Dear Spartan Families,

Last week, our students continued to show up as leaders, scholars, and thoughtful, contributing members of society. One way Spartans showed up to help others was by participating in the First Annual Summit Sierra Blood Drive hosted by the Activism Club and Bloodworks Northwest. Participating students took time out of their day to donate enough blood to save three lives. I was so impressed by the courage and compassion our students showed to help out others in the community. I’d like to thank the Activism Club and Ms. Visperas for helping to organize this effort. Check out this photo of 10th grader Kh’Mara Hollingsworth donating blood –

Likewise, I’d like to give a big shout out the students who run our Tutor Hub on PLT Fridays. They consistently do an amazing job supporting their peers. Tutor Hub was started in our founding year by a group of students who wanted to help their peers academically. Every Friday, students have the opportunity to opt into a tutoring session in our student run tutoring center. See the picture below of our Tutor Hub Manager, An Vu, and other tutors helping their peers –

As always, I’m continually impressed by the hard work and dedication of our students during Project Time. One highlight from the week was when Sophomores were working on their Electric House Projects in Mr. Bakke’s Physics class. In Physics, students are developing proposals for the construction of a building. Each 10th grader is designing a floor plan, a 3D model, and a budget for the structure. After Expeditions, they will be using their knowledge of electricity and circuits to add sophisticated lighting to their structures! They’ve been showing great self-direction and creativity on this hands-on, real world project.

Thank you,

L. Denice Randle
Assistant Director
Summit Sierra

UPCOMING EVENTS:

11th Grade Sierra Family College Night: January 31, 2018

Please join us on Wednesday, January 31 from 6:30 – 8:00pm for workshops and resources for college planning, paying for college, the application process, and more! Food will be provided. Please register at: http://bit.ly/jancollegenight.  For more information, please contact Ms. Nguyen at cnguyen@summitps.org.

Summit Sierra Info Session + Open House: February 15, 2018

Do you know a student who would like to enroll at Summit Sierra? We’d love to invite all community members and prospective students to learn more about our school. Please join us for our monthly Info Session on Thursday, February 15th, 6:00 – 7:30pm to learn more. For more information, please contact Ms. Tianna at tlopez@summitps.org.

Expeditions Cycle Three: February 5 – 16, 2018

Students will be back in their Expeditions classes starting on February 5, 2018. We are excited for students to reconnect with their Expeditions teachers and continue to work on their projects. For more information about Expeditions or to learn more about your student’s progress, please contact Ms. Nguyen at cnguyen@summitps.org.

2017-2018 SPORTS PRACTICE SCHEDULE:

Basketball Games:

Click here for an updated schedule for Basketball Games.

See the school calendar on http://sierra.summitps.org for specific dates.

Please contact Coach James Hampton with any questions or comments. He can be reached at drillsandskills4141@gmail.com.

Ultimate Frisbee:

Frisbee tryouts will be held on 1/17, 1/18, and 1/19 from 3:45 – 5:00pm at Beacon Hill Playfield.  Students can meet Captain Oscar in the OLS at 3:35pm on any day to walk over together to the tryouts.  For more information, please contact Ms. Temes at ltemes@summitps.org or Captain Oscar Cortes at ocortes.si@mysummitps.org.

Academic Integrity Reminder

One of our Core Characteristics as Spartans is Integrity–the idea that to be successful, you must do the right thing even when no one is watching.  In the coming weeks, students will be discussing upholding Academic Integrity in their Content Assessments, Checkpoints, Projects, etc.  We believe that understanding the impacts and consequences of Academic Integrity is critical to ensuring all students are successful when they reach the college or university of their choice.  We’d like to encourage all students to continue to push themselves and show their best original work and reach out to appropriate resources if they need additional assistance in doing their best.

Here are some ways you can support your student in learning more about Academic Integrity at home –

• Ask your student to explain their ideas about their checkpoints or final products aloud
• Review for a Content Assessment with your student by studying flashcards, reviewing notes, etc.
• Read along with your student for an assigned book or reading in a Focus Area playlist

For more information about Summit Sierra’s policies and values around Academic Integrity, please contact your student’s mentor or Ms. Randle at drandle@summitps.org

Call for Parent Volunteers

• Study alongside your student or a small study group for a Content Assessment
• Work with your student on a Checkpoint or Final Product for a Project
• Coordinate with teachers to help provide individualized support
• Learn along with your student on the PLP

Now Hiring: Office Assistant

Do you know someone who would like to join our faculty at Summit Sierra?  We are currently hiring an Office Assistant to join our team.  The Office Assistant’s primary responsibilities include front desk management, school meal service, attendance, and family engagement.  Fluent Somali speakers are encouraged to apply.  Please click here for a link to the job application.

