April News

Upcoming Events

• May 7: IPAB Meeting 7:00pm Band Room

• May 10: Musical Theatre class presents: Fosse Cabaret Night 7:00 pm IHS Library ($10 students $25 adults)

• May 11: Saturday School 9:00am-12:00pm IHS Library

• May 14: IABC Meeting 7:00-9:00pm

• May 15: FOI Board Meeting 7:00-9:00pm IHS Library

• May 17: Marching Band Performs in the Syttende Mai Parade, Ballard

• May 18-20: Marching Band Perfoms in the Victoria Day Parade

• May 20: Family Education Evening – "Launching into Adulthood" with Dr. Laura Kastner 7:00-9:00pm

• May 30 – Jun 1, June 7-8: Spring Musical, Chicago! 7:00pm

• June 9: Spring Musical, Chicago! 2:00pm

Friends of Ingraham Auction Update

A tremendous thank you to Ingraham staff, families, friends, and students! You all blew us away at the FOI Annual Auction, raising roughly $135,000 to support Ingraham High School! Not only did you raise the money needed to support the expansion of the Bright Futures program, refresh the Activity Center, and bolster the FOI general fund, but we also recognized our amazing Mary Smith with lovely tributes and a beautiful vocal performance.

The theme of our auction, "Aim High, Dream Big," was inspired by Harriet Tubman, who wrote, “Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars

to change the world.” Our BIG DREAM this year was to expand the Bright Futures program beyond its initial goals and give students the foundation they need to reach for the stars. Specifically, we hoped to expand the program by:

1. Extending the current 9-month school year support into full-year support

2. Ensuring eye exams and eyeglasses are available to all who need them

3. Providing access to services such as laundry, tutoring, resume writing, job interview training, and coaching for standardized test and college applications.

You raised over $70,000 for the Aim High, Dream Big expansion of the Bright Futures program!

Ingraham High School, with its culturally diverse student body, is changing and growing positively every year. With new building construction scheduled to be completed next fall, we will be one of the largest schools in Seattle, serving an expected 1,500 students who speak over 34 different languages at home. In many different ways, Ingraham staff, parents, and students are working together to make a meaningful and equitable high school experience available to all regardless of each student’s particular circumstances.

In 2017, with funds provided by the Friends of Ingraham annual auction, Ingraham High School launched the Bright Futures program to support students lacking essential resources and/or housing. Bright Futures’ goal then was to normalize the high school experience for all students by funding basic needs such as food,

clothing, toiletries and shoes; academic needs such as study workbooks and computers; and experiential needs such as club activity fees and uniforms. Bright Futures IS making a measurable difference – supporting over 200 kids in the past 18 months alone.

Our expectation is that graduation is within the reach of every student who attends Ingraham and Ingraham students are well prepared for life after high school, including attending college. Our community's gracious generosity allows us to continue to provide programs that will help our kids achieve this goal.

Additionally, the Auction provided opportunities for each Class to earn money for their individual accounts. Each Graduating Class has their own account that follows them throughout their years at Ingraham. The money accrued is then used to finance the Senior events, such as Senior Spree; the more the students have earned in their four years, the lower the overall cost of their Senior Card!

The Freshmen Class volunteered to clean up after the event, working hard to earn their first deposit of $500, the Sophomore Class earned $4025 from raffle sales during the event, the Junior Class earned a record-breaking $13,300 from the Dessert Dash, and the Senior Class earned $4342 from their table!

It was truly a night to remember. Thank you to everyone who came, who generously donated, and who made our Ram Pride swell. We aimed high, had big dreams, and everyone involved exceeded our expectations. We look forward to continuing to support this amazing community.

Your Grant Money at Work

Friends of Ingraham was able to fulfill $21,000 in grant requests during our Spring grant cycle! Grants included new laptops for the Math department, start-up costs for the new Construction Trades program, a monthly book subscription for the library, and an in-class library for the Science department to improve science literacy and provide interesting, current topics. We were able to provide funding to offset travel costs for the debate team as they participate in a competition in Kentucky, to assist with a scholarship fund for Senior Activity Cards, and to purchase regalia for graduating Seniors in need. Funds were also provided to help the Student Success Center form their Women of Color Organizing Team which aims to promote leadership skills, community-centered justice, and organizing in youth of color at Ingraham. We are so grateful for the generosity of our community - we couldn't do any of this without you!!

Second Chance to Sign Up for an Auction Party!

Were you unable to attend the FOI Auction, or were you having so much fun that you forgot to sign up for one of our special parties? Then you're in luck because we have a few spots available for the following fun festivities!

Last Chance at Granite Curling Club

Saturday, May 11th 11:45am-5:00pm

Contact: Liz Bennett, eabennett1@comcast.net

• Join us for beer, wine, and snacks in one of the top curling clubs in the US. Learn how to curl and test your new skills in the first Ingraham Bonspiel. All parents are welcome! For Senior parents this may be your last chance to actually go inside, and it may be your last chance to party with so many Ingraham parents! Note: All participants must arrive promptly at 11:45pm.

