Hello Freshparents:
Here’s the latest news ….
Tolo Week and Dance
NHS Cookie Fest Fundraiser
The Arts
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Tolo Week and Dance
Spirit Week, December 8 – 12
The freshmen have a lot of practice now with spirit week at Newport. Here are the themes for the days leading up to the Tolo dance. Participation is optional and fun!
Monday Holiday Wear Party
Tuesday Yoga Party
Wednesday Jersey Party
Thursday Black Out Party
Friday Red and Gold
Tolo Basics
* Formal dance sponsored by the Camelot Club held in the Newport gym.
* Saturday, December 13, from 9:00 pm to midnight
* Girls generally ask the boys, using similar creativity and planning employed by the boys who asked girls to the Homecoming Dance. Boys should show the girls the courtesy of ANSWERING!
* Girls generally pay for the dance tickets, dinner, and any day activities planned by the participants.
* Boys generally pay for photos, transportation, and dessert.
Remember, the dance is the only official school-sponsored event – everything else is optional. Couples usually form groups, adding to the fun but complicating the planning process. I strongly encourage you to reach out to the other parents in the group to compare notes and help the kids come to closure with their plans.
Tolo Ticket Sales
Students may purchase tickets ($13 each) during lunch in the Commons on December 9, 10, and 11. Students who plan to attend Tolo with a non-Newport student must turn in guest pass paperwork by December 10 at 3:00 pm. Forms are available in the main office. Guests must have a ticket and an ID card to enter the dance.
Corsages and Boutonnieres
Students can show support for the Invisible Children program (fundraising to support children in Uganda) at school by purchasing a ribbon corsage or boutonniere for Tolo. Student volunteers will take orders during lunch tomorrow and Monday through Thursday next week. Pick up will be Friday, December 12. Save a flower and spend $10 for a good cause. Proceeds will benefit Invisible Children and the Class of 2010 grad party.
Chaperones
If you would like to help as a chaperone, please contact Mr. James at jamesg@bsd405.org. Chaperones will need to report for duty at 8:15 on December 13.
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NHS Cookie Fest Fundraiser
Thursday, December 11 from 4:00 to 7:00 pm. Dozens of varieties of cookies made by Newport's finest young chefs. Proceeds support the Newport Knives Culinary Competition Team.
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The Arts
Knights in Vienna
The Newport Orchestras are seeking talented student musicians to feature at their annual "Knights in Vienna" event to be held on January 17. If you play an instrument or sing, and have pieces you could perform that would be suitable to an evening of dancing, music, and great food, then clear your schedule for AUDITIONS! Thursday, December 11, starting after school in room 1225. Pick up audition applications in the Main Office; they're due Monday, December 8.
Winter Music Concert
All Orchestras and Choirs will perform Wednesday, December 17 at 7:30 pm in the NHS Performing Arts Center.
Laff-Machine
Students may audition to be part of the Comedy Skit group that performs at Follies. Auditions are Thursday, December 11 from 3:15 to 5:00 pm in the Drama room. Pick up audition information in front of the ASB Secretaries Office.
Friday, December 5, 2008
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Class of 2012 News -- November 1, 2008
Hello Freshparents:
Now that all the excitement and drama surrounding Homecoming week is behind us, life seems dull. I take that back …. life is never dull with teenagers in the house.
PTSA Membership
Ski Swap
BSF Phonathon
PTSA Publication
Magazines for Appel
Reminders
------------------------------------------------------------
PTSA Membership
The emails I send you are a service provided by Newport's PTSA. The Class Liaisons are happy to provide this service whether or not parents become members of our PTSA. We want everyone to be informed and feel welcome in our Newport community.
Besides sending these emails, our PTSA provides the newsletter, Knightline, which is mailed to your home seven times each school year. We sponsor the Knight Valor program, which encourages students to complete 100 hours of Community Service before graduation. We also give classroom grants to teachers, assist students in need, manage the annual Reflections arts program, publish a student phone directory, coordinate staff appreciation events, and work with the other schools in Bellevue to support the staff and students of Robinswood. Membership fees ensure that our volunteers receive training specific to their committee work and that our leaders are fully prepared to successfully manage a large non-profit here in the State of Washington.
Membership is also one way of quantifying Newport's parent involvement. Right now we have 912 members and about 1642 students. That's a membership rate of about 56%. Wouldn't it be great to say we have 100%? Because we know we have 100% parent involvement! Please take time now to consider joining Newport’s PTSA to support all the great services it provides. I have attached the membership form to this email. You may drop the completed membership form at the office with your check, or mail it to the Newport PTSA at the address on the form.
Thanks very much for your support of Newport's PTSA.
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Ski Swap
The annual Ski Swap at Newport is Saturday, November 8, from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm, and Sunday, November 9, from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. If you have something to sell, go to school on Friday, November 7, between 3:30 to 6:00. All unsold gear must be picked up Sunday evening.
Students who would like to earn some Community Service hours or to get first pick of gear should go to http://skiswap.info and sign up for whatever shifts and jobs they want. Parent volunteers are also welcome!
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BSF Phonathon
There is a dire need of volunteers for the Bellevue Schools Foundation Phonathon on Tuesday November 11 and Wednesday November 12 from 6:30 to 9:00 PM. Students will receive up to 5 hours of community service (and everyone gets free pizza)! For more information, and to sign up as a volunteer, contact Karen Tokita at (425) 277-1707 or atkaren@yahoo.com . You may also sign up in the office. Volunteers who can speak more than one language are particularly valuable. Please consider helping out if you can speak a second language. Parent volunteers are also welcome!
BSF funds a variety of programs to increase rigor and support students throughout the district. This year, BSF has paid for the new K-5 math curriculum and the new science curriculum in grades 6-10. BSF also funds “Bridging the Achievement Gap” grants for students who need extra academic support in schools with high poverty and significant English language learner populations. BSF also funds National Board certification for teachers so that our students learn from highly qualified teachers. The Bellevue School District has twice as many National Board Certified teachers as the district with the next highest number. Let’s help BSF continue these remarkable programs.
-----------------------------------------------------
PTSA Publication
The Washington State PTA is pleased to announce that its premier parent involvement magazine, “The Child Advocate,” is now available as an online membership benefit available to all 150,000 PTA members statewide. The new online edition, which will be published electronically in smaller, monthly editions during the school year, replaces the relatively small number of printed copies previously distributed on a quarterly basis.
While the publication schedule for “The Child Advocate” has changed, the quality of the content has not; the online editions will contain the same great articles with helpful tips for parents that the magazine has been known for during the past 16 years. The online publication will be available in two formats. One has the look and feel of an electronic magazine, and can easily be read on a computer screen. In addition, the articles can be downloaded in a PDF format.
To see the latest online issue of The Child Advocate, click on this link or clip and paste it into the address bar of your browser: http://www.wastatepta.org/programs/child_advocate.htm
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Magazines for Appel
Dawn Appel, the wife of Newport Science teacher Casey Appel, was diagnosed with leukemia over a year ago. She's in bed most of the day and passes time by reading a lot of magazines. If you have any that you've finished reading, please take them to the main office at school so staff can drop them in Dawn’s magazine box. If you'd like them back just put a note on them so Casey can return them to you. Dawn will be going in for a bone marrow transplant in the near future and that might include 100 days in the hospital, so she'll definitely need plenty of magazines. Go to this link -- http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/dawnappel -- to check on Dawn’s progress. Thanks for your help.
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Reminders
* Any student who still hasn’t picked up freshman sweats should go to Room 3119 after school to take care of this.
* Winter Sports Packets are due by November 7, 2008.
* The Yearbook staff is still looking for photo contributions; please contact Ms. Driscoll at driscollk@bsd405.org ASAP!
* The freshman class won “Most Creative” honors for its 2008 Homecoming Hall Decs. Thanks to all parents and students who helped with this effort.
Now that all the excitement and drama surrounding Homecoming week is behind us, life seems dull. I take that back …. life is never dull with teenagers in the house.
PTSA Membership
Ski Swap
BSF Phonathon
PTSA Publication
Magazines for Appel
Reminders
------------------------------------------------------------
PTSA Membership
The emails I send you are a service provided by Newport's PTSA. The Class Liaisons are happy to provide this service whether or not parents become members of our PTSA. We want everyone to be informed and feel welcome in our Newport community.
Besides sending these emails, our PTSA provides the newsletter, Knightline, which is mailed to your home seven times each school year. We sponsor the Knight Valor program, which encourages students to complete 100 hours of Community Service before graduation. We also give classroom grants to teachers, assist students in need, manage the annual Reflections arts program, publish a student phone directory, coordinate staff appreciation events, and work with the other schools in Bellevue to support the staff and students of Robinswood. Membership fees ensure that our volunteers receive training specific to their committee work and that our leaders are fully prepared to successfully manage a large non-profit here in the State of Washington.
Membership is also one way of quantifying Newport's parent involvement. Right now we have 912 members and about 1642 students. That's a membership rate of about 56%. Wouldn't it be great to say we have 100%? Because we know we have 100% parent involvement! Please take time now to consider joining Newport’s PTSA to support all the great services it provides. I have attached the membership form to this email. You may drop the completed membership form at the office with your check, or mail it to the Newport PTSA at the address on the form.
Thanks very much for your support of Newport's PTSA.
-------------------------------------------------------
Ski Swap
The annual Ski Swap at Newport is Saturday, November 8, from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm, and Sunday, November 9, from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. If you have something to sell, go to school on Friday, November 7, between 3:30 to 6:00. All unsold gear must be picked up Sunday evening.
Students who would like to earn some Community Service hours or to get first pick of gear should go to http://skiswap.info and sign up for whatever shifts and jobs they want. Parent volunteers are also welcome!
---------------------------------------------------------
BSF Phonathon
There is a dire need of volunteers for the Bellevue Schools Foundation Phonathon on Tuesday November 11 and Wednesday November 12 from 6:30 to 9:00 PM. Students will receive up to 5 hours of community service (and everyone gets free pizza)! For more information, and to sign up as a volunteer, contact Karen Tokita at (425) 277-1707 or atkaren@yahoo.com . You may also sign up in the office. Volunteers who can speak more than one language are particularly valuable. Please consider helping out if you can speak a second language. Parent volunteers are also welcome!
BSF funds a variety of programs to increase rigor and support students throughout the district. This year, BSF has paid for the new K-5 math curriculum and the new science curriculum in grades 6-10. BSF also funds “Bridging the Achievement Gap” grants for students who need extra academic support in schools with high poverty and significant English language learner populations. BSF also funds National Board certification for teachers so that our students learn from highly qualified teachers. The Bellevue School District has twice as many National Board Certified teachers as the district with the next highest number. Let’s help BSF continue these remarkable programs.
-----------------------------------------------------
PTSA Publication
The Washington State PTA is pleased to announce that its premier parent involvement magazine, “The Child Advocate,” is now available as an online membership benefit available to all 150,000 PTA members statewide. The new online edition, which will be published electronically in smaller, monthly editions during the school year, replaces the relatively small number of printed copies previously distributed on a quarterly basis.
While the publication schedule for “The Child Advocate” has changed, the quality of the content has not; the online editions will contain the same great articles with helpful tips for parents that the magazine has been known for during the past 16 years. The online publication will be available in two formats. One has the look and feel of an electronic magazine, and can easily be read on a computer screen. In addition, the articles can be downloaded in a PDF format.
To see the latest online issue of The Child Advocate, click on this link or clip and paste it into the address bar of your browser: http://www.wastatepta.org/programs/child_advocate.htm
-----------------------------------------------------------
Magazines for Appel
Dawn Appel, the wife of Newport Science teacher Casey Appel, was diagnosed with leukemia over a year ago. She's in bed most of the day and passes time by reading a lot of magazines. If you have any that you've finished reading, please take them to the main office at school so staff can drop them in Dawn’s magazine box. If you'd like them back just put a note on them so Casey can return them to you. Dawn will be going in for a bone marrow transplant in the near future and that might include 100 days in the hospital, so she'll definitely need plenty of magazines. Go to this link -- http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/dawnappel -- to check on Dawn’s progress. Thanks for your help.
--------------------------------------------------------
Reminders
* Any student who still hasn’t picked up freshman sweats should go to Room 3119 after school to take care of this.
* Winter Sports Packets are due by November 7, 2008.
* The Yearbook staff is still looking for photo contributions; please contact Ms. Driscoll at driscollk@bsd405.org ASAP!
* The freshman class won “Most Creative” honors for its 2008 Homecoming Hall Decs. Thanks to all parents and students who helped with this effort.
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Hello Freshparents:
I’ve been meeting many of you out and about and when you realize who I am you say, “Oh, you’re the one who sends ALL those emails.” Previously I told you that I would send “periodic” emails but this has become a weekly event so forgive me if you think I’m over doing it. If the response I received to the Homecoming Primer is any indication, I’d say that my emails are hitting the spot for a lot of you … especially those of you with boys! So, at the risk of visiting with you too soon on the heels of the last email, here’s the latest installment of news.
Homecoming Spirit Week
PTSA General Meeting
Homecoming Ticket Sales
Photo Retakes
Yearbook
Link Crew Tailgate
PE Waiver
Winter Sports Packet
Winter Sports Kickoff Event
Student Behavior in Factoria
Homecoming Spirit Week
Your student may be interested in dressing up for Spirit Week leading up to Homecoming on Friday.
Monday: Pajama Jam
Tuesday: Neon Day
Wednesday: Color War – Freshman color is PINK
Thursday: Animal Print Day
Friday: Red and Gold Day
PTSA General Meeting
The first PTSA General Meeting of the year convenes on Monday, October 20, 2008 at 7:00 pm in the Newport High School Library (second floor, above the main office). All are welcome; snacks are provided! This important meeting will determine some fundamental rules for our organization for the current year. Some discussion items: Approve the PTSA budget for the school year and adopt the Standing Rules (the Executive Committee will propose changes in (1) how excess Senior Party money is handled and (2) the structure of standing committee and ad hoc committees). We will hear from members of Link Crew about life at Newport and these students will be available to take your questions.
Homecoming Ticket Sales
Students may purchase tickets to the Homecoming Dance after school on Tuesday, October 21 and Wednesday, October 22, OR during both lunches and after school on Thursday, October 23. No tickets will be sold on Friday or at the door. I strongly advise you to encourage your student to purchase tickets on Tuesday or Wednesday to avoid the crush on Thursday. All tickets are $13. Guest passes must be turned in by 3:15 on Wednesday, October 22. No late forms will be accepted, and the office will not fax or receive faxes of these forms. The student must then present the pass received in the office to the Ticket Sale table. The guest must present a valid ticket and a school ID card at the door. Please help your student understand this process. http://schools.bsd405.org/nhs/homepage/activities2/index.htm
Photo Retakes
If they haven’t done so already, please send your student to the main office to pick up pictures taken at Check In Day in August or at picture makeup day. If you don’t like these pictures, your student has another chance to going to picture retake day on October 22.
Yearbook
Yearbook needs “student life” photos, particularly Then and Now (such as a photo of your student and some preschool buddies – Then – and the same students in the same pose this year – Now), Hobbies and Talents, and Community Service. Yearbook staff will receive photos until October 23. Contact Yearbook Advisor and English teacher, Kimberly Discoll, if you want to submit photos.
Link Crew Tailgate
Link Crew is hosting a tailgate party prior to Friday’s Homecoming game. The party starts at 5:00 pm on October 24 and goes until just before the game starts. Freshmen pay $3 and it’s $4 for everyone else. The menu includes hamburgers, hotdogs, chips, salad, and drinks. Students may purchase tickets during lunch this week.
