Juniors Can Do STEP Community Service Hours during Summer

Starting this summer, current juniors can do their 10 hours of community service for STEP during the summer. In the past, the community service hours had to be done during senior year.

This is a great option for students who anticipate having a busy senior year, and/or who wish to participate in community service activities that only occur during the summer, such as volunteering at the Maple Valley Farmers Market.

Students who wish to complete their service during the summer must:

1. Attend an informational meeting on Thursday, June 1 in the lecture hall or Monday, June 5 in the library. The meetings will be during APP. Running Start students who cannot attend should contact Lara Lindersmith llinders@tahomasd.us. 
2. Fill out the required form for approval (more information about this will be provided at the meetings).

Community service is any activity that benefits those in the community and is not paid. It cannot be for family members and cannot be work required for a class. 

Students who are interested in volunteering at the Maple Valley Farmers' Market can attend an information meeting on Tuesday, June 6 during APP in the lecture hall. Click here to see different opportunities for volunteering at the Farmers' Market.

Students who are serious about a career in the medical field should consider volunteering in a medical setting. Multicare allows students 16 and older to volunteer in their facilities, but they have a 100 hour minimum commitment. UW Medicine clinics only allow volunteers who are 18 and older. Click here to learn more about volunteering with Multicare. 

You can also visit the College & Career Center website to learn about other volunteer opportunities. 

College Search Workshop & Gaming Event at UW

Parents of Juniors

On Tuesday, May 23 at 6:30 pm, independent college consultant and Edge Academics founder Emily Gallagher will be teaching a College Search Process Workshop for students and parents to help them learn to navigate the search process--from taking standardized tests and finding the right school to organizing applications and writing essays. This workshop addresses the college search process in general and is not specifically geared toward applying to UW.

The workshop will be held at UW Seattle. The workshop is designed for students in grades 9-12 and their parents. Workshop fee is $10 per family of four for UW Alumni Association members, $15 per family of four for non-members.

To get more information and register, click here.

All Parents

On Saturday, May 20 at noon, Game Experience will be hosting an event at UW Seattle to bring high school students together with the Seattle gaming community so young people can connect in a fun setting and gain insight from professional developers. This is a FREE event, 

To get more information and RSVP, click here.

Deadlines for Spring ACT & SAT Approaching

Parents of Juniors

Students planning to apply to four year colleges next fall should take the SAT and/or ACT this spring, and consider retaking next fall if they think they can improve their scores.

The deadlines to sign up for the last ACT & SAT tests of the year are approaching soon. Sign up for these tests is online (see below). Register early to get the closest test locations--spots at each location are first come, first served. The cost of the tests ranges from about $40-85 depending on when you register and if you decide to take the writing. Not sure about the writing? Check individual college websites to see if they require it.

ACT - Saturday, June 10
Register by Friday, May 5
Late registration deadline Friday, May 19
This test is given at Tahoma High School
www.act.org

SAT - Saturday, June 3
Register by Tuesday, May 9
Late registration deadline Wednesday, May 24
This test is given at Green River College
sat.org/register

Not sure which test to take? Click here to see how the two tests compare.

Get Real Day - May 26

Parents of Sophomore & Juniors

On May 26, all sophomores and juniors will have the opportunity to participate in Get Real Day. Students will hear a keynote speaker and participate in three seminars of their choice; They will register in their English classes using Skyward. Topics include careers, personal finance, credit, health and wellness, and more.

JUNIORS are registering this week (April 24-28)
SOPHOMORES will register next week (May 1-5)

To view a list of seminars, click here.

Friday, May 26 is a half day. Sophomores and juniors will be in school from 8:15 - 11:45. No lunch will be served.

Seniors will be doing their senior presentations in the afternoon.

Internships with Port of Seattle

All Parents:

The Port of Seattle offers several paid internships for both high school and college students. Fields include, but are not limited to: accounting, auditing, construction management, engineering, environmental, finance and budget, human resources, marketing, and planning.

Deadline is April 23.
Click here for more information.

Ideas for Spring Break

All parents:

Spring break presents a great opportunity to take a break from school and think about plans for the summer, next year, and after high school.

Campus Visits: Campus visits are beneficial for all ages of high school students. If you can't make it for a formal tour, consider just visiting the campus and neighborhood around campus. Community colleges and technical schools offer visits too! Check out the links below to sign up for tours with schools near here. Looking for a different school? Search the school name + campus tour.

Bellevue College
Green River College
Highline College
Pacific Lutheran University
Renton Technical College
University of Puget Sound
UW Seattle
UW Tacoma

Juniors can study for the SAT/ACT: There are many free resources online to help students prepare for the SAT/ACT. Khan Academy is a great place to start.

Summer Jobs: Now is a good time to create or revise resumes and start looking for summer jobs. Check out the links below to get started.

Resume Resource
Summer Jobs will be posted here as we learn about them

Summer Opportunities: Check out this resource for other summer opportunities. New things are being added every week. Many of these cost money, but many also offer scholarships.

SAT & ACT Prep Seminars Offered at THS

Parents of Juniors:

THS will be hosting SAT and ACT prep seminars this spring. These seminars offer test-taking strategies specific to the SAT/ACT. Classes will be taught by an instructor from ZAPS Test Prep. Each seminar is $89.99. Register at www.doorwaytocollege.com or call 877-927-8378.
Download Flyer

SAT 
Tuesday April 18 & Wednesday, April 19
6:30 - 9:00 pm

ACT
Wednesday, April 19 and Thursday, April 20
3:45 - 6:15 pm.

Not sure which test your student should take? Review this handout that students received in Language Arts classes. It will help you see the similarities and differences between the two tests. Most four year colleges require the SAT or ACT as part of the application. Community colleges and technical schools do not require the SAT/ACT. Each of these schools has different placement methods, which are also briefly explained on the handout linked above.

Classes will be held in the Lecture Hall.