Warren Huang, a seventh-grader at Pacific Cascade Middle School, is state champion of the 2019 National Geographic Geography Bee! He won the Washington competition March 29, and will compete in the National Championship at the headquarters of the National Geographic Society in Washington D.C. in May. Warren clinched the victory at the state competition with a correct answer about Mayan ruins in Chiapas, Mexico. Congratulations Warren, and good luck in D.C.!view more

Victoria Mott teaches science at Echo Glen School, a school operated by the Issaquah School District within the Echo Glen juvenile rehabilitation facility in Snoqualmie, Washington. She spoke recently at the Ignite Education Lab storytelling event in Seattle, where she told the audience about the challenges of teaching incarcerated youth, as well as the joys of watching her students become intrigued and engaged by what they're learning. "In these moments, I forget that we're in prison,” she says. “In these moments, it's a huge reward. We could be in any classroom anywhere in the world." And Victoria would know. She’s taught in five countries on four continents. Watch her speech on the Seattle Times' video page.view more

The choirs from Liberty High School recently performed at one of the world’s best-known and most-respected theaters: Carnegie Hall.

The students were invited to perform March 31 by Geoffrey Boers, a nationally recognized conductor, who is Director of Choral Activities at the University of Washington. Boers led the musicians in a performance of “Lux Aeterna,” by Northwest composer Morten Lauridsen.

“This was a life-expanding, one time only event in these students’ lives,” said choir director Robin Wood. “Out Patriot singers represented us well in every way. I’m so happy with the results of all of our year of hard work!”

The trip came after 11 months of planning, fundraising and rehearsing. The 125 Liberty students shared the stage with singers from two other Washington choirs, Symphony Tacoma Voices and ChoralSounds Northwest, as well as an orchestra made up of the New England Symphonic Ensemble and the Carnegie Hall Orchestra.

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Engu Fontama, a senior at Issaquah High School, has been chosen to receive a National Certificate of Accomplishment from the Princeton Prize in Race Relations. Engu is the founder and president of the Consciousness and Racial Empowerment (CARE) Club at IHS. The National Certificate of Accomplishment is awarded to only four students in the Seattle region.

“The committee thinks the world of your work with CARE,” Adam Stuhlfaut, chair of the Princeton Price in Race Relations’ Seattle Region, wrote to Engu. “You are a leader and an innovator in your approach to race relations in your high school and your school district. Wherever you go after high school will be extremely fortunate to have you working in their community in the area of race relations.”

CARE's goal is to help foster a more racially conscious and inclusive culture at Issaquah High and to support all students of color.

Engu plans to attend Stanford University after graduating this year. She will receive her award April 14 at an awards ceremony in Seattle.

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Students from Issaquah High School's Japanese classes and Japanese Club hosted the school's ninth annual Japanese Spring Expo on March 22. The event is a celebration of Japanese culture. Students taught attendees about Japanese food, game, dances, martial arts, music and other parts of the culture.

"The Japanese Expo is a good chance for us to see another culture besides American Culture," said IHS student Grayson Modica.

 

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