Henry David Thoreau Elementary

8224 NE 138th Street Kirkland, WA 98034

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H. D. Thoreau Elementary

School

8224 NE 138^th

Kirkland, WA 98034

425-823-4350

FAX: 425-814-4986

Web: http://wwwtho.lwsd.org/

Steve Roetcisoender, Principal

Email: sroetcisoender@lkwash.wednet.edu

October 1, 2004

October

6 Student Bank Day

8 PTA Ribbet Run Fundraiser

13 Student Bank Day

20 Student Bank Day

Student Picture Day

29 No School-Professional Development Day

PRINCIPAL’S PERSPECTIVE

Volunteering

With Curriculum nights completed, many of you have made commitments to volunteer in a variety of ways here at Thoreau. THANK YOU!!! As I visit classrooms, I am already seeing many parents helping our students make academic gains in reading, writing, and mathematics. If you have not yet signed up to volunteer, but would like to, please stop by the office and complete a volunteer form. For our student’s safety, it is a district mandate for all volunteers helping in schools to have a completed Volunteer Form filed in the school’s office. If you are new to volunteering at school, the following tips will help optimize your time.

*Be on time. The students’ learning activities are carefully scheduled. Being even ten minutes late can disrupt the scheduling of other classes and activities

*Let the teacher know about cancellations. Giving as much notice as possible is appreciated. Canceling may mean a change in class activities. If possible, finding a replacement is helpful.

*Siblings at school. Ask yourself if having a younger child with you will inhibit the experience that you want as a volunteer. Will you be able to focus on the class or will you need to be supervising your child?

*Confidentiality. Respect students’ rights by treating their learning and behavior in a confidential manner. The classroom is a protected environment for learning. It is important not to discuss students’ abilities or actions in the classroom.

POPCORN

Popcorn sales are back! Each Thursday during lunch time the 6^th graders will be selling popcorn for $.35 a bag.

CONGRATULATIONS TO SEPTEMBER TOP FROG WINNERS!

From the Class of:	Top Frog
Ms. Rebecca Peterson	Andre
Ms. Cary Platzke	Jonathan
Ms. Skye Van Cleave	Derek
Mrs. Linda Sickles	Joshua
Mrs. Lindstrom/ Amundsen	Jared
Mrs. Marie Hartford	Bradley
Ms. Carol Guthrie	Aurelie
Mr. Lon Turner	Danika
Ms. Jan Vunak	Rose
Mr. John Turnbull	Raegan
Ms. Ann Holman	Kaley
Mr. Hank Snider	Amber
Mr. Ken Elsworth	Payam
Mrs. Patricia Rosenberger	Joseph
Mrs. Deborah Byrne	Joseph

Check out our website for the latest information!

wwwtho.lwsd.org/

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO COUNT RIBBET RUN MONEY

With success comes work! We would very much appreciate a few more volunteers to help count the Ribbet Run money on Tuesdays, from 7-8:30pm, at the school. These next few weeks it will get very busy. Even if you can only come one of the four Tuesdays in October, that’s OK! Please let Margaret Adams (820-0284) know if you can help. Thank you!!

DAY OF THE RIBBET RUN - VOLUNTEER

Volunteer confirmation forms were sent home (via kid mail) to all of you that volunteered to help on the day of the Ribbet Run. If you have not yet received confirmation, please call Margaret Adams @ 425 820-0284 OR please just come to the Ribbet Run and check in at the “Ribbet Run Volunteer” sign to find out your assignment. Please check in by1:00pm at Big Finn Hill Park, first baseball field on the right, just past Thoreau’s driveways. Thank you for volunteering!!!!

RIBBET RUN IS NEXT WEEK, OCT 8 (FRI)

The Ribbet Run is next Friday, October 8^th! Parents, please help remind your child(ren) to wear comfortable shoes and clothing in which to run. Layers work great! In the past years the weather has turned nice by the afternoon. Water will be provided. All are welcome to watch the students run. If you are able to volunteer on the day of the Ribbet Run and

have not yet filled in a volunteer form, please do so right away. It’s OK if you have small children with you, just let us know so we can assign you to something appropriate. In the meantime, keep those pledges coming in to school every Tuesday. Prizes are handed out on Thursday mornings.

PARENT EDUCATION CLASS

Homework Structure That Works: Kirsten Jackson, M. Ed.

Join us for a parent workshop in the library Thursday October 28, 7:00pm-8:30pm. Free childcare will be available in the gym and door prizes given to the first 10 parents! In this class, Kirsten strives to show parents how to guide their children in how to access knowledge, to communicate effectively, to identify strengths and weaknesses, and to take ownership of their education. She reviews the role of the parent, how to define the child's struggle, how to create the ideal situation for learning, and how to incorporate the reality of life.

STUDENT BANK DAYS

Yeah! Student banking days are scheduled for every Wednesday during student lunch times. Your child may make their deposits in the PTA office across from the main office at Thoreau. If your child does not yet have an account and you would like to sign your child up for one, have your child stop by the PTA office during lunchtime on any Wednesday and pick up information.

JOIN PTA

Join PTA by October 15 and your name will be entered to win one of 5 prizes. Drawing will be held on Oct. 21 at the first General Meeting. (You do not have to be present to win.) The cost is $10.00 for individual membership and $16.00 for a family membership. Make checks payable to Thoreau PTA and submit with your name and address to your child's teacher or the office. For more info contact Denice Loken at 814-9726 or denandpaul@aol.com.

ALBERTSON'S PARTNER CARD

We sent home Albertson's Partner Cards. Use or give to a relative or friend to use when shopping at Albertson's. The card is already registered; just have them scan when you check out. They pay Thoreau up to 5% of your purchase. For additional cards contact Polly Blanchard 820-8909 or polly@mccarthygmac.com.

CHESS CLUB

Thank you to all that signed up for Chess Club!! We have about 26 enrolled! YEAH!! This should be really fun for the students! You will receive a receipt for payment next week. The first class is Tuesday, October 5, in Ms. VanCleave’s classroom. Please be on time to pick up your child at 4:30pm.

SCIENCE ADVENTURES

This is a well liked after school program with thematically based lessons to teach kids science concepts. Students construct and take home over twenty projects and activities in each five-week session. Unfortunately the minimum number of students did not sign up by the deadline date, so the first 5-week session has been cancelled. If you are interested in the next 5-week session, please look for the next flyer to come home and sign up right away. For more information you may visit their website at www.scienceadventures.com or call 1-800-472-4362.

STUDY CLUB

A quiet, focused class with a teacher available to help with specific subjects as needed is available this year. Fall session runs October 11 through November 3, Mondays and Wednesdays after school. Due date for payment and registration is September 27. Contact Polly Blanchard at 820-8909 or polly@mccarthygmac.com.

HONOR CHOIR

Any child who likes to sing and is in the 4-6th grade is invited to join the Honor Choir. Practices are Mondays and Thursdays after school from 3:15-4:00pm. Session is October to June and there is a one-time fee of $15.00. They have a great time performing at many places in the community, and at the end of the year they have a field trip to the Seattle Center. We are lucky to have a very sweet and experienced music instructor, Mrs. Paige. Registration forms are in the office or call 823-4350.

KUDOS

Thank you to all of you who have volunteered to chair or help on a committee!! A member on the board has hopefully contacted you to let you know that we received your form. We have given your name to the appropriate committee Chair. The Chair will be contacting you before the event! We really want your involvement and ideas, so if you do not hear from someone, or have forgotten what you signed up for just contact me!! Polly Blanchard 425-820-8909 or polly@mccarthygmac.com.