Anna Coughlin, 9th grade
Sam Sparks, 10th grade
Hannah Rudberg, 11th grade

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE

School Clubs and Groups

As the school culture develops, we are seeing the formation of many more clubs and groups. We encourage students to think of new activities and make suggestions to a staff member or me. As long as they don't conflict with District requirements, we will try to make them happen. To date almost a dozen groups have become active.

Our new Theatre Sports group has already finished competition for the year. The Debate and Model United Nations clubs have had many meetings - our Model U.N. team is among the largest in the state! We are fortunate that Cathy Bleeker volunteered to work with a vocal ensemble two days a week before school. Cathy is a former Bellevue High School choral teacher. The Dragon Singers have already been asked to sing at two events. Señor Murphy and a parent, Andy Edwards, are guiding a dedicated yoga group every Tuesday morning (at 7:20 a.m.!) and Señor is planning an aerobics class on Tuesdays from 4 - 5 p.m. Another group that meets once a week is the new multimedia club, guided by parents Jennifer Smith and Dianne Butler. Ultimate Frisbee was suggested last year as an excellent outdoor activity. But until I met with students Mollie Price and Celia Reed, I wasn't sure we could get it going. Now we have a lead on a coach and I am looking into practice locations at the Stadium and on the Seattle Center campus. We hope this activity will be ready to go next spring. Denise Sobieralski has started a Game Club that meets on Thursdays at lunch in her room. Club members can play checkers, chess and other board games. All students are welcome. If we don't have enough games, we'll get more! Our dedicated Book Club members meet with Christopher Drajem during lunch to discuss the novel they're reading. See the new student insert for more about clubs.

I also want to mention the Tutoring program now being sponsored by the National Honor Society, with the assistance of Bethany Spinler and Denise. Students who would like some help with their subjects can sign up for a student tutor on the special bulletin display in the hall. Tutoring is available every day of the week after school, and tutors sign a contract to help a student at least once a week. They also promise to come prepared to use the time to assist students - not to socialize; and to help students improve their understanding and skill - not to do their homework for them. We are very grateful to the tutors for giving their time to help others.

All of these activities make The Center School a place where students feel connected and happy to be here.

— Judith Peterson, Principal

TEACHER PROFILE

Rebecca Anderson, Administrative Assistant

Rebecca (Becki) Anderson is a Seattle native who attended Olympic View Elementary, Mercer Middle and Ingraham High schools. Prior to coming to The Center School last year, she was the Office Assistant at Dearborn Park Elementary school on Beacon Hill.

"I love working with the students and staff," she said. "These kids definitely have a special place in my heart." There is a certificate of appreciation from students and families displayed near Becki's desk that neatly sums up her role here:

"In gratitude for herculean efforts, creativity, dedication, innovation and myriad contributions beyond any expectations in establishing a new arts-focused high school and ensuring its success during its inaugural year." Ms. Peterson echoes this praise, "With no high school administrative experience, Becki stepped into the ultimate 'multi-tasking' role. She's our registrar, bookkeeper, attendance secretary, principal's administrative assistant, counselor's secretary, and more. She began this job last year a week before school started, and hasn't slowed down since. It isn't unusual to see Becki at school late at night and on weekends. She has a special knack for relating to students-crucial, since her office is right out in the open. Kids really like her, as evidenced by the notes and personal accolades she receives." Outside of TCS, Becki loves to hang out with her daughter Kayla. They have a cat named 'Toto' and a fish named 'Nick'. She also enjoys listening to music, watching movies, shopping, biking, hiking, reading and dancing.

NEWS FROM OUR COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION

We began our November 4th meeting with several reports. Student representative Mollie Price told us that the National Honor Society wants to raise money for a scholarship fund to help students obtain expensive school supplies, such as calculators.

Four School Improvement Committees updated us on their progress. Please see Wendy Graff's article about the Community Relations Committee elsewhere in this newsletter. Carol Hepburn, our Vice President and Volunteer Coordinator, distributed booklets listing volunteers categorized by task. We appreciate this handy resource!

