To succeed in school, and in life, children need good mental health. They need to understand and manage their emotions and know how to get along well with others. That's why, supported by local voter-approved levies, the Issaquah School District has added more school counselors, licensed mental health counselors, and coaches who work with students and staff to promote healthy behavior and emotional awareness. Each of these roles works together, with teachers, administrators and other school staff, to find out which students need extra support, and give them what they need to live happy, productive lives, in school and beyond.
Liberty High has received the Safe Sports School Award - First Team from the National Athletic Trainers' Association.
The award recognizes schools that take crucial steps to protect student athletes from injury. To receive the award, school athletic programs must meet 10 requirements, including providing and maintaining proper safety equipment, providing properly equipped areas to evaluate and treat injured athletes, promoting safe practices, teaching athletes and parents about the risks and benefits of sports, and others
Pictured are LHS sports medicine teacher and athletic trainer Morten Orren and school nurse Anissa Pascale, who, along with athletic director Danielle Zelinksi, are instrumental in promoting safety for Liberty's athletes.
Students at the Academy for Community Transition (ACT) put their creativity to work November 26 during a flower arranging class, taught by Dana Bailey, ISD's Executive Director of Special Services, and a group of volunteers. The class gave the students a new vocational experience, and they surprised their families at the end of the day with their floral creations.
ACT helps students with developmental disabilities move toward living the most independent lifestyle possible. The program provides community-based employment experiences and focuses on the development of social skills, vocational skills and life skills.
Congratulations to the Liberty Girls Swim and Dive team, which won the state 2A championship Nov 16! It was Liberty's fifth state title in six years, and the victory was "a real nail-biter," says Coach Kris Daughters. In the end, Liberty beat Sammamish by just four points.
Issaquah High's swimmers also had a strong showing, placing third in the 4A championship.