LWSD has 141 Board Certified Teachers.

Redmond, Wash. – Forty teachers in the Lake Washington School District achieved National Board Certification®, as announced today by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. There are now 141 National Board Certified Teachers (NBCT) working full-time in the District’s schools.

“We are very proud of our teachers who have achieved this prestigious designation,” noted Superintendent Chip Kimball. “All staff members and students benefit when teachers achieve National Board Certification, as these teachers share their knowledge and expertise with those around them. In Lake Washington, we have exceptional faculty, and it is no surprise that so many of our teachers achieve this status.”
 
-LWSD press release, 12/16.

Rebecca Meredith is the City of Redmond's first Poet Laureate

The City Council approved Rebecca Meredith for Redmond's first Poet Laureate. 

Rebecca's Poetry Collection Journal

I am a poet and psychotherapist in Bellevue, Washington who conducts poetry therapy groups as a part of my practice. My work has appeared in The Forum, a psychoanalytic quarterly, as a part of Seattle's Jack Straw Writer's Program, and others. I am a Hedgebrook Fellow as a result of my work in short fiction as well.  -Rebecca Meredith*

According to a city ordinance adopted this year, The Redmond Arts Commission has considered the position of Poet Laureate of the City of Redmond since 2006. The position is based on the concept of the Poet Laureate first established in America by the Library of Congress in 1985. Since then, States including Washington have established such positions.

The objectives of the program will be to broaden the awareness of poetry, express the spirit of Redmond culture through poetry, and raise the level of discourse during discussions and debates in the City.

Funding for the Poet Laureate will not exceed $5,000 a year and is part of the Arts Activity Fund budget. These funds would be used to contract for services from the Poet Laureate such as providing public writing workshops, poetry readings, or publishing poetry.  - city ordinance.

Samples

posted by Bob Yoder

The December 15 City Council Meeting is eventful and sets records.

In order of significance:

1. Nancy McCommick retired tonight after 24 years of service as a councilmember, 8 years as Council President, 6 years as planning commissioner.  She is currently on the Code Rewrite Commission. 
2. The Mayor read a Proclamation about Nancy, Nancy gave a check to the Mayor for the Downtown Park Foundation.  Richard Grubb faxed in a poem, a Safety Officer thanked Nancy during Items from the Audience, six councilmembers gave tribute (Vache' was absent), the RYPAC city youth group gave her a poster, and Parks Director read tributes from three citizens. Councilmember David Carson was dressed in a bow tie / tuxedo.
3. Council approved a record 20 consent agenda items, three salary ordinances (more on this later), a Rose Hill annexation ordinance and resolution.   Redmond's Poet Laureate was approved.   
4. "The Russians are coming"!   City Hall chambers were packed for the second time with the Russian community defending their Special Edition business park.  They said the Sears Parking Lot was a better location for the Overlake regional stormwater treatment facility.  Comment: ...a no brainer. 
5. Councilmember Hank Myers defended the city's 1% property tax levy increase.

Code Rewrite Commission:  http://redmond.gov/insidecityhall/planning/RCDGrewrite.asp

by Bob Yoder

Bing surpasses 10%, but at the expense of Yahoo, not Google

Bing surpasses 10%, but at the expense of Yahoo, not Google

Microsoft appears to be taking market share not from its nemesis Google but from its partner-in-waiting, Yahoo. Google's U.S. market share rose slightly, reaching 65.6 percent.

Work Study Sessions - The LW School Board's "Diamond in the Rough".

Interested public, including PTSA members and board candidates may observe from seats to the right.   

Have you ever wanted to know who your School Board members are and what they do?  Perhaps you're thinking of running for a school board office and want more information about the job?  Perhaps a concerned PTSA member?  Or a member of  the community at large.  Attending a "Work Study Session" is just the ticket!

This fascinating learning experience isn't well known or attended because the public work session meeting times aren't announced during Chair Pendergrass's Regular Meetings.  The sessions are held in a back room from the Board Room.  Some of the study Topics from this year are:

1)  Vision 2020,  2) Technology & Science, 3) Graduation Policies, 4) Special Education, 5) Quest & AP, 6) Bond and Levy "Advisory Committee" Recommendations, 7)  Meet Bob Hughes, State Board of Education and past LS Board member, 8)  Culminating Projects in H.S. and Beyond,  9) Culture. 10) Planning for a meeting with the legislatures. 

