Insider News

If you are a represented staff member, our public records officer recently notified you of a public records request from the Freedom Foundation for your personal information, including name and birthday. (Yes, this is a public record for all public employees.)

Our annual Staff Climate Survey has launched. The survey will be open until January 31.

Highline is now launching a new early learning program for approximately 45 children in three different classrooms across our district. ReadyK! starts on January 30 at Southern Heights, Bow Lake and North Hill elementary schools. ReadyK! is a full-day early entrance kindergarten program designed to provide an equitable start for children who have not had access to high quality early learning experiences

When adults respond quickly and consistently to bullying, they send a message that it is not acceptable. Policy & Procedure 3207 provides Highline’s stance on Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying, which includes an annual training requirement. 

Lynn Chamberlain, a former employee at Highline High School, passed away on January 4. A Celebration of Life is planned for March 14 at 2:00 p.m. at Beverly Park Baptist Church.

Peggy Boyd, a former Hilltop Elementary teacher, has passed away. There will be a Celebration of Life for Peggy on Saturday, February 1 at 11:00 a.m. at Burien Church.

Department of Retirement Services has resources that explain how your retirement date could affect your future. 

Join the Rainier Educators of Color Network for an intersectional Equity Conference for educators, students and the community on Saturday, February 1 at Chinook Middle School. Clock hours provided. 

We have a new system to manage our library of digital tools. LearnPlatform allows staff to browse a list of approved tools, submit tools for review and provide ratings on tools.

Starting Tuesday, January 21, we will offer online enrollment for the 2020-21 school year. Families enrolling for the 2019-20 school year will continue to complete paper enrollment. 

Anxiety is a common challenge for many of us. It can have a large impact on our school and work performance, as well as our overall wellness. Fortunately, we are learning more about anxiety every year, and we are developing an array of resources for supporting children and adults in our schools.

The snow make-up day for Tuesday, January 14, will be Tuesday, May 26. 

This year cabinet members are stepping into the shoes of students. Over the course of the year, each cabinet member will spend three school days shadowing a different student each day. The goal is to connect more deeply with the experience our students have at school and get a clearer picture of the daily life of our staff.

Here is a reflection by Chief Communications Officer Catherien Carbone Roger on her visit to White Center Heights Elementary School.

SmartHealth is a voluntary wellness program included in your benefits. Complete an assessment and you could qualify for a $125 wellness incentive.  

Have you earned more than 60 days of sick leave? You can cash out some days.

Teachers have a new tool—TeacherVUE, Highline's teacher app—that brings many daily functions to your smartphone or tablet. The app gives mobile, real-time access to our student information system, Synergy. 

This year, we are launching a pilot program to create staff-led affinity groups. We are looking for staff that have an idea for a group, lead an existing group or want to know more.

We believe in the power of affinity groups to address isolation and encourage our shared responsibility to dismantle inequities in our teams, schools and system.

This year cabinet members are stepping into the shoes of students. Over the course of the year, each cabinet member will spend three school days shadowing a different student each day. The goal is to connect more deeply with the experience our students have at school and get a clearer picture of the daily life of our staff.

Andrea Haisch is already a hero to her kindergarten students at Marvista Elementary. Now, Symetra and the Seattle Seahawks have honored Andrea as a Symetra Hero in the Classroom.

This survey, a joint effort between HPS, HEA and the Highline Principals Association, is to help us practice continuous improvement as a school system for the benefit of our students.

In need of clock hours for the Paraeducator Certification? Several new courses have been PD Calendar. We also invite you to join us for an information session on January 16 from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. White Center Heights Elementary Library.

The break provides an opportunity to do a classroom reset. The first week or two of January is a great time to reteach your classroom procedures, review classroom norms and implement new policies, procedures and practices that will develop a classroom of independent learners. 

Seasons are changing. As we get closer to winter, we want to remind you of employee expectations when schools are delayed or closed due to weather and how we communicate these changes. 

Have you earned more than 60 days of sick leave? You can cash out some days.

Given the events that have transpired in the last week, we wanted to share a few resources from PSESD that could be helpful in supporting students and families who may be impacted by the recent events between the United States and Iran.