Dear PTHS Families and Community,
As we wrap up the first month of the school year, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the tremendous start we've had. This year, we began by emphasizing the importance of relationships and ensuring a sense of belonging for all of our students. We firmly believe that motivation rooted in relationships and belonging has a ripple effect, spreading to motivation in many other areas of a student's life—whether that be in the classroom, on the field, or within their extracurricular passions.
I’ve been truly taken aback by the kindness and compassion displayed by our student body. It’s been inspiring to see how students support one another and embrace the values of our school. I’m equally proud of our dedicated staff, who have worked tirelessly to ensure that every student feels welcomed and valued at Port Townsend High School. Their commitment to fostering an inclusive and positive environment has already begun to yield results.
Though we are only one month in, the energy on campus is palpable. Even more exciting, we’ve seen a positive trend in student attendance across the board. All cohorts are showing slight gains in attendance compared to this time last year, which tells me that the emphasis we’ve placed on building strong teacher-student relationships is already making an impact. We believe strongly that these relationships are the foundation for increased student engagement, attendance, learning, and involvement in all aspects of school life.
On a community note, we had a wonderful turnout for our first Coffee and Conversations event in the library! Although it was a relatively small group, the conversations were meaningful, and it was a great opportunity to connect with families. I’m looking forward to continuing these informal gatherings, with the next one scheduled for October 9th from 9:00 - 10:00 a.m.. At this event, we’ll be inviting families to participate in providing feedback on our School Improvement Plan (SIP), which drives many of our decisions here at PTHS.
Thank you for your continued support and partnership and GO REDHAWKS!!!
- Mr. Moss
Seattle, WA. – Hilina Taylor-Lenz, a student at Port Townsend High School in Port Townsend, Jefferson County, has been named a 2024 Washington STEM Rising Star. Taylor-Lenz was selected by the West Sound STEM Network and is one of eleven students from across the state receiving Washington STEM’s annual award. She was selected for her conservation work, including volunteering at the Discovery Bay Wild Bird Rescue.
“Hilina has personal goals of helping the communities in which she works as well as furthering her own knowledge of the sciences involved,” says Wayne Shaffer and Brandi Hageman, teachers at Port
Townsend High School. Since 2021, Washington STEM has partnered with ten regional networks to recognize young women and trans/nonbinary youth from across the state who explore STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) to better themselves and their community.
"Women make up only 34% of our country's STEM workforce, and that number drops to less than 10% for Black, Indigenous, and Latina women,” says Lynne K. Varner, CEO of Washington STEM. “These disparities fly in the face of numerous studies underscoring diversity as a key factor in business success. The Rising Stars represent a new generation that is closing that gap.”
Awardees are nominated by their schools and selected in partnership with regional networks. They will receive a $500 stipend and be celebrated at Washington STEM’s 2024 Summit luncheon.
We are thrilled to announce the launch of our new food truck, the PTHS Culinary Cruiser, which is now up and running for the 2024-2025 school year! This exciting addition to Port Townsend High School was made possible through the Carl Perkins Federal Grant, and it will serve as a dynamic learning tool for veteran teacher Jennifer Kruse’s Culinary Arts Program.
The Culinary Cruiser was recently powered up thanks to the team at Frederickson Electric, who installed a special outlet at the high school. Soon, students will be using the truck to prepare and serve dishes featuring seasonal produce from the PTHS and Salish Coast Elementary school gardens, along with fresh fruit from the Blue Heron Orchard.
The Culinary Cruiser will do more than just provide tasty meals—it will offer students hands-on experience with the entire farm-to-table process, teaching them about healthy food options while also introducing entrepreneurial skills and small business pathways. Students will learn about everything from menu creation and cooking to running a mobile business, giving them valuable career skills in the culinary and business fields.
Next week, during our Homecoming festivities, Mrs. Kruse and her culinary students will be showcasing the truck to the entire student body, offering free samples of their delicious creations. This will be a fun way to introduce the truck to the school and highlight the creative potential of our student chefs.
We’re excited for the many opportunities the Culinary Cruiser will provide, and we can’t wait to see what our students cook up next!
We are excited to announce that Port Townsend High School will be hosting the Olympic College Fair this Friday, September 27th, in our gym from 1:00 to 3:10 p.m. This is a fantastic opportunity for all PTHS students, as well as students from the OCEAN program, to meet with representatives from a wide variety of colleges and universities.
The event will feature a diverse group of institutions, offering students the chance to explore everything from technical institutes and community colleges to arts schools and major universities. This is the perfect time for students to ask questions about programs, financial aid, campus life, and admissions, all in a one-on-one setting with college representatives. We are proud to welcome the following schools to the fair:
- Seattle Academy of Interactive Entertainment (AIE)
- Central Washington University (CWU)
- Cornish College of the Arts
- Digipen Institute of Technology
- Eastern Washington University (EWU)
- Gonzaga University
- Northwest Indian College
- Olympic College
- Oregon Institute of Technology
- Pacific Lutheran University
- Pacific Northwest College of Art
- Peninsula College
- Prescott College
- Shoreline Community College
- Saint Martin's University
- Universal Technical Institute
- University of British Columbia
- University of Idaho
- UW Bothell
- UW Seattle
- Washington State University
- Western Washington University (WWU)
- Western WWU-Peninsulas
- Armed Forces Recruiters
- Youth Maritime Training Association/California Maritime Academy
- Whittier College
- Native Pathways Program
- Evergreen State College
- Upward Bound
Our students will have the full support of PTHS counselors Kirsten Bledsoe and Emily Eldridge, who have dedicated countless hours to ensuring the success of this event. Their guidance will be invaluable as students navigate their options and gather important information for the next steps in their educational journeys.
We encourage all Junior and Senior students to take advantage of this opportunity to connect directly with college representatives, learn about potential paths after high school, and start planning for their futures. Whether they are considering a four-year university, a technical institute, or another pathway, this event will help them make informed decisions.
We look forward to seeing our students explore their future possibilities this Friday!
- Wednesday, 9.25 from 12:05 - 1:10 pm: Pre-Homecoming Assembly
- Wednesday, 9.25 from 1:30 - 3:15 pm: PTHS Staff Professional Development
- General Education & Special Education Facilitated Collaboration in the PTHS Library
- Thursday, 9.26 at 3:30 pm: Boys Tennis Home Match
- Friday, 9.27 from 1:00 - 3:15 pm: Olympic Peninsula College Fair in the Gym
- Saturday, 9.28 @ 12:00 pm: Girls Soccer Home Game
- Wednesday, 10.2 from 1:30 - 3:15 pm: PTHS Staff Professional Development
- All-Staff Meeting with TCF Architects in the PTHS Library
- Friday, 10.4 from 2:21 - 3:10 pm: Homecoming Assembly
- Friday. 10.4 at 7:00 pm: Homecoming Football Game at Memorial Field
- Saturday, 10.5 at 2:00 pm: Girls Soccer Home Match
- Saturday, 10.5 @ 8:00 - 11:00 pm: Homecoming Dance in the Gym
About Port Townsend High School
Website: https://highschool.ptschools.org/
Location: 1500 Van Ness Street, Port Townsend, WA, USA
Phone: 3603794520
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PortTownsendHighSchool/
Non-discrimination statement
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 Coordinator for State Law (RCW 28A.640/28A.642) and Title IX Officer: Darrell Thomas, 1610 Blaine Street, (360) 379-4548, dthomas@ptschools.org
Section 504/ADA Coordinator: Shelby MacMeekin, 1610 Blaine Street, (360) 379-4366, smacmeekin@ptschools.org
