TCS Students can get medical and mental health services at the Ballard Teen Health Center. To schedule, call or text clinic coordinator Say Tuitele at 206-390-3355. Or email at Sailau.Tuitele@swedish.org.

Join the CSCA

New in This Week's Dragon's Fire:

Can You Help Out at the Alumni Brunch? We Need Volunteers
It's Not Too Late to Contribute
Schedule Changes for the Week of Dec 12–16
Prom Wish List
New Items on the Bulletin Board

CSCA

Can You Help Out at the Alumni Brunch? We Need Volunteers

Every year, TCS asks alumni to come back and talk to our juniors and seniors about life after high school—college, trade school, starting your first job, getting your first place to live, and more. The event is about information, networking, and support. This is an amazing perk TCS offers our students and after a two-year hiatus it is BACK!!!!

We need volunteers to help out with this special, annual event. The brunch is on Fri, Dec 16 and starts at 10:15 am. Volunteers working at the event need to be there by 9:30. We need people for the following tasks:

One or more people to shop for and deliver food for ~150 people (students, staff, alums) on the day of the event. All food costs will be reimbursed by the CSCA. Food should be healthy with some gluten free and vegan options. Past menus have included muffins, fruit, juice, water, and coffee/tea.
Two–three people to help set up and clean up after the event.

If you can help with the alumni brunch or you have questions, please contact Erica Borges at erikaborges@me.com.

The CSCA Spring Auction Is in the Works!

This is going to be our first in-person auction since 2019, and we need your help!

We are hard at work planning a fantastic event for this spring. Most immediately we need more committee members and venue options.

We also need auction items:

Vacations & Travel
Boat excursions
Services (lessons, massage, design, baking)
Gift cards for restaurants, coffee, massage, hair care
Tickets for sports, theater, museums, etc.
Gift basket items (family fun, rainy day, crafting, health and beauty)
Experiences of all kinds!

If you can help out with any of the above needs please reach out to auction committee chair, Cristin Miller, at cristinmiller@me.com or CSCA president, Erika Borges, at erikaborges@me.com.

Save the date info is coming soon! But if you can help out with any of the above needs now, please let us know.

Thank You Teachers!

CSCA has provided Starbucks gift cards for all of our teachers as our annual winter appreciation. Dr Casey will be distributing cards prior to winter break.

Thank you CSCA supporters! Your donations help up show our appreciation to our staff.

It's Not Too Late to Contribute

Help us start the new year with a strong budget to support our students and staff! Funds provide needed classroom items, teacher training, and student events. We're grateful for anything you can give as a one time donation or as recurring payment (you can set this up when you donate online).

CSCA is a 501(c)3 not for profit organization and all donations are tax deductible. Please be sure to ask your employer about matching funds.

Questions about your donation? Contact CSCA president, Erika Borges, at erikaborges@me.com.

I want to give!

School News

Schedule Changes for the Week of Dec 12–16

Spirit Week and Senior Fundraiser

Spirit Week coming up, the week before winter break (Dec 12–16). The senior class will be having a fundraiser the same week, selling grilled cheeses and tomato soup at lunch and MASH. Students who participate in spirit days get $1 off food!

Prom Wish List

We're having a real prom again! Yes, it's sometime off in the spring, but we're excited. While you're doing your holiday shopping, please consider adding some extra items from out prom wish list to make our real live prom a special and beautiful event. Shop for prom using our Amazon wishlist!

TCS Mural Project

The ramp won't be boring for long!

The ramp is a blank canvas! Our new mural project will include three sizes of murals with spaces for senior class murals (which will change yearly). and individual murals. Students can submit designs, which will be approved by Dr. Casey before they go up. Submit your proposal here.

Winter Clothing Drive

Students are competing in a grade-level competition to collect the most clothing items to support Mary's Place. We are ending the clothing drive Dec 16, when teachers and students will drive the donations to turn in. We collecting winter clothing and toiletries for victims of abuse, especially those in transitional living situations. Read more about Mary's Place.

Dragon's Wear

Show your Dragon pride and support seniors! Proceeds from Dragon's Wear sales go to throw our twelfth graders a senior prom in the spring. Let's help them celebrate their achievement! The fun, quirky limited edition senior design (left) is available on a variety of goods in the school colors. The traditional school logo (right) is available on a wider variety of items in a more colors. Dragon's wear makes great holiday gifts! Order now at https://www.customizedgirl.com/s/TheCenterSchool.

