Dear Einstein Families,

Children learn best when they feel safe, respected and cared for. In our effort to create a safe and positive learning environment, the staff at our school decided to launch a school-wide, bullying prevention curriculum called Steps to Respect. This program is designed to prevent bullying and promote responsible, respectful student behavior. I visit each secondary classroom once a week for 30 minutes to teach the following topics.

Students in grades 3rd through 5th will participate in the Steps to Respect lessons. They will learn: 

• Friendship skills that reduce the risk of being bullied, including how to make friends, join group activities and manage conflict. (This is what we are working on currently.)
• Emotional skills, such as understanding the feelings of others and managing emotions.
• How to recognize, refuse and report bullying when it happens to them or someone else.
• How to use positive values (respect, responsibility and caring for others) as a guide for behavior.

If you have any questions or concerns about the Steps to Respect program, please feel free to contact me at ccrane@lwsd.org or (425) 936-2540. Together, we can work to create a school that is safe and secure for all students.

Sincerely,
Candida Crane, M.Ed.
School Counselor

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In 5th grade we are excited about several things! First, we are thrilled that Ms. Benzel and Ms. Nichols are team teaching together! Our classroom has a very calm and community feel which is helping all of the students get back into the swing of school. Fifth grade has already jumped into literacy and math and we really are in "full swing" by this time! Science has already been highlighted as a huge focus that we will be incorporating into reading, writing, and math. 

At the end of each day our students are enjoying a team building activity in which each class chooses a "Star Student" from the other 5th grade classroom. We give that student a special cheer and let him/her know we noticed the hard work! Our students are always on the lookout for a model fifth grader. We are looking forward to a great year in fifth grade!  

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Picture Day is tomorrow, Tuesday, September 27. Flyers with all the details you need were sent home last week.

To order photos, you have the option of filling out and returning the form that came home with your child or ordering and paying online at http://mylifetouch.com (the school code was provided in the flyer).  

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We're having a" Reading is Out of this World" Book Fair during conference week (Oct. 3-6). We will be open in the library during recess times and from noon until 4:00 on M-T-TH; 2-4 on W. If you can help out any of these times, please email asandbo@lwsd.org.

Additionally, we will be able to order books online this year. Starting TODAY you, or out of town friends and relatives, can order books to profit Einstein. Visit this link to view our book fair page: http://bookfairs.scholastic.com/homepage/ein. 

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Einstein students and parents are encouraged to join families around the world to celebrate the benefits of walking to school. We're joining this international, annual event on Wednesday, October 5, for several reasons:

• Promote physical activity and friendlier neighborhoods, as families get out and interact with one another.
• Improve neighborhood safety.
• Increase awareness of how walkable a community is and take back neighborhoods for people on foot.
• Reduce traffic congestion, pollution, and speed near schools.

Tips for parents who live a long distance from school:

• Park at a friend's house that lives closer to Einstein and walk together.
• Park at PCC and walk up the hill to Einstein along 116th. Give your family plenty of time because it is a steep hill.

For family safety during the event, please walk along sidewalks and cross only at corners or marked crosswalks. Contact Karen Williams for more information at 425-558-9369 or visit http://www.walktoschool.org/. 

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Each year, schools that receive Title 1 funding are required to send the following information out to all parents. For your reference, Einstein does not have any teachers, instructional assistants, or paraprofessionals that are not considered "Highly Qualified":

Parents whose children attend a school that receives Title I funding have the right to get information on the professional qualifications of their children's classroom teachers and instructional assistants. Title I refers to schools that have more students from lower income homes than other schools. The information parents can ask for follows:  

• Whether the teacher has met state qualifying and licensing criteria for the grades and subject areas the teacher is teaching
• Whether the teacher is teaching under emergency or provisional status through which the state qualification or licensing criteria has been waived
• The bachelor's degree major of the teacher and any other graduate certification or degree held by the teacher, including the field of discipline of the certification or degree
• Whether the child is provided services by an instructional assistant or paraprofessional, and, if so, what their qualifications are

Teachers who meet specific standards are called "highly qualified." If your child is assigned to or taught by a teacher who is not "highly qualified" for four or more consecutive weeks, you will receive a timely notice of that information.

