Recent News from Federal Way Public Schools
Federal Way Schools to Run Two Levy Proposals on February Ballot
The Federal Way Schools Board of Directors voted Tuesday evening, November 8, 2011, to place two levies on the February 14, 2012 ballot. The first levy is a replacement Education Programs and Operations (EP&O) Levy and the second levy is a capital projects levy which will primarily rebuild Federal Way High School. Read more or view the new Levy Information Page
Don't Forget - Mail in Ballots by February 14
Don't forget to exercise your rights as a citizen and vote in this February election. This is a mail-in ballot election, so be sure to get your ballot in the mail before the deadline. Read more »KOMO TV and KCPQ visit Federal Way High School
Watch recent news coverage of Federal Way High School's building condition:• Q13 Visits Federal Way High School
• KOMO's Bryan Johnson Tours Federal Way High School
Video Tour Shows Federal Way High School Beyond the Pretty Entrance
Federal Way High School may have a remodeled exterior, but behind that façade the school needs more than a makeover. Read more »Levy Update: Rebuilding Federal Way High School
One of two levies on the ballot February 14, 2012, is a $60 million capital levy. A portion of the capital levy dollars will help rebuild playgrounds at 19 of the district's elementary schools and improve video security equipment in our schools. But, the lion's share of the capital levy will help rebuild Federal Way High School. Read more »Change is Good for City's Schools
As we stand at the forefront of national education reform, the value of education, its true worth, is what we wrestle with daily in this ever-changing world. Read more »High School Planning Night: All Eighth Graders and Parents Invited
For the sixth consecutive year, each comprehensive high school in Federal Way will host a High School Planning Night to help eighth-grade students and their parents plan to make the most of their high school years. Read more »
Federal Way High School Tours Offered
Parents and community members are invited to take a personal tour of Federal Way High School on one of six evenings. Students and staff members will lead the tours. No need to RSVP, just show up and be sure to wear your workout shoes. Read more »In Memoriam: FWPA Teacher Diane Holtz
Diane Holtz, the longest serving teacher at Federal Way Public Academy, has passed away. She had been courageously battling cancer. Read more »
First Semester Extended by a Week
Due to the extreme weather emergency and loss of school days last week, FWPS is extending the first semester by one week. Please plan for the following: Semester 1 ending Friday Feb 3 / Semester 2 beginning Monday Feb. 6. Read more »Middle School Showcase Night Offered for Federal Way Fifth Grade Families
Students about to enter middle school in Federal Way have a larger-than-ever array of specialized academic programs available. On Thursday, January 26, fifth-grade students and their parents are invited to learn about those options at the Middle School Showcase Night. Read more »
FWPS Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Scheduled for Jan. 25
Federal Way Public Schools will celebrate the induction of its fourth Athletic Hall of Fame class during the all-city gymnastics meet on January 25th at Todd Beamer High School. Read more »
Board and Superintendent Neu to Host Public Forum
The public is invited to join Superintendent Robert Neu and the Federal Way Public Schools Board of Directors at a focused forum to discuss the two levy proposals on the February ballot. Read more »(Español) (Pусский)
District Welcomes New Board Members and Thanks those Departing
Danny Peterson and Claire Wilson were sworn in as new members of the Board of Education at a meeting December 13. Read more »
How and Why We Close (or Delay) School Because of Weather
In spite of Doppler radar and other advances in weather prediction, it is difficult to be sure about the weather and the road conditions we may encounter in the thirty-five square miles the District encompasses. Read more »
Cómo y Por Qué Cerramos (o Retrasamos) la Escuela Debido al Tiempo
A pesar de radar Doppler y otros avances en la predicción del tiempo, es difícil estar seguro del tiempo y la condición de los caminos que podamos encontrar en las treinta y cinco millas cuadradas que abarca el distrito. Leer más »
In Memoriam: FWHS Teacher and Coach Jean Licari
Jean Licari, who had a 21-year teaching career, entirely at Federal Way High School, passed away on Sunday, January 8. She had been ill with cancer for several months. Services will be held on Saturday, January 21, at 2 p.m. In the Federal Way High School Gymnasium, 30611 16th Avenue South. Read more »
District Offices Open in New Location
During the winter break, Federal Way Public Schools Educational Service Center (ESC) -- the district's headquarters -- moved to a new location at 33330 8th Avenue South in Federal Way. Read more »
Secondary Students Now Have Access to Go2
Secondary students now have their own Go2 login credentials. Students have been able to login using their parents' credentials since Go2 went live in October, but this gives them the option of signing in using their own IDs. Read more »
The District Will Collect $3 Million Less Than Voters Authorized Next Year