For more information please contact Ms. Randle at drandle@summitps.org.

11th Grade Announcement: Sex Education Symposium

Dear 11th grade families,

This Friday students will have the opportunity to participate in a Sex Education Symposium. This event was planned by students and will be executed by teachers who have volunteered to teach the 11th grade about Sex Education. The symposium will cover 5 important topics that will help students learn more about themselves and their community. These topics include:

• Anatomy and Biology
• LQBTQ+ Community
• Healthy vs. Unhealthy Relationships
• Rape Culture (Consent)
• Contraceptives & STD/STI Prevention

College Corner:

College Rep Visit: University of Alabama

Wednesday, January 31st | 11:00 – 11:30 AM | Summit Sierra
Student can sign up through their mentors for permission to attend the University of Alabama’s presentation. More college rep visits to come after Expeditions Session 3.

EVENTS & OPPORTUNITIES

There will be an increase of programs, internships, and volunteer opportunities available for high school students this season. Below are some open opportunities; please encourage your students to apply!

RadioActive Youth Media Internship HERE

UW Prehealth Conference Feb 3rd  HERE

Girls Who Code Internship  HERE

Seattle Pacific Center Camp HERE (scholarship for fee available)

Camp BioMed HERE Scholarship for program fee available

Lunar New Year Volunteer Opportunity Feb. 10th  (Contact mentor or Ms. Nguyen)

5th Ave Theatre Rising Stars Project HERE

Seattle Youth Employment Program Internships HERE (selected through lottery)

Teens in Public Service HERE 

WHY COLLEGE RESOURCES:

Having conversations about the significance and benefits of a college education is important for student motivation and academic achievement. Click HERE for talking points and resources.

PSAT FOR SOPHOMORES

While juniors are preparing to take the college entrance SAT or ACT exams, sophomores can look ahead at their PSAT test in the spring. The PSAT stands for Preliminary SAT and it serves two purposes: preparation test for the actual SAT and to qualify for the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (NMSQT). PSAT 10th grade will be given in late spring, while PSAT/NMSQT 11th grade will be available in the fall. For practice exams, click HERE.

Junior College Lab Office Hours

Beginning Jan. 8th, Ms. Nguyen will hold College Lab during Monday office hours:

January Dates: Jan. 16, 22, 29

Students can work on any college and career related material independently or as a group. The focus in the next three months in College Lab will be SAT & ACT strategies.

SAT & ACT REGISTRATION FOR JUNIORS

Summit Sierra will be supporting juniors in the SAT and ACT registration process for the February ACT and March SAT test. All juniors should take either test at least once during their junior year and again during their senior year. We recommend for students to take either test at least 3 times total or until the ideal score is reached. Fee waivers are available for students with free and reduced lunch. Please check in with juniors for their progress in their Sierra Method Online test prep program. Contact Ms. Nguyen at cnguyen@summitps.org for additional information.
Want to begin the registration process on your own? Please take a look at this PowerPoint for support! https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1UauYM_aJuR1lWEYOR4Jcbn_ilTQS8e_p6gR364xuTYQ/edit?usp=sharing

SAT & ACT TEST DATES

AP Testing Information:

11th Grade Families! Please mark on your calendars that the AP US History exam is May 11 at 8AM and AP English Language and Composition is May 16 at 8AM. If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Crook (APUSH) at acrook@summitps.org and Ms. Visperas (APLang) at cvisperas@summitps.org.

Community Resources and Opportunities:

Volunteer Opportunity at Wing Luke Museum:

Wing Luke Museum is seeking event volunteers for its Lunar New Year Fair on Saturday, February 10. The fair is a celebration of Asian Pacific American traditions with family-friendly activities such as games and crafts. It’s an event that not only brings visitors to the museum, but also supports the neighborhood. Volunteers answer questions about the day and lead activities, and many ofthem will be from other high schools or college-age students. The museum often sees Summit Sierra students passing by and would love to invite them in to learn more about the museum and more about local history.

