Transportation levy is on the ballot

Voters in the Mukilteo School District are now receiving their November ballots, which include a measure that proposes a Transportation Vehicle Fund Levy.

In short, it proposes a one-year levy that would collect a total of $3 million during the 2013 calendar year and then expire. The $3 million would be used to purchase about 30 new school buses over the next several years.

Here is a link to more details about the ballot measure and the impact it will have on local property taxes: http://www.mukilteo.wednet.edu/departments/pr/info/budget/tvf.htm

Dramafest is this week

Kamiak High School’s drama season opened this week with the school’s 20th annual Dramafest. It’s a festival where the seniors in Kamiak’s drama department direct their peers in a series of 11 different one-act plays.

Four of the shows will be presented each day this week from 2:30-4:30 p.m. Tickets for the afternoon performances are $1.

Dramafest will then conclude with a marathon presentation of all 11 plays from noon until 5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 27. General admission tickets to the Saturday event will cost $10 for adults and $5 for students and senior citizens. Tickets will be available at the door.

Laurie Levine, the drama instructor at Kamiak, says the subject matter of the plays would be most appropriate for middle-school-age students and older.

Finally, at 7 p.m. on Saturday will be the awards ceremony and the annual announcement of this year’s spring musical.

Freedom writer touches the hearts of Mukilteo students

Students at Explorer, Olympic View and Voyager middle schools listened closely as they received a life-changing message from Manuel Scott, an original Freedom Writer, whose story is told in the book and Hollywood movie “Freedom Writers.”

Scott told the students that there is hope for those who feel they have no hope and that no matter what happens in your life, you can still be successful.

Here’s more: http://www.mukilteo.wednet.edu/departments/pr/info/sdn/freedom.htm

Tickets to foundation breakfast are on sale

Tickets to the Mukilteo Schools Foundation annual fundraising breakfast are now on sale through the foundation’s website.

The event will feature a presentation by Kent Hartman, author of “The Wrecking Crew: The Inside Story of Rock and Roll’s Best-Kept Secret.” His book and the presentation will tell the story of a small group of largely unknown studio musicians who actually played much of the music attributed to groups such as the Beach Boys, the Byrds, the 5th Dimension, Simon & Garfunkel, Sonny & Cher, the Mamas and the Papas, and many others.

The breakfast will be held at 7:30 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 12, in the Commons at Kamiak High School. Tickets are $50 a seat, or $375 for a table of eight. For more information, go to www.mukilteoschoolsfoundation.org.

Career program for Voyager students

Voyager Middle School is in the process of developing a comprehensive career program for students.

During the past few weeks, students have gone online to indicate their specific dream job and their top five career areas. The dream jobs have ranged from medical examiner, to lawyer, to teacher, to hair stylist, to professional sports star, and the career categories have ranged from architecture to agriculture.

Kaley Mitchell, a counselor at Voyager, says the goal is to expose the students to various career opportunities that align with their interests.

For example, seven Voyager students interested in medicine recently went to Kamiak to view a live satellite feed of an autopsy, and students interested in law will soon visit the courthouse in Everett to see a real trial.

Mitchell said she and fellow counselor, Nancy Beck, would love to hear from you if you know of similar career-related opportunities or experiences for the students.

Washington again leads nation in SAT scores

The combined average score among Washington students on the SAT was the highest in the nation (tied with Vermont) among states where at least 45 percent of the eligible students took the test, according to figures released by the College Board recently.

Washington again had the nation’s highest score in math (528), was tied for second in writing (500), and was third in reading (517) among the states with a high percentage of participation.

The average score for Mukilteo students was 555 in math, 516 in writing, and 525 in reading.

Parent tip: Keep students on the right track

The state’s Office of the Education Ombudsman has offered the following five tips to help parents keep their children on the right track to a successful school year:

1) Make a regular time and space for homework every day. Turn the TV off. 2) Check your child’s homework, attendance and academic progress often. 3) Establish a communication system with your child’s teacher and use it frequently.

4) Attend school meetings, events and parent-teacher conferences. 5) Let your child know that you expect good work in school.

These briefs were provided by Andy Muntz, the spokesperson for the Mukilteo School District.