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

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Monthly PTA Newsletter

May 2005

Issue # 8

In this issue:

President’s corner

Parenting Tips

Teacher Spotlight

Last Month Recap

This Month’s Events

Legislative Updates

Top Frogs

Student Contributions

PTA board members

Upcoming events:

· PTA General Meeting

Thursday, May 5

· Half Day

Friday, May 6

· 6^th Grade Musical

Thursday, May 12

· Spring Carnival

Friday, May 20

· No School

Friday-Monday, May 27-30

More info for all events at:

wwwtho.lwsd.org

President’s corner

Polly Blanchard and Helen Garcia, Co-Presidents

Getting Set For 2005-6 !

We are gathering ideas and information for next year. We are starting to plan and set dates for events and programs. If you have any comments or ideas please email or call Helen or I and share! We love all the tremendous parent support at Thoreau and you all have terrific ideas and always put children first!

- Polly Blanchard

Contact Polly at: 820.8909 or polly@mccarthygmac.com

Contact Helen at: 821.4442 or helen@planetgarcia.com

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Teacher Spotlight

Interview with the Editor

Mr. Lon Turner, 4^th Grade

Hi! Can you tell us about yourself?

I’ve been married to my wife, Debbie for 22 years. My daughter, Leah, is in third grade at Mark Twain Elementary. Our pet dog is a keeshond named “Rugby,” and we have a meyers parrot named “Monty”. I grew up in Rockford, Illinois, a small city about 15 miles south of the Wisconsin border.

When did you first decide to become a schoolteacher?

I went off to college with plans to be a professional musician, but changed my mind to better my chances at making a living. I earned a degree in Journalism and spent my first 20 years after college as a promotional writer—first as an advertising copywriter, then a tech writer for a PC maker, and finally as a marketing writer in the software industry. I started thinking of becoming a teacher in 1993 when I began volunteering as a reading tutor at John Hay Elementary in Seattle. It was part of a community partnership with my employer, WRQ Software, who strongly encouraged us to get involved in and support our local schools.

How long have you been teaching?

I started teaching in the fall of 2000—second grade students here at Thoreau. I’ve taught fourth since 2001.

Next year’s 4^th graders would like to know… what will they learn in your classroom; and what fun activities do you usually plan?

Besides the fourth grade curriculum, they’ll learn how to be good communicators and how to support and teach each other. We’ll go to the Washington State Corn Maze, follow the Iditarod Sled Dog Race, and ponder the relative size of our solar system. They’ll get a chance to hear me play my trombone and try it for themselves. We have fun with music in our classroom.

Tell us something interesting about you that no one would guess.

I once played a concert for a full house at Carnegie Hall in New York City when I was a member of the McDonald’s All-American High School Band. It was one of the most exhilarating moments of my life!

Anything else interesting you want to share?

I’ve really gotten into playing congas (drums) the past few years and look forward to leading drum circles at Camp Burton each spring. It’s a great way to spend a little time with my former students before they go off to junior high.

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Last Month’s Events

PTA Board and Committee Chairs

Staff Appreciation Week – April 4-8

Staff appreciation was a great success this year! We were lucky enough to have Kim Blackburn chair the event. Many fun treats were planned for the teachers and staff; some keeping in line with tradition, along with some fresh, new ideas.

Highlights of the week include a delicious breakfast served to the Thoreau staff, compliments of the many talented and caring Thoreau parents. Kim Blackburn also generously donated tickets to a Sonics Vs. Lakers game, setting the stage for a school-wide assembly featuring the Sonics very own mascot Squatch! In addition to shooting hoops, a drawing was held and Mrs. Guthrie was the lucky winner of near front row tickets to the Sonics game!

Some traditions were also maintained with the return of the popular box lunch day, desserts all day and the Pond of Wishes. The Pond of Wishes is very helpful to the teachers as it is tailored to provide and/or replenish supplies, books, etc. for each teacher and individual classroom.

It was a positive, fun-filled week and all the items sent in by Thoreau parents and families were much appreciated. Thank you everyone who participated, we really did a nice job in honoring the wonderful Thoreau staff, who care so much about our children. Kudos to Thoreau!

