Feb. 23, 2024 Newsletter
Capital High School Family Communication
February 23, 2024
Upcoming Events
- February 23 - MLK Assembly During Coug Time
- March 7 - Stamp Test - 8:30 a.m. -12:00 p.m.
- March 22 - Renaissance Assembly During Coug Time
- April 1-8 - Spring Break - No School
CWU College in the High School
The decision to start college early is an important one. There are many reasons students do not start or finish college, even though they may be academically prepared. The social and emotional experiences can be an overwhelming adjustment. Also, generational, demographical, and financial reasons are becoming more prevalent nationally. Our goal is to help students overcome as many obstacles as possible while they are still in the comfort zone of their current HS setting.
With new legislation in 2023 from Washington State, this opportunity for all public HS students to earn university credit at no cost to the family is game-changing. All students with qualified HS/CWU instructors now have the option to get a jump start on their college education while eliminating future student loan debt. CWU CiHS is an opportunity for students who are self-motivated and excited to get a head start on their academic careers. If you feel this program would benefit your student, please reach out and we can answer any questions you may have.
What are the benefits?
Students can accelerate their academic studies by earning college credit while attending HS without giving up their HS experience. Students have the opportunity to experience college-level work in a familiar environment. Completing rigorous HS coursework and earning college credit can strengthen the student’s college application as well as help meet basic college and university requirements.
Additional Benefits:
- Students applying to CWU prior to HS graduation will be given the $500 Early Scholar Tuition Waiver, provided they have earned a 3.00 cumulative GPA or higher in their CWU courses
- The undergraduate CWU application fee will be waived for students who participated in the CWU CiHS program
- Accessibility: 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th graders can register and earn university credit at no cost to the students at public schools
- Students can earn up to 15 Central Washington University credits per term in HS
CHS Course Offerings for 2024-25:
- Personal Finance A/B [5 college credits]
- Human Anatomy & Physiology A/B [5 college credits]
- IB Environmental Systems & Society SL A, B [5 college credits each]
- Advanced Theatre A/B [5 college credits]
Contact: Doug Anderson, CHS Vice Principal/Program Supervisor, [email protected], 360-596-8000
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.
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 for 10 days and eight nights to see the sites in Barcelona (put your Spanish classes to good use!), 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.
Do you want to learn more? Follow this link!
Spots are limited! Get yours while you can.
Happy Travels!
Community Connections
We believe that every family who has experienced a loss should be able to grieve in a compassionate, informed environment. Through age-appropriate support groups led by trained facilitators, we provide a safe place for children and families to heal.
Each February, young adults and their loved ones nationwide raise awareness about teen dating violence through Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month (TDVAM). This annual, month-long effort focuses on advocacy and education to stop dating abuse before it starts.
SafePlace strives to stop sexual and domestic violence and advocate for personal and societal change through crisis intervention and education.
Also offered at Safe Place is their
SPEAK (Safe Place Peer Education Action and Knowledge) group. This is a volunteer group for high school students who want to learn and take action about issues impacting their community.
CHS Spring Sports
We are excited to announce you can now register your student for 2024 Spring Sports. Spring Sports include: Boys and Girls Track, Girls Tennis, Baseball, Fastpitch, Boys Soccer and Boys and Girls Golf.
If your student has worked out with a CHS sport team or has played a sport before, make sure to sign into your existing account. Click on the following link to register your student https://www.familyid.com/organizations/capital-high-school
Your student must have a current sport physical to participate in sports.
Payment for all sports is $125 plus an ASB payment of $40 which is all required at the time of registering your student for a sport. ASB is purchased once a year.
Both fees are waived for free and reduced students.
Please make your payment using the OSD Payment Portal. We are no longer accepting payments over the phone.
Your student is not considered “cleared” until you receive a confirmation email from our Athletic Secretary, Kathy Cognasso. The email will originate from FamilyID website but she will confirm you are cleared for your sport season.
The new spring season begins February 26th. In order to attend the first day of practice, you must be registered by February 25th, 5pm.
