Jan. 23, 2026 Newsletter
Capital High School Family Communication
January 23, 2026
Upcoming Events
- January 22-24, 30-31 - CHS Drama Production
- January 23 - Pack the Gym - 6:00 p.m.
- January 28-30 - 1st Semester Finals (Special Schedule)
- January 29, 30 - Half Day for Grading
- February 4 - Mandatory Senior Meeting - 10:30 a.m.
- February 10 - CHSPO Meeting - 6:00 p.m.
- February 11- 9th-11th Grade Information Night - 5:30 p.m.
- February 16-17 - Mid-Winter Break - No School
- February 26 - Multilingual Registration - 5:00 p.m.
Donations Needed
We are in need of hygiene products (such as deodorant and toothpaste) as well as laundry soap and dish soap for families utilizing our new CHS pantry. If you are able, please drop off these items to our main office. We appreciate our wonderful CHS community and the amazing support of our new pantry.
If your family is in need of food or hygiene products, please stop by the main office Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. to visit our CHS Pantry!
CHSPO News
Teacher Grants Update - $7,000 Awarded!
CHSPO recently funded $7,000 in faculty grants for items benefiting our school community. Funded items include textbooks, jump ropes, batteries and vests for classroom emergency backpacks, specialized markers, virtual reality headsets, gardening gloves, and a 3D laser printer.
Thank you to all who donated or supported fundraising efforts—your generosity made this possible!
More requests were received, including for major band equipment replacements. Another grant cycle is planned for 2026.
Staff Appreciation
A huge thank-you to our community for your overwhelming support! Special appreciation goes to our parent volunteer who organized the October staff meal.
Our next staff appreciation event is coming in January—stay tuned!
CHSPO 2nd Annual Rummage Sale
Save the Date!
Saturday, April 18 | 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Early Sign-Ups:
- Students & Staff: $10 per spot
- Community Members: $25 per spot or 2 for $40
A great opportunity to:
- Fundraiser
- Showcase crafts or creativity
- Declutter
- Connect with the CHS community
Event held outdoors, rain or shine. Register by April 11, 2026.
Senior 2026 Grad Night
- Looking for a perfect holiday gift for your senior? Consider a Grad Night ticket! https://chspo.org/grad-night-2026/
- Lock in the $99 rate now—prices increase next year. This year’s event is being fully planned by the Grad Night 26 Committee, not an outside vendor.
Warmly,
Capital High School Parent Organization (CHSPO)
“Together, we make CHS stronger!”
Exciting Opportunity to Host Japanese Students in May
Capital High School is excited to host forty 9th grade students from ShukutokuSugamo Jr. High School, a private school in Tokyo, Japan. We’re looking for hostfamilies to welcome these students into their homes for a memorable cultural exchangeexperience!
Here are the details:
- Dates: From Friday, May 15th (pick-up at CHS after school) to Monday, May 18th (drop-off at CHS before school).
- Hosting Requirements: Families must host 2 students (either 2 boys or 2 girls).
- The students can share a room, but each must have a separate bed.
- Stipend: Families will receive a stipend of $30 per student per night (a total of $180 per family for the weekend).
- No Language Requirements: You don’t need to speak Japanese or have children attending Capital High School to participate. All families are welcome!
- The students will be spending some time sightseeing in the Seattle area before visiting Capital High School. This is a wonderful opportunity to engage in a cultural exchange and create lasting memories!
If your family is interested in hosting, please fill out the Google Form. For more information, contact Mika Katzer at [email protected]. Thank you for considering hosting and helping make this exchange a success!
Pack The Gym - January 23rd
On Friday, January 23rd our Unified basketball team will be playing Timberline at 6pm. We want to PACK THE GYM and support our amazing student-athletes.
And, right after the Unified game will be our Staff vs Student basketball game. Stick around and see who wins. There is a recommended $5 dollar donation at the door to help support our Unified program.
Intercity Transit’s ‘Walk and Roll’
Intercity Transit’s ‘Walk and Roll’ program aims to promote alternative transportation options to single-occupancy cars.
One of their initiatives encourages children and adults to opt for bicycles for commuting and enjoyable exercise. To achieve this, they provide a bike education program to K-12 schools across Thurston County and some adult programs.
Starting February 4th, during early release Wednesday afternoons, Intercity Transit’s team will collaborate with Capital High School students for eight weeks. These sessions will consist of two and a half-hour training sessions.
