News and Events

This year marks the second year Dr. Pedroza and Tukwila School District (TSD) students are actively participating in the prestigious Education Roundtable, organized by The Scholar First Inc. and the Gates Foundation. With a shared mission of positioning all students across Washington state for post-secondary success, this initiative places a special emphasis on supporting students who have been traditionally underserved.

For the 2024-25 year, Foster High School seniors Alex Brewster and Ellyssa Castillo proudly represented TSD, joining a diverse group of over 60 individuals—including students, educators, superintendents, university and college leaders, and members of non-profit organizations. Together, this dynamic assembly aims to shape a future where every student has equitable access to success beyond high school.

Goals of the Education Roundtable

The Education Roundtable focuses on fostering relationships, influencing policy, and promoting best practices that can be shared across schools, districts, and organizations. The collective group works toward five key goals:

1. Building a Community Across Boundaries: By transcending the borders of agencies, school districts, and organizations, the participants are forging strong relationships and learning from one another.
2. Defining Post-Secondary Success: The group is actively working to create and operationalize a shared understanding of what it means for students to succeed after high school.
3. Lifting Up Effective Practices: By sharing best practices, the Roundtable seeks to bring their definition of success to life.
4. Strategizing for Policy Impact: Together, they aim to influence policy and practices that support students at every level, from the classroom to state government.
5. Sharing Data and Insights: Participants are encouraged to share what they’ve learned within their own networks, promoting knowledge-sharing and collaboration.

Alex Brewster and Ellyssa Castillo’s Experience

During the first convening of the 2024-25 school year, the focus was on Inspiration—bringing participants together to reflect on how to shape a more equitable future for all students. Both Alex and Ellyssa had the honor of sharing their reflections on this inspiring gathering.

Alex Brewster highlighted how the experience broadened his understanding of the link between education and the evolving job market.
"Attending the Education Roundtable gave me new insights into the changing job market and its relation to post-secondary education," Alex said.

Ellyssa Castillo was deeply moved by the support and advocacy she witnessed from the educational leaders present at the event.
"Attending the Gates Foundation’s Education Roundtable gave me the opportunity to be surrounded by superintendents and educational leaders who I know not only care about my success but also advocate for it. With their presence, I felt involved in and hopeful about the proactive efforts to support students like me."

Looking Ahead

Throughout the year, Alex, Ellyssa, and Dr. Pedroza will continue to contribute their voices and experiences to the Education Roundtable. Their participation ensures that TSD students are part of the larger conversation about post-secondary success and that our district’s values of equity, access, and student-centered growth are well represented.

Stay tuned for more updates on their work and the ongoing efforts to create brighter futures for students across Washington state!

We are thrilled to announce a groundbreaking achievement that underscores the exceptional talents and contributions of our students and their teacher, Mr. Tim Renz. For the first time, students from our district have been acknowledged in a preprint scientific journal paper titled "Experimental evolution of S. cerevisiae for caffeine tolerance alters multidrug resistance and TOR signaling pathways" by Dr. Renee C. Geck.

This paper, now publicly available on the bioRxiv preprint server, represents a significant milestone in our students' academic journey. It acknowledges the hard work and dedication of students who participated in the Intro to Biotech class as part of the yEvo project during the 2022-2023 school year, under the guidance of Mr. Renz.

The paper specifically references the yeast strains that were evolved in caffeine, and all students who opted to be included in the paper are listed in the Acknowledgements section. This recognition speaks volumes about the dedication, passion, and academic excellence demonstrated by our students.

To access the paper and learn more about this incredible achievement, please visit: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.04.28.591555v1. To view the yEvo poster, use the following link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VLolh4NhWhRi-pH6hOPtUX-biRE4PaY1/view.We encourage all members of our community to share this exciting news and celebrate the accomplishments of our students.

Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to showcase the outstanding achievements of our district's students. Congratulations to our remarkable students on this well-deserved recognition!

The Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) has introduced the SUN Bucks Summer EBT Program to support families with school-age children. Each eligible child will receive a one-time payment of $120 in food benefits on a dedicated SUN Bucks card. This initiative aims to ensure that students have access to nutritious meals throughout the summer months.

