Students paddle cardboard canoes

A lesson in design and engineering reached its climax June 15 as middle-school math students from Brighton School in Lynnwood tested the seaworthiness of their cardboard canoes in the waters of Lake Washington.

Students paddled through a set of relay races, competing for the Best Canoe Award. It’s the second year of the math-focused event put on by teacher Marcia West.

“I want my students to apply what they have learned,” said West, a former Army engineer, in a press release. Her students this year also have built catapults, managed stock portfolios and run carbon-dioxide-powered cars.

The project was inspired by David Friant’s “The Cardboard Boat.”

West is a finalist for the Nobel Learning Communities Teacher of the Year award. The educational organization owns and operates Brighton School and 180 schools in the United States.

MLT grad named a Gates Millennium Scholar

Alan Garcia, a graduating senior of Mountlake Terrace High School, has been awarded a full-ride college scholarship through the Gates Millennium Scholars Program.

The good-through-graduation scholarship can be used at a college or university of the recipients’ choice and have funding that can include graduate study through a doctoral degree. The scholarship covers tuition, room, board and other covered college expenses.

Garcia was one of 1,000 students around the country named Millennium Scholars.

Edmonds district posts higher grad rates

As the class of 2010 continues to accept diplomas at ceremonies this week, the Edmonds School District is highlighting the rising numbers of students graduating.

The most recent data supplied and posted online by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction for the class of 2008 shows the district was at 67 percent in 2005. Now, with the inclusion of students at Scriber Lake High School and other alternative programs, the district’s combined percentage is at an 80.5 percent extended rate.

Graduation rates for the class of 2008 at the district’s four comprehensive high schools:

• Edmonds-Woodway: 91.8 percent

• Lynnwood: 80.4 percent

• Meadowdale: 89.9 percent

• Mountlake Terrace: 88.1 percent

“Certainly there is a long way to go,” said assistant superintendent Ken Limón in a press release, “but our principals, counselors, teachers and support personnel should get due thanks for the job they are doing and the role they have played in making graduation possible for so many students this month. To me it is remarkable.”

Cool down, help thirsty Africans

The third-grade class at Chase Lake Community School in Edmonds is selling Otter Pops flavored ice sticks to raise money for clean water projects in rural Ethiopia.

The suggested donation is a quarter. So far, more than $280 has been raised for the Seattle-based nonprofit Water 1st International.

Principal Karen Nilson and librarian Patti Vicari donated the treats. Nilson has traveled to Ethiopia three times in the past year to see the work of Water 1st first-hand, and her photos inspired students to help, teacher Beth Black said. Students give up their recess to put on the fundraiser.

The sale continues through June 18. The treats are sold during lunch times – at 11:40 a.m., 12:10 p.m. and 12:40 p.m. – in the school commons. The school is located at 21603 84th Ave. W. Visitors must first sign in at the main office.

Everett district, teachers reach contract

The Everett School Board on June 8 approved a two-year contract through the 2011-12 academic year with the district’s teachers union that provides pay raises of between 2 percent and 3 percent, depending on experience.

Nearly 99 percent of teachers with the Everett Education Association voted to ratify the contract. School board members credited their cooperation, as well as first-year Superintendent Gary Cohn’s improved relations with the union.

The contract also sets key calendar dates such as the first and last days of the school year as well as holidays. For more information, visit www.everettsd.org.

Edmonds grads thankful as they accept diplomas

Suhaib Dakhil, who graduated June 11 from the Edmonds Homeschool Resource Center, credited math teacher Nancy Chang as his most inspirational teacher during high school.

“She told me to not let anything stop me from achieving what I wanted to do in my education,” Dakhil said in a school district press release. “Like everyone, I always thought that I was not good enough, and she always proved me wrong. Because of her, my confidence has taken me where I am today.”

Read about other Edmonds School District graduates and their inspiring teachers at www.edmonds.wednet.edu.

Graduation ceremonies this week:

• Scriber Lake High School, 7 p.m. June 16, former Woodway High School gym

• Mountlake Terrace High School, 6:30 p.m. June 17, Edmonds Stadium

• Edmonds-Woodway High School, 6:30 p.m. June 18, Edmonds Stadium

• Meadowdale High School, 1 p.m. June 19, Edmonds Stadium

• Lynnwood High School, 7 p.m. June 19, Edmonds Stadium

Jackson High School in Mill Creek, part of the Everett School District, will hold commencement at 12 p.m. June 19 at the Everett Events Center.

Homeschool center gets new name

The Edmonds Homeschool Resource Center is now Edmonds Heights K-12.The program’s mission as a parent partnership program has not changed. The name change is intended to better reflect the program’s identity as an alternative public school. It differentiates the program’s population from independent homeschooling families who are not associated with a public school program. The change will take effect this summer.

Pianists play way to scholarships

The Snohomish County Music Teachers’ Association recently announced its 2010 scholarship winners in piano performance.

Contestants were required to play a complete program of four pieces from baroque, classical, romantic and contemporary periods. Winners received cash awards, up to $150 at the high-school level.

Local winners include:

First place (sixth grade): Ashley Zhou of Mill Creek, whose teacher is Gail Tremblay of Mill Creek

Second place (sixth grade): Madeline Fernando of Bothell, also taught by Tremblay

First place (seventh grade): Victor Huyan of Bothell, taught by Tien-Yin Chen of Bothell

Second place (eighth grade): Victoria Saha of Mukilteo, taught by Debbie Demiero of Lynnwood

First place (11th grade): Josh Lim of Mill Creek, taught by Judy Baker of Everett

Connections receives $10K grant from Verizon

The Edmonds School District Connections Program received a $10,000 grant from the Verizon Foundation on May 27. The Verizon Foundation has supported this program for the past two summers.

The grant will be used to provide funding for credit retrieval this summer and ongoing support services during the school years. Students from all five district high schools can participate in this program.

Edmonds alumni award scholarships

The Edmonds School District Alumni Association has awarded $22,500 in scholarships to 22 graduating seniors from the five district high schools:

Austin Lester, Edmonds-Woodway, Barbara Escandon Memoral Teaching Scholarship

Brianna Little, Lynnwood, Fred Donadel Memorial Music Scholarship

Melanie Harper, Edmonds-Woodway, Douglas Caldart Memorial Vocal Music Scholarship

Wade Mendisabal, Scriber Lake, Michelson Family Scholarship

Brandon Hines, Mountlake Terrace, Eda Harless Memorial Scholarship

Conner Ryan, Edmonds-Woodway, Eda Harless Memorial Scholarship

Krissa Hendricks, Lynnwood, Lynnwood High School Retirees Scholarship

August Epstein, Meadowdale, Meadowdale High School Drama Scholarship

Aleksander Greenleaf, Meadowdale, Meadowdale High School Drama Scholarship

Maria DeMiero, Mountlake Terrace, Zimmerman Family Scholarship