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.

Law Enforcement, Fire Service, and Aviation Opportunities

All parents:

Here are some great opportunities for Tahoma students! Interested students should stop by the College & Career Center for more information. Parents who want more information should contact Lara Lindersmith llinders@tahomasd.us, 425-413-3468.

Law Enforcement
Thursday, March 23 during APP
College & Career Center

Students interested in a career in law enforcement should attend this presentation to learn more about the Maple Valley/King County Explorer program for students 14-21. Students get both career experience and engage in community service. Click here for more information about the program

Summer Fire Service Training School
June 28-30 and July 5-8 
9:00 am - 3:00 pm

Five Tahoma students will get to participate in Summer Fire School sponsored by the Kent Fire Department. Students will gets hands on experiences, CPR training, visit the dispatch center, learn about various non-fire fighter jobs in the fire service, and participate in teamwork and leadership activities. Students will need to provide their own transportation to and from the main Kent Fire Station. Transportation during the day will be provided by a Kent School District bus. Interested students should stop by the College and Career Center to put their name on the list. A selection process will be developed if more than 5 students are interested. Students must be 15 or older to participate. Please note: the start date will be moved back if the Kent School District has any more inclement weather days.

Aviation Day
Saturday, May 6
8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Students ages 13-18 are invited to attend Aviation Day as part of Tahoma High School's group. Students must be a part of a group to attend. Activities include: touring aircraft with pilots, flight attendants, and mechanics, flying a plane in a 737 simulator, learning about airplanes with Boeing engineers, aviation career discussions, meeting community college and university representatives, jumping down an evacuation slide, meeting FAA air traffic controllers and Port of Seattle police and firefighters, and more! This event is sponsored by Alaska Airlines, the Port of Seattle, and Boeing.

Interested students need to come to the College & Career Center to get on the list. Space is limited, so sign up early. Students will need to provide their own transportation to and from SeaTac (2350 South 190th Street).

Fundraiser for Local Family

According to The Seattle Times, days of drenching have put Seattle on the verge of breaking a precipitation record for the second time in five months.

The result has been landslides and flooding. In fact, one of our local Maple Valley families recently lost their home due to a landslide and our amazing community has rallied around them. On Sunday, March 26, Stan Parente and his stylists at his Maple Valley salon are hosting a fundraiser for the family from 9:00 - 3:00. One hundred percent of the proceeds will be donated to the family. Services available are men and women’s haircuts or style only. If you are interested in supporting this fundraiser, please comment on the Stan Parente Stylists Facebook page.

Summer Opportunities

All parents:

Are you looking for something meaningful for your student to do this summer? There are many different activities offered during the summer. Some are free and some cost money, but there are often scholarships available. This can be a great chance for students to find and develop their passions, or to realize they don't love something--better to find out now than after paying for four years of college. Opportunities are divided into these categories:

• Art
• Business
• Engineering
• Health Care
• Languages
• Math/Science/Research
• Music
• Technology
• Apprenticeships/Internships

Click here to learn more about summer opportunities for students. This list is still being updated and added to as we learn about more opportunities. 

SAT, ACT, and ASVAB

Parents of juniors:

It's time to start planning for post-secondary placement tests your student should be taking. For students planning to go to a four year college or into the military, it's a good idea to take these tests in the spring, evaluate and learn from the experience, then retest in the early fall for a higher score.

Four Year Colleges/Universities
Students wanting to attend a four year college/university after graduation should take the ACT or SAT. Although these tests are similar, there are some key differences. Click here to learn more about the similarities and difference between these tests.

The SAT offers an optional essay section with the regular test. They also offer subject tests. The ACT also offers an optional writing portion of the test. To find out if your student should take these, visit the admissions websites of the colleges or universities they might attend to see what they recommend.

THS will be offering the ACT here on Saturday, April 8. The registration deadline for this test is March 3. Register online at www.act.org. This is the only spring ACT or SAT offered at THS. 

SAT Test Dates & Registration
ACT Test Dates & Registration

Military
Students wanting to join the military will need to take the ASVAB. We are offering the ASVAB at THS on Friday, April 21 from 8:15 am - 11:30 am. Students can sign up in the College and Career Center.

