This week we're celebrating Classified Appreciation Week at Port Townsend High School. Throughout the week we're recognizing the many classified staff members who support our students and school every single day. Classified staff include our custodians, maintenance workers, office personnel, food service staff, paraeducators, and others who work behind the scenes to keep everything running smoothly.

While their work often happens quietly, the impact they have on students and staff is felt across the entire school. As Special Education teacher Mrs. Olson shared, “Our classified staff are behind the scenes everyday making sure the teachers and administration have what they need to teach and guide our students.”

Their work touches every part of the school day. From maintaining our facilities and supporting classroom learning to welcoming students in the office or serving meals in the cafeteria, classified staff help create the conditions where learning can happen. Mrs. Olson noted that the front office team often steps into many informal roles throughout the day. As she explained, they are often “like nurses, secretaries, counselors, and a soft place to land when students are in crisis.”

For students, these relationships are deeply meaningful. Senior Ana Cole reflected on several classified staff members who have made an impact on her experience at PTHS. She shared that she appreciates paraeducator Michele, custodian Heidi, and office staff member Lisa because “they are always kind and make your day better.”

Often it is the small, everyday moments that students remember most. Ana described how something as simple as music playing in the morning or hallway decorations can brighten the start of the day, noting that “when Heidi plays music in the morning and when Lisa decorates Spruce things,” it helps make school feel welcoming.

Classified staff also play a crucial role in helping students succeed academically. Paraeducators in particular work closely with students throughout the day, offering both academic and emotional support. Mrs. Olson highlighted how these staff members help students build confidence, explaining that they encourage students to focus on what they can do rather than their deficits and take the time to truly know the students they support.

At the same time, many of the tasks that keep the school running happen out of view. Custodians keep the building clean. Office staff manage countless details that keep the day moving. Maintenance and IT teams keep aging facilities and technology functioning. As Ana pointed out, students may not always notice the many things happening behind the scenes, such as staff running notes across campus, decorating hallways, and keeping the building clean.

Mrs. Olson summed up the importance of this work simply and clearly. “We cannot do this work alone,” she said. “You are just as important to the success of PTHS as the teachers themselves. We see the work you do behind the scenes.”

As we celebrate Classified Appreciation Week, we want to extend a sincere thank you to all of the classified staff who care for our students, support our teachers, and help make Port Townsend High School the place it is. Their work may not always be visible, but it is essential to everything we do.

As we move toward the culmination of graduation, we will be featuring students and their senior projects in upcoming issues of the Redhawk News as part of our Senior Spotlight series. These projects represent the final step of our seniors’ high school experience and often reflect the interests, passions, and values students have developed during their time at PTHS.

In this issue we are highlighting seniors Azazel Skinner and Connor Nelms, who have been completing their senior project through volunteer work with Reach Out Kitchen, a local organization that prepares and distributes meals to people in need throughout our community.

The Reach Out Kitchen provides hot meals that are distributed by volunteers directly to community members. While many of the people served are unhoused, the meals are available to anyone who needs them. Through their senior project, Azazel and Connor have been volunteering their time helping prepare food, clean the kitchen, and pack meals that are later distributed throughout the community.

Connor explained that his involvement began after hearing about the program from a classmate. “I was inspired by a fellow classmate. He told me about the Reach Out program and how they needed more volunteers, and I immediately decided to join him. I was looking into other possible projects but the Reach Out program really seemed like the best place for me to invest my time.”

Because they typically volunteer during the final shift of the day, much of their time has been spent preparing food packages and helping with cleanup after earlier cooking shifts. Connor described their typical work by saying, “We show up at the last shift. We spend most of the time packing the food that the previous volunteers made, but every once in a while we make the food. Being at the end of the day there is a lot of cleaning and washing dishes though.”

For both students, the project has helped them better understand the needs that exist within our own community. Connor reflected that “government programs leave large gaps where the people who are in need are left without food. The Reach Out program helps about two hundred people every week, but people still get left behind.”

Like Connor, Azazel has spent much of his volunteer time helping prepare food and clean the kitchen space so meals can be safely prepared and packed. While most of their work takes place behind the scenes, both students had the opportunity once to help with the distribution of food. That moment left a strong impression on Azazel. “I was able to talk with someone who really made my day. It’s hard to know what you’re doing it for until you actually see it.”

Connor shared a similar reflection after seeing the direct impact of the work. “Getting to see the people that we were helping was good. Being able to meet the people you are helping is incredibly rewarding.”

The work these students are doing is also meaningful to the organization itself. Reach Out Kitchen founder Mike McCutcheon described their contributions in very practical terms. “I have seen them baking cookies, washing dishes, repackaging peanut butter, chopping mass amounts of onions, and learning about food temperature and storage.”

