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What's HOT the week of August 30, 2021

Try to Praise the Mutilated World 

by Adam Zagajewski

translated by Clare Cavanagh

Try to praise the mutilated world.

Remember June's long days,

and wild strawberries, drops of rosé wine.

The nettles that methodically overgrow

the abandoned homesteads of exiles.

You must praise the mutilated world.

You watched the stylish yachts and ships;

one of them had a long trip ahead of it,

while salty oblivion awaited others.

You've seen the refugees going nowhere,

you've heard the executioners sing joyfully.

You should praise the mutilated world.

Remember the moments when we were together

in a white room and the curtain fluttered.

Return in thought to the concert where music flared.

You gathered acorns in the park in autumn

and leaves eddied over the earth's scars.

Praise the mutilated world

and the gray feather a thrush lost,

and the gentle light that strays and vanishes

and returns.

This Week's Dragon's Fire

• Join the CSCA
• Take the Transportation Survey
• Fill Out and Return School Forms
• Apply for Free and Reduced Lunch
• Be There for Your Teen
• Order Dragon Wear
• TCS First Week Schedule
• What to Expect the First Day of School
• Class Schedules
• Orca Cards
• Transportation Update
• When to Keep Your Student Home
• 2021/22 SPS COVID-19 Dashboard
• School-Based COVID-19 Testing
• COVID-19 Contact Tracing
• Health & Safety at School
• TCS & SPS Mental Health Services
• Bulletin Board

Join the CSCA

TCS is a choice school and we all chose it because it offers a unique experience for our unique kids—smaller classes, more personalized instruction, an arts-focused curriculum, a vibrant location, and an active and inclusive community. That community is key to supporting the school we chose and that's why our PTSA is called the Center School Community Association. Each year the CSCA provides crucial support and funding to our teachers, staff, and students. There are many ways to be involved, and joining the CSCA is the place to start. Whether you want to volunteer, sit in on the occasional meeting, or just let your kid do their thing, show your support for our community by becoming a CSCA member today.

Use the Join! button below to join online (a small processing fee applies to credit card payments) or download the membership form and return it with a check by mail.

Scholarships: If you would like to join but the membership dues are a burden, please email your completed membership form to membership chair, Monica Payson, at monica@paysley.net so we can apply a scholarship. And if you can afford to sponsor another member or two when you join, we thank you for your generosity.

Take the Vanpool Survey

We are still looking for options to assist WS/WC families with transportation issues caused by the West Seattle Bridge closure. Vanpool is one possible option, but we need to gauge interest in riding and possibly driving. WS/WC families, if you have not already done so, please complete the Vanpool survey (https://survey.app.do/school-vanpool). If you have questions or are interested in working on finding additional transportation solutions for West Seattle/White Center students, please contact CSCA President, Erika Borges at ErikaBorges@me.com.

Fill Out and Return School Forms

Please complete, sign, and return your student's FERPA and Emergency Release forms. Forms can be returned in person to the front office or emailed to Ms Tracey at tlott@seattleschools.org.

If your student will need to take medications (prescription and over the counter) at school, must fill out the Authorization to Administer Medications at School for each medication and must be signed by your health care provider.

Apply for Free and Reduced Lunch

It’s important to apply for Free and Reduced Lunch before the start of the school year. While breakfast and lunch will be provided for free, students approved for free and reduced-price meals may be eligible to receive reduced fees for device distribution, events, Advanced Placement testing, college applications, and so much more. Apply today!

Be There for Your Teen

We love our kids and we often want to help by solving problems. It can be hard to remember that high school is a time when kids differentiate from parents and devlop their own skills to regulate emotions and solve problems. Often what our teens most need from us is a patient and open ear and the knowledge that we are here to catch them when they stumble. Read some advice from the NY Times about how teens process emotions and what parents can do to help.

Order Dragon Wear

Show everyone you're a TCS student or family. Order all kinds of Dragon gear and wear now.

NOTE: The first day of school is NOT an early release day and will end at 3:45 pm. Early release Wednesdays will begin Sep 8.

What to Expect the First Day of School

The first day of school, Sep 1, will be a celebratory welcome back and soft start to the school year. (Please remember that masks are mandatory for the entire school day, except while students are eating lunch.) Students will be introduced to staff in the food court stage area and will have a general school orientation including emergency pandemic protocols and a reintroduction to in-person learning. Laptops (read more about laptop distribution and fees) and schedules will be distributed. A pizza and drinks lunch on the first day will be provided by the CSCA, though students are welcome to bring their own lunch or buy something in the food court. The first day of school is NOT an early-release Wednesday and will end at 3:45 pm.

