PTSA Parent Email
January 3, 2008
Roosevelt PTSA Parent Email Bulletin – January 3, 2008
Direct any articles for inclusion to the RHS Parent Email to Editor Sue Wong at stwong@seattleschools.org or call (206) 522-9132.
RHS Website – www.rhs.seattleschools.org
The SOURCE – www.source.seattleschools.org
stwong@seattleschools.org
RE: RHS PTSA Parent Email Bulletin – January 3, 2008
“NEW” NEWS
NEW… Letter from Principal Vance on the 9th Grade Block Proposal: “It is my hope that the program I outlined [above] builds on what has been working and makes adjustments for some of the challenges in the current structure. In thinking about the issues before us, it became clear to me that no matter what the structure of our 9th grade program, the most important element is what we are actually doing in our classes to teach and support our students. Not only am I proposing a structure, but more importantly highlighting the strategies that I feel need to be in place in order for all of us to support students in this most critical year for high school students. It is also important that the 9th grade “team” is actually expanded so that strategies are shared amongst all of the teachers who have classes that are predominantly filled with 9th grade students. I believe that the proposal will allow us to continue moving forward in providing a transition for 9th grade students within a program structure that is sustainable, flexible, focused, supportive of academic achievement and aligns with our mission/vision of challenging and educating our students academically, socially, physically and creatively in a safe environment… For the full text click on the link:
http://home.comcast.net/~writehan/Block_Proposal_for_2008-09.doc
NEW… Host Families Need: From January 17 – 24, we will host a group of 6 students from Brazil who are participants in the 2008 Youth Ambassadors Program, an initiative of the U.S. Embassy in Brazil. Participants have demonstrated that they possess leadership, social consciousness, academic excellence, and English language ability. They come from all parts of Brazil, from the metropolis of Rio de Janeiro to the very heart of the Amazon, and they have all faced severe socio-economic challenges in their lives. The Youth Ambassadors Program offers each of them new opportunities and experiences to broaden their knowledge of U.S. culture, society, and education, and to serve as “Ambassadors” in projecting a positive image of Brazil on the people they meet in the U.S. The first Youth Ambassadors met with then-Secretary of State Colin Powell in Washington, DC, and again when he visited Brazil months later, and he went on to reference both experiences in a number of later speeches. Each student will have a homestay with a family (with at least one high school-aged child) during that time. The Youth Ambassadors will attend school with their host brothers and sisters for two or three days, and will be engaged in a variety of cultural and educational activities throughout the week. There will also be plenty of free time allocated to host families to arrange whatever activities they wish with their Brazilian students. The Youth Ambassadors must attend the same high school. Since the Serbian students had such a wonderful experience at Roosevelt recently, we thought it would be great if we could arrange for a similar opportunity for the Brazilians." From Janine Magidman. Questions contact Matt Potter, Program Officer International Visitor Program, World Affairs Council 206.441.5910 ext. 320 or email mpotter@world-affairs.org For the host application form, click on the link - http://home.comcast.net/~writehan/Host_Family_Application.doc
NEW… Roosevelt High School Science Boosters Present – Suspended Animation: Dr. Mark Roth, PhD, Division of Basic Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle. 7.30 pm, Tuesday January 15, Roosevelt HS Library. Dr. Roth is a biologist who studies metabolic processes in mammals, including reversible hibernation in mice. This research has many important implications for biology and medicine, and other fields such as for the future of space travel. Dr. Roth recently received a MacArthur Fellowship, also known as a Genius Award. For more information, see the following news links: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/221216_hibermice22.html and
http://www.fhcrc.org/about/ne/news/2007/09/25/roth.html
NEW… Freshmen interested in taking the WASL in March and April of 2008 need to register online at http://www.k12.wa.us/waslregistration/ . Registration is open from December 10 to January 14th and requires your 10-digit state ID number. Student state ID numbers are being distributed during your block this week. Contact Ms. Schwentor (alschwentor@seattleschools.org ) if you have any additional questions.
NEW… Seattle Association of Educational Office Professionals (SAEOP) offers a scholarship in the amount of $500 to students who wish to continue their education at a 2 year, 4 year or vocational school. Deadline is April 18, 2008. this scholarship is now open to 2 & 4 year schools. (In the past it was for those who wanted to be secretaries.)