Holiday Resources for Families

Winter is upon us and so is the holiday season. Although this time can be joyous time for some, many also experience financial insecurity. The Center School has Target and Kroger gift cards available to assist TCS families in need. To learn more about this resource, contact Michele Hayes, counselor, at mrhayes1@seattleschools.org or 206-252-9852. Additional resources are available through King County and the City of Seattle.

The holidays can also be a time of heightened mental and emotional stress. If your family needs additional support during this season, please contact the SPS Department of Mental Health Services. Also see this guide to LGBTQ+ Mental Health and Material Support put together by Ms Hayes.

Clubs at The Center School

What’s a great way to meet new people at school? Attend a club! The Center School has thirteen active clubs to choose from. Clubs are not only a great way to connect, but they are also a great way to explore interests and learn new things! There's something for just about everyone. Check out our list of clubs.

2022/23 Test Dates

Feb 15: ASVAB (military entrance exam)
May 2: AP Environmental Science
May 8: AP Calculus AB
May 9: AP English Language and Composition
TBD: Smarter Balance (10th graders only), test date will be between Mar 3 and Jun 9

Look for more information as test dates approach.

College Planning

Seattle Promise College Alternative

The Seattle Promise program guarantees two years of tuition-free education to all SPS high school graduates at any of Seattle's 3 colleges (North, Central, and South). Get more information at any of the upcoming information sessions during MASH:

Jan 11
Feb 1

Running Start

Fall Quarter Calendar for Seattle Colleges

Important Academic Dates for Fall Quarter:

Dec 15: Fall Quarter ends
Dec 19: Final grades for Fall Quarter available
Jan 3: Winter Quarter begins

Bulletin Board

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.

Video Production Lab Hands-On Learning from The Vera Project

Video Production Lab is a free, multi-month career training program for BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and underrepresented youth ages 15-24 to gain skills, mentors, workforce experience, and paid employment in visual media industries such as film, journalism, and broadcasting. Formerly known as Digital Production Lab Northwest, Video Production Lab is a (30+ hours) series of workshops, hands-on production experience and creative project-making for 10-12 passionate young people interested in making short films, music videos, producing livestreams, capturing events, and other forms of video production work. Gain knowledge and skills directly from industry experts, meet and collaborate with passionate peer artists and engineers, and receive a stipend for creating a final project, to be premiered at a community showcase in June. No experience required to participate!

Learn more and apply.

Art Without Boundaries

Art Without Boundaries is an affinity space for BIPOC youth artists in 7th-12th grade. This BIPOC affinity space will embrace students wherever they are on their creative and personal journey. This will be a space where anything can happen!

Work on and share individual projects with support from peers and mentors, work on a collaborative project using theatre, music, and dance techniques to generate story and create art together, or anything else your imagination and interest inspires.

Learn more and sign up.

"How far would you go to protect what you believe?"

When Antigone makes a fateful decision about her body, her uncle makes an equally fateful decision to uphold the law of the land rather than protect her. This utterly contemporary script reimagines the classic Greek tragedy to explore the fallout to families when bodies and the body politic collide. With sly humor and primal power, Antigones invites everybody to connect with empathy across physical and moral distance.

The Young Core Company is an ensemble of diverse young people eager to develop craft, connect to others, and push beyond our goals as artists and humans.

YCC is your place to make amazing theatre in creative community!

Learn more and apply.

Share Your Time and Talents with Treehouse (Volunteer Opportunity)

Volunteers are a critical part of how Treehouse supports youth in foster care. We welcome groups, individuals and families to join us.

Treehouse’s commitment to diversity and equity is central to our work with youth in foster care, and our volunteers are our partners in this work. Treehouse serves youth and caregivers of many races and ethnicities, sexual orientations, gender identities, abilities and religious beliefs. We seek volunteers who reflect that diversity. We know that everyone is at a different place in their learning about dismantling racism and other forms of oppression, but our expectation is that Treehouse volunteers bring a personal commitment to continued learning and action on these fronts.

Want to join us? Please view our volunteer opportunities.