PE Waiver
One time during your student’s high school career s/he may receive a PE credit for participating in a team sport. Go to the Newport sports website http://schools.bsd405.org/nhs/homepage/sports/P.E.%20Waiver%20and%20Form.pdf for all the details.
Winter Sports Packet
Winter sports packets are available outside of the ASB secretary’s office on the main floor. Students who have not participated in a fall sport should pick up a gray packet. Students who are currently in a sport should get a yellow “repeat” packet. Return the packet by November 7, 2008.
Winter Sports Kickoff Event
All athletes, parents, and coaches are invited to attend the Winter Sports Kickoff Event on Tuesday, November 25, at 7:00 pm in the Newport main gym. The guest speaker will be Anna Mickelson Cummins, Olympic gold medalist and Newport alumna. Students don’t have to be a winter sport athlete to attend this event. Everyone is welcome.
Student Behavior in Factoria
Some parent volunteers have recently visited restaurants in Factoria to ask for donated food for our Ski Swap next month. They have received some feedback they want to share with parents. The managers of a few restaurants – Red Robin, Goldberg's, Romio's specifically but there are probably others – have commented that many students who come in on Wednesday afternoons treat their servers poorly and often leave without tipping. There are even reports of students dining and dashing. This is, as you can imagine, affecting their generosity when it comes to giving us food for the Ski Swap and we have enough trouble prying donations out of local businesses as it is. This is really happening so we can’t all assume that “it’s not my kid.” Take the time to talk with your student. Kids who eat lunch in Factoria on Wednesdays should respect restaurant staff and property, pay for what they eat, and tip appropriately. We’re hopeful that, with parent support, our community restaurants will see improved behavior in the coming months.
I’ve been meeting many of you out and about and when you realize who I am you say, “Oh, you’re the one who sends ALL those emails.” Previously I told you that I would send “periodic” emails but this has become a weekly event so forgive me if you think I’m over doing it. If the response I received to the Homecoming Primer is any indication, I’d say that my emails are hitting the spot for a lot of you … especially those of you with boys! So, at the risk of visiting with you too soon on the heels of the last email, here’s the latest installment of news.
Homecoming Spirit Week
PTSA General Meeting
Homecoming Ticket Sales
Photo Retakes
Yearbook
Link Crew Tailgate
PE Waiver
Winter Sports Packet
Winter Sports Kickoff Event
Student Behavior in Factoria
Homecoming Spirit Week
Your student may be interested in dressing up for Spirit Week leading up to Homecoming on Friday.
Monday: Pajama Jam
Tuesday: Neon Day
Wednesday: Color War – Freshman color is PINK
Thursday: Animal Print Day
Friday: Red and Gold Day
PTSA General Meeting
The first PTSA General Meeting of the year convenes on Monday, October 20, 2008 at 7:00 pm in the Newport High School Library (second floor, above the main office). All are welcome; snacks are provided! This important meeting will determine some fundamental rules for our organization for the current year. Some discussion items: Approve the PTSA budget for the school year and adopt the Standing Rules (the Executive Committee will propose changes in (1) how excess Senior Party money is handled and (2) the structure of standing committee and ad hoc committees). We will hear from members of Link Crew about life at Newport and these students will be available to take your questions.
Homecoming Ticket Sales
Students may purchase tickets to the Homecoming Dance after school on Tuesday, October 21 and Wednesday, October 22, OR during both lunches and after school on Thursday, October 23. No tickets will be sold on Friday or at the door. I strongly advise you to encourage your student to purchase tickets on Tuesday or Wednesday to avoid the crush on Thursday. All tickets are $13. Guest passes must be turned in by 3:15 on Wednesday, October 22. No late forms will be accepted, and the office will not fax or receive faxes of these forms. The student must then present the pass received in the office to the Ticket Sale table. The guest must present a valid ticket and a school ID card at the door. Please help your student understand this process. http://schools.bsd405.org/nhs/homepage/activities2/index.htm
Photo Retakes
If they haven’t done so already, please send your student to the main office to pick up pictures taken at Check In Day in August or at picture makeup day. If you don’t like these pictures, your student has another chance to going to picture retake day on October 22.
Yearbook
Yearbook needs “student life” photos, particularly Then and Now (such as a photo of your student and some preschool buddies – Then – and the same students in the same pose this year – Now), Hobbies and Talents, and Community Service. Yearbook staff will receive photos until October 23. Contact Yearbook Advisor and English teacher, Kimberly Discoll, if you want to submit photos.
Link Crew Tailgate
Link Crew is hosting a tailgate party prior to Friday’s Homecoming game. The party starts at 5:00 pm on October 24 and goes until just before the game starts. Freshmen pay $3 and it’s $4 for everyone else. The menu includes hamburgers, hotdogs, chips, salad, and drinks. Students may purchase tickets during lunch this week.
PE Waiver
One time during your student’s high school career s/he may receive a PE credit for participating in a team sport. Go to the Newport sports website http://schools.bsd405.org/nhs/homepage/sports/P.E.%20Waiver%20and%20Form.pdf for all the details.
Winter Sports Packet
Winter sports packets are available outside of the ASB secretary’s office on the main floor. Students who have not participated in a fall sport should pick up a gray packet. Students who are currently in a sport should get a yellow “repeat” packet. Return the packet by November 7, 2008.
Winter Sports Kickoff Event
All athletes, parents, and coaches are invited to attend the Winter Sports Kickoff Event on Tuesday, November 25, at 7:00 pm in the Newport main gym. The guest speaker will be Anna Mickelson Cummins, Olympic gold medalist and Newport alumna. Students don’t have to be a winter sport athlete to attend this event. Everyone is welcome.
Student Behavior in Factoria
Some parent volunteers have recently visited restaurants in Factoria to ask for donated food for our Ski Swap next month. They have received some feedback they want to share with parents. The managers of a few restaurants – Red Robin, Goldberg's, Romio's specifically but there are probably others – have commented that many students who come in on Wednesday afternoons treat their servers poorly and often leave without tipping. There are even reports of students dining and dashing. This is, as you can imagine, affecting their generosity when it comes to giving us food for the Ski Swap and we have enough trouble prying donations out of local businesses as it is. This is really happening so we can’t all assume that “it’s not my kid.” Take the time to talk with your student. Kids who eat lunch in Factoria on Wednesdays should respect restaurant staff and property, pay for what they eat, and tip appropriately. We’re hopeful that, with parent support, our community restaurants will see improved behavior in the coming months.
Homecoming Primer -- October 12, 2008
Hello Freshparents:
Two years ago, when my oldest was a freshman, he told me that he wanted to take a girl to homecoming. The mother of that girl also has a freshman this year and we moms reminisced recently about how clueless we were back then. With the help of the other class liaisons, I would like to present to you this primer on the Newport homecoming experience. Basically, this is all the information I wish I had two years ago.
Homecoming Week: October 20 to 25
During the Week
Much like the Spirit Week that led up to the Disco Dance, each day of Homecoming Week has a particular theme. These are fun themes announced in advance to the student body via morning announcements and posters in the hallway. It's not necessary to dress up, but most students and many teachers do get into the act. Keep in mind that the normal dress code still applies. Competitions and activities occur at lunchtime in the cafeteria.
Thursday, October 23
On Thursday night of homecoming week, students from each grade decorate an assigned area in the school according to the theme assigned to that class. This year the freshman theme is DINOSAURS and they will decorate the main office in a Jurassic Park scheme. Jake Nonis, the freshman class advisor, will supervise this activity. In the days leading up to this event, you may hear a lot about “hall decs” and your student may ask you to "lend" items which may or may not survive the day. Without the funds that other classes have, freshmen rely on donations from parents. On Thursday night, the students get quite warm, so parents may stop by with a case of water or some snacks. The freshman area is more chaotic than the others as this is their first time "managing" a project of this magnitude. Resist the urge to manage it for them!!
Friday, October 24
On Friday morning, the halls are judged by a team of teachers, and the winners announced at the Homecoming Assembly Friday afternoon. The Homecoming Assembly is the most spirited, goofy, fun assembly of the year. Please do not be alarmed when your student reports that many senior boys showed up in Cheer or Drill uniforms for this assembly.
Friday night is the Homecoming football game at 7:00 p.m. on the football field. A surprising number of recent grads do attend.
Saturday, October 25
The Homecoming Dance is a school-sponsored activity on Saturday evening from 9:00 pm to midnight. At this event, many freshmen will dress up according to their interpretation of the dinosaur theme.Cave men and women are also allowed as the theme is based on time periods.
The Ask:
This is traditionally considered a "date" dance, although it's perfectly acceptable to attend alone or with a group of friends. The vast majority of kids attend in a group of couples. At Homecoming, the boys generally ask the girls but almost none of them do it by picking up the phone or texting to ask for a date. The first phase consists of floating trial balloons – either the boys communicate through their friends that they are interested in asking a particular girl or the girls communicate through their friends that they are interested in a particular boy asking them. These are all back-room maneuvers that are exhausting and stressful but that result in a boy asking a girl whom he’s fairly certain will say yes. Then the boys plan a more or less elaborate method to ask the girl – a scavenger hunt, anonymous gifts left on the doorstep, balloons floating in the pool at swim team practice, the question appearing on the Factoria Cinema sign. The girls respond in kind to give their answer. Your student may invite a high-school age student from another school. I will forward the guest invitation form in another email.
Activities:
Some groups plan optional activities on Friday night or Saturday during the day. They carve pumpkins, go bowling, take a hike, bake a dessert for after the dance. This does not have to be an expensive outing, it can be as simple and casual as throwing a Frisbee or football in a park.
Pictures:
After the kids get dressed according to the theme, they often gather at one home with all their associated parents for pictures and a little parent socializing. All the parents will be there. It is perfectly OK for you to be there. If your child says otherwise, he's wrong.
Transportation:
It's great when they form groups of SIX so that the group can fit neatly into a mini-van or SUV. Parent drivers are the norm for freshman students.
Attire:
Newport's Homecoming is meant to be for everyone, so it is not formal or semi-formal. It's more of a costume ball. Students really do dress for the theme. Mixed-grade couples usually dress in the theme of the older student's class. Again, the usual dress code still applies.
Finances:
While the student and his/her date can work out any arrangement they like, there are some conventions about who buys what. Traditionally, the boys buy/arrange dinner and the dance tickets. The girls pay for pictures and dessert. No corsages/boutonnières for Homecoming.
Dinner:
Dinner before the dance can be at the home of a friend whose mom is a wonderful cook. It is relaxing, fun, cheap! Their choice of restaurant is somewhat limited by the goofy clothes they'll be wearing, so it's unlikely they'll want to go to Canlis – more like Cucina! Cucina!
Dessert:
This tradition has evolved over the years. The kids usually gather at one person's home after the dance (yes, it's after midnight now) to eat dessert and visit. So parents, plan on staying up late.
After Dessert:
Why, they go home, of course!
Final Word:
While I have written out these procedures in an orderly fashion, they generally don’t happen like this for freshmen. The larger the group, the more difficult it is to reach a consensus. This is where I went wrong two years ago. Every time I asked my son who was in the group or where they were going to dinner, his story changed. My mistake was to keep asking him – I should have gone straight to the other parents. It is acceptable to call the parents of the other students involved to find out what they know about the plans. In fact, it’s not only acceptable, it’s advisable! Two years ago I didn’t find out “for sure” what was happening until the morning of the dance when another mother called me. It was a relief to finally get some facts! This year I plan to give my daughter until October 22 to give me the facts. If there aren’t any or there aren’t enough, I will start calling the other parents. You have my permission to do the same!
Although our students will claim that “everyone goes to Homecoming,” the fact is that only about 1/3 of the student body attends. All of the components of Homecoming listed above are not requirements – you may view them as a la cart items. Contrary to the beliefs of many of our children, parents still have the final say!
Two years ago, when my oldest was a freshman, he told me that he wanted to take a girl to homecoming. The mother of that girl also has a freshman this year and we moms reminisced recently about how clueless we were back then. With the help of the other class liaisons, I would like to present to you this primer on the Newport homecoming experience. Basically, this is all the information I wish I had two years ago.
Homecoming Week: October 20 to 25
During the Week
Much like the Spirit Week that led up to the Disco Dance, each day of Homecoming Week has a particular theme. These are fun themes announced in advance to the student body via morning announcements and posters in the hallway. It's not necessary to dress up, but most students and many teachers do get into the act. Keep in mind that the normal dress code still applies. Competitions and activities occur at lunchtime in the cafeteria.
Thursday, October 23
On Thursday night of homecoming week, students from each grade decorate an assigned area in the school according to the theme assigned to that class. This year the freshman theme is DINOSAURS and they will decorate the main office in a Jurassic Park scheme. Jake Nonis, the freshman class advisor, will supervise this activity. In the days leading up to this event, you may hear a lot about “hall decs” and your student may ask you to "lend" items which may or may not survive the day. Without the funds that other classes have, freshmen rely on donations from parents. On Thursday night, the students get quite warm, so parents may stop by with a case of water or some snacks. The freshman area is more chaotic than the others as this is their first time "managing" a project of this magnitude. Resist the urge to manage it for them!!
Friday, October 24
On Friday morning, the halls are judged by a team of teachers, and the winners announced at the Homecoming Assembly Friday afternoon. The Homecoming Assembly is the most spirited, goofy, fun assembly of the year. Please do not be alarmed when your student reports that many senior boys showed up in Cheer or Drill uniforms for this assembly.
Friday night is the Homecoming football game at 7:00 p.m. on the football field. A surprising number of recent grads do attend.
Saturday, October 25
The Homecoming Dance is a school-sponsored activity on Saturday evening from 9:00 pm to midnight. At this event, many freshmen will dress up according to their interpretation of the dinosaur theme.Cave men and women are also allowed as the theme is based on time periods.
The Ask:
This is traditionally considered a "date" dance, although it's perfectly acceptable to attend alone or with a group of friends. The vast majority of kids attend in a group of couples. At Homecoming, the boys generally ask the girls but almost none of them do it by picking up the phone or texting to ask for a date. The first phase consists of floating trial balloons – either the boys communicate through their friends that they are interested in asking a particular girl or the girls communicate through their friends that they are interested in a particular boy asking them. These are all back-room maneuvers that are exhausting and stressful but that result in a boy asking a girl whom he’s fairly certain will say yes. Then the boys plan a more or less elaborate method to ask the girl – a scavenger hunt, anonymous gifts left on the doorstep, balloons floating in the pool at swim team practice, the question appearing on the Factoria Cinema sign. The girls respond in kind to give their answer. Your student may invite a high-school age student from another school. I will forward the guest invitation form in another email.
Activities:
Some groups plan optional activities on Friday night or Saturday during the day. They carve pumpkins, go bowling, take a hike, bake a dessert for after the dance. This does not have to be an expensive outing, it can be as simple and casual as throwing a Frisbee or football in a park.
Pictures:
After the kids get dressed according to the theme, they often gather at one home with all their associated parents for pictures and a little parent socializing. All the parents will be there. It is perfectly OK for you to be there. If your child says otherwise, he's wrong.
Transportation:
It's great when they form groups of SIX so that the group can fit neatly into a mini-van or SUV. Parent drivers are the norm for freshman students.
Attire:
Newport's Homecoming is meant to be for everyone, so it is not formal or semi-formal. It's more of a costume ball. Students really do dress for the theme. Mixed-grade couples usually dress in the theme of the older student's class. Again, the usual dress code still applies.
