Guest speakers are just one of the ways Charles Wright Academy exposes students to diverse perspectives and experiences.  Already this year the school has welcomed a famous author and illustrator, representatives from both of the major political parties, and a college science professor.  This Friday, Upper School students will meet Coach Bruce Brown and explore the life lessons of athletics. Read the rest of this entry »

This was the CWA Middle School’s week to shine.  As Upper School sports teams got back into the swing of things following experiential ed week, Middle School athletes put things into high gear for the first full week of competition.  The results are very promising, not only for this season but for the future of Tarrier athletics. Read the rest of this entry »

Every fall CWA’s sophomore class embarks on a week-long experience known simply as outdoor ed.  This right of passage usually takes the form of four or five-day backpacking trips in the Olympic and Cascade Mountains.  Canoeing and kayaking groups traditionally explore Puget Sound.

This year Head Librarian Jane Riches took five students on an outdoor ed trip that was unusual even for Charles Wright.  Her group traveled aboard the Bear, a 26-foot wooden longboat replicate of the vessels used by great Northwest explorers like Captain James Cook, Sir Ernest Shackleton and George Vancouver.  Read the rest of this entry »

It is a truth universally accepted that eighth-grade students are more concerned about their image than their grammar.  That’s why Rob Scotlan, a 29-year-old English teacher at Charles Wright Academy in Tacoma, is doing his part to bring grammar back.

“Not being able to use grammar properly when you speak and write can really damage your image,” says Scotlan.  “If you’re going to make a good impression on someone, you want to use the Queen’s English.”
Read the rest of this entry »

It’s been a quiet week for CWA athletics.  With the sophomore class on their outdoor ed backpacking trips, most teams took this as a by-week.  The exceptions were the cross-country and boys tennis teams and both teams won.  In the week ahead, Charles Wright’s Middle School teams will face their first full week of competition and every Upper School team will compete a well.  Tarrier fans can watch tennis, volleyball and soccer on campus. Read the rest of this entry »

No one knows more about how Charles Wright’s athletic program works than the alums it has served, many of whom have built on the skills and abilities they developed here while competing during their college careers.  This year we’re asking a few of those alums to share their thoughts on the athletic program with you. Alex Crabill, a 2006 graduate of Charles Wright and a junior at UCLA, is the first to share his memories here on the blog. Read the rest of this entry »

The first full week of fall sports action was intense at Charles Wright.  The frantic voting for KIRO-TV’s high school football game-of-the-week paid off when the camera’s rolled at the Headmaster’s picnic game against King’s.  All that clicking and refreshing aside, the school’s greatest athletic accomplishment of the week was a stunning performance by the boys’ cross-country team at their first meet of the season.  The Tarriers took first, second, and third and it sure looks like they’re on their way to fullfilling the expectations of the pre-season coaches’ poll which ranked them third in the state.

Read the rest of this entry »

Elliot Rosen, a sophomore at Charles Wright and an aspiring sports announcer/broadcaster, launched the school’s first online show this week, the Tarrier Sports Report.  Two episodes of the Tarrier Sports Report are now available online giving fans new insights into the successes of their favorite teams.  Read the rest of this entry »

We had a spectacular turnout at the farmhouse this week! I think everyone was totally energized with the laughter, new faces and good cheer that our weekly treasure-hunt inspires. As usual, we had a receiving room full-to-the-ceiling with freshly-donated items. It’s always a wonder how our contributors can part with so many good things. Thank you for supporting the school in this way! Read the rest of this entry »

The first full week of sports competition has Tarrier fans on the edge of their seats.  The tennis and soccer teams have recorded their first victories.  The volleyball team played extremely well against a very competitive team from Vashon.  And all across the country, Tarrier fans are clicking away, voting online to have this week’s Headmaster Picnic football game recognized as KIRO-TV’s game-of-the-week.  Read the rest of this entry »