Aviation High School NOTAM

NOTAM 013012

2012-01-29T15:45:00.000-08:00

AVIATION HIGH SCHOOL
30 January 2012

WHAT’S HAPPENING THIS WEEK:

Monday:
Robotics 6:00 – 9:00 PM

Tuesday: Robotics 6:00 – 9:00 PM

Wednesday: Film Club after school in Mr. Savishinsky’s room
Robotics 6:00 – 9:00 PM

Thursday: PTSA Board Meeting 6:30 – 8:30 PM
Culture Club in Room 24 3:45 – 4:45
Robotics 6:00 – 9:00 PM

Friday: Speech and Debate at Eastside Catholic HS (confirm with Mr. Shiroma)

Saturday:
Science Olympiad-Regional Competition, AHS 8:00AM-4:00PM
Speech and Debate at Eastside Catholic HS
Robotics 9:30 AM – 3:00 PM

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE:

Dear Students: One of the tremendous opportunities made available to you at AHS is participation in the mentoring program. Over the years, I’ve had the pleasure of seeing the mentor program flourish, with AHS students gaining experiences that most high school students would not receive—visits to premier industry sites such as the Boeing Customer Experience Center that several students enjoyed last week, courtesy of mentor Therese Beale and Boeing Executive Alan Wittman; job shadows with mentors at their place of employment, university visits, connections to paid employment, etc. Many students and mentors continue their relationship beyond high school, and I imagine that many will be life-long friends.

Our goal at AHS is for every student to participate in our mentor program. While you may feel that you already have effective mentoring relationships with family and friends, it’s important to connect with leaders outside your current circle who can provide insights and guidance that further inform your thinking about college and career options. This experience may prove to be invaluable to you as many businesses today use mentors to coach and orient new employees. When you are applying for college and jobs, it will be important that you include your mentor experiences on your resume and applications and be able to articulate the benefit of your experiences. Most importantly, you will be comfortable and familiar with the mentoring process, giving you an advantage over other applicants and employees.

So…if you have been paired with a mentor, congratulations and a gentle reminder that you also have some responsibilities that are essential for the success of the relationship and the reputation of our school, such as:
• Participating in all-school mentor programs, such as breakfast meetings. The next one is being held on Wednesday, February 15 at 7:30 a.m. Please plan to be there!
• Meeting on at least a monthly basis with your mentor. If you can’t meet in person, regular email or telephone conversations are expected.
• Prompt response to mentors when they email or call you or set up a career experience! The majority of our mentors are employed full-time and lead busy lives; and, even if they are retired, they still have busy schedules and commitments. They have chosen to commit to YOU and to AHS, while they could have chosen a different volunteer experience. Giving your mentor the utmost respect and the follow-through they deserve is a sign of your maturity and professionalism.
• Thanking them on a regular basis—verbally, written thank you card or email message. Saying “thank you” in any form is a treasured gift.

If you haven’t yet been paired with a mentor, please consult with Ms. Burr or Ms. Pappas. They are both here to help you with this professional experience.

In last week’s NOTAM, I gave you incorrect information about snow make-up days. We have two (not three) days to make up, which will be on May 29 and June 15. If we have additional days to make-up they will be at the end of the school year after June 15. Please plan accordingly and forgive me for not providing accurate information last week.

AHS students deserving of hearty congratulations this week include:

• Senior Drew Hidalgo, who was notified last week that he has been officially accepted for admission to the United States Military Academy of West Point! In his letter from the Secretary of the Army, Lt. General Huntoon states, “West Point requires cadets with determination, integrity, self-discipline, strength of character, endurance, and a willingness to work hard. You will participate in a rigorous program of academics, military education and training, character development and athletics. It will be demanding and difficult, and you will be expected to perform effectively under those pressures, but we are confident that you will succeed.” For those of us who know Drew, I’m sure we can all agree that he is up for the opportunity and challenge that accompanies this prestigious appointment! And, for the record: Drew is the very first student in the history of Aviation High School to be accepted to West Point! As part of Drew’s appointment, and as a graduate of West Point’s Class of 2016, he will be obligated to serve on Active duty as an Army officer for at least five years after graduation. Join me in congratulating and wishing Drew the very best!
• Hassan Haidar Al Lawati, our Exchange student from Oman, has been selected to participate in the Civic Education Workshop in Washington, D.C. the week of February 26-March 3, 2012! This experience is sponsored by the United States Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Hassan competed with 377 applicants to gain one of the 100 spots offered! Congratulations, Hassan, and we’ll look forward to hearing the details of your experience when you return to AHS!
• Both Jenny Gao and Davis Yoshida have been selected by the White House Commission on Presidential Scholars and the United States Department of Education as candidates for U.S. Presidential Scholars Program. Jenny and Davis will compete with other top scholars throughout the country to be recognized for their accomplishments during National Recognition Week in June 2012. If selected, each will travel to Washington D.C. along with an educator whom they cite as having had the most positive impact on their lives. Our best to Jenny and Davis, and FYI that they are the only two seniors selected in our entire school district!
• ASB leaders who facilitated a spirited school assembly last Friday and sponsored a very successful and fun Tolo on Saturday evening! Very impressive! Thank you to everyone who was involved in the planning and everyone who attended, including staff and parent chaperones.

That’s it for this week! My best for this week as you settle in to new semester classes and continue your learning journey. My thanks to everyone for your patience last week, too, as we adjusted schedules and did catch-up after the inclement weather that caused school closures. I am honored to be your principal.
~Reba G.

NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS

Just a reminder that AHS Science Olympiad is looking forward to hosting 22 teams (~330 students) from around the state and region this Saturday for our annual Science Olympiad Invitational. Students will use this practice competition to hone their scientific knowledge and engineering acumen in preparation for Regional competition in mid-March.

Help us help those in need! Mrs. Burr is involved with a group in Belize, Central America, one of the poorest countries in the world and she needs your help. At Holy Cross Angelican School, the children are in desperate need of supplies. That is where the students of AHS come in, we are hoping that we can all come together and bring in these supplies for Mrs. Burr to ship to the school next month. These supplies include: Markers/Crayons/Other Art Supplies, Books for all grade levels, Small Prizes i.e. small toys, jewelry, pencils, etc., Batteries (AA and AAA), Balls (Soccer, Basketball, etc. – DEFLATED), Games, Jump ropes, and Puzzles. Please bring these items to Mrs. Burr’s office no later than February 10th.

Audition for the Talent Show! Sign up in the main office before/after school or during lunch. Auditions will be held February 8 & 9.

AP Testing Information: Test dates are Monday, May 07 thru Friday, May 18.
• $87 fee for EACH test
• $15 down payment due by February 16, 2012
• $5 down payment for free/reduced lunch students also due by Feb. 16, 2012
• Final payment due no later than April 5, 2012
• Late ordering and payments will result in an additional $50 fee PER test.
o See Kim Sorensen, Registrar/Bookkeeper, in the main office for additional details

UW Discovery Days – Engineering Discovery Days is free and open to everyone!
At Engineering Discovery Days, students and faculty from all UW engineering departments share their work with students, teachers, families and the community. Please join us for hands-on fun and learning. Follow the navigation path below to register (not required but requested.) http://www.engr.washington.edu/alumcomm/openhouse.html

Friday, April 20, 2012 — 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Saturday, April 21, 2012 — 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

PREVIOUS ANNOUNCEMENTS BUT STILL RELEVANT

• Special Edition Sweatshirts: We still have some Special Edition Sweatshirts available for sale. There are two different styles of crewnecks (black or red) available for $28. See Mrs. Fitzpatrick in room 22 or talk to Mrs. Hiranaka in the main office if you are interested in purchasing one.

• $5 Fridays: Every Friday during lunch, the ASB will be opening up the Spirit Shop (AKA the ASB Closet next to Mrs. Flynn's classroom) and selling all t-shirts, lanyards, and sunglasses for just $5! Come check out our inventory...we have some new t-shirt designs available. Also, spirit buttons are being sold three days a week during lunch for just 50 cents!

AHS Film Club and Art Credit: We do not need film enthusiasts, we just need you! Do you want an exploratory art experience? AHS Film Club is now offering art credit for those who seek an alternate to Visual Arts or CAD! Come join the Film Club where you can indulge in technical innovation and creative development of film as a story telling art form. You can take part in great projects like the Renton Film Frenzy, the National Film Festival for Talented Youth, the Seattle International Film Festival Future Wave Committee, and much more! If you have any questions, you can ask Kevin Schilling, Dustin Abrahamson or Mr. Savishinsky. Film Club meets every Wednesday from 3:30 – 5:00.

The Kavli "Save the World through Science and Engineering Video Contest" is open to students in Grades 6-12. Deadline is March 1, 2012. Students make a short video ( :30-:90) that shows how scientific discoveries and inventions can improve our lives and change our world, either right now or in the future. Enter your video on Schooltube and compete for cash prizes! First prize is $2000 and a travel stipend to Washington, DC to the USA Science and Engineering Festival: April 28-29, Second prize is $750, Third prize is $500, and People's Choice is $250. Winners will be honored in a special awards ceremony hosted by Bill Nye the Science Guy.
http://www.schooltube.com/contests/2012-kavli-save-world-through-science-engineering/

Paid Internships with Aerotec Engineering: Announcing 1-2 full time, paid internships with Aerotec Engineering for the summer 2012. Juniors and Seniors can apply, with application deadline March 15, 2012. Candidates should be pursuing an engineering career, and will need to submit a cover letter and resume, letters of endorsement, transcript and any supplemental materials demonstrating their qualifications. Intern/s will work directly with engineers in flight testing and many other areas according to their interests. Julie Burr, Coordinator of Work Based Learning, can answer questions and a full internship description is on the bulletin board outside the Career Center.

Central Sound Regional Science & Engineering Fair: March 10, 2012 @ Bellevue College.

New for 2012!

• High school students from King and Snohomish Counties must participate in the CSRSEF in order to compete in the 2012 Washington State Science & Engineering Fair.

•There will be a $10 entry fee per student. Each team member will pay an entry fee. Fee waivers will be available for
students receiving free or reduced-fare lunches. The fee will be waived for the first 3 students that register from
each school!

• March 10 is a designated SAT testing date. Students who wish to participate in the fair should plan to take the SAT on an alternate date.

Aviation High School Students: Do something today that will help someone tomorrow. Did you know 1 in 3 homeless people in the U.S. are under the age of 18? “Teens for Jeans” is an event on DoSomething.org that is asking for our help. The organization collects gently used jeans and donates them to over 600 homeless shelters. In the past 4 years this organization has received and donated over 1.5 million pairs of jeans. Are you up to the challenge? I’d like to ask you to collect your gently worn jeans, any brand, ANY SIZE, and donate them to the Lunch room starting January 16th! If our school collects the most jeans our school will be granted $5,000. For any additional information please contact Ashley Snyder @ ashley1st@comcast.net

Note from the AHS Office: Dear Aviation HS Community: We want to get your information into the NOTAM. Please help us by using the following guidelines to ensure your important information is made available to our aviation community:
• NOTAM submissions are due by the end of school day on Thursday of each week.
• All submissions need to be submitted electronically via email to pamela.suiaunoa@highlineschools.org . This will ensure your submission will be posted.

The AHS Ultimate Frisbee team is starting up again! Practices start Wednesday, Feb 22! Whether or not one has experience or not anyone is welcome! We would hopefully like to have a Varsity and Junior Varsity but we are in need of more girls. The games will begin in mid March on Saturdays! If you need more information feel free to contact Chris Lu (chris.lu94@gmail.com) or Jennifer Luoma (luomajen@gmail.com)!
Research Science Institute - The Center for Excellence in Education (CEE) and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) co-sponsors of the Research Science Institute (RSI) are looking for talented 11th Grade STEM Students! Are you one of them, and would you be interested in doing some really exciting cutting-edge summer research?

If so, consider applying to the (RSI) program to be held on the MIT campus June 24 to August 4, 2012. Participants will meet some of the world’s most talented students and have an opportunity to conduct research in amazing labs! For application materials and more info about the program, take a look at the CEE web site: www.cee.org

If you have any questions, please contact Maite Ballestero, Vice President, Programs, maite@cee.org.

Attention 9th grade students: If you are interested in hosting an 8th grade “shadow,” you must sign up, be endorsed by your teachers, and attend mandatory training. To start the process, sign up in Ms. Carper’s office this week!

SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION FOR AHS SENIORS

NEW Announcement & Opportunity! Tacoma International Airport (STIA) Scholarship - Application deadline is Friday, March 23, 2012: Each year, the Highline Schools Foundation works with the Port of Seattle to offer the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (STIA) Scholarship to graduating seniors. These are needs-based scholarships awarded to three students who are pursuing a college education. Two $14,000 scholarships will be awarded toward a university/college education and one $8,000 scholarship will be awarded toward a vocational or community college education. All scholarships are distributed over a two-year period. Priority is given to students who have not received a substantial scholarship from other entities. The application is available online:

http://www.highlineschoolsfoundation.org/scholarships/stiascholarshipapplication.html

The Paine Field Chapter of the Washington Pilots Association (WPA) is proud to offer its annual Kurt Mason Aviation Scholarship to students seeking opportunities in aviation-related education programs (such as Airframe & Powerplant certification, aviation or aerospace degree programs, etc.). To apply, please download the application at
http://www.wpaflys.org/Chapters/Paine/scholarship.htm

FIRST Scholarship News – January Update: Find out about two new FIRST Scholarship opportunities for 2012 and about LOTS of scholarships whose deadline dates are fast approaching! Also read messages from some of the FIRST Scholarship Providers. See: http://www.usfirst.org/sites/default/files/uploadedFiles/About_Us/Scholarships/2012_Assets/FIRST%20Scholarship%20News%201-17-12.pdf

Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation supports many students all over the world with various scholarship opportunities. For more information about the different scholarships available, visit https://www.coca-colascholars.org/cokeWeb/index.jsp

AXA Achievement Scholarship- The AXA Achievement Scholarship is directed by AXA Equitable and offers more than $1.3 million a year in scholarships. If you are ethnically and economically diverse, have drive and determination, and feel you are able to succeed in college; this is the right scholarship for you! Visit http://www.axa-equitable.com/axa-foundation/about.html for more information.

Abbot and Fenner Business Consultants are offering $1,000 scholarships. Applications are available at www.abbottandfenner.com/scholarships.htm. Deadline: June 15, 2012.
Big Sun is offering an annual scholarship to any young athlete. All students are eligible for this award, it does not matter what sport you are participating in. To learn more visit http://www.bigsunathletics.com. Deadline: June 22, 2012

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

QUOTE OF THE WEEK:
“A great deal of talent is lost to the world for want of a little courage."
--Sydney Smith,
British writer and cleric

NOTAM 011612

2012-01-22T18:51:00.000-08:00

AVIATION HIGH SCHOOL
23 January 2012

WHAT’S HAPPENING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Semester Exams, Periods 1-6; No Spirit Week attire until Thursday!
Robotics 6:00 – 9:00 PM

Tuesday: Semester Exams, Block Schedule A
VIP on Campus—Bill Boyd, Senior VP, Rolls Royce, 9:30-11:00 a.m.
Robotics 6:00 – 9:00 PM

Wednesday: Semester Exams, Block Schedule B; End of Semester.
Film Club after school in Mr. Savishinsky’s room (check with Mr. S to confirm
meeting is being held)
Robotics 6:00 – 9:00 PM

Thursday: Assembly Schedule, Periods 1-6.
Spirit Week—Wild Animal Day;
Culture Club in Room 24 3:45 – 4:45 (check w/Mrs. Wombold to confirm meeting is being held)
Robotics 6:00 – 9:00 PM

Friday: Regular Friday Schedule, Periods 1-6; dismissal at 2:00 p.m.
Spirit Week—Mustache Day AND Class Colors Day
Rbotics—check with Coach Steele to confirm Friday & Weekend Schedules

Saturday: Robotics (will also meet Sunday)
Speech and Debate at Federal Way High School? (Confirm with Mr. Shiroma)
Tolo—Beauty & the Geek, 8:00-11:00 p.m. Tickets on sale during lunch all week!

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE:
As I write my message on a windy and rainy Sunday morning following several days of inclement weather and school closures, I’m grateful that the power is on in my home and I’m snug and warm. I realize, though, that such may not be the case for many of you and your families since power is still being restored throughout the region. I’m hoping that everyone is back to ‘normal’ soon and that we will see you at school tomorrow (Monday). FYI that if you heard that power was out at school, it’s true that it was. It’s being restored as I write, though, with assurance from the crew that we’ll be up and running today. Should the unpredictable happen, though, and school be delayed or canceled, we will make every effort to notify families via a robocall.

The school calendar calls for make-up days to occur at the end of the school year. At this time, please plan to make up three days UNLESS the Governor decides otherwise due to declaring one day as a State of Emergency. I will keep you posted in future editions of the NOTAM as decisions are made.

The end of the semester has been adjusted to end this Wednesday, January 25th. Teachers are adjusting exam and presentation schedules, which will be explained in classes.

Because of the change in semester ending date and exams being given through Wednesday, Spirit Week activities and attire will be limited to Thursday and Friday. Refer to “What’s Happening this Week” section for specifics. Tickets can be purchased during lunch this week for Tolo, which is still scheduled for Saturday evening January 28.

Please join me in welcoming a new student to our learning community—Raj DeYoung, who just completed 11th grade in Australia. Raj attended the prestigious Aviation High School in Queensland, Australia during his 8th and 9th grade years and then attended his resident school in Brisbane for grades 10 and 11. He is inspired by all things aviation with a goal of becoming a commercial pilot. Welcome, Raj!

As we regroup this week, I ask for your patience. There was a lot on the calendar for last week that now needs to be rescheduled, including meetings with Ms. Carper regarding class changes. We will all get caught up—but not in one day, so remember to breathe and give folks the benefit of the doubt. We’ll all be doing double time to make sure that needs get met!

In spite of all the weather challenges we’ve faced during the past week, I do hope that you found a way to enjoy some of the enchantment that comes with snow. I grew up where we endured a lot of snow, and I never found shoveling it much fun; I did, however, love the sledding, skiing, building snow forts, etc. that came with it. I hope you experienced some of the same!

Enjoy this week of learning and look forward to Tolo this Saturday. Your student leaders have worked hard to plan a great evening for all.

I am honored to be your principal and very glad to be back in school! —Reba G.

NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS:
There are no new announcements for this week.

PREVIOUS ANNOUNCEMENTS BUT STILL RELEVANT
From Your ASB:
• Tolo: AHS students: get pumped for the second dance of the year! Tolo (girls ask guys) will be on January 28th from 8-11 p.m. and the theme is Beauty and the Geek. For more information about ticket prices look for posters around the school. Tickets will be sold the week of the dance. If you want to bring someone from another school, make sure to pick up the proper paperwork from the main office and get it turned in to Mrs. Hiranaka no later than Monday, January 23rd, 2012

• Special Edition Sweatshirts: We still have some Special Edition Sweatshirts available for sale. There are two different styles of crewnecks (black or red) available for $28. See Mrs. Fitzpatrick in room 22 or talk to Mrs. Hiranaka in the main office if you are interested in purchasing one.

• $5 Fridays: Every Friday during lunch, the ASB will be opening up the Spirit Shop (AKA the ASB Closet next to Mrs. Flynn's classroom) and selling all t-shirts, lanyards, and sunglasses for just $5! Come check out our inventory...we have some new t-shirt designs available. Also, spirit buttons are being sold three days a week during lunch for just 50 cents!

AHS Film Club and Art Credit: We do not need film enthusiasts, we just need you! Do you want an exploratory art experience? AHS Film Club is now offering art credit for those who seek an alternate to Visual Arts or CAD! Come join the Film Club where you can indulge in technical innovation and creative development of film as a story telling art form. You can take part in great projects like the Renton Film Frenzy, the National Film Festival for Talented Youth, the Seattle International Film Festival Future Wave Committee, and much more! If you have any questions, you can ask Kevin Schilling, Dustin Abrahamson or Mr. Savishinsky. Film Club meets every Wednesday from 3:30 – 5:00.

The Kavli "Save the World through Science and Engineering Video Contest" is open to students in Grades 6-12. Deadline is March 1, 2012. Students make a short video ( :30-:90) that shows how scientific discoveries and inventions can improve our lives and change our world, either right now or in the future. Enter your video on Schooltube and compete for cash prizes! First prize is $2000 and a travel stipend to Washington, DC to the USA Science and Engineering Festival: April 28-29, Second prize is $750, Third prize is $500, and People's Choice is $250. Winners will be honored in a special awards ceremony hosted by Bill Nye the Science Guy.
http://www.schooltube.com/contests/2012-kavli-save-world-through-science-engineering/

Paid Internships with Aerotec Engineering: Announcing 1-2 full time, paid internships with Aerotec Engineering for the summer 2012. Juniors and Seniors can apply, with application deadline March 15, 2012. Candidates should be pursuing an engineering career, and will need to submit a cover letter and resume, letters of endorsement, transcript and any supplemental materials demonstrating their qualifications. Intern/s will work directly with engineers in flight testing and many other areas according to their interests. Julie Burr, Coordinator of Work Based Learning, can answer questions and a full internship description is on the bulletin board outside the Career Center.

Central Sound Regional Science & Engineering Fair: March 10, 2012 @ Bellevue College.

New for 2012!

• High school students from King and Snohomish Counties must participate in the CSRSEF in order to compete in the 2012 Washington State Science & Engineering Fair.

•There will be a $10 entry fee per student. Each team member will pay an entry fee. Fee waivers will be available for
students receiving free or reduced-fare lunches. The fee will be waived for the first 3 students that register from
each school!

• March 10 is a designated SAT testing date. Students who wish to participate in the fair should plan to take the SAT on an alternate date.

Aviation High School Students: Do something today that will help someone tomorrow. Did you know 1 in 3 homeless people in the U.S. are under the age of 18? “Teens for Jeans” is an event on DoSomething.org that is asking for our help. The organization collects gently used jeans and donates them to over 600 homeless shelters. In the past 4 years this organization has received and donated over 1.5 million pairs of jeans. Are you up to the challenge? I’d like to ask you to collect your gently worn jeans, any brand, ANY SIZE, and donate them to the Lunch room starting January 16th! If our school collects the most jeans our school will be granted $5,000. For any additional information please contact Ashley Snyder @ ashley1st@comcast.net

Note from the AHS Office: Dear Aviation HS Community: We want to get your information into the NOTAM. Please help us by using the following guidelines to ensure your important information is made available to our aviation community:
• NOTAM submissions are due by the end of school day on Thursday of each week.
• All submissions need to be submitted electronically via email to pamela.suiaunoa@highlineschools.org . This will ensure your submission will be posted.

The AHS Ultimate Frisbee team is starting up again! Practices start Wednesday, Feb 22! Whether or not one has experience or not anyone is welcome! We would hopefully like to have a Varsity and Junior Varsity but we are in need of more girls. The games will begin in mid March on Saturdays! If you need more information feel free to contact Chris Lu (chris.lu94@gmail.com) or Jennifer Luoma (luomajen@gmail.com)!
Research Science Institute - The Center for Excellence in Education (CEE) and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) co-sponsors of the Research Science Institute (RSI) are looking for talented 11th Grade STEM Students! Are you one of them, and would you be interested in doing some really exciting cutting-edge summer research?

If so, consider applying to the (RSI) program to be held on the MIT campus June 24 to August 4, 2012. Participants will meet some of the world’s most talented students and have an opportunity to conduct research in amazing labs! For application materials and more info about the program, take a look at the CEE web site: www.cee.org

If you have any questions, please contact Maite Ballestero, Vice President, Programs, maite@cee.org.

Attention 9th grade students: If you are interested in hosting an 8th grade “shadow,” you must sign up, be endorsed by your teachers, and attend mandatory training. To start the process, sign up in Ms. Carper’s office this week!

SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION FOR AHS SENIORS:

There’s only one week left for high school juniors and seniors in King, Pierce and Snohomish counties to apply for the Bank of America Student Leaders Program.

Winners receive:
• An eight-week paid internship at a charitable organization
• A week-long Student Leadership Summit in Washington, DC (July) to gain valuable civic, social and business leadership skills (all expenses paid as part of the Student Leaders Program)

Students can apply by going to www.bankofamerica.com/neistudentleaders

Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation supports many students all over the world with various scholarship opportunities. For more information about the different scholarships available, visit https://www.coca-colascholars.org/cokeWeb/index.jsp

AXA Achievement Scholarship- The AXA Achievement Scholarship is directed by AXA Equitable and offers more than $1.3 million a year in scholarships. If you are ethnically and economically diverse, have drive and determination, and feel you are able to succeed in college; this is the right scholarship for you! Visit http://www.axa-equitable.com/axa-foundation/about.html for more information.

Abbot and Fenner Business Consultants are offering $1,000 scholarships. Applications are available at www.abbottandfenner.com/scholarships.htm. Deadline: June 15, 2012.
Big Sun is offering an annual scholarship to any young athlete. All students are eligible for this award, it does not matter what sport you are participating in. To learn more visit http://www.bigsunathletics.com. Deadline: June 22, 2012

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

QUOTE OF THE WEEK:
“Let the Sun Shine!”
~Ms. Gilman

NOTAM 011612

2012-01-16T12:50:00.000-08:00

AVIATION HIGH SCHOOL
16 January 2012

WHAT’S HAPPENING THIS WEEK:
Check the Highline School District website or local news for weather related delays or closure information.

Monday: Non-School Day - Honoring Martin Luther King Jr.

Tuesday: Robotics 6:00 – 9:00 PM

Wednesday: Film Festival Everyone welcome! Concessions will be sold during the festival.
Film Club after school in Mr. Savishinsky’s room
Robotics 6:00 – 9:00 PM

Thursday: End of Semester One!
Culture Club in Room 24 3:45 – 4:45
Robotics 6:00 – 9:00 PM

Friday: Non-School Day for Students - Day In-Between Semesters
Speech and Debate at Federal Way High School

Saturday: Robotics 9:30 AM – 3:00 PM
Speech and Debate at Federal Way High School

Reminder: Next Week is Spirit Week #2

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE:

The weather forecast calls for snow this week, which could result in school starting two hours late or being canceled. If there is a change to the school schedule, Highline Public Schools will launch an automated call to staff and families. You can also find the information by:
• Checking local TV and radio reports.
• Checking our district homepage at www.highlineschools.org
• Signing up for text or email bulletins on www.schoolreport.org

If in doubt about the school schedule, please check www.highlineschools.org. The website will be your best source of information. If you live outside of the Highline district, please remember that Aviation High School follows the Highline School District schedule—not your resident district’s. Safety always comes first, so if school is in session and you cannot make it in, please remember to call our office at 206.716.0006.

First semester ends this Thursday, January 19. Spaceports and lunar colony projects, AP practice exams, and other project presentations and tests will represent the culmination of learning for Semester #1. If your anxiety is heightened just a bit this week, know that it is natural. Remember to prioritize your studies and give it your all!

Congratulations and thanks this week are extended to:
• Katie McConville and Royce Le, who along with their parents and Ms. Dyer will be traveling to MIT in Boston Massachusetts where they will attend a conference sponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. They will provide testimony regarding a digital curriculum piloted in Ms. Dyer’s health classes. Congratulations, Katie and Royce, on your selection to serve as AHS ambassadors!
• The following students are commended for their professionalism in representing AHS at the 40th Annual Economic Development Conference last week: Lori Baca, Austin Coleman, Kirsten Noble, Lauren Crom, Rocco Buty, Andrew May, DeAundre Cola, Austin McHenry, Jennifer Luoma, Dustin Werran, Tran Tonnu, Austin Chick, and 2010 graduates Sam Swan and Jaime Katzer.
Thank you, students, for ‘suiting up and showing up’ in such an exemplary manner!
• ASB for an outstanding MLK Assembly last week!
• Science Olympians traveled to Camas, Washington this past Saturday for a long day of demonstrating their knowledge and skills in a variety of events. Congratulations to team for their preparation. Final results will be posted at a later date.
• Sincere thanks goes to EVERYONE who helped out last week with our final 8th grade Information Program! Now the fun begins with reading applications (250 already received; first round deadline is January 31) and interviewing to select the next 100-115 students who will be Aviation High School’s Class of 2016. If you are interested in serving on an interview team, please sign up with Mrs. Hiranaka in the Main Office. Our goal is to interview in February and March and announce the new class by April 1.

Enjoy this week of learning! Remember…no school on Friday so that teachers have time to grade final projects and exams. Report cards will be mailed home the week of January 30th.

Honored to be your principal—Reba G.

NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS:

COMMUNITY CONCERT at Highline Performing Arts Center – Tuesday, January 17, at 7:30 PM:

Highline and Kent School Districts will join the Seattle Symphony for Weber: Overture to Der Freischütz as a part of the Symphony's Gold Medalists program. This concert, conducted by Eric Garcia, includes Beethoven: Symphony No. 7 and is presented as part of the Seattle Symphony’s Family, School & Community Programs. Aviation student Kirk Cieszkiewicz will perform at this event.

Congratulations Dain Wright! Puget Sound Skills Center Student of the Quarter for Welding Careers.

AHS Film Club and Art Credit: We do not need film enthusiasts, we just need you! Do you want an exploratory art experience? AHS Film Club is now offering art credit for those who seek an alternate to Visual Arts or CAD! Come join the Film Club where you can indulge in technical innovation and creative development of film as a story telling art form. You can take part in great projects like the Renton Film Frenzy, the National Film Festival for Talented Youth, the Seattle International Film Festival Future Wave Committee, and much more! If you have any questions, you can ask Kevin Schilling, Dustin Abrahamson or Mr. Savishinsky. Film Club meets every Wednesday from 3:30 – 5:00.

The Kavli "Save the World through Science and Engineering Video Contest" is open to students in Grades 6-12. Deadline is March 1, 2012. Students make a short video ( :30-:90) that shows how scientific discoveries and inventions can improve our lives and change our world, either right now or in the future. Enter your video on Schooltube and compete for cash prizes! First prize is $2000 and a travel stipend to Washington, DC to the USA Science and Engineering Festival: April 28-29, Second prize is $750, Third prize is $500, and People's Choice is $250. Winners will be honored in a special awards ceremony hosted by Bill Nye the Science Guy.
http://www.schooltube.com/contests/2012-kavli-save-world-through-science-engineering/

Paid Internships with Aerotec Engineering: Announcing 1-2 full time, paid internships with Aerotec Engineering for the summer 2012. Juniors and Seniors can apply, with application deadline March 15, 2012. Candidates should be pursuing an engineering career, and will need to submit a cover letter and resume, letters of endorsement, transcript and any supplemental materials demonstrating their qualifications. Intern/s will work directly with engineers in flight testing and many other areas according to their interests. Julie Burr, Coordinator of Work Based Learning, can answer questions and a full internship description is on the bulletin board outside the Career Center.

Central Sound Regional Science & Engineering Fair: March 10, 2012 @ Bellevue College.

New for 2012!

• High school students from King and Snohomish Counties must participate in the CSRSEF in order to compete in the 2012 Washington State Science & Engineering Fair.

•There will be a $10 entry fee per student. Each team member will pay an entry fee. Fee waivers will be available for
students receiving free or reduced-fare lunches. The fee will be waived for the first 3 students that register from
each school!

• March 10 is a designated SAT testing date. Students who wish to participate in the fair should plan to take the SAT on an alternate date.

Aviation High School Students: Do something today that will help someone tomorrow. Did you know 1 in 3 homeless people in the U.S. are under the age of 18? “Teens for Jeans” is an event on DoSomething.org that is asking for our help. The organization collects gently used jeans and donates them to over 600 homeless shelters. In the past 4 years this organization has received and donated over 1.5 million pairs of jeans. Are you up to the challenge? I’d like to ask you to collect your gently worn jeans, any brand, ANY SIZE, and donate them to the Lunch room starting January 16th! If our school collects the most jeans our school will be granted $5,000. For any additional information please contact Ashley Snyder @ ashley1st@comcast.net

Note from the AHS Office: Dear Aviation HS Community: We want to get your information into the NOTAM. Please help us by using the following guidelines to ensure your important information is made available to our aviation community:
• NOTAM submissions are due by the end of school day on Thursday of each week.
• All submissions need to be submitted electronically via email to pamela.suiaunoa@highlineschools.org . This will ensure your submission will be posted.

The Staff Appreciation Marathon continues, so be ready to write comments for your favorite teachers and staff members here at AHS! The idea is to thank our adults in the building for their hard work before the quarter ends. We will fill up 1-2 cards of appreciation each day of this week until the end of the semester. Check with ASB officers for this week’s theme to thank and honor our teachers. Remember to come by the lunchroom. Card signing will be available during lunch.

PREVIOUS ANNOUNCEMENTS BUT STILL RELEVANT:
The AHS Ultimate Frisbee team is starting up again! Practices start Wednesday, Feb 22! Whether or not one has experience or not anyone is welcome! We would hopefully like to have a Varsity and Junior Varsity but we are in need of more girls. The games will begin in mid March on Saturdays! If you need more information feel free to contact Chris Lu (chris.lu94@gmail.com) or Jennifer Luoma (luomajen@gmail.com)!

