All are invited to come celebrate Scott Babcock’s 25 years of teaching music at the Highline High School Jazz Band’s 25th annual Big Band Dance Fundraiser – with a Roaring 20’s theme – on Saturday, Mar. 7, from 7 – 10 p.m.
This fun night of dancing will be held at the Highline Interim High School, located at 615 South 200th Street in Des Moines (map below).
Free dance instruction will also be offered, along with a Silent Auction, refreshments and raffles.
Do you work with or for a person who has made a significant contribution in our schools?
The Gold Star Awards are prestigious honors in our school community, recognizing Highline Public Schools best and brightest Teachers, Volunteers, Alumni, Staff and Administrators. These awards provide our community the opportunity to honor those in our schools and district who have shown outstanding support of students and education and who give all of us inspiration and direction. We rely on the entire community to bring forward the names of those to be considered for these awards through the Gold Star Award Nomination process. Each nominee will receive a certificate of nomination and recognition at the Gold Star BASH on March 10, 2020. Each winner will receive a $500 cash prize and recognition at the Gold Star Fundraising Breakfast on April 17, 2020.
Outstanding Teacher – recognizes an individual who demonstrates exemplary work performance, outstanding teaching abilities, and a positive impact on our diverse student population
Outstanding Rookie Teacher – recognizes and individual who demonstrates exemplary work experience with total teaching experience of three years or less
Outstanding Staff (Professional) – recognizes an individual who has established an extraordinary record of work performance, outstanding service to Highline Public Schools and special achievements or contributions to the district
Outstanding Staff (Classified) – recognizes an individual who has established an extraordinary record of work performance, outstanding service to Highline Public Schools and special achievements or contributions to the district
Outstanding Volunteer – recognizes the outstanding work being done by parents, grandparents, friends and community members in support of Highline Public Schools
Outstanding Administrator – recognizes an individual who demonstrates exemplary work performance, outstanding leadership abilities, cooperative spirit, and a positive impact on our diverse student population
Outstanding Alumnus – recognizes an individual who graduated from one of our high schools in Highline Public Schools and has gone on to serve the community in extraordinary ways
Nomination Information
For Outstanding Teacher
The Gold Star Outstanding Teacher will also represent the District as its Teacher of the Year in the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction sponsored regional contest. OSPI requires more information from those nominating a Teacher of the Year. While explaining why you are nominating this person, please address as much of the following criteria as possible:
Personal effectiveness
Community involvement
History of professional development
Philosophy on education and education reform
Commitment to education
Strong interest in students’ education
Achievements and recognitions
Effectiveness in working with diverse ethnicities
For Outstanding Administrator, Staff, Volunteer and Alumnus
Please include detailed information about why you are nominating this person, including specific examples of the nominee’s outstanding work.
Gold Star Rookie Teacher of the Year
This award recognizes a teacher in Highline Public Schools with 3 or less years of total teaching experience in Highline or any other district, and who demonstrates outstanding abilities in their field early in their career.
A list of all past Gold Star Award winners can be found on HERE and photos from last years Gold Star Awards BASH! can be found on our Facebook page.
Breakfast at school is critical for students who don’t get regular meals at home. But not every student is able to make it to school early enough to stop by the cafeteria for breakfast. That’s why we give students options.
Thanks to a new vending machine at Tyee High School, students can grab breakfast on the go – before school or between classes.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
The machine doesn’t accept cash or card. Instead, students input their student ID and cafeteria pin to get a nutritious breakfast.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
The vending machine is stocked with items like cereal bars, mandarin orange cups, string cheese, fruit juice and milk. The menu changes regularly to give students choices. Coming soon: bagels with strawberry cream cheese, banana bread, carrots, apple sauce and yogurt with granola.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
The vending machine was funded through a grant to the Nutrition Services department.
“Tyee already has a successful traditional breakfast option as well as a breakfast cart that provides grab-and-go options for students who are tardy,” explained Lisa Johnson, Director of Nutrition Services. “Because Tyee campus is so spread out, the vending machine provides another access point for students who may miss the traditional breakfast before school.”
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
Between 30 and 50 breakfast meals are served each day through the vending machine. In the first few months, the number of students eating breakfast at school increased by nearly 15 percent.
“Breakfast is important every day and we are trying to promote many opportunities to access breakfast. We didn’t want to disrupt the positive breakfast environment that occurs before school, but that meant looking for other ideas to promote breakfast after the bell. We are so encouraged with the initial success that we may look to expand this option at other sites,” said Johnson.
Thank you to our Nutrition Services department for thinking outside the box to bring this new service to students.
[EDITOR’S NOTE: Say hello to Dayna Mason. Bestselling author. Born and raised in Seattle. Loves the city and coffee. But most of all, loves people and is constantly looking for opportunities to help people recognize how amazing they are.]
by Dayna Mason
There is something magical about being in “The Women Over 50 Club.” Here are some of my thoughts on both the beauty and the reality of living over a half-century of life.
Women over 50 from a to z
A – Authenticity. We finally understand that being ourselves is the only way to truly find happiness. When we are authentic, we effortlessly give those around us permission to do the same.
B – Beauty. We now understand the significance of beauty coming from within and shining out to those around us. It’s not just a platitude. We understand that the most physically attractive person can appear unattractive when they are being inauthentic. Likewise, anyone who is being truly themselves can radiate a beauty that has nothing to do with physical appearance.
C – Confidence. We now know we are badass women, so we are no longer paralyzed by what others might think about us. We finally understand that pleasing other people doesn’t help them or us. And we’ve learned that the only way we can be helpful anyway is by taking care of ourselves first.
D – Deconstruction. We are now in the phase of life of letting go of all those things that we developed in the first half of life that are no longer needed. Whether it’s a closet full of clothes we may wear “someday” or an automatic response to specific situations that are left over from childhood, we say, no more. Simplicity and freedom have become our mottos.
E – Exercise. Not optional. Exercise is no longer something we do to “get in shape” but something we do to slow our hormonally induced physical and emotional decline. We recognize that we feel better and can consistently fit into our clothes when we keep moving.
