“Twain Times”

May 12, 2008

Our Mission:  Commitment to Success                                   

CALENDAR:                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

May12th                                   

May13th                       

May14th                        Early Release (1:30)

May15th            Field Trips     Drake-Juanita Bay (9:30)      Preston-Zoo (9:10)                                           

May16th            Field Trip       Sharp-Juanita Bay (9:30)                                                                                

                                                                                                         

A Safety Reminder: Visitors (parents, volunteers, everybody) must check-in at the office and get a visitors badge

 

Principal/Office

A great big thanks to our wonderful Mark Twain PTSA for taking great care of us during Staff Appreciation Week.  Listed below are some of the wonderful things they did for us this week.

·         Margarita Monday --- Margarita’s (no alcohol) made just for us

·         Treat Tuesday --- bags of snacks

·         Waffle Wednesday --- Breakfast served to us before school

·         Thanks for laughs and "Snickers" --- candy in our mail boxes

·         Flower Friday ---- flower seeds to plant

Thank you!!!

 

Thanks to Scott Buchanan & Jim McKnight, members Oran nan Car (OH-run nun CAR) a vocal and instrumental band that performs the traditional music and songs of Scotland. Scott & Jim performed for our students on Friday morning during an all school assembly.  They entertained and enriched our students playing music on bagpipes, a penny whistle and guitar.  Scott Buchanan is Alan Buchanan’s (Worthen) dad.

Class/Teacher Assignments for 2008-2009

We are approaching that time of year when we consider your child’s room and teacher assignment for the 2008-09 school year.  The staff at Mark Twain Elementary works very hard to create well-balanced, heterogeneous classes that provide an optimal learning environment for each student.  It is important that you know the criteria, which we carefully consider when making this placement and know that it is a team decision, made by both “sending” and “receiving” grade level teams.

 

Each classroom is a small community.  We support the notion that classrooms need to be representative of the various social, academic, and physical needs and abilities of children at Mark Twain and our goal is to achieve a positive balance among these factors.  The following criteria will be considered by our staff when building classes for next year.

·         Classes will be balanced by gender across a grade level;

·         Classes will be balanced by academic abilities, achievement, and motivation;

·         Classes will be balanced by social and emotional needs, special needs (i.e., English Language Learners, special education, and 504’s) and general behavior.

 

Parent input is not required and we assure you that a thoughtful and appropriate placement will be made if you choose not to provide input. Should you choose to provide input, we request that you provide it in writing on a “Parent Input Form” that is available in our school office beginning May 2nd. To be considered, the input should

conform to the criterion asked for on the form and must be returned to the school office by 4:00 PM Monday, May 12, 2008.

 

“End Summer Hunger Coin Drive”

Monday, May 5th through Friday, May 16th, Mark Twain Elementary will be participating in Hope Links “End Summer Hunger” Coin Drive!  End Summer Hunger” provides food for kids who receive free and reduced-fee breakfast and lunches during the school year. Last year the community raised nearly $170,000 in cash and food to help low-income families feed their children.

More information will be delivered to the students on Monday, May 5th!

 

The 2008 Elementary and Secondary Summer School Catalogs have been posted on the District website at http://www.lwsd.org/Parents/Other-Programs/Pages/Summer-School.aspx.

 

PTSA

Community News

Flyers in the office

BCC Summer Reading Skills Programs 1-800-978-3532

Lake Washington Force basketball program tryouts.  www.lwforce.com

Boys and Girls Clubs Kirkland Jr. Kangs and Rebels Football 2008    www.onepositiveplace.org

Wave Aquatics Swim Team  www.waveaquatics.org

Public Swim Lessons  Strattonwood Swimming Pool  www.strattonwoodswimclub.com

Lake Washington Youth Soccer Assoc. Fall registration general.delivery@lwysa.org or call 425-821-1741

Environmental Learning, Saint Edward Environmental Learning Center  www.seelc.org

Summer Dance Workshops @ The Francia Russell Center    pnbschool@pnb.org

Studio East Spring and Summer 2008 – jester@Studio-East.org for more information

Kirkland Parks 425-587-3330 or www.kirklandparks.net                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Need something in the Twain Times?  Email Barb at bscavera@lwsd.org by NOON on Wednesdays.

Kirkland Round-Up: What to do in Kirkland with Kids

From: http://www.red-tri.com/bigwheelnews/kirkland.php

 


Parkplace Cinema: Baby's Day at the Movies 404 Park Place - 425.827.9000
www.kirklandparkplace.com/cinema.htm The Parkplace cinema opens its doors to parents with babies every other Friday. Unlike other "child-geared" cinema programs, all screens are open, not just one, so there's a lot of choice for parents and kids alike. Doors open at 9:15 am; shows start at 9:45am.

Peter Kirk Open Air Pool (and Wading Pool)  202 Third Street - Pool Hotline: 425.587.3335
www.ci.kirkland.wa.us/ Great for those hot summer days and right next to Peter Kirk Park for post-swim picnics! Also next to Kirkland Parkplace if you prefer to dine in a restaurant. Pool offers open swim, wading pool, swim lessons, party packages, swim under the stars and more. Check schedule for open swim times.

 

Summer Concerts for Kids at Marina Park/Downtown Kirkland
Every Wednesday at 10:00 am from July 10-August 22, 2007. Bring a beach blanket (and some sand toys) and prepare for Little One to get wet as the beach and a fountain are right there! Bring the stroller and hit the farmers market on Park Lane before you head home for a nap.

Kirkland Libraries & Story times (Check
here for story times & special events)
Downtown Kirkland Library (Walking distance to Parkplace, Peter Kirk Park, and the Pool)
www.kcls.org/kirk/kirkhome.cfm
-Kingsgate Library
www.kcls.org/kings/home.cfm
-Parkplace Books-425.828.6546 - Hatch a Reader Program, Every other Friday at 10am-call for schedule.