Helping students explore what comes next and introducing them to the wide range of opportunities available after high school is at the core of our work at PTHS.

This edition of the Redhawk News highlights that work in action. Throughout these stories, you will see students engaging in experiences that help them better understand their interests, their strengths, and the many paths available to them after graduation. Whether through college exploration, career-connected learning, or hands-on opportunities, these moments matter because they help students begin to see themselves in what comes next.

At the same time, the arrival of spring has brought a renewed energy to our campus. It has been great to see students learning outside, taking advantage of the longer days, and engaging with their surroundings in meaningful ways. There is something about this time of year that brings our community to life.

That energy is especially visible in our athletics programs. It has been great to see our student-athletes out competing and representing our school in track, golf, girls tennis, and boys soccer. The commitment, teamwork, and pride they bring to their teams are a reflection of the broader experiences we want all of our students to have.

Across all of these spaces, in classrooms, on our campus, throughout our community, and beyond, our students are engaged in meaningful learning and growth. These experiences help them build skills, form connections, and develop a stronger sense of direction as they think about their futures.

We are grateful to be part of a community that continues to support these opportunities and invest in our students.

Thank you and GO REDHAWKS!!!

Mr. Moss

Last Friday, PTHS & OCEAN students joined peers from across Jefferson County for the annual Connectivity Summit, a day intentionally designed to bring students and community together. Ninth and tenth graders attended in the morning, followed by juniors and seniors in the afternoon, with all students engaging in workshops and conversations focused on opportunity, voice, and connection.

The summit continued to evolve in meaningful ways from previous years. This year moved beyond a traditional career fair model and instead centered on building relationships and creating real conversations between students and community members. Organizations stepped out from behind tables, and students were guided through a facilitated networking experience that encouraged active participation rather than passive browsing. The result was a space that felt more personal, more engaging, and more reflective of what our students need.

For many of our freshmen, this was their first time attending the event, and the experience left a strong impression. “There were a lot of people,” freshman Sebastian Klebanow shared, “but it was great to talk to all the people sharing their knowledge.” What stood out most to him was the range of opportunities available. He noted how many different paths were represented and how accessible those conversations felt throughout the day.

That sense of access carried into both the workshops and the networking experience. During the Empowering Youth Voices session, students were encouraged to share their perspectives and experiences in a way that felt authentic. “My input was listened to and people considered it,” Sebastian said. In conversations with community members, he described the experience as “really cool,” pointing to the chance to meet people he would not otherwise have connected with. He also recognized something important about our community, noting the “vast amount of people looking for young people to fill their jobs and roles.”

For upperclassmen, the summit provided an opportunity to see how the event has grown. Junior Emilio Lopez, who attended last year’s summit at Chimacum High School, noticed a clear shift. “There was more involvement within the community, more booths to choose from,” he shared, adding that the move to Fort Worden made the event feel more connected and intentional. “It made it feel more community based,” he said, and emphasized that it is a location worth continuing in the future.

More importantly, the change in format impacted how students interacted with organizations. Instead of simply collecting information, students were engaging in real conversations that led to tangible outcomes. Emilio shared that he was able to connect with a representative from First Security and take steps toward applying for an internship focused on financial education with younger students. Experiences like this reflect what the summit is designed to do, create authentic connections that open doors.

Even beyond individual opportunities, the event reinforced the broader value of exposure and community support. Emilio noted that even when an opportunity was not a personal fit, it still mattered. He shared that he could immediately think of others who would benefit, highlighting how awareness itself can create opportunity. He also spoke to the impact of seeing community members actively engage with students. “It felt really nice,” he said, recognizing how meaningful it is to know that people in our community care about students’ futures.

Events like the Connectivity Summit help students see what is possible. Whether that is a future career, a college pathway, or an opportunity to get involved now, the experience creates space for students to explore and begin to imagine what comes next. As Emilio put it, it can “spark an idea for a future career,” something that can shape decisions well beyond a single day.

