High Quality Instruction and Learning for Every Child, Every Day in Every Classroom Oct. 2015

Hundreds of new students entered Renton schools last month at the start of the new school year. The additional students are part of a years-long trend of more families leaving the high cost of living in Seattle and surrounding neighborhoods for affordable life in Renton and other South Sound cities. The welcomed improvement in Renton’s local economy also brings more jobs and businesses as families move into the area for good schools, city amenities and quality of life.

The great majority of the new students this year entered elementary schools, specifically in grades 1-5, which continues to increase student populations at all elementary schools across the district. The district has a plan

to ease crowded schools and provide all students with equitable and quality learning spaces for decades to come.

After reviewing area growth and student enrollment projections for the next 10 years, a committee of community members, city/

civic economic developers and planners, staff, and others, recently completed work to propose building a new elementary school at the site of Sartori Education Center in north Renton. Also included in the proposal are school building improvement projects that were recommended by principals and school staff earlier this year. Renton School Board members will place a school construction measure, along with an expiring Education Maintenance and Operations levy, on the ballot for voter consideration on Feb. 9, 2016.

Read more about the proposal and see photos of the proposed site and student growth data at the district’s website www.rentonschools.us.

District’s plan to provide more quality learning space and build new elementary school to go to voters in Feb. 2016

Community has opportunity to help name new middle schoolThanks to overwhelming voter support of the 2012 "Building for a Lifetime of Learning" school construction bond measure, Renton School District is building a new fourth middle school at the site of the old Hazelwood Elementary School in the northern end of the district in Newcastle. The new school will help with the continued growth in our district as families and businesses continue to move into Renton for great schools, city amenities, and wonderful quality of life.

Renton citizens and families have an opportunity to help name the new middle

school through a short, four-question survey. Deadline for entry is Friday, Nov. 20, 2015. Those wishing to submit naming options should also provide evidence and/or an explanation of why the name is significant and should be considered.

Other criteria include:• A nominated name will be widely known to, and significant to, the community.• The names submitted will not conflict nor cause confusion with the names of other facilities in the district or surrounding districts.

• The use of names of living persons will be avoided unless the circumstances warrant an exception.• The names of key supporting organizations may be used.

A committee comprised of community members, parents and school staff will meet over the next few months to review nominations to present to the Renton School Board, who will make the naming decision early in 2016. Submit your name for consideration at the district’s website www.rentonschools.us.

Students in schools throughout the Renton School District are receiving hands-on learning, career exploration and career planning as part of a comprehensive educational program. Through the district’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, students are being provided innovative classroom learning to deliver education that is relevant to current workplace demands and is in line with industry standards. A strength of the program is the robust partnership between CTE teachers and staff, paired up with the business community, the City of Renton,

and community-based organizations. The partnerships go well beyond teaching at the high school level and provide students with hands-on learning and information about what classes in college and technical schools students will need to get good-paying, meaningful jobs when they graduate.

The district’s CTE programs help students identify their strengths, explore a variety of career options, connect classroom learning to areas of interest, interact with the business community, and prepare for education beyond high school.

Career and Technical Education courses challenge students to develop academic, technical and personal skills through relevant and integrated learning experiences in employment that includes:

• agriculture & natural resources

• architecture & construction

• arts, audio/visual technology & communications

• business, management & administration

• cooking/culinary arts/restaurant management

• finance

• health science

• information technology

• manufacturing

• science, technology, engineering & math (STEM)

• more

Hands-on learning, career planning classesare alive and well in Renton Schools

Hazen High senior scores perfect score on national testHazen High School senior Matthew Robbins scored a perfect 240 on his Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT) and has been named a National Merit Scholarship semifinalists, a distinction that puts him in the top 1 percent of the 1.5 million high school students who took the PSAT National Merit Qualifying Test in the fall of 2014.

A 240 on the PSAT is equivalent to a 2400 on the SAT. Only 100 students in the nation get a perfect score of 240 each year.

Matthew plans to attend Western Washington

University to study mathematics and then return to Hazen High to teach math.

Matthew will now compete with 16,000 high school seniors nationwide for more than $32 million in scholarships offered next spring from the National Merit Scholarship Corp., colleges and universities, and corporate sponsors. Scholarship winners, or Merit Scholars, will be selected from the finalists after a review of their skills, accomplishments and potential for success in rigorous college studies

Mid-October is DiscoverU week, a statewide college- and career-readiness event that works to help students at all grade levels visualize life beyond high school, attending college and how they can set a path to a great career. Teachers and school staff at all Renton School District schools have many college- and career-readiness activities planned throughout the week to engage students in visualizing themselves attending college, exploring a career, and eventually getting a job they excel at and love.

As part of the event, teachers and district staff wear their

college apparel as a way to start conversations with students about where they attended

college, what they studied, life as a college student, and how to set a path to a rewarding career.

