Frog News
H. D. Thoreau Elementary
School
8224 NE 138th
Kirkland, WA 98034
425-823-4350
FAX: 425-814-4986
Web: http://wwwtho.lwsd.org/
Steve Roetcisoender, Principal
Email: sroetcisoender@lkwash.wednet.edu
October 8, 2004
October
8 PTA Ribbet
Run Fundraiser
13 Student Bank
Day
20 Student Bank
Day
Student
Picture Day
28 Parent
Education Class, 7-8:30pm (see info.)
29 No
School-Professional Development Day
PRINCIPAL’S
PERSPECTIVE
“Safety before Convenience”
We are fortunate to have two safe drop-off and pick-up areas for
children. Although the afternoon pick up can be slow, it is safe. More
signage is due to be installed that we feel will improve things at the end of
the day.
I’ve had two reports of students being dropped off in areas other
than our own parking lot. The first area is by the service entrance to the
campus. Please do not use this area for student drop off or pick up. 84th
Avenue is not a safe area for loading and unloading kids from cars.
The second area is Apple Tree Lane. Our school has an agreement with
the residents of Apple Tree Lane. The agreement is that we will not use this
cul-de-sac for student drop off and pick up. We need to honor this agreement.
Neighbors are quick to call if they notice this practice starting up.
One more quick note regarding safety. Students that cross 84th
Ave. on the walk home must use a crosswalk. Crossing mid block is a huge
safety issue, especially if some of our younger students see an older student
do this. The younger students follow the examples set for them. Our older
students have the responsibility to set good examples of safety by using the
crosswalks.
ANNUAL
6TH GRADE SALES
The annual 6th grade sales are
under way! The 6th grade students at Thoreau have begun their
annual Fall sales program to help fund the Outdoor Education experience.
These students will be selling Elliott Bay merchandise which includes
terrific gifts for the winter holidays, along with wrapping paper, calendars,
candles, ribbon, candies, etc. In addition to these products we are also
selling the always-popular Otis Spunkmeyer Cookie Dough, brownies, pretzels,
etc. Keep a sharp eye out for a student in your neighborhood selling these
fine foods and holiday gifts. Both sales will began Monday, October 4 and
will end Monday, October 18. Please help support our terrific students and their
Outdoor Education adventure! Thank you! – Mr. Elsworth
THANK
YOU BOY SCOUTS!
Thank you for your service to the members
of Den 3. Noah, Aasim, Gabe, and William pulled weeds from the south flowerbed,
helping to keep Thoreau Elementary looking great! If any other groups need service
projects and would like to donate time to Thoreau, please contact the office.
We have plenty of weeds to go around!
DID
YOU KNOW?
Mrs. Amundsen’s and Mrs. Lindstrom’s 2nd
grade class has their artwork on display at the Dairy Queen in Juanita!
ATTENTION
PARENTS/GUARDIANS (information from our school counselor)
Enjoy parent education from the comfort of your own home! The
Puget Sound Education District has purchased videos and broadcast rights for
the ACTIVE PARENTING NOW video series. The series will be televised on
PSETV (Channel 26) Tuesday and Thursday evenings - beginning October 12.
Air Times:
· Session 1: Oct. 12 and 14 -
7:00 pm
How Different Styles of Parenting Affect Your Child
· Session 2: Oct. 12 and 14 -
7:30 pm
Skills for Building Courage and Self Esteem
· Session 3: Oct. 19 and 21 -
7:00 pm
Why Children Misbehave: Techniques for Avoiding “Paying-off” Behavior
· Session 4: Oct. 19 and 21 -
7:30 pm
Effective Parenting Styles: How Mutual Respect Can Help Parents
Avoid Arguments with their Children
· Session 5: Oct. 26 and 28 -
7:00 pm
Effective Communication Skills and Avoiding Communication Blocks
· Session 6: Oct. 26 and 28 -
7:30 pm
How to Hold Family Meetings and Why They’re Important; Saying “no” to
drugs
DISTRICT FOOD
SERVICE
Food Service is holding a meeting of their
Parent Advisory Committee on October 19, 2004. They would like to invite parent and staff representatives from
each school. They would like to have
as much input on their program as they can, so if you are interested, please
attend the following meeting:
Food Services
Parent Advisory Committee
October 19, 2004
11:00 am
Evergreen Junior
High
Cafeteria
They will tour
the lunchroom and have a question and answer session afterwards.
