News & Information
The Bellingham School District, students and staff from Squalicum and Sehome high schools, Alderwood, Birchwood, Happy Valley, Parkview, Silver Beach and Sunnyland elementary schools, and Kulshan Middle School, recently received state and/or regional honors.
Sehome High School Science Teacher Wins Grant
Julie A. Pohlman, a science teacher at Sehome High School, won a $15,000 grant in the Partners of Science Program of the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust of Vancouver, Wash. She is one of 48 teachers in a five-state region to win this grant. Pohlman will be conducting research alongside chemistry professor Paul Clinton Spiegel at Western Washington University during the next two summers. The award also includes funds to attend two national Partners in Science conferences where Pohlman will share the results of each summer’s research. The program’s goal is to allow high school science teachers the opportunity to work with cutting-edge scientific research. Grant winners are chosen based on the qualifications of the partner members, the quality of scientific research proposed and the potential of its impact in a high school setting.
Squalicum Student Wins ‘Diversity Makes a Difference Award’
Misun Bishop, a senior at Squalicum High School, received a $1,000 scholarship from the Northwest Asian Weekly Foundation. The foundation annually gives five deserving high school students these scholarships. Since 1994, Northwest Asian Weekly has sought students who are champions of diversity and take action to increase cross-cultural understanding and awareness in their communities. The foundation’s Web site said Bishop is, “passionate about encouraging people from all backgrounds to join in and learn about different cultures.” At Squalicum, Bishop founded the Arashi Club, where students can teach their peers about the language and culture of Japan, and has also created lesson plans and organized “culture shock” days at her school. This year, Squalicum nominated four students along with Bishop for their outstanding work in the area of diversity: Drew Morrill, Anne d’Aquino, Andrea d’Aquino and Balpreet Kaur.
Eleven District Staff Members Chosen to Receive Technology Grants
Eleven district staff members will receive a $9,000 technology grant from the state’s Enhanced Peer Coaching Program. The program is designed to improve mentorship skills in the field of technology, and to have each educator integrate technology into his or her standard curriculum effectively.
The $9,000 grant, per educator, will cover a 10-session training program, along with new technology for each awarded teacher’s classroom. After the training, teachers will return to their school as peer mentors, sharing knowledge, and motivating other faculty members to utilize new technology methods in classrooms. In addition, peer mentors can engage students by using technology in new, innovative ways, increasing each student’s academic achievement.
The following schools/teachers were awarded this grant: Alderwood Elementary School teacher Luke Hostetler, Birchwood Elementary School teacher Denise Bentley, Happy Valley Elementary School teachers Katherine Tully and Susan Towers, Kulshan Middle School teacher Christine Forslund, Parkview Elementary School library media specialist Carol Mitchell, Sehome High School teacher Ashleigh Bobovski, Silver Beach Elementary School teacher Leslie Rogers, Squalicum High School teacher Tasha Ericksen and Sunnyland Elementary School library media specialist Katy Ackerson and teacher Brian Pahl.
District Receives Washington State Sustainable Protocol Construction Grant The Bellingham School District is one of 18 districts in the state to receive the Washington State Sustainable Protocol (WSSP) Pilot grant. The district received $250,000 for its capital projects facilities fund to implement an eco-friendly design and construction of Wade King Elementary School. Sustainable features of Wade King Elementary include a heating and ventilation system, which uses 100 percent outside air while maximizing energy efficiency. The construction of the building, including skylights and light shelves, allows more natural light. During construction, environmentally friendly products were selected. Recyclable and renewable products, as well as regional products were used. The district will submit annual reports to the state for five years, listing the building’s performance in areas of energy savings.