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Page 1: Renton Specials - Renton School District - March 2015

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

Lakeridge Elementary School has been recognized by Washington State

for dramatically increasing student success as well as improving student scores on state reading and math exams. State Schools Superintendent Randy Dorn presented the information recently during a surprise school wide assembly (pictured).

Teachers and staff at Lakeridge have for years worked with students and parents, gradually and steadily, to dramatically improve student academic success in the classroom and on state tests. With help from the University of Washington’s School of Education, and additional state and federal grant funding,

Lakeridge teachers and staff completely revamped their approach to teaching, using research-based methods that focused professional learning experiences to improve teaching in ways that are productive for student learning.

In 2011, Lakeridge teachers, under the leadership of new principal Jessica Calabrese, created a school improvement plan that included extending the school day, adding five days to the school year, introducing a new student behavior program, and a determined effort to improve instruction, specifically in math. Teachers also work collaboratively to make instruction consistent from classroom to classroom and grade to grade, and met

regularly with one another to talk about how they can improve.

Now Lakeridge students score well above the state average in math, raking as “very good” on the State Board of Education’s achievement index, very close to the highest ranking of “exemplary.”

The improvement plan, coupled with hard work and teachers’ steadfast determination that every child will succeed, has resulted in incredible student achievement, including:

• nearly 80 percent of Lakeridge 3rd-graders last year passed the state reading exams, exceeding state and district reading averages;

• nearly 70 percent of 4th-

graders and 80% of 5th-graders passed the state mathematics exam, also exceeding state and district averages; and

• Lakeridge is recognized as being in the top 50% of all elementary schools statewide.

Principal Calabrese celebrated with students and staff (pictured) saying they had all set a really hard goal, worked tirelessly as a family to meet that goal, and now have proof of what they all knew to begin with: “We can accomplish great things together!”

Watch videos of Lakeridge Elementary teachers and students in action at our district YouTube Page https://www.youtube.com/user/RentonSchoolDistrict.

Lakeridge Elementary recognized by statefor student academic success

Page 2: Renton Specials - Renton School District - March 2015

Nearly 900 high school students from all district high schools recently took SAT college-entrance exams at their high school, during the school day and free of charge. Students usually pay $50 per test which is normally given on a weekend at a few specific locations which can be some distance away from student neighborhoods.

Providing the important college-entrance exam, free and during the school day, is part of the Renton School District’s commitment to having all students graduate college and career ready, and allows for many more district high school students to access a fair and equitable path to college.

The SAT is the nation’s most widely used college admission test, and the first

step toward higher education for students of all backgrounds. SAT tests

the reading, writing and math skills that students learn in school, and provides both the student and the college a sense of how a student will be able to apply the thinking, writing and study skills required for college course work.

The SAT is just one of three college assessment tests the district provides to keep students on track to graduate. Other tests include the Preliminary SAT for 10th-graders, and the ReadiStep assessments for 8th-graders, which measures skills students need to be on track for success as they transition to high school and beyond.

Renton School District recently kicked off its new partnership program with more than 100 parents at two elementary schools to support education at home as well as at school. Through the Parent Academy for Student Achievement (PASA) parent-engagement program, Renton is creating a community in which parents, teachers and school staff collaborate to transform a child's educational environment so that all children can achieve their greatest academic potential and be prepared for college and career. The program is funded through a federal Race to the Top grant.

More than 100 parents from Highlands and Honey Dew elementary schools are participating in the nine-week

program which engages parents in taking a participatory role in their child's education. Education workshops and classes will be taught by parents in the languages spoken in each school's community, and translated in additional languages as needed.

Through the program, parents are provided professional teaching strategies to help students at home, and, in turn, school staff better learn how families approach education at home and throughout various cultures. Parents will engage and collaborate with teachers, counselors and principals; be better prepared to encourage high school and college graduation; and learn to better navigate the school system.