Walk and Roll will arrive at CHS with a van and trailer loaded with bikes, bike helmets, and other safety and bike maintenance equipment. They typically work with approximately 10 to 12 students to teach them about safe bike riding, bike maintenance, and the joy of group rides around OLY’s westside.
Upon completion, students will receive a brand new bike, bike helmet, bike lock, and a set of lights.
Students can download and fill out the appliactions (pdf) with parents and email it to [email protected] or bring it to the CHS front office.
Visit Intercity Transit's website for more information.
CHS Theatre Production
Our theatre department has been working hard on our winter production of Almost, Maine.
John Cariani’s smash romantic comedy Almost, Maine will be warming Capital High School’s icy cold heart on January 22nd, 23rd, 24th, 30th, and 31st!
SUMMARY
A woman carries her broken heart with her in a bag. Two friends begin to literally fall for each other. A couple carries their love for each other in garbage bags. On one frigid midwinter night, the people of Almost- too populated to be wilderness, not organized enough to be a town- experience the life-shattering power of the human heart. Strangers turn to friends, friends turn to lovers, and lovers turn to strangers over the course of one fateful night. Propelled by the shining of the northern lights and filled with characters sparkling with honesty and charm, John Cariani’s Almost, Maine is a sincere collection of connected tales of love.
SHOWTIMES
- January 22: 7 PM (Thursday)
- January 23: 7 PM (Friday)
- January 24: 7 PM (Saturday)
- January 30: 7 PM (Friday)
- January 31: 2 PM (Saturday)
- January 31: 7 PM (Saturday)
Tickets can be bought at the door or online at https://olympiasd.booktix.com/dept/CapitalHS.
The show is performed at Capital High School's Performing Arts Center: 2707 Conger Ave NW, Olympia, WA 98502.
Counseling Center News
Schedule Changes: Semester 2 begins February 2nd. In rare cases, a schedule change is needed (Mistakes in the schedule, college/graduation requirements need to be met, etc.). We have a process for making such changes. Guardians/students can use this LINK to obtain a copy of our Schedule Change Request Form that you can print out or pick one up in the Counseling Center. This is due to your student's counselor no later than February 6th at 3:30pm. Please read all the directions/procedures included on this form before submitting it to your counselor!
Senior Class Information
February 11 – Mandatory Senior Class Meeting
This meeting will take place during advisory in the Lecture Hall, beginning at 10:27 a.m. All seniors are required to attend. If you are unable to attend, please check your email and connect with your counselor to review any information you may have missed. FLYER HERE.
February 18 – Senior Exit Interview Pre-Meeting
This session is for seniors who still need to complete their Senior Exit Interview. We will review the requirements, and students will be able to select a time slot for their interview. FLYER HERE.
- IB Diploma students: Please report to your 2nd period class.
- Running Start students who have completed CCS 101/102 do not need to attend, as this requirement has already been met.
9th - 11th Grade Registration/Information Night
We will be hosting our annual 9th–11th Grade Information Night to support families with registration for next school year and to share information about our program options. Please see the event flyer HERE for full details.
Free childcare will be available, and food trucks will be on site with food available for purchase. Please plan to arrive early, as food is not permitted in the PAC.
Community Connections
January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month
Since 2010, this month has been dedicated to raising awareness about human trafficking and educating the public about how to identify and prevent this crime.
NCTSN has compiled a list of resources for adolescents, parents/caregivers, and educators.
The Washington Anti-Trafficking Response Network (WARN) is a coalition of non-governmental organizations that provide direct services and intensive case management to victims of human trafficking in Washington State.
The Family Justice Center serves survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and human trafficking. Confidential advocates are available to provide support and encouragement. If you need help due to domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking or trafficking, please call our office at 360-754-9297 x 200.
SafePlace Olympia Helpline: SafePlace works to put an end to sexual and domestic violence through crisis intervention and education. 360-754-6300
News from the CCRC
FOR ALL STUDENTS and FAMILIES
COLLEGE VISITS:
-
Tuesday January 20th 2026: PACIFIC LUTHERAN UNIVERSITY will be in the CCRC during student Lunches. If your student is interested in attending PLU, then this meeting would be a nice way of learning about how to apply, what scholarships they have to offer and what student life is like at PLU. All students are welcome to attend.
CLASSROOM VISITS:
Feel free to ask your student what they are learning about in SchooLinks. There are College and Career and Volunteer and Scholarship resources embedded in this platform. If your student missed class when Mrs. Smith visits, they are welcome to meet with her by appointment to discuss their plans. They can schedule an appointment with her using this link:
Schedule Appointment
FINANCIAL AID RESOURCES:
Materials & Tools
- Financial Aid Padlet for Students: This digital information board includes all the links to financial aid applications and where students can find support applying.
