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Generously Sponsored by
Vashon
A Supplement of The Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber
A Guide to Education on Vashon Island
Vashon IslandChild
2014
Hedline
2 Island Child – Fall 2014
Staff
Publisher ..................................................................... Daralyn Anderson
Editor.............................................................................................Natalie Martin
Section editor................................................................................Susan Riemer
Section design and cover design ........................................... Nance Scott
Advertising ....................................... Daralyn Anderson & Deborah Brown
Island Child is published biannually by Sound Publishing Inc. No part of this pub-lication may be reprinted without the permission of Sound Publishing. For addi-tional copies, call (206) 463-9195 or email [email protected]. ©2014 Sound Publishing Inc.
Note: As of press time, the dates in the School Calendar on page 7 are set. Throughout the year, however, some may change. Confirm dates by calling the Vashon Island School District office at 463-2121 or visiting www.vashonsd.org.
File Photo
The Vashon PTSA will host its annual back-to-school ice breaker from 3 to 4 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 28, at Chautauqua Elementary School. Students can meet their teacher, see their classroom and have an Otter Pop to start the year off. Above, these former Chautauqua students enjoy time on the school playground.
Vashon is a great place to raise kids. From our excellent schools to our many fine youth-oriented programs, children on Vashon are nurtured, challenged and supported by an island community that clearly cares about them and their future success.
At John L. Scott, where many of us are parents, we’re grateful both for the trust many of you have put in us and for the opportunity we have to give back to the community. It is par-ticularly important to us to find ways to support our kids, as well as the schools and other organizations that help them to become fine adults.
So please join us in supporting our island’s young people. And take a moment to feel some pride. We have great kids and a great community behind them.
— The Vashon John L. Scott Family
FROM THE SPONSOR ABOUT ISLAND CHILDPublished by The Beachcomber
each year, this supplement gives parents a thorough look at the island’s educational resources.
Though Vashon is small, we have several educational options for fami-lies — from excellent public schools to highly regarded private ones. Vashon also has several preschools, and many after-school activities for young athletes, dancers, theater buffs and more.
Throughout this publication, it is clear that education is highly valued on Vashon, as residents here support the public schools and the academic lives of the island’s children through a small number of nonprofits. That community support helps our young people embark on a path toward a bright future.
— Susan Riemer
Contents3 | Vashon Island School District A note from the superintendent4 | Chautauqua Elementary School5 | McMurray Middle School6 | Vashon High School7 | Calendar10 | Educational Alternatives FamilyLink StudentLink 11 | Community Support Vashon PTSA Partners in Education Vashon Community Scholarship Foundation Private Schools The Harbor School Carpe Diem12 | Homestead School Preschools, Daycares and Childcare Programs
www.vashonbeachcomber.com
Back-to-school drive kicks off next month
For more than a decade, the annual back-to-school drive has supplied hun-dreds of island students with the tools they need for the academic year.
In recent years, the PTSA has sponsored the drive and is doing so again this year.
“Our mission every year is to gain the funds to help our island kids arrive on the first day of school ready and confident to start the year off prepared,” said Manette Arteaga, the drive coordinator.
Last year the group supplied items to almost 100 island families in need of help, and this year organizers say they expect the need will be the same, if not higher. With that in mind, they hope to raise $3,000, Arteaga said, as well as collect school supplies at donation bins at True
Value, Thriftway and Island Home Center & Lumber.
Volunteers will be outside Thriftway asking for donations from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 1, 2, 8, 15, 22 and 23 and will hand out bags of required school items the last week of August.
A back-to-school car wash and bake sale will be held from 10 a.m to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 16, at IGA.
The items will be distributed from noon to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 27, at the Land Trust Building.
People looking for specific items, such as backpacks and calculators, should call Arteaga at 280-9673 or email her at [email protected].
Foundation supports schoolsCommunity support is what distinguish-
es Vashon’s schools.The Vashon Schools Foundation (VSF)
was established in 2010 to bridge the gap between what the state funds and what it costs to run robust programs and provide opportunities in arts and music, access to up-to-date instructional materials and receive individualized help.
The heart of the foundation is the gener-osity and commitment of the community to invest in our students. A dedicated group of parents and business owners serve on the board and help with every aspect of operations. Ninety percent of the funds raised go directly to our schools.
For more information, visit www.vashonschoolsfoundation.org.
3
Vashon School Board of Directors
My favorite day each year is the when school opens in September and we are met at the doors with student and parent enthusiasm, anticipation, curi-osity and joy. What is true for our students is also true for our faculty and staff. Rested from vacation, our faculty anticipates your return and has been invest-ed in the joy of their own learn-ing over the past several weeks. We study newly adopted cur-riculum, coordinate lesson plan-ning together and practice new teaching and learning strategies. We all have a commitment to teaching the habits of mind that will enable you to enjoy a life-time of learning. You will meet several outstanding new teach-ers and staff who have joined us. They were chosen for their love of teaching, their competence and experience and for being “just the right fit” for our Vashon community. I’m proud of the professionalism of our faculty and staff and the commitment they make to your education and growth each day.
