Founded in 1994, PSCS is based on the belief that people are compelled to learn intrinsically and will eagerly learn what they are interested in learning when provided a positive environment and support in their self-selected pursuits. Engaging the community, acting with courage, practicing integrity, and otherwise living as a responsible citizen are among the valued goals of a PSCS education. A compassionate staff of talented and interesting people work together as a team to provide a nurturing, respectful and vibrant school environment for approximately 50 students in a multi-age setting. We hold those involved with PSCS to very high standards of behavior and demand that everyone strive to build relationships based on mutual trust, honesty, support, and understanding. A primary role of all staff members is to sustain this environment while providing the students with a variety of educational opportunities.

In hiring staff members, PSCS first looks for strength of character and personality as well as deep passions and a willingness to be open to experiencing whatever life offers. It is our belief that people teach who they are. In addition to this, the ideal candidate will possess some of the following characteristics, skills or experiences:

• see life as an exciting adventure

• have experience working with middle school students

• have a visual arts, performing arts, outdoor education, math, science, and/or counseling background, especially in a teaching capacity

• have teaching experience in an alternative “free” school setting

• be familiar with planning emergent curriculum, hands-on/discovery, student-centered approach to education

• be multi-lingual

• is certified to teach in Washington State (note, this is not a requirement for this position)

Applications are being accepted through May 25, 2012.  Those candidates selected to be interviewed will be invited to spend a full school day at PSCS and given the opportunity to lead an activity during the day. That afternoon, after school, a more formal interview with our Hiring Committee will take place. To apply, send a cover letter, resumé, and three references to:

Andrew Smallman, Director
Puget Sound Community School
660 S. Dearborn St.
Seattle, WA  98134

In your cover letter be sure to include what has attracted you to PSCS and two or three of the things that stand out to you about our educational philosophy. We strongly encourage you to be creative in the presentation of your application materials.

Direct questions to Andrew Smallman at 206-324-4350 or andy@pscs.org.

Minorities and people of color encouraged to apply.

To view the entire slideshow, click here.

The students rocked two nights—April 10 and 11—for a packed house of students, staff, family, and alumni. The event also served as a fundraiser, and the community exceeded the school’s goal of $25,000.

The school will be offering three one-week sessions, Monday through Thursday from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Here are the dates:

Session I – Monday, July 9th through Thursday, July 12th
Session II – Monday, July 16th through Thursday, July 19th
Session III – Monday, July 23rd through Thursday, July 26th

There are seven classes being offered and, typical of PSCS, the schedule will be customized to fit the needs of students and families. For families that register before June 1, the fee for one week is $300. After June 1, the fee will $350. To register, download this form.

Here’s a brief outline of each class below.

“Spanish Language & Culture” with John Anthony Bassett

This is a class combining both language and culture of the Spanish-speaking world. We can work on topics ranging from conversational Spanish, grammar and writing in Spanish, contemporary Issues in Latin America and/or Spain, Spanish/Latin American cooking, and anything in between. We’ll co-create the curriculum together.

“Why Do People Do That?” with Ricky Yerkes

Have you ever wondered why people do the things they do? This class will provide the forum for you to ask all the questions regarding human behavior you may have had, but didn’t know how to start exploring on your own.

Beginning with dreams (their cause, meaning in various cultures, and the hypotheses regarding their function), we will explore this shared human experience.

While there are countless things we could discuss over the course of our week together, students who have signed up for this class will have the opportunity to submit a list of five other questions they have about human behavior prior to the start of this class. Depending on the amount of time we spend with each topic, we will attempt to explore the most popular ones throughout the course of this class.

Possible topics for discussion include 1) fear and its role within human beings and in various culture settings, 2) body modification and its role within various cultures, and 3) competition: evolutionary byproduct, social construct, or both?

“Sundry Rock & Roll” with Liana Green

A beginner’s class for all of those with a passion for music, but no major outlet to explore or hone your skills. Come spend the week learning about the basics of music theory, performance, and playing together in a band with your peers. It’s gonna be awesome!

