Redhawks News
September 9, 2025
We’ve been talking about this for several weeks now, and the excitement has only grown. Students and staff alike are buzzing with anticipation for tomorrow’s very first House Day at Port Townsend High School. The idea for bringing a House system to PTHS came from Mr. Freeman, who experienced this model firsthand while teaching overseas. Now, that vision is becoming reality.
One of the things students are most excited about is the unveiling of the overall House theme and the individual House names. Until now, those details have been kept under wraps, and the mystery has only added to the anticipation. Many are curious to see what ideas will shape the identity of their Houses and inspire the challenges and traditions that follow.
The day is packed with activities, including advisory sessions, a full House meeting, and the highly anticipated first-ever House Challenge Activity. Sophomore CJ Fisher has felt the energy building all week. “I’ve heard a lot of talking about House Day and all of its excitement,” CJ said. “I haven’t heard anyone that’s really opposed to houses… me and my friends have been talking about it since the start of the week, and I’m stoked - super stoked.”
Unlike traditional advisory groups, the House system is designed to mix students from all grade levels, creating new connections across the school. CJ is especially looking forward to this: “I think it’s unique because I get to know more people than I would with the other just advisory groups. Last year my whole advisory group was mainly just freshmen and sophomores, so I didn’t really get to know the juniors or some of the seniors that well back then. I’m super excited to get to know people that I wouldn’t have known before.”
When it comes to House Day’s first challenge, CJ is clear about his goal: “The activity, because I am ready to win against everyone.” That competitive drive is at the heart of the House spirit, but CJ also reminded students that participation is what matters most: “Just have fun. Even if you really don’t want to do it, having that mindset that it’s going to be fun is just going to make it like a hundred times better.”
Looking ahead, CJ believes the House system will transform the school year. “I think it’s not only going to make people have more fun during advisory, it’s also going to make a lot more competition—and I think that’s going to be really fun.” And if he had to sum up what tomorrow will bring? His answer was short and spirited: "Fighting. Laughing. Victory."
With that energy, excitement, and a strong foundation inspired by Mr. Freeman’s vision, House Day promises to be an unforgettable kickoff to a brand-new tradition at PTHS.
The after-school tutoring program begins on September 18, offering students a supportive and incredibly positive environment to get the help they need. While tutors are available for every subject, this year’s emphasis is again on math, a subject where students often need the most support. Tutoring sessions will take place every Tuesday and Thursday from 3:15 to 4:30 in the library.
Mr. Taylor, the lead teacher for the program, explained why math is such a priority. “Math is often the class that students get their lowest grades and our assessment data indicates that is an area where they could use some improvement,” he said. Freshmen are especially encouraged to attend, particularly for help in Algebra and Biology, two subjects that often shape the foundation of their high school academic experience.
The program is strengthened by a partnership with volunteers from Skillmation, who bring additional support and expertise to each session. “The fact that we have 2-3 volunteers every session means we can help more students and provide more one-on-one help when necessary,” Taylor said. This ensures students have the opportunity to ask questions, work through challenges, or simply find a quiet space to study.
According to Taylor, every student can find value in attending. “Just show up—someone will greet them with a smile, ask what they need, and offer assistance,” he said. Last year’s program proved that consistent tutoring pays off: students grew more comfortable with math, saw their grades improve, and eventually needed less extra support as their confidence increased.
As the new year begins, Taylor is especially looking forward to seeing younger students take advantage of the opportunity. “I’m excited to see more freshman and Algebra students come in to take advantage,” he said.
With its welcoming environment, skilled volunteers, and focus on core academic success, after-school tutoring is set to become a key resource for PTHS students once again this year.
Next Tuesday, September 16, the PTHS auditorium will host the world premiere of Tougher: A Wrestling Documentary at 7:00 pm. The film was produced and directed by 2025 graduates Bryce Harbin and Benja Greene as their senior project and will be shown free of charge, open to the entire community.
The documentary highlights the hard work and passion of Port Townsend’s wrestling program, featuring athletes Mason Iverson, Grady White, and Gracee Liske. Harbin explained how the idea took shape: “I started to do a bunch of preparation for another project and Benja came to me with the idea and I thought, you’re completely right. We then started talking with Mr. Kubik, who runs the after-school weightlifting program, and we noticed that the majority of those in the program were wrestlers and that the wrestlers trained unlike any other athletes.”
The project was no small undertaking. Harbin estimates they put in well over 100 hours of work. “One challenge towards the end was burnout, like every other senior. When something takes this long, burnout can be kind of inevitable. Even finding the right music for the scenario. Another challenge was finding times for interviews… Filming took a long time. State was super challenging, we were there 4-5 hours the first day and a solid 8 the second day.”
Harbin hopes that the film gives wrestling the attention it deserves at PTHS. “I hope the wrestlers have a huge boost to their numbers and I hope they get more support at home. These are some really talented athletes and you can’t compare wrestling to another sport. They work extremely hard and it’s the best feeling when they have a huge crowd.”
And the showing is for everyone, whether or not you know anything about wrestling. “Our main goal was that, if someone didn’t have any background with wrestling, they would still enjoy the show,” Harbin said. He added that it’s also a chance for the broader community to recognize the passion of local youth: “I feel like a lot of our youth are underrepresented in our community. I don’t think the general public knows what the community’s youth are doing, I would say to them to come and see. You can see how passionate student athletes are about their team, their friends, their sport.”
Join us on September 16 at 7:00 pm in the PTHS auditorium to celebrate the premiere of Tougher: A Wrestling Documentary. It promises to be an inspiring evening that shines a spotlight on the dedication of PTHS student-athletes and the creative talent of two recent graduates.
All families are encouraged to complete a Free and Reduced-Price Meal Application for the 2025–26 school year. Applications must be filled out annually, and even if you don’t think your family will qualify, submitting one still helps PTHS secure vital funding for our school community.
About Port Townsend High School
Website: https://highschool.ptschools.org/
Location: 1500 Van Ness Street, Port Townsend, WA, USA
Phone: 360.379.4520
Non-discrimination statement
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
Title IX Officer:
Carrie Ehrhardt
1610 Blaine Street
(360) 680-5756
Section 504/ADA Coordinator
Shelby Macmeekin
1610 Blaine Street
(360) 379-4501
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
