Good News April 28, 2026

We are thrilled to celebrate Renia Papadimas, a dedicated educator at Thomas Jefferson High School, who was recently named the Best High School Teacher in the 2026 Best of Federal Way awards.

This community-driven honor, hosted by the Federal Way Mirror, reflects the deep impact Renia has on her students and colleagues alike. Her commitment to excellence in the classroom exemplifies what it means to be an "Opportunity Maker" for our scholars.

Congratulations, Renia, on this well-deserved recognition from our Federal Way community! We are FWPS Proud!

We are proud to recognize 16 of our schools for their incredible leadership in implementing sustainable composting systems. Since our district-wide launch six months ago, our scholars and staff have diverted over 280 tons of organic waste from landfills, the equivalent weight of six grey whales!

We want to celebrate 12 of our elementary schools and four secondary schools for their dedication to this program. We would like to give a special highlight to Sunnycrest and Lakeland elementary schools, who have gone above and beyond by successfully integrating composting into their Breakfast in the Classroom programs as well.

Your commitment to environmental stewardship and waste reduction is setting a powerful example for our entire community. Thank you for your hard work and for leading the way toward a greener future!

Congratulations to our scholars who competed in the 5th annual Thomas Jefferson Invitational Speech and Debate Tournament! 

This year, 52 competitors from five of our schools participated in this culminating event, where they were mentored and judged by our high school speech and debate leaders. We are proud to announce this year’s school champions: Nautilus K–8 earned the Elementary School title, and Sacajawea and Lakota Middle Schools tied for the Middle School Championship!

We also want to celebrate our top overall speakers: Evelyn Buchan from Lakota Middle School, who took first place in three categories, and Charli Davis from Nautilus K-8, who earned first place in two categories.

To all 21 scholars who earned "Superior" ratings and competed with such courage and skill—we are so proud of you. 

Congratulations on your excellence in communication! We are FWPS Proud!

Congratulations to Federal Way High School Thespian Troupe 3541 for their historic success at the Washington State Thespian Festival in Seattle!

A group of 29 scholars represented our district with absolute excellence. The troupe’s mainstage cutting of The Diary of Anne Frankwon an Excellent rating, but the highlights didn't stop there. After a perfect 100-out-of-100 presentation on their outreach and artistry, Troupe 3541 was named an Honor Troupe and won Gold!

We also want to celebrate two outstanding adults who support our theatre program. Parent volunteer Rhonda Widger received the “Service Above Self” award, and substitute teacher Jessica Morse was honored with the “Inspirational Teacher” award.

Congratulations to our actors, technicians, and supporters for this phenomenal "Gold" achievement!

Congratulations to our FWPS scholars for their incredible creativity and technical skill in the 8th Annual STEAM Film Festival: Opportunity Makers!

This year, we received 18 impressive submissions from across the district. These scholars were challenged to produce two-minute films that explored the world of STEAM—Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics. Through their lenses, we saw imaginative storytelling and high-level production in the categories of Animation, Live Action, and Documentary.

We are so proud to celebrate these elementary and secondary winners who went above and beyond to showcase their artistry and innovation. Your work reminds us that when creativity meets technology, the possibilities are endless.

Animation Category: Noe from Internet Academy

Live Action Category: Carly and Chloe from Kilo Middle School

Documentary Category

Elementary Winner: Theo, Raihaan, Fetu, and Tenant from Meredith Hill Elementary

Secondary Winner: Victoria and Guadalupe from Todd Beamer High School

Congratulations on this outstanding achievement! We are FWPS Proud!