DECEMBER
4th and 5th Grade Music Concert
Tuesday, Dec. 16
6:30 pm
Cafeteria
2nd and 3rd Grade Music Concert
Thursday, Dec. 18
6:30 pm
Cafeteria
One Hour Early Dismissal
Friday, Dec. 19
Winter Break
Monday, Dec. 22 to Friday Jan. 2
JANUARY
First day back at school
Monday, Jan. 5
5th Grade Bake Sale
Monday, Jan. 5
8:40 - 9:05 am
Monday Mixer
Monday, Jan. 5
9:15 am
Library
Martin Luther King Jr. Day - NO SCHOOL
Monday Jan. 19
Day between semesters - NO SCHOOL
Monday, Jan. 26
Hello Wedgwood Families,
I want to thank those who attended the Monday Mixer last week and those who helped during our 4th grade activity on Friday. Wedgwood is very lucky to have such a wonderful support network committed to creating extraordinary learning opportunities for students in and out of school, academically as well as socially and emotionally.
Our Monday gathering was guided by parent questions that were sent to Leslie Snyder via email (peanut.25@comcast.net). If you have questions, comments, or are interested in volunteering please contact Leslie Synder or Julie Stevens.
Have a wonderful winter break with your family and friends. I look forward to seeing all of you in 2009!
Denise Espania
The Student Council is having a Holiday Giving House, but this year, it’s a gingerbread house. Thank you to the third graders for making the house! Please pick up your gingerbread person today and bring the food or small gift back to school by Thursday, December 18th. This should bring joy to all families; the one we are giving to and all Wedgwood families. So get your gingerbread person today!
Thank you and Happy Holidays!
From, Caroline Malone, Secretary and the Wedgwood Student Council
Wedgwood and KidsPlay are offering a Winter Break Fitness and Activities Camp. Come to school for some serious fun with KidsPlay on Monday and Tuesday, December 22nd and 23rd and again on Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 29th and 30th. Camp will run all day from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm in the gym.
If the weather is nice we’ll go outdoors, too. So pack a lunch and a couple of snacks, we’ll bring the water.
Register for 1, 2, 3 or all 4 days in person in the school office or via Kidmail. The tuition is $60 for 1 day, $110 for 2 days, $150 for 3 days and $180 for all 4 days. Make check payable to KidsPlay. Deadline for registration is Thursday, December 18th. For more information, call Kevin Oyama at 206-529-1132. After all the fun we had during the Parent/Teacher Conference week, we’re looking forward to more play and games this time around!
The Wedgwood Chess Club is now accepting new students into its Friday Winter Short Course group, which runs from January 16th to March 13th. It’s also time to re-enroll for children currently in the Friday Fall group. If you have questions, please see our website at wedgwoodelementary.org/activities/chess/.
The award winning Washington Middle School Senior Orchestra and Band will be performing in a fundraiser winter concert on Wednesday, Dec. 17th. The concert will be held at Lincoln High auditorium, located in Wallingford at 4400 Interlake Avenue North. Tickets prices are $10/adult and $5/student.
December 16th: Grades 4 and 5 Vocal and Instrumental Concert
6:30 pm Cafeteria
December 18th: Grades 2 and 3 Vocal Concert
6:30 pm Cafeteria
Note: No performances if school is not is session due to weather.
December 19th: 2:05 early dismissal for Winter Break
Student Progress Reports home with students.
Please remember to listen to your radio or television during inclement weather. If schools stay open and buses are to operate on a regular schedule, there will be no announcement. Wedgwood Kids Time will not operate when school is cancelled. If school starts two hours late, there will be no AM childcare. If school is dismissed early, there will be no PM childcare. If it snows during the day, please listen to the radio/tv to determine if the weather has worsened enough and schools would need to be closed early.
DECEMBER
Wedgwood Choir Concert
Wednesday, Dec. 10
7:00 pm
Cafeteria
4th and 5th Grade Music Concert
Tuesday, Dec. 16
6:30 pm
Cafeteria
2nd and 3rd Grade Music Concert
Thursday, Dec. 18
6:30 pm
Cafeteria
One Hour Early Dismissal
Friday, Dec. 19
Winter Break
Monday, Dec. 22 to Friday Jan. 2
JANUARY
First day back at school
Monday, Jan. 5
Martin Luther King Jr. Day - NO SCHOOL
Monday Jan. 19
Day between semesters - NO SCHOOL
Monday, Jan. 26
Hello Wedgwood Families,
We just presented Wedgwood’s Continuous School Improvement Plan (formerly called the Transformation Plan) at the John Stanford Center last week. We began by looking at our academic as well as behavioral data. Based on an analysis of this information, we created focus goals and strategies to achieve goals in reading, writing, math and school climate. On a daily basis we provide instruction in all areas, however our focus goals and strategies allow for deeper inquiry into specific areas of study.