From Your ASB:
Tolo: AHS students: get pumped for the second dance of the year! Tolo (girls ask guys) will be on January 28th from 8-11 p.m. and the theme is Beauty and the Geek. For more information about ticket prices look for posters around the school. Tickets will be sold the week of the dance. If you want to bring someone from another school, make sure to pick up the proper paperwork from the main office and get it turned in to Mrs. Hiranaka no later than Monday, January 23rd, 2012

Special Edition Sweatshirts: We still have some Special Edition Sweatshirts available for sale. There are two different styles of crewnecks (black or red) available for $28. See Mrs. Fitzpatrick in room 22 or talk to Mrs. Hiranaka in the main office if you are interested in purchasing one.

$5 Fridays: Every Friday during lunch, the ASB will be opening up the Spirit Shop (AKA the ASB Closet next to Mrs. Flynn's classroom) and selling all t-shirts, lanyards, and sunglasses for just $5! Come check out our inventory...we have some new t-shirt designs available. Also, spirit buttons are being sold three days a week during lunch for just 50 cents!

JANUARY 23-27: Spirit Week
o Monday: Mustache Day (and an afternoon Spirit Assembly)
o Tuesday: Fake Injury Day
o Wednesday: Superhero/Villain Day
o Thursday: Wild Animal Day
o Friday: Spirit/Class Colors Day

• Research Science Institute - The Center for Excellence in Education (CEE) and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) co-sponsors of the Research Science Institute (RSI) are looking for talented 11th Grade STEM Students! Are you one of them, and would you be interested in doing some really exciting cutting-edge summer research?

If so, consider applying to the (RSI) program to be held on the MIT campus June 24 to August 4, 2012. Participants will meet some of the world’s most talented students and have an opportunity to conduct research in amazing labs! For application materials and more info about the program, take a look at the CEE web site: www.cee.org

If you have any questions, please contact Maite Ballestero, Vice President, Programs, maite@cee.org.

• Attention 9th grade students: If you are interested in hosting an 8th grade “shadow,” you must sign up, be endorsed by your teachers, and attend mandatory training. To start the process, sign up in Ms. Carper’s office this week!

SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION FOR AHS SENIORS:

There are only two weeks left for high school juniors and seniors in King, Pierce and Snohomish counties to apply for the Bank of America Student Leaders Program.

Winners receive:
• An eight-week paid internship at a charitable organization
• A week-long Student Leadership Summit in Washington, DC (July) to gain valuable civic, social and business leadership skills (all expenses paid as part of the Student Leaders Program)

Students can apply by going to www.bankofamerica.com/neistudentleaders

Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation supports many students all over the world with various scholarship opportunities. For more information about the different scholarships available, visit https://www.coca-colascholars.org/cokeWeb/index.jsp

AXA Achievement Scholarship- The AXA Achievement Scholarship is directed by AXA Equitable and offers more than $1.3 million a year in scholarships. If you are ethnically and economically diverse, have drive and determination, and feel you are able to succeed in college; this is the right scholarship for you! Visit http://www.axa-equitable.com/axa-foundation/about.html for more information.

Abbot and Fenner Business Consultants are offering $1,000 scholarships. Applications are available at www.abbottandfenner.com/scholarships.htm. Deadline: June 15, 2012.
Big Sun is offering an annual scholarship to any young athlete. All students are eligible for this award, it does not matter what sport you are participating in. To learn more visit http://www.bigsunathletics.com. Deadline: June 22, 2012

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

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

NOTAM 010912

2012-01-08T19:31:00.000-08:00

AVIATION HIGH SCHOOL
09 January 2012

WHAT’S HAPPENING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Robotics 6:00 – 9:00 PM

Tuesday: Robotics 6:00 – 9:00 PM

Wednesday: MLK Assembly 1:00 -2:00 PM
Film Club after school in Mr. Savishinsky’s room
Robotics 6:00 – 9:00 PM

Thursday: 40th Annual Economic Development Conference 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.— Several AHS students will be attending.
Culture Club in Room 24 3:45 – 4:45
Robotics 6:00 – 9:00 PM
Information Program for 8th graders and families—6:00-8:30 PM

Friday: Speech and Debate at Federal Way High School

Saturday: Robotics 9:30 AM – 3:00 PM
Speech and Debate at Federal Way High School

Reminder: No School Monday, January 16 in Honor of Martin Luther King Jr. (and coincidentally, Ms. Gilman’s birthday!)

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE:

‘Tis the season for Sports of the Mind!
 Science Olympians are heading to Camas this Saturday for their first invitational. We wish all Olympians well and will eagerly wait to hear from Coaches McComb and Dyer after the event. Stay tuned for a news report in next week’s edition of the NOTAM. Yea, Science Olympians!
 Speech & Debate team competed this past weekend, with Royce Le and Katie McConville making it to semifinals! Also in attendance were Jenny Gao, Karan Singh, Andrew Johnson, Benton Coblentz, Hanan Diriye, and Deanta Kelly. Congratulations and good luck, team, at this weekend’s Federal Way competition!
 The Skunkworks Robotics team, family members and mentors were up bright and early this past Saturday morning to attend the FIRST Robotics kickoff in Auburn, along will thousands of others FIRST teams across the country and internationally. They learned that this year’s competition is a basketball-oriented game called Rebound Rumble, and they are already strategizing on design and building of the robot. Build season has officially started and will continue for the next six weeks. It will be exciting to watch the progress and see the finished robot. Go Skunks!
If you are curious about the details of this year’s game, go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtube_gdata_player&v=zv_utsmGdNk

Congratulations to Alex Williams who recently soloed in a Cessna 152 at Renton Airport! Alex’s goal is to earn his private pilot’s license by graduation this spring. Kudos, Alex, for keeping the dream alive and striving to reach this magnificent goal!

We will have a special assembly this Wednesday in honor of Martin Luther King and subsequently, there will be no school on Monday, January 20 as the nation celebrates Dr. King’s legacy. School will resume on Tuesday, January 21.

If you have recently flown Alaska Airlines and read their Inflight Magazine, you already know there’s a great article about theme-based schools, featuring Aviation High School. If not, you can access the article at http://alaskaairlines.journalgraphicsdigital.com/jan12// . Thank you, Alaska, for being such a wonderful partner!

This Thursday’s evening Information Program for Eighth Graders & Parents will be our final one of the school year. Thanks in advance to those who will be assisting. As a gentle reminder, you must have been asked by a teacher, office staff member or administrator to participate. While we love all of you, please show up only if your name is on the ‘list’ that teachers provide to Mrs. Hiranaka. As usual, we will provide a pizza dinner for students who have been invited to help. Your ambassadorship is greatly appreciated!

My best for an inspired week of learning. I am honored to be your principal.
~Reba G.

Please note that we are now providing “new announcements” as well as “previous but still relevant announcements” that will, hopefully, make for more efficient reading of the NOTAM.
NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS:
The Staff Appreciation Marathon continues, so be ready to write comments for your favorite teachers and staff members here at AHS! The idea is to thank our adults in the building for their hard work before the quarter ends. We will fill up 1-2 cards of appreciation each day of this week until the end of the semester. This week’s theme is to thank our teachers in the Humanities classes and all of our wonderful student teachers.
Monday: Ciccone-Cook, Hoehne
Tuesday: Fitzpatrick, Savishinsky
Wednesday: Juarez, Katims
Thursday: Wombold
Friday: Student Teachers
Remember to come by the lunchroom. Card signing will be available during lunch.

The AHS Ultimate Frisbee team is starting up again! Practices start Wednesday, Feb 22! Whether or not one has experience or not anyone is welcome! We would hopefully like to have a Varsity and Junior Varsity but we are in need of more girls. The games will begin in mid March on Saturdays! If you need more information feel free to contact Chris Lu (chris.lu94@gmail.com) or Jennifer Luoma (luomajen@gmail.com)!

Attention Juniors: There will be a class get to know you party hosted by Lina Le
in Mrs. Fitz's room during lunch this Friday the 13th. Come and get to know your class mates and party!

PREVIOUS ANNOUNCEMENTS BUT STILL RELEVANT:

From your ASB:

Tolo: AHS students: get pumped for the second dance of the year! Tolo (girls ask guys) will be on January 28th from 8-11 p.m. and the theme is Beauty and the Geek. For more information about ticket prices look for posters around the school. Tickets will be sold the week of the dance. If you want to bring someone from another school, make sure to pick up the proper paperwork from the main office and get it turned in to Mrs. Hiranaka no later than Monday, January 23rd, 2012

Jostens Leadership Conference: Hey Aviation Future Leaders and Enthusiasts! Do you want to be selected to go to the biggest leadership conference and school spirit celebration in Washington? Then you should apply to attend the 2012 Jostens Leadership Conference, which takes place Wednesday, February 8th at the ShoWare Center.
For those of you who don’t know, it’s a full day of learning about new ways to lead in your school and community, participation in enthusiastic, energetic spirit competitions, interacting with students from other high schools, and listening to inspiring speakers who teach us about the importance of values, mistakes made/lessons learned, and so much more.
Students in grades 9-12 who are interested in applying need to obtain an application from Mrs. Fitzpatrick in Room 22 or in the front office ASAP. Applications will be due no later than January 13th. Space is limited, so be quick to apply.
For more information, contact ASB advisor Mrs. Fitz (sarah.fitzpatrick@highlineschools.org), or the student coordinator for this event, Rahmo Ali (ali.rahmo@yahoo.com), who is a Junior here at AHS. Get ready to have the time of your life!
Special Edition Sweatshirts: We still have some Special Edition Sweatshirts available for sale. There are two different styles of crewnecks (black or red) available for $28. See Mrs. Fitzpatrick in room 22 or talk to Mrs. Hiranaka in the main office if you are interested in purchasing one.

$5 Fridays: Every Friday during lunch, the ASB will be opening up the Spirit Shop (AKA the ASB Closet next to Mrs. Flynn's classroom) and selling all t-shirts, lanyards, and sunglasses for just $5! Come check out our inventory...we have some new t-shirt designs available. Also, spirit buttons are being sold three days a week during lunch for just 50 cents!

JANUARY 23-27: Spirit Week
o Monday: Mustache Day (and an afternoon Spirit Assembly)
o Tuesday: Fake Injury Day
o Wednesday: Superhero/Villain Day
o Thursday: Wild Animal Day
o Friday: Spirit/Class Colors Day

• Leadership Club Hosting Soccer and Football Sports Tournament – Please attend this fun experience that will take place on Fridays during the months of December and January. Sign-up sheets are available on the posters in the cafeteria, hallways and Mr. McComb’s room.

• Research Science Institute - The Center for Excellence in Education (CEE) and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) co-sponsors of the Research Science Institute (RSI) are looking for talented 11th Grade STEM Students! Are you one of them, and would you be interested in doing some really exciting cutting-edge summer research?

If so, consider applying to the (RSI) program to be held on the MIT campus June 24 to August 4, 2012. Participants will meet some of the world’s most talented students and have an opportunity to conduct research in amazing labs! For application materials and more info about the program, take a look at the CEE web site: www.cee.org

If you have any questions, please contact Maite Ballestero, Vice President, Programs, maite@cee.org.

• The Film Festival will take place on January 18. There are no submission or admission fees. Everyone welcome! Concessions will be sold during the festival. That’s all for now – Keep the cameras rolling!

• Attention 9th grade students: If you are interested in hosting an 8th grade “shadow,” you must sign up, be endorsed by your teachers, and attend mandatory training. To start the process, sign up in Ms. Carper’s office this week!

SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION FOR AHS SENIORS:
For UW bound Seniors! The Washington NASA Space Grant Consortium annually offers scholarships for incoming UW freshmen. Each year some of Washington State's best high school seniors, Running Start, and Early Entrance students vie for a chance to study science, technology, engineering or mathematics at the University of Washington on a Space Grant Scholarship. The deadline is the postmark date of January 9, 2012. http://www.waspacegrant.org/for_students/undergraduate_programs/scholarships/uw/incoming_freshman/uw_scholars_freshman.html

United States JCI Senate Foundation (“the foundation”) awards a $1,000.00 scholarship to graduating high school seniors who plan to continue their education at accredited post-secondary colleges, universities, or vocational school. Applications are available in Ms. Carper’s office. Deadline: January 11, 2012.

Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation supports many students all over the world with various scholarship opportunities. For more information about the different scholarships available, visit https://www.coca-colascholars.org/cokeWeb/index.jsp

AXA Achievement Scholarship- The AXA Achievement Scholarship is directed by AXA Equitable and offers more than $1.3 million a year in scholarships. If you are ethnically and economically diverse, have drive and determination, and feel you are able to succeed in college; this is the right scholarship for you! Visit http://www.axa-equitable.com/axa-foundation/about.html for more information.

Abbot and Fenner Business Consultants are offering $1,000 scholarships. Applications are available at www.abbottandfenner.com/scholarships.htm. Deadline: June 15, 2012.
Big Sun is offering an annual scholarship to any young athlete. All students are eligible for this award, it does not matter what sport you are participating in. To learn more visit http://www.bigsunathletics.com. Deadline: June 22, 2012

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

QUOTE OF THE WEEK:
“I have a dream…”
(Editor’s Note: Martin Luther King, Jr.’s speech was 17 minutes, delivered on August 28, 1963, and was a call for racial equality and an end to discrimination. I encourage you to read the speech once again in honor of this dedicated man’s commitment and everlasting legacy.)

NOTAM 010412

2012-01-04T07:41:00.001-08:00

AVIATION HIGH SCHOOL
04 January 2012

WHAT’S HAPPENING THIS WEEK:

WELCOME BACK!

Wednesday: Another extraordinary day of learning! 6th Period Day

Thursday: 6th Period Day

Friday: Speech and Debate at University of Puget Sound

Saturday: FIRST Robotics Kickoff 7:00 AM – 1:00 PM at Auburn High School
Speech and Debate at University of Puget Sound

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE:
Welcome back, everyone, and Happy New Year! I hope that your holiday break was all you hoped it would be and that you are now ready to return to school and continued learning.

As we move toward the end of semester on January 19, I encourage you to work diligently to meet project/assignment goals and timelines. If unsure about any requirement, ask your teacher to clarify. Form study groups to prepare for semester exams. Make schoolwork a higher priority than extracurricular activities right now. Find that extra energy that resides within each of you, and give your studies your all! Learning matters. And, while grades are but one indicator of what you may actually know and are able to do, they make up your academic track record, along with SAT and AP scores and unique educational experiences. Like it or not, college admission decisions are highly influenced by the grades recorded on your transcript.

The day after we dismissed for break in December, AHS Senior Devon Gumke and 2010 graduate Graham Goodrich served as ambassadors by being keynote speakers at the Christmas party of Green River Chapter of Washington Pilot’s Association. They promoted the importance of scholarships for AHS students and shared their own stories of how AHS provides the education needed to pursue their goals. According to the event coordinator, “Mr. Gumke and Goodrich were the ‘hit’ of the party…impressive in every way…conducted themselves professionally, and when called upon to participate in aviation-themed skits, performed beautifully to the gleeful delight of the audience!” Well done, Devon and Graham. Your outstanding ambassadorship makes a difference for the entire AHS community! (FYI: The Green River Pilots Association annually provides a scholarship to an AHS senior. The initiator of this award asked Devon and Graham to speak to his chapter so that other members would better understand the vision and mission of AHS and the ‘value’ of their organization’s investments in AHS students.)

Next week (January 12) is this school year’s third and final Information Program for 8th Graders & Families. Some of you will again be asked to serve as AHS ambassadors. Please know how much we appreciate your service!

That’s it for this short week! I look forward to catching up with you and hearing about your holiday experiences. Again…welcome back! As always, I’m honored to be your principal!
~Reba G.

Please note that we are now providing “new announcements” as well as “previous but still relevant announcements” that will, hopefully, make for more efficient reading of the NOTAM.
NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS:
• Jennifer Luoma has been selected as the Community Service/Career Readiness Project Management Intern. She will work closely with Ms. Pappas to improve and develop the community service program and records, prepare announcements, organize events, and provide general assistance for the career readiness program.

• Gingerbread House Winners:
Most Creative/Original/Attractive: Wilson
Best Showing of School Spirit: Juarez
Best Use of Edible Items: McComb
• Door Winners:
Best Showing of School Spirit: Juarez
Most Creative/Original/Attractive: Wilson
Most Festive: TIE between Hoehne & Shiroma

Congratulations and thank you for your participation this year!

From your ASB:
MLK Assembly: On January 11th, from 1-2 p.m.

Tolo: AHS students: get pumped for the second dance of the year! Tolo (girls ask guys) will be on January 28th from 8-11 p.m. and the theme is Beauty and the Geek. For more information about ticket prices look for posters around the school. Tickets will be sold the week of the dance. If you want to bring someone from another school, make sure to pick up the proper paperwork from the main office and get it turned in to Mrs. Hiranaka no later than Monday, January 23rd, 2012

Jostens Leadership Conference: Hey Aviation Future Leaders and Enthusiasts! Do you want to be selected to go to the biggest leadership conference and school spirit celebration in Washington? Then you should apply to attend the 2012 Jostens Leadership Conference, which takes place Wednesday, February 8th at the ShoWare Center.
For those of you who don’t know, it’s a full day of learning about new ways to lead in your school and community, participation in enthusiastic, energetic spirit competitions, interacting with students from other high schools, and listening to inspiring speakers who teach us about the importance of values, mistakes made/lessons learned, and so much more.
Students in grades 9-12 who are interested in applying need to obtain an application from Mrs. Fitzpatrick in Room 22 or in the front office right after winter break. Applications will be due no later than January 13th. Space is limited, so be quick to apply.
For more information, contact ASB advisor Mrs. Fitz (sarah.fitzpatrick@highlineschools.org), or the student coordinator for this event, Rahmo Ali (ali.rahmo@yahoo.com), who is a Junior here at AHS. Get ready to have the time of your life!
Special Edition Sweatshirts: We still have some Special Edition Sweatshirts available for sale. There are two different styles of crewnecks (black or red) available for $28. See Mrs. Fitzpatrick in room 22 or talk to Mrs. Hiranaka in the main office if you are interested in purchasing one.

$5 Fridays: Every Friday during lunch, the ASB will be opening up the Spirit Shop (AKA the ASB Closet next to Mrs. Flynn's classroom) and selling all t-shirts, lanyards, and sunglasses for just $5! Come check out our inventory...we have some new t-shirt designs available. Also, spirit buttons are being sold three days a week during lunch for just 50 cents!

PREVIOUS ANNOUNCEMENTS BUT STILL RELEVANT:
• JANUARY 23-27: Spirit Week
o Monday: Mustache Day (and an afternoon Spirit Assembly)
o Tuesday: Fake Injury Day
o Wednesday: Superhero/Villain Day
o Thursday: Wild Animal Day
o Friday: Spirit/Class Colors Day

• Leadership Club Hosting Soccer and Football Sports Tournament – Please attend this fun experience that will take place on Fridays during the months of December and January. Sign-up sheets are available on the posters in the cafeteria, hallways and Mr. McComb’s room.

• Research Science Institute - The Center for Excellence in Education (CEE) and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) co-sponsors of the Research Science Institute (RSI) are looking for talented 11th Grade STEM Students! Are you one of them, and would you be interested in doing some really exciting cutting-edge summer research?

If so, consider applying to the (RSI) program to be held on the MIT campus June 24 to August 4, 2012. Participants will meet some of the world’s most talented students and have an opportunity to conduct research in amazing labs! For application materials and more info about the program, take a look at the CEE web site: www.cee.org

If you have any questions, please contact Maite Ballestero, Vice President, Programs, maite@cee.org.

• The Film Festival will take place on January 18. There are no submission or admission fees. Everyone welcome! Concessions will be sold during the festival. That’s all for now – Keep the cameras rolling!

• Attention 9th grade students: If you are interested in hosting an 8th grade “shadow,” you must sign up, be endorsed by your teachers, and attend mandatory training. To start the process, sign up in Ms. Carper’s office this week!

SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION FOR AHS SENIORS:
For UW bound Seniors! The Washington NASA Space Grant Consortium annually offers scholarships for incoming UW freshmen. Each year some of Washington State's best high school seniors, Running Start, and Early Entrance students vie for a chance to study science, technology, engineering or mathematics at the University of Washington on a Space Grant Scholarship. The deadline is the postmark date of January 9, 2012. http://www.waspacegrant.org/for_students/undergraduate_programs/scholarships/uw/incoming_freshman/uw_scholars_freshman.html

United States JCI Senate Foundation (“the foundation”) awards a $1,000.00 scholarship to graduating high school seniors who plan to continue their education at accredited post-secondary colleges, universities, or vocational school. Applications are available in Ms. Carper’s office. Deadline: January 11, 2012.

Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation supports many students all over the world with various scholarship opportunities. For more information about the different scholarships available, visit https://www.coca-colascholars.org/cokeWeb/index.jsp

AXA Achievement Scholarship- The AXA Achievement Scholarship is directed by AXA Equitable and offers more than $1.3 million a year in scholarships. If you are ethnically and economically diverse, have drive and determination, and feel you are able to succeed in college; this is the right scholarship for you! Visit http://www.axa-equitable.com/axa-foundation/about.html for more information.

Abbot and Fenner Business Consultants are offering $1,000 scholarships. Applications are available at www.abbottandfenner.com/scholarships.htm. Deadline: June 15, 2012.
Big Sun is offering an annual scholarship to any young athlete. All students are eligible for this award, it does not matter what sport you are participating in. To learn more visit http://www.bigsunathletics.com. Deadline: June 22, 2012

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

QUOTE OF THE WEEK:
Happy New Year!

NOTAM 121911

2011-12-18T16:18:00.001-08:00

AVIATION HIGH SCHOOL
19 December 2011

WHAT’S HAPPENING THIS WEEK:

NO CLUBS THIS WEEK

Monday: Another extraordinary day of learning!

Tuesday: Ugly Sweater & Write a Letter Day, sponsored by ASB (see Notes section)
NHS presents Harry Potter Night after school in Mr. Mc Comb’s
Classroom #6

Wednesday: Begin Winter Break – No School

Winter Break December 21 – January 3, 2012

Saturday: Junior Skate Party

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE:
It’s a very short week of school, so this is also a very short message!

My wish for everyone in the Aviation High School learning community is that you have a joyous holiday break, celebrating the culture and traditions that are unique to you and your family. Mine will be spent with my two sisters and our families in Kona, Hawaii, where I’m sure there will be lots of laughter and good cheer to accompany the tropical beauty that is pure Hawaii. May your holidays be all that you hope for…and may you know that I’m deeply honored to be your principal! See you on January 4, 2012! ~Reba

Please note that we are now providing “new announcements” as well as “previous but still relevant announcements” that will, hopefully, make for more efficient reading of the NOTAM.

NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS:

From Your ASB:
Adopt A Family: Thank you to all students and staff who donated items to the Adopt a Family event. We were able to complete the family's wish list and more! Your generosity was truly appreciated and it has contributed to making this holiday season extra special.
Ugly Sweater Day: AHS Staff and Student it's that time of the year again to pull out your favorite ugly sweater! On Tuesday, December 20th ASB is hosting an Ugly Sweater Day! Spirit points will be awarded to students sweater based 1. Most Ugly Sweater 2. Most Holiday Festive Sweater 3. Most Aviation Related Sweater. We can't wait to see what you guys have in store!
Write A Letter Day: Tuesday, December 20th ASB is hosting a Write a Letter Day. Students and Staff can write letters to each other expressing their appreciation! Letter will be delivered throughout the day.
Beauty and the Geek Tolo: This year Tolo will be on January 28th with the theme as Beauty and the Geek. Look for posters around the school for more information.
Special Addition Holiday Sweatshirt: Interested in buying a Special Edition Sweatshirt? Pick up a form in the Main Office, while supplies last!

• National Honor Society wants to remind you that the fourth Harry Potter Movie Night will be on Tuesday December 20th in Mr. Mc Comb's room. The cost is $3 and all food is provided. The movie is the night before break so everyone should come hang out and enjoy a fun start to winter break!

• Leadership Club Hosting Soccer and Football Sports Tournament – Please attend this fun experience that will take place on Fridays during the months of December and January. Sign-up sheets are available on the posters in the cafeteria, hallways and Mr. McComb’s room.

• Junior Class Skate Party! See Poster in front of the main office for more details!

• Sister Schools Fundraiser Update: Friday, Dec 16 was the last date of the fundraiser. On the last day over $300 was raised mostly by the senior class; however, the sophomore class maintained the lead with 1870 links AND they completed a full circle around the school. Seniors came in second with 705 links. Freshmen were next with 637 links, Juniors were last with 381. The leading advisory is Hoehne’s with 742, then McComb with 663, and third is Joshi with 329. We made $1221.80. Excellent job everyone for raising over $1000 to help protect the children!

• Research Science Institute - The Center for Excellence in Education (CEE) and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) co-sponsors of the Research Science Institute (RSI) are looking for talented 11th Grade STEM Students! Do you know any students who want to work on really exciting cutting-edge summer research?

Have them apply to the (RSI) program to be held on the MIT campus June 24 to August 4, 2012. They will meet some of the world’s most talented students and have an opportunity to conduct research in amazing labs! If you know any current high school juniors, have them take a look at the CEE web site: www.cee.org for RSI application materials, and more information about the program.

If you have any questions, please contact Maite Ballestero, Vice President, Programs, maite@cee.org.
See us on facebook - look for Center for Excellence in Education!

PREVIOUS ANNOUNCEMENTS BUT STILL RELEVANT:

• Congratulations Phillip Romero! Phillip is a member of the Civil Air Patrol Seattle Squadron and recently earned the General Billy Mitchell Award. To earn the Mitchell Award, cadets must pass comprehensive leadership and aerospace exams as well as a rigorous physical fitness test. Earning this award, Phillip has joined the ranks of Cadet Officer in Civil Air Patrol as Cadet 2nd Lieutenant.

• Attention Aviation High School Students! The AHS Film Club would like to announce its 1st annual New Era of Reel Dedication (NERD) Film Festival! Sign up in the office and start entering your films now. Winter break is a great time to film.

• The Film Festival will take place on January 18. There are no submission or admission fees. Everyone welcome! Concessions will be sold during the festival. That’s all for now – Keep the cameras rolling!

• everyone for raising over $1000 to help protect the children!
• Snow. Skis. Snowboards. Winter. Do you find yourself bored on Friday nights in the winter? Looking for a ski/snowboard club? If you are, then you've come to the right place. Snowbound is a ski and snowboard club open to middle and high school students. You won't even miss school! After school on Friday afternoons, you and a bunch of your friends can take a charter bus that comes to Aviation up to Snoqualmie and hit the slopes for almost 6 hours! The best part about it? You don't have to worry about the details. All you have to be concerned with is remembering your season pass, your gear, and some warm clothes. Snowbound starts January 6, 2012 and ends February 10, 2012. The bus will come to Aviation right after school on Fridays and will return to the school about 11PM. Sign up at http://www.skimohan.com/?page=428&category=des-moines. Questions please contact Rebecca Hall at rhall@desmoines.gov or at (206) 870-6582. Come play in the snow!
•
• Community Service Project Management Internship Opportunity
Career Readiness Department/Aviation High School - January 9 through May 4
o This unpaid experience will provide a student(s) with valuable lessons in organization, project management, data input, data management, and reporting. Flexible, on-site schedule, approximately 3 hours per week. More detailed information posted on the Career Board outside Room 11. If interested, contact Ms. Pappas.

• FIRST Robotics Kickoff will be January 7, 2012 at Auburn High School.

• Attention 9th grade students: If you are interested in hosting an 8th grade “shadow,” you must sign up, be endorsed by your teachers, and attend mandatory training. To start the process, sign up in Ms. Carper’s office this week!

• Microsoft Internship: Microsoft has now updated their website announcing summer 2012 internships for juniors and seniors at the time of application, due date March 11, 2012. This very competitive, paid internship is offered to only 20 students from the entire region, and Microsoft is targeting minority and female students who have demonstrated an interest in technology, can use email and word, have a basic grasp of HTML, Visual Basic or another programming language. This is a full time, 8-10 week experience. Insider tip- to stand out, enter a programming competition, www.dreamspark.com or build a WINDOWS application. Application information is at http://careers.microsoft.com/careers/en/us/highschoolintern.aspx Please let Ms. Burr know if you’re applying.

• From Your ASB:
Tolo has been rescheduled to January 28, 2012.

SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION FOR AHS SENIORS:
For UW bound Seniors! The Washington NASA Space Grant Consortium annually offers scholarships for incoming UW freshmen. Each year some of Washington State's best high school seniors, Running Start, and Early Entrance students vie for a chance to study science, technology, engineering or mathematics at the University of Washington on a Space Grant Scholarship. The deadline is the postmark date of January 9, 2012. http://www.waspacegrant.org/for_students/undergraduate_programs/scholarships/uw/incoming_freshman/uw_scholars_freshman.html

United States JCI Senate Foundation (“the foundation”) awards a $1,000.00 scholarship to graduating high school seniors who plan to continue their education at accredited post-secondary colleges, universities, or vocational school. Applications are available in Ms. Carper’s office. Deadline: January 11, 2012.

Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation supports many students all over the world with various scholarship opportunities. For more information about the different scholarships available, visit https://www.coca-colascholars.org/cokeWeb/index.jsp

AXA Achievement Scholarship- The AXA Achievement Scholarship is directed by AXA Equitable and offers more than $1.3 million a year in scholarships. If you are ethnically and economically diverse, have drive and determination, and feel you are able to succeed in college; this is the right scholarship for you! Visit http://www.axa-equitable.com/axa-foundation/about.html for more information.

Abbot and Fenner Business Consultants are offering $1,000 scholarships. Applications are available at www.abbottandfenner.com/scholarships.htm. Deadline: June 15, 2012.
Big Sun is offering an annual scholarship to any young athlete. All students are eligible for this award, it does not matter what sport you are participating in. To learn more visit http://www.bigsunathletics.com. Deadline: June 22, 2012

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

QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

Life changed after that jump...I'd suddenly stepped to the highest level of daring, a level above even that which airplane pilots could attain.

Charles Lindbergh (1902 - 1974), describing his first skydive

NOTAM 121211

2011-12-11T17:24:00.001-08:00

AVIATION HIGH SCHOOL
12 December 2011

What’s Happening this Week:

Monday: Another extraordinary day of learning!
Tuesday: PNBAA Meeting 3:00-5:00 PM—AHS ambassadors accept scholarship check!
Robotics Team Meeting 6:00 – 8:00 PM
Wednesday: Mentor/Mentee Breakfast in the gym 7:30 - 9:00 AM
Gingerbread House/Door Decorating Contest 11:00 – 11:30 AM
Film Club after school in Mr. Savishinsky’s Room
Youth Venture in Room Six 3:45 – 5:15 PM
Thursday: VIP Tour, 9:00-10:30 a.m.—Peter Anderson & Bob Ramsey
Air Force Academy Presentation 1:00 PM
Speech and Debate at Gig Harbor HS
Culture Club in Room 24 3:45 – 4:45
Robotics Team Meeting 6:00 – 8:00 PM
Friday: Last Day to Purchase Paper Links in Support of NHS!

Winter Break December 21 – January 3, 2012

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE
If it seems like the name Jenny Gao is frequently mentioned in the NOTAM, that’s because it is! This week, I offer the heartiest of congratulations to Jenny on being selected as one of two Washington State delegates for the United States Senate Youth Program/William Randolph Hearst Scholarship. In addition to receiving a $5,000 college scholarship, Jenny will enjoy an all-expense paid trip to Washington D.C. March 3-10, 2012 to participate in the Senate program. Applicants for this youth program must have attended a youth leadership program that is sponsored by the Association of Washington School Principals. Jenny did so last summer. Yea, Jenny! Leadership matters!

Last week was one in which several staff members and students immersed themselves in science education by participating in the National Science Teachers Association Conference and NASA Future Forum. Accompanied by AHS sophomore Sasha Friedrich, I had the opportunity to attend the dedication of the new Space Gallery at the Museum of Flight on Thursday and see the unveiling of the “Charles Simonyi Space Gallery” sign that marks Mr. Simonyi’s $3million contribution to the gallery as well as a surprise donation/loan of the Soyuz re-entry capsule that safely carried him back from a 2009 joint Russian-American space mission. The space gallery will officially open to the public in June 2012, complete with its main attraction, a full flight NASA shuttle trainer that the Museum was awarded in lieu of a retired shuttle. As I attended the dedication and forum, my mind was fast forwarding to 2013 when the Charles Simonyi Space Gallery will be the southern “bookend” of the Air Transportation Gallery and Aviation High School, the northern bookend of the property. What a grand and historical occasion that will be and how very fortunate we are to be part of the excitement that, as Ms. Lori Garver, NASA Deputy Administrator, states, “marks the dawn of the commercial space revolution rather than the end of the space age.” Imagine the career opportunities in space-related fields that AHS grads may be part of and the technologies they may create and use to make human and robotic missions a reality! Students, I encourage you to do your research about the opportunities that could be yours…and here’s a bit of advice I heard from the hiring experts:

• Work on real projects while in school…and get a summer internship—in high school if you can; if not, definitely while in college! (Note: Sound familiar? We’re committed to helping you accomplish both at AHS!)
• Algebra is the gateway to careers in science! The ‘hard’ sciences are a must for a space-related career.
• Knowledge, ingenuity and preparation are the requirements for successful human space flight. (A good formula for life in general?)
• “Students must get ‘hooked’ on science by age 10 if we expect to see them pursuing a STEM career.” (Bill Nye, the Science Guy). (Note: We need to expand our outreach to elementary and middle schools to help this effort.)
• “Be passionate about work and continuous learning…we aren’t looking for clock-watchers…stay until you get the product out the door…your work ethic is noticed!” (representative from Blue Origin)
• Get involved in FIRST Robotics or similar activities that help you apply your learning and develop teamwork, interpersonal, and technical skills. Employers do take note when they see these on your resume!
• When you seek out a mentor, don’t underestimate what he/she will do for you…and don’t let him down! (This comment was made by a leader of a local space company who emphasized that who you know matters…and that, in fact, he was hired by a major space company as a result of his mentor/college professor recommending him, beating out the competition of more experienced applicants.)

