WST spring break is almost here! Spring break is from April 5 - 9, 2021.

This year has felt a lot like Mr. Toad's Wild Ride at Disneyland. I hope that you and your families are able to step away from the dizziness of the year so far and relax a bit together. Studies show getting out in nature, even for a half hour a day helps the brain and your stress levels.

For students in the Peninsula School District, we recognize that your spring break is the week following the WST spring break and that your students may not attend in person during that week. While students are going to be on spring break, they will have work to complete and/or make up when they return.

For any families going out of the country or to any U.S. Territories for spring break you must follow the recommendation by the Governor and CDC:

The governor has updated proclamation 20-83 to 20-83.1 regarding travel: "ACCORDINGLY, pursuant to RCW 43.06.220(1)(h), I hereby prohibit any individual from traveling by air from any location outside of the United States to Washington state, directly or indirectly, unless that individual complies with the requirements established by the CDC. Individuals exempted from the CDC requirements are also exempt from this proclamation."

Per requirements from the CDC, any staff member or student will be required to quarantine after traveling internationally and returning to Washington and for anyone who is traveling to any of the locations identified with COVID-19 Variants. (Note: International travel includes travel to US territories and British Columbia, Canada.)

If you are traveling Internationally (From the CDC):

· Get Tested (with a viral test) 3-5 days after travel AND stay home and self-quarantine for 7 days after travel.

· Even if you test negative, stay home and self-quarantine for the full 7 days.

· If your test is positive, isolate yourself to protect others from getting infected.

· If you don’t get tested, it’s safest to stay home and self-quarantine for 10 days after travel.

· Avoid being around people who are at increased risk for severe illness for 14 days, whether you get tested or not.

· Always follow state and local recommendations or requirements related to travel.

As you may already be aware, growing our students’ social-emotional learning (“SEL”) skills is an important goal for West Sound Tech. The results of this survey will help shape our approach to Social-Emotional Learning!

Please note: Some of the questions are not totally relevant in our current environment. The survey is a national survey that we adopt locally and conduct twice annually, allowing us to compare results over time. While we are not able to adjust all of the questions as much as we'd like, we appreciate your time, input and honest responses.

Take the Survey

Congratulations to all of our students that met their 100% attendance and 100% assignment goals!

Here are the randomly selected winners:

March 15th Winners:

*In the video some were mistakenly noted as the March 8, not March 15, but March 15 is correct

Both 100% Assignment Completion and 100% Attendance: Jacob F - Maritime

100% Assignment Completion: Liam G - Welding

100% Assignment Completion: Garrett S - Welding

100% Attendance: Zakia S - Construction

100% Attendance: Hunter A - Maritime

March 22nd Winners:

Both 100% Assignment Completion and 100% Attendance: Brighton C - Welding

100% Assignment Completion: Chris C - Welding

100% Assignment Completion: Ashlynn S - Criminal Justice

100% Attendance: Tanner J - Welding

100% Attendance: Jacob M - Welding

March 31st Winners:

Both 100% Assignment Completion and 100% Attendance: Angela F - Cosmo

100% Assignment Completion: Joe O - Welding

100% Assignment Completion: Jacob B - Welding

100% Attendance: Austin R - Criminal Justice

100% Attendance: Vance A - Cosmo

*Winners gift cards being mailed out

Here is an activity for teens (and families) from Jennifer Cohen Harper, MA, E-RYT, RCYT, Mayuri Gonzalez, E-RYT, RCYT, and Argos Gonzalez, M.Ed.

The Yoga and Mindfulness Practices for Teens includes five elements, connect, breathe, move, focus, and relax. This practice, today is a connection activity, one that helps you connect to your own feelings or thoughts and connect to the people and world around you.

This practice is designed to help you explore ways to be kind and curious toward yourself.

Sit comfortably - alert but relaxed and notice your breath moving in and out of your body. If you feel comfortable, close your eyes, or focus on one spot that isn't moving. Place both hands on your chest and notice your breath as it enters and leaves your body. Imagine someone you care about is having a hard time and coming to you for advice.

Using kinds and curiosity, notice any sensations you may feel and what your natural reaction is to this person. What questions might you ask or what might you say to this person and how would you say it to them? What would you want to do to support them? How would you show understanding or empathy?

Then, take a few breaths and think about a time when you were struggling or feeling badly about something you said or did. How did you respond? How did you talk to yourself? Were you kind and curious about the way you felt, or did you engage in negative self-talk? Notice any feelings or sensations you are feeling as you think about these things.

Take a couple of deep breaths and think of the way you speak to a loved one when they come to you for advice. Is your response to yourself similar or different from how you would respond to your loved one?

Usually we tend to be kinder and more forgiving of others, and if that is true for you, consider speaking to yourself the way you would speak to someone you care about. Remind yourself to be understanding, curious, patient, and kind with yourself. Ask yourself, 'what do I need to hear right now so I can make the most of this situation?'

Some example statements you may use:

May I have greater understanding of my actions

May I be kind with myself

May I be patient and forgiving with myself.

Destination OC: College is for Everyone

April 14, 2021 | 6:30 - 8:00 pm

Are you a high school freshman, sophomore, junior or senior who is planning to go to college? Attend this virtual event to learn more about the many academic and career pathways available at Olympic College, ways to pay for college, and the college enrollment process. You will have an opportunity to interact with our friendly faculty, staff, and students;ask questions; and envision yourself as part of our welcoming community. Your family is invited to join you for this 90-minute virtual event.This event is free.

Register at this link by April 9: https://olympiccollege.link/DestinationOC-Registration

April 20-21, 2021, students at WST will engage in mock interviews in the virtual environment. Students will prepare their resumes to submit to the interview team, dress for success and their interview, and complete a virtual interview with two adults from the community.

Instructors will schedule students for their interview sessions throughout the day and students will access the HopIn platform to attend their interview. Students engage in the interview and then receive feedback to support their success once they begin interviewing for their future careers.

If you or someone you know in the community may be interested in supporting our students for the Mock Interviews this year and are able to participate on either one or both days, please complete and/or share the registration link: WST Mock Interviews.

Mission: The mission of West Sound Technical Skills Center is to ensure that all students are prepared for life, career, and college through industry-based, technically rigorous programs.

Vision: To prepare every West Sound Technical Skills Center graduate to be career and college ready, enter the global workforce, and be a successful and contributing citizen through innovative and flexible program opportunities.

Email: shani.watkins@westsoundtech.org
Website: www.westsoundtech.org
Location: 101 National Avenue North, Bremerton, WA 98312
Phone: 360-473-0550
Facebook: facebook.com/WSTechnicalSkillsCenter
Twitter: @wstsc