NOTAM 121310

13 December 2010

Principal’s Message
Congratulations ASB and sophomore class (go, Tran!) for sponsoring the successful and eventful Candyland Winter Tolo this past Saturday evening. Mr. McComb reports that the music was good, the dancing was fun, and the decorations were sweet! (and the smoke machine will not be invited back.)

Congratulations are also in order for Barrett Estep for earning the Aviation Merit Badge through Scout Troop 282 in West Seattle. Barrett and other Scouts had the privilege of spending a full day with Alaska Airlines employees to learn about airport operations, flight planning, airplane controls and emergency evacuations. Great accomplishment, Barrett!

Olivia Pham is our SODO Rotary Student of the Month for December. Olivia will be honored this Thursday by the SODO Rotarians, and on January 3 she will be recognized by the Southcenter Rotary Club. Congratulations, Olivia!

More students than ever seem to be taking to the skies this year to experience the excitement of flight. Katie McConville, Lauren Crom, Anastasia Pallis are among the other students who have shared their recent experiences. The interest in the freshman class is so high, in fact, that two of our Wingmen, Peter Anderson and Peter Morton are considering a request to organize flights sometime in the spring when the weather is more predictable. Stay tuned for more information!

We presented to our last group of Highline middle school students last week. Hooray and thanks to the many AHS ambassadors who have participated in recruitment activities. At Pacific Middle School on Friday, we presented to five classes, back-to-back with only a five-minute break in between. During the last presentation, Mrs. Onorati, a science teacher who coordinated our visit and who was present for all five sessions, remarked, “I never get tired of seeing your video and hearing your students present…they are so articulate…and their demonstrations are fascinating!” That is high praise, indeed, and well-earned! We have just one Information Night to come on January 13. Then it is on to reviewing applications and scheduling interviews. I look forward to more participation from student volunteers.

Only four days of school this week…and lots more visitors are scheduled:

• Today—Monday, 1:30-3:00, new executive from Rolls Royce
• Tuesday, December 14, 11:30-1:30, Esterline VIPs & Doug King, new CEO of Museum of Flight
• Wednesday, December 15, 9:00-11:00, VP & HR Director of TECT Aerospace
• Thursday, 9:00-11:00, two administrators from the Bellevue School District—informal visit.

Your teachers and team/club advisors have information related to these visits. Many of you will be participating, so I thank you in advance for sharing your learning and goals for the future.

And so…as of Friday, you are officially on holiday break until January 3 when school resumes. May the holiday season be one of joy for all of you as you celebrate traditions that are unique and special to your family. My best to all of you amazing students, parents/guardians and families, mentors, and community partners. I am honored to know you and serve as your principal. ~Reba

NOTE:
o Continue checking the AHS website or logging on to school computers to get updated information on events and meetings.


Quote of the Week:
“Few will have the greatness to bend history itself; but each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total of all those acts will be written the history of this generation.” ~Robert F. Kennedy

NOTAM 112910

6 December 2010


Principal’s Message

Student-led conferences that were postponed due to inclement weather are being made up after school today. As a reminder, students and guardians will keep their original appointed times. Check with your advisor if you are unsure of your time.

As a result of school closures the week of Thanksgiving, all student-led conferences in the Highline School District are being rescheduled. Since other schools in the district will be holding student-led conferences on Friday, 17 Dec, there will be no school any Highline Schools (including AHS) on Friday, 17 Dec. Since we will have already held our student-led conferences, it will mean an early start for AHS students to their winter holiday break!

Of course, we will make up the days lost to snow. Snow make-up days are currently scheduled for Friday, 27 May, and Monday, 27 June. Please note that we have built‐in additional snow make‐up days at the end of our school calendar, June 28‐30. If forecasters are to be believed, we will likely need those days. Keep this in mind as you make your plans for summer.

On a different note, if you have been serving as an AHS ambassador this year, know that your efforts are making a difference in how others view our school. More than 100 of you participated in last week’s second information program of the school year, demonstrating your learning and sharing your goals and plans for the future. I always receive notes of thanks from people who attend, so I’ve chosen to share one of them with you this week from a family who lives in a distant community:

“My son and I want to thank you, your teaching/staff, and the students who hosted and presented at last evening's open house. I cannot tell you how impressed we were with Aviation H.S. I was amazed at the maturity, intelligence, and warmth of the students we met. I was particularly impressed that every one of the young men and women articulated their career/life plans to achieve their dreams. I was touched as I watched my son interact with the other students as I realized we had found the perfect place for him.”

Know that you make a difference, each and every one of you!

This week brings more opportunities for ambassadorship. On Tuesday from 8:30-10:30 a.m. three key leaders of the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction in Olympia are touring our school to interact with students and staff and learn more about our STEM initiatives. Then from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. we will be hosting a group of VIPs that will include recent Pathfinder and aviator extraordinaire Clay Lacy, Pathfinder and Boeing flight test engineer Susanna Darcy-Hanneman (tentative), author of a new aviation book, Sam Howe Verhovek, and 7-8 other leaders within the region. Our wingman, Peter Morton, will be accompanying them. They have asked to see presentations by the Robotics and Science Olympiad teams, which will be scheduled during lunch, and they want to visit classes to talk with both staff and students. I will be sharing a schedule with staff that they, in turn, can share with you. Their visit represents a great opportunity for you to ask questions of them in addition to sharing your own learning experiences.

Next Tuesday, December 14 marks another ambassador opportunity as we host the new CEO of the Museum of Flight, Mr. Doug King and executive leaders of Esterline and Korry Electronics. Their visit will be from 11:30-1:30, and the schedule will be similar to this week’s VIP visit. Wednesday, December 15 marks yet another opportunity as the Vice-President of TECT Aerospace visits from 9-11 a.m.

Additional thanks goes to students who presented at Cascade and Sylvester Middle Schools last week. We conclude our middle school visits this week with presenting at Chinook on Wednesday and Pacific on Friday.

Congratulations to our Robotics team for hosting a successful First Lego League Invitational this past Saturday: twenty-two teams participated. Special thanks to Mr. Pascua, Mr. Gee, and Mr. Campisteguy for overseeing the set-up, judging, refereeing, and awards.

On Sunday, Skunkworks participated in one of two regional FTC tournaments - this one was at Tahoma Senior High School in Covington. We won the "Think" award, which was awarded for the high quality of our Engineering Notebook. We were also one of three finalists for the highest award given, the "Inspire" award. By being a finalist, we are automatically eligible for the State FTC Tournament, which will be held in January. I "think" we are now "inspired" to improve our performance at the next tournament, which is Dec. 12. Go Skunks!


I never have any doubts about the spirit of Aviation High School, and I look forward to seeing you express it even more this week as you participate in Spirit Week! Your ASB has worked hard to plan a fun week for you. Enjoy it…and as a gentle reminder, remember that if you choose not to participate, AHS dress code is required.

I’m honored to be your principal! My best to you—Reba

NOTE:
o Seniors: Ms. Juarez reminds you to submit your senior pictures for yearbook on or before Friday, 10 December.
o Continue checking the AHS website or logging on to school computers to get updated information on events and meetings.

Quote of the Week:

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the ONLY thing that ever has.”
~Margaret Mead

NOTAM 112910

29 November 2010


Message from the Principal:

Welcome back from what I hope was a good Thanksgiving holiday and extended break from school!

With school closures last week due to inclement weather, student-led conferences were postponed until December 6. You will keep the same appointment time that you had for November 21.

Information & reminders for this week:

• We will be recruiting at Cascade Middle School this Wednesday. I will be calling on some of you to participate in this event.
• Our second Information Night for 8th graders and parents will be held this Thursday, December 2 from 5:45-8:15 p.m. If you are asked to assist a teacher or the administration, you will be treated to a pizza dinner. Thanks, one and all, for your ambassadorship!
• Sylvester Middle School has invited us to present to their 8th graders this Friday morning in an all-class assembly. We have only 35 minutes to promote our school! I’ll be calling on students to participate.
• We were scheduled to present to Pacific Middle School 8th graders today, but since we had no time to organize last week, we are working with them to reschedule within the next two weeks. We are scheduled to present at Chinook Middle School on December 8.

Special thanks to students and families for your patience and flexibility last week as we encountered our first school closure of the school year. And, apologies from us if we missed any steps that caused undue worry. Parents / Guardians: Always feel free to contact us to clarify information when/if we have another school closure or early dismissal. Remember, too, to check www.schoolreport.org at regular intervals for updated information. The district will also continue to do robo-calls to the homes of all students to announce early dismissals and school closures.

That’s it for this week, Scholars! Cheers to learning—a whole week of it, hopefully, with no interruptions due to weather! Honored to be your principal—Reba

NOTE:
o Continue checking the AHS website or logging on to school computers to get updated information on events and meetings.


Quote of the Week:
[Experts’] knowledge is not simply a list of facts and formulas that are relevant to their domain; instead, their knowledge is organized around core concepts or ‘big ideas’ that guide their thinking about their domains.
~ John Bransford, author of How People Learn

NOTAM 112210

22 November 2010

Message from the Principal:
This past Saturday evening was another spectacular one for 28 AHS ambassadors who attended the Joe Sutter dinner lecture at the Museum of Flight. Sponsored by members of the Royal Aeronautical Society, our students gained another great opportunity to network with aviation and aerospace leaders and to learn about the exciting future of hypersonic flight. For all of us who attended from AHS, the best part of the evening came when Lydia Johnston was called to the podium to receive the Rolls Royce Spirit of Excellence Award. Along with having her name engraved on the Rolls Royce jet engine fan blade that is proudly displayed in our main office, Lydia received a $5,000 scholarship that will be sent to her university of choice to pursue an engineering degree. Congratulations, Lydia! And thank you, Rolls Royce, for your magnanimous support of our school!

