THE BLOG » Issaquah High School

Issaquah Student Returns From Harvard Leadership Summit

Issaquah Highlands — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 19:15:58 +0000

Issaquah student Erin Kim, a Junior at Issaquah High School, and Highlands resident, recently returned from Harvard University, where she attended a People to People Leadership Summit. Kim, along with fellow delegates from around the world, participated in leadership activities with other student leaders, toured Harvard University and the city of Boston, and created a community service action plan called Tunes for Tots to benefit her community.

During the week-long program in Boston, Massachusetts, Kim learned about effective leadership and how to develop her own leadership abilities to make a difference at home. Hands-on activites such as ropes courses, community service projects, professional speakers, workshops, and visits to significant local venues gave Kim a new perspective on what it takes to lead. “The prestigious environment of the Harvard and New England area was enthralling, and meeting positive student leaders from around the globe inspired me to be a more active leader in my own community of Issaquah and Washington. It was a blessing to be surrounded and embraced by other positive and enthusiastic student leaders from Mexico, Macedonia, Canada, Bahamas, South Africa, Peru, and other countries I had never even
heard of. The ebullient attitudes and potential that would flood the rooms by the 260 students was an experience in itself,” says Kim. People to People Leadership Summits are designed to allow students a chance to explore the various
aspects of leadership in specific contexts, and they are held in prestigious venues around the country.

Programs focused on the role of young women as leaders, politics, or community service help young people discover their own potential. The programs offer students a unique blend of specialized educational, leadership, and cultural
exposure as well as an itinerary filled with the highlights of the hosting community. Participants in these programs often experience life-changing attitudes toward individual and shared responsibilities, global leadership, appreciation of culture diversity, enhanced personal growth and self-confidence. For more information contact: People to People
Program Office, 888.275.5061 or info@peopletopeople.com, www.peopletopeople.com

Issaquah Highlands Churches Host Community Egg Hunt

Issaquah Highlands — Fri, 01 May 2009 22:19:34 +0000

A little drizzle did not keep Issaquah Highlands families from enjoying this year’s Egg Hunt festivities! Hosted at Blakely Hall and the Village Green on April 11, over 1,000 people, (mostly children) scooped up over 7,000 stuffed
plastic eggs over the course of three age specific hunts! The event began at 10am and there was plenty to do while waiting between egg hunts. The Issaquah High School Jazz Band and Icon Church volunteer musicians kept the crowd energy high on the damp and cloudy day with great music. Other activities included a visit and picture with the Easter Bunny, (played for the third year in a row by IHS student and resident, Alec Jacobs), face painting, coloring table, carnival games, and giant inflatable slide and bounce house. The big hit of the day and new this year, was the farm animal petting zoo!

The event was closed by a lovely ballet exhibition inside Blakely Hall. Local MK Ballet Studio dancers performed to a standing room only crowd. Every child was mesmerized by the beauty of the costumes and graceful dances. “I know every little girl was tugging on their daddy’s sleeve and saying ‘I want to do that too daddy!’”, said Pastor Paul Dean of Alathia Community Church. Pastor Barry Odom of Mosaic Church was the emcee for the event. Barry awarded the Annual Coloring Contest winners from three age specific drawings. The winners are: 0-PreK: Miranda Schafer, K-2nd: Ang Pima Chin, 3rd-5th: Anna Gretchen Robertson. Winners can pick up their prize at Blakely Hall during normal business hours by May 15.

Port Blakely Communities, Highlands Council, and local business sponsors, Accent Insurance, and John Thompson Real Estate provided the financial resources to get the event into production. Ticket sales covered the remaining
costs with all proceeds benefiting Eastside Baby Corner (www.babycorner.org). No homeowner dues were applied to the production of this community event and of course, the event was 100% volunteer run!

Alathia Community Church, Icon Church, and Mosaic Church wish to thank everyone for volunteering, including members of the respective congregations, community members, and most importantly, the hardworking students
from Skyline High School, Issaquah High School, Pacific Cascade Freshman Campus, and Issaquah Middle School! “All of the students had a great time while working very hard to keep the event on schedule and maintain a safe environment.” Volunteer and Event Coordinator, Christy Garrard also adds, “Most of the students arrived at 7am to help set up and were the last to leave at the end of the day; we could not have done it without their help!”

