Week of September 29, 2024

October 9 - Chipotle Fundraiser for the RHS Girls Soccer Team

October 16 - First PTSA General Membership Meeting

October 18 - No School - Leap Day

Have you recently given to the PTSA's Pass the Hat fundraising campaign or volunteered your time at one of the early back-to-school-year events?

Does your employer match donations and volunteer time? As we enter the new school year, we want to remind you about corporate matching. Many companies will match their employees' charitable contributions, effectively doubling each donation. They will also match volunteer hours making your volunteer time even more impactful. Microsoft, Amazon, Google, Boeing, Starbucks are a few that may match.

Redmond High School PTSA is a 501(c)(3) organization and we can provide neccessary documents for your matching requirements. We are already listed on the most widely-used corporate internal giving websites, so please search for "Redmond High School PTSA" or "RHS PTSA".

Thank you if you already donated to RHS PTSA or volunteered this school year. Your donations and time help enhance the educational experience of our students.

The Volunteer Spotlight hopes to recognize those who provide their time and efforts to Redmond High School students, staff, and community. Thank you for your amazing dedication and support. We are a better organization because of you! It's a recurring feature that strives to shine light on PTSA's greatest assets, our volunteers!

Our first of the school year is Volunteer Spotlight is on Sophia Nam! Sophia shared with us, a little bit about herself and what motivates her to volunteer at RHS! Sophia writes, "What I love about volunteering at RHS is that it provides you with a glimpse of what high school is all about for our children, as well as the opportunity to engage with the community... As we all know, RHS is a huge school, and the community’s dedication and support are paramount in its success." Please click on the link below to read more!

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT: SOPHIA NAM

If you'd like someone to be featured in our series, please email us at volunteers@redmondhsptsa.org.

Make Fred Meyer Donate to RHS PTSA!

Do you shop at Fred Meyer? You can help fundraise for the RHS PTSA without it costing you anything extra! Fred Meyer Community Rewards is an easy way for local non-profits to receive donations from Fred Meyer Stores.

Once you link your Rewards Card to RHS PTSA, all you have to do is shop at Fred Meyer and swipe your Rewards Card. Rest assured, you will continue to receive Fuel Points! At the end of each quarter, Fred Meyer will make a donation to RHS PTSA based on the accumulated spending of the Rewards customers linked.

HOW TO LINK FRED MEYER ACCOUNT TO RHS PTSA

Don’t have a Rewards Card? Sign up for one at the Customer Service Desk of any Fred Meyer store next time you shop there!

Calling all volunteers to help out the Science Department Staff at RHS starting Monday, October 7! The Science Team is implementing a digital inventory of chemicals used for classes.

Volunteers are needed to work through the stock room, taking inventory of different types of chemicals in different types of containers. The volunteers will be provided a laptop with login to the inventory system and trained on how to weigh and input the mass of each of the chemicals.

Volunteers are requested to devote at least three hours at a time and sign up for multiple days, if possible. Knowledge of chemicals is not required as training is provided each day and will take approximately 30 minutes before start of the inventory. Thank you for generously giving your time to support our staff!

8:30am-9am: Training and check progress

9am-12pm: Inventory

RHS SCIENCE CHEMICALS INVENTORY VOLUNTEER SIGN UP

Important: All volunteers MUST be approved by the Lake Washington School District by event day. Please fill out the LWSD Volunteer Application to begin the online approval process.

No President = No PTSA. That's right everyone, without a PTSA President, there can be no PTSA. Washington State requires all registered organizations to have a President, Secretary, and Treasurer. The RHS PTSA is still in urgent need of a President for the 2024-2025 school year. Save the PTSA by becoming our President! If you like being a leader, this may be the role for you. There is training to learn the official PTSA stuff and many other board members will be there for support. Prior Board experience on any PTSA or other community organization is strongly recommended.

• The role can be shared by two people: The president position can also be filled with 2 people as Co-Presidents. Bring a friend and do the tasks together!
• You will become a hero to all RHS families: Help guide and lead the PTSA this year!
• You won't be alone! Other board members are here to support and help get you up to speed!

If you have any questions about the role or if you would like to volunteer, please send an email to volunteers@redmondhsptsa.org. We would love to hear from you!

