Class of 2020
Senior Class Newsletter
May 2020 Issue
Dear Seniors and Parents,
We were sitting with fingers crossed last Friday afternoon hoping to hear Governor Inslee announce some parameters that would allow us to continue with our commencement ceremony on June 9th at the Tacoma Dome. That did not happen unfortunately, so this week we immediately went to the alternative ideas we have been discussing over the last month in the case we found ourselves in this situation.
Yesterday we met online with the Senior Class Officers and, afterwards, with members of the Grad Night parent group. The consensus opinion was that no one wants a “virtual” graduation unless it is our only option. Although many area high schools are doing virtual graduations, we would like to hold a ceremony in late June or early July that allows seniors to walk across a stage, hear their names read, and be handed their diploma cover. The plan being considered would use the SKHS football field as our venue to be followed by a parade loop from Mile Hill through Bay Street downtown. Imagine how cool it would be to see our community out there celebrating this milestone with you!
There are many unknowns at this point that depend on how the state’s distancing regulations will evolve between now and then, but we are really excited to move forward with this plan. The district is on board and we have started conversations with the Port Orchard Police Department. We know how much you have given up this spring and we intend do everything in our power to make this celebration for the Class of 2020 one to remember. In the meantime, thank you for your patience and please understand that at this early stage we cannot guarantee this preferred plan will get the go-ahead we need, but we wanted to communicate where we are at currently on a plan for 2020 Commencement!
We are thinking about you all every day and we want nothing more than to see you in that cap and gown!
Dave Goodwin
Principal - SKHS
Grad Cap & Gown pick up day success!
Thank you to everyone for your patience and great attitude; we know the line was LONG!
If you would like a stand for the yard signs that were handed out, please pick one up from the District Administration building on Hoover Ave. They are outside the front of the building anytime.
For the handful of folks who could not make it on Monday, rest assured Jostens will be mailing out your order by the end of this week. If you would still like to order anything from Jostens you can do so by visiting their website at www.RRGrad.com
Several people have asked us to explain the cords.
On Monday, we were able to include gold and silver/white cords.
- Gold cords are awarded to all students who finished Semester 1 of their senior year with a cumulative (since the beginning of 9th grade) GPA of 3.5 or above.
- Silver/White cords are the "Department Cord of Distinction" awarded to senior students who met select criteria for each department and who consistently demonstrated outstanding high levels of achievement and commitment over their high school career.
Due to current manufacturing and supply issues there are still more to come and our goal is to get those out to you all during May.
- ASB and Senior Class Officer Stoles
- Maroon & White Honor Society cords
- Class rank top 10 medallions, including our Valedictorians
- I.B. program medals
- Seal of Bi-literacy medals
Post High School Plans & Laurels Recognition!
If you are:
- Joining the military.
- Going to a university or college, community college, technical college or trade school.
- Pursuing an apprenticeship or job opportunity.
Please email a copy of your enlistment letter or letters of acceptance to colleges to Ms. Greene at greene@skschools.org so we can include your name and school or branch of service in an upcoming presentation that will be posted online.
*Note: If you dropped off letters or the green form in the Guidance Office before we closed, we have your information and you do not need to resubmit it.
In addition, we will be creating a virtual Laurels Night! Once you have all your scholarship and award letters, please send those to Ms. Greene, along with which college you’ve chosen to attend next fall.
Please be aware that both presentations will be posted online, so by submitting your information, you are giving us permission to share your plans with the whole world!
Deadline for submission: May 31, 2020, but feel free to email your post-high school plan information right away.
Transcript Requests
South Kitsap School District partners with an online service called Parchment. This online process sends your transcript quickly and securely to the destination of your choice (college, employers, etc.)
This service is for all transcript requests, official or unofficial, current students or alumni. Transcripts are the official Washington State document that provide proof of graduation. A diploma is a ceremonial certificate. There is one copy of the diploma.
**If you are a parent/guardian requesting on behalf of your student, please use the student's information when filling out the registration.**
How do I request a transcript?
1. When you create your Parchment account and request a transcript, our Registrar is notified.
2. Your request will be approved within 24 hours unless you owe any fines/fees to SKHS.
3. Upon verification, your transcript is sent automatically.
Click here for instructions on requesting a final transcript remember to select "HOLD FOR GRADES"
Diplomas are prepared AFTER school is out for the summer and are available for PICK UP ONLY by the graduate usually by the middle to end of July. Family members may not sign/pick up the diploma without a written note signed by the graduate and provided to the Registrar. Diplomas are released as long as fee/fines are cleared.
Fines & Fees
For students to receive transcripts for post high school employment or to apply to a college, fees and fines must be cleared.
You can view and pay fines & fees on your student account via the webstore online at: https://wa-southkitsap.intouchreceipting.com/
If for any reason you need a payment arrangement or if your family is on free/reduced lunch, please contact your counselor. Families on free or reduced lunch, there may be assistance available to you through our InvestEd program. Click HERE to download the InvestEd Application. Please do not delay, if you need help or owe an amount that will be difficult for you to manage, contact your counselor as soon as possible!
Dave Bufano – Counselor A-K bufano@skschools.org
Janna Viergutz – Counselor L-Z viergutz@skschools.org
If you have any difficulty logging in to the web store please contact the ASB Bookkeeper via email at: robinsont@skschools.org
Following the celebration, it will be posted to SK Video’s YouTube page and shared with South Kitsap’s media outlets.
Photos and videos should be primarily focused on SK seniors, though it is OK if underclassman appear alongside seniors such as in a team or competition photo. Guidelines for the uploads are included in the following link. Please upload at: https://tinyurl.com/SKHS2020SeniorVideoUploads.
If you have questions, email them to sktv@skschools.org
For the remaining few that have not completed their High School & Beyond Plan...
The High School & Beyond Plan remains a graduation requirement for ALL seniors!
If you have not completed it, you can do it now from home...
Go to https://helloid.skschools.org. If a login prompt comes up, use your district student provided login ID and password (same ID and password used with the PC’s in the library or computer labs).
- Choose the Xello link to open the Xello Dashboard and complete the following lessons:
- Career back up plans
- Career demand
- Defining Success
- Explore career matches
- Getting experience
- High school course plan - 12th
- Job interviews
- Learning styles
- Personality styles
- Set goals - 12th grade
If you have any questions about finishing this, contact your school counselor.
Scholarships
Remember... it's not too late.
Apply for all the scholarship $$'s you can. There are LOTS and many are extending deadlines:
For a full list of available scholarships visit the Career Center Scholarship page online at: https://skhs.skschools.org/students/career_center/scholarships
Contact the Career Staff by email, with any questions you might have.
Mr. Reichel at: reichel@skschools.org or Ms. Elton at: eltons@skschools.org
Yearbooks can be purchased until May 31st. Please note that the publishers plant has been closed due to the pandemic and yearbooks will not be available until the summer. Year books can be ordered online from the student webstore: https://wa-southkitsap.intouchreceipting.com/
We will have a plan for distribution when we have more information.
Finally, don't forget...
Examples of appropriate images are shown in the google form link above. Photos MUST be uploaded by May 25 to be included in the webcast.
All issues of the "Class of 2020 Newsletter" are available on the high school website.
Email: ladeauxe@skschools.org
Website: https://skhs.skschools.org/home
Location: South Kitsap High School, Mitchell Avenue, Port Orchard, WA, USA
Phone: 360-874-5602
Facebook: facebook.com/SKHSWolves
Twitter: @SouthKitsapSD