September
2009 Newsletter
Welcome
Back to School Edition
2009-2010
Proposed Theme and Goals
Volunteers
for Issaquah Schools
Important
School District News for PTSA Members
The leadership
of the Issaquah High PTSA would like to welcome all members, students, staff,
and alumni to the 2009-10 school year and hope that each person in
the Issaquah High School community will have a happy and successful year. This
year promises to be full of exciting changes and opportunities for everyone
connected to IHS past, present and future. We hope that you will be able
to find information here that will be interesting and valuable to you and your
families. We encourage everyone to stay connected to IHS by receiving our
monthly e-news and visiting our website www.issaquahhighptsa.org regularly. Our goal is to
update and inform all of our members in a timely fashion with what’s happening
on campus.
In an effort to increase communication
between the school, PTSA and home, the PTSA will be sending monthly e-news to
our membership highlighting the work of the PTSA and helpful reminders for
important dates and programs such as our popular SAT/ACT Readiness Testing
Program, Reflections Art Program, Parent Education Events and our
Multi-Cultural Event. In addition, we would like to
increase awareness for PTSA members to participate in important IHS and
Issaquah School District input opportunities enabling decisions made on behalf
of our students to have been made with full consideration of a variety of
opinions.
The next meeting of the Issaquah High PTSA is Friday, September 11, at
9:30 AM in the School Career Center (C-5).
PTSA members are welcome and encouraged to attend (but not required to). This
is a great opportunity to become familiar with the school and to hear updates
from Principal Paula Phelps. Our program
speaker, beginning at 11:00, will be a representative from the Issaquah Schools
Foundation, talking about the “Calling for Kids” campaign. Please
join us!
2009-2010
Proposed Theme and Goals
At the September 11
meeting, the Issaquah High PTSA will approve its annual list of goals and
theme. The proposed goals center around academic improvement, advocacy,
communication and educational program support for IHS students, staff and
parents.
Proposed
Theme: “Building Strong Foundations
Together”
Proposed
Goals:
1) Support passage of
the Maintenance and Operations Levy, the Technology and Critical Repairs
Levy, and the Transportation Levy.
2) Support continuity
of curriculum and programs during Issaquah High School rebuild; work to
keep juniors and seniors involved; prepare for the return of the freshman
class.
3) Encourage membership
in IH PTSA and attendance at meetings in order to be informed and
involved. Improve communication links with the parent community by
reaching out through multiple modes of communication such as e-mail, web
site, mailings, and e-news.
4) Establish a smooth
transition to online registration.
5) Participate actively
in the decision making processes of the Issaquah School District and the
State of Washington that affect IHS through advocacy opportunities, our
legislative program and the PTSA Council. Work toward supporting
implementation of education bill 2261.
6) Work with IHS to
develop programs designed to address the gap in student achievement.
Support, educate and communicate information related to academic goals as
defined in the IHS continuous improvement plan, and findings of the
Optimal High School Experience study.
The
goal for membership at Issaquah High School continues to be 100% - this means
one member for every student. If
two parents join from one family, this makes achieving the goal a little
easier. Joining the PTSA helps
support our school!
If you
completed online registration but didn’t complete the membership screen, you
can still join the PTSA by going to http://www.issaquahhighptsa.org/Registration/Membership.php and selecting registration.
For more information on membership, please contact Karen
Knitter at mindydog3@comcast.net
Thank you to all of you who
have donated to the Issaquah High PTSA through our Pass the Hat
program! We are off to a great
start this year, with nearly 90% of our members making a Pass the Hat
donation. Pass the
Hat money supports enhancements to the curriculum that the strained District
budget cannot encompass. In the
past, it has helped provide funds for items like the after-school science labs, world language white
boards, and the school magazine. This
year’s requests promise to be even more critical, and provide more benefit to
our students.