Please contact coaches with questions and for practice information:
Upcoming Assembly Request
We would like to extend an opportunity to those who are involved in outstanding extracurricular activities outside of school. If your child has excelled in any particular area such as sports, arts, community service, or other extracurriculars we would be honored to acknowledge their achievements during an upcoming assembly. Please include a description about your child's extracurriculars and accomplishments along with photos of them doing so. Please email Amanda Beets at
[email protected] by March 1, 2024 to have your child's outstanding accomplishments recognized at our assembly.
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]
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!
Capital High School Parent Organization
SUPERINTENDENT AND NEW PRINCIPAL UPDATES SCHEDULED FOR TUESDAY, FEB. 27
Please join the Capital High School Parent Organization this Tuesday, Feb. 27 at 6:30 p.m. in the school library. Superintendent Patrick Murphy is scheduled to speak with parents and take questions. Also, get the latest updates on the selection process for Capital's new principal for next school year.
TICKET PRICES RISE IN MARCH; MAKE GRAD NIGHT ORDER TODAY
The price of Grad Night tickets will increase in March. Secure today's early season price of $99 while you can. This event is a great way for seniors to celebrate their milestone. Please visit https://chspo.org/store/ to secure your ticket today. Questions? Please contact us at [email protected].
TODAY'S THE DEADLINE FOR SENIOR SIGN ORDERS
Senior signs are a great way to celebrate student achievement. CHSPO offers a personalized or generic sign for your family to celebrate this important milestone. The deadline to file an order is Feb. 23. To learn more and place an order, please visit https://chspo.org/store/. Contact CHSPO Secretary Michelle Grippo at [email protected] with questions.
SAVE THE DATE: COUGAR CRAFT FAIR, SATURDAY, APRIL 20
Mark your calendars for the 2nd annual Cougar Craft Fair, scheduled for Saturday, April 20 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. in the CHS commons. This is a great chance to support local small businesses and the CHS community. Sixteen vendors and three food trucks have committed already. Event organizers are also considering hosting a car show. If you're interested, please contact Michelle Grippo and Rebecca Cornelius at
[email protected]. Learn more at
https://chspo.org/cougar-craft-fair/.
CHS Dance Competition - Saturday, February 24th
Location:
- Capital High School
- 2707 Conger Ave NW
- Olympia, WA 98502
- Doors open 10am
- Competition starts 11am
- Tickets $12
- Kids under 5 are free
- Tickets can be bought at the door or online at
Library News
The library would love your help encouraging your student(s) to bring back their library books and textbooks that are fines on their account. We have kiddos who are waiting to read our library books! Textbooks that are not returned can cause the school to purchase new ones unnecessarily. Please look under beds, in closets, in backpacks---you know where those spots are in their rooms. Many thanks in advance for your help!
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.
CHS HOSA Club
CHS HOSA is putting on a coat drive from Feb 1st - Feb 28th
- We are looking to receive warm jackets, hats, gloves, and socks
- We are donating to an organization called FESS of Olympia
- All items can be dropped off in room G-1, the commons or school front lobby
CHS Yearbooks On Sale
CHS yearbooks are on sale for $65. Please see the ASB office to purchase a yearbook.
Counseling Center News
Seniors are beginning their one-on-one spring credit checks and post graduation planning meetings with their counselor! Please see your email for details!
Course Registration for next year will kick off at our February 22nd Curriculum and Information Night. Students and parents/guardians will be able to start registering through our Google Form process starting that day (an email and phone call will go out when that is live). Counselors will reach out to students and parents/guardians with directions when your Counselor is ready to meet with the student (parents/guardians are welcome to join the meeting if they would like).
Career Center News
Senior Families: Please remember it is time to complete your FAFSA if you are planning on doing any post-secondary education. Also, you can find a lot of Scholarship and Scholarship Engines on the CCRC website. If you have difficulty finding the scholarships, please make an appointment with Mrs. Smith and she can help you navigate the website.
ALSO, Seniors, your High School and Beyond Plan is due March 1st. Please get all of your tasks completed in Naviance. If you need help with any of the tasks, please make an appointment with Mrs. Smith as soon as possible. March is a month away!!!
There are a lot of scholarships coming in now. If you have a senior student, they might want to stop into the CCRC or look online on the CHS website:
https://capital.osd.wednet.edu/counseling/career_center/scholarship_information