F – Faith. Whether it’s faith in God, faith in ourselves, or faith in humanity, we no longer feel the need to—or want to—control everything. We finally understand that life plays out exactly the way it needs to, and we never had control anyway.
G – Girlfriends. Where are they? I mean the real ones? We no longer care to make “small talk” with our 500 casual Facebook friends. We want real, sit with you in your distress, friendship. Belly laugh friendship.
H – Hot flashes. What the hell? And yes, it’s literally hell. Do they ever go away? We are seriously sick of the whole “coat on-coat off” routine.
I – Intuition. We now trust that little voice inside of us to guide our lives instead of being driven by those around us telling us what we should or shouldn’t do.
J – Joking. Often the “joke’s on us.” We now see the humor in life all around us. We no longer take ourselves so seriously and are able to look back on our previous beliefs and see the silliness of our perspectives. We look at our past with the same compassion we would offer a child who stumbles around learning to walk—both giggling inside at the clumsiness of it all, while also adoring the attempt to grow beyond where they are now.
K – Karma. We understand that what we put out into the world is what we will get back. We acknowledge the law of cause and effect and we work on being the change we want to see in the world. We have experienced our power (both good and bad) and know that positive life change for ourselves and others starts with our choices. Because we are the only ones we can control.
L – Laughter. Laughter is medicinal. We know that finding something to laugh about every day is vital to our wellbeing. And we provide ourselves with plenty of material to laugh at. No longer trying to hide behind our foibles, we not only embrace our mistakes, we tell great stories about our ridiculousness.
M – Men. If we hated them before, we no longer hate them. We realize that they can provide lovely companionship and that we don’t need them to “complete” us.
N – No. Means no. And we are no longer afraid of saying it.
O – Obligation. We no longer do things out of a false sense of obligation. We do things because we want to.
P – Perfect. Doesn’t exist. We finally give up the belief in perfection. The need for everything, including ourselves to be “perfect.” We now know that perfect isn’t always positive and everything is already perfect exactly the way it is.
Q – Quick. We are quick to love and quick to let go of that which isn’t good for us. We give love easily. But we aren’t willing to do things or stay in situations that are detrimental to us.
R – Risk. Because we’ve had experiences that have taken us to the edge of our fear and beyond, we are less afraid and more willing to take risks to accomplish our heart’s desires.
S – Sexy. We are sexier than ever. Not because we have rockin hard bodies (although some of us do-nice job!), but because for the first time in our lives we’re finally comfortable in our skin.
T – Things. Don’t matter. What matters is relationships with ourselves and with others. Obtaining stuff is no longer a priority. We are much more interested in having experiences than accumulating things.
U – Understand. We understand that circumstances aren’t always what they seem to be. That sometimes situations that appear unfortunate lead to the best places in life. We finally know the limitations of “judging a book by its cover” because we’ve been there and experienced the error of that perception.
V – Vitality. We appreciate life now more than ever.We’ve suffered some losses and we are aware of our own mortality. Because of this, we are exuberant about our existence and recognize how important it is to live a purposeful life.
W – Wisdom. By now, we’ve been through some stuff. We realize that the things we know for certain are fewer with each passing year. Some of us may have even come to the conclusion that nothing is certain. With over a half century of life experience comes an understanding and perspective that can guide our lives and those around us in the most meaningful way. We now focus on the heart of what’s important instead of the way things look on the surface.
X – eXamine. We are willing to take a close look at our lives and make any changes necessary to take care of ourselves. Even if it means someone will be unhappy with us.
Y – Yes. We have become selective. Our yes is no longer automatic. We contemplate and only say yes when we truly mean it.
And lastly …
Z – Zealous. Knowing we are on the downhill slide of the life mountain, we are no longer willing to waste the time we have left in joyless activities. Instead, we passionately invest our time in things that truly matter to us.
As we’ve previously reported, Highline High School shut its doors at the end of the 2019 school year, and is currently being rebuilt, with an expected opening of Sept., 2021.
The terra-cotta entrance was dismantled piece by piece from the 1924 building, and will be added back in to the new design, according to Highline Public Schools.
At one point, the district was considering selling some of the old bricks from the building, until that idea was determined infeasible due to toxins.
However, we just learned that some of the old ‘Pirate Purple’ lockers are available for purchase now from Second Use at their Seattle location (hat tip to Carrie Baggaley Rasmussen).
“We have some banks of lockers saved from the old building, still available at our Seattle location. Available in a couple different configurations – all in Pirate Purple!”
Prices on remaining banks of lockers range from $75 to $160.
Athletic programs at Evergreen, Highline and Tyee high schools will join the KingCo League, starting in fall 2020, Highline Public Schools announced this week.
Every four years, the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) reviews enrollment data to align athletic league assignments for schools in Washington state.
Evergreen, Highline and Tyee will continue to compete at the 2A level but will transition from the South Puget Sound League to the KingCo League.
“These three schools will join similar-sized schools to form a 2A division within KingCo that will provide a positive environment, challenging opportunities and good competition,” the district said.
The new league assignments will begin in the 2020-21 school year.
Athletic programs at Mount Rainier High School will continue to compete at the 4A level in the North Puget Sound League.
[EDITOR’S NOTE: Say hello to Dayna Mason. Bestselling author. Born and raised in Seattle. Loves the city and coffee. But most of all, loves people and is constantly looking for opportunities to help people recognize how amazing they are.]
By Dayna Mason
In our culture we use the word “love” to express many things—I love that shirt! I love your hair. I love hiking in the mountains. But do we truly love any of these things? Chances are, what we feel about these things is a strong affinity, but is it really love, or something else? And if it’s something else, what is real love?
The dictionary defines love as “an intense feeling of deep affection.” But I’d like to propose that real love in its purest form is more significant than that, and when we offer it, we give freedom to ourselves and others.
Love vs Desire
Desire is a strong feeling of wanting to have something or wishing for something to happen. To long for, wish for, demand, expect—an emotion directed toward attainment or possession of an object.
Desire seeks to get—to possess.
