Jan. 12, 2024 Newsletter
Capital High School Family Communication
January 12, 2024
Upcoming Events
- January 12 - MLK Assembly
- January 15 - MLK Jr. Day - No School
- January 18-20 and January 26-27 - CHS Winter Production
- January 25 - CHS Financial Aid Night - 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Brain Train - After School Bus
An after school bus is available for those students who choose to stay after school for academic support. The bus departs the CHS bus loop at 4:15 every Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. The bus will drop students off at their normal morning/afternoon bus stop location.
OSSEC - Olympia Schools Supportive Educational Council
- Please see the link regarding the OSSEC program for families of students who are receiving IEP and 504 support plans.
Class Schedule Changes
Schedule Changes: Semester 2 will begin on Monday, February 5th. Many classrooms are at or over capacity. Therefore, making a schedule change will be difficult or impossible. It is expected that a student remains in their current classes for the duration of the school year unless there are extenuating circumstances as stated on the Class Change Request Form. All schedule change requests must be made by February 9 using the Class Change Request Form and submitted in paper form to your counselor. Requests after this date would require a failing grade in the class that is being dropped as stated in the Student Handbook.
World Stride’s Roman Conquest Tour
Are you a Capital Cougar who wants to see the world? Are you currently a freshman, sophomore, or junior? Do you need a little time to save up for the adventure of a lifetime? If you answered yes to these questions, you're in luck!
Embark on World Stride's Roman Conquest tour. Depart with Ms. Samson after the school year's end in the summer of 2025.
13 lucky travelers will set out to see the sites in Barcelona, then cross into France (a great time to use the French you've learned from Madame McCann!) to visit the fortified town of Carcassonne. Explore the Nimes area and see remarkably preserved ancient ruins. Visit tiny-but-rich Monaco. Cross into Italy and visit Pisa. Marvel at artwork in Florence. Finally, enjoy Rome, where you can walk in ancient footsteps, enjoy the art of the Vatican, and eat a lot of gelato.
Are you ready to sign up? Do you want to learn more? Come to our informational meeting on January 23, 2024, 6:30-7:30pm in room B-5 at CHS.
Spots are limited! Get yours while you can.
Happy Travels!
European Travel Opportunity
Dear Interested Travelers and Parents,
It’s 2023, a year where the world has finally thrown open its doors after a long, pandemic-induced hiatus. Imagine standing under the Eiffel Tower, gazing up at its iron lattice work against the Parisian sky. Imagine yourself strolling through the quaint streets of Lucerne, feeling the pulse of history in the heart of Berlin, and breathing in the alpine air in Innsbruck. This is your call to an adventure, an invitation to join me on a journey that transcends textbooks and classrooms.
Since 2003, I have had the privilege of guiding students like you across Europe, a continent teeming with history, culture, and stories waiting to be discovered. Thirteen times we've embarked on this journey, each trip writing a new chapter in the lives of those who joined. Our last sojourn was in 2018, and though we had to put our wanderlust on hold in 2020, this year we are ready to make up for lost time.
Here's the plan: From June 25th to July 6th, we'll embark on a grand tour of France, Switzerland, Austria, and Germany. We'll experience the night lights of Paris, the serene beauty of Lucerne, the historic allure of Innsbruck, the vibrant energy of Munich, and the undeniable spirit of Berlin. This isn’t just sightseeing; it's an immersive dive into different cultures, an opportunity to see the world through a new lens.
I am thrilled to announce a Parent Information Meeting on November 30th at 7pm in Pod A, Room A6. This evening will be about more than dates and destinations; it's about understanding the transformative power of travel. We'll discuss the practicalities – the costs, the logistics of group travel – but more importantly, we'll explore the intangible benefits: the growth, the learning, the memories that will shape your view of the world and your place in it.
To join this epic journey, visit www.explorica.com/hamilton-169 and click the “I’m interested” link. A simple form awaits – just your name and your parent's email address – and you'll be all set to receive reminders and updates.
This trip is more than a vacation; it’s a rite of passage, a chance to step out of the familiar and into a world of endless possibilities. I've seen firsthand the impact these experiences have on students: eyes opened, perspectives shifted, lives changed.
So, will you join us? Will you take the leap into a journey that promises to be as enlightening as it is exhilarating? Use the included QR code to see more information.
Warm regards,
Steve Hamilton
Community Connections
OSD Resources for Youth & Families
Looking for information about support groups, crisis lines, help with meals or bills, social and emotional wellness, or tips for taming toddler temper tantrums? You can find all that and much more in our Resources for Youth and Families webpage.
The Crisis Clinic of Thurston & Mason County
The clinic provides a 24-hour 7-day a week service to anyone who calls, offering crisis intervention and emotional support, as well as information.
360-586-2800
360-586-2777 Youth/Teen Helpline
NAMI Thurston-Mason
NAMI Thurston-Mason (National Alliance on Mental Illness) is an organization of families, friends and individuals whose lives have been affected by mental illness. NAMI serves residents across Thurston-Mason counties with free mental health support, online groups, resources and education.
360-493-6021
CHS Literary Magazine
Students at Capital High School are working with faculty advisors to create and publish a literary magazine this spring. The magazine will include student fiction, non-fiction, drama, art, and poetry. We are certain this will be a powerful forum for student voice!
While we will raise funds by selling some copies of the magazine to parents and community members, we are also depending on donations to fund our project. We plan to feature donors' names in the publication. Would you be able to donate at any level? Every twenty dollars funds one copy for a student. You can click the donation link here to contribute. All contributors will receive thanks on the Donors page. If there is a particular business name you want to be featured, send me an email so I can associate your donation with the business name.
You can also pre-order copies of the magazine using the same link above ($20 per copy).
