The Ribbet Review

What is Focus Day? Well it is the day that our Regional PTA picked to go to Olympia and meet with our Legislators to show support for education; basically giving them a "face" to go with all the e-mails. All the issues the state has to deal with remind me of the garland we put on our Christmas tree. It is a very long string of beads that no matter how carefully it is set in the box, it always takes hours to untangle every year. It is like all the state issues are connected this way, like these beads, and to sort through these issues takes time. One affects

the other. For example....in Olympia I was part of the PTA and supporting money and attention for education, then on the way home I was sitting in mass traffic and thinking....transportation...that's where our money should go....then I was like, well without adequate education no one will have the knowledge to figure out the transportation problem....yikes!

The most important thing that PTA does for our children is advocacy. The part where people make sure attention is on issues related to education, especially adequate funding for programs and teachers. So, every year PTA has a conference in the fall and as a state they decide which issues will be focused on for the year. They call it a "platform" and this year they had five issues they voted on. You can review them on the state PTA website. The state PTA tries to have a united front so the legislators will have a clear idea of what is important to it. From what I heard and saw, the legislators that met with us do have education on the top of their agendas. However, they also said that our state is in a serious crisis with the budget and continuing at status quo might be all we can hope for.

There were many groups there roaming around the campus talking to legislators about what they felt was important. I took my son Nate with me, mainly to expose him to this process. His favorite part had nothing to do with PTA. There was a group there promoting solar energy and they had a motorized go cart. He even got to take it for a spin!

I could go on and on.....if anyone has any questions please call or email me.

- Polly Blanchard

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Teacher Spotlight

Interview with the Editor

Mrs. Lisa Everitt, Librarian

Hi! Can you tell us about yourself?

I was born at Swedish Hospital in Seattle and my parents still live in the house where I grew up in North Seattle. I have an older brother and younger sister. Mr. Everitt (Bob) and I have been married for 26 years and he works at the Washington Dept of Fish and Wildlife. We have 2 sons: Trevor is 25 years old and works in Seattle at Piper Jaffray and our baby, Keaton(22) is a senior and will graduate from the U of W this spring with a degree in economics. All 4 of us are Husky graduates as well as my dad, brother, and sister. Keat is a pitcher on the Husky baseball team. My boys went to Finn Hill Jr. High and Juanita High. We have one cat named Cry Baby and a pond full of goldfish.

When did you first decide to become a school librarian?

From the time I was in 2^nd grade I knew I wanted to someday be a teacher. I love working with children and had a special interest in helping children be better readers and excited about books. So, when I went to graduate school to get my teaching certification I earned a Library and Media endorsement at the same time thinking that someday I would like to teach in a library. That someday was last year!

How long have you been at Thoreau?

Last year was my first year here at Thoreau and I have really enjoyed the challenge of a new job, new school, and new learning community. This is a wonderful school!

What’s something interesting about you that no one would guess?

Would you guess that I can blast off a 2 finger whistle that can be heard for miles around? It has come in handy at all the sporting events we have been to over the years. Would you guess that one summer I was a mother to baby harbor seal? His name was Sonny.

Anything else interesting you want to share?

Next time you read a good book be sure to come and tell me about it!

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Last Month’s Events

PTA Board and Committee Chairs

Global Reading Challenge

Two librarians from the King County Library System were here at Thoreau on Weds. Feb. 9th for the Global Reading Challenge. We had 5 Teams participate this year and each one did an OUTSTANDING job! They played 3 rounds of eight questions and had to answer the questions based on the 10 books they read. Our teams were:

Rubber Chickens - Kory B, Ashley W, Noah S, Tom Z, Mikey A, Brianna S, Harleen S

Funky Monkeys - Rose T, Gabe M, William S, Jordan M, Matthew  S, Allison N, Samantha G

Reading Stars - Shandon L, Tessa W, Kelsey D, Danika B, Regi L, Mackinzie R, Sharon B

Shooting Stars - Oren S, Keegan C, Haleigh M, Cameron D, Danny L,  Chely W

The Bookslayers - Alli C, Raychel M, Kaley C, Gloria H, Maria J, Joel N, Chris S (and Kayla M subbed for Joel)

The Bookslayers won the close competition, advancing to Round Two and challenge teams from other Lake Washington Schools. This next Challenge is set for Friday, March 4th at 1pm at the Redmond Regional Library. I know you will join us in congratulating all of our Thoreau teams who participated in the Global Reading Challenge and offer your encouragement to The Bookslayers as they represent us next month! Way to go!