From first-time experiences for our freshmen to deeper connections for our upperclassmen, this year’s Connectivity Summit was a strong step forward. It created meaningful opportunities for students to be heard, to engage, and to connect with the people and possibilities that make Jefferson County such a powerful place to learn and grow.

College planning can often feel abstract for students, especially when they are still figuring out what they want their future to look like. Recently, Mrs. Bledsoe and Mrs. Eldridge, our school counselors, created an opportunity to make that process more real by taking an excited group of juniors and undecided seniors to Evergreen State College for College Planning Day in partnership with the College Success Foundation. The experience gave students direct access to colleges across Washington, along with the chance to hear directly from admissions representatives and begin to see themselves in those spaces.

Mrs. Eldridge shared that the goal of the trip was to give students access to College Planning Day, explaining, “It was an opportunity for students to meet with reps from various in-state universities and hear about their school and application process while also getting a chance to see the Evergreen campus.” With support from the College Success Foundation, the logistics of the trip and even student lunches were covered.

Throughout the day, students were able to choose from a range of presentations focused on admissions, financial aid, and campus life. As Mrs. Eldridge described, “Students were provided a list of when and where different colleges would be presenting on campus and given the freedom to choose which presentations they wanted to attend,” with time built in to ask questions directly. What stood out most was how our students showed up. “Our students were engaged in the presentations and often were the ones to ask questions,” she noted, adding that afterward, “students seemed excited about what they had learned and were sharing with each other.”

That impact was clear for students like junior Bjorn Thomas. He shared that prior to the trip, he knew he wanted to go to college but felt unsure about where to start, describing himself as “a bit at a loss about what my plans were.” The opportunity to hear directly from multiple colleges helped fill that gap, especially as he began to better understand differences in cost, programs, and campus experiences. Seeing the number of colleges present made an immediate impression, as he noted that “seeing how many colleges made the effort to be there to inform students really made a difference.”

The presentations themselves helped bring those schools to life, particularly when it came to campus culture, with “many of the schools having really unique clubs or features that really made them stand out.” Being able to ask questions directly, rather than relying only on online information, also stood out. As Bjorn shared, it was “a very nice turn from just looking online about colleges,” making it easier “to ask what may be abnormal questions that you might not be able to get answers to otherwise.”

The day also helped students better understand the application process and what steps come next. For Bjorn, learning that “a lot of schools in our state are SAT optional” was new information, and the materials he gathered gave him a clearer path forward. Reflecting on the experience, he shared that it “really helped me start thinking about how I want to research the colleges I want to go to” and gave him tools to begin that process.

Opportunities like this matter. As Mrs. Eldridge shared, experiences like these help students “picture themselves in the college setting” and make the process “feel more tangible.” When students are able to step onto a campus, hear directly from colleges, and begin to see themselves in those environments, the process shifts from something distant to something within reach.

Last Thursday, students in Mr. Taylor's Anatomy and Physiology (A&P) Career and Technical Education (CTE) class were able to spend the day at the Peninsula College Nursing Simulation Lab learning about programs available at Peninsula College and the pathways into a variety of health care careers.

Students explored many postsecondary pathways, including earning an Associates Degree in Nursing with direct transfer to Bachelor’s programs across the state, an Associates Degree in Medical Assisting, and certifications in Nursing Assistance, Medical Office Assistance, Phlebotomy, and Behavioral Health. They also learned about Peninsula College’s new Dental Hygienist program.

For many students, the experience helped bring clarity to what those pathways could look like after high school. Junior Abby O’Keefe shared, “I decided to attend the field trip because I am very interested in the colleges that are in state, so I wanted to learn more in a setting where I could hear more in depth about them.”

After learning about the programs, students spent the next four hours participating in hands-on labs and simulations. These rotations included practicing blood draws, testing for tuberculosis, donning and removing personal protective equipment, and working through hospital-based scenarios where patients presented with a range of injuries and conditions. Students were asked to evaluate situations and determine appropriate responses, mirroring the kinds of decisions they would make in real clinical settings.