The CSCA approved several funding requests: $600 for an anti-bullying assembly featuring the dance group TURF (date TBA); $200 for the Reflections art program; and $150 for our own TCS website. We also approved our Standing Rules for the year and formed a sub-committee to amend the CSCA budget.

Detailed minutes of our meeting are available at the school. Remember, CSCA board meetings are open to all, so join us whenever you can! Our next meeting will be Monday, December 2 at 5 p.m

— Teru Lundsten, CSCA President

Treasurer's Report

As Treasurer, I collect and distribute funds for the CSCA. I handle dozens of transactions including Krispy Kreme sales, yoga tuition, performance room rental, PTSA memberships, ski bus payments, and newsletter production costs.

We've become so busy in such a short time! Funding requests for new activities roll in with great frequency and we hope to be able to grant them. One of my favorite tasks is processing the donations to CSCA. So far this year we've received about $7,500 in response to our fundraising letter to you. About twenty percent of the money came in on bankcards, so I'm glad we are able to offer that option. Thank you all so much.

I received notice from a few employers about matching funds, but I'm not sure all of them will let us know. If you made a donation that your employer is matching, please send a short message with your name and the amount to me at oondahlee@mac.com or call 206-725-5931. This will help us budget accurately.

Another option for giving is the United Way, which is still going strong in this area. You can indicate your charity of choice by simply writing in 'Center School Community Association' on the designation line. The United Way will insert the appropriate ID number. The school budget is being gouged by the District, so please support your student's education as much as you can.

Andy Edwards, CSCA Treasurer

Community Relations Committee

The Community Relations Committee focuses on building community within the school, especially among parents, and reaching out to the larger world, including middle schools. As part of the Public Relations Sub-Committee, Georgi Krom and Michael Richards, with photographers Grace Reamer, Brian Vance and student David Krom; have already developed a beautiful new brochure that will help us spread the word about TCS. Other public relations efforts include distributing press releases about information nights and other newsworthy TCS happenings.

As part of our focus on building more community among parents and guardians, we're planning some parent education and dialogue nights where we can get to know each other and learn from each other. In addition, we are offering support for events that showcase student talent.

We'll don our recruitment hats in earnest after winter break when we contact Seattle middle schools. Because TCS is new and unique in the District, it is important for a representative to be at middle schools to answer questions and, if needed, dispel myths. This personal outreach is best done by staff and students, but the Community Relations Committee provides logistical and back-up support for these crucial efforts.

We meet approximately once a month. If you want to help these ideas reach fruition or just want to find out more, please contact me at wendyg@seanet.com.

Wendy Graff, Community Relations Committee

ART IS THE ROOT WORD OF HEART:
Spotlight on Visual Art

I believe there is a reason the Art room was constructed in the center of The Center School. At the heart of the school, this class beats with the energy and creativity of each student who enters. In our own hearts, engaging in art generates joy -- the satisfaction of crafts, the discovery of details, the sensation of controlling paint or clay as you choose. On the most fundamental level, the experience is awakening, exploratory ... and transforming.
Visual Art is a semester-length elective course for sophomores and juniors. Freshmen have art for a quarter. It is an introduction as well as an exploration into visual art. Students learn to appreciate, as well as create!

This is a hands-on class, so attendance and participation in classroom activities and projects are vital to students' success. Initially. the class follows a syllabus of drawing, painting, and crafting, with in-class assignments. In addition, we cover design, typography and calligraphy, jewelry-making, monoprinting, bookmaking, textile arts ... and more! As sophomores and juniors, students have more latitude to initiate individual art projects, once they meet the original class requirements.

Students are also expected to visit a gallery, art museum, or collection of art, and compose a short paper on one painting or drawing of interest. Classroom curriculum will provide students with the vocabulary to discuss works of art in terms of artistic qualities, not just "I like it because it is pretty." Opportunities for free museum and gallery openings are announced, but this is an out-of-school assignment (homework!). Art students maintain a sketchbook. Each week they complete two sketches, one per page and turn their sketchbooks in for credit.
The artistry expressed by students continually dazzles me. There is abundant talent at The Center School. Every time these students pause to really see, the outcome is really fine work.