Our students are creative, intelligent and ambitious with an outstanding record of achievement in academics, the arts, debate, athletics and more. In 2013, our students earned the Washington Academic Achievement Award, placing in the top 5 percent of high schools across the state. Our school district prides itself in providing excellent and rigorous programs. During the stubborn recession, our families, businesses and community members invested in our schools through gener-ous donations to the Vashon Schools Foundation and Vashon PTSA, making it possible not only to sustain excellence, but to
continue to enhance our programs. This year we have added more advanced placement courses, math and science electives, and more options in the arts. Foundation and PTSA donations have helped us purchase the math curriculum at Chautauqua, history curriculum at Vashon High School and McMurray and math curriculum at the high school. Two new preschool class-rooms will be started in the fall and winter through a competi-tive grant awarded by the state.
You will also notice many changes on our high school and middle school campuses. The new high school is now complete with a maturing landscaping that grew in over the summer. Welcome to the class of 2018, our entering freshmen who will experience four years in the new high school. At McMurray, new flooring has been installed in the corridors and common areas, and new carpeting is installed in the library and offices. Students will have new lockers and locks as well. Our commitment to the maintenance of our facilities is strong with full crews working on painting, repairs and upgrades over the summer.
We couldn’t do this without your confidence and support. We are so fortunate to have strong partnerships with Vashon Allied Arts, Partners in Education and the businesses in our community, each of which provides significant support to our academic and arts programs. The Vashon Park District and many athletic support organizations ensure that our children have great opportunities to develop physical and leadership skills for healthy living. I’m proud to be part of a community that stands for a deep commitment to the health, education and welfare of its youth.
I wish each and every one of you a successful school year. Welcome back!
— Michael Soltman, Superintendent
Steve EllisonPosition [email protected]
Dan Chasan, chairPosition [email protected]
Bob HennesseyPosition [email protected]
Kathy JonesPosition [email protected] 300-2441
Laura WishikPosition [email protected]
OFFICE DIRECTORYThe school district offices are locat-ed in Chautauqua Elementary School at 9309 Cemetery Rd. S.W.
The mailing address is
P.O. Box 547, Vashon, WA 98070
District main number: 463-2121
Fax: 463-6262
Michael Soltman, superintendent
ext. 8534
Donna Donnelly, assistant to
superintendent ext. 8534
Paula Cummings, student services
director ext. 8532
Roxanne Lyons, curriculum director
ext. 8531
Amy Sassara, human services
director ext. 8529
Matt Sullivan, business manager
ext. 8524
Sarah Day, school nurse 463-2882,
ext. 4424
Email addresses for employees in the
school district follow a formula: the
first initial of the person’s first name,
followed by his or her last name,
@vashonsd.org. For example,
Michael Soltman can be reached at
AN OPEN LETTER TO VASHON’S STUDENTS AND THEIR PARENTS
New year holds excitement for all
Chautauqua Elementary School
4 Island Child – Fall 2014
AccomplishmentsThis past year was one of great learning for children
and adults. The increasing opportunities for children to learn Spanish made for an exciting year of col-laboration among our teachers who teach Spanish. Holly Boyajian offered Spanish extension in her first-grade class and will do so this year as well. Also, this year Sarah Hamill will offer Spanish extension in her second-grade class. Professora Victoria Clayton taught Spanish immersion kindergarten for half of the day this past year, and she taught Spanish once a week to each first, second and third grader. This year she will offer two Spanish immersion kindergarten classes.
Thanks to the grant-writing expertise and persis-tence of Roxanne Lyons, we will offer Spanish immer-sion preschool classes this year. This program will be funded through ECAP (Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program). ECAP helps children and fami-lies get ready for kindergarten. We will phase in the two preschool classes this year, beginning one class in October and the other later in the year.
At the end of this past year, we bade a fond farewell to several of our teachers. Brownie Carver joined her longtime teaching partner, Judy Pickett, in retire-ment. They will both be missed and will likely be seen around town with their families and on the golf course. Ken Larsen retired after an extensive absence this year. He is missed, and we wish him the best as he explores a new phase of life in Port Orchard. Kathy Concklin surprised us all at the end of the year by announcing her retirement. She taught for 43 years and has recently moved to Whidbey Island to enjoy a new page in her life. All these teachers have made a huge impact on the lives of our children.
Our assistant principal, Theressa Prather, was offered a principal position in the South Kitsap district. She brought many wonderful skills to our school, and we will miss her while we wish her well in her new position.
Chautauqua is a school where children are challenged to discover their skills and conceptual understandings through problem solving, researching and investigat-ing. Children take a big leap beyond providing “the answer” to providing evidence that backs up answers and discoveries. Students thrive academically through interesting problem solving and project-based learn-ing opportunities. They thrive socially and emotion-ally through developing ownership in their school and navigating their own decision making using the habits of mind that support good thinking and acting. Our students constantly surprise and thrill us as they embody the habits of mind that promote deep thinking and caring: empathy, cooperation, humor, persistence and responsible risk taking.
Every student in our school should be able to tell anyone who asks what SOLE means. He or she will tell the inquirer that SOLE stands for respect for Self, Others, Learning and our Environment. We’re proud of
the actions of our students and the commitment of our staff to instill thoughtful behaviors and attitudes in our children.
