RBHS BOYS BBALL TEAM WINS BACK 2 BACK WIAA TITLES

3A BOYS: BACK TO BACK TITLES FOR RAINIER BEACH

Stepping to the line with the game tied at 56 and a little more than one second remaining, Lakeside High guard Tramaine Isabell had a chance to wrap up the Class 3A boys state basketball title for the Lions.

Tools4Grads (T4G) is an organization serving students at RBHS, distributing new computers free to seniors who are continuing their education at colleges, trade and vocational schools and complete the application process.

T4G mission statement: Tools4Grads believes that all young people deserve access to resources for quality education. We aim to address the systemic inequalities that exist by providing underserved students pursuing further education with computers, learning materials and tools of the trade that will assist them in achieving their educational goals. 

T4G has its roots in Community for Youth (CfY), a four-year mentoring program at RBHS working with at-risk students. All of our T4G board members have served as mentors in CfY. In 2007, Barbara Nelson and Richard Hodgin, co-presidents of T4G, decided to honor CfY graduating seniors and their parents. In 2009, a one-year pilot project provided three college bound CfY students with computers, textbooks and school supplies in their freshman year. This project was implemented to assist students whose lack of financial resources had the potential to impact their academic success. Over the next two-year period, 12 additional CfY students received this type of assistance. In subsequent years, the program was expanded and the name Tools4Grads was adopted. In 2011 T4G approached Rainier Beach High School Dollars for Scholars to discuss the possibility of a partnership, and in early 2012 the two groups forged a symbiotic partnership. RBHS Dollars for Scholars provides scholarships and T4G provides the tools (computers).

As examples of the far-reaching importance of T4G’s work and mission, here are a few of the students’ majors of the class of 2012: Nursing, Education, Dentistry, Social Work, Information Technology, Veterinary Medicine, Engineering, Business, Plumbing, Business Management & Fashion Design, Medicine, Culinary Arts, Psychology and Family Law. 

For additional information regarding Tools4Grads contact: Richard Hodgin, Co-President, 206-729-8900.

To find out about T4G services and a free computer: Contact Ms. Xaila Lewis, Program Manager, Communities In Schools of Seattle, 206-434-5552 or for more information, visit the Rainier Beach Dollars for Scholars website.

Check out the Seattle Times article highlighting the accomplishments of Carlina Brown and the RBHS PTSA. The Rainier Beach community is so proud of our PTSA, whose members were recently honored at the White House as “Champions of Change”. Read the article here.

From the White House Office of Communications:

White House to Host PTA Day and Honor 12 PTA Members as “Champions of Change”

WASHINGTON, DC – On Friday, August 10th, the White House will welcome over 150 Parent Teacher Association (PTA) leaders from 41 states, DC, and US military bases overseas for a day-long briefing. PTA comprises millions of families, students, teachers, administrators, and business and community leaders devoted to the educational success of children and the promotion of parent involvement in schools.

As part of the day-long program, the White House will honor 12 parents as “Champions of Change.” These extraordinary parents have devoted their time and effort to their PTA chapters across the country and will have the opportunity to share their stories with Administration officials and PTA members across the country. The Champions of Change program was created to honor ordinary Americans doing great work in their communities.  Each week, a different sector is highlighted and groups of Champions, ranging from educators to entrepreneurs to community leaders, are recognized for the work they are doing to serve and strengthen their communities.

“President Obama knows how important parent involvement is in education, and we are excited to welcome PTA leaders who are setting such great examples in their communities to the White House,” said Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor to the President. “The PTA Champions of Change we are honoring have collaborated with school administrators and community leaders, launched innovative advocacy campaigns, and worked tirelessly to grow their local PTAs to involve more parents in their children’s education.”

RBHS PTSA President Carlina Brown

Carlina Brown is a mother of 4. She started family advocacy as a Parent Representative to the Policy Council with Headstart almost 20 years ago. She currently serves as PTSA President at Rainier Beach High School and Co-Director for South East Seattle for Seattle Council PTA.

If you are interested in taking advanced classes in Information Technology while still in high school, and looking for a way to pay for college or start a career in IT, the Seattle Public Schools Skills Center at Rainier Beach High School is the program for you.

What is a Seattle Public Schools SKILLS CENTER? The Seattle Public Schools SKILLS CENTER is secondary public education that delivers advanced Career and Technical Education to high school students who are either juniors, or at least sixteen years old.

The Seattle Public Schools SKILLS CENTER will be offering advanced Career and Technical Education classes starting in the Fall of 2012.

Rainier Beach High School is the site of the Cisco/Microsoft IT Academy and will offer Information Communications Technology (ICT) courses in Cisco CCNA and Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA) courses that will lead to industry certification.

The following courses will be offered through the program:

Cisco IT Essentials 1A & 1B Learn PC hardware, software and networking operating systems
Cisco Discovery 2A & 2B Hands‐on lab experiences, and preparation for CCENT
Cisco 3 Exploration 3A & 3B Prepare for CompTIA A+ EUCIP IT Administrator, and CompTIA Server
Cisco 4 Advance Topics 4A & 4B Test for industry certifications and entry level IT support careers

How long are classes and how many days of the week would students attend? Classes are 3 hours long, 12:30 pm until 3:30 pm. Classes meet every day.

How many academic credits can students earn in a school year? Students who successfully complete the classes will earn 3 credits in an academic year.

Are there any pre‐requisites? Having taken pre‐requisites is recommended. Please check with the student’s counselor to apply and to see if they are eligible. Skills Center students need to be 16 years old or have 10 credits.

Check out the Skills Center on the SPS Career and Technical Education website for more information. On right mid‐menu, select Students. Then select Academics. Under ‘More Information’ you will see ‘Career + Technical Education.’ Skills Center applications are available on the website.

How do students get into the Cisco/Microsoft Information Technology program? STUDENTS NEED TO MEET WITH THEIR COUNSELOR TO APPLY AND ENROLL.