They are an active, energized, opinionated bunch -- teaching art at The Center School is anything but a still life. (...and I thought Dance kept me on my toes!)

Wyn Pottinger-Levy, Artist-in-Residence

Students Speak Up for Human Services

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it is the only thing that ever does." ---Margaret Mead

Juniors in Jon Greenberg's class worked for a month and a half learning how to change their world by researching the county and city budgets, particularly the proposed change in funding for human services. The project started off with a bang by sending students out to look at various human services organizations equipped with the philosophy that it is unjust to cut funding from an organization unless you visit and understand exactly what it does.
Forty articles, six guest speakers and numerous class discussions later, the Juniors made their first appearance at a King County budget hearing in late October. Armed with extensive knowledge of the county budget and the council members, plus creativity and fervor for their message, the Juniors took to the podium. Facing the council members, students explained their positions on human services and the budget via song, poetry, story and powerful visuals. More than once, council members told students that these were the best presentations the council had ever seen.

Backed by the success and magic of the King County hearing, the Juniors took the stand once more, this time at the city level. Unfortunately, only a few groups of students had time to present in front of the city council. However, the mark left by the groups who did present was unmistakable when the council decided, a few weeks later, to restore nearly all human service funding for the 2003-2004 budget. Still, the Juniors did not let up. The final stage of the project was informing the public of the students' opinions about the budget and convincing the Seattle community to act on their behalf. Juniors put up flyers around the city and organized a letter-writing campaign at school, which produced more than thirty letters from staff and students explaining their positions on the human services budget. As the project dwindled down, Juniors took time to reflect on what they had done. They had changed their world.

Mollie Price, TCS Junior

Note: Our TCS website will soon have more on this exciting project, complete with news articles and pictures. TCS students Ashlin Spence, Olivia Park-Sargent, and Krista Coleman, Kristina Mageau, Anna Minard, and Matt Hepburn were quoted or mentioned in Seattle Times and Post-Intelligencer articles focusing on the related issues of homelessness and the city's budget challenges. You can find two of the articles on the web at…

seattlepi.nwsource.com

archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com


Counselor's Column
Career and College Resources

We have some new resources to share with everyone. During December advisories we will introduce students to a Career and College Information resource called WOIS. WOIS is a non-profit organization that researches and distributes information about careers, schools, and training programs in Washington State. We've set up an account with WOIS that enables students, staff and parents to use the online database. Use the directions below to explore WOIS (this account is for TCS students only, so please get the user name and password from the printed version of this newsletter, or contact Mr. Vance.)

1. Open your web browser.
2. Go to http://www.wois.org
3. Click on the 'online information' button in the upper right corner.
4. In the user name field enter: ********
5. In the password field enter: ********
6. Follow the link to career information or the portfolios.

We will be working with students to set up their career portfolios in December.

---Brian Vance, Counselor

Winter Ball

Winter Ball is coming December 14th! This formal dance will be held from 8:30 p.m. until midnight in the Snoqualmie Room at the Seattle Center. Buy your tickets now and help lower the cost of the yearbook! Couples tickets are $35; singles are $20. Parents - if you are interested in chaperoning, bringing cookies, or sparkling cider, please contact Kim Mullen at kjmullen@seattleschools.org or 252-9850.

Student Senate

Following a successful Halloween dance in which we had lots of students from every grade come in costume, the Senate worked on changes in the Constitution that provide for the election of class officers. This was approved by students and applications are now being submitted for class President, Secretary, and Treasurer. Campaigns are underway and elections will take place after Thanksgiving break.

New Projects

One of our winter projects is the paper drive. The school is unable to provide paper for the many students who need to print their class work using school printers. Students are faced with the option of either paying a fee or bringing their own paper. Since neither of these seems like a good alternative, we decided to have a paper drive contest between advisories. See below for details.