As a result of sound financial management and favorable economic conditions, the district will collect $3 million less from voters than was authorized for 2012. Read more »
Grading Calculation Changes Reflect Staff and Parent Input
As promised, our Standards-Based Education (SBE) system will evolve as we receive suggestions from parents and staff. As we've rolled out the new system, the grading process has been discussed at length – particularly how grades are calculated. Read more »
Podcast: How the District Selected Its Power Standards
Parents who are members of the Citizens for Federal Way Schools were joined by district administrators at their November 30th meeting for a discussion about Standards-Based Education. Read more »
How to Support Your Child's Learning During Winter Break
Here are some tips for parents and guardians of students in Kindergarten through 5th grade for helping their youngsters practice reading and math skills during the Winter break. Read more »
District Offices Moving During Winter Break
During the Winter break, Federal Way Public Schools Educational Service Center (ESC) -- the district's headquarters -- will be moving to a new location. Read more »
Winter Sports Schedules and Athletics Information
Winter sports schedules and other information about the district's athletics programs are all available on the district athletics page. Read more »
Wednesday, November 23 Early Dismissal Schedule; No School Thursday and Friday
This Wednesday, November 23, schools will be dismissed early in preparation for the Thanksgiving holiday break, which is Thursday and Friday, November 24 and 25. Read more »
Go2 is Here – Check Your Student's Grades Online
Go2 is here, and it gives Federal Way Public Schools' secondary students and their parents a powerful tool for keeping track of their academic progress. Read more »
I Was the Valedictorian
I was the high school valedictorian, and all of my A's made everyone proud. Read more »
Parents, Please Take Our Online Survey
At Federal Way Public Schools, we recognize the powerful impact of parents and guardians being actively involved in their child's education. Through Nov. 18th, parents and guardians are invited to complete a survey regarding the district's goals of providing a welcoming environment and engaging parents as partners in education. If you missed the opportunity to complete the survey during Student Led Conferences, please complete it online at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/FWPSparent11-12. Surveys are also available at each school in English, Spanish, Russian and Korean. Thank you for taking this opportunity to provide valuable feedback to our district. Take the survey »
Standard-based assessment supports real learning
With the district’s change to a standards-based education system, students know exactly what they need to do to meet the standards (essentially, learning goals) for each subject. They know what learning targets, or skills, they need to master to meet each standard. And they can demonstrate that they understand the topic in more than one way, much different from the days when a final exam might count for 50% of the grade. Read more »
Remember to Vote by November 8
Don't forget to exercise your rights as a citizen and vote in this November election. This is a mail-in ballot election, so be sure to get your ballot in the mail before the deadline. Ballots must be postmarked by November 8. There is also an official ballot drop box in Federal Way at City Hall, where ballots will be accepted until 8 p.m. on Election Day. This election includes three seats on the Federal Way Board of Education.
Fall Sports Schedules and Athletics Information
Fall sports schedules and other information about the district’s athletics programs are all available on the district athletics page. Also find department contacts, downloadable forms, and information about eligibility requirements, participation fees and the student athletic code at http://www.fwps.org/info/athletics/.Federal Way PTSA Clothing Bank Schedule Announced
The Parent-Teacher-Student Association (PTSA) Council Clothing Bank provides gently-used clothing, as well as new socks and underwear, for children enrolled in Kindergarten through 5th grade in Federal Way Public Schools. Read more »
Student Led Conferences October 27 & 28
Thursday and Friday, October 27 and 28, are set aside for Student Led Conferences at both the elementary and secondary levels. Read more »
District Launches Facebook Page and Twitter Feed
Federal Way Public Schools has a new Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/fwps210, and we're inviting fans and feedback from all of FWPS (and beyond) to help us make the page a vibrant and vital part of our online presence. Read more »
Liz Drake appointed interim principal at Thomas Jefferson High School
The Federal Way Board of Education voted Oct. 11 to appoint former Todd Beamer Principal Liz Drake interim principal at Thomas Jefferson High School, effective Oct. 12. Read more »
Lakeland Announces Make Up Days
Lakeland Elementary School announced three make up days for this year. School will now be in session at Lakeland on October 13 - a previously scheduled data day, January 27 – a previously scheduled semester break day, and March 16 – a previously scheduled teacher in-service day. For the rest of the district, those dates are non-school days.
