October 2009
In this issue….
Issaquah
Schools Foundation (ISF)
Important School District News for PTSA Members
Welcome
& Meeting Dates
The leadership of the Issaquah High PTSA would like to welcome all members,
students and staff to the 2009-10 school year and hope that each person in the
IHS community will have a happy and successful year. 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 Prep
Program, Reflections Art Program, Parent Education Events and our Multi-Cultural
Family Night. In addition, we would like to increase PTSA members'
participation 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 IH PTSA is Friday October 9, 9:30 AM in the 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. The October scheduled program will feature Emily Carl, our ASB
advisor. Also hear about our
school’s construction progress from Royce Nourigat, the general manager of the
project.
IH
PTSA needs you – we are working on a goal of 100% membership and are over
half way there. How can you
help? If you haven’t already
joined, click on this link to sign-up. If you’ve already joined as an
individual, consider adding a second adult from your household for the
discounted price of $8.00.
For more information on
membership, please contact Karen Knitter at mindydog3@comcast.net
THANK YOU to all who have donated to our Pass the Hat Fundraiser! As
always, Issaquah High parents have been tremendously generous in helping to
fund those 'extras' -- like after school science labs -- the District budget
cannot cover.
The District belt is tighter than ever this year,
so we anticipate more supplemental funding requests than usual. Please
consider making a donation if you have not yet done so. Together, we can
keep Issaquah High programs going, and our students growing.
Issaquah High PTSA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit
organization. Contributions to Pass the Hat are fully tax deductible, and
also may qualify under your employer's Matching Funds program. If in
doubt, ask our VP
of Fundraising.
And be sure to visit the Community Partners page for information about the eScripts program at
all Safeway stores and the Albertsons Community Partners Program. Your participation can mean hundreds of
dollars for Issaquah High PTSA!
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.
The SAT Readiness program was busy in
September with Mock SAT exams on September 12, September 19 and a take
home option. The next Mock SAT test will be January 30 and a Mock ACT
test will given be Feb. 6. Register online now at www.issaquahhighptsa.org. Mail-in registration forms will be available on the website in
December or January.
The six-week after-school SAT Prep Classes in Math
and Verbal are in progress. We will offer the prep classes again in late
winter just in time for the spring SAT/ACT testing season. Classes begin
the week of February 1. Check back in December to our website for
registration information.
Of special note, the popularity of our SAT/ACT
Readiness Testing Program makes logistics and communication
challenging. Providing legible and frequently checked email addresses 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 registration dates or other factors. Applying early and online is
the best way to ensure a spot in the class you want.
It is easy to confuse the terminology and
mis-communicate requests, especially in the case of the PSAT, SAT, and ACT
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 mock exams and SAT prep classes offered at IHS
are an economical and convenient opportunity to prepare for the SAT and ACT
exams but we understand the dates and times may not work for
everyone. There are many private companies that offer college prep
testing, classes and tutoring in our area.
Please be
aware that while IHS teachers instruct the prep classes and the Counseling
Center facilitates the actual PSAT test, the SAT/ACT Readiness Program is an
Issaquah High PTSA program. Register online or send the registration forms and
checks for the SAT/ACT Readiness Program to the PTSA P.O. Box provided on the
forms. Do not deliver to the school or mail with other PTSA
mailings as there is a specific PO Box just for SAT Readiness.
The theme for the 2009-2010 school
year is “Beauty is…”
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.)
All entries are due to the main
office by November 2, a Monday.
Any questions, please contact Wendy
Logan at 837-8386.
PLEASE READ RULES CAREFULLY
Complete details about the
Reflections Program, each category, and entry form can be found at http://www.wastatepta.org/programs/reflections/index.html
SENIOR CLASS PARENTS – The highlight of graduation is the Grad
Party All Nighter sponsored by the IH PTSA. All students will want to attend this
safe, sober, fun party from 11:00 pm to 5:00 am right after the graduation
ceremony ends. Food, Dance, Transportation, Unique Locations, Security, Games,
Prizes. Although June seems a long way away now, we are already planning Senior
Events and we need your support!
We need you to sign up your student and make a payment now. Visit the PTSA website www.issaquahhighptsa.org to find Senior Events
and the party registration forms there.