Musical Theater in the Hands of Tomorrow's Leaders

The Rising Star Project uses the resources and professional knowledge that exist at The 5th Avenue Theatre to help every young person achieve a fulfilling career, a stronger sense of self, and confidence in their ability to inspire positive change in the world. Since 2011, this tuition-free program has opened the doors of The 5th Avenue Theatre to teenagers throughout Washington State. This season, we are excited to bring students back to the main stage.

Performing Mar 16, 17, and 18

Winter of 2023 will bring the Rising Star Project back to The 5th Avenue stage performing this iconic and beloved musical. Students teams will be involved in various aspects of the performance, technical, and administrative of this production, working alongside industry professionals in this unique mentorship experience.

Eligibility

This program is available to all Washington State students ages 14-19. Eligible participants are within this age range for the majority of the project timeline. Rehearsals will take place most often at The 5th Avenue Theatre in the evening (approximately 4-9) and on Saturdays (approximately 10-6). Performances will occur on the stage at The 5th.

Tuition

The 5th Avenue Theatre’s Rising Star Project is a tuition-free program. Please note that participants are responsible for expenses associated with day-to-day transportation and meals.

Apply online.

WA Trails Association (Volunteer Opportunity)

Washington Trails Association's Youth Programs are opportunities for youth ages 10-18 to spend time outdoors building and maintaining hiking trails in a safe, teamwork-oriented environment. We also offer teachers and youth leaders Outdoor Leadership Training to get young people outdoors. Check out our program opportunities.

The Mountaineers (Volunteer Opportunity)

Thinking about getting involved in Youth Programs? Fantastic! The Mountaineers run a variety of programs designed to foster a love of the outdoors. We are always looking for volunteers who are excited about sharing their skills and being mentors. Find out about types of programs, volunteer requirements, and current opportunities! Read more.

Macha Youth Voices Playwrighting Workshop

Macha Theatre Works is excited to announce that submissions are open for Macha Youth Voices. In this Playwriting for Solo Performance workshop, participants create a personal story based on a prompt and develop it into a theatrical original work. This workshop is free of cost.

Jan 14–Mar 13, 2023

Submission Deadline: Dec 31, 2022

Get more info and apply.

Apply now to join Coyote’s 2023 Equity + Inclusion Task Force team. This is a PAID opportunity! The team will be made up of students, parents, teachers, staff, board, and community members that meet once a month to examine equity barriers at Coyote in an effort to develop strategies and best practices to overcome them.

Application deadline is Dec 12. Learn more + apply.

Kennedy Center VSA Playwright Discovery Program 2023

Young writers with disabilities enrolled in high school (generally, ages 14-19) are invited to submit a ten-minute script for the opportunity to participate in a playwrights program. The script should have at least two characters, incorporate an engaging plot, and move the audience through an emotional or entertaining experience all within ten minutes (this is usually eight to nine pages in 12pt. Arial font).

Winners will receive a financial award ($1,000 USD) and work with industry professionals to further develop their script, receive coaching/mentorship, and participate in networking opportunities.

Disability is a broad umbrella that covers a variety of lived experiences. Eligible student writers may have visible, physical, and/or sensory conditions, as well as less visible conditions like anxiety, ADHD, depression, chronic illness/pain, PTSD, OCD, dyslexia, dysgraphia, neurodivergence, and more.

Please review full eligibility requirements and application details on our website.

True Colors' Next Narrative Monologue CompetitionTM

NNMC features newly created works from fifty of America's leading contemporary Black playwrights that engage students of all backgrounds in artful exploration of 21st century themes, while instilling confidence in all to find their voices.

Founded by True Colors Theatre Company in Atlanta, the NNMC mission is to celebrate the rich tradition of Black storytelling while giving voice to bold artists of all cultures. This Black storytelling lens is not exclusionary, but provides an inclusive portal to new worlds and the truths therein.

In each participating region, students progress through three competition rounds: Preliminaries, Semi-Finals, and Regional Finals. Then, the top two winners from each regional competition participate in the National Finals, receiving an all-expense-paid trip to New York City that includes workshops with theater professionals, tickets to a Broadway show, the chance to win a cash prize, and more!

Register now to join the 2022/23 Seattle region Next Narrative Monologue Competition! All high school-aged youth (grades 9-12) living in Washington state are encouraged to participate.

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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Important Dates﻿

Dec 12–16

Dec 19–30

Jan 2

Jan 16

Jan 19

Jan 30

Feb 8

Quick Resources

Teen Health Center