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April/May 2003 Messenger Newsletter Congratulations! ....to Our March Students of the Month Molly
Hayden , 9th grade PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE The war in Iraq brings new fears and concerns that cause us to revisit emotional responses to the many crises America has faced over the last few years. The District and we at TCS continue to monitor events as they develop. We want to assure you that we are doing everything we can to help our students remain physically and emotionally safe. These efforts include a review of our "All Hazard" emergency plans and procedures, which focus on resources and supplies, crisis communication systems, student education and support. Through our effective communications and discussions we can help our students as they struggle to make sense of this difficult time, learn to express their emotions and cope with stress. A set of "Tips for Talking with Children about Terrorism and War" was sent to every family along with a letter from the Superintendent. A link to this resource is available on the District's website at www.seattleschools.org. Feel free to ask your student's teachers, counselors, or our main office for additional advice if needed. The safety and well-being of your student is of utmost concern to all of us at TCS. If you have questions or suggestions, do not hesitate to stop by or call us at 252-9850. We will do all we can to answer your specific concerns. — Judith Peterson, Principal TEACHER PROFILE Donna Taylor Donna Taylor may hold the record for growing up closest to The Center School. She was born in Seattle in the colorful area of the Central District. She attended St. Mary's School for kindergarten through eighth grade, and then went to Asa Mercer for one year. During her three years at Franklin High School she also worked in the Counseling Office as a Teaching Assistant. "It seems like I have always worked with kids - elementary, middle school and now, high school," says Donna. She really enjoys the students at TCS, "They are smart, adventuresome, have true beliefs and are willing to stand up for themselves. They keep me on my toes and forever young. I love their hugs." Her passions are walking on the beach, breathing clean air, picking up beautiful rocks, beading, reading, trying to enjoy every adventure life brings and soul warming hugs. Donna has
three married sons and four grandchildren; along with a sister, a brother,
a niece, five nephews, and "two handfuls of true and wonderful friends."
She says, "They are all part of my family. They keep me honest and
happy and most important... They Give Great Hugs." OUR COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION The CSCA annual meeting and election of next year's CSCA Board were held April 28, 2003, just prior to the Student Senate-sponsored Student Talent show. Although publication deadlines preclude us from announcing next year's Board in this newsletter, we DO know that all will be working hard on behalf of TCS students and their families. In fact, the CSCA Board will hold its first planning retreat this summer. Our monthly board meetings are always jam-packed and we hope that having a bit more time to think and plan will allow us to work more strategically and efficiently next year. At the last meeting, the CSCA learned that the Winter Sports Program ended up in the black, and that we'll need another parent coordinator next year because of anticipated additional enrollment. We also learned that not enough students turned out for the Ultimate Frisbee team and that TCS hopes to field Cross-Country and Soccer teams next fall. Successful sports teams probably need the same kind of parent coordinator as Winter Sports, so if these community-building, PE-credit-building, and fun-building activities ring your chimes, please think about being a Team Sports Parent Coordinator next year. The CSCA approved funds for a case to display the dragon sculpture, generously donated by Dan Reeder and slated for installation by our front door. It also approved funds for the Honor Roll Breakfast.
— Wendy Graff, CSCA Co-President STAFF APPRECIATION HELP NEEDED We are looking for a parent volunteer to take on coordination of Staff Appreciation events next year-our chance to extend thanks and recognition to the wonderful teachers and staff of The Center School. Feeling thankful (and a bit energetic)? Contact Kathleen Brose at 282-9013, or e-mail at kbrose@attbi.com.
COUNSELING NEWS Running Start Running Start is a program available to Juniors and Seniors in Washington State that allows students to take college level classes at local community colleges to earn both high school and college credits. This program is unique to Washington State and I would advise interested students to take some time to think about the pros and cons. One of the pros is that students could earn both their Associates of Arts (A.A.) degree and their high school diploma by the time they graduate from high school. They could then transfer those credits to certain state public universities. Another pro is that students can accumulate high school credits fairly quickly. A five-credit college level class equals one high school credit. However, a few words of caution are necessary: Not all colleges in Washington State will accept Running Start credits and many out-of-state universities do not recognize these credits as college credits. There are a few other things to think about concerning Running Start:
Running Start is an option for some students who are ready to be responsible community college students. However, think about your study habits and your future plans before making this commitment. If you are interested in Running Start you should first contact the community college's Running Start office for information on the placement tests and registration. Feel free to contact Mr. Vance with any questions or visit the community college websites. Summer School We have just received the registration information for summer school in the Seattle School District. Seattle's summer school program is a credit retrieval program, that is, only students who need to make up credits can qualify. There are two different programs available. 9th Grade SOLE program - This program is targeted at developing essential reading, writing, communication and math skills. There is no tuition for this program but a counselor's signature is required. Class hours will be from 8:30-3:30, Monday-Friday at Garfield High School and will run from July 7 - August 1. We will recommend this program for students who do not pass 9th grade humanities (language arts and/or social studies). Students earn .5 Language Arts and .5 Math credits for successful completion. 