Don't worry about having to speak.  Public isn't allowed to comment.  Superintendent Kimball usually does most of the talking in these sessions, while staff listens.  Sometimes he'll present slides with helpful handouts; the sessions aren't taped.  These meetings are held during the dinner hour and last about an hour, so feel free to bring something to eat.  The Board Members and staff eat while in session, too.

Work Study Sessions are held the 1st and 3rd week of the month at 5:30pm.  For exact times and room location go here.  Both study sessions and regular board meetings are held at L.E. Scarr Building in Redmond Town Center.  162050 NE 74th Street.  The Regular Board Meeting usually follows at 7PM.

This meeting is a 'diamond in the rough' opportunity for anyone curious or wanting to know more about District governence and our elected.  Three Board Members will be up for election in 2011.  Do you want to learn more?

Work Study Session - Agenda
Work Study Session - Minutes

Board Packet  (budget items, Minutes, PTSA donation list, grants, agenda, etc.)  Pick these up at the reception desk counter.    Quesstions:  contact  Kathryn Reith at kreith@lwsd.org

Community Digest III

Excerpts from MUSTANG NEWS, 12/14

NEW ACADEMIC & CAREER PLANNING RESOURCE. "Academic and Career Planning" is a new page on the Redmond High web site. The page contains information about college and career planning, Graduation Portfolio announcements and requirements, copies of important documents related to the Graduation Portfolio, links for post-secondary planning, resources and links for scholarships and financial aid, and information about colleges, careers, and much more. Be sure to check this page regularly for all the latest information about life after high school.

DIGIPEN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY. Digipen is offering a series of four workshops exploring computer graphics and game programming careers. The workshops are held on the four Saturdays in January starting January 9th. If you are interested, please contact Elvin Bucu. Cost is $20.

LAKE WASHINGTON SCHOOLS FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES 2009 GRANT AWARDS. LWSF awarded 38 classroom grants to our schools this year - 5 to high schools, 13 to junior highs, and 20 to elementary schools - resulting in over $63,000 awarded in 21 different schools in our district. LWSF Trustees and community members assisted in evaluating the grant proposals. RHS received two grants, one for reading materials for English Language Learners, and one for robotics club supplies. For more information about LWSF or to learn how you can donate to help our Lake Washington schools, check out the LWSF web site.

 LITTLE LEAGUE REGISTRATION OPEN.  Redmond West Little League and Redmond North Little League are currently accepting registration from boys and girls ages 5 through 18. Sign up now and get ready to play ball!

CITY OF REDMOND TEEN CLASSES AT THE OLD FIREHOUSE TEEN CENTER. Start the New Year by learning something new! (And don't forget, classes make great gifts!) All classes will be held at the Old Firehouse Teen Center at 16510 NE 79th Street. For more information or to sign up for any of these classes, please call 425-556-2300, e-mail Chris Cullen, or download the Old Firehouse schedule.  The January classes are:  Silkscreen Co-Op: and Drumming 102: 

by Mary Bourguignon
Editor, Redmond Mustang News

Mustang News is published by the Redmond High School PTSA. To subscribe, please contact rhs.ptsa.news@gmail.com . For more information about the PTSA, please visit our web site at http://www.redmondhsptsa.org/ .

Balloons Aglow: The Brightest of the Redmond Lights

Balloons Aglow: The Brightest of the Redmond Lights

One of the most spectacular events of Redmond Lights 2009 was the lighting of the hot air balloons next to Redmond Town Center. 

by Redmond Library blog

MONSTER TRUCKS are in the neighborhood!

MONSTER TRUCKS are in the neighborhood!    This one is an EVAC truck - a giant sucking machine.  PSE was using it to vacuum out 5 feet of soil to install new street light poles.  These toys cost $275,000. 

