Washington Family Newsletter

It was a great start of the year welcoming close to 300 new incoming freshmen students as well as the returning Washington scholars. Our freshmen will embark on an incredible journey this year, one filled with opportunities for growth, learning, and self-discovery. We will work hard to make their high school experience unforgettable.

This year, we will also celebrate diversity more, embrace creativity, and encourage innovation. We will focus on building not just strong minds but also strong character. We will work hard, have fun, and support one another on this journey through high school.

I am asking all our parents to help us in encouraging their students to get involved, explore their passions, and make the most of every opportunity that comes their way at school.

Together, we will achieve great things.

Principal Oguz

• Sept 25: No School - Professional Development
• Oct 5 5-7pm Muiltilingual Parent Meeting (Hmong, Spanish, Somali, Karen) ONLY
  
• Oct 6: Homecoming Dance
• Oct 16 - 17: Picture Day
• Oct 24 - 25: Parent Conferences

In-person students will receive free breakfast and lunch under the Minnesota Free School Meals program. All students are eligible to receive one free breakfast and one free lunch each school day. Second meals, incomplete meals and single item purchases, such as milk only, must be purchased.

• Student Second Breakfast: $2.85
• Student Second Lunch: $5
• Milk Only: $0.50
• For a complete list of prices, visit spps.org/ns.

Visit schoolcafe.com/spps to manage your student’s meal account, view menus, ingredients and nutritional information, and complete the Application for Educational Benefits.

While all in-person students will receive free breakfast and lunch under Minnesota’s Free School Meals program, it remains critical that all families complete an Application for Educational Benefits each school year. These applications determine how much funding your child’s school receives for educational programs and supports. Additionally, eligible families can qualify for other benefits. The application can be completed online at schoolcafe.com/spps. Paper applications are available at your child's school.

The MTC Unlimited Pass is available to purchase for $97.00 per quarter. Bring the payment to Michelle Friesen in the main office (cash or checks payable to Washington Technology Senior High School). When the first payment is made, the bus pass will be ordered. When the quarter ends the bus pass will need to be renewed by submitting a payment for the next quarter (schedule is below). If payment is not received by the due date the card will be de-activated. The card will be re-activated when payment is received it will take 24 hours after payment is made to be active again.

MTC Bus Pass Quarter Dates

8/21/2023 to 11/1/2023 payments due now

11/2/2023 to 1/14/2024 payment due by Monday, October 30, 2023

1/15/2024 to 3/31/2024 payment due by Monday, January 8, 2024

4/1/2024 to 6/14/2024 payment due by Monday, March 25, 2024

Notice: Bus Status has a new and improved app just in time for the new school year! The Bus Status app currently installed on your phone will not update automatically to the new app, and will end notifications after September 29. Download the new Bus Status app for free at the Apple App Store and via Google Play.

There will be some positive changes to grading practices at all SPPS high schools beginning in the 2023-24 school year. SPPS is shifting to more consistent and equitable grading practices across all high schools to ensure that students’ grades truly reflect what they’ve learned. Visit the Grading Practices FAQ webpage for more information. More details will be provided this fall, including information sessions with language support for families.

Mr. Peters is the College & Career Coordinator at Washington. Bookmark his newsletter for monthly updates, scholarship opportunities, and application information. You can contact him at cpeters.ach@spps.org. His newsletter is linked HERE."

Flipside combines learning and fun afterschool! Flipside is a free afterschool program that provides a fun and safe opportunity for students to participate in a variety of high-quality academic and enrichment activities.

Flipside at Washington will begin October 9, 2023, and will run from Monday through Thursday 3PM-5PM. Classes are twice a week- Monday and Wednesday OR Tuesday and Thursday. Snacks are provided everyday.

TRANSPORTATION- School buses will be provided Monday through Thursday. Students will receive bus routes before beginning after school.

Please visit the link below for fall registration, classes offered in the fall session, and any ongoing updates.

https://www.spps.org/domain/3088

Students that are registered will receive a confirmation paper with their classes and transportation information. Once students have a confirmation paper, they are ready to attend afterschool.

If there are any questions, please contact:

Phia Yang(Washington Flipside Coordinator)

Email: phia.yang@spps.org

Phone: 651-744-4414

Washington High School Fall Sports are midway through the season. We have 6 sports teams competing this fall through the Minnesota State High School League. They include Cross Country, Boys’ Soccer, Girls’ Soccer, Girls’ Swim & Drive, Girls’ Tennis, and Girls’ Volleyball. Please be on the lookout for winter registration information. All things sports can be found on the athletic website: https://washingtontechnologymagnet.rschoolteams.com/

WTMS Library Webpage

Search the catalog, find links for eBooks, audiobooks, research databases, and research help on our webpage.

Link for image: https://www.spps.org/domain/12938

WTMS Library Schoology Group

We will use the WTMS Library Schoology group to share information about new books, events, and library programming. Students should join using this code: D8S9-KQ4C-ZZC85

Families can access the WTMS Library Group using their Schoology accounts.

Using the iPad to Read

There are several apps available through Self-Service for reading on the iPad. The most popular are Libby, MackinVia, Capstone, PebbleGo.

Celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month

Find books that feature Hispanic or Latinx characters, are written by Hispanic or Latinx authors, or deal with topics topics related to a Hispanic or Latin identity.

Students can find books in the library by searching our catalog (click the image to open Destiny) or through Libby.

Link for image: https://collections.follettsoftware.com/collectionsweb/collection/613bb402ab1031001185bd58

Destiny Discover Collections

Collections by Follett is a new, collaborative way for educators to collect and share resources from anywhere, at any time, and with anyone.

collections.follettsoftware.com

Washington's AVID Program is excited for another year of College and Career Readiness in 2023-24! AVID means Advancement via Individual Determination and is a 7-12 elective class at Washington. We have many students who are enrolled beginning in 7th grade and others who join at other points. This is a great program for students who have college and career goals and are interested in improving their academic and life skills through Writing, Inquiry, Collaboration, Organization, and Reading. Fun Fact: Washington's graduating AVID Class of 2023 featured 29 students and was eligible for $4.2 million in scholarships for college! Please review our website HERE to learn more about the program and the process for joining.