NEW… Scholarship Bulletin #6 is now available on the website: Special features: Event: United Negro College Fund, Deals for Twins, and scholarships within Western WA University. Visit www.rhs.seattleschools.org ; go to Services, go to Counseling Center and scroll down and click on the link: http://lbeaston.seadesk.seattleschools.org
NEW… Seattle University College of Arts and Sciences/Department of Fine Arts presents: The Young Eight String Seminar Chamber Music Summer Program-July 7-20, 2008. Rehearse and work intensively, one-on-one with this highly respected ensemble. All high school and college students who play violin, viola, and cello are eligible. Applications and audition recordings must be postmarked by March 1, 2008. Application fees waived if application is received by January 31, 2008. For more information and to download an application, go to: www.THEYOUNGEIGHT.COM
CALENDAR
January 7: Athletic Boosters Meeting, 7:00 p.m.
January 8: Late Arrival
January 9: Late Arrival
January 15: RHS Science Boosters - Suspended Animation with Dr. Mark Roth, 7.30 pm, RHS Library
January 16: PTSA Meeting, 7:00 p.m., Library
January 17: EMP, Jazz in January, 7:00 p.m.
January 21: No School – ML King Jr. Holiday
Jan 23-25: Finals
January 25: Last Day of semester
January 26: RHS Sports Auction
January 28: No School – Day Between Semesters
February 2: Bellevue CC Jazz Festival
February 4: Athletic Boosters Meeting, 7:00 p.m.
February 5: Late Arrival
February 5: Parent Ed Night – Teens & Drinking, 7:00 p.m. Dr. David Hawkins
February 6: District-wide 2-Hr Early Dismissal
February 8: Hot Java, Cool Jazz, Paramount Theater, 7:30 p.m.
February 12: Drama Booster Meeting, 7:15 p.m.
February 13: PTSA Meeting, 7:00 p.m., RHS Library
February 18: No School President Day Holiday
February 19-22: No School – Midwinter Break
February 27-29: Drama Winter Production, 7:30 p.m.
FUNDRAISING
RHS eSCRIP: Thank you supporters of eScrip / Safeway! To participate, all you have do is register your Safeway Club Card at www.escrip.com. Click on “sign up”. Our school ID# is 8566272. Anyone can register – parents, teachers, friends and family! Do you have grandparents from out of town with a Safeway Club Card who would love to support their grandchild’s school? All they need to do is register and designate our school ID# above. Once your cards are registered, there is nothing more to do but shop and earn money for RHS. Benefits the Class of 2008.
OLD NEWS
Volunteers Needed
Volunteers Needed to be on Senior Project Panels: During WASL testing, seniors will be presenting their projects in front of a small panel of staff and parent volunteers (approximately 24 parent volunteers per day). If you are available from 7:45-9:45 on March 10-13 or April 14-18 please let us know. There will be a short form to complete in January where you will commit yourself to times and dates, followed by instructions. Contact Senior Projects Coordinator Mr. Hanbey, ruhanbey@seattleschools.org, 206-252-4839 or Sue Wong at stwong@seattleschools.org if you are available for any portion of the above dates.
Volunteer or team needed to lead the “No-Bake Bake Sale” all school fundraising campaign. An individual or team is needed by the PTSA board to lead this annual fundraiser. The No-Bake Bake Sale is our only opportunity to generate funding for teaching positions at RHS. Money raised benefits the entire student body at RHS. The No-Bake Bake Sale largely can be done from home so it is an ideal volunteer opportunity for those with daytime commitments. Preparation for the campaign kicks off by early December, is busiest in January, and complete by early March. The previous campaign leader, although no longer at Roosevelt, will be available to provide guidance to the new team. This is a direct appeal for donations—there is nothing to sell. Please consider donating your time to this very important project. For more information contact Christine Garrigan, garriganchristine@yahoo.com.