But DiscoverU isn't limited to schools. Businesses, colleges, community-based organizations, libraries, city governments, community members and families are invited to join DiscoverU and put college and career in the spotlight. Everyone can share their college and career pathways through the power of social media. Show your support for college and career exploration by posting a DiscoverU-inspired college or career selfie online on your Facebook page, Twitter site or other social media sites using the hashtag #DiscoverU. Follow the events on Facebook at facebook.com/roadmaptocollege.

DiscoverU Week is an opportunity to help children set goals and realize life beyond high school

Students throughout the Renton School District are preparing for annual Veteran’s Day assemblies where students and staff celebrate the service and sacrifice of America’s Veterans. Music teachers prepare special music celebrations where student choirs sing and band and orchestra students play special arrangements. Area Veterans and VFW organizations are invited to the events and some give speeches at all-student assemblies. Family members who are veterans are invited to attend the events and be recognized for their service.

Veterans Day activities include: Tiffany Park Elementary School students will give speeches about each branch of the military and sing the service songs of each of the military branches. Dimmitt Middle School is hosting an all-school assembly and has invited local Skyway VFW Post 9430 to

honor Veterans. Benson Hill Elementary School 4th- and 5th-graders are working on special songs for their Veteran’s Day assembly: Fourth graders are practicing to sing the National Anthem; fifth graders are learning to play songs on recorders

and to sing the school’s “50 Nifty” song for their Veteran’s Day assembly. Highlands Elementary creates a PowerPoint presentation of fathers and mothers of students who are Veterans to present at an all-school assembly.

Students at schools across the district prepare for Veteran’s Day celebrations

Renton School District | 300 SW 7th Street, Renton WA 98057 | 425.204.2345 | www.rentonschools.us www.facebook.com/renton.schools | twitter.com/Renton_Schools | www.youtube.com/user/RentonSchoolDistrict

Communities In Schools Renton (CISR) Mentoring Program gives students a new perspective on lifeStudents in schools throughout Renton School District are receiving an excellent education from teachers and school staff. But some need a little more personal attention from a caring adult. That’s where the Communities In Schools Renton (CISR) Mentor Program helps. The CISR Mentor Program is a school-based mentor program that matches a trained adult volunteer with a child at a specific school for one hour a week during the school day. Mentors interact with the child over a period of time, establishing an open and trusting relationship, encouraging the child to see school as a positive place, and supporting their academic success.

Mentoring relationship made the difference for 10 years, from elementary through high school graduationOne of the success stories of the CISR Mentor Program is the 10-year relationship formed between Renton student Michael Matthews Jr. and CISR Mentor Bob McBeth, a retired King County District Court judge. The pair met when Michael was in third grade at Talbot Hill Elementary School. Michael had some significant challenges in his life and Bob was matched with him to give him another adult to talk to, and someone who could give Michael extra encouragement. Over the 10 years, each week they talked about life, school, difficulties and hardships, but also shared a lot of joy and laughter. The two continued meeting weekly through elementary school, middle school and on through Renton High School. This past June, the two celebrated Michael’s graduation from Renton High.

“Michael persevered over so many challenges and obstacles in his life,” said CISR mentor Bob McBeth. “Mentoring made a difference for him because there was someone, other than family members who cared about him.”

Volunteer to make a difference and become a CISR Mentor!Fifty volunteer mentors are needed for this school year. And while—like Michael and Bob—you don’t have to commit to the program for 10 years, if you have an hour a week to help a student on their way to graduation and a more inspired life, please consider becoming a Mentor. Call Mara Fiksdal at 425-430-6659 or email: mfiksdal@rentonwa.gov.

Cost effective, research-based drop-out preventionCommunities In Schools (CISR) offers a solution to nearly one in four students who fail to graduate on time in Washington State. In partnership with Renton Schools, CISR brings resources, services and volunteers into schools to help struggling students get back on track. Many of the students we serve are facing challenges both inside and outside the classroom. CISR places a site coordinator (Family Liaison) in a school to assess needs and coordinate a comprehensive range of services for the kids most at risk for dropping out. CISR works with local community partners to connect students with mentors, attendance support, college/career prep, school supplies, food, clothing, after-school enrichment, and more, all to meet student needs.

Proven Effective: Locally, we track outcomes against rigorous total quality standards. Nationally, independent studies confirm that Communities In Schools offers a cost-effective, evidence-based model for dropout prevention.

• An economic impact study found that for every $1 invested in Communities In Schools, $11.60 comes back to the community.

• A five-year evaluation showed that of all organizations working toward student achievement, only Communities In Schools is proven to decrease dropout rates AND boost on-time graduation rates.

Every child has tremendous potential! CISR helps students unlock their abilities and talents, giving them a brighter future.

To support this work with your time or donation, go to: www.renton.ciswa.org

AnnuAl Benefit Dinner

October 29, 2015 • 5:30p.m.-8:00p.m.Tickets: $50 per person

Renton Senior Activity Center • 425.430.6658 www.renton.ciswa.org • • cisr@cisrenton.org

Every Child Should Graduate

"Make It Happen"Join us for an exciting evening of inspiring stories, great food, silent auction and your chance to help vulnerable children of Renton succeed in school and in life