OCEAN Newsletter

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Here are the new announcements in this newsletter:

• Volunteers for MoPOP and the 8th Grade Dinner Dance
• Sol Duc Hot Springs Overnight Trip for 9th to 12th Graders
• ASVAB - For 11th graders Graduation Pathway
• 11th and 12th grade College Field Trips
• Community Activities

Enjoy Spring Break, no school April 14-18.

We need volunteers for MoPOP on May 9 and for the 8th-Grade Dinner Dance on June 21

Who wants to go to MOPOP? If you can volunteer contact kreynolds@ptschools.org or mtipton@ptschools.org

Event Information:

The 8th Grade Dinner Dance is planned, hosted and fund sourced by 8th grade parents. Please join the fun by volunteering and make this event awesome for all our students by helping fundraise through donations!!

Help raise funds for this awesome event by donating through this website:

• $25 Pays for a ticket for a student who otherwise would be unable to attend.
• $75 Helps provide a festive outfit for a student who otherwise couldn't afford one.
• $150 Helps pay for food, decorations, and entertainment activities for all students.

Business Sponsorships! Businesses who donate $200 will receive special recognition at the event. Please consider sponsoring the 8th Grade Dinner Dance!

Volunteer! It's fun! Email 2029redhawks@gmail.com to volunteer!

April 24th at 2PM REQUIRED meeting for students interested in attending the High School overnight Field trip. Meet in MB's classroom or on zoom: MB's Zoom link . Family members are encouraged to also come to the meeting, in person or over zoom.

Trip Summary: May 13th-15th overnight adventure for OCEAN 9th -12th graders to Sol Duc Hot Springs and the Pacific Coast in collaboration with CedarRoot Outdoor School. All expenses paid for students! We will be doing hands-on science, learning primitive wilderness skills, tracking, plant identification, etc. Email marmstrong@ptschools.org with questions.

OCEAN 11th graders will have another opportunity to take the ASVAB this Spring on May 8th.

from noon to 3:00. All OCEAN 11th graders who have not yet met a Graduation Pathway requirement will want to take advantage of this chance to take the ASVAB at OCEAN. Not sure if you have met this requirement? Talk to your school counselor, Barb Fogerson - filling in for Emily for the remainder of the school year. (email at bfogerson@ptschools.org) If you have already met the pathway requirement you do not need to take the ASVAB, but you may wish to take it for the Career Exploration information.

While many people know the ASVAB is a test used for military enlistment and classification, the ASVAB Career Exploration Program (CEP) is much more than a military test. The ASVAB CEP is offered to all students in 10th grade and above, regardless of their future career plans. The program helps students learn about their skills and interests, identify potential occupations, and discover all the pathways to career-field entry.

The ASVAB is different from both the ACT and the SAT. The ACT and SAT measure achievement and are primarily used for college applications. The ASVAB measures aptitude and acquired skills which can be used to help predict future academic and occupational success. ASVAB scores thus give students insight into their options and aid them in planning their next step after high school

Taking the ASVAB does not obligate you to talk to a military recruiter, or to consider military enlistment. It is free of charge.

Sign up in the OCEAN office or email Barb Fogerson (bfogerson@ptschools.org) before May 8th if you wish to be included in taking the ASVAB.

11th and 12th graders UPCOMING COLLEGE FIELD TRIPS:

UW Tacoma + Pacific Lutheran University May 1

Olympic College + Western Washington University May 15

Peninsula College Including Welding, Automotive, and Medical Programs May 19

Learn about local colleges in Washington, their programs (including trades), and what they have to offer you. Field trips are 100% free and paid for by the College Success Foundation. Please sign the interest form if you would like to attend a field trip. Field trip participants will get:

• Free lunch 🍕🍣🍔🥗🍩

• A 25$ gift card (Yes, seriously) 💰

Discover mindfulness through art, games, and reflections. April 23 - June 11 on Wednesdays, 1:45-3:45 pm.

The Maritime Career Immersion program supports students in identifying maritime interests and pathways and helps connect them with maritime opportunities, all while teaching industry specific and durable life skills. For young people aged 16–19, this 90 hour program is facilitated by Northwest Maritime Center (NWMC) instructors. After completion of the program, the NWMC team will support students in navigating their maritime community network in order to pursue their interests and goals. Students will receive a $1,000 stipend upon the completion of the program. School

credits are available. Program runs June - August 2025.

If you’re interested in this program, contact:

Ellie Meopham

Career Prep Programs Manager

ellie@nwmaritime.org

Supplement food needs during school breaks at one of the YMCA pop-up sites ( Brinnon, Quilcene, Hadlock, or Port Townsend). Contact Tanya Barnett at tanya@peninsulaymca.org or call 360-565-6025 for more information.

The 8th Grade Dinner Dance is an exciting event celebrating 8th grade students as they make this transitional milestone to high school as The Class of 2029!!