How to Access SUN Bucks:

• Eligibility and Enrollment: Families already enrolled in benefits like SNAP, TANF, or FDPIR will automatically enroll their school-age children in SUN Bucks if the program is available in their area. Additionally, children attending schools that offer the National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program may also be automatically enrolled if they meet the income requirements for free or reduced-price meals.
• Application Process: If not automatically enrolled, families can apply directly for SUN Bucks by meeting the necessary income limits and other requirements.
• Benefit Distribution: SUN Bucks will be issued from mid-June through the end of August 2024. Once qualified, families will receive an approval notice and a SUN Bucks EBT card within seven to 10 business days via U.S. Mail.
• Expiration: Benefits expire 122 days from issuance, so it's important to use SUN Bucks before they are removed.

For detailed information and additional questions about S-EBT benefits, families can visit the DSHS SUN Bucks webpage at: https://www.fns.usda.gov/summer/sunbucks or call the S-EBT Contact Center at (833) 543-3230 between 8 am and 5 pm Monday–Friday (except observed holidays). Schools are encouraged to share this information with families through communication channels such as social media, emails, and other outreach methods. By spreading the word, we can ensure that families and communities who qualify for the free lunch program are well-informed and can benefit from this vital support.

Together, let's ensure that our students have a healthy and nutritious summer!

We are thrilled to announce Hoa Hong as our newest Foster Alumni Wall of Fame inductee. Born in Vietnam and raised in Tukwila, Washington, Hoa is a renowned multidisciplinary visual artist and designer whose work deeply resonates with the vibrancy and adversity of diverse and marginalized populations.

Hoa’s journey began amid the rich cultural tapestry of Tukwila, drawing from the myriad of traditions, foods, and cultures around her. Her artistic expression, rooted in her community's experiences, spans large-scale murals, graphic design, and public art installations, emphasizing the narratives and triumphs of BIPOC communities.

A proud alumna of the University of Washington with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, Hoa has transformed public spaces into canvases that reflect communal stories and struggles, from Seattle to New York and San Francisco. Her work has not only adorned city walls but has also been featured in prestigious publications like Billboard Magazine and the New York Daily News.

Hoa also dedicates her time to mentoring young artists and engaging with local schools in King County, shaping future generations with her passion and expertise.

Please join us in celebrating Hoa Hong, an exemplary figure whose artistic endeavors and commitment to community uplift have rightfully earned her a place on our Foster Alumni Wall of Fame.

We are thrilled to extend our heartfelt congratulations to Preston Hopp, a senior at Foster High School, for his outstanding achievement in making it to the prestigious Washington Music Educators Association (WMEA) All-State Wind Symphony this year!

Over President’s Day Weekend, Preston had the incredible opportunity to join a select group of talented musicians from across Washington State. Under the guidance of Dr. Kaitlin Bove from Diablo Valley College, the Wind Symphony delivered breathtaking performances, showcasing a diverse repertoire that included a Suite of Squamish Music.

Preston's dedication and musical prowess shone brightly as he secured the 1st chair position in his section, among eleven exceptionally talented young musicians. His remarkable talent even earned him a small solo during the performance!

Reflecting on his experience, Preston shared, "I had a great experience. It was a lot of fun to play with such a big band and get to know people from all over the state. I wore my cross-country sweatshirt and met some people that run for other schools. This was such a cool experience, and I'm really glad I chose to audition. I wish I had done it sooner."

Preston's journey to the All-State Wind Symphony not only exemplifies his musical excellence but also highlights the power of stepping out of one's comfort zone and embracing new opportunities. His enthusiasm and dedication serve as an inspiration to his peers and the entire community.

As a district, we take immense pride in Preston's achievement and commend him for his hard work, talent, and commitment to excellence. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Preston and wish him continued success in all his future endeavors.

Let's join together in celebrating Preston Hopp's remarkable accomplishment and in recognizing the importance of supporting and nurturing the arts within our schools and communities.