Founder’s Day Luncheon

On February 10, 2005 The Lake Washington PTSA Council held it's annual Founders Day Luncheon at the Sahalee Country Club. This year is the 100th birthday of Washington State's PTA!

In attendance were: principals, secretaries, PTA presidents, LWPTSA council members, and recipients of LWPTSA service and educator awards, and the Superintendent of the Lake Washington School District.

The council presented the Golden Acorn Award, Outstanding Service Award, Outstanding Educator Award, Community Service Award, and the Certificate of Special Service.

The Reflections theme, "A Different Kind of Hero" was the topic of the guest speaker, and the founder of the original PTA was celebrated. Three students were chosen to present their Reflections entries. One was a 6th grader from Thoreau Elementary. Payam K performed his original Musical Composition on the piano entitled, "The Voice of Peace". His piece won first place in the Lake Washington's PTSA Council's 6th-8th grade Music Division. His piece moved forward to the State Reflections program, and subsequently received an Award of Excellence at the state competition! Congratulations, Payam!

Valentine’s Breakfast

About 349 fun valentines attended the 5th annual Valentine’s Breakfast. This is terrific considering we have a student population of about 340, so about half the school came with a parent! It went very smoothly thanks to Barbara Stommel and her volunteers. We had a few small valentine gifts for the lucky people that received a surprise note in their silverware bundle. Everyone seemed to enjoy breakfast, the chance to talk with other parents, and get a keepsake photo to remember this day with.

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This Month’s Highlights

PTA Board and Committee Chairs

And The PTA Board Nominees Are…

The Nominating Committee is pleased to announce that the following persons have accepted nomination to the 2005-06 PTA Board for the following positions:

President: Polly Blanchard

Vice President of Enrichment Programs: Helen Garcia

Vice President of Communications: Sarah Cuplin

Vice President of PTA Specific: Denice Loken

Secretary: Valerie Quinn

Treasurer: Brenda Nunn

The Committee also thanks the parents who graciously took our calls seeking their interest in joining the Board. Procedurally, the formal vote on these nominees takes place at the next scheduled PTA General Meeting on March 24, 2005. A formal notice and meeting reminder will be sent home in early March. We hope many of you will come to the meeting and meet your new Board!

- Nominating Committee

Margaret Adams, Gloria Bown & Laura Doerflinger

PTA General Meeting - Thursday, March 24 7:00p

The next PTA general meeting is scheduled for March 24 from 7:00—8:30pm. Childcare will be provided. All are welcome. On the agenda so far…

Elections of new PTA Board Members (see above for nominees)

Mr. Roetcisoender will be there to address questions or concerns

Updates with various committee chairs and events, including the playground committee.

Please join us!

- PTA

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Parenting Tips

By Laura Doerflinger

Successful Co-Parenting

There are no state or school requirements to become a parent. We learn our skills through parental modeling and childhood play. Parenting skills vary much like personalities. Although within a culture you will find parenting similarities, as a whole you will find more differences. The differences can be subtle like bedtime or prominent like punishment. The bottom line is parents have a couple motivations when parenting. One is that they try and do better than their parents. Two is that they try and find effective strategies to raise good kids. These two focuses can be difficult enough. Now add the challenge of joining of forces with another adult whose parenting issues are similar.

Co-parenting isn’t easy. It’s actually quit a chore. We don’t tend to marry our business partners thus making our negotiation and communication skills last on our list of attributes in a marriage. And yet, successful co-parenting demands a working relationship. As a parent educator and family therapist, I have seen many anxious and confused children affected by their parents’ inconsistent rules and styles. With neither parent willing to negotiate or communicate, the child has the job of transitioning from one style to the next sometimes under the same roof.

So how do parents, married or divorced, stay clear and consistent, raise confident children, and feel influential as a parent? Parents must become Co-parents! There are several successful co-parenting steps

1. Identify your personal style and motivations: Your first job in becoming a successful co-parent is to figure out your general style and motivations. If it were all up to you (which it is not but if it were), what would your parenting system be like? Would it be scheduled? How would you motivate your children? How would you use punishment and encouragement? How much time would you put in? What would be your top 10 values? Now ask yourself WHY? Why would your style be that way? What is your motivation? Did you not get enough activity or love as a child? Were your parents over involved or under involved?

2. Share your parenting style and motivation with your co-parent: Sharing your style and motivation could be a vulnerable experience for you. Your style may be different than your spouse’s style. You may not feel appreciated or supported for your ideas. The big goal here is to show support for both parents’ ideas and values. You share yours without criticism; your spouse shares his without criticism. Listen and understand where the other parent is coming from. This will allow for a joining of forces.

