·        Happy holidays! Do you remember what you were doing this time last year? (Hint: It probably did not involve electricity.) Here’s to a kindler, gentler first-winter break beginning Wednesday. Stay safe, merry, and warm until school resumes January 2.

 

·        For those very forward-looking families, do not forget to check the 2008-09 school calendar before making vacation plans next year. Based on the community feedback priority of maximizing student learning time, second-winter break in 2009 has been shortened, and inclement-weather make up days are prescheduled (because that’s the best guarantee against inclement weather).  

 

·        Congratulations to the six teachers who recently found out they earned one of the nation’s highest awards for professional excellence—National Board Certification. The newly Certified teachers are: Steve Darnell, Liberty High; Angela Hammang, Liberty High; Tasha Kirby, Discovery Elementary; Sarah Sarieddine, Beaver Lake Middle; Ben Sorensen, Maywood Middle; and Gretel von Bargen, Skyline High. Learn how the process proved temporarily harmful to Mrs. Hammang’s children’s hearing …

 

·        The evergreen-est district in the Evergreen State: King County last week recognized the District for recycling more, conserving more energy and water, and saving more resources than ever before.

 

·        Here’s a sneak-peak at the Issaquah High and Skyline High construction projects scheduled to start this summer.

 

·        Freshmen who want to register for the Spring 2008 WASL can do so now through January 14. Sophomores and any upper classman who has not met standard on one or more WASL section will be automatically enrolled.

 

·        Rappin' with Dr. Steve: New Issaquah schools superintendent reflects on first months in office, looks ahead – who can resist a newspaper headline like that?

 

·        High school bands from Issaquah, Liberty, and Skyline High have recorded their own versions of classic rock songs and now have a chance to win $10,000 in a radio contest. You can listen online.

 

·        Just for fun! ‘Tis the season to spread love. Here is why the heart is a sign of love, according to a few Newcastle third-graders:

 

“… because you have a heart and when a good feeling goes through it, it will make you happy.  When you’re sad, it is sad like when my best fish died by my cat.  P.S. He didn’t know what he was doing.”

 

“…because that is where you keep your family and friends and where you keep people or remember people that you love.”

 

“… because when you get married your heart starts beating fast. Another reason is because they put hearts around people that are in love in books.”

 

“When you have a crush on someone, when you see them your heart beats faster.  For example, when my father was in the hospital his heart monitor went faster when my mommy kissed him.”

 

“The heart is a sign of love because people say love comes from your heart.  Also, because it is the closest thing to magic.”