Finances:
While the student and his/her date can work out any arrangement they like, there are some conventions about who buys what. Traditionally, the boys buy/arrange dinner and the dance tickets. The girls pay for pictures and dessert. No corsages/boutonnières for Homecoming.
Dinner:
Dinner before the dance can be at the home of a friend whose mom is a wonderful cook. It is relaxing, fun, cheap! Their choice of restaurant is somewhat limited by the goofy clothes they'll be wearing, so it's unlikely they'll want to go to Canlis – more like Cucina! Cucina!
Dessert:
This tradition has evolved over the years. The kids usually gather at one person's home after the dance (yes, it's after midnight now) to eat dessert and visit. So parents, plan on staying up late.
After Dessert:
Why, they go home, of course!
Final Word:
While I have written out these procedures in an orderly fashion, they generally don’t happen like this for freshmen. The larger the group, the more difficult it is to reach a consensus. This is where I went wrong two years ago. Every time I asked my son who was in the group or where they were going to dinner, his story changed. My mistake was to keep asking him – I should have gone straight to the other parents. It is acceptable to call the parents of the other students involved to find out what they know about the plans. In fact, it’s not only acceptable, it’s advisable! Two years ago I didn’t find out “for sure” what was happening until the morning of the dance when another mother called me. It was a relief to finally get some facts! This year I plan to give my daughter until October 22 to give me the facts. If there aren’t any or there aren’t enough, I will start calling the other parents. You have my permission to do the same!
Although our students will claim that “everyone goes to Homecoming,” the fact is that only about 1/3 of the student body attends. All of the components of Homecoming listed above are not requirements – you may view them as a la cart items. Contrary to the beliefs of many of our children, parents still have the final say!
Class of 2012 News Update -- October 8, 2008
Hello Freshparents:
It’s time for another news installment ….
Band Contest
Freshmen Sweats
Town Hall Meeting
Super Wednesday
PTSA Meeting
Picture Retakes
Homecoming Week
Bellevue Parks Levy
Ski Swap
Super Wednesday Schedule
October 8-10: Band Contest
Recently our marching band entered a contest sponsored by KIRO Radio. We arranged the required tune "Catch My Disease" by Ben Lee, and recorded it for submission into this contest. If we win the contest, Seattle Seahawk's Blue Thunder Drumline will come to Newport and play for our Homecoming game! We really want to win.
We need every parent, student, co-worker, community member (virtually anyone who owns an email account and who is willing log in) to go to http://www.mynorthwest.com/ and vote. This is the KIRO website. The show that will be hosting the contest is called “Too Beautiful to Live” or TBTL. It is on from 7:00 to10:00 pm weeknights. The voting started Tuesday and continues through noon on October 10. You will be able to access the voting mechanism from their show page (just scroll down on the MyNorthwest.com homepage, on the right side there’s a picture of Luke and it links to the showpage) and from the “Events and Contests” page.
October 13: Freshmen Sweats
Freshmen sweats have arrived and will be ready for pick-up on October 13 between 2:30 and 3:30. Students have the opportunity to attend tutorial first, if necessary, and then pick up their purchases in Mechanical Room #3191.
October 14: Town Hall Meeting
Bellevue School Board and Bellevue PTSA Council invite you to a conversation with our representatives.
Rep. Ross Hunter (D-48)
Senator Rodney Tom (D-48)
Rep. Fred Jarrett (D-41)
“Let’s do something about state education funding” (A Proposal for the Basic Education Finance Joint Task Force)
Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2008, 7pm
Sammamish High School Performing Arts Center
Washington State’s education funding system is broken. Increasing costs and declining funds to public schools continue to create chronic under funding which affects every student in Bellevue and forces the district to use levy dollars to fund basic education programs.
2008-2009 could begin the change. For more than a year, the WA Joint Task Force on Basic Education Finance has been studying the education funding problems facing our state. Its report and suggestions to the legislature are due in December 2008. Finally, there will be a serious and open discussion in Olympia about what our kids need and how we can help them get it. The Task Force has been working on two monumental issues important to BSD and the State:
redefining basic public education to include all that our children need for success
developing an appropriate funding mechanism for our schools
This presentation will discuss a serious proposal to address these issues; and how we can help.
After the presentation, questions will be answered from the Board and the audience. For event information or to submit questions in advance, contact Bellevue PTSA Council President Janet Suppes janetpta@gmail.com or Legislative Chair Connie Gerlitz dgerlitz2@comcast.net.
For more info on the BEFJTF, visit http://www.leg.wa.gov/Joint/Committees/BEF/
The Washington Learns report can be found at http://www.washingtonlearns.wa.gov/
Learn more about the WA education funding crisis at http://www.fundingwaschools.org
October 15: Super Wednesday
Super Wednesday is a day filled with activity that varies by class. Sophomores take the PLAN assessment, Juniors take the PSAT, and Seniors participate in a college essay writing seminar. The Freshmen will be in the gym from 7:30 to 11:10 doing various activities. To accommodate these activities, there is a modified schedule for the entire week. This schedule appears at the bottom of this email.
October 20: PTSA Meeting
Plan to attend the PTSA general meeting at 7:00 pm in the library. Members will approve the budget and hear committee reports. The scheduled guests are Link Crew members who will describe what they do to acclimate freshmen to the high school experience. You may pick up your school directory of you didn’t get it at the Open House last month.
October 22: Picture Retakes
If you or your student were unhappy with the photos taken in August at Check In Day, your student should plan to go to school on October 22 with the picture packet and do retakes.
October 20-25: Homecoming Week
Homecoming Week is a lot like Spirit Week that preceded the Disco Dance. Each day has a theme, the students get to decorate the school, there is an assembly and varsity football game on Friday, and the Homecoming dance on Saturday. I will send an email soon that is devoted to the details surrounding this week.
November 4: Bellevue Parks Levy
Community Activists John Stokes and Karen Roper made a presentation to PTSA Board Members urging Bellevue residents to vote YES on the Bellevue Parks Levy (Proposition 1) that will be the last item on the November 4 ballot. This replaces a 20-year-old levy to maintain and improve the Bellevue Parks and Open Space System. For more information go to: www.BellevueParksYES.org.
November 8-9: Ski Swap
The Newport Snowsports Ski Swap is quickly approaching and we have many open time slots for you and your friends/family members to sign up and help us during the Ski Swap.
The event occurs Saturday and Sunday, November 8 and 9, at Newport HS. We have time slots from Friday afternoon through Monday available!!
- Friday afternoon/evening is Swap Set Up
- Saturday and Sunday is the actual Swap event
- Sunday afternoon/evening is the Swap Take Down
- Monday reconciliation (not open to public)
This is a great way to meet other parents and friends, have your teenager earn community service credit for BSD/Knights Valor and more!
To sign up please register via the website: http://skiswap.info and click on the Volunteer tab in the left margin!
Also Volunteer Training (optional) for any new volunteers is being offered on Thursday, 10/23, from 7pm-8:30 pm at the NHS Library.
It’s time for another news installment ….
Band Contest
Freshmen Sweats
Town Hall Meeting
Super Wednesday
PTSA Meeting
Picture Retakes
Homecoming Week
Bellevue Parks Levy
Ski Swap
Super Wednesday Schedule
October 8-10: Band Contest
Recently our marching band entered a contest sponsored by KIRO Radio. We arranged the required tune "Catch My Disease" by Ben Lee, and recorded it for submission into this contest. If we win the contest, Seattle Seahawk's Blue Thunder Drumline will come to Newport and play for our Homecoming game! We really want to win.
We need every parent, student, co-worker, community member (virtually anyone who owns an email account and who is willing log in) to go to http://www.mynorthwest.com/ and vote. This is the KIRO website. The show that will be hosting the contest is called “Too Beautiful to Live” or TBTL. It is on from 7:00 to10:00 pm weeknights. The voting started Tuesday and continues through noon on October 10. You will be able to access the voting mechanism from their show page (just scroll down on the MyNorthwest.com homepage, on the right side there’s a picture of Luke and it links to the showpage) and from the “Events and Contests” page.
October 13: Freshmen Sweats
Freshmen sweats have arrived and will be ready for pick-up on October 13 between 2:30 and 3:30. Students have the opportunity to attend tutorial first, if necessary, and then pick up their purchases in Mechanical Room #3191.
October 14: Town Hall Meeting
Bellevue School Board and Bellevue PTSA Council invite you to a conversation with our representatives.
Rep. Ross Hunter (D-48)
Senator Rodney Tom (D-48)
Rep. Fred Jarrett (D-41)
“Let’s do something about state education funding” (A Proposal for the Basic Education Finance Joint Task Force)
Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2008, 7pm
Sammamish High School Performing Arts Center
Washington State’s education funding system is broken. Increasing costs and declining funds to public schools continue to create chronic under funding which affects every student in Bellevue and forces the district to use levy dollars to fund basic education programs.
2008-2009 could begin the change. For more than a year, the WA Joint Task Force on Basic Education Finance has been studying the education funding problems facing our state. Its report and suggestions to the legislature are due in December 2008. Finally, there will be a serious and open discussion in Olympia about what our kids need and how we can help them get it. The Task Force has been working on two monumental issues important to BSD and the State:
redefining basic public education to include all that our children need for success
developing an appropriate funding mechanism for our schools
This presentation will discuss a serious proposal to address these issues; and how we can help.
After the presentation, questions will be answered from the Board and the audience. For event information or to submit questions in advance, contact Bellevue PTSA Council President Janet Suppes janetpta@gmail.com or Legislative Chair Connie Gerlitz dgerlitz2@comcast.net.
For more info on the BEFJTF, visit http://www.leg.wa.gov/Joint/Committees/BEF/
The Washington Learns report can be found at http://www.washingtonlearns.wa.gov/
Learn more about the WA education funding crisis at http://www.fundingwaschools.org
October 15: Super Wednesday
Super Wednesday is a day filled with activity that varies by class. Sophomores take the PLAN assessment, Juniors take the PSAT, and Seniors participate in a college essay writing seminar. The Freshmen will be in the gym from 7:30 to 11:10 doing various activities. To accommodate these activities, there is a modified schedule for the entire week. This schedule appears at the bottom of this email.
October 20: PTSA Meeting
Plan to attend the PTSA general meeting at 7:00 pm in the library. Members will approve the budget and hear committee reports. The scheduled guests are Link Crew members who will describe what they do to acclimate freshmen to the high school experience. You may pick up your school directory of you didn’t get it at the Open House last month.
October 22: Picture Retakes
If you or your student were unhappy with the photos taken in August at Check In Day, your student should plan to go to school on October 22 with the picture packet and do retakes.
October 20-25: Homecoming Week
Homecoming Week is a lot like Spirit Week that preceded the Disco Dance. Each day has a theme, the students get to decorate the school, there is an assembly and varsity football game on Friday, and the Homecoming dance on Saturday. I will send an email soon that is devoted to the details surrounding this week.
November 4: Bellevue Parks Levy
Community Activists John Stokes and Karen Roper made a presentation to PTSA Board Members urging Bellevue residents to vote YES on the Bellevue Parks Levy (Proposition 1) that will be the last item on the November 4 ballot. This replaces a 20-year-old levy to maintain and improve the Bellevue Parks and Open Space System. For more information go to: www.BellevueParksYES.org.
November 8-9: Ski Swap
The Newport Snowsports Ski Swap is quickly approaching and we have many open time slots for you and your friends/family members to sign up and help us during the Ski Swap.
The event occurs Saturday and Sunday, November 8 and 9, at Newport HS. We have time slots from Friday afternoon through Monday available!!
- Friday afternoon/evening is Swap Set Up
- Saturday and Sunday is the actual Swap event
- Sunday afternoon/evening is the Swap Take Down
- Monday reconciliation (not open to public)
This is a great way to meet other parents and friends, have your teenager earn community service credit for BSD/Knights Valor and more!
To sign up please register via the website: http://skiswap.info and click on the Volunteer tab in the left margin!
Also Volunteer Training (optional) for any new volunteers is being offered on Thursday, 10/23, from 7pm-8:30 pm at the NHS Library.
More Fall News -- September 30, 2008
Hello Freshparents:
Last week our students experienced their first Spirit Week and school assembly and many attended their first all-school dance. They’re settling into their schedules, doing homework, and hopefully feeling less anxious about being in high school. Here’s the latest edition of fall news.
Bellevue School Board Town Hall Meeting
Student Grades
Extended Tutorial
Clubs
Sports
Food for Thought
Bellevue School Board Town Hall Meeting
The Bellevue School Board is hosting a Town Hall to learn about the proposals being made by the Basic Education Funding Task Force. The bi-partisan group has been working on what they hope to be a major piece of legislation to address education funding in this state. Come learn about what they are recommending. This could be seen as a continuation of the discussion that was begun at the School Board meeting during the teacher strike. Many parents were awakened to the issues and want to learn what they can do to resolve the issues of how schools are funded, how teacher pay is determined, and what is meant by basic education.
Date: Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Time: 7:00 pm
Place: Sammamish High School
Who: Representatives from the Basic Education Funding Task Force
Host: Bellevue School Board
Student Grades
You may now access your student’s attendance record and grades by going to https://grades.bsd405.org/piv. I recommend that you go to the Newport website, click on Grades and then on Instructions to learn how to view grades. You need your student’s ID number and password to get started. If you are new to the Bellevue School District or lost your password from middle school, your student may request this information at Newport or you may go into the office to get it but you must have a photo ID. You may not get this information over the phone.
Attendance is updated hourly but grades are not. Teachers are not required to update grades more than a few times during the semester although some do frequent updates.
Extended Tutorial
Teachers hold tutorial on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 2:30 pm to 3:00 pm. Some students need additional time and attention or just a quiet place to do homework so they might consider extended tutorial. Extended tutorial convenes on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:15 pm to 5:15 pm. A Math and English teacher are available at these sessions to assist students.
Clubs
Students can find enrichment outside of the classroom by participating in one of the many clubs that exist at Newport. Some clubs that have already announced their first meeting are Math Club, Astronomy Club, Snowriders Club, Key Club, Knightpagers Book Club, and Ecology Club. I highly recommend that you subscribe to the Daily Bulletin published by the front office. Just email Janet Suppes at suppesj@bsd405.org and ask her to add your name to the distribution list. This email publishes all the announcements made each morning to the students so you’ll hear the news the same day they do.
Senior Fundraiser
Those of you who attended Open House may have picked up a half-page flyer with the headline “Gradnight 2009.” This flyer lists some fundraisers for the senior class, including a poinsettia sale in November. The “order by” date is wrong on the flyer – instead of November 17, it should read ORDER BY NOVEMBER 7. Each plant is $15. You may order poinsettias or participate in any of the senior class fundraisers by visiting: http://www.nhsgradknight2009.myevent.com/. Seniors are raising money for the special events planned for them in June and they would appreciate your support. As the year goes on, you’ll hear more about fundraisers for the junior class. Please be generous in your support as our time will come to ask the younger classes to support the Class of 2012!
Sports
Freshman girls interested in the Newport Gymnastics team should attend an informational meeting after school on October 10 at 3:30 pm on the Commons.
The Girls’ Cross Country team came in second at the Nike Pre-National Meet on Saturday, September 27 in Portland OR and the Boys’ team came in fourth.