For McCutcheon, the value of students participating goes beyond the tasks they complete in the kitchen. “Here we have two young men who are giving of their time. The purpose of Reach Out will continue to live through these two lives. Then each one of them will teach others, and then it continues to multiply.”

He believes service experiences like this are important for people of all ages. “Our mission is to bring to those in need a hot meal served with respect, compassion, and love,” he explained, adding that the experience of serving others often changes the volunteers as much as those receiving the meals. “It’s not just the people that we serve whose lives have changed, but the people that are serving.”

For Connor, the project has reinforced the value of taking action rather than simply thinking about helping others. “Saying that you will volunteer, and actually going out and helping people is far more fulfilling than simply being interested.”

As Azazel looks ahead, he hopes the experience will stay with him long after graduation. “I hope that I will always look back on this project and help someone out.”

Projects like this are a reminder that senior projects are not just academic requirements. They are opportunities for students to explore interests, give back to their community, and reflect on the kind of impact they hope to have beyond high school.

In the weeks and months ahead, we look forward to sharing more stories from the Class of 2026 as part of our Senior Spotlight series.

One of the most important roles of Career and Technical Education at Port Townsend High School is introducing students to possibilities for their futures. All too often, students see their options through the lens of what they already know. That might be the work a parent does, the career of a family friend, or something they have seen in their community. While those examples can be meaningful, they can also limit the range of possibilities students see for themselves.

CTE classes help broaden that view. By introducing students to different professions and connecting learning to real careers, these courses help students begin to imagine futures they may not have previously considered. For students who already have an interest in a particular field, these classes can also help them understand the many different pathways that exist within that profession.

A great example of this is Anatomy and Physiology, which introduces students to the wide range of careers connected to the healthcare field. Through labs, lessons, and discussions about the human body, students gain exposure to many roles within medicine and health sciences. For many students, the course becomes their first real introduction to the breadth of opportunities in healthcare. Rather than thinking only about becoming a doctor or nurse, students begin to learn about the many different professions that support patient care and medical science.

This year we have also expanded opportunities for students through new and evolving CTE offerings.

One of our newest courses is Business Law, which introduces students to the legal system and the many careers connected to the legal profession. Senior Adeline McMillen shared that the class helped reinforce and deepen her interest in law. “I was always considering law to be a career path I wanted to pursue,” she said, noting that her involvement in Mock Trial had already sparked that interest.

Through the course and the opportunity to hear from practicing attorneys, students are also learning that the legal profession involves much more than what is typically seen in a courtroom. “What surprised me the most is how much of the practice is not in a courtroom but instead is in your own office,” Adeline explained. “I’m interning with an attorney right now who hasn’t had a trial in 10 years but still practices law.”

Courses like Business Law also help students begin building connections and learning about real pathways into professions. Adeline shared that the class helped connect her with professionals in the community. “Throughout Business Law the class introduces you to a lot of powerful figures around town who could help you pursue a law degree,” she said. “I’m currently interning with a law firm downtown and that sort of idea was inspired from the class originally.”

Another exciting development this year is that Mr. Egeler’s Film Production course is now offered as a College in the High School class through Olympic College. While the course has been part of our program, students can now earn college credit through successfully completing it. During that class period Mr. Egeler serves both as a Port Townsend High School teacher and as an adjunct professor through Olympic College. The college has reviewed the course and determined that its rigor and syllabus are closely aligned with their own program.

Looking ahead, we have also submitted an application for Advanced Placement Environmental Science to be offered as a CTE course next year. If approved, the course will introduce students to many of the careers connected to environmental science and related fields.

Across all of these programs, the goal is the same. CTE classes help students discover possibilities. They allow students to explore fields they may not have previously known about and help them better understand the many different pathways within careers they are already interested in.

By continuing to expand Career and Technical Education opportunities at PTHS, we are working to ensure that students graduate not only with strong academic preparation, but also with a clearer understanding of the many futures that may be open to them.

This year, artwork from throughout PT Schools will be displayed in the Cotton Building downtown so that everyone can see our kids' great art. Let's show students that Port Townsend values their creativity and wants to see their ideas reflected in our community!

To sponsor this event/donate, please visit: https://ptpta.givebacks.com/shop. Contributions will help support this week-long exhibition of artwork by students from PT schools installed April 2-7, 2026, and ongoing art programs in our school district.

To volunteer, please email Chiarra Klontz at klontz.chiarra@gmail.com to be added to our list. We will be preparing art before April 1st, installing the show in the Cotton Building on April 1st, and then hosting open hours each day/evening from April 2nd - 7th. Please let us know if there is a specific date/time or activity you would like to help with.