“Retelling Your Story” with Jaala Smith (Session II only)

Use reclaimed books as a canvas to retell the story of yourself. Exploring endless ways to manipulate materials to better represent yourself and your story. Collage, glues, folds, paints, drills and bolts, sewing, burning, tearing and xeroxing. Adding dynamic ephemera, buttons, wire, photos, gems, lace, thread, fabric and other telling artifacts. Your finished piece will be comprised of several pieces bound between two sturdy covers. Join us for an adventure into the world of altered books!

“That’s My Jam!” – Hip Hop Dance with Maya Soto (Session III only)

Experience Hip Hop! Bring your sneakers! You will need them as you learn the basics and try out a variety of hip hop styles including new trends and old school funk. This high-energy class starts with strength work and stretching, isolations and lots of footwork. Fun, fast paced combinations will really get you moving as we progress across the floor. Class will finish with a fun upbeat combination inspiring dancers to let loose and leave it all on the dance floor. Learn to work collaboratively through choreography. Create your own moves, share them with a friend and build a dance. In this class, dancers discover their own unique voice through exciting choreography and the chance to get creative.

“Unearthing the Zombie Apocalpyse” with Roberto Ascalon (Session III only)

What’s with all the dead people? Pop culture is surrounded: video games like Left 4 Dead, books like Pride Prejudice and Zombies and, and of course television and films from The Walking Dead to World War Z. Zombies have eaten their way through popular culture in the last few years. But why?

In this class we’ll unearth the deep meaning, metaphor and signifiers behind the current Zombie craze. We’ll tackle interesting questions like: What are zombies? When do they make their first historical, literary and film appearances? What do American fears about race have to do with Zombies? Was Jesus the first zombie?

Underneath all of that, we’ll ask the key question: what are we really talking about when we use the zombie trope? The capitalist system gone awry? Our deep-seated fears about contagion? A confrontation of the “Other”?

Through a rigorous selection of movies, novels, books and video games, we will explore these issues, share our research, come up some critical theories, write about them. As a final, we’ll make our very own zombie movie!

“Ride! Dig! Eat!” with Roberto Ascalon (Session III only)

What’s better than riding your bike in bright Seattle summer? Nothing. Wait… how ‘bout eating organic berries by the handful? How ‘bout both? In this class we’ll explore Seattle’s urban farms, farm stands and p-patches by bike. We’ll research Seattle’s connection to urban agriculture and local farms. What does Seattle produce? How can a farm truly survive in the middle of a city?

We’ll do basic bike safety and maintenance. We’ll map the city with the goal of figuring out bike routes that radiate out from the city center and head out to farms, markets and guerilla gardens, ending with community service learning at a few of the sites.

Come explore what the really makes the Emerald City green!

For more information on the application process, click here.

Thanks to everyone who contributed, to everyone who forwarded these messages to friends and family, and everyone who offered positive energy, encouragement, and enthusiasm. If we’re going to build something extraordinary together, it’s going to happen because everyone contributes what they can. Everything, from making a major donation to posting something positive about PSCS on your Facebook status, it all adds up. It all matters.

Here it is, the 2011 Century Club:

Jen Moon
Christian Gschwend
Anonymous
Anonymous
Laura Widman
Steve Widman
Ann Josefczyk
Anonymous
Anonymous
Taelore Rhoden and Perri Rhoden
David & Julie Spangler
Lena McCullough
Chloe Shaw
Steve Morton
Melinda Shaw
Andy Smallman
Steve Miranda
Stacia Snapp
Peter & Deb Kahn
Michael & Debi Murphy
Anonymous
Deb Schaack & Jutta Schneider
Dave Thrasher
Anonymous
Anonymous
Doug Forbes
Ron Rabin
Michele Egan
Rosalind Schuessler
Kim Haber & Eddie Montag
Juliene Gschwend
Steve Arnold
Laurie Bauman
Anonymous
Anonymous
Anonymous
Abbey & Anthony Maschmedt
Adrienne Karpov & Ed Miles
Sara Brown
Paul Martin & Sandie Grummann
Mary Martin
Kristin Jakobsen
Eleanor Goodall & Paul Hill
Linda Stevenson
Peter Stevenson
Andy Martin
Judy Blair
Anavadya & Kolin Taylor
Jacqueline & Michael Stein
Jen Graves
Mike Rotskoff
Kaitlin Spangler
Joe Turk
Kathe Rutsala
Gloria Thiele
Anonymous
Anonymous
Anonymous
Anonymous
Curt & Mayela Hill
Heidi Fivash
Vivian Vassall
Anonymous
Sue Williams
Ellis Reyes
Steve Griggs & Doris Kogan
Debra & Bradley Music
Adam Feuer & Lena McCullough
Jon Elizondo & Grace Bell
Larry Dohrs and Wiworn Kesavatana
Alex Allred
Brenda Miranda
Joe Miranda
Nina Miranda
Sam Miranda
Shari Miranda
Carib Smallman
Al Smallman
Malcolm & Lara Hooper
Kathleen Green
Chris Lassen
Jenn Johnson
Sheri Pewitt
Vanessa Riley
Betsey Bell
Julie & Michael McKelvey
Steve & Tiffany Thiele
Sara Keogh
Karen O’Connell
Tina Dawson
Trey Gunn
Marja Brandon & Rob Drake
Cathy Short
Debbie & Mike Bontatibus
Doug Baugh
Sheri Pewitt
Julie Charles
Lyn Lambert
Michael Coffey
Thorly James
Mary Felstiner