What stood out to students was not just the technical skills, but the deeper understanding of what these careers involve. Reflecting on the experience, Abby noted, “Both of the programs highlighted talked a lot both about their campus as well as the culture of their student body.” That perspective carried into this experience, where students were able to see both the academic and human side of working in health care.

The opportunity to step into a simulated clinical environment also helped students begin to see how their own interests connect to potential career paths. Abby also shared that having access to detailed information and firsthand experiences helped her better understand “what I want out of a college and where might be a good fit for me.”

Experiences like this give students a chance to move beyond simply hearing about careers and instead actively engage in them. With demand for health care professionals at an all-time high and expected to remain strong, programs like those at Peninsula College provide a clear and accessible pathway for students to enter meaningful, high-demand careers.

This year, work 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! A big thank you to Port Townsend's Arts Commission (PTAC) and the Port Townsend PTA for sponsoring this event, and thank you to all of the wonderful teachers for helping our kids develop their creativity and skills, and for organizing and working hard to make this event happen!

Opening Night is Thursday 4/2/26 from 5-7pm, featuring OCEAN's "Trashion" Show at 5:15pm.

Saturday 4/4/26 we will participate in the First Saturday Art Walk from 5-8pm. Come downtown to enjoy food from the high school's Culinary Arts food truck (for purchase) and live music!

To sponsor this event/donate, please use the QR code above or visit: https://ptpta.givebacks.com/shop. Contributions will help support this week-long exhibition of artwork by students from PT schools 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. Thank you so much!

Scholarships that are accepting applications from seniors:

April due dates:

• American Legion Department of Washington
• Bev and Wes Stock Scholarship
• East Jefferson Professional Firefighters Local 2032
• Elks Lodge Port Townsend Scholarship
• Jefferson County Home Builders Association
• Key City Chapter #71 Order of the Eastern Star
• Olympic Peninsula Art Association
• Rakers Car Club Scholarship
• Sustainable Forestry Initiative Washington
• WSOS -Career/Technical Scholarship

May due dates:

• Barb Marseille Arts Scholarship
• Deb Johnson Memorial Scholarship
• Dylan Rondeau Sail Away Scholarship Fund
• Olympic Driftwood Sculptors
• Port Townsend Alumni Association
• Port Townsend High School Scholarship Foundation Consolidated Application
• Port Townsend Sunrise Rotary Service Above Self Scholarship
• Port Townsend Technical Trades Scholarship
• Puget Sound Engineering & Science Scholarship Fund
• Rotary Club of Port Townsend - General Scholarship and Neil Potthoff Education Scholarship
• Thea Foss #45 Daughters of Norway Scholarship

June due dates:

• Chris Kimball Voc/Tech Scholarship

Find details on the PT Schools Scholarship Bulletin. If you have not bookmarked it yet, you can find it on the senior information webpage and in SchooLinks.

• Wednesday, 4.1 during Advisory: Redhawk Check-Ins, Study Hall, & Senior Meeting & Photo
• Wednesday, 4.1 from 1:30 - 3:15pm: PT Schools Committee Meetings
• Wednesday, 4.1 at 3:30pm: Varsity Girls Tennis @ PTHS
• Thursday, 4.2 at 4:00pm: Varsity Baseball @ Chimacum
• Thursday, 4.2 at 4:00pm: Varsity Softball @ Chimacum
• Friday, 4.3 at 4:00pm: JV Boys Baseball @ PTHS
• Friday 4.3 at 3:30pm: Varsity Girls Tennis @ PTHS
• Wednesday 4.8 during Advisory: TBD
• Wednesday, 4.8 from 1:30 - 3:15pm: Staff Collaboration & Awards Discussion
• Wednesday 4.8 at 4:00pm: Boys Baseball @ Chimacum
• Wednesday 4.8 at 4:15pm: Varsity Girls Softball @ Chimacum
• Thursday 4.9 at 4:00 and 5:30pm: JV & Varsity Boys Soccer @ Memorial Field
• Friday 4.10 at 4:00pm: Varsity Girls Softball @ Chimacum

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