Contributions to Pass the Hat are tax-deductible and may be matched by your
employer. Please consider giving to this most easy of fundraisers. In addition to Pass the Hat, we have several Community Partners, who benefit from your
patronage, and in turn pass a portion of your purchase on to the PTSA. This
type of partnership costs you nothing other than a few moments of your time to
register.
Be sure to visit the Community Partners page
to get started with the eScrips program
at all Safeway stores and the Albertsons
Community Partners Program. Your participation can mean hundreds of dollars for
Issaquah High PTSA!
THE ISSAQUAH PRESS - When
you start a new subscription to The
Issaquah Press, $10 of your $30 annual subscription fee will be donated
to the Issaquah High PTSA. Current subscribers may renew their
subscription now, be sure to mention Issaquah High PTSA and $5 will be donated
to the PTSA.
Thank you for your support.
Fall SAT Prep Classes:
Classes
offered at Issaquah HS are sponsored by the Issaquah High PTSA. Classes
begin the week of September 21, 2009. Registration deadline is
September 11, 2009. Sign up online or by printing out the forms and
mailing your check to SAT Prep Class, PO Box 1096, Issaquah, WA
98027. This address is specifically for the SAT/ACT Readiness
Program. Do not mail with other PTSA forms.
Note that the popularity of
our SAT Readiness Classes is soaring making the logistics
and communication more challenging. Providing a legible and frequently checked
email address is the only way to ensure confirmation of registration. While our
goal is to accommodate all students in our various program sessions, there can
be instances of deferred placement or no placement at all based on postmarks on
the registration. Juniors and Seniors have first priority for the review
classes. Sophomores will be placed to fill the available slots after the
September 11, 2009 registration deadline has passed. Late
registrations will be placed in classes on a space available basis. Look
for application deadlines for future sessions to avoid the last minute
registration rush that makes filling class rosters difficult. Apply early and
please follow the directions on the forms carefully!
Mock SAT Exam:
There are three options for
the Mock SAT exam being offered this fall. A mock exam sponsored by
Kaplan will be offered at the high school on September 12 and September
19. We are also offering a take home exam option for those students
who cannot make either date. The Score giveback event with be Thursday,
October 1 at 7:00 pm for both test dates and the take home option.
Register and pay ($25) online or print out the forms and mail to MOCK SAT Exam,
PO Box 1096, Issaquah, WA 98027. Be sure your form includes the test
date option you prefer. This address is specifically for the SAT/ACT
Readiness Program. Do not mail with other PTSA forms. Note that
the test date will be cancelled if less than 12 students sign
up.
PSAT
It is easy to confuse the
terminology and mis-communicate requests, especially in the case of the PSAT
test. The best way to understand the various options for testing and test prep
is by reading information provided through the school counseling website and
websites such as www.collegeboard.com and www.act.org . The PSAT test is administered by the
Collegeboard (facilitated by the Counseling Center) and is not a Issaquah High
PTSA program.
The SAT/ACT Readiness Program
is an Issaquah High PTSA program. Registration forms and checks for the
SAT/ACT Readiness Program must be mailed to the PTSA postal box provided on the
forms and not delivered to the school.
**SAT/ACT Readiness
registration forms for winter/spring dates will be posted to our website later
in the school year and members will be notified of the availability through
this newsletter or check the PTSA website at www.issaquahhighptsa.org . Please be aware that there are many
private companies that offer college prep testing in our area as well.
Senior Celebration is an all night party
the night of graduation, June 2010.
Know your Grad is safe, chaperoned, well fed and having a BLAST! This is an annual event sponsored by
the IH PTSA and is the last chance for the Class of 2010 to celebrate
together. Sign up now! Grad Night tickets ($160) will be on a
first come, first served basis – order yours ASAP! $80 down payment is due 9/15/09. Scholarships may be available.
Baccalaureate, date to be
determined, is usually the weekend before graduation and is an annual
inspirational celebration for all seniors and their families.
The
June 2010 Senior Breakfast will take
place the morning of Graduation Day.
All seniors are invited.
