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What's HOT the week of October 18, 2021

What We Need Is Here

by Wendell Berry

Geese appear high over us,

pass, and the sky closes. Abandon,

as in love or sleep, holds

them to their way, clear

in the ancient faith: what we need

is here. And we pray, not

for new earth or heaven, but to be

quiet in heart, and in eye,

clear. What we need is here.

New in this Week's Dragon's Fire

• Curriculum Night Details
• Understanding Graduation Pathways
• Teens & Social Anxiety: Returning to School is Hard
• New Items in the Bulletin Board

Curriculum Night this Thu, Oct 21

Welcome to Virtual Curriculum 2021! We look forward to sharing information about our classes in order to make your students successful at TCS. Teacher presentations will be held via Schoology. In order to attend each teacher’s presentation, you will need to register for the Source and Schoology, if you haven’t already done so. Please do so before Thu, Oct 21 at 6:30. Read the full instructions for attending Curriculum Night here.

On Thursday, October 21st, you will follow your student’s schedule, moving virtually from class to class:

• 5:30–6:20 Senior Family Night (senior families only)
• 6:30-6:45 Period 1
• 6:50-7:00 Period 2
• 7:05-7:15 Period 3
• 7:20-7:30 Period 4
• 7:35-7:45 = Period 5
• 7:50-8:00 = Period 6

Note: No sessions will be held for MASH (Mentorship, Advisory, and Study Hall)

Understanding Graduation Pathways

With Smarter Balance Assessments coming up on Nov 1 and 2, families need to understand graduation pathways in order to make informed decisions for their students. In addition to graduation requirements (the classes and credits students must take in order to graduate, which include PE and service learning), students must meet state requirements for one of three graduation pathways:

• Career/Technical Field
• Military Career Interest
• Postsecondary Education

If your student will be following the Postsecondary Education pathway, Smarter Balance Assessments are one way of fulfilling the English Language Arts and Math requirements. Other possible ways to fulfill that requirement include AP courses, SAT or ACT exams, or Running Start courses. Please plan carefully to avoid issues in your student's senior year. If you need help planning graduation pathway requirements, contact school counselor Ms. Hayes at mrhayes1@seattleschools.org. Seniors can discuss requirements for class of 2022 graduates during their October credit checks.

Read the OSPI explanation of graduation pathways here.

Earn Service Learning Credits

All SPS high school students need 60 hours of service learning credit (unpaid) to graduate. Don't wait until your senior year to start accruing hours. Check out the service learning bulletin that Mr. Rho has put together and start earning your service credits now.

Scholarship Bulletin

Check out the SPS Oct & Nov Scholarship Bulletin.

Senior Credit Checks

Our counselor, Ms. Hayes, will be meeting with seniors during the month of Oct to review their graduation requirements. Once students meet with Ms. Hayes, she will send home an email to senior families with information about their student's graduation progress. Ms. Hayes will be scheduling meetings with senior families who are not on track to graduate.

Read more about graduation requirements on the the SPS webpage.

Oct Board Meeting Date Change

Our October board meeting has been changed from Thu, Oct 21 to Tue, Oct 19 to accommodate curriculum night. All are welcome! Look for an email on Oct 17 with details and the Zoom link.

Join CSCA for a Discussion with SPS & School Board Candidates

This Wed, Oct 20, 6:30–8:30 pm CSCA will host SPS to discuss levy updates and school board candidates for District 4, which includes TCS. Both candidates will speak and answer questions. Please send your questions to IDEA chair, Shawna Murphy at southernstreetkids@yahoo.com by 6 pm, Oct 18.

• 6:30-7:45 Welcome
• 6:45-7:15 Levy presentation with SPS Budget Director Linda Sebring
• 7:20-7:35 D4 School board Candidate Laura Marie Rivera
• 7:40-7:55 D4 School board Candidate Vivian Song Maritz
• 7:55 Closing

All are welcome. Look for an email on Oct 18 with details and the Zoom link.

TCS students, show off your creativity and skill! Reflections is an annual competition put on by the national PTA. This year's theme is "I will change the world by ...". Students have the opportunity to win and move on to state and even national competition. Students can enter in one or more of the following categories (follow the links to read the rules for each category):

• Dance Choreography
• Film Production
• Literature
• Music Composition
• Photography
• Visual Arts (2D and 3D)

Entry deadline is Wed, Nov 3 by 5 pm. Entries should be submitted digitally using the electronic entry form, which will be available soon. If you need help photographing 2D or 3D art, please contact Reflections Chair, Monica Payson, at monica@paysley.net. Please also reach out for help with artist's statements, supplies, entry forms, and general support.

Teens & Social Anxiety: Returning to School is Hard

We all waited so long for in-person school to start again. We wanted our kids back with their peers, learning yes, but also goofing off and hanging out as only teens do. But going back to school hasn't been so easy. Eighteen months of Zoom school and social isolation have taken their toll on social development for many teens. Schools are reporting more behavioral issues and teens are self-reporting difficulty connecting with peers and focusing at school. If you're noticing that your student is experiencing social anxiety that didn't exist before or seems more withdrawn or tired after a day at school, you're not alone. Readjusting to in-person school is hard for many kids. Check out the articles below for some perspective and ideas, remember that the school has resources if you feel your student needs additional support.

