Class News and Jazz Band Benefit

Hi All - Be sure to read the information below about a benefit that will be performed by Ariel Pocock and her jazz Trio. Ariel is a one of our Juniors and a talented musician and vocalist!

--
Julie Rooney
PTSA Class of 2011 Liaison
http://newport-ptsa-2011.blogspot.com/

2011 Grad Knight Meeting - Tomorrow!

Tuesday 6:30 in the NHS Library. We are in the planning stages and can use your input. Join us!

-------------------------

PTSA Meeting

Wednesday, 7 pm in the NHS Library

Topics include respect, dance behavior and discussion of communication including moving the Knightline on-line. If you would like to provide input, come to the meeting!

-------------------------

Support the Class of 2010 (Grad Knight)

What: Wine Tasting Fundraising Event for Grad Knight 2010

When: Friday, January 29, 2010, 6:00 to 8:00 pm

Why: Come taste great vintages - think your palate can detect a $25 bottle of cab over a $10? Come and enjoy the conversation of friends, taste some great wine, sample some cheese, and share in supporting the Graduation of the class of 2010 (door prizes and other discounted sales available knight of - only!!) .... note everything but your tasting will be tax deductible some come and join the fun!!

Cost: $25 advance reservations (before Jan 26th), $30 at the door

Where: The Wine Shoppe, 1785 Northeast 44th Street, Renton - (425) 255-4727 (Exit 7 off of I-405, next to Starbucks/McDonald’s complex)

R.S.V.P. (or questions) Tammy Small tammyfsmall@gmail.com or 425-282-4111

Don't forget to check out the 2010 website for escrip and other fundraisers for the class of 2010 www.nhsgradknight2010.myevent.com. We'll be asking the other classes to do the same for us next year!

-------------------------

Dessert Knight is coming!
Mark your calendars now! On Friday, February 5 at 7:30 PM Newport Choir will host Dessert Knight, a spectacular evening of vocal stylings and calories galore! Please purchase a ticket to Dessert Knight from a choir member who might return the favor by serenading you at table side! It’s a great deal for a terrific Knight of food and entertainment. See Ms. Fisher in room 1111 for more information about how you can purchase a ticket to this fantastic event, and thanks for supporting Newport Choir!

------------------------

Vote YES for Schools February 9th

I voted have you? Ballots have been mailed. If you need more information, the levy fact sheet is available on the district website www.bsd405.org

-------------------------

Benefit for Newport Jazz Band

Here is an extraordinary opportunity to enjoy great Jazz. Ariel Pocock, a member of Newport’s Jazz I band, will be performing with her trio in a concert with the Eastside Jazz Club. Ariel won the Ella Fitzgerald Outstanding Vocalist and Outstanding Pianist Award at the Essentially Ellington competition in New York City. Proceeds from this concert will benefit the band program at Newport High School.

The concert will be held Tuesday, February 9th at Sherman Clay Music Store. The event begins at 7:30 pm. The address is: 1000 Bellevue Way NE, Bellevue, WA 98004. The cost is $13 for adults, students 18 and under is $6. For ticket information call: 425-828-9104 or 425-454-0633

Please come out and enjoy this terrific local talent and help support jazz in the Northwest! Thanks for your support of our excellent band program!

-------------------------

Parent Registration Information Night

Thursday, February 11th at 7:00 p.m. We will meet in the Library. A counselor will be present to discuss course selection options, graduation requirements and the registration process for Senior year.

The students will have an opportunity to find out information about classes at the Elective Fair on Tuesday and Thursday this week at both lunches.

------------------------

Follies
Does Newport have talent? In about four weeks we will be having auditions of our annual variety show Follies. So get your act ready. Have seen Follies while your student has been at Newport? Performance dates are March4-6th. Be sure to get a ticket. You will not regret it!

-------------------------

Eighth Grade Parent Night
Parents of 8th Graders bound for Newport are invited to the school to hear from general information from the Administration. If you have an incoming student, please help spread the word among their friends, especially if your 8th grader is at a private school or International or Odle. Word gets out well to Tillicum & Tyee. Thursday, February 25, 7:00 p.m. – NHS Commons/PAC

End of Semester & Other News!

End of Semester
Last Chance to buy a Yearbook
Dessert Knight
Girls Water Polo Pre-Season Meeting
Registration-Parent Info Night
Valentine's Dance
Spring Sports Packets
Student School Passwords
Community Service Opportunities
Education Road Show-Save the Date
Student Drop-Off and Pick-Up - Reminders!

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask!

