November 2008 Archives

Veterans Day - NO SCHOOL
Tuesday, Nov. 11

PTA Board Meeting
Wednesday, Nov. 12
Library
7 pm

Used Book Sale
Monday, Nov. 17 to Friday, Nov. 21

Picture Retake Day and Class Photos
Wednesday, Nov. 19

Parent Teacher Conferences - NO SCHOOL
Nov. 24, 25 and 26

Thanksgiving Holiday - NO SCHOOL
Nov. 27 and 28

DECEMBER

Scrip Orders Due
Thursday, Dec. 4

Fifth Grade Bake Sale
Monday, Dec. 8
8:40 to 9:00 am

Monday Mixer with Principal Espania
Monday, Dec. 8
9:15 am, Library

Dear Wedgwood Families,

Last week Wedgwood was abuzz with meetings concerning how to best support our community. We started the week with our Monday Mixer brain storming ideas on how to enhance supervision during lunches and recesses. After school on Monday, there was a meeting to discuss a recycling and composting grant that was submitted to increase our endeavors in reducing Wedgwood’s carbon footprint. If you are interested in participating in any volunteer opportunities please contact Julie Stevens.

For many of our classrooms, Election Day was a culmination of a unit of learning about the different candidates as well as our democratic process. Our students are learning about respecting and communicating with their peers when there are differences of opinion. We all know that this is an invaluable life skill that even as adults we continue to refine.

We ended the week with an election of our own and now have newly elected student council officers. All of the candidates and campaign teams worked so hard to create amazing posters and well thought out speeches. I am so proud of all the students who ran for office.

I have really enjoyed observing the outcomes of the work that the community is doing around supporting the growth of our children in becoming more aware of their roles as global citizens.

Denise Espania

BOOKS AND VOLUNTEERS STILL NEEDED!!!!! To make our annual used book sale a success we need your books and we need you! Volunteers are needed to help with pre-sale set up, to work during the sale and to help clean up after the sale! Set up will begin Thursday Nov. 13 after school and all day Friday Nov. 14. Please contact Julie Stevens at bryceandjulie@comcast.net or 206-963-3725.

Special Need: Please keep an eye peeled for books by and about people from other cultures. The PTA is putting together a Read Around the World program to enhance multicultural awareness and it would be a great help if you could find and donate any books that show how kids in other countries grow up. Thanks!

Support Our School and Watch Our Giving Tree Grow!

PTA Funded Item #21 – Family Activities
Allemande Left and Do-Si-Do at the Fall Square Dance

Get your pledge in now.

If you wish to receive a printed copy of the All School or Classroom Roster, please fill out and return the Roster Order Form that you received last week in Kidmail. Extra forms are available in the Front Office. We will print as many as we receive requests for, free of charge. But you must return your order by, Wednesday, Nov. 12.

Many thanks to the numerous 5th grade families that helped put together our spur-of-the moment bake sale prior to Ms. Espania's Monday Mixer last week. Fifth grade students are fundraising for their January trip to Islandwood: A School in the Woods. You will see them again in December and January selling tasty treats beginning at 8:40 am before the Monday Mixers with Principal Espania. So be sure to bring your dollar bills to purchase home baked cookies, muffins and breakfast breads.

Shop at the University Book Store between Friday Nov. 14 and Monday Nov. 17 and 25 percent of total purchases will be donated to the Wedgwood Library. The library uses that money to purchase new books. Come find books, calendars, art and office supplies, stationary, Husky gear and lots more. Coupons will go home with kids this week, look for them in Kidmail. Yes folks, just like last year, you can make purchases online or by phone, simply by using the Wedgwood specific code you will find on the coupon. Come support your school Library and listen to the choir too! The Wedgwood Choir will perform on Sunday, Nov. 16 at 4 pm upstairs in the children’s book section. Hope to see you there!

Wedgwood Art Show
Artwork due by November 21st
Judging on December 5th

Categories are:

• Abstract / Design: Designs using line and color, not realistic.


• Portrait: Pictures of people


• Nature: Pictures of the natural world … for example, trees, landscapes, animals and insects.


• Fantasy: Pictures from your imagination … mythical creatures, aliens


• Cartoon / Comics: I think you all know what this means


• Recycled Sculpture: New this year … a special category to promote recycling. How can you take everyday garbage and turn it into art? Be Creative! Can your art communicate the message that we should protect our Earth!

Artwork should be made at home and should be no larger than 11 inches by 17 inches. Thank you!

In order to ensure the safety and well being of our students during rainy day morning drop off we will be setting up the following system for teachers to pick up their students at the morning bell:

Cafeteria: Grades K, 2 and 3: Each classroom will be assigned a table. When the bell rings, teachers will pickup their class at the assigned table. On mornings when there are assemblies and the tables are up, classrooms will be assigned a specific area of the cafeteria for teacher pick up.

Library: Grade 5: Room 14 will line up against the windows and exit the south door. Room 22 will up on the opposite wall and exit the north door.

Gym: Grades 1 and 4: Cones with class numbers will post where students will line up at the bell.

The Staff Social Committee is sponsoring a community project in support of local food banks. Food banks around the country and here in Seattle are struggling to meet demand. Some teachers will be storing boxes in their classroom for donations, but there will also be a large donation box outside the library for donations. The social committee will deliver donations to the food bank. Boxes will be ready for non-perishable food item donations beginning Nov. 17. If you have questions, please contact Anne Miller at ajmiller@seattleschools.org.

