Language program takes flight in Issaquah district
February 7, 2012
Students at Cascade Ridge riffle through articles of clothing in “La Tienda de Ropa,” a make-believe clothing store in a first-level Spanish class.
“La bufanda!” and “El vestido!” they shout as their teacher instructs them to repeat after her.
These 10 boys and girls, all between the ages of 6 and 11, are a part of a growing program in the Issaquah School District. Foreign Language for Youth, or FLY as it is also known, is an after-school series that equips elementary school students with foundational language skills in Arabic, French, Spanish, Chinese and Mandarin. Featured in 15 of the state’s school districts, the program uses games, conversation and activities to engage young pupils who are otherwise not exposed to foreign languages until later in their school careers. Read more
Issaquah district settles on new teacher evaluations
January 31, 2012
Hoping to take the lead in implementing a coming change in state law, Issaquah School District officials have settled on a teacher evaluation system that could end up being a model for all of Washington.
The Issaquah district will now spend some time ramping up to implementation of the new system, according to Associate Superintendent Ron Thiele, as well as information released by the district. Read more
Snow falling, storm not as bad as first predicted
January 18, 2012
New: Jan. 18, 11:59 a.m.
Snow continues to fall in the Puget Sound region, but some forecasts expect the majority of the snow to stop by about 1 p.m.
In Sammamish, snow continues to fall and a few inches are on the ground. While snow amounts are enough to be annoying, they are far less than the 6-14 inches predicted a few days ago. Read more
No solution on Issaquah High School schedules
January 9, 2012
The Issaquah School District committee tasked with coming up with a uniform schedule for all three district high schools was unable to reach an agreement on what such a schedule might look like, according to Sara Niegowski, district executive director of communications.
The committee held its last meeting Dec. 14, Niegowski said. Read more
Issaquah School Board supports its own bond issue
January 9, 2012
If voters approve a new bond measure this spring, Skyline could get its long-awaited Spartan Stadium renovation and Sunny Hills Elementary School will get a total rebuild.
The Issaquah School District will ask district residents to do so this April. At its last meeting of 2011 on Dec. 14, the Issaquah School Board unanimously passed a resolution supporting a more than $219 million capital bond issue. If passed, the bond money will provide funding for various building projects and school upgrades around the district for the next eight years. Read more
Local teachers go above and beyond for board certification
December 21, 2011
A small group of teachers at schools across Sammamish are celebrating reaching a milestone.
After about a year of conducting self-evaluations, writing papers and compiling lesson plans and in-class video, 23 teachers representing all grade levels received National Board Certification, the National Board for Teaching Standards announced Dec. 7. They are among the 6,200 teachers around the country who earned the certification — considered the highest level of certification for a teacher — in 2011. Read more
New grading system motivates students
November 30, 2011
At first, Caitlin McIlwain got a little nervous when she saw a lower-than-desired grade on her first world studies paper as a freshman at Skyline High School.
She knew she did better than the “B-” reflected in the rundown on the online grade book. But she quickly realized that “B-” was one of six grades she received for the assignment from teacher Sarah Rainwater.
“I didn’t like seeing that in the grade book,” said McIlwain, now a sophomore. Read more
New grading system hopes to motivate students
November 29, 2011
New: Nov. 29. 10:09 a.m.
At first, Caitlin McIlwain got a little nervous when she saw a lower-than-desired grade on her first world studies paper as a freshman at Skyline High School.
She knew she did better than the “B-” reflected in the rundown on the online grade book. But she quickly realized that “B-” was one of six grades she received for the assignment from teacher Sarah Rainwater.
“I didn’t like seeing that in the grade book,” said McIlwain, now a sophomore. Read more
Issaquah school bond campaign gets an early start
November 23, 2011
Voters will have until April 17 to decide the fate of a $219 million capital bond issue supporting the Issaquah School District.
Still, those running the bond campaign are starting to put the groundwork for it in place.
In the meantime, the Issaquah School Board approved the ballot language for the measure at its regular meeting Nov. 9. Read more
Issaquah schools move ahead with new science curriculum
November 8, 2011
The mad scientists have returned to their classrooms and some are completing observations of crickets, pill bugs and other creatures and plant life.
“Kids don’t just learn science, they do science,” said Joanne Griesemer, a curriculum specialist for the Issaquah School District.
Griesemer was referring to the district’s new science curriculum and said she has been happily busy over the past few months helping implement that curriculum.
Photo by Liz Yanev Miles Cady, a fourth grader in Liz Yanev’s class at Creekside, works on an investigation to find out what happens when rocks rub against each other. Photo by Liz Yanev
