Frog News
H. D. Thoreau Elementary
School
8224 NE 138th
Kirkland, WA 98034
425-823-4350
FAX: 425-814-4986
Web: http://wwwtho.lkwash.wednet.edu
Steve Roetcisoender, Principal
Email: sroetcisoender@lkwash.wednet.edu
September
3, 2004
September
10 PTA Ice Cream Social and Information Night 7pm-8:30pm
16 Primary Curriculum Night 6:30-7:30pm
23 Intermediate Curriculum Night 6:30-7:30pm
30 Kindergarten Curriculum Night 6:30-7:30pm
October
8 PTA Ribbit Run
Fundraiser
Principal’s
Perspective
As the new school year begins, I’d like to officially
welcome our new families and our returning families. Our first week is now
complete and we are well underway for an exciting year.
There have been many improvements made to our campus over
the summer, some visible and some not. We now have black top pathways
connecting the exterior doors of the upper level classrooms – no more wet
shoes as we practice fire drills. Our playfield now has soccer goals, with
nets! Thanks to our PTA and a great suggestion from parents, Thoreau students can
now enjoy a game of soccer at recess. We also have a new collection of
playground equipment for our primary students to enjoy while at recess. There
has been warranty work completed on a few items inside the building that
should help to keep things running smoothly as well.
Thoreau PTA has been hard at work, as always. This year
students will have after school opportunities in art, science, karate, and
chess. We
also have a new home work
program. Please be sure to review PTA
information about these new programs.
On Thursday, the Office
of the Superintendent of Public Instruction released
WASL scores for 2004. We are pleased to see good progress in Reading (up 11
points, from 72% to 83%), Math (up 26 points, from 39% to 65%) and Writing
(up 20 points, from 52% to 72%). My thanks to those parents who helped work
toward our School Improvement Goals (SIP) through classroom help, the Mighty
Math program, and participation in our SIP brainstorming meeting.
One other bit of information that I’d like to share that
may seem a little out of place but I do believe is positive news to share.
Our school experienced only three incidences of vandalism over the summer.
This is down significantly. Two of the incidences were interrupted by
community members while the vandalism was in progress, minimizing damage.
Please continue to report any suspicious activity promptly to police. My goal
for Thoreau is to have no vandalism occur in the coming year.
The 2004/2005 school year is off to a great start. Our
staff is in the process of developing SIP goals for the year and we’ll be
sharing those with you in a few weeks. Thank you for the privilege of working
with your children. Thoreau students are awesome!
New School Year
Tips for Parents: Developing Positive
Communication with Your Child
Families have a unique
opportunity to get to know their children every day. Whether it is at the end
of the school day or in the evening after work, take some quality time to
communicate with your children. Remember, communicating means talking with
them, not to them. The following simple communication tips will go a long way
toward improving your relationships with your children.
-Spend time with your children.
If you arrive home from work after your children, take some time with them
before you start to attend to your own needs.
-Ask your children “open-ended”
questions. Rather than asking “How was school today?” say “Tell me about your
day,” or “Tell me about what you did in math today.”
-Show that you are interested
in your children’s feelings. Let them know that how they feel is important.
Ask them how they feel when something goes wrong, when someone slights them or
when they receive praise.
-Take schoolwork and school
experiences seriously. Ask about the school day and really listen to the
answers.
-Encourage them to ask
questions, tell stories, and discuss ideas. Share your day with your children
so they can know you as a person, not just as the adult in charge.
-Demonstrate your love and
support. Even after they become teenagers, children need recognition and
reinforcement that they are special and worthy.
-Appreciate your children for
who they are. They need to be praised for the little everyday things they do
well and to be able to spend time with you to know they are important.
-Be generous with praise. A
good rule of thumb is five positive comments for each negative one. Tell the
truth, though. Children can see through insincerity.
-Show that you are human, too.
Admit it when you’ve made a mistake in dealing with a situation involving
your children.
ORCHESTRA
Intermediate orchestra (2nd
and 3rd year players) will begin on Monday, September 13.
Intermediate orchestra will
meet on Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays, 7:50AM-8:40AM at Juanita High School. Parents need to drop students off at 7:50am and a
school bus will transport them back to Thoreau.
Beginning Orchestra begins the
week of September 20
Beginning Orchestra schedule:
Cellos/Bass Mondays,
Tuesdays, and Wednesdays
Violins/Violas Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and
Thursdays
If you have any questions, please call 425-823-7600
x4516 Kim Merkley and Erika Pierson / Orchestra
Coordinator and Orchestra/Music Teacher
BAND NIGHT
Fifth
and sixth grade students and their parents are invited to attend Band Night
at 7:00pm, September 9 in the Finn Hill Junior High band room. This
event is intended for students who are interested in starting a band instrument.
Parents will be able to have their questions
answered and students will be able to try out various beginning
instruments. If you have any questions before that date, please call
Ron Maier or Paul Robinson at Finn Hill Junior High;
821-6544.
URGENT NEED
--Bus Drivers
($14.29/hr)
--Custodians
($10.83/hr)
--Para-educator
($10.02/hr)
Paid training,
Flexible hours
If interested,
apply online:
www.lkwash.wednet.edu
click on “Job
Opportunities”
and complete classified
application
WEBSITE
Thank
you to Sarah Cuplin who has done a fantastic job updating the website!!
Check it out at wwwtho.lwsd.org. Committee
chairs can check their phone number and email. If wrong, send correct info to
Sarah, please.
STUDENT BANK DAYS
The
yellow volunteer sign-up sheet indicated the Student Bank Day’s Program had
enough volunteers to run the program. However, a couple of people needed to
drop out due to conflicting schedules. If you would be able to volunteer some
time during the student lunches for one Wednesday a month, or you would be
interested in hearing more about the program, please call Nancy Holden, 425
823-2815.
ICE CREAM!!!
Come
and enjoy the Ice Cream Social next Friday,
September 10, 7-8:30pm in the gym. There will be face
painting, a balloon artist, and ice cream! There will be many
booths to share information about programs at Thoreau and in our
community. Any questions, please call Denice Loken, 814-9726 or Kathy Strasbourg, 823-8644
ADVERTISE
We are
offering business card sized ads in our student directory this year. The
directory will be available to all families at Thoreau. If you have
a business or know someone that would like to do this, contact Polly Blanchard at 823-8909 or polly@mccarthygmac.com. It is $35 and proceeds go to our student
enrichment programs. Due date for payment and ad is Sept. 30.
SUMMER BOXTOPS CONTEST
This
program ends September 9. Please put boxtops in a bag with your family’s
name on the bag and turn bag into your child’s teacher. Top two winners
get gift certificates to Target.
-Kathy Strasbourg 823-8644
For
more info go to www.boxtops4education.com.
STUDENT
ACTIVITIES
There
are many new exciting after-school programs offered at Thoreau this year!
Check them out at the September 10 Information Night/Ice Cream Social and
sign up soon!!
KUDOS
Thank
you to Kim Wuchter, and the other parents involved in making the soccer goals
on our field a reality!
Thank
you to Denice Loken and Kathy Strasbourg for the 1st day welcome
back coffee and treats!
Thank
you to Alex Cooper for the wonderful welcome back sign in our lobby!
Thank you to Kirkland Costco
for their donation for treats to welcome back our teachers!
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