Hearty congratulations are also extended to the following students:

• Betsy Smith and Olivia Gleason for being selected as our October SoDo and Southcenter Rotary Students of the Month, and Melissa Lewis for selection as our November Student of the Month for both Rotary clubs.
• Sophomore student and future pilot Michael Marinkovich who recently soloed!
• Aaron Sbarra who earned the distinction of Quartermaster through the Sea Scout program, a division of the Boy Scouts of America. There are only about 25 scouts per year in the U.S. who earn this prestigious award!

Thank you, students and parents who participated in last week’s student-led conferences. The second and final round of conferences will be held after school today (Monday). We appreciate the effort that students have taken to share their learning with parents; likewise, we appreciate the engagement of our parents in these conferences so that support and encouragement can be provided at home.

Thanksgiving is a special holiday that encourages us to give thanks for the many blessings in our lives. Among my blessings are all of you—students, staff, parents, and community members who contribute so much all year ‘round to make Aviation High School a special place to learn, work, and thrive. As you enjoy Wednesday through Sunday of this week away from school, know that you are deeply appreciated and loved by many!

May your Thanksgiving be one in which you reap a harvest of blessings. From my heart to yours—Reba

Message from Culture Club about Talent Show:
Here at AHS, not only do we have brains, but TALENTS! As most of you may all know, every year, AHS recognizes the student's wonderful talents by organizing a talent show!

This year's show is going to be held on January 21st, which is a great way to celebrate a brand new school year!

Mark your calendars because audition dates are coming up, on December 7th & December 14th from 3:45-5:00 pm in the gym. December 14th is reserved only for those who are planning to perform in a band. If you are interested, there will be a sign-up sheet in the office! More information will come soon!

Message from the Highline District:
School Performance Reports for all schools in the district are now posted on the school web pages - lower right side of each page. There is also a consolidated web page for all reports: http://www.hsd401.org/ourdistrict/about/performancereport.htm

NOTE:
o Continue checking the AHS website or logging on to school computers to get updated information on events and meetings.
o In last week’s NOTAM, information was provided about inclement weather and possible school delays or closures. Reminder: Please keep this information handy. We follow the Highline School District’s schedule!

Quote of the Week:
"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them." -John Fitzgerald Kennedy

NOTAM 111510

15 November 2010

Message from the Principal:
We have much to be grateful for at Aviation High School! As I reflect on my blessings today, I’m extending enormous thanks to:

• Our incredible PTSA who sponsored a spectacular auction this past Saturday evening at the Museum of Flight! It was a magical evening of spirited bidding and generous support for our school. Special thanks goes to Auction Chair Teri Katzer and the auction committee of Julie Zaballos, Erin Wingard, Kathy Silvernale, Denise Corrigan, Stephanie Hoag, DeAnna Luke-Huey, Gayle Wagner, Dayna Miller, Liz & Bill Campisteguy, Cherlyn Kozlak, Irasema Petralia, Karen Hixon, Debbie Stern, Logan Ponnoosamy, Tracey Phillips, Karen Rencher, and Theda Hiranaka for their tireless work to make the auction such a grand success! I’m also very grateful to Alaska Airlines, Erin Air, Esterline Corporation, Galvin Flying, Prudential Northwest, Verallia/Saint Gobain, Bassetti Architects, and Cox Financial for their sponsorship at the Blue Angel and Fat Albert levels! Thanks, too, for the many other parent, student and staff volunteers and to the donors who contributed their time and resources in support of our students and their futures! We are grateful!
  
• Our entire learning community for making our first informational program last Wednesday such a success! Over 100 students served as student ambassadors to inform, engage, and excite potential students and families about our school. With approximately 250-300 people in attendance that evening, we were able to personalize the experience for our guests. Thank you, students, parents, mentors, and staff! The next information night will be held December 2 from 5:45-8:15 p.m. If you would like to help, please let your teachers know or see Ms. Stark or Ms. Hiranaka in the main office.

By the way, if you know of anyone who attended and plans to apply for admission, please ask him/her to download the corrected version of the application from our website! Unfortunately, there was an error in printing the applications, so those that were distributed last week were incomplete (missing pages 8-11) and Essay 4.2 was incorrect. We apologize for these errors and will work with anyone who submits an incomplete application to get it right.

Speaking of getting it right: 1st quarter report cards are going home in the mail THIS week. Quarter grades are a formal progress report towards semester grades: quarter grades do not show up on your transcript; semester grades will. Are you on track for a successful semester? Two important pieces of new information to help you get or stay on track:

• Peer tutoring is provided by the National Honor Society on most Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday afternoons from 3:45 – 5:00. You can get help with math, English, social studies, world language, and science. Check the school calendar for details.
• In order to more effectively and quickly communicate with parents and students, AHS will be using Edline, an online tool to share information, grades, assignments, etc. In the mailing that includes your report card, you will also find a letter describing how you and your parent(s) can log-in to Edline.
  

Winter will soon be arriving, and with it comes the likelihood of inclement weather and school delays or closures. By following Highline Public Schools on Facebook and Twitter you will be among the first to be informed. You will find links to both pages on the district website at www.hsd401.org. You can also sign up for email alerts at http://www.schoolreport.org/. If you reside outside of the Highline School District, please know that we follow Highline’s schedule! Your resident district may be entirely different than Highline’s.

That’s it for this week, my friends. My best to all for a spectacular week of learning! I am honored to be your principal—Reba

NOTE:
o Continue checking the AHS website or logging on to school computers to get updated information on events and meetings

Quote of the Week:
Life's like a movie, write your own ending. Keep believing, keep pretending."
Jim Henson, American puppeteer

NOTAM 110810

08 November 2010

Message from the Principal:
Today marks the start of second quarter and the continuation of first semester! I hope that your quarter exams/project presentations went according to your expectations (high expectations, of course!) and that you are inspired to push your learning to even higher levels of achievement. YOU are worth the effort that is required to realize your goals and dreams!

Veterans’ Day is this Thursday, November 11, so there will be no school. School will be in session on Friday, though…so see you then!

As we all will witness this afternoon, Veterans’ Day is not at all about having a day off from school. It is about honor, valor, commitment, and love of country and for comrades with whom one serves… and oh, so much more. We are fortunate to have retired Brigadier General Steve Ritchie, the most decorated Air Force pilot in military history, as our keynote speaker for this year’s Veterans’ Day Assembly. When I read his bio I was in awe of his accomplishments, and I am sure you will be, too. As I read about him, it caused me to think of the millions of military veterans who also served our country with dignity and pride; and, while they may not have earned distinguished recognition such as General Ritchie, they are still heroes. Veterans’ Day is about acknowledging all of our veterans for their service. So…as you do whatever it is you are planning to do on Thursday, a day away from school, please find time to also thank one or more veterans. Be assured that your thanks will be genuinely appreciated.

For the past few years, the Royal Aeronautical Society has invited AHS students and staff to attend their annual black-tie (that means formal/dress up attire similar to the Pathfinder Gala) Joe Sutter Dinner & Lecture. This year is no exception, and the date is Saturday, November 20. Sponsorship is being provided by Honeywell, Boeing Training & Flight Services, Boeing Test & Evaluation, Hobart Machined Parts (Betsy Smith and Melissa Lewis have already been selected by this company), Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Rolls Royce, and perhaps a few more aerospace-affiliated companies. So far, it looks like we will be able to take 20-25 students to this magnificent event. If you are interested in attending, check the calendar for details about what I need from you (details under RAeS / Joe Sutter Dinner on Saturday, November 20). I will need to receive your email message by no later than Monday, November 15. (Applicants for the Rolls-Royce scholarship are expected to attend.)

Marketing and recruitment of the Class of 2015 actively begins this week! Our first evening information program for eighth graders and parents will be held this Wednesday evening from 6:00-8:15 p.m. You may be asked by one of your teachers to assist; if so, we’ll treat you to pizza in appreciation of your ambassadorship. Science Olympiad, ACE Club, Robotics team, Speech & Debate should plan to set up displays in the cafeteria or back of the gym immediately after school on Wednesday. Other clubs are welcome to display, too.

If you are interested in helping with marketing and recruitment activities, please sign up with Lenore Stark in the main office. Examples of ways you can assist: Accompany us to a middle school to present to 8th graders (we are now scheduled to present in all four middle schools in the Highline School District), be a reader of student applications, serve on an interview team, assist with logistics and ‘meeting and greeting’ on interview days. EVERY student at AHS can serve as an ambassador by telling your friends and neighbors about Aviation High School and encouraging them to ‘check us out’ by attending one of our information programs. Next info programs are scheduled for December 2 and January 13. Application deadline this year is January 30, 2011.

That’s it for this week. Honored to be your principal—Reba


NOTE:
o Continue checking the AHS website or logging on to school computers to get updated information on events and meetings

Quote of the Week:
Valor is stability, not of legs and arms, but of courage and the soul."
-Michel de Montaigne

"In war, there are no unwounded soldiers."
-Jose Narosky

NOTAM 1 November 2010

01 November 2010

Message from the Principal:

Thank you again to everyone for making our visitors from Dayton Regional STEM school feel so welcomed last week. In our debriefing with their principal and staff late Friday afternoon, we heard the following compliments about your skills and your character:

• public speaking skills: their #1 compliment was “Your students are so articulate!”
• friendliness & helpfulness: They commented about how comfortable you appeared in hosting visitors, sharing your learning, and simply saying “hello” even when you were just passing them in the hallways.
• engagement in and passion for learning: You impressed our visitors with your ability to explain what you were learning versus what you were doing; how you would apply it; next steps in the learning process.
• the clarity of your purpose and your goals: They also mentioned your ability to clearly articulate why you came to Aviation High School and your goals for college and career. This clarity was a big ‘take away’ for them that they will begin to incorporate with their own students.
• your respectful demeanor: More than one commented, “They are so nice!”

