• If your sophomore was a “near miss” in passing the math, reading, and/or writing subject section of the 10^th-grade Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL), s/he might be a good candidate for the district’s summer WASL test-taking tutorial. The five-day sessions runs July 31-August 4 at Issaquah High School. The tutorial is designed to help those students with a scale score of 390 or above (as indicated on their individual score report) learn specific test-taking tips to use during the August retake. The summer tutorial will not focus on math, reading, or writing content; the district is developing extended learning opportunities to help students who were “far misses” with this subject knowledge throughout next school year. More information and registration forms are available on the district’s WASL Web site.

• Students who would like to strengthen their content knowledge in reading, writing, and math beforehand can find resources at www.wasl2006.org. They can also check-out or purchase WASL prep books. District-provided extended learning opportunities will begin this fall.

 

• At the school board meeting on June 14, Superintendent Janet Barry explained to the school board the unique challenges affecting the 2006-07 budget. She recommended accelerating the process to turn the Pacific Cascade Freshman Campus into a middle school—instead of building a new middle school—which would likely save approximately $800,000 in operational costs annually that can be used for classroom programs. More information and background information is on the superintendent’s Web page.
  • The school board requested more information and expects to make a decision about the Freshman Campus at its meeting at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, July 12, at the administration center, 565 N.W. Holly St. The board's initial discussion can be heard on the podcast of its June 14 meeting.

 

• Some bus service trimmed within one-mile radius of schools.  District needs $225,000 in savings for classroom programs. Approximately 350 students across the District who live one mile away or less from their school will begin walking to and from campus this fall instead of being transported by bus.  Other students who are currently picked up and dropped off within the one-mile radius will be redirected to bus stops outside the one-mile radius.

 

• The district honored thirty-three retiring employees, who have a combined 822 years of experience, at a ceremony last week. They are:
  • Kay Adamson, vision specialist; Tom Bird, counselor, Skyline; Sharon Blankenship, custodian, administration; Kent Breidenstein, science/technology teacher, Pine Lake; Margaret Brown, science, Issaquah Middle School; Cherie Duncalf, educational assistant, Endeavour; Suzanne Duncan, nurse; Nancy Ewart, principal’s secretary, Pacific Cascade Freshman Campus; Kathryn Fischer, SAGE teacher, Cougar Ridge and Sunset; Connie Harris, third-grade teacher, Maple Hills; Dale Heldt, math teacher, Skyline; Carol Hopman, principal’s secretary, Sunny Hills; Barbara Lyle, PE teacher, Sunset; Dorothy Maxwell, computer lab teacher, Maywood; Cyndi Mercer, EA, Maywood; Wanda Miyahara, fourth-grade teacher, Newcastle; Tom Neal, assistant principal, Liberty; Joyce Neufeld, fourth-grade teacher, Clark; Wayne Pommer, electrician; Charisse Precht, third-grade teacher, Sunny Hills; Shirley Reed, third-grade teacher, Cascade Ridge; Jack Reynolds, PE teacher, Maywood; John Roberts, custodian, Skyline; Robert Ruud, science, Maywood; Barbara Saario, librarian, Skyline; Gretchen Senyohl, language arts teacher, Issaquah High; Virginia Sweet, food service, baker; Aletha Taylor, payroll supervisor; Craig Torget, math teacher, Issaquah High; James Williams, wood/tech prep teacher, Echo Glen; Patricia Wilson, educational assistant, Cougar Ridge; Judy Winston, fourth-grade teacher, Sunny Hills; and April Zemke, third-grade teacher, Maple Hills.

 

• The Issaquah School Board this month authorized the purchase of pieces of land in the north and south end of the district to accommodate potential future growth.

 

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