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
November 10, 2004
November
11 No School – Veteran’s Day
12 No School – Teacher Grading Day
16 Retake Student Pictures
Family Pictures at night CANCELLED (see below)
17 Student
Bank Day during lunch time
18 PTA
Meeting 7-8:30pm
19 11:45
Early Dismissal-Conference Day
22 11:45
Early Dismissal-Conference Day
23 11:45
Early Dismissal-Conference Day
24 11:45
Early Dismissal- Teacher Workshop
25 No
School – Thanksgiving Break
26 No
School – Thanksgiving Break
December
3
11:45 Early Dismissal-Conference Day
10 Reflections
Reception 7-8:30pm
20-31 No School –
Winter Break
PRINCIPAL’S PERSPECTIVE
HISTORY
OF VETERANS DAY
Official recognition of the end of the first modern global conflict --
World War I -- was made in a concurrent resolution (44 Stat. 1982) enacted by
Congress on June 4, 1926, with these words:
WHEREAS the 11th of November 1918, marked the cessation of the most destructive,
sanguinary, and far reaching war in human annals and the resumption by the people of the United
States of peaceful relations with other nations, which we hope may never again be severed, and
WHEREAS it is fitting that the recurring anniversary of this date
should be commemorated with thanks-giving and prayer and exercises designed to
perpetuate peace through good will
and mutual understanding between nations; and
WHEREAS the legislatures of twenty-seven of our States have already declared
November 11 to be a legal holiday: Therefore be it Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives
concurring), That the President of the United States is requested to issue a
proclamation calling upon the officials to display the flag of the United
States on all Government buildings
on November 11 and inviting the people of the United States to observe the day in schools and churches, or
other suitable places, with appropriate
ceremonies of friendly relations with all other peoples. An Act (52 Stat. 351; 5 U. S. Code, Sec.
87a) approved May 13, 1938, and the 11th of November in each year a legal holiday - - a day to be
dedicated to the cause of world peace
and to be hereafter celebrated and known as "Armistice Day." Armistice Day was primarily a day set aside to honor veterans of World
War I, but in 1954, after World War
II had required the greatest mobilization
of soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen in the Nation's history; after American forces had fought
aggression in Korea, the 83rd Congress, at the urging of the veterans service organizations, amended
the Act of 1938 by striking out the
word "Armistice" and inserting in lieu thereof the word "Veterans. " With the approval of this
legislation (Public Law 380)
on June 1, 1954, November 11 became a day to honor American veterans of all wars. Later that same year, on October 8,
President Dwight D. Eisenhower issued
the first "Veterans Day Proclamation" which stated:
"In order to insure proper and widespread observance of this anniversary, all
veterans, all veterans' organizations, and the entire citizenry will wish to join hands in the
common purpose. Toward this end,
I am designating the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs as Chairman of a Veterans Day National
Committee, which shall include such
other persons as the Chairman may select, and which will coordinate at the national level necessary
planning for the observance. I
am also requesting the heads of all departments and agencies of the Executive
branch of the Government to assist the National Committee in every way possible."
A letter from the President to the Honorable Harvey V. Higley, Administrator of
Veterans' Affairs, was sent on the same date designating him to serve as Chairman. In 1958, the
White House advised the VA's General Counsel that there was no need for
another letter of appointment for
each new Administrator, as the original proclamation in 1954 established the Committee with the
Administrator of Veterans' Affairs as Chairman.
The Uniforms Holiday Bill
(Public Law 90-363 (82 Stat. 250)) was signed on June 28, 1968,
and was intended to insure three-day weekends for Federal employees by celebrating four national
holidays on Mondays---Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and
Columbus Day. It was thought
that these extended weekends would encourage travel, recreational and cultural activities and
stimulate greater industrial and commercial production. Many states did not agree with this decision and
continued to celebrate the holidays
on their original dates. The first Veterans Day under the new law was observed with much confusion on
October 25, 1971.
PLEASE DRIVE SAFELY
As our
days are shorter and the weather is gloomier, please remember to drive slowly
when on and around the school grounds. Often children will dart out from behind
or in front of a car, not watching for oncoming traffic. Please allow enough
time to get to school on time safely.