- Denice Loken

Co-VP of PTA Services

Parent Education Class: Sibling Rivalry

This school year several parent education courses were presented to Thoreau families. The Lake Washington School District fully sponsored these classes, and our families have been able to participate without paying a fee. The series was hosted by the Parent Education Group, of which our own Thoreau parent, Laura Doerflinger, is the executive director. The last class in the series for 2004-5 focused on overcoming sibling rivalry with positive discipline. Here are some of the highlights:

· Some sibling conflict is normal and healthy.

· Sibling conflict can teach valuable life skills.

· Parents can make sibling conflict a lot worse. Instead, develop the skills to minimize competition.

· Sibling conflict is more about you (the parent) than you think.

· Teach basic safety standards/skills.

· Develop the skills to use the sibling conflict to empower children with important life long skills.

· Parents can learn to take care of themselves so sibling conflict is no longer a "problem."

Thank you for your participation!

If you are interested in taking any additional Parent Education classes, two more are being offered during May at the Parent Education Center. It is located at 8752 122^nd Ave NE in Kirkland. The courses being offered are:

Tricks of the Trade: Parenting Secrets May 14 from 10:00 – 12:00

Emotions Management: Teaching Your Children The Essential Skills May 28 from 10:00 – 12:00

Pre-registration is required online at www.parenteducationgroup.com. The class fee is $25 per person or $40 per couple.

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This Month’s Highlights

PTA Board and Committee Chairs

Spring Carnival – Friday, May 20^th!
The day is almost here! Come to our 3rd annual Spring Carnival on Friday, May 20th. More games and bigger events than years past! Plan on dunking Mr. R and Mr. Turnbull again. Eat a hotdog or pizza for dinner, and then try to win a cake at the cake walk for dessert. The fun starts at 6:00 and runs until 9:00. There will be lots of art to look at too; from the after school art class students who participated throughout the year.
If you haven’t volunteered yet, we can still use your help! We need volunteers to host games, the prize booth and ticket purchases, as well as set up and clean up. Call Stacy McJunkin at 823-5642 or email at stacymcj@comcast.net. Hope to see you there!

Pacific Science Center Assemblies – May 11-12

Thanks to parents supporting our PTA fundraisers, we budget about $2,500.00 each year to bring enrichment assemblies to all students at Thoreau. We have had the Pioneer Farms, The Museum of Flight, and the Early Music Guild so far this year. Our last series of assemblies is with the Pacific Science Center. They will be coming to our school Wednesday, May 11th and Thursday, May 12th. The primary grades have individual classroom storybook science and the intermediate grades get to check out the Starlab Planetarium shows in the gym!

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Parenting Tips

By Laura Doerflinger

Positive Parenting

I was born and raised in a reward/punishment parenting system. Fortunately, my parents were warm and friendly but when it came down to discipline they grounded, spanked, or took away privileges in order to change my behavior. The focus of control was external. They were in charge and I was not. By the time I was a young teen, however, I realized that they in fact were not in control of my actions. If it weren’t for the positive relationship they had fostered during my younger years, I could have been one of those kids who took control in a rebellious way. Parenting from the perspective of control and with the tools of guilt, shame and pain results in children rebelling or becoming apathetic. So how do you parent in a positive way? By following the guidelines of positive parenting.

In Jane Nelson’s book, Positive Discipline, she focuses on several parenting concepts. Parents who buy into the concepts can gain a greater and more influential place in their children’s lives. Here are a few of the essential ideas.

1. Behavior is goal oriented. A child’s primary goal is to be significant and belong. Children learn how to achieve these goals through their perspective and position in the family. How are they significant and how do they know they belong? To help provide your child with a sense of belonging and significance, you want to spend special time with your child. You want to focus on his/her feelings and experiences during the day and share your feelings and experiences. And always make sure the message of love gets through!

2. A misbehaving child is a discouraged child. If we agree that a child’s primary goal is to belong, then we have to assume that they will do anything to meet that goal. Many children, however, create mistaken beliefs about belonging, which lead to misbehavior. Whether it’s wearing the latest fashion to be apart of a group or being loud so their parents will notice them, children figure out ways to achieve their goals. Understanding the true root of your child’s behavior puts you one step closer to correcting the mistaken belief.