Last year we piloted new math curricula to determine which resource best aligned with the new Common Core state standards in math and mathematical prac-tices. In June our school board approved a new math curriculum called Bridges in Mathematics. This deci-sion was the culmination of two years of studying the new standards and highest yield instructional strate-gies in mathematics.
Looking aheadOur community and the Vashon Schools Foundation
have provided us the funds to keep class size down in the early grades. This effort has allowed us to begin a new year with an excellent teaching staff and a won-derful support staff. We begin this year with three new classroom teachers. Matthew Chasan, who substituted the last half of last year in fifth grade, has been hired to be our new fifth-grade teacher. Head teacher and owner of La Petite Etoile French School, Aristy Gill, will be our new second-grade teacher as Karen Barich moves up to teach fourth grade. Barron Steffan joins us from Colorado, where he taught grade school and col-lege classes. He will teach third grade this year. We’re fortunate to hire excellent teachers on this island.
We draw people who appreciate that art is alive and thriving in our schools when that has gone by the way-side in so many districts. We are also valued for our belief in a “growth mindset” in this district. Our school is a reflection of our community values.
We recently hired a new assistant principal from the University Place School District. Kathryn Robinson brings her own well-stocked bag of talent to our school. Please stop by the office to meet her in the fall.
Thanks to our PTSA and its fruitful fundraising, we will have new math resources. This will be a busy year as we implement our new math program. It is our intent to keep our families well informed about math as we use these new resources. Two of our teachers, Shanon Browne and Joleen McCauley, will provide par-ent workshops to help parents understand the instruc-tional practices and strategies that are the backbone of the Common Core state standards in math as well as in our new math curriculum.
We are fortunate to work with excellent science coaches in our community. In June most of our teach-ers attended a one-day workshop on practical and engaging ways to use our outdoor campus for life sci-ence studies.
Our partnerships with Partners in Education (PIE) and Vashon Allied Arts allow us to provide innova-tive experiences for our children. The arts are alive and well in our school thanks to the Vashon Artists in the Schools Program and the huge effort our partners put forth to ensure our children receive the most well-rounded education possible.
We look forward to another year of bright-eyed chil-dren walking through our front doors. They are the heart and the soul of our school community, and with all our efforts, they will engage in what we have to offer; they will contribute to each other’s learning, and they will thrive.
Natalie Martin/Staff Photo
On Thursday mornings at Chautauqua, staff and students gather at the front doors and play music, a way to start the day on a positive note.
Jody Metzger, PrincipalKathryn Robinson, Vice Principal
AT A GLANCEYvette Butler .......................CounselorPhone ................................463-2882Fax ....................................463-0937Students .....................................505Teachers .......................................34Support staff .................................25Volunteers .................. More than 300
5
McMurray Middle School
OverviewAs a learning community, McMurray Middle School
prepares its students during the transition from ele-mentary school to high school. We are committed to helping students achieve their fullest potential through dynamic instruction, challenge and unique learning activities during the significant sixth, seventh and eighth grades. We appreciate the diverse learning styles and abilities of middle-school students and are respon-sive to their developmental and social characteristics.
As a middle school, we recognize the intellectual, cre-ative, social and emotional nature of young adolescents. We challenge all students to master essential academic skills, to acknowledge individual potential, to identify their strengths and challenges and to explore their affective and creative possibilities while developing a sense of respect and responsibility for themselves and their peers.
McMurray’s program is a blend of core academics, exploration and skill building that helps create a com-munity of engaged learners. Challenge, exploration, acceptance and support are all part of the McMurray program. These aspects are fostered by students and staff that work to establish a building climate of posi-tive communication, collaboration and cooperation.
Accomplishments McMurray focuses on engaging, challenging and
supporting students in literacy, mathematics, criti-cal thinking and life skills. Our school climate was enhanced in many ways through Community Days,
student mentors, student clubs and leadership, home-room advisory and student-led conferences, positive recognition, cultural enrichment and prevention pro-grams.
We strive to engage students, families and the community. We enjoy the support of key volunteers, enhancing students’ experience in a variety of set-tings and helping to make our school a special place for learning. Additionally, student-led conferences and online family and student access to our database sys-tem continued with great success.
Our entire school participated in Community Day at
the beginning of the year. This day focused on many homeroom team-building activities designed to build community, respect and involvement throughout the school.
High percentages of our students participated in and excelled in the various activities McMurray offers. All of our sports teams received WIAA recognition as dis-tinguished and outstanding scholar-athletes.
We continued to collaborate with a variety of part-ner groups, such as PTSA, Artists in the Schools and Vashon Youth & Family Services, to support our students’ success. Reading and math assessment and intervention, prevention activities and student mentors were very successful in helping students reach their fullest potential.
Eighth graders also took part in 10 different experi-ential learning programs during Exploratory Week in June with outstanding achievement.
GoalsStudent engagement, literacy, critical thinking and
academic excellence and growth for all students con-tinue as our highest priorities.
Developing a positive, safe, respectful and inclusive school climate will be emphasized throughout the year.