You are all of these good things and more, so give yourselves a well-deserved pat on the back. I am immensely proud of you!

Congratulations to:

• Jordan Stivers, a senior, and Sean Romanczuk, a graduate of AHS’s Class of 2009, for earning their Eagle Scout!
• The Skunkworks Robotics Team for sponsoring a very fun and successful spaghetti dinner and auction last Friday evening!
• National Honor Society for sponsoring a blood drive last week that resulted in 34 donors, 21 who were first-time donors. According to the rep from the Puget Sound Blood Bank, “Each unit of blood is divided into three separate components (red blood cells, platelets and plasma) and is given to different patients for various reasons. This means that donors from AHS helped save the lives of over 90 people!” Way to go, AHS blood donors, and special thanks to Faiza, Alma, Melissa, and Danielle for leading and managing this event!
• Speech & Debate team for their outstanding results at the Gig Harbor tournament this past weekend. Five teams competed, and Albert Ta and Hayk Saakian placed third with a 4-1 record. Other team members—Jenny Gao and Libanos Redda, Matt Iverson and Karan Singh, Amela Jazvin and Katie McConville, and Serena Simkus and Abdul Firoz had a 3-2 record. Albert also got 5th place out of 24 competitors in Extemp and 9th place out of 40 in Impromptu. It’s on to Whitman this Friday and Saturday, the first really big tournament of the year, according to Coach Shiroma. We’ll be cheering for you!

There are some particularly important dates coming up:

1. Thanksgiving break is just around the corner, and this year you will have Wednesday, 24 November off in addition to Thanksgiving Day (Thursday, 25 Nov) and Friday (26 Nov). Wednesday, 24 Nov will be a non-student day because we are scheduling student-led conferences on two separate evenings: Tuesday, 16 November and Monday, 22 November (equivalent to one full day of school). (Note that the calendar originally published in the student handbook at the start of the school year did not include 24 Nov as a non-student day.)
2. Our annual PTSA-sponsored auction is quickly approaching. Saturday, 13 November is the date and the location is the Museum of Flight. If you haven’t heard about this wonderful event and want to help out or attend, please contact our auction chair, Teri Katzer, at tkatzer@msn.com or find more information on the PTSA website at http://www.aviationptsa.org.
3. This Friday, 5 November, is the last day of fall quarter. It’s also the due date for applications to Washington Aerospace Scholars!

Here’s to learning and achievement! My best to all of you as we wind down one quarter and ramp up for the next! I am honored to be your principal. ~Reba

NOTE:
o Continue checking the AHS website or logging on to school computers to get updated information on events and meetings

Quote of the Week: Or rather…a poem:

Working Together
by David Whyte

We shape our self to fit this world
and by the world are shaped again.

The visible and the invisible
working together in common cause,
to producethe miraculous.

I am thinking of the way the intangible air
passed at speedround a shaped wing
easily holds our weight.[*]

So may we, in this life trust
to those elementswe have yet to see
or imagine,and look for the true
shape of our own self, by forming it well
to the great Intangibles about us.

[*] As we all know, lift on an airfoil is not solely generated Bernoulli’s principle as implied by the poem. Despite the artistic license the author has taken with the physics of lift, his metaphor still works well (and may even work better).

NOTAM 25 Oct 2010

Message from the Principal:
“Company’s coming!” Growing up, I loved hearing these two words from my mother because it meant that our home would soon be filled with relatives and friends who would engage in story-telling, game playing, musical performances by the entertainers in the family, and delicious meals prepared by my mother (fried chicken was my favorite!). Of course, it also meant that prior to company arriving, we were all going to chip in to spruce up the house and yard to meet the high expectations of our parents. For the most part, we did so quite willingly because we loved having ‘company’. When I reflect on my youth, it was those special times spent with company, getting to know the culture of their families and their life experiences that greatly shaped my own aspirations.

And so…company’s coming to Aviation High School this week! On Thursday and Friday, we’ll open our professional home to eight sophomores and their teachers who have started their own STEM school in Dayton, Ohio. Their visit is part of an exchange program that we are developing between our two institutions. They are coming to share their learning stories with us, and we will share ours with them. You will see them in classes and in the hallways, and some will be attending the spaghetti dinner and auction, sponsored by our robotics team, on Friday evening. To allow additional opportunity for students to get to know each other, Dayton students will spend Thursday and Friday nights in the homes of the following students and their families: Sydney Miller, Max Wienke, Robyn Zaches, Sean Crowley, Matt Eaton, Emily Kelley, and Michael Marinkovich. Thank you, AHS students and families, for your wonderful hospitality and generosity in hosting our guests! Everyone: Let’s spruce up what needs sprucing up and enjoy our guests when they arrive. FYI: Next spring, several AHS students will visit Dayton! Let me know if you are interested in participating.

Last week, I attended the Governor’s Aerospace Summit. I served on a workforce development panel, and I learned from one of my fellow presenters that in addition to technical skills and knowledge, there is a set of Global Professional Standards that most aerospace companies expect their employees to exhibit. They are:

• Teamwork
• Character
• Appearance—“suit up and show up” in attire that is appropriate to the position and work being performed
• Attitude
• Productivity—yes…it’s measured!
• Organizational skills
• Communication—verbal & written as well as body language
• Cooperation
• Respect
• Safety

I hope that these standards are those that any AHS student will meet or exceed prior to transition to college and into the workplace. I am curious about what you might add or delete from the list? I invite you to send an email or stop by to share your thoughts. After all…it’s YOUR future for which we are preparing you!

Congratulations to everyone for the wonderful creativity that was displayed last Friday as pumpkins were painted and decorated and scarecrows designed and displayed! You all have quite an imagination! Most of all, thank you for fully participating in College & Career Day activities. Again…it’s about YOUR future!

Enjoy your week of learning! I’m honored and grateful to be your principal! ~Reba


NOTE:
Continue checking the AHS website or logging onto school computers to get updated information on events and meetings

• Seniors: check for information about a $5,000 scholarship from Rolls-Royce
• Juniors: check for information about Washington Aerospace Scholars.

Quote of the Week:
Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

NOTAM 101810

18 October 2010

Message from the Principal:

While it seems hard to believe, we are now two-thirds of the way through first quarter of the school year. With progress reports recently issued, it is important that you make every minute of learning count as you make your way toward November 5th, the final day of the quarter. Reflect on your academic goals for this year and plan accordingly. Ask your teachers for help if you need it. Consider participating in after-school peer tutoring (it starts next week!) Enlist the support and encouragement of family members. Use your time wisely in school and at home, making your academics a priority. This may mean spending fewer hours watching television, playing games, or hanging out with friends for awhile, but it’s a choice that successful students make in order to achieve their education and career goals. Make the right choice!

Do you know that a major benefit of a college degree is an increase in average yearly income? People with an associate degree (two years at community college) typically earn up to 25% more each year than someone who is doing the same job without a degree. Those who earn four-year degrees and advanced degrees enjoy progressively higher salaries. Beyond salary, having a college degree creates opportunities for jobs and careers that inspire you, leads to career promotions, and gives you personal satisfaction and confidence to enjoy life according to your own definition of success.

Knowledge is power. Enhance your power by acquiring the knowledge and skills needed to get you into your college and career of choice. Whether you are a freshman or a senior, I am again encouraging all of you to attend the district-sponsored Life After High School College & Career Fair that is scheduled for Wednesday, November 3 at the Highline High School Gymnasium from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. And…I’m reminding you that this Friday, October 22 marks our second AHS College & Career Day of the school year. Learning activities that are scheduled on these days are an important part of preparing you for your future and enjoying the benefits that I have mentioned in my message—those that accompany earning a post secondary degree. Full participation in College & Career days is expected of each AHS student; as such, you are earning academic credit, which will appear on your transcript as a pass or fail grade in Advisory.

Belated and sincere congratulations go to newly-elected freshmen class captains Francis Britschgi and Royce Le! Hearty congratulations, too, to all other freshmen candidates who joined the spirited race to serve as a class captain. I applaud you for your commitment to lead and serve!

Congratulations also go to newly elected officers of ACE (Airline Careers Experience)—Chairman, Rashil Kohli; Vice President Scott Sluys; and Secretary / Treasurer Devon Gumke. These future career aviators are working with Alaska Airlines Captain John Sluys and Advisor Robin Lee to align our high school ACE club with the goals and objectives of college programs throughout the country. Membership in ACE is just one more way to prepare for college and career success!

Each year, the Aerospace Futures Alliance (AFA) sponsors the Governor’s Aerospace Summit, an event that brings together close to 400 leaders in aviation and aerospace to address opportunities and challenges facing their industry. And, each year, Linda Lanham, Executive Director of the AFA and wonderful friend/supporter of AHS, invites a group of our students to participate. This year’s ambassadors will be Katie McConville, Camila Palacio, Morgan Sellier, Melissa Lewis, Olivia Pham, Collins Mbugua, Cameron Jaxheimer, and Franco Spadoni. They will mix, mingle, and learn with conference participants this Thursday, October 21 at the Lynnwood Convention Center. I wish we could take all of you with us. Since we cannot, I encourage you to ask these students to share their learning with you when they are back in class. More opportunities such as this will be coming your way!

I close this week’s message with another reminder to make your moments, minutes, hours, and days of learning memorable! Make your learning fun, too—truly, it is possible…perhaps essential for most of us! I am honored to be your principal.
~Reba

NOTE:
Continue checking the AHS website or logging onto school computers to get updated information on events and meetings.

