Chief Kanim students channel 1950s at dance

December 23, 2009

Tough guys (from left) Henrik Thompson, Brian Spratt and Jacob Baccetti show their moves and their leather jackets at the Chief Kanim Middle School Sock Hop dance.  Photo by Laura Geggel

Tough guys (from left) Henrik Thompson, Brian Spratt and Jacob Baccetti show their moves and their leather jackets at the Chief Kanim Middle School Sock Hop dance. Photo by Laura Geggel

If “Grease” was the word, 1950s-style poodle skirts and leather jackets were the fashion statement at Chief Kanim Middle School’s Sock Hop dance Dec. 17. Read more

High school’s Wildcat Court is a month behind schedule

December 3, 2009

An artist’s rendering of Wildcat Court . Contributed

An artist’s rendering of Wildcat Court . Contributed

Due to an errantly placed sewer on an architectural drawing, the Wildcat Court at Mount Si High School is a month behind schedule. Read more

Court rules state’s unequal school funding formula is OK

December 3, 2009

The state Supreme Court unanimously decided Nov. 12 that inequities resulting from state K-12 public education funding formulas don’t violate the state’s constitution.

The decision overturned Judge Michael J. Heavey’s decision in King County Superior Court filed in 2007, which determined the state’s school funding formula violated the state’s constitution and that the disparate funding violates constitutional equal protection rights of Federal Way’s teachers, students and taxpayers. Read more

Go to college for free

December 3, 2009

Want a free ride to college? Seventh- and eighth-grade students who qualify for College Bound Scholarships can get a scholarship to a Washington community or technical college, a private career school or an approved independent college or university. Read more

International students studying abroad at Mount Si

November 25, 2009

Three of Mount Si High School’s seven exchange students (from left) Michelle Freyer, Florence Servais and Abdul Rahman Albasbishi hang out at International Night at the high school By Laura Geggel

Three of Mount Si High School’s seven exchange students (from left) Michelle Freyer, Florence Servais and Abdul Rahman Albasbishi hang out at International Night at the high school By Laura Geggel

After a lifetime of watching American movies and listening to American music, seven exchange students from around the world decided to get a taste of life in the Snoqualmie Valley.

Read more

Students learn sports medicine is more than taping ankles

November 25, 2009

At one of her softball games in Seattle, Mount Si High School junior Danielle Massengill got a call to duty. One of her teammates had sprained an ankle, and Massengill was just the person to tape it.

“I can tape my own ankle in two minutes,” she said. “It takes me longer to tape someone else.” Read more

Valley girls study abroad

November 19, 2009

Courtney Proctor (left), her host sister Tayla and her friend Madison smile on top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge during her study abroad stint in Australia. Photo contributed

Courtney Proctor (left), her host sister Tayla and her friend Madison smile on top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge during her study abroad stint in Australia. Photo contributed

Junior year is normally filled with college searches and SAT prep, but four Mount Si High School girls decided to try something a little more unconventional. They packed their bags and took a hiatus from life in Snoqualmie Valley, opting instead to study abroad in Switzerland, Germany, Australia and Paraguay. Read more

Twin Falls starts natural helpers program

November 19, 2009

Students often sought the ear of Twin Falls Middle School eighth-grader Lyric Lewis, which may be why they voted her into the natural helper fold.

“My friends did come to me a lot,” Lewis said. “And sometimes I would notice people I didn’t know very well would come to me asking for advice.” Read more

Mount Si Spanish class marks Day of the Dead

November 4, 2009

With a little help from her students, Mount Si High School Spanish teacher Linda Wickswat transformed her classroom into a celebration of El Dia de los Muertos – the Day of the Dead.

Juniors Kaylin Dahms (left) and Madison Bardsley hold up the Dia de los Muertos masks they decorated in Spanish class at Mount Si High School.  Photo by Laura Geggel

Juniors Kaylin Dahms (left) and Madison Bardsley hold up the Dia de los Muertos masks they decorated in Spanish class at Mount Si High School. Photo by Laura Geggel

Colored paper skeletons hung on the walls and a shrine — known as an ofrenda — stood in the corner displaying student reports of the famous deceased. Read more

Not so scary holiday; Halloween helps kindergartners learn nursery rhymes

November 4, 2009

Hickory, dickory dock, hey diddle diddle and hot cross buns? In yesteryear, parents taught children nursery rhymes, making the ditties common knowledge.

But now, North Bend Elementary School kindergarten teacher Mary-Lee Johnson finds herself teaching rhymes to students who have never heard of Old Mother Hubbard or Wee Willie Winkie.

“Many of the kids don’t have nursery rhymes read to them any more,” Johnson said. Read more

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