Developing positive partnerships with students, home and the community through a variety of outreach and communications is also of high importance.
Big Events and ProgramsMcMurray students participate in a wide variety of
activities, such as Community Days, Recreation and Movie Nights, student interest clubs, many artistic endeavors, sports teams, band concerts, student coun-cil, yearbook production, History Day, student mentor-ship, Egypt Festival, Tech Club/Lego League, Science Fair, Math Olympiad, Math Counts, Math Is Cool, Eighth-Grade Exploratory Week and many other ser-vice opportunities.
File Photo
McMurray students get involved in science projects, including using microscopes to identify creatures from island creeks.
Greg Allison, Principal
AT A GLANCEGates Johnson ...... Executive AssistantCarolyn Zike .......................CounselorPhone ................................ 463-9168Fax ....................................463-9707Students .....................................380Teachers .......................................22Support Staff ...................................8Volunteers ...................More than 150
File Photo
McMurray’s eighth-grade math team, above, took fourth place at the state masters Math Is Cool competition at Moses Lake High School last December. The seventh-grade team earned first place at the same event.
Completing my first year as principal of Vashon High School has served to affirm and deepen the truth that our school is one of excellence, compassion, humor and hard work. Our students are among the best in the state, our teachers are tireless and talented, and our staff are dedicated to the success of all stu-dents.
Vashon Island High School continues the excellent work of McMurray Middle School and Chautauqua Elementary School in preparing our students to be equipped for the challenges they will face after high school. The coming school year will mark the first complete year in our new building, as well as inclu-sion of the class of 2018. While we have said goodbye to staff and students who have moved on, we also look forward to greeting new members to Pirate country.
AccomplishmentsThis past year Vashon High School students were
highly successful in and out of the classroom. Our students were recognized for their high achievement in reading, writing and math scores as we won the Academic Achievement Award from the state for per-formance in 2013. This places VHS in the top 5 per-cent of the state’s high schools. We also achieved Level 1 Green School status with King County for efforts in recycling and sustainability education. In the arts our students opened our new theater with a produc-tion of “Metamorphosis” and followed it up with a spring Musical Theater production of “Xanadu.” We sent students to our sister school in Japan, as well as a group of students to Nicaragua to participate in inter-national partnerships.
On the competition field, our policy debate team took first in State, and our Lincoln-Douglas debater took second. We had a state wrestling champion, and our team finished seventh overall at State. We had several teams make the playoffs, including softball, basketball and boys soccer. Our student athletes were recognized for being State Academic Champions in several sports and won the sportsmanship award in track. Our percussion students competed in State, including one student who placed second in the State solo competition.
Looking AheadThere will be several new engaging courses offered
this year to add to our diverse course catalogue, including AP United States history, choir, statistics, trigonometry and advanced math topics. We also will have new career and technical education courses,
including veterinary technician, anatomy and physiol-ogy, botany, photography, leadership and filmmaking. Additionally, we will offer several courses that, while not new, have not been offered in several years.
We will continue to utilize SMART periods during the week for study time, homework completion, test make-up and teacher tutorials. We also will continue with block periods and late arrival days for teacher professional development. Check the school website for an updated calendar.
A focus for this year’s work at the high school will be maintaining our high standards and high achieve-ment while at the same time improving our support to struggling students. This will be an important
partnership we forge with our parent community, and I look forward to outlining our next steps with folks in the fall.
Our high school is a remarkably rich learning environment, where students are highly engaged in and out of the classroom in relevant and meaning-ful activities. We are lucky to have a large commuter population at our school, which enhances the social and classroom environment and makes possible our diverse class options. Our students are talented, hard- working and compassionate learners, and it is our great privilege to walk the final steps with them in their public school journey.
Vashon High School
6 Island Child – Fall 2014
File Photos
Pirate pride extends to academics, sports and the arts at VHS. Clockwise from the top, several students gather for a football game; DJ Barnes and Aruna Tuller-Ross perform in “Metamorphosis,” and Maya Krah and Maria Gilmour sing at an open mic.
