Blast | 2/13/12

Wednesday, May 23 2012

BLAST Information Center

BLAST Subscriptions

The Weekly Newsletter Published by the CSCA. A must if you want to know what is going on at Center (and in case you haven't noticed, teenagers are not the most forthcoming, so really, you'll know nothing without it.

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BLAST Article Ideas

Do you have an idea for a BLAST article?

We want to know what you know, and we want to know what you need. Send us your specific content, or your ideas for content. If you have Blast content to get out this week - please submit it by Friday at 3 pm. The Blast goes out late Sunday night, and covers school life for the following week.

Things we like to know:
- School News, in and out of the building
- Opportunities for Center School students (volunteering, classes, performances, etc)
- Student, staff and faculty accomplishments beyond the school.
- And the ever-favorite "misc."

By now you've seen the motley collection of stuff that qualifies for the Blast -- if you've got something that fits that very elastic category, send it in. Make sure you tell me what's going on, where and when it's happening, and how to get in touch with the people involved, if participation is the goal. And let me know how long you think it should run.

To submit news, events, or calendar items to be included in the Blast, send an email with subject line "News" to: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Event Submissions

If your happening or event has a time and place, is of general interest to the CSCA and TCS community, tell us about it. Your event will be listed on the CSCA site and appear in various places depending on your event category.

Basic Essential Event Information

Title: Title of your event. Should be an official name.

Date: When is it? Include all dates, start and end date.

Time: When, again. Please provide a Start and End time. If we do not have an official End time, we will estimate a reasonable length but would really rather not. Make a guess so we don't have to.

Event Description: The narrative description of your event, or, "the Blurb." What will happen at the event? Who will be presenting the event? Is someone of interest appearing, e;g., Superintendent, School Board Member, Principal, etc.? What do attendees need to know? This should be a brief overview.

Because date, time and venue are already published, this information is not as important in the description. Plan to restate date, time, and place after your blurb. If you restate title, date, time and place at the beginning of your blurb, it will be redundant for readers who will already have that information in the preceding text.

Place: Event Venue.
Where is it? Use official names, e,g. "Seattle Repertory Theatre," = good, "The Rep" = bad. Just assume your reader is unfamiliar with the area and may have to look up the address. In the case of the SRT, it is already in the system complete with the official address and automatic directions using Google Maps should the reader require the information. Complete, accurate information is crucial. Please include:

Address: - As in street address. Include city, sate and zip code at minimum.
Website URL: - As in internet address.
Images: If at all available - and they usually are. Bonus Points: Provide an image of the venue or space. These are usually readily available on the venue webpage. Simply right click on logos or images and download to your device and attach or send a link to the images.

Note that once an event venue has been entered, it is permanently in the system. Therefore a number of frequently used venues are already entered.

Additional Information (useful, but not required)

Event Contact: Name, email and phone

To add your event to the CSCA Calendar, email details to:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

If your event has a longer description or ties to broader issues, feel free to include it and submit the story to: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Deadlines

Deadline Submission Guidelines

Deadlines are just that, but for our purposes, events requiring less description. Deadlines will appear on the calendar for the day and time they are set to expire. Less information is required for deadlines. These are typically published to keep readers mindful - and provide them with a resource they can find - of important deadlines throughout the year. e.g., SAT Test Dates, Registration Deadlines for programs, colleges, what have you. The following information is necessary.

What's the Deadline? For example, SAT test sign ups, Financial Aid forms, register for this or that.

When: Date and Time necessary. When is it due? In the case of Mail-in, dated material, e.g., Postmarked by April 15th, 2012. Otherwise, provide time and date.

How do I meet the deadline: Describe what needs to be done to fulfill the deadline. e.g., All forms must be completed and postmarked by April 15, 2012, or, "delivered to the Hall of Arts and Sciences office located at room 267, University Building by 5:00 p.m. October 18, 2011. Admittedly, there are fewer "drop off" deadlines, but they exist.