We can find the deeper meaning of the word love in action in the root of the word “free.” Free comes from the Old English word “freogan,” which means to set free, to liberate, to love. The word free evolved from the 13th century as the concept of unrestrained movement, to setting free one’s beloved (in contrast to enslaving them), to giving without cost. All of these meanings apply to real love. Real love is to liberate—to give freedom (the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint). Real love is to give without cost to another.
Love seeks to give—to offer freedom.
When we make demands, or require expectations to be met by another person, we are seeking to “get” not to “give” and this is not love.
In relationship, when we seek to possess someone, we are operating out of desire (to long for, demand, expect), not love. Because love wants the other’s freedom and has no desire to possess. Often, when we say I love you, we’re not saying we want to contribute to another’s life in a way that makes it better for them without any expectations. What we’re saying is—If I give you this, I expect you to give me that in return—I will love you as long as you love me. I will care for you as long as you care for me.
This is not love. It’s a transaction. The term unconditionallove is redundant. Real love is unconditional.
Love seeks nothing in return. No agenda, no expectations. Love is self-sacrificing—not for the sake of being a martyr, or getting recognition, but because it cannot help itself.
Setting healthy personal boundaries
Just because love is self-sacrificing, it doesn’t mean we abandon ourselves or become a “doormat” to make someone else happy. We need to love ourselves too. If we make a sacrifice for someone we care about, it needs to be because we want to, not because we feel obligated or because we fear the consequences of not doing it.
Healthy personal boundaries are the physical, emotional and mental limits we establish to protect ourselves from being manipulated, used, or violated by others.
A boundary always deals with oneself, not the other person. We are not demanding that they do something—even respect our boundaries. We are setting boundaries to say what we will do or will not do. Only these kinds of boundaries are enforceable, because we only have control over ourselves.
For example, if someone in our life swears, and we don’t want to be around profanity, we could request that they not swear around us. No force, no demands, just communication of what is best for us. If they choose not to change their behavior, then we would decide what we need to do to take care of ourselves. If the only way we can prevent the unwanted experience is to avoid the person, then that may be what we do. Not as a punishment for them, but to honor ourselves.
We cannot change what we dislike in another person. Love accepts people as they are and respects their choice to be that way. But we can decide what is best for us, given their choice.
Real love
When we love, we will risk our own lives to save another’s life without even thinking about it. Love can’t help it—it’s more powerful than our will to survive.
According to the writer and scholar of comparative religion Thomas Merton, “Love is not just something that happens to you: it is a certain special way of living and being alive. Love is an intensification of life, a reverence, a completeness, a fullness, a wholeness—a perfection of life.”
When we truly love each other, we experience far more than just a mutual need for each other’s company and consolation. In loving relationship we become different people—more than our everyday selves. We become more alive, more understanding, more abiding, more enduring, more patient, more courageous. We become better people. We are transformed by the power of love.
Give this a try. Without expecting anything in return, even acknowledgment, do something for someone in secret, in a way that they may not even realize anything has been done for them, in a way that you won’t hear any feedback on the receipt of the gift. Then, notice how you feel. Can you let go of the attachment to the satisfaction of “acknowledgment” and just give, no expectations?
That’s what real love does.
Real love seeks to understand, not to be understood. Real love gives us freedom, and in that freedom, we feel safe to grow into our full potential.
Don’t miss future articles by Dayna Mason. Subscribe to Dayna’s Dose weekly newsletter.
Highline Heritage Museum will be hosting an Arts Lecture from Chris Porter on ‘How Art is Used in Activism & the Cultural Impact it Has, Past & Present’ this Saturday, Feb. 15, 2020, from 1 – 3 p.m.
Chris is State Committeeman for the 34th District Democrats and Associate Supervisor, King County Conservation District.
Each year, the Highline Schools Foundation solicits nominations from community members, district employees and parents for its prestigious and much-anticipated Gold Star Awards, and on Friday the foundation released the list for 2020.
This year’s list of impressive nominees includes well-deserving teachers, staff, administrators and volunteers. Highline Schools Foundation congratulates them all.
“It is so exciting to be able to celebrate the amazing work happening by teachers, staff, administrators, and volunteers of Highline Public Schools,” shared Anne Baunach, Executive Director of Highline Schools Foundation. We are thrilled to be able to host the awards process.”
The Highline Schools Foundation has a team that is reading and scoring each nomination packet. Winners will be selected and announced at the Gold Star BASH on Tuesday, March 10 (information below). Each winner will receive a $500 award. Winners will also be celebrated at the Foundation’s Gold Star fundraising breakfast on Friday, April 17 at 7:30 a.m. at the Marriott Airport Hotel.
