International School

1. International School Year End Update June 4, 2008

2. School Mission • The International School strives to offer the best comprehensive secondary education in the United States. It provides a unique focus on the phenomenon of globalization and actively teaches the principles of global citizenship. The school takes a leadership role in education in developing the most integrated and effective curriculum in all academic areas. It also provides the most nurturing and supportive learning community involving students, parents, faculty, and administration. The International School continually measures its practice against the best, in order to set the standard for all.

3. Tonight’s Goals • Give an honest assessment of where we are as a school • Provide additional good news about our school • Share and discuss some areas of concerns • Discuss next steps and areas for improvement • Some question and answers, and begin a dialog around community wide issues.

4. The good news • Highest performing school in the district, and one of the highest performing schools in the country

5. The best secondary education • GPA • Low failure rate • College Preparation • AP & Other measures

6. International School: Highest GPA of all High Schools in the District for 3 years straight

7. I.S. Lowest D&F rate in the district-Again!

8. US News & World Report • IS Ranked #5 in the country • Highest in the district and the state • Based on combination of factors including WASL, # of tests taken, and AP passage rate.

9. Newsweek Ranking • International ranked #10 by Newsweek magazine. • Highest ever ranking and highest ranking in the state.

10. 2008 National Merit Finalists • 4- Highest # ever • Steven Ambo • Logan Gowdey • Katie Nelson • Lucas Petrucci

11. 2009 National Merit Scholarship Program • 13 • Highest ever in our school. • Megan Addison • Charles Cooper • Philip de Sa e Silva, • Leah Fantle • Dandi Huang • Jonathan Matson • Paul Malmsten • Allison Reeder • Andrea Rogers • Jessica Smith • Maia Szafer, • Anthony Trinh • Sophia Welti

12. #1 in the State of Washington • Most physically fit secondary school in the State of Washington. • Washington Health Federation-Governor’s Health Bowl Challenge • $5,000 award to our PE department for this amazing effort.

13. Our student admitted to college at an amazing rate • 24 of 28 admitted to UW in most selective year ever • 5 students admitted to UW Honors Program • Stanford, USC, Santa Clara, Washington University, Brown, Georgetown, Boston University, Gonzaga, Whitman, Kenyon, Cal Poly, Rensalaer Technical institute, Purdue, Notre Dame, Duke, Arizona State University, Western Washington, SPU, Seattle U., and many others.

14. Scholarships & Awards • Too many to list, but here are a few highlights: • 2 Presidential Scholarship Nominees • Steven Ambo • Katie Nelson • 1 Herff Jones Leadership Recipient • Katie Nelson • Washington Scholar (4 year tuition to any school in the state of Washington) • Logan Gowdey

15. More Honors • Full Ride Scholarship to Arizona State University • Scott Spencer • Boston University Trustees Scholarship • Logan Gowdey • Mary Gates Scholarship Recipient

16. More good news: Student service and student citizenship • Our kids care about making the world they live in better. They are demonstrating strong citizenship. • Bite of International • Flood Relief for Southwest Washington • Relay for Life • Senior Prom for senior citizens

17. Areas of reflection and continued improvement • PDC • Homework survey • IB discussion and inquiry • PTSA • Continued support for library, extended tutorial • New SAT review class started • BSF • A math support instructional assistant was hired to support middle school math students. • School & District: • Continued reflection and modification of curriculum

18. Economic Reality • There is a district wide budget reduction ($4.8 Million over two years). Every school is being impacted. Our major reduction is in the area of allocation of funds for teachers (FTE). • .9 FTE reduction (1.0 FTE = 1 full time teacher) • There will also be a smaller building budget as well. • These same kinds of reductions are occurring across the district.

19. Multiple departments are receiving some reductions. • Humanities • International Studies • PE • French • German • Counseling

20. Average Class Sizes • Humanities 27.9 • I.S. 29.5 • Science 26.5 • Math 25.3 • French 27 • German 24.6 • PE 28 • Art 27 • Music 36.7 • School Avg. 28

21. We will continue to be great • While the reductions make for a tighter class sizes, overall, we are in very good shape. • The secondary average class size is about 29. We are slightly below this average. • We will have the best instruction, and the best support in every classroom.

22. Questions about Staffing or budget?

23. The tough news • Community, citizenship, and responsibility • A note: A large portion of our students are very well behaved, make excellent choices, and are good citizens of the school. • Recent events have led to believe, however, that we have some work to do with some of our students in the area of personal responsibility and citizenship toward the school.

24. Drinking & Drug Use • Most recent incident • Approximately 7 students directly involved over a period of about 3 to 4 weeks. • Drinking occurred mostly during lunch time. • One day, two students went to the emergency room. • The alcohol was stolen (be a few of the 7 students) from their homes and brought to school without parent knowledge. • Some other students knew about what was going on, but either chose not to tell any adults, or did not know how to tell an adult.

25. Drinking and drug use continued • Ashland Focus Week Trip this year • 911 call for drug over dose • 3 students suspended for drinking or drug use. • Other senior students involved, but conspired to cover up what occurred. • Past focus week trips, stories of students drinking as well • Parents and students have reported that some students were bragging about alcohol and drug use on FaceBook.

26. School Culture? • While the most recent and dramatic event of middle school students drinking during lunch was shocking, what was also concerning was a possible acceptance of drinking and drug use by some students during school events across grade levels.

27. What we did? • Revise lunch policy • Safety first (bathrooms and library are now open) • Student class meetings • A community Forum • Teachers have met to discuss new guidelines for over night trips, etc. These will be announced soon.

28. Student Perspective

29. Next Steps • Will need to revise lunch policy again. • It can’t be the way it was before; but we need more space. I am considering several options. • Continued dialog with l students and staff about building a stronger community between and among grades. • Discussion around teaching responsibility on multiple levels: individual, for your friends, your family, and your community. • Continued discussion around drug and alcohol issues: It’s a societal issue, and it takes a broad based response.

30. Discussion & Questions?

31. The future • We’re in great shape; however, like any community we have definite areas for improvement. • But, we can’t be complacent; we need to focus on our core goals, continue to analyze the data, continue to collaborate, and continue to find ways to improve our school community in all areas: academic, emotional and physical. • I look forward to the journey with you.