Starting this week, Port Townsend High School students have a new opportunity to receive extra academic support through a collaborative after-school tutoring program led by science and math teacher Jeff Taylor. This program, created in partnership with the Port Townsend School District (PTSD) and the volunteer organization Skillmation, aims to provide targeted help in math and science while fostering connections between students and experienced local professionals.
Skillmation’s mission is to integrate the talents and skills of community members and organizations, build bridges between experts and eager learners, and connect teachers, students, young entrepreneurs, and apprentices with seasoned professionals and newcomers to the area. This partnership aligns perfectly with these goals, offering students valuable academic assistance while connecting them with knowledgeable mentors from the Port Townsend community.
The after-school sessions, which are open to all PTHS students, will take place in the library on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:15 - 4:15 p.m. Although available to everyone, staff will meet weekly to identify students who could benefit most from additional help and reach out to their parents. This proactive approach aims to reduce logistical barriers and ensure that students receive the support they need to succeed.
A team of dedicated Skillmation volunteers, including John Ward, Bob Alei, Mary Dilles, and Tom Engel, will provide tutoring support. All of these community tutors have extensive backgrounds in mathematics and science and are expected to make a significant impact.
While the program has an excellent start, additional support is needed to maximize its reach. Specifically, there’s a need for math-specific tutors as well as volunteers to help in other subjects. The school is also encouraging students in upper grades to consider volunteering as peer tutors, especially for Algebra and Geometry. Not only would these peer tutors provide valuable support to their fellow students, but they would also gain leadership and teaching experience, fostering a stronger sense of community within the school.
“We’re thrilled to be working with Skillmation and their volunteers to bring this program to PTHS,” said Jeff Taylor. “It’s a wonderful opportunity for students to get extra help, build connections, and improve their confidence in math and science. We’d love to see more community members and students join us as tutors to help even more students succeed.”
With its combination of community support, experienced tutoring, and potential for peer mentorship, this program promises to be a valuable resource for PTHS students striving to reach their academic potential. If you’re interested in volunteering as a tutor or peer tutor, please contact the school office for more information.
Port Townsend High School has the privilege of hosting exchange students from around the world, enriching the school community and the local area. Foreign exchange students like Caique Brito from Brazil and Sophia Giesinger from Austria bring fresh perspectives, share unique cultural insights, and inspire curiosity among their peers. They not only gain firsthand experience in American culture but also offer PTHS students a chance to learn about other countries and expand their worldviews.
Hosting a foreign exchange student is an invaluable experience that offers the host family and the student a chance to form lasting connections. The Rotary Youth Exchange program, which brings these students to Port Townsend, is currently seeking additional host families. According to the Rotary Youth Exchange, host families play a crucial role in providing a welcoming space where exchange students can immerse themselves in a new culture, learn a language, and build lifelong friendships. This mutual exchange enriches families and students alike, fostering respect and global awareness while helping to raise future leaders committed to peace and understanding.
Caique, a junior from Brazil, decided to study in the United States to learn more about American culture and improve his English. He shared that many PTHS students are curious about his home country, often asking him about soccer and what it’s like to live in a warm climate. Sophia, a junior from Austria, echoed Caique’s reasons for coming to the U.S., citing a desire to understand the culture better and improve her English. She mentioned that her peers frequently ask about Austrian popular culture and cuisine, which has sparked many engaging conversations.
When asked what they enjoy most about Port Townsend, both students enthusiastically pointed to the warm and welcoming people and the area’s stunning location near the water. Caique remarked on the uniqueness of living in a small town where people genuinely know one another, a contrast to his life back in Brazil.
For those interested in hosting, the process is straightforward, and the impact is profound. Host families contribute to fostering global understanding, helping young people experience different ways of life, and bringing a bit of the world into their own homes. Those interested in becoming a host family can contact Lee Hoffman, Youth Exchange Officer, at 206.683.7378 or via email at rotarianleeh@gmail.com.
By opening your home to an exchange student, you can play an essential role in shaping the next generation of global citizens and build connections that last a lifetime.
