• Download the Flu Fact Sheet

Thursday, January 29, 2009, February 5, 2009 and February 12, 2009 from 9:00a.m. until 10:45a.m.; with an additional evening informational time on Thursday, February 5, 2009 from 6:30p.m. until 7:30p.m.  No reservations needed; just report to the lunchroom.

“Too much of the conversation in our world seems to be framed by a bi-polar mentality…everything is yes/no, right/wrong, democratic/republican, black/white, either/or. But in the world of education, we cannot afford to allow an either/or model to prevail. We can’t settle for either acquisition of content knowledge and skills or development of citizenship abilities. We must provide our students with BOTH. We believe the best way to do this is to create schools and classrooms that operate AS democracy, not FOR democracy.” (L. Quinn & C. Coe)

Dear Parents,

The other day two students were walking into Eckstein the morning after the final Presidential Debate and discussing the merits of both of the major party candidates for president. While they clearly had a preference of which candidate they hoped would win, when asked, they were also able to talk about the debate and the strengths of each candidate’s arguments and positions. Regardless of your party preference, the 2008 Presidential Election has made an impact on our students. On Monday, November 3, 2008 we will have a Day of Democracy at Eckstein. We will honor and recognize Veteran’s at our annual Veteran’s Day Assembly and all classes will have democracy themed lessons throughout the day.

Why do a day of democracy? The simple answer is because democracy matters. Our students have opinions about the U.S. government and politics. People all over the world have opinions about their own government and politics. What’s unique about a Democracy, however, is that those opinions shape government and society. In the overview to Appreciating Democracy: A Lesson Plan for High School Teachers of Civics, Government and U.S. History, authors Alan Rosenthal and Greer Buroughs write, “Democracy is not easy to appreciate. Nor should it be. It is filled with conflict, it is extremely human and it is very messy. That is the way it ought to be.” We want our students to leave Eckstein as engaged members of a democratic community knowing that their opinions, whatever they may be, matter. It is through the regular and, yes, messy exchange of these opinions that our country is what it is.

As a school community, we’ve chosen to spend a day considering, conversing and experiencing democracy. Like Rosenthal and Buroughs indicate, our day will most likely be human and a little messy. This is OK. It is important to remember to keep students at the center of the day and allow them to engage in discourse that elevates their understanding of what it really means to live in a democratic society.

Sincerely,

Kim Whitworth, Principal

Seattle Public Schools Annual Asbestos Notification - 2008

In accordance with the federal Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA), the Seattle Public Schools is required to notify parents, teachers, and other employees each year of the availability of Asbestos Management Plans and actions the District is taking to maintain asbestos containing materials in its buildings.

The District conducted an initial inspection of all school buildings for the purpose of identifying asbestos containing building material in 1988 and a management plan detailing the findings of the inspection was developed for each building.  Since then, appropriate actions have been taken to ensure that asbestos containing materials are removed, repaired, encapsulated, or enclosed as necessary. 

A periodic surveillance of each school building has occurred every six months since the original inspection and a complete reinspection of each school building is completed every three years.  The most recent reinspection was completed in 2007.

The Asbestos Management Plan includes the results of each periodic surveillance and the most recent reinspection as well as documentation of asbestos related activities.  The Asbestos Management Plan is maintained and available for review in the administrative office of each school or at the John Stanford Center for Educational Excellence located at 2445 3^rd Ave South. 

If you would like additional information regarding the District’s Asbestos Program contact Troy White at 206-252-0528.

Enjoy your evening! 

Click here to download the Curriculum Night invitation (pdf)