January 2010 Archives

Dear Wedgwood Families,

In January we remembered Dr. Martin Luther King and his message of service, peace, forgiveness, the power of our words and the reminder that we all can make a difference in our world. This month students have learned about his message through readings, writing, our assembly and a variety of activities.

On the 18th our community service group joined Bryant, UW, and Seattle Parks to clean up Seward Park. The kids felt great about helping remove the foreign plants that were smothering the growth of the plants native to the area. On January 19-21, our fifth graders experienced outdoor education, engaging in real science learning and gaining a greater understanding and appreciation of the impact we each have on our community during their stay at Islandwood.

As we watch the news on the devastation occurring to our neighbors in Haiti many of us, adults and children alike, want to reach out to try and support our neighbors. Wedgwood student council will be coordinating efforts to rally our community in providing support to Haiti.

One activity we will be doing is collecting hygiene packets going down with an organization called Children of the Nations. The instructions are listed below and we will be collecting packets through Feb 1st. You can bring them to a drop box that will be in the front of the school.

HYGIENE PACK
Using a 1-gallon plastic zip-lock bag, enclose the following NEW items:

• 1 toothbrush (packaged)


• 1 toothpaste (6 oz.)


• 1 small pack of adhesive bandages (15-20 count)


• 1 bottle of shampoo (12 oz. in a separate gallon zip-lock bag)


• 1 comb/brush


• 1 washcloth


• 1 hand towel


• 3 bars of soap

Thanks!
Denise Espania

KidsPlay is offering a full day camp this Friday the 29th at our studio from 9 AM until 5 PM. We have plenty of play equipment (balls, bats, scooters, pogo sticks), board games and art supplies. Along with free time to romp around or hang around, we make every attempt to hold three to four 30 to 40 minute sessions throughout the day to keep the students active.

Pack a big lunch and a couple of snacks. Wear comfortable clothing, sneakers, an extra layer for outdoors, sneakers and bring lots of energy.

For further information and to register, e-mail Kevin Oyama at kdoyama@comcast.net
or call 206-979-2868. Cost is $60 for the day.

Hope to see you there. Thanks.

What: 2010 Walkathon kick off planning meeting
When: 8:30 AM (before school), Thursday, January 28th
Where: Wedgwood Lunchroom
Who: “You” All parents and guardians interested in having a lot of fun.
Contact: Deborah Sigler, parent volunteer organizer at deborahsigler@gmail.com, call 805.440.9104, or just show up on Thursday the 28th.

The event at Food Lifeline in Shoreline repackaging food donations is Tuesday Night, February 23rd from 6 to 8PM.

Please email Kelly Otis at rileyroootis@aol.com if you have any questions.

Thank you!

We are planning an exciting celebration with lots of fun activities, but in order to make it happen, we need volunteers! A variety of different jobs are available to suit your interests and availability. Like to cook? Help out at the dumpling station! Like books? Volunteer at the book sale table of Maples in the Mist! Love arts and crafts? Man an activity station! Have experience working with stage and sound equipment? Your talents would be invaluable during the show! These are just a few examples of how YOU can make a difference!

Please contact Linda Powers at daplk@comcast.net or 206-525-8414 to sign up!

In King County, 6.4 percent of children under the age of 18 are uninsured. That means that over 25,000 kids don’t have access to regular check-ups to help them stay healthy.
One of the few places where they can get medical and dental care is from the International Community Health Services (ICHS), a non-profit community health center that provides affordable healthcare services to Seattle and King County's Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities, as well as other underserved communities. ICHS has two locations, the Holly Park Medical & Dental Clinic located in south Seattle and the International District Medical & Dental Clinic located in Seattle's Chinatown/International District.

Trivia Question: Which ethnic group has the highest incidence of untreated tooth decay in King County?