Julie Rooney
PTSA Class of 2011 Liaison
http://newport-ptsa-2011.blogspot.com/

----------------------------------

End of Semester/Grades
The semester will end on Friday, February 6. Parents are advised that:
Teachers will be working on final grades through Wednesday, February 11th.
Please be patient as student on-line grades may change significantly while teachers complete their work.
As usual, official grades will arrive at home via US Mail.

--------------------------------------------

Last Chance to buy a Yearbook
The deadline for purchasing a yearbook is February 6th. Do not miss out! Buy your yearbook now. If your student has any question about whether or not they have already purchased a book, they can check the list outside of the accountant's office.

--------------------------------------------

Dessert Knight
On Saturday February 7 at 6:30 PM Newport Choir will host Dessert Knight, a spectacular evening of vocal stylings and calories galore! Please purchase a ticket to Dessert Knight from a choir member who might return the favor by serenading you at table side! It's a great deal for a terrific Knight of food and entertainment.

See Ms. Fisher or Ms. Jones in room 1111 for more information about how you can purchase a ticket to this fantastic event, and thanks for supporting Newport Choir!

--------------------------------------------

Girls Water Polo- come join the fun!
Girl's Preseason Waterpolo team meeting is on Monday February 9th at 3:10 in room 1112.

--------------------------------------------

Registration - Parent Information Night- Thursday, February 12th
Our students will be Juniors next year! Plan on attending the informational meeting from our counseling staff at 7:00 p.m.

Check-in with your student. Their PLAN test results have been distributed and the kids are already hearing from colleges via email.

--------------------------------------------

Valentine's Dance - rescheduled!
Has been scheduled for February 20th. This is an all-school dance (non-date dance). Students that bought Tolo tickets will be given tickets no charge to this dance. More information to follow.

--------------------------------------------

Spring Sport Packets
First time gray packets (if this is the first time you have played a sport this year) and yellow "repeat" packets (if you were already in a fall or winter sport this year) are available outside the ASB secretary's office. Due by February 27th, 2009.

--------------------------------------------

Student School Passwords
Students, it's time to change your school password. Passwords not changed by March will no longer work. Students can do this on the library or classroom computers.

--------------------------------------------

Looking for Community Service Hours?
Newport Heights Elementary PTSA is holding an auction on Saturday, March 21, 2009. They are looking for students to come and babysit elementary age students during the auction. They will need at least 10 volunteers from 5pm-10:30pm (at the latest). Your student can work the entire night for a total of 5 1/2 hours or if there are enough volunteers, there will be 3 hour shifts. Please contact Sondra Richards at sondrar@westseattle.com by February 10th, if you are interested and available! It's a great opportunity to help your local elementary school, meet new families and get more babysitting jobs!

The Mountains to Sound Greenway is having a volunteer service day for high school students on Presidents' Day, February 16th!! There are two different locations and different time commitments available. Please see the counseling center for more information.

--------------------------------------------

Education Road Show - Save the Date
The third annual Education Road Show, entitled "Parents Always Matter," will be held Monday, March 16, at Sammamish High School from 7 to 8:30 p.m. This year's keynote speaker will be Dr. James Mazza, University of Washington Psychology Department. There will be workshops on the AVID program; Parent-Teen mediation; on-line grades, attendance, and curriculum; and information booths representing programs that support parents and students

--------------------------------------------

Pick-Up and Drop-Off Areas (this is the kinder and gentler version of what I would like to say)
Visitors to campus before and after school have reported to us that parents aren't using our new Pick Up and Drop Off areas.

When the building was designed, the architects went to great lengths to add spaces for parents to safely line up to pick up and drop off students that wouldn't cross paths with anyone who was attempting to park or walk into the building. Ironically, neither one of these areas is being used much – instead parents are using one of the parking lots…..and are in the way of people who need to use visitor parking.

Flagpole Pick Up/Drop Off Area
One of the Pick Up/Drop Off areas is on the east side of the building, and is accessed from Factoria Boulevard at the traffic light. It circles the flagpole. There's even a covered waiting area nearby so that students don't get wet on rainy days. Students who get out here in the mornings have easy access to the Commons, and in the afternoons students can walk directly out of the east end of the classroom wing to meet up with parents.

South Ball fields Pick Up/Drop Off Area
The other Pick Up/Drop Off area is on the south side of the building, and is accessed from Coal Creek Parkway. This is the turnaround between the baseball field and the new softball field. It's particularly handy in the mornings for parents on their way to work who will exit the driveway & proceed west on Coal Creek Parkway. It's also really, really large, and can hold dozens of cars. It's the ideal place to wait to pick up a student after school.