Quote of the Week:
“Education is an ornament in prosperity and a refuge in adversity.” ~Aristotle

NOTAM 101110

11 October 2010

Message from the Principal:

“The best way to pay for a lovely moment is to enjoy it.” ~Richard Bach

Rather than end the NOTAM with a quote this week, I chose to start with one that expresses my gratitude to the many sponsors of this year’s Pathfinder Gala. If enjoying this spectacular event is payment enough for a lovely evening, we are “rich” beyond words! Thank you, ERAU and Purdue Universities, James Raisbeck, Peter Morton, Peter Anderson, Clay Lacey, and Suzanna Darcy-Henneman for supporting 112 AHS students and chaperones to Pathfinder 2010! (Reminder to student attendees: Your expressions of gratitude—thank-you note or letter—and your reflections are now due to Ms. Stark or Ms. Hiranaka.)

And speaking of gratitude: Huge thanks goes to members of the Robotics, ACE, Science Olympiad, Speech & Debate, and Flight by Design teams for showing up on Friday (a non-student day) to showcase your learning for our visitors! Thanks, too, to our amazing ASB officers and all the advisors/coaches and mentors who participated. In a debrief with the visitors, they expressed how impressed they were with your professionalism, maturity, and your passion for learning. They also expressed that what they observed during their visit is not what they typically see in other high schools. Give yourselves a well-deserved pat on the back and look forward to perhaps being recruited by both ERAU and Purdue! J

Juniors: An exciting opportunity awaits you! The Museum of Flight is actively recruiting AHS juniors to apply for participation in the Washington Aerospace Scholars (WAS) program! If you are selected, Phase One of the program will be from December 2010 to May 2011during which you will complete a series of online lessons on topics ranging from the history of NASA to the future of human space exploration. The top-performing students in the State will be invited in May 2011 to participate in Phase Two: a six-day (all-expense paid) residency at the Museum of Flight where they will plan their own mission to Mars. You can download applications at www.museumofflight.org/was. Applications are due November 5, 2010! Last year, 11 AHS juniors were selected for the program, and eight made it all the way to the summer residency— Matthew Eaton, Franco Spadoni, James Stone, Laura Hixson, Spencer Noble, Tyler Escott, Banks Hunter, and Jordan Cross! I encourage you to check with any of these WAS Scholars to learn more about the program. Participating is a great way to expand your learning and build your resume for college admission.

This past Saturday was a long day for many of our seniors, who took the SAT in the morning, then attended Pathfinder that same evening. My compliments to all for recognizing that your SAT scores make a difference in getting accepted to your college/post-secondary program of choice! I know that many of you take the exam more than once to improve your scores. Kudos! Our sophomores and many of our juniors will be taking the PSAT this Wednesday. Kudos to all of you, too!

Each year, our wonderful PTSA coordinates the Reflections contest. They have asked that I promote it in this week’s NOTAM, which I am pleased to do. In future weeks, be sure to check the calendar on our website or the PTSA’s for information about the contest.

My best to you for an illuminating week of learning! I am honored to be your principal! ~Reba


Message from the PTSA about Reflections:
Attention Aviation High School Students!
Grab your art supplies, camera, instrument, computer, pen, or video camera and create something to submit for the 2010-2011 41st annual PTA Reflections Contest. Reflections is an opportunity to pursue your artistic expression; this year’s theme is “Together We Can.”
Entries will be judged on creative ability and interpretation of the theme in the following categories:

• Literature
• Music Composition
• Photography
• Visual Arts
• Film/Video
• Choreography/Dance.

All AHS participants will receive recognition, certificate, prize & special catered lunch. Finalist entries (up to 4 per category) will go on to the Highline Council level of the competition. Submissions will be collected in the main office from November 15 -19. Entries turned in after 2 p.m. on November 19th will not be judged. Go to www.aviationptsa.org and click on the Reflections link for rules and entry forms. Additional forms are also available in the main office. For more information, contact Liz Campisteguy at campisteguy@gmail.com.

NOTE:
o Continue checking the AHS website or logging onto school computers to get updated information on events/meetings.

NOTAM 100410

04 October 2010

Message from the Principal:
Parents and families: You are our #1 partner in preparing your child for college, career, and citizenship. Your participation in last week’s Evening of Learning provided reassurance that we can make a powerful difference for each student by working together. Thank you for showing up and being such great learners and supporters!

Congratulations to the ASB for sponsoring the first dance of the school year this past Saturday evening. By all accounts, the Aviator Ball was a magical, fun-filled evening! Thanks to the students and staff who helped make it happen.

This Saturday marks another opportunity for 98* AHS students to experience some magic that has been created by three amazing leaders in aviation and aerospace who will be honored as Pathfinders at the Pathfinder Gala, an annual event sponsored by the Museum of Flight. When I wrote last week’s edition of the NOTAM, I reported that we would need additional sponsorship to take all of the students who applied. And, shortly after posting the NOTAM to our website, it happened! Pathfinder inductee Clay Lacy immediately stepped up to sponsor 10 additional students while parent Melanie Jordan recruited sponsorships for 5 more, and the PTSA and a few other individuals volunteered to sponsor the remaining students and chaperones. This kind of generosity and support continues to amaze and delight me. It is part of the magic of this wonderful little school we call Aviation High School where the sky is NOT the limit! Thank you, sponsors!

If you are one of the students selected for Pathfinder, I’ll see you at Etiquette Training TODAY, starting at 3:45 in the Gym and ending between 5:15-5:30 p.m.

This Friday, October 8 is a statewide professional development day for teachers, so there’s no school for students; however, there will still be some great activity that day since we have been asked to provide an overview of our school and demonstrations of learning for a group of very important people—namely, Pathfinder inductees, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and Purdue University leaders, James Raisbeck, whose name will be on our new school at the Museum of Flight, and a few other key leaders in aviation and aerospace. If you are on the Robotics or Science Olympiad team, a member of ACE Club, or presenting on behalf of Flight by Design, please plan to have your exhibits/artifacts set up by 1:00 p.m. that day and be ready to greet visitors as they arrive. Team apparel is required. Speech & Debate Club, Culture Club, Music Club and any other AHS clubs are welcome to attend to share your accomplishments. In fact, any AHS student is welcome to attend! Events such as this provide excellent opportunities to hone your leadership skills, whether you are a presenter or observer. They also represent a great networking opportunity. If you wish to attend, please be in regular school dress or better—no jeans. Presentation time is 1:30-3:00 p.m. in the Gymnasium. Thanks in advance to all students and staff who are willing to serve as AHS ambassadors—even on a non-school day! You are the best!

May your week of learning be inspiring in every way! I am honored to be your principal!
~Reba

*AHS musicians and Pathfinder interns are not included in this count, which brings the total to more than 100.

NOTE:
o Continue checking the AHS website or logging onto school computers to get updated information on events/meetings.

Quote of the week:

“The greater danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it,but that it is too low and we reach it.” ~Michelangelo


Quoted by Camila Palacio in her Pathfinder essay when describing how this year’s Pathfinder inductees inspire her to aim high so that she can experience similar successes.

NOTAM 092710

27 September 2010


MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL:
It’s Week #3 of the school year, and I continue to be impressed by the remarkable spirit that seems to be coming from everyone and everywhere. You are all rockin’ this school in a way that simply makes me glad to be among you each day! Last Friday’s assembly was riveting as our ASB leaders prepared everyone for Spirit Week (this week!) and the first dance of the school year—the Aviator Ball, scheduled for Saturday evening. I must say that I may think twice about dining with Mr. Gudor, Mr. Shiroma, Ms. Durrant, or Dr. Katims ever again after observing their unabashed enthusiasm for quickly devouring a “pie”, but I certainly applaud their competitive, good-natured spirit! I’m eager to see who the actors will be in the next assembly, but for this week, I’m looking forward to seeing how the AHS spirit is revealed each day through a different fashion theme!

I was also very impressed with the learning I saw taking place last Friday on our very first College & Career Day. I heard positive feedback from most students with whom I interacted, but I didn’t get the opportunity to observe all of the activities. Our goal is to provide you with a progressively more informative and useful program that prepares you for college and career. So, let your voice be heard by letting your advisors, Ms. Carper, and the administration know what was helpful to you, what wasn’t so helpful, and what you want to experience as the year continues.

Speaking of preparing for college and career: Mark your calendar for the Life After High School Fair that is scheduled for Wednesday, November 3rd from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at Highline High School. One hundred (100) different colleges and career organizations will be there to help you plan for your future!

Over this past weekend, I spent several hours reading 97 inspiring essays written by AHS students who are vying for one of the 75 Pathfinder tickets that are being sponsored by Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Peter Anderson & Galvin Flying, and other aviation and community leaders. And, while I promised that I would announce the selection of students in this week’s NOTAM, I am simply not able to do so without your assistance. The reason? Almost all of the essays are truly outstanding, and many of them are masterpieces! I so wish that we had sponsorship to take everyone who applied, but currently, we don’t. We have 22 more applicants than spots available. I am, therefore, asking for voluntary (and perhaps temporary) withdrawal from students who have attended Pathfinder two or more times. If you are willing to give up your seat to someone who has not had the same opportunity as you, please come to the main office TODAY to see Ms. Stark or Ms. Hiranaka. In the meantime, I’ll be checking with the Pathfinder coordinators to see if there’s any possibility of additional sponsorship. If there is, the students who volunteer to give up seats will be reinstated. By Wednesday of this week, we will post a list of selected students on the windows in the main office (viewable from the courtyard). I am thanking you, in advance, for your understanding and patience as we work through the selection process. As a reminder, if you are selected, you must attend Etiquette Training next Monday, October 4, from 3:45-5:30 p.m.

You all know that we don’t have athletic teams at AHS, right? That may change very soon, though, thanks to some amazing parents and students who are interested in starting an Ultimate Frisbee team. If you are interested in learning more, email ultimate.ahs@gmail.com. Parents: Information will also be available this Wednesday at our Evening of Learning program. Students and parent organizers will be ‘manning’ a table in the Cafeteria, starting at 5:30 p.m.

