The following statement is a bit of a hybrid press release with really cool news. The first part tells of a generous grant for the schools; the second part details why it’s needed and where it would be directed. The “challenge” part is key – that’s where you & I come in: Kings Market Softens  Continue Reading

You know, it helps that we live by the ocean. It helps that we got great kids who love orcas. It helps that the elementary school knows this is important, and makes sure the kids have time to get outside & dig where we live. And you know, it helps that former FHES teacher Nan  Continue Reading

Graduation season got underway last this past weekend as Spring Street International School conferred diplomas on 15 seniors at the Community Theatre. There was laughter and a few tears as teachers & Head of School Louis O’Prussack led the ceremony through remarks, advice, memories, a slide show, and finally, graduation from school. And, in the  Continue Reading

I know you’ll be there, because the rest of the island will be, too… it’s one of the gathering of the tribe things we do around here. Fifty seniors will walk the stage in the ceremony which begins at 6pm at Turnbull Gym. Trip down memory lane: Here are galleries of the last two graduations  Continue Reading

I know you’ll be there, because the rest of the island will be, too… it’s one of the gathering of the tribe things we do around here. Fifty seniors will walk the stage in the ceremony which begins at 6pm at Turnbull Gym. Trip down memory lane: Here are galleries of the last two graduations  Continue Reading

One of the highlights of the school year (and a great way to end it) is the mock trials, put on by Jim McNairy’s government classes. The ones I’ve seen are presided over by a real judge, Carla Higginson (judge pro-tem), who also explains the finer legal points to the kids as they go along.  Continue Reading

It was great to get out in the sun on Saturday with approximately seven million smiling kids at the PTA’s Carnival, behind the elementary school. There was face painting, fortune telling, dunk tanking, that bouncy thing the kids (and some mamas & papas) climb all over, food, and a lot of happy faces.

Remember when you were in school, and history went something like this: TEACHER: Maria, go to the map and find North America .. MARIA: Here it  is. TEACHER: Correct. Now class, who discovered America ? CLASS: Maria. Well, it’s even better now. Amy Hull is teaching the FHES music classes this year, and have they  Continue Reading

Last night at the Library, the winners of the 2009 Teen Writing Contest were announced. Stories & poems were read, prizes were awarded, and overall it was cool to have all that literary talent in one spot. This is the seventh year of the program, and with 61 entries this year, it looks like it’s  Continue Reading

The PTA folks at FHES wanted you to know (this is a great way to spend Saturday, by the way!): Carnival Time for Friday Harbor! Saturday, May 30 Get your cotton candy! Go karaoke! Throw those darts and race with those eggs and spoons!  Friday Harbor Elementary School’s community carnival is full of fun on  Continue Reading

The PTA folks at FHES wanted you to know (this is a great way to spend Saturday, by the way!): Carnival Time for Friday Harbor! Saturday, May 30 Get your cotton candy! Go karaoke! Throw those darts and race with those eggs and spoons!  Friday Harbor Elementary School’s community carnival is full of fun on  Continue Reading

Last month, San Juan Emergency Services’ Lainey Volk orchestrated a two-day presentation using students from FHHS and Spring Street International School  that pointed up the terrrible cost & pain that drinking alcohol & driving exacts from people, from friends, and from the community. The program is called “Every Fifteen Minutes,” because in the US someone  Continue Reading

In a weekend of close calls & close finishes, the Wolverines did the island proud. Here’s where the playoffs ended up (and some keep going!): Baseball: Our top-10 ranked baseball guys gave Kalama a game of it, as Richie Ochoa brought two home with a single late in the game. The ump called senior Michael  Continue Reading

My friend Ruthie Paull at FHHS mentioned to me that there’s an awesome writeup about our school district’s Experience Food Project online at What Kids Can Do….click here to check it out! It’ll make you proud you live here…

You saw Grease last winter, so you know the FHHS drama department put on a monster hit of a show. People are still talking about…I thought one of the standout parts of the show was the job Sam Asher did with his portrayal of Coach Calhoun. Shoot, people are still talking about THAT – including  Continue Reading

The FHHS Class of 1969 is pulling together their reunion this year for July 18th. For information, call Wendy Fairweather Picinich at 360-378-4819 ([email protected])  or Jeri Jensen Ahrenius at 360-378-2420 ([email protected]). Wendy passed on the photo above (click here to see a much bigger one!) and tells me that’s the first grade photo for the  Continue Reading