Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Lake Washington Student Scores Improving on Standardized Tests



11 Schools meet federal standards
 
Redmond, Wash. – Lake Washington School District students improved their average scores on state standardized tests in many grades in reading, writing, math and science. Scores rose in close to two thirds of the grade/content area, continuing general upward trends.   Read More >>

Friday, August 29, 2014

Redmond Historical Society Speaker Series, September 13


Behind the Scenes: Hidden Treasures of Washington’s Museums

Ready for some well-kept secrets from Washington state museums?  Journalist and author Harriet Baskas, who researches the closeted collections of museums, will share some of her favorite finds at the Redmond Historical Society’s Saturday Speaker Series at 10:30am on September 13th.  Sponsored by Humanities Washington, the fast-paced, photo-filled and, at times, offbeat tour through Washington will be told through the stories of museum artifacts that are rarely – or never – shown to the public.  Read More >>

Thursday, August 28, 2014

Lake Washington Schools Foundation Awards $220,000 to School District


  

When Lake Washington students return to school this fall, they will be able to build robots, use a 3-D printer and learn how to prevent bullying because of extra funding provided to the school district by Lake Washington Schools Foundation. For the 2014-2015 school year, the Foundation granted the district nearly $220,000 to support district-wide initiatives and provide classroom tools that will help students succeed.  Read More >>

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Parents/Community Members Needed for LWSD Curriculum Adoption Committees

Science, math, visual arts under review
 
Each year, Lake Washington School District forms committees to determine new curriculum adoptions. Committees are made up of teachers, administrators and parents. They review standards, teaching practices and materials for specific courses and content areas. Committees take two years to develop a recommendation.
 
This year, four different adoption committees will review the following curricula:
·         9-12th grade science
·         6th-8th grade science
·         6th-8th grade math
·         Kindergarten – 5th grade visual arts
 
The district seeks parents/community members for each of these committees. If you are interested in serving,   Read More >>

Monday, August 25, 2014

Tragic Loss of Retired Chief of Police Steven R. Harris

                                                        
Redmond, WA – It is with great sadness the City of Redmond mourns the loss of retired Police Chief Steven R. Harris.  Chief Harris was tragically killed in a traffic collision yesterday.  His wife, Magi, was a passenger in the vehicle and was critically injured in the collision.  The Washington State Patrol is investigating and all questions related to the collision will be referred to WSP.  Read More >>

Sunday, August 24, 2014

Redmond Bike Park Grand Opening is September 6

After months of work by city staff and hundreds of volunteer hours the Redmond Bike Park is complete and ready to ride!   A Grand Opening is planned for Saturday, September 6 and will include the following events:


10-11:30  Dirt Jump Skills Workshop
11:30-12  Site Tour
12-1:00    Ribbon Cutting Ceremony with the Mayor/Volunteer Awards/BBQ
1-2:00      Jump Jam


The BMX bike park includes the following jump tracks:  beginning, intermediate, advanced, skills track, and pump track.  Parking is available at Hartman Park at the corner of NE 104th Street and 171 Ave NE. 

Friday, August 22, 2014

Lake Washington students above state average on ACT scores

Redmond, Wash. – Lake Washington students who take the ACT, a standardized test used in college admissions, continue to show they are more likely to meet college readiness standards than other students in Washington state or in the U.S.  Compared nationally and statewide, far more district students score high enough on each of the four ACT tests to meet the college readiness benchmark that ACT has set for all four subjects – English, math, reading and science. While nationally only 26 percent of students met this standard for all four subjects and 41 percent met it statewide, 59 percent of the students in LWSD who took the ACT qualified, two percent more than in 2013. Read More >>

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

City of Redmond Selects New Farrel-McWhirter Park Preschool Partner


Redmond, WA The City of Redmond Parks and Recreation Department has offered preschool at Farrel-McWhirter Park for more than 20 year, and will continue to honor this tradition with its new partner, Nature Vision, for the 2014-2015 school year. Nature Vision will provide comprehensive preschool programs with a focus on preparing children for kindergarten; learning through play and developing social skills at the historic park in a unique farm, nature and forest environment.  Read More >>

Monday, August 11, 2014

Redmond Historical Society Announces Speaker Schedule


The Redmond Historical Society announced the schedule for its 2014-15 Saturday Speaker Series that   begins on September 13th at 10:30am at the Old Redmond Schoolhouse Community Center. The series features eight speakers addressing topics of local, state and Pacific Northwest historical interest.  Read More about the speakers >>

Friday, August 8, 2014

LWTech holds Redmond Campus open house for students and local business

Afternoon event boasts tours, free massages and free wine seminars
 
Redmond, WA – The Lake Washington Institute of Technology will hold an open house at the Redmond Campus on Aug. 13 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. to introduce students to Redmond Campus classes and local business to Redmond Campus partnership possibilities.
 