Danny Rock, Principal
Stephanie Spencer, Assistant Principal and Athletic Director
AT A GLANCEPaul Peretti ........................ Freshman and Junior CounselorLaurie Martin ................... Sophomore and Senior CounselorMJ Hartwell ............. Career Specialist and CTE DirectorPhone ................................ 463-9171Fax .................................... 463-1944Students .....................................535Faculty ..........................................34Support staff .................................10Volunteers ................................... 148
Vashon Islandwww.vashonsd.org
School Calendar
2014-2015
• September1 Labor Day Holiday – School Closed2 First day of school for:
Chautauqua Elementary McMurray Middle School & Vashon Island High School Full day of classes
11 Professional Development Day 2-1/2 hour late start
17 Chautauqua Elementary – Open House18 Vashon Island High School – Open House24 McMurray Middle School – Open House25 Professional Development Day
2-1/2 hour late start
• October10 Teacher in Service Day – School Closed15–17 Parent/Teacher/Student Conference Day
for Chautauqua Elementary School – No classes for Chautauqua
23 Professional Development Day 2-1/2 hour late start
• November6 Professional Development Day
2-1/2 hour late start11 Veterans Day – School Closed20 Professional Development Day
2-1/2 hour late start26 Student Half Day – Dismissal Times
(All Kindergarten Students Attend) No breakfast or lunch served. • Chautauqua Elementary 11:50 • McMurray Middle School 10:45 • Vashon Island High School 10:5527-28 Thanksgiving Break – School Closed
• December11 Professional Development Day
2-1/2 hour late start22 – 31 Winter Break – School Closed
• January 1 – 2 Winter Break – School Closed15 Professional Development Day
2-1/2 hour late start19 Martin Luther King Jr. Day
School Closed23 Last day of semester for McMurray Middle School
and Vashon Island High School26 Teacher In-Service Day
School Closed
• February 5 Professional Development Day
2-1/2 hour late start16 President’s Day – School Closed17 – 20 Mid-Winter Break – School Closed26 Professional Development Day
2-1/2 hour late start
• March12 Professional Development Day
2-1/2 hour late start19-20 Parent/Teacher/Student Conferences
for McMurray Middle School No classes for McMurray
• April 3 Snow Day Make-Up13 – 17 Spring Break – School closed23 Professional Development Day
2-1/2 hour late start
• May7 Professional Development Day
2-1/2 hour late start21 Professional Development Day
2-1/2 hour late start25 Memorial Day – School Closed
• June13 Vashon Island High School
Senior Class Graduation 201518 Student Half Day – Release Times • Chautauqua Elementary 11:50 • McMurray Middle School 10:45 • Vashon Island High School 10:5519, Snow Day Make-Up Days22 & 23 Class of
2015
A Spe cial Th anks to
Vashon Islandfor sponsoring the 2014Fall issue of Island Child
VashonIsland Child 2014
FALL QUARTERCOMPETITVE*: SEPT 8 - DEC 19
Silver/Gold M/W/F 4:45 - 6:35pm
Bronze Tu & Th 4:00 - 5:50pm
Dryland M/W/F 4:00 - 4:30pm
STROKE SCHOOL*: SEPT 16 - DEC 18
White Tu or Th 4:00 - 4:50pm
Blue Tu & Th 5:00 - 5:50pm
* Level placement by Seals coachesemail [email protected] with any questions
FALL PLACEMENT CLASSWednesday August 27, Vashon Pool
9:30am - 10:00am
Class Scholarships available year-round.
Arts for Everyone!
VashonAlliedArts.org206.463.5131
Peggy Rubens-Ellis, PCI®
Certifi ed Parent Coach, M.Ed.
The Positive Parenting Coach!
Call for a Free Consultation
206-335-9051
www.positiveparentingcoach.com
VashonIsland Child 2014
Annie Robe rts’Cello & Piano Studio
8 Island Child – Fall 2014
9
Classes Sept– June Creative Movement, Ballet, Pointe, Modern, Jazz & Break Dance463-1895
Committed to providing personalized treatmentfor the whole family in a gentle relaxed atmosphere.
University of Washington School of Dentistry graduate 199816 years practicing dentistry
9 years living and practicing on VashonExperienced staff has a combined total of over
100 years in dentistry
Now welcoming new patients.
Leif RasmussenDDS, PLLC
206-463-368519715 Vashon Hwy SW • Vashon, WA 98070
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VashonIsland Child 2014 VashonIsland Child 2014
463-3161Open: Tues, Thurs, and Sat, 10 to 5Donations: 7 days a week 8am-4pm
10010 SW 210th St. – Sunrise Ridge
Look for the digital version of
Island Child on our website:
www.vashonbeachcomber.
com
Educational alternatives at VISD
10 Island Child – Fall 2014
FamilyLinkFamilyLink is a parent partner program of the
Vashon Island School District and serves students in grades kindergarten through 12. Parents are the pri-mary educators of their children. FamilyLink teachers work with parents to create individual learning plans for their students, to develop teaching strategies and learning activities, to find curriculum and access other district services.
Advantages of FamilyLink• Personalization: Learning is tailored to the indi-
vidual interests and learning style of the student. Students progress at their own pace — the gifted child can move more quickly, and the late bloomer can take more time to learn at his or her own rate.
• Flexibility: Homeschooling can be done at home, at the library, on a field trip or while traveling across country. Older students can combine course work with experiential or community-based learning.
• Choice: Families choose the type of curriculum that best suits their student’s style of learning, wheth-er it is traditional textbooks or online courses.
• Parent Participation: Parents are acknowledged as a valued and contributing partner in the education of their children.
• Support: FamilyLink teachers support parents and students in developing learning activities, identifying curriculum and accessing other district resources.
Highlights of 2013-14• Enrichment Classes: This last year we offered
block classes for grades kindergarten through eight in language arts and writing with Richenda Hawkins, science with Barbara Gustafson, art with Andrea Braganza and theater games with Elizabeth Ripley.
Classes were held on Wednesdays for grades three to five and six to eight and on Fridays for grades kin-dergarten though second. Additional art opportuni-ties were offered by photographer Ray Pfortner and ceramic artists Liz Lewis and Annie Hancock. Teacher Jim Gilmour taught high school physical science.