Contact
- Colleen Volk ncvolk@comcast.net, IH PTSA Senior
Events Coordinator.
Please support our
Class of 2010 Senior Events by buying Sally Foster gift-wrap, gifts and candy! Shop with a friend to
save on shipping.
You can support the Class of 2010 right now by
shopping online at www.sallyfoster.com
Be sure to use group account
932129
during check out so 50% of your purchase price is
credited to the Issaquah High School Class of 2010!
This
fundraiser supports scholarships so all graduates can participate in Senior
Events.
Please forward this information to friends and family who
might be interested in these products and supporting our graduates! Thank
you!
Questions? Please call Karen Allison 425.957.1775 Karen_Allison3@hotmail.com
For
more detailed information about all Senior Events, go to http://www.issaquahhighptsa.org/Registration/SeniorEvents.php
The
Reflections Art Program is a National PTA program. Students have the opportunity to create works of art for fun
and recognition. Students are
encouraged to create and submit works of art in any of the six areas: dance
choreography, film/video, literature, musical composition, photography, and the
visual arts (which include art forms such as drawing, painting, print making,
and collage.)
The
theme for the 2009-2010 school year is “Beauty is…”
Students
participate in the Reflections Program by submitting entries to their local
PTSA. Entrees are judged and some
selected pieces go on the District and National PTA levels. An anticipated deadline for entries
will be the beginning of November.
Any
questions, please contact Wendy Logan at 837-8386.
Complete
details about the Reflections Program, each category, and entry form can be
found at http://www.wastatepta.org/programs/reflections/index.html
Third Annual
Parent Education Event!
“How to Help Your Student Succeed
in High School and Beyond”
A presentation by IHS teachers and staff
Sponsored by the Issaquah High PTSA
This unique evening is
designed to give parents an academic perspective of what teachers think are
essential study skills and habits every student needs to know to be successful
with the rigor of high school and in developing higher education
eligibility. The importance of parent participation is essential to every
student’s success and is highlighted in this program. Parents are given
tools to assist their students achieve academic success along with resources
available to parents and students.
Don’t miss this important
one time event!
Tuesday, October 6th 7:00-9:00
PM.
IHS and PCFC parents welcome!
Welcome back to IHS! We are looking forward to another productive year
on the legislative front, on the heels of some significant educational bills
last spring. Thanks in large part to grassroots lobbying (meaning folks
like you sent e-mails and made phone calls and road trips to Olympia), the
legislature passed a complex education finance reform bill, ESHB
2261, addressing basic education funding, which was the PTA's top priority
issue. The final bill provides a framework to phase in an expanded definition
of basic education and new funding, which is critical because the current
funding formula does not meet the needs of modern schools. Implementation will
be gradual due to the effects of the current economy on State and local
budgets.
If you would like to receive
updates about action in Olympia that impacts public education in Washington State,
please sign up to get legislative updates and action alerts -- these will let
you know of pending legislation and what type of citizen input will be
instrumental in shaping the bill
(it won't be overwhelming). If you didn't sign up to receive these
messages during online registration, just send me an e-mail at bandjcohen@aol.com.
Upcoming event:
Legislative Assembly, October 2-3, SeaTac Marriott
Local PTA units
and councils send delegates to our statewide Legislative Assembly to develop
our statewide legislative platform and to learn how to effectively advocate for
children at all levels. Any PTSA member can attend – e-mail me if
you are interested.
Thanks for your time!
Betsy Cohen
The Issaquah High Site
Council is comprised of staff, parents, and community representatives who meet
to address issues that impact student learning. Meeting dates for the 2009/2010
school year will be posted soon. Karin Allen is the PTSA liaison. Please
contact her at kallen@allen-marketing.com if you have any issues you'd like her to raise
on behalf of the PTSA community.
