Application Process
We offer enrollment to district 3rd graders for the 4th grade openings for the following year in all programs. Students will be selected from all district elementary schools with an attempt to balance the enrollment between schools. Spaces will be assigned by the neighborhood school in the attendance area your child resides for each program location separately. A wait list will be formed, and students will be admitted as spaces occur until school starts. Spaces for 5th grade at all locations are limited and families currently on the established wait lists will be contacted to fill any available spots.
The dates for the Mandatory Informational Meetings:
Science Technology Magnet Program at Cascade Ridge Elementary https://connect.issaquah.wednet.edu/elementary/cascade/staff/science-tech-ca/
Parents interested in having their student attend the Cascade Ridge program should attend the informational meeting in the Cascade Ridge multipurpose room on Thursday, February 27 from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. We encourage you to bring your 3rd grade student (no siblings please) to this presentation. Current students will be present to answer questions as well.
Science Technology Magnet Program at Briarwood Elementary
https://connect.issaquah.wednet.edu/staff/briarwood/sci-tech
Parents interested in having their student attend the Briarwood program should attend the informational meeting in the Briarwood Commons on Thursday, March 5 from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. You are encouraged to bring your 3rd grade student (no siblings please) to this presentation. Current students will be present to answer questions as well. Science Technology
Magnet Program at Clark Elementary
https://clkscitech.weebly.com/
Parents interested in having their student attend the Clark program should attend the informational meeting in the Clark multipurpose room on Monday, March 9 from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. We encourage you to bring your 3rd grade student (no siblings please) to this presentation.
The Science and Technology Magnet Programs are located at Briarwood, Cascade Ridge and Clark Elementary Schools and provide the standard district curriculum for those grades with a stronger emphasis on science and technology. The mission of the program is to engage students through collaborative innovative problem solving that applies to real world situations. The program educates students through the intentional integration of science and technology, empowers students by fostering curiosity and discovery, and supports students to persevere through challenges.
The Science and Technology Magnet Programs serve approximately 25 students per grade in a multi-age classroom. Fourth grade students continue in the program the following year as 5th grade students. Both boys and girls are welcome and thrive in the classes. Typically, successful students are independent learners, enjoy inquiry learning and work well in a team situation.
Due to very high demand for these choice programs families are asked to select and apply to only one school’s program. Transportation to each program is the responsibility of the families.
Applications for the enrollment lottery are currently being offered to district 3rd grade students for the 4th grade openings next year in all programs. Students will be selected through a lottery from all district elementary schools with an attempt to balance the enrollment between schools. Spaces will be assigned by the neighborhood school in the attendance area your student resides for each program location separately. After classroom lists are selected, a wait list will be formed, and students will be admitted as spaces occur until school starts. Spaces for 5th grade at all locations are limited and families currently on the established wait lists will be contacted to fill any available spots. All siblings, including twins, will be considered individually in the lottery.
Families who intend to participate in the enrollment lottery must attend one of the informational meetings. Application forms are only available at the informational meetings and will be distributed at the conclusion of the evening’s presentation. The only exception to this requirement is for returning families who have had a student previously enrolled in the program. For those families, attendance at the informational meeting is not required. Enrollment lottery applications forms may be obtained at your neighborhood school’s office. Application enrollment forms must be returned no later than Monday, April 20, 2020, to the District office. All application enrollment forms received by Monday, April 20 by 4:30 PM will be treated equally in the lottery. Application enrollment forms received after the deadline will be dated in the order received and placed on the wait list following students placed initially from the original lottery. The Science and Technology Magnet Program lottery is scheduled for Wednesday, April 22, 2020 at 2:30 PM at the King County Library building located at 960 Newport Way NW, Issaquah 98027.
Placement letters will be sent home in May. Please do not contact the schools, teachers or the District office for lottery results. This information will be sent by US mail only. Verify your address in Family Access.
Program Offerings The Issaquah School District offers three Science and Technology Magnet Programs, serving 4th and 5th grade students in unique multi-age classrooms. Each magnet serves 50+ students in a two-year program. Each program covers all standard 4/5 district adopted curriculum, with an added emphasis on science and technology. Grade specific math instruction is provided.
Magnet programs are located at Briarwood, Cascade Ridge and Clark, Elementary schools, with each program fully integrated into the school. Each school offers expanded science – technology learning opportunities. Teaching Approaches and Student Learning Magnet programs are housed in joined classrooms and instructed using a team teaching approach. This setting builds collaboration skills and promotes a strong sense of community. At the same time, the larger classroom setting necessitates organizational strategies that help develop student independence. Additionally, the larger class size allows for large whole group discussions offering unique opportunities to develop listening, critical thinking and oral presentation skills. Learning stations are used to target specific curricular goals. Students often work in small groups to provide focused, individualized instruction; this practice is supported by numerous parent volunteers.
Coverage of curriculum is rigorous. Project-based learning, with a variety of product options, is a key component of the magnet philosophy. Projects are designed to incorporate many subject areas (including language arts, social studies, math and the arts) and involve the use of technology to increase student involvement and engagement. A variety of formats are used to promote literacy and writing skills across the curriculum, (such as Writer’s Workshop, Reader’s Workshop, and current events reporting). The district science curriculum, which includes engineering design, is expanded through the use of simulations, field trips, guest speakers and experiences focused on scientific process and investigation. All of these approaches are designed to encourage creativity and draw personal connections to realworld application of the concepts under study.