Class Schedules

Schedules will be distributed on the first day of school. Your student can also check their schedule on the Source (read more about the Source) starting now. There will be minimal changes to schedules, but students who need schedule changes can submit a Schedule Change Request Form to school counselor, Michele Hayes.

ORCA Cards

ORCA cards issued for the previous school year are good through Aug 31. Students can pick up new ORCA cards by bringing their signed their signed Conditions of Use Letter to the TCS attendance office starting on the first day of school. Students who are eligible for transportation should have received a Conditions of Use letter from SPS which includes a temporary transportation pass for the first three days of school. Passes and ORCA cards are good for use on King County Metro and Sound Transit busses, Link light rail, the Monorail, and the Seattle Streetcar.

Transportation Update for West Seattle & White Center Families

SPS Director of Transportation and West Seattle long-time resident, Hunter Maltais, met with our families (a little over 20 in attendance) and Dr. Casey, to let us know that he is working on a possible solution to the commuting woes caused by the West Seattle Bridge closure. He said that the District recognizes the bridge closure as an obstacle to a timely commute for our students and he has come up with a possible solution that uses busses that SPS is already paying to do other routes. The District would likely incur costs of up to $100-200 per day for the extra hours, but there might be a way to tie these routes into meal delivery to lower those costs.

Hunter’s proposal is that there are two First Student yellow busses that are scheduled to finish drop offs at West Seattle elementary schools that begin at 7:55 am. Those busses could then pick up Center School Students at one or two community stops—most likely Chief Sealth High School and/or West Seattle High School. This service would be targeted to start on or after Sep 9 and would be morning only. Because of traffic variations, these busses might get students to school a bit early or possibly even a little late. Dr. Casey mentioned that with 100 minute classes, late arrivals can often be accommodated. There would be no guarantee for how long this service might last, and it would definitely not extend past the re-opening of the West Seattle bridge.

Hunter went on to explain the many caveats involved in this plan, including that First Student has relatively high attrition in the best of times, as well as the tight labor market and the unknowns around how the looming vaccine mandate mid-October will impact the driver shortage. He also mentioned that half of the drivers are new recruits and there is anticipation that some of them might not stay in their positions. The bus drivers have a competitive wage and benefits but only part-time hours.(One major competitor is Amazon, which offers full-time work.)Additionally SPS must prioritize students who are guaranteed transportation, and TCS students do not fall into that category.

If you did not already respond to the survey and would like to be involved in further discussions about transportation options for WS/WC families, contact CSCA president, Erika Borges at erikaborges@me.com.

When to Keep Your Student Home

Help us keep TCS safe for our whole community by keeping your student home when they have a known exposure to someone with COVID-19, or have new symptoms that are not caused by another condition. Please don’t send your student to school if they have any symptoms. If they do arrive at school feeling ill, they will be sent home.

Symptoms of COVID-19 may include the following:

• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Sore throat
• Nausea or vomiting
• Congestion or runny nose
• Diarrhea
• New loss of taste or smell
• Muscle or body aches
• Difficulty breathing

If your student experiences any symptoms that might impact health and safety at school, please report immediately to school nurse, LeAnn Rowlen by phone or text at 206-595-9177.

2021/22 SPS COVID-19 Dashboard

Families can view a public-facing dashboard showing confirmed COVID-19 cases at SPS. Refreshed weekly on Mon, this dashboard disaggregates—or divides data into parts—cases by region, week, and role to provide an understanding of the pandemic across the district. This dashboard will be refreshed on Sep 1 to track cases during the 2021/22 school year.

School-Based COVID-19 Testing

SPS is now offering free, safe, confidential, and painless COVID-19 testing to all students. Students swab themselves with a short soft swab, or if needed, can receive assistance. School-based testing is a proven strategy for limiting the spread of COVID-19 in our schools and communities. Watch the video to learn more.

COVID-19 Contact Tracing

If there is a positive COVID-19 case, SPS's central nursing team will work with Public Health to manage contact tracing. The district will notify close contacts, staff, and school community, as needed. SPS will notify families when there is a positive COVID-19 case in their student's classroom (note that this exceeds the Department of Health's communication recommendations for close contact).

Getting to School

There are nine bus stops and 18 bus routes in easy walking distance of Seattle Center. You can find bus stops on Queen Anne Ave N, 1st Ave N, 2nd Ave N, 5th Ave N and Denny Way. The Seattle Center is also served by the monorail, which runs from Westlake Center right to the Armory building. If your student is planning to bike, there are bike racks all around campus.

