Happy New Year! 2019 is an especially exciting year for the Foundation for Edmonds School District. We celebrate 35 years as the district’s Foundation, established with one purpose: to serve students, families and teachers in pursuit of educational excellence. Our communities and the district have seen many changes over three decades. The Foundation is well-positioned to evolve and grow alongside them. Help us mark this milestone by supporting our mission that benefits more than 20,000 K-12 students.

The Edmonds High School Class of 1957 was the last to graduate from the original Edmonds High School in downtown Edmonds. Class members are pleased to announce a new scholarship in memory of and appreciation for teachers, coaches and staff who guided them through their high school years.

Beginning in 2019, a minimum of $1,000 will be presented annually to a deserving senior from any high school in the Edmonds School District who wishes to continue their education at an in-state community college or vocational/technical institution. The award will be based on financial need, academic achievement, and a clear statement of educational and career goals.

                                              Thank you, EHS Class of '57!

HomeStreet Bank proudly presents our annual Recipe for Success fundraising event. Please join us on Friday, March 15th, and attend either our breakfast or our new lunch option. Help us celebrate 35 years of partnership with the district to ensure that every student has the resources to learn, thrive and contribute to our vibrant community. Thank you event sponsors Alaska Airlines, BN Builders and The Boeing Company. Reserve your seat online or by contacting Deborah Anderson at deb@foundationesd.org or (425) 431-7260.

Dr. Robert Faris Fights Teen Bullying with Research

Robert Faris was a member of the first graduating class of Edmonds-Woodway High School in 1991, and has since become a professor and recognized expert on the issue of teen bullying. After graduating from the University of Washington in 1995, Dr. Faris joined the Peace Corps and served in a remote station in the highland rainforest of Papua New Guinea. When he returned home, he worked at an international trade development and consulting firm but then decided to go back to school.

His father suggested that sociology allowed for study of a wide range of topics, prompting Dr. Faris to pursue graduate studies at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. There, he discovered an interest in bullying and youth aggression. After writing his dissertation on this subject, he was hired at the UNC School of Public Health as an “analyst on a large, longitudinal study of teenagers.” Now an associate professor at the University of California, Davis, Dr. Faris’ research has been widely published, and has even led to two Emmy winning collaborations about teen bullying and social media use.

While highly publicized cases of bullying often involve chronic harassment of socially isolated students, a more recent study authored by Dr. Faris suggests that teenage aggression and victimization occurs throughout the social ranks as students jockey to improve their status.

“Most victimization is occurring in the middle to upper ranges of status” he explained. “What we think often is going on is that this is part of the way kids strive for status. Rather than going after the kids on the margins they might be targeting kids who are rivals.”

In a 2011 interview with New York Times reporter Tara Parker-Pope, Dr. Faris cautioned that “educators and parents are often unaware of the daily stress and aggression with which even socially well- adjusted students must cope.”

Bullying affects countless students and can do lasting harm. If you’d like to learn more about this issue, Dr. Faris suggests the following articles as a good place to start:

“Web of Popularity, Achieved by Bullying” by Tara Parker-Pope, Well Blogs, The New York Times

“Are You Raising an Internet Bully?” by Monica Leftwich, The Washington Post

Our philanthropic choices are an expression of what we hold dear and the legacy we hope to leave. Planned giving is way to make a lasting commitment to current and future Edmonds School District students, benefitting generations to come. This can include gifts of securities, life insurance, IRA or retirement plan distributions, or a bequest, for example. You decide what to give, how to give and when. A financial advisor can help you determine the gift that is best suited to your charitable interests, family needs and finances. In appreciation, the Foundation welcomes those who include us in estate planning into our Legacy Circle. Contact Deborah Anderson at deb@foundationesd.org or 425-431-7260 for more information.

WSU-Everett freshman and Edmond Heights K-12 grad Kaitlin Ferguson receives ‘Rising Star’ honor from the Society of Women Engineers.

Mountlake Terrace High Grad Kiah Helms’ lifelong love of photography comes into focus at an exhibit presented by the Mountlake Terrace Arts Commission.

Alum Nick Dumas and band Special Consensus receive Grammy award nomination for Best Bluegrass Album of the year.

Oak Heights’ Montana Miller Sets Sights on Olympic Games

Taekwondo and Montana Miller are made for each other. A student at Oak Heights Elementary School, Montana has the talent, personality and drive to achieve her goal of someday competing in Taekwondo at the Olympic Games. She is vivacious, well-spoken and excited about competing in Taekwondo. Her enthusiasm is contagious!

Montana started Taekwondo when she was about seven years old. Her older sister piqued her interest to compete in self-defense, and Montana says that “I am really competitive so the idea of competition caught my attention.” She trains six days a week. On weekdays she trains for three hours in the evening, and on Saturdays she works out at the Northwest Black Belt Academy. With her family’s support, Montana travels to various competitions across the country. She competes in the Cadet 12 to 14 year-old divisions. At age 15, she will move to the Junior Category but has already competed successfully against girls ages 12-14.

She recently competed in Las Vegas at the Pan American President’s cup; where she both won gold, and was awarded a wild card to advance in the competition. She holds the “1st Dan” – equivalent to a black belt - for her age group. A competitor works through various color belts. To advance, the belts require mastering specific skills.

Montana plans to compete and train throughout her school years. If all goes well, she is considering applying to Stanford University in hopes of a sports scholarship to compete and study sports medicine.

Meadowdale High School Senior Kristian Helleren earns Eagle Scout Award for parking security project. 

Edmonds Heights student Charlotte Day creates “data art” sculpture now displayed at Microsoft. 

Mountlake Terrace students and alum cover NFL game from sidelines.

Edmonds School District has announced that 13 ESD teachers have earned National Board Certification. Congratulations to all for their success and commitment to professional excellence.

Spruce Elementary School’s Jennie Warmouth is one of three Washington teachers to win prestigious environmental award.

Students and staff at Madrona K-8 began the New Year celebrating a modern, more accessible building and campus. The school opened for learning on January 7th and was officially dedicated at an open house on January 16th. 

Alumni help strengthen the ESD community through connections and shared experience. Are you in touch with former classmates or colleagues? Would you like to plan a class reunion, create a student scholarship or spearhead a class giving challenge? The Foundation invites graduates, former teachers and staff to join our volunteer alumni committee. Contact Deborah Anderson at deb@foundationesd.org or 425-431-7260 to learn more.