- Financial Aid Calculator: Use Washington’s financial aid calculator to estimate your Washington College Grant and Federal Pell Grant awards.
- Otterbot: Otterbot is a free texting service created to support high school seniors who have signed up for the College Bound Scholarship. Otter sends financial aid info and reminders to College Bound seniors
- CSS Profile: The CSS Profile is a supplemental financial aid form from the College Board, that SOME colleges require in order to determine how much institutional, need-based scholarship money to award. Watch this short video for more information on what to expect when filling it out. Here is the list of Participating Institutions with CSS Profile
- Parent/Guardian Financial Aid Glossary: Helpful resource for understanding the language related to financial aid.
Websites
- How to Apply for Financial Aid: Applying for financial aid is a crucial first step toward an affordable degree or credential. This is especially true for students from low- and middle-income families. If students don’t apply for financial aid, they can’t get scholarships, grants, or loans from schools or state and federal financial aid programs. This web page provides information on both the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA).
- Washington College Grant: The Washington College Grant is one of the most generous financial aid programs in the country. The grant gives more money to more people for more kinds of education and training beyond high school. Funding is guaranteed for eligible students. The guarantee of financial aid can help reduce the affordability barriers that currently prevent students from pursuing college and career education.
- Plan Your Future: The Plan Your Future page provides information on career exploration, applying to colleges, state financial aid programs, and more for high school juniors and seniors.
- College Bound Scholarship: The College Bound Scholarship is an early commitment of state financial aid to eligible students who sign up in middle school and fulfill the scholarship pledge. Visitors to the site can find information on College Bound eligibility and access. Counselors will also find a host of resources to help parents and students understand and access the program.
- Passport to Careers: The Passport to Careers program helps students who have experienced foster care or unaccompanied homelessness to prepare for and succeed in college, apprenticeships, or pre-apprenticeship programs.
- Visit the Federal Student Aid Resources site for downloadable resources in English and Spanish on a variety of topics from “Who’s my parent?” to “Understanding dependency”.
- WASFA information https://wsac.wa.gov/wasfa
SchooLinks: Remember to do your SchooLinks tasks that help with learning more about Financial Aid and your High School and Beyond Plans.
- Complete your BRAG Sheet in SchooLinks, yearly. This will help your teachers and counselors write informed recommendation letters for you later.
- Submit your SMART GOALS, Tasks and High School and Beyond Plans-yearly-This helps your teachers and counselors and guardians see what you are hoping to do after high school. It opens up communications and allows us to see how we can support your future decisions.
- Resumes-If you haven't already-you will want to upload your resume to your High School and Beyond Plan as a pdf document. (This is for ALL SENIORS-including Running Start students).
Scholarships: Remember to be accessing the CCRC Scholarship Website to see what Scholarships you might be eligible for:
https://capital.osd.wednet.edu/counseling/career_center/scholarship_information
FOR SENIORS ONLY:
IF you haven't completed the Financial aid for your post high school education, now would be a great time to do it. You can have help getting started on this, in the CCRC and many local colleges have financial aid counselors willing to help our students and families answer any questions they might have.
FAFSA and WASFA information
College Information: Early Action: for some colleges this has passed but there are others that are still open for early action. Be careful to understand the difference between Early Action, Early Decision to make sure they are NOT binding. If they are binding, it is a good idea to know what you are bound to. Please check with your student's colleges to see when they need to apply. Remember, after you apply to your colleges, you must ADD your college in SchooLinks so your school information can be provided to your college. Here is the College Application guide: SchooLinks_Student_College_Application_Guide_1_1.pptx.pdf
Teacher RECOMMENDATION is also through SCHOOLINKS under each COLLEGE they apply for. If you are requesting any recommendations from any other people outside of an educator, you will do that either through Common App or the School Specific app, BUT all teacher recommendations will go through SchooLinks. You may refer to this SchooLinks_Student_College_Application_Guide_1_1.pptx.pdf or come into the CCRC to get help from Mrs. Smith.
Scholarships for all grades: Remember to be accessing the CCRC Scholarship Website to see what Scholarships you might be eligible for:
https://capital.osd.wednet.edu/counseling/career_center/scholarship_information
Questions:
Contact Mrs. Smith at
[email protected] or schedule an appointment using the link:
Schedule Appointment
OSD Notice of Non-discrimination