A WELCOME FROM PRINCIPAL ROTHAUS

September 2, 2008

 Dear Mustang Parents and Students,

 It is with great excitement and pleasure that I extend a warm welcome to the 2008-2009 school year to all Margaret Mead Elementary students and their families!!  On behalf of our staff and PTSA, we are looking forward to continuing our focus on having Margaret Mead Elementary become the center of our community for both adult and student learners.  We are proud to serve the children and families of the Mead community and look forward to working with you as partners in your child’s education throughout the year. 

You are a vital part of your child’s education, and we encourage you to be a school volunteer.  Being a volunteer at school makes it possible for you to participate in your child’s school experience, to get to know the school staff, and to understand the goals we have for students at Margaret Mead.  Volunteer opportunities will vary from class to class.  Be sure to let your child’s teacher know of your desire to volunteer and of your special interests and skills.   If you work during the day, you can ask your child’s teacher for something you can help with at home.  In addition to classroom volunteering, there are other opportunities to volunteer at school such as with our Read Naturally program or as a classroom art docent.  Statistics indicate that children of parents who are involved in school-even in a very small way-perform much better at school. 

We celebrate the level of support we have from our parents and community members.  You are a vital component in our partnership for student success!   If you believe you will volunteer at any time during the year and you did not completed the revised LWSD Volunteer paperwork last fall, please fill out the required volunteer paperwork that has been provided in this first day packet.  It's best to get your approval early so you’ll be ready for any last minute field trips or unexpected tasks.  In addition to the form, volunteers are asked to submit a copy of their driver’s license to the building Office Manager (Meg Wade or Debbie Lerner).  Once you have completed this paperwork, it does not have to be redone for two years.

We look forward to seeing you at our upcoming Curriculum Night on

Thursday, September 18, 2008.  The teachers will be planning for the following sessions which will take place in their classrooms:

6:00-6:45 PM Grades 3 and 4

                        6:50-7:35 PM Grades 5 and 6

                                    7:40-8:25 PM Grades K, 1, 2

In line with our commitment to safety at Margaret Mead Elementary School and to providing a consistent foundation for all of our families, we ask that each student sit down with an adult from home to read through the Margaret Mead Responsibility Guide for the child’s grade level that is included in this packet as well as the Lake Washington School District Elementary School-Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook which is available on our school website or from the link on the Parent Organizer.  These resources contain valuable information about our school and the Lake Washington School District programs, policies, and procedures, including sections pertaining to harassment, weapons and human dignity.  School is a place where children learn academic and social skills that help prepare them for adulthood.  Though behaviors may range in degree from mild to severe, unacceptable behaviors that are harmful or interfere with learning will not be tolerated in our school.  Inappropriate behavior will result in consequences that help children learn from their mistakes.  It is our desire to have every child feels safe while attending Margaret Mead Elementary. Your child’s safety at school and in route to our school is a number one priority.  Safety issues require focused attention for all members of our community.  the school-wide expectations which are coming home with all students today. 

Please sign the attachment verifying that you have reviewed the Margaret Mead Responsibility Guide and the Lake Washington School District Elementary School-Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook and return this form to your child’s classroom teacher by September 12, 2008.  These expectations will be discussed in each classroom and emphasized throughout our school. We appreciate your support in reinforcing this important information with your child(ren) in order to ensure that it is well understood throughout our community.

I look forward to another year of opportunities and student growth.  Margaret Mead has an incredibly dedicated staff, supportive parent community, and a wonderful student body.   I am thrilled you are a part of our wonderful school family! Please contact me at 868-0760 or email srothaus@lwsd.org with any concerns.

Respectfully,            

Shawna Rothaus, Principal