Sehome High School Mariner Memo
Week of Nov. 23 - Nov. 27
Letter from the Principal
In this season of thanksgiving, I am once again overcome with gratitude. I have SO many things to be thankful for.
I am so thankful for our incredible staff. This is a group of people who continue to find a way to make it work. They are inspired and inspiring. I learn something new from this group every day. I am in awe of their ability to connect with students in a variety of ways. This pandemic has highlighted their ability to adapt and overcome. They continue to show up and learn something new. They love their students and find ways to support one another even when they are far apart. I am grateful to lead this group of incredible educators.
I am also immensely grateful for the support of our district office staff and executive team. They are a passionate group of people who are willing to drop everything to support the needs of our building, staff, and students. They have continued to focus on teaching and learning and doing what is best for staff and students. It has not been an easy task to navigate the ever-changing landscape, attend to the differing needs and values of our community, and keep kids at the center through it all. I am so thankful that they are in our corner working to support us.
Mike Couto, Bethany Barrett, our assistant principals, and Kim Kirk, our dean, are a constant source of gratitude in my life. I am SO thankful for our team. We work hard and we laugh a lot. We find ways to bring joy and laughter to our job. This group of people cares deeply about supporting our staff and students. They are dedicated and creative. I know that when there is a problem to solve or a task to complete, this group is up to the task. They are a constant source of support.
I also could not do this job without my dear son, Tre. He keeps me laughing and reminds me of what is important. He is good about pulling me away from my computer and getting outside. I am so thankful for the love and support of my family.
This week, we are excited to welcome our life skills programs to the building. Our staff has been working tirelessly to prepare the classrooms, learn about which PPE to use in different scenarios, and setting up transportation and staffing. We are so excited to have more students back in the building and look forward continuing to look for safe ways to bring in more students. A huge thank you to our life skills team, transportation, and our district team.
I hope that you find time to write down and reflect on the things that you are thankful for. Even in this time where it can be harder to find those things, I encourage you to spend time in a state of gratitude.
As always, thanks for your continued support of our Sehome community. I am so thankful for each one of you!
Sonia Cole
Principal
In this edition:
- Technology Help
- Yearbook Pictures
- Missing Library Books
- Meal box Pick Up
- Learning Center
- College Rep Visits
- PTSA Announcement
2- Yearbook Pictures
For the first time ever, we are asking all students to self-submit a current, school appropriate photo for the SHS yearbook. Just one more way this year’s yearbook will be unique and memorable!!
Students, please use these links corresponding to your grade to submit your photo.
- Submit Freshman (9th grade) photos here.
- Submit Sophomore (10th grade) photos here.
- Submit Junior (11th grade) photos here.
Photo guidelines are listed below and we are asking that you submit your photo by December 9.
Requirements:
- a head-and-shoulders portrait where your face takes up about 1/3 of the width of the photo.
- have a neutral or solid color background
- taken straight-on, not at an angle; your face should be recognizable and visible, not hidden by makeup or accessories.
- a reasonably current image (no baby pictures)
- school-appropriate
- prop-free (this includes food, pets, musical instruments, friends, etc.)
IF THE PHOTO DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS WE WILL USE THE PHOTO FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
PARENTS-please remind your student to submit their photo by Dec. 9th.
And don’t forget to pre-order your yearbook! Price increases $15 second semester.
You have two options for ordering your yearbook:
1) You can order your yearbook through the online payment system. https://sehome.bellinghamschools.org/online-payments/
2) You can bring a check to Cathy Moran in the ASB office Monday-Friday from 8 AM – 4 PM. There is also a dropbox if she is not in her office.
The cost of the yearbook is currently $50. Starting second semester, the price will increase to $65.
You do not want to miss this yearbook. Our yearbook staff has done a phenomenal job documenting this unprecedented school year. If you have any questions about payment, please reach out to Cathy Moran at Catherine.Moran@bellinghamschools.org. If you have questions about the Yearbook or your photo entry, please email Lauren Tucker at Lauren.Tucker@bellinghamschools.org.
