The Ribbet Review
Newsletter of the HD Thoreau Elementary PTA Unit 2.8.60 PTA Co-Presidents: Polly Blanchard and Helen Garcia w Editor: Sarah Cuplin
Home Page		Monthly PTA Newsletter October 2004 Issue # 1
In this issue: President’s corner Parenting Tips From the Editor Last Month Recap This Month’s Events Legislative Updates Top Frogs Student Contributions PTA board members		Upcoming events: · Ribbet Run! Friday, October 8 Our primary PTA fundraiser. See article below. · Picture Day Wednesday, October 20 · PTA General Meeting Thursday, October 21 · Parent Education Class Thursday, October 28 · No School Friday, October 29 More info for all events at: wwwtho.lwsd.org
President’s corner Polly Blanchard and Helen Garcia, Co-Presidents
We are very excited and having a great time with the PTA this year.  Five of the seven board members are new this year. We have an extremely dynamic group with many strengths and we think this is really showing up! But mostly we have a fresh enthusiasm that is really fun!!! Now, our enjoyment would be less if we didn't have the support of the past board members! We really want to thank the non-returning and returning board members as well as all the other experienced PTA members that have been very supportive with offering advice for all of our questions.
Especially Margaret Adams and Suzanne Morris who have really mentored us and are still very active on chairing important committees, like the Ribbet Run and Art Docent. This continued commitment really helps us to grow!  Also Mr. R, Geri, Sally, and all the teachers and support staff that have spent time educating and generating ideas with us.  When volunteering and participating at school we hope you feel this positive energy and join us in our efforts to put children first! The effort is worth it! - Polly Blanchard and Helen Garcia
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From The Editor
As many of you may have already guessed, this is my first go at publishing a school newsletter! My goal is for this to be a valuable source of information for our Thoreau community. This initial publication represents my effort to include interesting, relevant information. Now, I would like to hear your perspective. Do you have ideas about articles or information that you would like to see included in future issues? Let me know! 821.9249 w sarah_and_joel@hotmail.com - Sarah Cuplin
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Last Month’s Events PTA Board and Committee Chairs
Ice Cream Social The Ice Cream Social was held on Friday, September 10th and thanks to all the terrific volunteers and families that attended it was a huge success! This year, in addition to serving ice cream, we had a face painter and balloon artist on hand! The kids got to sport expert tattoos like tigers and dragons (no they weren't crouching or hidden) on their face or arm while toting around a fun balloon creation and their well embellished bowl of ice cream! There were 725 M&M's in the jar at the chess table. Ben, Matt and Cayleigh each guessed the closest! Each winner received a free chess set! We also had volunteers from our many before and after school programs hosting a table, providing information and the opportunity to enroll in things like study club, chess club and scouts. We also had participation from several local businesses that provided firsthand information on what they have to offer Thoreau families. We hope to make the school information portion an annual tradition, allowing Thoreau parents to plan on this event as a fun time to get out with their kids, mingle with other families and sign up for student activities for the year. Oh yeah, and get their recommended daily allowance of calcium! Hope to see you all at this event again next year! Thanks for making it a success! Gratefully, Denice Loken and the Thoreau PTA Board
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This Month’s Highlights PTA Board and Committee Chairs
Article from The Kirkland Courier We are excited to start out our second year in our new school building. This year students will continue to benefit from our excellent leadership including our principal Steve Roetcisoender, teachers, office staff and PTSA members. We will start out the year with an ice cream social and information night, which many community children’s programs will be attending. To continue to meet the needs of our students and families at Thoreau, we are excited to add to our before/after school enrichment programs. New to Thoreau this year will be a chess club, study club, science adventures series and art classes. This in addition to honor choir, band and orchestra that Thoreau already has available, students will have a great selection of clubs to choose from! by Polly Blanchard Did You Know? Did you know that you can come to school and have lunch with your child? You can bring your own lunch or if you want to relieve your elementary school days - buy a cafeteria lunch! The adult lunch cost is $2.75 with choices such as salad, a fruit and veggie bar, hot pizza, a cheeseburger or the daily special.  Primary (grades K-3) lunch is from 12:10 to 12:40 and intermediate (grades 4-6) lunch time is 11:30 to 12:00.