• 5 Ways to Cope With Social Anxiety
• The COVID-19 Cycle: Social Anxiety and Withdrawal in School-Aged Kids and Teens
• Easing Back-to-School Anxiety in the COVID Era

The Bulletin Board section publishes information about art, photography, film, theater, writing, and other programs and competitions outside of TCS that might be of benefit and interest to our students. If you know of an opportunity that our students might want to hear about, contact the Dragon's Fire at dfsubmitarticle1@gmail.com.

Sound Off! Music Showcase

Now in its 21st year, MoPOP’s Sound Off! is the premier 21-and-under music showcase in the Pacific Northwest. Participants get the opportunity to showcase their original music, connect with peer musicians, and are mentored by industry leaders and an artistic community invested in welcoming them as full-fledged members of one of the nation’s most vibrant music scenes.

MoPOP’s Sound Off! is designed to support up-and-coming musicians and set them on a path for community building and professional growth. Over the course of three weeks, 12 semifinalists are selected to work with and perform for a panel of industry veterans.

All twelve artists selected to participate receive professional development from industry veterans, take part in a professional photoshoot, play in a world-class venue, and join the growing community of Sound Off! alumni. Sound Off! community partners select artists from the cohort for other opportunities beyond the Sound Off! performances such as live recording in KEXP’s performance studio, mentorship from industry professionals, and radio play. Sound Off! alumni have gone on to perform at top Northwest music festivals, including Timber! Music Festival, Northwest Folklife Festival, and Bumbershoot. They also receive promotions via MoPOP events, collaborations with local producers, and studio sessions.

Applications due Oct 20. Read more and apply here.

TeenTix, in partnership with The Colorization Collective (a teen-run organization that promotes diversity in the arts) is excited to announce that applications for the 2022 Winter Cohort of our Mentorship for Teen Artists of Color (M-TAC) program are open! This program will specifically allow teen artists of color to hone their artwork under the guidance of professional mentors of color. This is a great way for teens to better their craft, build connections in the arts community, and present their art!

This mentorship is for teens interested in music and writing. Teens will be put into either a music or writing cohort, and each group will be paired with a professional artist/mentor of color to create or workshop a piece specifically for the program showcase.

Read more to see the schedule.

Applicants must be ages 13-19 and a current TeenTix member to participate. Not a TeenTix member yet? Don't worry! Sign up for free here! Applications are open now and close at midnight PST on Oct 24.

If you need assistance filling out the application, please contact Anya Shukla at colorizationcollective@gmail.com.

Apply here!

Lingering in the Lobby: A Study About Teens and Highbrow Culture

Hello! Thanks so much for your interest in being interviewed for my study! Below is a bit more information about my research—if you're still interested, please leave your contact information and I'll reach out to schedule an interview. I can't wait to speak with you soon!

Study Number: IRB21-1274

Study Title: Lingering in the Lobby: Teenagers and Highbrow Culture

Researcher(s): Anne Lim, under advisory by Dr. John Levi Martin

Purpose: We are conducting this study to learn more about how teenagers experience highbrow arts institutions like the opera, symphony, or ballet. More generally, we are interested learning about what shapes the cultural taste of teenagers and how teenagers learn to adapt to the specific environments of various arts spaces.

Procedures and Time Required: You will be asked to participate in one 45-minute interview over Zoom or in person. With your permission, the interviews will be audio-recorded.

Risks and Benefits: Your participation in this study does not involve any risk to you beyond that of everyday life. Taking part in this research study may not benefit you personally, but we may learn insights into how teenagers interact with the arts that may benefit arts accessibility work.

History Café: The Teen Dance Ordinance and Youth Political Action

Wed, Oct 20

6:30–7:30 pm

Cost: Free with Registration

In 1985, Seattle’s vibrant all-ages club scene was abruptly quieted by passage of the Teen Dance Ordinance. Young aspiring musicians could still play in venues like community centers, but it wasn’t the same as the club scene. Youth activism grew, culminating in a series of public meetings where youth and famous allies, like Krist Novoselic, formerly of Nirvana, spoke out in favor of all-ages clubs. The campaign led to the replacement of the Teen Dance Ordinance with the All-Ages Dance Ordinance in 2002. Join us for a online panel discussion about the history of Seattle’s all-ages venues, how youth activism swayed the city council, and the campaign’s lasting impact on Seattle’s music scene.

Space is limited so register soon! Detailed information on how to participate will be provided via email following your registration. Real-time, automated captioning is available during the program. For additional support, contact programs@mohai.org.

Register here.

Listings in the Bulletin Board section for any specific commercial or organizational product, process, or service, or the use of any trade, firm, or corporation name is for the information and convenience of the public and does not constitute endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by The Center School or the CSCA.

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