Answer: Asian and Pacific Islanders have the highest incidence of untreated tooth decay out of all ethnic groups in King County. Lack of insurance and limited proficiency in English are some of the barriers this group faces in getting regular dental care. ICHS provides affordable dental care at their clinics, even to those who are uninsured. Their friendly, multi-lingual staff can also provide services in many different languages, including Cantonese, Mandarin, Vietnamese, and Korean.

For more information about ICHS, visit www.ichs.com. You can also meet representatives from ICHS at Wedgwood's Annual Lunar New Year celebration on Friday, February 12, and have a chance to make a contribution to this worthy cause!

DID YOU KNOW that Lunar New Year is traditionally celebrated for 15 days?

On the eve of the New Year, families gather for a reunion dinner and eat auspicious foods such as fish (symbolizing abundance), noodles (symbolizing long life), and sticky rice cake (symbolizing a sweet life). To find out more about the history of Lunar New Year and its customs, check out: http://www.history.com/content/chinesenewyear.

On Friday, February 12th, gather your family and head on down to Wedgwood from 6 to 8 pm for a night of exciting performances and fascinating cultural activities! To make this event accessible to everyone, this year’s event is FREE (no registration necessary)! Come and celebrate the Year of the Tiger!

(Please note that dinner will not be served at this free event.)

Seattle residents have the opportunity to vote on two school levies by mailing in ballots by February 9, 2010. Both measures will renew existing levies. At Seattle Public Schools, we are committed to providing an excellent education for every student and to ensuring that every school is an excellent school. The Capital Levy, Prop. 1, is part of the district’s long-range plan to upgrade and renovate aging school facilities on a planned and predictable timetable. The Operations Levy, Prop. 2, represents nearly one quarter of the district’s day-to-day budget.

Read the guide here.

Dear Wedgwood Families,

I am Lily Amar-Strugo and I am the school counselor at Wedgwood. I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself as well share, what I hope you will find as helpful information in supporting your children both academically as well as social and emotionally. The first of my messages is around greater awareness with the use of the internet and cell phones.

The internet offers many opportunities that can both enhance learning, but also can be inappropriate used and even dangerous for our children when lacking parental or adult guidance. There have been instances when individuals create alter egos in the forms of online avatars and can hide behind these images when abusing the web.

Just as we are cautious with who our children are with and where they are going, the same goes for their time on line. The attached guide covers what you need to know, where to go for more information, and issues to raise with kids about using the web. A reminder for yourself as well as your children: “Once you post information online, you can’t take it back.”

Dr. Lily Amar-Strugo
Wedgwood Counselor

DID YOU KNOW....Lunar New Year is celebrated all over the world by folks in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Korea, Mongolia, Bhutan, and Vietnam, to name a few countries. In the United States and Canada, the U.S. and Canadian postal services issue Lunar New Year themed stamps in celebration of this cultural holiday.

Each year, students, parents, and teachers at Wedgwood have also celebrated Lunar New Year with our own special tradition. This year, Wedgwood's Annual Lunar New Year school-wide event will be held on Friday, February 12, from 6 to 8 pm.

Come and enjoy Lion Dancing, Taiko Drumming, Korean dancers, and support our very own students as they display their skills in sports from around the world. View our students' creative artwork at ‘Asian Inspiration’ the student art walk. Learn about International Community Health Services (ICHS) and discover an easy way to give back to our community.

Donated Books on Sale at LNY
Maples in the Mist: Poems for Children from the Tang Dynasty (Hardcover) -- The Tang Dynasty was China's Golden Age, a period that produced some of the finest and most memorable classical Chinese poems. In Maples in the Mist, notable children's book author Minfong Ho has translated 16 of these poems and collaborated with award-winning artists Jean and Mou-sien Tseng to produce a book that is exquisite and one of a kind.

This book is now out of print and no longer available in the United States. Due to a generous donation by the author, the Wedgwood PTA now has limited quantities of this amazing children's book! These will be on sale at Wedgwood's Lunar New Year celebration on February 12.