The 2020 Gold Star Award Nominees Are …
Outstanding Administrator
Alexandria Haas
McMicken Heights Elementary
Bernard Koontz
Language Learning & Teacher Development
Jackie Bryan
Business Services
Kelley Schottle
Cascade Middle School
Roberta McFarland
Waskowitz Outdoor School & WELS
Sidney White
Facilities
Vanessa Banner
Pacific Middle School
Outstanding Rookie Teacher
Alejandra Rodas-Vasco
Hilltop Elementary
Alejandra Silva-Avendano
Pacific Middle School
Carlie Granda
Marvista Elementary
Chloe Swain
Seahurst Elementary
Ellle Harris
Southern Heights Elementary
Jules Boisen
Pacific Middle School
Laticia Lonon
Sylvester Middle School
Markas Grove
Mount Rainier High School
Russel Littleton
Puget Sound Skills Center
Stephanie Kuborssy
Glacier Middle School
Outstanding Staff (Classified)
Angelica Hernandez-Villalpando
Gregory Heights Elementary
Antoinette Barth
Beverly Park Elementary
Caitlin Gribble
Marvista Elementary
Chris Schnathorst
Seahurst Elementary
Erlinda Isguerra
Mount Rainier High School
Ginger Lotulelei
Mount Rainier High School
Irene Palmer
Valley View Early Learning Center
Janis Dingwall
Cedarhurst Elementary
Karen Thamert
Valley View Early Learning Center
Kathy Allen
Madrona Elementary
Kelsey Walker
Waskowitz Outdoor School
Lesa Oestreich
Mount Rainier High School
Leslie Whitcher-Steele
Tyee High School
Lisa Ruiz
Marvista Elementary
Noel Heskett
Pacific Middle School
Peanutt Ngeth
Evergreen High School
Rachel Sita
Mount Rainier High School
Sharon Peretti
Bow Lake Elementary
Sissy Stanton
Highline Big Picture School
Sydnee Pardee
Hazel Valley Elementary
Outstanding Staff (Professional)
Bethany Tate
Evergreen High School
Dottie Handley-More
Special Education
Jayna Otonicar
Special Education
Jennifer Ferry
Southern Heights Elementary
Jeremy Praven
Pacific Middle School
Kathy Onaroti
Pacific Middle School
Kim Knopke
Des Moines Elementary
Margot Munger
Madrona Elementary
Owen Sallee
Secondary Success College & Career Readiness
Pilar Rodriguez
Hilltop Elementary
Outstanding Teacher
Aaron Aker
North Hill Elementary School
Abigail Hric
Hazel Valley
Angie Erdman
Highline Big Picture
Breanna Gallagher
Pacific Middle School
Carolyn Hylander
Hilltop Elementary
Catherine O’dea
Pacific Middle School
Cimberlee Hanson
Hilltop Elementary
Emily Zimmerman
Evergreen High School
Jennifer Ferry
Southern Heights Elementary
Jennifer Walsh
McMicken Heights Elementary
Jessica Ingersoll
Madrona Elementary
Jordan Reni
White Center Heights Elementary
Joseph Boyer
Evergreen High School
Kelsey Roehner
White Center Heights Elementary
Kimberly Glusick
Glacier Middle School
Kristin Wesp
Mount Rainier High School
Lisa McMullen
Des Moines Elementary
Lori Bento
Marvista Elementary
Paula Escher
Des Moines Elementary
Penny Bellemans
Shorewood Elementary
Phuoctien Vo
White Center Heights Elementary
Rebecca Androes
Valley View ELC
Rhys Murray
Pacific Middle School
Russell Littleton
Puget Sound Skills Center
Sally Wilma
White Center Heights
Sandy Gady
Pacific Middle School
Sarah Furstenberg
Bow Lake Elementary
Tiara Staley
Cascade Middle School
Tina Chang
Highline High School
Tucker Rockwell
Sylvester Middle School
Outstanding Volunteer
Caitln McQuinn
Pacific Middle School
Gary Randall
Evergreen High School
Jennifer Manchest
Marvista Elementary
Meghan Sidebotham
Marvista Elementary
Perry Christianson
Valley View Early Learning Center
Scott Willott
Pacific Middle School
Sheri Joyce
Shorewood Elementary
Stephanie Day
Waskowitz
Sue Alegria
Cedarhurst Elementary
Gold Star Awards BASH will be Tuesday, March 10! We have many wonderful outstanding employees and volunteers in the Highline Public Schools and The Gold Star Awards BASH is the place to honor and celebrate everyone who was nominated.
The Gold Star Award winners will be announced at the Gold Star Awards BASH! on Tuesday, March 10, 2020 at the SeaTac Community Center. Whether you are supporting a specific nominee or just want to be in on the fun and be the first to hear who wins … you don’t want to miss the party!
WHAT: Gold Star Awards BASH!
WHEN:Tuesday, March 10, 2020: 6:30 – 8:00 p.m.
WHERE:SeaTac Community Center, 13735 24th Ave S., SeaTac, WA 98168
Two popular teachers at Burien’s Kennedy Catholic High School – Paul Danforth and Michelle Beattie – were forced to “voluntarily resign” on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2020, because they both identify as gay, according to multiple sources.
Both reportedly were asked to resign not simply for identifying as gay – but also for being engaged to marry their same sex partners.
Despite a 2006 state law that prohibits workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation, the school is apparently exempt due to its religious affiliation. Kennedy is deferring this policy decision to the Archdiocese of Seattle, of which it is a member.
“Both teachers voluntarily resigned their positions. As this is a personnel matter, we cannot comment further,” was the official statement from the Archdiocese.
Reports are that there is a “morality clause” in the school’s employment contracts that stipulates that employees must abide by the teachings of the Catholic Church. Divorce is also against church law, but many teachers at Catholic schools have gone through divorces without losing their jobs.
Danforth was an English Teacher (and son of former Kennedy teacher Dave Danforth) who taught at the school for around 10 years, and Beattie was a Health and Fitness Teacher who also coached soccer. Both have apparently been advised to come to campus on Monday, Feb. 17 – the President’s Day holiday when the school will be closed – to collect their belongings.
There are rumblings of some kind of show of support for the teachers on Monday, as well as a student walkout on Tuesday and possible boycotts/protests of the school’s upcoming annual KATCH auction gala on April 4.
“Two teachers, Paul Danforth and Michelle Beattie, have voluntarily resigned their positions at Kennedy Catholic High School,” the school said in a statement (posted below). “They are highly capable, gifted, and qualified teachers, who have served our community with dedication and humility. Their loss will be felt deeply by their students and the entire community. We are thankful to Paul and Michelle for their years of service.”
Below is a Facebook post from Danforth’s fiancé Sean E. Nyberg, showing his bended-knee proposal at Disneyland on Nov. 4, 2019, of which Sean said:
“Can you imagine trying to discourage or dissuade this kind of joy and happiness? The happiest day of my life. ❤️❤️”:
This incident has caused quite an uproar among parents, students, alumni, friends, family and even local politicians in the Burien and Catholic communities.
“Kennedy High School in Burien today fired (forced the resignation of) two of their teachers solely because they are gay,” King County Councilmember Dave Upthegrove said on Facebook. “This is a reminder of the blatant discrimination that continues to exist in our community against members of the LGBT community. I hope everyone who values fairness and equality is as disgusted and outraged by the mean-spirited action of this anti-gay institution. I am especially saddened by the message this sends to the LGBT students at the school. They may not be welcome or valued by their school but they need to know that their community loves and cares about them.”
“No Mark. Calling out bigotry by the Church is not wrong. It is not anti-Catholic. That’s like saying that people who oppose racism are racist,” Upthegrove replied.
