Mustang Roundup - News from your PTSA

Week of April 23, 2023

IMPORTANT DATES

March 27 - Grad Night Tickets On Sale Now

April 1 - May 1 - Little Caesars Grad Night Fundraiser

April 23 - May 12 - PTSA Award Nominations

April 29-30 - WA State PTA Annual Business Meeting

May 8-12 - Staff Appreciation Week

PTSA NEWS

President's Message

I hope everyone had a wonderful Spring Break. We are now in the final nine weeks of school (eight if you’re a Senior!). It’s hard to believe the school year has gone by so fast, but that’s a testament to how great our school community is.

I want to congratulate our new PTSA Board for the 2023-2024 School Year. Last Wednesday at our General Membership meeting, the membership elected/re-elected the following Board for next year:

President: Branda Andrade

Secretary: Roo Hall

Co-Treasurer: Peggy Mankus Joanou

VP Communications: Michelle Jeans

VP FACE: Amanda Salinas Bennett

VP Hospitality: Tracey Gauthier

VP Student Programs: Meredith Cain

VP Sustainability: Satin Brennan

VP Membership: Neeta Check

VP Volunteers: Judy Kaethler

We still have a vacancy for VP Ways and Means and for a Co-Treasurer, so if you are interested or know of anyone who might be interested in that role, please contact me at president@redmondhsptsa.org. I want to thank our Nominating Committee, consisting of Satin Brennan, Munira Sheriff, and Amanda Salinas Bennett for their hard work in identifying nominees for these important positions. I look forward to working with this new Board beginning this summer.

We are also approaching the time of year where the PTSA is accepting recommendations for awards for our outstanding parents, students, and educators. More information is included below, but I wanted to invite anyone to think of a parent, student, and/or educator who has demonstrated the level of excellence we want to recognize as a PTSA.

As always, thank you to all for your contributions to the PTSA, school, and community. Together we make RHS an amazing place for our students.

Branda Andrade, RHS PTSA President

president@redmondhsptsa.org

PTSA Award Nominations

Each year RHS PTSA looks for input from RHS staff, parents, students, and community to recognize individuals who have demonstrated excellence in support of RHS. The PTSA seeks recommendations in identifying exceptional advocates, volunteers, educators, and students within our school community. Awards are considered for the following award categories:

Golden Acorn Award

Golden Mustang Award

Outstanding Educator Award

Outstanding Advocate Award

Outstanding Student Advocate Award

Honorary Life Membership Award

Descriptions of each award category can be found at Awards. Recommendations can be sent to RHS PTSA Attn: Awards, 17272 NE 104th Ave, Redmond, WA 98052 or you may email recommendations to awards@redmondhsptsa.org. Please note that you may nominate more than one person for each award.

Awards are presented to the selected recipients at the June 14 General Membership meeting.

Download a nomination form here! Nominations are due by May 12.

Senior Grad Night Ticket Sales OPEN

Attention Seniors!

Ticket sales for the 2023 Grad Night are now officially open! Tickets are on sale now for $150 but will bump up to $175 on April 28 and again up to $200 on May 15. Get your ticket early and save! Scholarship requests to cover the cost to attend Grad Night can be submitted to GradNightScholarships@redmondhsptsa.org.

What is Grad Night? - Check out our FAQ and Slide Show to learn more about this awesome annual event to celebrate our graduating seniors.

Please consider supporting this annual event by donating or participating in our fundraisers. More information on Grad Night fundraising and donations can be found here.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Staff Appreciation Week (May 8-12) Help Needed

Staff Appreciation Week is May 8-12. Help is needed throughout the week for setup, cleanup, coffee distribution...or baking/buying a dozen brownies (and dropping off at the main office).

Feel free to signup for one or more items if you can!

Rise and Shine Snack Attack

RHS PTSA is celebrating the wonderful RHS Staff during Staff Appreciation Week (May 8-12). The theme on Tuesday, May 9 is "Rise and Shine Snack Attack" where the focus will be on snacks that go well with a cup of coffee or a favorite tea flavor, as well as some grab-and-go items that staff can take for later in the day.

Please sign up to bring in a snack item by 2:30pm on Friday, May 5. Offerings can be dropped off at the main office in the box marked RHS PTSA STAFF APPRECIATION. You can sign up here!

Thanks so much for your help in recognizing the great Staff we have at RHS and all that they do for our students and community.

RHS PTSA Hospitality and Staff Appreciation Team

FUNDRAISING

Little Caesars Grad Night Fundraiser

It’s pizza time! Starting April 1 - May 1, we’re selling Pizza Kits to help raise money for Senior Grad Night. To reach our goal and be successful, we need everyone’s help. It’s super easy to join the fun!

Just order your pizza here!

Pizza Kits will be delivered directly to your home by FedEx, so you can send the link to your out of state family and friends too. Every kit we sell makes an impact.

Get Your RHS Spirit Blanket and Support Grad Night!

For a limited time, the PTSA is selling custom-made RHS spirit blankets. Proceeds go to support Grad Night to help offset the cost of the event and provide scholarships for students to make the event accessible to any graduating senior who wants to attend.

Blankets are $75 each and are only available for a limited time-until they are sold out.

Act fast to get yours today! Blankets will be available for pick-up later this month.

Pre-order your blanket here.

RHS BOOSTERS & CLUBS

RHS Track and Field "Unleash the Stangs" Fundraising Campaign

Help us meet our goal!

With over 200 members, Redmond Track and Field is the largest sports team at Redmond High School. Our coaches and athletes are committed to making this a terrific season! That's why we need your help with our fundraising campaign.

Your donation will:

Purchase new and replace aging equipment, such as javelins, shot puts, discs, spikes and hurdle carts.
Replenish supplies and pay for other items, such as concession stand needs, food/beverages for trips and other expenses related to travel.
Pay for Invitational and Timing Fees.
Cover end-of-season banquet costs, senior/coach recognition gifts and spirit wear/items.
Ensure our coaches and athletes feel supported!

We’ve set up this campaign with a goal of $10,000. And with your help we are confident we can meet it! Donate or share here: Unleash the Stangs!

Please help if you can. Every donation makes a huge difference!

For more information on RHS Track and Field, visit here!

Go Stangs!

LWSD NEWS & EVENTS

College 101

Join Mary Pat O’Neil as she dives deep into explaining the college application process. Learn about the five possible parts of a college application and what colleges look for. Understand the numbers behind highly selective colleges and why students need a balanced college list.

Mary Pat will also explain the cost of college and scholarships. She will be available to answer questions from the audience at the end of the presentation.

This webinar is designed for high school students and parents. It will take place on Thursday, April 27 from 6:30pm – 8:30pm over Zoom. (This is a repeat of the College 101 presentation from February 7.)

This virtual event is free to attend; a suggested donation of $10 is greatly appreciated to help support LWSF and our programs that serve the LWSD community.

To attend, click here!

Kids Coming Together Events

Kids Coming Together community service events are great opportunities for children grades 3-8 to meet new friends and connect with their community. Teens in grades 9-12 can also volunteer as event leaders. Register for our upcoming events:

April 24: High School Leaders: Outdoor Cleanup at Tavon Learning Center

April 28: Remove Invasive Plants at Beaver Lake

Kids Coming Together is a program of the Lake Washington Schools Foundation.