This year we have chosen to deepen our knowledge through professional development in math and writing. The rationale for selecting math and writing is based on our analysis of both district and Wedgwood assessments. To enhance our practice with Everyday Math, we are engaging in collaborative work with the View Ridge Elementary staff around implementing high leverage teaching strategies. To address writing instruction, Wedgwood teachers are collaboratively assessing student work and sharing instructional strategies that will enhance writing instruction in K-5 classrooms.
At home, families can support these goals in a variety of ways. Talk about what is going on in school and read with them 20 minutes a day. Attend PTA events like math night or do some of the home activities suggested by the Everyday Math curriculum. Have children write thank you letters or keep a daily or vacation journal. Our goal is for learning to be fun and consistent between home and school.
Denise Espania
The Wedgwood Choir will be presenting two performances of its Holiday Concert on Wednesday December 10. The first performance is for students at a 2:20 pm assembly. The second performance is that evening at 7 pm for families in the cafeteria. The feature of this concert is a reading of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” with songs interspersed and a surprise celebrity Grinch! We hope you can join us! Contact Steve Demorest at demorest@u.washington.edu with questions.
A BIG “THANK YOU” to all who helped with the annual used book sale this year. Thanks to all the Wedgwood families who donated books to the sale and to the more than 40 volunteers who helped with sorting, setting up, selling and cleaning up of all the books. The sale was a huge success bringing in a whopping $4,679! A very special thanks to Gemille Wise, Catherine Stine and Julia Wooten who helped organize the event!!
Your fundraising dollars at work! In the spring of ’07 the PTA’s Carnival Dunk Tank raised $1,400 for 5th grade camp. These funds cover the cost of roundtrip transportation to Islandwood for our students, staff and chaperones, which was a large budget concern. The two Family Portrait Nights generated just over $400 and our three bake sales will bring in and additional $200. These additional proceeds will be used fund scholarships for families in need assistance to attend Islandwood. Thank you for supporting your Wedgwood community.
**WEDGWOOD GIVING TREE HAS HIT $35,000!!! ONLY $25,000 TO GO!!!**
Support Our School and Watch our Giving Tree Grow! Get your pledge in now.
We Need Your Help to Travel Around the World on Words
Who knows better than winter-bound Seattleites how to escape the rain by reading of other people and places? And through travel, even virtual, we learn and the world seems smaller. Hence, the Wedgwood PTA is exploring ways to further instill in our children an appreciation for other cultures, especially how kids in other countries grow up. Is there a more important challenge in this age than to create cultural empathy and have the world get along?
What do we need?
So, if the phrase “It’s a Small World After All” reminds you of floating through a magical place where kids from around the world are singing together, or if you sang the phrase as you read it (which should cover everyone), WE NEED YOU!! Parents and PTA members have compiled a list of books about other countries that we’d like to add to our library. We plan to create a multicultural reading area with separate shelves where kids could leaf through the lives of kids from other countries and see the wonder of our diverse world. This reading area will also serve as a launching platform for a Read Around the World Read-a-thon the PTA is planning for the spring.
The book list
So, please consider donating a book to the library over the holidays, and/or as a special way to mark your child’s birthday. One new or used book may not seem like much, but if we are all inspired together, we can build an amazing resource for current and future Wedgwood kids. The book list is posted online at http://wedgwoodelementary.org/activities/readaroundtheworld.html and here. The list is composed of books recommended by the American Library Association (ALA) and Wedgwood parents that we‘d like donated, and the multicultural books already in the library. Don’t feel limited by the list, though, especially if there’s a book from your heritage that you’d like to share. Upon deciding on a book, please e-mail jansenjk@gmail.com and I’ll check to make sure it hasn’t been donated already. And then just drop it by the library. Many Thanks. Happy Holidays and Peace on Earth. --John Jansen
As a school community, we are all interested in recent developments regarding school closures and how it will impact enrollment for next year. However, at this time, there is no certainty on anything and there will not be until the final school board vote on January 29th. The Northeast Cluster Coalition has recommended the following until then:
DECEMBER
Scrip Orders Due
Thursday, Dec. 4
Fifth Grade Bake Sale
Monday, Dec. 8
8:40 to 9:05 am
Monday Mixer with Principal Espania
Monday, Dec. 8
9:15 am, Library
4th and 5th Grade Music Concert
Tuesday, Dec. 16
6:30 pm
Cafeteria
2nd and 3rd Grade Music Concert
Thursday, Dec. 18
6:30 pm
Cafeteria
One Hour Early Dismissal
Friday, Dec. 19
Winter Break
Monday, Dec. 22 to Friday Jan. 2
JANUARY
First day back at school
Monday, Jan. 5
Martin Luther King Jr. Day - NO SCHOOL
Monday Jan. 19
Day between semesters - NO SCHOOL
Monday, Jan. 26
Wedgwood PTA is proud to announce that it is a recipient of the Silver Award by the Washington State PTA for increasing its membership at least 5 percent over the previous year’s membership. As of Oct. 25, Wedgwood is the only school in the Northeast Cluster to receive the Silver designation, illustrating the commitment of our families to our wonderful school community. We are also honored to share the Bronze level designation for having enrolled at least 50 percent of our membership by Sept. 30 with Bryant, Laurelhurst, Sacajawea and View Ridge. Special thanks go to PTA VP of Membership John Cahill for his coordination and hard work. Remember, it’s not too late to JOIN IN!
