Blast | 9/19/11

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 | 9/19/11

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

19-25 September 2011

Get yourself a snack and a cup of something warm, this is a long one. But there’s a treat at the end.

sandi kurtz

submitarticle@csca.thecenterschool.net

sandik@drizzle.com

206-523-6553

Center School Connections

The Center School - http://www.centerschoolseattle.org/

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

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

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

Curriculum Night - Now With Pre-show Events and After Party

This Tuesday (20 September) follow along in your student’s footsteps for Curriculum Night -- meet their teachers, hear a llittle bit about what goes on in the classroom and learn what’s in store for the academic year. If your child has a tendency to answer “stuff” when you ask what they did in school during the day, here’s a chance to find out what “stuff” actually is. Presentations start at 6 pm, but there are a couple of events happening beforehand that you’ll want on your calendar. If you’re the parent of a senior, there will be an orientation meeting at 5:15 on “what to expect during senior year,” led by Jon Greenberg and Rachel Zupke. Or if your student took the HSPE or the MAP test last year, come early to pick up a copy of their test results (otherwise we have to mail them to you). And everyone please stay after “last period,” for a screening of “Hear Us Out,” a short film made by the Reel Girls, a program for Seattle Public School student filmmakers. Alongside the film will be a Q/A session on college readiness, and pizza! The whole thing should be wrapped up by 8:30, unless, of course, you want another slice.

All-School Team Buillding

Instead of using precious fossil fuels (not to mention cash) to hold a retreat offsite, the Center School is following the “staycation” model, and retreating right where we already are. This Wednesday (21 September) will be an all-day team building program for students, faculty and staff at the Center School. The new Center Mentor program will be inaugurated, names will be learned,and goals will be set -- all without leaving the zip code.

Another PE Option

The Center School is planning to launch its own Fitness Club, starting this Friday 23 September. Why sign up for a gym membership when you can stretch and sweat with your friends at school? The current scheme is to meet after school on Mondays and Fridays in the 4th floor TPS rooms for some aerobics and work with light weights. Bring a mat, and some weights if you have them, and start working off your PE hours. For more information, talk with Ms Britsova.

Coming Attractions and Past Accomplishments

Center School Enrichment Fee

from Sam Star, CSCA president

In past years, Center School families have received requests throughout the year for various classroom, activity or administrative fees.   For the 2011/12 school year, the Center School Community Association, or CSCA, will simplify the process by collecting a voluntary single umbrella Enrichment Fee of $150 per student to pay for items not covered by the school’s budget, including:

·         School Planner

·         School ID card

·         Science workbook

·         Spanish books and dictionaries

·         Science materials

·         Visual art supplies

·         The Writers in the Schools programs for 12th grade Humanities

·         Math class software/Math Homework club

·         Tickets to a play (the entire school will see one play together this school year)

·         Theater space rental, props, and scripts for Drama elective

We know these are tough economic times, and not everyone can afford to pay a $150 school enrichment fee. Any contribution towards the fee will be very helpful at any time throughout the school year. For those families who can afford the fee, you can pay the entire fee by $150 by October 1st, or in installments over the year. For those families who can afford to pay a little extra to help cover the costs for those families who cannot afford the entire $150 fee, your contributions are greatly appreciated. If you have any questions, or comments about the enrichment fee, please contact Sam Star, CSCA president at president@csca.thecenterschool.net

To download a copy of the enrichment fee form, and for other CSCA forms, click here:
http://thecenterschool.net/csca/csca-home/file-downloads/cat_view/230-csca-forms-2011-2012.html

Thank you very much for your financial support to our students' education.

Center School Student/Family Directory -- Don’t Miss the List
from Cindy Dieter
We are now collecting information for the Center School Student Directory. The directory is a print booklet that will include CSCA board member and committee contact information, staff contact information, student class lists and - only with your permission and submission of a directory sign-up form - student and parent contact information. This directory is distributed to Center School families only! You should have received a form with your student’s registration packet at the beginning of the year -- if you did not, you can download that form here:
http://thecenterschool.net/csca/csca-home/file-downloads/cat_view/230-csca-forms-2011-2012.html
or you can register online here:
http://thecenterschool.net/csca/csca-home/csca-board-members/tcs-2011-2012-directory-form/form/11.html?random=0
Whatever means you use, please submit your information no later than October 1st. If you have any questions please contact me at cindydieter@hotmail.com

BBQ Thanks!

You’ve already washed the sauce out of your shirt, but we still need to thank the team that put together the great barbecue lunch on the first day of school. Janet Gryczan, who led the project, thinks that she’s thanking Tricia Axtell, Paul Dieter, Flora Goldthwaite ,Marti Hendley, David Mozer, Pamela Pakker-Kozicki, Rebecca Sadinsky, Sam Star, Sandi Tennyson, and Jessica Wesch, but in fact we’re thanking her as well.

