The Center School

February 2002 Messenger Newsletter
Volume 1, Number 4

Hats off to... Our Students of the Month

All members of the school community are expected to be honest in all communications and to take responsibility for their actions.

It is hard to believe that the time has arrived to introduce new students and parents to The Center School. We will add a new class of 75 ninth graders, and we also plan to increase next year's 11th grade, so that the numbers are balanced for each grade. (Because we enrolled more than 75 ninth graders this year, we will not open up next year's 10th grade class for new students).

The tiebreakers for assignments to this school are the same as for all other regular high schools. In the case of oversubscription, the tiebreakers, in priority order, are: siblings, integration (applied to 9th grade only), distance, and lottery. In our first year, the sibling and integration tiebreakers could not be applied since we did not have any students upon which these two could be determined.

With regard to siblings, younger siblings of students at The Center School who plan to continue will receive the sibling tiebreaker priority if they apply. This school had 16.8% minority and 83.2% non-minority on Oct. 1, so minority 9th graders who apply will receive priority over the others.

Information meetings have been scheduled for prospective 9th graders: March 5 and 19 at 1:00 p.m., and March 14 at 7:00 p.m. All three meetings will be held in the large room below the school at Sacred Heart.

A special meeting for new 11th graders will be held on March 5 at 6:30 p.m. This meeting will be in a classroom at the school.

In addition, we will attend information meetings at various middle and private schools in the area, and we will host a few tours of the temporary facilities (the new facility won't be ready for occupancy until August).

Thanks to Wendy Graff and the Community Relations Committee for organizing these events and for developing promotional materials for the school.

Ms. Sobieralski, or "Ms. Sobes," grew up in Orange County in southern California. She has lived in Seattle for ten years. She loves it here, as she enjoys all of the cultural opportunities the city offers. "There are great arts programs in this city with such diversity that it really opens the doors to learning about other cultures," she says. This is why she became interested in teaching at The Center School.

"To be able to incorporate art into learning integrates real life with academics in a meaningful way," she explains. "As students move through The Center School program and take part in a variety of arts, it will enhance their worldview. I continually strive to enhance my teaching, and this school will give students opportunities to experience learning in different ways."

Ms. Sobes' first teaching experience was at California State University in Long Beach. She taught Calculus while earning her Bachelor's degreee in Mathematics. She discovered that she loved teaching, and decided to pursue a career in education. She received her teaching certification and Master's degree in Education from Western Washington University in Bellingham.

This is her sixth year teaching. Before coming to The Center School she taught for five years at Pine Lake Middle School in Issaquah. She taught advanced math, Spanish, health, and physical education there. "I enjoy teaching a wide variety of classes," she says. At The Center School she teaches math, dance, and Interdisciplinary Studies.

"It has been very exciting opening a new school. Creating a new culture is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Having such a small school allows you to get to know your students and co-workers closely. My colleagues at The Center School are wonderful to work with and dedicated to creating the best program possible. I also have enjoyed getting to know the students and look forward to seeing their growth over the next few years.

"Working on the yearbook has been fun, too. It is a great way to connect with students outside of the academic atmosphere. Students worked very hard to meet the first deadline, showing incredible devotion by working during lunch hours and late into evenings. They are awesome! We also had fun putting on the first-ever Winter Ball, which we hope will become an annual tradition."

Ms. Sobes' interests outside of school include dancing, yoga, playing guitar, Brazilian drumming, and reading. She also enjoys playing with her two cats, Romeo and Juliet, who were a gift from a past student, and her new additions from a current student, a Gecko lizard and Cuban tree frog.

The CSCA board welcomes student representatives Mollie Price (11th grade) and Anna Talvi (10th grade). Our first meeting of the school year, scheduled for Oct. 7, was cancelled because of a power failure. We finally met on Oct. 17. Our agenda was very full. We discussed many issues, including class schedules, the ski program, the P.E. requirement and intramural sports, outside meetings, and fundraising. We made the following decisions:

We awarded $500 to the after-school Theatre Sports program,which was organized and is advised by parent volunteers Grace Reamer and Kevin Boze. The $500 is needed to pay for coaching provided by Unexpected Productions, and for competitive matches with other schools, which are coordinated by the theatre company.

We have been approached about putting paid ads in this newsletter. Mollie and Anna had several good ideas, one of which was to include a student insert in the newsletter, beginning with our next issue. The CSCA voted to have a "no ads" policy.

Detailed minutes of our meeting are available at the school and on the TCS website.

First semester ended Jan. 31. Report cards will be mailed before mid-winter break. If your student did not earn credit in some classes, contact me to discuss options for credit retrieval. Remind students that these grades will be on transcripts and will count toward GPAs.

