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E-News: October 5

Upcoming Events

Oct. 6: Snoqualmie Tunnel Bike Ride

Oct. 8: 7th Grade Social Event

Oct. 8: College Application Work Party

Oct. 8: Board of Trustees Meeting

Oct. 11: Board of Trustees Reception for New Families

Oct. 11: Curriculum Night

Oct. 12: No School (NWAIS Conference)

Oct. 13: PSAT Administration for 11th Grade

Oct. 14: Seattle Area Independent Schools College Fair

Oct. 15: No School

Oct. 17-18: Dough & Joe

Oct. 18: Upper School Parent/Guardian Learning Resources Coffee

Oct. 18: International Parent Rep/Admin Meeting

Oct. 18: Parent Forum: The Northwest School’s New Strategic Framework

Don't Miss Our First Parent Forum: The Northwest School’s New Strategic Framework, Oct 18

  • 6:30 pm: Social Time
  • 7:00 pm: Program
  • 401 Dining Room

The Northwest School Board of Trustees invites you to a special Parent Forum on Oct 18 to learn about the school’s new Strategic Framework. This exciting plan will guide the school through the next five years. Several Board members and Head of School Mike McGill will be on hand to talk about the framework and answer questions.

Cleaning Up our Sign

On Saturday, Oct. 6, our Facilities Department will take down the sign over the main entrance of the school for cleaning and upkeep. The sign, which is made out of a large plank of cedar, was a gift from the Class of 1982 and was created by sculptor and artist Richard Beyer. With the help of students, the Facilities Department will clean and apply a new protective coating so our sign can last for another 40-plus years in the Northwest weather.

Curriculum Night/New Parent Reception, Oct. 11

The Northwest School is hosting two separate events for parents on the same evening. First, new parents have the chance to meet with the Board of Trustees. Following the reception, all parents are invited to the school to experience a condensed version of your student's schedule during Curriculum Night. The Registrar’s Office will email a copy of the schedule to parents in advance of the evening to support a more efficient start.

New Parent Reception with Board of Trustees
5:30-6:15 pm: Meet in Dining Hall at 401 E Pike. Introductory remarks begin at 6:00 pm. Please RSVP to this event by emailing Tiffany Lobner.

Curriculum Night

  • 6:30 pm: Refreshments available for parents
  • 6:30 pm: Upper School parents meet with advisors
  • 6:45 pm: 6th Grade parents meet as a grade level
  • 7:00 pm: 7th and 8th grade parents meet as grade levels
  • 7:15 pm: Class schedules begin
  • 9:15 pm: Curriculum Night ends

In our diverse community, we have families for whom English is not their first language, and it is the school’s duty to ensure that every parent and guardian has access to important information. For this reason, we are going to provide interpreters and translations to families at Curriculum Night. If your family needs an interpreter for Curriculum Night or any other event, please contact us and let us know your native language. We will ensure that your family has a one-on-one interpreter, so you can fully participate in Curriculum Night and beyond.

Servicio de intérpretes para familias

En nuestra diversa comunidad de Northwest School, hay familias para quienes el inglés no es su idioma nativo. Es nuestro deber de asegurarnos que cada padre, madre y tutor pueda acceder a información importante que comunicamos a nuestras familias y por eso vamos a tener disponibles a interpretes y traducciones para las familias que los necesiten.

Curriculum Night es el 11 de octubre de 2018 a las 6:30 de la tarde. Si su familia necesita un intérprete para Curriculum Night o cualquier otro evento, por favor conteste a este correo indicando cuál es su idioma nativo y le proporcionaremos un intérprete personal para que pueda participar en Curriculum Night y otros eventos.

Inmediatamente antes de Curriculum Night de las 5:30 a las 6:30, el Consejo Directivo organizará una recepción para nuevas familias. Si quisiera asistir a dicha recepción, por favor confirme su asistencia escribiéndole a Tiffany Lobner.

主題:家庭語言口譯課程

在我們多元的西北中學社區,有些家庭英語並不是他們的第一語言,而確保每一位家長和監護人可以獲得重要正確的資訊,是學校的責任。因此,我們將向需要的家庭提供口譯和翻譯。

課程之夜將在2018年10月11日6:30pm舉行。如果您的家人需要一位翻譯為課程之夜或任何其他活動提供口譯服務,請回覆此電子郵件。讓我們知道你的母語,我們將安排確保您的家庭有一對一的翻譯,所以您可以充分參與課程之夜與往後的活動。

在 5:30pm-6:15pm課程之夜之前,董事會將為新來西北中學的家庭舉辦家長招待會。如果您想參加,請與Tiffany Lobner直接聯繫,謝謝!

Receiving Emergency Text Messages from Northwest

On Monday, Oct. 8, parents should receive an automated text message from SchoolMessenger, our emergency broadcast system. Please reply YES to that text to opt-in to future emergency communications from the school.

If you do not get the text message, please make sure your cell number is updated in your "My Profile" section of My BackPack or let us know if we can help update your information. After you have updated your information in My BackPack, send a text of YES to 67587 to opt-in to future communications.