Big Lots Film

As well as winning $2,000+ in the 2011 Lots2Give Video Contest, the Center School team got recognition from the Arts Alliance for their great project. Look here for the juicy details.

http://www.alliance4ed.org/content/news/CenterSchoolStudents.asp

Learning by Doing -- Build a New Center School Website

from Liz Clayton

Free website training for all Center School families! Ever wondered how to build a website? Or, do you have basic HTML experience and want to increase access to online information about Center School? The Center School website team is looking for new members to help design and build our new school website. No experience necessary, and we have access to free weekly drop-in trainings through the District. If you're interested, contact Liz Clayton for more details (206-795-7025, southsideneighbors@gmail.com). We hope to have the new site up and running by November!

Getting Credit for Good Works

Hello, and Happy 2011-2012 School Year,
My name is Madalyn Corbit, my daughter Lucille is a sophomore at Center, and I will be compiling and reporting volunteer hours for this academic year. It's very beneficial for TCS to have an accurate accounting of all the valuable hours our parents, students and community members put in to help make Center the incredible place it is.
Former hours' compilation-queen Nancy Hom recommended that the best way for this to happen is to have you all e-mail hours to a central account (weekly or monthly, whichever is best for you.) This is particularly important as so much of what gets done for the school happens away from school, so the sign in book at school is not representative of the actual work being done.

To that end, please log in to the newly-created, ultra-efficient tcshours@yahoo.com to report all of your amazing work. Please note, I will not have volunteer opportunity information, and won't be able to answer any specific volunteer-related questions. For that, please contact our (far more saintly than I) Volunteer Coordinator Jessica Wesch at jesamama@yahoo.com, and of course, watch The Blast.

Outside the Center School

After School Kayaking on Lake Union - Counts for PE hours!

Description: This class is our basic water session for beginners who are just checking out the sport, and want to learn some proper paddling technique. Students in this class will practice basic boat handling skills, including an efficient forward stroke, turning strokes, reverse strokes, braces, and moving the boat laterally. In the rescue session, you will learn how to rescue yourself and others, and how to prevent capsizing by using bracing strokes. In every class you will get the opportunity to explore Lake Union. Experienced paddlers are welcome.

Location: Northwest Outdoor Center, 2100 Westlake Ave N., Seattle, 98109
Date: 4 sessions - Thursdays, September 29th, October 6th, 13th, and 20th.
Time: 4 - 5:30 pm
Cost: $40 per student for all 4 sessions. Make checks payable to NWOC.

Release form for students under 18 required with payment.
(Class limit: 12 students. First 12 to turn in money and permission slips will be in the class)
Turn in permission slips and fees at the front desk.
Materials: Rain Jacket and extra clothes.
Transportation (from school to NWOC): Metro #30 departs 1st and Republican at 3:26. Arrives Westlake N and Crockett at 3:36 pm. (We will be taking the bus as a group, first meet on the balcony)

Questions? Student Contact: Amalie Dieter ajdieter@hotmail.com, Parent Contact: Cindy Dieter cindydieter@hotmail.com

Museum Day

This coming Saturday is Museum Day, an annual project of Smithsonian Magazine, where museums across the country offer free admission for the day. You need a “Museum Day Ticket” which you can get at http://www.smithsonianmag.com/museumday/ticket/. Local organizations participating this year include Bainbridge Island Historical Museum, Bellevue Arts Museum, Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, Fort Nisqually Living History Museum, Log House Museum, Museum of Glass, Museum of History & Industry, Renton History Museum, Rosalie Whyel Museum of Doll Art, Seattle Art Museum, Tacoma Art Museum, The Museum of Flight, and Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience.

Beyond High School

Tips to Help You Find Scholarships!
from Barbara Quintana, Center School College Counsellor

From the WashBoard.org, a FREE scholarship search engine—check it out!
Go to the WashBoard.org and register.
Complete your student profile.
Go to “My Matches” to explore scholarships that match your profile.
Apply and submit your application by due date.
The WashBoard will never share your personal, private information with anyone. No one will have access to your information until YOU apply for a scholarship.
Be sure to check the Scholarship Binder at the Center School for more scholarships including additional search engines.
Brainstorm - Write down your accomplishments and activities. In addition to school, include community, church and family activities.
Start early and keep looking. One day isn’t enough.
Look local first.
Tailor each application to match the questions on the application.
Follow the directions and deadlines!
Remember: Scholarships aren’t just for jocks or smarty-pants.
DON’T PAY ANYONE to help you find free money!

Last, But Not Least

I promised you a treat.

Seattle Theater Group, the organization that runs the Moore and Paramount Theaters, has taken over the Neptune Theater in the University District, and their Grand Opening Week begins with an old favorite, an experience you might want to share with your children. Grab some toast, and head over to the U District Sunday 25 September for a free screening of Rocky Horror Picture Show.

After all, it’s just a jump to the left.

More Info: http://www.stgpresents.org/artists/?artist=1726

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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.