We inadvertently omitted a very important club offering during last week’s Club Fair! If you are interested in a professional aviation career, you may want to join the Airline Career Experience (ACE) club, which is sponsored by the Air Line Pilots Associated and advised by Alaska Airlines Captain John Sluys and AHS Ground School instructor Robin Lee. ACE will meet this Thursday during club time in Room 17.

On October 8, there is no school; however, we will be hosting the Pathfinder inductees, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University VIPs, and a number of other VIPs who are interested in knowing more about our school. If you are a member of ACE, the Skunkworks Robotics Team, Science Olympiad, or an ASB officer, I request the pleasure of your company and your participation in a demonstration of learning from 1:00-3:00 p.m. Further details will be provided to your advisors. Other students may also be asked to participate, so stay tuned. And…thanks in advance for your ambassadorship!

I look forward to seeing parents at our annual Evening of Learning this Wednesday from 6:00-8:00 p.m.! The program starts in the Gymnasium. Students, please remember to give your parents your class schedule, too! Unfortunately, on the invitation, we mistakenly listed 6th period as a class that parents would attend. Please ‘scratch’ 6th period and instead, add 7th period!

My best to all for a spirited week of learning and fun! I am honored to be your principal!
~Reba


NOTE:
Keep checking the AHS website or logging onto school computers to get updated information on events/meetings.


QUOTE OF THE WEEK:
“Really great people make you feel that you, too, can become great.”
~ Mark Twain (quoted by Ramneet Kaur in her Pathfinder essay)

NOTAM 092010

20 September 2010


MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL:

Greetings, AHS Scholars! I hope your first full week of learning was a remarkable one in every way! This week brings more opportunities to experience the culture of AHS, with Friday designated as our very first College and Career Day, which will be followed by nine more throughout the school year. Activities that take place on these days will increase your knowledge of college and career opportunities and will give you the time you need to develop or refine your résumé, hone your interviewing skills for colleges, internships and employment experiences, write college essays and applications, create your portfolio, etc. As part of preparing for life beyond high school, this Friday, our freshmen and sophomore women will attend an assembly from 10:00-11:00 a.m. in the gym to hear from a Chilean pilot about her career progression. On Friday afternoon, we’ll have an all-school assembly facilitated by our awesome ASB leaders. Complete details about Friday’s schedule will be shared by your first-period teacher.

In last week’s NOTAM, I informed you about the Pathfinder gala which is scheduled for October 9, 2010 at the Museum of Flight (information is still on the website under tab). As a reminder, essays are due this Thursday by 4:00 p.m. Please submit them to our office manager, Lenore Stark. Selected participants will be named in next week’s edition of the NOTAM, and required Etiquette Training will take place after school on Monday, October 4. Details related to Pathfinder are posted on the AHS website.


On Wednesday, September 29th, your parents / guardians are invited to attend an Evening of Learning, which is the AHS version of an open house. Invitations were mailed home last week. Your parents will be attending mini-sessions of your classes, so please make sure they know where they’re going by helping fill in the schedule on the program.

That’s it for this week. Best to all for an inspiring, engaging week of learning. Honored to be your principal—Reba


NOTE:
• Are you in the habit of checking the AHS website or logging onto school computers? At both places, you’ll find information regarding upcoming events and meetings. Among other opportunities you’ll find this week:
o Monday meeting at lunch for students interested in music club
o Speech & Debate
o Alaska Airlines Aviation Day for interested students.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK:
“The world is but a canvas to the imagination.”
~ Henry David Thoreau

NOTAM 13 Sept 2010

About the NOTAM this year:
Dear Students, Parents & Families, & Friends of AHS,

At Aviation High School, we believe that communication with student and families, our partners and friends in aviation, and members of the communities we serve, is vitally important. The weekly NOTAM (Notice to Airmen, a term we ‘borrowed’ from the aviation world) is our version of most school’s bulletin, but we hope you will find it a bit more personalized and representative of the uniqueness of our school. Most importantly, we hope you will read it each and every week as it is our primary written communication tool for stakeholders inside and outside the organization.

For those of you who have been acquainted with AHS prior to this school year, you will notice that the NOTAM is changing a bit. To begin with, we are posting much of the information that used to be in the NOTAM on the school calendar is posted on our website at http://www.AviationHS.org. You can click on events to find additional information, not just for the week but for scheduled activities throughout the month and school year. Please make it part of your weekly routine to review the calendar so that you don’t miss an opportunity!

This year’s NOTAM will primarily consist of the following:

 The Principal’s Message
Ms. Gilman’s message will inform you about learning opportunities that need more explanation than can be provided on the calendar. Example: Pathfinder event that is the focus of this week’s message. She will also give updates about the school’s progress toward permanently locating at the Museum of Flight. Reminders will be provided about special events. And, frequently students will be recognized for earning awards and honors and doing good deeds. Unlike previous years’ NOTAMs, we will publish students’ outside accomplishments monthly if we know about them…and we do want to know! Just send an email to Ms. Stark at starkml@hsd401.org detailing the recognition, and you’ll see your name in print!

 Message from the ASB
There may or may not be a weekly message from ASB. Officers will inform you about special events such as dances, spirit weeks, etc.

 Message from the PTSA
Don’t expect weekly messages. We will occasionally print them to remind you of important events and timelines, but your best way to keep informed of PTSA information and activities is to regularly check their website at http://www.aviationptsa.org.

 A quote of the week, which is intended to make you think about an issue or simply enjoy!
Ms. Carper, our counselor, will post scholarship information in her office and also post to our website. Likewise, Ms. Pappas and Ms. Burr will post mentoring information and internship opportunities in their office and on the website. Make it a habit to check this information on a regular basis and know that it will be updated as new opportunities develop.
In summary, make it a habit to read the entire NOTAM each week! We highly encourage parents and students to read and review it together; and, if you have questions, contact us. Because of the change in our advisory schedule this year, there will no longer be an advisory period on Mondays during which time the NOTAM is reviewed. Rather, highlights will be reviewed during students’ first period classes. Therefore, students must assume responsibility for reading the rest of it on their own time. It will be posted on our website each Sunday evening to give you a ‘heads up’ on the week ahead. The NOTAM is available as a blog as well; we encourage you to subscribe to the feed.

This first edition of the NOTAM is lengthy, and we apologize for that. Future editions will be more concise.

Sincerely,

The Administration & Staff of Aviation High School

MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL:
You’re back, and we welcome you!

As we begin the 2010-2011 school year, there’s already a great sense of excitement and wonderment about what the year will bring. I love hearing the ‘buzz’ of your conversations and interactions in the hallways and classrooms, and I’ll be one of your greatest fans as you pursue your goals for college and career at Aviation High School!

Our ASB officers and representatives provided an excellent start to the school year on opening day with a spirited assembly. Well-deserved thanks go to President Sarah, Vice-President Miranda, Secretary Elizabeth and Treasurer Jenny for demonstrating such outstanding leadership skills. They encouraged everyone to get involved in school activities this year, so I hope you are already thinking about clubs and teams that develop your leadership capabilities and complement your academic studies. Remember that you are creating your resume during high school. Academic achievements along with involvement in school activities and volunteerism within the community all enhance your competitiveness to get into the college of your choice, earn scholarship awards, and gain internship and employment experiences.

At Aviation High School, we don’t have a football team, so we don’t have a traditional Homecoming event; rather, we have our own version of homecoming called Pathfinder, and this year it will be held on Saturday, October 9. It is a formal (suits or tuxes for guys; semi-formal to formal wear for ladies) gala event held at the Museum of Flight for the purpose of honoring extraordinary people who have made significant contributions to aviation and aerospace. The evening starts with a reception in the Great Gallery where we mingle and get acquainted with distinguished guests as we sip a beverage and enjoy some tasty appetizers. The reception is followed by dinner, a procession of former Pathfinder recipients, and on-stage interviews of the Pathfinder inductees. This year’s Pathfinders are Suzanna Darcy-Hanneman, Clay Lacey, and Bill Boeing Jr. The celebration honoring these three individuals should be nothing less than spectacular!

Thanks to the generosity of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, the Museum of Flight, Galvin Flying, and several individual AHS supporters, up to 75 selected Aviation High School students attend for free! If you are interested in attending, check the website for more information (details are under the tab). (Check it soon; among other things, you will need to write and submit a brief essay by Thursday, 23 September.)

Pathfinders is a great networking event and has opened doors for many AHS students, including internships and work experiences!

That’s it for my message this week. My best for an engaging and insightful week of learning! I am honored to be your principal!

~Reba (or Ms. Gilman, if you prefer; l answer to either!)


MESSAGE FROM ASB:
Welcome back to AHS and a special welcome to the class of 2014! We hope you are as eager and excited as we are for another great year at Aviation High School. We have a lot of plans for the 2010-2011 school year and we need your help to make them successful. Thank you to all who purchased ASB merchandise and ASB cards, which we hope you'll enjoy the many perks of having (i.e. discounts to special events and free admission to the Museum of Flight, including weekends). Speaking of, to kick off the school year we will be having our first spirit week and semi-formal dance (the Aviator's Ball) so stay tuned for more details. Have a great first week, and remember, be proud that you're a Phoenix!
Sincerely,
Your ASB

QUOTE OF THE WEEK:
“Be the change you want to see in the world.” ~GANDHI

9 July 2010: Secretary of Education Arne Duncan visits AHS

09 July 2010

US Education Secretary Arne Duncan visits Aviation High School
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and U.S. Senator Patty Murray joined students, teachers, and business and education leaders at Aviation High School (AHS) to discuss educational innovation and the unique science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) program offered at AHS. Following a student presentation, Senator Murray and Secretary Duncan participated in a panel discussion highlighting the success of Aviation High School.

"We need more schools like Aviation High School," said Duncan.