Questions? Colleen Volk ncvolk@comcast.net Senior Events
Coordinator
SUPPORT THE CLASS OF 2010 senior class celebrations and scholarships by purchasing Sally Foster products and 50% of every purchase will go directly to the Class of
2010! Please go to www.SallyFoster.com and use our group account number 932129. Save shipping costs by shopping
with a friend, free shipping on orders over $70! Please share this fundraiser with your friends, family,
neighbors and co-workers! Send it to everyone in your address book. Thank you!
Questions? Please call Karen
Allison 425.957.1775 Karen_Allison3@hotmail.com
ATTENTION SENIORS! The countdown to graduation has started!
On Tuesday, October 13, all seniors must report to the stadium for a very
important senior informational meeting during 3rd period. This meeting is for all seniors,
including Running Start students. You will be receiving ordering
information regarding caps, gowns, graduation announcements, and other
graduation memorabilia. When you arrive at the stadium, you will receive
a packet of information to take home to your parents/guardians to prepare your
order. Also at this time, we will take the senior class picture
for the yearbook. Don’t forget to show your school spirit with all of
your purple and gold for the photo. If you are unable to attend, the
order information will be available in the Counseling Center after the meeting
takes place. Completed orders will be accepted at IHS in the commons
during lunches on October 29 and 30.
Senior Portraits are due Friday,
October 16. For more information, dates, and details
regarding portrait submittals and the yearbook go to
http://www.ihs.issaquah.wednet.edu/Teachers/jarvinene/members.htm.
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!
There will be a Special Education Community Resource
binder available for families in the Issaquah High Counseling Center.
This binder will contain information on support groups, therapists, and
community organizations for special needs such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia,
etc. For more information, please contact Sandra Lum, IH PTSA Special
Services Liaison at: (425) 644-4589 or Ms. Dori Robinson, Counselor
at: (425) 837-6034.
As Election Day 2009 draws near, please make sure you
are registered to vote. To
register online, go to the Secretary of State’s website at:
https://wei.secstate.wa.gov/osos/secure/pages/Onlinevoterregistration.aspx
Important issues on the November ballot that
relate to education include races for the School Board of the Issaquah School
District, and Initiative 1033.
Initiative 1033
At our September general meeting, the IH PTSA
voted to oppose I-1033. The
initiative seeks to lock in the current level of government funding by limiting
the amount of taxes the state, counties and cities can collect each year. The amount the governments collect can
be adjusted annually for inflation and population growth, but the current
levels of funding during this economic crisis would be the baseline going
forward. Should the economy come
roaring back in Washington and there be a sudden increase in sales tax revenues
or property tax revenues, governments would not be able to use the excess revenues
collected (for example, to increase funding to our schools), but would have to
return the money to taxpayers. If
passed, one of the many effects of the initiative would likely be to preclude
implementation of the education reform bill that the legislature passed last
spring.
If you are interested in learning more about the
initiative, the State PTA has collected a series of websites with analyses for
and against the I-1033, which can be found at the following link: http://www.wastatepta.org/advocacy/headlines/I_1033_Links.pdf
School Board Elections
Hear
from candidates Marnie Maraldo and Wright Noel who are running to fill Connie
Fletcher's recently vacated Director District 2 position and current Board
member Chad Magendanz who is running to continue his term as Director District
4 representative. This is a forum,
not a debate. Questions will be
drawn at random and asked of individual candidates. If you would like to ask a question of the candidates,
please e-mail those questions to Heather Gillette at heathergillette@hotmail.com by October 5. This event is sponsored by the Issaquah PTSA Council and will
be held in the Commons at Pacific Cascade Freshman Campus at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, October 12.
Issaquah Schools Foundation (ISF)
ISF
Calling for Kids Needs You!
Calling
for Kids is in full swing.
All families were mailed personalized letters of appeal on September 18 and 21.
Please look for the red envelope in the mail and give generously! Calling
for Kids donations help the District provide our students with the
comprehensive 21st Century education they need for success in school
and life. This year’s campaign goal is
100% participation. If every District family contributes, the Foundation
can raise over $1.4 million for our schools. ISF is asking families to:
Ü
Join
Calling
for Kids with a $50 donation,
a $5 per month gift via EFT or whatever
they can afford.
Ü
Renew
and if possible, increase their previous
Calling
for Kids support.
High
school students will call all families on October 20 and 21. To avoid a call, make your donation by
October 5. Your name will be removed from the call list and included in a Calling
for Kids appreciation ad in the Issaquah Press. Log onto www.issaquahschoolsfoundation.org or call 425.416.2045 to make your donation
today. Thank you!