Another winter project will focus on the needy. We are planning a canned food drive through advisories. Please remember to give your student a donation of paper and/or canned food to bring to their advisories before the winter holiday break. We appreciate all of your support!
Finally, the Senate made a proposal to the faculty related to the restroom policy and time for snacks in school during the day. The faculty discussed the proposal and decided to revise the current policies based on the student requests - details follow below.

New School Policies

The Student Senate recently presented a proposal to the teachers regarding an overwhelming demand for changes in the school's bathroom and eating policies. The teachers and staff at The Center School have agreed to do the following:

1. Allow students to eat snacks during Advisory, but no sodas or coffee. No food or drink except water is allowed during classes, in halls, or the common areas. If students need to make up a test or meet with a teacher during lunch, they may bring their lunch with the teacher's permission.

2. Eliminate restroom pass restriction and replace it with a sign-in, sign-out sheet for students in classrooms wishing to use the restroom during class.

3. Change Wednesday's schedule to add a five-minute break to second block during which students can have a snack and/or use the restroom. Again, no sodas or coffee are allowed. These five minutes must be added on to the end of the day, meaning a dismissal time of 1:15 p.m. on Wednesdays.

All of the above are privileges that can and will be taken away if students abuse them. The "no gum" rule remains in effect.

Paper Drive

The Center School has an extreme dearth of paper this year. The Student Senate has decided to have a paper drive so students will not have to pay an extra fee or bring their own paper. The Advisory that collects the most paper for the drive will win a pizza party! Getting paper does not necessarily require you or your parents to go out and spend money. Talk to your parents about negotiating a paper donation from their company. Go to office supply stores and persuade them to give you a paper donation for your school. We need paper by the reams!

Get involved -- Join a Club!

Feeling bored and want to do something fun at school or during lunch? Join one or more school clubs! There are many different clubs at The Center School for students of all interests.

Book Club

If you are interested in literature, and would like to meet with other students who share your interest, join the Book Club. They meet in Mr. Drajem's room. Talk to Mr. Drajem or listen to the bulletin to find out when.

Theater Sports

This popular club is a crazy combination of comedy and competition. They meet Tuesdays and Thursdays after school. While the club is already well into their season, it would still be worth your while to check it out and think about being on next year's team.

Spirit Club

Ever wonder who comes up with all those sensational spirit days? Do you have some great ideas for improving school spirit? Then join the Spirit Club. They meet every Monday at lunch in Ms. Spinler's room, 454.

Vocal

The Dragon Singers currently meet Wednesday and Thursday mornings from 8 a.m. to 8:55 a.m. If you like to sing and are committed to attending every practice, this club is for you. Previous singing experience recommended.

Debate

The Debate team meets Thursdays after school. If you are interested, contact Ms. Pritchard.

HTML Club

The HTML club meets on Mondays after school, from 4:15 p.m. - 5:15 p.m. in the computer lab. They are currently working on individual websites and a new website for The Center School. This club is perfect for experienced web page designers as well as beginners.

~We also have a Model UN, early morning yoga classes, afternoon aerobics classes, and a Game Club. Ultimate Frisbee will start in the spring. Some students sponsored by the National Honor Society offer tutoring after school.

Remember that the list of clubs at The Center School does not have to be limited to the ones mentioned above. Creating a new club is as easy as 1, 2, 3. First, find six members interested in joining your club. Second, find a faculty advisor. Third, prepare a short presentation about your club to give in front of the Student Senate. Then, as long as they meet District requirements, the school can officially declare your club part of TCS!

Talk to your Advisory Representative

Your Advisory Representative does just what their title says -- they represent their Advisory, including YOU. If you have an issue or something about the school that you feel needs to be addressed, talk to your Student Representative. They will bring your input to the Senate where changes can be adopted to make the school a better place. But improvement can't happen without your input, so speak up.