“Our campus is a great resource for students and the community,” said Christian Bruhn, LWTech’s Redmond Campus director. “It’s a beautiful, spacious facility with free parking and well-equipped classrooms.”  Read More >>

Thursday, August 7, 2014

Help Finish the Redmond Bike Park

Help us finish the
REDMOND BIKE PARK
 
Redmond Parks & Recreation is seeking volunteers for our final push to finish the Redmond Bike Park. 
Our volunteers have made great progress in building Redmond’s first official dirt jump park but there is still more to do.  With the project at just over 60% complete and a Grand Opening goal of September 6th, we are reaching out to let people know about this volunteer opportunity. 
Weekend Work Parties:
·        August 9 & 10
·        August 16 & 17
Work Parties are from 9am to 4pm.
Parking is available at Hartman Park off NE 104th St, in Redmond.
All the tools, training, lunch and beverages you’ll need will be provided during the Work Parties.  Come build with us for a whole day, half-day or a whole weekend if you can.  All help is welcome. 
Visit the project website www.redmond.gov/bikepark and take a look at the plans.  To sign up, click on the Shiftboard button and register to be a Trail Builder or other volunteer.  Check out the Photo Gallery to see some great pics of the work that’s been done so far. 
There are a lot of jumps yet to build so come help us finish the Redmond Bike Park. 
Please contact me for more information. 
 
HELP BUILD the REDMOND BIKE PARK | www.Redmond.gov/BikePark 

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

LWTech's popular funeral parlor showcased in new "Mummies" show

Top embalming historian on site to deconstruct Seattle’s famous mummy “Sylvester”
 
An international film crew is coming to Kirkland’s Lake Washington Institute of Technology’s funeral service lab on August 6 to complete interviews for “Mummies Alive!,” a new international television series scheduled to debut in 2015. 
 
In this episode, embalming historian Jon Austin will demonstrate preservation techniques used to embalm Sylvester, Seattle’s own Ye Olde Curiosity Shop mummy. Legend has it that Sylvester was preserved by dry desert sands, but scientists have found evidence that he was actually embalmed with arsenic. He has been on display in Seattle since 1955 and is a key attraction at the Seattle landmark.  Read More >>

Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Redmond Neighborhood Blog re-joins Seattle Times Local News Partnership

I am pleased to report the Redmond Neighborhood Blog has been invited to join the Seattle Times Local News Partnership.  Below is the Seattle Times announcement.

Bob Yoder, Editor

Monday, August 4, 2014

Redfin Real Estate Report: Competition for Redmond Homes Slows Down

Competition for Redmond Homes Slows Down
 
Redfin Real Estate Agent
 
Competition for homes was fierce in the spring, with intense bidding wars driving up home sale prices all over Redmond.  Homebuyers were willing to do whatever it took to win the house of their dreams. But as we headed into the summer, we began noticing a shift in the local housing market: Many buyers were either scaling back or stopping their home searches.
 
Tired of the spring bidding wars and escalating prices, many buyers are now being more selective about writing an offer on a home. A few months ago, it was common for a home on the market to receive 10 or more offers. But now, we’re seeing homes for sale receive about three to four offers instead.
 
Unfazed by the drop in competition, some Redmond sellers are continuing to price their homes above market value. They saw homes in their neighborhood selling quickly in the spring and want to get the maximum price for their properties, too.
 
What’s happening in Redmond is part of the disconnect between buyers and sellers happening in hot real estate markets across the country. The slowdown in competition means the market is shifting toward the buyer’s favor. 
 
Here is a snapshot of the market in Redmond in June compared with the same time last year:
                    Home prices were up 3.2%, and the median home price was $568,000.
·                     The median price for single-family homes was $673,500; for condos it was $314,000.
·                     Sales were up 4.9%, with 148 homes sold.
                    Homes spent a median 7 days on the market.

