Blast | 10/10/11

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 | 10/10/11

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

View The BLAST Online | View BLAST Archives

10-16 October 2011

This is the week of the rescheduled schedule -- between the PSAT and the Friday Professional Development day for faculty, things are shifting around. Don't forget the CSCA meeting Tuesday night!

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 - Center School on Facebook

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

Center School Enrichment Fee News
We're not at 100% participation yet, but there's still time to send in your Enrichment Fee and help us get to our $30,000 goal. These funds go right back into the school, for classroom and extra-curricular activities for all out students. Many thanks, to the families who have already said "yes" to our school, and to the rest of you who will do it as soon as you finish reading this!
Questions? Contact Sam Star, CSCA president, president@csca.thecenterschool.net

This Week at the Center School

Rescheduled Schedule
Monday -Tuesday: as usual
Wednesday: Sophomores and Juniors, PSAT test 8:15 - 11:30
Freshman and Seniors, tutorials by appointment or late arrival 8:30 - 11:30
Lunch 11:30 – 11:50
Period 2: 11:50 – 12:50 (60 minutes)
Period 4: 12:55 – 1:55 (60 minutes)
Break: 1:55 – 2:05 (10 minutes)
Period 6: 2:05 – 3:05 (60 minutes)
Thursday: as usual
Friday: No School

Meet/Greet/Eat at the CSCA
Center School Community Assocation (CSCA) meeting, Tuesday, October 11th from 6:30 - 8:30 pm at the school. CSCA is the name for the Center School's Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA). We meet monthly on the 2nd Tuesday of the month from 6:30 - 8:30 pm at the school. Please join us! At most meetings Ms. Britsova will join us and provide a brief update about how things are going at the school. If you have something that you would like to talk about at an upcoming meeting, please contact Sam Star, CSCA president at president@csca.thecenterschool.net

The PSAT/ NMSQT is Coming!
from Karen Harmon, Center School Counselor
Tenth and eleventh graders know those letters, because this is the test for them! It stands for Preliminary SAT / National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, and it is happening here at Center next Wednesday, October 12th.

Funded by the Seattle Public Schools Advanced Learning Office, this assessment helps create a college-prep culture in the school, covers the same topics under the same test conditions as the SAT, and for 11th graders is the qualifying test for National Merit Scholarships. All Center School 10th and 11th graders will take the test.

The "Official Student Guide" to the PSAT (containing a practice test) has been distributed to all students. The test measures critical reading, math and writing skills developed over many years, both in and out of school - so there's really nothing to study for! Students should come to school next Wednesday with a good night's sleep - and eat breakfast!

Testing will take place in Seattle Center's Rainier & Olympic Rooms, located at the NW corner of Seattle Center at 1st Ave. North & Republican (right next to the main entrance to Key Arena). 10th and 11th graders should arrive between 8:00 – 8:15am and go DIRECTLY to the Rooms – do NOT go to Center School first. The first test section begins promptly at 8:30am, and the last section finishes at 11:30am.

Students should bring Center Student ID card with them, as they need their student # to take the test. No other materials are needed.

Questions? Contact Karen Harmon, Center School Counselor, at 252-9852.

Coming Attractions and Past Accomplishments

Party Like A Zombie
The Center School ASB is sponsoring the annual Halloween Dance on Friday 28 October, 7-11 pm, so freshen up your spooky self and come to the Olympic Room at the Seattle Center. The event will be chaperoned by Center School staff/faculty -- no word yet if they will be impersonating each other as their costumes. Organizers are looking for donations of food, drink and/or decorations -- for more information, or to offer donations, contact Dana Keyes-Gibbons at danamkg@gmail.com.

Outside the Center School

Celebrate Healthy Youth
A panel discussion on teen drinking, outlining successful programs that have helped decrease drinking rates at north end Seattle high schools by as much at 19%. Participants include school staff, parents, the Seattle Police Department and medical professionals. The meeting is Monday 10 October, 6:30-8 pm, at Nathan Halle High School, 10750 30th Ave. NE. For more information, contact Inga Manskopf, PreventionWorksInSeattle.org, 206-987-7612.

We Can't Just Keep Adding Desks
Seattle Public Schools demographers have projected an increase of approximately 7,000 public school students over the next 5 years. And where are they going to put them? SPS is holding the last of three community meetings to share information and get feedback on the district's current plans for increasing capacity, Tuesday 11 October, 6:30 - 8 pm, at Hamilton Middle School, (1610 N 41st St.) For more information on the meeting, contact Tom Redman, tlredman@seattleschools.org, 206-252-0655.