On the panel was Peter Morton, a former Boeing executive and a member of the boards of Aviation High School and The Museum of Flight. "We are doing something special to create a replicable example of STEM education in a public/private partnership," said Morton. "Every community can organize a similar partnership around their local industries, museums, or other institutions. It is a worthy investment for government agencies at the national, state, and local level to support our example as a contribution to a technologically savvy workforce."

Seventy-seven percent of AHS graduates intend to pursue STEM careers, compared with 48% statewide. "We want to prepare our students to fill critical jobs in STEM fields throughout the nation," said Aviation High School Principal and CEO Reba Gilman. "We believe that the students who attend Aviation High will help our nation remain competitive in an increasingly technology-driven world where the US is not producing technically-trained workers at the same rate as other nations."

Aviation High School is the only college-prep aviation-themed high school in the Northwest. AHS is open to students from across the state, and many commute from outside King County. All subjects are taught in the context of aviation and aerospace.

In 2009, AHS was third among 415 state public high schools on the math and science WASL, though the number of students qualifying for free and reduced lunch was almost 20 times the rate of the number one and two schools.

WHAT’S HAPPENING THIS WEEK?

Monday:
Learning…proof of learning with final exams and project presentations!

Tuesday:
Pancake Breakfast 8:30 a.m. – 9:55 a.m. in the cafeteria
Students interested in Science Olympiad for next year meet at 12:35 in Room 6
(Mrs. Durrant’s room)

Wednesday: ALL STUDENTS TO BE IN DRESS CODE
VIP on campus: Mr. Rick Stephens from Boeing (see details in Principal’s message)
Last Day of School: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. All students must leave campus immediately after dismissal.

Enjoy Your Summer!!! See you on September 7, 2010

MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL:
It’s a short week of learning and fun, and it is also the very last few days of the 2009-10 school year! And, it’s a busy one with lots of final project presentations and a few exams yet to take. These last few days do count for showcasing your learning as well as having fun with your friends before departing for summer break—and you can do both!

Tomorrow morning’s pancake breakfast will provide a great opportunity to socialize, and YOU can be the evaluators of your teachers’ culinary skills! Traditionally, this has been a great opportunity for last minute signing of yearbooks, too, so come one and all to enjoy this annual tradition, sponsored by your multi-talented staff!

On Wednesday, we are hosting a very important group of people, with the key visitor being Mr. Rick Stephens, Director of Human Resources for the Boeing Company. Mr. Stephens is based out of Chicago, and his primary duty is ensuring that the Boeing Company has a qualified workforce to be competitive and profitable in a world economy. He has deep concerns about our education system’s ability to prepare students for STEM education and career pathways, and he is committed to working with various entities to improve the STEM pipeline. It is an honor that he has accepted our invitation to visit Aviation High School and the Museum of Flight to see how we are contributing to these efforts. If you are a member of the Robotics, Science Olympiad, or ACE team (and if you have been selected by Mr. Joshi to present for Flight by Design), you should plan to set up your displays by Tuesday afternoon, so that you are ready for Wednesday morning without last minute “scrambling” to get artifacts and ensure that equipment is working. I will be bringing Mr. Stephens, Dr. Bonnie Dunbar, Superintendent Welch, Peter Morton, School Board President Bernie Dorsey, and a few other VIPs to the gymnasium at 9:10 a.m., at which time you should be seated in the chairs that will be facing the podium. Tessa Tweet will introduce Mr. Stephens, and then Mr. Stephens will present to you prior to engaging in your demonstrations of learning. The order of student demos will then be:
9:25-9:35 Robotics (& Mr. Stephens operates the robot)
9:35-9:45 Science Olympiad
9:45-9:55 FbD & ACE
9:55-10:00 We thank Mr. Stephens!

As I write this final NOTAM message of the school year, I wish to thank everyone who has served as an AHS ambassador this school year—some of you for multiple school years. I know that you have been on constant public display to share your learning and promote our school as a national model of teaching and learning. Please know that your involvement makes a powerful difference in our journey to locate permanently at the Museum of Flight by 2012 and share our good work with others. You are leaving a remarkable legacy. I am immensely grateful to all of you!

On Friday, July 9, from 2:00-3:30 p.m. we will be hosting U.S. Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan (appointed by President Obama) for a similar visit. As more details unfold regarding this visit, I will be communicating with members of the Robotics, ACE, and Science Olympiad teams as well as FbD representatives. More fun to come, even though school won’t be in session! 

I’m looking forward to seeing many of you on June 29 for the Alaska Airlines delivery flight! Please make sure you are at school by 10:15 a.m. to board the charter buses that will take us to Boeing Field for the flight. We should return to school by approximately 2:00 p.m.

If you are an incoming freshman (or parent of one), please mark your calendar for Friday, August 6th to attend a presentation by a Blue Angel pilot and Navy technician, hosted by AHS PTSA, Galvin Flying, and King County International Airport. This annual event for incoming freshmen is exciting, fun, and informative and serves as our official welcoming of freshmen to Aviation High School. The event will be held in the executive hangar of Galvin Flying Service at Boeing Field, starting at 7:45 a.m. with a continental breakfast. Next year’s sophomores, juniors, and seniors may also attend IF you did not have the opportunity to attend when you were an incoming freshmen. Seating is limited, though, and new freshmen get the first seats.

I will be sending out a summer letter within the next couple of weeks that will provide important information related to next year. One item will include your summer reading assignments, which I encourage you to start on sooner rather than later. Incoming freshmen: You, too, have summer assignments! Yes…I know, it’s summer vacation…and your learning should be continuous, so enjoy the journey! You will be very glad that you did when you start school again next fall, and certainly when you begin college! And even more when you enter the workforce and start making big $$!

My very best to all, along with sincere thanks for allowing me to share your learning journey. Be safe…be good…be true to your goals and dreams for the future because the sky is truly NOT the limit! As always, I’m honored to be your principal. ~Reba

THANK YOU
The Wienke family (AFS Host Family) would like to thank the AFS organization and Aviation High School for giving Matthias Schneglberger the opportunity to come to USA and to attend Aviation High School. Mr. and Mrs. Wienke thank the school for all the support and hope this was a great experience for Matthias and for Aviation High School.

AP CHEMISTRY
All AP Chemistry students should stop by Mr. Shiroma’s room over the next week to pick up their textbooks and to obtain their summer assignment.

Except for the Quote of the Week, the following announcements have been posted in previous editions of the NOTAM. They are still important and posted for your information and action, as appropriate:

SPACE-BOUND?
Interested in space and NASA? Sign up for Interdisciplinary National Science Program Incorporating Research and Education Experience (INSPIRE). INSPIRE provides students from the 9th grade through the freshman year of college with online resources, NASA-related activities and educational curriculum, and ongoing participation in video teleconferences with NASA centers. Participating 11th graders are eligible to apply for research internships at NASA. This is an awesome opportunity; registration for 2010-11 school year ends June 30th. Visit their website for more information: http://www.nasa.gov/offices/education/programs/descriptions/INSPIRE_Project.html

SKIERS & SNOWBOARDERS (AND THOSE INTERESTED IN LEARNING)
Do you enjoy skiing or snowboarding? Would you like to learn how to ski or snowboard? How would you like to be part of a ski and snowboarding club next January? Melissa Lewis is creating the club as part of her senior project and requests the following:
Please fill out the interest survey at the URL listed below; it should only take you about five minutes to fill it out and it will help give me a general idea of how many students are interested in this opportunity. http://sites.google.com/site/melissaseniorproject/student-survey
Skiers / Boarders: you know it’s fun. Wannabes: you need to try it; it IS fun! (more fun than Wii and Magic combined) Couch potatoes: you can get hours for your PE credit by skiing or snowboarding.

Quote of the Week: Let’s hear it one more time:
The Sky is NOT the limit!

AVIATION HIGH SCHOOL
NOTAM 061410
14 June 2010

WHAT’S HAPPENING THIS WEEK?

Monday:
Learning, learning, learning!
Ballroom Dancing for beginners 3:40–4:30 p.m. in the Gym

Tuesday:
VIPs on campus from Boeing & The Museum of Flight—10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Robotics, Science Olympiad, ACE Club members—we need some of you to demonstrate your learning in the gym at 10:00 a.m. We may also be making classroom visits to see what you are learning and interact with you.
Mandatory Grad Practice for Seniors 1:00–3:30 p.m. in the gym
Last Day of School for Seniors
LAST Robotics Team Meeting 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. in Room 7 (No Study Hall)
PTSA Auction planning meeting 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. in Room 10

Wednesday:
Meeting for students interested in taking 0 hour Japanese next year during Consultancy in Room #1, Mr. Kumakura’s room.
Peer Tutoring (sign-up) 3:35–4:45 p.m. in Room 10

Thursday:
Commencement Ceremonies 10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m. at the P.A.C. School day for grades 9, 10, & 11 is from 12:30-3:30 p.m. with school bus transportation running 3 hours later than usual for the morning run
Culture Club 3:45–4:45 p.m. in Room 24

Friday
Early Release at 2:00 p.m.
Staff Professional Collaboration time 2:15-3:45 p.m.

MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL:
Our seniors graduate this Thursday morning, which is a key milestone in their lives and a day of great celebration. I am immensely proud of this stellar class of students who have individually and collectively accomplished great things during their years at Aviation High Schools. They are a scholarly group, with 40% of the class qualifying as Washington State Honor Award recipients, which means they are among the top 10% of all graduating seniors in the State of Washington. They have earned close to $1,000,000 in scholarship awards, too, which is remarkable for a class of 90 students. Top scholarship award recipients are Taylor Barrett with an ROTC scholarship worth $180,000, which he will be using at WSU; and Alex Simkus, with a $150,000 award from the prestigious Webb Institute. In addition to their scholarly pursuits and accomplishments, they have been outstanding school ambassadors and leaders, both within the school community as well as the broader community. Many were honored at the recent Senior Awards Ceremony…and perhaps even more should have been recognized, such as Cameron Jewel, Lance Crawford, and Conor Stobart, who along with several underclassmen who are members of Civil Air Patrol, lower the American flag each day, properly fold it, and march proudly into the office to deliver it, where it is stored until the following day. We also missed recognizing Alex Simkus for earning his Eagle Scout rank earlier in the year. Belated congratulations, Alex! So…seniors, if we missed acknowledging and celebrating any of your successes over the past four years, please accept our heartfelt apologies and know that it wasn’t intentional. We celebrate and congratulate each and every one of you! Know that you will be greatly missed as you transition to college and career!

