Dear Redhawk Families,
I hope that each of you had a restful and joyful break, spending quality time with friends and family. As we step into 2025, I want to wish everyone a Happy New Year! It was absolutely wonderful to see our students back on campus yesterday—our staff and I missed them tremendously. Their energy, enthusiasm, and presence are what make Port Townsend High School such a special place.
The start of a new year is an opportunity to reflect on our priorities and continue to grow, both as individuals and as a school community. As we move forward, we remain deeply committed to ensuring that every student at PTHS feels a true sense of belonging—not just in name, but through real agency, authentic positive relationships with staff, access to extracurricular opportunities, and inclusive celebrations that embrace and uplift all students.
We will also continue to prioritize engaging and relevant learning experiences for all students. Our teachers are committed to removing barriers to learning, ensuring that every student has access to a classroom environment where they can thrive. This means providing multiple ways for students to learn and demonstrate their understanding, making learning more meaningful and personalized.
Another key priority for us is fostering strong collaboration between general education and special education staff. We firmly believe that when educators work together to support all students, we create a school environment that is not only inclusive but also academically enriching for everyone.
Our guiding belief remains:
"If we ensure that all students at PTHS feel an authentic sense of belonging, are afforded the opportunity to engage in learning through the foundations of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), and that regular and meaningful collaboration occurs between general education and special education staff, then both attendance and academic outcomes will continuously improve."
I am incredibly excited for all that lies ahead in 2025 and for the amazing things our Redhawks will accomplish this year. Thank you for your continued support, dedication, and partnership in making PTHS a place where every student can succeed.
Go Redhawks!
Port Townsend High School students Satria McKnight and Caz Pickard recently showcased their extraordinary talents as performers in the Pop-Up Movement Youth Troupe, a program dedicated to developing young artists in the world of circus arts. Their latest performance was part of Port Townsend First Night’s Cosmic Connection New Year’s Eve celebration, where Caz wowed the audience with their aerial skills while Satria mesmerized with hooping and contortion.
The Pop-Up Movement Youth Troupe trains students ages 8-18 in a diverse range of circus disciplines, including partner acrobatics, trampoline skills, aerial arts, hoop diving, juggling, dance, and physical theater. In addition to honing their skills, members perform at in-house shows and local events, building both confidence and community.
For Caz, circus arts offer a powerful blend of strength, athleticism, creativity, and theater. They shared that performing has been an important outlet for emotional processing and self-regulation, making it a meaningful part of their life. Satria, who previously tried gymnastics but found it too rigid, appreciates the inclusive and welcoming nature of the circus community. She loves the artistic and expressive aspects of the art form, finding it to be a space where everyone can belong.
Both students reflected on their experience at the New Year's Eve event, noting valuable lessons learned. Caz hopes to refine their ability to stay focused and in the zone during performances, while Satria aims to continue growing as a performer and developing mental flexibility.
Through intense training, creativity, and collaboration, Satria and Caz have found a strong sense of community in the world of circus arts. Their dedication and passion serve as an inspiration to the Port Townsend High School community.
We look forward to seeing where their circus journey takes them next!
The Summit started with a keynote speaker who spoke about Climate Anxiety and what people can do to both mitigate its effects as well as what is within the control of students to make positive changes in the world. After the Keynote speaker, students were given choices in what to learn in the form of several breakout sessions. These included a presentation from a Green Career Panel, where professionals in several climate-related fields spoke about their jobs and pathways for students that may be interested in future employment, and a seabird discussion led from a professor of ornithology.
After lunch, there was a time for networking between students of different clubs to inspire one another. Lastly, the students had one more time slot option to attend a final breakout session. When asked about the event, one student described it as, "An amazing experience for Port Townsend high school students, not just as a learning experience, but also a chance to become inspired about future projects or careers they could work towards."
Redhawks, are you ready? The moment we’ve all been waiting for is almost here—the First Annual PTHS Kickball Tournament has been rescheduled and will now take place on Wednesday, February 12th. The action kicks off during the last period of the day and will roll right into the after-school hours.
This isn’t just any kickball game—this is a battle of skill, strategy, and sheer willpower. It’s your chance to dodge, dive, and dominate on the field. Think you and your friends have what it takes to kick it to the top? Then sign up your team now by filling out this short survey: https://rebrand.ly/n9tfn6a
The tournament is being organized by the PTHS ASB, and according to ASB co-advisor Logan Stegner, events like this are about more than just competition—they’re about building a stronger school community.
"They help strengthen the relationships between students and staff. They foster a sense of community. In addition to striving for academic excellence, it's important to reward kids with fun activities to ensure school is a place where students want to be."
Translation? This is your chance to have fun, flex those kickball skills, and create some legendary high school memories.
The Staff Team: Prepared to Dominate?
Speaking of legendary… rumor has it that the staff team is leaving nothing to chance. When asked what preparations staff were making to ensure they wouldn’t be outplayed by their students, Logan revealed their highly scientific training regimen:
"The staff have been spending copious time studying specific kickball strategies on YouTube, we've been meeting regularly during lunch times, and ensuring the team will look as well as we play by spending a great deal of time designing our uniforms."
That’s right—the staff team isn’t just coming for victory. They’re coming in style.
Why Does School Spirit Matter?
When asked about the importance of school spirit, Logan summed it up perfectly:
"Energy is contagious. The more positive energy we can bring in will boost the student body and staff, ultimately making this a place where everyone wants to be. Most importantly, it creates a sense of belonging for all students."
So, whether you're playing, cheering, or just showing up for the laughs, make sure you're part of this epic event.
Sign up now. Bring your A-game. Get ready to kick it.
See you on February 12th—may the best team win!
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