It’s a fact. Today’s
public schools require private investment from parents and community members to
give our children the comprehensive 21st Century education they need. You can
make a difference by donating to ISF when Calling For Kids happens on October
20 and 21. Donate online before October 4th
and you’ll be removed from the call lists! If every family participates
we can raise over $1.4 million to elevate education for all our students in our
district.
When you give to the
Issaquah Schools Foundation you…
·
Bring learning to life through Academic Enrichment Grants that
fund innovation, technology, science, math, music, and the arts.
·
Instill financial literacy through the Jr. Achievement program for 8th
graders
·
Endow students with global competence though Physics and Chemistry curriculum
updates
·
Nurture academic achievement through After-School Homework Labs at
middle and high schools that provide FREE support of students of all abilities.
·
Transform the lives of struggling
students through the VOICE
Mentoring Program.
·
Improve classroom effectiveness through National Board Certification,
scholarships that equip teachers with tools to create engaged learners.
If you are not yet
motivated to donate please consider that state funding only covers BASIC
education in our state. As parents we expect and our students need more
to succeed in today’s competitive global, knowledge-based environment.
You can make a difference by donating to ISF today! Go to www.issaquahschoolsfoundation.org and make a donation that works for your
budget. You can use easy pay and give monthly, making a donation fit into
every budget. Remember, Great Schools Make Great Communities, and
Great Communities Support Great Schools. We’re counting on you!
Volunteers
for Issaquah Schools
The Issaquah School District plans to present three levy
measures on the February 2010 ballot:
€ A
renewal of the Maintenance & Operations Levy for basic operations of
schools
€ A
Transportation Levy to preserve the school bus depreciation schedule
€ A
Capital Levy to fund critical repairs and educational technology
School districts are funded from three main sources: the
state, the federal government and local levies & bonds. Many basic needs, such as textbooks and
technology to help students learn are not fully funded. Nearly all of the state’s 295 school
districts must ask their local communities to cover about 20 percent of basic
needs by approving local levies.
These levies support instruction, smaller class sizes, school bus
transportation, safety & health, and technology for student learning.
If you want more information please contact Anne Moore
(annemoore5@comcast.net), IH PTSA Volunteer for Issaquah Schools
Representative.
I hope everyone is rested
up after summer break because we have quite a year ahead! As you will notice
from the remarkable changes on the south-end of the campus, construction
continues at full speed. Next fall, freshmen will be returning, and that means
all the ground work for the transition—teacher reassignment and transfer,
new classroom equipment, freshmen outreach, and much more— will occur
this school year and next summer. (Maybe one of those squeezy stress balls
would make a good holiday gift for your principal or assistant-principal this
year?) While not literally earth-shattering like the construction, several
other projects this year will have significant impacts on students: A
replacement maintenance-and-operations levy that will go before voters in
February 2010; an algebra and geometry math adoption that will include
community outreach this fall; continued budget management in the face of severe
State funding cuts; and bargaining to reach agreement on a new teachers
contract. We are all energized and looking forward to this important work!
Because I can’t predict the
various projects and issues that will surely arise this year (who knew about
Swine Flu last fall?), I strongly suggest that families keep up to date by
doing three things:
1. Ensuring that a correct
e- mail address and phone number are listed under contact information in Family Access—this is how we contact you in emergencies
2. Visiting the District’s homepage
frequently— this is where major resources, news, and events are posted,
including almost weekly construction updates
3. Subscribing to District and IHS E-news—this is a primary means of communication for us. If you cover
these three bases, you will be well informed (well, OK—there is the next
step, which actually includes reading the E-news messages…)
Here are two great bit of
news to get us moving into September: Washington State ranked the highest in
the nation for average SAT scores, and IHS student scores were far above the
state average! Issaquah’s composite score was 1680, compared to the State’s
1562.
Wishing you a wonderful
start to the 2009-2010 school year,
Sara Niegowski, Executive
Director of Communication
Volunteers are needed to help
with Picture Day, Thursday, September 3.
To sign up or for more information, contact Lisa Gaan, VP of Volunteers,
lisagaan@comcast.net.