Community Colleges and Technical Schools
Placement for these schools usually takes place during the winter and spring of senior year. In the past, schools used the COMPASS test. Now, these schools are using transcripts, SBAC scores, directed self-placement, and a variety of other tests to place students in classes. Although this sounds more complicated, it is actually easier and more effective for most students. THS typically offers placement testing at THS for Renton Tech and Green River during the winter/spring of senior year. Students sign up for this in the College & Career Center.

Sophomores Doing Running Start Next Year

Parents of Sophomores:

If your sophomore is planning to do Running Start next year, he/she needs to pick up a Running Start Student Agreement form in the counseling office and return the completed form to the counseling office. We would like to collect forms by the end of this week if possible.

Click here to download a copy of the Running Start Student Agreement form. Please make sure form is completely filled out, including signatures at bottom.

For general information about how to get started with Running Start at Green River College, click here. This information would be similar for other colleges.

THS PTA Community Scholarships

Parents of Seniors

This information is posted in a variety of places--we just want to make sure you have access to it!

The application for the PTA Community Scholarships is now available. Click here to see details and access the application. In 2015 this scholarship application was a gateway to about 100 scholarships equaling $81,600.

Deadline: March 31, 4:00 pm. No late applications accepted.

Winners will be recognized at Senior Awards Night on May 31.

Exemplary Performance in Future Ready Skills Award

Parents of Juniors and Seniors:

Nominations are now being accepted for the Tahoma School Board's Exemplary Performance in Future Ready Skills Award for juniors and seniors. This award seeks to recognize students who have grown and developed their ability in a Future Ready Skill over time, as well as showcase the student’s current achievement, and the importance of the skill in the student’s life. The award is available to juniors and seniors who submit and demonstrate exceptional evidence of achievement or accomplishment in a particular Future Ready skill. Students who receive an award will have documented their authentic application of and their exceptional ability in the skill while in high school. 

Anyone in the community may nominate a current junior or senior who they think demonstrates exemplary performance in one of the Future Ready Skills. Students may also nominate themselves. Nominations are due February 6. Nominated students will be notified immediately and encouraged to apply. Applications will be evaluated by the Future Ready Advisory Team, including members of the school board.

Students who receive this award will be honored during Senior Awards night at Tahoma High School, recognized at graduation through special honor cords and receive a digital badge which they may post on social media sites such as Facebook or LinkedIn, allowing them to share their achievement with family, friends, employers, and others, and build a positive digital reputation.

Questions and nominations can be directed to futureready@tahomasd.us

Nominations are due by February 6, 2017

Student Application Deadline: March 31, 2017

Community Colleges & Professional/Technical Schools

All parents:

Most people know something about community colleges and technical schools, but there may be a few things you don't know. We will be sharing some of that information from time to time.

Did you know that community colleges offer certificates, associate degrees, and even bachelor degrees?

• Certificates train a person in a specific skill set for a particular type of work. There are many certificate programs that can be completed in a relatively short amount of time and can lead to a good, living-wage job. Some examples include dental assistant, licensed practical nurse (LPN), precision machining technology, forensic and fingerprint technology, and entrepreneurship and small business management. 
• Associate degrees are offered in professional/technical subjects, which may develop a broader set of skills than a certificate. Some examples include air traffic control, massage therapy, accounting, and IT systems and security. 
• Associate degrees are also offered for students who wish to transfer a college or university and earn a bachelor's degree. Students may want to pursue this option for a variety of reasons such as saving money or staying close to home.
• Bachelor degree programs are also being offered at community colleges near us such as Green River, Bellevue, and Highline. Students complete all coursework at the community college. These programs are in areas for which there is high demand in the work force.

Learn more by visiting the Washington State Community and Technical Colleges website.

Affordable College Degrees

For anyone in the community:

This was originally posted in December--join us Monday night!

Tahoma High School will be hosting an information night on Monday, January 23 from 6:30-8:30 pm for all members of the community, including students and parents, to learn more about keeping a college education affordable.