Scrip Orders Due
Thursday, Nov. 6

Student Council Assembly
Students running for office will give their speeches and students will vote in their classrooms.
Friday, Nov. 7
9:30 am

Veterans Day Assembly
Monday, Nov. 10

Veterans Day - NO SCHOOL
Tuesday, Nov. 11

PTA Board Meeting
Wednesday, Nov. 12
Library
7 pm

Used Book Sale
Monday, Nov. 17 to Friday, Nov. 21

Picture Retake Day and Class Photos
Wednesday, Nov. 19

Parent Teacher Conferences - NO SCHOOL
Nov. 24, 25 & 26

Thanksgiving Holiday - NO SCHOOL
Nov. 27 & 28

Hello Wedgwood Families!

There are a couple of events that come to mind as I reflect upon this past week. I realized that these events were so memorable because of connections made between people. So often we go through life rushing from one event to another and I know that I am guilty of multitasking to get as much done in short period of time. This week I got a letter from a first grade class and a message from my son to “have a great day.” As I walked through the lunchroom, I noticed that a couple of students also had notes in their lunches from home. During a 2nd grade class’ community activity, one of the students had a station where he was sharing stories. All of these little moments during my week reminded me of the importance of making the time to connect with others. Although it was a little note that took my son 10 seconds to share and another 30 seconds for someone to write out, it was a moment that carried me through my day. My note from the first graders reminded me why I have the best job in the whole world. Watching a 2nd grader read to his friends reminded me of how, at any age and at any time, connecting with another person is invaluable and priceless.

As we head into a season of school conferences, holiday shopping, celebrations and social gatherings it is even more important that we take time to individually connect with our family, friends, teachers and co-workers. Your little positive note that takes 5 seconds to write may be the highlight of someone’s day that keeps them smiling for another 5 hours. Have a great week!

Denise Espania

The PTA is proud to announce that for the first time the All School and Classroom Rosters are being distributed electronically. Not only is this move environmentally friendly, but it is economically and budget friendly, keeping our funds targeted for our students and programs. Thanks to parent volunteer Eric Maher for pulling this project together. Look for your rosters to be coming from your room parents.

If you did not receive an electronic roster, that means you did not opt in to receive PTA communications which are sent via your PTA Room Parent. If you wish to receive communications in the future, please contact your PTA Room Parent directly and ask to be added to their email distribution list. Please note that the Rosters themselves are complete and we are unable to make changes or additions.

If you did not receive the Rosters or prefer a hardcopy, look for the Roster Order Form in Kidmail. We will print as many as we receive requests for, free of charge to you. But you must return your order by Wednesday, November 12.

Congrats, Wedgwood! We have hit the $25,000 mark in donations! We are well on our way to our goal of $60,000 but still need your help. Please consider donating to keep these great programs going. Thank you.

• PTA Funded Item #37 – Student Activity Groups Circling the globe in Passport Club

Support Our School and Watch Our Giving Tree Grow! Get your pledge in now.

Have any grocery shopping to do in November? Get your scrip in time for Thanksgiving shopping! The next order is due on NOVEMBER 6th and will come home to you on NOVEMBER 21st…plenty of time to shop with scrip. Safeway donates 4% of your total bill to Wedgwood PTA, QFC/Fred Meyers and PCC both donate 5%...nothing is excluded. Those, plus Albertsons and Sam’s club and your groceries are covered! If you’re looking for that perfect gift, there’s nothing better than a gift (scrip) card. Order now for the holidays, or plan on the next order due December 4th, going home December 12th - leaving enough time for shipping or early gift giving.

Are you interested in the scrip program? Are you looking for a way to volunteer at Wedgwood? Next year Wedgwood will need a new chair and co-chair for the Scrip program. The current chairperson would like to train someone (or possibly 2 people to co-chair) so that they are up and ready to do it next year. Email Julie Stevens at bryceandjulie@comcast.net or call 963-3725 if you would like more information or are interested.

The Economy may be Bearish, but that won’t stop us from welcoming the Year of the Bull! (or Ox…) Wedgwood's annual Lunar New Year Celebration will be held on January 23, 2009. Please consider being a part of the planning committee for this popular event! The first planning meeting will be on Thursday, November 13, from 7:30 to 8:30 pm at the school library. If you have questions about this event, you can contact Robert Yuan at yfalink@yahoo.com or Charlotte Kuo-Benitez at kuobenitez@gmail.com. Hope to see you on November 13!

The PTA has a lot going on, and as the school year develops, so do our needs for parent volunteers. The following are some jobs on our immediate “Wish List.” If you are interested in more information or would like to pitch in, please contact PTA Co-President Emily Maher at ptaemily@gmail.com. JOIN IN!

We need help with:

• Grant writing – various requests and deadlines in the year


• Painting new emergency room numbers in safe designated areas outside


• Coordinating the order and installation of new doors for portable classrooms


• Math Night Chair – Moving the event to December, the timing does not work for our current chair; let’s not lose this great family event!

Vision and Hearing screening for all students has been scheduled for Friday Nov. 14th and Friday Dec. 5th, from 9am to 3pm. I need parents willing to work all or part (at least half day) of the time. Training will be on Friday Nov. 7th from 9 to 10 am in the Nurses office for all who can help. If you can help, please call Nurse Anita at 252.5712 or e-mail at ahuntley@seattleschools.org.

Mark your calendars for the annual used book sale Monday Nov. 17 through Friday Nov. 21. We need your donations of used books to make this annual event a success! Volunteers are still needed to help set up for the sale Thursday afternoon Nov. 13 and all day Friday Nov. 14. If you are interested, please contact Julie Stevens at 206-963-3725 or bryceandjulie@comcast.net.

A wheelbarrow! If you happen to have an old but still sturdy wheelbarrow sitting at home that you do not want any more, please know that we may have a home for it! Our dedicated gardener, Mr. Murphy, is looking to "adopt" one as soon as possible. If you can help Mr. Murphy out, please contact Mrs. Murphy at clmurphy@seattleschools.org.