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A CSCA Publication

What's HOT the week of August 23, 2021

Burning the Old Year

by Naomi Shihab Nye

Letters swallow themselves in seconds.  

Notes friends tied to the doorknob,  

transparent scarlet paper,

sizzle like moth wings,

marry the air.

So much of any year is flammable,  

lists of vegetables, partial poems.  

Orange swirling flame of days,  

so little is a stone.

Where there was something and suddenly isn’t,  

an absence shouts, celebrates, leaves a space.  

I begin again with the smallest numbers.

Quick dance, shuffle of losses and leaves,  

only the things I didn’t do  

crackle after the blazing dies.

New in This Week's Dragon's Fire

• A Few Words About TCS
• Welcome New Teachers & Staff
• New Student Orientation
• What to Expect the First Day of School
• Class Schedules
• Getting to School
• Orca Cards
• Health & Safety at School
• TCS & SPS Mental Health Services
• DragonsWear
• Bulletin Board

A Few Words About TCS

It's different. It's a little weird. It's wonderful. That's why we chose The Center School! Even under ordinary circumstances TCS is not your run-of-the-mill high school. You and your student probably chose to be here for the arts focus, the community, the intimacy, the tolerance for difference, and the fantastic location. But there are some things to get used to:

• The Armory is a strange place to go to school. It can be a little hard in the first week for new students to get the hang of navigating the warren of rooms we call a school. (We have been told that a certain student got lost on the ramp on their way to theater class on the first day of school in 9th grade and might have cried. We also know that they figured it out and never had trouble finding the theater again.) So, ask for help. You will figure out the space.
• The Armory is a wonderful place to go to school. There is so much happening in and around the Armory building. Seattle Center is home to Seattle Opera, PNW Ballet, The Seattle Repertory Theatre, Seattle Children's Theatre, TeenTix, and the ANT Gallery to name just a few. (Read a comprehensive list of Seattle Center organizations.) Students have access to all of that and to the businesses inside the Armory Building. Employees inside the building know and look out for our students.
• No, there are no lockers. Students need to carry everything they need with them throughout the school day. Get a bag or backpack that is comfortable to carry and large enough for everything you need.
• The schedule changes from day to day, but it's not hard to get used to. (We have been told that a certain student went to the wrong class a few times, but not that many and nobody minded.) For many students this means more time to dig into their material and fewer disruptions during the day. It can mean having some breathing room with more challenging classes. And it means we have MASH—a time for one-on-one meetings with teachers (wow!), clubs, and for getting homework done. Wednesday is the only day with all six classes and no MASH. See The Center School schedule here.
• There's no gym and no PE. Students must complete and log PE hours on their own in order to complete their state PE requirement for graduation. So start counting your dog walks, interpretive dance class, stage combat, and, yes, even your walks to and from the bus stop. Read more about the PE requirement and get the Alternative Physical Education form.
• There's no lunchroom. Students are welcome to bring their own lunch or buy lunch in the food court. They can eat in the commons, on the balcony, in the food court, or outside. That's so much cooler than a lunchroom.
• TCS has the strangest community-building tradition we've ever heard of. Eleventh and twelfth graders, it's up to you to carry this on. Ninth and tenth graders, tell your families about it after the first community meeting.

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.

New Student Orientation

We will be holding an in-person orientation for 9th and 10th graders and new students on Fri, Aug 27 from 1 to 3 pm at TCS. Orientation is optional for 10th graders and new students. Ninth graders must attend. Orca cards and schedules will be available at orientation. Be sure to download and print a parking pass for the Memorial Stadium parking lot. Find Memorial Stadium and the Armory on this printable map.

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. 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 and schedules will be distributed. The first day of school is an early-release Wednesday and will end at 2:30 pm.

Class Schedules

Schedules will be distributed at orientation (Aug 27) and on the first day of school. Schedules may be picked up from Ms. Lott at the front desk on Aug 27. Your student can also check their schedule on the Source (read more about the Source). We don't have a date for schedules to be posted yet, but we recommend trying on Aug 27. 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.

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

TCS is aware of transportation challenges for West Seattle families. On Tue, Aug 24, CSCA parents, SPS transportation, SPS board member Erin Dury, and Dr. Casey participated in a problem solving meeting to discuss solutions for students coming from West Seattle and White Center. We will provide information from that meeting in upcoming issues.

ORCA Cards

ORCA cards issued for the previous school year are good through Aug 31. Students can pick up new ORCA cards at TCS on Aug 27 between 10 am and 3 pm as well as during the first three days of school. Word is that many bus drivers give students a pass on the first day of school, but students should be prepared to pay on the way to school if they have not picked up their new card by then.

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.

Click the image above to go to the Dragon Wear store.

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.

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