I want to express gratitude to two board members in particular, Judy Blair and Vivian Vassall, for their leadership on this campaign. In addition, I’d like to acknowledge our lead donors for their generosity and inspiration. Thank you to William & Suzanne Wittmann, Duncan Moore & Stacey Watson, Alex Cho Snyder, Michael Chui, Simon Weinstein, Kristine Forbes, Mark Southworth, Eric Menninga & Karen Cowgill, Susan & Larry Morris, and Greg Morris.

Finally, I want to thank our board president, Dana Bettinger, who offered an extraordinary matching challenge of $10,000. In turn, Dana wants to thank you. Here are her words:

I feel fortunate to have grown up in a family where philanthropy was just a part of life. No one made a big deal about it, but we always understood that we were lucky to be able to live life the way we did, and that it was important to support the things that mattered. In high school and college, I started to be politically active and I started volunteering; I held up signs, and I traveled some very long distances to attend major rallies and marches in Washington D.C. Often, my friends and family members came with me.

I’m absolutely delighted that so many of you have stepped up to meet this challenge in such a generous way, and I hope that even more of you will be inspired to help us change the world as we continue to progress through this year. It is an incredibly exciting time to be a member of the PSCS community, as we head into our first formal strategic plan and determine what the future holds for us—and none of it would be possible without all of you.

* * *

Now, let’s celebrate! But in honor the extraordinary amount of work ahead of us, I’m calling this a work party. On Wednesday, Oct 17 at 7 p.m., we’re gathering at PSCS’s International District campus to connect with Barbara Green, the strategic planning consultant hired by the Board of Trustees. Barbara will give you an overview of the strategic planning process, and then engage you in a series of activities designed to collect data needed to build a strategic plan.

In short, we need your input. We need your ideas.

Please make every effort to attend this event. We hope that it will be an evening of celebration, of reconnecting with friends, and taking the next step in the process of building something extraordinary together.

If you can, please RSVP to steve@pscs.org and let me know if you think you’ll be attending. It’s going to be a big, big day for PSCS.

In community,

Steve Miranda
Development Director
Puget Sound Community School

The orientation will take place at PSCS’s International District campus (660 S. Dearborn St.) on Thursday, August 18 from 7:00 p.m. until 8:30 p.m.

For a list of classes that have been offered in the past, visit http://pscsclassarchive.wordpress.com.

Feel free to email steve@pscs.org if you have any questions!

Our Own American Life: Playing With Fire

Each senior will be introduced by a special friend or mentor, before reading his or her credo. Then, we will open up the space for appreciations and memories. Here’s the schedule:

10:30 – 11:15: Clare Stemmer

11:15 – 12:00: Aaron O’Toole

12:00 – 1:30: Community Potluck at Green Lake

1:30 – 2:15: Kestrel Wenig

2:15 – 3:00: Tristan Schneider

If you can only attend part of the ceremony, please plan to arrive or depart during the potluck. As a courtesy to the seniors, we ask that you not enter or exit in between students.

Please plan to attend this very special event!