Please carefully review the What’s Happening this Week section for important information regarding VIP tours and activities that are occurring this week.

Next week is a short one—school all day on Monday and Tuesday (pancake breakfast Tuesday morning), and a half day on Wednesday. On Wednesday morning, we will have many VIPs on campus from the Boeing Company and the Museum of Flight. Robotics, Science Olympiad, ACE, and a few students from FbD are expected to participate in a morning demonstration of learning in the gym. As always, I’m grateful for your ambassadorship!

Hearty congratulations to the Yearbook students for producing an outstanding publication! From the original artwork on the cover to every section inside, it’s a masterpiece!

Congratulations, too, to Olivia Pham, who applied for admission to the Summer Science program (promoted in the NOTAM) and just recently received word that she has been accepted. The program is a residential enrichment program in which gifted high school students complete a challenging, hands-on research project in celestial mechanics and learn college-level astronomy, physics, calculus, and programming. Way to go, Olivia!
Learning counts…so make the most of each second, minute, and hour of these last remaining days of the 2009-10 school year! As always, I’m honored to be your principal—Reba

Alaska Airlines Delivery Flight:
There’s still room for a few more students! Deadline for signing up is tomorrow, June 15, so if you are still interested, see Mrs. Hiranaka today! Permission forms will be ready in the office on Wednesday June 16th and must be returned by June 21, 2010!!!!!!!!

APUSH
Students who are registered to take APUSH next year can come by room 10 on Tuesday and Wednesday, June 15-16, after 1st or 2nd period, to get their textbook and a copy of the summer study assignment.

SPACE-BOUND?
Interested in space and NASA? Sign up for Interdisciplinary National Science Program Incorporating Research and Education Experience(INSPIRE). INSPIRE provides students from the 9th grade through the freshman year of college with online resources, NASA-related activities and educational curriculum, and ongoing participation in video teleconferences with NASA centers. Participating 11th graders are eligible to apply for research internships at NASA. This is an awesome opportunity; registration for 2010-11 school year ends June 30th. Visit their website for more information: http://www.nasa.gov/offices/education/programs/descriptions/INSPIRE_Project.html

TO ALL WHO WANT TO TAKE JAPANESE NEXT FALL:
Those students who plan to take 0-hour Japanese next fall are invited to a meeting this Wednesday, June 16 in Room #1(Mr. Kumakura’s room) during Consultancy time. Looking forward to seeing many of you! ~Mr. Kumakura

FROM THE PTSA
The AHS PTSA 2010 AUCTION is November 13th! Our first planning meeting will be Tuesday June 15 at 7 pm in Rm 10 at AHS. This is THE major fundraising event for our PTSA and we need YOU to help make this year’s auction our best yet! Questions email Teri at ahsauction@aviationptsa.org.

SKIERS & SNOWBOARDERS (AND THOSE INTERESTED IN LEARNING)
Do you enjoy skiing or snowboarding? Would you like to learn how to ski or snowboard? How would you like to be part of a ski and snowboarding club next January? Melissa Lewis is creating the club as part of her senior project and requests the following:
Please fill out the interest survey at the URL listed below; it should only take you about five minutes to fill it out and it will help give me a general idea of how many students are interested in this opportunity. http://sites.google.com/site/melissaseniorproject/student-survey
Skiers / Boarders: you know it’s fun. Wannabes: you need to try it; it IS fun! (more fun than Wii and Magic combined) Couch potatoes: you can get hours for your PE credit by skiing or snowboarding.

Except for the Quote of the Week, the following announcements have been posted in previous editions of the NOTAM. They are still important and posted for your information and action, as appropriate:

Tuesday, June 29
Alaska Airlines Delivery Flight! First priority will be given to ACE club members, then graduating seniors, juniors, sophomores, and freshmen. Tentative plans include pick-up of students at AHS by chartered bus, transport to Boeing Field where we will board a new Boeing aircraft that Alaska is accepting into its fleet, a scenic tour around the Puget Sound area, and landing at Sea-Tac Airport where pictures will be taken before boarding the chartered busses back to AHS. While this event will occur during non-school time, it will still be school-sponsored. As such, all participants will need to have a permission form completed and returned to school by
June 22. Participants will also need to have their own transportation to and from the school that day. A sign-up sheet will be posted in the Main Office and we will accept students on a first-come, first-served basis. Seniors: this is a great opportunity to receive just one more great graduation gift! Alaska presented it as a gift to last year’s graduating class, and it was quite spectacular—another memory-making event! Deadline for signing up: June 15!

Quote of the Week:
I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I intended to be. Douglas Adams

AVIATION HIGH SCHOOL
NOTAM 060710
07 June 2010

WHAT’S HAPPENING THIS WEEK?

Monday:
VIPs on campus 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
(Christine Fauske from Rolls Royce & Rosemary Brester from Hobart Machines)

Tuesday:
Robotics Team Meeting 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. in Room 7

Wednesday:
Mentor Breakfast 7:30 – 8:55 a.m. in the gym
Peer Tutoring (sign-up) 3:35–4:45 p.m. in Room 10

Thursday:
Clubs during Advisory
Culture Club 3:45–4:45 p.m. in Room 24

Friday
End of the Year Awards 9:30 – 11:30 at the P.A.C. – NO JEANS!!!!! Regular school
attire or better, please!
Early Release at 2:00 p.m.
Staff Professional Collaboration time 2:15-3:45 p.m.

MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL:
Yesterday was the Senior Awards Ceremony at the Boeing Theater, and it was a grand celebration of students in the Class of 2010! The senior speaker, selected by her classmates, was Kristina Ong, whose message was inspiring and delivered with poise and dignity. Great job, Kristina! All seniors were recognized by our amazing staff members, and we learned that collectively, they have earned close to $1,000,000 in scholarship awards from colleges and universities, foundations and organizations! And, an additional $32,000 was presented from our many partners and friends in the aviation community and from various service organizations. We heartily congratulate the following soon-to-be graduates on their scholarship awards:

The Dan Hartley Award:
Andrew May ($2,500), Ryan Sanders ($1,000), & Ted Tagami, Lamond Le, and Sam Swan ($500 each)

SODO Rotary--Kristina Ong & Shawn Moes ($500 each)
Southcenter Rotary--Kristina Ong & Hanna Ott ($1,000 each)
Green River Pilots Association--Graham Goodrich ($500)
Rita Creighton Memorial—Andrew May ($1,000)
Rolls Royce Award—Lamond Le ($5,000)
James Ray Award for Humanity:
3 awards @$1,000 each to Ryan Sanders, Mariko Yoshino, & Kelsey Brown
4 awards @ 750 to Rebecca Pham, Jaime Katzer, Kristina Ong, & Loki White
Galvin Flying Service—two awards @ $600 each to William Delashmutt & Graham Goodrich
Jim Newman Award—Lamond Le ($1,000)
Northwest Aviation Insurance Award—Isaac Ackerman ($1,000)
Pacific Northwest Business Aircraft Association—2 awards @ $1,250 to
Jaime Katzer & Sam Swan
AHS Family Award—Chi Kin Chan ($500)
Zayic Family Award—Shawn Moes ($500)
Alumni Award—Rebecca Ly ($300-$500)
Aviation HS PTSA Awards—five at $500 each
Mimis Santos de la Cruz, Kristina Ong, Mike Davis, William DeLashmutt & Jagger Beato
Aerojet—Jaime Katzer ($1,000)

Congratulations are in order for another Eagle Scout, too—Kyle Edwards earned his rank from Troop #284!

Congratulations to the following juniors who have qualified for the 2010 Washington Aerospace Scholar Summer Residency: Matthew Eaton, Franco Spadoni, James Stone, Laura Hixson, Spencer Noble, Tyler Escott, Banks Hunter, and Jordan Cross. These students will work cooperatively to plan a human mission to Mars with support from professional engineers/scientists, university students, and certificated educators. The residency also includes briefings from aerospace professionals, tours of engineering facilities, and hands-on engineering challenges involving model rocketry, robotics, landing devices, and payload lofting. The daily schedule is quite full, and the students lodge in double rooms at a local hotel under the supervision of certificated teachers. Travel, lodging, and meal expenses are provided to participating students and teachers thanks to the WAS Foundation and the many generous donors of the Museum of Flight.

This Friday is our all-school Student Awards Ceremony, scheduled from 9:30-11:30 at the Performing Arts Center (PAC). Please report to your first period class on Friday, where attendance will be taken prior to loading the busses which will transport us to the PAC. Students are NOT to drive to the PAC! Look forward to an exciting ceremony with lots of great awards. There’s much to celebrate! And…it’s a “ceremony”, so that means that you should be attired in regular school dress code or better. Please…no jeans, even though it is Friday!

Another reminder: If you want to go on the delivery flight that is scheduled for June 29, please sign up with Mrs. Hiranaka in the main office! We just received notice last week that June 15 is the cut-off date for getting information to Alaska Airlines and Boeing, so it is VERY important that you sign up this week!