On Thursday, January 15, Kate O'Sullivan, the wife of Newport Chemistry teacher Tim O'Sullivan and mom of Newport freshman Amanda O'Sullivan, lost her battle with cancer. I am certain that the family would be comforted to know that others in the Newport family are grieving with them. Messages of condolence and support can be sent to:

Tim O'Sullivan and family
12617 SE 42nd Street
Bellevue, WA 98006

-------------------------------------------------------
Electives Fair and Assembly
Spring Sports Packets
January PTSA Meeting
Dessert Knight
Parent Information Night
BSD Calendar/Finals Schedule
Yearbook Announcement
Late AP Testing/Payment
Newport Reflection's Honorees
PTSA Focus Day
-------------------------------------------------------

Let me know if you have any questions!

Julie Rooney
PTSA Class of 2011 Liaison
http://newport-ptsa-2011.blogspot.com/
------------------------------------------------------

Electives Fair & Assembly
Elective Fair Thursday, in the Commons during both lunches. Teachers will be available to tell you about the courses and programs they are offering in the coming year.

Elective Assembly schedule: On Friday, January 23rd, Freshmen, Sophomores and Juniors will have the opportunity to visit four ten-minute presentations of the elective classes of their choice. Seniors should report to the Theater for a presentation regarding the transition to college.

--------------------------------------------------------

Spring Sport Packets
Spring Sport Packets are now available for pick-up.
First time gray packets (if this is the first time you have played a sport this year) and yellow "repeat" packets (if you were already in a fall or winter sport this year) are available outside the ASB secretary's office. Deadline February 27, 2009.

--------------------------------------------------------
January PTSA Meeting

Wednesday, January 28th at 7:00 pm in the NHS Library. General Membership Meeting. We will vote on our Nominating Committee.

-------------------------------------------------------

Dessert Knight is coming!
Mark your calendars now! On Saturday February 7 at 6:30 PM Newport Choir will host Dessert Knight, a spectacular evening of vocal stylings and calories galore! Please purchase a ticket to Dessert Knight from a choir member who might return the favor by serenading you at table side! It's a great deal for a terrific Knight of food and entertainment.

See Ms. Fisher or Ms. Jones in room 1111 for more information about how you can purchase a ticket to this fantastic event, and thanks for supporting Newport Choir!

-------------------------------------------------------

Parent Information Night
Thursday, February 12th, 7:00 p.m. We will meet in the Main Gym for a grade level (Junior) counselor presentation.

-------------------------------------------------------

New BSD Calendar/First Semester Finals Schedule
First Semester Finals Schedule for February 4, 5, and 6. The last day of school is June 25th. Please go to the BSD website for the new calendar.

-------------------------------------------------------

Yearbook Announcement:
Students who wish to substitute their English names for their Ethnic names in the Yearbook need to complete a name change list in the main office by January 23rd.

-------------------------------------------------------

Late AP Test Registration/Payment
If your student has not yet registered for their AP exam, have them see Ms. Suppes in the Main Office. If your student has registered but not paid, please send payment in ASAP.

-------------------------------------------------------
---------------------
PTSA FOCUS DAY
Washington State PTA is sponsoring its annual Focus Day activities Thursday, February 26th.

This is the day that PTA members across the state gather in Olympia to "focus" on the child advocacy issues that were selected at Legislative Assembly. This is an unusually important year for parents to participate. Our Legislative representatives have been given the task of revamping our educational system -- primarily the way in which it is funded. It has been obvious for years that the funding amount has been inadequate (districts have to raise levy money to provide basics) but even more obvious that the funds are unfairly distributed. Combine the ever-growing needs of our underfunded educational system with the current budget crisis and one simply cannot deny the need to keep our legislators FOCUSED on our kids. Focus Day this year will take on a different form than in years past. This year, the main activity will be a massive rally on the Capital steps at noon. We need everybody possible to attend for this easy, fun, and effective advocating party.

Organize car pools -- we need at least four cars of four people from every school. Drive to Olympia, rally on the steps, drive back home. How easy can it get? Bellevue PTSA Council also has rented two busses for the day. The trip is free to Bellevue PTA members and almost free to other Council members. We will leave at about 9:30 on February 26 from the old K Mart parking lot on 148th and return there by 3 or 3:30. Reservations are required for the bus. Contact me with your name and e-mail address if you want to ride the bus. I need to have these names by the first part of February.

Connie Gerlitz (dgerlitz2@comcast.net),
Bellevue Council and Region 2, Legislative Chair