New Frost Elementary Breaks Ground
Ground was broken June 11 on the new Robert Frost Elementary School in Kirkland, which will replace the existing building as part of the Lake Washington School District modernization program. More…

William Monahan Named 2008 Washington State Outstanding Biology Teacher
The National Association of Biology Teachers, in conjunction with Prentice Hall and Leica Microsystems, Inc, will present William Monahan with the 2008 Outstanding Biology Teacher Award. Monahan is a biology/life science teacher at Eastlake High School. Criteria for the award include teaching ability, experience, inventiveness, initiative, inherent teaching strengths, and cooperativeness in the school and community.

Monahan’s teaching career spans 16 years, as an educator at Redmond High School, Juanita High School, and currently Eastlake High School. He received his Masters Degree in Biology from the University of Washington in 2002. He is also a retired military officer who served in the Army for 22 years before entering the teaching profession.

A special presentation will be given by the National Association of Biology Teachers at its National Professional Development Conference, October 15-18, in Memphis, Tennessee. In addition to the certificates awarded, Monahan will receive a precision pair of binoculars by Prentice Hall and a microscope from Leica Microsystems, Inc.

Student Honors Her Teacher
At this year’s Lake Washington School District retirement ceremony, Sandy Dennehy, principal of Kirk Elementary, started her introduction of soon to retire teacher Donna Mabbutt this way. “Like many of the other teachers here today, the teacher I’m about to introduce has many wonderful accomplishments. But I can say truly that without this next teacher, I would not be where I am today. She taught me how to read. She taught me to add and subtract. She taught me to sit quietly in my seat. She taught me to raise my hand. You see, Donna Mabbutt was my first grade teacher.” Mabbutt taught at Rush Elementary, where Dennehy was in her class, as well as Bell Elementary and Kirk Elementary in her 34-year career.

Dennehy, who is in her second year as principal at Kirk Elementary, went on to explain that she had admired Mabbutt as she went through school. She talked about how caring Mabbutt is, how she encourages all of her students to do their best. And she wished Mabbutt well as she enters retirement, knowing that at least one of her students continues to use the wisdom learned in her first grade class. Dennehy returned to the district as a teacher in 2001 after graduating from Lake Washington High School and Washington State University.

Results from Kids Can Cook Culinary Competition
On Wednesday, June 11, twenty-one fourth- and fifth-grade students participated in the Kids Can Cook Culinary Competition held at Redmond Junior High.

• Grand prize: Judges choice
  Martin Penberthy, Rockwell Elementary, Super Salsa
• Health-conscious foods:
  Grace Mahan, Redmond Elementary, Cucumber Yogurt
• Kid-friendly preparation:
  Megan Wallace, Dickinson Elementary, Quesadilla Cake
• Fun Foods:
  Daniel Oliver, Wilder Elementary, Guacamole
• Best Table Presentation:
  Aaron Tschumper, Wilder Elementary, Trail Bars

Redmond High School Drama Wins More Awards
The Third Annual National Youth Theatre Awards for the 2007-2008 season have been announced and Redmond High School Theatre Arts won one award. Redmond High had three nominations total. RHS won is for Outstanding Ensemble in the play, How to Eat Like a Child. In addition, Carly Gilliland received a nomination and the program was nominated for creativity for doing How to Eat Like a Child as dinner theatre with the actors as child dinner guests.

There will be an awards ceremony held at the Herberger Theatre located in Phoenix, Ariz., on Sunday, August 17. This award is in addition to the 5th Avenue High School Musical Award that RHS just won on for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble Cast.

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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.