SLHS Newsletter

• 10/7 - College and Career Day
• 10/16 - No classes (teacher professional development)
• 10/28 - 10/30 - Conferences
• 11/11 - Veterans Day (no classes)
• 11/25-27 - Thanksgiving break

Planning ahead? We are! The key dates for the 2026-2027 school year have been announced!

• October 28-30, 2026: Fall Conferences

• November 11, 2026: Veterans Day (no school)

• November 24, 2026: End of Trimester 1 - Early Dismissal

• November 25-27, 2026: Thanksgiving Break

• December 21, 2026 -Jan 1, 2027: Winter Break

• March 31- April 2, 2027: Student Led Conferences

• April 4-9, 2027: Spring Break

• June 15, 2027: Last Day of School

You can find these dates, along with the full 2026/27 calendar HERE

SWAY Health Science CTE teachers recently hosted our first student interviews with MultiCare Good Samaritan Hospital as part of an exciting new partnership. This opportunity connected our Health Science students directly with healthcare professionals and opened doors to potential job shadows, internships, and real-world healthcare experiences. Students listened to an informational presentation and then had on the spot interviews in hopes of landing a volunteer position at Good Samaritan Hospital. Students are committing to 125 volunteer hours over the next 8 months, and we are excited to follow their journey on this amazing healthcare opportunity. Go SWAY!

We want to celebrate our amazing Dual Language students who took the AP Spanish Language and Culture exam this past May. Almost 90% of the class passed the exam and significantly exceeded the State and Global scores. Thank you, Ms. Ruiz for teaching our students and thank you to our Dual Language kids for your extraordinary effort!

Congratulations to Irene Mambo and Kinard Wilder Jr (only one in the District to be second time recipient!), two of our amazing scholars who received the Elizabeth Wesley Award in recognition of academic excellence. The Elizabeth Wesley Youth Achievement Award is a prominent incentive and recognition program in Pierce County, designed to honor outstanding African American high school students. Go SWAY!

The amazing art you see in this newsletter portraying our mascot, the sentinel, has been made by artist students in our extraordinary community. They organized an approached the administration with their art, which we are happy to display here! Go SWAY!

All students keep their iPads for the incoming 2026 - 2027 school year. If there are issues with missing or broken iPads, please go to the SLHS Library to receive support.

Sentinel Student News

Are you fluent in another language? Can you read, speak, write and understand in that other language? If so, see your School Counselor to sign up for the World Language test. You can earn upto 4 credits and a Seal of Biliteracy.

LGBTQAI+ History Month in the United States is celebrated in October. It offers a dedicated time to reflect on the pivotal leaders, milestones, and movements that have shaped the ongoing pursuit of civil rights and social change. Founded in 1994, this annual observance focuses on education and historical awareness, honoring the activists and community contributions that have advanced equality and increased visibility across generations. In SLHS we celebrate our students, staff, and community members who identify as LGBTQAI+

French Club will meet every 3rd Monday after school in room 215. First meeting of the year is September 21 where we will elect officers and discuss 26-27 goals. Details on French Club poster upstairs. All are welcome to practice French, discuss French-speaking culture, crafts, film, fun. Bring a friend!!

We will meet every 3rd Tuesday after school in room 216. First meeting of the year is September 22 where we will elect officers and discuss 26-27 goals. Details are on our Club posters upstairs. All are welcome to come join in discussions, learn more about our culture, enjoy crafting, movie night, and support our community on Family Fun Nights. Bring a friend!!

• Thursday, October 15

• Only for students who did not take a picture on the first day

If you're dropping off or picking up your student, or if you're a student driver, please be mindful of pedestrian traffic and potential congestion in the school parking areas. It's important to drop off or pick up your student promptly and keep moving to help reduce congestion. It is also important not to drive on the wrong lane and not to park in a driveway (particularly near the gates) to allow everybody to keep moving and facilitate access and exit from school.

Additionally, please be considerate of the buses that arrive to drop off and pick up students in the morning and afternoon. Avoid blocking their access to campus and be aware of the traffic on 168th.

Thank you for your cooperation, and remember that arriving a bit earlier is always helpful!

School buses are back: Know when to stop

School buses are heading back out on the roads, which means it is time for a quick refresher on when to stop for those red flashing lights! Always keep an eye out for yellow buses, slow down in school zones, and remember: when in doubt about whether to stop, play it safe and bring your vehicle to a full stop! Drivers who illegally pass a stopped school bus face a mandatory $500 fine that cannot be waived, reduced, or suspended. Our bus drivers work hard to get our students to and from school safely each day. Let's help them out by staying alert and driving with caution! Learn more HERE.

Community & Crisis Resources

When challenges feel overwhelming, knowing where to turn for help can make all the difference. Our Community & Crisis Resources page has contact information for trusted crisis support services, including mental health counseling, suicide prevention, substance abuse resources, and specialized assistance for youth and families in Pierce County and beyond. Go HERE for more information.

When you log in to ParentVUE, you'll be prompted to complete the 2026-27 Student/Family Update. This yearly update is crucial for planning bus routes and other details for next school year. Click HERE to learn more.

Bethel School District and its 3 high schools will be cashless and using GoFan for ticketing during the 2026/2027 School Year for all Volleyball, Basketball and Wrestling events. No cash will be accepted while purchasing tickets for those events.

