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
February 18, 2005
February
21-25
No School – Mid Winter
Break
March
2
Kindergarten
Registration for 2005-06, 1-7pm
3
Class Pictures
4
11:45am Early
Dismissal-Prof. Develop.
PTA Bingo Night 7pm-9pm, cafeteria
18
No School-Professional Development Day
24
PTA Meeting 7pm-8:30pm
March 30, 31, and April
1
11:45 Early Dismissal -
Conferences
PRINCIPAL’S PERSPECTIVE
Assessment Letter
Parents of 3rd, 4th, 5th,
and 6th grade students are receiving a letter today explaining
state requirements for large-scale assessments this year. Traditionally,
students have taken the Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS) in March in 1st,
2nd, 3rd, 5th, and 6th grades.
The Washington Assessment of Student Learning has been given to 4th
grade students in late April and early May.
The Office of the Superintendent of Public
Instruction (OSPI) is phasing out the use of the ITBS and implementing
greater use of WASL type exams. During the phasing out process, a mix of both
exams will be utilized. WASL exams provide more relative academic measures
for student and school performance.
If you have a child in 3rd, 4th,
5th, or 6th grade, please take a moment and read
through the letter. It will provide more information about this year’s
testing plan. If you have questions, please contact either your child’s
teacher or me. We’ll do our best to answer your questions.
A Call for Artistic
Ideas!!!
As I have walked in our hallways of late I’ve
decided although the colors on the walls are beautiful and coordinated, they
are very much on the neutral side of the color spectrum and could use some
brightening! I believe it would be fun for parents to plan some school wide
or grade level art projects for students that would be permanent additions to
the school. I’ve scheduled an initial meeting time for anyone who is
interested in pursuing such a project. There are some ground rules to
consider if you would like to come. The first is you must be willing to work
to bring any ideas to fruition. If you have an idea, you have to be willing
to work to make it happen. Second, you have to be willing to participate in a
brainstorming process in which the final idea may not be the one you brought
to the meeting. Third, participants must understand that any permanent
artistic additions to the school must adhere to building codes and district
policies; this means there is often red tape associated in projects such as
these. What may seem like a simple project to accomplish may take more energy
than first thought. Fourth, it is okay to come, even if you don’t have a
particular idea in mind but you just want to be a part of this opportunity.
The initial planning meeting will take place
on Wednesday, March 2 at 3:30. We will meet in the conference room in the
school office. At this time, future meeting dates and times will be decided.
Please come if you’d like to be a part of adding some color to Thoreau
Elementary! If your child would like to be a part of this meeting, he or she
may, but must be accompanied by an adult.
SWEET
TOOTH SALE !!
6th grade
Spring Sales:
February 7
- 28
Our
terrific sixth grade students are having a fund-raising event to help them
earn their way on a fabulous sailboat cruise in June. The purpose of the trip is to learn more
about our wonderful Puget Sound area, the organisms living in these waters,
the interaction of the microscopic and non-microscopic organisms, how the
waters are impacted by each of us, and how all of us can continue to enjoy
the beauty of our northwest environs.
Please
open your doors, hearts, and pocketbooks to these enthusiastic sellers of
Butter Braid Bread and a variety of candy bars. Your help and purchases will be greatly appreciated by anyone
involved with our 6th grade students, especially themselves! THANK YOU ALL FOR HELPING MAKE OUR
PREVIOUS FALL SALE A GREAT SUCCESS!!!!!
GLOBAL READING CHALLENGE
The Bookslayers are advancing
to Round Two where they will challenge teams from other Lake Washington
schools. This challenge is set for Friday, March 4, at 1pm, at the Redmond
Regional Library. Congratulations! Please join us in offering encouragement
to the Bookslayers as they represent us next month! Way to Go! ☺☺☺☺☺
DISTRICT OPEN ENROLLMENT
In-district and out-of-district parents may
apply for a variance to any school that has not been closed by the school
district. For families wishing to variance their students to a school other
than their neighborhood school, Open Enrollment dates are March 9 –March 25.
If you would like more information about this and are interested in the
process, please call Thoreau, 425 823-4350.
S.H.A.R.E.
WORKSHOPS
Sexuality
Health and Relationships Education (S.H.A.R.E.) parent and student workshops
for 5th and 6th grades are scheduled 7:00pm-8:00pm, at
the following locations within our district:
March 31, 2005
Sandburg Gym
April 21, 2005 Mann Commons
May 12, 2005
Twain Library
June 9, 2005 Smith Library
This is a fun, educational, and interactive
meeting that encourages students to form healthy relationships at an early
age, and to avoid early dating relationships that lead to premature sexual
activity. The focus is on parent education, providing parents with communication
tools to work with their own child about this sometimes difficult to talk
about subject. You and your student are welcome to attend any of these
meetings sponsored by LWSD and S.H.A.R.E. Please contact your school for more
information.
