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@lwsd.org
October 22, 2004
October
27 Student Bank Day
28 Parent Education Class, 7-8:30pm (see
info.)
29 No
School-Professional Development Day
November
5 Fall
Dance 7:00pm-9:00pm
6 Holiday Bazaar 12:00pm-4:00pm
PRINCIPAL’S
PERSPECTIVE
Read Together For Fun
Here are a few suggestions to help make reading aloud
together fun and to enhance your children’s pleasure and learning. These are
also great strategies for introducing children to new books that you have
selected. Imparting your pleasure and enthusiasm for the stories you share
will go a long way toward making your children readers for life.
Share these tips with others, such as grandparents and
other relatives, childcare providers or the families of your children’s
friends, who have opportunities to read to your children.
Show children the cover page. Explain the general
subject matter of the story.
Talk about the pictures in the book. You don’t
have to read a book to tell a story.
Point out the words. Run your finger along the
words as you read to help children follow along.
Make the story come alive. Create voices for the
characters and use your body to tell the story. Shout, whisper, be adamant,
shy, arrogant and humorous right along with the text.
Slow down. When you’re reading aloud, your
children need time to form images and mentally put them together, so speak
clearly and slowly.
Let your children control the pace. If children
want to skip ahead to find out what happens, don’t insist on finishing each
page.
Ask questions about the story. “What do you think
the princess will do now?” “Why did the pig say no to the goal?”
Let your children ask questions. Use the story as
an opportunity to discuss familiar activities, objects or concerns.
Let your children tell the story. Children as
young as three can memorize a story. Many children love opportunities to
express their creativity.
Practice with a tape recorder. Record and play
back what you’re reading and listen for where improvements are needed. Listen
to yourself with your “third ear” – the way others hear you. This will help
you assess your speed, vocal variations, enunciation and dramatic
involvement.
Your efforts, joy and enthusiasm will work magic on a
story. And your children will have a new reason for listening to and enjoying
reading.
HELP NEEDED
Before
school starts at 8:40, we have students stand in lines while waiting for the
bell. I would like to enlist parent volunteers willing to commit to a weekly
schedule to supervise students in the front of the school as well as in the
undercover area. Volunteers would help keep students calm. If interested,
please contact our office and let us know. There will be a meeting after school
on Monday, October 25th at 3:30 to find out more about the job.
HANDBOOK AND DISCIPLINE POLICY
These two important
documents were sent home last week. I hope you are finding them helpful. The
Thoreau Discipline Policy Handbook had some revision since it’s last
printing. Please take a moment to review with your child behavior
expectations at school and then sign
and return the last page of the policy. Thank you!
Check out our
website for the latest information!
wwwtho.lwsd.org/
ANNUAL
SCHOLARSHIP BASKET AUCTION
Each
year the Lake Washington PTSA offers over $10,000 in scholarships to high
school seniors and teachers within the district. Funds are generated
for this scholarship, through the annual basket auction. This year,
Thoreau has chosen RELAXATION for our basket theme. How do
you relax?
A long soak in the tub?
A
calming atmosphere with scented candles?
A
massage?
Aromatherapy?
Maybe a steaming mug of herbal tea and a good
book
We Need Your Donations!
Please
bring basket items to Sally Freni in the office by Nov. 1. If you would like
to contribute, a monetary donation would also be welcome for the scholarship
chair to purchase items for our basket.
PTA HOLIDAY BAZAAR
Thoreau
PTA is sponsoring a Holiday Bazaar and they need you and your products. Mark
your calendar for Saturday, November 6, 12pm-4pm (11am set-up). Thoreau
family businesses get first chance for a table. Only one representative per
company will be permitted, it will be on a first come, first serve
basis. Cost per table is $25.00. Student businesses are encouraged to
participate and the table fee will be waived for a student business. Reserve
your table now and plan on shopping November 6! If you have questions or want
to volunteer to help during this special event, please call Lisa Hatfield,
425 820-8840 or email lisa.hatfield@gte.net
“ALOHA” SPIRIT DAY AND DANCE
Gaylen
Sauve will once again entertain us. He comes to school during the week of the
dance and teaches the students different dances during PE . . . Then we all
get together to boogie. This is a somewhat structured event where Gaylen is
the DJ and coordinates the dances through out the night. The appropriate age
group that will enjoy this is under 13 years old, and need an adult
chaperone. Our theme this year for the dance is “Aloha!”. Show your spirit
and wear a Hawaiian shirt on Friday, November 5 to school. We need a few more
door monitors! Please call Helen Garcia, 425 821-4442, or email her: helen@planetgarcia.com
SCIENCE
ADVENTURES
Last chance for Science
Adventures at our school. We have three people enrolled for the next class and
need at least eight for it to run. It starts November 3. If interested,
contact 1-800-472-4362.
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 and
address it to Sarah Cuplin, PTA or you may e-mail it to Sarah at sarah_and_joel@hotmail.com.
Thanks!
TUESDAY, OCT. 26, IS THE LAST DAY TO
QUALIFY FOR RIBBET RUN
PRIZES!!
If you want any Ribbet Run prizes and you
want to help your class qualify for the pizza party, be sure to turn in your
pledge money next Tuesday, Oct 26. We
will, of course, always take any extra money after that, but the money has to
be in by Tuesday to qualify for prizes.
So far we have raised $13,672.02!!
Bring in that money so we can reach the goal of $17,500 and make Mr.
Roetcisoender kiss
a frog!!!
DID YOU KNOW?
The
Study Zone is a free service of the King County Library System. It is an
after school homework help program that utilizes the skills of volunteer
tutors and emphasizes study skills and active learning. The schedule is
online at www.kcls.org/studyzone
RECYCLED
CARTRIDGES
Thank
you to all who have brought in old cartridges and cell phones! Please keep collecting
them. Just bring to school and set under the flyer table or in the PTA
office. I will keep you posted on the money earned when I get the first
check! Questions? Polly Blanchard 820-8909 polly@mccarthygmac.com
HONOR CHOIR
On Saturday, November 6 at
1:00pm, the Thoreau singers will be performing outside of the Mark’s Hallmark
Store at the Upper Totem Lake Shopping Mall. Stop by and enjoy a terrific
performance!
KUDOS
Thank
you to all that have signed up to be a room parent! Teachers need this
additional person to help plan parties, and relay information! Great job!
RIBBET RUN SHIRTS FOR
SALE: $8.00
Many of your children wore their Ribbet Run shirts last Friday at the
Ribbet Run (because they reached the $85 prize level - thank you!!) and many
of you commented on how much you like them!
We want to let you know that they are for sale, first come first
serve. If you would like a shirt
please send in $8.00 in an envelope along with your name and phone number,
your child’s name and teacher’s name, and your shirt size. We will send your shirt home by kid-mail.
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