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
December 10, 2004
December
10 Reflections Reception, Thoreau Lobby 7-8:30pm
20-31 No School –
Winter Break
January
3
We’re back in school
14 11:45
Early Dismissal-Teacher Workshop
17
No School – Martin Luther King Jr. Day
28
No School – Teacher Development Day
February
4
11:45 Early Dismissal
21-25 No
School – Mid Winter Break
PRINCIPAL’S PERSPECTIVE
Take the Time to Wonder
“Stopping By Woods On a Snowy
Evening” by Robert Frost is one of my favorite poems. I was recently in a
second grade classroom where the students are memorizing this American
classic and it brought to mind a few thoughts. The poem’s familiar words are
as follows:
Whose woods these are I think I
know.
His house is in the village
though;
He will not see me stopping
here
To watch his woods fill up with
snow.
My little horse must think it
queer
To stop without a farmhouse
near
Between the woods and frozen
lake
The darkest evening of the
year.
He gives his harness bells a
shake
To ask if there is some
mistake.
The only other sound’s the
sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark and
deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
I still find myself in awe
about the whole miracle of children and parenting. Occasionally, I will stop
in my own snowy woods of wonder and watch our three boys as they go about
their play, conversation, homework or chores just like the rider in the poem
who had to stop and watch the beauty of snow falling. We still have many
years of parenting to go and realize they will pass quickly enough. Robert
Frost reminds us to take the time to appreciate the beauty of the moment. I
do hope all parents take the time to stop during this holiday season and
enjoy a snowy moment of wonder with their children.
MUD
BASKET NEWS
We had a very wet week and consequently, several students utilized the
mud basket, our collection of dry clean clothes to be used when a child slips
in the mud. If your child borrowed dry clothing from the mud basket, we
appreciate having the clothing returned to school, cleaned, and ready to loan
to another child in need.
LOST AND FOUND
Please take a moment in the
next couple of weeks and stop by to check out Thoreau’s Lost and Found. ALL items
not claimed by December 17 will be donated to a local charity.
SAFE ARRIVAL PROGRAM
Thank you to all our parents
who remember to call the Safe Arrival number (425 823-1504) or Thoreau’s office
number (425 823-4350) to leave a message about a tardy or absent child. Our
Safe Arrival calling parents are outstanding at quickly comparing the absent
lists with the messages and calling the few families who forget to call.
Especially with the holiday season upon us, our absent lists have grown from
˝ page to sometimes 3 pages! This is an important program. Please remember to
call if your child is going to be tardy, absent, or out of town early for the
holiday. Thank you!
Check out our
website for the latest information!
wwwtho.lwsd.org/
BOOK RODEO
Howdy Partners! The
Thoreau Book Rodeo will be Friday, January 21. Start to round up the
children's books that your family has outgrown or no longer wants (20 books
per child). We will be collecting these books between January 3 - 14 in
your classroom. You will earn a book buck for every two books
donated. Each buck is good for one book of your choice or you may buy
books for .25 cents each. Any questions, contact Cindy Greenbaum cyn.green@verizon.net OR
425-823-5158.
HONOR CHOIR TO
PERFORM AT SONICS GAME!
Congratulations Mrs. Paige and Thoreau Honor Choir
participants! Thoreau Honor Choir has been selected to sing the
National Anthem at the Sonics vs. LA Clippers game on January 11th (game time
is 7pm). Thoreau PTA has reserved a block of seats at a discounted
price of $12 per ticket. Come show your support and hear the choir
perform! Turn in your ticket requests to Thoreau
PTA (attention: Makayle Rich) by December 17th. Checks should
be made payable to: Thoreau PTA.
REFLECTIONS RECEPTION TONIGHT : FRIDAY,
DEC. 10th at 7pm
Please join us in
our "gallery" downstairs. Marvel at 133 entries! We have amazing talent at Thoreau.
Come and see
which expressions of "A Different Kind of Hero" will be
representing our school in the district wide showing.
Enjoy coffee and
cookies and very special music created by our own students. You won't want to miss
this extravaganza!
Thank you to: Karl
Larson, Trudy Swain, Chris Johnson, Helen Garcia, and Debby Shaeperkoetter
for taking time to stop and view, read and listen to each entry.
DRAWING CLASS
Mrs. Freese is teaching a drawing class to 3rd-6th graders. The
class will meet Jan. 24 – Feb. 16, on Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:25-5:00pm
in the art room. The cost is $20.00 for the session. If your child
would like to create a book of the many drawing techniques, please register
soon. Payment and registration is due by January 10. Contact
Helen Garcia to receive a registration form @ 821-4442 or helen@planetgarcia.com.
If you leave a message or email, please be sure to include your child's name
and your child’s teacher's name. Note: We need 9 more students to
register or the class will be cancelled.
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 or you may e-mail it to Sarah at sarah_and_joel@hotmail.com.
Thanks!
KUDOS
There
is a lot of Art going on at Thoreau! Thank you to the many responsible
parents and teachers that are participating in the Art Docent progam. Also
Thank You to Nancy Holden and the Bank Day volunteer's for keeping this
program going for the students of Thoreau.
STUDY CLUB
Fall study club was a success!
The students really liked it and Mrs. Guthrie had great ideas to help them.
This is a quiet, focused class where Mrs. Guthrie is available
to help with specific subjects as needed. It runs Jan. 24th through Feb.
16th. Mon and Wed. after school until 4:30pm. Please call or email Polly
Blanchard to Register polly@mccarthygmac.com or 820-8909.
BOXTOPS CONTEST
Great job! As a school, in six weeks
we collected 1,028 box tops!! That is 102 dollars. Every box top is worth a
dime so don't throw them away! It is easy, just bring in to school and give
to your teacher to put in your class collection bucket. Race #2
is over. Mrs. Mach's class and Mrs. Holman's class collected the most.
Each student in these classes will get a small prize. At the end of the year
the classes with the most get a pizza party. KEEP
COLLECTING because a new race has begun. It will end January 22nd.
EMERGENCY TELEPHONE TREE
Thank you to everyone who
agreed to help out with the emergency telephone tree this year. We are
still in need of 14 more volunteers in the following classrooms to make
this committee complete: Ruby pm (2), Platzke (2), Peterson (2),
Guthrie (2), Turner (1), Holman (1), Turnbull (2), Snider (1),
and Elsworth (1). If you can volunteer, please contact me at lindajory@yahoo.com ,
425-488-7298 or send a note to school. Thank you for your
support.
-Linda Thompson
Emergency Telephone
Tree Committee Chair
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