PARENTS AND
COMMUNITY GUESTS
Finn
Hill Jr. High’s fourth annual Spaghetti Dinner is finally here. They will be hosting the
dinner Thursday March 10. Seating for the dinner will begin at
6:30pm, followed by Finn Hill students and the
"Rigatones," a well-known Northwest Band, playing both Italian
and American songs. Last years dinner was a tremendous success and this
year’s dinner promises to be another fun-filled evening with lots of songs
and laughter. We need your help
to make this fundraiser a success! In order to make this the best Spaghetti
Dinner ever, we invite you to join us. Tickets are on sale in the student
office and at the door the night of the dinner. The cost is $10 per person.
The following is a list of food and activities you
can look forward to:
F
H’s Fabulous Spaghetti Sauce with Meatballs
Zesty Salad
Mouth watering Dessert
Finn Hill’s Famous Italian Bread Sticks
Several Drinks to choose from
Music by the Rigatones
Performances by Finn Hill staff and students
All
you will have to do is sit back and let our student waitresses and waiters
serve your every need and enjoy the show. Thank you very much for supporting
Finn Hill’s ASB and making this event a success! -Victor Scarpelli/FHJH
The Neighborhood Schoolhouse in partnership with
Youth Eastside Services presents:
SATURDAY
MORNING “DROP IN” PARENTING CLASSES, FALL, 2004.
Once
a month, on Saturday mornings, Lori Homes, M.S. C.M.H.C. and other Youth
Eastside Services Counselors will facilitate discussions on a variety of
parenting topics. Bring your children (ages 3+) for fun, supervised
activities. A delicious continental breakfast will be provided. Come to as
many as you like.
Days: Saturdays
Time: 10am to noon
Fee: FREE
Date:
March 12: “Raising A Confident Daughter” presented by
Belinda Lafferty, M.A., L.M.H.C., Y.E.S. Supervisor of Teen Dating Violence
Program and Y.E.S. Outreach Prevention Supervisor; and, Debbi Halela, M.A.,
L.M.H.C., Y.E.S. Sexual Abuse Services Coordinator
Location: Redmond Elementary School Library
To
Register, Call NSH 425-702-3409.
Check out our
website for the latest information!
wwwtho.lwsd.org/
BINGO
Plan to come to Bingo Friday March 4!
We have over $1,000.00 in merchandise and gift certificates. There will be
lots of winners! Bingo cards are $1.00 each. You can purchase ahead or at the
event. Fun Rentals will be doing the food service with pizza, hot dogs,
popcorn, cookies, pop and chips for sale. For an idea on the prices,
it will cost approx. $3.25 for a "meal" of a hotdog, chips,
and a pop. Our PTA then receives 10% of the profit! This is family friendly
with a supervised area for the toddlers also. Come and have fun!
Thank you for all the donations! If
you still want to donate something you can contact us or bring to the school
office. Shelly Balice at 823-3839 shellybalice@verizon.net or
Polly Blanchard at 820-8909 polly@mccarthygmac.com.
KUDOS
349 happy valentines showed up
for our 5th annual Dad or Guest Valentine Breakfast. Everyone had fun! The
morning flowed smoothly - thanks to the expertise of Barbara Stommel and her
crew. Special thanks to Caroline Reilly, Joyce Staggs, Warren and Sarah S, Stacy McJunkin, Debbie Olson, Jennifer
Wellander, Michelle Kent, Cindy Greenbaum, Grace Kane, Karen Ulbrickson, Lynn
Grager, Shelly Balice, Polly and Bud Blanchard, Laura Doerflinger, and Kim
Wuchter. You all made this event happen and created a fun memory for our
Thoreau families!
Also, a very special “Thank You!” to our Thoreau custodians for
always being helpful and supportive with all our events!! You are great!
CARTRIDGES FOR KIDS RECYCLE PROGRAM
Thank you for your support with
bringing in old ink cartridges and cell phones. We received our second check
for $68.00. We have received a total of $169.00 so far from this program. We
are hoping to make at least $200.00 on this! Please keep bringing in old cell
phones and used cartridges! They also take used laptops. Please place these
items in the bins underneath the table located just outside Thoreau’s main
office. Questions? Please contact Polly Blanchard at 425 820-8909 polly@mccarthygmac.com.
LAST
ART CLASS OFFERED THIS YEAR
The last after school art class for this school
year will be held March 8-24th. Mrs. Freese will teach painting
techniques and students will create a book to take home at the end of the session.
Classes meet Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:25-4:30PM upstairs in the art
room. The fee is $20 per student and scholarships are available.
Please pick up a registration form from the information table by the
office and return the form with a check in an envelope
marked, "Helen Garcia PTA” to your child's teacher
soon. Call Helen at (425)
821-4442 with any questions.
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