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.

Wednesday, January 22, 2020

Wrestling: Come out and witness the mayhem this evening at 7pm when your Eagle wrestlers battle Rogers. It’s staff appreciation night.

Student Voice: The Student Voice Team will meet today after school in the library. The topics on the agenda are AP classes, school culture, and discipline. Come, have your voice heard. Your voice matters!

Mr. Eagle: Our annual Mr. Eagle pageant is tonight at 7pm in the Auditorium. Come see our senior boys, Nico Golla, Anthony Todd, Cole Burke, Gavin Ripka, and Ryan Winters show off their talents and best looks as they compete to see who is the true Mr. Eagle! Admission is free. however, we will be accepting monetary donations for "Together We Rise," a non-profit that helps support Foster Children. We can't wait to see you and your friends there!

Open Gym:  There will be an open gym@ FMS today and Friday Jan. 24th from 2:30-4 with Coach Thomas and Coach Haley. All GK students welcome.

Track: There will be a track and field interest meeting Thursday during Study Support in the Career Center. If you are planning on coming out for track, attend this meeting for important information.  Passes in the Career Center.

Volunteer Opportunities: New Volunteer Opportunities are posted in the Career Center now.  Northstar Bingo Night on January 24th, and STEM / Science Fair Nights in February at North Star, Naches Trail, and Elk Plain. Make sure you are district approved volunteer in order to work these events.  Stop by the Career Center for info and sign up.

Talent Show: Renaissance is looking for new faces to join the Talent Show this year! If you can juggle, dance, mime, act, sing or more we hope to see your name on the signups! Talent show sign-ups are available during lunches. Auditions are the first week of February and the Talent Show itself will be February 27^th.  Sign up and show us what you’ve got!

Voter Registration: Hey future voters! If you will be 18 years old before March 10^th, you can be part of choosing the next president of the United States. But, you must sign up first to be eligible.  Please come to the table located in the commons during lunches and we can help you get registered. All you need is legal ID like a driver’s license or state ID card. Make sure you have your opinions heard by taking part in choosing the next president of the United States.

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.