Chipotle Fundraiser for RHS Girls Soccer Program

Stop by Chipotle at 17875 Redmond Way Ste 170 on Wednesday, October 9 from 4-8pm for a quick bite or pick up an order to go and 25% of event sales will be donated to the RHS Girls Soccer team.

Order online for pickup using code 2GZAX3A or show the flyer in the restaurant.

Thank you for supporting our RHS Girls Soccer Program!

Register Now for WSPTA Legislative Assembly

Saturday, October 26 to Sunday, October 27 Seattle Pacific University

Join us for the 46th annual WSPTA Legislative Assembly from Friday, October 26 to Sunday, October 27, 2024 at Seattle Pacific University. This incredible weekend of advocacy and education will include networking, training, guest speakers and panels. Delegates will discuss, debate, and vote on new issues and resolutions, including the adoption of WSPTA’s 2024-2026 legislative platform and top five issues.

Register by tomorrow Monday, September 30 at noon to secure the early bird rate of $150. The rate will increase to $175 after this time. Students may register for $90. A subsidized rate is also available (email support@wastatepta.org). 

Your voice matters. Register today!

For event information, including this year's Voter’s Guide, visit the WSPTA Legislative Assembly event page.

Voting Delegates

Would you like to be a voting delegate at the WSPTA Legislative Assembly?This is a great way to participate in civic engagement regardless of age or citizenship status. The WSPTA legislative platform reflects delegate-voted views and provides a larger collective voice for advocacy! Members and/or students who would like to attend as one of RHS PTSA's seven allotted voting delegates at this year's assembly, please contact advocacy@redmondhsptsa.org.

Drop-In Q&A Sessions: Wednesday, October 9 and Thursday, October 10

Questions about how Legislative Assembly works? Come to WSPTA's virtual Q&A drop-in hours to discuss how to participate in Legislative Assembly, what to expect, how to be a delegate for your PTA, and how to get feedback on issues and resolutions prior to the event.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9 FROM 7-8PM SIGN UP

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10 FROM 12-1PM SIGN UP

Join us at our next Parent Chat to discover strategies for integrating lessons into daily life and setting your child up for long-term success. Gain insights and resources to help nurture capable, self-reliant adults, no matter your child’s age. Essential life skills, such as communication, emotional intelligence, personal finance and critical thinking, will be covered.

Wednesday, October 9 from 7-8pm, over Zoom.

REGISTER FOR PARENT CHAT

Jefferson Scholarship: Full Merit-Based Scholarship to the University of Virginia

Jefferson Scholarships are awarded to high school seniors who demonstrate excellence and exceptional potential in the areas of leadership, scholarship, and engaged citizenship. Recipients receive the entire cost of attendance at UVA and many supplemental enrichment experiences—a value of nearly $364,000.

Criteria:

The Jefferson Scholars Foundation seeks to attract to the University of Virginia the most promising student leaders in the world, individuals who demonstrate superior potential for providing exceptional contributions to the University as students and to the world at large as alumni of the University. In granting the awards, the Foundation looks for excellence in:

1. Leadership ability
2. Scholarship ability
3. Responsible citizenship

To be eligible to compete, a nominee must:

1. Be an enrolled member of the current graduating class who has not yet received a diploma.
2. Be selected by their school as the nominee.
3. Not have been previously nominated for a Jefferson or Walentas Scholarship.

If you meet the criteria and would like to be nominated for the Jefferson Scholarship, please email Ms. Wu at rwu@lwsd.org by Sunday, October 20 to address how you meet the stated criteria: Excellence in leadership ability, scholarship ability, and responsible citizenship. The selected nominee will be notified by Ms. Wu around Friday, November 15. See details on the CCC web page under the Scholarship and the RHS CCC Events Calendars.

Look for more opportunities on the bulletin boards down the hall from the CCC and on the CCC web page under the following calendars: Student Opportunities, RHS CCC Events, LWSD Community Events or the Scholarship Deadline.

Washington Aerospace Scholars

Washington Aerospace Scholars (WAS) is an online distance learning course and summer experience specifically designed for high school juniors interested in pursuing STEM pathways through the exploration of space and space travel. This program provides the opportunity to earn five science credits through the University of Washington!

Program participants must be high school juniors (11th grade) and residents of Washington. The application deadline is Tuesday, October 22. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis while space lasts.

More information can be found here.