Best,
Sehome Yearbook
3- Food Drive Update
Good afternoon everyone,
I wanted to send you a happy, positive email on behalf of your Bellingham community and share with you how overwhelmed in gratitude that I have been able to experience the past 3 days from our community’s willingness to give.
As you know this week Bellingham, Squalicum and Sehome High Schools promoted a food and personal care items drive for our district Family Resource Center. Well, our community showed up big time. As you can see from some of the photos and video just some of what our community dropped off at the high schools the past two days.
Break down just a bit…
- The community filled 5 district vans and one personal vehicle with food and personal care items
- Mr. Goodwin weighed their food at Bellingham so we estimated off the weight brought into Bellingham that our community donated close to 10,000 pounds of food and supplies
- Lastly, our community brought in just over $2500 in gift cards
Kim Kirk
Dean of Students
Leadership Teacher
4 - Missing Library Books
5 - Free Meal Boxes Every Tuesday in November
Every Tuesday in November, free meal boxes will be distributed from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at 15 school locations and six community locations, including the Sehome bus loop.
For more information on locations, click the link below.
6- Learning Center
6- College Rep Visits
University of British Columbia Dec 1: 1:00 pm
Contact Mrs. Zender for the zoom invite
Martha.Zender@bellinghamschools.org
Kwantlen Poly Tech Canada Dec 1: 2:00pm
Contact Mrs. Zender for the zoom invite
Martha.Zender@bellinghamschools.org
Simon Fraser University Canada Dec 2: 10:30am
Contact Mrs. Zender for the zoom invite
Martha.Zender@bellinghamschools.org
How can I attend? Register for the Fairs online
For the individual college rep meetings please contact Mrs. Zender for the zoom invite.
Happy Thanksgiving Week Sehome Families!
The SHS PTSA is truly thankful for the amazing students, teachers, staff, and families that make up our Sehome community! The way everyone has worked so hard to make remote learning work is incredible. Plus, your support of the Fall Back to Spring Giving Campaign, and willingness to volunteer every time we put out a call, means so much!
Did you know you can continue to support Sehome High School while doing your holiday shopping at Fred Meyer or Amazon?
- Fred Meyer: Link your Rewards card by going here. You will need to sign in, then search for Sehome High School or the organization number: SF659.
- Amazon: After logging in to your account, go to https://smile.amazon.com/. You will find us under “Sehome PTSA 8-3-100”.
Please take a minute to watch this video of Sehome students answering the question, “What are you most thankful for, in this moment?”
Although this will not be a typical holiday weekend, we hope that everyone is able to feel some joy and find one or two things to be thankful for this year.
With gratitude,
Sehome High School PTSA
sehomehighschoolptsa@gmail.com
https://sehomehighptsa.memberplanet.com/
Instagram: @sehomehsptsa
Facebook: @SehomeHighSchoolPTSA
Multi-Language Message Line
Sehome Points of Contact
Sonia Cole, Principal: sonia.cole@bellinghamschools.org
Mike Couto, Assistant Principal: A - K mike.couto@bellinghamschools.org
Bethany Barrett, Assistant Principal: L - Z bethany.barrett@bellinghamschools.org
Kimberly Kirk, Dean of Students: kimberly.kirk@bellinghamschools.org
Jeff Smith, Counselor 9th Grade: jeffrey.smith@bellinghamschools.org
Amy Hjelt, Counselor A - G: amy.hjelt@bellinghamschools.org
Hana Schutz, Counselor H - M: hana.schutz@bellinghamschools.org
John Vandermolen, Counselor N - Z: john.vandermolen@bellinghamschools.org
Contact Information
Website: https://sehome.bellinghamschools.org/
Location: 2700 Bill McDonald Pkwy, Bellingham, WA, USA
Phone: (360)676-6481