MTHS Parent Group Meeting Notes

September 10, 2007

 

Thank you for such a great turnout at the monthly parent meeting last night!

And Welcome new and freshmen parents!

 

Parent Volunteers Needed! MTHS highly promotes the use of parents to help out at the school. You can help out on a weekly or daily basis. You can help out individual teachers, students, oversee the lunch break, help out at study club and much more!

Contact: Laura Munson at MunsonL@edmonds.wednet.edu or 425-431-5066

 

MTHS Student Headcount this year is 1,620 students. Very close to what was expected, so there should be little staffing changes. There are a few areas where the classes are quite large, specifically PE with some classes with 38-40 kids, and some Math Analysis Classes with 33-34 students per class. The school is looking at possibly adding staff to lower these class sizes. Most classes have between 30-31 students per class.

 

Curriculum Night is being held Thursday, September 20th @ 6:00

Pick-up your students schedule between 6:00 – 6:30

Attend Small School Presentation between 6:30 – 7:00

Then follow your students schedule in 10 minute sessions and meet their teachers.

It is a great way to learn what your student’s day is like and ask questions!

 

WASL for Juniors and Seniors

For those Jrs & Srs that have not passed the reading and writing portion of the WASL they will have an opportunity to get help. For the lowest scoring students they will use  computer training called Read 180. And just prior to the spring WASL there will be a Boot Camp brush up for a week.

 

Currently a student does not need to pass the Math portion of the WASL to graduate from high school. Seniors that do not pass have to take an extra year of math. Juniors that do not pass have to re-take the WASL in their Junior year. In 2013, students will have to pass the Math WASL to graduate.

 

Homecoming Week is October 16th -20th

The focus as always will be for the kids to have fun that week, but that no hazing or disruption of school will be tolerated. The school needs parent support from home to keep it a fun filled week without issues.

 

The Naturescape

The area behind the school by the tennis courts known as the Naturescape has been reopened with the fences taken down. There is now access for students to get through this path to school once again. It turns out the fences were put up without proper authority, as property owners near there have access/easement rights into the area. The school is well aware of activities that students use this space for and monitor it as best they can.

 

PSAT (Practice SAT)

Juniors who want to take the PSAT in the fall:  Sign up in the Career Center, starting September 10; cost is $13.00 and the test day is Wednesday, October 17, in the theater starting at 7:30am.  Sophomores may sign up starting October 3rd if space is available.  Deadline for all students to sign up is Wednesday, October 10th.  

 

Bus Schedules

It has not been possible to change the bus schedules again this year to accommodate the start time of school. It is still being worked on.

 

Parking Auction

The parking auction is taking place Wed. Sept. 12th in the HUB from 7:00 to 9:00pm.

Students bid on parking spaces with upfront spaces going upwards of $150, and far parking spaces going for $40. All proceeds benefit the ASB Student Body for all classes.

Even after the auction, there have always been extra spaces available for students to pick-up.

 

Two new Vice-Principals

Assistant Principal Diane Lashinsky and Assistant Principal David Tadlock have both accepted Principal positions at other schools. Our two new Assistant Principals are Erin Murphy and Scott Morrison. Look for further information in the next Hawk Talk.

 

Senior Projects

This year’s Seniors will be doing their Senior Projects within their Senior Social Studies Class. Seniors will receive specific information about their Senior Project at the mandatory Senior Meeting. Beginning this year, the freshman class will be creating a different type of senior project called the Student Portfolio, in which they will save their best school work electronically each year to create a portfolio. For the junior and sophomore class they will use some aspect of a student portfolio (that they start this year) and do a senior project. All of this will be explained to students in detail.

 

Skyward Family Access

Skyward Family Access is a tool for parents to keep track of student progress in school. Parents can check Family Access to find a student’s schedule, grades, attendance, and other important information. We request that parents put their e-mail into the system, as it will be a great way for the school to communicate directly with the parents by sending out such information as above.

 

 

Robin Downie

robindo@msn.com