This ticketing process will be similar to what we see at all postseason events throughout the WCD and State Playoffs. I also wanted to share that it will be best to purchase your tickets prior to arriving at the event, as cell phone reception may not be the fastest once you enter the building.

Please consult the link HERE for further information about Athletics.

GO SWAY!

Cell phones can take away valuable learning time by breaking students’ focus, increasing off-task behavior, and slowing down how long it takes to complete work. At SLHS, we have a no cell phone policy in classrooms, and we’re asking for your partnership in supporting this expectation at home.

Please talk with your student and let them know you support this rule and understand why it matters. This is not about punishment—it’s about:

• Protecting valuable learning time

• Reducing stress and social pressure

• Helping students stay focused and present

• 
  

Your support truly makes a difference in helping students build healthy habits and succeed in school.

Student Enrollment for 2026/27

Do you, or someone you know, need to enroll a student for this school year? Enrollment is done online and you can find everything you need to get started HERE.

First consideration deadline for accepting student transfer requests for the 2026-27 school year will be March 13, 2026 for all grades, K through 12. Requests received after the deadline may not be considered until the week of August 10. Requests submitted after August 17 will be reviewed after September 5 when actual enrollment counts are in. All transfer requests for 2026-27 will be done electronically. Click HERE for more information.

We know that transitioning to a new school district can be both exciting and difficult. So, we have created a webpage to assist our military families who are moving to the Bethel School District. Welcome! And thanks to you and your family for your service to our country! Click HERE for more information.

The Superintendent’s Student Leadership Council recently led discussions with our School Board on staff diversity and the need for more multicultural programs and interpreters. They also brought practical solutions to the table, requesting updates to the advisory curriculum to include "real-life skills" like financial literacy. While algebra has its place, they want to graduate knowing how to handle loans, credit, taxes, and mortgages, while also mastering professional skills like resume building and interviewing. Read more HERE.

For absences of 4 or more consecutive days a Pre-Arranged Absence Form is required. It must be signed by teachers and reviewed, approved or not approved by Admin - please turned it in prior to leave dates.

Parents, If your student is marked absent by their teacher(s) and your student reports they are in class, it is your student responsibility to reach out their teacher to clear the absence.

For Early Dismissal please utilize ParentVue or send in a note to attendance and have your student pick up an Early Dismissal Pass (prior to class start) to give to their teacher. This reduces class interruptions.

Class of 2027:

See below for post high school planning that you should be doing now!

Connect with Us

• Want a 1:1 meeting with College & Career staff? HERE

• Stay up to date with the full weekly update Here

SLHS College & Career Center Snapshot (Grades 9–12)

Seniors – FAFSA & WASFA Applications Open October 1st!

Apply today at Studentaid.gov or WSAC.org.

Completing the FAFSA opens the door to grants, scholarships, and funding to help pay for college!

Don’t wait—apply today! Need help? Come to the SLHS Financial Aid Help Night at Pierce County Skills Center October 13th to get hands on help with your FAFSA or WASFA!

Ready to jumpstart your college and career journey—or start applying for scholarships? Let’s go!

Key Resources

• 9–12 College Knowledge Timeline Book – Your step-by-step guide.

• SchooLinks – Explore careers, colleges, and scholarships.

• Career Center Canvas – Self-enroll for A–Z resources, upcoming events, and field trips.

The Sentinel Resource Center (SRC) is here to support students and their families with basic needs or assistance with referrals to local resources. If you or your family needs assistance and/or you would like to volunteer or donate to the SRC, please reach out by emailing thall@bethelsd.org or by completing the Sentinel Resource Center Referral Form HERE

The following resources are available on-site for students and/or families to retrieve at any time.

• Clothing

• Hygiene Products

• Non-perishable food items

• School Supplies

If there is a resource that is not available on-site, the Family Resource Coordinator or School Social Worker will connect you to a community agency for additional support.

Our Goals

• Promote academic achievement

• Reduce barriers to learning by assisting with student and family needs.

• Provide a supportive environment at school where parent/guardian(s) involvement is encouraged

• Build and nurture school, home, and community partnerships

Contact Information:

• Phone: 253-800-5647

• Email: thall@bethelsd.org

• Referral Form HERE

Sentinel students and families are welcome to contact their counselor by email:

Last names: A – CP

Jennifer Brock (jbrock@bethelsd.org). To schedule an appointment click HERE

Last names: CR – HE

Jennifer Wood (jcwood@bethelsd.org). To schedule an appointment click HERE

Last names: HF – MON

Dr. Kelsey Nugent (knugent@bethelsd.org). To schedule an appointment click HERE

Last names: MOO – SD

Kirsten Winter (kwinter@bethelsd.org). To schedule an appointment click HERE

Last names: SE – Z

Mandy Springer (aspringer@bethelsd.org). To schedule an appointment click HERE

Office hours: 7:25 a.m. - 2:45 p.m.

Assistant Principals

12th grade: Sean Carrick: scarrick@bethelsd.org

11th grade: Marco Viniegra: mviniegra@bethelsd.org

10th grade: Elizabeth Brobbey: ebrobbey@bethelsd.org

Associate Administrator Brooke Van Arsdale: bvanarsdal@bethelsd.org (9th grade)

Athletic Director Brooke Wilkinson: bwilkinson@bethelsd.org

Website: https://www.bethelsd.org/slhs
Location: 1305 168th St E, Spanaway, WA, USA
Phone: 253-800-5600
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Spanaway-Lake-High-School-1740472332859797/?ref=bookmarks