There are a few different shift options in the call for volunteers, but SummitSierra students are encouraged to volunteer for the mid-day 12:00pm-3:30pmshift. We ask that volunteers arrive 30 minutes beforehand  (11:30am for this shift) for food and drink and orientation.

Click here for a flyer to learn more about volunteering.

Contact your mentor or let Ms. Nguyen (cnguyen@summitps.org) know if you are interested. Different positions available.

Sierra Contemporary Band:

Sierra Contemporary Band is looking for new members! The band has met intermittently during Fall semester.  They put on a short concert of holiday carols at lunch on Friday the 15th.  The band will continue to meet every Friday(including Fridays during Expeditions) from 3:30 to 5:00 at Summit for the duration of the school year. Chris Littlefield and Amy Denio from the Seattle Drum School are the teachers. The cost is on a “pay what you can” basis so no one should hold back attending for that reason. Instrumental music experience is preferred. Students interested should show up on Fridays at 330 and please email Chris at cornucopia9999@gmail.com if questions. Hope to see you in January!

Global Teen Leadership Summer Programs:

Would you like to study abroad in Mexico this summer?  YMCA of Seattle is proud to present its Global Teen Leadership Summer Program.  The program will take students to Mexico from August 4th – 11th, 2018 to live with families in home stays and complete a community development project.  Sliding scale payment is available based on income level.  Click here to learn more. 

The Service Board:

Each year, the Service Board brings together a group of young high-schoolers and adult mentors from a broad range of academic, racial, cultural and economic backgrounds to engage in a demanding six-month program. Program participants meet twice weekly from January through June, with weekend activities rotating between intensive service learning projects and snowboarding, hence our name: the Service Board.

Music, snowballs, fresh food and a sense of community are the common threads that tie the program together. In accordance with our unique mentoring model, each mentor serves the program rather than an individual teen, giving our students a range of strengths and resources from which to draw. the Service Board emphasizes the importance of youth empowerment and healthy, sustainable decisions to educate tomorrow’s leaders.

Please click here to access the application for The Service Board and to learn more.

Washington World Fellows Program

Application Deadline: February 16, 2018
Click here to access the application

The Washington World Fellows program is an equity-focused academic fellowship open to 10th grade student applicants in Washington state. Starting in the summer of 2018, the fellowship will consist of a six-week immersive Spanish language study abroad program in Léon, Spain, with a full college-level academic schedule, as well as post-trip college-readiness support. Before departing for Spain, students will attend a series of pre-departure orientation sessions in the spring in preparation for the study abroad program, and after their return, will have access to leadership opportunities and college application assistance through their 11th and 12th grade years.

The overarching purpose of the program is to provide students who may lack access to similar opportunities with an academic and study abroad experience that will support their trajectory into college, enhance their high school academics, and afford them a new sense of global awareness. In order to fulfill that goal, the program will be administered at no cost to students, including airfare.

Up to 20 current 10th grade students will be selected this spring to take part in the Washington World Fellows program. Students must be first nominated by their teachers for the program to apply, and will be selected based on the strength of their applications.

Students will be notified of their acceptance into the program by March 9th.

In order to apply, students must first be nominated by at least one of their high school grade teachers. 10th grade teachers are asked to nominate up to three of their 10th grade students that they believe are likely to gain the most from the program — that is, students who are motivated, but may not have access to similar opportunities. After verifying their nominees’ interest, teachers submit students’ names to the Washington World Fellows online application. Teachers will serve as a character reference for their nominees, and nominees will be automatically notified of their nomination. Teachers are encouraged to help students fill out their online applications, and help connect parents with information about the program.

Nomination Criteria:
• nominees must be United States citizens or legal residents of the United States
• nominees must be current 10th grade students
• nominees must have completed one year of high school Spanish by the summer of 2018 (or be able to demonstrate elementary conversational Spanish)
• nominees should be academically motivated, but may lack access to similar opportunities
• nominees should demonstrate the maturity to handle a 6-week study abroad experience
• nominees should be motivated to enhance their language skills and demonstrate an interest in travel

Youth in Focus

Location: 2100 24th Ave. S. #310 Seattle, WA 98144

Are you a budding photographer?  Join Youth in Focus!  Youth in Focus is now enrolling for their Winter Session offering classes in digital and darkroom photography.  Classes are 4:30 – 7:00pm either on Monday/Wednesday or Tuesday/Thursday.  Participants may earn service hours for completing the program.  We have had several Spartans participate in this program before, and they have all given high reviews.  Click here to access the application.