Hawks Happenings Monthly Newsletter
April 2023 Edition
Principals Corner: State Testing Season!
In this edition of the April Hawks Happenings Monthly Newsletter we share some information about upcoming events such as our Career/Trades Fair Week, Hawks Teacher Shout-Out, State testing, and more!
Below is some information for you on our spring state SBAC and WCAS testing:
Dear College Place High School Families,
This spring students at College Place High School in grades 10 will take the Smarter Balanced Washington State Assessments in Math and English Language Arts. Students in grade 11 will take the Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science (WCAS).
These assessments match the content and skills outlined in the standards that guide instruction in the classroom and provide valuable information about student learning. These assessments help to identify the areas in each subject where a student needs additional support and where he or she has mastered the content and can be challenged to go deeper into the subject matter.
Knowing your student’s achievement level (1 through 4) will provide an important piece of information as the school year progresses. Your student’s teacher will be able to provide more information about your student’s skills in ELA and math. The results from the Smarter Balanced and WCAS tests also provide a picture of whether students across the state are on track to be ready for career or college.
Most students will take the tests online. Please make sure their Chromebooks are charged each day and brought to school with the charging cable. Sending a set of headphones for your student to use during required listening segments of the test is helpful. Our school is scheduled to take these tests in the mornings of April 17, 18, 24, 25, and May 8. Students who are absent on those dates will be able to make up the tests on other dates.
For more information about the tests, visit: https://www.k12.wa.us/student success/testing/state-testing-overview and click on the name of the test.
To try out an online Smarter Balanced practice test or WCAS training test, visit: https://wa.portal.cambiumast.com/
As partners in your child’s education, we are asking for your help in reminding your child of the importance of taking their time and putting forth their best effort on these assessments and attending school on time. We are committed to providing accurate information to parents and families in our community about the value of student participation in statewide assessments.
Thank you for continuing to work with us to make sure your child is successful. Please let us know if there is anything we can do to better support your student. We want your student to leave us with a solid foundation of skills and a future full of opportunities.
Thank you, and Go Hawks!
Robert Aguilar, Principal
College Place High School
Hawks Teacher Shout Out...Ms. Crystal Bushkovskiy!
Question: What is your Spanish class like?
Ms. Bushkovskiy: Controlled chaos. Students have the freedom to be silly and creative which is an important part of learning a new language. The teaching has to catch their attention. For example, in Spanish 1 as a class we will create a Madlibs type activity that leads to a skit performance. Students get attached to their period stories and like to playfully compete with other classes. But we also have a balanced approach. We learn about culture and language skills in also more traditional ways along with the fun and engaging lessons.
Question: Did you know you always wanted to a be a Spanish teacher?
Ms. Bushkovskiy: I always knew I wanted to be a teacher. In high school, I had a great teacher Mr. Ojcius, who got me hooked on Spanish and taught me to have fun with the language. I didn’t know at that point in high school that I wanted to be a high school Spanish teacher but as I kept taking Spanish classes in college and studying aboard, I realized I did, in fact, want to pursue being a Spanish teacher.
Question: What was the “Locura De Marzo” (March Madness) display?
Teacher: We participated in an international wide activity where students vote on make believe battle between two songs (just like a basketball bracket). The students watch the two music videos and then the students vote. Those votes are tallied across all the schools across the world participating and the winner moves on to the next round. Some kids so into it. I had a student email me at midnight to say how cool it was that the vote between the two music videos were 50/50. The winning song “No Puedo” was even requested at the last dance! It’s cool to see them get into the culture and music.
Career and Trades Fair Week
WWCC is also hosting an event called "Try-A-Trade and Transfer" which is open for students to sign-up to attend with their counselor. Students in grades 9, 11, and 12 may sign-up with their counselor if interested in attending.
Class of 2023 Graduation Ceremony Information
Date and Time: Saturday, June 10 at 7:00pm
Location: College Place High School Stadium
This is will be an outdoor event. Families will be sit in the stadium bleachers or available additional ground level seating. In the event of anticipated severe weather, we would notify families of any changes.
There are no tickets for distribution. Students may invite and bring as many family members as they'd like.
Spanish translation headsets are available for families at the gate.
The graduation ceremony will also be live streamed on our NFHS network.
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to us at 509-522-3312.
Studio 57 Capstone: Student Shout-Out!
One of our exciting courses at CPHS is a senior English/CTE course we call Studio 57 Capstone. Students design their own projects based on areas of interest and learn valuable skills in project management, and other business areas.
Senior, Taylor McHenry, wanted to do something for the local humane society and came up with a project where she made t-shirts and ornaments that highlighted donating to the humane society and then sold the items.
In total she raised $560 that she then donated that amount to the Blue Mountain Humane Society. An awesome project and great work Taylor serving our community!
Register for Summer Drivers Education Classes!
Link: CPHS 2023-2024 Drivers Education Registration
For questions please email instructor Julie Hill at jhill@cpps.org
Five Star Hawks Recipients! March theme of "Seek & Respond to Opportunity"
Drive for Life Parent Letter
In partnership with the Walla Walla County Traffic Safety Coalition, we will be having a two day safe driving campaign here at CPHS for our seniors on May 2nd and May 3rd. Law enforcement officers will come be guest speakers in English 12 and American Government classes on May 2nd, and on May 3rd we will have a senior only assembly to cap off the two day learning.
Here is a link to the parent letter with information about the Drive for Life program.
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to us at 509-522-3312.
Class of 2026 Gear-Up Information
About Us
Email: raguilar@cpps.org
Website: https://www.cpps.org/o/high-school
Location: 1755 South College Avenue, College Place, WA, USA
Phone: (509) 522-3312
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CollegePlaceSchoolDistrict/