Thank you for your support, Liz House, Literary Magazine Advisor [email protected]
After School Tutoring Now Available
After school tutoring/homework help is available every Wednesday from 2:40 to 3:25 in the library. Our paraeducators provide support in all subject areas!
Health Room Reminders
Now that cold, flu, and COVID season are in full swing, we wanted to remind everyone what the current guidelines are for students and staff.
- COVID: Stay home 5 days from the onset of symptoms. Onset day is day zero. If you do not have symptoms then stay home 5 days from the positive test date. You need to be fever free for 24 hours and your symptoms should be improving. You can return to work/school on day 6 but should wear a mask on days 6-10.
- Flu and all other illnesses: you need to be fever, vomit and diarrhea free for 24 hours without the use of medication.
Please contact Joy Fulling with any questions or concerns: 360-596-8008 or [email protected]
Staff and Student Yoga
Staff and Student yoga after the new year will be in B9 Thursdays at 7 am, led by Ms. House. Hope to see you there! She has mats and props. Dress in clothes you can move in.
Parents on Deck at School (PoDS)
- Parents, please see the PoDS program flier. We would love to have you join our new parent volunteer program!
OSDEF
The Olympia Education Foundation 2023-2024 Parent Education Series with Emily McMason
Big kids/Big feelings: how to navigate your teen's emotional experience and build connection through middle and high school years.
- When: Thursday, January 18, 2024: 7-8:30pm
- Where: Capital High School Library.
- Open to all OSD Families
Mental Health Awareness Event and Resource Fair
The Olympia School District and National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) presents: Ending the Silence Mental Health Awareness Event and Resource Fair.
- When: Monday, January 29, 2024: 6 – 7 p.m. NAMI Ending the Silence Presentation (for families of middle and high school students) 7 – 8 p.m.
- Refreshments and Resource Fair with local mental health providers
- Where: Capital High School Performing Arts Center, 2707 Conger Ave NW, Olympia, WA 98502
- Interpreters will be available.
- Open to all OSD Families
Capital High School Parent Organization
GIVING TREE CAMPAIGN BEATS EXPECTATIONS, THANKS TO CHS COMMUNITY
Thank you to the West Side Capital High community! This year's Giving Tree campaign raised $8,250 for students and families in need just in time for the holidays. Many parents, small business owners, former students and other community members donated to this campaign. Mil gracias -- A thousand thank yous.
GRAD NIGHT TICKETS
Lock in the early season savings at just $99. The 2024 Grad Night celebration is an outstanding special event for graduating seniors. Buy your ticket at https://chspo.org/gradnight/.
SIGN UP FOR SENIOR SIGNS WHILE YOU CAN
Senior signs sales are underway. You can choose a sign with photos or a generic CHS graduate sign. Learn more: https://chspo.org/product-category/graduation/
Questions? Contact the Capital High School Parent Organization at
[email protected].
Upcoming CHS Theatre Production
Capital High School is thrilled to announce its upcoming production of She Kills Monsters this January! She Kills Monsters invites audiences to join Agnes (Julia Underwood), a young woman grappling with the sudden death of her younger sister, Tilly (Ayden Ferrara). In an attempt to understand Tilly better, Agnes delves into the fantastical realm of Tilly's Dungeons & Dragons campaign. As she embarks on this journey, Agnes encounters a host of mythical creatures, epic battles, and unexpected friendships, all within the vivid landscape of Tilly's imagination. Guided by a dungeon master with a love for witty banter, Agnes discovers a side of her sister she never knew existed and confronts her own fears in the process.
She Kills Monsters runs January 18-20 and January 26-27 at 7 pm, with a matinee performance on January 27 at 2 pm. Tickets can be bought at the door or online at https://www.purplepass.com/#u45261/Olympia_School_District_-_Theater_Productions.html . The show is performed at Capital High School's Performing Arts Center: 2707 Conger Ave NW, Olympia, WA 98502.
CONTENT WARNING: This production includes themes of love, loss, grief, and identity. The character of Agnes discovers that her sister (who recently died) was bullied for being a lesbian. The script does a beautiful job of adding both humor and poignancy, with a huge dose of Dungeons and Dragons to tell her story.
9th-11th Grade Information Night - February 22nd
This event is a two part event for all current 9th-11th Graders and their guardians. We will have a curriculum fair first, followed by a 30 minute presentation about registration, and the evening will end with break out sessions with information for you to consider when making decisions about your future.
4:30pm-5:15pm Curriculum Fair in the CHS Commons
- Meet and discuss course options with CHS teachers
5:30-7:30pm Information Event in the PAC
- Get information about graduation requirements and registration for next year. Attend break out sessions to help with your academic decisions. Break out sessions include presenters on the IB program, Running Start, New Market Skills Center, 2 and 4 year college information, Skyward, Schoology, Securly, College in the High School at CHS, apprenticeships, and the High School and Beyond Plan requirement.
Alternative Lunch Space
Capital High School has opened an alternative space during lunches for students who are seeking a quiet space to enjoy their lunch period. The “Alternative Space” will be open on Tuesdays and Thursdays, during both lunches, and located in E-1 next to the student store.
Career Center News
1-12-24 Friday:
1-17-24 Wednesday:
1-22-24 Monday:
-
CCRC: BOEING Career Day
-
Interviews from 10:30am-11:30
-
Career Spotlight during Lunches (overview of jobs @ Boeing) 12-1:30p
-
More Application/Interview time if needed from 1:30-2:30pm
1-25-24 Thursday NIGHT
(Completing FAFSA, Information on how to get started and How to afford College)
1-29-24 Monday:
1-31-24 Wednesday:
Students can register in Naviance (under College tab, College Visits) to guarantee a spot.