District launches new opportunity for parent engagement

District increases access to college and career by providing nearly 900 high school students with free SAT college-entrance exams

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Twenty Renton School District sports teams were recognized recently by the state's high school athletic association (WIAA) for maintaining high team GPAs during the winter sports season. In Renton schools, coaches, teachers and support staff work together to ensure student-athletes commit as much time, energy and effort on classroom work as they do in sports.

Some teams maintained near-perfect GPAs like Renton High School boys junior varsity swim team which maintained a 3.7 team GPA. Renton High team members pictured are (l-r): Philip Nguyen, Jay Nguyen, Howard Ho, Huy Tran and Eli Ballesteros (horizontal), Coach Diane Pavelin, not pictured.

Student-athletes recognized for maintaining high GPAs

Lindbergh Pool before start of renovation Bobcat with grinder attachment used to remove the plaster from the pool bottom.

Nelsen Middle School windows were replaced with more cost-effective energy-efficient windows thanks to voter support of a 2012 School Construction Bond measure.Voter-approved construction projects continue on time and

on budget. Two major projects currently underway are the construction of a new middle school at the site of the old Hazelwood Elementary School in the north end of the district and a complete renovation of the Lindbergh High School pool.

The much-needed new middle school will open for 6th- through 8th-grade students in the fall of 2016; the repairs and upgrades at the Lindbergh Pool continue through September of this year. Funding for these and other interior and exterior renovation projects at schools across the district were overwhelmingly approved by voters in the April 2012 school construction bond measure.

The district has a long history of completing construction and school renovation projects on time and within budget. Voters have for many years overwhelming supported school construction and renovation projects to ensure local school facilities are in excellent condition and meet the learning needs of all students.

Voter-approved construction of new middle school and Lindbergh Pool renovations continue on time and on budget

Many elementary computer labs were reconfigured into additional kindergarten classrooms thanks to voter-approved bond construction funding. Laptops are now being used in classrooms to provide technology and the learning needs of students and teachers.

Artist rendering of the much-needed new middle school which is made possible thanks to overwhelming voter support of an April 2012 bond measure

The new middle school is being constructed on the site of the current Renton Academy (formerly the old Hazelwood Elementary School) in the north end of the district at 6928 116th Avenue SE, Newcastle.

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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

Looking for a great job?Renton School District is hiring: Apply online now at

https://jobs.rentonschools.us

Teaching and non-teaching, full-time positions or part-time substitute positions, with hours that are set or flexible and

many do not require a teaching degree.Pay can range up to $17.36 per/hour with great benefits.

Current openings include: Bus Driver, Custodian,Food Service/Substitute Cook, Office Assistant, and more.

Twenty-two Hazen High School students in teacher Brett Crueger's Senior Government Class spent a recent Saturday doing volunteer work at the Cedar River Off-Leash Dog Park to help beautify the park and maintain it for its many visitors. The dedicated students worked for hours through bad weather and accomplished all of their tasks by the end of the day. When asked why they would give up an entire Saturday to do volunteer work, the students said that they learn in Mr. Crueger's class that you can make a difference in local government by being involved and caring for your community to make it a better place.

The Cedar River Off-Leash Dog Park, which is maintained by volunteers, is made possible by a partnership with the City of Renton. Find out more about the park at their website: www.rentonoffleash.org.

High school students give back to their community

Students in elementary schools across the district are participating in the annual Battle of the Books competition, a fun reading program to encourage students to work together and read a wide range of book genres and authors.As part of the competition, fourth- and fifth-grade students

at individual schools join into groups of four to read 16 books preselected by the school librarian. The books are available at the school library or the community library. Working as a team, students read the books then compete first by grade level, then at the school level, answering trivia questions

based on each book’s setting, main characters and main ideas. Teams that win the school competition move on to participate in the districtwide Battle of the Books competition on April 2.Battle of the Books is a wonderful way for students to read great stories, compete to show their understanding of a book’s story elements, and to become life-long readers.

Elementary students show reading skills in school and district competitions