January 2010
In this issue….
Volunteers for Issaquah Schools (VIS)
Please join us for the first PTSA meeting of the New Year: Friday
January 15, 9:30 am, room C-5 (Career Center).
IHS and PCFC Student
Directories are now available. PTSA member families have already received their
copy of the IHS and/or PCFC student directory. Not a member? Join
today, and we will get this valuable directory to you. To join, click here for the membership form.
Individual memberships are $16 and family memberships are $24; both get
you a directory. Not sure whether
you are a member? Do you have other questions regarding PTSA membership? E-mail Karen Knitter at mindydog3@comcast.net.
The Issaquah High Site Council is comprised of staff, parents,
students, and community representatives who meet to address issues that impact
student learning. Areas in which we are focusing our efforts this year include monitoring
progress of the Optimal High School Experience task force, the School construction
project, preparing for transition into the new buildings and the return of
freshman to our campus. The next meeting is scheduled for January 27 at 2:30
pm. Karin Allen is the PTSA liaison. Please contact her at kallen@allenmarketing.com if you have any
issues you'd like her to raise on behalf of the PTSA community.
Volunteers for Issaquah Schools (VIS)
Only 2 months to go until the Issaquah School District levy
election! Vote YES for all three (3) Issaquah School
District levies by February 9th!
VIS is on Facebook. Both students and parents can join their own Facebook
groups. Issaquah Students for
Issaquah Schools (ISIS) and Volunteers for Issaquah Schools (VIS). Join today and keep up on the latest
VIS news.
If you have a student turning 18 before the election on
February 9, 2010 make sure they get registered to vote and know about this
important issue for our schools.
This election is a great way for our students to understand their impact
on our community. They can
register online: http://www.kingcounty.gov/Elections/Registration.aspx
Renewal Maintenance and Operations (M&O)
Levy: Classroom learning
The M&O levy provides 19¢ of every classroom dollar.
That is equivalent to 360 classroom teachers or 425 classified positions
(custodians, bus drivers, educational assistants, etc).
Renewal School Bus Levy: Health,
safety, and efficiency
This levy will provide enough money to purchase 41 buses
and will allow the District to collect State funding to offset the cost of bus
purchases, ensure alignment with State safety standards, and provide the most
efficient buses.
Renewal Capital Levy: Classroom
technology and critical repairs
For technology, these levy dollars will fund replacement
of aging computers, printers, servers, and document cameras; staff training;
development of online classes; school tech specialists; ACTIV Boards;
implementation of wireless Internet; and upgrades to District websites and
emergency alert systems. For
critical repairs, these levy dollars will fund projects such as replacement of
failing kitchen equipment, maintenance of heating and cooling systems, and roof
and structural repairs.
Remember, these are renewal
levies – they will renew existing and expiring levies. The passing of these levies will not
raise the local schools tax that is part of your property tax. The average homeowner will pay the same
or lower taxes over the lifetime of these levies (4 years).
For more information or to help with the campaign,
please go to www.visvote.org. We need 9,908 YES votes – make
sure yours is one of them!
FOCUS DAY 2010 is January 18. Washington
State PTA’s annual Focus Day has a slightly different wrinkle this
year. Because it’s scheduled on a day (the Martin Luther King
Holiday) that schools are closed, our planning team is encouraging you to bring
your children so they can see their government first hand, learn about how
legislation is made, and also have some fun. At the same time, their
presence will help reinforce our message to legislators that all of
Washington’s children should be the focus of their efforts. Plan now
to come to Olympia, and join hundreds of PTA members from all across the state.
E-mail me if you'd like to carpool/caravan: bandjcohen@aol.com
Mark your calendars for two
Parent Education Seminars coming up in January....
“What are Teens Really Doing Today?”
Can
you honestly say you know for sure?
And do you fully understand the extent of the legal consequences –
to them and to you – of their exposure to alcohol, drugs, and teenage
driving? All three high school
PTSAs have teamed with their local police officers for three evening
discussions. Middle school parents
are encouraged to attend too. This
panel discussion is based on the booklet, “Parents and Teen Survival Guide”
which is available at www.Issaquah.wednet.edu under the Family Resources tab (click
on Parent Education).
Jan. 12 – Issaquah HS Jan.
21 – Skyline HS Jan.
27 – Liberty HS
7:00 – 8:30 PM,
and
“Understanding Teenage Stress”
Have
you ever wondered what is “normal” teen behavior or maybe questioned if your
own child was coping well with adolescent stress? Sue Eastgard, Nationally recognized expert in the field of
suicide prevention currently serving as the Director of the Youth Suicide
Prevention Program of WA State, will define teenage stress and depression and
identify triggers while equipping the parent with tools to assist adolescents
with healthy coping skills.
