NOTAM 053111

31 May 2011

Principal’s Message
This week, we return to a “regular” schedule on Friday with student dismissal at 2:00 p.m. Staff will convene from 2:15-3:45 p.m. for professional collaboration time. (Remember that Friday, 24 June is also 3:30 p.m. dismissal for students.)

As we get closer to the end of the school year, we once again want to remind you of key dates and events:
Seniors
q Sunday, 5 June, 1:30 - 3:30 p.m.: Senior Awards Ceremony @ The Boeing Theater. Seniors and parents: If you have not already let Mr. Carey know you’ll attend (or not), please contact him via email (careyjg2@hsd401.org) or phone (206.716.0006 x 3304) before Wednesday. Scholarship awards will be presented at the ceremony, many of them by a representative of the donor organization. All students in attendance will be recognized by an AHS staff member. Gentle reminder regarding attire: your professional best; no jeans please.
q Saturday, 11 June: Senior Make-Up Day: Seniors who chose not to attend school last Friday will be in school this day or choose not to walk in graduation ceremonies. Details forthcoming.
q Friday, 17 June, 9:00-11:00 a.m. Mandatory graduation practice in the gymnasium for all seniors who will be participating in graduation.
q Saturday, 18 June, 7:00-8:00 p.m. Commencement ceremonies for the Class of 2011 at Showare Center in Kent. Ms. Juarez provided the following details (and others) at the graduation meeting last week:
(1) Admission is by ticket only.
(2) The Highline Transportation Department (school buses) will transport all graduates from AHS to Showare. Graduates: be at AHS by no later than 5:15 p.m. for a prompt 5:30 p.m. departure.
(3) After the ceremonies, students may leave Showare with their families. For students who drive themselves to AHS, one bus will be available to ride back to AHS.
If you are unclear on any expectations related to graduation, please check with Ms. Juarez.
q Monday, 20 June Due to snow make-up days and state requirements, the last day of school for seniors is Monday, 20 June.

Everyone
q Friday, 10 June, 9:15 - 11:30 a.m. All-School Awards Ceremony. Our last college & career day will include a school-wide celebration of the collective accomplishments of AHS students and more community-building activities planned by ASB and Culture Club. Parents and family members: If your schedule permits, we would be honored to have you join us at Performing Arts Center (PAC) adjacent to Highline High School in Burien for the Awards Ceremony.
q Tuesday – Thursday, 7 – 9 June State End-of-Course Algebra 1 and Geometry exam (administered in Algebra 1 and Geometry classes)
q Tuesday, 14 June, 9:00 a.m. - done State End-of-Course Make-up Math Exam (for 9th graders in Algebra 2, 10th graders in Pre-Calculus, and 11th & 12th graders who have not yet passed HSPE or WASL).
q Thursday, 16 June, 1:00 - 3:30 p.m. Our last VIP tour of the school year will be with representatives of Greenpoint Technologies in Kirkland. We will use a format similar to other visits that highlights the accomplishments of our Sports of the Mind teams and classroom projects such as the Environmental Challenge with Port of Seattle. Our guests want the opportunity to interact with staff and students to learn more about our instructional program and school culture. I thank you in advance for your ambassadorship!
q Monday, 27 June Last day for 9th – 11th graders Honoring school tradition, the staff will be putting on their aprons and relying on their culinary skills to mix, stir, and serve a gourmet pancake breakfast (some even offer blueberries or chocolate chips in theirs!) starting at 9:00 a.m. in the Gym. School dismisses at noon, so no school lunch will be provided. School buses will be here promptly at noon to take students home. If you do not ride a bus or have your own transportation, please make arrangements to have someone pick you up by no later than 1:00 p.m. We love you, but the staff is on a very short time frame to get grades completed and other end-of-year duties.
q Sunday – Tuesday, 10-12 July Selected AHS students visit Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, AZ.

Congratulations and thanks to:
q AHS Honor Society, Advisor Mr. Ward, and all AHS donors for participating in last week’s Blood Drive. We received the following thank-you note from Puget Sound Blood Center: “Our goal was to find 45 donors on Tuesday. We registered 42, so we came very close! We welcomed 18 new donors to the Puget Sound Blood Center. Our new donors are very important in growing support in our community as are our repeat donors who come back each time. Each donation can be separated in to 3 separate components (red blood cells, platelets and plasma) and can be given to help 3 different patients. This means donors from Aviation High School helped save the lives of approximately 126 patients today. The Puget Sound Blood Center and patients in Western Washington are truly grateful. Thank you for your phenomenal support and for your commitment and compassion for helping others.”
q Jonathan James and his Popcock Rowing club crewmates for recently winning silver in the Lightweight Eight at Regionals in Vancouver, Washington, qualifying them to compete in the US rowing Junior National Championships in Tennessee 10-12 June! Jonathan has dedicated two years to honing his skills with early dawn and late day practices that have led to this astonishing accomplishment. We wish you the very best at the Championships, Jonathan!

That’s more than enough for this week, Scholars! As always, I am honored to be your principal.
~Reba

Notes:
Continue checking the AHS website or logging on to school computers to get updated information on events and meetings. For example,
Students who are interested in taking a Japanese class, especially first year Japanese next fall should contact Mr. Kumakura before summer break. He has an assignment for you during summer vacation.
The Washington State Legislative Youth Advisory Council is currently accepting applications! Created in 2005, the Legislative Youth Advisory Council (LYAC) is the formal voice for youth in the Washington State legislative process. Application deadline is 3 June, 2011.

Quote of the Week:
When you are 80 years old, and in a quiet moment of reflection narrating for only yourself the most personal version of your life story, the telling that will be most compact and meaningful will be the series of choices you have made. In the end, we are our choices. Build yourself a great story.

~Jeff Bezos, Closing Remarks, Commencement Speech to Princeton University Graduates, May 2010