3. Consult parenting books and classes: Now that you have looked at both parenting styles, take a look together at the research. One parent can look at Positive Discipline and the other parent can look at Love and Logic. Report back to each other. How do your styles measure up?

4. Decide on a parenting style: You have several examples now of parenting strategies and philosophies. It’s time to blend together a good mix of what you believe with what your co-parent believes and what the experts say. This is now your co-parenting style. When you go off track, you can go back to your unique blend and evaluate your progress.

5. Implement your new co-parenting style: Now you parent! Both parents are on the same page. Children are clear on what is expected of them and what the consequences are if they do not follow the family expectations. Parents are in "alignment" thus no arguing among parents and no manipulating by children.

6. Co-parent meetings: Finally, since you ARE the CEOs of your family and ARE business partners in a very real way, you must stay in constant communication. The success or failure of your family rests in your capable hands. Thus, co-parent meetings are a must! Actually, these meetings should include finances, home maintenance, parenting, and relationship issues. Meetings should be held weekly with schedule book, budget book, family book in hand. The co-parenting part of the meeting reviews your uniquely blended parenting style and how the children are reacting to it. Is it effective? Should it be shifted this way or that? All children react differently as they are unique blends too. Thus, you may find one child thrives under your new system and another loses balance. Good co-parents always reevaluate and restructure when necessary.

We are busy parents today. Maybe parents have always been busy; however, parents have never been this consciences. It is difficult to take the time to evaluate our parenting styles but the payoff is worth it. Co-parenting takes the pressure off our children and the conflict out of our lives. For those interested in co-parenting in divorce situations, read my next article and learn about Kid News and how email can aid in some very difficult co-parenting situations.

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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Legislative Updates

Tracy Hoien, Legislative Co-Chair

Support Focus Day from Your Home or Office!

Focus Day (PTA’s annual lobby day) is just around the corner and I am very grateful to the 20+ people attending from the Lake WA School District! For those unable to attend, don’t sweat it. Lobbying legislators from the comforts or your home or office is extremely influential and can be done by simply going to the WA State PTA "Legislative Action Center". Here you’ll find a list of PTA’s priority issues with sample text and easy to follow directions for sending emails, writing letters or making phone calls. It’s helpful to remember that messages to legislators are far more outstanding when a few personal thoughts and/or opinions are added.

For those wanting to track specific bills related to PTA’s top priorities (and a few other miscellaneous bills), go to http://www1.leg.wa.gov/legislature and enter a bill number conveniently listed below.

Thank you for your enduring support of children’s issues during this year’s legislative session and please let me know if you have any questions.

1) Simple Majority for School Levies and Bonds

SB 5144 (Providing for a simple majority of voters voting to authorize school district levies and bonds).

SJR 8202 (Amending the Constitution to provide for a simple majority of voters voting to authorize school district levies).

HJR 4205 (Amending the Constitution to provide for a simple majority of voters voting to authorize a school levy).

2) Critical Support Components for Ed Reform

SB 5359 (Regarding WASL scoring).

SB 5360 (Making the certificate of academic achievement a requirement for running start eligibility).

HB 1066 (Revising learning assistance program distribution formula

3) School Finance Study

SB 5441 (Requiring an education and higher education finance study).

HB 1380 (Requiring an education and higher education finance study).

SB 5191 (Providing for a comprehensive K-12 education finance study).

4) K-12 School Facilities

HB 1169 (Including public school facilities as essential public facilities).

5) Highly Capable Programs

No bills; will likely be budget work.

6) Miscellaneous

HB 1123 (Requiring safe drinking water in schools).

SB 5306 (Regarding sexual health education).

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Top Frog A.C.E. Awards

Principal Roetcisoender

February 2005

Every month, one student from each class is nominated by their teacher for the Top Frog ACE (Academics, Citizenship and Excellence) Award. 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 Top Frog ACE Awards were awarded to:

Geneva G

Stacy A

Amelia G

Tera F

Marley M

Anna L

Kari C

Katherine K

Samantha G

Ben K

Lindsay U

Sean B

Cody C

Congratulations!

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Student Contributions

Editor

This month there were no student contributions to the newsletter.

Students, you can send any form of writing! Here are a few ideas: short stories, poems (haikus & limericks are fun) or just your own thoughts written in a creative way.

For inspiration, think about events or holidays that may be happening next month.

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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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