This fall, Port Townsend High School’s Advanced Placement Environmental Science class, led by teacher Linda Lenz, has taken on a vital mission: assessing local ecosystems to determine their suitability for native salmon populations. These hands-on experiences not only allow students to apply classroom knowledge in real-world settings but also connect them directly with professionals working on critical conservation efforts.
Before embarking on their Dungeness River field trip, Lindsay McCord from the North Olympic Salmon Coalition visited the classroom to discuss stream restoration efforts. Specifically, McCord introduced the students to stage 8 of stream restoration, a series of initiatives aimed at enhancing habitat conditions for salmon. This introduction provided the students with important context, helping them understand the broader impact of river restoration projects on salmon survival.
At the Dungeness River, students collected water-quality data and conducted macroinvertebrate surveys, both essential to assessing the health of the river ecosystem. The students learned that while water quality was generally supportive of salmon, exceptionally low water flow posed a challenge. Despite not observing adult salmon in the surveyed areas, students noted salmon at the river's mouth, where deeper pools offered more favorable conditions. These observations underscored how various environmental factors—such as water quality, flow, and habitat structure—determine salmon suitability.
Following their river study, students performed a forest health assessment in the Quimper Wildlife Corridor, in partnership with the Jefferson Land Trust. The students assessed trees, ground cover, canopy cover, and wildlife usage. These assessments highlighted an essential connection: healthy forests contribute to healthy rivers. For salmon populations to thrive, they need rivers that are supported by well-functioning forest ecosystems. By improving forest health, it’s possible to enhance water quality and reduce runoff, ultimately creating better habitats for salmon.
The class also extended its learning to estuarine ecosystems with a trip to Padilla Bay, a National Estuarine Research Reserve. Estuaries like Padilla Bay play a critical role as nurseries for salmon, where juvenile fish find food, shelter, and favorable water conditions before moving into the ocean. The visit reinforced the understanding that salmon rely on diverse, interconnected ecosystems—rivers, forests, and estuaries—all of which must be healthy for salmon populations to survive and thrive.
The integration of these field experiences allows students to understand the importance of ecological balance and fosters a deeper connection to their local environment. With upcoming outings to areas like Sather Park, the students will continue their exploration of ecosystems, discovering how the health of different environments influence one another and how their own actions can contribute to conservation efforts. This hands-on approach not only enriches their scientific knowledge but also empowers them with a sense of agency and belonging, as they contribute to the health of local ecosystems and the broader community.
- Monday, 10.14 @ 3:30 pm: Cabinet Meeting in Mr. Dow's Room
- Wednesday, 10.16 @ 1:30 pm: Certificated & Paraeducator Professional Development at BH
- Wednesday , 10.16 @ 5:00 & 6:30 pm: Home Girls JV & Varsity Volleyball at Chimacum
- Thursday, 10.17 @ 3:30 pm: Home Boys Tennis Match
- Thursday, 10.17 @ 5:30 pm: Home Girls Varsity Soccer at Memorial Field
- Monday, 10.21 @ 5:00 & 6:30 pm: Home Girls JV & Varsity Volleyball at Chimacum
- Tuesday, 10.22 @ 5:30 pm: Home Girls Varsity Soccer at Memorial Field
- Wednesday, 10.23 @ 1:30 pm: General Education & Special Education Collaboration in the Library
- Wednesday, 10:23 @ 3:30 pm: Home Boys Tennis Match
- Wednesday, 10.23 @ 3:30 pm: Home Girls Swimming at Mt View Pool
- Thursday, 10.24 @ 4:00 pm: Home JV Girls Soccer at Chimacum
- Friday, 10.25 @ 7:00 pm: Home Football at Memorial Field (Wear Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness)
About Port Townsend High School
Website: https://highschool.ptschools.org/
Location: 1500 Van Ness Street, Port Townsend, WA, USA
Phone: 360.379.4520
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
Carrie Ehrhardt
1610 Blaine Street
(360) 680-5756
Title IX Officer:
Carrie Ehrhardt
1610 Blaine Street
(360) 680-5756
Section 504/ADA Coordinator
Shelby Macmeekin
1610 Blaine Street
(360) 379-4501
Title IX inquiries may also be directed toward the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights (OCR):https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/index.html