Other community members and former teachers are voicing their opinions:
“These two teachers were asked to resign because they are part of the LGBTQ community,” Susie Alvarez Newberry said in a Facebook post. “How can a school justify religion but practice hatred and discrimination. Shame on you to the administration of Kennedy Catholic High School. These two teachers were outstanding educators, highly respected by their students, parents and the community. What you have done is inexcusable, hateful and disgraceful.”
“As a retired teacher who taught at Kennedy for 40 years this is very disappointing,” Walter Kostecka said. “Both teachers are excellent people besides teachers. I feel for the staff, the students and the parents. Being retired us old farts need to get some sun but believe me if you all do something know that I support you and I wish I could be there to show it.”
Kostecka also said:
“We have a gay and married presidential candidate who was made fun of by Rush Limbaugh yesterday and then I find out what the Archdiocese of Seattle has done to 2 people I taught with because they want to marry their partner. These are two wonderful people.
“Please tell me what is wrong with this picture. Why is it fear and hate TRUMPS LOVE and ACCEPTANCE. Tell me how a corporation like the Archdiocese of Seattle could have hidden pedophiles and then throw good decent people under the bus.
“If you want to know why I don’t go to church there is your answer.”
New Burien Councilmember and St. Francis of Assisi Youth Minister Kevin Schilling posted his thoughts on Facebook on Saturday morning, Feb. 15:
“Hi everyone,
My name is Kevin Schilling. I know some of you in this group, but I don’t know the majority. As an alumni of St. Francis of Assisi and as a person raised in Burien, I of course have a relationship with many that went through Kennedy and work there, but I myself didn’t attend Kennedy.
Currently, I’m the Youth Minister at St. Francis, a dual employment in a way with the parish itself and thereby the Archdiocese. I’m also an elected member of the Burien City Council.
I say these things to make it clear that as an elected Catholic of the city I’m within, this matters a great deal to me. I also say it because I want to make clear that I am wanting to support this group and an effort to open dialogue with the Archdiocese, but wanting to make sure that since I’m not an alum of Kennedy that I don’t want to take away from your organic, community based desire for change.
The Catholic Church’s position on same sex relationships is the one I have the most issue with. The Catechism called homosexuality “intrinsically disordered” (not defending it here but the Catechism also calls economic inequality, environmental degradation, abortion, and divorce as disordered too). But the Catechism, I believe, no longer reflects modern times. And there is absolutely no way to deny that same sex couples express love and support for one another in the same way that heterosexual couples do. The fact I have to type that in 2020 is mind-blowing to me. Jesus wouldn’t have kicked out homosexual individuals. He wouldn’t have removed them from society. They are on the margins of the Church. Did Jesus not teach us all to bring those people in from the margins?
A major conversation in parishes and churches currently is about why people are leaving the church. Well, here’s why. The Church is far too focused on maintaining social norms according to the doctrine, then it is to express love and care for those on the margins, like LGBTQ individuals. Especially doing this when the sexual abuse crisis is still not figured out. I don’t think people leave the Church because they lose faith in God or no longer believe in the message of Christ. I believe it’s because the Church isn’t willing to reexamine it’s established proclamation that LGBTQ individuals are not in step or in line with the Church mainly because their love and their life doesn’t naturally create life (that’s what they teach you in Catechitical class).
I’m here to say that I want to support and offer my suggestions for best ways to interact with the Archdiocese. It’s a shame that this discrimination (which is what it is) continues today. This is a change that needs to be made at a higher level than just the Archdiocese. But the only way to make that happen is to pressure the Bishops. That’s it. They then have to take it to the Vatican. If you pressure the Bishops then the USCCB and the Vatican gets hold of it, then they HAVE to address it. If there’s a mini riot at Kennedy Catholic in Burien, WA, then the Archbishop has to pay attention. Emails, letters, phone calls, sit ins, all of it helps. A continuous stream forces a response. And then, if that doesn’t work, take it to your congregations. Get them to continue the pressure.
The Laity has power. WE are the Church. WE are the Body of Christ. We aren’t the Body of Christ because of an Archdiocese. We are the Body of Christ because we proclaim it. Our reaction is what Christ said when we are the “salt of the Earth” and to love our neighbors. Keeping the framing of this in line with Church doctrine and Scripture must remain.
Like I said, I’m here to support and offer insight and advice. Please let me know if I can.
In communion with you,
Kevin Schilling”
King County Councilmember Joe McDermott posted this on Facebook:
“I’m angry that Kennedy Catholic High School has forced the resignations of two respected teachers because they are gay. This action is hurtful to the two former teachers, the Kennedy Catholic community, and most especially to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer students at Kennedy Catholic.
“I was baptized and grew up Catholic – attending both a Catholic high school and college. I didn’t come out myself until I was 30 – in part certainly because of the damaging messaging I received from the Catholic Church that being gay was wrong. Today my nephew and his Kennedy Catholic classmates continue to receive this destructive message.
“By forcing the resignations of two teachers over their sexual orientation, Kennedy Catholic and the Archdiocese of Seattle tell young people – especially LGBTQ students at Kennedy – is that being LGBTQ is wrong. Students see their role models lose their jobs for living authentic lives. Such indoctrination harms young people in their formative years in very detrimental and specific ways. For example, LGBTQ youth seriously contemplate suicide at almost three times the rate of heterosexual youth. Thus to promote a doctrine and practice that being LGBTQ is wrong puts youth at real risk.
“To be clear, this is not a new position of the Catholic Church. Their homophobia is longstanding and always harmful. This is yet another example of the doctrine in practice today.
“And to be even more clear – to LGBTQ youth everywhere – you are valuable! You are loved! And you will thrive in this world!”
[EDITOR’S NOTE: The following is a statement taken from an Instagram post by Sean Nyberg, the fiancé of Kennedy Catholic High School teacher Paul Danforth, who was forced to “voluntarily resign” from the school on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2020 because of his sexual orientation:]
I have a few things to say regarding the recent news about my fiancé Paul Danforth.