Where can I find more information? Typically, this deadline notice is not the primary communication for readers. This is intended to be a courtesy reminder, therefore we don't need to provide in depth details in our notice. However, we should include a link to more information on the deadline. As the Deadlines tend to be nationally known in the case of SAT or ACT testing, providing a URL for the deadline is both easy and helpful to readers.

To add a deadline to the CSCA Calendar email the above details to:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

TCS & CSCA Event Calendar

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Blast | 2/13/12

CSCA 2011-2012 - The BLAST | The Center School Newsletter 2011-2012

View The BLAST Online | View BLAST Archives

13-19 February 2012

We're having some software difficulty, so this week's Blast may look like it was formatted with a pickaxe -- our apologies. Hopefully it will look much better by Wednesday -- can't really promise anything about the contents, though.

sandi kurtz

submitarticle@csca.thecenterschool.net
sandik@drizzle.com
206-523-6553

Center School Connections

The Center School - Center School
http://centerhs.seattleschools.org/

Center School Community Association (aka PTSA) - CSCA
http://csca.thecenterschool.net/

Facebook - Center School on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Center-School-Community-Association-CSCA/100811430005511

CSCA Meeting Minutes - CSCA Minutes
http://thecenterschool.net/csca/csca-board-2011-2012/csca-meeting-minutes.html

Center School Wish List - Wish List
http://csca.thecenterschool.net/file-downloads/cat_view/232-the-blast-2011-2012-file-downloads.html?orderby=dmdate_published

Report Volunteer Hours - tcshours@yahoo.com

Remember, to unsubscribe to this newsletter, click on the link at the bottom of the page to get to the CSCA website.

This Week at the Center School

The Regular Stuff
Homework Club meets after school Monday and Friday.
Coffee with Ms Britsova Friday 10 am at the Center House Starbucks

Fresh Faces in the House
There’s a tour for potential students on Wednesday 15 February, at 9 am, so everybody play nice.

Dragon Wear!
from Amalie Dieter
Everyone is welcome to order Dragon Wear (no, it’s not just for seniors), your entire family can order Dragon Wear if they want. Order forms are at the front desk or can be downloaded here, and are due by February 17th. This year’s Dragon Wear logo was designed by a senior, Skye Stewart, and it will be printed in black on the front of a red T-shirt and will be printed in white on the front of a black sweatshirt. The money will help pay for graduation and graduation night. There have been announcements every morning and signs are plastered all over the school, but not many people have returned their order forms to the front desk. We are going to need a lot more participation in order to make this a worth while fundraiser, so come on and show some dragon spirit!
http://csca.thecenterschool.net/csca-home/file-downloads/doc_download/126-dragon-wear-2012-order-form.html

Coming Attractions and Past Accomplishments

CSCA February Meeting Cancelled
from the CSCA board
The CSCA has a full plate in February; TCS Open House, several CSCA committee meetings, PTA workshops, and an untimely scheduling conflict with Valentines Day. Therefore, the CSCA February Meeting has been canceled. Something had to give. For those planning on attending the February meeting, please contact Sam Star to learn how you can volunteer for the CSCA. Our 13 March 2012 CSCA Meeting will be held as scheduled We want to invite any and all interested parents and guardians to participate in their student's education.

Credit Where Credit Is Due
from Madalyn Corbit, Center School Volunteer Recordkeeper
Hello TCS Friend, Family and Student Volunteers,
I am completing the compilation of first semester's volunteer hours and asking you all to think back (I know, and apologize for the imposition) and recall and report any hours you might have neglected to send to tcshours@yahoo.com. Alumni brunch? Send 'em in! Fund raising planning? Send 'em in! MUN Planning? You know the drill! It is of huge benefit for us to log the many, many hours that you all contribute, so if you could take a minute and shoot them over, that would be great.