• Additional Classroom Space: FamilyLink was happy to inherit an extra classroom in the K Building in January 2014 when the high school moved into its new building. This gives us two classrooms in the K Building — K1 and the pottery room.
• Community-building Activities: Parents and students participated in a variety of activities this year, including fall orientation, winter wreath and ornament-making workshops, test tips and strategies workshop, enrichment planning meeting and the end-of-year pool party and potluck.
Plans for 2014-15FamilyLink plans to expand the block class sched-
ule from two days a week to three. On Mondays and Fridays, we will offer a combination of language arts, science, art, and math games for students in grades kindergarten through five. On Wednesdays, we will offer language arts, science and pottery for grades six to eight. We also hope to provide a selection of online classes for high school students through Acellus online learning.
FamilyLink is housed in two portables on the Vashon High School campus. These facilities provide the program with offices for consulting and adminis-trative staff, a resource library and small computer lab and classroom space. Additional classroom space is located in the K Building. For more information about FamilyLink enrollment and services, please call us or visit our website at www.vashonsd.org/links.
StudentLinkStudentLink is a contract-based learning program
where students in grades nine through 12 take per-sonal responsibility for their education. Students meet weekly with teacher Nan Hammett to develop their individual learning plan, document 25 hours per week of independent learning and progress toward completion of their high school diploma. They may also choose to take a course at Vashon High School or attend Running Start. Students must complete a minimum of 21.5 credits, pass all required state assess-ments and complete a High School and Beyond Plan to graduate. StudentLink seniors are eligible to submit scholarship notebooks to the Vashon Community Scholarship Foundation and walk in the VHS gradua-tion ceremony.
This program works best for students who are will-ing to be creative, able to manage their time and work independently. Students actively participate in design-ing a course of study that is meaningful to them, based
on their interests and learning style.
Highlights of 2013-14In January 2014, a new program of student support
was introduced, which we call “guided learning.” For this program, we hired three guided learning tutors (GLTs) to work 15 hours a week. Their task was to provide addi-tional academic support to our independent learners in the form of small group guidance and instruction.
• Scott Bonney has tutored many island students for the past seven years in science and math. At StudentLink, he provides clarity to fuzzy math con-cepts and broadens students’ understanding of scien-tific concepts as well.
• Karen Person has been an educator for more than 40 years, developing special curricula to meet the needs of gifted and alternative students. She has worked in most of the local universities in the Seattle/Tacoma area, helping teachers develop curricula for a wide range of learners. This year, she facilitated a young women’s writing group and coached students on research papers, creative writing and critical thinking.
• Tom Pruiksma is a writer, poet, translator, magi-cian and musician. He has guided students in writing and literature from the graduate level to middle school and has tutored on the island for many years. Through StudentLink, he guided students through history of the English language workshop, where students studied and performed scenes from Shakespeare’s “Othello” and the Open Door Writer’s Workshop, in which stu-dents worked on a variety of projects.
• Volunteer Support: Daphne Purpus has volunteered with StudentLink for more than five consecutive years, supporting students in math and other subjects. She has multiple degrees and has studied a variety of fields: physics, geology, Latin, English and library science. Although she has taught in the classroom, she prefers tutoring one-on-one or in small groups.
Others who worked with our students this year included Rhoda Karusaitus, Sheila Squillace and Kathy Myer, providing their excellent support in science, English as a second language and writing, respectively.
When the new Vashon High School opened, StudentLink was able to expand within the K building, giving us access to the adjacent room where much of the guided learning program takes place. New paint, more study tables, and comfortable couches make the space inviting for study and small group instruction.
Vashon Youth & Family Services provided a young women’s group and a young men’s group for students to meet and discuss pressing issues that arise at this time in life.
Plans for 2014-15We expect to maintain a 25-student enrollment and
continue with our GLT program, which has enriched the learning experience of our students.
The StudentLink classroom is located in the K Building of the Vashon High School campus. For more information about our program, please contact us by phone or visit our website at www.vashonsd.org/slink.
Julie Hanger, Program Manager
AT A GLANCEDanny Rock ..........................PrincipalJulie Hanger............Program ManagerJim Gilmour & Richenda Hawkins ............... TeachersJanet Chapman ...... Program SecretaryPhone ............... 463-9171, ext. 5503 Students ...................................... 65
Nan Hammett, Teacher
AT A GLANCEDanny Rock ..........................PrincipalJulie Hanger ...........Program ManagerNan Hammett ........................ TeacherJanet Chapman .................... Program SecretaryPhone .......463-9171, ext. 5504/5506 Students .......................................26
Courtesy Photo
FamilyLink student Eden Codd displays her art in Andrea Braganza’s art exploration class.
11
Private Schools
Carpe Diem Primary School 10014 SW Bank Road Type of program: Independent school for students in kindergarten through third grade.
Contact: Director and teacher Janice Campbell at 375-8898 or [email protected]
Openings: The school is full for this year and has a waiting list for the 2015-16 school year.
The mission of Carpe Diem is to edu-cate the whole child. The school’s two main goals are to teach and model good character and create an academic envi-ronment where students develop an atti-tude of healthy risk-taking to learn new skills and concepts.