Get your very own copy of this literary gem! Buy copies for your kids and for your friends' kids! Own some of China's illustrious history and share it with your children!
(Proceeds from the sale of this book could go towards culturally specific books in our own library or for other school cultural activities.)

Volunteers Needed for LNY
The Lunar New Year Committee needs your help! In order to make this popular event a success, we need many volunteers to help with everything from set-up, to cooking dumplings, to manning activity stations, etc. Whatever your interest is, we can surely find a job you will enjoy! This wonderful Wedgwood tradition can only go on with YOUR help! Contact Linda Powers at daplkp@comcast.net or call 206-525-8414 to sign up!

Come and celebrate this special day!

Thanks to everyone who contributed to the Wedgwood Holiday House. We were able to put together nice packages and make the season a little brighter for several Wedgwood families. We have a terrific service opportunity to help Food Lifeline on February 23rd, a Wednesday night, from 6pm to 8pm.

Interested volunteers can meet up at Food Lifeline's distribution warehouse in Shoreline and help repackage donations which go to food banks. This is a great opportunity for families to help the increasing number of hungry people in our area. Most of the activity is line work -- strictly repacking food, and there will be a short talk about how/where the food gets distributed. The only restrictions are that children need to be at least six years old.

Please email rileyroootis@aol.com to confirm you'll be joining us and to be added an email list for details (driving directions, etc.). We need 30 volunteers.

Below are a few of the other community service activities we have planned (we're still working through some specifics). Please email Kelly Otis at rileyroootis@aol.com if you have any questions. Thank you!

• Feb. 23: 6-8pm Wednesday, Food Lifeline repackaging food donations: Max. 30 people
• March: date and time TBD, Repainting local graffiti with Red Wagon supplies
• April: date and time TBD, Help with Wedgwood school Rain Garden efforts
• May 1: 10am-12pm Saturday, Volunteer at PlayGarden (South Seattle playground)
• June: date and time TBD, Asian Counseling Referral Service food bank - support Run for Rice, details to follow

Parents, did your child win an award or receive acknowledgment for an extracurricular activity outside of school and would like to share with us?

We will be updating our Student Achievement Board to celebrate all that our children have accomplished this year, and would love to include your child. Please send a picture and a short 2 to 3 sentence summary about the award to Amy Stanton at amyestanton@gmail.com.

PLEASE RESPOND BY MONDAY, JANUARY 25.

The January SCRIP Order will be available for delivery on Friday, January 22nd.

Per your designation, your order will be sent home by Kidmail or be ready for pick-up in the office. If you forgot to tell us how to deliver your order, the cards will be left in the office for pick-up under your name.

Don’t forget your Raincoat and Umbrella as you head out shopping! It’s WET out there!

Next SCRIP Order Forms Due - Thursday, February 4, 2010.

Questions:
Antonyia Kranz - antonyia@gmail.com
Marcie Kellegrew - marciekellegrew@comcast.net

PTA FUNd Fact #2010 - It’s a new dawn, it’s a new day, it’s a new tax break! Now that we’re into 2010, let Wedgwood be the second charitable contribution you make this year (right after that minivan-full drop off at Goodwill after the New Year’s purge).

We officially wrap up Pledge Drive promotions at the end of this month and
would love to count you in.

Thanks to the 36 percent of families who have helped us reach $37,000 of our $55,000 goal. Support Our School and Watch Our Giving Tree Grow! Get your pledge in now.

We are looking for a few good parents who love our community and would be
excited to share their experiences and knowledge with potential families as we
invite them to an evening Open House and daytime tours.

The dates and volunteer hours are:

Open House:
Jan 27, 6:00-8:30 pm (event 6:30-8:30 pm)

School Tours:
Feb 24, 9:00-10:45 am (tour 9:30-10:30)
March 1, 1:10-3:00 pm (tour 1:40-2:40)
March 16, 9:00-10:45 am (tour 9:30-10:30)

We need several parent volunteers to help with these events. Please pick a date
you can help, contact gemillew@hotmail.com and Join In!

