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What's HOT the week of May 31, 2022

is time is queer/and memory is trans/and my hands hurt in the cold/then

by Raquel Salas Rivera

there are ways to hold pain like night follows day

not knowing how tomorrow went down.

it hurts like never when the always is now,

the now that time won't allow.

there is no manner of tomorrow, nor shape of today

only like always having to leave

from and toward the future's could-be,

in order to never more see

the sí;

and if forever proves me wrong,

it'll hurt with the hurt of before the before.

it'll have to take me along:

all the never-enough of why and therefore.

life has given me much to believe,

but more is the doubt that undid what i know,

for, like night follows day, the pleasure is sure,

of forever beginning once more.

New In This Week's Dragon's Fire

• Join Us for a CSCA Family Social
• New Date for the Final CSCA Board Meeting
• School Day Schedule Changes
• SPS Summer Credit Recovery Program
• New Items on the Bulletin Board

Join Us for a CSCA Family Social

Building community at a downtown choice high school is always difficult but has been especially difficult throughout a pandemic. We now have an opportunity to get together!

CSCA invites TSC families to meet up for cookies and connection Jun 9, 5:30-6:45 on the Armory balcony just outside the school doors. Meet other parents, ask questions, get support, share experiences, build community and eat cookies! The new student orientation is happening at that same time, and incoming families will be joining us. Let's give them a warm welcome and opportunity to ask questions and connect. Park at the Memorial Stadium lot. Print the parking pass and put it on the dashboard of your car. The parking pass must be displayed, print side up, on your dashboard in order to avoid a ticket. TCS cannot void tickets for parking violations.

Cookie donations are much appreciated. Please email hraykeil@gmail.com to coordinate!

New Date for the Final CSCA Board Meeting

We have moved our final board meeting of the year to Jun 16 so that we can relax at the family social on Jun 9. Everyone is welcome to join us at the meeting. Look for the invite in your in box 48 hours in advance.

School Day Schedule Changes

Please note the schedule changes for the next weeks to accommodate the holiday and special events at school. (We'll post the final week schedule as soon as we have it.)

Week of May 30:

Week of Jun 6:

SPS Summer Credit Recovery Program

Dates: Jul 6-29

Times: Mon-Fri 9 am-1 pm

Who: Current SPS 9-12 students who need credit recovery

What: Students will have the opportunity to recover up to 1.0 credits (two .5 credits) for graduation requirements. Courses will be provided through Apex Learning. Courses are supported by Seattle Public Schools’ teachers who will provide intervention, direct instructional support, and progress monitoring to assure on-time completion of the class. They will provide additional instruction to build and strengthen academic skills throughout the course.

Where: Roosevelt HS, Franklin HS, West Seattle HS

Classes offered:

• English: 9 A/B, 10A/B, 11A/B, 12 A/B
• Social Studies: World History 1, 2, 3, US History 11 A/B, American Government & Economics
• Math: Algebra 1A/B, Geometry A/B, Algebra 2A/B
• Science: Biology A/B, Physics A/ Chemistry A, Physics B / Chemistry B
• Health
• WA State History

How to Sign Up (choose one):

• Option #1: Families sign up through a survey that will be sent out by the district.
• Option #2: Contact Ms. Hayes at mrhayes1@seattleschools.org and let her know which classes you would like to take

Orientation for students is Jul 6 at 9 am. Students that have not received orientation will need to check in with the site lead at their building between 9 am and 12 pm on Jul 6. Laptops will be provided to all students on the first day of the program.

Learn more at SPS Summer School Information.

ASB Elections Are Coming

ASB organizes a lot of TCS events (including open houses which help us recruit students and stay open!) so please encourage your student to join! Students who participate in ASB earn community service hours for their time and gain valuable leadership skills. ASB is an extracurricular you can add to your resume! If your student is even a little interested or is on the fence, they start by viewing the slide show and then talk to Ms Neel for more information. 

Plan Ahead for the 2022/23 School Year

SPS has approved and posted key dates for the 2022/23 school year here. See the calendar on the SPS website. School will start Sep 7!

