ATTENTION:  Class of 2020 Graduating Seniors and families:

IF YOU HAVE ALREADY PLACED YOUR GRADUATION CAP AND GOWN ORDER YOU CAN STOP READING NOW!

If you have not yet ordered your graduation, cap and gown order, no worries.  Good news is here!  You still have time to go online at www.Jostens.com, choose your school and place your order prior to December 13, 2019 and still receive the current reduced group rate pricing.

You may also, call in your order to 1-800-Jostens and they can take the order over the phone.

Friday, November 15, 2019

Writing Center: Are you failing a class because of a writing assignment? Do you need to revise an essay to improve your grade in a class? Come to the Writing Center! GK's Writing Center is open during study support and all three lunches. First trimester ends Dec. 5, so come in now before it's too late!

The Writing Center will be closed today during 2nd lunch. We will, however, be open during 1st and 3rd lunch.

Fall Play: Our fall play “Clue” Continues this weekend.  Performances begin at 7pm, tonight & Saturday. Tickets are $5 with ASB and $7 without. Don't miss your chance to see your favorite characters and try to guess who the murderer is.

Volleyball: The GK Volleyball team will play today at 4:45 at Curtis High School with a chance to go to state! Tickets are $6 with ASB and $8 without.

Football: Tomorrow our GK football team plays Gonzaga Prep at 1:00pm.  Cost for students is $7 with ASB and $10 without. Be there!

Girls Basketball: If you plan on turning out for girls’ basketball please make sure you get your paperwork into Mr. Duncanson because our first Practice in Monday. Monday's practice will be from 6:30-8:30 at Frontier. If you have questions please come see Ms. White in room 2:15

Wrestling: Eagles wrestling starts Monday. Make sure to have the online sign ups on Family Access complete and a copy of a current physical to Mr. Duncanson. Any questions, see Coach Stirts in room 203. Let's get ready to roll.

Basketball: Boys' Basketball tryouts begin on Monday. Ninth graders starting at 5:15 - 7 pm in the Small Gym and 10-12 graders from 5:45 pm- 7:30 pm in the main gym. Bring a white shirt, basketball shoes, and a personal water bottle. See Mr. McNamara in 249 for details.

Nutrition & Mental Health Presentation: Do you experience the symptoms of anxiety and depression?  Please join us on November 19th during Study Support in the Career Center to hear a speaker on Nutrition and Mental Health.  Study Support passes available in the Career Center outside Mrs. Woyak's office. 

Class Meeting: The Sophomore Officer class meeting is Tuesday, November 19th during study support in room 165

Volunteer Opportunity: Volunteer at Sunrise Village on Saturdays in December! Help with Santa photos, horse drawn wagon rides, petting zoo, and more. Sign up in the Career Center!

We want to let you know about an important school policy change taking place for the 2019-2020 school year. All GKHS classrooms will be cell phone free zones. As a result, cell phones should remain in lockers, bags, or backpacks, off or in airplane mode, through the duration of their classes. This is a change from previous years when teachers set individual policies within their classrooms. All teachers will have a consistently worded cell phone free policy in their syllabi/course expectations, supported by a progressive administrative policy to reinforce it. Students will still be able to access to their phones before/after school, during lunch, and during passing periods. Specifics will be communicated upon return from summer break.

As a technology forward school, Graham-Kapowsin wants to help teach and promote appropriate digital citizenship. Our staff has overwhelmingly agreed that a consistent school wide policy to bar cell phone use during class will help students remain present and engaged in their learning. The intent of this policy is to support students in their academic success, remove a major temptation and distraction, and promote face-to-face social interaction and connection. Teachers have repeatedly observed that a cell phone on a desk, even when used as a research tool, still provides too tempting a distraction. When it dings or buzzes, the minds of even the strongest of students wander away. Studies indicate that it can take the brain up to ten minutes to re-engage after responding to a cell phone distraction. Phones are not merely distractions for their owners in the classroom, but they can also be a source of distraction for teachers and classmates alike. Students we interviewed as part of this process confirmed these assertions, albeit begrudgingly.

Parents and guardians, please help us promote this policy be restricting phone contact with your student to passing periods or during lunch, when cell phone use will be allowed. You are also welcome to call the office to deliver information to your student during the day.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us, 253-683-6100.