Ribbet Run
The Ribbet Run is next Friday, October 8^th! Check out our website for the latest information (will Mr. R kiss the frog?). If you are able to volunteer, please contact Margaret Adams at 820-0284. Art Classes Three art classes are being offered after school by Mrs. Freese, a former art teacher here at Thoreau.  Students in 1st-6th grades will be able to participate in at least one class offered this school year.  For information on classes for primary grades, please contact Helen Garcia. Class dates and times are available on our website.  Fourth-sixth graders will be working with clay during the first class.  When they are finished, their creations will be fired in the kiln and then returned to the students.  This is sure to be a great experience and they will have a treasure to keep.  To register please contact Helen Garcia at 821-4442 or e-mail helen@planetgarcia.com. Thanks!! - Helen Garcia Chess Club We are very excited at Thoreau to have the Chess Mates Foundation chess program!  Our very own Ms. VanCleave has been hired by Chess Mates to be our instructor.  Polly Blanchard is our registrar for the class and we have about 28 students registered.  Our team includes both boys and girls, have varying levels of experience and a wide range of ages. Regina Bock is our Chess Club Coordinator.  She will come to the class sessions on Tuesdays to help with the class. Parents are welcome to come any Tuesday from 3:25 to 4:30pm! Chess Club begins on Tuesday, October 4 at 3:25 p.m. in Ms. VanCleave’s room. Check out our website for info on team members and upcoming tournaments! For more information about the Chess Mates program: www.chessmates.org
- Polly Blanchard
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Parenting Tips By Laura Doerflinger
The Power of the Sleep Fairy
Do your children awaken you multiple times in the night? Do you lay with your children in bed until they finally fall asleep? Have your children's sleep habits driven you to the point of madness? Have no fear! The Sleep Fairy is here! The Sleep Fairy comes to the aid of parents and children with bedtime and nighttime problems. When parents and their children make appropriate sleep goals and succeed, the Sleep Fairy leaves a little gift under their pillow. Parents love the Sleep Fairy and kids love her too! So how do you employ the Sleep Fairy? You call her up! STEPS TO SUCCESS 1. Make specific, reachable goals that your children can achieve. If you've coddled your child to sleep every night, then the goal may be one of waking only once in a night to earn a visit from the Sleep Fairy. This goal can change week to week until the ultimate behavior is achieved! 2. Be clear and explain to your child exactly what s/he has to do. "When I say goodnight, you must remain quiet until you fall asleep and then the Sleep Fairy will come." 3. You need your child's behavior to change if you're ever going to sleep again so reward him/her every night for up to 30-days to change his/her sleep pattern. 4. Once you see the behavior solidify let your children know that the Sleep Fairy must help other children who have sleep problems. The Sleep Fairy will still visit once in awhile (randomly). Or if your child is more into a schedule then tell her the Sleep Fairy will visit every Wednesday (intermittently). 5. When the behavior is established and you now get your 8-hours of sleep, it's time for the Sleep Fairy to focus on other children in need. Help your child write a letter saying thank you, goodbye and good luck with helping other children in need. 6. Remember that children go through stages. Some stages bring back old sleep habits and before you know it you've moved backward. Take this opportunity to call the Sleep Fairy back. Then - start every night for a week, intermittent for a week and then say goodbye again. My children call the Sleep Fairy back every so often now that they are 7 and 10. My son Dylan usually says, "Mommy, I miss the Sleep Fairy. Can she come to visit?" And you know - she always does.
Laura Doerflinger, MS, LMHC is a Child and Family Therapist, Freelance Writer and Parent Educator. Visit Laura online at: www.parenteducationgroup.com
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Top Frog A.C.E. Awards Principal Roetcisoender
September 2004
Every month, one student from each class is nominated by their teacher for the Top Frog ACE Award (Academics, Citizenship and Excellence). Winners get to eat lunch at a special table with Mr. R., are awarded a certificate and have their picture taken! These are students who consistently work hard at their schoolwork, follow the rules and strive to do their best. This month’s awards were presented to:
	Andre Jonathan Derek Joshua Jared Bradley Aurelie Danika Rose Raegan Kaley Amber Payam Joseph
Congratulations!
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Student Contributions From the Editor
Thoreau students! Are you an aspiring writer? Journalist? Poet? Maybe you just have some great jokes to share. We would like to include your work in our monthly Ribbet Review newsletter, but we need your help!
If you have a poem, joke, short story (150 words or less) or other writing you would like published please submit it for consideration to the editor, Sarah Cuplin. Submittals must be received each month by the 15th in order to be considered for the following month. You can submit two ways: 1. Turn your submittal in to the office in an envelope addressed to Sarah Cuplin, PTA 2. E-mail your submittal to sarah_and_joel@hotmail.com Entries must include: Your name and grade, teacher’s name, parent’s name and home phone number (for permission to publish). This is not a contest, however it may not be possible to publish every entry depending on the volume of submissions.
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What is PTA? Our Mission: To support and speak on behalf of children and youth in the schools, in the community and before governmental bodies and other organizations that make decisions affecting children; To assist parents in developing the skills they need to raise and protect their children; To encourage parent and public involvement in the public schools of this nation. Click here for current PTA Board Members and contact information.
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