegate to Evergreen Girls’ State; Follow the Leader grand prize winner.
Pennies for Peace at Redmond Elementary School
The Redmond Elementary School Leadership Group has collected $1137.34 for impoverished schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan. The idea came after school counselor, Leslie Fields read Listen to the Wind to the Leadership Group. This is the children’s version of Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson. When you have a group of sixth graders that put their heads together for a project, never underestimate them. The School Leadership Group members at Redmond Elementary are: Kyra Bliss, Julia Rettig, Grace Mahan, Braydon Walker, Mahre Connor, Nikki Dees, Savanna Hewitt, Sharada Tangirala, Danuta Egle, Ben Hansford and Dorian Graylee. Photo: Grace Mahan, Mahre Connor and Duanta Engle.
Einstein Student Inducted into AAA Safety Patrol Hall of Fame
Jennifer Martinez, a sixth-grade student at Einstein Elementary, is one of ten outstanding patrollers who will be inducted into the 2009 AAA School Safety Patrol Hall of Fame at the May 1 Seattle Mariners game. These students will get to attend an award ceremony, go on field for a pre-game ceremony, and then enjoy the game and dinner from a luxury suite.
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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.