MVSD director graduates from leadership institute

David Scott, Mount Vernon School District Director of Assessments, recently graduated from Leadership Skagit, an intensive program designed to prepare participants for community leadership roles.

Each year, Leadership Skagit selects 30 participants representing the private, public, and nonprofit sectors of our community for the ten-month civic leadership program. Leadership skills, training and materials are provided, as well as information regarding a broad variety of issues facing various industries and sectors critical to Skagit County.

As part of the training program, teams of five complete a small group project that addresses a current need within the county. The results are improved community leadership, increased civic engagement, respect and understanding of community diversity, and improved community dialogue. Scott noted, "Leadership Skagit is truly a win-win opportunity for the individual participants and the overall community."

Mount Vernon High School Class of 2008 Graduation

After four years of hard work (and some fun), 297 Mount Vernon High School seniors received their diplomas on Friday, June 6, during commencement exercises held in the MVHS gymnasium. This year's class garnered scholarship awards totalling $2,055,160! Congratulations to our graduates! To view additional photos, please click here.

Mount Vernon School District bus drivers score
at safety competition

Mount Vernon School District bus drivers won third place honors in the team competition at the Regional Bus Safety Competition Road-eo held May 31 at Mariner High School. The district was represented by team members Bobbe Cornish, Pam Ringhouse, Lou Spane and Audrey Walters (pictured above). Top individual performer for the district was Bobbe Cornish, who took fifth place in the regional individual competition.

Drivers from school districts throughout the region participated in the contest. The competition included a series of bus maneuvers that simulated actual driving conditions and offered an obstacle course with parallel parking, railroad crossings, turning maneuvers, student pick-up, and pre-trip assessment of the bus. Drivers who were deducted the least amount of points for errors were determined the winners.

More than 90 percent of state's seniors meet key graduation requirement

Of this year's high schools seniors, 91.4 percent have met a new, more rigorous state graduation requirement by demonstrating they have solid reading and writing skills. Washington State Superintendent of Public Instruction Terry Bergeson announced the good news about the Class of 2008 in a recent press conference. "For the first time ever, we know that the students leaving our high schools have the reading and writing skills they need to succeed in their lives, no matter what paths they choose."

Seniors in all major demographic groups were highly successful in meeting the assessment requirement. Most seniors met the requirement--which consists of passing the Washington Assessment o f Student Learning (WASL) or completing one of several alternatives--in the 10th or 11th grade. Districts were given scores on May 27 so that affected students would know their status before their graduation ceremonies. Results for 9th, 10th and 11th-graders who took the WASL this spring will be released June 16. Results for students in grades three through eight will be available later this summer.

"The Class of 2008 and the educators who support them have made an incredible start. We need to support them in continued success," noted Bergeson. "The citizens of our state have every reason to celebrate along with the Class of 2008."

For more information, visit the OSPI website at http://www.k12.wa.us/

School District news on TV-10

Join us for the Mount Vernon School District TV show, Focus on Learning, as we explore school-related issues, instructional programs and important community partnerships. Focus on Learning airs at 11:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. on channel TV-10.