And…I would be remiss if I did not mention that Jonathan Adams was the only high school student who participated in the engineering poster exhibits at the Space Forum! Jonathan stood tall by his Flight by Design poster, surrounded by ~25 college students who were presenting a variety of sophisticated research projects. Great job, Jonathan!

Of course, there’s always more to say, but that’s it for this week! Here’s to science and space exploration…and ultimately, traveling to Mars! My best for an inspiring week of learning. I’m honored to be your principal. ~Reba

NOTES & ANNOUNCEMENTS:

• Congratulations DeAundre Cola! DeAundre played and lettered in varsity football for Lindbergh High School in Renton. His positions were Wide Receiver and Defensive Back.

This weekend, almost three thousand science teachers from around the country came together in Seattle for three days of sharing, learning, and networking at the National Science Teachers Association conference. Aviation High School students were there serving as ambassadors, guides, and friendly faces for visitors to the Emerald City. Our students representing AHS brilliantly and garnering only compliments from presenters, organizers, and NSTA officials. In their spare time, our ambassadors attended classes alongside teachers and talked with exhibitors; two exhibitors were so impressed, they wanted to hire our students as interns! We were only able to participate with the help of many parent and staff volunteers. We extend a special thanks to Mr. & Mrs. Buty, Mrs. Wooley, Mrs. Schumann, Mrs. Graves, Mr. Lemley, Mrs. Wagner, Ms. Pappas, Mr. Steele, Ms. Burr, and Mr. McComb for providing our students with this opportunity.

• Staff Appreciation Marathon starts this week, so be ready to write comments for your favorite teachers and staff members here at AHS. The idea is to thank our adults in the building for their hard work before the quarter ends. We will fill up 1-2 cards of appreciation each day of this week and will resume after Winter Break. This week’s theme is to thank our teachers in the Math and Science classes.

Monday: Edgerton & Dyer
Tuesday: Gudor & Joshi
Wednesday: Jones-Gunn & McComb,
Thursday: Shiroma & Steele
Friday: Wilson

Card signing will be available during lunch in the lunchroom.

• Class of 2012! ASB is currently designing senior class t-shirts but we need your help and would love to see your contributions. We will be accepting student’s designs, ideas, and suggestions. There are many good websites to assist you in your designs such as customink.com. We will be accepting your designs until the end of winter break. The first advisory after break, we will have a class vote to decide the class of 2012 apparel. Please send you designs and ideas to dabrahamson@yahoo.com.

• Junior Skating Party, Friday, Dec 23: The skating party will be at Southgate Roller Rink. Tickets are $10 and will be sold during lunch in the lunchroom this week. Contact Gary Trujillo for more information at 206.902.0817 or garyhansela@gmail.com.

• Attention 9th grade students: If you are interested in hosting an 8th grade “shadow,” you must sign up, be endorsed by your teachers, and attend mandatory training. To start the process, sign up in Ms. Carper’s office this week!

• PARENTS: Attendance notes are required by state law before any absence can be excused. Please send students through the office with their absence note UPON RETURN to school.

• Microsoft Internship: Microsoft has now updated their website announcing summer 2012 internships for juniors and seniors at the time of application, due date March 11, 2012. This very competitive, paid internship is offered to only 20 students from the entire region, and Microsoft is targeting minority and female students who have demonstrated an interest in technology, can use email and word, have a basic grasp of HTML, Visual Basic or another programming language. This is a full time, 8-10 week experience. Insider tip- to stand out, enter a programming competition, www.dreamspark.com or build a WINDOWS application. Application information is at http://careers.microsoft.com/careers/en/us/highschoolintern.aspx Please let Ms. Burr know if you’re applying.

• Community Service Project Management Internship Opportunity
Career Readiness Department/Aviation High School - January 9 through May 4
o This unpaid experience will provide a student(s) with valuable lessons in organization, project management, data input, data management, and reporting. Flexible, on-site schedule, approximately 3 hours per week. More detailed information posted on the Career Board outside Room 11. If interested, contact Ms. Pappas.

• Air Force Academy Presentation by Molly Heath on Thursday, December 15 at 1 PM. Sign up in room 11 if you would like to attend!

• FIRST Robotics Kickoff will be January 7, 2012 at Auburn High School. This past weekend, Skunkworks Robotics finished competing in the First Washington Engineering Challenge (FEC) in Ravensdale, Wa and came away with the championship. Members of the team gave a final presentation at the event and had previously sent in a detailed 50 page response to the challenge. Mentor Ken Zaballos from Boeing coached the group of robotics students through a design, analysis and evaluation challenge that took over two months. The challenge required the team to evaluate an engineering problem, choose the mechanical system and then analyze the results in the same way any professional engineer would do this type of work. The judges were very pleased in the way the team had approached and solved the problem. The FRC competition begins in less than a month and this is a great start to the season!! GO SKUNKS!!

• National Honor Society's Sister Schools fundraiser began Monday November 28th. Come buy paper links during lunch in the cafeteria to help raise money to build the wall around the Mukono boarding school in Uganda to protect the children from being kidnapped and killed. Witch doctors believe children's body parts have special spiritual healing and so more and more children are being kidnapped and killed, and people are afraid the schools will be targeted next. That's why we want to help the Sister Schools foundation raise money to build a security wall around the school, while we build our own "security wall" around our school out of paper links. The links will be sold one link for $.50, three links for $1.00. They will be class colors, so the winning class earns spirit points! We will also be keeping track of which advisory you're from when you buy links, so the winning advisory will get a prize as well. Help us raise money for this great cause by buying your links today! We will be selling links November 28th through December 16th.

• Snow. Skis. Snowboards. Winter. Do you find yourself bored on Friday nights in the winter? Looking for a ski/snowboard club? If you are, then you've come to the right place. Snowbound is a ski and snowboard club open to middle and high school students. You won't even miss school! After school on Friday afternoons, you and a bunch of your friends can take a charter bus that comes to Aviation up to Snoqualmie and hit the slopes for almost 6 hours! The best part about it? You don't have to worry about the details. All you have to be concerned with is remembering your season pass, your gear, and some warm clothes. Snowbound starts January 6, 2012 and ends February 10, 2012. The bus will come to Aviation right after school on Fridays and will return to the school about 11PM. Sign up at http://www.skimohan.com/?page=428&category=des-moines. Questions please contact Rebecca Hall at rhall@desmoines.gov or at (206) 870-6582. Come play in the snow!
• From Your ASB:
Tolo has been rescheduled to January 28, 2012.

SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION FOR AHS SENIORS:
For UW bound Seniors! The Washington NASA Space Grant Consortium annually offers scholarships for incoming UW freshmen. Each year some of Washington State's best high school seniors, Running Start, and Early Entrance students vie for a chance to study science, technology, engineering or mathematics at the University of Washington on a Space Grant Scholarship. The deadline is the postmark date of January 9, 2012. http://www.waspacegrant.org/for_students/undergraduate_programs/scholarships/uw/incoming_freshman/uw_scholars_freshman.html

United States JCI Senate Foundation (“the foundation”) awards a $1,000.00 scholarship to graduating high school seniors who plan to continue their education at accredited post-secondary colleges, universities, or vocational school. Applications are available in Ms. Carper’s office. Deadline: January 11, 2012.

Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation supports many students all over the world with various scholarship opportunities. For more information about the different scholarships available, visit https://www.coca-colascholars.org/cokeWeb/index.jsp

AXA Achievement Scholarship- The AXA Achievement Scholarship is directed by AXA Equitable and offers more than $1.3 million a year in scholarships. If you are ethnically and economically diverse, have drive and determination, and feel you are able to succeed in college; this is the right scholarship for you! Visit http://www.axa-equitable.com/axa-foundation/about.html for more information.

Abbot and Fenner Business Consultants are offering $1,000 scholarships. Applications are available at www.abbottandfenner.com/scholarships.htm. Deadline: June 15, 2012.
Big Sun is offering an annual scholarship to any young athlete. All students are eligible for this award, it does not matter what sport you are participating in. To learn more visit http://www.bigsunathletics.com. Deadline: June 22, 2012

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

Quote of the Week:
“The definition of innovation is the constructive rejection of the status quo.”
~Mr. Joseph Parrish, NASA Deputy Chief Technologist
NASA Future Forum, December 9, 2011 at The Museum of Flight

NOTAM 120511

2011-12-05T06:25:00.001-08:00

AVIATION HIGH SCHOOL
05 December 2011

What’s Happening this Week:

Monday: Another extraordinary day of learning!
Tuesday: Robotics Team Meeting 6:00 – 8: PM
Wednesday: Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day – Flag at half mast
‘Working on Behalf of Kids’ Mtg & Focus Group with Students12:30-2:00
Film Club after school in Mr. Savishinsky’s Room
Youth Venture in Room Six 3:45 – 5:15 PM
Thursday: AHS hosting NSTA Conference Participants 10:00 a.m. to Noon
Culture Club in Room 24 3:45 – 4:45
Robotics Team Meeting 6:00 – 8:00 PM
Friday: Museum of Flight - NASA Future Forum 8:00 – 6:00 PM
Ground School Field Trip - Boeing Field 1:00 – 3:20
Speech and Debate – Riverside High School, Auburn
Saturday: Speech and Debate – Riverside High School, Auburn

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE
I’m starting this week’s message with a plea to both students and parents regarding attendance notes. It is very important that a note be brought to the main office and presented to Mrs. Hiranaka after EVERY absence that has not been pre-arranged. State law requires that a written note from the parent be provided upon return to school. Students should report directly to Mrs. Hiranaka after an absence, with note in hand. We very much need the cooperation of students and parents in this matter. Thank you for adhering to this practice.

As we move closer to holiday break, the following is provided as reminder information:
• December 20—Last day of school before break—full day!
• December 21 through January 3—Winter Holiday Break—no school!
• Wednesday, January 4—School resumes!
• Monday, January 16—No school—Martin Luther King’s birthday…and mine, too!
• January 20—End of first semester.

This past Saturday, AHS and the Skunkworks Robotics Team hosted over 200 young students who programmed Lego Robots and did presentations during the 5th Annual FIRST Lego League Des Moines Robotics Regional. According to Coach Steele, “The students, as well as their mentors and parents, had a great time and competed fiercely, trying to do their best. In the end we are sending five of the participants on to the FLL State tournament which takes place in January. We received many nice compliments about how our students were very helpful and friendly. It was a great event and the team did a great job hosting it. The team is gearing up for the kickoff of the FLL season which takes place in just a little over a month.” GO SKUNKS!! We’ll all be cheering you to victory!

Congratulations to freshman Nicholas Young who wrote an essay that reached the final stages of the Cassini Scientist for a Day essay contest as an honorable mention recipient. Ms. Ciccone-Cook offered students an opportunity to write the essays and submitted them to NASA for bonus. Nicholas will now receive recognition on the NASA website for this stellar accomplishment! You may read Nick’s essay at: https://sites.google.com/site/freshmenaviationenglish/bonus-opportunities

The National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) is holding its annual conference in the great city of Seattle this week. Several AHS students will be serving as ambassadors at the conference, and science teachers Mr. Joshi, Mr. McComb, Mr. Shiroma, and Mr. Steele will be conference presenters. Special thanks go to Mr. McComb for his leadership over the past year in helping plan and organize this very major event!

We have now presented to all 8th graders in the Highline School District, and applications for the Class of 2016 are coming in each day. After last week’s Information Program for 8th graders and families, we have only one more evening program on January 12, 2012. Many thanks to everyone who has participated in our marketing and recruitment efforts so far! Your ambassadorship makes a very positive difference in the way people perceive our school. Special thanks to the crew that presented at Chinook last Tuesday: Harman Singh, Rya Somasundaram, Jashanpreet Kaur, Hanna Diriye, Ramneet Kaur, Beemnet Workeneh, Austin McHenry, Jacob Wagner, David Hartranft, Jenny Gao, Sydney Miller and Curtis Campisteguy. Great job everyone!

I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many “dressed up” students on campus as I observed last week! Professionalism was definitely in order as freshmen presented their learning about heat shields to thermal engineers, Aviation Careers students presented their aviation business plans to outside experts, and juniors in Mr. Hoehne’s English classes shared their knowledge and thoughts about banned books. I had the opportunity to hear some of the presentations and also chat with industry experts. I was impressed…and so were our guests! Congratulations to all!

Wishing you a stellar week of learning…and honored to be your principal—Reba G.

NOTES & ANNOUNCEMENTS:

• PARENTS: Attendance notes are required by state before any absence can be excused. Please send students through the office with their absence note UPON RETURN to school.

• Want to be in or help with the production of the school play? Sophomore Surbhi Ghadia is putting on a parody version of The Cat in the Hat. If you are interested in participating, show up TODAY, Monday 5 December, during lunch in the gymnasium for the first meeting and audition session.
o For participants who are selected to act or who want to volunteer for background preparations - meeting dates for this week are: Wednesday, 7 December and Friday, 9 December. Meetings will be held during lunch in the gym.

• Microsoft Internship: Microsoft has now updated their website announcing summer 2012 internships for juniors and seniors at the time of application, due date March 11, 2012. This very competitive, paid internship is offered to only 20 students from the entire region, and Microsoft is targeting minority and female students who have demonstrated an interest in technology, can use email and word, have a basic grasp of HTML, Visual Basic or another programming language. This is a full time, 8-10 week experience. Insider tip- to stand out, enter a programming competition, www.dreamspark.com or build a WINDOWS application. Application information is at http://careers.microsoft.com/careers/en/us/highschoolintern.aspx Please let Ms. Burr know if you’re applying.

• Upcoming Mentor-Mentee breakfast in the gym 7:30-9:00 AM on Wednesday, December 14th! This will be our 2nd Mentor-Mentee breakfast meeting this year. Mentees- make sure you’ve invited your mentor. All student mentees are invited to attend, even if their mentor is unavailable, just sit at any table and join in the conversation. Staff members are always welcome to attend as well.

• Community Service Project Management Internship Opportunity
Career Readiness Department/Aviation High School - January 9 through May 4
o This unpaid experience will provide a student(s) with valuable lessons in organization, project management, data input, data management, and reporting. Flexible, on-site schedule, approximately 3 hours per week. More detailed information posted on the Career Board outside Room 11. If interested, contact Ms. Pappas.

• Air Force Academy Presentation by Molly Heath on Wednesday, December 15 at 1 PM. Sign up in room 11 if you would like to attend!

• National Honor Society's Sister Schools fundraiser began Monday November 28th. Come buy paper links during lunch in the cafeteria to help raise money to build the wall around the Mukono boarding school in Uganda to protect the children from being kidnapped and killed. Witch doctors believe children's body parts have special spiritual healing and so more and more children are being kidnapped and killed, and people are afraid the schools will be targeted next. That's why we want to help the Sister Schools foundation raise money to build a security wall around the school, while we build our own "security wall" around our school out of paper links. The links will be sold one link for $.50, three links for $1.00. They will be class colors, so the winning class earns spirit points! We will also be keeping track of which advisory you're from when you buy links, so the winning advisory will get a prize as well. Help us raise money for this great cause by buying your links today! We will be selling links November 28th through December 16th.

• Snow. Skis. Snowboards. Winter. Do you find yourself bored on Friday nights in the winter? Looking for a ski/snowboard club? If you are, then you've come to the right place. Snowbound is a ski and snowboard club open to middle and high school students. You won't even miss school! After school on Friday afternoons, you and a bunch of your friends can take a charter bus that comes to Aviation up to Snoqualmie and hit the slopes for almost 6 hours! The best part about it? You don't have to worry about the details. All you have to be concerned with is remembering your season pass, your gear, and some warm clothes. Snowbound starts January 6, 2012 and ends February 10, 2012. The bus will come to Aviation right after school on Fridays and will return to the school about 11PM. Sign up at http://www.skimohan.com/?page=428&category=des-moines. Questions please contact Rebecca Hall at rhall@desmoines.gov or at (206) 870-6582. Come play in the snow!
• From Your ASB:
Tolo has been rescheduled to January. Stay tuned for more details.

Adopt a Family ASB is planning to sponsor a needy family this winter. Stay tuned for more information.

December Advisory Competition--ASB will be hosting a December Advisory Competition on Dec. 14th. Students will be decorating Ginger Bread houses and Doors!

Holiday Spirit Wear--ASB is planning to have another limited edition holiday spirit wear sale. This year it will be a red crew neck with a picture of Seattle and airplanes flying over it.

SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION FOR AHS SENIORS:

United States JCI Senate Foundation (“the foundation”) awards a $1,000.00 scholarship to graduating high school seniors who plan to continue their education at accredited post-secondary colleges, universities, or vocational school. Applications are available in Ms. Carper’s office. Deadline: January 11, 2012.

Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation supports many students all over the world with various scholarship opportunities. For more information about the different scholarships available, visit https://www.coca-colascholars.org/cokeWeb/index.jsp

AXA Achievement Scholarship- The AXA Achievement Scholarship is directed by AXA Equitable and offers more than $1.3 million a year in scholarships. If you are ethnically and economically diverse, have drive and determination, and feel you are able to succeed in college; this is the right scholarship for you! Visit http://www.axa-equitable.com/axa-foundation/about.html for more information.

Abbot and Fenner Business Consultants are offering $1,000 scholarships. Applications are available at www.abbottandfenner.com/scholarships.htm. Deadline: June 15, 2012.
Big Sun is offering an annual scholarship to any young athlete. All students are eligible for this award, it does not matter what sport you are participating in. To learn more visit http://www.bigsunathletics.com. Deadline: June 22, 2012

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

Quote of the Week:
“Deliberation is the work of many men. Action, of one alone."
--Charles de Gaulle, French general and statesman

NOTAM 112811

2011-11-27T16:43:00.001-08:00

AVIATION HIGH SCHOOL
28 November 2011

What's Happening this Week:

Monday: Montana Tech of the University of Montana 1:00 PM
Morehouse College Reception & Admissions Information Session
7:00pm-9:00pm at Northwest African American Museum 2300 South Massachusetts Seattle, WA 98144

Tuesday: Recruiting at Chinook Middle School—7:45-9:15 a.m.
Robotics Team Meeting 6:00 – 8: PM

Wednesday: FAFSA Information Session in the gym
Film Club after school in Mr. Savishinsky’s Room
Youth Venture in Room Six 3:45 – 5:15 PM

Thursday: Culture Club in Room 24 3:45 – 4:45
Information Night for 8th Graders & Parents—6:00-8:30 p.m.
Robotics Team Meeting 6:00 – 8:00 PM

Friday: Student Dismissal--2:00 p.m.; Staff Professional Development 2:15-3:45

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE
Welcome back from what I hope was a blessed Thanksgiving and extended weekend!

As we move into the month of December this week, I gently remind you that we have only 17 days of school until the next break from school. You are now aware of your first quarter progress, having discussed your grades and learning goals with your parents at Student-Led Conferences just before Thanksgiving break. I’m encouraging you to maximize your learning each and every day in order to realize your goals. Teachers are available to provide extra help before and after school and by appointment. Tutoring can be arranged if requested. Please take advantage of the opportunities that are available to you through AHS and continue to work to your potential each and every day. Good study habits are essential for academic success!

Our second Information Program for 8th Graders and Families will be held this Thursday from 6:00-8:30 p.m. Thank you in advance to everyone who has volunteered to assist a staff member or serve on the Q&A panel. We will again provide a pizza dinner to student ambassadors; however, your name must be on the “list” that staff members have submitted to Mrs. Hiranaka.

Two stories about Aviation High School were published in the Renton and Kent Journals recently, highlighting the groundbreaking for our new school and featuring several students, including Jacob Wagner, Jenny Gao, and Emory Eng. To read the full articles: http://www.tukwilareporter.com/community/134135663.html and http://www.rentonreporter.com/news/134340908.html A wonderful article was also included in the November edition of Air Line Pilot Magazine http://www.alpa.org. And, as the legislature goes back to work this week, our local Senator Karen Keiser in her Update to Constituents made mention of Aviation High School as achieving recognition under the “No Child Left Behind Act” for meeting annual improvements in educational standards. This week, you may see a videographer on campus from the Washington Education Association who is including Aviation High School in a video that he is producing about Washington State’s Innovation Schools. I applaud you all for your commitment to making Aviation High School a place of educational excellence. Such recognition doesn’t happen without the efforts of everyone within the community!

AHS graduates are making their marks in the world, too. Ms. Pappas and I recently had the pleasure of visiting inaugural grad Natalie Nason at Dynon Avionics where Natalie and her boss, Robert Hamilton, enlightened us about the design and marketing of aviation navigation instruments that are manufactured in their Redmond plant and sold world-wide. Natalie is a graduate of Rocky Mountain College in Montana where she earned a degree in Communications. Also from the Class of 2008 is Joey Marco, who graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University this past year and just completed basic training in the Air Force. Joey is now stationed in Monterey, California at the Defense Language Institute where he will be learning Levantine Arabic for the next two years. Joey credits Mr. Kumakura for preparing him so well for this intense language immersion program in which the expectation is that he attend class for 8 hours per day and study an additional 2-3 hours per day to be successful. From AHS Class of 2010, Jaime Katzer is making her way at the University of Washington, majoring in engineering. Jaime recently accepted an offer for a Summer of 2012 internship as an Aerodynamics Engineer for Boeing Defense, Space and Security in St. Louis, Missouri. And she’s only a sophomore at UW, which makes this opportunity quite unusual and all the more spectacular! Congratulations, grads…and a note to current AHS students: AHS is preparing you for audacious opportunities, too! In high school, all three of these grads took full advantage of networking and mentoring opportunities, learned to work well in team environments, honed their study skills, and showed up each day eager to learn. Preparation matters!

That’s it for this week! My best to all of you for an inspiring week of learning!
~Reba G.

NOTES & ANNOUNCEMENTS:

• National Honor Society's Sister Schools fundraiser begins Monday November 28th. Come buy paper links during lunch in the cafeteria to help raise money to build the wall around the Mukono boarding school in Uganda to protect the children from being kidnapped and killed. Witch doctors believe children's body parts have special spiritual healing and so more and more children are being kidnapped and killed, and people are afraid the schools will be targeted next. That's why we want to help the Sister Schools foundation raise money to build a security wall around the school, while we build our own "security wall" around our school out of paper links. The links will be sold 1 link for $.50, 3 links for $1.00. They will be class colors, so the winning class earns spirit points! We will also be keeping track of which advisory you're from when you buy links, so the winning advisory will get a prize as well. Help us raise money for this great cause by buying your links today! We will be selling links November 28th through December 16th.

• The robotics team will host over 200 young roboticists from all over the Puget Sound area this Saturday in the AHS gym and cafeteria. This is the fifth year of the DES Moines First Lego League Regional put on by our Skunkworks Robotics team for Elementary and Middle School teams. The competition will start at 9 AM and finish around 4:00 PM. Go Skunks!!

• On December 9th, The Museum of Flight is hosting a NASA Future Forum about the future of commercial space flight. The event will feature panel discussions with industry leaders, VIPs, etc. As part of the Networking Session, NASA has asked for a student poster session/fair. The Museum is inviting AHS and UW students to present and interact with the Future Forum participants, providing an amazing opportunity to meet with some exceptional people who are involved in the cutting edge of space exploration. The event will be in the Museum’s new Space Gallery from 3:00-6:00PM. The idea is that AHS students would present topics and exhibitry that they may already have researched and developed such as class or senior projects, portfolios, the Skunkworks robot, etc. If you are interested in being part of this exciting event, please email Mr. Kelly at Bruce.Kelly@highlineschools.org, proposing what you would like to showcase.

• Snow. Skis. Snowboards. Winter. Do you find yourself bored on Friday nights in the winter? Looking for a ski/snowboard club? If you are, then you've come to the right place. Snowbound is a ski and snowboard club open to middle and high school students. You won't even miss school! After school on Friday afternoons, you and a bunch of your friends can take a charter bus that comes to Aviation up to Snoqualmie and hit the slopes for almost 6 hours! The best part about it? You don't have to worry about the details. All you have to be concerned with is remembering your season pass, your gear, and some warm clothes. Snowbound starts January 6, 2012 and ends February 10, 2012. The bus will come to Aviation right after school on Fridays and will return to the school about 11PM. Sign up at http://www.skimohan.com/?page=428&category=des-moines. Questions please contact Rebecca Hall at rhall@desmoines.gov or at (206) 870-6582. Come play in the snow!

• From Your ASB:
 Tolo will be on December 10th with the theme of Beauty and the Geek.
 Adopt a Family ASB is planning to sponsor a needy family this winter. Stay tuned for more information.
 December Advisory Competition--ASB will be hosting a December Advisory Competition on Dec. 14th. Students will be decorating Ginger Bread houses and Doors!
 Holiday Spirit Wear--ASB is planning to have another limited edition holiday spirit wear sale. This year it will be a red crew neck with a picture of Seattle and airplanes flying over it.

• PTSA Reflections Contest:
Submissions will be collected in the main office starting TODAY-- Monday, November 28th; last day to submit is this Wednesday, November 30th by 3:30 p.m.

• Service Opportunity AHS Ambassadors
Each year, the National Science Teachers’ Association (NSTA) hosts professional conferences to help science teachers learn new information, to share best practices, and to network with others from around the region and country. Seattle is hosting one of those conferences this December.

Because of our role as a leader in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education, Aviation High School will be prominently involved in the NSTA conference:
• Many of our teachers will be attending the conference; three of them will be presenting and two of them are leading field trips.
• We will host a tour of teachers and administrators at school on Thursday, 8 December.
• Our students will serve as local ambassadors for the conference.

We are now in the process of recruiting the last handful of ambassadors as well as drivers to get them to and from the convention center in downtown Seattle.

For more information, check the informational bulletin on Edline or talk with Mr. McComb. Permission slips are due by Tuesday, 29 November.

SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION FOR AHS SENIORS:

United States JCI Senate Foundation (“the foundation”) awards a $1,000.00 scholarship to graduating high school seniors who plan to continue their education at accredited post-secondary colleges, universities, or vocational school. Applications are available in Ms. Carper’s office. Deadline: January 11, 2012.

Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation supports many students all over the world with various scholarship opportunities. For more information about the different scholarships available, visit https://www.coca-colascholars.org/cokeWeb/index.jsp

AXA Achievement Scholarship- The AXA Achievement Scholarship is directed by AXA Equitable and offers more than $1.3 million a year in scholarships. If you are ethnically and economically diverse, have drive and determination, and feel you are able to succeed in college; this is the right scholarship for you! Visit http://www.axa-equitable.com/axa-foundation/about.html for more information.

Abbot and Fenner Business Consultants are offering $1,000 scholarships. Applications are available at www.abbottandfenner.com/scholarships.htm. Deadline: June 15, 2012.
Big Sun is offering an annual scholarship to any young athlete. All students are eligible for this award, it does not matter what sport you are participating in. To learn more visit http://www.bigsunathletics.com. Deadline: June 22, 2012

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

Quote of the Week: History has demonstrated that the most notable winners usually encountered heartbreaking obstacles before they triumphed. They won because they refused to become discouraged by their defeats.
B.C. Forbes

NOTAM 112111

2011-11-20T12:39:00.001-08:00

AVIATION HIGH SCHOOL
21 November 2011

What's Happening this Week:

Monday: Extraordinary Day of Learning
Student Led Conferences

Tuesday: Extraordinary Day of Learning
Student Led Conferences
End Thanksgiving Food Drive
College Visit – Naval Academy 12:00 – 1:00 PM

Wednesday: No School
Thursday: No School - Thanksgiving
Friday: No School - Thanksgiving

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE

If you attended the AHS Auction this past Saturday evening, you already know that our amazing PTSA continued their tradition of excellence with an inspiring and fun evening of bidding and merriment at the spectacular Museum of Flight. We are so fortunate to have committed parents who work tirelessly to enhance the educational experience for AHS students. Teri Katzer is a supermom and super leader who worked with a superhuman group of parent volunteers to plan, organize, and facilitate this year’s auction. Please join me in giving a virtual toast to Mrs. Katzer and her amazing crew for truly demonstrating that the Sky is NOT the Limit! Many thanks, too, to everyone who donated and procured auction items, and to those who purchased them! The fifth annual auction was, by any measure, a huge success!

Last week, Governor Gregoire invited me, Mr. Kelly, and five Aviation High School students to participate in a news conference at which she announced her intention to boost the aerospace industry and the economy by encouraging Boeing to build the 737 MAX in Washington State. If this happens, there will be an increased need for aerospace workers, so the Governor is proposing that the legislature appropriate $10 million to support education and training initiatives. Her proposal includes a $7.6 million program to enhance engineering education at the UW and WSU, resulting in significantly greater access to university engineering programs, with students even being able to declare an engineering major in their freshman year. To learn more about the Governor’s plan, check out http://www.washington-aerospace.com/
More reading is available at http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/11/17/1909553/state-has-work-to-do-bolstering.html#ixzz1e5rUQjmX , and even features two of our students, Katie McConville and Michael Torrey in the picture. Other students who attended were Will Clausen, Morgen Sellier, and Riley Tetzloff. KIRO Television interviewed Katie, who was featured in their evening news programs. http://www.kirotv.com/videos/news/gov-gregoire-announces-plan-for-737-max/vFF32/

The following AHS students are commended for marketing and recruiting at Pacific Middle School last Friday: Freshmen Olivia Shiffer, Kristen Lemley, Nicholas Young, and Kira Walters; sophomores Sasha Friedrich and Miguel Laigo; juniors Jacob Wagner, Liam Burke and Austin McHenry; and seniors Curtis Campisteguy, David Hartranft and Sydney Miller. Their presentations were polished and professional—good job, everyone!

And, congratulations to everyone in the Aviation High School learning community who has made the AHS journey so rewarding! State Superintendent announced this past Friday that Aviation High School “has been designated a Washington State Innovative School.
A panel of educators identified your school as bold, creative, and innovative…and that is making a positive difference for your students.” Forty-two completed applications were submitted, and 22 schools were selected for this honor. Yea for us!

Student led conferences are being held this week, providing an opportunity for all students to articulate their learning with parents. My very best to all of you as you share your learning goals, your progress, your challenges, and the strategies you intend to use to further your learning.

It’s a short week of school, followed by the Thanksgiving holiday and extended break. Please know that I’m grateful to be your principal and that I wish you, your families and friends the best Thanksgiving ever. I’m thankful for the opportunity to know and work with all of you! You bless me!

~Reba G.

NOTES & ANNOUNCEMENTS:

• Congratulations to AHS students Curtis Campisteguy and Dain Wright for becoming official Eagle Scouts!

• Student Led Conferences are scheduled for November 21 and 22. Please contact your advisor if you have not scheduled your SLC.

• PTSA Reflections Contest:
Submissions will be collected in the main office starting on Monday, November 28th and are due by 3:30 Wednesday, November 30th.

• The following colleges are visiting AHS this fall! Sign up in room 11 if you are interested in attending!
Naval Academy: November 22 at Noon
Montana Tech of the University of Montana: November 28 at 1 PM

• FAFSA Information Session on Wednesday, November 30 in the gym by Financial Aid Counselor Kim Bobbitt from Highline Community College. Parents are welcome to attend!

SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION FOR AHS SENIORS:

Association for Women in Aviation Maintenance offers scholarships for women who are interested in studying aircraft maintenance. Details are available at: http://www.awam.org/5a-06-AWAM-Scholarship-Awards-Application.pdf Deadline: November 28, 2011

United States JCI Senate Foundation (“the foundation”) awards a $1,000.00 scholarship to graduating high school seniors who plan to continue their education at accredited post-secondary colleges, universities, or vocational school. Applications are available in Ms. Carper’s office. Deadline: January 11, 2012.

Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation supports many students all over the world with various scholarship opportunities. For more information about the different scholarships available, visit https://www.coca-colascholars.org/cokeWeb/index.jsp

AXA Achievement Scholarship- The AXA Achievement Scholarship is directed by AXA Equitable and offers more than $1.3 million a year in scholarships. If you are ethnically and economically diverse, have drive and determination, and feel you are able to succeed in college; this is the right scholarship for you! Visit http://www.axa-equitable.com/axa-foundation/about.html for more information.

