What's Up Westside

• March 15: Big Band Dinner Dance (6–9pm, WSHS Commons)
  
• March 18: Yearbook Presale Begins (via SchoolPay, link goes live on Monday)
• March 22: Multicultural Night (6–8:30pm, WSHS)
• March 26–29: Cheer Team Tryouts (4:30–8pm, WSHS Historical Entrance)
• March 28–30: Mean Girls Spring Musical (WSHS Theater, Tickets)
• March 30: Saturday School

Friday, March 15, 6–9pm, WSHS Commons

The Big Band Dinner Dance is an annual fundraiser that supports the WSHS music program. There will be music featuring all of our school performing ensembles, the West Seattle Big Band directed by Jim Edwards, food prepared by our wonderful Culinary Arts program, a silent auction, and lots of fun! Any remaining tickets will be sold at the door for $35.

Monday, March 18–Friday, April 5

This is your last chance to pre-order 2024 yearbooks before they are distributed in June! The cost is $55 via SchoolPay (link goes live on Monday). Need to pay by cash, check, debit card, or credit card? Visit Maria Penner in the Fiscal Office during lunch or before or after school.

Friday, March 22, 6–8:30pm

Join us for a celebration of diversity through music, dance, and global cuisine. We will have student performances, education, community resources, and fun for the whole family! WSHS will provide food, and you are also invited to bring your favorite dish to share at a potluck dinner. In observance of Ramadan, prayer spaces will be available. All are welcome to come together for an evening of cultural exploration and unity!

Please sign up to volunteer before, during, and after the event. You do not need to be an SPS approved volunteer for after school activities.

Cheer Clinic, Tuesday, March 19, 4:30-8pm

Stunt Clinic, Wednesday, March 20, 4:30-8pm

Tryouts, March 26-29, 4:30–8pm, WSHS Historical Entrance

Interested candidates must submit the Application, Student-Athlete Registration Packet, Physical Examination, and Parent/Guardian Release Form. Apply here.

March 28–30 and April 3–5, WSHS Theater

Join us for our spring musical, Mean Girls. Come sit with us. It will be so fetch! Get your tickets.

Saturday, March 30, WSHS Library, 9am-12pm

Tutors will be available for students to assist with test prep, test corrections, late assignments, and missing assignments. Students are strongly encouraged to contact their teachers for missing or late work prior to Saturday School. We provide breakfast; you bring your laptop and a desire to learn!

Monday–Friday, 8am–4pm, Main Office

WSHS maintains a pantry to provide basic necessities for students. We are in need of non-perishable foods and personal hygiene products. Students can drop off donations at the main office during regular school hours. Ms. Stacey will be also accepting donations at the WSHS historical entrance after school on Tuesday, April 2.

Wednesday, April 3, 11:30am-2:30pm, WSHS Gym

Are you a manager or owner of a business that hires teens and/or soon-to-be high school graduates? Come showcase your opportunities and connect with students. Positions offered can be paid, volunteer, internships, permanent, seasonal, pre-apprenticeships or apprenticeships. Register Here.

Tuesday, April 30, 11:45am-12:45pm, WSHS Theater

Current Sophomores and Juniors: Are you interested in Running Start for the 2024-2025 school year? The first step is to attend this Running Start information session. Parents are welcome (but not required) to attend. Please RSVP.

Tuesday, April 30, 9am and 1pm, JSCEE
Tuesday, May 14, 9am and 1pm, JSCEE

The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) Exam is being administered as part of Washington State’s graduation pathway options and is open to all SPS 12th graders. The ASVAB is an aptitude test that measures a young adult’s strengths and potential for success in military training. Students must earn a minimum score of 31 on the Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT) component of the exam in order to meet the Washington State graduation pathway option. Results will be released ONLY to the student and their school counselor.

Students and their parent/caregiver must complete the ASVAB Exam Registration and Permission Form in order to participate. The deadline for submitting the permission form is Wednesday, April 10, at 9pm. If you have questions about the administration of the ASVAB, please contact the Office of Assessment and Instructional Improvement.

Sunday, May 19, Alki Beach

The WSHS PTSA is excited to announce the return of the annual West Seattle 5K! All profits raised will allow the PTSA to fund important needs like Saturday Study Hall, classroom supplies, and student-led initiatives. Register now!

Returning this year is a grade level competition among WSHS students. The goal is to create a friendly competition to see which grade gets the most classmates to register. The winning grade gets out of Homeroom early for a donut party and cash ($250) to their grade level ASB.

Students who are unable to take the AP exam(s) after their exam has been ordered are eligible for a partial refund of $78 per exam, if they paid the full College Board and District fees. The WSHS AP Coordinator will work with our fiscal specialist to issue refunds through SchoolPay as soon as possible following the last AP Exam on May 23. For questions regarding AP exams and refunds, please contact Amy Doll.