Ladies Night Electric Cocktails

Saturday, June 8th 7:00-10:00pm

Contact: Sue Huber, ubershuber@gmail.com

• Get to know other Ingraham moms while enjoying small bites, good conversation, and cocktails that celebrate the flavors and colors of summer. Space is limited to 35 women.

IHS Construction Tour

Saturday, June 1st 9:30-11:00am

Contact: Eric Blumhagen blumhagn@gmail.com

• Get a sneak peek tour of the new Ingraham building addition while sipping coffee and nibbling on donuts. Space is limited to 30 – students are welcome!

Ingraham Oktoberfest

Friday, October 25th 6:00-10:00pm

Contact: Tricia Axtell, btaxtell@comcast.net

• Enjoy an evening of beer, brats, homemade pretzels, and good company! Space is limited to 35 adults.

FemCon 2019

On April 19th, the Ingraham Feminism Club hosted a Feminism Convention for high school feminists and feminism clubs with the goal of joining together to build community, share ideas, and listen to speeches. Congratulations to the Ingraham High School Feminism Club for putting together an awesome event of inclusion, celebration, and learning with speakers Ijeoma Oluo and Lindy West (the latter of whom joined by FaceTime from NYC where she is busy filming the second season of her TV series Shrill). Way to go!

Friends of Ingraham Wants YOU

...to join the board for the 2019-2020 academic year!

We're looking ahead to next year and are in search of board members! Joining FOI is a great way to stay involved and make a difference in your student’s high school experience. From highly-active to mostly from home, we have roles that suit a variety of schedules.

The open board positions include:

• President: The President is the face of Friends of Ingraham, answering questions and connecting with the Ingraham community. The president should be comfortable with public speaking, as there are a few occasions where they will need to make announcements, such as the Open House and Curriculum Night. The president ensures that the purposes of FOI are being fulfilled, including occasionally filling the shoes of other board positions if needed. Overall, the position is fun and interesting, and requires less time than many other board positions. It’s best to be good with people and generally unflappable. The average time commitment is 5-10 hours a month, depending on the season.

• Secretary: The Secretary is responsible for taking and posting minutes for the board and general meetings. It is helpful to have a laptop, as FOI does not provide one for the position. The average time commitment is 2-4 hours per month.

•  Bookkeeper: This would be a new position for the board, working in conjunction with our Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer. Please reach out to us for more details!

• Auction Chair: The Auction Chair leads a team of volunteers to put on our biggest fundraising event of the year. This position would be excellent for two people to co-chair; grab a friend!

• Fundraising Chair: This would be a new position for the board. We are looking for someone to head our fundraising efforts, specifically the Direct Appeal. Please reach out to us for more details!

• Communications Chair: The Communications Chair is responsible for keeping the IHS community informed about upcoming events, fundraisers, and other points of interest. The average time commitment is 1-3 hours per week, plus meeting and event attendance. Most of the work can be done from home, so it’s a great way to get involved if you require a more flexible schedule.

• Ninth-grade Rep: The Ninth Grade Rep acts as a liaison for the incoming Freshman families. They help facilitate 2-3 Ninth-grade specific meetings per year, welcoming attendees and introducing the speakers. They are available to Ninth-grade families throughout the year, answering questions and bringing any concerns to the board. The average time commitment is 2-4 hours per month, with minimal duties outside of the monthly meetings. This position is perfect for someone who likes to engage personally with the IHS community and wants to learn more about Ingraham. No prior experience with Ingraham is necessary, there’s always a board or staff member to help answer any question! 

For more information about available positions, please feel free to contact IngrahamVol@gmail.com, or simply attend our next board meeting.

Thank you for considering, we look forward to connecting with you soon!

Ingraham Athletics Booster Club

Board Positions

The IABC supports all student athletes at Ingraham, as well as coaches, and we need Board members to help sustain the mission! Right now, they are looking to fill several key positions: Co-President (or VP), Treasurer, Co-Secretary, Webmaster/Communications Chair, and Ram Shack Manager. Please consider volunteering to help keep this valuable organization going strong! For more information, please contact Lisa White. Go RAMS!

After beating Garfield 1-0 and Blanchet 13-5, the Ingraham baseball team is going to the State tournament and playing O'Dea for the Metro League title this Friday, May 10th, at 6:00pm at Steve Cox Memorial Park! Come support the team! GO RAMS!

Both of Ingraham's Varsity Ultimate teams are heading to nationals this year! The Boys team will be traveling to Illinois and the Girls team will be traveling to Massachusetts to participate in the nation’s largest high school girls ultimate tournament. Keep an eye out for fundraisers to help offset their trip expenses and ensure that all students have an opportunity to participate!