PSAT
Comes to High Schools
On
October 14, all 10th and 11th graders will be able to
take the PSAT test during the school day. Thanks to a partnership between the
Issaquah School District and the Issaquah Schools Foundation, parents no longer
have to drag tired teens out of bed early on a Saturday morning to take the
PSAT. For the uninitiated, the PSAT is a ‘pre-test’ to the SAT—the test
most often used by colleges for admission. Students who take the PSAT receive
valuable feedback about their academic strengths and weaknesses, registry with
a Student Search Service that connects them to colleges across the nation, an
approximation of their SAT score, and—for Juniors—entry into the
National Merit Scholarship Competition. The fee for the PSAT is $13. Students
may pay online through Family Access or with their school’s bookkeeper. ISF is
providing scholarships to students who are eligible for free or reduced price
lunch and to those whose families are facing financial difficulties. Parents
are asked to contact their student’s counselor for more information.
Shop for Issaquah Schools Foundation
Did you know that you could support the Issaquah
Schools Foundation every time you shop at amazon.com? Simply go to the ISF
website at www.issaquahschoolsfoundation.org and click on the apple icon
to enter amazon.com. ISF will earn up to 8% on every purchase you make. There is no cost or
obligation to you, yet your purchases will automatically raise funds for ISF!
Nourish
Every Mind
It’s not gone…we’ve just
moved it to the spring. Keep reading your PTSA newsletter and watch the ISF
website for the date and location.
Volunteers are needed to bake, bring drinks or
supply snacks for staff meetings, held monthly. No time required - just a
quick drop off at the office the day of. Help is needed from October through
May. Contact Teana Miller at Tandt222@comcast.net
If you have not
done so already, please review this list of activities and
events and check the areas that interest you. This does
not obligate you to help, but does let us know that we can contact you to see
if you are available. Thank you for supporting the students,
teachers and staff of IHS and for enriching our programs. Lisa Gaan, VP of Volunteers
425 401-9888
lisagaan@comcast.net
PTSA Welcomes back IHS Staff With Luncheon: The IHS staff took a brief break on a very busy day before
classes officially started to enjoy an informal luncheon provided by the PTSA
on Tuesday, Sept. 2. With the challenge of no running water, no
sinks, and no ovens, it was down to the basics of croissant
sandwiches, fresh vegetable and fruit trays, chips and handmade desserts.
Not to be left out, we also felt the pinch of the overall budget cuts with
almost half our budget redlined for this lunch, which forced us to be
creative. It made it a little awkward to only be able to provide half
sandwiches, but the staff were all very gracious and thankful for the
lunch and the time to let their hair down before the big day ahead. Thanks to all those who helped and donated
items for this event! Laurie
Foreman
Happy fall! Here are some good-news items related
to Issaquah High from around the district, state, nation, and world: IHS
students continue to significantly outperform their peers on the Washington
Assessment of Student Learning as well as the ACT and SAT
college-prep assessments; an IHS alumna won a prestigious
scholarship to study education reform in Africa; eight IHS seniors graduated from the Washington
Aerospace Scholars residency program this summer; 82.31
percent of all demolition material from the IHS construction project has been
recycled and diverted from a landfill; Connie Fletcher, who has served as an Issaquah School Board member for the past 16
years, was just appointed to the Washington Board of Education, where she will
be able to advocate for all children throughout the State; local print and
television reporters have been impressed with IHS students’
innovative carpool efforts; and the most recent
Washington economic forecast predicts an additional $238 million drop in
revenue, bringing the total deficit facing the Legislature to about $1 billion
for 2010-2011.
Wait—is that last item really good
news? Yes, in a way. The forecasted drop is modest compared to the major
declines of last year, and—while the Legislature will need to find more
cuts for the coming year when it reconvenes in January—one bright spot is
that we don’t expect lawmakers or the Governor to make emergency adjustments to
this year’s funding for public schools. In this economy, we’ll
count that as a win! Speaking of numbers, hopefully parents took the
opportunity to fill out a brief math survey distributed at Curriculum Night. Those
responses will be critical as we continue with our Geometry and Algebra I and
II adoption this school year. A plan with specific dates to present and gather
more information about the adoption and families’ current math experience will
soon be posted on the District
website. In the meantime, students can start pulling out
their coats and boots with one warming thought—this is the last fall and
winter season at Issaquah High with outdoor hallways/passageways!
—Sara
Niegowski, Executive Director of Communication