Computer Skills Anyone? Counselor Dr. Beaston is looking for a volunteer to prepare the Senior Award Certificates for this year's graduating class. Her volunteer over the past years has "graduated" but has left a computer disk with the program and design. Dr. Beaston can fill you in on the specifics but the time commitment and delivery date would be just before Memorial Day, 2008. Anyone with computer skills and an artistic eye would be put to good use! For more information, please contact Dr. Littlebrave Beaston at lbeaston@seattleschools.org
Volunteer Opportunities: Please join the hundreds of parents and guardians who keep RHS running by volunteering. There are one-time-only opportunities, event opportunities and opportunities to commit on an on-going basis. Fill out the attached sign-up sheet and either return it electronically to rhsvolunteers@hotmail.com or leave a hard copy in the front office PTSA mail box. Questions? Email Christine Garrigan at rhsvolunteers@hotmail.com. Thank you! (Just a note from Sue Wong – To save on paper, we deliberately did not print off 1700 copies of volunteer forms to include in the First Week PTSA packets. Instead we opted to put the form online. Do not prove us wrong and make us go back to providing hardcopies to all of you. Too busy to go to the RHS website, click on the link http://home.comcast.net/~writehan/ptsa-volunteer-form.pdf )
Site Council Openings: The Roosevelt High School Site Council has openings for one parent representative, three staff representatives, and two at-large community representatives. The Site Council meets on a monthly basis during the school year to review school activities and serve as an advocate for Roosevelt High School. Members include students from all grade levels, staff, school administrators, parents and community members. Meetings are held the second Wednesday of the month from 5:30 to 7:00 PM in Room 242 at Roosevelt High School with meeting times adjusted to accommodate school vacation periods. Application information is available on the RHS Website under Site Council. See http://www.rhsseattle.org/sitecouncil.php
Volunteer Needed: PTSA – SITE COUNCIL LIAISON. This is a key position for the Roosevelt community with primary responsibilities to attend the monthly meetings for the Site Council and the PTSA and to ensure coordination in advocacy for both groups. For more information regarding this position please contact Maureen Dahlstrom at mmjdahl@aol.com.
Reminders for Students
"On to State!" RHS Math Team, starring Jane H., Riley K., Clinton B., Cina E. and Richard M., has been invited to compete in the State Master's Tournament in January, based on our results in the November 16th "Math is Cool" competition. Way to Go, Math Scholars!
The Princeton Prize in Race Relations, is now seeking applications from students in grade 9-12 who are doing outstanding work in their schools and communities to advance the cause of race relations. There is a $1,000.00 cash award. A brochure and application can be found at www.princeton.edu/PrincetonPrize The deadline is January 31, 2008 You do not need to go to Princeton to apply. Get a teacher to 'sponsor' you. In addition to 2 students in each metropolitan area* receiving the money prize, all other will get a certificated o accomplishment. *Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Cincinnati, Dallas, Essex/Hudson County New Jersey, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, New York City, Northwester New Jersey, Philadelphia, Princeton, Rochester, San Francisco, Seattle, Washington D.C. and the state of CT. Dr. Littlebrave Beaston
Seattle High School Girls Rugby Team: Information Session and video on Friday, January 11th from 5-6 pm. It will be held in Coach Suits' room at Garfield High School, room 307. Beginner clinic on Sunday, January 13th from 12-2 pm at Lower Woodland Park between the soccer and softball fields. Parent Meeting on Sunday, January 20th, location and time TBA. First practice!! On Tuesday, January 22nd, location and time TBA. Questions, contact Coach Rachel Suits at rasuits@seattleschools.org. This is not sponsored nor endorsed by the RHS School or PTSA.
RHS FIRST SEMESTER FINAL EXAM SCHEDULE January 2008 (For Grades 9-12):
All scheduled classes must meet whether testing or not. Regardless of the length of the test, students will remain in the classroom for the entire period. During all exam days that begin later than 7:45 a.m., Library, and Classrooms open for quiet study 7:45 a.m.-8:25 a.m.
January 23, 2008:
8:30-10:30 a.m. - Period 4 Final
10:35-12:10 p.m. - Period 5
1st lunch 10:30-11:10 a.m.
2nd lunch 11:35-12:10 p.m.
12:15-2:15 p.m. - Period 3 Final
January 24, 2008:
8:30-10:30 a.m. - Period 6 Final
10:35-12:10 p.m. - Period 2
1st lunch 10:30-11:10 a.m.
2nd lunch 11:35-12:10 p.m.
12:15-2:15 p.m - Period 1 Final
January 25, 2008:
7:45-9:45 a.m. - Period 5 Final
9:45 a.m.-10:00 a.m. - break
10:00-noon - Period 2 Final
12:05-12:35 p.m. box lunch/salad
12:40 p.m. - Make up or as arranged
NEW APPROVAL PROCESS FOR ANY OUT OF DISTRICT COURSEWORK: Students who want to take ANY courses outside of Roosevelt for which they want credit towards Roosevelt graduation requirements, whether through BYU Distance Learning, Dartmoor, ETC or EA2, summer programs at UW or at Georgetown, take note: There is a new district policy which takes effect immediately, requiring students to get documented approval from their counselor and fill out paperwork PRIOR to enrolling in the course.