Do you have a plan for after graduation? Meet during Advisory for three sessions to learn about pathways to trades/professional certifications, two-year degrees, or four-year degrees and make a plan that fits your interests. Sessions will include a career panel with professionals from our community and information about financial aid and ways to fund the pursuit of your interest. Check your email for more details and sign up in the counseling office to reserve your spot!

Future Finder is starting up on March 11 for Current Juniors

Do you have a plan for after graduation? Meet during Advisory for three sessions to learn about pathways to trades/professional certifications, two-year degrees, or four-year degrees and make a plan that fits your interests. Sessions will include a career panel with professionals from our community and information about financial aid and ways to fund the pursuit of your interest. Check your email for more details and sign up in the counseling office to reserve your spot!

College Planning Day – March 23

Juniors and undecided seniors are invited to visit Evergreen State College for a College Planning Day on March 23. This is a great opportunity to connect directly with representatives from in-state universities and learn more about their campuses, programs, and the application process.

Permission forms and additional details are available in the Counseling Office. Forms are due back by Monday, March 9.

If space is still available after that date, interested sophomores and freshmen will have the opportunity to sign up.

Senior Scholarships: Deadlines Approaching

Seniors, this is your reminder to keep an eye on deadlines. Several scholarships have due dates coming up:

March Deadlines:

• AAUW – High School Scholarship & Technical Career Endowed Scholarship (March 13)
• Hagan Scholarship (March 15)

April Deadlines:

• American Legion Department of Washington
• Bev and Wes Stock Scholarship
• East Jefferson Professional Firefighters Local 2032 (New)
• Elks Lodge Port Townsend Scholarship
• Key City Chapter #71 Order of the Eastern Star
• Olympic Peninsula Art Association (New)
• Rakers Car Club Scholarship (New)
• Sustainable Forestry Initiative Washington

May Deadlines:

• Barb Marseille Arts Scholarship
• Deb Johnson Memorial Scholarship
• Dylan Rondeau Sail Away Scholarship Fund
• Port Townsend Alumni Association
• Port Townsend High School Scholarship Foundation Consolidated Application (New)
• Port Townsend Technical Trades Scholarship
• Rotary Club of Port Townsend – General Scholarship & Neil Potthoff Education Scholarship

You can find full details, eligibility requirements, and application links in the PT Schools Scholarship Bulletin. If you haven’t bookmarked it yet, you’ll find it on the Senior Information webpage and in SchooLinks.

If you have questions, stop by the Counseling Office. They’re ready to help.

• Wednesday, 3.11 during Advisory: Academic Support Period, Scholarship Session for Seniors, and Future Finder
• Wednesday, 3.11 from 1:30 - 3:15pm: Vertically-Aligned Teams w/ BH Staff @ PTHS
• Thursday, 3.12 at 3:30pm: Varsity Girls Tennis @ PTHS
• Monday, 3.16 from 3:20 - 4:20pm: Staff House Support Time & Progress Reports Build
• Tuesday, 3.17 at 3:00pm: Varsity Girls & Boys Golf @ the PT Golf Club
• Tuesday, 3.17 at 3:30pm: Varsity Girls & Boys Track @ BHMS
• Tuesday, 3.17 at 4:00 & 5:30pm: Boys JV & Varsity Soccer@ Memorial Field
• Tuesday, 3.17 at 4:30pm: Varsity Baseball @ Chimacum
• Wednesday, 3.18 during Advisory: Pep Assembly and Future Finder
• Wednesday, 3.18 from 1:30 - 3:15pm: Department Meetings & Structured Collaboration
• Wednesday, 3.18 at 4:00pm: JV Baseball at PTHS
• Wednesday, 3.18 at 4:00pm: Boys JV Soccer @ Chimacum
• Wednesday, 3.18 at 4:00pm: Varsity Baseball @ Chimacum
• Friday, 3.20 at 4:00 & 5:30pm: JV & Varsity Soccer at Memorial Field

Website: https://highschool.ptschools.org/
Location: 1500 Van Ness Street, Port Townsend, WA, USA
Phone: 360.379.4520

Port Townsend School District No. 50 does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of race, creed, religion, color, immigration status, national origin, age, honorably-discharged veteran or military status, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, marital status, the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability. The district provides equal access to the Boy Scouts of America and all other designated youth groups listed in Title 36 of the United States Code as a patriotic society. The following employees have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination:

Civil Rights Compliance Coordinator
Carrie Ehrhardt

1610 Blaine Street

(360) 680-5756

cehrhardt@ptschools.org

Title IX Officer:
Carrie Ehrhardt

1610 Blaine Street

(360) 680-5756

cehrhardt@ptschools.org

Section 504/ADA Coordinator
Shelby Macmeekin

1610 Blaine Street

(360) 379-4501

smacmeekin@ptschools.org

Title IX inquiries may also be directed toward the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights (OCR):https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/index.html

Discrimination Procedure