Food for Thought
Julie Rooney, the Liaison for the Class of 2011, sent me this article and I wanted to share it with you. Craig Smith gives some “free advice” on making the most of the high school experience.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/craigsmith/2008196706_smitty23.html
Coming Up Next
Homecoming Primer – everything you need to know about Homecoming Spirit Week and the Homecoming Dance.
Last week our students experienced their first Spirit Week and school assembly and many attended their first all-school dance. They’re settling into their schedules, doing homework, and hopefully feeling less anxious about being in high school. Here’s the latest edition of fall news.
Bellevue School Board Town Hall Meeting
Student Grades
Extended Tutorial
Clubs
Sports
Food for Thought
Bellevue School Board Town Hall Meeting
The Bellevue School Board is hosting a Town Hall to learn about the proposals being made by the Basic Education Funding Task Force. The bi-partisan group has been working on what they hope to be a major piece of legislation to address education funding in this state. Come learn about what they are recommending. This could be seen as a continuation of the discussion that was begun at the School Board meeting during the teacher strike. Many parents were awakened to the issues and want to learn what they can do to resolve the issues of how schools are funded, how teacher pay is determined, and what is meant by basic education.
Date: Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Time: 7:00 pm
Place: Sammamish High School
Who: Representatives from the Basic Education Funding Task Force
Host: Bellevue School Board
Student Grades
You may now access your student’s attendance record and grades by going to https://grades.bsd405.org/piv. I recommend that you go to the Newport website, click on Grades and then on Instructions to learn how to view grades. You need your student’s ID number and password to get started. If you are new to the Bellevue School District or lost your password from middle school, your student may request this information at Newport or you may go into the office to get it but you must have a photo ID. You may not get this information over the phone.
Attendance is updated hourly but grades are not. Teachers are not required to update grades more than a few times during the semester although some do frequent updates.
Extended Tutorial
Teachers hold tutorial on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 2:30 pm to 3:00 pm. Some students need additional time and attention or just a quiet place to do homework so they might consider extended tutorial. Extended tutorial convenes on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:15 pm to 5:15 pm. A Math and English teacher are available at these sessions to assist students.
Clubs
Students can find enrichment outside of the classroom by participating in one of the many clubs that exist at Newport. Some clubs that have already announced their first meeting are Math Club, Astronomy Club, Snowriders Club, Key Club, Knightpagers Book Club, and Ecology Club. I highly recommend that you subscribe to the Daily Bulletin published by the front office. Just email Janet Suppes at suppesj@bsd405.org and ask her to add your name to the distribution list. This email publishes all the announcements made each morning to the students so you’ll hear the news the same day they do.
Senior Fundraiser
Those of you who attended Open House may have picked up a half-page flyer with the headline “Gradnight 2009.” This flyer lists some fundraisers for the senior class, including a poinsettia sale in November. The “order by” date is wrong on the flyer – instead of November 17, it should read ORDER BY NOVEMBER 7. Each plant is $15. You may order poinsettias or participate in any of the senior class fundraisers by visiting: http://www.nhsgradknight2009.myevent.com/. Seniors are raising money for the special events planned for them in June and they would appreciate your support. As the year goes on, you’ll hear more about fundraisers for the junior class. Please be generous in your support as our time will come to ask the younger classes to support the Class of 2012!
Sports
Freshman girls interested in the Newport Gymnastics team should attend an informational meeting after school on October 10 at 3:30 pm on the Commons.
The Girls’ Cross Country team came in second at the Nike Pre-National Meet on Saturday, September 27 in Portland OR and the Boys’ team came in fourth.
Food for Thought
Julie Rooney, the Liaison for the Class of 2011, sent me this article and I wanted to share it with you. Craig Smith gives some “free advice” on making the most of the high school experience.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/craigsmith/2008196706_smitty23.html
Coming Up Next
Homecoming Primer – everything you need to know about Homecoming Spirit Week and the Homecoming Dance.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Fall Activities
Hello Freshparents:
I hope that you and your freshman made it through the first week of school with flying colors. As you will see with all the information below, we’re on a ride that won’t stop until the end of June.
Spirit Week
Football BBQ and Game
Disco Dance
Back-to-School Night
Student Volunteer Opportunity
Picture Make-Up Day
PTSA Meeting
District School Calendars
Housekeeping
-------------------------------------------------------
Spirit Week
The first Spirit Week of the year is September 22 through September 26. Each day has a theme and the students may choose to participate or not, although they might be surprised at how many students do dress up. Here are the themes for next week:
Monday – Mustache Monday (maybe use a washable marker?!)
Tuesday – Rock Star Day (or, Mustache Tuesday if your student used a Sharpie on Monday!)
Wednesday – Safety Day
Thursday – Ugly Sweater Day
Friday – Red and Gold Day (everyone can do this one!)
The Welcome Back/Fall Sports assembly is Friday, September 26.
Spirit Week culminates in ….
-------------------------------------------------------
Football BBQ - Class of 2009 Fundraiser
Come tailgate and help the Senior class at the same time before the Newport-Skyline football game on Friday, September 26. The menu includes: burgers (3 kinds), salad, soda, chips, and a cookie all for only $10 per ticket or $30 for 4 tickets. Dinner is served from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm.
The last day to purchase tickets is Tuesday, September 23. You may purchase tickets online at: http://www.nhsgradknight2009.myevent.com/ or at the GradKnight 2009 table during Open House on September 23. Beat Skyline!! The game starts at 7:00 pm.
The Newport-Skyline football game is followed by ….
-------------------------------------------------------
Disco Dance
The Disco Dance is on Friday, September 26, from 9:00 pm until midnight following the home football game. Many students will dress according to the disco theme but it is not a requirement for entry. There may be “dates” going to the dance but mostly students will go in groups of friends. In spite of our students’ insistence that “everyone” goes to this dance and stays until midnight, you may be confident that not all parents permit this. You will not be alone if you decline permission to this dance or arrange to pick up your student earlier than midnight. Tickets are on sale next week during lunch until Thursday, September 25. No tickets will be sold on Friday or at the door! Guest passes for non-Newport students are online at: http://schools.bsd405.org/nhs/homepage/activities2/index.htm and must be turned in no later than Wednesday, September 24 at 3:15 pm. No faxes, paper passes only.
-------------------------------------------------------
Back-to-School Night
This event, scheduled for Tuesday, September 23, has several components – Grade-Level Meeting, Open House to Meet Teachers, Classroom Bucks Fundraiser, and Shopping!
Grade-Level Meeting
Parents and guardians from each class will meet in four different places around the school. Locations for these meetings will be posted in the Commons when you arrive. This meeting is scheduled for 6:15 pm until 6:55 pm and it will be conducted by one of the freshman counselors. Plan to arrive early and try to carpool with your neighbors to keep the mayhem in the parking lot to a minimum.
Open House
From 7:00 pm until 9:00 pm you will follow your child’s class schedule – 10 minutes per period and a 5-minute passing period. Wear comfortable shoes and expect to climb stairs and cover a lot of ground! I highly recommend that you find the September 2008 issue of the Knightline and turn to page 5. There you will find a schedule outline. Have your student fill it out and use this during the Open House. Volunteers will have class schedules to hand out that evening but there will be very, very long lines that may delay you from getting to the Grade-Level Meeting or your student’s classrooms. Volunteers will also have school maps to distribute. The purpose of the Open House is for parents to meet teachers, hear about course curricula and assessments, learn about classroom expectations and procedures, and receive contact information for the teachers. As you can imagine, 10 minutes is barely enough time to share this information. Open House is not the time to ask questions that relate specifically to your child; please contact the teacher after the event to schedule a meeting.
Classroom Bucks
During 2nd period of Open House, a student volunteer will visit each classroom to collect cash and checks for this PTSA fundraiser. The goal this year is $20,000 and every dollar raised will go directly into Newport classrooms in the form of teacher grants to supplement supplies and equipment to enhance curriculum. Page 7 of the September 2008 Knightline newsletter displays a form that you may return to the PTSA at a later date if necessary.
Shopping
There will be many tables set up throughout the Commons with representatives from the PTSA and various sports and clubs. You may visit these tables before, during, and after the events mentioned above. If you already joined PTSA, pick up your school directory and membership card. If you haven’t joined yet, get a membership form on page 4 of the September 2008 Knightline or at the PTSA table at Back-to-School Night. The other groups will have information to hand out or various booster items to sell – blankets, sweaters, license plate covers, water bottles, etc. – so don’t forget your checkbook!
-------------------------------------------------------
Student Volunteer Opportunity - Back-to-School Night
Your student may volunteer to work at Back-to-School Night from 5:45 pm to 8:45pm by signing up in the main office. Student volunteers will earn three hours of community service.
-------------------------------------------------------
Picture Make-Up Day
Picture make-up day is scheduled for Wednesday, September 24, beginning at 12:30 pm in the Commons. Your student may pick up an order envelope in the main office. Students who should participate in this: those who missed Check In Day and will have pictures taken for the first time, those who do not yet have a picture ID. ALL students, whether or not they order pictures or participate in ASB must have a picture ID. This is not for picture re-takes. Picture re-takes will be scheduled in October and your student will return their photo packet for a re-take. More information will follow.
-------------------------------------------------------
PTSA Meeting
The first PTSA meeting of the year will be held on Monday, September 29 at 7:00 pm in the school library. All parents and PTSA members are welcome to attend.
-------------------------------------------------------
District School Calendars
The District school calendars for the current year and the next two years were approved this past Tuesday. You may download these calendars at the following sites:
2008/2009 Calendar:
http://www.bsd405.org/portals/0/aboutBSD/schoolcalendar/200809schoolcalendar.pdf
2009/2010 Calendar:
http://www.bsd405.org/portals/0/aboutBSD/schoolcalendar/200910SchoolCalendar.pdf
2010/2011 Calendar:
http://www.bsd405.org/portals/0/aboutBSD/schoolcalendar/201011SchoolCalendar.pdf
--------------------------------------------------------
Housekeeping
Thanks to all the parents who responded to my housekeeping email to help me clean up the mailing list. At any time during the next four years, please do not hesitate to ask me to add or delete an email address. If you know of another freshparent who does not receive my emails, please share my address and let him/her decide whether or not to contact me. Don’t forget that I post all of my emails on the class blog -- http://newport-ptsa-2012.blogspot.com/. You can get there by going to the Newport PTSA website, click on “Resources” on the left hand side and then go to Class of 2012 blog on the right side.
Thanks for reading this far!
I hope that you and your freshman made it through the first week of school with flying colors. As you will see with all the information below, we’re on a ride that won’t stop until the end of June.
Spirit Week
Football BBQ and Game
Disco Dance
Back-to-School Night
Student Volunteer Opportunity
Picture Make-Up Day
PTSA Meeting
District School Calendars
Housekeeping
-------------------------------------------------------
Spirit Week
The first Spirit Week of the year is September 22 through September 26. Each day has a theme and the students may choose to participate or not, although they might be surprised at how many students do dress up. Here are the themes for next week:
Monday – Mustache Monday (maybe use a washable marker?!)
Tuesday – Rock Star Day (or, Mustache Tuesday if your student used a Sharpie on Monday!)
Wednesday – Safety Day
Thursday – Ugly Sweater Day
Friday – Red and Gold Day (everyone can do this one!)
The Welcome Back/Fall Sports assembly is Friday, September 26.
Spirit Week culminates in ….
-------------------------------------------------------
Football BBQ - Class of 2009 Fundraiser
Come tailgate and help the Senior class at the same time before the Newport-Skyline football game on Friday, September 26. The menu includes: burgers (3 kinds), salad, soda, chips, and a cookie all for only $10 per ticket or $30 for 4 tickets. Dinner is served from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm.
The last day to purchase tickets is Tuesday, September 23. You may purchase tickets online at: http://www.nhsgradknight2009.myevent.com/ or at the GradKnight 2009 table during Open House on September 23. Beat Skyline!! The game starts at 7:00 pm.
The Newport-Skyline football game is followed by ….
-------------------------------------------------------
Disco Dance
The Disco Dance is on Friday, September 26, from 9:00 pm until midnight following the home football game. Many students will dress according to the disco theme but it is not a requirement for entry. There may be “dates” going to the dance but mostly students will go in groups of friends. In spite of our students’ insistence that “everyone” goes to this dance and stays until midnight, you may be confident that not all parents permit this. You will not be alone if you decline permission to this dance or arrange to pick up your student earlier than midnight. Tickets are on sale next week during lunch until Thursday, September 25. No tickets will be sold on Friday or at the door! Guest passes for non-Newport students are online at: http://schools.bsd405.org/nhs/homepage/activities2/index.htm and must be turned in no later than Wednesday, September 24 at 3:15 pm. No faxes, paper passes only.
-------------------------------------------------------
Back-to-School Night
This event, scheduled for Tuesday, September 23, has several components – Grade-Level Meeting, Open House to Meet Teachers, Classroom Bucks Fundraiser, and Shopping!
Grade-Level Meeting
Parents and guardians from each class will meet in four different places around the school. Locations for these meetings will be posted in the Commons when you arrive. This meeting is scheduled for 6:15 pm until 6:55 pm and it will be conducted by one of the freshman counselors. Plan to arrive early and try to carpool with your neighbors to keep the mayhem in the parking lot to a minimum.
Open House
From 7:00 pm until 9:00 pm you will follow your child’s class schedule – 10 minutes per period and a 5-minute passing period. Wear comfortable shoes and expect to climb stairs and cover a lot of ground! I highly recommend that you find the September 2008 issue of the Knightline and turn to page 5. There you will find a schedule outline. Have your student fill it out and use this during the Open House. Volunteers will have class schedules to hand out that evening but there will be very, very long lines that may delay you from getting to the Grade-Level Meeting or your student’s classrooms. Volunteers will also have school maps to distribute. The purpose of the Open House is for parents to meet teachers, hear about course curricula and assessments, learn about classroom expectations and procedures, and receive contact information for the teachers. As you can imagine, 10 minutes is barely enough time to share this information. Open House is not the time to ask questions that relate specifically to your child; please contact the teacher after the event to schedule a meeting.
Classroom Bucks
During 2nd period of Open House, a student volunteer will visit each classroom to collect cash and checks for this PTSA fundraiser. The goal this year is $20,000 and every dollar raised will go directly into Newport classrooms in the form of teacher grants to supplement supplies and equipment to enhance curriculum. Page 7 of the September 2008 Knightline newsletter displays a form that you may return to the PTSA at a later date if necessary.
Shopping
There will be many tables set up throughout the Commons with representatives from the PTSA and various sports and clubs. You may visit these tables before, during, and after the events mentioned above. If you already joined PTSA, pick up your school directory and membership card. If you haven’t joined yet, get a membership form on page 4 of the September 2008 Knightline or at the PTSA table at Back-to-School Night. The other groups will have information to hand out or various booster items to sell – blankets, sweaters, license plate covers, water bottles, etc. – so don’t forget your checkbook!
-------------------------------------------------------
Student Volunteer Opportunity - Back-to-School Night
Your student may volunteer to work at Back-to-School Night from 5:45 pm to 8:45pm by signing up in the main office. Student volunteers will earn three hours of community service.
-------------------------------------------------------
Picture Make-Up Day
Picture make-up day is scheduled for Wednesday, September 24, beginning at 12:30 pm in the Commons. Your student may pick up an order envelope in the main office. Students who should participate in this: those who missed Check In Day and will have pictures taken for the first time, those who do not yet have a picture ID. ALL students, whether or not they order pictures or participate in ASB must have a picture ID. This is not for picture re-takes. Picture re-takes will be scheduled in October and your student will return their photo packet for a re-take. More information will follow.