Event Details:

The evening will include delicious food, snacks, and dessert as well as dancing, photo ops, and a variety of activities to make a memorable night for everyone! 8th grade students registered in Port Townsend School District are welcome to join this event. Tickets are $25, but no student will be turned away.

There are two steps to sign your child up for this event. Both steps must be completed by June 6, 2025 for your child to attend. Thank you!

1. Purchase Tickets and find more information at https://app.givebacks.gives/dinnerdance2025/Campaign/Details
2. Register so parent volunteers can support your child during the event. - Click Here for the Required Registration Form Link

Interested in Running Start? Register now for upcoming Information Sessions at https://pencol.edu/running-start

Registration now open for Port Townsend Campus Info Sessions:

• April 22 Running Start Info Session on Zoom
• April 23 Running Start Info Session
• Session will meet in the main building on the Port Townsend Campus.

What is Running Start? Running Start enables high school juniors and seniors to earn college credits and fulfill high school graduation requirements—all while saving money!

Why Participate in Running Start?
Running Start students can attend Peninsula College full-time or part-time and save money on college costs. Want to attend a four-year university? Stay involved in activities or classes at your high school? Or just try something different? Running Start offers the opportunity and flexibility to help achieve your goals!

No matter which pathway is right for you, you’ll meet high school graduation requirements and earn college credits* at the same time, all while saving thousands of dollars in tuition.**

*Peninsula College credits transfer to other Washington state colleges and universities. Transfer credit may vary when applying to out-of-state colleges and universities.

**Running Start is not completely free. Students may be responsible for certain tuition and fees costs.

This spring students in grades 3-8 and 10 will take the Smarter Balanced tests (SBAC) in Math and English Language Arts (ELA). Students in grades 5, 8, and 11 will also take the Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science (WCAS).

The results from these tests will give a more accurate picture of whether students are on track to be ready for college or career. For students in grade 10, passing scores on the Smarter Balanced tests can also be used as a graduation pathway.

Students will take the tests on chromebooks at school. All students will participate in these assessments during the OCEAN testing scheduled times. Any students who misses a scheduled testing session will need to come in on an additional day or may be pulled out of regular classes in order to make up any portion of testing missed.

Testing Schedule:
April 28-May 2 - Testing - 8:30am-10:30am (all regular classes during this time are cancelled)

• April 28-29, grades 3-8, and 10 Math testing both days
• April 30-May 1, grades 3-8, and 10 ELA testing both days
• May 2, grades 5, 8, and 11 Science testing one day

How to help your student be ready for testing:

1. Ensure they get a good night's sleep and eat a healthy breakfast the day of the tests.

2. Encourage them to bring a water bottle and a healthy snack each day of testing.

3. Let students know to try their best to show what they know.

For more information about the Smarter Balanced and WCAS tests, visit: https://www.k12.wa.us/student-success/testing/state-testing-overview, and click on the name of the test. Please talk to your child’s teacher if you have questions about state testing.

Thank you for your continued collaboration toward your child’s success. Please let us know if there is anything we can do to better support your child. We want your child to leave us with a solid foundation of skills and a future full of opportunities.

It is hard to believe that it is already time to start thinking about the 2025-26 school year.

Please take the Returning OCEAN Student Survey by April 15.

Please let us know what your plans are for enrollment in the OCEAN School next year which includes both OCEAN K-12 Family Partnership and the OCEAN Online Program (grades 6-12). This information will help us plan for staffing and new enrollments. Completing this form will ensure your student has a spot in the program next year.

Join us at the upcoming ASB events.

• April 25 - 5:00pm Movie Night

• April 14-18- Spring Break! No School
• April 24th at 2pm a required meeting for students interested in attending the High School overnight Field trip

View the OCEAN Calendar Online

Want OCEAN K-12 Events to show up on your digital calendar?

Want to Get School Communications Via Text?

Opt in by texting “Y” or “Yes” to our district’s short code number, 67587.

Email: srubenstein@ptschools.org
Website: https://ocean.ptschools.org/
Location: 3939 San Juan Ave, Port Townsend, WA, USA
Phone: 360-680-5750
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oceank12

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oceank12

Port Townsend School District No. 50 does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of race, creed, religion, color, immigration status, national origin, age, honorably-discharged veteran or military status, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, marital status, the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability. The district provides equal access to the Boy Scouts of America and all other designated youth groups listed in Title 36 of the United States Code as a patriotic society. The following employees have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination:

Civil Rights Compliance, Carrie Ehrhardt, 1610 Blaine Street, (360) 680-5756, cehrhardt@ptschools.org

Coordinator Title IX Officer, Carrie Ehrhardt, 1610 Blaine Street, (360) 680-5756, cehrhardt@ptschools.org

Section 504/ADA Coordinator, Shelby Macmeekin, 1610 Blaine Street, (360) 680-5762, smacmeekin@ptschools.org

Title IX inquiries may also be directed toward the U.S. Department of Education for the OCR/Title IX complaints https://www.justice.gov/crt/educational-opportunities-section

Discrimination Procedure