Notice of Parent Right to Request Teacher and/or Paraprofessional Qualifications
Districts will notify parents of each student attending any schools that receive Title I funds of the right to request information on teacher's qualifications. Teachers must meet state certification requirements for grade level and subjects taught; teachers must have degree major and graduate certification in the subject area taught. Parents will also be notified whether a child is provided services by paraprofessional and, if so, their qualifications. [Section 1111(h) (6) (A), NCLB.] Parental Involvement Guidance C-6

As a parent, if you are interested in receiving this information, contact the school principal.   

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** PTSA NEWS **

PTSA General Membership Meeting
September 29, 7-8:30 pm in the Einstein Library

 
Get involved and have a say!

• Learn more about the Middle School reconfiguration.
• Receive just-right book recommendations from our librarian, Anne Sandbo.
• Find out about our Library Battle of the Books team.
• Get to know, or reconnect with, other Einstein parents and staff.

We hope to see you there. 

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The Einstein PTSA is again pleased to announce our Otter Grant program. Parents, teachers or staff members can submit a grant application to fund projects, programs or materials that would benefit the students at our school. 

Program guidelines cover everything you want to know about the process. Applications are due next Monday, October 3. 

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The Fall Fundraiser will soon be here. Our theme this year is Under the Big Top with Eloise the Elephant. Eloise will be at our kick-off Assembly this Thursday, September 29. Look for the new catalog to come home with your child that day. It is full of new gift items, wrapping paper, candy, cookies, magazines and much more. So get ready to SHOP! 

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The Einstein PTSA is proud to once again be participating in the National PTA Program Reflections. The program offers students the opportunity to create works of art for fun and recognition.

Encouraging your child to submit an entry this year is one way you can promote the arts in your home and at our school. Students K-6 can submit works of art in six areas: dance choreography, film production, literature, musical composition, photography, and the visual arts (which includes art forms such as drawing, painting, print making, and collage).

The deadline for entry is 4pm on October 28. Rules and application documents can be found here. For more information, please contact Laura D'Urso at reflections@einsteinptsa.org.

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A huge thank you to our amazing Einstein Otter Parents! We have had a successful Pass The Hat campaign this year, with our grand total to date of $12,412.50. 

Your donations have been very generous! Please do not forget to contact your employer about the matching program. This will double your gift and help continue to fund our many school activities. Thank you again for your support! 

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Gaming and Giving for Good (G3) is Saturday, October 1. Play your favorite Xbox 360 games and raise money for your local Children's Miracle Network Hospital.

Sign up to participate and gather donations from friends and family--the more you play, the more they give. In support of G3, Xbox LIVE is offering a Free Gold Weekend to everyone on the weekend of October 1, 2011. Go to http://xbox.com/g3 to register today! 

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Attention 1st through 5th grade boys! Curious about Cub Scouts?  Check out http://Pack557.org for details. Cub Scouts provide an opportunity for boys to make lasting friendships, learn great skills, go on field trips, camp, hike, participate in community outreach, and much more all while laughing and having fun!

Any questions, please contact: Kristina McCrady at 425-867-5102. Kristina habla un poquito del espanol, si le hace falta. 

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On Saturday, October 1 at Marymoor Park, the Project Athena Race Series offers something for everyone: a 10K Run, 5K-ish Athena Team Adventure Hike & a Kidz 1K Fun Run with the proceeds all benefitting survivors!

The Foundation helps female survivors of medical or traumatic setbacks to live their athletic dreams as part of their recovery. 

Registration information can be found at: http://www.projectathena.org/seattle.php. 

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