Boundaries Change & Middle School Expands
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What’s New in 2019… Boundaries Change & Middle School Expands Fall 2019 Transition Facts School feeder patterns are changing: highlineschools.org/boundaries School boundaries are changing: highlineschools.org/boundaries Middle schools in Highline will expand to grades 6-8 in September 2019. Elementary schools will be K-5. Glacier Middle School and the new Des Moines Elementary School open September 2019. Construction for the new Highline High School begins July 2019. HHS students will attend school at the Olympic Interim Site for two years starting September 2019. Boundary Change Communication to Families All enrolled students in the boundary line change areas—or who will have a change in school feeder pattern in fall 2019—will receive a mailed letter in November 2018. We will communicate boundary and feeder pattern changes using additional modes of communication, including email, push, text, website, eflyers, press releases for local blogs and social media. We will provide information in November to help school-level staff answer questions about boundary changes. In November, families will be able to look up their fall 2019 neighborhood schools using a tool on our website. Bus routes will be posted spring/summer 2019. Exceptions to Boundary & Feeder Pattern Changes Seniors will be grandfathered to stay at their existing high school. In-district transfers are not impacted by boundary changes. They will remain in effect for the highest grade at the school the student is attending. Students in Special Education, Challenge/Highly Capable or Dual Language will follow the assignment for their services or program, which may or may not be located at their neighborhood school. Opting out of a dual language school—or opting in—by requesting a transfer to a partner school will continue to be an option if space is available. Which Middle Schools Will Offer Dual Language? Dual Language will continue to be offered in grades 6-8 at Cascade Middle School. In Fall 2019, it will begin in grades 6-7 at the new Glacier Middle School in SeaTac, and in grade 6 at Chinook Middle School. Eighth-grade dual language students (in fall 2019) from Hilltop, Beverly Park and Southern Heights will complete the dual language program at Cascade Middle School. Glacier and Chinook will offer Dual Language in grades 6-8 by 2020-21. Which Elementary Schools Will Change Feeder Pattern? Students living in the Southern Heights, Hilltop, Beverly Park, Seahurst and Cedarhurst elementary school service areas will attend Glacier Middle School. High school students living in the Hilltop Elementary School service area will attend Highline High School. North Hill and Marvista elementary schools will feed into Sylvester Middle School. Fall 2019 Feeder Patterns (Approved June 2018, * denotes a change in feeder pattern.) Elementary (K-5) Middle (6-8) High (9-12) Shorewood Cascade Evergreen Mount View Cascade Evergreen White Center Heights Cascade Evergreen Beverly Park Glacier * Evergreen Southern Heights Glacier * Evergreen Hazel Valley Cascade * Highline Cedarhurst Glacier * Highline Hilltop Glacier * Highline * Seahurst Glacier * Highline McMicken Chinook Tyee Bow Lake Chinook Tyee Madrona Chinook Tyee Gregory Heights Sylvester Highline North Hill Sylvester * Mount Rainier Marvista Sylvester * Mount Rainier Midway Pacific Mount Rainier Parkside Pacific Mount Rainier Sixth-Grade Transition Facts highlineschools.org/sixthgrade What will the academic program be for sixth grade in middle school? The general sixth-grade program will include math, science, language arts, social studies, physical education, world language, arts and advisory. Will sixth-grade students still be able to attend Camp Waskowitz? Yes! Sixth-grade camp at Camp Waskowitz will continue as a learning experience to develop leadership skills and a sense of community. Will sixth-grade students be able to participate in sports in middle school? Plans include opportunities for sixth-grade students to participate in track and field, wrestling and cross country. These are co-ed, no-cut sports. What after-school activities will be available to sixth-grade students? In addition to sports, all middle schools offer the opportunity to participate in other after-school activities like various clubs, ASB and homework help. How will we support students and families with the sixth-grade transition? We are committed to a positive transition for all sixth-grade and seventh-grade students and their families. We will provide opportunities for families to get acquainted with their new school and its staff and offer an orientation process. Our school leaders, counselors and staff will assist with any transition support your student needs. What will school culture be like for sixth grade in middle school? Our middle school culture focuses on social-emotional skills, Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS), anti-bullying, restorative justice and building authentic relationships in which students are known by name, strength and need. What is the process for planning the sixth-grade program and for hiring staff? We started with family and staff input and a steering committee in 2015 when the school board approved the transition of sixth grade to middle school. More family meetings were held in 2017-18. Now district leaders from 12 departments and middle school principals and staff are honing in on detailed plans. An early transfer process is available to eligible staff interested in teaching in middle school. White Center Heights Elementary (K-5) Beverly Park Elementary (K-5) Shorewood Elementary (K-5) Mount View Elementary (K-5) Southern Heights Elementary (K-5) Hazel Valley Elementary (K-5) Hilltop Elementary (K-5) Cedarhurst Elementary (K-5) Seahurst Elementary (K-5) Gregory Heights Elementary (K-5) McMicken Heights Elementary (K-5) Marvista Bow Lake Elementary (K-5) Elementary (K-5) North Hill Elementary (K-5) Fall 2019 Madrona Elementary Elementary (K-5) Boundaries Background colors represent Midway Elementary (K-5) adopted K-5 elementary New Des Moines boundaries, effective August Elementary (K-5) 2019. An interactive, online map will be available as soon as possible to help you find your school. Parkside Elementary (K-5) Cascade Middle School Service Area (6-8) New Glacier Middle School Service Area (6-8) Sylvester Middle School Service Area (6-8) Chinook Middle School Service Area (6-8) Fall 2019 Middle School Boundaries Background colors represent adopted middle school Pacific Middle School boundaries, effective August Service Area (6-8) 2019. An interactive, online map will be available as soon as possible to help you find your school. Evergreen High School Service Area (9-12) Highline High School Service Area (9-12) Tyee High School Service Area (9-12) Fall 2019 High School Boundaries Background colors represent Mount Rainier High School adopted high school Service Area (9-12) boundaries, effective August 2019. An interactive, online map will be available as soon as possible to help you find your school. .