Deb Shanafelt, Lakewood Career Academy principal, welcomes attendees to the school’s Grand Opening on Sept. 13.

By Jayme Taylor, Communications Manager

Staff from the Lakewood Career Academy (LCA)—formerly Alternatives for Individuals High School—welcomed students, families and community members to their new home on the campus of Clover Park Technical College (CPTC) on Sept. 13.

The event featured welcome remarks from Principal Deb Shanafelt, Superintendent Debbie LeBeau, CPTC Vice President of Instruction Lori Banaszak and Northwest Career and Technical High School (NWCTHS) Director Loren Davis. Assistant Principal Kevin Rupprecht played a slideshow of 2010 student photos for participants.

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By Jayme Taylor, Communications Manager

“We’re going to have fun.” These are the five words that Ashley Davis-Jones texted to a friend just before her car crossed the center line and crashed head-on into a box truck on Highway 12 near Rochester. Davis-Jones died instantly. She was 22-years-old.

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Kitti Wheeler (left) testifies before the House Education Committee along with Haley Keele (center) and Kevin Rupprecht (right).

Representatives from Alternatives for Individuals High School (AIHS) testified before the House Education Committee on April 7 about the Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) program, which is being piloted this school year at AIHS.

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Building 14 on the campus of Clover Park Technical College was brimming with students—high school students—for Alternatives for Individuals (AI) High School’s showcase on March 14. The event was designed to welcome parents and community members to AI’s new location, and to highlight the school’s new program along with student talents and awards.

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Kitti Wheeler (left) works with AIHS students Madelaine Macedo (center) and Monique Norman (right) to plan a schoolwide Jobs for America’s Graduates event.

By Jayme Taylor, Communication Manager

When you walk into Alternatives for Individuals High School (AIHS) you’re greeted by a secretary and passed by students moving from class to class. On all accounts, it’s just your average high school. However, after spending a few minutes with one of the school’s four teachers or its 58 students, it becomes clear that you’re in a unique educational setting that’s run like a tight-knit family.

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What a great start to the school year. Students are engaged in learning, and teachers are busy teaching. We are excited about this new year and we have started on a good note. We started the school year with our students involved in two days of orientation activities. Students worked with teachers and fellow peers in small group and large group activities that allowed them to get to know each other and the systems of the school.

Students are now fully engaged in their classes, some of them are taught by our teaching staff and some students take internet based online classes. These online classes are facilitated through the Federal Way Internet Academy. Students are making great progress. There is an opportunity for parents and guardians to get involved with their students classes as mentors or volunteers. Clover Park School District is offering a Volunteer training on Saturday, October 2nd. We are also looking for any community member that would like to sit as a representative on our schools Site Based Decision Making Team. If you are interested in any of these activities, please contact the A.I.H.S. office.

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Forty-three members and guests of the Steilacoom Chamber of Commerce enjoyed a "Spring Evening at The Bair" on Thursday, April 22.  Representing the Port of Tacoma, Connie Bacon was the featured guest speaker during the dinner.  She stated that the Port is currently conducting a "nationwide search for a new CEO who is trustworthy, who will tell us the right story in business for the Port of Tacoma, who understands strategic thinking, and is a go-getter." According to Bacon, the Port of Tacoma is "beginning to see a tiny rise in activity, but anticipates steady growth over the next five years."  She added that the Port has spent $170M to clean-up Puget Sound and Commencement Bay.  There are ongoing negotiations with the Puyallup Tribe about possibly operating a terminal, as well.  Bus tours of the Port of Tacoma are available to the public and scheduled every couple of months.

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From Lakes (left to right): Amber Hanson, Gretch Phillips, principal Brian Laubach, Kevin Quimosing, Brianne Morrison and Charles Jacoby.

From Clover Park (left to right): Counselor Brian Rodenbeck, Daniel Maiava, Megan Martin, Darrell McKinney, Zhirty Laulu, Virma Dizon and Stephanie Cassidy.

From AI are teacher Jill Pearson and Austin Pstrag.

Students were earned awards in Sportsmanship, Music (vocal and instrumental) and Art categories and scholarships of $500 and $1,000. See below for more photos from the luncheon. Congratulations. (more...)

Education does not fit a mold, the education is molded to fit the person.

Larry Smith
Lakewood

The task force investigated whether the AI program, as designed, met the needs of students as they prepare for college, career and citizenship. The task force worked through a structured process to arrive at their recommendations:

• Where are we now;
• What can we learn from research about the problem;
• What can we learn from model programs; and
• What makes sense for this school and the district?

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