The dates for the Mandatory Informational Meetings:
Science Technology Magnet Program at Cascade Ridge Elementary https://connect.issaquah.wednet.edu/elementary/cascade/staff/science-tech-ca/
Parents interested in having their student attend the Cascade Ridge program should attend the informational meeting in the Cascade Ridge multipurpose room on Thursday, February 27 from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. We encourage you to bring your 3rd grade student (no siblings please) to this presentation. Current students will be present to answer questions as well.
Science Technology Magnet Program at Briarwood Elementary
https://connect.issaquah.wednet.edu/staff/briarwood/sci-tech
Parents interested in having their student attend the Briarwood program should attend the informational meeting in the Briarwood Commons on Thursday, March 5 from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. You are encouraged to bring your 3rd grade student (no siblings please) to this presentation. Current students will be present to answer questions as well. Science Technology
Magnet Program at Clark Elementary
https://clkscitech.weebly.com/
Parents interested in having their student attend the Clark program should attend the informational meeting in the Clark multipurpose room on Monday, March 9 from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. We encourage you to bring your 3rd grade student (no siblings please) to this presentation.
The Science and Technology Magnet Programs are located at Briarwood, Cascade Ridge and Clark Elementary Schools and provide the standard district curriculum for those grades with a stronger emphasis on science and technology. The mission of the program is to engage students through collaborative innovative problem solving that applies to real world situations. The program educates students through the intentional integration of science and technology, empowers students by fostering curiosity and discovery, and supports students to persevere through challenges.
The Science and Technology Magnet Programs serve approximately 25 students per grade in a multi-age classroom. Fourth grade students continue in the program the following year as 5th grade students. Both boys and girls are welcome and thrive in the classes. Typically, successful students are independent learners, enjoy inquiry learning and work well in a team situation.
Due to very high demand for these choice programs families are asked to select and apply to only one school’s program. Transportation to each program is the responsibility of the families.
Applications for the enrollment lottery are currently being offered to district 3rd grade students for the 4th grade openings next year in all programs. Students will be selected through a lottery from all district elementary schools with an attempt to balance the enrollment between schools. Spaces will be assigned by the neighborhood school in the attendance area your student resides for each program location separately. After classroom lists are selected, a wait list will be formed, and students will be admitted as spaces occur until school starts. Spaces for 5th grade at all locations are limited and families currently on the established wait lists will be contacted to fill any available spots. All siblings, including twins, will be considered individually in the lottery.
Families who intend to participate in the enrollment lottery must attend one of the informational meetings. Application forms are only available at the informational meetings and will be distributed at the conclusion of the evening’s presentation. The only exception to this requirement is for returning families who have had a student previously enrolled in the program. For those families, attendance at the informational meeting is not required. Enrollment lottery applications forms may be obtained at your neighborhood school’s office. Application enrollment forms must be returned no later than Monday, April 20, 2020, to the District office. All application enrollment forms received by Monday, April 20 by 4:30 PM will be treated equally in the lottery. Application enrollment forms received after the deadline will be dated in the order received and placed on the wait list following students placed initially from the original lottery. The Science and Technology Magnet Program lottery is scheduled for Wednesday, April 22, 2020 at 2:30 PM at the King County Library building located at 960 Newport Way NW, Issaquah 98027.
Placement letters will be sent home in May. Please do not contact the schools, teachers or the District office for lottery results. This information will be sent by US mail only. Verify your address in Family Access.
Program Offerings The Issaquah School District offers three Science and Technology Magnet Programs, serving 4th and 5th grade students in unique multi-age classrooms. Each magnet serves 50+ students in a two-year program. Each program covers all standard 4/5 district adopted curriculum, with an added emphasis on science and technology. Grade specific math instruction is provided.
Magnet programs are located at Briarwood, Cascade Ridge and Clark, Elementary schools, with each program fully integrated into the school. Each school offers expanded science – technology learning opportunities. Teaching Approaches and Student Learning Magnet programs are housed in joined classrooms and instructed using a team teaching approach. This setting builds collaboration skills and promotes a strong sense of community. At the same time, the larger classroom setting necessitates organizational strategies that help develop student independence. Additionally, the larger class size allows for large whole group discussions offering unique opportunities to develop listening, critical thinking and oral presentation skills. Learning stations are used to target specific curricular goals. Students often work in small groups to provide focused, individualized instruction; this practice is supported by numerous parent volunteers.
Coverage of curriculum is rigorous. Project-based learning, with a variety of product options, is a key component of the magnet philosophy. Projects are designed to incorporate many subject areas (including language arts, social studies, math and the arts) and involve the use of technology to increase student involvement and engagement. A variety of formats are used to promote literacy and writing skills across the curriculum, (such as Writer’s Workshop, Reader’s Workshop, and current events reporting). The district science curriculum, which includes engineering design, is expanded through the use of simulations, field trips, guest speakers and experiences focused on scientific process and investigation. All of these approaches are designed to encourage creativity and draw personal connections to realworld application of the concepts under study.