Jan. 13 – Cascade Ridge Elementary Coyote Café
7:00
– 8:30 PM
The Council Reflections Celebration will
be January 6, 7pm at PCFC. All Reflections participants should have
received an invitation.
Any questions, Contact Wendy Logan, PTSA
Reflections Chair 837-8386
SAT Readiness opportunities available early 2010
SAT Prep Classes
Math and Verbal SAT Prep classes will be offered
again beginning the week of February 1, 2010. Math will be offered on
Mondays (2:45 - 4:45 early session and 5:00 - 7:00 late session) and Verbal
will be offered on Thursdays (2:45 - 4:45 early session and 5:00 - 7:00 late
session). There are 6 weeks of classes (skipping the week of mid-winter
break when there are no classes). These are a great opportunity to brush
up on your SAT skills just in time for the spring SAT testing season. The
math classes are taught by Ms. Crain, and Ms. Dean and Ms. Jarvinen teach the
verbal class. I don't believe that you will find more economical SAT Prep
classes offered anywhere else and these are conveniently offered right here at
school. Cost is $85 for math, $100 for verbal and $150 for both
classes. The textbook is the Collegeboard SAT prep book. Classes
were scheduled to try to make the most of the short time between winter and
spring sports. Even if you can't make every class, it is still a great
deal! The next opportunity to take these classes offered at Issaquah HS
will be Fall 2010.
Mock Exams
We will be offering two Mock exams to prepare you
for the spring testing season. The Mock SAT will be offered on Saturday,
January 30 (8:00 - 1:00) and the Mock ACT will be offered on Saturday, February
6 (8:00 - 1:00). Cost is $25/test. The tests are administered by
Kaplan and are a great opportunity to take a risk free test before you take the
real one. We will also offer take home exams for those students that can't
make the test date. The score feedback session for both tests will be on
Thursday, February 11 at 7 pm.
Mock SAT: For those who took the PSAT in October
and are wondering what the difference is between the PSAT and the Mock
SAT: The mock SAT is great practice for the real SAT because the mock
test is the same length as the SAT and includes the writing section. The
PSAT is a shorter exam and does not include the essay. I have often heard
it said that the SAT is an endurance test and the mock SAT is the best way to
practice for the real full-length exam. Check out the SAT question of the
day at www.collegeboard.com.
Mock ACT: Many students perform
better on the ACT than on the SAT and it is worthwhile to give the ACT a
try. The ACT test is different from the SAT and is said to measure better
what students actually learn in school and it is also supposed to be less
"tricky" than the SAT. If you want to get a sense of how you
might do on the ACT, then take this risk free mock exam and see for
yourself. Check out sample problems at www.actstudent.org.
Take home exams: For those students that are not
available on the Mock Exam dates, we will offer the take home option
again. You can take the test at your leisure and return it to Kaplan for
grading. Sign up online for the take home option. The test will be
made available for pick up in the counseling office after the Mock exam date
for you to pick up and return to Kaplan.
You can sign up and pay online for the SAT Prep
classes and the Mock Exams at www.issaquahhighptsa.org. Hard copies of the registration are available in the
counselor's office and at the website for printing out and mailing to the PO
Box 1096, Issaquah WA 98027.
If you have any questions, please call Blythe Meigs
at 425-401-1508 or e-mail SATReadyIHS@hotmail.com
ASB 2009-2010 Varsity Sports Calendars are on sale now in the ASB
Bookkeeper’s Office for only $10.00!
Finals Care
Packages are now available! Please send your order forms to
IHS by January 11 or contact Vale Crain at crainv@issaquah.wednet.edu for more
information. The cost is $15 per package payable to IHS.
Please mail to:
Issaquah High School
Attn: Vale Crain
700 2nd Ave. SE
Issaquah WA 98027
Packages will contain healthy snacks, drinks, and test taking items. Parents can also include a special note
inside their student's package. All
packages will be delivered the day before finals start.
Issaquah High School and Skyline High School are starting a new
tradition to promote positive school spirit and competition. The 1st annual Stinky Sneaker
Basketball Competition will be held at Bellevue College on January 15.
The competition is based on points awarded to the Girls' and Boys'
Basketball game winners, half-time show competitions and POSITIVE cheers and
dress. The winner of the Stinky Sneaker will get the Stinky Sneaker
Trophy (Gold Shoe). So come and support our boys and girls in promoting
camaraderie among rivalry schools.
Emily Carl
Activities Director
Issaquah High School
425-837-6110