e-Newsletter: September 2006

IN THIS ISSUE
PSCS Welcomes Two New Staff Members!
Orientation Week
Community Partnerships

PSCS WELCOMES TWO NEW STAFF MEMBERS!
We are very pleased to announce the addition of two new staff members, Neal Hanson, Director of Development & Community Relations, and Matt Schick, Teaching Staff member. PSCS wholeheartedly welcomes Neal and Matt and expects that their non-profit and teaching experience, here and abroad, will help the school greatly expand its reach.

Before joining PSCS, Neal held the position of Annual Fund Specialist at Seattle Children's Home where he led efforts to increase the organization's $6 million annual budget in support of programs that provide comprehensive mental health and developmental services to children and their families throughout Washington State. Neal previously spent time at Legal Aid for Washington (L.A.W.) Fund, an organization providing civil legal aid for low-income and vulnerable people, and Turtledove Clemens, Inc., a strategic marketing and public relations firm located in Portland, OR. These valuable experiences in the strategy and advancement of fundraising and marketing efforts can only help PSCS.

Matt's formal education includes public high school in Lexington, MA and majoring in Physics and Neuroscience at Oberlin College, OH. He taught middle and high school science in Brooklyn, NY for two years before traveling to Mongolia with the Peace Corps when he was 24. He then spent the next two years as a Peace Corps volunteer learning Mongolian and living in a ger, before teaching English in the village of Khuder and science at a small English-language school in UB (Ulaanbaatar) the last two years.

ORIENTATION WEEK
The first day of school will begin the day after Labor Day, September 5th. Students and staff will meet at University Heights from 9-3:30 that day for the start of our Orientation Week. On Wednesday we will be off for our 3 day, 2 night retreat, this year at the Ramblewood Retreat Center at Sequim Bay State Park on the Olympic Peninsula.

The purpose of Orientation Week is to provide new students with a smooth and helpful transition, welcome back returning students, and build a sense of community between all students and staff. One of this year's most important community building activities will be the development of the Student Code of Conduct. It is established to champion and protect the core philosophy of PSCS, help create a safe and secure learning environment, and give students a vehicle for expressing their beliefs concerning conduct and behavior.

PSCS would like to thank all of the parent volunteers whose help with transportation and food accommodations will allow staff to focus on preparing students for the upcoming school year. The importance of the parents' role in creating a sense of community and fellowship among everyone involved cannot be understated. Parents, we couldn't do it without you!

COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS
Part of PSCS's curriculum has always been community involvement. It is important for students to experience and respect the greater community and come to recognize that they are a vital part of its success. Beginning on September 18, PSCS will be partnering with the Arboretum Foundation at the 230-acre Washington Park Arboretum for the school's first service project of the year. For information on the Arboretum Foundation please visit: www.arboretumfoundation.org

While working outdoors may be fun, having someone work for you is even better! PSCS is lucky to have our first ever Artist in Residence this year. PSCS alum parent Julie Charles will be coming in every Wednesday to work on mosaics, with special attention on a gumball machine project, something Julie calls the World's Smallest Dollar Store. Students will have the opportunity to assist while benefiting from Julie's tutelage on projects of their own. For information on Julie and to see samples of her work, please visit: www.crackpotmosaics.com