Other than art classes and an adjustment in math classes, students will remain with the same teachers for second semester.

After our successful exchange with students from Bogotá, Colombia (see Mr. Greenberg's article), several students have inquired about student exchange programs. I have ordered materials from organizations that coordinate exchanges. If this is something you may have interest in pursuing, see me or visit the various websites for student exchange programs. As there are several organizations, I recommend that you do extensive research before deciding which one to work through. You will need to work closely with me to insure that your student will still earn the credits needed for graduation. It may take some hard work and sacrifices to make it work, but the experience will most likely be unforgettable.

Looking for ways to help you parent your adolescent? Check out Love and Logic. Authors Foster Cline and Jim Fay have created strategies that make sense, and work. Check out their website at www.loveandlogic.com. As a staff we are utilizing some of the strategies and language they have developed. I think you will find them helpful, too.

Recently in our student Senate meetings, we discussed and acted on two important issues. The first order of business was the "Warm and Woolly" drive. The response to the drive was substantial: 92 articles of clothing were donated. The response to our first event will help us project the response to our future events.

The second thing we addressed, with the help of some willing students and their advisor, Mr. Drajem, was our school's need to celebrate diversity. Although the school's populace does not seem outwardly diverse, it is important to remember that our differences are deeper than just race. Peoples' differences, be they racial, sexual, or religious, are what make each of us original. At a school that is seen as different by many, we should learn more about our individual differences. The Senate welcomes our newest club, the Diversity Club. The Diversity Club needs a parent sponsor!

If you are a parent who wishes to be involved with any club, the Senate will post new club listings and would appreciate your help.

A final note: The first issue of "Almost Off Center," the student newspaper, went to press on Dec. 19.

The Seattle Parks & Recreation Department's Urban Forestry Program is restoring natural areas in city parks. Center School students can help!

Work includes cataloguing existing vegetation; removing invasive plants; designing a balanced, sustainable forest; planting new trees and shrubs; and trail building and maintenance.

If your student is interested in becoming an environmental steward, as an individual or with a group, contact me at 323-2731 (home), 684-4532 (work), or annhirschi@ hotmail.com. We can help arrange for service learning credit.

Two more parents have joined the CSCA board: Carol Hepburn, who has labored over our bylaws, and Andrea "Andy" Edwards, who will serve as our Treasurer. Welcome to you both!

Please see the enclosed ivory sheets for minutes of the Dec. 3 and Jan. 7 meetings.

Twenty-seven people attended our "volunteer job fair" on Dec. 11, many of whom signed up to help The Center School in a variety of ways.

Four School Improvement Committees were formed, which include both parents and staff. Serving on the Budget & Facilities Committee will be Christopher Drajem, Anni Fuller, Steve Krom, Kim Mullen, Deb Schlenker (chair), Brian Vance, and Wendy Winslow-Nason.

Members of the Community Relations Committee are John Barker, Wendy Graff (chair), Georgia Krom, Judy Peterson, Grace Reamer, Linda Softing, and Deborah Valentine-Barker.

Members of the Development Committee are Dan Alter, Winnie Bachwitz, Kathleen Brose, Blair Butterworth, Don Miles, and Judy Peterson.

Finally, members of the School Culture Committee are Sue Bridenstine, Christopher Drajem, Carol Hepburn, Pam Miles, Julia Murray, Carolyn Reynaud, and Cinda Weber.

In addition to these committees, other groups were created as well. These include a Staff Appreciation Committee, composed of Kathleen Brose, Jane Campbell, and Pam Miles; and a Tenth Grade Parent Group, composed of Winnie Bachwitz, Sue Bridenstine, and Kathleen Brose.

Jane Campbell and Ruth Egger will coordinate student community service; Winnie Bachwitz will help establish and facilitate meetings of the National Honor Society; and Gail Anderson and Brayton Bailey will tutor on Wednesdays.

Note: All of these groups would welcome more members, and there are many more volunteer needs as well. If you couldn't attend the Dec. 11 meeting but still want to help, please contact Teru Lundsten at 284-9158 or tolundsten@attbi.com. One need, we might add, is a volunteer coordinator.

The Development Committee needs assistance on several fronts. We need parents to help design and construct golf "holes" for the "Ultimate Miniature Golf" fundraiser we are planning for the spring; parents with professional childcare experience for another possible fundraiser; and parents interested in general fundraising.

Finally, if you are a 10th grade parent, please join our 10th Grade Parent Group — there are only three of us now.

If you would like to help us meet any of these needs, please contact me at 283-4371 or editor@eskimo.com.

Can you help during Teacher Appreciation Week? We would be grateful for small donations of cash, baked goods, and ideas to make this fun for the staff.