-------------------------------------------------------
PTSA Meeting
The first PTSA meeting of the year will be held on Monday, September 29 at 7:00 pm in the school library. All parents and PTSA members are welcome to attend.
-------------------------------------------------------
District School Calendars
The District school calendars for the current year and the next two years were approved this past Tuesday. You may download these calendars at the following sites:
2008/2009 Calendar:
http://www.bsd405.org/portals/0/aboutBSD/schoolcalendar/200809schoolcalendar.pdf
2009/2010 Calendar:
http://www.bsd405.org/portals/0/aboutBSD/schoolcalendar/200910SchoolCalendar.pdf
2010/2011 Calendar:
http://www.bsd405.org/portals/0/aboutBSD/schoolcalendar/201011SchoolCalendar.pdf
--------------------------------------------------------
Housekeeping
Thanks to all the parents who responded to my housekeeping email to help me clean up the mailing list. At any time during the next four years, please do not hesitate to ask me to add or delete an email address. If you know of another freshparent who does not receive my emails, please share my address and let him/her decide whether or not to contact me. Don’t forget that I post all of my emails on the class blog -- http://newport-ptsa-2012.blogspot.com/. You can get there by going to the Newport PTSA website, click on “Resources” on the left hand side and then go to Class of 2012 blog on the right side.
Thanks for reading this far!
Monday, September 15, 2008
First Day of School!
Good Evening Freshparents:
The official word is in – Tomorrow, September 15, is the first day of school.
Class Schedules
Freshmen may pick up their final class schedule in the Commons starting at 7:00 am tomorrow.
Schedule Changes
Counselors will be available for appointments starting the first day of school. Go to the Counseling Center and make an appointment with the secretary. Continue to attend classes on your schedule; the counselor will call you out of class to deal with the schedule problem.
Bus Pass and Lockers
Volunteers will be outside the office at lunch during the first week of school to hand out bus passes and assign lockers.
Spirit Week & Disco Dance
Spirit Week has been rescheduled for September 22 through 26 and the Disco Dance will be Friday, September 26. More information to come.
The official word is in – Tomorrow, September 15, is the first day of school.
Class Schedules
Freshmen may pick up their final class schedule in the Commons starting at 7:00 am tomorrow.
Schedule Changes
Counselors will be available for appointments starting the first day of school. Go to the Counseling Center and make an appointment with the secretary. Continue to attend classes on your schedule; the counselor will call you out of class to deal with the schedule problem.
Bus Pass and Lockers
Volunteers will be outside the office at lunch during the first week of school to hand out bus passes and assign lockers.
Spirit Week & Disco Dance
Spirit Week has been rescheduled for September 22 through 26 and the Disco Dance will be Friday, September 26. More information to come.
Bellevue School Board Meeting
Hello Freshparents:
Less than an hour after I sent today’s earlier email, I was notified that the School Board meeting has been changed to tomorrow. I regret the confusion and any inconvenience it may have caused. This is the official announcement sent out by the district:
CANCELLATION of the Tuesday, September 9, 2008, Special Meeting of the Board of Directors.
Because the special meeting notice for Tuesday’s meeting did not provide that public testimony could be heard before the Board considered taking action related to the current BEA strike, and the Board was interested in hearing such testimony; the Board has cancelled this meeting to schedule a meeting where that is possible at a venue large enough to accommodate those who wish to attend.
SPECIAL MEETING of the Board of Directors – Wednesday, September 10, 2008, at 7:00 p.m. at Sammamish High School, Performing Arts Center, for the purpose of:
The Board hearing public testimony concerning and the Board taking action regarding collective bargaining with the Bellevue Education Association and potential legal action related to the current BEA strike; and to meet in executive session to discuss with legal counsel matters relating to agency enforcement actions and/or potential litigation.
Less than an hour after I sent today’s earlier email, I was notified that the School Board meeting has been changed to tomorrow. I regret the confusion and any inconvenience it may have caused. This is the official announcement sent out by the district:
CANCELLATION of the Tuesday, September 9, 2008, Special Meeting of the Board of Directors.
Because the special meeting notice for Tuesday’s meeting did not provide that public testimony could be heard before the Board considered taking action related to the current BEA strike, and the Board was interested in hearing such testimony; the Board has cancelled this meeting to schedule a meeting where that is possible at a venue large enough to accommodate those who wish to attend.
SPECIAL MEETING of the Board of Directors – Wednesday, September 10, 2008, at 7:00 p.m. at Sammamish High School, Performing Arts Center, for the purpose of:
The Board hearing public testimony concerning and the Board taking action regarding collective bargaining with the Bellevue Education Association and potential legal action related to the current BEA strike; and to meet in executive session to discuss with legal counsel matters relating to agency enforcement actions and/or potential litigation.
Strike Update
Hello Freshparents:
Based on the questions the class liaisons have fielded in the past few days, I wanted to write to clear up some concerns.
www.bsd405.org and www.bellevueea.org continue to be the recommended information sources for what’s happening with the strike.
Picture make ups, Spirit Week, Disco Dance, and any NON-sports-related activities previously scheduled for this week have been suspended. Once school starts we’ll have more information about when and if these activities will be rescheduled.
Many parents have expressed frustration with the current state of affairs and wonder what you can do to promote a resolution to the strike. I will reprint a recent letter sent by PTSA leadership:
To the Bellevue PTSA Council Members:
Teachers have decided not to vote on the offer that the Bellevue District offered today. No schedule has been set to have a vote.
Schools have been closed six days, and there is no clear end in sight. This is not good for our students or our district. It is time we sent a message to both the BEA and the School District to get this settled, and get schools open. NOW.
Please plan on attending the special School Board meeting tomorrow, Tuesday, September 9th, at 7:30 [pm] at the Bellevue School District Office.
This is your opportunity to come together with the community and voice your support for our students. We are not there to yell or disrupt or to confront anyone. We are one community. Join your fellow parents in the parking lot starting at 7:00. We can then proceed to the meeting when it begins. W[ear] a basic black shirt, so we can look like a group (if you want).
Please get out the word to your members through email, phone calls, pony express, whatever it takes. I'd suggest Facebook, but I haven't got a clue how it works. If your children want to join us, they can - this is the PTSA, after all.
PTA takes no position on the issues. That is for the negotiating teams. But we take a very strong position that strikes are bad for kids. They are missing valuable time. We need [to] make sure our voice is heard.
Thanks, and see you tomorrow!
Janet Suppes
Bellevue PTSA Council President
janetPTA@gmail.com
425-445-3707
Based on the questions the class liaisons have fielded in the past few days, I wanted to write to clear up some concerns.
www.bsd405.org and www.bellevueea.org continue to be the recommended information sources for what’s happening with the strike.
Picture make ups, Spirit Week, Disco Dance, and any NON-sports-related activities previously scheduled for this week have been suspended. Once school starts we’ll have more information about when and if these activities will be rescheduled.
Many parents have expressed frustration with the current state of affairs and wonder what you can do to promote a resolution to the strike. I will reprint a recent letter sent by PTSA leadership:
To the Bellevue PTSA Council Members:
Teachers have decided not to vote on the offer that the Bellevue District offered today. No schedule has been set to have a vote.
Schools have been closed six days, and there is no clear end in sight. This is not good for our students or our district. It is time we sent a message to both the BEA and the School District to get this settled, and get schools open. NOW.
Please plan on attending the special School Board meeting tomorrow, Tuesday, September 9th, at 7:30 [pm] at the Bellevue School District Office.
This is your opportunity to come together with the community and voice your support for our students. We are not there to yell or disrupt or to confront anyone. We are one community. Join your fellow parents in the parking lot starting at 7:00. We can then proceed to the meeting when it begins. W[ear] a basic black shirt, so we can look like a group (if you want).
Please get out the word to your members through email, phone calls, pony express, whatever it takes. I'd suggest Facebook, but I haven't got a clue how it works. If your children want to join us, they can - this is the PTSA, after all.
PTA takes no position on the issues. That is for the negotiating teams. But we take a very strong position that strikes are bad for kids. They are missing valuable time. We need [to] make sure our voice is heard.
Thanks, and see you tomorrow!
Janet Suppes
Bellevue PTSA Council President
janetPTA@gmail.com
425-445-3707
Strike Update and Other News
Hello Freshparents:
Teacher Strike
The strike continues: there will be no school on Friday, September 5.
Strike Resources:
BEA information is at http://www.bellevueea.org/
BSD information is at http://www.bsd405.org/
The State and National PTA both advocate for children to be back in the classroom.
Athletics
As previously reported, sports and sports-related activities (band, cheer, etc.) will continue to operate as scheduled. Competition for Newport teams starts as early as tomorrow. These are some weekend sports events:
Friday, September 5 – Varsity Football vs. Woodinville 7:00 @ Woodinville (Pop Cheney Stadium)
Saturday, September 6 – all day Varsity Volleyball King Co Jamboree @ Newport HS
Saturday, September 6 – all day JV Volleyball King Co Jamboree @ Interlake HS
You will find the schedule for all fall sports at http://www.digitalsports.com/school/id/19172/page/athletics.aspx
Spirit Ware
I have attached an order form for Freshman Class Sweats. Proceeds from the sale of this apparel go to the Senior Class for their year-end celebrations. Starting next year, the Class of 2012 will be able to influence the design of their class apparel and proceeds will come to our class. When our kids are Seniors, they will design the new Freshman sweats and reap the benefits of sales. What goes around comes around!
Another source of spirit ware is Prep Sportswear, located at http://www.prepsportswear.com. Choose the “Teams” tab and find the team store under WASHINGTON and BELLEVUE. At this site you can pick a clothing item and then personalize it by color, size, style, sport, graduation year, etc. Proceeds from sales at this site go to the Newport football team.
Volunteer Opportunity
The Bellevue Schools Foundation needs volunteers for a phonathon mailing:
Friday, September 5 between 8:30am and 3pm
Monday, September 8 between 8:30am and 3:30pm
Tuesday, September 9 between 8:30am and 5pm
Please respond to Christena Coutsoubos, Christena@bsfdn.org. Let her know who can help out and when – first come, first served. Christena needs around 10 to 15 volunteers each day – adults as well as students. If you can help for only an hour or two, she’ll take you!
Teacher Strike
The strike continues: there will be no school on Friday, September 5.
Strike Resources:
BEA information is at http://www.bellevueea.org/
BSD information is at http://www.bsd405.org/
The State and National PTA both advocate for children to be back in the classroom.
Athletics
As previously reported, sports and sports-related activities (band, cheer, etc.) will continue to operate as scheduled. Competition for Newport teams starts as early as tomorrow. These are some weekend sports events:
Friday, September 5 – Varsity Football vs. Woodinville 7:00 @ Woodinville (Pop Cheney Stadium)
Saturday, September 6 – all day Varsity Volleyball King Co Jamboree @ Newport HS
Saturday, September 6 – all day JV Volleyball King Co Jamboree @ Interlake HS
You will find the schedule for all fall sports at http://www.digitalsports.com/school/id/19172/page/athletics.aspx
Spirit Ware
I have attached an order form for Freshman Class Sweats. Proceeds from the sale of this apparel go to the Senior Class for their year-end celebrations. Starting next year, the Class of 2012 will be able to influence the design of their class apparel and proceeds will come to our class. When our kids are Seniors, they will design the new Freshman sweats and reap the benefits of sales. What goes around comes around!
Another source of spirit ware is Prep Sportswear, located at http://www.prepsportswear.com. Choose the “Teams” tab and find the team store under WASHINGTON and BELLEVUE. At this site you can pick a clothing item and then personalize it by color, size, style, sport, graduation year, etc. Proceeds from sales at this site go to the Newport football team.
Volunteer Opportunity
The Bellevue Schools Foundation needs volunteers for a phonathon mailing:
Friday, September 5 between 8:30am and 3pm
Monday, September 8 between 8:30am and 3:30pm
Tuesday, September 9 between 8:30am and 5pm
Please respond to Christena Coutsoubos, Christena@bsfdn.org. Let her know who can help out and when – first come, first served. Christena needs around 10 to 15 volunteers each day – adults as well as students. If you can help for only an hour or two, she’ll take you!
Strike Update
The strike continues and the District announced recently that there will be no school on Thursday, September 4.
There IS Band Practice this evening. Chuck Johnson is having email troubles and asked for our help getting the word out.
Sports activities will continue as scheduled. Please refer to http://schools.bsd405.org/nhs/homepage/index.html (school and athletics calendar are in the pull-down menu).
Please visit both the District’s and the Union’s websites to find what progress has occurred and what each side says about the issues. Should you still have questions feel free to ask and I’ll try to research them for you.
· District: www.bsd405.org
· Union: www.bellevueea.org
Rather than take sides and prolong the strike, we choose to urge both sides to come to a settlement, and get our students back in class. Students are impacted by not being in class and any days missed will need to be made up.
There IS Band Practice this evening. Chuck Johnson is having email troubles and asked for our help getting the word out.
Sports activities will continue as scheduled. Please refer to http://schools.bsd405.org/nhs/homepage/index.html (school and athletics calendar are in the pull-down menu).
Please visit both the District’s and the Union’s websites to find what progress has occurred and what each side says about the issues. Should you still have questions feel free to ask and I’ll try to research them for you.
· District: www.bsd405.org
· Union: www.bellevueea.org
Rather than take sides and prolong the strike, we choose to urge both sides to come to a settlement, and get our students back in class. Students are impacted by not being in class and any days missed will need to be made up.
Strike Announcement -- September 1, 2008
Many of you are now aware from the local news channels that the strike is on in the Bellevue School District. There will be no classes at Newport until further notice. The only activities going on at school are related to sports teams, including a parent meeting at 7:00 pm Tuesday evening in the gym. There seems to be some confusion about picking up class schedules at school tomorrow morning – this activity will occur on the first day of school, whenever that may be. Any days missed due to the strike will need to be made up.
Below are two messages:
The first is from the State PTA about its position on the strike and recommended action.
The second message is from BSD stating the facts of the negotiations (edited to facts only.)
I strongly encourage you to research what both sides are saying about the issues. You can visit http://www.bsd405.org/ for the district's side, and http://www.bellevueea.org/ for the union's side. If you have any questions, please contact me and I’ll try to research them for you.
Mary Kate Uribe
PTSA Liaison Class of 2012
From Kelly Munn, our Region 2 Legislation Chair (Kelly has good advice for us because she was active in PTA in Issaquah back when their teachers went on strike. Much of her advice was earned the hard way – through experience):
Don’t support one side over another. For the most part we know and like our teachers. For many of us, it’s instinctive to help the people that directly help our children. Don’t do it. It will prolong the strike. The more support one side gets, the more entrenched the strike will become, the longer the strike will last. The community needs to say “resolve the strike now, it’s not good for children” repeatedly, and to both sides.
The WSPTA has a position on strikes – that they are not good for children. See below. Consistently repeat this message to everyone.
If you distribute information, distribute information from both sides. Remember that this is a strike and that the information WILL BE biased on both sides, sometimes it will be out and out lies, other times it will be sins of omissions. The community does not have a seat at the bargaining table and therefore we don’t really understand what is being negotiated. Both sides will spin the information to their advantage. We will never really understand what is being negotiated.
Don’t bring donuts to the picket lines. The teachers will take it as “support” and it makes them feel supported, don’t take donuts to the admin office either – it does the same to them. We speak for kids, and strikes are not good for kids, we need a strike to end as quickly as possible.