Please do not Idle Your Car During Drop-off/Pick-up

If you are ever in your car waiting for your student(s) along Summit, Union, Crawford, or anywhere else in the neighborhood, please remember to turn off your car engine. When you engine idles, it contributes to air pollution and has a disproportionate health impact on children, whose lungs are still developing (according to the EPA). Thank you for keeping the air around our school as clean as possible!

Getting to the Go Zone: A Workshop for Athletes, Performers, and Leaders, Oct. 12

On Friday, Oct. 12, 9:00-11:00 am, in the gymnasium, Dr. Elizabeth Boyer, a counselor and sports psychologist, and Erika Ribary, a yoga instructor who specializes in teaching mindfulness and yoga techniques to young athletes, will be leading our students and coaches in a workshop. This event is primarily aimed at Upper School students, but interested 8th graders are welcome as well.

Volunteers Needed for Dough & Joe

The Development Office is looking for volunteers to join us at Dough & Joe, our two-day annual fund collection and gratitude event, on Oct. 18-19, at 7:30-8:30 am. This is a fun and easy way to be a cheerleader for our community, and you’ll get coffee and a doughnut as well! For more details and to volunteer, please contact Julie Lombardo at 206-816-6208.

Upcoming Middle School Social Events

7th Grade Social Event, Oct. 8, 3:30-5:00 pm
This event will include a board game party room and a dance/karaoke room. Bring your favorite board game or think of your favorite song to sing! Please pick up your student at the front of the main building on Summit Ave. This event is for students only.

If you have any questions, please contact Middle School Dean of Students Maria Moses.

New Partner School from Mexico - Hosting Opportunity

We are excited to host a group of students and faculty from Colegio Nuevo Continente, our new partner school located in Queretaro, Mexico, on Nov. 8-15.

Colegio Nuevo Continente and Northwest have been working on establishing this partnership for almost three years to create more opportunities for our students for exchanges, trips, and curricular collaboration. The Mexican students are Model UN members who will take part in the Pacific Model UN Conference on November 9-10, along with members of The Northwest School Model UN Interest Group. The visiting students will also attend classes and explore Seattle.

We are seeking host families for our visitors from Colegio Nuevo Continente on November 8-15. If you are interested in hosting a student or a faculty member and/or have questions about this enriching opportunity, please contact Dmitry Sherbakov.

Upcoming College Events

12th Grade College Application Work Party—UW and UC Focus, Oct. 8, 5:00-8:00 pm
The College Counseling Office will present on the University of California, University of Washington (coalition), and California State University applications. All seniors are welcome to attend, even if they are not applying to universities in these systems. Students must register in Naviance by Monday, Oct. 8, 12:00 pm. Please email Anna Wilsey with any dietary restrictions.

The schedule for the session is as follows:

  • 5:00-6:00 PM: Open work time
  • 5:45 PM: Dinner break
  • 6:00-8:00 PM: Overview of UW, UC & CSU applications and continued work time

PSAT for 11th Graders, Oct. 13
Juniors should plan to arrive at school by 7:45 am, as testing will begin promptly at 8:00 am. Following 11th Grade College Night, parents/guardians were emailed a link to confirm your student's seat. Please do so by Oct. 1.

Early Sibling and Faculty Child Applications

Applications for admission to the 2018-19 school year are now being accepted. For current families and faculty members with a child applying to 6th grade, please note that Early Sibling & Faculty Child (ESFC) applications are due October 19. For more information about the ESFC application timeline, and the admission process for siblings and faculty children applying to grades 7 and above, please click here, or contact our Admissions Office.

The Great Washington Shakeout, Oct. 18

Every year, The Northwest School participates in the Great Washington Shakeout, a state-wide earthquake drill and simulation designed to teach students and faculty how to act safely during and after an earthquake.

This year, the Shakeout is planned for Thursday, Oct. 18, and will consist of a Drop, Cover, and Hold drill coupled with simulated environmental hazards that may be encountered in the event of an actual earthquake. Faculty practice forming into their Emergency Response Teams so they can conduct a thorough investigation of the Main School Building, looking for simulated damage and injuries. Students are instructed on what actions they should take during and immediately following an earthquake.

During this drill, Northwest will also test its emergency broadcast system SchoolMessenger. Parents will receive an email, a phone call, and, if correctly opted-in, a text message.

Washington State 2018 Healthy Youth Survey

The Northwest School is participating in the Washington State 2018 Healthy Youth Survey during October 2018.

The Healthy Youth Survey includes questions related to physical activity and diet, unintentional and intentional injury, substance use, risk and protective factors, access to school-based services, and sexual behaviors, abuse, and orientation. Survey results are used by schools, communities, and state agencies to plan programs to support our youth and reduce their risks. Participation in the survey is voluntary and the students’ answers are anonymous.

Please read the Parent and Student Notification Letter (English/Spanish) for more information about the Healthy Youth Survey. The Parent and Student Notification Letter is also available in other languages here. Additional information can be found at www.AskHYS.net. Contact Megan Reibel with questions.

College Counseling Programs and Updates

Over 100 colleges visit The Northwest School in the fall trimester to meet with prospective students. In addition to coordinating these visits, the College Counseling Office offers resources and events to support 12th graders in the college application process and 11th graders as they begin the college search. Please click here to view college counseling announcements, upcoming events, and the college visits schedule.

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.