College and Career Night Info

If you missed the College and Career Night, you can now access the presentation materials on the IHS Counselors Weebly!

Launching into Adulthood with

Dr. Laura Kastner

May 20, 2019 7:00pm

Friends of Ingraham is excited to host Dr. Laura Kastner at our May Family Education Evening - Launching into Adulthood!

Dr. Kastner will discuss what makes a successful launch to emerging adulthood and how families can support their children in becoming competent, independent, flourishing young adults. Rather than focusing on "college-bound" goals, Dr. Kastner focuses on competence goals, providing communication tools that prioritize the quality of parent-child relationships. 

Dr. Kastner is a local practicing clinical psychologist and clinical professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at University of Washington. She is a nationally recognized author and speaker and has appeared on The Today Show, the McNeil/Lehrer news hour and many local TV news interviews. Specializing in adolescent health, the topics of Dr. Kastner's academic articles include adolescent sexuality, behavioral medicine, teen suicide, eating disorders, and more. She has received the Distinguished Psychologist Award from Washington State Psychological Association and been named one of Seattle's Top Doctors.

In order to plan our space appropriately, we ask that attendees register for this free event through Brown Paper Tickets.We look forward to connecting with you there!

Volunteer Opportunity

Spree Chaperones June 14, 2019

Calling all Freshman, Sophomore, and Junior parents! Would you like a glimpse into the fun your student will have their senior year? Then you can be a Spree chaperone! Spree is the all-night celebration for Seniors that takes place the night of graduation - this year it’s Friday June 14th. Students and chaperones meet at Ingraham at about 9pm and return to Ingraham at about 5am Saturday June 15th. No parents of seniors can chaperone so we need help from other Ingraham parents to make this a fun and memorable event for the graduating seniors. Please contact Sue Hauck if you are interested in learning more about this opportunity.

Teens Workout Free!

Planet Fitness is offering teens the opportunity to stay in shape for free this summer and win scholarship money.

The Planet Fitness "Teen Summer Challenge Scholarship Sweepstakes" is open to 15-to 18-year-olds from May 15th to September 1st. During the sweepstakes period, teens may enter by visiting any Planet Fitness location with their parent or legal guardian and signing up for the Summer Challenge.

Teens ages 15 to 18 can workout at any of the 1,700 Planet Fitness locations throughout the U.S. for free all summer long, as much as they want.

By the end of the summer, 51 teens across all 50 states and Washington, D.C., will be randomly selected to receive a $500 scholarship. One grand prize of $5,000 will be awarded. A total of $30,500 in scholarships will be awarded.

Where Should I Look for Information from IHS?

We know that the flow of information can get a little confusing at times. In an effort to clarify the purposes of two of the different bulletins you may receive from Ingraham, we’ve provided a brief explanation of each below. We hope it’s helpful, and please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions.

The Daily Bulletin (DB) is a notification for students that families can also receive. In it you’ll find daily information such as the upcoming lunch menu, testing schedules, scholarship and volunteering information, and the like.

The Parent Bulletin is sent out on Fridays. In it you’ll find news from Friends of Ingraham (FOI), the parent-teacher organization at Ingraham, the Ingraham Performing Arts Booster Club (IPAB), Ingraham Athletics Booster Club (IABC), and the administration. Topics will include upcoming meetings, fundraising, calendar events, and news from around the school.

Alternate information sources: 

• The Ingraham High School website is an excellent resource. In addition to the academic and program information, you can access the school calendar, the Teen Health Center, Naviance, college and counseling nformation, and information about the school booster clubs (Friends of Ingraham, Ingraham Performing Arts Booster, and Ingraham Athletic Booster Club).

• The Friends of Ingraham website provides information about our organization and its efforts to support the school, as well as upcoming events, volunteer opportunities, and a monthly newsletter.

• The Ingraham Athletic Booster Club website provides sports-specific information such as game times and results, coach contact information, fundraising, and paperwork.

• If you're on Facebook, you can join one of our many Ingraham community groups – Friends of Ingraham Community, IngrahamRamFans, and Ingraham Performing Arts Boosters are just a few!

Check Out the

IHS Counselors!

Now live and coming to platforms that you use! Find them on:

Facebook @IHSCOUNSELORS1 Instagram @IHSCOUNSELORS

You Tube @IHSCOUNSELORS

Twitter @IHSCOUNSELORS1

Friends of Ingraham Community Feedback

As the parent-teacher organization at Ingraham, Friends of Ingraham is committed to developing and maintaining a strong sense of shared purpose and community at our school. We are always looking for ways to encourage family engagement, provide high-interest topics at our meetings, and improve communication. 

To help us with that goal, we are hoping to collect some feedback on your experiences this year. Would you take a moment to complete this short anonymous survey? Thank you so much for your time! https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PKMSFL2