The City of Redmond has a number of them to vacuum debris from stormwater drains, catchments, and  vaults.  200 feet of stormwater piping can be cleaned at  time. Last winter, the roads had to be sanded and EVACS were busy sucking out sand and pebbles from the stormwater pipes. This winter they won't be as busy, because the city will be spraying a brine-sugar beet solution to de-ice, rather than sand.  Yes, sugar beets! So, expect to see some "blood" on the roads when they "sand"!  Sanding the roads was a problem last year because silty suspensions drained straight into the streams - past the catchments.  (As you know, street stormwater in Redmond drains into Bear Creek and the Sammamish River.)  Silt is not healthy for the salmon and stream habitat.  The brine-beet de-icer is more enviro-friendly - and less abrasive on our cars!  (picture of right is a PSE truck vacuuming light post holes.)  MONSTERS!   What do ya say?

-- photos and story by Bob Yoder

Sports participation fees at LWSD schools

During the  LWSD - Redmond City Council Study Session of 12/8, Commissioner John Stilin raised the question of  sports participation fees.

Superintendent Kimball answered:

 A renewed levy will still not cover the full cost of sports participation fees.  The total cost of one sport/kid/year is $600.  Parents will still pay $275/year/sport and the levy will subsidize the remaining $325.  Recent State budget cuts necessitate the use of levy fees for basic education rather than sports fees, and the like. 

reported by Bob Yoder

Eastside residents invited to join virtual town hall with Rep. Ross Hunter on December 15

Washington State House of Representatives
Rep. Ross Hunter – 48th Legislative District

December 11, 2009

Online or on the phone - Eastside residents invited to join virtual town hall with Rep. Ross Hunter

Rep. Hunter will take questions about state budget, education reform, SR 520 and more on December 15

OLYMPIA – At 6:30 p.m. on December 15, households across the 48th Legislative District will receive a phone call from state Rep. Ross Hunter (D-Medina). Those who pick up will be invited to participate in a one-hour telephone town hall during which they can learn about the upcoming legislative session and share their thoughts and questions with Hunter.

Hunter will also be live blogging the town hall and residents have the option of logging on and following along virtually.

To participate by phone: Only those with land lines will receive a phone call on December 15, so those wanting to participate via cell phone can call toll-free 877-229-8493. Participants will be prompted to enter an ID code which is 15390. The number will be available about ten minutes before the town hall begins.

To participate online: Click through from Hunter’s website at www.housedemocrats.wa.gov/members/hunter  or on Twitter by following @rosshunter or searching #huntertownhall.
# # #
Contact: Rep. Ross Hunter: (425) 453-3064 or hunter.ross@leg.wa.gov

A Streetside View of Redmond, from Bing Maps

A Streetside View of Redmond

You can now see a street-level view of downtown Redmond using the new version of Bing Maps. While you might have used the bird's eye views in Bing Maps, the new beta version provides a ground-level, or Streetside, view.

by Redmond Library Blog

U.S. News and World Report awards two Lake Washington district High Schools.

International Community School Ranked in Top 100 Schools, Achieves Gold Rating

Redmond High School receives a silver rating

Redmond, Wash. – U.S. News and World Report magazine named International Community School (ICS) in Kirkland, Wash. number 29 out of the top 100 high schools in the nation in their annual America’s Best High Schools rating, and gave the school a gold ranking. Redmond High School (RHS) received a silver ranking.

ICS had a College Readiness Index of 89.3 and RHS had a score of 42.6.

This is the third year that ICS has been recognized in the top 100 schools. Last year, it was number ranked  number 24. In 2007, it was ranked  number 17 and was the highest-rated school in Washington. This is the second year that RHS received a silver rating.

“We are honored to once again be recognized as one of the nation’s top 100 high schools,” noted ICS Principal Cindy Duenas. “It is truly a reflection on the students and staff at our school that we have achieved this ranking for the third year in a row.”

“We are so proud to once again be recognized with a silver ranking,” noted RHS Principal Jane Todd. “This recognition helps to support our students and staff in their efforts to reach high standards every day.”

“It is always an honor to see our schools recognized nationally for the level of success that the students and staff have achieved,” noted Lake Washington School Superintendent Dr. Chip Kimball. “I am consistently impressed by the hard work of our students, staff and parents in schools throughout the district.”   [I'm guessing the School Board will probably recognize ICS and RHS at a Regular Meeting. B.Y.]

ICS was one of only four schools to receive a gold ranking in Washington state. RHS was one of only nine schools in King County to receive a silver ranking, and one of only 17 in the state.  
 
Thanks to LWSD Communications for their press release.