Paul has asked me to keep any information that I have learned about this situation confidential, but I can’t stay silent. Two days ago he resigned from his teaching job at John F Kennedy Catholic High School, along with his co-worker. While Paul and the school have no comment on the situation, I sure do.
After teaching there for over five years, with a stellar record, he is no longer employed specifically because he and I got engaged.
We entered into an agreement to take our relationship to the next level and enjoy the emotional, spiritual, and legal benefits that marriage provides. Both religious institutions and democratic governments have placed a value on marriage for much of our history, touting the community and societal benefits that these relationships provide.
However, in our case, Paul no longer is employed because I had asked him to marry me and he said yes. Local and national news media have started reaching out and while I am aware that some will praise the decision to keep same-sex engaged and married couples out of Catholic High Schools, the majority of our community will be outraged. While the parties directly involved will not comment, I have no obligation or desire to stay silent.
This is not only personally painful, it also harms their former students who looked up to them, families that don’t know how to explain this to their children, young LGBT students who will feel even more shame and guilt, and will weaken a community that seeks love and acceptance.
I’ve had the joy of watching Paul go to work day after day to a job he loved. It should come as no surprise to any of his students to hear that he loved every single one of them. I want to end with this: Mr. Danforth and Ms. Beattie will be fine, they will find a wonderful school and continue to do what they were born to do.
But for those kids out there that might question their own identity or feel they don’t fit in, for any reason, do not let this news bring you down or make you feel less willing to be yourself. Some of the loudest voices might scare you, but there is a wonderful and loving community that will hold you in their arms and tell you that you are perfect just the way you are. One final note to the kids, you are the future of this community and from what I am seeing, the future looks bright.
Your love and support is appreciated so much. An entire community is watching.
A petition and fundraiser have been created to help ousted LGBT teachers Paul Danforth and Michelle Beattie, who were forced to “voluntarily resign” from Burien’s Kennedy Catholic High School on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2020, because they both identify as gay, according to multiple sources.
As we first reported, both were reportedly asked to resign not simply for identifying as gay, but also for being engaged to marry their same sex partners.
Despite a 2006 state law that prohibits workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation, the school is apparently exempt due to its religious affiliation. Kennedy is deferring this policy decision to the Archdiocese of Seattle, of which it is a member.
The petition – created by Kelly Walsh Holler – will be submitted to the Archdiocese of Seattle, with the goals of:
Re-hire the two teachers who resigned;
Issue a public apology for the harm caused to the teachers and community by requesting the teachers’ resignations;
Modify its policy to ensure that no teacher is fired or asked to resign on the sole basis that the person is engaged in a consensual committed relationship with a same-sex partner.
Despite a 2006 state law that prohibits workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation, the school is apparently exempt due to its religious affiliation. Kennedy is deferring this policy decision to the Archdiocese of Seattle, of which it is a member.
ONLINE FUNDRAISER STARTED
A GoFundMe page has also been created by Jen Haas and Sean Nyberg to help these two teachers:
“Two beloved and extraordinary teachers at Kennedy Catholic High School “voluntarily resigned” on February 13, 2020 because of their sexual orientation and desire to live authentically (and legally) married to their partners.
“In addition to the sadness felt by their community of supporters, Paul and Michelle are both now without jobs or incomes. In the middle of a school year it will be difficult for either of them to find employment immediately.
“No doubt these two will find positions for the 2020-2021 school year, but until then, anything we can do to help ease their financial burden as they face several months without a paycheck will be helpful.
“Paul’s fiance, Sean Nyberg, will be the beneficiary of the funds and will ensure that Michelle and Paul receive whatever we donate.
“Thank you for supporting these two wonderful people.”
“A useful way to channel your anger is to do something positive like consider a donation to support the teachers,” King County Councilmember Dave Upthegrove said. “Even a small donation is a way to show them you support them and have their backs.”
Organizers of Burien Pride released the following statement on the Kennedy Catholic High School teacher resignations on Monday, Feb. 17, 2020:
“What happened at Kennedy Catholic High School in Burien is an unfortunate but stark reminder that people around the country, including our very own state of Washington, can be fired for who they love.
“While Burien Pride cannot speak to the inner workings of the situation and the religious beliefs associated with this matter, we do wish to offer support to the teachers, families, staff, students, and faculty affected by the forced resignation of LGBTQ+ Kennedy Catholic High School teachers Paul Danforth and Michelle Beattie.
“Until all of us in the LGBTQ+ community are treated fairly and equally, none of us are – and this is a sad reminder of the work that still needs to be done to ensure everyone has the right to live their lives fully – and bring their entire selves to work each and every day.”
Read our extensive, previous coverage of this developing story here.
Burien’s Environmental Science Center will be holding its 2020 Soirée – benefiting local students, residents and our natural treasures – on Saturday, March 7, 2020.
This fun fundraiser event will run from 5 – 8:30 p.m. at the Renton Community Center (map below).
The night will begin with a cocktail hour of raffles and carnival-style environmental stations. Attendees can try their hands and minds at each, testing their knowledge and funny bones with the student volunteers and naturalists who make ESC programs possible.
Connect with friends and make some new ones as ESC celebrates this supportive community that helps folks further connect with nature.
Your ticket and gifts support getting more people outside to explore, appreciate and protect our natural resources.
A student at Burien’s Kennedy Catholic High School released the following ‘open letter’ video to the Archdiocese of Seattle on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2020, regarding the school’s recent ‘voluntary resignations’ of teachers Paul Danforth and Michelle Beattie for their sexual orientation.
“Hello. I am a current junior at John F. Kennedy Catholic High School, which you recently did a story on for forcing two LGBTQ+ teachers to resign,” Stephanie told The B-Town Blog. “I have released an open letter to the archdiocese as part of the student body’s movement for justice. Additionally, on behalf of everyone at Kennedy, thank you all so much for utilizing this platform to help us gain the momentum for this movement. We appreciate it so much.”
Students are planning a sit-in (at 9 a.m.) and a walkout (around 1:15 p.m.) on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2020 to protest the ‘voluntary resignations’ of Paul Danforth and Michelle Beattie, two LGBTQ teachers who were reportedly forced to resign because they are planning on marrying their same sex partners.