Setting personal goals for the develop-ment of good character qualities and core academic excellence are backbones in the school’s learning environment. At Carpe Diem, students and teachers see good character as a key to being a happy and successful person as well as a good peer leader. Carpe Diem teachers believe
there is no ceiling to learning. They set high standards for student achievement and expect each student to work to his or her personal best.
Through experiential thematic units
and integrated studies, the school’s teachers strive to create lifelong learners who continue to be curious about our world of nature, arts, science, literature and cultures.
At Carpe Diem, students and teachers believe that the classroom exists beyond the walls of their school. Through wil-derness activities and nature studies, students learn to appreciate the fragile beauty of nature and gain an under-standing of the importance of their role as Earth stewards.
Special needs students are accepted depending on qualifications of the appli-cant and the school’s ability to accom-modate the need.
Foreign Language: Spanish is incor-porated into the curriculum.
Student-teacher ratio: Three teachers for up to 28 students for core academics; two teachers for up to 28 students for all enrichment activities.
Meals: Students bring their own.School Calendar: School starts in
September and ends in mid-June.Website: www.carpediemschool.org
Harbor School15920 Vashon Hwy. SW
Type of program: Independent school for students in fourth through eighth grades.
Head of School: James Cardo Admissions contact: Jackie Mollison
at 567-5955 or frontoffice@ harborschool.org.
Website: www.harborschool.orgOpenings: Now enrolling for fall
2015-16. Open houses will be held at 7 p.m. Oct. 15, Nov. 12 and Feb. 11. Admission deadline for 2015-16 is Feb. 27. Decisions are mailed out in March.
Since 1995, Harbor School has helped young students reach their potential by providing them with an outstanding, fully rounded educational experience. Small class size (10 to 16 per grade) with relationships built with teachers over multiple years allows each child’s strengths to be nurtured and celebrated, engendering a noticeable self-awareness and confidence.
The middle years are developmentally crucial, and Harbor School helps early adolescents navigate the path to young adulthood with encouragement, self-dis-cipline and wide-ranging experiences. Early on, students learn to take respon-sibility for their own education.
A rigorous academic program fea-tures a full schedule of traditional courses taught by experts in their fields. Students are coached and guided through lessons that are discovery-based, with the students researching,
analyzing and demonstrating facts.Harbor School’s newly launched Arts
Initiative is fully underway and a dedi-cated art teacher provides ongoing learn-ing in a variety of mediums. An integrat-ed arts curriculum enhances a strong theme-based learning environment. Additionally, expanded electives provide students with greater options and allow them to explore their creativity fully.
Harbor School travels extensively to expand students’ awareness of their world. Besides exploring our own island throughout the year, Travel Study trips take students throughout the Pacific Northwest, as well as far-off adventures to Washington DC, Louisiana, Spain and Oregon, just to name a few. With more than 30 days spent out of the classroom, students grow their independence and learn to adapt to a changing world.
Assessment at Harbor School is authentic in that work is evaluated fully by the teacher and student. Personal best is the hallmark of success, not an arbitrary grade, and a student’s voice is highly valued. The parents are closely involved, and three-way communication among student, parent and teacher is central to the school.
Finally, Harbor School is an uplift-ing community. Its Cornerstone Values are evident in all interactions, making the school a respectful, compassionate haven. Personal growth is valued.
Approximately 50 percent of the school’s alumni matriculate to Vashon High School, where they have been decorated with academic and extracur-
ricular laurels. Alumni have attended some of the top colleges in the country, including Dartmouth, Brown, Columbia, Duke, MIT and Wesleyan.
Foreign Language: Spanish is taught to all students.
Average Class Size: 14 (varies by grade)
Tuition: $9,875 - $12,800 Financial Aid: Yes, available to fami-
lies who qualify.Governance: Board of Trustees.
Harbor School is a non-profit organiza-tion.
Accreditation: NWAIS Candidate School
Meals: Students bring their own.
Marla Smith Photo
The Harbor School, located just north of town, is enrolling for 2015-16.
File Photo
Carpe Diem serves students from kindergar-ten through third grade.
COMMUNITY SUPPORT
Vashon schools need support from the community to help them thrive. Along with the Vashon Schools Foundation (see page 2), these pro-grams provide critical funds and other assitance to the schools.
Partners in EducationVashon Partners in Education, or
PIE, is an all-volunteer non-profit organization that enriches the learning environment at Vashon’s public schools by funding creative programs and innovative educational materials that are not covered by the existing school budget. Last year PIE granted more than $47,000 to 40 teachers — grants included hands-on environmental sci-ence support at Vashon High School, potters’ throwing wheels and student initiated clubs at McMurray, and field trips and math manipulation materials at Chautauqua.
PIE holds several fundraising events, including the annual phone-a-thon, which will be on Oct. 7, 8 and 9 this year. Contact president Jenna Riggs at [email protected] or visit www.vashonpie.org for more information.
The Vashon Community Scholarship Foundation
This community-based foundation supports Vashon High School graduates who seek support in their post-high school educational efforts. Supported by Vashon organizations, businesses and individuals, last May the founda-tion handed out $138,000 in 195 awards to 93 graduates.