Outside the Center School

Planning for an Arts Plan
The Seattle Public Schools are working with the City of Seattle and community arts organizations to create a new, comprehensive arts plan to increase the quantity and quality of arts education for all K-12 students. Right now, they’re at the research stage, so it’s time to register your opinions. The Center School is the closest thing that this district has to an arts high school -- please lend your expertise to the process. First thing -- take this (very) short survey, on priorities in arts education. Honest, it’s really short. https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2012SPSArtsPlan
Next thing -- come to the Arts Education Forum, Thursday 16 February, 6:30-8:30 pm at Seattle University for a panel discussion, along with Mayor Mike McGinn and Interim Superintendent Susan Enfield. http://www.seattle.gov/arts/education/forum.asp
And not the last thing, but the last thing for now -- come to one of the public meetings that will be held throughout the city in March to speak up about your specific ideas and needs. (sign up for notification in the survey above) Center School families know from experience how powerful the arts can be when they’re really a part of the classroom process, not just a sprig of parsley on the side of the plate.

PTSA Focus Day
from the Washington State PTSA
Even though the Washington Supreme Court has ruled that the Legislature needs to increase - not decrease - funding for education, it's still important to remind legislators that K-12 education and kids matter; our annual Focus Day does just that. The day will be informative and entertaining for children and adults. Join the Parade and Noon Rally on the steps of the Capital at Focus Day, Monday 20 February, 8:30 am - 2 pm, Olympia, WA. The day starts at 9:00am at the Urban Onion (across from Sylvester Park), with opening sessions and children's activities. The parade starts at 11:35, with the rally at noon on the Capital steps. Focus Day is free but please register to help with planning and materials. The agenda and registration form are available on the WSPTA website. You can also pre-order and purchase lunch for pick-up at the Urban Onion (360) 943-9242. Contact your legislators to make appointments. Save the date! Sign-up and show-up on February 20 to speak out for kids!
http://www.wastatepta.org/meetings/focus_day/index.html

The Wheels on the Bus Go On a Different Route
Most Center School students depend on Metro busses to get back and forth to school, so the route changes that the city is planning to implement beginning next September will have a big impact on our student body. Check the Metro website for an explanation about the changes, and a plethora of route maps, including the new Rapid Ride C and D lines from Ballard and West Seattle. And if you’ve got something to say about the changes, make sure you take the survey.
http://metro.kingcounty.gov/have-a-say/projects/restructuring-system.html

They Represent Us
State legislators are in the middle of their Olympia sessions, but are taking time our in the next couple of weeks to hold town hall meetings across the state -- take a moment to find out when your representatives are meeting, and bring your concerns, including K-12 education, to the table.
http://www.educationvoters.org/2012/02/07/legislative-town-hall/

Pain-free Writing Workshops
The denizens of 826 Seattle have devised several great writing workshops for teens who might balk at the usual essay assignments. Check here for their spring schedule, which includes “I’ve Made Up My Mind! Now Try to Change It…,” a workshop on persuasive writing, and sessions on making found poetry using everything from newspaper articles to sticky note messages.
http://www.826seattle.org/programs/workshops/

Beyond High School

SAT Preparation
from Karen Harmon, Center School Counselor
If your student will be taking the SAT, or other college-bound exams, soon, you might want to take a look at this article from the Seattle Times.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/education/2003976523_collwebsatprep.html

Last, But Not Least

I know that the current thing in arts marketing is the total package. It's not enough to have a great dance on stage or a fabulous painting on the wall -- you have to surround it with other elements to make an "experience" for the potential audience. But when the cafe at the art museum has to make a special menu to coordinate with their Gauguin & Polynesia show, I'm not sure I'm really looking forward to house-made spam.

"Executive Chef Craig and the entire culinary team have been working overtime to create French and Polynesian menu items inspired by Gauguin & Polynesia. Guests dining with us can enjoy crispy chicken salad with fried taro root, albacore póke, and homemade spam."

“I’d Like To Thank The Academy”
The Academy Awards are coming up at the end of the month, so here’s a little example, from another awards program, of how to say “thank you” should your name be called. Neil Gaiman, Outstanding Scriptwriting for Doctor Who's "The Doctor's Wife."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&;v=KzDuEooXruA

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CSCA Mission

The Center School Community Association (CSCA) works to support the students, teachers and staff of The Center School in Seattle, WA. Your membership and support makes this possible. Our goal is to provide our members with opportunities to help shape the present and the future of CSCA and The Center School through the sharing of ideas and experiences.