All students in grade 10 are required to take the Smarter Balanced Assessments (SBA). All students in grade 11 are required to take the Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science (WCAS). A parent or guardian may opt out a student by submitting a Refusal Request. Students who do not participate will receive a “zero” score on the assessment and be considered non-proficient. This may impact the student's future class choices.

• April 1–5: SBA ELA (all grade 10 students)
  

• May 20–22 & May 28–30: SBA Math (all grade 10 students and grade 11 students in Algebra II and Geometry)

• May–June: WCAS (all grade 11 students in Science class, dates TBD)

All Students are required to meet State Standards in English Language and Math to earn a diploma. The most efficient way to demonstrate proficiency is by taking and passing the state exams given to students in the spring of their sophomore year.

Students must bring a district issued laptop; WSHS will provide headphones and test tickets. The SBA Assessment is untimed (ELA averages 3–4 hours and Math averages 2–3). SBA Assessments are divided into two sections:

1. CAT (computer adaptive test) 20 items

2. PT (performance task)

• Segment one: Short answer or constructed response
• Segment two: Longer writing task associated with the same articles/sources

Items prohibited during test sessions:

• Backpacks/bags, cell phones, AirPods/earbuds, smart watches, other electronics

Questions? Please contact Amy Doll.

Visit the Counseling Center Website for resources related to academics, college and career, and mental health and wellness.

• Erica Nguyen (Last Names A-Fe)
• Kinsey Hedeen (Last Names Fi-Marg)
• Mallory Neuman (Last Names Mari-Pig)
• Christine Nutters (Last Names Pin-Z)

• Service Learning Form and Reflection
• Physical Education (PE) Waiver Request Form

• March 15: Tennis vs. Ballard (4pm, Lincoln Park)

• March 15: Soccer vs. Nathan Hale (4pm, Walt Hundley)

• March 15: Water Polo vs. Northshore (8pm, Medgar Evers Pool)
  

• March 16: Baseball vs. Enumclaw (6:30pm, Enumclaw HS)

• March 18: Tennis vs. Ingraham (4pm, NWAC)

• March 18: Soccer vs. Franklin (5pm, Franklin HS)

• March 19: Softball vs. Bishop Blanchet (4pm, Lower Woodland)

• March 20: Baseball vs. Cleveland (4pm, SWAC)

• March 20: Soccer vs. Nathan Hale (4:30pm, Jane Addams MS)

• March 21: Track Meet (2:45pm, SWAC)

• March 21: Softball vs. Eastside Catholic (4pm, Eastside Catholic HS)

There is still time to register for boys and girls lacrosse. The teams are excited to welcome new players! Register here.

• West Seattle High School Athletics
• FinalForms
• WSHS Spirit Store
• West Seattle Booster Club
• Metro League’s HomeTown Ticketing digital box office

Saturday, March 16, 9am–12pm, Hall at Fauntleroy

Saturday, April 20, 10am–2pm, Sand Point Elementary School

Saturday, May 18, 10am–4pm, Jane Addams Middle School

Join us at an invasive plant removal work party. There are three opportunities scattered throughout our city. Volunteers can participate in as many as they wish. All tools are provided. Register now.

Nominations Due Friday, March 22

We’re looking for the district’s most spirited teacher! Nominate the one teacher whom you feel best represents your school in the most positive way. Submit your nomination.

Wednesday, March 27, Lincoln High School

The Seattle School Board has selected eight finalists for the candidates in District 2 and District 4. The candidates continuing as finalists will participate in a candidate forum at the end of the month. Additional details will be provided soon.

Applications Due Wednesday, April 10

Students entering their junior or senior year are eligible to apply for a one-year term as a School Board member, with the term beginning in August 2024 and concluding in June 2025. Learn more about the position and apply now!

The Seattle Skills Center application for the 2024-25 school year is now open. Find a wide range of courses designed to prepare students for college, career and life! Apply now.

Application Due Friday, April 26

Amazon’s Career Quest is a paid, two-week computer science and career exploration experience for SPS high school students. The application is open for rising 9th, 10th, and 11th graders. The program aims to inspire SPS high school students to pursue technology careers of the future, prioritizing students furthest from educational justice. Apply now.

Application Due Wednesday, May 1

The Seattle Youth Commission is a group of 15 Seattle teens from all over the city who are appointed by the Mayor and City Council to connect youth to local elected officials, advise on City policies, and discuss issues that youth in Seattle are facing. Youth Commissioners must be between the ages of 13–19 and live or go to school in Seattle. Apply today!

WSHS Website * WSHS PTSA * ASB Instagram

Bell Schedule * Calendar * Volunteering

Athletics * Attendance * Counseling Center * Library * Teen Health Center

Friends of West Seattle Music & Drama * West Seattle Booster Club * Westside HEY Coalition

Read past issues of this newsletter

Update your communications preferences

If you would like to share news or publicize an event or opportunity relevant to the West Seattle High School community, please contact us at communications@wshsptsa.org.