SENIOR NEWS:
Scholarship Bulletin #5 is now available on the website: www.rhs.seattleschools.org; go to Services, go to Counseling Center and scroll down and click on the link: http://lbeaston.seadesk.seattleschools.org
Attention Graduating Seniors -Information about the FAFSA: For 2008-09 paper FAFSAs will not be available in bulk. Students will be able to obtain a paper FAFSA by calling the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243). Students may request up to 3 copies of the paper application and should receive their FAFSAs in 3-7 business days. (Dr. B)
Financial Aid Workshop for Graduating Seniors and their Families: All Roosevelt Graduating Seniors who NEED money for college, ought to complete the FAFSA (Free Financial Aid Assessment required by most colleges) and send it in between January 2 & February 14. This is for optimum results. To help you, there will be a FAFSA Financial Aid workshop on Tuesday, December 11th from 7-9 pm in the Library. We appreciate and welcome back, Ms. Suzanne Sheldt, Director of Financial Aid from North Seattle Community College who will be joined by Ms. Megan Davis, from the Financial Aid Office at the UWA and they will collectively present vital information on this topic as well as give some pointers on how to complete the FAFSA. Computers will also be available. Parents and students are encouraged to attend. This meeting is for anyone who wishes to understand the financial aid process better. Graduating seniors who plan to apply to the RHS Scholarship Committee will especially find this meeting important if they are applying as a “Need Based” applicant as donors require information from the FAFSA to prove need. The RHS Scholarship Committee Applications will be available to students in the Counseling Office Scholarship File Drawer on November 21.
APPLICATIONS FOR THE 2007-08 RHS SCHOLARSHIPS WILL BE AVAILABLE : Wednesday, November 21st in the Counseling Office and in the Scholarship File in the Career Center. Any graduating senior may apply. Seniors who can remain on top of things, meet deadlines, and have good follow through are best suited to this competition. RHS Scholarships are a constellation of scholarships, which are given to RHS students by various donors. The RHS Scholarship committee, which, is made up of counselors, teachers, and other faculty make the selections. Very few scholarship recipients are selected directly by the Scholarship Committee, while the donors select most of them. It may be necessary to complete additional forms. Donors may require interviews as well. For more information on what is needed to be able to complete in the RHS scholarship competition go to: www.rhs.seattleschools.org ; go to Services, go to Counseling Center and scroll down and click on the link: http://lbeaston.seadesk.seattleschools.org (Dr. B)
Other Old News
RHS Jazz News: For updated information go to www.rooseveltjazz.org. Events in January and February for the Roosevelt High School Jazz Band. Open to the Public (a portion of ticket sales for Hot Java, Cool Jazz is donated to the jazz band):
January 17, 7:00 PM, Experience Music Project, Jazz in January -- Tomorrow’s Pride–Roosevelt Jazz Band and Garfield Jazz Ensemble
February 2, Bellevue Community College Jazz Festival, Bellevue, WA
February 8, 7:30 PM, Hot Java, Cool Jazz, Paramount Theater, 911 Pine
The Bellevue CC jazz festival is an event that usually starts at 10 AM, runs all day, and then there is a "best of fest" show at night with the 3 finalists, after which they name the overall winner. As of now, we don't know when RHS will play, and often don't know that until pretty close to the event. This is the only local jazz competition for the jazz band--the rest being in Vancouver, Idaho, Reno, and possibly NYC. Yet there is probably no "local" jazz fest in the country with as high a level of playing--since 2002, either Roosevelt or Garfield has won the "national championship" of high school jazz in NYC 4 times. And other schools such as Edmonds-Woodway, Mountlake Terrace, Newport, and Shorewood have also been to the NYC festival.
News magazine ranks Garfield, Roosevelt as top performing high schools: U.S. News and World Report, a national news magazine, awarded Garfield High School and Roosevelt High School the “silver medal” distinction for their achievement as two of the nation’s top-performing high schools. Garfield and Roosevelt were selected from a pool of more than 18,000 high schools across the country. The magazine annually ranks the top 100 “gold medal” high schools in the United States with the next 405 top-performing high schools earning “silver medals” based on their college readiness index. For more on this prestigious achievement, read the full article at:
https://edumail.seattleschools.org/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.seattleschools.org/area/news/0708/GarfieldRooseveltSilverMedalAward.pdf
RHS Rider Record Submissions for Next Issue: The topic of the next issue of the RHS newsletter is RHS Clubs or groups that you find at Roosevelt. This can be student or parent groups. We request that each group send in a short description of their club/group along with contact information and a website address (if you have one). Include group meeting times if you wish to advertise. Send articles to Wendi Gardner, Rider Record Editor, at wendi@wendigardner.com . Submit your articles by January 18, 2008.