That’s it for this week. As ever, I’m honored to be your principal. ~Reba


SENIORS
Senior Grad Night is just around the corner! Please take care of outstanding balances and paperwork no later than Friday June 11th. There are still a few tickets left if you would like to attend – contact Teri at gradnight@aviationptsa.org for information.

JUNIORS
If you have failed a math, social studies, language arts, science, physical education, or art course and would like to make it up in summer school, please see Ms. Carper ASAP to sign up.

FROM THE PTSA
The AHS PTSA 2010 AUCTION is November 13th! Our first planning meeting will be Tuesday June 15 at 7 pm in Rm 10 at AHS. This is THE major fundraising event for our PTSA and we need YOU to help make this year’s auction our best yet! Questions email Teri at ahsauction@aviationptsa.org.

YEARBOOKS
Yearbooks will be distributed on Wednesday, June 9th, during lunch in room #20.
You can still purchase a yearbook for $55 – please see Bonnie before school or during lunch to pay and bring your receipt. If you don’t remember if you have purchased a yearbook, see Ms. Juarez in room #20 before school.

SENIORS: Graduation Tickets
Graduation tickets will be distributed during lunch on Wednesday and Thursday of this week in Room #20. You must pay all your fines before tickets will be released to you.

ALL STUDENT MENTEES
The last mentor/mentee meeting of this year is scheduled for this coming Wednesday, June 9th in the gym from 7:30 to 8:50am. Please join your mentors for a fun celebration of their contribution to our mentoring program and for their support of you.

EARN COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS FOR NEXT YEAR
This Saturday, 12 June, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., please come and help the Renton/Skyway Boys & Girls Club spruce up the outside and inside of our Club! We have a variety of jobs available from painting, yard work, organizing offices, helping staff get ready for our summer program, etc. Lunch will be provided. Call in advance for more details or just show up ready to help make a difference in the lives of the youth who attend our Club. This community volunteer event will benefit the Renton/ Skyway Boys & Girls Club @ 12400 80th Ave South, Seattle WA 98178.

If you have questions, please call Dorina Calderon-McHenry at 206.436.1922.

Except for the Quote of the Week, the following announcements have been posted in previous editions of the NOTAM. They are still important and posted for your information and action, as appropriate:
Friday, June 11 All-school Awards Ceremony, 9:30-11:30 at the PAC
Thursday, June 17 Graduation Ceremony, 10-11:00 a.m. at the PAC; students in grades 9, 10, 11 report to school at 12:30 p.m. for lunch, classes begin at 1:00 p.m.
Tuesday, June 29 Alaska Airlines Delivery Flight! First priority will be given to ACE club members, then graduating seniors, juniors, sophomores, and freshmen. Tentative plans include pick-up of students at AHS by chartered bus, transport to Boeing Field where we will board a new Boeing aircraft that Alaska is accepting into its fleet, a scenic tour around the Puget Sound area, and landing at Sea-Tac Airport where pictures will be taken before boarding the chartered busses back to AHS. While this event will occur during non-school time, it will still be school-sponsored. As such, all participants will need to have a permission form completed and returned to school by June 22. Participants will also need to have their own transportation to and from the school that day. A sign-up sheet will be posted in the Main Office and we will accept students on a first-come, first-served basis. Seniors: this is a great opportunity to receive just one more great graduation gift! Alaska presented it as a gift to last year’s graduating class, and it was quite spectacular—another memory-making event! Deadline for signing up: June 15!

Question of the Week:
Who is the AHS student who loves to draw, paint, design clothing and dishware, make and decorate elaborate desserts, write and act in short films AND who already knows how to play violin, piano and guitar and plans to learn to play the theremin this summer?

AVIATION HIGH SCHOOL
NOTAM 053110
31 May 2010

WHAT’S HAPPENING THIS WEEK?

Monday:
Memorial Day – No School

Tuesday:
Robotics Team Meeting 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. in Room 7

Wednesday:
Peer Tutoring (sign-up) 3:35–4:45 p.m. in Room 10
AIAA-sponsored speaker series, featuring Dr. Bonnie Dunbar:
RESCEHEDULED FOR FALL 2010

Thursday:
Clubs during Advisory
Culture Club 3:45–4:45 p.m. in Room 24
Robotics Team Meeting 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Friday
Early Release at 2:00 p.m.
Staff Professional Collaboration time 2:15-3:45 p.m.
Battle of the Bands 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. in the cafeteria
Community Service Hours due to Ms. Carper

Sunday
Senior Awards at The Boeing Theater 1:30 – 4:00

MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL:
Welcome back from the extended Memorial Day weekend! It is necessary to make a few changes to our end of the year schedule, as follows:

Attention Seniors! Graduation practice has now been changed from June 16 to June 15! The time is the same, however—1:00-3:30 p.m. Please make a note of this change, and be in the Gym at 1:00 p.m. sharp on June 15 for practice!

The pancake breakfast that was originally scheduled for Wednesday, June 23 will now be held on Tuesday, June 22! Staff will be flippin’ pancakes for juniors, sophomores and freshmen starting at approximately 8:15 a.m. Plan to join the fun and experience the culinary skills of your AHS staff!

Our VIP visitor has now been confirmed for June 23, the last day of the school year. Mr. Rick Stephens is Chief Administrative Officer of Human Resources for the Boeing Company, and is based out of Chicago. Mr. Stephens is a key proponent of STEM education and will be here to visit both Aviation High School and the Museum of Flight. He is particularly interested in learning about the AHS/MoF shared vision that inspires students to consider STEM career fields and fulfill the critical gap in the workforce. Other senior leaders of the Boeing Company will accompany Mr. Stephens on this visit, and our program will be very similar to the one that was recently facilitated for Mr. Jim Albaugh, CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. All members of the Robotics, Science Olympiad, and ACE team should plan to be in team attire and prepared to demonstrate your learning. Senior members of these teams, we realize you will have graduated by then, but we’re hoping that a few of you can also join us for this important event and showcase your learning one more time! More details about this VIP visit will be provided by staff and in the NOTAM, so stay tuned. Current thinking is that all AHS students will participate in this event. Thank you in advance for your flexibility!

As noted in last week’s NOTAM, Alaska Airlines is again offering the opportunity for AHS students and staff to participate in a delivery flight, scheduled for June 29. A sign-up sheet is available in the office, so if you want to participate, I encourage you to see Mrs. Hiranaka this week! We will accept ACE members first, followed by seniors, juniors, sophomores, and freshmen. For those who participate, you will only need to get transportation to and from AHS that day. Boeing is providing chartered buses to transport us to Boeing Field and return us to AHS. This is a great opportunity to be the first passengers to fly in a brand new airplane and experience a scenic tour of the region that is simply unparalleled!

Seniors and families: We are looking forward to seeing you this Sunday for your awards ceremony! The reception starts at 1:30 p.m. at the Boeing Theater, and all seniors will be recognized during the program. See you there!

Juniors, sophomores, and freshmen: Thanks to the generosity of the UW College of Engineering, 30 tickets are being offered to AHS students for a special showing of the IMAX 3D documentary Hubble 3D, featuring photography by UW alumnus and shuttle pilot Gregory C. Johnson (BSAA '77). The showing is this Sunday, June 6 from 1:00-1:45 p.m. at the Pacific Science Center. If you wish to attend, please sign up in the main office by this Thursday. Your tickets will be held at Will Call and you will only need to identify yourself by name and as an Aviation High School student.

As I write this message to you, I am again reminded of how fortunate we are to have such wonderful partnerships with so many different organizations and companies. There is no lack of opportunity at Aviation High School where, after all, the sky is NOT the limit! Enjoy this week of learning and know that I am honored to be your principal. ~Reba

SUMMER OPPORTUNITIES
We have developed an increasing number of summer opportunities for our students, and many require your attention now, so don’t miss out. We know it’s a busy time, but check out the internship descriptions on the bulletin board across from the Career Center, and talk with Julie Burr, Nancy Pappas or Marg Kiser. We just listed 2 paid positions with The Aviator’s Store and 5 paid positions with The Port of Seattle, Sea-Tac Airport. Don’t discount volunteer internships; they are great experiences, prepare you for the real world, and look great on future applications for jobs and college. You can also get community service hours for volunteer internships. Most of these opportunities are open to all students in all grades.

SPEECH AND DEBATE TEAM
The Speech and Debate Team will be hosting its first ever ice cream social on Thursday, June 10 during clubs. Stop by and learn a little more about the team and what we do and get some tasty dessert while you’re at it. All interested people should be sure to get passes to visit Mr. Shiroma’s room during clubs for that week. Open to everyone except seniors.

Except for the Quote of the Week, the following announcements have been posted in previous editions of the NOTAM. They are still important and posted for your information and action, as appropriate:

Friday, June 11 All-school Awards Ceremony, 9:30-11:30 at the PAC

Thursday, June 17 Graduation Ceremony, 10-11:00 a.m. at the PAC; students in grades 9, 10, 11 report to school at 12:30 p.m. for lunch, classes begin at 1:00 p.m.

Tuesday, June 29 Alaska Airlines Delivery Flight! First priority will be given to ACE club members, then graduating seniors, juniors, sophomores, and freshmen. Tentative plans include pick-up of students at AHS by chartered bus, transport to Boeing Field where we will board a new Boeing aircraft that Alaska is accepting into its fleet, a scenic tour around the Puget Sound area, and landing at Sea-Tac Airport where pictures will be taken before boarding the chartered busses back to AHS. While this event will occur during non-school time, it will still be school-sponsored. As such, all participants will need to have a permission form completed and returned to school by June 22. Participants will also need to have their own transportation to and from the school that day. A sign-up sheet will be posted in the Main Office and we will accept students on a first-come, first-served basis. Seniors: this is a great opportunity to receive just one more great graduation gift! Alaska presented it as a gift to last year’s graduating class, and it was quite spectacular—another memory-making event!

Quote of the Week:
If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?
Albert Einstein