If money is one of the problems, money is not a local issue, it’s a statewide issue. Blame the lack of state education funding. The state does not provide enough money to our communities. Bellevue is perceived as a “wealthy” district, and is wealthy in some areas, but in terms of per pupil funding Bellevue is “middle of the pack” in funding, even with its high levy lid. The state needs to adequately fund school districts and this includes adequately funding teachers. This is not a local school district problem, it’s a state wide funding problem.
Do not believe what you hear. Although leaders, the press, etc. will say that the dispute is about “money” or about “curriculum” or it’s about teachers being “valued”, that is rarely what is actually being negotiated. This is why it’s better for the community to consistently say “strikes hurt children.” We don’t really know what is going on, and the information will be biased at best from both sides.
There is a normal course for a strike to run through. There may be personal attacks on the highest levels of leadership. There may be suggestions that the budget can be balanced with the “reserve fund” (when those funds run out your school district will have to make cuts). The school district may be giving too little information which adds significantly more confusion to the community. Teachers may be concerned that they are “not valued as the professionals that they are” These are all things that are said in most teachers strikes.
Help the school community to repair itself after the strike. Thank the teachers for getting back to work, thank the administrators for making a deal. Recruit people to go to Olympia to work on more funding for schools across the state. Work together with administrators, teachers and parents towards something positive.
UNINTERRUPTED OPERATION OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS 18.6
Resolution, 1986
Revised, 2006
Whereas, The Washington State PTA has a purpose “To develop between educators and the general public such united efforts as will secure for all children and youth the highest advantages in physical, mental, social, spiritual education”; and,
Whereas, Quality Education is a high priority issue for the Washington State PTA; and, Whereas, Washington State citizens have historically valued the reliable delivery of vital services and the orderly management of public institutions including fire and police services and public schools, and,
Whereas, The Washington State PTA also holds that a disruption to the educational system in the form of work stoppages and strikes is detrimental to the best interests of the children and
families affected by those actions, and, Whereas, The Washington State PTA believes that a disruption to the educational system in the form of work stoppages and/or strikes is often detrimental to the best interest of the children and families affected by those actions. While acknowledging that more state resources must be committed to the educational process in the State of Washington, including higher salaries for educational employees: therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Washington State PTA shall work to produce conditions with regard to the collective bargaining process which will consistently produce, in a timely manner, labor agreements negotiated and fully embraced by the direct parties thereto and which will not cause disruption to the school calendar; and be it further
Resolved, That the Washington State PTA will not support work stoppages and/or strikes which interrupt or disrupt the educational day.
Begin forwarded message:
From: "Oxrieder, Ann (C Ann)" <OxriederA@bsd405.org>
Date: September 1, 2008 6:09:20 PM PDT
To: "Janet Suppes" <janetpta@gmail.com>
Subject: strike update -- please share
Bellevue Schools are closed until further notice.
The Bellevue teachers’ union has announced a strike against the Bellevue School District starting Tuesday, September 2. Because of the strike, all District schools are closed until further notice.
. . Negotiations continue with the assistance of a mediator from the Public Employment Relations Commission. . . .
The strike and its impact will be an agenda item at the School Board’s regular meeting, Tuesday, September 2, at 4:30 PM.
This information will be updated regularly.
Will there be childcare?
Children already enrolled in the District’s childcare program may sign up for fee-supported services at their regular sites. Full-day Head Start will also be on its regular schedule. Half-day pre-school and half-day Head Start will be cancelled. Additional childcare options are available. Access News Release >
Will there be school sports?
School sports and related practices will continue on their regular schedules. Practices will occur at the same times they would occur if schools were in session. No special practices schedules will be permitted.
Will community groups be able to use District facilities and fields?Community use of District facilities and athletic fields will continue for the time being.
Ann Oxrieder
Assistant to the Superintendent
Bellevue School District
425 456-4127
Below are two messages:
The first is from the State PTA about its position on the strike and recommended action.
The second message is from BSD stating the facts of the negotiations (edited to facts only.)
I strongly encourage you to research what both sides are saying about the issues. You can visit http://www.bsd405.org/ for the district's side, and http://www.bellevueea.org/ for the union's side. If you have any questions, please contact me and I’ll try to research them for you.
Mary Kate Uribe
PTSA Liaison Class of 2012
From Kelly Munn, our Region 2 Legislation Chair (Kelly has good advice for us because she was active in PTA in Issaquah back when their teachers went on strike. Much of her advice was earned the hard way – through experience):
Don’t support one side over another. For the most part we know and like our teachers. For many of us, it’s instinctive to help the people that directly help our children. Don’t do it. It will prolong the strike. The more support one side gets, the more entrenched the strike will become, the longer the strike will last. The community needs to say “resolve the strike now, it’s not good for children” repeatedly, and to both sides.
The WSPTA has a position on strikes – that they are not good for children. See below. Consistently repeat this message to everyone.
If you distribute information, distribute information from both sides. Remember that this is a strike and that the information WILL BE biased on both sides, sometimes it will be out and out lies, other times it will be sins of omissions. The community does not have a seat at the bargaining table and therefore we don’t really understand what is being negotiated. Both sides will spin the information to their advantage. We will never really understand what is being negotiated.
Don’t bring donuts to the picket lines. The teachers will take it as “support” and it makes them feel supported, don’t take donuts to the admin office either – it does the same to them. We speak for kids, and strikes are not good for kids, we need a strike to end as quickly as possible.
If money is one of the problems, money is not a local issue, it’s a statewide issue. Blame the lack of state education funding. The state does not provide enough money to our communities. Bellevue is perceived as a “wealthy” district, and is wealthy in some areas, but in terms of per pupil funding Bellevue is “middle of the pack” in funding, even with its high levy lid. The state needs to adequately fund school districts and this includes adequately funding teachers. This is not a local school district problem, it’s a state wide funding problem.
Do not believe what you hear. Although leaders, the press, etc. will say that the dispute is about “money” or about “curriculum” or it’s about teachers being “valued”, that is rarely what is actually being negotiated. This is why it’s better for the community to consistently say “strikes hurt children.” We don’t really know what is going on, and the information will be biased at best from both sides.
There is a normal course for a strike to run through. There may be personal attacks on the highest levels of leadership. There may be suggestions that the budget can be balanced with the “reserve fund” (when those funds run out your school district will have to make cuts). The school district may be giving too little information which adds significantly more confusion to the community. Teachers may be concerned that they are “not valued as the professionals that they are” These are all things that are said in most teachers strikes.
Help the school community to repair itself after the strike. Thank the teachers for getting back to work, thank the administrators for making a deal. Recruit people to go to Olympia to work on more funding for schools across the state. Work together with administrators, teachers and parents towards something positive.
UNINTERRUPTED OPERATION OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS 18.6
Resolution, 1986
Revised, 2006
Whereas, The Washington State PTA has a purpose “To develop between educators and the general public such united efforts as will secure for all children and youth the highest advantages in physical, mental, social, spiritual education”; and,
Whereas, Quality Education is a high priority issue for the Washington State PTA; and, Whereas, Washington State citizens have historically valued the reliable delivery of vital services and the orderly management of public institutions including fire and police services and public schools, and,
Whereas, The Washington State PTA also holds that a disruption to the educational system in the form of work stoppages and strikes is detrimental to the best interests of the children and
families affected by those actions, and, Whereas, The Washington State PTA believes that a disruption to the educational system in the form of work stoppages and/or strikes is often detrimental to the best interest of the children and families affected by those actions. While acknowledging that more state resources must be committed to the educational process in the State of Washington, including higher salaries for educational employees: therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Washington State PTA shall work to produce conditions with regard to the collective bargaining process which will consistently produce, in a timely manner, labor agreements negotiated and fully embraced by the direct parties thereto and which will not cause disruption to the school calendar; and be it further
Resolved, That the Washington State PTA will not support work stoppages and/or strikes which interrupt or disrupt the educational day.
Begin forwarded message:
From: "Oxrieder, Ann (C Ann)" <OxriederA@bsd405.org>
Date: September 1, 2008 6:09:20 PM PDT
To: "Janet Suppes" <janetpta@gmail.com>
Subject: strike update -- please share
Bellevue Schools are closed until further notice.
The Bellevue teachers’ union has announced a strike against the Bellevue School District starting Tuesday, September 2. Because of the strike, all District schools are closed until further notice.
. . Negotiations continue with the assistance of a mediator from the Public Employment Relations Commission. . . .
The strike and its impact will be an agenda item at the School Board’s regular meeting, Tuesday, September 2, at 4:30 PM.
This information will be updated regularly.
Will there be childcare?
Children already enrolled in the District’s childcare program may sign up for fee-supported services at their regular sites. Full-day Head Start will also be on its regular schedule. Half-day pre-school and half-day Head Start will be cancelled. Additional childcare options are available. Access News Release >
Will there be school sports?
School sports and related practices will continue on their regular schedules. Practices will occur at the same times they would occur if schools were in session. No special practices schedules will be permitted.
Will community groups be able to use District facilities and fields?Community use of District facilities and athletic fields will continue for the time being.
Ann Oxrieder
Assistant to the Superintendent
Bellevue School District
425 456-4127
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Back to School News -- August 30, 2008
Strike Update
The District and BEA continue to post updates on union negotiations. Negotiations are scheduled through Labor Day. We encourage you to seek out information, particularly those of you who are new to the district and may not be familiar with this process. There has been a lot more media coverage regarding the possibility of a strike so be sure to listen to the local news on September 1. The district website will indicate what everyone should do on September 2.
Bellevue Education Association: http://www.bellevueea.org
Bellevue School District: www.bsd405.org
24 Hour Newsline, (425) 456 - 4111 (recorded message)
Sign up for BSD E-mail Notification at: www.bsd405.org/districtnotification
If you want updates from the district via email, you should send an email to pubinfo@bsd405.org , and request to be added to the distribution.
If there is a strike, high school sports programs will continue as scheduled.
And remember: PTA has no role in the bargaining process and therefore no position on this issue. The Washington State PTA works very hard to improve education funding for teachers at the state level, and does not support disruption to the school calendar.
Schedule: School Starts September 2
Even considering this uncertainty, school is scheduled to begin on September 2 at 7:30 am.
· Freshmen should pick up a Final Course Schedule starting at 7:00 am in the Commons.
· If you have an issue with your schedule, make an appointment with your counselor but continue to attend classes according to the schedule. The counselor will call you out of class to resolve any issues.
· Turn in any forms left over from Check In day last week.
· Pay any remaining fees at the Accounting Office.
Need a Bus Pass or a Locker?
Volunteers will be outside the office at lunch during the first week of school to hand out bus passes and assign lockers.
Picture Makeup Day
Everyone needs a Picture ID card, even if you don’t pay for ASB. If you don’t have one yet, plan on staying at school on Wednesday, September 10. The photographers will be here at 12:40. If you want to buy pictures, extra envelopes are in the office.
Theatre Department
Auditions for the All-School Play ARSENIC AND OLD LACE, one of the greatest American comedies, are September 17 and 18 after school from 3:15 to 5:15 in the theatre. Performances dates are November 6 through the 8. Rehearsals are Monday through Thursday after school. An Audition Information packet will be available in front of the ASB Secretaries Office the second week of school.
School Parking Lot
It is important for all freshparents to learn about the flow in the school parking lot. The very best place for drop off and pick up is on the East side of school – the side that faces Factoria Boulevard. There is a circular drive that facilitates safe and efficient transitions for your child. If you enter the parking lot on the West side of school – the side with all the ball fields – you should enter and go right into the lot. This is especially important to do at the beginning and end of the school day as there will be two lanes of traffic approaching from the left to exit that lot. You may drive around the perimeter of that lot, up the North side of the building and into the circular drop off area.
Student News
Olympic Congratulations!Anna Mickelson Cummins won an Olympic Gold in 8-man crew! She is a 1998 Newport Grad and UW Grad!
Email Distribution
I send these periodic informational emails to the parents and guardians of freshmen students. All email addresses appear in the BCC line to protect privacy. My goal is to reach 100% of the Class of 2012 but there are still many families who do not participate. If you know of other freshman families who do not receive these emails, please ask them to contact me. If you no longer wish to receive these emails or would like me to send them to a different email address, please contact me and I will make all of those changes.
The District and BEA continue to post updates on union negotiations. Negotiations are scheduled through Labor Day. We encourage you to seek out information, particularly those of you who are new to the district and may not be familiar with this process. There has been a lot more media coverage regarding the possibility of a strike so be sure to listen to the local news on September 1. The district website will indicate what everyone should do on September 2.
Bellevue Education Association: http://www.bellevueea.org
Bellevue School District: www.bsd405.org
24 Hour Newsline, (425) 456 - 4111 (recorded message)
Sign up for BSD E-mail Notification at: www.bsd405.org/districtnotification
If you want updates from the district via email, you should send an email to pubinfo@bsd405.org , and request to be added to the distribution.
If there is a strike, high school sports programs will continue as scheduled.
And remember: PTA has no role in the bargaining process and therefore no position on this issue. The Washington State PTA works very hard to improve education funding for teachers at the state level, and does not support disruption to the school calendar.
Schedule: School Starts September 2
Even considering this uncertainty, school is scheduled to begin on September 2 at 7:30 am.
· Freshmen should pick up a Final Course Schedule starting at 7:00 am in the Commons.
· If you have an issue with your schedule, make an appointment with your counselor but continue to attend classes according to the schedule. The counselor will call you out of class to resolve any issues.
· Turn in any forms left over from Check In day last week.
· Pay any remaining fees at the Accounting Office.
Need a Bus Pass or a Locker?
Volunteers will be outside the office at lunch during the first week of school to hand out bus passes and assign lockers.
Picture Makeup Day
Everyone needs a Picture ID card, even if you don’t pay for ASB. If you don’t have one yet, plan on staying at school on Wednesday, September 10. The photographers will be here at 12:40. If you want to buy pictures, extra envelopes are in the office.
Theatre Department
Auditions for the All-School Play ARSENIC AND OLD LACE, one of the greatest American comedies, are September 17 and 18 after school from 3:15 to 5:15 in the theatre. Performances dates are November 6 through the 8. Rehearsals are Monday through Thursday after school. An Audition Information packet will be available in front of the ASB Secretaries Office the second week of school.
School Parking Lot
It is important for all freshparents to learn about the flow in the school parking lot. The very best place for drop off and pick up is on the East side of school – the side that faces Factoria Boulevard. There is a circular drive that facilitates safe and efficient transitions for your child. If you enter the parking lot on the West side of school – the side with all the ball fields – you should enter and go right into the lot. This is especially important to do at the beginning and end of the school day as there will be two lanes of traffic approaching from the left to exit that lot. You may drive around the perimeter of that lot, up the North side of the building and into the circular drop off area.
Student News
Olympic Congratulations!Anna Mickelson Cummins won an Olympic Gold in 8-man crew! She is a 1998 Newport Grad and UW Grad!
Email Distribution
I send these periodic informational emails to the parents and guardians of freshmen students. All email addresses appear in the BCC line to protect privacy. My goal is to reach 100% of the Class of 2012 but there are still many families who do not participate. If you know of other freshman families who do not receive these emails, please ask them to contact me. If you no longer wish to receive these emails or would like me to send them to a different email address, please contact me and I will make all of those changes.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Back to School News -- August 15, 2008
Hello Freshparents!
By now you should have received the fall packet chock full of information from Newport. Don’t worry, nobody will quiz you on it but you should read every last bit of it so you and your freshman know what to expect in the next few weeks. If you haven’t received the packet, please contact the school office as soon as possible. I will do my best here to help you navigate through the documents and upcoming events. In the end, don’t hesitate to contact me with your questions.