Dear Wedgwood Families,
I hope that your family enjoyed some quality time together this past week and everyone is ready to get back into the school routine. Consistency is important in helping all of us feel safe, happy and ready to work and learn.
Over the past couple of weeks there has been a great deal of information coming to our families about supporting learning and safety, as well as consistency and stability in our Seattle school. Dr. Goodloe-Johnson sent a letter to our families regarding an incident that impacted a high school in our district. Although Wedgwood was not directly involved, it is essential that we are well informed about what is happening to members of our community. I also want to reassure you that our safety committee works throughout the year to ensure that our school is prepared in the event of any foreseeable situation. Another piece of information that impacts our district is the announcement of the proposed building and program restructuring. Again, although you will not see Wedgwood named, the objective of this plan is to positively impact all students’ learning during an economically challenging time.
I believe that a well-informed community is a stronger community. I hope that those of you who can make it to next weeks Monday Mixer will be able to join us, but I will also continue to communicate what is going on with our school as well as our district via The Weekly and KidMail.
Denise Espania
Holiday shopping time is here!
Turn in your scrip order by Thursday, Dec. 4. Earn money for Wedgwood while you shop and give gifts … what could be better?! Order online at www.shopwithscrip.com. If you are new to the system, the Wedgwood enrollment code is LEAF17929381. You can also send in paper order forms via kidmail or turn it in at the main office. Call Julie at 206-522-6342 with any questions. Thanks and Happy Shopping!
Parents, Staff and Students! On Monday, Dec. 8, the 5th grade class will sponsor a bake sale prior to Ms. Espania’s Monday mixer. Treats will be sold from 8:40am to 9:05am on the playground (weather permitting, look for us inside if it’s raining), and everything is just $1. Remember to bring your money on Monday!
I would like to thank all the wonderful members of our Wedgwood community that supported our library and our school at the Used Booksale and also at the University Bookstore Fundraiser. Our library benefited from both of these events. Not only were we able to add some wonderful, gently used books from the Booksale, we also earned $1,105.24 in new books from the University Bookstore! We are clearly a community that loves books and understands the importance of reading in all our lives!Thank you everyone! Sincerely, Anne Miller, Wedgwood Librarian
All 4th and 5th Grade Students:
Both Instrumental Music and Ms. Becker’s general Music Classes:
Tuesday, December 16th
6:30 pm
Wedgwood Cafeteria
All 2nd and 3rd Grade Students:
Thursday, December 18th
6:30pm to 7:45 pm
Wedgwood Cafeteria
Nice or holiday attire: snowmen, Santa hats, red, white, green, reindeer ears, snowflakes, etc.
Come One, Come All!! Please call if your child cannot make it. Come listen to all the hard work and fun!! Note: Please be prepared to have your 3rd grader sit with you during the concert until their time to perform arrives. I am still in need of Piano Accompanists for the Winter Concerts!! If you have any sort of skill and are free on either the 16th or the 18th, please call Carla at 206-252-5677! Thank you, Carla Becker.
The Seattle Public Schools proposed closing a number of schools and relocating several programs last week. You can read about the proposal and find the dates of future hearings at: www.seattleschools.org/area/news/0809/public_hearings.pdf
The Kindergarten gardeners and Mr. and Mrs. Murphy would like to thank the Kaestle Family for their donation of a wheelbarrow. The kindergartners (and Mr. Murphy!) have been busy tending their garden and the wheelbarrow is of great use. Thanks!
In hopes of having the Eckstein Middle School Orchestra flourish in the years to come, the conductor, Brad Smith, is giving free beginning orchestra lessons to 3rd, 4th and 5th graders and highly motivated 2nd graders. The lessons are Tuesdays from 3:40pm to 4:30 pm in the Eckstein Orchestra room. Children are welcome to play any string instrument (viola, violin, cello or bass). Instruments are not provided and must be rented or bought for practice at home. If you would like more information, contact Brad Smith at bwsmith@seattleschools.org.
Green Lake Elementary is holding its 23rd Annual Holiday Tree Sale with a variety of cut trees. The sale ends Sunday, December 21st. Profits supplement the Green Lake PTA budget which funds a variety of programs including vocal and instrumental music, swimming, art and drama. The program sells quality trees and is staffed by PTA volunteers. If you plan to buy a cut tree this year, consider buying from Green Lake at their tree lot at the school on NE 65th Street, four blocks west of I-5. The lot is open from 4am to 8pm weekdays, 9am to 8pm Saturdays and 10am to 7pm Sundays.
Is your child missing a coat, sweatshirt, lunchbox, hat, gloves or who knows what else? With winter break coming up, it’s a good time to look through the lost and found in the cafeteria. You never know what you might find!