GIFTED QUEST PROGRAM
The Quest
Program for Highly Capable Students in grades 1-6 is now accepting
applications for the 2005-2006 school year. The elementary Quest program offers
two options for students who demonstrate superior ability, who exceed grade
level standards in literacy and math, and who exhibit exceptional creativity
in the classroom. Students who qualify for the Enrichment pull-out program
attend their home school four days a week and a pullout enrichment classroom
one day a week. Students in the full-time program are enrolled in an
accelerated, self-contained classroom for the full day, five days a week.
More information can be found in the Quest information packet that is
available at all elementary schools, on the District website (www.lwsd.org under Highly Capable Programs),
and at the Quest Office [(425) 702-3238 or Quest@lwsd.org)
on the third floor of the Resource Center. Also, all parents interested in the Quest Program or with children
already in Quest may attend the Quest Parent Forum on Thursday, December 9,
2004, from 7:00-8:30 PM in the LWSD Resource Center in the Redmond Town
Center. This forum, sponsored by the Gifted Education Advisory Council
(GEAC), will explain more specifically what Quest offers to highly qualified,
academically gifted children.
Check out our
website for the latest information!
wwwtho.lwsd.org/
AFTER SCHOOL CLAY
ART CLASS
Parents, don't forget to sign your 4th-6th graders for the Clay Art
class being offered Nov. 29-Dec. 2 by Mrs. Freese after school. The
registration deadline is Nov 15. Contact Helen Garcia (425) 821-4442 ASAP!
The class meets M,T,W,Th, then
W, Th from 3:25-5:00 in the art/science room. The cost is $25.00.
SCHOLARSHIP
BASKET
Our
scholarship basket is complete! Thank
you to all who donated such a great variety of relaxation items. Also, a big thank you to Diana Pierro for
getting info. out on this and managing incoming items. We appreciate all that
you did! THANKS!!!
PTA GENERAL MEETING
Our 2nd General Meeting of the
year will be held in the library on Thursday, November 18, 7-8:30pm. Topics
include Mr. Roetcisoender sharing the Student Improvement Goals for the year.
Childcare provided. See you there!
CARTRIDGES/CELL PHONE RECYCLE PROGRAM
This is a success! Keep
bringing in those old ink cartridges and cell phones! We just received our
first check of $98.00. The representative comes by every month to pick up the
cartridges. Please place in the bin under the flyer table in the lobby. Thank
You!! If you have questions contact Polly Blanchard 820-8909.
STUDENT DIRECTORY
Thank you to Shelly Balice for
all her time putting together this years directory! It went home last week
and looks GREAT! If you did not get one or need an extra, she is printing up
some more. Please contact her at 823-3839, or send a note to the
office. Thank You!
KUDOS
There was a lot of laughter and
smiles at the dance last Friday, the gym was packed!! Thank you to Helen
Garcia and Polly and Bud Blanchard for chairing this event. A special thank
you to the door monitors for keeping our kids safe and secure: Tammie Kelly,
Gen Palo, Shelly Balice, Kim Jones, Kim Blackburn, Tara Sitton-Wilson,
Charlie Wilson, Laura Doerflinger, Kim Huffman, Pauline Fiechtner, and
Jim Bopp! And a special thank you to the 6th graders and
their parents who signed up to help at the concession stand, Max B., Ashlund
and Robin B., Robert and Vicky H., Chris E., Mellisa B., Kyle, Mike and
Tina K., Payam K., Fariba B., Cody and Steve C., Devin and Beth L., Harrison
W., Christine and Karen S., Gina and Kim S.!!
FAMILY PICTURE NIGHT CANCELLED
We needed a minimum of 25
families sign up for Family Picture Night and did not reach our minimum.
Unfortunately, we had to cancel the Family Picture Night scheduled for
November 16. We may try again in the spring to see if more families might be
interested at that time.
STUDENT - -
PLEASE HELP US DESIGN THE NEW THOUREAU SHIRTS!!
Thoreau is ready for a new frog
shirt and we would like to have the students help design it! We are looking
for both a cute frog design and new logo. Any student interested in
submitting a design and/or logo, please draw your picture using 4 colors or
less and submit your design to the Thoreau office no later than Monday,
November 29. We will then select from the entries to create the new Thoreau
shirts. We know there are many talented artists in our school and we can’t
wait to make this year’s Thoreau shirts something extra special! If you have
any questions, please contact 206 321-5168. Thank you! –Karen Ulbrickson
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