Abbot and Fenner Business Consultants are offering $1,000 scholarships. Applications are available at www.abbottandfenner.com/scholarships.htm. Deadline: June 15, 2012.
Big Sun is offering an annual scholarship to any young athlete. All students are eligible for this award, it does not matter what sport you are participating in. To learn more visit http://www.bigsunathletics.com. Deadline: June 22, 2012

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

Quote of the Week:

“When I first started out in the aviation field, there were no women currently flying in the military or for commercial airlines. There were no footprints in the snow. My strategy was to eliminate any reasons why someone wouldn't hire me as a pilot, like inadequate training or experience.”
— Suzanna Darcy-Hennemann, test pilot, Boeing Aircraft

NOTAM 111411

2011-11-13T19:38:00.001-08:00

AVIATION HIGH SCHOOL
14 November 2011

What's Happening this Week:

Monday: Another extraordinary day of learning!
Tuesday: Robotics Team Meeting 6:00 – 8:00 PM
Wednesday: Film Club Meeting after School in Mr. Savishinsky’s Room
Youth Venture in Room 6 3:45 – 5:15 PM
Thursday: Culture Club in Room 24 3:45 – 4:45
Robotics Team Meeting 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Friday: Recruiting at Pacific Middle School

Saturday: PTSA Auction at the Museum of Flight! Tickets still available!

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE

Happy Monday! This past weekend, 40 AHS students and 4 staff members attended the Joe Sutter Dinner Lecture at the Museum of Flight at which Jenny, Sydney, and Salina were recognized by Rolls Royce as the Spirit of Excellence recipients. It was a magnificent evening, with several of our students also providing musical entertainment during the reception. I left the event feeling even more grateful to the many aerospace leaders who so believe in our school and the hope that our students will help fill the critical needs in their workforce. Among those who sponsored us this past Saturday evening were The Boeing Company, Rolls Royce, Peter Morton, Bob & Diane Dempster (building the World Cruiser which will fly ‘round the world in 2013), Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Honeywell, Moog, Suzanna Darcy-Hennemann, British Aerospace, and the Royal Aeronautical Society. Thank you, one and all!

Congratulations to Jacob Hoag who recently soloed at Acuwings in Renton! Jacob reports that he took to the skies in a Piper Warrior—a low-wing airplane with 150 horsepower, whose purpose is similar to a Cessna, but with a little added weight, which makes it a bit harder to fly; however, according to Jacob, “it also makes you a better pilot.” Jacob’s goal is to be ready for his check ride by end of the school year and earn his private pilot’s license in Summer of 2012. Ultimately, Jacob’s career goal is to fly commercially for Alaska Airlines.

Today, Southcenter Rotary is honoring Jenny Gao and Serena Simkus as their November Students of the Month. This honor now puts both young women as contenders for scholarship awards. Congratulations, Jenny and Serena!

Exciting opportunities are always happening in Ms. Ciccone-Cook’s classes. Read the Notes/Announcements section to learn how Lori Baca, Mason Andrew, and Allison Hauke earned recognition by NASA! Congratulations!

Congratulations to DJ (Driskell Jack) who was recently honored with The St. Timothy Award. Six awards are given annually to outstanding high school juniors and seniors who work zealously to improve their own parish ministry programs, high school ministry teams or youth ministry within the Diocese of Providence. DJ received his award during the 11/5/11 Youth Convention and was recognized for years of volunteerism, fundraising, and service.

On December 9th, The Museum of Flight is hosting a NASA Future Forum about the future of commercial space flight. The event will feature panel discussions with industry leaders, VIPs, etc. As part of the Networking Session, NASA has asked for a student poster session/fair. The Museum is inviting AHS and UW students to present and interact with the Future Forum participants, providing an amazing opportunity to meet with some exceptional people who are involved in the cutting edge of space exploration. The event will be in the Museum’s new Space Gallery from 3:00-6:00PM. The idea is that AHS students would present topics and exhibitry that they may already have researched and developed such as class or senior projects, portfolios, the Skunkworks robot, etc. If you are interested in being part of this exciting event, please email Mr. Kelly at Bruce.Kelly@highlineschools.org, proposing what you would like to showcase.

Huge thanks to everyone who participated in last week’s Information Program for 8th graders and parents! We broke all previous attendance records with approximately 400 folks crowding into our gymnasium and classrooms. Our next program is scheduled for December 1, then January 12. This Friday, we will be presenting at Pacific Middle School so I’ll be talking with several of you today to ask for your participation.

That’s it for this week! May this week of learning be awe-inspiring! I am honored to be your principal. ~Reba G.

NOTES & ANNOUNCEMENTS:
• The Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory, or GRAIL, is a NASA mission that will use two identical solar-powered spacecraft flying in tandem orbits around the moon. These spacecraft will measure the moon’s gravity field and give scientists a better understanding of how Earth and other rocky planets in the solar system formed. GRAIL launched Sept. 10, 2011.

Now that the mission is underway, the two robotic spacecraft, currently dubbed “GRAIL-A” and “GRAIL-B,” need real names — ones that capture the spirit and excitement of lunar exploration. AHS freshmen recently participated in NASA’s naming contest by submitting their essays in class and then choosing the top three to submit to NASA. The ninth graders chose the following winners, who were awarded certificates of participation through NASA.

 First place—Lori Baca, whose names were Arpeggio and Triad
 Second place—Mason Andrew, whose names were Castor and Pollux
 Third place—Allison Hauke, whose names were Newton’s Apples

To read their essays go to the following link on the Aviation English course website:
https://sites.google.com/site/freshmenaviationenglish/bonus-opportunities/grail-winning-essays

• Intern Opportunity - Program Manager/STEM- Matt Griffin YMCA
This internship is for a student who can take data and summarize and analyze it for YMCA staff to help them make programming decisions. The intern will also identify a community need (such as improving math/science scores or making young people aware of STEM careers), develop a program and offer it to the community. While this is an unpaid internship, the hours are flexible and the student has the opportunity to make a big difference in the community. The intern can start now after school and increase hours over the summer. More details forthcoming, talk to Mrs. Burr if interested.

• Microsoft Internship- was announced recently so interested students can be preparing their application materials, due most likely in March, 2012. Information from the Microsoft website is from last year, but Microsoft’s recruiting team is currently working on the details for the coming summer 2012 high school internship program. The updated information will be posted on the following site: http://careers.microsoft.com/careers/en/us/high-school-intern-program.aspx Check the website in the next month or two. These internships are highly competitive, so attention to application materials is highly recommended. Let Mrs. Burr in the Career Center know if you are going to apply.
• From Your ASB: Students, please express your thanks and gratitude towards the AHS Staff and Teachers by signing the Teacher/Staff appreciation poster located in the cafeteria.
• Student Led Conferences are scheduled for November 21 and 22. Please make sure to sign up for this important opportunity to discuss your academic plans, progress and future goals.

• PTSA Reflections Contest: “Diversity Means...” AHS is invited to fill in the blank by grabbing art supplies, camera, instrument, computer, pen, or video camera and creating something expressing the theme of the 42nd National PTA Reflections program.

Reflections is an opportunity to pursue your artistic expression and be recognized for 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 & prize. (Last year participants got a gift card to a favorite store)

Submissions will be collected in the main office starting on Monday, November 28th and are due by 3:30 Wednesday, November 30th.
 RULES HAVE CHANGED THIS YEAR!!!! Please follow the rules and instructions carefully to be eligible to advance to Highline Council, State, or Nationals.
 Attach an entry form to each entry (completely filled out with both student and parental signatures)

Go to http://www.wastatepta.org/programs/reflections/forms.html and click on the link for official rules and entry forms. Additional forms are also available in the main office. For more information contact Liz Campisteguy at campisteguy@gmail.com.

• The following colleges are visiting AHS this fall! Sign up in room 11 if you are interested in attending!
Naval Academy: November 22 at Noon
Montana Tech of the University of Montana: November 28 at 1 PM

SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION FOR AHS SENIORS:

Women in Aviation International offers scholarships to women planning on studying engineering. Visit http://www.wai.org/education/scholarship_list_2012.cfm for more information. Deadline: November 15, 2011

Association for Women in Aviation Maintenance offers scholarships for women who are interested in studying aircraft maintenance. Details are available at: http://www.awam.org/5a-06-AWAM-Scholarship-Awards-Application.pdf Deadline: November 28, 2011

United States JCI Senate Foundation (“the foundation”) awards a $1,000.00 scholarship to graduating high school seniors who plan to continue their education at accredited post-secondary colleges, universities, or vocational school. Applications are available in Ms. Carper’s office. Deadline: January 11, 2012.

Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation supports many students all over the world with various scholarship opportunities. For more information about the different scholarships available, visit https://www.coca-colascholars.org/cokeWeb/index.jsp

AXA Achievement Scholarship- The AXA Achievement Scholarship is directed by AXA Equitable and offers more than $1.3 million a year in scholarships. If you are ethnically and economically diverse, have drive and determination, and feel you are able to succeed in college; this is the right scholarship for you! Visit http://www.axa-equitable.com/axa-foundation/about.html for more information.

Abbot and Fenner Business Consultants are offering $1,000 scholarships. Applications are available at www.abbottandfenner.com/scholarships.htm. Deadline: June 15, 2012.
Big Sun is offering an annual scholarship to any young athlete. All students are eligible for this award, it does not matter what sport you are participating in. To learn more visit http://www.bigsunathletics.com. Deadline: June 22, 2012

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

Quote of the Week:
"If you think you can't, why think?"
Dee Hock, CEO Emeritus, VISA International

NOTAM 110711

2011-11-06T19:02:00.001-08:00

AVIATION HIGH SCHOOL
07 November 2011

What's Happening this Week:

Monday: Another extraordinary day of learning!

Tuesday: A Block Schedule
Aviation and American Character Field Trip to Museum of Flight
Essays due to Ms. Burr if interested in attending Joe Sutter dinner Nov. 12!
Robotics Team Meeting 6:00 – 8:00 PM

Wednesday: B Block Schedule
Washington State University at 1:00 PM
Film Club Meeting after School in Mr. Savishinsky’s Room
Information Program for 8th graders & parents—6:00-8:30 p.m.
Youth Venture in Room 6 3:45 – 5:15 PM

Thursday: Assembly Schedule – Six Period Day
Veteran’s Day Assembly—1:00 p.m. in Gym
Journalism Class Field Trip to Seattle Times
Culture Club in Room 24 3:45 – 4:45
Robotics Team Meeting 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Friday: Veteran’s Day – No School
Speech and Debate Field Trip – Snohomish High School

Saturday: Speech and Debate Field Trip – Snohomish High School
Joe Sutter Dinner Lecture at Museum of Flight—6:00 p.m.

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE
I’m pleased to announce that Sydney Miller is the top award recipient of the Rolls Royce Spirit of Excellence Award. Her scholarship is for $5,000. Jenny Gao and Salina Abraham are sharing a second award, each receiving $2,500. All three scholarship recipients will attend the Joe Sutter Dinner Lecture, sponsored by the Royal Aeronautical Society this Saturday evening. Rolls Royce will recognize them during the program. Their names will be added to the magnificent Trent 1000 fan blade that is displayed in our office. Please congratulate these three scholars when you next see them. Their essays were inspiring and spoke to their extraordinary dedication to our school and a future in the STEM workforce—perhaps at Rolls Royce where they are likely to be recruited.

Our very own Aviation student, Melody Northcutt, has been selected as Student of the Quarter at Puget Sound Skills Center (PSCC). Melody is attending the Nursing Assistant Certification Program at PSSC. Congratulations Melody!

Our first Information Program for 8th graders and parents/families will be held this Wednesday from 6:00-8:30 p.m. Some of you may have already been asked to assist a teacher or AHS staff member, so please know how grateful we are for your ambassadorship. Staff members have been asked to submit the names of students who will be assisting to Mrs. Hiranaka who will have AHS name badges available for the ambassadors that evening. The name badge will serve as a ticket for enjoying a pizza dinner at 5:00 p.m. in the Cafeteria. While we appreciate all of you, only those who have been asked to assist should be on campus Wednesday evening. We are expecting a large crowd of prospective students and families who will be our top priority that evening. FYI that we have two more information programs scheduled (December 1 and January 12), so there will be more opportunities to serve as an ambassador!

Speaking of ambassadors…the following students joined Mr. Kelly and me at Cascade Middle School last Friday to promote AHS to an enthusiastic group of eighth graders: Alyda Sorm, Austin Coleman, Michael Torrey, Royce Le, Katie McConville, Rangsey Touch, Tran Tonnu, Michael Phuong, Sydney Miller, Austin McHenry, David Hartranft, and Curtis Campisteguy. All are commended for providing an exciting and informative program with explanations of the classes they are taking and projects such as the heat shield in which they are engaged, demos of the robot and a hovercraft, rocket launch, trebuchet, and technology in progress (David’s guitar). Thank you, Ambassadors! Our next presentation will be on November 18 at Pacific Middle School.

We honor our veterans of military service this week with a special assembly on Thursday at 1:00 p.m. Dr. Bonnie Dunbar, former astronaut and CEO of the Museum of Flight, will be our speaker. While Dr. Dunbar did not serve in the military, she has a deep appreciation for those who have done so; her message is sure to be inspiring. Parents and family members: If your schedule permits, please know that you are welcome to join us.

There’s no school Friday because it is the official Veteran’s Day holiday. If you know a veteran, I hope you will express your gratitude for his/her service and sacrifice. It’s sure to be appreciated!

Another reminder that the PTSA Auction will be held November 19 at the Museum of Flight. Tickets are on sale now and items are still being accepted for both the silent and live auctions. For more information, please contact PTSA President Teri Katzer at tkatzer@msn.com.

My best to all for an inspiring week of learning and gratitude. I am honored to be your principal. ~Reba G.

NOTES & ANNOUNCEMENTS:
• From Your ASB: Students, please express your thanks and gratitude towards the AHS Staff and Teachers by signing the Teacher/Staff appreciation poster located in the cafeteria.

• Student Led Conferences are scheduled for November 21 and 22. Please make sure to sign up for this important opportunity to discuss your academic plans, progress and future goals.

• PTSA Reflections Contest: “Diversity Means...” AHS is invited to fill in the blank by grabbing art supplies, camera, instrument, computer, pen, or video camera and creating something expressing the theme of the 42nd National PTA Reflections program.

Reflections is an opportunity to pursue your artistic expression and be recognized for 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 & prize. (Last year participants got a gift card to a favorite store)

Submissions will be collected in the main office starting on Monday, November 28th and are due by 3:30 Wednesday, November 30th.
 RULES HAVE CHANGED THIS YEAR!!!! Please follow the rules and instructions carefully to be eligible to advance to Highline Council, State, or Nationals.
 Attach an entry form to each entry (completely filled out with both student and parental signatures)

Go to http://www.wastatepta.org/programs/reflections/forms.html and click on the link for official rules and entry forms. Additional forms are also available in the main office. For more information contact Liz Campisteguy at campisteguy@gmail.com.

• On Dec. 9, The Museum of Flight is hosting a NASA Future Forum about the future of commercial space flight. The event will feature panel discussions with industry leaders, VIPs, etc. As part of the Networking Session, NASA has asked for a student poster session/fair. For the event, we would like to invite AHS and UW students to present and interact with the Future Forum participants. It would be a wonderful way for your students to meet with some of those involved in the cutting edge of space exploration. The event will be in our new Space Gallery from 3:00-6:00PM.
The vision would be for AHS students to present topics and exhibitry that they may already have researched, developed, etc. such as class or senior projects, portfolios, Skunkworks robots, etc.
Contact Seth Margolis, Director of Education Programs, for more information.
SMargolis@museumofflight.org

• Congratulations to Sophomore Kayla Loy, who made it into Districts Swimming in the 100 Freestyle. Kayla placed at League Championships in the 200 Medley Relay, 200 Individual Medley, 100 Freestyle, and 200 Free Relay. Kayla swims for her home school Highline High School.

• “Congratulations to our student-athletes….Robin Zaches and Kristen Lemley!! They are members of the Mt. Rainier Girls Swim Team. Their team placed first at Leagues and Districts. Kristen has moved on to the STATE Swim Meet which will be held on November 11th/12th!!”

• Boys swim starts November 15th. Pick-up sport packets now at your home high school if you are interested in participating in the awesome sport of swimming.

• Mentors available: With 125 Mentors already matched with 245 AHS mentees, we still have 4 highly qualified Mentors from the aerospace/aviation industry waiting to be paired with an AHS student. If you want to participate and be matched with a mentor who can coach you, take you on job shadows, share his or her network with you- contact Julie Burr and she will pair you with the best match. While we normally target sophomores for participation in the Mentor program, any interested and motivated student will be considered.
• A description of high school summer internships at Microsoft is available online (http://careers.microsoft.com/careers/en/us/highschoolintern.aspx) and on the bulletin board outside the Career Center. These paid internships are competitive and prestigious- a real boost to any resume and college application. Microsoft encourages people of color, females and students with disabilities to apply. Bus passes will be given to interns, who will need to provide their own transportation to the Redmond campus. Applications will be accepted now and through the deadline in March. Students interested in applying should let Julie Burr, Coordinator of Work Based Learning, know of their interest.

• Calling out to all student pilots here at AHS! If you are currently (or will be soon) a pilot, please contact me at kirk.cieszkiewicz@gmail.com so that we can arrange for your recognition in this year's Yearbook!

• The following colleges are visiting AHS this fall! Sign up in room 11 if you are interested in attending!
Washington State University: November 9 at 1 PM
Air Force Academy Presentation: November 10 at 1 PM
Naval Academy: November 22 at Noon
Montana Tech of the University of Montana: November 28 at 1 PM

• Recycle More! Tips and Free Compostable Bag Sample from King County
Fall is here, so it’s time to think about recycling your leaves and storm debris – and your food scraps!

If you don’t already have curbside yard waste service, now is a good time to subscribe. It's easy to sign up -- and you can recycle your food scraps and food soiled paper along with your yard waste. Start with delivery pizza boxes, fruit and vegetable trimmings and paper napkins.

Your garbage hauler will collect your yard waste and food scraps in the yard waste cart and it will be recycled into nutrient-rich compost that can be used in yards and gardens.

Receive a free compostable bag sample from King County to help you get started. King County residents outside the city of Seattle may request a free compostable bag sample by e-mail at sample.swd@kingcounty.gov or by phone at 206-296-4466.

For more information, visit www.recyclefood.com or become a Recycle More Facebook friend at www.facebook.com/recyclemore.

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

Quote of the Week:
“How far that little candle throws his beams!
So shines a good deed in a naughty world.”

~William Shakespeare, Merchant of Venice, much later adapted to "So shines a good deed in a weary world" by David Seltzer for the 1971 film Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

NOTAM 103111

2011-10-30T19:40:00.000-07:00

AVIATION HIGH SCHOOL
31 October 2011

What’s Happening this Week:

Monday: Have a ‘spooktacular’ day of learning!

Tuesday: Begin Thanksgiving Food Drive
Essays due to Ms. Burr if interested in attending Joe Sutter dinner Nov. 12!
Robotics Team Meeting 6:00 – 8:00 PM

Wednesday: Seattle Pacific University Presentation 1:00 PM
Film Club Meeting after School in Mr. Savishinsky’s Room
Youth Venture in room 6 3:45 – 5:15 PM

Thursday:
PTSA General & Auction Meeting 6:30 – 8:30 PM, AHS Room 10
Robotics Team Meeting 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Friday: Recruiting at Cascade Middle School

Saturday: “Flying Cross Country with Your Wife, Mother and the Navy”
Honeywell lecture recalls the story of Cal Rogers’ epic 1911 flight across the U.S. See details in Notes & Announcements

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE
With today marking the start of second quarter and the anticipation and increased activity of the holiday season just around the corner, it’s a reminder that time flies more quickly than we often realize. As you begin this new quarter of learning, I hope you will slow the clock a bit to reflect on your progress and recommit to your learning goals. (Yes…I know I reminded you to do this last week, too…I promise not to do so next week if you promise to remind yourself!) First quarter progress reports will be mailed to you and your parents by end of week.

Our Speech & Debate team traveled to their fist competition of the year at Gig Harbor High School this past Friday and Saturday. Partners Serena Simkus and Abdul Firoz as well as Jimmy Nguyen and Austin Turnidge received awards for Public Forum Debate. Competitors Amy Parker, Benton Coblentz, Dylan Smith, Zach Perry, and Deanta Kelly all barely missed awards for their respective events. Congratulations, team and Coach Shiroma who reported, “It was an excellent showing for our first tournament and we hope to be even stronger in future competitions.”

"Congratulations to the AHS Film Club for producing a film that was awarded Best Picture in the Student Division for the Renton Film Frenzy! The club received the Curvee Award and $250!"

Many thanks to the following AHS ambassadors who provided an outstanding presentation to eighth graders at Sylvester Middle School last Friday: Emilio Anselmo, Navath Nhan, Sophia Casam, Lauren Crom, Austin McHenry, David Hartranft, Paula Cieszkiewicz, Davis Yoshida, and Julio Gonzalez-Ortiz. And, a very special thanks to Mr. Mike Shafa (whose son Navid graduated last year) for transporting the robot! This Friday, another group of ambassadors will be presenting a Cascade Middle School. And…I would be remiss if I did not publicly thank Jacob Hoag who took it upon himself to gain approval from his former middle school to promote AHS. This type of initiative speaks volumes about Jacob’s commitment to learning and paying it forward!

It’s auction season! Congratulations to the Skunkworks for holding a very successful dinner and dessert auction last Friday evening. And, a reminder to everyone that the PTSA Auction will be held November 19 at the Museum of Flight. Tickets are on sale now and items are still being accepted for both the silent and live auctions. For more information, please contact PTSA President Teri Katzer at tkatzer@msn.com.

All AHS students and families: The 2011 National College Fair will be held November 4 & 5 at the Washington State Convention Center in downtown Seattle. Admission is free. To register: https://www.gotomyncf.com/. I highly encourage you to take advantage of opportunities such as this to become better informed about college options. Seniors…it is important to be in constant search and check mode regarding scholarship opportunities. There are many scholarships that go unclaimed each year for lack of applicants. Ms. Carper keeps an updated list of scholarships that she then provides to your advisors; however, there are more than Ms. Carper can possibly communicate to you! Be your own best advocate in finding ones that may not be on the list!

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

NOTES & ANNOUNCEMENTS:
• Mentors available: With 125 Mentors already matched with 245 AHS mentees, we still have 4 highly qualified Mentors from the aerospace/aviation industry waiting to be paired with an AHS student. If you want to participate and be matched with a mentor who can coach you, take you on job shadows, share his or her network with you- contact Julie Burr and she will pair you with the best match. While we normally target sophomores for participation in the Mentor program, any interested and motivated student will be considered.
• A description of high school summer internships at Microsoft is available online (http://careers.microsoft.com/careers/en/us/highschoolintern.aspx) and on the bulletin board outside the Career Center. These paid internships are competitive and prestigious- a real boost to any resume and college application. Microsoft encourages people of color, females and students with disabilities to apply. Bus passes will be given to interns, who will need to provide their own transportation to the Redmond campus. Applications will be accepted now and through the deadline in March. Students interested in applying should let Julie Burr, Coordinator of Work Based Learning, know of their interest.
• Former Sylvester Middle School Students, please come to the main office to pick up your portfolios.

• Calling out to all student pilots here at AHS! If you are currently (or will be soon) a pilot, please contact me at kirk.cieszkiewicz@gmail.com so that we can arrange for your recognition in this year's Yearbook!
• Dustin Abrahamson and Royce Le are making a video scrapbook composed of montages of interviews, photos, and video documenting the school year for his senior project. It is similar to a yearbook but slightly different. Many other high schools make these video scrapbooks and find they are a good way to raise school spirit. In order to ensure this project’s existence at AHS, we encourage you to donate your photos from the Aviator’s Ball and any other event throughout the year. You can either bring hard copies into the office or you can send electronic copies to dabrahamson@yahoo.com.

• The following colleges are visiting AHS this fall! Sign up in room 11 if you are interested in attending!
Seattle Pacific University: November 2 at 1 PM
Washington State University: November 9 at 1 PM
Air Force Academy Presentation: November 10 at 1 PM
Naval Academy: November 22 at Noon
Montana Tech of the University of Montana: November 28 at 1 PM
• On Nov. 5 aviation historian and author Mike Lavelle will present the sometimes-madcap story of the first flight across the United States, "Flying Cross Country with Your Wife, Mother and the Navy in 1911." In 1911 aviator Cal Rodgers tried to win the $50,000 prize offered by publisher William Randolph Hearst to the first pilot to fly across the U.S. within 30 days. Lavelle's presentation is a fast-moving summary of the challenges, misfortunes and triumphs as Rodgers completed what was considered an impossible feat at the time. The 2 p.m. program is sponsored by Honeywell, and free with admission to the Museum.

Cal Rodgers failed to win the Hearst prize, but he completed an epic, 4000-mile journey crisscrossing the country in 49 days and 82 flying hours. Sitting bravely on the leading edge of his Wright EX Flyer named Vin Fiz, Rodgers was involved in 16 accidents resulting in broken legs, a concussion and a twisted spine. Yet with the 69 planned and unplanned landings en-route, Rodgers introduced the age of the flying machine to thousands of average Americans.

Aviation historian and author Mike Lavelle is the Director of Public Programs at The Museum of Flight. His is also a certified flight instructor and aircraft mechanic, and he is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society of Great Britain. Lavelle has made presentations to universities, museums and aviation groups on topics ranging from early aviation to the jet age.

• Recycle More! Tips and Free Compostable Bag Sample from King County
Fall is here, so it’s time to think about recycling your leaves and storm debris – and your food scraps!

If you don’t already have curbside yard waste service, now is a good time to subscribe. It's easy to sign up -- and you can recycle your food scraps and food soiled paper along with your yard waste. Start with delivery pizza boxes, fruit and vegetable trimmings and paper napkins.

Your garbage hauler will collect your yard waste and food scraps in the yard waste cart and it will be recycled into nutrient-rich compost that can be used in yards and gardens.

Receive a free compostable bag sample from King County to help you get started. King County residents outside the city of Seattle may request a free compostable bag sample by e-mail at sample.swd@kingcounty.gov or by phone at 206-296-4466.

For more information, visit www.recyclefood.com or become a Recycle More Facebook friend at www.facebook.com/recyclemore.

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

Quote of the Week:

“This will be an exciting year for AHS, not just because of the vast academic possibilities, but because the school will soon reside in a beautiful new building on The Museum of Flight campus. A better match is hard to imagine: a museum rich in aviation and aerospace history within arms’ reach of the students who will be the world’s next aviators, robotic engineers and space explorers.”

~Stephanie Jones Gunn, Outside Education Coordinator at The Museum of Flight and
AHS Intro to Robotics Instructor
Aloft Magazine, September/October 2011 Edition

NOTAM 102411

2011-10-23T19:14:00.001-07:00

AVIATION HIGH SCHOOL
24 October 2011

What’s Happening this Week:

Monday: An extraordinary day of learning!

Tuesday: Robotics Team Meeting 6:00 – 8:00 PM

Wednesday: Film Club Meeting after School in Mr. Savishinsky’s Room
See announcement for additional detail!
Senior Class Meeting During Advisory-gym
Youth Venture in room 6 3:45 – 5:15 PM

Thursday: Scarecrow/Pumpkin Contest!-during Advisory

6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Robotics Team Meeting

Friday: Marketing & Recruiting at Sylvester Middle School
(End of Qtr. 1) Picture Re-Takes in the Gym 9:15 – 10:15
Speech and Debate Practice 2:15 to 4:30 PM
Robotics Team Dinner & Dessert Auction 6:00 PM in Cafeteria

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE
This Friday is the official end of first quarter! Report cards will be mailed within the next week. When you receive yours, give yourself a pat on the back for results that indicate superior progress…and then revisit your learning goals to make adjustments in what you may need to do to get the outcomes you envision. And, keep working hard as the year continues to progress. First semester ends on January 19, 2012.

We are entering the marketing and recruitment season to select students for Aviation High School’s Class of 2016. I will be calling on students to assist with presentations to each of the four middle schools in Highline Schools. Our first one is scheduled for this Friday at Sylvester Middle School; next is Cascade Middle School on November 4, then Pacific Middle School on November 18. We will also present at Chinook Middle School sometime before the winter holiday break. Evening information programs for 8th graders and parents will be held on November 9, December 1 and January 12, each from 6:00-8:30 p.m. I will be asking some of you to serve on a Q&A panel at these programs, and teachers will also be asking for help with demonstrations of learning and interacting with our guests. As always, we appreciate the active involvement and ambassadorship of our students.

The following students are commended for an outstanding panel presentation on Wednesday, Oct 19 at the Digital Avionics Systems Conference (DASC) in downtown Seattle: Jake Hecla, Kris Hartelius, Andrea Wooley, Paula Cieszkiewicz, Grace Cieszkiewicz, Drew Wall and Austin Jackowski. The following is a report from Ms. Burr, who chaperoned the students to the conference: “Without exception, the students were articulate…thrilled the audience and gave them hope for the future workforce…made AHS shine as it should, and answered on-the-spot questions from the audience of engineers, such as What is engineering? (They were looking for innovative problem solvers). There was one PhD Physics in the audience who teaches for Lockheed Martin, who bantered back and forth with our students…and they held their own. When one member of the audience suggested that our students may perhaps be missing out on humanities, our students wowed them by sharing that one of their biggest surprises at AHS was finding an outstanding humanities program!” GREAT job, everyone!

At the request of Senator Maria Cantwell, I am providing testimony today to the Aviation Subcommittee of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. The topic of the hearing is “The Aviation Workforce: Industry and Labor Perspectives on Training Needs and Challenges.” I’ll be speaking about Aviation High School’s history, successes and challenges, and addressing the need for schools like ours to be replicated throughout the State and country to provide both the quality and the quantity of STEM-proficient workers needed in the aerospace industry. I will also be making a recommendation for a higher level of support from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to ensure that our educational programming is response to emerging workforce needs. Dustin Abrahamson and Karan Singh, student reports for the Phoenix Flyer are also attending the hearing, so expect to learn their perspectives in a future edition of the school newspaper. My testimony will be posted on our website within the next couple of weeks; and eventually, all of the witness (there are several) testimonials will be posted on the Senate website. If you are curious about the process for providing testimony or just want to chat about workforce needs and Aviation High School’s role in responding to the critical gaps, please know that I would welcome a conversation with you. It’s good to be curious!

That’s it for this week, Scholars! My best to you as you complete the first ¼ of the school year in grand style! I am honored to be your principal. ~Reba

NOTES & ANNOUNCEMENTS:

• Former Sylvester Middle School Students, please come to the main office to pick up your portfolios.
• Youth Venture will meet on Wednesdays in room 6 from now on until winter break (with the exception of Nov. 23) 3:45 – 5:15 p.m.
• Interested in film producing or making films? The film club is bringing in film producer Caroline Cumming to hold a workshop on film producing Wednesday, Oct 26 after school in Mr. Savishinsky’s room.
• On Saturday, November 12, the Royal Aeronautical Society is sponsoring the annual Joe Sutter Black Tie Dinner & Lecture at the Museum of Flight. This year’s featured speaker is Dennis O’Donoghue, Vice President of Boeing Test & Evaluation, whose speech is titled “The Quest for the First (Operational) Supersonic V/STOL Fighter: A Look Back at 60 Years of VSTOL Flight Research.” Mr. O’Donoghue is an experimental test pilot with more than 1,700 hours logged on all models of the Harrier, the world’s first operational V/STOL tactical jet aircraft. He will take an informative and entertaining look back at six decades of V/STOL flight research with videos, photos and personal stories. Aviation High School is fortunate to have a few aerospace leaders who are offering sponsorships for Aviation High School students. If you are interested in being sponsored to this prestigious event, please write a 350-500 word essay explaining why you want to attend and what you envision as the benefits of doing so. Please be specific. Essays are due to Ms. Burr in the College & Career Center by November 1, 2011.
• New Transcript Request Forms are available in the main office. Requests for transcripts must be submitted by Wednesday for pick up on Friday.