• Read more about getting to the Seattle Center
• View a printable map of Seattle Center
• Use King County Metro's trip planner to plan your bus route

Welcome New Teachers & Staff

Welcome to our new teachers and staff who are joining our community in these strange times. We're looking forward to getting to know you.

• Colin Kaparos, Math
• Janet Miller, Art
• Morgan Aikens III, SpEd Resource Instructional Assistant

TCS is still interviewing for one 9th and 10th grade LA and Social Studies teacher and one Access SpEd position. We'll let you know when those positions have been filled.

Health & Safety at School

Unfortunately we are returning to school in a rapidly evolving pandemic. SPS and TCS are committed to the health and safety of all students and staff while providing excellent in-person education. The following safety measures are currently in place for the 2021/22 school year, but due to the changing nature of the pandemic, these might change throughout the year. If COVID transmission rates increase significantly in our community and region, SPS is prepared to respond in partnership with Public Health–Seattle & King County, our local public health authority.

Because TCS is located within the Armory rather than in a standalone building, the Armory has it's own health and safety protocols developed to safeguard the public as well as our students.

Attestations

There will not be daily health attestations for students and staff as there were last spring. However, there will be attestations for visitors.

Masks

Masks are required for all students, staff, visitors, and volunteers. TCS will have extra masks in classrooms and at the front desk for students who may need them. Check out SPS's video on choosing and wearing a mask for students.

Cleaning

Classrooms and common spaces will be cleaned and disinfected each day. The Armory building also has cleaning guidelines separate from SPS that it will adhere to. Read more about the Armory's health and safety protocols.

Physical Distancing

Following state Department of Health guidelines, students will distance three feet, or to the extent possible and reasonable, in classrooms and will maximize distance to the extent possible and reasonable in common spaces. Staff are required to distance six feet in all areas of the school as required by Labor and Industries.

Hand Washing

Hand sanitizer and wipes will be available in all TCS classrooms. Hand sanitizer stations are also available throughout the Armory building.

Meals

TCS students can eat lunch in the Food Court, on the balcony, outside, or in the commons. Students may remove their masks to eat, but should put their mask back on immediately after eating. Students are encouraged to wash or sanitize their hands before and after eating and to maintain social distancing during lunch.

Vaccinations for Students

SPS will continue to promote vaccinations for students. The State Board of Health, which sets the Washington state immunization requirements for students, has not currently required the COVID-19 vaccine for students. COVID-19 vaccinations are approved for children over 12 years old. If your student is not yet vaccinated and would like to get a vaccine, you can find a vaccine provider near you by searching here.

Vaccinations Required for Staff & Volunteers

On Aug 18, Governor Jay Inslee announced a new directive legally requiring all K–12 school district employees to get a COVID-19 vaccination or be approved for a medical or religious exemption by Oct 18, 2021. Read more about this directive.

COVID-19 Testing

SPS is partnering with Health Commons Project to provide free, in-school COVID-19 testing for students and staff who have been exposed to COVID-19 or have COVID-like symptoms. We are evaluating the broader use of testing and more information will be available soon.

Response to COVID-19 Cases

If there is a positive COVID-19 case in a school, all families with students in the same classroom will be notified. Staff will work with Public Health–Seattle & King County to manage contact tracing—identifying and informing all individuals that came into close contact with the person diagnosed with COVID-19—and to provide next steps. The State of Washington requires SPS to provide full-time, in-person learning this coming school year. Local and state public health experts have not established metrics or transmission thresholds upon which the state would recommend a return to 100% virtual school. Closure of a school or classroom will be done in partnership and in response to the expert guidance of Public Health.

Monitoring COVID-19 in Seattle Schools

SPS maintains a COVID-19 dashboard of cases within Seattle Schools. The dashboard is refreshed every Monday.

This information was adapted from the SPS website.

TCS & SPS Mental Health Services

Much as we all wish life were back to normal, it's not. And some of our students might be experiencing additional stress as a result of the pandemic and returning to in-person school. For students who need mental health support, TCS will be providing emotional and social supports and resources with a referral from a counselor. Additionally, SPS offers a variety of mental health, substance abuse, and crisis support services. Download the SPS Behavioral Health Resource Guide. Read more about accessing mental health support.

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.

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.

Dragon's Fire wants to hear about what's going on in our school community. Please submit articles and images to Dragon's Fire by 5 pm Friday afternoon for inclusion in the next newsletter. Read our submission guidelines.

If you have comments, corrections, or additions to Dragon's Fire, please contact the editor at dfsubmitarticle1@gmail.com. We welcome your feedback!

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