The foundation’s biggest fundraising event is a spelling bee for adults and teens, called Spell It! The 2014 spelling bee will be held in late January.
To learn more about VCSF, contact board member Barbara Gustafson at 463-1638.
Vashon PTSA A new school year is on the horizon
and the Vashon Community PTSA (parents, teachers and students asso-ciation) is gearing up. The PTSA helps fund many programs within our school district that would otherwise not be funded through the state, such as Orca Readers, Math & Science Nights, Camp Waskowitz, Exploratory Week and more. The PTSA operates on a $20,000 annual budget that is funded by dona-tions from fundraisers within the com-munity.
The organization has open commu-nity board meetings each month on the third Monday, held at McMurray Middle School Library from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., and the public is welcome to attend. The group is also seeking parent volun-teers for fundraising, the science fair, website design and staff appreciation.
Parent, teacher and student involve-ment is the key ingredient to the PTSA cause. Visit our www.vashonptsa.org for more information.
Private Schools
12 Island Child – Fall 2014
Homestead Farm and Wilderness School Type of program: Multi-age primary school
Ages: 5 to 11Contact: Dana Schuerholz
at 463-0WLS or [email protected]
Openings: Full for this school year, waiting list applications accepted.
On 7 diverse acres of farm and forest, the program blends nature-infused men-toring with an arts-based curriculum. Homestead offers a hands-on curricu-
lum rooted in practices that promote social intelligence and connection to the natu-ral world.
Homestead seeks to pro-vide children with tools and support for living a full, balanced and creative life by giving equal value to each of the four windows of know-ing: feeling, imagining, sens-ing and thinking.
The school meets from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Special Needs: YesStudent-teacher ratio: 10:1Meals: A warm organic
grain is served mid-morning.Holidays: Mostly follows
the public school calendar.
PRESCHOOLS, DAYCARES AND OTHER AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMSCedarsong Nature School: Outdoor preschool. Visit www.cedarsongnatureschool.org.
Chautauqua Early Childhood Program: Preschool for children with developmental delays and
their typically developing peers. Contact Gillian Callison at 463-2882, ext. 401.
Creative Preschool: Contact the school at 463-2166 or see www.creativeps.org.
El Gato con Botas: Full-day, state-licenced Spanish bilingual daycare. Contact Sarah Bunch at 473-
0445 or see elgatopreschool.blogspot.com.
Heartstone Preschool: Nature-infused preschool set on a farm for children ages 3 to 6. See www.
plumforestfarm.com/heartstone-preschool or call lead teacher Joanne Jewell at 463-3518.
Honeybee Playschool: Play-based and art-infused preschool. See Honeybeeplayschool.wordpress.
com or call teacher Anna Sander at 650-2594
Kids Are People Too: Preschool and extended care. Contact Danielle York at 463-2610.
Klahanie School: Year-round Montessori preschool program. Call the school at 491-9465 or see www.
klahanieschool.org.
La Escuelita: Spanish and English, exploration and child-centered learning. Free to qualifying families.
Contact Sally Adam at 218-9545 (Spanish) or Lori Means at 406-6208 (English).
La Petite Etoile: French language school. Contact Aristy Gill at (206) 304-4903 or see vashonfrench-
school.blogspot.com.
Little Islanders: Preschool. Planning to open in September, call or email for details. Contact Lisa Moe
at 463-9797 or [email protected].
Little Tree Montessori: Preschool and kindergarten. Contact Teri Tipton at 463-9249 or see www.
littletreemontessori.com.
Love and Laughter Drop-in Preschool: Preschool and licensed daycare. Contact Jenny Mickelson
at 529-5124 or see www.loveandlaughterpreschool.com.
Starbreak Adventure School: Preschool and kindergarten. Contact the school at 463-6277 or see
www.starbreak.org.
Vashon-Maury Cooperative Preschool: Preschool. Contact the school at 463-2779 or see www.
vmcp.org.
Vashon Wilderness Program: Weekly, monthly and summer camp nature programs for 4 to 17
year olds. See vashonwildernessprogram.org or call Stacey Hinden at 227-5534.
VYFS Vashon Kids: Before and after school care for kids ages 5 to 12, as well as care during school
breaks. Contact Dalinda Vivero at 930-2592 or see www.vyfs.org.
Photo Credit
Homestead students at the Maury Island Marine Park restoration site.
Look for a full digital version of
ISLANDCHILD
on our websitewww.
vashonbeachcomber.comSpecial thanks to
John L Scott
for Generosly Sponsoring this Back-to-School
Supplement.
13
Vashon’sKid Connections
Dr. Yorek’s mission is to create beautiful smiles while providing a rewarding experience for every family. He is proud to offer his patients state-of-the-
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technology on-line at www.perfectsmiles4u.com
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perfectsmiles4u.com
Please call us at 463-3313 to schedule your
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Dr. Yorek is also a member of the Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine. We offer free home sleep studies to most patients with private medical insurance. Our oral appliance therapy is an alternative to CPAP use for patients that suffer from sleep apnea.
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14 Island Child – Fall 2014
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15
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