From 6:30-7:30, program managers from Green River College will provide information about five different bachelor of applied science degrees at Green River. These four-year degrees target high demand fields, offer small class sizes, and provide students with hands-on learning opportunities. The cost of obtaining a bachelor’s degree at Green River is significantly less than a state university, making Green River a popular destination for traditional students and career changers alike. There will be time for questions after the presentation.

From 7:30-8:30, Dr. Jonathan Brown will be giving a presentation: “Pros and Cons of Community Colleges: The Last College Bargain.” Dr. Brown has worked as a college administrator at both four-year universities and community colleges. He will use both history and current data to challenge some of the societal myths people believe about community colleges. This presentation is sponsored by the Maple Valley Library.

People may attend one or both sessions. Presentations will be in the Lecture Hall at THS. Enter through the courtyard which is to the left of the main entrance to the school.

If you have questions, please contact Lara Lindersmith llinders@tahomasd.us | 425-413-3468

Registration Anxiety

Parents of sophomores & juniors:

As you know, many students are feeling anxiety and stress around registration. This is compounded by the fact that students will be able to take 8 classes next year.

We want to offer students a variety of ways to achieve their goals, but sometimes all of these choices can be overwhelming.

Here are a few things you can discuss with your student to help alleviate stress.

1. Although you are encouraged to think about your future plans, you don't have to commit to a particular college or career right now! With 8 periods in your schedule next year, you'll have more of a chance to explore your interests. You might sign up for a class and discover it's your passion, but you might also realize you don't like that subject. High school is a time when you get to explore different subjects that you might be interested in. 
2. Young people and adults change their minds all the time! It's okay to change your plan. What are the values and goals that guide your decisions about what classes to take?
3. Set aside a chunk of time to peruse the Course Catalog to find classes that might interest you. Don't forget that there are electives with no homework. Almost all students will need a few "no homework" electives.
4. Sit down and look at your weekly schedule to make sure you have time for all of the classes and other activities you want to do. Use this Schedule Planning Worksheet to see if you can fit everything in and stay sane.
5. There is no single perfect plan! You can always make changes to your future plans as you learn more.

Remember to submit course selections and alternates for next year using Skyward by midnight on January 16. Turn in paperwork to science (grade 10) and ELA teachers (grade 11) on January 17/18.

Registration for 2017-18 Starts This Week

Parents of sophomores & juniors:

Students are receiving registration materials this week. Students need to submit their requests for classes using Skyward no later than midnight on Monday, January 16. In addition, registration forms should be turned in to teachers with parents signatures on Tuesday, January 17 (gold day) or Wednesday, January 18 (blue day). All students will be receiving:

• Registration form
• Registration instructions
• Homework hours worksheet

Students have already created tentative schedules using the Personal Pathways planning software. Click here to get to the login screen for Personal Pathways. The username is first part of student's GoTahoma email; the password is Tahoma10.

Sophomores will get their materials in their science classes. They will also be doing a credit analysis this week to check their progress toward graduation requirements. Sophomores who are in chemistry will be doing the credit analysis on the 11th during tutorial in the Lecture Hall.

Juniors will get their materials in their English classes. They completed a credit analysis to check their progress toward graduation before break. Students who were absent should ask their junior social studies teachers for handouts.

Counselors will be available in the commons next week during lunches to answer questions.

Talking points for parents:

• Are you on track with credits to graduate on time? If not, what is your plan to get caught up?
• What classes are you taking to explore your interests?
• Are you signing up for classes that match your goals for after graduation (tech school, military, work, gap year, college, etc.)?
• How are you feeling about having 8 classes instead of 6 next year? How will this impact what you decide to sign-up for?
• Let's look at your homework hours worksheet together. Do you have a balance of classes that will challenge you without making you feel overwhelmed?
• Let's look at the schedule(s) you created using the Personal Pathways planning software together. Are you happy with this plan, or do you think you want to revise it?
• What are you going to put in for alternates?

View the Course Catalog 

Information about courses can be found in both Personal Pathways and the Course Catalog. Course descriptions include approximate homework hours per week.