• Reminder to student drivers – do not park in No Parking Zones and please observe the 10mph speed limit and drive safely. Warnings will be issued to first time offenders. Loss of driving privileges is at the other end of the spectrum.
• Dustin Abrahamson and Royce Le are making a video scrapbook composed of montages of interviews, photos, and video documenting the school year for his senior project. It is similar to a yearbook but slightly different. Many other high schools make these video scrapbooks and find they are a good way to raise school spirit. In order to ensure this project’s existence at AHS, we encourage you to donate your photos from the Aviator’s Ball and any other event throughout the year. You can either bring hard copies into the office or you can send electronic copies to dabrahamson@yahoo.com.
• No Lunch Time Visitors, please! - Guests of students who arrive for lunch time will be asked to leave the campus. All visitors must have pre-arranged approval by school administrators to be on campus during the school day or school related activities.
• Females: You may want to apply for a 2011-12 NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing. Deadline is 10/31/2011. All the details and online application can be found at www.aspirationsaward.org .
o Note: NCWIT encourages all girls to apply, not just the superstars. They are looking for ASPIRATIONS in computing and IT, not just accomplishments

o This year 30 local programs are being offered around the US in addition to the National award. They expect to recognize as many as 500 students this year. National winners will receive:
-$500 cash award
-a laptop computer
-a trip to the Technology Stars of the Future showcase on March 10, 2012 in Charlotte, NC

 Local winners receive various prize packages
• Fantastic learning and community service opportunity coming up Saturday, November 12, 2011 from 8:00-4:00. You can help out at the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Technical Symposium at the Sea-Tac International Airport Conference Center. More information is on the bulletin board inside the career center. Contact Julie Burr or Nancy Pappas in the Career Center for more info, or sign up on the bulletin board. Do it soon!
• The following colleges are visiting AHS this fall! Sign up in room 11 if you are interested in attending!
Seattle Pacific University: November 2 at 1 PM
Washington State University: November 9 at 1 PM
Air Force Academy Presentation: November 10 at 1 PM
Montana Tech of the University of Montana: November 28 at 1 PM
• Continue checking the AHS website or logging on to school computers to get updated information on events and meetings.

Quote of the Week:
“You cannot fail in any laudable object, unless you allow your mind to be improperly directed.” ~Abraham Lincoln – July10, 1848

NOTAM 101711

2011-10-16T20:42:00.001-07:00

AVIATION HIGH SCHOOL
17 October 2011

What’s Happening this Week:
Monday: College Visit at 9:00 AM
 Smith College

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

Wednesday: Juniors: WASHINGTON AEROSPACE SCHOLARS presentation during Advisory in the gym!
Speech and Debate Practice 3:45 to 5:00 PM
College Visits at 1:00 PM
 UW Bothell
 Harvey Mudd College

Film Club Meeting after School in Mr. Savishinsky’s Room

Thursday: Brown Bag Lunchtime Conversation with AHS grads attending
Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) in MA—Room 10! Come hear how our grads are adapting to college life and learn more about WPI!

6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Robotics Team Meeting

Friday: Speech and Debate Practice 2:15 to 4:30 PM

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE
We now have a full slate of ASB representatives after last week’s election for Freshmen Class Captains. Congratulations to Chetan Grewal and Austin Coleman who will now represent their class as part of the ASB! Kudos to all the other freshmen who campaigned for office, too, showing their Phoenix pride and commitment to serving as a school ambassador—Alydy Sorm, Andrew Tabalbag, Brandon Shaw, Bridget Heiland, Emma Murray, Evan Hobbs, Giovanni Hittman, Isabella Carraturo, Jimmy Mata, Jonah Graves, Khoa Nguyen, Michael Torrey, Nicole Do, and Will Clawson. The spirit that is being exhibited by the freshman class is inspiring!

Congratulations to future pilot Jacob Wagner who soloed on October 3rd and is now well on his way to earning his private pilot’s license! Jacob enrolled in and successfully completed our Private Pilot Ground School course during his freshman year, which resulted in receiving the Right Stuff Award from his ground school instructor. He began taking flight lessons at Galvin Flying this past summer. If you don’t know Jacob, he is a junior at AHS, actively involved in ACE Club, and interested in attending Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) in Prescott, Arizona. Along with a group of other AHS students, Jacob was sponsored to visit ERAU last summer. If you are interested in a similar education and career pathway, stay tuned for opportunities that will move you closer to realizing your goals and dreams. Another trip, possibly two to ERAU will be available again this year.

Each year, our wonderful PTSA sponsors an auction to provide enhanced support for the AHS instructional program. Revenue from the auction helps us to upgrade our technologies, take field trips to colleges and universities and The Museum of Flight and robotics competitions, enhance classroom supplies and materials, etc. This year’s auction will be held on Saturday, November 19 at the magnificent Museum of Flight.
A committee of parent volunteers is hard at work to procure auction items and ensure that all the seats are sold for the dinner and auction. The planning and organization for this annual event is complex, time consuming, and oh, so very appreciated by the entire Aviation High School community. If your family wishes to contribute an item for the auction, or if your parents wish to attend, contact Teri Katzer at ahsauction@aviationptsa.org, obtain forms from the office or www.aviationptsa.org. Tickets are limited to adults only, but there will be a need for student volunteers to assist on the day/evening of the auction.

Juniors: I am encouraging you to seriously consider participation in the Washington Aerospace Scholars (WAS) program! AHS students who were selected for the program last year will be sharing their learning and excitement for WAS this Wednesday during Advisory. You will learn about application requirements and expectations if you are selected. Applications are due November 4 and may be downloaded at www.museumofflight.org/was.

The first quarter of the school ends October 28, just 11 days from now. Now is a very good time to review your academic goals and check your progress in each class to ensure that you are on track for learning. Make each minute of every class count, and if you need help, ask for it. Your teachers are here to assist you every day; so is our Counselor Ms. Carper, Career Readiness staff Ms. Burr and Ms. Pappas, Assistant Administrator Mr. Kelly, Special Services Coordinator Ms. Barrow, and yours truly. All of us are committed to helping you achieve your high school, college, and career goals. Don’t hesitate to tell us what you need. Doing so is assuming responsibility for your own learning, which is essential for success. Please know how honored I am to be your principal. ~Reba

From your ASB:
October Activities
1. On October 26, ASB will be holding a scarecrow and pumpkin decoration competition among class advisories.
2. Currently each class is working on their PTSA Auction items. The Senior Class will going around during advisories for the next two weeks to get their propeller signed for the auction.

NOTES & ANNOUNCEMENTS:

• New Transcript Request Forms are available in the main office. Requests for transcripts must be submitted by Wednesday for pick up on Friday.

• Reminder to student drivers – do not park in No Parking Zones and please observe the 10mph speed limit and drive safely. Warnings will be issued to first time offenders. Loss of driving privileges is at the other end of the spectrum.

• Dustin Abrahamson and Royce Le are making a video scrapbook composed of montages of interviews, photos, and video documenting the school year for his senior project. It is similar to a yearbook but slightly different. Many other high schools make these video scrapbooks and find they are a good way to raise school spirit. In order to ensure this project’s existence at AHS, we encourage you to donate your photos from the Aviator’s Ball and any other event throughout the year. You can either bring hard copies into the office or you can send electronic copies to dabrahamson@yahoo.com.

• No Lunch Time Visitors, please! - Guests of students who arrive for lunch time will be asked to leave the campus. All visitors must have pre-arranged approval by school administrators to be on campus during the school day or school related activities.

• Females: You may want to apply for a 2011-12 NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing. Deadline is 10/31/2011. All the details and online application can be found at www.aspirationsaward.org .
o Note: NCWIT encourages all girls to apply, not just the superstars. They are looking for ASPIRATIONS in computing and IT, not just accomplishments

o This year 30 local programs are being offered around the US in addition to the National award. They expect to recognize as many as 500 students this year. National winners will receive:
-$500 cash award
-a laptop computer
-a trip to the Technology Stars of the Future showcase on March 10, 2012 in Charlotte, NC

 Local winners receive various prize packages

• Attendance reminder to parents: The district requires a parent to call AHS each day of a student absence. State requires a written note to excuse an absence; therefore, an absence cannot be excused until a note is received upon student return to school and parent contact is made.

• Fantastic learning and community service opportunity coming up Saturday, November 12, 2011 from 8:00-4:00. You can help out at the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Technical Symposium at the Sea-Tac International Airport Conference Center. More information is on the bulletin board inside the career center. Contact Julie Burr or Nancy Pappas in the Career Center for more info, or sign up on the bulletin board. Do it soon!

• The following colleges are visiting AHS this fall! Sign up in room 11 if you are interested in attending!
Seattle Pacific University: November 2 at 1 PM
Washington State University: November 9 at 1 PM
Montana Tech of the University of Montana: November 28 at 1 PM

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

Quote of the Week:
Dream, Discover, Soar!
~The Museum of Flight’s inspiring message to students and the public

NOTAM 101011

2011-10-10T07:00:00.000-07:00

AVIATION HIGH SCHOOL
10 October 2011

What’s Happening this Week:

Monday: Oberlin College Visit 9:30 a.m.

ASB is holding a mascot naming contest (starting today) in the office. There will be a box placed in the office and students can submit name choices for our Phoenix mascot.

Tuesday: A Block Schedule Day

6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Robotics Team Meeting

Wednesday: Six Period Day
All Sophomores will take the PSAT Beginning 1st Period and Ending at Noon
Sophomores who do NOT have Mr. Savishinsky, Ms. Fitz, or Ms. Dyer first period will report to the gym instead of 1st period. Attendance will be taken in the gym for these sophomores.

Freshmen Class Captain Election during Advisory—Gymnasium

Film Club Meeting After School in Mr. Savishinsky’s Room

Thursday: B Block Schedule--Clubs

6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Robotics Team Meeting

Friday: No School—State Professional Development Day for Educators

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE
Congratulations to Collins Mbugua on his selection as an Outstanding Participant in the National Achievement Scholarship Program and to Sean Crowley for his selection as a Commended Student in the program. Both students are receiving this recognition for quality performance on the Preliminary SAT test. Adding this recognition to their college applications and resumes lets college admission representatives and employers know that they are serious and hard-working students. We’re proud of you, Collins and Sean!

The first dance of the school year was held this past Saturday evening, and by all accounts, it was a grand success. Congratulations to the ASB and Advisor Ms. Fitz for their leadership to ensure that the Aviator’s Ball was enjoyed by so many!

On Saturday, November 12, the Royal Aeronautical Society is sponsoring the annual Joe Sutter Black Tie Dinner & Lecture at the Museum of Flight. This year’s featured speaker is Dennis O’Donoghue, Vice President of Boeing Test & Evaluation, whose speech is titled “The Quest for the First (Operational) Supersonic V/STOL Fighter: A Look Back at 60 Years of VSTOL Flight Research.” Mr. O’Donoghue is an experimental test pilot with more than 1,700 hours logged on all models of the Harrier, the world’s first operational V/STOL tactical jet aircraft. He will take an informative and entertaining look back at six decades of V/STOL flight research with videos, photos and personal stories. Aviation High School is fortunate to have a few aerospace leaders who are offering sponsorships for Aviation High School students. If you are interested in being sponsored to this prestigious event, please write a 350-500 word essay explaining why you want to attend and what you envision as the benefits of doing so. Please be specific. Essays are due to Ms. Burr in the College & Career Center by November 1, 2011.

Attention Seniors who are planning to pursue an education and career pathway in engineering: Thanks to the wonderful partnership our school has developed with Rolls Royce, there is a superb scholarship opportunity for one, possibly two seniors this year! It’s called the Spirit of Excellence Award in Engineering Innovation. In addition to a monetary award of $5,000, the recipients also get their names engraved on the fan blade of a RR Trent 1000 engine which is proudly displayed in the Main Office. Former recipients of this award include Lydia Johnston (Class of 2011) and Griffin Nicoll (Class of 2010), both well respected scholars and future engineers/innovators. The recipients of the award are expected to attend the Joe Sutter Dinner Lecture on November 12th where they will be recognized by the Royal Aeronautical Society and executives of Rolls Royce. The dinner is complimentary to the recipients and their parents. Application guidelines will be available from Ms. Carper and/or Mrs. Hiranaka by Wednesday of this week. Application due date is October 20—next week!

From the ASB:
Activities in October:
1. On October 26th 2011 ASB will be holding a scarecrow and pumpkin decoration competition among class advisories.
2. Currently each class is working on their PTSA Auction items. The Senior Class will going around during advisories for the next two weeks to get their propeller signed for the auction.

As everyone may know, this past Saturday ASB held the first dance of the year—the Aviator’s Ball. There were many students who came and we had the biggest turn out ever! Students gave feedback that they had a lot of fun and they really enjoyed the music and decorations. We would like to thank all the chaperones and Kelli Katzer and Jordyn McCluen the Senior Class Captains for planning the event.

NOTES & ANNOUNCEMENTS:
• Reminder to student drivers entering and leaving campus to observe the 10mph speed limit and to drive safely. Warnings will be issued to drivers for first offense.
• AHS does allow student visitors who express interest in the school to arrange for a tour. All visitors must check in with the office. However, we do not have a provision to bring guests for lunch. Guests of students who arrive for lunch time will be asked to leave the campus.
• Females: You may want to apply for a 2011-12 NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing. Deadline is 10/31/2011. All the details and online application can be found at www.aspirationsaward.org .
o Note: NCWIT encourages all girls to apply, not just the superstars. They are looking for ASPIRATIONS in computing and IT, not just accomplishments

o This year 30 local programs are being offered around the US in addition to the National award. They expect to recognize as many as 500 students this year. National winners will receive:
-$500 cash award
-a laptop computer
-a trip to the Technology Stars of the Future showcase on March 10, 2012 in Charlotte, NC

 Local winners receive various prize packages

• Attendance reminder to parents: The district requires a parent to call AHS each day of a student absence. State requires a written note to excuse an absence; therefore, an absence cannot be excused until a note is received upon student return to school and parent contact is made.

• Parking Permits: Must be picked up in the main office ASAP!

• Free or Reduced Price Meals: Applications MUST be submitted by Wednesday, October 12, 2011. Applications are available in the main office.

• Fantastic learning and community service opportunity coming up Saturday, November 12, 2011 from 8:00-4:00. You can help out at the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Technical Symposium at the Sea Tac International Airport Conference Center. More information is on the bulletin board inside the career center. Contact Julie Burr or Nancy Pappas in the Career Center for more info, or sign up on the bulletin board. Do it soon!

• Part time paid position as stage crew at the PAC. All application materials due Oct 12th, so if you’re interested, get more information from Ms.Burr/Ms. Pappas or look on the bulletin board across the hall from the career center.

• Clover Park Technical College in Lakewood has new Aviation/Aerospace programs they would like you to know about. Professional Pilot, Aviation Maintenance, Composites/Material Science, Non-Destructible/Testing, Manufacturing Technologies. If you are interested or would like more info, contact Loren Davis, Loren.Davis@cptc.edu

• The following colleges are visiting AHS this fall! Sign up in room 11 if you are interested in attending!
Smith College: October 17 at 9 AM
UW Bothell: 1 PM October 19
Harvey Mudd College: October 19 at 1 PM
Seattle Pacific University: November 2 at 1 PM
Washington State University: November 9 at 1 PM
Montana Tech of the University of Montana: November 28 at 1 PM

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

Quote of the Week:
“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.
Don’t be trapped by dogma—which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of other’s opinions drown out your own inner voice.
And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”
~Steve Jobs, 2005 Commencement Speech, Stanford University

NOTAM 100311

2011-10-02T18:32:00.000-07:00

AVIATION HIGH SCHOOL
03 October 2011

What’s Happening this Week:
Monday: Spirit Week – All School Pep Assembly! Modified schedule as follows:

0800 - 0850 Period 0
0900 - 0940 Period 1
0945 - 1030 Period 2
1035 - 1120 Period 3
1125 - 1210 Period 4
1210 - 1240 Lunch
1245 - 1255 period 5
1255 - 1350 Assembly
1355 - 1440 Period 5
1445 - 1530 Period 6

Tuesday: 3:30 – 6:00 p.m. Harry Potter Movie Night! $2.00 Admission/Food Fee
See Notes and Announcements for additional details

5:00 – 6:30 p.m. New Mentor Orientation Room 2

6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Robotics Team Meeting

Wednesday: Freshmen Class Captain Election
1:00 p.m. Worcester Polytechnic Institute Presentation (sign up in Counseling Center)

Thursday: 3:45 – 4:45 p.m. Culture Club Potluck-Get-Together. Share a favorite family dish!

6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Robotics Team Meeting
6:30 – 8:30 p.m. PTSA Board Meeting

Friday: 2:00 p.m. Student Dismissal; Staff Professional Collaboration Time 2:15-3:45 PM

Saturday: 8:00 – 11:30 p.m. Aviator’s Ball

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE

We start the week with fond memories of Saturday evening’s Pathfinder Gala and with gratitude for the individuals and companies who provided sponsorship for 106 AHS students, 10 chaperones, and 8 AHS grads to be among the guests who celebrated the accomplishments of this year’s honorees Carolyn Corvi and Steve Fulton. The AHS community represented approximately 25% of the audience! This speaks volumes about the positive way in which our school is viewed by leaders in aviation and aerospace.
Pathfinder attendees, I’m confident that you have expressed your gratitude in the thank you notes or letters that you have written to your sponsor. A reminder that they are due today, along with your homework Reflection paper, to Mrs. Hiranaka in the Main Office.

An FYI to all that our generous sponsorships came from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Peter and Sarah Anderson of Galvin Flying, Peter and Marie Morton, Sea-Tec Consulting, The Boeing Company, John Purvis (MoF trustee), Virginia Mason Medical Center, and the AHS PTSA. They are all amazing supporters who believe that investing in our youth is the right and good thing to do. As Peter Morton stated in an email message to me yesterday, “Being involved with AHS is deeply rewarding and enriches my life. These students are our future leaders and Pathfinders!”

Special thanks go to our Pathfinder interns and students who participated in the VIP tour on Friday. Interns were Salina Abraham, Jenny Gao, Jessica Lewis, Emily Kelly, and Libanos Redda. Other AHS participants included Evan Hobbs, Emilio Anselmo, Beemnet Workeneh, Lauren Crom, Austin Spores, Dustin Werran, Hunter McSwain, Jacob Wagner, Jennifer Luoma, Drew Wall, and Sydney Miller. You were engaging, inspiring, and informative ambassadors! And to every AHS student who attended the Pathfinder Gala: Please know how very proud I was of you on Saturday evening! You suited up and showed up in grand style, displaying exquisite manners and communication skills. I have received so many nice messages about how you conducted yourselves, and they are all well deserved! You bless me! Chaperones Mr. Ward, Mr. & Mrs. Hiranaka, Mr. Kelly, Mr. Shiroma, Mr. McComb, Mr. Joshi, Ms. Wilson, Ms. Pappas,-- you, too, are a blessing to us all!

Congratulations, Honor Society for sponsoring a successful Blood Drive last week and for all the AHS donors who bravely contributed. The coordinator of Puget Sound Blood Center, in a thank you note to Serena Simpkus and Mr. Ward noted that they registered 39 donors this year, with 20 of them being first-time donors. Potentially, 117 patients will reap the rewards of this generosity since each donation can be given to three people in need. Among those who benefit from blood donations are cancer patients, trauma and burn victims, people suffering from immune deficiencies or hemophilia. If you didn’t donate this time…then perhaps next time?

Enjoy today’s assembly that has been organized by ASB representatives and all the spirit leading up to the Aviator Ball this Saturday evening! It is sure to be spectacular!

In last week’s NOTAM, I mistakenly listed Gabby Ramirez as being one of the students interviewed by KING TV. Our Gabby’s last name is Rivera! My sincere apologies, Gabby! We truly appreciated your outstanding participation in the interview!

My best to everyone for an inspiring and engaging week of learning! I am honored to be your principal! ~Reba

NOTES & ANNOUNCEMENTS:
• National Honor Society is having their next Harry Potter movie night fundraiser this Tuesday, October 4th, in Mr. McComb's room. Cost is $2.00 for food/admission. Pizza will also be available for an additional $1.50 per slice. We will be watching the second Harry Potter movie in the continuation of our series, which is The Chamber of Secrets. Stop by on Tuesday and help out NHS! Bring some friends and dress up as your favorite characters. The movie will start right after school, and probably end around 6:00 p.m.

• Clover Park Technical College in Lakewood has a new Aviation/Aerospace programs they would like you to know about. Professional Pilot, Aviation Maintenance, Composites/Material Science, Non-Destructible/Testing, Manufacturing Technologies. If you are interested in knowing more about Clover Park’s offerings, contact Loren Davis, Loren.Davis@cptc.edu

• Seeking actress for film to be made for film frenzy on weekend of Oct 7. Filming will happen at the dance, so you wouldn't need to skip. Contact Kevin Schilling if interested. Kevinschilling@rocketmail.com or find in hallway, he is the tall senior ginger who has a beard.

• On Thursday, October 6, we will be having a large potluck get-together in which we all share our favorite family food. We hope to see you all there! Culture-It’s who we are! Acceptance- It’s what we do!

• Sophomores and Juniors will be taking the PSAT on Wednesday, October 12
at 9 A.M. The PSAT is a practice assessment and prediction tool for the higher stakes testing that occurs in the spring of junior year and throughout the senior year. When taken in the junior year, students may qualify for National Merit Scholarships. National Merit Scholarships are $2500.00 awards or higher given to the highest scoring entrants in each state. Student guides will be distributed in advisory this week. If you are a freshman interested in taking the PSAT, please see Ms. Carper.

• Parents, teachers and staff as well as community supporters of STEM and Aviation High School may want to consider becoming a mentor to a high school student interested in aviation/aerospace. A “New Mentor Orientation” is scheduled for this Tuesday, October 4th, 2011 from 5:00-6:30 PM in Room 2 at AHS. All are welcome, both new mentors, continuing mentors and those considering becoming a mentor. Commitment is a minimum of one year, with breakfast meetings scheduled for 10/19/11, 12/14/11, 2/15/12, 4/18/12 and 5/16/12. These events are scheduled to facilitate meetings between mentors/mentees but are not mandatory and schedules for meetings can be developed between the student and professional. For more information, attend the orientation, or contact Julie Burr at Julie.burr@highlineschools.org.

• The following colleges are visiting AHS this fall! Sign up in room 11 if you are interested in attending!
Worcester Polytechnic Institute: October 5 at 1 PM
Oberlin: 9:30 AM October 10
Smith College: October 17 at 9 AM
UW Bothell: 1 PM October 19
Harvey Mudd College: October 19 at 1 PM
Seattle Pacific University: November 2 at 1 PM
Montana Tech of the University of Montana: November 28 at 1 PM

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

Quote of the Week:
“Experience is what you get when you didn’t get what you wanted.”
-Randy Pausch/The Last Lecture

NOTAM 092611

2011-09-26T14:27:00.000-07:00

AVIATION HIGH SCHOOL
26 September 2011

What’s Happening this Week:
Monday: 9:00 – 3:00 p.m. Blood Drive in the gym--Come help out the National Honor Society and help save lives by donating! Must be 16 years or older and weigh over 110 pounds

6:30 p.m. Search for Superintendent Public Meeting at Bow Lake Elementary

Tuesday: 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Robotics Team Meeting
6:30 p.m. Search for Superintendent Public Meeting at White Center Heights Elementary

Wednesday: 3:30 p.m. Film Committee leadership meeting after school in Mr. Savishinsky's room

Thursday: Clubs during Advisory!
3:45 – 4:45 p.m. Culture Club every Thursday. Culture Club is open to anyone and everyone. No need to sign up, just come! Room 24

6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Robotics Team Meeting

Friday: 12:00-2:00—VIPs on campus—Pathfinder recipients, ERAU reps, Mr. Peter
Morton, Museum of Flight CEO Doug King & Other aerospace leaders!

Saturday: 12:00 – 2:00 p.m. Scoop on Cool Careers. See posted flyers for details!
4:00 – 9:30 p.m. 30th Annual Pathfinders Gala at The Museum of Flight!

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE

We’re back to our own reality today after being in the company of President Obama yesterday! I hope that yesterday’s experience will be one that you will forever remember, recognizing that you were sitting in seats that other students and schools would have given anything to occupy!

While I know that it was disappointing not to hear our school mentioned during the President’s speech, I hope that any disappointment you may have felt yesterday is replaced with joy in knowing that it was truly an honor to have been invited! I imagine that for most of us it may represent a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Our school already hit a home run in being the ONLY school selected to attend based on a track record of exemplary student achievement and serving as a Lighthouse Model of STEM Excellence. And after all, about a half million people watched the story on KING TV that aired last Thursday, featuring AHS students Benton Coblentz, Austin McHenry, Katie McConville, Paula Cieszkiewicz, Emory Eng, Gabby Ramirez, Serena Simkus, and Jonah Graves. These scholars handled themselves like pros, and I was immensely proud of all of them!

Political speeches ultimately come down to the amount of time the speaker has to deliver what he believes is most politically astute to say to the people who are supporting him. Yesterday’s program ran late…the crowd was eager to hear him speak…and he was scheduled for another event in California that evening.

We all witnessed politics in action! Now it is time to reflect on what you experienced. What were the highlights for you? What are your wonderings and wishes? What will be different for you as a result of this experience? Your teachers will be facilitating conversations with you this week, and most likely throughout the entire school year, about the various aspects of yesterday’s experience. I am interested in hearing your feedback, too, so I’ll be stopping by classes and conversing with you in hallways and during lunchtime.

My congratulations to each and every one of you in the AHS learning community! You are stars! Our local community, the State of Washington, and the Federal government have all embraced Aviation High School in a huge way because of YOU and your commitment to making a positive difference in the world! You have much to be proud of along with unlimited opportunities to realize your goals and dreams!

On a different note, our entire freshman class is at the Museum of Flight today to familiarize themselves with the amazing resources that are available there. Their visit will include tours of the Space Gallery, Red Barn, Personal Courage Wing, Great Gallery, AirPark, and Library/Archives. They will not have time to experience every aspect of the Museum and its programs today, but the good news is that they can revisit the Museum on their own time (with no admission fee) because their Aviation HS ASB card also serves as a membership card. The same is true for every other student at AHS, so I encourage you all to make frequent weekend trips to the Museum. There is much to explore!

Congratulations to Jenny Gao and Davis Yoshida Davis who have been selected as National Merit Semifinalists. Both were selected based on their achievement on the PSAT. Those selected as semifinalists represent less than one percent of each state’s high school seniors! Jenny and Davis are now contenders for a National Merit Scholarship Award, which could be up to $20,000. This is an outstanding honor for both scholars, so please congratulate them when you see them.

Thank you to Mrs. Lisa Fischer (mother of freshman Austin Fischer) for facilitating Etiquette Training last week for the 106 students who will be attending Pathfinder this Saturday evening. This is a record number of AHS students who have been selected, thanks to the generosity of various sponsors, including our PTSA. It will be a grand evening! Attendees: Reminder that the ERAU Career Fair starts at 4:00 PM in the Allen Theater, and parents are encouraged to attend with you. Meet your chaperone in front of the gift shop at 5:15 p.m. please for a group photo. We will then proceed to the Great Gallery for the reception, which will be followed by dinner and the Pathfinder interviews. . Parents should plan to pick you up between 9:15-9:30 p.m. If you have any questions about Pathfinder, please check in with me this week. Remember to write your thank-you card or letter on Sunday to turn in to Mrs. Hiranaka on Monday! I look forward to spending the evening with you.

My best for an inspiring week of learning, accompanied by deep reflection on Sunday’s visit with the President! I am honored to be your principal! ~Reba

NOTES & ANNOUNCEMENTS:
• Clubs officially begin this Thursday! On Wednesday in Advisory you will learn which club you will be participating in. Enjoy!

• For those who have been coming to Culture Club, there is no need to remind you how fun it has been! For those who haven’t joined us, Culture Club is open to anyone and everyone, no need to sign up, just come! Room 24, 3:45-4:45 every Thursday. This week we will have an all-club kickball game, and everyone is encouraged to join in. On Thursday, October 6, we will be having a large potluck get-together in which we all share our favorite family food. We hope to see you all there! Culture-It’s who we are! Acceptance- It’s what we do!

• Sophomores and Juniors will be taking the PSAT on Wednesday, October 12
at 9 A.M. The PSAT is a practice assessment and prediction tool for the higher stakes testing that occurs in the spring of junior year and throughout the senior year. When taken in the junior year, students may qualify for National Merit Scholarships. National Merit Scholarships are $2500.00 awards given to the highest scoring entrants in each state. Student guides will be distributed in advisory this week. If you are a freshman interested in taking the PSAT, please see Ms. Carper.

• Parents, teachers and staff as well as community supporters of STEM and Aviation High School may want to consider becoming a mentor to a high school student interested in aviation/aerospace. A “New Mentor Orientation” is scheduled for October 4th, 2011 from 5:00-6:30 PM in Room 2 at AHS. All are welcome, both new mentors, continuing mentors and those considering becoming a mentor. Commitment is a minimum of one year, with breakfast meetings scheduled for 10/19/11, 12/14/11, 2/5/12, 4/8/12 and 5/16/12. These events are scheduled to facilitate meetings between mentors/mentees but are not mandatory and schedules for meetings can be developed between the student and professional. For more information, attend the orientation, or contact Julie Burr at Julie.burr@highlineschools.org.

• The following colleges are visiting AHS this fall! Sign up in room 11 if you are interested in attending!
Worcester Polytechnic Institute: October 5 at 1 PM
Oberlin: 9:30 AM October 10
Smith College: October 17 at 9 AM
UW Bothell: 1 PM October 19
Harvey Mudd College: October 19 at 1 PM
Seattle Pacific University: November 2 at 1 PM
Montana Tech of the University of Montana: November 28 at 1 PM

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

Quote of the Week:
“Be the change you want to see in the world.”
~Gandhi

NOTAM 091911

2011-09-18T18:26:00.001-07:00

AVIATION HIGH SCHOOL
19 September 2011

What’s Happening this Week:
Monday: Beginning of an awesome week of learning!
Lunchtime: Ms. Fitz’s Classroom--Freshmen interested in being a Class Captain

Tuesday: 10:00 a.m.—Representative Tina Orwell on campus!
Lunch time: AHS Film Committee in Mr. Savishinsky’s Room (more
Info in Notes section of NOTAM)

3:30-4:30 p.m. Music Club in Mr. Savishinsky‘s Room #21 (see Notes
section for additional information)

6:00 p.m.—Evening of Learning for Parents/Guardians (Please: No students on campus unless invited by a staff member. Parents: come at 4:45 if you want to attend the Helping your Student Succeed session; arrive at 5:40 if your student has a 0 hour class; Welcoming session begins at 6:00 p.m. in Gym. Please remember to bring your child’s schedule of classes.)

Wednesday: Pacific Northwest Business Aviation Association (PNBAA)
Charity Golf Tournament in Redmond. AHS golfers Devon Gumke &
Allen May have been invited to participate. Proceeds go to AHS scholarships.

3:45-5:30 p.m. Etiquette Training in Gym for Pathfinder Attendees!

Thursday: Another magnificent day of learning!

Friday: 9:00 a.m. Yale University representatives on campus—sign up in
Counseling Office if interested in attending

Saturday: First dance of the school year, sponsored by ASB! Tickets on sale all week!

Sunday: An opportunity to meet President Obama! Read Ms. Gilman’s
message for more information.

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE
Thank you to everyone who submitted an essay to express interest in attending the 30th Annual Pathfinder Awards at the Museum of Flight on October 1, 2011. We have been approved to take 103 students, which includes four Pathfinder interns and five musicians. By noon today, a list of those accepted will be posted on the windows of the Main Office and in the hallways of the entrance to the Cafeteria. Please be sure to check the list, and if your name is on it, plan to attend Etiquette Training (ET) this Wednesday from 3:45-5:30 p.m. Even if you have previously attended ET, you must do so again this year if you want to participate as an AHS-sponsored student!

So…about the opportunity to meet President Obama! A fundraiser is being held for him at the Paramount Theater in downtown Seattle this Sunday from approximately 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., and Aviation High School staff and students (yes…all of us!) have been invited to attend because of our designation as a Lighthouse Model of STEM Excellence by the Washington State Legislature and because of our relationship with The Museum of Flight that leads to our being a premier education reform model for the entire country. Our participation in this event is in no way an endorsement of the President’s candidacy for the Office of President of the United States.
Those who pay $10,000 for a table will be there in obvious support of his run for office. We will be there at no cost, sitting in the balcony of the Paramount, in the same room with the President of the United States to be recognized as a school of excellence, enjoying the entertainment that is being provided and hearing President Obama deliver his speech to the Seattle audience. My current understanding is that there will be a time for questions directed to the President, so hopefully, some will be taken from our AHS delegation. By end of the school day, as I learn more about the event, I am hoping to have a letter for you to take home and share with your parents tonight that provides more details and expectations (transportation to and from the event, dress code, chaperones etc.) For now, please know that attendance at this event is by invitation-only, and it is an honor that we have been invited. Please do discuss your participation with your parents tonight and be prepared to let your first period teacher know tomorrow if you can participate! And…look forward to Sunday!