Update on School Start Times

Superintendent Jones has determined Seattle Public Schools (SPS) will continue the two-tier transportation system for the 2022/23 school year. This means elementary, K-8, and middle schools will not change their start and end times in Sep. Some high schools may see a 10-minute change in start time. This determination will allow us to keep the current structure as we continue to find ways to improve transportation services. The national bus driver shortage continues to affect our ability to provide full service to all students who are eligible for transportation. It is likely we will begin the 2022/23 school year with the same reduced bus service that has been in place since last fall. We will continue to explore whether we can restore the routes that have been suspended. Consistent with our strategic plan, SPS prioritizes systems to serve students of color and those furthest from educational justice. In the coming months, there will be more opportunities to share your feedback and input as we continue to study available options for reliable transportation services. We are committed to ensuring that students arrive at school on time and ready to learn. If you have questions or comments, please share them with us on our Let’s Talk feedback form. We read and consider every message.

New Student Orientation

The Center School will be hosting a New Student Orientation for incoming students for the 2022/23 school year on Thu, Jun 9 from 5:30-6:30 pm. There will be a pre-event meeting for families of students with IEP’s at 5 pm. New students are encouraged to attend the Center School Art Showcase from 7–9 pm where they can see current Center School students perform in theater and dance. If you have any questions, please email school counselor, Michele Hayes, at mrhayes1@seattleschools.org.

Prom Details

The Senior class has been planning our long awaited prom and we are getting close to the magic day! Prom this year will be held at the Tyee Yacht Club in Seattle from 7-10 pm on Fri, Jun 3. Juniors and Seniors are invited and Seniors may bring one guest each. Underclassmen may only attend as a guest, and guests who do not attend Center must have a Guest Permission Form completed and turned in before the event. Our theme is Fairy Garden and we can’t wait to see your most elegant, ethereal, and magical interpretations!

Students, we will provide refreshments and a dessert selection but feel free to grab dinner with your friends or family beforehand. If families have any questions or want to be involved in the event planning, feel free to email tcsclass22@gmail.com

Tickets will be available for in-person purchase (cash only) at Center from May 23 until Jun 2 or you can purchase tickets online right now via schoolpay! To order, log in to The Source, choose Schoolpay from the list of options on the left. Choose Class of 2022 Prom Tickets at the top of the list. Senior tickets are $25 for students and their guest. Juniors are invited to attend (no guests please) and tickets are $35. Prom will be held at the Tyee Yacht Club.

This is going to be an incredible night and we hope to see you there, singing and dancing your heart out with your classmates and school community!

Buy 2021/22 Yearbooks Now

Students wanting a yearbook can now preorder and pay on Schoolpay. To order, log in to The Source, choose Schoolpay from the list of options on the left. Choose Yearbook Presale & Purchase from the bottom of the list. You may need to scroll down to see it.

Internships & Programs for Teens

Please see the list of paid and other opportunities that Mr Rho has curated for teens needing work experience, community service hours, and fun.

Let's Talk to Our Teens About Mental Health

In Mar of this year, the CDC published a press release outlining recent findings about youth mental health. "According to the new data, in 2021, more than a third (37%) of high school students reported they experienced poor mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic, and 44% reported they persistently felt sad or hopeless during the past year." For many young people these issues were compounded by problems at home and increased racism in their everyday lives.

Identifying when our kids need help is a first step to moving them into a more positive future. Here are some resources to help you identify and address common mental health issues in your teen:

• Mental Health
• Depression
• Stress vs. Anxiety

You can access more information about a variety of teen mental health issues from the National Institutes of Mental Health.

Starting conversations with your teens about their mental health, their friends' mental health, and even your own mental health is crucial to breaking down stigmas about mental health issues and may help your kid ask for help when they need it. Here are are some resources for talking to and supporting kids:

• How to Support Teens Mental Health During Covid and Beyond
• Four Things You Can Do to Support Your Teen's Mental Health
• Talking to Kids About Their Mental Health
• 5 Ways to End Mental Health Stigma
• Being an Emotional Sponge: Supporting Young People Who Are Supporting Friends

And because mental health issues can be really isolating, it can be really important for kids to know that they're not alone. The following podcasts are by young people discussing their own mental health challenges with other young people:

• This Is Normal: A Podcast About Youth Mental Health (available on Apple and Soundcloud)
• On Our Minds
• She Persisted

TCS has resources for teens who need mental health support. If you need help finding mental health resources, contact school counselor, Michele Hayes at mrhayes1@seattleschools.org.

The Risks of Accommodating a Child's Anxiety

How to foster resilience and self-regulation in kids instead.

Key Points

• Accommodation is any action parents engage in with the purpose of alleviating their child's anxiety or stress.
• Parents may accommodate due to their own personal histories and beliefs systems. Intense child reactions can also increase accommodation.
• Parental accommodation has been shown to increase child anxiety over time and reduce response to treatment.
• Long-term coping skills and increased confidence require helping the child face life challenges and get outside their comfort zone with support.