Freshman Check In Day
Link Crew Orientation
Fall Packet
Volunteer Opportunities
Dates and Deadlines
Miscellaneous
Freshman Check In Day – August 21, 2008
Check In Day is all about the students. This will be their first official activity at the high school. The fall packet provides a schedule by last name, starting at 10:00 am and running until 11:30 am but staff won’t close up shop until the last student goes through. Most freshmen can handle Check In on their own – every station is clearly marked and there are plenty of parent volunteers to help direct traffic and clear up any confusion. I remember handing my son an envelope full of forms and checks the morning of his freshman Check In and telling him, “Don’t come out to the car until you’ve turned in everything.” He did just fine and your freshman will, too! In general, you can anticipate that this process will take about 30 minutes. You should know, though, that this day also has a big social component, with students reuniting after being apart over the summer. Many parents factor this into the process when arranging a pick-up time. Speaking of that, you should drop off and pick up your student in the parking lost closest to the football field. Any student attempting to enter the door that faces Factoria Boulevard will be asked to walk around the building.
When students enter Check In, the will be directed to each station in turn. The staggered entry is designed to minimize long lines so please respect the schedule – it is enforced! Your student may attend another grade’s Check In if necessary. Students who qualify for a Metro pass should have received information from the Transportation Department. Your student will need the appropriate form signed by the parent/guardian and student in order to pick up the pass on August 21.
Link Crew Orientation – August 22, 2008
This is a great activity to kick off freshman year. Students should report to the gym at 9:00 am; pick-up is at 1:00 pm. All freshmen are assigned to a Link Crew Leader, a Junior or Senior with great social and leadership skills and lots of enthusiasm. Link Crew Leaders will take freshmen on a school tour, answer questions, and lead ice-breaker activities. Freshmen are invited to return from 9:00 pm until 11:00 pm for a dance in the gym.
Fall Packet
I can’t stress enough how important it is for you and your student to read every document in this great resource packet. Here are some highlights …
School Fees: You may write one check made out to *Newport High School* for the following: ASB Card ($45), Activity/Sports Transportation Fee ($20), Yearbook ($55), Classroom fees (vary according to subject).
Photos: Checks for pictures should be made out to *Dorian* for pictures. Prices vary depending on package selection. An ASB card will be generated from this process.
Bellevue Schools Foundation: BSF funds many invaluable initiatives across the district every year. If you donate before October 8, you won’t be contacted during the annual phone-a-thon later that month.
Freshman Sweats: Most students who wouldn’t be caught dead in their middle school spirit wear will proudly don anything red and gold during high school. Purchasing Freshman sweats is a great way to fill out your student’s wardrobe – there will be many opportunities to wear these items. Check In Day is the best day to order sweats as they will not be offered again during the school year. The Senior Class designed the Freshman sweats and proceeds go into the Seniors’ Prom and Graduation fund. Our students will receive the proceeds from sweats sold to the Class of 2116. As Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors, our kids will get the proceeds from their own sales and have more say in the designs.
PTSA Fees: You may write one check made out to *Newport PTSA* for the following: PTSA membership (comes with one free student directory) and Classroom Bucks (you may elect to contribute at Check In Day or Open House night or by mailing it to the PTSA at your convenience).
There are several other important forms in the packet that require your attention before Check In Day or at some point in the future. Please review all of them and respond as directed!
Volunteer Opportunities
One of the best ways to get connected with Newport staff and families is to get inside the school. There are some great opportunities for this in the near future. If you can help out with any of the following events, please email Tony Brocato today (abrocato1@msn.com).
Wednesday, August 20 – Junior and Senior Check In Day, 7:30 am until 1:30 pm
Thursday, August 21 – Freshman and Sophomore Check In Day, 7:30 am until 11:30 pm
Friday, August 22 – Freshman/Link Crew Dance needs chaperones! 9:00 pm until 11:00 pm
Dates and Deadlines
Turn in Fall Sports Paperwork to Athletic Office August 14, August 15, August 21, August 22 between 7:00 am and 7:00 pm OR August 25 between 7:00 am and 11:00 am.
August 19 – New Student Orientation for students entering Newport from outside of the Bellevue School District
August 25 – Fall sports start.
August 29 – New Student Orientation (repeat of August 19 session)
September 2 – Students arrive at 7:00 am to pick up final schedule in posted locations and start first day of school!
September 4 – Rally Night in the Newport Stadium at 7:00 pm.
September 10 – Picture make-up day.
September 23 – Grade-Level Parent Presentations, Open House, Classroom Bucks Fundraiser
Miscellaneous
Summer Reading Packet – If your child hasn’t started it yet, encourage them to do so today! If the reading packet has gone missing, visit the Bellevue School District website and download another copy.
Fall Sports – Go to the school website (http://schools.bsd405.org/nhs/homepage/), click on Sports, and then find your child’s sport. You will find a lot of information including summer team activities, training and competition schedules, uniform order forms, etc.
Daily Bulletin – If you would like to receive an email version of the Daily Bulletin (daily announcements made at school, also posted on the Newport website), please email Janet Suppes (suppesj@bsd405.org) and ask her to add your address. These bulletins are a great information source and provide good material to start a conversation with your high school student. Example: “I read that next week is Spirit Week … do you have any ideas for Crazy Hat Day?” or “I read that Newport has a book club. Have you thought about joining?”
Modified Block Schedule – This is a big difference from the middle school experience. With this format, students attend all seven periods on Monday, Tuesday, and Friday. On Wednesday, students attend their 2nd, 4th, and 6th period classes. On Thursday, they attend 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th period classes. My son caught on to this system way sooner than I did!
So, that’s the deal. Between the Fall Packet and this email, you and your Freshman should be ready to take on the world! It is a lot of information to digest but it’s all there. Thanks for your attention. Please don’t hesitate to contact me with your questions. Enjoy the remaining few weeks of summer vacation and Good Luck!
By now you should have received the fall packet chock full of information from Newport. Don’t worry, nobody will quiz you on it but you should read every last bit of it so you and your freshman know what to expect in the next few weeks. If you haven’t received the packet, please contact the school office as soon as possible. I will do my best here to help you navigate through the documents and upcoming events. In the end, don’t hesitate to contact me with your questions.
Freshman Check In Day
Link Crew Orientation
Fall Packet
Volunteer Opportunities
Dates and Deadlines
Miscellaneous
Freshman Check In Day – August 21, 2008
Check In Day is all about the students. This will be their first official activity at the high school. The fall packet provides a schedule by last name, starting at 10:00 am and running until 11:30 am but staff won’t close up shop until the last student goes through. Most freshmen can handle Check In on their own – every station is clearly marked and there are plenty of parent volunteers to help direct traffic and clear up any confusion. I remember handing my son an envelope full of forms and checks the morning of his freshman Check In and telling him, “Don’t come out to the car until you’ve turned in everything.” He did just fine and your freshman will, too! In general, you can anticipate that this process will take about 30 minutes. You should know, though, that this day also has a big social component, with students reuniting after being apart over the summer. Many parents factor this into the process when arranging a pick-up time. Speaking of that, you should drop off and pick up your student in the parking lost closest to the football field. Any student attempting to enter the door that faces Factoria Boulevard will be asked to walk around the building.
When students enter Check In, the will be directed to each station in turn. The staggered entry is designed to minimize long lines so please respect the schedule – it is enforced! Your student may attend another grade’s Check In if necessary. Students who qualify for a Metro pass should have received information from the Transportation Department. Your student will need the appropriate form signed by the parent/guardian and student in order to pick up the pass on August 21.
Link Crew Orientation – August 22, 2008
This is a great activity to kick off freshman year. Students should report to the gym at 9:00 am; pick-up is at 1:00 pm. All freshmen are assigned to a Link Crew Leader, a Junior or Senior with great social and leadership skills and lots of enthusiasm. Link Crew Leaders will take freshmen on a school tour, answer questions, and lead ice-breaker activities. Freshmen are invited to return from 9:00 pm until 11:00 pm for a dance in the gym.
Fall Packet
I can’t stress enough how important it is for you and your student to read every document in this great resource packet. Here are some highlights …
School Fees: You may write one check made out to *Newport High School* for the following: ASB Card ($45), Activity/Sports Transportation Fee ($20), Yearbook ($55), Classroom fees (vary according to subject).
Photos: Checks for pictures should be made out to *Dorian* for pictures. Prices vary depending on package selection. An ASB card will be generated from this process.
Bellevue Schools Foundation: BSF funds many invaluable initiatives across the district every year. If you donate before October 8, you won’t be contacted during the annual phone-a-thon later that month.
Freshman Sweats: Most students who wouldn’t be caught dead in their middle school spirit wear will proudly don anything red and gold during high school. Purchasing Freshman sweats is a great way to fill out your student’s wardrobe – there will be many opportunities to wear these items. Check In Day is the best day to order sweats as they will not be offered again during the school year. The Senior Class designed the Freshman sweats and proceeds go into the Seniors’ Prom and Graduation fund. Our students will receive the proceeds from sweats sold to the Class of 2116. As Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors, our kids will get the proceeds from their own sales and have more say in the designs.
PTSA Fees: You may write one check made out to *Newport PTSA* for the following: PTSA membership (comes with one free student directory) and Classroom Bucks (you may elect to contribute at Check In Day or Open House night or by mailing it to the PTSA at your convenience).
There are several other important forms in the packet that require your attention before Check In Day or at some point in the future. Please review all of them and respond as directed!
Volunteer Opportunities
One of the best ways to get connected with Newport staff and families is to get inside the school. There are some great opportunities for this in the near future. If you can help out with any of the following events, please email Tony Brocato today (abrocato1@msn.com).
Wednesday, August 20 – Junior and Senior Check In Day, 7:30 am until 1:30 pm
Thursday, August 21 – Freshman and Sophomore Check In Day, 7:30 am until 11:30 pm
Friday, August 22 – Freshman/Link Crew Dance needs chaperones! 9:00 pm until 11:00 pm
Dates and Deadlines
Turn in Fall Sports Paperwork to Athletic Office August 14, August 15, August 21, August 22 between 7:00 am and 7:00 pm OR August 25 between 7:00 am and 11:00 am.
August 19 – New Student Orientation for students entering Newport from outside of the Bellevue School District
August 25 – Fall sports start.
August 29 – New Student Orientation (repeat of August 19 session)
September 2 – Students arrive at 7:00 am to pick up final schedule in posted locations and start first day of school!
September 4 – Rally Night in the Newport Stadium at 7:00 pm.
September 10 – Picture make-up day.
September 23 – Grade-Level Parent Presentations, Open House, Classroom Bucks Fundraiser
Miscellaneous
Summer Reading Packet – If your child hasn’t started it yet, encourage them to do so today! If the reading packet has gone missing, visit the Bellevue School District website and download another copy.
Fall Sports – Go to the school website (http://schools.bsd405.org/nhs/homepage/), click on Sports, and then find your child’s sport. You will find a lot of information including summer team activities, training and competition schedules, uniform order forms, etc.
Daily Bulletin – If you would like to receive an email version of the Daily Bulletin (daily announcements made at school, also posted on the Newport website), please email Janet Suppes (suppesj@bsd405.org) and ask her to add your address. These bulletins are a great information source and provide good material to start a conversation with your high school student. Example: “I read that next week is Spirit Week … do you have any ideas for Crazy Hat Day?” or “I read that Newport has a book club. Have you thought about joining?”
Modified Block Schedule – This is a big difference from the middle school experience. With this format, students attend all seven periods on Monday, Tuesday, and Friday. On Wednesday, students attend their 2nd, 4th, and 6th period classes. On Thursday, they attend 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th period classes. My son caught on to this system way sooner than I did!
So, that’s the deal. Between the Fall Packet and this email, you and your Freshman should be ready to take on the world! It is a lot of information to digest but it’s all there. Thanks for your attention. Please don’t hesitate to contact me with your questions. Enjoy the remaining few weeks of summer vacation and Good Luck!
Monday, May 26, 2008
Class of 2012 News
Hi there all you wonderful new Newport parents!! Thanks to those of you who were able to join us for Tuesday's "Making the Move to Newport" presentation. For those of you who missed it, we'll try to keep you informed via these emails. Mary Kate Uribe is your PTSA Liaison and will be sending you class specific information.
One thing I forgot to do that I need to correct is that I forgot to thank our wonderful Hospitality Chair, Joyce Staples, for helping coordinate our refreshments. She had just returned from being out of town & got everything set up so nicely to help welcome you all to Newport. Many thanks to Joyce!!!
Audrey Bennett
PTSA Class of 2009 Liaison
The Calendar Slide had many errors in September & October; here are the corrected dates:
September
2 First Day of School
8 Spirit week begins - kids dress strangely-daily themes
12 First Home Football Game
12 Disco Dance (immediately following the game)
25 Open House/Back to School Night (for parents)
October
24 Homecoming Football Game vs. Issaquah
25 Homecoming Dance - 9 to midnight; themed costumes (not formal)
28 Study Skills Parent Presentation 7 - 8:30 p.m
Freshman Back to School Day
Thursday, August 21
Exact time will be in the fall packet
This day is for students only!
Students will purchase ASB card, get locker assignment, METRO pass, pose for school picture, pick up schedules, etc. Plan on about an hour and a half to get through this process and of course the students need time to see all of their friends!
Students with a sports practice should let their coach know their assigned time for back-to-school activities. Coaches will excuse players who talk with them in advance. Students should NOT try to come at a time other than their assigned time.
In rare cases students are accompanied by parents - usually if the student has special needs or is so new they don't know a soul. The fall packet gives you enough information to write all the checks your student will need. When in doubt, write separate checks...or volunteer, so that you can supply what they need.
If you are unable to make this date, another student can turn in your forms and money, but only a student or guardian can pick up a schedule.
There is nothing wrong with turning things in the first week of school. And everyone picks up a schedule on the first day of school - many times there are changes made between check-in and the first day, so everyone picks up a new schedule starting at 7:00 am.
Freshman Orientation & Dance
Both are on Friday, August 22. Orientation is in the morning, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00p.m. Freshmen will tour campus with their Link Crew Leaders, meet other freshmen, and participate in fun activities. The dance will be that night from 8:00 to 10:00 p.m.
Schedule Corrections - I gave an example that could cause confusion. I said that a student who signed up for one elective but was placed in another could request a schedule correction, but that's not really true. Students are not guaranteed their first choice of electives. A valid schedule correction would be made for freshman who finds herself registered for AP Chemistry instead of Honors Freshman English (huh?) or who has only 5 classes. Those are mistakes that need to be corrected.
Schedules are given out at 7 a.m. on the first day of school. Each grade is assigned a location. You could land here from another planet that morning and figure out your location.
Makeup Registration takes place the first week of school.
Sports Paperwork
Packets will be available on June 2nd. Don't forget about the 8th Grade Parent & Student Activity Knight on Monday, June 2 in the Commons/Gym. It's just for you!!
Spirit Week
Mary Kate will send you information about the dress-up days of Spirit Week, starting September 8, as soon as she knows what they are. The students in Leadership choose wacky themes for each day of the week and even staff members dress up to fit the theme. Some past themes have included "80's Day," "Pajama Day," (remember the dress code still applies!) and "Color War" (this is where each class is assigned its own color to wear). Don't want you to be alarmed when your child tries walking out the door wearing a bathrobe (with tee shirt & shorts underneath!) and flip-flops.
