The BLAST | The Center School Newsletter 2011-2012

Sunday, May 20 2012

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The Weekly Newsletter Published by the CSCA. A must if you want to know what is going on at Center (and in case you haven't noticed, teenagers are not the most forthcoming, so really, you'll know nothing without it.

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BLAST Article Ideas

Do you have an idea for a BLAST article?

We want to know what you know, and we want to know what you need. Send us your specific content, or your ideas for content. If you have Blast content to get out this week - please submit it by Friday at 3 pm. The Blast goes out late Sunday night, and covers school life for the following week.

Things we like to know:
- School News, in and out of the building
- Opportunities for Center School students (volunteering, classes, performances, etc)
- Student, staff and faculty accomplishments beyond the school.
- And the ever-favorite "misc."

By now you've seen the motley collection of stuff that qualifies for the Blast -- if you've got something that fits that very elastic category, send it in. Make sure you tell me what's going on, where and when it's happening, and how to get in touch with the people involved, if participation is the goal. And let me know how long you think it should run.

To submit news, events, or calendar items to be included in the Blast, send an email with subject line "News" to: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Event Submissions

If your happening or event has a time and place, is of general interest to the CSCA and TCS community, tell us about it. Your event will be listed on the CSCA site and appear in various places depending on your event category.

Basic Essential Event Information

Title: Title of your event. Should be an official name.

Date: When is it? Include all dates, start and end date.

Time: When, again. Please provide a Start and End time. If we do not have an official End time, we will estimate a reasonable length but would really rather not. Make a guess so we don't have to.

Event Description: The narrative description of your event, or, "the Blurb." What will happen at the event? Who will be presenting the event? Is someone of interest appearing, e;g., Superintendent, School Board Member, Principal, etc.? What do attendees need to know? This should be a brief overview.

Because date, time and venue are already published, this information is not as important in the description. Plan to restate date, time, and place after your blurb. If you restate title, date, time and place at the beginning of your blurb, it will be redundant for readers who will already have that information in the preceding text.

Place: Event Venue.
Where is it? Use official names, e,g. "Seattle Repertory Theatre," = good, "The Rep" = bad. Just assume your reader is unfamiliar with the area and may have to look up the address. In the case of the SRT, it is already in the system complete with the official address and automatic directions using Google Maps should the reader require the information. Complete, accurate information is crucial. Please include:

Address: - As in street address. Include city, sate and zip code at minimum.
Website URL: - As in internet address.
Images: If at all available - and they usually are. Bonus Points: Provide an image of the venue or space. These are usually readily available on the venue webpage. Simply right click on logos or images and download to your device and attach or send a link to the images.

Note that once an event venue has been entered, it is permanently in the system. Therefore a number of frequently used venues are already entered.

Additional Information (useful, but not required)

Event Contact: Name, email and phone

To add your event to the CSCA Calendar, email details to:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

If your event has a longer description or ties to broader issues, feel free to include it and submit the story to: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Deadlines

Deadline Submission Guidelines

Deadlines are just that, but for our purposes, events requiring less description. Deadlines will appear on the calendar for the day and time they are set to expire. Less information is required for deadlines. These are typically published to keep readers mindful - and provide them with a resource they can find - of important deadlines throughout the year. e.g., SAT Test Dates, Registration Deadlines for programs, colleges, what have you. The following information is necessary.

What's the Deadline? For example, SAT test sign ups, Financial Aid forms, register for this or that.

When: Date and Time necessary. When is it due? In the case of Mail-in, dated material, e.g., Postmarked by April 15th, 2012. Otherwise, provide time and date.

How do I meet the deadline: Describe what needs to be done to fulfill the deadline. e.g., All forms must be completed and postmarked by April 15, 2012, or, "delivered to the Hall of Arts and Sciences office located at room 267, University Building by 5:00 p.m. October 18, 2011. Admittedly, there are fewer "drop off" deadlines, but they exist.