PSAT: Results are available in the counseling office. Have your student stop by to pick up their results before school, during lunch, or after school.
SAT Prep Courses Offered at Hale and RHS: Visit www.SATPrep.org for more information.
Basic Tools Needed at RHS: Please donate any extra tools (all sorts of large screw drivers, pliers, drills, hammers, mallets, boards/wood for building shelves, etc) for various RHS building projects. Thanks so much. Liz MacLennan Business/Marketing/Technology, Room 311, 252-4850 or email limaclennan@seattleschools.org
Scholarship Information for your Children who are Already in College: The site below offers more than 50 no-cost scholarship searches. Students can find vocational school, college, graduate school, and professional school scholarships of all kinds. Many are available to students studying anywhere in the world. Almost any student, regardless of age or educational goal, can find appropriate scholarships, and all at no cost. Enjoy!
http://www.college-scholarships.com/free_scholarship_searches.htm
Roosevelt-University-Greenlake Little League has opened registration for the 2008 baseball and softball season. Open to Boys and Girls, up to age 18. If you live within the area boundaries of 1st NE to 25th NE, or in Lake City North of 110th Street, I-5 to Lake Washington, please consider playing little league baseball with RUG. Visit our web-site at WWW.RUGLL.ORG to register on-line or contact RUG with questions by e-mailing ruginfo@rugll.org or calling our message line at 367-1629. Registration runs now through January 31, 2008. There are informational flyers in the office.
Correction to December Rider Record: The Senior Awards Night is Tuesday, June 3 (not the 5th)
Press Release: January 31st SAMA Forum for Parents Concerned about the Substance Use of their Teen: In collaboration with the Seattle Schools Prevention/ Intervention Program and Seattle Central Community College (SCCC), the Science and Management of Addictions (SAMA) Foundation is sponsoring it’s second quarterly Parent Information Forum on Youth Addiction to be held Thursday, January 31st from 6-8 PM at Seattle Central Community College in Rooms 1110-1111. The forum features three brief presentations with plenty of time for parent questions and interaction. It is free of charge. Dinner will be served at 6 PM. Register early as space is limited to 70 parents! The forum’s opening film and presentation will help parents gain insight into teen behavior by exploring research on the effects of substance use on the developing adolescent brain. Segments from an award-winning HBO documentary film on adolescent brain development, risk and substance use will be shown. Rose Quinby, MSW, Program Director for the SAMA Foundation and a SCCC faculty member, will provide commentary focusing on implications for parenting the substance using teen or young adult. Rose has over 25 years of experience working as a professional in the field of adolescent and family treatment and prevention. Trez Buckland, M.Ed., clinical faculty at the UW School of Public Health and Community Medicine, and a parent who has successfully navigated the local treatment system for her two children. Trez will share concrete tips on how to talk to your youth about your concerns, and describe how she helped her youth get the treatment and social support they needed. The final speaker is Frank Couch, is a certified chemical dependency professional and Family Navigator with the SAMA Foundation. He will describe the steps to take if you suspect or know your teen is using substances, what to expect from a substance use assessment, and the types of support and treatment available for your youth and your family. Frank has worked extensively with diverse youth and their families in the juvenile justice system, and in residential and outpatient treatment settings. Register early for this exciting event as space is very limited! Simply send an e-mail or leave a voicemail by January 24th to parentnight@samafoundation.org or (206) 328-1719. Please include your name(s), number in party, e-mail address, how you learned about the event, and your telephone number. For more help for parents who are concerned about their son or daughter’s substance use, please visit SAMA’s website at http://samafoundation.org/homepage.html
Senior Parents – Four for 2008: Just a message to remind families to turn in their contributions as soon as possible for the Four for 2008 fundraiser, especially if they want the tax deduction for 2007. Thank you to all the families who have contributed over the years towards the cost of the class’s senior activities. The campaign has been a huge success and could not have been done without their support! If you have any questions about this fundraiser, please email Martha Woodworth at marthawoodworth@comcast.net
PARKING – Students, Parents and Guardians – Do not park in the fire lane as designated by the red paint and any other areas marked as “No Parking”. You will be towed. These no parking zones have been designated by the Fire Department for the safety of all. The spot marked “senior parking” is not a legal parking spot. Do not park there.
RHS Nurse: Nurse's Office: Room 255, Phone: 206-252-4817, Hours: 8:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Question, contact Nurse: Roselyn Lane at rlane@seattleschools.org