Check out our
website for the latest information!
wwwtho.lwsd.org/
THE RIBBET RUN WAS TODAY!
By the time you read this your children will have run the Ribbet
Run. Thank you to everyone that
volunteered to help make this happen!!
It is now time to earnestly collect those pledges and
prizes, and try to earn the class pizza party (the class in each of K-3 and
4-6 that brings in the most money)!
And if the entire school brings in $17,500, Mr. R will kiss
a frog!! Pledges can be brought
in to your teacher any Tuesday during October. In order to receive prizes your money has to be in by October
26.
THANK YOU
QFC!!!!!!!!
We wish to thank the Inglewood QFC for
supplying us with Dreyer popsicles for the Ribbet Run. The QFC has done this for many years and
we really appreciate their help in making sure the money our children raise
stays here at Thoreau to benefit our children!! Thank you QFC for supporting this special fundraiser!!
ART DOCENT
TRAINING
Oct. 14
(Thursday), 12:30-3 pm here at Thoreau
Thank you to the many parents that
have already volunteered to be an art docent!! We have tried to reach as many of you as possible to advise you
of the training opportunity here in Thoreau’s art/science room next
week. We hope as many of you as
possible can make this training. If
you have not signed up to be an art docent but are interested, we would love
to have you attend the training. We
know some of you aren’t quite ready to help out this year, and that’s OK!! We
hope that you will sign up next year.
And if you are interested in being an art docent this year but have
not yet signed up, please come to the training! It will help all of us learn about the district’s curriculum and
be able to provide help to our teachers as they teach art. Please contact either of us with questions
(and if you are attending training but have not let us know, please call so
we can be sure the trainer brings adequate supplies). Thank you. Margaret Adams
(820-0284) and Suzanne Morris
(821-3505).
NEW ART CURRICULUM IS COMING!
We are excited about the new curriculum! We have docents for almost all the classes (upper grades still
need some!) We need parents to send
in fabric (can be scraps or quarter yards) if you are willing. The fabric will be used in two projects:
- First
graders will make lines that criss-cross using a variety of textiles
including fabric. These will be
fairly thin lines (1/4 – 1 inch in width)
- Second
graders will be using one-inch strips in various lengths to make a
framework for other art.
We can also use yarn, ribbon, colored string, embroidery floss,
Elmer’s glue, etc. for the first graders.
There is a box under the flyers table where you can leave the
donations or send them to school with your child in a bag clearly marked ‘for
the art curriculum.’
Thanks so much!
Suzanne Morris slg.morris2@verizon.net &
Margaret Adams margaret.jiri@verizon.net
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.
KIDS - PUBLISH YOUR WRITING!
All aspiring authors and poets from Kindergarten - 6th grade are
invited to submit a short story (150 words or less) or a poem to be considered
for publication in an upcoming Ribbet Review PTA newsletter. This is
not a contest and the writings will not be judged as such. Every effort
will be made to publish all work, space permitting, but depending on the
number of submittals there may be some that are not published. If you
are interested, turn in your submittal to the office to Sarah Cuplin, PTA or
at sarah_and_joel@hotmail.com.
Thanks!
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.
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.
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.
KARATE TIME SHIFTED
In case you
were wondering, the time listed for Karate on the flyer was 3:45. The class actually starts at 3:30. There
is 15 minutes for students to get on their uniform and get to class. Sorry if the timing has held any of you up
from participating! Come on and join
if you are interested. There are a
few flyers left on the flyer table across from the office or you can call
Sensei, Andre Dulce at 425 454-6633.
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