Where can I find more information? Typically, this deadline notice is not the primary communication for readers. This is intended to be a courtesy reminder, therefore we don't need to provide in depth details in our notice. However, we should include a link to more information on the deadline. As the Deadlines tend to be nationally known in the case of SAT or ACT testing, providing a URL for the deadline is both easy and helpful to readers.

To add a deadline to the CSCA Calendar email the above details to:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

TCS & CSCA Event Calendar

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The BLAST | The Center School Newsletter 2011-2012

Blast Call and more - 5/16/12

CSCA 2011-2012 - The BLAST | The Center School Newsletter 2011-2012

View The BLAST Online | View BLAST Archives

16 May 2012

Happy Wednesday -- here's a little something for the middle of the week.

Comments, questions, etc? Just ask...

sandi kurtz
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
206-523-6553

And More...

Summer School Options
If your student wants to get ahead on some of their requirements, needs to fill in a blank spot in their transcript or just wants to explore other topics this summer, what are the possibilities? If they're currently enrolled in the Running Start program, they can register for summer quarter courses through the RS office -- you'll have to pay regular tuition, but you don't have to apply to the school separately. Or, you can take a look at some of the online programs available -- there is an ever-growing number of organizations offering distance learning programs, but they are not all appropriate for local high school requirements. Check out the state Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction website for their "Digital Learning" listings -- some are full-school programs, but others offer specific classes that might fill a Center School requirement or give your student a taste of something outside our current curriculum. If you have a question, make sure you contact Karen Harmon ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ) before you spend your own money!

So What Do You Want The Center School To Look Like Next Year?
The CSCA's Annual General Meeting is coming up, Tuesday 22 May 22, 6 pm, at the school. Come help strategize the next year and find the volunteer leaders who will help us get there. We'll be voting on a the budget, and on two changes to our bylaws (lowering the meeting quorum from 12 to 10 members, and permitting students to be voting members of the CSCA) -- if you've ever heard yourself say "somebody should do something about that," well, here's your chance to be somebody! Contact Sam Star, current CSCA president, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , or 206-789-3483 for more information.

Do you have an idea for a BLAST article?
We want to know what you know, and we want to know what you need. Send us your specific content, or your ideas for content. If you have Blast content to get out for the coming week - please submit it by Friday at 3 pm. The Blast goes out late Sunday night, and covers school life for the following week.

Things we like to know:
- School News, in and out of the building
- Opportunities for Center School students (volunteering, classes, performances, etc)
- Student, staff and faculty accomplishments beyond the school.
- And the ever-favorite "misc."

By now you've seen the motley collection of stuff that qualifies for the Blast -- if you've got something that fits that very elastic category, send it in. Make sure you tell me what's going on, where and when it's happening, and how to get in touch with the people involved, if participation is the goal. And let me know how long you think it should run.

To submit news, events, or calendar items to be included in the Blast, send an email with subject line "News" to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Blast | 5/14/12

CSCA 2011-2012 - The BLAST | The Center School Newsletter 2011-2012

View The BLAST Online | View BLAST Archives

14-20 May 2012

Will all mothers whose children took them to see the Dark Shadows movie for Mother's Day raise their right hands. And now, we can put them down again, because it's hard to type one-handed.

sandi kurtz
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
206-523-6553

Center School Connections
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CSCA Meeting Minutes - CSCA Minutes
Center School Wish List - Wish List
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Remember, to unsubscribe to this newsletter, click on the link at the bottom of the page to get to the CSCA website.

This Week at the Center School

The Regular Stuff
Homework Club meets after school Monday and Thursday.
Coffee with Ms Britsova Friday 10 am at the Center House Starbucks
Soccer scrimmage Monday 3:15-4:30 at Memorial Stadium

The Irregular Stuff
A variety of seniors will be taking AP tests this week off-campus (Biology on Monday, Language and Composition on Wednesday, both 8 am-3 pm). Tuesday is the Teacher/Staff Appreciation lunch, with parent volunteers. Adding extra excitement, Wednesday is the all-school Health Fair and early dismissal. As of right now, Thursday and Friday should be fairly normal.