I am indeed honored to be your principal! My best for an exciting and deeply meaningful week of learning as you embrace the SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and timely) goals you developed in Advisory last week. ~Reba

NOTES & ANNOUNCEMENTS:
• "Interested in film? Want to explore editing, sound, lighting, acting, writing, and all things magical? Visit Mr. Savishinsky's room at lunch on Tuesday to learn about the new and improved, AHS Film Committee."
• AHS Music Club is open for business! Are you a musician, or would you like to learn an instrument? Are you interested in learning and playing music with folks who share your interests? Do you think it would be cool to start your own band? Then join the Music Club! We are a small but dedicated group of musicians working to improve our skills, start bands, and have fun, and we invite you to join us. Any skill level and any style of music are welcome. We have a few instruments to share, and we’re working on fundraising to add to our collection. Music club meets after school on Tuesdays in room 21 with Mr. Savishinsky. No signup required, just come join us on Tuesday.
• National Honor Society's first blood drive of the year is coming up on September 26th, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the gym. Sign up sheets are available in the office, but you must be at least 16 years old and weigh over 110 pounds. If you are under 18 and haven't donated blood before at our school, you will also need a parent consent form to be filled out, also located in the office. Make sure to stay hydrated the week before you donate, and eat a meal 1 to 2 hours before you donate to make the process easier. Come help out National Honor Society and help save lives by donating!"
• The following colleges are visiting AHS this fall! Sign up in room 11 if you are interested in attending!
Yale University: September 23 at 9 AM
Worcester Polytechnic Institute: October 5 at 1 PM
Smith College: October 17 at 9 AM
Harvey Mudd College: October 19 at 1 PM
Seattle Pacific University: November 2 at 1 PM
Montana Tech of the University of Montana: November 28 at 1 PM
• Highline is seeking a new Superintendent who will assume duties starting in the 2012-2013 school year. If you would like to provide input about the characteristics you believe Highline needs in our next Superintendent, two public meetings are scheduled:
Monday, September 26, at 6:30 p.m. at Bow Lake Elementary.
Tuesday, September 27 at 7:30 p.m. at White Center Heights Elementary.
Interpreters will be available at both meetings. More info available at HSD401.org.
• 2011 Scoop on Cool Careers is being held on Saturday, October 1 from noon-2 p.m. at the Microsoft Conference Center in Redmond. Flyers are posted in the hallways and cafeteria which provide detailed information.
• Parking passes are now available in the front office. Please stop by before/after school/at lunch to pick yours up.
• Continue checking the AHS website or logging on to school computers to get updated information on events and meetings.

Quote of the Week:
“Change your thoughts and change your world!”
~Norman Vincent Peale

In Memoriam: To Pilot Jimmy Leeward and all the victims and families who suffered losses and injuries at the Reno Air Show. Our hearts go out to all of you.

NOTAM 091211

2011-09-11T16:54:00.000-07:00

AVIATION HIGH SCHOOL
12 September 2011

What’s Happening this Week*:
Monday:
Tuesday:
Wednesday
• Lunchtime: ASB is holding auditions for Phoenix Mascot—Gymnasium
• WA Governor’s Aerospace Summit at ShoWare Center—Student Ambassadors are
Lauren Crom, Skye McCowen, Sophia Casim, Michael Torrey, & Beemnet
Workeneh
Thursday
• Picture Make-up Day
• WA Governor’s Aerospace Summit—Same student ambassadors as Wednesday plus
Jacob Wagner, Emory Eng, & Henry Lemming
• Club Fair during Advisory (see information below)
• Pathfinder Essays due!
Friday
• John Boyd, Executive Director of Teaching on Learning on campus 9:00-10:30 a.m.
Student Dismissal @ 2:00 p.m.

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE

Welcome to our first full week of learning! No more short weeks for awhile…just lots of opportunities to maximize your learning, become actively involved in sports of the mind teams such as Robotics, Science Olympiad, Speech & Debate, or clubs such as Culture Club, National Honor Society, etc. Remember…you are building your resume during high school as you prepare for college, career, and citizenship. College admission representatives and employers want to know that you are well-rounded as a scholar and as a citizen. Fortunately, AHS offers many great opportunities for you to develop your teamwork and citizenship skills through active participation in an activity of your choice.

In addition to extra-curricular activities, AHS will again offer in-school clubs this year on every other Thursday after lunch. Club time helps students explore their interests and passions and many are unique ones that you wouldn’t find at another high school. This Thursday during Advisory you will attend Club Fair in the Gymnasium to check out what’s being offered this year. Be sure to look around, read the descriptions, and ask the student representatives any questions you may have. If you were involved in a specific club last year and want to return, don’t worry; there are some spots reserved as long as you sign up. You may only join ONE club. Once you sign your name, wait for more information to come your way. Most clubs have a limit, and once those spots are filled, you will have to find another one. You will commit to this club all year long, so make sure you pick something that you will enjoy…there are plenty to choose from!

You will note that in this edition of the NOTAM I have started with an overview of the week’s activities. I am resuming this practice as the result of staff, student, and parent requests to provide it even though these same events may be listed on the AHS calendar! Please continue to check the AHS calendar listed on our website for additional information.
What I provide is an overview only and may not include all of the activities that will be posted throughout the week.

I close my message this week with a thank you to all for your Phoenix spirit that is evident everywhere! I have had some great conversations with many of you since school has started, and in every instance, I’ve repeatedly heard how much you are enjoying being an AHS student! Please know how glad we are to have each and every one of you with us this year! I also close with great anticipation of reading your Pathfinder essays at the end of the week! A reminder that Etiquette Training will be held next Wednesday, September 21 from 3:45-5:30 p.m. in the Gym for those selected to attend. If you still need a Pathfinder packet, pick one up in the Main Office. Remember…you’re building your high school resume!

My best for an awesome week of learning! I am honored to be your principal—Reba
Looking forward to next week:
Invitations to our annual Evening of Learning were mailed last week. Parents/guardians, we look forward to seeing you on Tuesday, September 20th. Come early at 4:45 p.m. if you want to attend a session on how to help students be successful; otherwise, we’ll gather in the gymnasium promptly at 6:00 p.m. for Welcome & Introduction of Staff.

From your ASB:

FRESHMEN: Are you interested in helping plan all school events such as dances and assemblies? Creating a community of inclusion and school spirit? Having the time of your life? If you answered yes to any of those questions, stop by Room 22 (Ms. Fitz) during lunchtime on September 19th or 20th for an informational meeting on being a Class Captain. Freshmen only need to attend one, and not both, of the lunch meetings to pick up an application packet and learn about what ASB is all about!

NOTES:
• Continue checking the AHS website or logging on to school computers to get updated information on events and meetings.
• Have you heard of Orienteering? It’s often known as the “Thinker’s Cross Country.” If interested in learning more, you may want to attend a session that is being held this Saturday September 17 by the Cascade Orienteering Club at Woodland Park in Seattle. You can get a “start time” anytime between 10:00 a.m. and noon. Get there about ½ hour early for registration and instruction. Courses range from 1 km-5km and should take less than an hour. Park in the parking lot just East of Hwy 99 on 50th Avenue. Follow the signs. Ask for Pat Kelly, father of freshman Deanta Kelly. Tell them you are from Aviation HS. The cost of the course is $5/solo or per group using one map. There may be a $1 charge to rent a compass if you don’t bring one. Any questions ask Patrick Kelly: mapperkelly@hotmail.com or 206.760.9554. This will be a fine intro of the sport to the AHS community. Volunteers will be on hand to instruct you in navigating with a map and compass. Parents are encouraged to try a course as well.

Quote of the Week: In the field of observation, chance favors only the prepared mind… Louis Pasteur.

NOTAM 090611

2011-09-05T16:19:00.000-07:00

AVIATION HIGH SCHOOL
06 September 2011

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE

Welcome everyone to a new school year at and the continuation of your learning journey!

If you are new to our learning community, you may be wondering, “What is the NOTAM?” In aviation, it means Notice to Airmen. At Aviation High School, it is our version of what other schools may call their weekly bulletin. It is our primary communication to both students and families to inform you of key events and opportunities to extend your learning. We will post the NOTAM to our website http://www.AviationHS.org late on Sunday evenings so that you can become well informed before the school week starts. Your first period teacher will also review the NOTAM with you each Monday and post a copy on a classroom bulletin board. Please make it a habit to regularly read the NOTAM and also check the calendar that is posted on the AHS website to ensure that you have the latest information about events and happenings within the school community. We will provide as many reminders as possible in the NOTAM, but since we only publish once a week it is important that you check the calendar often throughout the week.

Some important events to consider this week include:

 The Skunkworks Robotics team will have a short meeting after school today (Tuesday September 6th) in Room 7, which is Mr. Steele’s classroom. Anyone interested in being on the team this year is encouraged to attend. An evening meeting from 6:00-8:00 PM will also be held for all team members and interested students. Parents are welcome, too!
 The Museum of Flight will be holding its annual Pathfinder Gala on October 1. AHS students consider this to be their ‘homecoming’ since we do not have a football team. The Museum, along with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Peter Anderson of Galvin Flying Service, and a few other aviation leaders sponsor AHS students to attend each year. To learn more about this magnificent event, pick up a packet in the main office from Mrs. Hiranaka. If interested in attending, start writing your essay, which is due to me by Friday, September 16. If you are selected to participate, you must then attend Etiquette Training on September 21 from 3:45-5:30 p.m. Complete details are in the packet! Hope to read your essay and learn of your interest in meeting this year’s award recipients Ms. Carolyn Corvi and Captain Steve Fulton, both whom have made astonishing contributions to aviation and aerospace! For more information about Pathfinder, please feel free to consult with me, your teachers, or Pathfinder interns Jenny Gao, Emily Kelly, Salina Abramson, Libanos Redda, and Jessica Lewis.
Please note: AHS student musicians have been performing during the Pathfinder reception for the past few years. This year, Jessica Lewis is in charge of this responsibility. If you are a string musician and would like to be part of the ensemble that performs this year, please let Jessica know ASAP!

Parents: Please mark your calendars for Tuesday, September 20 for an Evening of Learning, which is our fall open house. An invitation will be sent to you this week. When it arrives, please have your student fill in his/her schedule and bring it with you that evening. After a welcome and introduction of staff in the gymnasium, you will then be attending classes! We look forward to seeing you for this important event!

Attention Juniors & AHS Staff: The Museum of Flight offers a wonderful opportunity for juniors to learn about space exploration and development through a program called Washington Aerospace Scholars (WAS). AHS students have applied and been accepted to participate in this prestigious learning experience since its inception in 2005. Colleges and universities as well as aerospace employers are now recognizing the WAS program as an invaluable experience for Washington State students. Participation is a resume-builder and tremendous learning opportunity! To apply for the 2012 WAS program, check the Museum’s website at www.museumofflight.org/was. Student applications are due by November 4th. AHS staff members who want to serve as a staff assistant must also make application, due by October 28. (FYI: Last year’s recipients will soon be holding an information session for interested students. Stay tuned for more information.)

In closing, I wish to thank all of you for a smooth opening to the 2011-2012 school year. Our enrollment is 430 students, our largest attendance since opening our doors in 2004. I stand in awe of your enthusiasm and commitment to learning. And, I encourage you to make every minute of learning count this year as you pursue your goals for college and career. The sky is NOT the limit at AHS. As always I am honored to be your principal.
~Reba

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

Quote of the Week:
“The most beautiful experience we can have is the mysterious.”
~Albert Einstein

Blue Angels

2011-08-01T09:23:00.000-07:00

Keeping with tradition, Aviation High School will officially welcome the incoming freshman class on Friday, 5 August with a presentation by members of the Blue Angels Flight Team. We'll gather in the Executive Hangar of Galvin Flying at 7:45 a.m. Galvin Flying is located at 7149 Perimeter Rd S, Seattle.The program usually ends around 9:15ish followed by picture taking if the flight team has enough time before their next scheduled event. While this event is for freshmen and their families, if you missed attending in a previous year, you are welcome to join the fun this year. Just let the office know in advance, please: 206.716.0006.

NOTAM 0602011

2011-06-19T19:48:00.000-07:00

20 June 2011

Principal’s Message

Time does fly, along with airplanes, spacecraft, and birds! Our school year is coming to a close as of 12:00 p.m. next Monday, 27 June. This will be the last NOTAM of the school year, so my Sunday homework of writing it goes away until school resumes in September.

Speaking of school ending…I’ll miss you all! It’s been a great year at AHS. Each year when students depart for summer break, I always find myself reflecting on how much I have learned from all of you. Children truly are our greatest teachers! Thank you for your gifts of both teaching and learning.

And speaking of school starting again…I wish I could tell you the official start date, but the calendar has not yet been determined for 2011-2012. I am hoping that it will be soon, which could possibly be this week. Be assured that as soon as we know, we will inform you—on both the AHS and PTSA websites and letters mailed to your homes if necessary. Please continue to check the websites over the summer.

Keeping with tradition, Aviation High School will officially welcome the incoming freshman class on Friday, 5 August with a presentation by members of the Blue Angels Flight Team. We’ll gather in the Executive Hangar of Galvin Flying at 7:45 a.m. The program usually ends around 9:15ish followed by picture taking if the flight team has enough time before their next scheduled event. While this event is for freshmen and their families, if you missed attending in a previous year, you are welcome to join the fun this year. Just let me know in advance, please.

Congratulations to everyone who has interviewed for a summer internship! Ms. Burr reports that we have approximately 40 internships lined up for summer in a variety of aviation-related companies. Continue to check with Ms. Burr or Ms. Pappas to learn of new opportunities, as there could be more over the summer. You may also wish to attend the Society of Flight Test Engineers symposium from 8 – 12 August; it will be a great opportunity for you to learn more about the world of flight test and to network with professional engineers. Contact Ms. Burr for details.

Congratulations to Liam Wingard who just recently was recognized as an Eagle Scout! Earning an Eagle is a result of lots of hard work and commitment. We commend you, Liam!

Congratulations to our seniors who are now graduates of the Class of 2011! They have now officially commenced to life after high school! Their graduation ceremony was inspiring with speeches by Olivia Pham, Betsy Smith, and Jim Stone as well as their selected staff speaker Mr. McComb. And…it was well organized, thanks to our wonderful Ms. Juarez who served as graduation coordinator.

One more note about next Monday: We’re cooking a pancake breakfast for you! You won’t want to miss our culinary delights! :-)

To everyone within the Aviation High School learning community: Thank you for believing in the vision and mission of our school and doing your part and then some to support students and their learning. That’s what it is all about! As always, I am honored to lead this amazing learning community and to be your principal. Best wishes for a summer of fun and continued learning. ~Reba

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

Quotes of the Week:
The sky is NOT the limit!
Believe in yourself and the unlimited possibilities that await you!
Have fun this summer!
Continue to learn this summer!
Carpe Dies! Seize them all!

NOTAM 061311

2011-06-13T20:47:00.000-07:00

13 June 2011

Principal’s Message

Our seniors graduate this Saturday evening at ShoWare Center in Kent. A reminder that, while ShoWare is a huge venue, we are only using a portion of it for commencement ceremonies and admission is by ticket only. A reminder to seniors, too: Mandatory graduation practice will be held this Friday from 9:00 a.m. -12:00 p.m. in the gym. You are expected to attend the remainder of your classes after grad practice. Enjoy your last week at AHS and know that you will be very much missed when you depart for college and your next steps in life. You have made an everlasting impression upon us all!

Congratulations and thanks to:

Ms. Ciccone-Cook, Ms. Wombold, and the seniors for a very inspiring Literature Night that was held last week!

Jeffrey Reynolds and Elizabeth Ong for competing in the Normandy Park Arts Fair and placing first in their respective divisions.

Peter Keckemet who received word late last week that he has been accepted to the Summer of Excellence program at WSU! The program is run by the Honors College during the last week of June.

Navid Shafa on his selection as the 2011 recipient of the Hubble Award recipient and Lydia Johnston on her selection as the 2011 recipient of the Phoenix Award, AHS’s two top honors.

Culture Club & ASB for planning a spirited and fun program last Friday afternoon. Go, AHS staff for winning the dodgeball competition! J Do you think that will ever happen again?? And…the rose ceremony was absolutely spectacular. What a special way to show gratitude, Seniors, as you conclude your high school career. It was spectacular and very heartwarming!

PTSA for sponsoring the ice cream social last Friday!

Yearbook staff for producing an outstanding Yearbook! It has character!

Mr. McComb, Ms. Wombold, Mr. Shiroma, and Mr. Joshi who, along with me, facilitated instruction for seniors this past Saturday. I appreciate your willingness to give up a Saturday with your own families to work with our senior family! May we never have to do so again, though! :-)

Next year, there will be some personnel changes at AHS:

As you may or may not have yet heard, Ms. Durrant has resigned from her position as 9th grade Science/Physics of Flight, Science Olympiad and 10th grade Health instructor to accept a position at Ballard High School. Ms. Durrant is a gifted and passionate teacher with a heart for helping all students succeed. We wish her the very best in her new position and appreciate the commitment that she has given to AHS during her two years with us.

After joining the administrative ranks in 2008, Mr. McComb longs to be back in the classroom, facilitating learning for students each and every day. With Ms. Durrant leaving the position that Mr. McComb first held when he joined the AHS staff in 2005, he will be returning to Room 6 to inspire the next cohort of AHS students to become scientists, engineers, researchers, technicians, and aviation/aerospace workers and exemplary citizens. While I’ll miss him as my administrative colleague, it makes my heart sing to think of all the students who will benefit from his teaching! We are currently advertising for an Assistant Principal.

Ms. Bonnie Lefevre, our registrar/bookkeeper for the past several years graduated from Central Washington University on Saturday and has been offered an elementary teaching position with Teach for America. She departs 21 June for training in Los Angeles prior to entering a Nevada classroom in late August to greet her first class of students. We are immensely proud of Bonnie and equally sad to see her leave AHS. She has worked hard to earn her degree, occasionally lamenting that she is the oldest in the class, but as we all know, she is young in spirit and limitless in her potential. Good luck, Bonnie! We expect to interview candidates for the registrar position this week and are hopeful that we will have a separate bookkeeping position.

Mr. Joel Carey bravely stepped in to fill our Office Manager position in January when Lenore Stark moved to Spokane. Having worked in this position a little over five years ago and being familiar with our marketing and recruitment processes and most aspects of the school, Joel agreed to take the position through the end of June. It has been such a blessing to have this talented man on staff, and although we’ve tried to convince him to stay longer (after all, why you want to be anywhere else?), Joel is a man of his word and will honor the commitment he made to his family when he accepted our interim position. We are currently interviewing applicants to fill the large shoes that Joel will leave behind.

Stay tuned for updates regarding new hires who will soon be joining the AHS team.

And, that’s it for this week! I am honored to be your principal—Reba

Notes & Announcements:

Want to fly? Scholarships available!
Open to any teenager
Any teen 16 or older who would love to take flying lessons has the opportunity to win $3,500 for flight lessons. Details can be found at http://karlenepetitt.blogspot.com/2011/06/win-3500-and-learn-how-to-fly.html. Karlene Petitt is a pilot for Delta Air Lines. She currently flies the A330 and is based in Seattle. She graduated from Highline High School in 1980, and her daughters graduated from Mt. Rainier, 2001, 2002, and 2004.

Open to young women in class of 2014
Katie McConville and Lauren Crom have designed a program called Women With Wings which will provide seven young women (including the founders) with the opportunity to take flight by funding you up to your solo stage of flight instruction. Next year will be the inaugural year of Women With Wings, and applications will not be given out until December 2011. However, if you are interested in applying to Women With Wings, you MUST enroll in Ground School at AHS for your sophomore school year (if you have not taken and passed the course already). More information will be given out next year, but if you have any questions please contact ahs.womenwithwings@gmail.com.

Want to play athletics at Evergreen?
Students interested in playing a fall sport at Evergreen must go online, print and fill out the appropriate paperwork, and bring a complete packet to Evergreen. All potential athletes also need to have physical exam completed; the sooner the better. Available sports include football, volleyball, cross country, girls’ swimming, and girls’ soccer.

Message from the PTSA
Congratulations to Robert Rencher who was voted in as secretary for our 2011-2012 board. We also send a heartfelt thank you to John Corrigan and Kaylen Reynolds who have served on the board for the past few years. You gave your time and energy to help AHS and you will be missed!

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

Quote of the Week:
It's wonderful to climb the liquid mountains of the sky. Behind me and before me is God and I have no fears.
~ Helen Keller, at age 74, on flight around the world

NOTAM 060611

2011-06-06T09:47:00.000-07:00

06 June 2011

Principal’s Message

As we move even closer to the end of the school year, we will continue to include important events, dates, and times in the weekly NOTAM.

Some important clarifications about this Friday’s All-School Awards Ceremony:
Dress code is your Monday-Thursday ‘business casual’ or better, please!
Leave your backpacks at home or in your classroom if you feel you must bring them to school (you won’t need them for class work!).
Check in with your advisor Friday morning, promptly at 9:00 a.m. so that attendance can be taken prior to loading the buses and departing for the Performing Arts Center no later than 9:10 a.m.!
Thank you for being both prompt and attentive as we celebrate the accomplishments of you and your peers at this year’s ceremony. It will be a grand morning followed by fun activities when we arrive back at school. School ends at 2:00 p.m. as it does most Fridays. Parents and families are invited and welcome to join us.

Congratulations and thank you’s are extended to:
Q Everyone who ran for Class Captain last week! I am in full agreement with ASB Advisor Ms. Fitz that any of the officer candidates would have served Aviation High School with pride and excellence. You have elected the following as your class leaders for the 2011-2012 school year:
Sophomores: Royce Le and Katie McConville
Juniors: Rangsey Touch and DeAundre Cola
Seniors: Jordyn McLuen and Kelli Katzer
The entire AHS community looks forward to working with next year’s ASB officers!

Q Everyone who helped make yesterday’s Senior Awards Ceremony so very special—PTSA, staff, student photographer Kayla Becker, and our outstanding supporters and scholarship donors in aviation/aerospace and the broader community! This year’s Senior Class of 2011 has collectively earned more than $1.5 million (a record amount among AHS’s graduating classes) in scholarship funds from colleges, universities, service organizations, and foundations. We were proud to present $45,950 from partners of Aviation High School within the Puget Sound region. Congratulations to the following recipients and genuine thanks to sponsors:
§ The Dan Hartley Award: Navid Shafa, $5,000; Spencer Noble $2,000; Betsy Smith $1,000; and Lydia Johnston $1,000
§ South Seattle Rotary (formerly Sodo Rotary): Melissa Lewis & Albert Ta, $500 each
§ Southcenter Rotary: Melissa Lewis, Albert Ta, & Olivia Pham, $1,000 each
§ Green River Pilots Association: Matthew Eaton $500
§ King County Bar Association: Albert Ta, $3,000
§ Rita Creighton Memorial: Steven Ponnoosamy, $1,000
§ Rolls Royce Spirit of Excellence: Lydia Johnston, $5,000
§ Incredible Award in honor of Joe Sutter: Casey Chandler, $5,000
§ James Ray Award for Humanity: Jennifer Minar, Jason Lemley, & Olivia Gleason, each $1,000
§ Galvin Flying Service: Matthew Eaton & Zach Johnson, $500 each
§ Jim Newman Award: Navid Shafa, $600
§ Northwest Aviation Insurance Association: Claire Fernandez, $1,000
§ Pacific Northwest Business Aviation Association: Olivia Pham, $5,000
§ AHS Family Award: Ha Doan, $500
§ Zayic Family Award: Navid Shafa, $500
§ Alumni Award: Jennifer Minar, $350
§ Aerojet: Navid Shafa, $1,000
§ Southwest King County Chamber of Commerce/SUCCESS Foundation: Hayk Saakian, $1,000
§ Washington State Honors Awards
§ Aviation High School PTSA Senior Project Awards: Jennifer Minar, Scott Anderson, Cameron Gibson, and Roman Vivarelli, $500 each
§ Aviation HS PTSA Random Drawings: Danielle Graves, Melissa Lewis, Olivia Gleason, Alex Cox, and Elizabeth Ong, $500 each

As our seniors prepare to transition to college and other post high school adventures, our juniors are gearing up for senior year, which means applying for experiences that will enhance their chances of getting accepted to their post-secondary institution of choice. Congratulations to:
§ Drew Hidalgo and Sean Crowley who just attended a week-long leadership school at Westpoint. Drew is now headed to the Summer Academy at the Air Force this week. Very impressive, gentlemen!
§ Peter Keckemet who has applied for the Summer of Excellence program at WSU!

I’m sure there are other students who have also applied for a summer experience or who are doing unique things to prepare for life after AHS. I would love to hear from you or your parents so that we can congratulate you, too!

Enjoy the week and the sunshine that will hopefully peek out to nourish us with some much-needed and appreciated Vitamin D! I am honored to be your principal—Reba

NOTES:
Senior Lit Night
You are all invited to our Senior Lit Night on Wednesday, June 8, in the gym, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Come see these future engineers show off their creative side (the right side of their brains) with poetry, monologues, songs, and skits. Refreshments will be served! The theme: Senior Night Live!

Ultimate Frisbee Practice
COME OUT AND PLAY ... with the AHS Co-ed Ultimate Frisbee team on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays through June 16 on the field behind AHS. These June practice sessions are open to all who want to explore this exciting sport. AHS just wrapped up a great first season, taking second in the championships. Six of our team players are graduating and we're seeking new players for next year, ESPECIALLY WOMEN! New players must sign a waiver form; you can get one from Coach Paul out on the field. Any questions? Ask Chris Lu and Jenny Luoma about how to get involved.
Graduation Tickets
Students who did not participate in senior skip day may pick up their tickets on Wednesday during lunch. Graduation tickets will be distributed on Saturday, 11 June to others. Students must have all fines paid before the school will release their tickets. If you have ordered extra tickets but not yet paid for them, you must pay for them when you pick them up.

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

Quote of the Week:
The airplane is just a bunch of sticks and wires and cloth, a tool for learning about the sky and about what kind of person I am, when I fly. An airplane stands for freedom, for joy, for the power to understand, and to demonstrate that understanding. Those things aren't destructable.
~ Richard Bach

IMPORTANT EVENTS, DATES, TIMES FOR REMAINDER OF SCHOOL YEAR:
Seniors
q Saturday, 11 June: Senior Make-Up Day: Seniors who chose not to attend school on Friday, 27 May will be in school this day or choose not to walk in graduation ceremonies.
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 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.

NOTAM 053111

2011-06-06T09:46:00.000-07:00

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

NOTAM 052311

2011-05-22T22:28:00.000-07:00

23 May 2011

Principal’s Message

Congratulations and thanks to:

The Junior Class (and especially Libby Redda and Sean Crowley) for sponsoring a spectacular Prom this past Saturday evening! It was a night filled with good times and glamor, and touching notes and smile-inducing pictures. The decorations were great; the music was danceable; the best part was the large amount of fun being had by all. Congratulations to our Prom Royalty: Collins Mbugua, Libby Redda, Miranda Sita, and Peter Nguyen. Thanks too to our chaperones: Drs. Katims, Messrs. McComb, Shiroma, and Ward, Mmes. Carper, Crowley, Fitzpatrick, Lee, Lefevre, Spiak, and Wombold, and to our hosts at the Experience Music Project.

Austin Chick, Jenny Gao, David Hartranft, Drew Hidalgo, Siva Hope, Cameron Jaxheimer, Sydney Miller, Matthew Petroske, and Libanos Redda on successful completion of the online portion of the Washington Aerospace Scholars program and their selection for the 2011 Summer Residency!

School ambassadors Albert Ta, Jenny Gao, Camila Palacio and Elsa Aguilar who joined Ms. Pappas to share the Aviation High School story at the Washington Airport Managers Association (WAMA) held last week in Seattle. The students shared their high school accomplishments, insights and college-and-beyond plans with a room full of professional airport managers and associates, along with describing the school’s culture, mission, academic rigor and the elements of our career readiness program. More mentoring and internship opportunities are being generated as a result of the high-quality presentation provided by the students and Ms. Pappas!

Our AHS Ultimate Frisbee Team for placing second after their 14 May game, winning 12-9 against Everett High School, and another stellar showing at the 21 May championship at Magnusson Park. Our Ultimate stars finished the season in second place within their division. Thanks to Jennifer Luoma, a custom-made frisbee is being donated for our trophy case that will forever recognize this inaugural team and its successes. Congratulations to all Ultimate members and your parents for starting AHS’s very first athletic team!

Our ASB officers and class captains for developing an inspiring and informative summary presentation of the 2011-2012 school year that was presented at the PTSA General Membership Meeting last week. It was superb, providing evidence of this spirited group’s commitment to AHS. Thanks to Ms. Fitz for being such a dedicated advisor, too!

Our amazing PTSA for all of their support all year long!

The following students who have been selected to tour the Arizona campus of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, leaving Seattle on Sunday, 10 July and returning late on Tuesday evening, 12 July: Emily Kelley, Lauren Crom, Natalie Carmichael, Abby Jarve, Molly Walsh, and Jennifer Luoma, Phillip Romero, Beemnet Workeneh, Max Wienke, Hunter McSwain, Austin Spores, and Jacob Wagner. All expenses are being paid by ERAU with the exception of incidentals (buying an ERAU shirt, munchies, etc.). Please note that these dates are NOT what I proposed in last week’s NOTAM, so if you are unable to participate during these July dates, please let me know by Wednesday of this week. Since we had far more applicants for this experience (all very qualified) than we can accommodate, please honor this deadline so that another student can attend if you are unable to do so. (FYI to students not selected: There will be another opportunity to visit ERAU, and I will place you at the top of the list if ERAU is still part of your college plans. I’m truly sorry that we are limited to 12 students.)

Ms. Ciccone-Cook for presenting to the Association of University Women last Saturday and doing such an outstanding job of sharing her passion for teaching and learning! Of course, they now want to schedule her for a second presentation in the fall. Thank you, Ms. Cook, for being such an enthusiastic teacher ambassador!

We have five full days of school this week before the 3-day Memorial Day weekend. (We will follow a Monday schedule on Friday.) Here’s to learning and to a safe and honorable Memorial holiday weekend.

I am honored to be your principal. ~Reba

Royal Aeronautical Society Internship (RAeS)
Two new internships are now available with the Royal Aeronautical Society. See Ms. Burr in the Counseling Center if you are interested in this career readiness experience. Interns will be selected tomorrow! Don’t miss an opportunity for great learning that can build your résumé and add to your college application!

NOTE:
o Continue checking the AHS website or logging on to school computers to get updated information on events and meetings. There, you’ll find things like:
PSTA Reminder: Cookie Dough delivery will be Tuesday, 24 May at 2:30.

Quote of the Week:
Man must rise above the Earth—to the top of the atmosphere and beyond—for only thus will he fully understand the world in which he lives.
— Socrates

NOTAM 051611

2011-05-15T20:15:00.000-07:00

16 May 2011

Principal’s Message

Great opportunities continue to come your way, students! Some that you may want to consider include:

College!

A summer trip to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott Arizona campus IF you intend to apply to ERAU in your senior year. Exact travel dates have not yet been determined but we are hoping for last week of June. ERAU covers the cost of airfare and houses you in one of their dormitories. The duration of the trip is usually two nights and three days. This opportunity is open to students in grades 9-11. If interested, please email me at gilmanrj@hsd401.org, explaining your goals for college and career and what you hope to experience as part of this college visitation. Emails due by this Friday, 20 May.

Scholarships
· The AHS packet is posted on our website and hard copies are available from senior advisors. Completed applications and essays are due to Ms. Carper on or before 23 May @ 1600 PDT.
· If you have been selected as a SoDo Rotary Student of the Month this year, please plan to have lunch (pizza and pop) with a few Rotarians TODAY, 16 May from noon to 1:00 p.m. in Room 2. This meeting provides another opportunity for a possible scholarship that will be awarded this year.

Career!

Summer Internship at AeroTEC! Do your research on the company and see Ms. Burr if you are interested in a $15/hour, full-time, eight-week experience this summer. Preference goes to seniors who plan to attend the UW this fall to pursue an Aerospace Engineering degree, but others will be considered as well if highly motivated and qualified (and 17 years old or older). Application materials are due on or before 1 June.

Internships continue to be posted on the internship board outside the office as they come available. Many students have already found theirs and are looking forward to working at places like Blue Origin (rocket ship company), OMAX (manufacturing company), with the Blue Angels, etc. Be sure to investigate and apply for these opportunities!

Citizenship!

Student-led conferences are taking place tonight and tomorrow night. It is your chance to articulate what you have learned and to explain how the work you are doing know will prepare you for the next step towards your goals.

A reminder to all that the PTSA is holding its General Membership Meeting this Thursday, May 19, from 7:00-8:00 p.m. in our gymnasium. Please plan to attend in support of our ASB officers and representative who will be providing a summary of this year’s activities and thanking the PTSA for their generous support. Incoming freshmen and their families have also been invited, so it’s a great opportunity to meet, greet, and welcome them to our learning community. There’s no school for students on the following day, Friday 20 May 20, so you can attend without the worry of getting your homework done that night! And…did you know that the S in PTSA stands for “Student?”

As most of you know, the State’s economy is not thriving. The legislature is working hard to balance the state budget, but that means across-the-board cuts in most everything, education included. In anticipation of a greatly reduced State budget, Highline Public schools must make plans to reduce costs for next school year. A ‘laundry list’ of considerations will be presented for community feedback at a Budget Workshop that is being held this Saturday, 21 May from 9:00-11:00 a.m. at Midway Elementary School. There are likely to be proposed cuts that will impact Aviation High School (last year, for example, one of the proposed cuts included changing the starting and ending time for our school day). District leaders do listen to what the community shares with them, so your attendance is important. Hopefully, you will also be able to express your thoughts online but we have not yet been given that information. Stay tuned!

