Einstein Elementary Ottermail -- Aug. 28, 2011 -- Issue 1

I hope you are as excited for school to start as I am!! You will be very surprised to return to campus and see some of the incredible work that has been done to prepare our school. On Saturday over 50 volunteers from the community came to help us prepare for the new school year. They painted a beautiful mural near the big toy outside, they did some landscaping and pressure washing, and helped teachers set up their classrooms. You won't believe how great our school looks!

In addition to all of this, we are beginning the installation of our new playground structure on the northeast side of the building. Installation will be completed in time for a special ribbon cutting ceremony on Thursday, September 8th. Parent Kari Haegele has been instrumental in this project and deserves the biggest THANK YOU for making it happen.

I am sure in these final days of summer vacation you have many mixed emotions. As the parent of a school-aged child, I know we will miss the quality time we get to spend with our kids during the summer but we are eager to see how they will progress and learn over the next year. For those of you that are new to our school, I am sure there is some fear of the unknown and anxiousness about sending your child to a new school. What I can promise you is we will keep your children safe, we will make them feel special, and we will ensure that they are learning every day.

See you all on September 6th.

Melissa Pointer

Principal

Versións en español que se encuentra aquí

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** SCHOOL NEWS **

7 Items to Get the School Year Started Right

1. Get the school supplies your child needs
The updated school supply list for each grade is posted on the

Einstein Web site (in the Announcements section). Supply lists are different for each grade so check carefully.

2. Update Einstein on your child's immunizations
Students must be up to date with the required grade level immunizations at the beginning of each school year. Students will be excluded for non-compliance. Any time your child has updated immunization records, please call or bring them to the Einstein office as soon as possible. Please note, if your child is going into 6th grade, Tdap and Varicella vaccinations are required.

3. Find out what you need to know for your Kindergartner

The best opportunity for incoming Kindergarten parents to learn invaluable information about the Kindergarten program and interact with the Kindergarten teachers and our principal is at Kindergarten Curriculum Night on Wednesday, August 31 from 7:00-8:00 pm. Please note this evening is for parents only.

4. Meet your child's Teacher and learn more about Einstein's community
The Meet and Greet is Thursday, September 1. Classroom assignments and bus routes will be posted. Join Ms. Pointer and the staff in the Einstein Gym at 12:00 pm. Following some opening remarks, visit with your child's teacher in the classroom and see old friends. Representatives will also be onsite to answer questions about the PTSA, upcoming volunteer opportunities, and depositing money in your child's lunch account. The Meet and Greet ends promptly at 1:00 pm.

5. The First Day of school from start to finish

The first day of school is Tuesday, September 6. Your child needs to be lined up outside his/her classroom by the first bell which rings at 8:55 am. School starts at 9:00 am and is out at 3:30 pm.

6. Meet or reconnect with other Einstein Parents

Please join us for the Parents' Coffee in the library from 9:00-10:00 am on the first day of school, Tuesday, September 6. It's a great opportunity to meet or reconnect with other Einstein Parents; catch up on after the summer and make plans for the new year.

7. More questions?

Check out the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section of the PTSA site.

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McTeacher Night is Thursday, September 8

Come to the Redmond McDonalds, between 5 and 7pm, on Thursday, September 8 to benefit Einstein Elementary at McTeacher Night. The teachers will be working behind the counters, at the drive up window, and selling cookies, all to benefit our school. Plan a fun family evening out and make money for Einstein at the same time.

Thank you, as always, to Redmond McDonalds for this great opportunity. The teachers hope to see you there!

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Make the School Calendar Work for You

Every year we do our best to ensure you have the most current and descriptive event details available in the School Calendar. But did you know that in a few steps you can publish events from the school calendar directly to your online calendar? This works for Outlook, Google calendar, Hotmail, etc. Here's how you keep your family's online schedule organized:

1. Select the event you want from the School Calendar, for instance the Meet and Greet on September 1

2. Click once on the event to go to the detail page

3. On the right side of the event details you will find the "follow" menu, click on Add to My Calendar

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4. Complete the steps in the pop-up menus that follow to add the event to your online calendar

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** PTSA NEWS **

Welcome to the 2011-12 School Year

Dear Einstein Families,

Welcome back to all returning families and a big WELCOME to all new families. I hope you and your kids had a great summer and are excited to begin the new school year.

This year the continued goal of the PTSA is to build our sense of community and encourage the involvement of all families at our school. For the PTSA to be effective and truly representative of the school, everyone's participation is essential. The PTSA board and I want everyone to feel that they are part of the Einstein Community. Whether you have 30 minutes, a couple of hours, or make a year long commitment, your ideas, your time, and your talents are truly needed. I encourage you to take an active part in your child's education and get involved by joining the PTSA, attending school events, and volunteering.

Have a wonderful school year! I look forward to seeing you at the first day Parents' Coffee in the library, 9-10am, Mcteacher Night on September 8, 5-7pm, and at the PTSA General Membership Meeting on September 29, 7-8:30pm.

Sincerely,

Deva Demeter

PTSA President

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Before and After School Activities

Does your child love art? Want to learn chess? Have an interest in Spanish? If so, the PTSA sponsored before and after school activities are a way for your child to explore his/her curiosities, or practice his/her skills.

Check out more details in the Activities section of the PTSA site. Completed registration forms are due by September 16th, so do not delay! (Low income and sibling discounts are available.)

Contact Lindsay Smith at studentactivities@einsteinptsa.org with questions.

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** COMMUNITY NEWS **

Lake Washington School District (LWSD) does not sponsor, endorse or recommend any of the organizations, services, or activities described in these materials.

Join the Girl Scouts

Serving Girls in Grades K - 12, and Adults Who Want to Make a Difference.

To all girls and their parents,

Please come to the Girl Scout information night on September 13, 6:00-7:00 pm, in the Einstein Library. For more information please contact Deva Demeter at b.demeter@comcast.net.

Girl Scouting helps build girls of Courage, Confidence & Character, who make the world a better place.

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Sodexo Food Services is Hiring in LWSD

Looking for something to do while your kids are back in school and earn extra spending money? Sodexo Food Services in the Lake Washington School District has cafeteria positions that fit a parent's schedule perfectly:

Work-day hours coincide with school days and hours
No holidays or weekends

Entry level positions are available for 3-4 hours per day at $9.25/hour. Please contact the LWSD Food Service Office at 425-936-1393 for information.

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Contacts

Einstein Elementary School

Principal: Melissa Pointer, MPointer@lwsd.org
Office Manager: Judy Norman, JNorman@lwsd.org

Secretary: Bobbie Jo Connors, BConnors@lwsd.org

Phone: 425-936-2540

Albert Einstein Elementary PTSA is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization

PTSA President: Deva Demeter
PTSA Newsletter Editors: Candice Giffin, Lisanne Schliemann, & Mahla Mehta