The sit-in will take place in the school hallways, and the walkout will happen outside the front of the building.
Organizers are asking that supporters plan on arriving early, possibly carpooling, and to please park OFF campus. Burien Police will be present to help direct traffic.
NOTE: We hope to live stream video from the walkout, so please “Like” us on Facebook here to get an alert for when we’re live.
“We want to ensure we have enough space in the front of the school AND our students will need to be able to leave at dismissal at 2:45 p.m. Again, come wearing your colors and bring those signs/flags.”
There will also be a protest at 9 a.m. at the Archdiocese of Seattle (710 9th Ave, Seattle, WA 98104).
“Come wearing your rainbow colors & holding your signs.”
Two hashtags have been created for this issue: #lancers4love and #justice4ourteachers.
Here’s an alert from the school:
“On Tuesday, we are anticipating disruptions to the learning environment. We are asking our teachers and staff to do their best to provide stability in the classroom. Around 9:00am, there is a planned student sit-in. The students have been told to leave the rooms and sit in the halls with signs in protest. Please encourage students to keep their signs respectful in their support without being personal or disrespectful. We ask students to attend their scheduled lunches, either A or B.
“Around 1:15 p.m., a walk-out in the front of the building is scheduled. Students may participate in both planned events without fear of reprisal.
“Our campus will remain closed per our nortnal operating procedures. Community members and parents will not be allowed inside the building to join the planned protests, but will be allowed to gather in the front of the building. We will have the Burien police on site to address the traffic issues that will occur as we do at any event because parking will be challenging.”
– Mike Prato, President and Nancy Bradish, Principal
[EDITOR’S NOTE: Say hello to Dayna Mason. Bestselling author. Born and raised in Seattle. Loves the city and coffee. But most of all, loves people and is constantly looking for opportunities to help people recognize how amazing they are.]
By Dayna Mason
Life’s greatest gift is choice. Choice is the ability to select one course of action over others to direct our experience.
Whether you hate your job, are unhappy in a relationship, or long to travel the world, the choices you make will either take you closer to fulfillment or farther from it.
Decisions cause mental fatigue
According to a study on mindless eating (Wansink and Sobal, 2007), we make over 200 decisions about food alone each day. In an article published in the Wall Street Journal the author speculates that we may possibly make “35,000 remotely conscious decisions per day.”
That’s a lot of decisions.
It’s no wonder by the end of the day the last thing we want to do is make another decision, even choosing something as simple as what to eat for dinner.
Making decisions causes mental fatigue. The more choices we make throughout the day, the more our brain struggles to make them and eventually begins to look for shortcuts. Without a mental break, this can cause us to choose impulsively or to do nothing due to exhaustion. This is why we make better decisions in the morning and are more susceptible to bad decisions (eating ice cream for dinner) later in the day.
Apple cofounder Steve Jobs wore the same outfit every day, which preserved his energy for more significant decision-making. When possible, we can eliminate the need for everyday decisions and save our energy for more important decisions by establishing rules for ourselves. I will go to the gym Tuesday and Thursday. I will not have more than two cups of coffee. I will prepare my clothes for tomorrow before I go to bed.
Too many choices can overwhelm
When making a decision, the more options we have, the more prone we are to make regrettable decisions due to “choice paralysis.” To avoid this, we can minimize the number of options for consideration by reducing our must-have criteria. Then, stop searching once we’ve found a solution that meets our needs.
There are no perfect solutions. Instead of wasting valuable time and energy searching for them, potentially leaving us with little or no time to make a good decision, we can make good enough decisions.
Make good enough decisions
The author of Paradox of Choice: Why Less is More, psychologist Barry Schwartz, argues that people who spend the most time and energy obsessing over making exactly the right choice end up less happy with their decisions than the people who make a choice that’s good enough.
In choosing good enough, we aren’t saying we don’t care about the choices we’re making. Instead, we’ve limited our criteria to what’s most important, and once our criteria are met, we make our decision quickly and move on with our lives.
People who settle for good enough are consistently happier than people who must choose the best possible option. Seeking perfection can also lead to indecision. Good enough is almost always good enough. If it doesn’t work out, we can simply make another good enough decision.
Failure is a beautiful necessity
When we make decisions, we’re motivated not only by the opportunity for gain, but also by the fear of loss—of failure.
Failure is part of life and with proper perspective can be seen as a beautiful necessity. How many times did we have to stumble and fall before learning how to walk? What if after the first couple of failed attempts we’d simply given up? We’d still be crawling instead of walking. Great innovation and proficiency are often the result of trial and error.
Fear of making a mistake—fear of failure—can keep us stuck. Scientists fail every day. Failure is an essential part of scientific research. Setbacks don’t have to be the end of the story. A setback might be exactly what we need to get to where we want to be.
We can train ourselves to be comfortable with discomfort by looking for small challenges we can take on where the stakes for failure are low. The more we practice this the less scary failure becomes.
Taking our power back
In the book, Man’s Search for Meaning, neurologist and Holocaust survivor Viktor Frankl wrote, “We are self-determining. What we become—within the limits of endowment and environment—we’ve made out of ourselves. In the concentration camps, for example, in this living laboratory and on this testing ground, we watched and witnessed some of our comrades behave like swine while others behaved like saints. Man has both potentialities within himself; which one is actualized depends on decisions but not on conditions.”
We always have a choice. Even in a concentration camp we can choose how to respond to our circumstances.
Psychologist Marsha Linehan, who created dialectic behavior therapy, teaches radical acceptance. Radical acceptance means that we acknowledge what IS rather than fight or reject reality and at the same time figure out what to do about it to make the situation better—not by changing other people, but by changing what we are thinking and doing.
Sometimes we may not like our current options, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have a choice. It simply means we don’t see a good choice. Choosing to do nothing is also a choice.
