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What's HOT the week of May 23, 2022

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Respiration

by Jamaal May


A lot of it lives in the trachea, you know.

But not so much that you won’t need more muscle:

the diaphragm, a fist clenching at the bottom.

Inhale. So many of us are breathless,

you know, like me

kneeling to collect the pottery shards

of a house plant my elbow has nudged

into oblivion. What if I sigh,

and the black earth beneath me scatters

like insects running from my breath?

Am I a god then? Am I insane

because I worry about the disassembling of earth

regularly? I walk more softly now


into gardens or up the steps of old houses

with impatiens stuffed in their window boxes.

When it’s you standing there with a letter

or voice or face full of solemn news,

will you hold your breath before you knock?

Important Dates

May 30

  • Memorial Day (no school)


Jun 3

  • Senior Prom (6 pm, Tyee Yacht Club)


Jun 7

  • ASB Elections


Jun 9

  • New Student Orientation (5:30–6:30 pm)
  • CSCA board meeting (6:30–8:30 pm, Zoom)
  • Art Showcase (7–9 pm)


Jun 14

  • TCS graduation (2 pm, Memorial Stadium)
  • Senior grad party (5-8 pm, Southgate Skate Rink)


Jun 18

  • Last day of school


Sep 7

  • First day of school


Quick Resources

Attendance or 206.252.9875


Bell Schedule


School Website


TCS Staff Contact List


SPS Website


SPS Academic Calendar


SPS Covid Dashboard


TCS Health Services


CSCA Board Contacts


CSCA Meeting Schedule


Last week's Dragon's Fire

Bulletins

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New In This Week's Dragon's Fire

  • ASB Elections Are Coming
  • Senior Celebration
  • Plan Ahead for the 2022/23 School Year
  • Update on School Start Times
  • Let's Talk to Our Teens About Mental Health
  • New Items on the Bulletin Board

School News

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. 

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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.

Parenting

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:



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:



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:


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.

How to Talk to Kids About Mental Health (Theirs and Others)


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.

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.

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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.

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: Mond-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

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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

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.


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