District Renews Focus on Bullying Prevention
Staff throughout Federal Way Public Schools are participating in bullying prevention training this year as part of an increased emphasis on bullying district-wide. Read more »
Life After High School
The district-wide annual "Life After High School" event will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, October 19, 2011, in the performing arts center at Decatur High School. Read more »
Beginning Teacher Program Earns Grant to Continue Exceptional Work
The district’s highly praised Beginning Teacher Assistance Program (BTAP) is possible again next year after winning a highly competitive grant from OSPI. Without the grant, the program would have had to operate with a much smaller budget and only support for first year teachers. Read more »
Go2 – Grades Online Gets a Standards-Based Upgrade
Parents -- look for a letter from the district with user IDs and passwords. We're excited to introduce Go2, a robust and flexible grades online program that will give Federal Way Public Schools' secondary students and their parents a powerful tool for keeping track of their academic progress. Read more »
Seahawks and Make-A-Wish Foundation Grant a Nautilus Student’s Wish
Apparently, defensive lineman Brandon Mebane of the Seattle Seahawks isn’t very fond of spiders. He likes to sing in the shower too. Those are just some of the personal details he shared with Alex Bradshaw and his entire fourth-grade class during an event in Bradshaw’s honor at Nautilus Elementary Sept. 27. Read more »
Testing Results Confirm Academic Acceleration Policy’s Positive Impact on Student Achievement
A year after the implementation of Federal Way Public Schools’ (FWPS) Academic Acceleration policy, four trends stand out:
- A greater percentage of the district’s students are taking advanced academic classes than before the policy went into effect;
- A greater percentage of those students are passing those courses;
- A greater percentage of those students took the related after-course exams;
- And a greater percentage of them are passing the after-course exams, showing strong enough mastery of the content to earn college credit for the class. Read more »
Sunnycrest Elementary Will Host Open House Sept. 28
Sunnycrest Elementary School will host a public open house from 7 - 8 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 28. Sunnycrest, along with Lakeland Elementary School, is among the last of five schools to be rebuilt with funding from the 2007 bond measure. Read more »
State Testing Results Show Meaningful Gains
In a climate of decreased funding for schools and increased poverty among the families that Federal Way Public Schools serve, the results of state testing conducted last spring reveal meaningful gains well-worth celebrating. Among them, an 18.5 percentile point jump in 10th grade math scores, which can be largely attributed to a new version of state math testing that more accurately assesses student knowledge. Read more »
Information for Wildwood Elementary Parents
Under the 2002 reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (also known as No Child Left Behind), Wildwood Elementary School is required to offer two options to its students and parents. Read full letter (in English)
Todd Beamer Added to Washington Post’s High School Challenge List
Todd Beamer High School was recently added to the 2011 Washington Post’s High School Challenge list, after the results for that school were recalculated. Federal Way, Decatur, and Thomas Jefferson high schools are also named in the list. Now all four of Federal Way’s large high schools are included on the list. Read more »
Todd Beamer to Display World Trade Center Beam at 9-11 Event
Todd Beamer High School will host an event Sept. 9 for students and community members in memory of the 10th anniversary of Sept. 11. South King Fire and Rescue will display a steel beam from the World Trade Center at the event. The beam will eventually become part of a 9-11 memorial at Fire Station 64 in Auburn. Read more »
Brand New Sunnycrest and Lakeland Buildings to Open for Students This Fall
While most students are gearing up for the start of school with new supplies, new teachers and new classmates, Sunnycrest and Lakeland students have something extra to look forward to – the start of school in a brand new building. Read more »
Lakeland Elementary open date rescheduled to September 7th – Kindergarten and preschool orientation still to be held September 6
Lakeland Elementary School will start the 2011-2012 school year in a brand new building on Wednesday September 7th, two days after Labor Day. Read more »
Back-to-School Information Available Here
Ready for the start of the new school year? Find all the back to school information you need, including school lunch costs, school supply and uniform lists, bus routes and more. Read more »
Nominations Sought for Federal Way Athletic Hall of Fame
Federal Way Public Schools is seeking nominees for the fourth Athletic Hall of Fame class. The district honors past employees who have made a major impact on the district’s athletic programs. Read more »Four Federal Way Elementary Schools Receive Title I Improvement Awards
The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) has announced that four Federal Way elementary schools have received the state’s Title I, Part A Improvement Award for 2011. Read more »
Other Recent News
- Tips and Tools for Student Success Education Partnership Summit
- Non-Techies Welcome at Saghalie’s Math and Science Academy
- Summer Meal Program in Federal Way Schools
- Board of Education Approves 2011-2012 Budget Addressing Unprecedented $10 Million Funding Shortfall
- Todd Beamer Named Candidate School for International Baccalaureate Program
- Decatur to Open AsPire Academy Next Year
- Pomp and Circumstance - Class of 2011 Graduates June 11
- FWPS GEAR UP Program Graduates First Cohort of Students
- Summer School Programs
- 2011-2012 Budget Gulf Has Widened