Homecoming Week, which as we all know now is October 20 - 24, is also a week of fun-filled spirit days. Mary Kate will send more information about the activities of each day of the week as we get closer.
Homecoming Dance
Invitations don't *have* to be a tremendous production. It just seems that the custom of using the telephone to ask "Do you want to go to the dance with me?" has expired. Less elaborate examples: One year my daughter asked a boy to Tolo by writing the letters T - O - L - O and a ? on baseballs she had drawn on construction paper. She taped these to his locker and wrote her name on the one with the ?. After a few days he left a rose on her desk. That was fairly low key. I once heard of a boy inviting a girl to Homecoming by having the grocery bakery frost "Homecoming?" on a cookie that he then gave to her in class.
Another thing I should have mentioned is that the freshman boys who want to go to Homecoming (all fourteen of them) all ask their intended dates waaaaay too early. The rest of them are socially inept, clueless clods. Some, but not all, of them eventually catch on that the girls really, really want to go and figure out that it would be fun to form a group and go. I'm afraid the girls get the short end of the stick here. I know one who thought her life was pretty much over when she wasn't invited to Homecoming as a freshman. But she went on to go to all the other dances, including going to Prom as a Junior (with a *very* handsome date). She was elected ASB secretary, had a very nice boyfriend her entire Sr. year (still has the same one), lettered in her favorite sport, was on Link Crew, spoke at Baccalaureate, and just generally had a great time in high school. Her life would be perfect, except that her mom tells embarrassing stories about her.
Academic Focus - I meant to note here that the Bellevue School District is one of the few in the area where a student may choose to pursue AP courses. Other districts practice "gatekeeping," which means that a student must meet certain criteria to have access to the AP courses. You can read more about this in Newsweek, which prints an article by Jay Mathews each year ranking America's best high school's. This year's article (http://www.newsweek.com/id/39380) has Newport at number 31.
What this means is that students who are smart, but who don't necessarily have high grades (such as the ones with my DNA), may enroll in challenging courses in subjects that interest them. So my daughter, who loves to write, can take all the AP English she wants. And my son, who watches the History channel for fun, can take all the AP History and Social Studies classes. They remain, resolutely, B students. But they are better prepared for college than other B students. I like that.
We do well on other rankings, too. US News & World Report began ranking high schools using a more balanced set of criteria. Newport came in 44th on that list (http://www.usnews.com/articles/education/high-schools/2007/11/29/gold-medal-schools.html)
Academic Focus - Other - I also meant to comment on the other types of successful students who attend Newport. At the 2005 graduation, where over half the class had a 3.5 or above, the student-selected speaker rather sheepishly acknowledged his lack of an honor cord, signifying that he was in the other half. He then proceeded to charm us all with his speech about working with disabled children. He revealed himself to be an incredibly warm, kind, and engaging young man. He will be a wonderful husband, father, baseball coach, and citizen. He is the kind of person you hope moves in next door. I am particularly sorry I didn't tell you about him last night because his mom was with us, providing our refreshments.
This just in:
Somerset Elementary PTSA invites you to:
An evening with FBI Special Agent Cheryl Hinderer.
She will be speaking on the topic of Internet Safety
May 27, 2008 at 7:00 pm
Somerset Elementary School, 14100 Somerset Blvd SE, Bellevue, WA 98006
One thing I forgot to do that I need to correct is that I forgot to thank our wonderful Hospitality Chair, Joyce Staples, for helping coordinate our refreshments. She had just returned from being out of town & got everything set up so nicely to help welcome you all to Newport. Many thanks to Joyce!!!
Audrey Bennett
PTSA Class of 2009 Liaison
The Calendar Slide had many errors in September & October; here are the corrected dates:
September
2 First Day of School
8 Spirit week begins - kids dress strangely-daily themes
12 First Home Football Game
12 Disco Dance (immediately following the game)
25 Open House/Back to School Night (for parents)
October
24 Homecoming Football Game vs. Issaquah
25 Homecoming Dance - 9 to midnight; themed costumes (not formal)
28 Study Skills Parent Presentation 7 - 8:30 p.m
Freshman Back to School Day
Thursday, August 21
Exact time will be in the fall packet
This day is for students only!
Students will purchase ASB card, get locker assignment, METRO pass, pose for school picture, pick up schedules, etc. Plan on about an hour and a half to get through this process and of course the students need time to see all of their friends!
Students with a sports practice should let their coach know their assigned time for back-to-school activities. Coaches will excuse players who talk with them in advance. Students should NOT try to come at a time other than their assigned time.
In rare cases students are accompanied by parents - usually if the student has special needs or is so new they don't know a soul. The fall packet gives you enough information to write all the checks your student will need. When in doubt, write separate checks...or volunteer, so that you can supply what they need.
If you are unable to make this date, another student can turn in your forms and money, but only a student or guardian can pick up a schedule.
There is nothing wrong with turning things in the first week of school. And everyone picks up a schedule on the first day of school - many times there are changes made between check-in and the first day, so everyone picks up a new schedule starting at 7:00 am.
Freshman Orientation & Dance
Both are on Friday, August 22. Orientation is in the morning, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00p.m. Freshmen will tour campus with their Link Crew Leaders, meet other freshmen, and participate in fun activities. The dance will be that night from 8:00 to 10:00 p.m.
Schedule Corrections - I gave an example that could cause confusion. I said that a student who signed up for one elective but was placed in another could request a schedule correction, but that's not really true. Students are not guaranteed their first choice of electives. A valid schedule correction would be made for freshman who finds herself registered for AP Chemistry instead of Honors Freshman English (huh?) or who has only 5 classes. Those are mistakes that need to be corrected.
Schedules are given out at 7 a.m. on the first day of school. Each grade is assigned a location. You could land here from another planet that morning and figure out your location.
Makeup Registration takes place the first week of school.
Sports Paperwork
Packets will be available on June 2nd. Don't forget about the 8th Grade Parent & Student Activity Knight on Monday, June 2 in the Commons/Gym. It's just for you!!
Spirit Week
Mary Kate will send you information about the dress-up days of Spirit Week, starting September 8, as soon as she knows what they are. The students in Leadership choose wacky themes for each day of the week and even staff members dress up to fit the theme. Some past themes have included "80's Day," "Pajama Day," (remember the dress code still applies!) and "Color War" (this is where each class is assigned its own color to wear). Don't want you to be alarmed when your child tries walking out the door wearing a bathrobe (with tee shirt & shorts underneath!) and flip-flops.
Homecoming Week, which as we all know now is October 20 - 24, is also a week of fun-filled spirit days. Mary Kate will send more information about the activities of each day of the week as we get closer.
Homecoming Dance
Invitations don't *have* to be a tremendous production. It just seems that the custom of using the telephone to ask "Do you want to go to the dance with me?" has expired. Less elaborate examples: One year my daughter asked a boy to Tolo by writing the letters T - O - L - O and a ? on baseballs she had drawn on construction paper. She taped these to his locker and wrote her name on the one with the ?. After a few days he left a rose on her desk. That was fairly low key. I once heard of a boy inviting a girl to Homecoming by having the grocery bakery frost "Homecoming?" on a cookie that he then gave to her in class.
Another thing I should have mentioned is that the freshman boys who want to go to Homecoming (all fourteen of them) all ask their intended dates waaaaay too early. The rest of them are socially inept, clueless clods. Some, but not all, of them eventually catch on that the girls really, really want to go and figure out that it would be fun to form a group and go. I'm afraid the girls get the short end of the stick here. I know one who thought her life was pretty much over when she wasn't invited to Homecoming as a freshman. But she went on to go to all the other dances, including going to Prom as a Junior (with a *very* handsome date). She was elected ASB secretary, had a very nice boyfriend her entire Sr. year (still has the same one), lettered in her favorite sport, was on Link Crew, spoke at Baccalaureate, and just generally had a great time in high school. Her life would be perfect, except that her mom tells embarrassing stories about her.
Academic Focus - I meant to note here that the Bellevue School District is one of the few in the area where a student may choose to pursue AP courses. Other districts practice "gatekeeping," which means that a student must meet certain criteria to have access to the AP courses. You can read more about this in Newsweek, which prints an article by Jay Mathews each year ranking America's best high school's. This year's article (http://www.newsweek.com/id/39380) has Newport at number 31.
What this means is that students who are smart, but who don't necessarily have high grades (such as the ones with my DNA), may enroll in challenging courses in subjects that interest them. So my daughter, who loves to write, can take all the AP English she wants. And my son, who watches the History channel for fun, can take all the AP History and Social Studies classes. They remain, resolutely, B students. But they are better prepared for college than other B students. I like that.
We do well on other rankings, too. US News & World Report began ranking high schools using a more balanced set of criteria. Newport came in 44th on that list (http://www.usnews.com/articles/education/high-schools/2007/11/29/gold-medal-schools.html)
Academic Focus - Other - I also meant to comment on the other types of successful students who attend Newport. At the 2005 graduation, where over half the class had a 3.5 or above, the student-selected speaker rather sheepishly acknowledged his lack of an honor cord, signifying that he was in the other half. He then proceeded to charm us all with his speech about working with disabled children. He revealed himself to be an incredibly warm, kind, and engaging young man. He will be a wonderful husband, father, baseball coach, and citizen. He is the kind of person you hope moves in next door. I am particularly sorry I didn't tell you about him last night because his mom was with us, providing our refreshments.
This just in:
Somerset Elementary PTSA invites you to:
An evening with FBI Special Agent Cheryl Hinderer.
She will be speaking on the topic of Internet Safety
May 27, 2008 at 7:00 pm
Somerset Elementary School, 14100 Somerset Blvd SE, Bellevue, WA 98006
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Newport PTSA - Class of 2012 News
30 days to go before your 8th grader moves on to Newport! Just a few reminders and dates to add to your calendars:
Making the Move To Newport
8th Grade Activity Knight
Spring Physicals
Knights Athletics Links
Newport Spirit Wear
=========================
Making the Move to Newport
The Newport PTSA invites all parents of 8th graders bound for Newport to its informative, award-winning presentation, "Making the Move to Newport". This year's presentation will be held on Tuesday, May 20 at 7 p.m. in the Newport High School Commons. "Making the Move to Newport" covers a huge variety of information not covered in the school's presentation to 8th grade parents...more info about how Newport communicates with parents & students, what to expect on your calendar, what financial costs to expect...and much, much more. YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS IT!!
8th Grade Parent/Student Knight
Monday June 2, 2008 7:00 PM - Newport High School Main Gym
Incoming 8th Grade Parents and students are invited to learn about our school programs including Athletics, Fine Arts, Clubs, Activities and Student Government
7:00 PM - Main Gym - Large Group Presentation
15 minutes - Athletics (Gill James)
15 minutes - Fine Arts (Fine Arts Dept.)
15 minutes - Student Government and Clubs
8:00 PM - Arena Format - Main Gym and Commons
Each sport, activity or club will have a table with information promoting their program.
Spring Physicals
Knights Athletics Booster Association (KABA) sponsored event. Tuesday, June 3rd 4:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. Get your Fall Sports Eligibility Paperwork and if needed schedule a physical (physicals are good for 2 years). Fall Sports Paperwork is due in August. Volunteer doctors and staff will be available. Appointments needed and limited availability. Contact Gill James for more information jamesg@bsd405.org
Newport Spirit Wear
Your incoming Freshman will be able to purchase Class of 2012 sweats in August when they take care of all of their Back-To-School paperwork. I encourage you to do so!
If you are looking for Newport Spirit Wear now you can get outfitted in red & gold by clicking on the Fieldhouse link from our website http://schools.bsd405.org/nhs/homepage/sports/traditions.htm
They offer sport specific or generic Newport wear.
Fieldhouse http://fhstore.com/Shopping/FHShop.aspx?AC=0&REC=&ASD=k49726&Affiliation=Washington&ParOrgName=Newport+High+School&ParOrgNumber=79
Please forward this information to any lists you might have of other parents of incoming 8th graders - sports teams, friends, neighbors, 8th grade party planning committees, and the like. I especially need your help if you are coming from a school other than Odle, International, Tyee, or Tillicum. I can advertise the presentation pretty well to those parents via their office staff & PTSA leaders, yet for all others I am at a disadvantage and really need you to help me spread the word to other families headed to Newport. If you have any changes to your email contact information or any questions, please let me know.
Julie Rooney, PTSA Class of 2011 Liaison
http://newport-ptsa-2012.blogspot.com/
Legal bits: I am bound by the same PTSA restrictions that cover our directories - no commercial, political, or ideological stuff allowed. I also put all names in the BCC line to preserve your privacy. Requests for removal cheerfully honored.
Making the Move To Newport
8th Grade Activity Knight
Spring Physicals
Knights Athletics Links
Newport Spirit Wear
=========================
Making the Move to Newport
The Newport PTSA invites all parents of 8th graders bound for Newport to its informative, award-winning presentation, "Making the Move to Newport". This year's presentation will be held on Tuesday, May 20 at 7 p.m. in the Newport High School Commons. "Making the Move to Newport" covers a huge variety of information not covered in the school's presentation to 8th grade parents...more info about how Newport communicates with parents & students, what to expect on your calendar, what financial costs to expect...and much, much more. YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS IT!!
8th Grade Parent/Student Knight
Monday June 2, 2008 7:00 PM - Newport High School Main Gym
Incoming 8th Grade Parents and students are invited to learn about our school programs including Athletics, Fine Arts, Clubs, Activities and Student Government
7:00 PM - Main Gym - Large Group Presentation
15 minutes - Athletics (Gill James)
15 minutes - Fine Arts (Fine Arts Dept.)
15 minutes - Student Government and Clubs
8:00 PM - Arena Format - Main Gym and Commons
Each sport, activity or club will have a table with information promoting their program.
Spring Physicals
Knights Athletics Booster Association (KABA) sponsored event. Tuesday, June 3rd 4:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. Get your Fall Sports Eligibility Paperwork and if needed schedule a physical (physicals are good for 2 years). Fall Sports Paperwork is due in August. Volunteer doctors and staff will be available. Appointments needed and limited availability. Contact Gill James for more information jamesg@bsd405.org
Newport Spirit Wear
Your incoming Freshman will be able to purchase Class of 2012 sweats in August when they take care of all of their Back-To-School paperwork. I encourage you to do so!
If you are looking for Newport Spirit Wear now you can get outfitted in red & gold by clicking on the Fieldhouse link from our website http://schools.bsd405.org/nhs/homepage/sports/traditions.htm
They offer sport specific or generic Newport wear.
Fieldhouse http://fhstore.com/Shopping/FHShop.aspx?AC=0&REC=&ASD=k49726&Affiliation=Washington&ParOrgName=Newport+High+School&ParOrgNumber=79
Please forward this information to any lists you might have of other parents of incoming 8th graders - sports teams, friends, neighbors, 8th grade party planning committees, and the like. I especially need your help if you are coming from a school other than Odle, International, Tyee, or Tillicum. I can advertise the presentation pretty well to those parents via their office staff & PTSA leaders, yet for all others I am at a disadvantage and really need you to help me spread the word to other families headed to Newport. If you have any changes to your email contact information or any questions, please let me know.
Julie Rooney, PTSA Class of 2011 Liaison
http://newport-ptsa-2012.blogspot.com/
Legal bits: I am bound by the same PTSA restrictions that cover our directories - no commercial, political, or ideological stuff allowed. I also put all names in the BCC line to preserve your privacy. Requests for removal cheerfully honored.
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