Bravo Zulu!
Bravo Zulu John Hill for 45 years of service to Highline Public Schools this week! In early1966, when I was a newborn baby - and many of you were not yet - John Hill was just getting started as an employee in Highline Public Schools. (Indeed before that, he was already a student, from Gregory Heights, to Sylvester, to HHS) A little history for you…
In the 1960’s, the neighborhoods of Sea-Tac, Tukwila, Burien, Normandy Park, and the entirety of the Highline Ridge, was experiencing explosive growth in population. The Boeing Boom, fueled by the creation of a “New” 747 Jumbo Jet brought working-class families, white-collared engineers and business folks from around the country. At that time, most people in the area worked just down the hill, but lived here in White Center, Salmon Creek, Beverly Park, Boulevard Park and Top Hat. These areas, currently served by our schools, saw unprecedented growth. Accordingly, the Highline School District was reaching historical enrollment numbers of students upwards of 30,000, K-12. (For perspective our district serves a mere 17,000 students today) These were the hay-day years for Highline, and the days when John Hill began a long career with our district.
What you may not know about John, is that he is one of a few remaining “legacy” employees in Highline. John was a part of a direct-employment program in the district which, through apprenticeship, gave good jobs to students who had some challenge in their education. 45 years later, john Hill continues to maintain, clean and keep our facilities running smoothly and looking good.
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Instructional Note: Back In Class
I am excited this week to get back into the classroom in a way that I haven’t for years. Our Digital Arts teacher, Ann Magyar, is letting me join her in planning and teaching 2nd Period for Session Five. Finally, a chance to actually practice all I preach to you about what I believe good instruction looks like. I look forward to this chance to connect with our students and engage with them in a hands-on integrated project.
Here’s the big idea: Our students are going to learn why local history is important to them, and why it is important to keep the narratives alive. What is history and how to we tell the story?
Ann and I are taking on a project with our students to ultimately define what history is (for them) and explore how to communicate their thinking through writing and digital means. In the end, their project will be submitted to the very real Seattle Museum of History and Industry (MOHI). Very authentic and public learning is sure to be demonstrated by the students of this class. I am so excited for them.
Students are going to make sense of how we develop our historical narratives and communicate that at a film festival and contest. We (Ann and I) are going to teach them how to think and communicate their ideas. In this project our students will engage in some historical research, a writing component and produce short videos of a caliber to be submitted to the Seattle Museum. Maybe they’ll even win a prize for their entry! For sure they will gain much, much, more. Here is a link to the museum and contest if you want to check it out. http://seattlehistory.org/film/
Like the good planners we are, Ann and I have been meeting to prepare for this. And though we’ve changed our project ideas a few times, the “Big Ideas” still remain the same, and so does what our students will learn this session. For example (and I will remind them often):
· Our students will learn how to convey their thinking about history in writing and other media formats.
· They will learn planning skills to develop a production schedule for their video submission (on time!).
· They will brainstorm to come up with ideas about history and storytelling and why it is so important to all of us. They will act on their thinking.
· They will learn to present to groups when they “Pitch” their ideas to the class.
· Our students will practice their technical adeptness at editing and production. They will create an interesting and thoughtful video communicating a main point or idea about History in our community.
· Our kids will have to rely upon each other working as a team.
· And to be sure, we will share publically, what has been learned.
· Our kids will feel success
These will be the great skills of how to think, communicate and collaborate. Our class, and the embedded projects, will be one of many in their overall academic experience that will help prepare them for the real world, boost their resume, transcript and help them graduate. Lastly it will help them develop some of the skills and attitudes to get into a college, and to do well while exploring another facet of career and our exciting working world!
Whew! I can’t wait. See you soon, back in class…
The Week Ahead…
This week leads to our first Furlough day (afternoon) and into the district mid-winter break. Teaching staff, please send my your periods and lesson plans for your observations. Come Friday, you are directed to leave campus at noon. School resumes on Wednesday, February 22 of next week.
My Schedule:
Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
New Start | NS/CH/ERAC | New Start/ERAC | Burien / CHOICE | CHOICE/New Start |
Feb 13 | Feb 14 | Feb 15 | Feb 16 | Feb 17 |
NS Session Start Weekly Office Meeting Teach Class District PBIS Meeting | NS Observation Teach Class CH Student Parent Meeting M/Carla Jackson Present at Delta Kappa Gamma (Evening) | Teach Class IEP Meeting AP Meeting Becca update Alt Ed Leadership team | Principal Supt. Search Committee Meeting | CH Weekly Staff M/Kati Sanderson Weekly Counselor Dismiss Staff (Furlough) Project Time |
I hope you have a happy valentine’s day, and great week! Enjoy the break ahead.
- Mike
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