Bending DeBell's Ear
School board director Michael DeBell is holding his monthly drop-in meeting Saturday 15 October, 9 - 11 am, at Caffè Appassionato, 4001 21st Avenue West (next to Fisherman's Terminal). DeBell is the board member for District IV, which include the Center School, so come make yourself heard.

Family and Community Engagement Symposium
Seattle Public Schools are committed to preparing all of our students to graduate ready for college, careers, and life. A component of this commitment is strengthening Family and Community Engagement District wide. We would like to invite you to participate at our Annual Family and Community Engagement Symposium on Saturday 15 October, from 9 am-2:30 pm at Garfield High School (400 23rd Ave.) Free transportation can be provided, there will be supervised child activities for ages 4 and up, a light breakfast and lunch will be provided, and there will be a Community Resource Fair. Interpretation services will be provided in Spanish, Somali, Vietnamese, Chinese, Tagalog, Oromo, Amharic and Tigrigna. For more Information contact Bernardo Ruiz, Manager, Family & Community Engagement, bjruiz@seattleschools.org, 206-252-0693

Come See What BEX III Bought
Nathan Hale High School is hosting an All-Community Celebration and Open House to show off the results of their recent remodel. We all voted for the bond isse, so let's see what we got. Saturday 15 October, 10 am - 1 pm, 10750 30th Ave. NE. For more information, check their website at http://nathanhale.org.

Because TheraFlu Tastes Just Awful
Flu season is here, and there are a couple of different options for flu shots. Check http://www.flu.gov/ the government website for all things influenza to start. There won't be a flu clinic at school, but our kids are eligible for help at the Teen Health Center at Ballard High School. They can register at http://www.ballardbeavers.org/Services/Student%20Health/bthc.html as well as get information about coverage and clinic hours. Or you can head down to the Tukwila Community Center (12424 42nd Avenue S.) on Saturday 22 October for a free flu shot.

Full Circle Success
Center School graduate Anastasia Higham is returning to familiar territory when she opens in the Seattle Rep production of "Circle Mirror Transformation" later this month. Higham studied at the Rep while she was a student at TCS, went from here to Whitman College to study theater, and now is coming back again, working with director Andrea Allen, who was her teacher at the Rep while she was in high school. The show, a world premiere by indie playwright Annie Baker, is running four weeks, so come see a Center School grad make good.

Beyond High School

Talking About Yourself Is Harder Than It Seems
Juniors and seniors who are in the middle of writing personal statements for college applications can get help with the process and feedback on their work from professional writers and mentors in a number of local workshops. Saturday 15 October the UW Dream Project is sponsoring a free support session in the library at Garfield High School (400 23rd Ave) 10:45 am - 1 pm. And 826 Seattle is running a pair of their Personal Statement Marathons, Saturday 22 October at Ballard High School (1418 NW 65 St) and Saturday 5 November at Franklin High School (3013 S Mt Baker Blvd). Both run noon-5 pm, and both are fueled by free pizza. Bring any writing that you'd like to have them look over, or just come and start from scratch.

When is a Lab Science a Lab Science?
from Brita Culbertson
I have been getting a few emails lately from parents who are concerned that Integrated Science doesn't count for the two year lab science requirement for UW admissions. I spoke with an admissions counselor and also copied this statement from the website below. I was concerned because this has never been an issue in the past and I wondered if something had changed.

Please read this clarification on the science graduation requirement from UW Website (with my addition at the end).

"A minimum of two years of laboratory science are required. At least one of the two years must be in biology, chemistry, or physics. Students typically take this full year course in two successive high school semesters. Additionally, at least one of the two years of laboratory science must be an algebra-based science course. The principles of technology courses taught in Washington State high schools may apply toward the laboratory science requirement. Additionally, courses identified by the school district as laboratory science courses -- e.g., astronomy, environmental science, geological science, genetics, marine science -- may also apply toward the additional year of laboratory science requirement."

Integrated Science 1/2 and 3/4 are our version of 9th grade Physical Science and 10th grade Biology. These classes are just combined, but the standards addressed are the 9-10th grade science standards for the state of WA. Our curriculum (the two-year Integrated loop) for 9th/10th science has been approved by the district to replace those classes.

So, if a student completes two years of Integrated Science and one year of Chemistry (the grad requirement for Center School), they have also satisfied the admissions requirement for UW. Chemistry counts as the algebra-based science class required for one year. Furthermore, AP Biology makes the student more competitive and potentially gains them college credit in the sciences at no cost (other than the exam fee). I have confirmed this information with Afton Tyler, a UW admissions counselor. For more information, contact the Admissions office at 206-543-9686.

Last, But Not Least

Ever wonder what else people might be saying when their lips are moving? Check out Bad Lip Reading.
Bad Lip Reading

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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.