1) Please remember to remain in your cars and keep the flow of traffic moving during drop off and pick up. Parking your car in load zones creates a safety concern as well as a great deal of traffic.

2) Please refrain from brining strollers into the halls during drop off and pick up. There is limited space and this also becomes a safety concern.

3) There has been a change in am rainy drop off. K/1 will be in the gym; 2,3,4 in the lunch room; 5 in the library.

Our 4th annual Lunar New Year celebration will be held on Friday, February 12th, from 6 to 8 pm. This popular all-school cultural event will feature performers from:

Lieu Quan Lion Dance Troupe,
Morning Star Korean Dance Troupe,
Kaze Daiko Taiko drummers,
Wedgwood students!

Come and view our students' creative artwork at "Asian Inspiration" the student art walk. Learn about International Community Health Services (ICHS) and discover a wonderful opportunity to give back to your community. Space is limited. Watch for our pre-registration form coming soon.

Do you know how to make dumplings? LNY committee is looking for a few dedicated parents to help out with one of our most popular activities. We need 3-4 volunteers and we can continue to share this tradition with our children. Contact Linda Powers at daplkp@comcast.net or call
206-525-8414 to be involved with this exciting event or any other Lunar New Year (LNY) opportunity.

Maria Turnbough, our friendly face in the lunch room and at recess decided to move on to a new phase in her career by doing more work with supporting her family business ventures.

We will miss her presence at Wedgwood, but wish her the very best.
Although big shoes to fill, we have two parents who have stepped up to the job with enthusiasm! We are excited to welcome Driss Bernani (Matthew) and Heidi Antush (Alison and Lauren) to the team.

Show your Wedgwood spirit by wearing your Wedgwood gear every Friday!
Need some? Get some! Sweatshirts will be on sale on the playground before and
after school every Friday this month. Sizes are limited; Adult L and XL sizes are
already sold out. Get them while you can! Kids: $20 and Adults: $25. Proceeds
benefit school programs. GO, WEDGWOOD!

Dear Wedgwood Families,

We had a wonderful first week back with our first mixer on Thursday in the library.

To start off the year I shared a selection from The Global Achievement Gap by Tony
Wagner with the staff and summarized the reading with the parents who attended
the mixer. Dr. Wagner outlines 7 survival skills that are essential if we are to prepare
our children to be competitive in a global society. In summary, in order to adequately
prepare students to be successful in our high speed growing global society, P-12
education must teach students how to collaboratively engage in critical thinking,
analysis, and creative problem solving as well as how to effectively take initiative and
communicate effectively and efficiently.

As parents it is equally our responsibility to provide opportunities to encourage
conversations as well as activities that nurture and develop these skills. I challenge
both our teachers and ourselves as parents to see how we can encourage our
children to engage in activities that require them to problem solve. It may not be for
every decision, but if we want to adequately prepare our children for the global
community of the future, we need to be intentional about allowing our children to
develop as independent critical thinkers.

We had a great discussion on Thursday and I hope you will be able to join us on
February 4th at 930am for our next mixer. I would also like to invite all of you to
Wedgwood’s open house on January 27th from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. All schools in the district
will be having an open house to show case the amazing work that is going on in all
Seattle Public Schools. The intent for this Open House is for our community, but is
also a part of the new assignment plan. This will be the first event to welcome in new
families that will be joining our community. I hope you will be able to join us in
sharing our community with the new families joining us next year.

Denise Espania

Wedgwood Open House
Wednesday, January 27th
6:30 pm - 8:30 pm

Wedgwood School Tours
Wednesday, February 24
9:30 am - 10:30 am

Monday, March 1
1:40 pm - 2:40 pm

Tuesday, March 16
9:30 am - 10:30 am