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Thank you to all of you who attended the meeting with Dr. Goodloe-Johnson.
Although Principal Andrews will be moving to a new school, we are thrilled that she will be here through the end of the school year and will train her replacement. We have been assured that there will be time for a thoughtful transition and that we will be involved in the choice of new leadership for Madrona K-8.
Information about how to become involved in the next stages of this process will be published in the Friday Flyer, on this website and will be sent out by email to our email list. If you’d like to get information by email, please send an email to us at ptsa@madronapantherpartners.org.
Upcoming Events:
- Family Movie Night February 26th at 7:00
- Bingo Night March 12th at 7:00
- Beginning February 7th, the first Sunday of each month there will be gardening from 10-2. We have tools. Hope you can join us.
To keep up to date on the happenings at Madrona K-8, check back here often or subscribe to the RSS Feed (icon at the upper right of the main page).
Thank you for your continued support of our Madrona Family!
Our own Letta Steward Baker, middle school teacher of everyone, was awarded the Philip P. Swain Excellence in Teaching Award yesterday at our staff meeting. We’re really proud of this accomplishment and honor!
Here’s some information about the award:
The Philip B. Swain Excellence in Teaching Award, created in 2000 by family and friends of Philip Swain, helps to recognize the efforts of secondary school classroom teachers in Seattle Public Schools, particularly those serving large numbers of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. Each winner receives a $1,000 award.
Philip Swain was a passionate advocate for public education throughout his life. His commitment to public service included fourteen years as a member of the Seattle School Board, during which he helped guide the district through challenging times.
The Swain Excellence in Teaching Award honors teachers who powerfully impact students and who play exceptional roles as teacher-leaders among their peers. Representatives of the Alliance for Education, Seattle Public Schools, and the Swain Family select awardees based on the following criteria:
Teachers may be nominated by colleagues, principals, or other Seattle Public Schools administrators. We strongly encourage collaboratively developed nominations.
A letter concerning the Principal re-assignment issue is being sent home with the kids today. The letter is also posted on this website here:
http://www.madronapantherpartners.org/Downloads/PTSA_Letter_Jan_2010.pdf
See the video of the Madrona students at the Seattle School Board Meeting 1/20/10: http://www.seattlechannel.org/videos/video.asp?ID=4457 (starts at 21:00 with students, then go to 43:43 for PTSA member Christina Williams, you’ll have to fast forward around)
       
When the Madrona K-8 Student Council planned a Martin Luther King march for January 2oth, they had no idea they’d actually have something to protest that immediately impacted them. The stunning announcement last week that the district is removing their beloved Principal Kaaren Andrews mid-year created anger, sadness, and frustration from the students and parents. Middle School students walked out of class last Friday in protest and held a rally.
On Jan 20th their Martin Luther King march became a rally of protest and support for their school. The entire 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th grades marched down Union to Martin Luther King, then up Cherry….they were greeted with honking horns and waives as passerby’s cheered them on. The Student Council then marched (via parent carpools) downtown to speak at the School Board meeting. The students told passionate personal stories about the impact Madrona has had on their own lives. The PTSA was there in full support and parent Christina Williams delivered a powerful message:
1. The families at Madrona K‐8 would like Dr. Goodloe‐Johnson to schedule a meeting with us immediately.
2. We ask that the school district document policy regarding principal reassignments and process regarding transition and school community involvement in principal replacement.
The PTSA will demand more involvement with the school district and equitable access to its leadership. The school community remains steadfast that keeping Ms. Andrews at Madrona is the best decision for Madrona students. In the event we must start a transition, the Madrona school community will fight for “true” inclusion and collaberation on that process. Title I schools do have a voice! To find that powerful voice, all one has to do is look at Madrona K-8 students!
See the video of the Madrona students at the Seattle School Board Meeting 1/20/10: http://www.seattlechannel.org/videos/video.asp?ID=4457 (starts at 21:00 with students, then go to 43:43 for PTSA member Christina Williams, you’ll have to fast forward around)
Madrona K-8 parent Peter O’Neil’s thoughtful letter regarding principal reassignment, which was published in the Seattle Times:
Don’t change what works
All of a sudden, in the course of a week, we learned that our high-school daughter’s principal at Center School is being transferred to Rainier Beach smack dab in the middle of the school year and that our 5-year-old son’s principal is being transferred out of Madrona K-8 in March.
I have no idea what is motivating these transfers, but I do know this much: After years of being saddled with the APP program, Madrona K-8 is emerging as a real beacon of hope for Seattle schools. Test scores are skyrocketing. School spirit is high. The kids are wonderful and happy and the teachers are great. The school’s community is strong, and a big part of that comes from the strong leadership provided by Madrona’s current principal.
With the upcoming change to neighborhood-based schools, we need her leadership more than ever. We need continuity and vision until the successes we’ve seen at Madrona K-8 become entrenched as part of the school’s culture. It’s definitely not time to take away our leader.
As for Center School: The principal, who seems wonderful, just arrived! Why transfer her so soon after she just started her work there?
When a school is working, don’t break it apart. Let it thrive and let other schools learn from that success.
— Peter O’Neil, Seattle
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