There is great power in acknowledging our choice, especially when we feel stuck without good options. We can acknowledge, “I choose this.” I choose to stay at this job I hate. I choose to stay in this unhappy relationship. I choose to put off traveling the world. We may have good reasons for choosing to stay at a job we hate, but denying our choice makes us victims. As long as we stay stuck in “Why is this happening to me?” or “Why is he/she doing this to me?” we give away our power. When we take ownership of our choice and say, “I choose this,” it empowers us to make a different choice.
Choice is our chisel
Our most powerful tool for navigating our circumstances is choice. The decisions we make have the potential to positively contribute to our wellbeing, carve out our experiences and move us closer to the realization of our dreams.
“Choice transforms us into artists. Each of us becomes another Michelangelo, for choice is the chisel we use to sculpt our life.” – Gary McGuire
You hold the chisel for your life. Go forward and choice by choice, sculpt a beautiful future.
Don’t miss future articles by Dayna Mason. Subscribe to Dayna’s Dose weekly newsletter.
On Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2020, one of the biggest protests we’ve ever seen in the south end took place when hundreds of students walked out of Burien’s Kennedy Catholic High School in a show of support for teachers Paul Danforth and Michelle Beattie, who were both reportedly forced out because they’re engaged to marry their same sex partners.
The walkout started around 1:15 p.m., as hundreds of supporters as well as a small contingent of 8-10 counter-protestors waited outside the front entrance of the school on S. 140th Street on a sunny winter afternoon.
Police had closed off S. 140th Street in front of the school for the protest, which included well over 1,000 people, many dressed in rainbow themed clothing and carrying signs of support.
South King Media’s Scott Schaefer streamed the video live on Facebook, and below is an edited version of highlights (running time 25:50), which includes:
Supporters and students’ signs and chants
Student leaders’ speeches
A parent’s speech
Soccer team members praise now-former coach Beattie
Burien Mayor Jimmy Matta
Burien Councilmember Cydney Moore
Supporters and students confront counter protestors
Paul Danforth’s fiancé Sean Nyberg
Burien Mayor Jimmy Matta posted this on his Facebook page:
There was also a protest at 9 a.m. at the Archdiocese of Seattle.
[EDITOR’S NOTE: The following is a Letter to the Editor, written by a verified resident. It is the sole opinion of its writer, and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of The B-Town Blog, nor its staff:]
Dear B-Town Blog Editor,
I’m writing in full and complete support of the administration of Burien’s Kennedy Catholic High School.
I support religious freedom against aggressive government imposition and social pressures. I also support all the local pro-family organizations, faculty, students, parents who exhibit the courage to publicly support Kennedy Catholic and the diocese in the matter of the two recently resigned teachers.
I ask that elected representatives in a position to tamp down on any planned violent behavior aggressively remind their supporters and neighbors to refrain from such violence that exceeds petulant sit-ins and walk-outs. Religious organizations must be allowed to practice their faith without fear or actual violence against them.
Members of the gay lobby (I’m not one for the alphabet soup) and their supporters don’t always live and let live as they claim they do. Too often, they do emotional violence, if not physical, to those who don’t agree with them. They forget that it was all supposed to be about live and let live and are frequently aggressive in their imposition of their views on others they perceive to not fully agree with them.
Their attitude should be gratitude that society has, for the most part, bent far enough over backwards to accommodate them. They should leave well enough alone. Instead, they are proving that their vindictiveness knows no bounds with Kennedy Catholic (and, Eastside before it), religious adoption services, WoLF at the Seattle Public Library, and bigoted Nordstrom employees getting their boss (Mr. Nordstrom) to shoo away a long-time Salvation Army bell ringer in spite of all the love the Salvation Army has done for so many over the years. That shame and hypocrisy is on these ingrates. If ‘love is love’ to them, then they would extend grace to the Salvation Army.
The two teachers at Kennedy Catholic High School are adults and were fully aware of how their behavior might affect their employment at a religious organization. They, and only they, are fully responsible for their behavior. They knew the rules and are fully responsible for the employment implications of not following them. By protesting the consequences of their own behavior, they fail to serve as proper role models for the students.
I ask that the Seattle-area media please be sure to allow Kennedy Catholic supporters their say, too. Parents, students, and the public should be free to support the diocese and the school’s administration without fear of retaliation. That support should be covered just as much as the protest.
If I could, I’d be out there with a sign of a man and woman holding hands with a seven color rainbow flag in support of the school’s administration and in recognition of the natural rainbow. Play house all they want, and in spite of their bullying tactics, the lobby has no legitimate power to force others to agree with them.
I wish you all peace and I wish you the grace to allow those with sincerely held religious beliefs on matters of marriage their own peace as well.
Until next time, all the best, your neighbor, John Peeples
Green Lake
EDITOR’S NOTE: Do you have something you’d like to share with our highly engaged local Readers? If so, please email your Letter to the Editor to editor@b-townblog.com and, pending review and verification that you’re a real human being, we may publish it. Letter writers must use their full names and cite sources – as well as provide an address and phone number (NOT for publication but for verification purposes).
Highline Public Schools Superintendent Susan Enfield has been awarded the 2020 Women in School Leadership Award by the American Association of School Administrators (AASA), the district announced Wednesday, Feb. 19.
Dr. Enfield received the award on Friday, Feb. 14 at the AASA national conference.
The award honors exceptional female superintendents who demonstrate excellence in leadership for learning, communications, professionalism and community involvement.
“I am honored to accept this award as recognition of the tremendous work happening in Highline Public Schools and I hope to continue to encourage more women to pursue leadership opportunities and serve as role models for our young women and girls,” Dr. Enfield said.
AASA also honored Shelly Reggiani, executive director, equity and instructional services, North Clackamas Schools, Milwaukie, Ore., and Lesley Bruinton, public relations coordinator, Tuscaloosa City Schools, Tuscaloosa, Ala., with the Women in School Leadership Award.
“Honoring outstanding women in public education has been a longstanding tradition at AASA. I am so pleased to honor these individuals at our National Conference on Education,” said Daniel A. Domenech, executive director of the AASA. “Our program is designed to recognize the exceptional leadership of active, front-line female leaders who are making a positive difference in the lives of students every day.”
For more information about the program, contact Jennifer Rooney, AASA director, meetings and awards, at jrooney@aasa.org.
