The Future

Chief Sealth International High School fosters global awareness and academic success through a challenging and engaging curriculum in a safe and supportive environment.

New International School Designation

Chief Sealth has had a long-standing commitment to academic excellence for all.  We have a rich tradition of diversity and are committed to programs that support students from all backgrounds.  Our International Baccalaureate courses have global, cultural, and ethnic perspectives, and we have several partnerships with organizations and schools in both Asia and South America.   Many of our staff bring to the classroom a deep cultural awareness gained from travel, study or their own heritage.  Our World Languages department is one of the strongest in the district and we offer four language options for students and often have pioneered new language offerings.  

In 2009, our school was designated as an international school. This designation has three important components:

• Academic Excellence for All: Innovative and Culturally Competent Teaching and Learning 
• Global, Cultural, and Ethnic Perspectives & Partnerships 
• An Emphasis on World Languages 

Having this International School designation will open more doors for financial support and signals to business and government leaders our commitment to international education. 

Academics

International Baccalaureate

Chief Sealth High School is an accredited International Baccalaureate (IB) school entering its third year of full operation, offering IB courses and the full IB diploma program. In May, 2009, the first year that Sealth presented graduating seniors for exams, 57 students registered for 190 exams. Fourteen students attempted the full diploma, of which five received a diploma. Fifty six % of the students passed their chosen IB assessments and received IB certificates. 

In the current senior class (2010), 84 candidates are on track to take one or more examinations. The total projected exams for the class of 2010 is 220. Twelve of the students are attempting the full diploma. About an additional 100 students in the junior class (2011) are registered in one or more IB classes. Of those juniors, approximately fifteen will attempt one or more exams during the May, 2010 exam period. Twenty-five of those juniors are on track for the full diploma.

9th Grade Nation

The 9th Grade Nation Mentor Program provides upperclassmen support for the incoming freshman class. Students in 10th, 11th, and 12th grades compete for 40 positions as mentors and role models. A prospective mentor submits an application and completes an interview process before being selected to participate in the program. Each mentor attends three leadership workshops during their year as a mentor. The workshops are delivered by staff from One World Now! as part of a pilot YMCA program at Chief Sealth.

Each mentor is partnered with a staff Flight Advisor and they are assigned to the same five students. Mentors have access to a small budget of funds to use throughout the year, are required to connect with each of their mentees a minimum of twice a month, and are provided suggestions on ways to communicate and interact with their assigned students. End-of-semester and end-of-year celebrations are held as part of the program and mentors earn service learning hours.

Proyecto Saber

This one-of-a-kind bilingual/bicultural tutoring program was founded at Chief Sealth in 1970. Students in the Proyecto Saber class receive help in all academic areas as well as involvement in social and service activities. The goal of Proyecto is to provide a safe, productive, and welcoming environment where students can receive the help they need to be successful in school and in planning for their future. Proyecto Saber empowers students by promoting pride and self-esteem through culturally relevant projects, activities and cultural and historical presentations.

A main component of the Proyecto Saber program is the elective class that is offered five periods a day for .5 credits. The instructors are bilingual, speaking English and Spanish, and work with students one-on-one or in small groups to complete their homework and projects for their other classes. In order to receive an A in the class students are required to attend regularly, work on their homework daily, keep a record of their daily homework assignments and finished work, and complete special projects investigating their own backgrounds. Students may take the class as many times as needed and as their schedule can accommodate.

Career Programs

The Academy of Finance and the Academy of Travel and Tourism programs provide career pathways, internships, and employment. We also provide programs in Graphic Arts, Humanities, M.E.S.A., Events Marketing, Sports Marketing, Performing Arts, and Art/Ceramics/Photography, and Apprenticeship & Construction. 

The Confucius Institute

Confucius Institutes devote themselves to satisfying the demands of people from different countries and regions in the world who learn the Chinese language, to enhancing understanding of the Chinese language and culture by these peoples, to strengthening educational and cultural exchange and cooperation between China and other countries, to deepening friendly relationships with other nations, to promoting the development of multi-culturalism, and to construct a harmonious world

Arts & Music

Performing Arts Program

Beginning and honor courses are offered in choir, string orchestra, jaxx, marching and concert band, drama, stagecraft, and musical theater. Chief Sealth is the only high school in Seattle to have a Mariachi Band.

Activities

School clubs bring students of similar interests together in a spirit of social action, fun, learning, and improving our school, our communities, and ourselves.

• ACLU
• African Union
• Amnesty International
• Band Council
• Black Student Union
• Break Dancing
• Chinese Exchange Program
• Earth Service Corps
• Filipino Club
• Film Club
• Gay/Straight Alliance
• International Baccalaureate (IB) Club
• Japanese Art and Culture Club
• Key Club
• Krump/Step Club
• Latino Dance Group
• Manga Club
• MEChLA
• Mock Trial Competition
• Muslim Student Association
• Poetry Club
• Polynesian Club
• Psychic Club
• Save Darfur Club
• Seeds of Compassion
• Student Art League
• Vietnamese/ Chinese Club

School Publications

Students have the opportunity to participate in school publications, including the school newspaper The Southwester, published by the journalism class, and the yearbook, The Cache, published by the annual class.

After School Activities

Students who desire to enrich their lives by participating in activities that further their interests, hobbies, abilities, and social can participate in a number of after-school activities that are held once a week:

• Digital Photography 
• Urban Dance 
• Guerrilla/Street Art 
• Drumming and Percussion 
• The Art of Baking 
• A Guys’ Group without a Name 
• Video Production 101 
• Latin Voices 

Athletics

It is the mission of Chief Sealth High School to provide the resources necessary to empower coaches and student-athletes to maximize their personal and athletic potential, and to be prepared socially, academically and physically to be positive contributors to the community at large, both now and in the future. Everything we do assists us in developing first class student-athletes/teams and citizens. Our school’s athletic teams are the Seahawks, our colors are blue, white, and red, and our school spirit is high.

Chief Sealth International has the following sports teams:

• Baseball
• Basketball
• Cross Country
• Golf
• Gymnastics
• Football
• Soccer
• Softball
• Tennis
• Track
• Volleyball
• Wrestling
  

Basketball coach Colin Slingsby earned the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce's Westsider of the Year . In his acceptance speech, the coach said he was proud to be representing Chief Sealth, and the many improvements it’s made – not just in sports. He also won the Seattle Times Coach of the Year award this past season. And though basketball season is over, his work isn’t – Sealth is now looking ahead to their much-lauded Summer Basketball and Life Skills Camp this summer, the 14th annual edition, for 2nd through 9th graders.

Daniel Davis, Seattle Times Athlete of the Year

The four-time letter-winner played quarterback for the Seahawks and completed better than 50 percent of his passes, throwing for 977 yards and eight touchdowns. He also play basketball, averaging almost seven points for a Chief Sealth squad that played in its first Metro League title game since 2001. In addition to getting his fourth varsity letter, he coached the freshman team to an undefeated record. On the baseball team, he received a second-team All-Metro selection as a utility player played first base for the Seahawks, lettering for the fourth year and batting .372 with a home run and more than 20 RBI.