Some congratulations and thanks are also in order:

Kudos to everyone who ran for ASB Executive Office; congratulations to those who were elected. Your officers for the 2011-2012 school year are Jenny Gao, president; Kevin Schilling, vice-president; Tran Tonnu, secretary; and, Karan Grewel, treasurer.

Hearty congratulations to two more AHS alumni from our inaugural Class of 2008 who have graduated from college! Natalie Nason earned her degree from Rocky Mountain College in Billings, Montana; and Joey Marco earned his degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida. Natalie and Joey are the second and third AHS alumni to graduate from college.

We had two groups of students submit entries into the Port of Seattle video contest; both won 2nd place. Congratulations to Kevin Schilling, Dustin Abrahamson, Jenny Gao, and Allison Do. The 2nd place prize is a $4K cash award!

AHS women were out in force at the Women Fly Day in Renton on Saturday. Over 65 girls and young women flew. Check out the following blog for more information: http://karlenepetitt.blogspot.com/2011/05/54-guest-fly-out-of-renton-airport.html

Skunkworks Robotics thanks all the students that prepared welcome home signs for the team. It was wonderful to see the support!! Thank you so much!!

My best to all for an exciting week of learning! Honored to be your principal—Reba

NOTE:
Continue checking the AHS website or logging on to school computers to get updated information on events and meetings. For example, on Tuesday, 17 May, the Royal Aeronautical Society is hosting a lecture by Guy Norris, an award-winning journalist, who will present “787 Dreamliner – The Story Behind the Story” at the Museum of Flight.

Quote of the Week:
As you pass from sunlight into darkness and back again every hour and a half, you become startlingly aware how artificial are thousands of boundaries we've created to separate and define. And for the first time in your life, you feel in your gut the precious unity of the Earth and all the living things it supports.
— Russell 'Rusty' Schweikart, returning from Apollo 9

NOTAM 050911

2011-05-09T06:26:00.000-07:00

09 May 2011

Principal’s Message

Congratulations to junior Jenny Gao on her selection as a WISH (Women in STEM High Schools Aerospace Scholars) recipient, which provides the opportunity to participate in the WISH Summer Program at Johnson Space Center with 39 other girls from around the world. When you see Jenny, you may want to ask about the application process that led to such a prestigious award!

Congratulations also go to Navid Shafa, our May Student of the Month for Sodo Rotary. Navid will be honored this Thursday at a noon luncheon in Georgetown.

Jordan Cross and Alex Cox recently applied for an internship with Hytek in Kent. After a very thorough interview process, both have been offered paid positions with Hytek this summer. They will be doing 3-D design for the finishing touches of the entire spectrum of airplane parts for Boeing and all the companies that Hytek serves. Congratulations, Jordan and Alex!

If you are interested in a summer internship, make it a point to check with Julie Burr in the counseling center and read the notices that she posts. Our goal at AHS is to connect every student with a mentor and with an internship. Ideally, you will do your internship in your junior year or the summer prior to senior year. The knowledge and skills you gain through mentoring, interning, and/or paid employment are key to informing your thinking about your college and career pathways. There are some fabulous opportunities available to AHS students, thanks to our many partners in aviation and aerospace. Don’t miss an opportunity to round out your résumé! FYI: Currently, there is a paid internship posted for Korry Electronics in Everett—check it out with Ms. Burr!

AHS students Danica Balsiger and Kyra Sutherland will be competing Saturday, 14 May in the Scottish Highland Dancing Northwest Regional Championships. The very best dancers from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, and Alaska compete to represent the region at the United States National Championship this summer. The championship is at Sylvester Middle School in Burien, and the ladies dance in the afternoon. Wish them luck when you see them this week. Better yet, show up to support them; admission is just $5.

Speaking of support, AHS’s inaugural Ultimate Frisbee team has the final match of their season on Saturday, 14 May at 4:30 p.m. at South Park Field (738 South Sullivan St., Seattle). They will be facing off against Everett High School and would appreciate your presence and cheers! Our team has had a great season! Since 2 April, they’ve played the following games: vs. Eastside Prep: 10-9 us; vs. Bush B: 10-6 us; vs. U Prep B: 9-4 us; vs. Garfield 9-8 us; vs. Woodinville 11-7 us.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the focus group interviews last week with Assistant Secretary of Education Dr. Brenda Dann-Messier. She was duly impressed! On Wednesday of this week, we are hosting two more VIP groups: from 9:00-11:00 a.m. representatives of the Pacific Northwest Business Aircraft Owners Association will be on campus; and from 1:00-3:00 p.m. we’ll have senior executives from Greenpoint Technologies in Kirkland on campus. We will be touring classes and asking you to share your learning and your goals for college and career with our guests.

Ellen Jetland is sponsoring a pet food drive that ends this Friday. She is requesting that you drop off food in grade level boxes located in the cafeteria each morning. Only cat and dog food are acceptable though it could be wet or dry. Food that is six months past the expiration date cannot be accepted. Previously opened dry food in original bag is acceptable. Ellen is asking us all to step up and help our less fortunate furry friends at the Seattle Humane Society. So…if you can contribute to Ellen’s project, please do so by Friday!

On 19 May, the PTSA will hold its annual General Membership Meeting from 7:00-8:00 p.m. in our gymnasium. Our ASB officers and representatives will be providing a review of the school year and thanking the PTSA for their very generous support to the instructional program, school clubs and activities. Parents and students: Let’s pack the gym! See you there!

That’s it for this week, Scholars! Learning counts—every minute of it! As always, I am honored to be your principal. ~Reba

PTSA Updates:

Year End General PTSA Meeting: Thursday, May 19th - AHS gymnasium 7:00 pm

PTSA Nominations for New Officers for 2011-2012: The AHS PTSA is seeking nominations for two board positions for the 2011 - 2012 school year. If you are interested or would like to nominate someone please contact: Barry Nelsen, Ace_construct@yahoo.com, phone 206 246 4883

Senior Grad Night Information: There has been a change of plans for the party. Tickets will be on sale Tuesdays and Wednesdays at the school through June. Price is $90.00 per person. You may also buy a ticket by sending payment to: Melanie DeWeese - 2321 S. 249th, Kent, WA 98032. Volunteers are needed to help pick up food from Costco, chaperone, take a group photo the night of and distribute copies afterward, set up car wash fundraisers. Contact Melanie DeWeese (206 824 1077 email: aviationgradnight@aviationptsa.org) for more information or to volunteer.

NOTE:
o We received a notice from the district’s Transportation Department last week asking that we remind everyone who rides a school bus that balloons, popcorn, candy, skateboards, rollerblades, sharp or bulky items cannot be transported in the passenger compartment of a school bus. Food that is sealed and confined inside your backpack and or lunch bag is okay. For the safety of all passengers and to comply with state laws, please follow these rules.
o Continue checking the AHS website or logging on to school computers to get updated information on events and meetings.

Jokes of the Week, courtesy of Mr. Ivy, our Tech Administrator:
Two silk worms had a race. They ended up in a tie.
Two hats were hanging on a hat rack in the hallway. One hat said to the other “You stay here; I’ll go on ahead.”
Two hydrogen atoms meet. One says “I’ve lost my electron.” The other says “Are you sure?” The first replies “Yes, I’m positive.”

NOTAM 050211

2011-05-02T07:32:00.000-07:00

02 May 2011

Principal’s Message

AHS students continue to inspire and amaze us all! Hearty congratulations to:

Albert Ta for a successful admissions appeal to the University of Washington! Yea, Albert, for being both agile and perseverant!

Libanos Redda and Phaevene Mekkonen for their acceptance to Bioquest for a summer internship where they will research causes and cures of infectious diseases.

Melissa Lewis on being selected by Blue Origin (Jeff Bezos’ space development company) for a paid summer internship! Melissa is the only high school student who has been chosen for what is normally reserved for college interns.

Betsy Smith on her selection as a Washington Scholar! This award is sponsored by Washington State’s Higher Education Coordinating Board in recognition of the most exemplary high school seniors within each legislative district of the State. Betsy was chosen from the 34th Legislative District, and depending on state economic conditions, she may (or may not) receive financial support for college tuition. We’re hoping that she does!

Our Skunkworks Robotics team, Coach Steele, Parents, Mentors, & Sponsors for an amazing 2011 season! They return to school today after a sensational trip to the World Championships in St. Louis, Missouri at which the team scored 8 wins and 2 losses in the qualification round and qualified 6th on their field. In a written update message from Coach on Sunday morning, he summarized as follows: “We lost in a hard-fought quarterfinal match. We averaged over 100 points in our matches for the tournament. The CAD team was one of only four teams to win an award in the Autodesk CAD Inventor competition; and senior Lydia Johnston received the Dean’s List Award (3500 applications, 102 finalists, and 10 winners—in the world!). During the closing ceremonies, the Skunkworks team was given the World Championship Award for Creativity for our innovative game-piece scoring mechanism. All in all, it was a terrific ending for a great year. This year the team won 11 separate awards and nine trophies…we are going to need a bigger trophy case!” Indeed, you are, Coach and team, and we will make sure you get one! We salute you…we commend you…we are ever so proud of you!

Kevin Schilling, a founding member of AHS’s LEAP (Lindbergh Electric Aircraft Prize) club, went to the AERO 2011 Trade Exhibition for General Aviation in Friedrichshafen, Germany. In addition to collecting amazing new footage, he also presented a video produced by AHS’s LEAP club to Prince Albert of Monaco!

Benton Coblentz is heading off this week (Wednesday – Saturday) to participate in YMCA’s Youth in Government program. While there, he will learn even more about becoming an active and engaged citizen in the democratic process.

Our mentors and friends of AHS are also quite amazing. It’s a pleasure to recognize Mike Borfitz, FAA Engineer & AHS mentor on his selection as Volunteer of the Year, an award that is sponsored by the Highline Schools Foundation for Excellence. Mike will be honored at the Foundation’s Gold Star breakfast on May 13th. In the meantime, I’m sure he would appreciate congratulatory notes or comments when you see him. Congratulations, Mike!

Advanced Placement (AP) testing begins today and continues through May 11. Our juniors and seniors have been preparing all year for this final assessment of their learning, and we wish them the very best! As an FYI to freshmen and sophomores: When you enroll in an AP class at Aviation High School, we require that you also take the AP exam. As such, our little high school has more exam takers than any other school in the Highline District! A total of 145 AHS students will be taking a total of 250 AP exams over the next week! Yea, AHS scholars! We’re proud of you!

Do you appreciate AHS staff? Of course you do! And while I imagine that you frequently acknowledge your appreciation for them, you may want to show them a little extra respect this week as part of Staff Appreciation Week. AHS educators and support staff are my heroes, and I suspect that you may have a special fondness for them, too. Here’s to all educators everywhere and especially those at Aviation High School! (Special thanks to all AHS parents and the PTSA for treating us so well with goodies, Starbucks cards, etc. all year long! We appreciate YOU, too!)

About those Scholarship Packets that we’ve been promising to post by May 1: We’re almost ready to post on our website; however, a couple of new scholarships came through late last week that we want to include, so we’ll finish the details today and have the packet posted by Wednesday. Please pay attention to specific criteria and due dates for each of the scholarships for which you apply. We encourage all seniors to review the scholarship packet and apply for as many awards as possible. See Ms. Carper if you have questions.

We continue to have many requests from educators and business and industry representatives to visit our school. Today, we are hosting a group from Walla Walla that will be on campus from 0800 until 1100. You will most likely see them in classrooms. Student ambassadors, please be prepared to share your learning if/when they visit your classroom. Tomorrow, we are hosting a visit for Glenda Dann-Messier, Assistant Secretary of Education for the U.S. Department of Education. Dr. Dann-Messier oversees Career & Technical Education and Adult Education and is interested in learning more about how a career-focused, contextual based (aviation/aerospace/engineering), college prep program such as ours benefits students as well as employers and the workforce. I will be talking with some of you today to ask that you be part of a student focus group from 1240-1335 tomorrow. Our guest is scheduled to be on our campus from 1230-1515.

A parent alerted me last week that I made a slight error in my Principal’s message about the date for the Senior Awards Ceremony. Thank you, Mr. Smith! And…the correct date is Sunday, June 5 (NOT June 7!) Mr. Smith’s reminder also nudged me to provide a schedule of important dates from now until the end of the school year. They are:

16 – 17 May: student-led conferences

18 May: registration for 2011-12 classes during advisory

19 May: PTSA General Membership Meeting at AHS (in the evening—staff and students are encouraged to attend!)

20 May: non-school day for students

27 May: full day of school (1530 dismissal)

30 May: Memorial Day break

5 June: senior awards ceremony at Boeing Theater

7-9 June: geometry and algebra end-of-course exams

8 June: Senior Literary Night

9 June: make-up end-of-course exam (9th graders in Algebra 2, 10th graders in precalculus, others who have not yet passed WASL or HSPE)

10 June: all-school awards ceremony @ Highline Performing Arts Center

18 June: graduation

20 June: last day for seniors

24 June: full day of school (1530 dismissal)

27 June: Last day for other students (1200 dismissal); pancake breakfast

If you have reached this point in reading this week’s message, I applaud you and apologize for the lengthiness. In the spirit of providing important and timely communication, however, I hope that this information is helpful in planning for the remainder of the school year.

To learning! Honored to be your principal—Reba

A senior project that you may want to attend:
Below you will find the link to the Museum of Flight Calendar highlight for Alex Bergler’s upcoming Senior Project event. Enjoy the video, too, by turning the volume up for music and dialog. http://www.museumofflight.org/event/angle-attack-aerodynamic-kinship-between-exotic-automobiles-and-aircraft

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:
If you can't see any opportunities where you are now, don't waste your time criticizing the darkness. . . . Light a candle to find your way out.
— Arlene Feldman. Regional Director FAA

NOTAM 042511

2011-04-26T08:12:00.000-07:00

18 April 2011

Principal’s Message:
Congressman Jay Inslee, who is interested in learning more about innovative models of teaching and learning along with a number of other educational issues that are impacting our schools, is visiting us this morning. Thank you for welcoming him and sharing your learning!

Congratulations, Speech & Debate Club, for sponsoring an intriguing Mystery Dinner this past Friday evening. Proceeds will offset some of the costs for Albert Ta and Hayk Saakian to attend the national Speech & Debate Conference in Texas in June. This is the first time that members of AHS S&D will compete at the national level! Please join me in wishing them well!

In spite of a tornado that ripped through St. Louis, Missouri on Friday, it appears that the FIRST Robotics organization is still holding the World Championships in the city this weekend. Our Skunks will be departing on Wednesday, ready to compete with FIRST teams throughout the world. Go, Skunks! We’ll be watching you on the webcasts and cheering for you from our homes as well as school!

I started my teaching career in Bridgeport, a tiny town in north central Washington. The community has changed dramatically since the time I was there, but the spirit of the students and staff at Bridgeport High School seems to be better than ever. So good, in fact, that they are one of six finalists nationwide that is competing for the honor of having President Obama as their graduation speaker! Since they are competing with much larger cities such as San Diego, Newark and Pittsburgh, they need a lot of help to entice the President to come to their commencement ceremony. Let’s help them out by sending some votes their way. Go to http://www.whitehouse.gov/Commencement#vote-top; and be sure to vote by this Friday, the day the ratings are scheduled to close! FYI: Bridgeport is the only school in Washington State selected as a finalist. And “yes”, Aviation High School was also an applicant!

Seniors: Congratulations on wrapping up your senior projects! Those of you who were selected to showcase your projects in the cafeteria last Friday will now have the opportunity to receive a PTSA-sponsored scholarship! Along with the PTSA scholarships, AHS is proud to again be able to offer a variety of scholarships to the Class of 2011. Our goal is to have the Scholarship Packet available to you by the end of the week. We will post it on the AHS website and also print a limited number of copies. Scholarship awards will be presented at your Senior Awards Ceremony on Sunday, 7 June. (FYI: Please consider the awards ceremony as a ‘must do’ rather than optional. All students are recognized at this ceremony. And…it will be one of the few remaining times that you will all be together to celebrate as a class. Thanks for making sure that 7 June, 1:30 p.m. at the Boeing Theater is on your calendar! A formal invitation will also be mailed to you and your family.)

Parents: We so appreciate you, and are asking for your participation in completing a survey about how we are doing as a school. Survey results inform our thinking about how we can improve to best meet the needs of our students and the expectations of parents. If you haven’t already done so, please take just a couple of minutes to complete this year’s survey that can be accessed http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/WEB22BZN3BVR33/. Thank you!
Here’s to more sunny days—ones like we enjoyed this past Saturday and to an outrageously great week of learning! I’m 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:
“To me, it seems like we’re on the verge of a golden age of spaceflight; that’s where I wanted to be.”
~Garrett Reisman, NASA astronaut who joined private spacecraft builder SpaceX
Seattle Times, April 24, 2011

NOTAM 041811

2011-04-17T18:22:00.000-07:00

18 April 2011 Principal’s Message “Every cloud has a silver lining” was the theme for a Friends of the Museum Luncheon that I attended at the Museum of Flight last Saturday. The event was planned as a celebration to honor those who had so earnestly supported the Museum’s bid to acquire a retired space shuttle. And, as most of you know by now, the Museum isn’t one of the four locations selected for a shuttle; however, it is receiving a one-of-a-kind Full FuselageTrainier (FFT)! According to former astronaut Dr. Bonnie Dunbar who spoke at the luncheon, there is only one FFT, and she and every other astronaut have trained in it. Doug King, CEO of the Museum pointed out, “Not only is it a unique and exciting educational artifact to have as a centerpiece of our Space Gallery, but unlike the actual shuttles, we will be able to allow the public to walk inside it and actually see where the shuttle astronauts trained.” As Mr. King made his remarks on Saturday, Aviation High School students were cited as those that he hoped would be among the first to experience the FFT. So, while there won’t be a shuttle displayed on the West Side Campus of the Museum, the silver lining is gaining a historical artifact that will be of significant educational benefit to AHS and generations of students to come. Reason to celebrate indeed! Eighteen students attended the State Science Olympiad Conference this past weekend: Wendy Au, Matt Petroske, Albert Ta, Conor Marsten, Jenny Gao, Libby Redda, Caitlin Schaefer, Catherine Elliot, Danica Balsiger, David Hartranft, Elizabeth Ong, Michael Phuong, Daryl Phuong, Carlos Herrera, Allen May, Sarah DeWeese, Salina Abraham, and Tony Truong. As a team, they placed 13th in the entire state, demonstrating their usual and much appreciated smarts, cooperation, and integrity. Congratulations to our Olympians for a stellar season of accomplishments and to Coaches Durrant, McComb, and Dyer for leading the way! In last week’s NOTAM, I thanked a number of student ambassadors for their assistance in interviewing students for the Class of 2015; unfortunately, I neglected to include Emma Finnsson, Jenny Gao, Liam Wingard, and Amanuail Ambaye. My apologies Emma, Jenny, Liam, and Amanuail. Your help was invaluable! We have three VIP groups on campus this week:

Today (Monday), Boeing videographers from 2:00-3:30 p.m. A special video presentation is being prepared by the Boeing Company to honor one of their premier engineers. Aerospace Engineering, Ground School, and selected students from Flight by Design will participate in a videoshoot in the gym during 7th period; prior to that, we will tour classrooms in search of some action-oriented project work that they may choose to feature.

Tomorrow (Tuesday), Steve Fulton (Pathfinder 2011) & Monica Uhl, 9:00-11:00 a.m. Classroom tours and interaction with students and staff.

Wednesday, Doug King (CEO of the Museum of Flight) & 10 Guests from Qatar & a Boeing executive, 10:45 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Navid Shafa and Katie McConville will serve as student ambassadors/tour guides.

Is there an educator whom you would like to nominate for a Twentieth Annual KCTS 9 Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Education? I sincerely hope that you will take the time to honor an Aviation High School staff member who is making a difference in the lives of students. The purpose of this awards initiative is to honor and share innovative and successful teaching models and programs among Washington State educators. To request a nomination form, call the Golden Apple Information line at 1.800.766.0900; send an email to GoldenApple@KCTS9.org; or, visit the KCTS 9 website at www.KCTS9.org/GoldenApple.

My best to you for an audacious 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. § For example: Phoenix Flyer fall recruitment meeting: this Wednesday at lunch in Mr. Savishinsky’s room (21) § Congressman Adam Smith is sponsoring a U.S. Service Academy Night this Tuesday. Quote of the Week: “I believe that man will not merely endure; he will prevail. He is immortal, not because he alone among creatures has an inexhaustible voice, but because he has a soul, a spirit capable of compassion and sacrifice and endurance.” ~William Faulkner

NOTAM 041111

2011-04-11T07:01:00.000-07:00

11 April 2011 Principal’s Message Welcome back! I hope you are rejuvenated and ready to begin the fourth and final quarter of the school year. And…I hope you found a little sunshine somewhere over your spring break. It’s hard to believe that it really is spring in Seattle, especially if you traveled to a warmer climate over the break. For me, it was Dallas where the sun shone brightly every day and temperatures climbed into the 90’s. I took it all in and loved the warmth, but it is still good to be back in the Pacific Northwest where I sometimes take for granted the clean air and all the beauty of nature. Just before break, we completed our interviews for the Class of 2015. We interviewed 175 students for 115 seats that we can offer. Invitation letters have now been mailed so we should be able to announce the class within the next two weeks. We will keep you posted! In the meantime, we wish to again thank all of the wonderful AHS students who assisted with interviewing our future students. Katie, Lauren, Jacob, Anastasia, Beemnet, Alyssa, Betsy, Audra, Sureetha, Dustin, Hiren, Natalie, Royce, Austin T…we couldn’t have done it without you! Know that we are grateful for your service and ambassadorship! Many thanks, too, to everyone who allowed an eighth grader to shadow with you this year. And special thanks to Mrs. Sanders and Mrs. May for facilitating several parent orientation sessions! Congratulations to Mr. Savishinsky who was notified just before break that he is a winner of a $10,000 technology grant from the Qwest Foundation. This award will be used to enhance the Journalism class and publishing of our school newspaper. Students will be doing investigative journalism and web-based publishing using the toolkit of today’s publishing industry—Web 2.0 cloud-based software and storage. Industry professionals will train students to build a secure, cloud-based production system and distribution network. Student journalists will learn first-hand about investigative research, journalistic ethics, story creation and community interaction with the news. Workshops and mentoring on good business practices and organizational management are part of the project. To ensure that the program sustains itself for years to come, the grant includes development of a training program for new students. Mr. Savishinsky is one of only nine teachers in the state to win the grant. The Qwest Foundation funds the competitive Teachers & Technology grant program to recognize K-12 educators who are creative technology integrators. Congratulations, too, to Antony Zhong and Jonathan Adams who recently participated in the annual Washington State High School Japanese Speech Contest at the Shoreline Center. Antony won third place for his first year division and Jonathan brought home the third place award for his third year division. Wow! Remember Ms. Ellinger who taught Biology and Health at AHS up until the current school year? She is now the proud mom of twin boys, Knox Madsen and Kole Patrick, born at 5:06 and 5:07 p.m. on March 25th. If you wish to send a card or note of congratulations to Ms. Ellinger, I know she would love to hear from you. Drop off notes in the office and we’ll mail them in a package at the end of the week. This year’s High School Proficiency Exam concludes tomorrow when our 10th graders take the third and final portion: Science! For the last two years, AHS has been the only high school in the state to earn an achievement award in science for our performance on the statewide tests. Tenth graders: continue to do us proud. That’s it for this week, Scholars. Make each day and minute of learning count! You’re on the home stretch with only 44 more days in the current school year! My best—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: “A’s buy Mercedes, B’s buy Maybe’s!” ~Written by student applicant, Class of 2015, to describe the importance of earning good grades.

NOTAM 032811

2011-03-29T08:00:00.000-07:00

28 March 2011 Principal’s Message This Friday marks the first day of April (and April Fool’s Day!) and the last day of third quarter. It’s hard to believe there is only one quarter remaining in the school year, although it may well be my advancing age that makes each year seem to pass more quickly! For you, our students, I would imagine that you are looking forward to next week when school is not in session and it is officially Spring Break. I wish you all the best for whatever you may have planned for the week. Until then, I am encouraging that you give your all to quarter exams, projects, and presentations that will take place this week. Speaking of giving your all: the college acceptance letters for the class of 2011 are flooding in! Seniors: remember to submit a copy of your acceptance letters to the office as we prepare this year’s wall of fame. Others: remember that you committed to applying to two or more institutions of post-secondary education. As you look to become a competitive applicant, continue to do well in school, get involved, and prepare to do well on standardized tests. The Des Moines Public Library is offering a free five-week SAT prep course starting on Saturday, April 2nd, at 2 p.m. Registration is required; you can register by calling 206-824-6066 or stopping by the library, located at 21620 11th Ave South in Des Moines WA, 98198. Since space is limited, you must commit to attend all five sessions if you enroll. Our newspaper staff is releasing the latest edition of the Phoenix Flyer today. Copies will be sold before school and during lunch in front of the office and in the cafeteria, all week this week. The newspaper staff asks that you support student journalism and buy your copy for only fifty cents! And…what about those Skunks?! After a trip to Portland to compete again this past weekend, Coach Steele reports: The Robotics team was very successful this past week going having 9 wins and 1 loss during the qualification rounds and were ranked 3rd out 58. We were picked by the #1 Alliance. We lost in the Quarter finals 2-1. The team put on a great show, winning more trophies than any other team at the event. We won the Engineering Excellence Award (for the 2nd time this year) and the Website and Safety Awards. The team is getting ready to go to the World Championships in late April where we will be very competitive this year. Congratulations, Skunks! We are immensely proud of you! Our Ultimate Frisbee team also competed this past weekend, sporting new uniforms that proudly identified them as Aviation High School athletes (special thanks to the Luomas for their creativity and support). Our team played together well, challenging teams from Cleveland High School (losing 4-14 and learning lots) and Chief Sealth (winning 15-7 and learning lots). Our Frisbee-flinging Phoenix displayed great sportsmanship in both games. Our next game is on Saturday, 2 April at 1630 at Magnusson Park versus Eastside Prep. That’s it for this week. Make it a scholarly week of learning! I’m honored to be your principal and immensely proud of all of you! ~Reba Message from the PTSA: Dear Aviation Family, Thank you to all who participated in the 8th Annual Dan Hartley Potato Dinner and Auction Friday March 11th. One of the many things we appreciate about AHS is the family participation and this was certainly a true family event. The evening could not have happened without all the effort of the volunteers getting there, seeing what needed to be done and making it happen. We would like to thank the students who did a fantastic job decorating, without much direction, making the place look very festive! They also were attentive and respectful servers. Next time, we’re looking for more dancers in the jig contest! (erhm, Mr. Hoehne, Matt Petroske) There were many families and AHS staff who stepped up to help with this event. Whether it was donating items for the auction, to setting up tables and chairs, or preparing and serving food, this event would not have been a success without your willingness to volunteer. Special thanks goes to Joan Lazo, Tamera Nason, the Whittiwers, the Shafas, Kathy Herold, Elizabeth Chayer, the Dowds, Robert Britschgi, Liz Campisteguy, Bonnie Lefevre, Karen Wilson, the Hiranakas, Reba Gilman, Sarah Fitzpatrick, Troy Hoehne, Eiko, Linda, Amy, Joan, the Balsigers, Janie & Kristen, Scott…we apologize if we have left any names out. Again, thanks to all of you! It was a fun evening, and you are truly appreciated! Thank You, ~Mary Zaches and Stephanie Hoag Message from the Green Schools: Preparing for college is important; so is preparing for citizenship. As a proud member of King County’s Green Schools initiative, we excited to pass along the following message: More than half of what ends up in King County’s landfill could have been recycled. It’s easier than you think to recycle more at home. By recycling more and recycling better, you may be able to reduce the size of your garbage can and your garbage bill. · Get to know your garbage – From plastic tubs to milk cartons, you can now recycle more materials than ever. · Make recycling a family affair – Your children are learning about recycling at school, so get them and other family members on board at home. · Recycle food scraps and food soiled paper For more recycling know-how, visit www.kingcounty.gov/recyclemore. NOTE: Continue checking the AHS website or logging on to school computers to get updated information on events and meetings. Quote of the Week: Science stands for Success, Technology for Transformation, Engineering for Empower, and Math for Magic! Our fellow citizens...let STEM help us to achieve Success in life, Transform society, Empower people, and make Magic for the benefit of all humankind. ~Written by student applicant, Class of 2015

NOTAM: 21 March 2011

2011-03-21T21:14:00.000-07:00

21 March 2011

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE:

“Crazed Regional for Teens, Robots” was the headline for a story featured in yesterday’s edition of The Seattle Times. Our Skunkworks Robotics team was part of the FIRST organization’s version of March Madness this past weekend, rebounding from a tough first match on Friday in which their robot stalled due to some programming challenges. True to their style, though, they were back on the field for their second match, leading their alliance to victory with a 21-0 score. The rest was history as the Skunks continued to use their engineering acumen, coupled with gracious professionalism, to finish the three-day event in style. As 5,000 people cheered from the sidelines and bleachers, the Skunks were awarded the Engineering Inspiration Award, which now qualifies them to compete at the World Championships in St. Louis April 27-30. Out of 100 competing teams this past weekend, only 11 teams qualified for this honor!

Other awards included:

Seattle Regional Excellence in Engineering.
FIRSTWA Volunteer of the Year Award to Coach Steele for his visionary contribution to all FIRST teams. Coach was introduced as the “Skunkfather”, a title that honors his role in starting the team and leading the Skunk family to such amazing accomplishments.
Coach Steele was also recognized as a Seattle Cascade Regional Woody Flowers Finalist. He was nominated for this award by the team and selected from hundreds of nominees. He now will be considered for the national award, the highest honor for volunteers in the FIRST organization.
And, Lydia Johnston was recognized as a Seattle Cascade Regional Dean’s List Finalist, selected by national judges and from hundreds of nominations submitted by mentors. Lydia now qualifies for the national Dean’s List award.

Congratulations, Skunks! You have worked hard to earn all of these prestigious awards and recognition as “the powerhouse team from Aviation High School…the Duke of local robotics…for its high-scoring pneumatic arm.” (Seattle Times 3/20/11)

The Skunks are on the road again this week to compete in the Portland, Oregon regionals. Then...it’s on to St. Louis. While most of us won’t get the chance to travel to Portland to cheer you on, know that we will be with you in spirit, watching the webcasts. Go Skunks!

Over the past two weeks our Speech & Debate team has been competing in the state tournament held at the University of Puget Sound. Last week in speech, Hayk Saakian was a finalist in Foreign Extemporaneous, and Albert Ta just barely missed qualifying for the final round. This past Friday and Saturday was the state debate tournament. Albert and Hayk competed in Public Forum Debate where they won first place out of a field of 32 teams obtaining the title of state champions. Wow! We are proud of you, Albert and Hayk, as well as the entire team! You are making history and leaving a legacy as you continue to develop Aviation High School’s first Speech & Debate team!

Our very first athletic team is also on a roll. On Saturday, our Ultimate Frisbee team had their first meet of the season, competing against Nova High School in Seattle. The score: AHS 11, Nova 7! This team will also be competing again next weekend, so you may want to watch the action. They play two games on Saturday, first against Cleveland at 2:30, then Chief Sealth at 5:15 p.m. Both games will be played at Delridge Field. Yea, Ultimate!! We’re very proud of you!

We’re also very proud of our AHS students who participate on the MRHS Swim Team! They just finished State competition with Troy Neklason placing 2nd in diving. Jason Lemley and the Rams took 4th in the 200 Medley Relay, and Jason qualified for finals in the 100 free, taking 8th place; 10th in the 100 backstroke. Jason’s relay team also made it to finals. The Rams placed 10th in the 4A Divison. Other AHS students who participated on the MRSH team were Nathan Rencher, Sam McClean, and Quinn Walters. Congratulations, swimmers!

Congratulations, too, to our freshman class for sponsoring a successful dance this past Saturday evening! The music was great (thanks, Austin McHenry & co.!), the decorations were ghoulish (thanks, Leadership), and the costumes were, in some cases, over the top. Thanks, Royce Le, Francis Britschgi, and the rest of the ASB and leadership for organizing the dance. We appreciate the help of our chaperones too: Ms. Lee, Ms. Fitz, Mr. Ward, Ms. Lefevre, Mr. and Mrs. Hiranaka, and Mr. McComb.

Interviews are now being conducted for the Class of 2015. Mr. Carey, Mr. McComb and I led interview teams this past Saturday accompanied by AHS students Katie McConville, Jacob Wagner, Lauren Crom, Natalie Carmichael, Beemnet Workeneh, Austin Turnidge, Amanuail Ambaye, Sureetha McCain, and Jenny Gao. It’s inspiring to meet such enthusiastic and engaging students who want to be part of our learning community! Our goal is to complete first ‘round interviews by March 31 and issue letters of invitation on April 1. Stay tuned for an announcement of the Class of 2015.

That’s it for this week. My best to all for a great week of learning! Honored to be your principal—Reba

P.S. Last week, I reported that one of our Science Olympiad teams placed 4th place at Regionals. In fact, they placed 3rd! We’re even prouder of your accomplishments.

