Sunday, November 4, 2007

Another month with a lot going on! I have also added some information regarding Tolo as I have had a few questions already. Please continue to check the Daily Bulletin and Calendar of events for timely information. http://schools.bsd405.org/nhs/homepage/

Just a reminder that there is no school on Friday, November 9th or Monday, November 12th.

Congratulations to Varsity Football in the 3A Playoffs - Newport 19, Columbia River 11. Next game is against Bellevue!!!!

Julie Rooney

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Reflections Entries Due Monday!
http://www.newportptsa.org/NHSContent.asp?KEY=NHSHOME

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Orchestra Concert – Tuesday, November 6th 7:30
Come for an evening of Dvorak, Bartok, Vivaldi/Matesky and Tchaikovsky Symphony #1 performed by the Newport Orchestras and Bellevue Youth Symphony. 7:30pm in our new Performing Arts Center!

Choir Concert – Thursday, November 8th 7:30

(Whenever any of our musical students perform for a general audience, we hear *many* people remark on their high degree of ability. If you have never had the chance to hear our student musicians, this is a great opportunity…..it’s free, it’s in a cool new venue. Come on down!!)

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Newport Ski Swap – November 9 & 10
To learn more, visit
www.skiswap.info/. We hope you can find time to volunteer in some capacity -- parents and students who get involved seem to have an incredibly fun time every year!

These are the jobs most needed:
Security: all 3 days
Setup, arrange inventory: Friday
Check-in gear: Friday
Cashiers: Friday, Saturday
Check-out: Saturday
Takedown: Saturday

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Poinsettias for the Holidays – order by Wednesday, November 14th
Want a beautiful Poinsettia for the Holidays? The Senior Party is selling them as a fund raiser for $17 each. Go to
www.nhsclassof2008.myevent.com for an order form and more information. These are the largest and longest-lasting poinsettias found anywhere. You will want to order these long after your student has graduated - they are that fabulous.! They’re available in red, maroon and white.

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Legislative Roundtable
This event takes place every year somewhere in the area – and this year it’s right here at Newport on Thursday, Nov 15th in the Library from 7:00-9:00pm: Come meet the people who can help change the lives of children in our school district and across the state. For more information, contact Newport's Legislative Chair Scott Allen at
scottallen1@comcast.net.
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TOLO!!

Incidentally, your Freshman Liaison grew up in California, where the word "tolo" does not exist. Any dance where the girls asked the boys was called a "Sadie Hawkins" after the Li'l Abner character. Audrey Bennett found this explanation of Tolo at the Seattle Public Library Q&A page:

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"The girl-dates-boy type of dance was introduced about 30 years ago [c1919] by members of Tolo Club, founded in 1909 as the upper-classwomen's activity and scholastic honorary to honor girls who had shown outstanding leadership and service to the University of Washington. The club was given the name of 'Tolo,' Indian word for 'achievement of success.'

The annual Tolo informal [dance] was changed to reverse dating procedure, became traditional at the University, and spread across the country carrying the name 'Tolo' with it." is a Chinook word meaning to win, earn, prevail, succeed, control, convince, overcome or triumph.

* * * * * * * *

The facts - Tolo is a formal dance sponsored by Newport's Key Club. It goes from 9 p.m. to midnight at Newport on Saturday, December 8th.


Tickets are sold at school during lunch the week before the dance. At this time, I don’t have a price for tickets and will let you know as soon as I do.. Tickets will be on sale during both lunches the week of the dance, Monday, Tuesday & Thursday - December 3rd - December 6th. No tickets will be sold on Friday or at the door. Don’t wait until the last day to buy tickets. Avoid the long lines and buy tickets early in the week!

Pre-dance pictures are from 5:30 pm -7:30 pm. Sign-up & get price info during both lunches December 3rd - December 6th. (Having pictures before the dance prevents kids from standing in line all evening & ensures that they still look fresh when the picture is taken.)

Chaperones: If you would like to Chaperone, please contact Gil James
jamesg@bsd405.org Chaperones are given an overview of their duties before the dance. Parents would need to be at the school at 8:30 p.m. that night to be briefed on their jobs to help with various duties including dance floor, ticket taking, coat check, bathroom, photography, entrances/exits, etc. Next year, be sure to check "Chaperone" on your volunteer form that comes in the fall packet so that you are automatically contacted to chaperone.The Ask: Much like Homecoming, with one important difference. The girls ask the boys. Boys often respond by giving the girl a flower or other item along with a note or some other response within a few days.

Personal observation: boys who fail to answer are very, very bad…


Yes - a student can invite a high-school age student from another school. The student would need to fill out a guest pass form available in the office so that the staff knows who is here. This form is due no later than Wednesday, December 5th – no exceptions. Any forms turned in after that date will not be issued a guest pass. Please encourage your student to get the paperwork in as early as possible.
http://schools.bsd405.org/nhs/homepage/activities2/index.htm

Activities: Many groups plan optional activities on Friday night or Saturday during the day. They go bowling, play football, go tubing (http://www.summit-at-snoqualmie.com/info/winter/tubing.asp), take a hike, bake a dessert for after the dance.

Girly stuff: Yes, many girls get their hair done. And yes, you will find that this costs $50 and more. Lower prices are available through beauty schools, but they fill up EARLY. Girls often get manicures/pedicures, particularly if they play a winter sport and have nasty broken nails. Some girls get their makeup done, but gosh that seems like overkill, don't you think? Let's keep in mind that the boys will, um, shower.

Pictures: It's common for the kids to gather at someone's house once they are all gussied up with all their associated parents for pictures & a little parent socializing. All the parents will be there. It is perfectly OK for you to be there. If your child says otherwise, he's wrong. There are also formal pictures taken at the dance – more information will be available to your student during the week before the dance during ticket sales.


Transportation: It's extremely rare for a group to rent a limo for Tolo. The destination, after all, is Newport. Most freshman students are driven by parents. (Which, incidentally, is a great way to see how they are doing at regular intervals throughout the night.)

Attire: Tolo is a dressy dance. The girls wear dresses, many of them floor-length, and most boys wear rented tuxedoes or suits if they happen to have them. The usual dress code is relaxed somewhat to allow for strapless dresses or dresses with spaghetti straps, because most formal dresses tend to be strapless or have spaghetti straps.

Finances: While your student & his/her date can work out any arrangement they like, there are some conventions about who buys what. The girls buy/arrange day activities, dinner, the dance tickets, and a boutonniere. The boys handle transportation, pictures, dessert and the corsage.

Dinner: Very much like Homecoming Tolo groups eat at a variety of places so they aren't breaking the bank at fancy places.

At the Dance: Students are not allowed to leave & return, so don't leave anything in the car that you will need inside.

Dessert: This optional tradition has evolved over the years. The kids usually gather at one person's home after the dance (yes, it's after midnight now) to eat dessert & visit.

After Dessert: Why, they go home, of course!

P.S .- I highly recommend making sure to call/email the parents of your child's date during the planning stages to share info or to discuss whatever your concerns or expectations may be . "Here's what I think is happening. What do you think is happening?" Get to know the parents of your child's friends!