Forum: Proven Strategies for Overcoming Depression

NAMI Special Summer Educational Forum On:
 
PROVEN STRATEGIES FOR OVERCOMING DEPRESSION
                                                                      
 
Guests Speakers:  
   Graeme Cowan, International author, survivor of depression and mental health advocate 
&
Lora Inman, Certified Recovery Peer Specialist, mental health advocate and renowned author
 
Date:                         Tuesday, August 26, 2014, 7 PM - 9 PM
Location:                  Brightwater Center
          22505 State Route 9 SE, Woodinville, WA  98072
 

Graeme Cowan is Australia’s leading speaker and author in the area of mental health at work.  He has worked with elite level athletes, the armed forces and business professionals of all levels.  He is best known for his award-winning Back From The Brink book series.  Graeme has interviewed hundreds of people including Lora Inman, who contributed to his book.  To find out more information about Graeme and his book visit  http://www.iambackfromthebrink.com/   Read More >>

Friday, August 1, 2014

Redmond High School PTSA News

  
REDMOND HIGH SCHOOL
MUSTANG WEEKLY EXTRA
  
School News: Back to School Photos and Fees Days
Seniors August 18
Juniors August 19
Sophomores August 20
Freshmen August 21

PTSA Scholarships and Volunteer Awards
RHS PTSA Award Recipients for 2013-2014
Golden Mustang - Grace Lawrence
Outstanding Advocate - Ruth Schemmel
Outstanding Educator - Holly Appelgate and David Peabody
Golden Acorn - Sheila Zambrowsky
Honorary Life Membership - Matt Loschen
 
RHS PTSA Scholarship Recipients for 2013-2014
Kelley Koeppen
Yen Nguyen
Athena Gordon 
Tyler Yen
Kristian Koeppen
Elaine Wang          Read More>>

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Donate Blood on Education Hill, August 6

Every two seconds, someone in America needs blood. Every day, the Puget Sound Blood Center needs to collect 900 units of blood. But while that need is constant, the number of people donating blood isn’t. During the summer, we see a 22% decline in donors yet the need increase due to more elective surgeries & more people out on the roads!
cid:image001.jpg@01CE8F68.E847BF70http://thumbs.dreamstime.com/z/super-hero-8763900.jpg
 
**DONATE BLOOD!**
Wednesday, August 6th
ST JUDES PARISH
Lower Level Parish Hall
10526 166th Avenue NE
1:00 pm – 7:00 pm
(closed 3:00pm-3:45pm)
 
 
 
Please schedule a time to donate by
emailing our coordinator, Don Petersik, at sea1dxp@comcast.net
 
*Photo ID or PSBC Donor Card required for all donors!*
 
 

Monday, July 28, 2014

EvergreenHealth Provides Real-World STEM Learning Experience for Local High School Students


EvergreenHealth recently celebrated the first class of local high school students who gained experience in health care through a new STEM Global Health program in partnership with the Lake Washington School District. The students studied STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and math) through a year-long collaboration that provided hands-on education and learning opportunities at EvergreenHealth.
As part of the Lake Washington School District’s new Signature Programs, these courses engage students in problem-based learning and industry-based projects across a range of professions. These thematic, interdisciplinary, three-period instructional blocks combine rigorous academics and real-world application of learning in areas like global health and sustainability. The program at Juanita High School, part of the Lake Washington School District, combines courses in anatomy and physiology, biotechnology and 11th or 12th grade English.  Read More >>

Saturday, July 26, 2014

Last Chance to "Claim Your Stake" in Redmond's Downtown Park

Redmond, WA - Final opportunity to vote on Redmond’s Downtown Park design ends Monday, July 28. Community members can log onto the City web site at www.redmond.gov/downtownparkconcepts and select their favorite concept that will determine the look and character of Redmond’s new signature park.

park concept designs


Read More >>

Friday, July 25, 2014

Video: RHS football team at Derby Days parade

Hi, Here's a short video that my son made for the RHS football team at the Derby Days parade talking about the upcoming season and how important support from the community is. Please take a look and the Booster Club would appreciate if you'd post it on your blog. At the end of the video we have listed the home game schedule. Thank you, Julie Byrnes Redmond Football Boosters http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCmAdgBb1w8

Stabbing Victim Dies of Injuries: Suspect Remains In-Custody

                                                     
Redmond, WA – On July 18, 2014 at 10:50 pm, Redmond Police responded to reports of a fight near a business at 15700 Redmond Way, Redmond, WA. Officers and Fire personnel arrived, provided first aid to a 17-year-old female victim with a stab wound to the chest and arrested a 25-year-old male, Daniel J. Haggart. The suspect and victim were acquaintances and both are residents of Redmond. Haggart remains held at King County Jail on charges of Attempted Murder.
On July 23, 2014 the victim died as a result of her injuries; an autopsy is pending. Redmond Police Detectives, working with the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, anticipate amending charges.
The family of the victim has requested privacy. Our thoughts are with all those impacted by this tragic event. Case #14-013591.