by Ari Robin McKenna
The end of this school year is bringing continued uncertainty for two South End schools. Franklin High School will begin next school year without the principal and vice principals who guided them through this tumultuous year. And there will be no members left of Cleveland STEM High School’s administrative “dream team” in charge when the pandemic began.
Continue reading Catherine Brown Demotion Completes Admin Overhaul at Cleveland and Franklin High Schoolsby Ari Robin McKenna
After six years as an assistant principal at Cleveland STEM High School (Cleveland), Ray Garcia-Morales has returned to the neighborhood he grew up in, West Seattle, to become the principal at Chief Sealth International High School (Sealth). A reluctant student-turned-school-social worker-turned-principal, Garcia-Morales’ academic and professional path has been anything but traditional. Yet in speaking with various Cleveland staff who’ve worked with him, it became clear Garcia-Morales was cherished for what the beaten path doesn’t provide.
Continue reading Beloved Cleveland Assistant Principal Ray Garcia-Morales Heads Homeby Ari Robin McKenna
On Monday, a virtual ceremony was held to honor the 2021 Black Education Matters Student Activist Awards (BEMSAA). In addition to parents, mentors, friends, and teachers of the award winners, the event was attended by former NFL player Michael Bennet (who awarded Mia Dabney the Pennie Bennett Award), Seattle Seahawks player Bobby Wagner, former BEMSAA award winners, BEMSAA board members, and members of the media.
Continue reading KyRi Miller, Aneesa Roidad, & Mia Dabney Win 6th Annual BEMSAA Awardsby Chamidae Ford
At Cleveland High School, the Sunrise Hub is working to create sustainable jobs for their future selves and their peers.
On April 7, Cleveland Sunrise Hub hosted a protest to urge Sen. Patty Murray to support the Good Jobs for All Pledge.
Good Jobs for All is a pledge that demands a Green New Deal and would require senators to create and support a legislature that promotes sustainable jobs that pay workers a living wage and allow them to unionize.
Continue reading Cleveland High Students Urge Senator Patty Murray to Support Good Jobs for Allby Ronnie Estoque
Sophomores at Cleveland High School in Seattle’s Beacon Hill neighborhood have spent the last few weeks gathering donations for a mutual aid drive that they have been planning alongside the Humanities Department, staff, administration, and the school PTSA. The event was made possible due to an identified need to better support families of Cleveland students that may have experienced intensified financial hardship in the past year due to the pandemic.
The mutual aid event aims to help address a lack of basic household goods for students and their families. “We’ve been supporting families this year in a variety of ways … the reality is that a lot of the resources that we have available aren’t supporting those basic needs,” Cleveland High School social worker Trisa Ibarra said.
Continue reading Cleveland High School Mutual Aid Drive Seeks Community Supportby Marcus Harden
(Black History Today is published in collaboration with Rise up for Students.)
“Like sweet morning dew
I took one look at you
And it was plain to see
You were my destiny
With you I’ll spend my time
I’ll dedicate my life
I’ll sacrifice for you
Dedicate my life for you”
— From the song “All I Need,” by Mary J. Blige and Method Man
I love “love.” I don’t know how else to say it. I truly believe that love is where “God” resides, in the spiritual realm and inside of all of us.
Healthy love, positive love — love that is dedicated to a purpose, a profession or a person — to me is truly the greatest love of all.
Continue reading Black History Today: Trent and Ericka Pollard, Leading With Loveby Mark Van Streefkerk
Sterling Carter, the new head coach of Cleveland STEM High School Boys Basketball Team, is no stranger to Seattle’s Metro League; in fact, he’s a product of it. He attended Rainier Beach High School before transferring to Franklin High as a sophomore. As a senior, the point guard was part of the Quakers’ 2009 championship team. Carter played division one basketball at Seattle University and Purdue, then went on to play professionally in Germany from 2015–2016.
Continue reading Basketball Pro Sterling Carter Returns to South Seattle as Head Coach of Cleveland High’s Boys Basketball Teamby Susan Fried
The Franklin High School gym floor echoed with the sounds of squeaky tennis shoes and basketballs being dribbled on the hardwood as 16 teams from four states and Canada participated in the 2018 High School Basketball Tournament of Champions at Franklin High School. The teams came from as far away as Miami, Florida. High School teams from all around the state of Washington also showed up for the tournament. Along with the host team from Franklin, Nathan Hale and Cleveland teams also participated.
Continue reading Franklin High School Welcomes Basketball Teams from Florida to Vancouver, B.C.
By Abbygail Eleccion
by Staff Writer
Evoking recollections of the days when fervor for high school football in south and central Seattle was higher than the average city dweller’s morning caffeine levels, the First Annual Memorial Football Classic takes place today at Memorial Stadium with both Cleveland and Franklin High Schools participating.
The Classic is the brainchild of South Seattle native and former National Football League player Joey Thomas.
“Having grown up in and around the south end, I have an appreciation for the storied rivalries that once existed between the schools in the area and how that really brought out pride and friendly competition within the community. I thought that the event would provide a wonderful opportunity to rekindle that.” Said Thomas, who is currently the head football coach at Ballard High School.
The Classic gets underway today at 12:00pm with Cleveland facing off against Bainbridge, followed by Franklin taking on Garfield at 6:00pm. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students.