The churches are also grateful to the residents who donated candy and toy prizes for the egg hunt and to Clif Bar for donating 1,000 Clif bars for free giveaways. Special thanks to Wyldlife, a middle school branch of Young Life, for hosting the concessions for the event. Everyone enjoyed the Krispy Kreme donuts, hot coffee and hot chocolate.

The Egg Hunt festivities ended at noon for the elementary set but Blakely Hall and Village Green came alive again after sunset when Wyldlife hosted a middle school flashlight egg hunt for over 100 area students! This event was another great example of the success of the urban village development concept. Residents, their friends, and family enjoying the holiday in the park, just steps from their front doors.

Issaquah Highlands Easter Egg Hunt to Benefit Eastside Baby Corner

Issaquah Highlands — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 23:32:39 +0000

In Issaquah Highlands, an annual rite of spring is the community Easter Egg Hunt. Last year, over 1,500 kids and adults enjoyed the event. This year the Egg Hunt will be back at Blakely Hall and the Village Green on Saturday, April 11th from 10am until Noon. This year’s Easter Egg Hunt is presented by Issaquah Highland’s churches: Alathia Community Church, Icon Church and Mosaic Seattle Church.

All proceeds over the cost of event production will benefit Eastside Baby Corner (www.babycorner.org). The churches are grateful for the generous financial support of Port Blakely Communities and Highlands Council. Local business sponsors are also critical to the funding of these large community events as no homeowner dues are ever applied. And, of course, the event is 100% volunteer run! The event begins at 10am and will feature three age specific hunts for children through 5th grade inside the Village Green Park – rain or shine! There will be plenty to do while you wait for your child’s age group to be called into the park, including a picture with the Easter Bunny, carnival games and face painting, and new this year, LIVE MUSIC featuring the Issaquah High School Jazz Band!

Families will also enjoy visiting with their favorite farm animal at the petting zoo, also new this year. Accent Insurance/Pemco is the providing sponsor for the giant inflatable slide and bounce house. Back this year, MK Ballet will perform a beautiful exhibition dance sure to thrill all little ballerina wannabes! As the noon hour approaches listen for the announcement of names as the winners of the annual John Thompson Real Estate Coloring Contest are presented.

The Egg Hunt is free. Other activities can be enjoyed by purchasing a ticket for $1 each or unlimited fun for $5 per child. Residents are encouraged to walk or bike to the event as parking is very limited. The Easter Egg Hunt is open to the greater community so feel free to invite your friends!

New School Boundaries Take Effect in 2010

Issaquah Highlands — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 21:14:30 +0000

Good News from the Issaquah School District! In a final decision on boundary lines affecting elementary school children – all of Issaquah Highlands elementary-age children, including those at West Highlands Park, will remain together at Grand Ridge Elementary. The Issaquah School District recently approved new school boundaries that will impact Issaquah Highlands residents. The revisions, which will come into effect in the 2010-2011 school year, were initiated to address shifting and growing student populations across the district. Other aspects of the revisions included the planned elementary on the Sammamish Plateau and the conversion of the Pacific Cascade Freshman Campus to a middle school.

Grand Ridge Elementary School was included in the revisions, which will affect a total of 16 schools in the District. While no elementary age children from Issaquah Highlands will move schools, children from the Overdale Park community who currently attend Grand Ridge will be moved to Clark Elementary School, and West Highlands children will be moved from Clark to Grand Ridge.

It is anticipated that these changes will ease over-crowding at Grand Ridge, which will likely experience a reduction in attendance from approximately 800 students to approximately 500 students. Traffic issues on Park Drive in the area of Grand Ridge Elementary may also be alleviated as fewer students will be driven by car to the school. No high school boundaries will be changed under the revisions and with one exception, no schools will split student populations when they move from elementary to middle and high school. Older children from Issaquah Highlands are scheduled to go to Pacific Cascade Middle School and then attend Issaquah High School.

All revisions are posted on the District’s Web site where families can input their Zip code to determine which school students will attend.

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