There’s early dismissal this week, not to mention the general hullabaloo of Halloween.  Beyond those disruptions, there’s campaigning for the upcoming election, and a college fair for visual and performing arts schools.  Must be autumn at last.

College and Career counsellor Barbara Quintana has a long list of online resources for post-high school education -- finding and paying for college and technical training programs.  I’m sending it out as a separate Blast, (found here) since most of you will want to save it out from the ongoing daily things here.

As usual, questions and complaints?

sandi kurtz

sandik@drizzle.com

206-523-6553

This Week at the Center School

Wednesday- 2-hour early dismissal

Period 1             8:15 - 8:55 am

Period 2             9:00- 9:40 am

Period 3             9:45 - 10:25 am

Lunch                10:25 - 10:55 am

Period 4             11:00 - 11:40 am

Period 5             11:45 - 12:25 pm

Period 6             12:30 - 1:40 pm

Late Work Cutoff

10/29  Friday  (before the end of the quarter)

Seasonal Entertainment

The student senate is planning a Halloween Dance (Friday, October 29, 8 pm, Olympic room) and wants to borrow strings of holiday lights so that they can forgo the fluorescent lighting.  If you have a couple strings you can lend, put your name and phone number on them, and have your student take them to the front desk.  And if you yourself would be willing to volunteer at the event (ticket and coat check kinds of tasks) you would get the chance to observe the American teenager in their native habitat…  Any questions about this should go to Sidney Axtell (btaxtell@comcast.net or 206-300-0011)

Hip Hop Club

Hip-hop club will be performing at an afternoon event at the EMP sometime in early 2011. They are looking for members of all skill ranges to join them in ro’kin' the mic!  Meetings are Tuesdays after school in the commons.  Talk to Sam Wolk for details: hprocks04@yahoo.com

And From the Daily Announcements…

It is worth noting that we will be having an amazing spirit week, ending with a bang on Halloween Weekend. Monday, the 25th, will be PJ day, Tuesday will be HP, Harry Potter or H. P. Lovecraft, day, Wednesday will be Senior Citizen day, Thursday will be TV character day, and Friday, being the 29th of October, will be Halloween costume day. Come, dress up, show your school spirit, scare everyone on public transportation, and have a lot of fun!

Coming Soon…

Intro to Dance Class

From Wyn Pottinger-Levy

Remind your kids they can sign up for a pair of intro to dance classes, taught by Cornish College dance students.  This meets two times (November 4th and 9th, from 8:30-10:30 am -- they can attend either class, or both) and will include a mix of styles, from ballet and modern to jazz and funk.  It’s a great way to get some PE hours during the school day, and try something new.  Students should wear clothes they can move in -- sneakers are ok, dance shoes are optional.  Students will have to pre-arrange for late passes from their 1st or 2nd period teachers. Questions?  Contact Wyn Pottinger-Levy at wypottingerlev@seattleschools.org

Community Building

Join us for a Community Building Committee meeting on Tuesday, November 2 from 7:00-8:30 pm at Uptown Espresso on Fourth and Wall.  We'll brainstorm about events to build community and connections at the Center School and discuss upcoming events.  It's a great way to connect with other parents and to get involved, even if you have just a few hours to spare.  Uptown Espresso, 2504 4th Avenue.  Contact Julie Vergeront, jvergeront@yahoo.com, 206-459-1862, if you are interested.  Or just show up.

Center School Community Association Board Meeting

The next meeting is November 11 at the Bill and Sabrina Friend’s at 6:30.  Details, including address will follow.  Meetings are open to anyone in the Center School community.

Resources to Deal with Student Drug Use

From Robin Fleming, Center School Nurse

As at all high schools, some students use drugs and/or alcohol.  Because drug and alcohol use creates health risks for students and interferes with their ability to learn at school, we would like to make sure you have access to resources that may help your child if s/he is using drugs or may be considering using.  Keep the lines of communication open with your child, and pay particular attention to any marked changes in your child’s behaviors (sleeping more, eating more or less than usual, isolating themselves for longer periods, changes in school attendance and falling grades, etc.).  The resources below may be helpful in determining whether your child is using drugs, and provide tools for you to prevent and/or address drug use if it is occurring.  Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns about your child.  I’m here Mondays at 206-252-9854.

School Nurse, Robin Fleming

rfleming@seattleschools.org

Parent Volunteer Hours – Reminder!

If you volunteered to help with a Center School project, don't forget to advise TCS volunteer hours monitor, Nancy Hom at skallywag@comcast.net of your hours. She will record your time for our school. She also has forms she can send you to fill out electronically and email back, or you can print, handwrite your hours and turn in at school. Libby and Kathy have a clipboard in the CSCA mailbox with a volunteer hours log to enter in manually.

Beyond the Center School

Visual and Performing Arts College Fair

Start collecting those brochures and mulling over the options.  Tuesday, October 26

7-9 pm at the Fisher Pavillion, Seattle Center.  For more details:

www.nationalcollegefairs.org

New Graduation Requirements for Class of 2016

From the Washington State Board of Education

The Washington State Board of Education provisionally adopted Career and College Ready Standards, also referred to as Core 24.  The new system views high school graduation as a beginning and identifies core classes that graduates need to progress to a technical program, or to either a 2- or 4-year college program.

Why the change? Washington ranks 46th in the nation in college readiness.

BACKGROUND: Currently, state law mandates minimum graduation requirements. Individual districts can require more (but they don't get additional state funding to cover extra costs). The state minimum is 19 credits; Seattle requires 20; most of our state's 290-plus districts require at least 22. Only 9 districts -- including Seattle -- require 20 or fewer credits.

(Support for Core 24 was a priority issue for Wash State PTA the last 2 years and was a key part of SCPTSA advocacy around basic ed finance reform bill, HB 2261)

overview

http://tinyurl.com/2eq778p

Powerpoint webinar

http://www.sbe.wa.gov/

Last, But Not Least

Open Meeting with the Big Boss

Coffee chat with Superintendant Maria Goodloe-Johnson. A chance to get to know the superintendent, ask questions.  November 2, 8:10-9:10 am at North Beach Elementary, 9018 24th Ave. NW.