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E-News: January 18

Upcoming Events

Jan. 21: No School

Jan. 22: Board of Trustees Meeting

Jan. 23: Admissions Families of Color Dinner

Jan. 24: Middle School Parents/Guardians/Faculty Night

Jan. 25: Basketball Fan Night

Jan. 26: Snoqualmie Pass Cross Country Skiing Trip

Jan. 27: SAT & ACT Workshops for 11th Grade

Jan. 29: Parent Workshop: Researching Colleges

Jan. 30: Upper School Family Information Night

Feb. 1: Upper School Dance - Winter Ball

Middle School Parents/Guardian/Faculty Night, Jan. 24

The Middle School Parent/Guardian/Advisors Night is coming up on Thursday, Jan. 24, 6:30 pm, in the Commons. The evening will begin with snacks and social time. At 7:00 pm, there will be welcoming remarks from Middle School Director Sue Maul, followed by grade-level-specific breakouts. Here is a snapshot of what will take place:

  • 6th grade - Tweens and Screens: The 6th grade advisors will present some information and facilitate a discussion with parents about walking alongside students as they navigate the digital world and how we can address some of the ramifications of this continuous media exposure.
  • 7th grade - What’s it like to be a 7th grader? The 7th grade advisors will touch on where 7th graders are developmentally and how instruction and experiences in the classroom acknowledge and utilize students' current stage of development. Conversation between advisors and parents/guardians will focus on partnering to support our 7th graders.
  • 8th grade - Transitions: 8th graders are having deep and challenging conversations. Next year, 8th graders will be able to sign out for lunch and will have more access to their mobile devices during the day. The 8th grade advisors will be facilitating an evening of sharing, networking, and discussion around the transitions happening now and in the future.

Upcoming College Counseling Office Events

The College Counseling process for 11th graders launched in January. We have two events to help your student prepare for the college search. Click here for more information.

SAT and ACT Workshops for 11th Graders
Sunday, Jan. 27, 12:30-3:30 pm

Researching Colleges Workshop for 11th Grade Parents/Guardians
Tuesday, Jan. 29, 8:00-9:30 am OR 7:00-8:30 pm

Come Cheer on Basketball at Fan Night, Jan. 25

Come pack the house during Basketball Fan Night on Friday, Jan. 25. We’ll have free t-shirts, shooting contests (with swag prizes), and more as we host Eastside Prep: JV girls' at 3:30 pm, JV boys' at 5:00 pm, Varsity girls' at 6:30 pm, and Varsity boys' at 8:00 pm. Go House!

Also, fall sports begin Aug. 26 (not Aug. 19 as was communicated last week). Please mark your calendars if your Upper School student will be participating in cross country, girls' soccer, boys' ultimate, or girls' volleyball.

Stay Tuned for Upcoming Bus Service Survey

Parents: We will be send out out a survey for morning bus service in the coming weeks via email. Please take a few minutes to provide your feedback.

Announcing Upper School Musical "Newsies," Feb. 7-10

The Upper School Musical, Newsies, takes the stage at the Broadway Performance Hall, Feb. 7-10. This heartfelt production details the historic 1899 strike of the newsies of New York City against the monolithic Pulitzer publishing company and features a cast of 50 actors, stage managers, and stage crew.

For the first time ever, The Northwest School String Orchestra will be playing all the music! With rousing ensemble numbers, dynamic dance sequences, and passionate cries for social justice, the musical also explores themes of loyalty, friendship, and the importance of family. The performance is appropriate for all ages and will sell out quickly. Click here to buy tickets.

Reenrollment Contracts Coming Soon

Reenrollment season is here. Your student(s) contracts will be published in your My BackPack account on the following days:

  • Returning Full Tuition Domestic Students: published Jan. 25, due Feb. 4
  • Rising 9th Grade Financial Aid Students: published Jan. 25, due Feb. 4
  • Early Decision 6th Grade Students: published Jan. 25, due Feb. 4
  • Returning Financial Aid Students: published Feb. 25, due March 7
  • Returning Full Tuition International Students: published Feb. 6, due Feb. 20

Winter Outdoor Program Trips and Ski Bus Information

The Outdoor Program will be busy in the winter with some great trips lined up. Students have the opportunity for cross country skiing at Snoqualmie Pass, snowshoeing in the Cascades, and cycling around the San Juans. More information for the trips can be found on the Outdoor Program webpage.

In addition to these trips, Northwest will also run a ski bus for night skiing at The Summit at Snoqualmie Pass on Fridays, Jan. 25, Feb. 1, Feb. 8, and March 1.

Upper School Parent/Guardian Meetings

In February, we will be holding grade-level parent meetings for all Upper School grades. The purpose of these meetings is to create a conversation space for discussing grade-specific topics that are of particular interest to our parent community. Dates are listed below. Details are forthcoming. Each meeting takes place in the Dining Hall, 6:30-8:00 pm.

  • 9th Grade: Feb. 6
  • 10th Grade: Feb. 4
  • 11th Grade: Feb. 26
  • 12th Grade: Feb. 28

Dining Hall Changes in 2019

What’s better than Meatless Monday? Meatless Days! Meatless Mondays have been a tradition at Northwest for many years. It started as a way to draw attention to the environmental impact of meat consumption. While Meatless Monday has helped to define the Dining Program and make a strong statement about our values, there also has been a negative stigma associated with the day itself, the meal, and vegetarianism.

In 2019, the Dining Program will change the way it plans menus and move away from Meatless Mondays. Vegetarian meals will instead be woven throughout the monthly menu. By making this small change, we hope that the menu will get closer to representing the diverse palates/diets/cultures at Northwest, and vegetarian meals will become as common as serving chicken, pork, curry, or pizza. Moreover, we hope that by moving away from Meatless Monday, we send a message that our community considers the environmental impact of our meat consumption daily, not just on Mondays—it’s merely what we do because of who we are. If you have questions or comments, please feel free to contact Bethany Fong.

Volunteers Needed for Pizazz!

Planning is now underway for our fun and engaging annual spring fundraiser. Care to join us and help out? We are looking for committee volunteers and table captains. Please contact Julie Lombardo (206-816-6208) to learn more.

Financial Aid Deadline for 2019-20 School Year

The deadline to apply for financial aid for all families is Thursday, Feb. 7, 2019. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Director of Financial Aid Jonathan Hochberg at 206-816-6210.

Announcing the Upper School Winter Ball

The semi-formal Winter Ball will be held on Friday, Feb. 1, 8:00-11:00 pm, in the main school building. The dance will cost $5 to enter, with all proceeds benefiting the Tiny House Summit.

Quick Spring Break Camp Survey

Will you be looking for something for your student to engage in over the two weeks during Spring Break? We have traditionally offered camps during Spring Break and would like input from families and students about what they are looking for in a Spring Break camp program. We appreciate if you would spend a few minutes of your time filling out this form with your ideas.

Do We Have Your Grandparent or Special Friend's Information?

Invitations will soon be mailed for this year's Grandparents & Special Friends Day, Feb. 12, 9:00-11:30 am. Guests enjoy a special breakfast followed by a visit to a class with their student. Want to add someone to the invitation list, or update your family's information? Fill out the online form here. If you're interested in volunteering for the event, please contact Maria Mazcorro.

College Counseling Programs and Updates

Please click here to view college counseling announcements, upcoming events, and admissions updates.

About E-News: The weekly E-News covers a two-week period of upcoming events, parent reminders, and campus news. For a complete listing of events and important dates, please visit the all school calendar.