Quote of the Week:
“Please accept me to Aviation High School…I will be the best investment you have ever made.”
~Student Applicant, Class of 2015

NOTAM 031411

2011-03-13T22:18:00.000-07:00

14 March 2011

Principal’s Message

I have great news to share with you about our journey to have a permanent home at the Museum of Flight! Last week, the Boeing Company pledged $4,000,000 towards construction of our new school, along with Esterline Corporation at $1,000,000, Scott and Linda Carson also at $1,000,000 (Scott is the former CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes and has visited our school many times), TECT Aerospace $250,000, and the Charles Simonyi Fund for the Arts & Sciences $300,000. Additionally, Alaska Airlines increased their donation from $1,000,000 to $1,500,000 and Peter and Sarah Anderson raised theirs from $250,000 to $300,000. Added to donations that have already been made by James and Sherry Raisbeck and others, we are now within $1.5M of reaching our target of $15,000,000 in private donations. We have also made another request to the WA State Legislature, which we hope will add to our public donations and push us over the finish line. Our campaign to build a new school is truly a collaborative effort with support from the State and Federal governments, the Highline School District, the Port of Seattle, private industry, nonprofit organizations and many individual donors. We believe that we are the only public school in the country that has undertaken such an initiative!

We have reached these major milestones because of YOU—students, staff, parents, AHS board members and everyone associated with our learning community! Students, I will be forever grateful for all the times that you showcased your learning and shared your goals for college and career. You inspired our visitors to believe in the vision and mission of the school.

Boeing CEO Jim Albaugh characterized our effort to construct a new school as an opportunity to build a legacy for future generations. Stressing the importance of students preparing for STEM fields, Mr. Albaugh stated, “The United States is at a crossroads—I call it the intellectual disarmament of our nation. One-half of the engineering employees at Boeing will retire in the next five years. I worry about how we’re going to keep the aviation industry and our country strong. Aviation High School is key to filling the pipeline of new engineers for the Puget Sound area.”

Thank you, one and all, for your amazing support! Students…you ARE the future, and the sky is NOT the limit! We all believe in YOU!

Mike Borfitz was honored this past Friday evening at the PTSA-sponsored Dan Hartley dinner and auction. Mike received the Break of Day Award for his outstanding support of AHS. And…our amazing PTSA again made this annual event fun and inspiring…and hopefully, profitable in supporting student scholarships. A big thank you goes to Stephanie Hoag and Mary Zaches for organizing the event and doing such a stellar job of keeping everyone well fed and well entertained!

A reminder to all: This Friday is our all-school field trip to Qwest Field to watch the FIRST Robotics competition and cheer for our Skunks. Your permission forms MUST be turned in no later than end of day Tuesday! Everyone will appreciate your cooperation in meeting this deadline, but no one will appreciate it more than Mrs. Hiranaka in the main office! Please help make her job a little easier! We like it when she is happy! J

Congratulations, Science Olympians! This last Saturday our Science Olympians competed at our Regional Event. They all worked very hard and had some impressive performances! We are proud to say our Phoenix team came in 4th place and is headed to state.
Forensics: Jenny Gao and Libby Redda, 1st place
Towers: Jacob Sotl, 1st place; Wendy Au and Daryl Phuong 3rd place
Remote Sensing: Matt Petroske and Salina Abraham, 1st place
Experimental Design: Michael Phuong, Daryl Phuong and Conor Marsten, 2nd place
Ecology: Sarah DeWeese and Michael Phuong, 4th place
Mission Possible: Wendy Au, Tony Truong, and Conor Marsten, 2nd Place
Sumo Bots: David Hartranft and Andrew Johnson, 4th place
Chem Lab: Daryl Phuong and Jenny Gao, 3rd place

Congratulations to our entire Science Olympiad team for such a successful weekend

Kudos to Jonathan Adams who just received notice that he passed the Level III Japanese Proficiency Exam! According to Mr. Kumakura, this accomplishment is equivalent to completion of the second year college program! Jonathan…we are very proud of you!

The Solo & Ensemble is held by the WMEA every year, each league competes and one winner in each category goes on to state. Four Aviation students qualified for the State Solo & Ensemble Contest:
Corey Ndifon & Kirk Ciszkiewicz, Brass Quintet
Robyn Zaches, Brass Quartet
Betsy Smith, Cello & Euphonium solos
Another astonishing set of accomplishments!

Okay, Scholars…my best to you for another inspiring 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:

I refused to take “no” for an answer.

~ Bessie Coleman, the first African-American woman to become an airplane pilot, 1921

NOTAM 030711

2011-03-13T22:16:00.000-07:00

07 March 2011

Principal’s Message:
Happy Monday! I have much to share with you this week, so information is bulleted as follows:

Q First…a big THANK YOU to everyone for participating in and supporting our Boeing and Alaska Airlines-sponsored Showcase of Learning last Thursday! We have received many compliments from guests. Students: You were a hit! Thanks for rising to the occasion yet again.

Q Congratulations to Jenny Gao, one of our mighty juniors who entered the Profiles of Courage competition this year and has just learned that her essay is one of the top 10 in the nation! The sponsoring organization received 2,002 essays from fifty states, so it is an astonishing accomplishment to make it into the top 10. The Profile in Courage Award Committee was scheduled to meet this past weekend to select the winner from the top 10 group of finalists. The first-place winner receives $10,000 and is invited, along with his or her parents and nominating teacher, to the JFK Library in May to be honored at the Profile in Courage Award ceremony in Boston. While we hope that Jenny’s essay is selected as #1, Jenny deserves a standing ovation regardless of the outcome!

Q Our Skunkworks Robotics Team is headed to their first competition of the season on March 17-19 at Qwest Field. I’m pleased to announce that EVERYONE in grades 9-12, along with teachers and staff will be attending on Friday, March 18! You will check in to your first period class that day, then we will load the busses as quickly as possible to get to Qwest Field in time to see our Skunks perform on the field. We’ll be back at school in time for you to catch buses home. Complete details will be provided on the permission forms that you all must sign, along with your parents, and return to your first period teacher by this Friday. Go Skunks!

Q Message from the PTSA: Our annual Dan Hartley Potato Dinner & Mini-Auction is being held this Friday! This event benefits each class of students by providing scholarships. The doors open at 5:45 p.m. and the event should end by 8:00 p.m. If you haven’t yet purchased a ticket, they are on sale this week during lunch from 12:30-1:15 in the Main Office; or online through the PTSA’s website: www.aviationptsa.org

Adults $10 & Staff /Students $6 (Price will go up at the door to $12 & $8). The Hartley family will once again celebrate with us in honor of Dan Hartley—a key supporter, campaigner, and one of the founding champions of our school. We will also be honoring Mike Borfitz with the Break of Day Award. Enjoy an evening of great food & entertainment with silent & live auction items. All donations to scholarship fund are welcome regardless of attendance. Cash or check made payable to “AHS PTSA.” Visa or MC accepted at the event, or online. Don’t forget your corporate match!
Contact Mary Zaches at mjzaches@gmail.com - phone 206-444-0486

Q Attention, AHS Junior Women: A fabulous opportunity for you with NASA!

NEON - Nasa Educators Online Network - Dream. Engineer your dream job. WISH: Women in STEM High School Aerospace Scholars. The adventure begins Spring 2011 with an online community and culminates with a summer experience at NASA Johnson Space Center. Collaborate with female high school juniors from across the country and female NASA engineers. Applications are due 14 March. Check school calendar for details.

Q Students!! Remember that you can get homework help after school with subjects like math, science, and even writing essays. Take advantage of a wonderful opportunity in Dr. K’s room. Tutoring is available Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. It’s after school, so come any time until 4:30 and you’ll receive help with homework. Snacks will be provided, transportation will not.

Q Mr. Hoehne submitted the following: Congratulations and best wishes to Mrs. Hiranaka as she celebrates her birthday on 10 March, and enters her eighth decade.

With that last note from Mr. Hoehne, I will end by wishing our dear Mrs. Hiranaka a lovely 29th birthday! And to everyone else in our learning community, I wish you an awesome week of learning! I hope to see many of you at the Dan Hartley dinner this Friday evening. 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:
Aviation is proof that, given the will, we have the capacity to achieve the impossible.
~ Eddie Rickenbacker

NOTAM 022811

2011-02-28T06:55:00.000-08:00

28 February 2011

Principal’s Message
Welcome back! Mid-winter break marked the last full-week vacation of the school year (sigh…or rejoice!), so I hope you enjoyed doing all your favorite things that aren’t possible on school days.

We are now on the fast track to the end of the school year, so the following information is provided to you and your parents:

Friday, May 27 will be a full day of instruction, with school dismissing at 3:30 p.m. This change is being made because we need to make up a snow day and also meet the annual requirements for class-time instruction
Our seniors will leave us on June 17 and graduate the following evening, June 18 from ShoWare Center in Kent.
The last day for underclassmen is Monday, June 27. This is also a snow make-up day.
June 28, 29, and 30 are built into the school calendar for make-up days, too, but let’s hope we have no more snow or other emergencies that extend the school year. Please plan vacations, summer job experiences etc. accordingly.

Now…about this week: There’s lots of activity going on:

Speech & Debate Club heads to Snohomish on Wednesday for a three-day competition. Good luck, S&D’ers!
On Thursday, Boeing and Alaska Airlines are hosting a Showcase of Learning on our campus from 11:30-1:00 p.m. Senior executives of their companies and other major aerospace companies in the region will be attending the showcase to learn more about you and your reasons for attending AHS, our instructional program, school activities and school culture. AHS & Highline School District board members, Superintendent Welch, and other key stakeholders will also be in attendance. More than 25% of the student body will participate in the showcase, providing our visitors with a glimpse of our entire learning program—Humanities, math and science, engineering/technology-related electives, ACE, and sports of the mind programs such as Robotics, Science Olympiad, and Speech & Debate. Teachers and advisors will share the agenda and specific requests with you. I will also meet with designated leaders of each club today or tomorrow to review expectations and clarify details of the planned program. In advance, I thank ALL of you for your ongoing support and patience as we move closer to our dream home at the Museum of Flight!
Four Highline School District Students (including AHS Senior Betsy Smith) have been invited to perform Symphony No. 50 'Mount St. Helens' by Alan Hovhaness with the Seattle Symphony. They will perform at 7pm Thursday, March 3rd at the Highline PAC. Don't miss this opportunity to hear the Seattle Symphony - the concert is FREE!
Our Skunks are continuing to refine some programming and mechanical details related to their robot, which was ‘bagged’ for shipment last week. This amazing team actually built two robots this year to allow them to work on modifications after shipment and between competitive events and to have one to showcase while their competitive one is unavailable. This year’s game looks to be super exciting! Congratulations, Skunkworks, on an outstanding build season. Their first competition will be held in Seattle on March 17-19 at Qwest Field. We will be taking a large contingent of AHS students to the competition on Friday, March 18. Next week’s NOTAM will provide specifics.

We have good news to share! I am most happy to report that Aviation High School is a recipient of the 2010 Washington Achievement Award! This is an extraordinary accomplishment and is a direct reflection of the hard work of our students, the dedication of our teachers, and the support and guidance of our parents.

The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction and the State Board of Education created the Washington Achievement Award to celebrate the state’s top-performing schools and to recognize achievement in multiple categories. This highly selective award is based on our school’s performance according to the Washington Achievement Index, a comprehensive measurement of how schools in Washington are performing over time. The Washington Achievement Award is given to elementary, middle, high and comprehensive schools in seven different categories: overall excellence, language arts, math, science, extended graduation rate (high and comprehensive schools only), improvement and closing achievement gaps. Aviation High School is being recognized for: High Overall Excellence and Special Recognition for Science (note: Last year, AHS was the only high school in the State to receive recognition in Science!)
On April 27 we will celebrate this remarkable achievement, along with other selected schools, at an awards ceremony hosted by Lincoln High School in Tacoma. For now, give yourselves a well-deserved pat on the back for earning this incredible award!

Again, welcome back! May your learning this week be audacious, remarkable, stellar, over-the-top, and joyful! Feel free to add your own positive descriptors, too! As always, I’m 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:
Rather than a quote of the week, it’s Did You Know?

The Pentagon awarded the Tanker contract to the Boeing Company. What does this mean for you and your future, your family, and all citizens of Washington State?

And…
Networking and professionalism matter. By way of example: Last week, a letter was forwarded to Ms. Gilman from a prominent leader who sponsored Natalie Carmichael to the Joe Sutter dinner this past fall. He wrote that because of the very favorable impression that Natalie made at the dinner, he would again be sponsoring her (and possibly other AHS students) to the next Joe Sutter Dinner & Lecture as well as other events! Who knows? Maybe there’s an internship experience, a job opportunity, or a letter of recommendation that could come to Natalie and others in the future!

And…
Dr. Edgerton is the proud new owner of a spectacular airplane! Ask him for pictures and details!

NOTAM 020711

2011-02-06T21:38:00.000-08:00

07 February 2011

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE
Among all the hype that accompanies Super Bowl weekend, our Science Olympians were creating some hype of their own as they hosted an invitational that brought out 15 accomplished teams from the I-5 corridor. Under the very capable leadership of Advisors McComb, Durrant, and Dyer the team excelled in the following categories:

Forensics: Jenny Gao and Libby Redda
Optics: Daniel Mohaghegh and David Hartranft
Technical Problem Solving: Gina O’Kelley and Daniel Mohaghegh
Sumobots: David Hartranft
Ornithology: Sarah DeWeese and Michael Phuong
Astronomy: Matt Petroske and Salina Abraham
Microbe Mission: Danica Balsiger and Catherine Elliott
Mousetrap Car: Carlos Herrera and Allen May

As proud as we are of their individual accomplishments, we celebrate that all of them honed in even more on what they need to do to prepare for upcoming Regional competitions. Congratulations to all Olympians! We’re proud of you! We are also tremendously grateful for the teachers and parents who so graciously volunteered their time to help make the Invitational possible. Events like these illustrate the power and potential of shared vision and hard work.

There are more congratulations in order, too:

 Corrigan Miller was selected as Student of the Quarter in the DigiPen Programming class at Puget Sound Skills Center. Outstanding, Corry!

 Nicole Mays is a finalist in the Reflections Contest, sponsored by the Highline Council of the PTSA. On January 24, the Council recognized Nicole with an Award of Excellence in Visual Arts and Outstanding Interpretation in Literature. Nicole’s artistic works will now be submitted for state competition. Kudos, Nicole!

 Salina Abraham, Austin Chick, Jenny Gao, David Hartranft, Drew Hidalgo, Siva Hope, Cameron Jaxheimer, Sydney Miller, Matt Petroske, Libanos Redda, and Scott Sluys are currently participating in Phase One of the Washington Aerospace Scholars (WAS) Program. They are among 287 talented juniors from across the state that were accepted into the fifth year of WAS: a distance learning program with a NASA-designed curriculum covering the history of space exploration, the space shuttle, the International Space Station, the moon, and Mars. From January through May, the scholars will complete ten lessons – submitting quizzes, math solutions, essays, and graphics concerning these topics every other week. Scholars will independently select a topic of interest for a final project combining an essay with a graphic. Based on their scores on the Phase One curriculum, up to 160 of the top performing scholars will be invited to an all expense paid Summer Residency at The Museum of Flight in Seattle. During the Summer Residencies scholars will have the opportunity to work with professional engineers and scientists on the design of a human mission to Mars. In addition to the mission planning, selected scholars will have unique opportunities to tour engineering facilities, receive briefings by experts, and see for themselves what engineers do on a daily basis. Furthermore, they will participate in hands-on engineering challenges, including rocket design, construction and launch; robotic rover design, construction, and obstacle course competition; and lander design, construction and deployment. Way to go, Juniors! Sophomores…start thinking of WAS for your junior year! In addition to being an extraordinary learning experience, colleges and universities are now recognizing it in a very positive light when you apply for admission.

Best to all AHS scholars as we start the second week of second semester! As always, I’m 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:
“Hope is wanting something so eagerly that—in spite of all the evidence that you’re not going to get it—you go right on wanting it. And the remarkable thing about it is that the very act of hoping produces a kind of strength of its own.”
~Norman Vincent Peale

NOTAM 013111

2011-01-30T21:42:00.000-08:00

31 January 2011

Principal’s Message

Happy New Year once again! February 3 marks the beginning of the lunar year and celebration of the Lunar New Year (2011 is the Year of the Rabbit.) In addition to celebrating with parades and parties, there are many traditions associated with the Lunar New Year, all with the intention of bringing good fortune in the months ahead. One tradition is “sweeping for success” which requires a vigorous cleaning of one’s house from top to bottom to expel the dust and disappointments of the past year and usher in a bright future.

Today is the start of second semester of the school year. You completed final exams and major projects last week. Whatever happened last semester is now behind you except for the learning you take forth into this new semester. As the Chinese advise, find some time to celebrate the goals you have accomplished, dust yourself off if you are disappointed in your progress, and know that your future can be as bright as you choose to make it. You refined your goals in Advisory last week—so now you it’s time to implement your plan. There’s no better time than now to ‘clean your own house’; particularly ridding yourself of any negative thinking that causes you to believe that you can’t achieve success. Persevering and using your talents to the fullest will lead to experiencing the good fortune you so deserve. Go for it!

Congratulations, Ms. Ciccone-Cook, who received word just last week that she has been selected through a competitive application process for admission to the Space Foundation’s Teacher Liaison program. As part of her application, Ms. Cook was required to submit a space-related assignment that her own students might undertake. It was convenient that her students were already researching, writing, and presenting a case for bringing a retired space shuttle to the Museum of Flight. In her role as Teacher Liaison, Ms. Cook will be an active link between the Space Foundation, the aerospace community, Aviation High School, and Highline Public Schools, and will join an elite group of educators from around the country who want to inspire the next generation of students to pursue and excel in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and math. Ms. Cook and other teacher liaisons will be honored at the 27th National Space Symposium, the largest gathering of space professionals in the world, this April in Colorado Springs. For more information about the Space Foundation's Teacher Liaison or to learn more about with whom Ms. Cook will be mixing and mingling at the conference in April, visit the Foundation’s website at http://www.spacefoundation.org/education/educators/programs/teacher-liaison-officers.

Speaking of very important people: we will host some of our own on campus this week. The Aviation High School Board of Directors, chaired by Peter Anderson, will meet this Friday from 10:00 a.m. to noon. Some members of the board may arrive early or stay late to visit classrooms and network with you. We’ll also be inviting a few students to share their learning during the board meeting.

As always, I am honored to be your principal. My best to you for an ‘over the top’ week of learning! ~Reba

NOTE:

Alaska Airlines regrets not being able to proceed with the delivery flight as originally planned on 21 January. We are still coordinating with Alaska and are hopeful that we can reschedule for some time this year. Stay tuned.
Continue checking the AHS website or logging on to school computers to get updated information on events and meetings.

Quote of the Week:
“Always look on the bright side of life.” ~ Monty Python

NOTAM 012411

2011-01-24T06:14:00.000-08:00

24 January 2011

Principal’s Message
We ended last week with The Grammy Awards, Aviation High School’s 7th Annual Talent Show, sponsored by Culture Club. It was a spectacular evening, with acts ranging from food catching to piano, guitar, drum, band, dance, and singing performances with a variety of interpretations. Congratulations to all of the performers. You were magnificent! I applaud your confidence as well as your talents! Special thanks to Culture Club Advisor Mrs. Wombold and Leadership Student Elizabeth Ong for their work to ensure a successful event; and a big round of applause for Miranda Sita and Jose Aguilar for serving as masters of ceremony and being just as entertaining as the many acts! Thanks, too, to judges Mrs. Wilson, Mr. Joshi, and Mr. Ward.

Last Friday also included another Mentor Breakfast & Networking Meeting, which was a perfect way to start College & Career Day. As I made my may from table to table in the gymnasium, it was both validating and heartwarming to hear conversations about college options, career pathways and the future of the work world, and to feel the camaraderie and mutual respect that has developed through this program. Our mentors are truly a vital part of our learning community as they constantly network on our behalf and share their own experiences. For example, it was Mr. Karl Rein-Weston who invited Dr. George Bibel, Professor at University of North Dakota and author of a new book titled Beyond the Black Box, to be our speaker last Friday. Our mentoring and internship programs have grown exponentially with the stellar leadership of Ms. Pappas and Ms. Burr. Thanks to their efforts, we now have more than 150 mentors! Internships are also being developed at a variety of aviation/aerospace-related sites. Our goal is that all AHS students will be connected with a mentor and experience an internship as part of your high school years. It’s all part of informing your thinking about college and career options in STEM-related fields. We’re on track!

While most of us were still sleeping Saturday morning, our Science Olympiad team traveled to Camas, Washington for an invitational event. A very long day on the road and competing in various events was worth the extraordinary effort, though, with strong performances by many of our students and great learning by all. Congratulations to all our Olympians and special thanks to Coaches Durrant, Dyer, and McComb.

First semester of the school year ends this Thursday, with no school scheduled for Friday. My best to you on exams and final projects!

NOTE:

Eastside Carpool: Eastside AHS families are organizing after-school carpools for students living in Mercer Island, Issaquah, Bellevue, Redmond, Kirkland, Woodinville, and Bothell. If interested, please contact Therese Beale (therese.beale@gmail.com). Families whose students participate will be asked to drive one afternoon per week to pick up students at the end of the school day.
Continue to check school calendar on our website and school’s desktops.

Quote of the Week:
“And the result of their (Skunkworks team) labor was a beauty of a plane, in both form and function. Not one SR-71 Blackbird was ever lost to enemy nor friendly fire. Every one of the thirty-two built performed admirably, helping America both in peering behind the Iron Curtain and into Soviet Russia, and later in their lives providing reconnaissance for attacks against Qadaffi’s Libyan army. And now, more than fifty years after her conception, the dark lady still holds the speed and altitude records for a manned, air-breathing aircraft. She represents the pinnacle design of the aircraft of the Cold War, and the full, wonderful result of what the drive of the ‘can-do-spirit’ can accomplish.”

~Morgen Sellier, concluding paragraph of Can-Do Spirit essay,
Aviation & the American Character class, 2010

Note: One of the 32 Blackbirds produced is on display in the Great Gallery at the Museum of Flight. It is magnificent!

NOTAM 011811

2011-01-17T20:23:00.000-08:00

18 January 2011

Administrator’s Message

AHS staff and students joined people around the country yesterday to celebrate the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. King remains an inspiration and model to us all: his vision of a society characterized by social justice; his unwavering commitment to that vision; his insistence on non-violent action to affect change; etc. Last week, we were treated to a guest speaker who emphasized some of these themes; thank you, Mr. McHenry, for sharing your stories and insights!

As we consider the lessons from Dr. King’s work and apply them to our lives today, they raise important questions for us, individually and collectively:

What kind of society do we want to live in?
How do our long-term goals get us closer to that place?
How do our words and actions and thoughts TODAY move us closer to that vision?

Part of the answer from the school’s perspective can be found in our guiding principles:

Personalization, connecting students to each other and adults in positive and meaningful ways
Relevance, connecting the work we do in school to work outside of school and to the ‘real’ world
High expectations, making the work appropriately challenging in service of preparing each of our students for college, career, and citizenship
Collaboration, working together towards audacious goals and to realize astonishing gains
Partnerships, creating and cultivating external relationships to connect our students and our work with the world beyond our walls and beyond our school day.
With College & Career Day coming up on Friday and the 1st semester of the school year drawing to a close in only two weeks, I encourage you to spend some time reflecting on your guiding principles and what you can and will do to bring those principles to life, both in and out of school. What do you want to be known for?

We are fortunate to have numerous models within our community. Among others, we have students who shared their appreciation for their connection to the community and the arts by participating in the PTSA-sponsored Reflections program. Several were recognized as finalists:
· Visual Arts—Nina Dubinsky and Nicole Mays
· Literature—Danica Balsiger & Nicole Mays
They will be recognized on Monday January 24th at 7:00 p.m. at the PAC. We wish them the very best in State competition.

With gratitude for your thoughtful engagement in our work and with each other, I remain appreciatively yours, ~SM

NOTE:

Seniors, ACE club members, and others: This Friday’s delivery flight is temporarily on hold pending final certification from FAA. While the delay is slightly inconvenient for us, take comfort knowing that our partners take our safety and the safety of the flying public seriously
We bid a fond farewell to Lenore Stark, our long-time and much-beloved office manager, as she heads to Spokane to be nearer to her family. In her place, we welcome Joel Carey who has stepped into role of Office Manager for the remainder of the year. Mr. Carey is familiar with the job; he was part of the AHS family during the 2005-06 school year. We are glad to have him back.
If you are absent: Remember that state law requires both a phone call AND a written note to excuse any absence. Please follow-up last week’s absence due to weather or illness within 24 hours of return to school or the absence becomes unexcused until an administrator approves the late written note.
Continue checking the AHS website or logging on to school computers to get updated information on events and meetings.Continue checking the AHS website or logging on to school computers to get updated information on events and meetings.

Quote of the Week:
The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education.
~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

NOTAM 01011

2011-01-10T05:26:00.000-08:00

10 January 2011

Principal’s Message

The Seahawks wasn’t the only team that kicked off this past weekend. Our Skunkworks Robotics Team traveled to Auburn High School on Saturday where they joined other teams in the region to officially “kick off” the 2011 build season. They now have just six weeks to build their robot and enter it into competition. Go Skunks! And…our Science Olympians and Speech & Debaters gathered at school on Saturday to kick it, too, by engaging in study and practice for upcoming competitions. Go, mentathletes!

Hearty congratulations to Thomas DeSilva, Banks Hunter, Olivia Pham, Betsy Smith, and Jim Stone, each whom have been designated as a Commended Student in the National Merit Scholarship Program. All of these outstanding scholars took the 2009 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) and scored in the top 50,000 of over 1.5 million students who took the exam. Super congratulations to ColeSullivan, too, who also took the PSAT/NMSQT and scored in the top 3 percent of more than 160,000 Black Americans! This is an outstanding accomplishment for which these students, their parents and families, and our school can feel justifiably proud!

As part of the commended students’ congratulatory letter from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, the author offered the following words of wisdom: “The degree of success you achieve in the future will depend upon you—your use of abilities and your perseverance toward the goals you set for yourself.” Sound familiar? I hope this is the message that is constantly reinforced throughout your years at AHS. It is certainly a fitting follow-up from my New Year’s message to you last week in which I encouraged you to refine your goals for college and career. I'm hoping that you did so last week or that you at least got started! If not…there’s this week!

Our extraordinary partner, Alaska Airlines, is again offering AHS seniors and ACE Club the opportunity to be part of a delivery flight on Friday, 21 January 2011. This will be the third time that AHS students have been given this amazing gift of joining the Alaska crew to pick up a brand new airplane, take a scenic tour over the Puget Sound region, and be treated like royalty by both Alaska Airlines and the Boeing Company. This is a very fun and informative learning experience for all who participate, and participation is dependent on your returning your permission form today or tomorrow at the very latest! Mrs. Hiranaka has the list and is checking it twice and thrice, so please help her job go smoothly by getting yours in ASAP!

Underclassmen: We will likely have room for up to 10 of you to participate in the delivery flight. If you have never flown on a commercial airliner, you get first consideration! You must indicate your interest TODAY, though, by signing up with Mrs. Hiranaka during lunch. We will then confer with your teachers to gain their endorsement of your participation and notify you before the end of the school day if we can include you in the trip.

Our third and final Information Program for 8th graders and families will be held this Thursday, January 13 from 5:45-8:30 p.m. Students: Please know how very much we appreciate your active involvement in these events; it is, however, mandatory that you be asked by the administration or a staff member in order to participate. We are liable for you if you are on campus, and we are committed to being accountable. Only those students who are on Mrs. Hiranaka’s list (which staff members have provided to her) will be given name badges as well as pizza. Thank you in advance for your understanding and cooperation.

Students, staff, parents/guardians, and community: Please mark your calendar for Friday, 11 March for our annual PTSA-sponsored Dan Hartley potato dinner & mini-auction, which will be held from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the Machinist Hall in South Park. This fun event is a fundraiser for senior scholarships, but more importantly, it is a great family-style event with Irish music and dancing, a tasty potato dinner with all the toppings and gourmet desserts, and an award to a key community leader who has served as a wingman to AHS. You don’t want to miss it! I’ll look forward to seeing you there.

A reminder that next Monday is a non-school day in celebration of the amazing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Today, we are holding a special assembly to honor his life work and contribution to humanity.

A final note: Snow is being forecast for late this week, so please remember to check the Puget Sound Educational Service District’s website (www.schoolreport.org) for possible school delays or closures.

My best to all for a productive week of learning! Honored to be your principal—Reba

Basic information about the Highline School District Levy:

Highline voters should be receiving their ballots within the next week.
This is an Educational Programs Renewal Levy, not a new tax. The renewal levy is how our local community funds Highline schools.
The levy pays for basics such as teachers, textbooks, bus transportation and other essentials that are not fully funded by the State of Washington.
The current levy expires in 2011.
The levy makes up about one-quarter of the school district’s operating budget. About 80% of the levy pays for teachers and staff.
Levy election is by mail only. Ballots must be postmarked no later than February 8th.

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

Quote of the Week:
“I have a dream…” ~Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

NOTAM 010311

2011-01-03T05:59:00.000-08:00

03 January 2011

Principal’s Message
Welcome back! Happy New Year! Carpe Annum!

I hope that your holiday break was relaxing and rejuvenating and that you are now ready to seize the New Year with passion and purpose. Whatever resolutions you may have made for 2011, may you achieve them!

I love this time of year as it signifies new beginnings and new opportunities to do good and make good within the universe. It’s a time to focus on what’s most important rather than urgent. So while I have contemplated my own goals and commitments for 2011, I’ve also thought a bit about yours.

When you accepted our invitation to be part of the AHS learning community, you signed a commitment form, which included an agreement to apply to at least two colleges/universities in your senior year. If you are a senior, I know that many of you have already applied and been accepted to your school of choice. If you are among this group of scholars, hearty congratulations! If you haven’t yet defined your plans and taken steps to pursue your education and career goals, there is no time like the present! And, yes…this means freshmen through seniors!

This week in Advisory, review and refine your goals for college and career. Be SMART as you develop and monitor your goals, i.e., make them Specific, Measurable, Action-oriented, Realistic, and Time-bound.

If you have not already done so:

Define what you want to do when you enter the workforce. At this point in your life, it’s natural to have questions and very likely that your answer will change over time. Even if you don’t know yet, choose something AND write it down. Starting now will help you gain clarity later.
List two or more colleges/institutions that you want to attend that offer majors that will help prepare you for your career.
Research your college options: Do they offer what you want to study? What options will you have that will meet your academic and social needs? What most appeals to you? What concerns you? What are their admission requirements?
Reflect on what you are doing now to prepare yourself for your top school of choice: Are your actions aligning with your goals? What can you do to enhance your high school resume? Who can help you? Is the résumé you are building well-rounded? While academic achievement is important, college admissions reps also want to know that you have performed community service, participated in extra-curricular activities, been part of a team, held a leadership position, worked part-time or interned, etc. Take stock of all of these aspects so that you can start to fill in the gaps while there is still adequate time.

Reviewing your goals is not a one-time activity. Rather, it is a process that needs to be in perpetual motion. Developing your plan as a freshman allows lots of opportunity to refine your goals and action steps as you gain clarity about what you want to do in life and where you want to go to gain the knowledge and skills that will ensure your future. Without a plan, it’s much too easy to get sidetracked and settle for less than you want and deserve. Put your plan in writing and monitor it along the way; you’ll find it much more useful that way! (And much less useful if you don’t.)

I encourage you not to worry about how you are going to finance your college education when you are first making your plan. Start with a clean slate. Dream big! Believe in all possibilities for your future. In my experience, when passion and preparation come together, the rest falls in place. Go for it! Develop your goals first. And, know that you have a super knowledgeable and helpful counselor and staff to help you! The sky is NOT the limit!

Congratulations to Scott Anderson for being selected as Puget Sound Skill’s Center Student of the Quarter! Scott attends PSCC for part of the school day where he is enrolled in the Autobody Technology program.

The Highline School District will be running a renewal levy in February, which provides significant support to operate our schools. Parents and families: Information is available on the Highline School District website at www.hsd401.org, and if you want additional information, please contact me.

It’s good to be back at school! My best to all for an audacious week of learning and renewed commitment! 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:
“We must accept finite disappointment, but we must never lose infinite hope.”
~Martin Luther King Jr.

NOTAM 121310

2010-12-13T06:56:00.000-08:00

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

2010-12-06T08:25:00.000-08:00

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

2010-11-28T19:56:00.000-08:00

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

2010-11-21T15:51:00.000-08:00

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

2010-11-14T17:08:00.000-08:00

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

2010-11-14T17:07:00.000-08:00

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

2010-10-31T20:33:00.000-07:00

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:

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.)
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.
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

2010-10-24T22:19:00.000-07:00

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

2010-10-18T06:09:00.000-07:00

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

2010-10-10T22:13:00.000-07:00

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

2010-10-03T15:26:00.000-07:00

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

2010-09-27T05:17:00.000-07:00

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

2010-09-19T22:58:00.001-07:00

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