Is there anyone out there who has an espresso machine and is willing to come in one morning and make beverages for the staff?

On Jan. 14, Monday brought more than a new week. For students at The Center School, it brought education that no textbook could provide.

The arrival of 20 students from Bogotá, Colombia, infused the school with laughter, energy, and cultural insight. Most of our visitors, ages 14 to 17, attend a private, all-girls school called Colegio Santa Francisca Romana. The purpose of their visit to the U.S., which also included stops in Denver and Tacoma, was to educate American schools about their culture and current issues in their country.

Generous families of The Center School students hosted our visitors during their 5-day stay in Seattle, which culminated in a performance of traditional songs and dances from different regions of Colombia.

The visitors worked with students in Spanish and Humanities classes, both of which had already integrated Colombia into the curricula. Students were struck by the many likenesses between the two cultures. "I found a great deal more similarities than I thought I would," said student Kimiko Utsunomiyo.

At the same time, however, many were surprised by distinctive elements of Colombian culture, such as their passion for dancing. Student Nick Egee marveled, "I knew that dancing was part of their culture — but wow!" Most importantly, the week provided a chance to share, dispel stereotypes, and understand one another better.

By week's end, there was only one complaint: their stay was too short. When asked to rate her experience from 1 to 10, student Anna Minard rated it 25.

On Jan. 22 in the Seattle Center House, students from The Center School opened their first public art exhibit entitled "Art is an essential part of life: An inter-disciplinary exploration." It is open to the public through Feb. 3.

Students worked on elements of this project for two months. After seeing Seattle Rep's production of Proof, they researched different types of "proofs" from scientific, historical, and mathematical perspectives. Then they created their own artistic proofs in response to the statement, "Art is an essential part of life."

Themes include art history; psychological responses to art, including art therapy; the connections between graffiti, hip-hop, and skateboarding; the portrayal of women in the music industry; the importance of celestial stars in art; the role of art in marketing and fashion; counter-culture artistic responses; and many more. Approximately 50 displays were installed.

This was an all-school undertaking. In addition, some students will work with playwright Elizabeth Heffron and me to create and perform a new production. It will be performed in the Center House's theater Apr. 4 at 7:30 p.m. and Apr. 5 at 10:30 a.m. Working with post-college interns from Seattle Rep's Professional Arts Training Program, students will learn about theater design and marketing as they create props, costumes, and publicity materials around the play.

Our collaboration with The Center School has gone so well this first year that we are already planning for a deeper partnership next year.

Mr. Drajem's Humanities students invite you to an evening showcase entitled "Wild Notes & Arresting Images" on Thursday, Feb. 28, at 7:00 p.m. in the Seattle Children's Theatre East Rehearsal Hall. (Please enter on the east side of the building at the Technical Pavilion entrance.)

This is the culmination of their study of American civil rights. Each student researched a specific event of civil rights abuse or resistance, and created a response to the struggles and triumphs of oppressed individuals throughout the Americas.

The students will present poetry, short fiction, music, visual art, film, and a dramatic performance. Please come!

If you have questions, or can provide food for the evening's reception, please contact Mr. Drajem at the school.

Morning yoga classes will be offered during second semester. Instructors will be Spanish teacher José Murphy and parent Andy Edwards. The fee is $2 per class, to help defray rent and the cost of yoga mats and blankets that the school purchased. The class is open to 20 students, who will earn P.E. credit.

Classes will be Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 7:30 to 8:30, starting Feb. 5, in Room C, 4th floor, above the Food Court in the Center House.

Yoga practioners tie the mind to the body using breath. Yoga can increase stamina, alertness, focus, and feelings of well-being. It stretches and strengthens the body, and helps prevent injuries.

If your student is interested in taking yoga, please contact Señor Murphy at the school, or Andy Edwards at 725-5931 or oondahlee@mac.com.

Is your student interested in a career in marine science? On Sat., Feb. 9, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Seattle Aquarium will host "Ocean Career Day." There will be representatives from many organizations, and career-related presentations by aquarium staff. Students can even learn where to volunteer while in high school. It's free and no RSVP is needed!

Thanks To. . .
Darryl Price for talking about the Community Relations Committee at our Dec. 11 "volunteer job fair;" Ann Hirschi for offering students service learning in urban forestry (see "Plant a Tree!"); and John Barker, Sue Bridenstine and Wendy Graff for creating The Center School's brochure.

Special thanks to Veda Cassity for her not-so-random act of kindness. An unknown passer-by at the post office, she helped me put extra stamps on our last newsletter issue. (TOL, Ed.)

A. Because at Sacred Heart all the rooms are carpeted. We will offer art next year, in the new space, where there will be an uncarpeted room with drip-friendly floor space.
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