TOL Weekly Newsletter
Middle & High School Students and Families
April 14, 2024
Upcoming Dates
- 4/17 - Teachers report mid-term grades
- 4/18 - K-12 Museum Meetup - Foss Seaport Waterway Museum - see flyer below
- 4/25 - TOL Toolbox Lab - Teacher Appreciation Crafts - 1-3pm - see flyer below
- 4/26 - TOL @ TPL - 2-3PM Swasey Branch - see flyer below
- 5/6 - 5/16 - AP Class Testing @ Music Box or PDC - you will receive email instructions
- 5/6 - 5/10 - Middle School State Testing @ Music Box Building
- 5/20 - 5/29 - High School State Testing @ Music Box Building
- 6/12 - TOL Graduation @ Tacoma Dome 10:30 (Mandatory rehearsal 8:30)
2024-25 school year calendar available
You can see and download the calendar for the next school year here: https://www.tacomaschools.org/about/calendar
Middle & High School News
Middle School State Testing is happening May 6 - 10 @ TOL Office
May 6th - 10th, 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.
-May 6-9: 6th, 7th, and 8th ELA/Math
-May 10: 8th grade Science
302 S. 9th St (Downtown location)
This form is due by Monday, April 29th, whether or not your child is testing.
- All Middle School students are encouraged to take the Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBA). There are two SBA tests: English Language Arts and Math.
- 8th grade also has the Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science (WCAS).
- Test scores will be made available to families. Scores are used by the district and state to monitor academic progress (not for grade retention or promotion).
✅For students attending testing: There will be free lunch available, snacks, and closing afternoon science / art activities.
🚫If NOT testing . . . Please still complete this form and indicate that you will be completing a test refusal form.
PACE 1-to-1 Meetings are required attendance
Each student at TOL has an advisor we call a PACE Coach. Each student is required to meet with their PACE Coach each week, usually a 15 minute meeting on Teams. Attending these meetings is the single biggest success factor at Tacoma Online as our staff are experts at helping students navigate online learning!
Also, these meetings are how we take attendance at TOL. Students repeatedly failing to attend these meetings are truant from school and families can look forward to communications from TOL if your student is not attending their weekly PACE meeting.
It's required, but it's also good for you! Students who attend are the one's who more regularly pass their courses! 😀
TOL Guardian Connections
Are you interested in connecting with other secondary (grades 6- 12) TOL guardians and their students? Complete this form to give us more information.
EARTH DAY: Virtual Field Trip
Tacoma Online Middle School will be hosting a virtual field trip to learn about the challenges faced in Acadia National Park. Middle school students should see the virtual event on their Teams calendar. If a younger or older TOL student wishes to attend, they may receive an invite by emailing rfoster@tacoma.k12.wa.us. April 22 at 11:30.
K- 12 Toolbox Lab
Though Toolbox lab meet-ups have been occurring all year, April’s meet-up will be a bit special. Students are invited to make a Teacher Appreciation Craft! RSVP required. See flyer below.
TPL Teen Time
Check out these in-person events for teens, hosted by Tacoma Public Libraries!
Middle School News
K-8 #TOLRocks for Earth Day
For our TOL Earth day celebration, we kicked off with rock painting on Friday, April 12th. 🌍
If you weren't able to join in, we encourage you to paint your own rocks and write #TOLRocks on the back!
You can bring them to hide on April 19th at Titlow Park, followed by time on the playground. If you plan to join us, let us know here. Or, hide them in some of your favorite spots in your community!
We'd love to see pictures by tagging our page, and adding #TOLRocks on Instagram, Facebook, or X (Twitter).
K-8 Leapfrog reading challenge!
see the flyer below for details on this fun reading challenge for students in grades K-8!
High School News
We would like to know which classes you are interested in taking next year!
Please watch our recorded graduation requirements session before submitting your course request form.
Please submit this form by FRIDAY, APRIL 26th for priority placement in classes. Final placement in classes will not be determined until the first day of school and course interests, graduation requirements, and space available will be taken into consideration.
If you do not submit your form, we will place you in classes based on graduation requirements and space available, and may not be able to accommodate class change requests in the fall.
Applications for Summer Credential Programs now open for high school students
The TPS Career and Technical Education team has partnered with industry experts to provide a range of free summer programs in which students can learn career skills, obtain certifications, earn a completion stipend and credit toward graduation.
Applications are open now. Learn more and apply on the TPS website.
AP Testing Information
If you are in an Advanced Placement (AP) course, it is expected that you will take the AP Exam for that course in May and TPS has paid for this test for you! Please mark your calendar with the dates, times and locations below for these tests. These dates and times are set nationally and cannot be changed. More detailed info will be sent to all students enrolled in these classes very soon.
Doing well on these tests can earn you free college credit!
Course - Teacher - Exam Date & Time - Location
AP US Government - Gaspaire - M May 6 8AM - PDC Building
AP Human Geography - Conn - Tu May 7 8AM - TOL Music Box
AP Statistics - Parker - Tu May 7 12PM - TOL Music Box
AP Literature - Mueller - W May 8 8AM - PDC Building
AP Psychology - Howard - Th May 9 12PM - PDC Building
AP Calculus - Hansen - M May 13 8AM - TOL Music Box
AP Language - Dickinson - Tu May 14 8AM - TOL Music Box
AP Computer Science - Justice - W May 15 12PM - TOL Music Box
AP Spanish - Blazey - Th May 16 8AM - TOL Music Box
Seniors, if you haven’t started your FAFSA or WASFA, now’s the time.
Applying for financial aid now could save you and your family thousands of dollars later. Completing the FAFSA or WASFA forms grants you access to federal or state financial assistance. The sooner you apply, the more aid you may receive. Get started today by visiting GraduateTacoma.org/cfa-students.
Ordering your graduation cap and gown package
Graduation is scheduled for June 12th, but the best time to order your cap and gown is now. Jostens provides lots of items for you and your family to purchase to celebrate your accomplishment. However, many students just want the minimum required cap and gown package available for $90. The price will increase later in the year. Click the button below to go directly to the cap and gown package!
Flyers
Social Media
About Tacoma Online
Tacoma Online
Email: TOL@tacoma.k12.wa.us
Website: https://tol.tacomaschools.org/
Location: 302 South 9th Street, Tacoma, WA, USA
Phone: 253-571-1545