10th Grade - The district does not offer any summer school options for 10th grade students. Tenth grade students who need to make up credits should see Mr. Vance for other credit retrieval options. 11th Grade - Credit retrieval classes are available for Juniors. Students can take one class for $175 or two classes for $350. All students must pay tuition and there are no scholarships available. The classes will take place at Garfield High School from 8:30-3:30, Monday-Friday, from July 7 -August 1. See Mr. Vance for registration material or for any questions regarding summer school. Applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration deadline is June 9. SAT/ACT Juniors During the WASL testing window April 21 - May 2, Juniors will be working on independent science portfolio projects, as well as meeting with Mr. Vance to review transcripts in preparation for Senior year. Please ask your son or daughter to share the graduation requirement worksheet with you. Summer Experiences Summer is a
great time for students to accumulate hours toward their physical education
and community service requirements. If possible, please have students
submit a pre-approval form for any summer activities that are already
planned. If that is not possible, be sure to keep a detailed log of the
activities and hours spent on these activities. All hours on the log must
be verified with the signature of the supervising adult. Pre-approval
forms are available on the bulletin board across from Mr. Vance's office. — Brian Vance, Counselor Quarterly
Arts Program: Media is one of the most important and influential forms of communication. That is never clearer than in times of war. Are you relying on the television news, a newspaper, or websites to find out what is happening in Iraq? How influential are the images you see from video or photographs? Do you believe you are getting the "truth"? Media is always subjective. The minute a photographer or filmmaker chooses what to put in a picture and what to exclude, what angles to use, what moment they are going to capture, they are telling you the story they determined is important. The Center School's multimedia program not only teaches students how to use these techniques to create their own media but also gives them a framework for looking critically at the media we all consume. By learning the arts of filmmaking, digital photography, web design, and graphic design, students create their own fiction and non-fiction media. The ninth grade intro class just completed their web zine, covering topics from the Iraq war, ballet, poetry, body piercings, and local architecture. Once students move into the advanced class they begin filmmaking. After watching several styles of documentary, students in last semester's class researched topics and created original films. They took on topics such as the influence of Barbie on body image, the realities of living with ADD, destruction of the rainforests, rap versus rock music, and all-ages dance clubs. The Center School's multimedia program provides a unique opportunity to students. It is one of the most comprehensive programs in the Seattle School District. Students have access to numerous digital still cameras, video cameras, audio equipment, and computers that can easily handle the demands of video editing. They also learn professional-level software such as Final Cut Pro and Photoshop Elements as well as html programming for the web. The combination of the media lab, the scope of the program, and the creativity of students creates a strong foundation for the next generation of media makers. -- Erin
Katz, Artist-in-Residence Honor Roll Breakfast Early on Friday
morning, March 28, more than 80 Honor Roll students, their parents and
guardians were treated to a delicious buffet breakfast and sincere congratulations
from the principal, teachers, and guest speaker, Andrea Allen,
Director of Education for The Rep. Mrs. Peterson thanked the gathering
for being "part of our grand adventure." She commended the students,
"We ask a lot of you and we really appreciate all the work you do.
The teachers and parents are proud of you. Your accomplishments will serve
you well." The complete text of Ms.Allen's thought-provoking speech can be found on the TCS website. Many thanks to Tanya Sorenson and Mrs. Peterson for coordinating this premier celebration. Thanks also to Ms. Anderson for creating the nifty Honor Roll certificates. Congratulations to all the Honor Roll students! Graduation Committee: Class of '04 Attention parents of Juniors! If you are interested in being on the graduation committee, please e-mail Kathleen Brose: kbrose@attbi.com or call: 282-9013. Special Education Resources If you are a parent of a special needs student, you should know about the Seattle Special Education Advisory & Advocacy Council (SEAAC). SEAAC meetings are held on the third Tuesday of each month from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m., at the Wilson-Pacific Building, 1330 N. 90th Street, in Room 307. There is a short business meeting at 6:30 p.m. The program starts at 7 p.m. Meetings are FREE and open to all members of the community. Contact SEAAC at seattleseaac@yahoo.com or (206) 252-4759. SEAAC meetings
and topics for the rest of the school year are May 20, Jane Eberle, Supervisor
for Related Services, Seattle Public Schools with Special Guests Patti
Bell and Lisa Remlinger, Endowment Trust Fund, ARC of Washington State;
and June 17, End of Year Celebration! Internship
Opportunities Office Corner Thanks to the
parents who responded to our call for office help: Barbara Radford, Sally
Needham, Rebecca Durham, Kathleen Hasslinger and Robin Randels. Parents & Guardians: Please contact Becki at randerson@seattleschools.org if your student will not be returning to TCS next school year. Third quarter report cards were to go home the week of April 28 via students. Any students who did not receive their report cards have an outstanding fine or textbooks due. Fourth quarter report cards will be mailed home the week of July 7th. If your student has any outstanding fines, report cards and credits will be held until fines are paid in full. Volunteers
for the School Safety Committee: We need help assembling emergency
backpacks with water, protein bars, emergency blankets, etc. for each
classroom. Please contact Becki for details. FIRST
ANNUAL DINNER AUCTION |
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