3. Children deserve equality and mutual respect. You are the parent and your child is the child. You have different roles but you both deserve to be treated with equity and respect. You can achieve this in several ways. You can hold family meetings in order to get the ideas and cooperation of your children (outlined in the book Positive Discipline). You can ask children to do jobs that really make a difference in the family – that makes them feel meaningful and valued. You can take the time to train your children to do jobs around the house and feel competent. Remember that you are raising a responsible adult!

4. You teach and model respect by being kind but firm when parenting. You show sympathy by using proper timing when resolving problems. Discussing a problem at the emotional height only adds to the problem. Use instead a calm place in the house to cool off before solutions are discussed.

5. Every child is different so be aware of what works for him/her. Changing your focus from consequence to solution is a positive way to train your future adult. Get your children to find solutions using the Positive Discipline guidelines: Related, Respectful, Reasonable, Helpful. Remember that: "mistakes are wonderful opportunities to learn!"

6. Finally—Don’t be afraid to make a mistake! Positive Discipline talks about the three R’s of Recovery: Recognize your mistake, Reconcile "I’m sorry" and Resolve rather than blame.

Positive parenting changed my focus in raising my children. I realized that they were eventually going to be adults. I realized that I truly could not control their actions. I understood that they had choice. And if I really wanted them to have an internal locus of control and realize their power to change their mind, feelings and behaviors, then I needed to communicate that through my parenting. I recommend the book Positive Discipline and any Positive Discipline classes.

Enjoy!

Laura Doerflinger, MS, LMHC is a Child and Family Therapist,

And Executive Director of the Parent Education Group.

Email Laura at: laura@parenteducationgroup.com

Visit Laura online at: www.parenteducationgroup.com

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Legislative Updates

Published on the WS PTA Legislation’s “Grassroots Connection”

Final 2005-7 Biennial Budgets – Highlights

The state Legislature has wrapped up on time and passed a budget that makes important investments in the health, safety, welfare, and education of children and youth in Washington State.

On the final day of the 2005 legislative session, the Washington Legislature approved a $26 billion operating budget for the state.

This budget summary does not include many of the bills and policies enacting during the session. A full session summary report will be available soon.

Revenue:

The total new revenue package of $481 million is a mix of several sources, and is designated for education purposes, primarily funding of I-728, the Student Achievement Fund.

· partial reinstatement of the Estate Tax ($138.7 million);

· increases to the cigarette tax ($174.6 million);

· other budget driven revenue – hard liquor tax increase, tax on extended warrantees for specific consumer products ($46.3 million).

K-12 Increases:

Initiative 728 step up -- $138.2 million, Student Achievement Fund

· Changes from the current level of $253 to $300 in the ’05-06 school year; and $375 in the ’06-07 school year

Special Education Safety Net – $31.0 million

· Maintenance of effort (use of local funds prior to accessing the safety net) is eliminated and threshold for high cost students will increase to match the new federal definition for high cost -- $18.9 million; and

· Additional state funding -- $10.4 million.

Learning Assistance Program --$25.1

· Changes formula to use a factor of 100% poverty. Previously the formula used a mix of 50% test scores and 50% poverty.

Science Assessment -- $4.5 million

· Covers cost of unfunded federal mandate for science assessments.

Assessment System Changes -- $3.2 million

· Provided for district grants for re-takes, development of alternative assessments, and development of appeals process for WASL.

Education Finance Study -- $1.7 million

· Comprehensive early learning, K-12 and higher education finance study.

Focused Assistance for Schools -- $2.0 (with a matching grant of $2 from the Gates Foundation) to support schools in need of improvement.

School Breakfasts as per HB 1771 -- $100,000, provides assistance for schools not offering school breakfast in areas with over 40% population of free and reduced price lunch.

Reading Assistance -- $600,000, Includes Reading Model implementation and Early Reading grants.

Funding of the per-student allotment for highly capable programs was not only maintained, but increased. First year of the biennium funding is $347.25 per student and second year is $349.48. A total increase of $14.59 over the current funding of $334.89.

Studies as recommended by the Interim Workgroup on K-12 Finance – $200,000

· Immigrant Study -- $100,000; and

· Student Transportation and Special Education Expenditures -- $100,000.