Hold the Hotdish
Between the Health Fair, the AP exams, and the Teacher Appreciation lunch, the faculty and the CSCA realized that running a potluck lunch on Wednesday was just one thing too many, so the event is being postponed to a later date. Check this space for more details in a couple weeks, and in the meantime, think healthy snacks.

Coming Attractions and Past Accomplishments

Yearbook Ads
Declare yourself in the pages of the Center School yearbook -- display ads are available in this year's edition. Congratulate your soon-to-be graduate, sing their praises or publish that really embarrassing baby picture -- the options are endless. Deadline is 25 May for jpg or other digital images. Details are here, and the fees help underwrite the project.

Accelerator on the Right, Brake on the Left
The Seattle Public Schools wants to remind you that they will run their Driver's Education program this summer, 25-June - 25 July. Depending on enrollment, classes will be held at Ballard, Blaine, Cleveland, Franklin, Nathan Hale, Ingraham, Roosevelt, Chief Sealth and West Seattle schools. Registration is conducted by mail -- enrollment packets are available at the front desk at Center School or at the Traffic Education Office. Tuition is $599 (limited discount available). You should register by 13 June to ensure your first choice of location -- for more information, contact the Traffic Education office at 206-252-4735 or check their website (click on "Extracurricular Activities, and then on Traffic Education)

Writers in the Schools, at the Library
Center School students Lacaia Sauer and Tia (better known as "Z") Cooper will join some of their peers from the Seattle Arts and Lectures wonderful Writers in the Schools project, which matches local writers with local schools in powerful, innovative writing programs. This year poet Matt Gano has been working with CS students in Jon Greenberg's classes -- we got a chance to hear some of them read at the recent (Ware)House Party, and here's another opportunity. Central Library (1000 4th Ave.) Tuesday 22 May, 6 pm.

Conservation Award
The Center School will share in a Seattle Public Utilities Green Team Funding Award, designed to support conservation at the school level by providing supplies and teacher training. The Green Team Program "supports schools that encourage a culture of conservation and environmentally responsible behaviors."

Outside the Center School

No Steps Forward, No Steps Back
The school district seems to have heard the pushback from families to the "3 tier" bus proposal, which would have made significant changes to school start times for the 2012-13 year by changing to a three-shift school bus schedule -- instead, we will be staying with the current time table. While this is at least a familiar schedule, there is a movement afoot to re-open the discussion, with the goal of moving to later start times for older students, in line with some significant current research on teen sleep patterns and metabolism. For more information on this, take a look at "National Start School Later."

Beyond High School

Becoming a Working Artist
The Vera Project is running another of their Careers in the Arts programs, this one focused on visual arts. They've assembled a great line-up of speakers, including NKO, New Mystics, and David Lasky, who will all speak about their individual career pathways as well as more general advice. If you're not sure what options are available for young artists, this is a great place for them to get some questions answered. Saturday 19 May, 12:30-3 pm -- for more information, check here.

Summertime!

Building Buildings
Local architect Dora Taylor is offering a summer session of her Architecture 101 for Kids and Teens this summer. The classes are a mixed of exploring traditional structures and designing original solutions for a variety of building projects. For more information, and to look at some really cool designs, check her blog.

Last, But Not Least

Ladies and Gentlemen, Start Your Popcorn
This coming Thursday 17 June is the opening of this years Seattle International Film Festival, with hundreds of films showing on screens all around town. I know, I know, it's spring and it's beautiful outside, but that can wait -- it's movie time! Check it out here.

And If You'd Rather Be Outside Than In
This coming weekend is the University District Streetfair, long-time home to crafters, musicians of all kinds and street food vendors. It's the 43rd annual event, so pull on your tie-dye t-shirt and come out to play. Because you can never have enough macramé.

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CSCA Mission

The Center School Community Association (CSCA) works to support the students, teachers and staff of The Center School in Seattle, WA. Your membership and support makes this possible. Our goal is to provide our members with opportunities to help shape the present and the future of CSCA and The Center School through the sharing of ideas and experiences.