This feels like one of the busiest times of the school year. Your students are involved in spring sports, there are pending milestones in a school year that are required yet not part of classes (AP tests, state testing, Senior Exhibition, etc.), performances, and the demands of the classroom. Our students and families are balancing so much!

Attendance: Very soon many of our families will be receiving attendance 'nudge' letters in the mail. In fact, over half of our students are considered "chronically absent," which is defined as missing 10% or more of school, including both excused and unexcused absences. In other words, if a student misses just two days in a month, they are considered chronically absent. We have some geographical challenges that make perfect attendance an almost unheard-of phenomenon (my own family still sees dentists in Shoreline!). However, studies show that students who are chronically absent are 50% more likely to NOT graduate on time from high school. We understand that there are students who have unavoidable absences because of illness or lack of resources here on the island, but we should all take a look at our kids' attendance habits and consider making choices to keep our kids' attendance as regular as possible. Conversely, if there is something you know of that would help remove any anxiety or hesitation your child is feeling and it's impeding their desire to attend, please reach out. We can definitely brainstorm strategies to help support your student in getting here, set up some supports here at school, etc., if they would help! The important part is that we partner to get your students here every day possible. Check out the NYT article below about chronic absenteeism since COVID. It's a challenge! But we're here to face it together.

Athletics: Over 50% of our students participate in at least one school-sponsored sport per academic year, and of those, many participate in 2 or even 3 seasons of sports. So, in addition to perhaps missing school for reasons listed above, these students, by having the privilege of participating in a sport, have also taken on the responsibility of keeping abreast of their studies when sports matches take them away from the schoolhouse as well. Our players and our coaches know they need to use ferry time as school time, if they're on the ferry during school hours. If your student is having trouble keeping up with schoolwork due to missed school because of athletics, please reach out to us or to the coaches. The coaches are invested in the kids' academic success, too, and giving up a couple practices to be able to keep up with school is entirely possible and encouraged.

AP & State Testing: May is our testing month! AP tests happen between May 6th and 17th, and our state tests are the week of May 20th. More information on our testing bell schedule will come out soon, but we do ask that you consider our rigorous testing schedule before making appointments for your students that will take them away from school. If they miss the state tests, they will get pulled from classes to make those up, so it's in their best interests to be here when the tests are offered. (AP tests cannot be made up, unless there are exceptional circumstances.)

End of School Year: There is still no resolution on the end of the school year. Because of the 3 snow days, we are currently scheduled to be in session on Monday, June 17th, Tuesday, June 18th, and Thursday, June 20th. Wednesday the 19th is a federal holiday. Please make sure your summer plans accommodate the 20th as the last day of required attendance. We will let you know as soon as we can if there is any difference to that plan.

Next week is Spring Break. When we come back it will be in the final push of the year. Please know that we are here to help support your student and family to achieve their academic and learning goals. It has been incredibly exciting to have our seniors bringing their acceptance letters to various institutions and posting them on our grad wall. Kids are making plans for the future and dreaming about all the possibilities in front of them. We are privileged to be a part of that journey with them and all of you.

Have a great break!

In March, FHHS sent two teams to represent at the San Juan Public Schools Foundation Knowledge Bowl. We were excited that our team of 9th- and 10th-grade scholars won the whole event! Turns out knowing both your Harry Potter and your sports trivia can really make a difference! Congratulations to all the FHHS students and families who participated, and thanks to the Jazz Band who provided musical entertainment for the first half hour.

Pictured L-R: Flora Vaught, Vera Schoultz, Ella Cohen, Finn Graham

Funding for transportation, meals, lodging, and registration was generously provided by the FHHS Parent-Teacher-Student Association, San Juan Island Public Schools Foundation, and Washington Sea Grant.

Photo Caption: FHHS Orca Bowl team members in the UW Fisheries Science building from left to right: Ava Smith (Team Captain), River Eisenhardt, Flora Vaught, Megan Mellinger, Tim Dwyer (Coach), Alex McIntire (Coach). Not pictured: Sheya Welty.

As we move closer to the end of the year, we'd appreciate your attention to any of your students' outstanding fines/fees, and cleaning those up before the end of the year. Seniors need to pay these before graduation, but if you let those build over the years, it ends up being a large financial burden at the end, adding stress to a time that is meant to be a huge celebration. The most efficient way to take care of those is through Skyward/Family Access online; we are also able to take cash and check payments in the Main Office.

• 4/24 - Local Scholarships Due for Seniors
• 5/2 - Food & Lit Field Trip to WSU Bread Lab - Burlington
• 5/3-5/4 - Jazz Festival @ CWU (dpt 5/3 on red-eye; return 5/4 on 11:55am from ANA)
• 5/4 - Prom @ Brickworks, 9-11pm
• 5/6-5/7 - Dental Sealant Clinic
• 5/6-5/17 - AP Testing
• 5/6-5/10 - Staff Appreciation Week
• 5/6 - AP Gov Test - AM
• 5/7 - AP Stats Test - PM
• 5/8 - AP Eng Lit Test - AM
• 5/8 - AP Comp Sci A Test - PM
• 5/10 - AP US History Test - AM
• 5/13 - AP Calc Test - AM
• 5/15 - AP World History Test - AM
• 5/15 - AP Comp Sci Prin Test - PM
• 5/16 - AP Bio Test - PM
• 5/17 - AP Physics Test - AM
• 5/8-5/13 - Rising Seniors - Registration for 24-25
• 5/13-5/15 - Rising Juniors - Registration for 24-25
• 5/15-5/17 - Rising Sophomores - Registration for 24-25
• 5/19 - Band Car Wash 11am-4pm
• 5/20-5/23 - State Testing Week
• 5/24 - Half Day - 4/5/6
• 5/27 - NO SCHOOL - Memorial Day
• 5/28 - Band Concert - 6pm - Fairgrounds
• 5/30 - Senior Exhibitions - AM
• 5/30 - Jazz Concert "Jazz on the Deck" - 6:30pm - Lakedale Resort
• 6/2 - AP Stats Trip to Mariners Game
• 6/3-6/5 - Senior Checkout (all fines/fees/meals paid, teachers sign off on credit, etc.)
• 6/6 - Senior Beach Day
• 6/7 - Graduation Practice - 10am-12pm, Wall Painting and BBQ to follow in FHHS Parking Lot
• 6/8 - Graduation - 5pm - TGYM
• FINALS SCHEDULE & LAST DAY OF SCHOOL - currently no resolution on Waiver from the state, so plan on Finals being June 17th, 18th, and 20th!

Athletic schedules can be found at fhwolverines.com.

• 8/28 - Freshman Orientation for Class of 2028
• 8/29 - First Day of 24-25 School Year

24-25 School Year Calendar

• FHHS Facebook

• Wolverine Athletics

• FHHS Instagram

• Buy yearbooks online at Jostens, and navigate to Friday Harbor HS

• Spirit Wear online at fhwolverines.com, and navigate to SHOP

• PTSA: www.facebook.com/FHHSPTA or email at fhhsptsa@gmail.com

• Band Friends & Family: contact the group at sjisdbff@gmail.com for info

• Purple & Gold Athletics Boosters

• Class of 2024 Grad Night Committee