Good News March 31, 2026

Congratulations to Decatur High School’s Jazz Band, who recently represented our district at the 29th annual Starbucks Hot Java Cool Jazz at the Paramount Theatre.

Decatur was one of just five Seattle-area high school jazz bands selected for this honor, and notably, the first school from the South Sound ever invited to perform at this prestigious event.

Our scholars performed for a sold-out audience of nearly 3,000 people at one of Seattle’s most iconic venues. This historic achievement is a testament to the dedication, artistry, and heart of our musicians and their director.

Watch their unforgettable performance here! 

Congratulations on an outstanding performance! We are FWPS Proud!

Congratulations to our 18 swimming and diving scholars from all four comprehensive high schools who competed at the 2026 WIAA 3A State Boys Swimming and Diving Championships.

Qualifying for the state meet at the King County Aquatic Center is a significant achievement. We are especially proud to recognize two of our scholars who placed in the top 10 in the state in their respective events.

Your hard work and performance represented our district well. Congratulations to all our state competitors and coaches on a successful season! We are FWPS Proud!

We are proud to recognize Brenda Bargelt, Data Secretary for the Truman Campus, who was recently named the Washington Education Association (WEA) Education Support Professional of the Year. This prestigious statewide honor is the highest level of recognition for education support professionals in Washington, celebrating those who demonstrate exceptional professional practice, leadership, and a deep commitment to their school community.

As a data secretary, Brenda serves as the backbone of the Truman Campus. Known as the "heart of the office," she is celebrated for her tireless work behind the scenes and her ability to make every scholar and colleague feel seen and valued.

Brenda, your dedication to excellence embodies our "Better Together" spirit and highlights the vital role our staff play in helping every scholar thrive. Congratulations on this historic achievement! We are FWPS Proud!

Congratulations to our Federal Way Public Schools scholars who competed in the 2026 WIAA 3A State Girls Bowling Championships!

This year, 12 of our students advanced to the state level at Bowlero in Tukwila. We are especially proud to recognize Thomas Jefferson High School student, Laelah Tiquia who earned an incredible 2nd place finish in the individual standings.

Reaching the state stage is a significant achievement and a testament to your focus and skill. Your performance represented our district with excellence and pride.

Congratulations to all our state competitors and coaches on a successful season! We are FWPS Proud!

We are proud to recognize three outstanding scholars for their exceptional performance in the 2026 American Mathematics Competitions (AMC) 8.

This prestigious national contest challenges middle school students with high-level mathematical reasoning. Out of more than 80,000+ participants nationwide, these three students represent the very top tier of mathematical talent in our district.

• Tirufat Molla from Sacajawea Middle School, scored 19, a strong performance that puts her in contention for National Honor Roll.
• Michael Nguyen from Federal Way Public Academy, scored 17, a strong performance that puts him in contention for national honors.
• Declan Bunting from Federal Way Public Academy, scored 16, a strong performance that puts him in contention for the National Achievement Roll for 6^th graders.

Congratulations to our top scholars and all participants for representing our district so well on the national stage. We are FWPS Proud!

We are proud to recognize our Federal Way Public Schools gymnastics scholars for their outstanding performances at the 2026 WIAA 3A State Gymnastics Championships. This year, 28 talented students from all four of our comprehensive high schools qualified and competed at the state level, representing the highest caliber of athleticism and grace in Washington.

Our teams delivered an impressive showing, with Thomas Jefferson High School lacing 7th and Decatur High School placing 8th in the state team standings. We also celebrate several individual achievements, including two additional scholars who placed in the top 10. We are especially thrilled to recognize Rylee Cabang from Thomas Jefferson High School, who was crowned a State Champion in the individual beam and earned 2nd place in the individual bars.

Your achievements reflect the hours of dedication, precision, and school pride you bring to the gym every day. Congratulations to all our gymnasts and coaches on a historic season and for reaching the state stage! We are FWPS Proud!

Congratulations to our Federal Way Public Schools wrestling scholars for their outstanding performances at the 2026 WIAA 3A State Mat Classic XXXVII Boys and Girls Wrestling Championships! This prestigious tournament brings together the top student-athletes from across Washington to compete on the state's biggest stage. We are incredibly proud to announce that 59 scholars from all four of our comprehensive high schools qualified and competed at the state level this year, including 41 girls and 18 boys.

Our scholars demonstrated exceptional dedication and skill throughout the tournament, with eight students earning top-podium finishes. We would like to give a special recognition to our two state finalists: Marina Velasco-Bono from Federal Way High School, who earned 2nd place in the Girls 130 weight division, and Caleb Clemans from Todd Beamer High School, who earned 2nd place in the Boys 120 weight division.

Your achievements reflect the excellence, perseverance, and school pride that define our district. Congratulations to all our competitors and coaches on a remarkable season and for representing Federal Way Public Schools with such distinction at the Mat Classic! We are FWPS Proud!