Other K-12 Enhancements

· Expansion of mentor opportunities at 16 high schools (WA. Achievers Scholars program) -- $1.0 million;

· Pilot program for dyslexia instruction programs -- $700,000;

· Support for instruction around conservation and natural resources-- $200,000 ;

· Curriculum regarding women’s role in World War II -- $200,000;

· Internet Safety Education program to fund SB 5803 -- $40,000;

· Skills Center Incentive Grants -- $1.2 million;

· School Nurses Services Workgroup -- $50,000.

K-12 Reductions:

Levy Equalization – ($12.9 million)

· Local Effort Assistance is prorated in an effort to slow the rate of growth in this program.

Reduction of Reading Corps – ($5.7 million)

· Program provides grants to assist in the coordination of reading tutors and volunteers. The amount funded ($1.7) allows only enough to qualify for federal matching funds.

Alternative Certification Routes – ($1.1 million)

A+ Commission Elimination and Governance Changes – ($400,000)

School Bus Replacement – ($6.5 million)

· Changes reimbursement to districts for school bus replacement.  

NOTE:

National Board Certification is not eliminated or reduced;

One-time grants for fuel costs not included in final budget;

Readiness-to-Learn programs are not eliminated in final budget.

Total 2005-07 K-12 budget -- $11,569.2 million

Net changes without compensation/workload: $183.5 million

Dollar increase from 2003-05 $981.1 million

Percentage increase from 2003-5 9.3%

Health & Human Services

Children’s Health Care -- Premiums are delayed; some administrative barriers are removed; and healthcare coverage is restored to over 38,000 immigrant children who lost coverage in the last biennium.

Mental Health – $80 million of lost Medicaid revenue for community mental health services is restored; $20 million is provided to implement the mental health omnibus act of 2005.

Developmental Disabilities -- $2.9 million is provided to assist high school graduates with developmental disabilities in obtaining and retaining employment; Autism Centers in Tacoma and Spokane - funding is provided to continue the UW Tacoma Center for Autism and for the Northwest Autism Center in Spokane (through Eastern Washington University) to provide community-based approaches to assisting children and adults with autism spectrum disorder. The funding is also for the establishment of a preschool at EWU to serve children identified with autism spectrum disorder; Flexible Family Support Pilot receives $2.5 million to fund a new family support pilot program for approximately 1,400 families at or below 400% of the federal poverty level ($64,360 per year). 

Children’s Services -- $10.1 million is provided for improving child protective services by implementing 24-hour responses to allegations of abuse and neglect and for 30-day face-to-face visits to children in foster care.

House K-12 Capital Budget Summary

The final Capital budget includes $600 million for K-12 construction, which is $217 million more than the current funding level.

State match for new construction is increased by both the student square foot allocation and the area cost allowance.

Renovation: An increase in state assistance for modernization of new projects from 80% to 100% of the area cost allowance- $91.9 million;

Skill Centers -- $14.4 million;

High Performance buildings grants -- $6.5 million;

Emergency school repairs -- $3.0 million;

Environmental learning centers -- $6.5 million;

School Mapping project -- $4.5 million

Apple Award Achievement Construction grants -- $500,000 (awarded to schools with greatest gains in WASL scores, $25,000 per school)

Additional House Capital Budget items impacting children:

· Housing: $100 million is provided for housing assistance for low-income persons, developmentally disabled persons, victims of domestic abuse, and homeless families with children, farmers, and other housing needs. The total for housing in the 2003-05 capital budget was $81 million.

2-1-1 services are funded at the initial start-up amount of $100,000. 2-1-1 is an easy to remember phone number that connects individuals with resources in their community - where to get help and how to give help.  It is currently available to about 40% of the United States population, and a coalition of United Ways, Community Information Lines, and interested partners have been working hard for the past four years to bring 2-1-1 to Washington State. 

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Top Frog A.C.E. Awards

Principal Roetcisoender

April 2005

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:

Connor G

Annika W.

Austin G.

Kyle S.

Isabella B.

Sarah S.

Jim L.

Tanner K.

Mike A.

Tevin D.

Gavin C.

Dominique S.

Matthew K.

Forrest W.

Congratulations!

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Student Contributions

By Nate Blanchard

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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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