Read the full article.

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.

The Seattle Artist League is a new art school in Georgetown. Our small class sizes and studio workshops provide hands-on education accessible to anyone who endeavors to make art a part of their daily life. Professional artist-instructors at the League teach drawing, painting, printmaking, and more. Summer youth art camps provide a variety of art opportunities, now including pottery. Learn more.

Mural Painting Internship! (PAID)

Work with YES Farm, a local Black-led farm in Seattle, to create design and paint a colorful mural centered around farming, creativity in nature, land justice, and community! Click here for more information.

Y-WE Presents Black Girl/NB Summer

Carefully Curated Black and BIPOC Healing Spaces. For Us. By Us. With Us. This Summer Y-WE is taking our affinity programming to the next level and inundating Seattle with all Black everything. Brought to you by the creators of Blackout Healing, we will be curating awesomeness all summer long for Black girls, women, trans, and gender expansive humans ages 13-19. It’s giving joy, wellness, activities, vibes, and an opportunity to simply be in community. Everything is free and folks can sign up for as many or few programs or experiences as they want. Learn more and register here. Programs go from May through Aug!

Skate Like a Girl Skate Camp

Community-led non-profit Skate Like a Girl proudly announces their annual Skate Camp offering, including camps at a variety of locations throughout the Seattle area! In addition to a diversity of sites, specialty weeks for GRRLZ, and Queer &/or Trans skaters, along with All Gender weeks, provide an experience for everyone! Partial and full scholarships are available, as well as free loaner gear for any skater in need! GRRLZ* WEEKS are an exclusive space for all girls, non-binary, and/or trans skaters ages 6-16, led by a team of women and non-binary staff and volunteers. All skateboarding skill levels are welcome! QT WEEKS are an exclusive space for queer and/or trans skaters ages 6-16, led by a team of queer and/or trans staff and volunteers. All skateboarding skill levels are welcome! Registration here.

LawYours: Diversifying the Legal Profession

LawYours is a free event dedicated to helping underrepresented Puget Sound-area high school students explore the field of law. This event takes place at Seattle University School of Law on Wednesday, August 10th, 2022. Register by Jul 1. Questions? Email vot1@seattleu.edu.

Reel Queer Youth Summer Camp (Hybrid)

Reel Queer Youth (RQY) is a video production and media literacy program for LGBTQ+ youth and allies grades 9-12. Brought to you by Three Dollar Bill Cinema, NWFF, and NFFTY.

During this week-long camp (Aug 1–5, 11 am–2 pm), participants will create a film using available media and tools, under the guidance of Reel Queer Youth facilitators and special film industry guests. We'll learn about different forms of filmmaking (narrative, documentary, experimental), and how story and identity can be shared through each. We’ll also cover planning a production, recording video and sound, and editing to create dynamic films.

Celebrate your story and connect with other young LGBTQ+ and ally filmmakers this summer! More information and registration.

Teen Nights at the Rep

On select Fridays throughout our 2021/22 season, teens are invited to see our shows for $5 with a free pre-show reception, fun activities, and a chance to hang out with other teens in a youth-only space! Last show is Jun 3. More information and tickets.

PLURAL+ Youth Video Festival Call for Entries

Young filmmakers, the PLURAL+ Youth Video Festival is now accepting video submissions from young filmmakers about the pressing social issues of migration, diversity, social inclusion, the prevention of xenophobia, and coexistence between religions. Learn more and submit. Deadline: Jun. 17

OneWorld Now’s Summer Intensive Language & Leadership Program

Students can study beginning Arabic, Korean or Mandarin Chinese. They will have the opportunity to develop leadership skills and experience new cultural practices and traditions. They will also meet students from across the county.

Dates: Level 1A: Jun 27–Jul 8, Level 1B: Jul 11-Jul 22

Time: Mon-Fri, 9 am-1 pm

Location: Zoom

Eligibility: Any student in 7th-12th grade in the 2021/22 academic year

Cost: Sliding scale based on family size and income

Credit: up to 1.0 world language credit in just 4 weeks (equivalent to 1 year of study)!

Application deadline: Jun 5

Learn more and apply: oneworldnow.org/summer

TeenTix New Guard Applications for 2022/23 are Open

Are you interested in Community Building, Hands-on Experience, Teen Leadership, and Centering Youth Voices? Join our community of the next generation's arts leaders and help us create a more arts accessible arts scene for youth! Click here for more information and how to apply.

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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