 Goal = $50,000Total to Date = $16,695
% of Participation
Board = 14%
Families = 14%
Staff = 43%
Class Participation
T/TH AM = 13%
T/TH PM = 0%
M/W/F = 21%
Prekindergarten = 24%
Kindergarten = 20%
First = 17%
Second = 20%
Third = 20%
Fourth = 8%
Fifth = 0%
Class Captains
T/TH Preschool
Kristin West
M/W/F Preschool
Jodie Ehler
Elizabeth Gray
Prekindergarten
Kristin West
Kindergarten
Jessica Akins
First Grade
Jeannine McCurrie
Helen Javid
Jodie Ehler
Second Grade
John Hagmann
Mary Wotherspoon
Third Grade John Golden
Fourth Grade Helen Javid Fifth Grade John Golden |
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Event Updates - Pumpkin Carve Night & Book Fair | |
 This year's GHA Pumpkin Carve Night was a huge success thanks to Mary Wotherspoon and her fearless team of volunteers. It was a wonderful evening of creative carving, fun face painting, silly spooky songs and stories, book buying, and savory snacks. Smiles galore from ear to ear were seen in every room. After the last illuminating pumpkin was extinguished and the cars of exhausted children drove into the night, the school still buzzed of laughter and joy from every GHA student that attended this glorious evening.
A huge congrats to all that participated in the Scholastic Book Fair and  contributed to a very successful GHA fundraiser. The school earned upwards of $900 that will be used to purchase needed book shelves & books for the library and classroom books. Thank you to Maureen Brekke (Scholastic Book Fair Queen), her myriad of parent volunteers, and Clifford the Big Red Dog. Way to go team! |
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Did You Know?
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 All last week, Kindergarten through Fifth grade learned about Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) in their Spanish classes. Dia de los Muertos is celebrated throughout Mexico and several other South American countries with variations. Dia de los Muertos or Day of the dead, is celebrated on November 1st and 2nd each year. People remember those loved ones who have passed. Pictures of the deceased are placed on Dia de los Muertos altars with their favorite food and drink. Trinkets they were fond of, symbols they would understand, and gifts are left to communicate to them that they are always in the hearts of those they left behind, and that they are still part of the family even though they aren't physically with us any longer.
Families often spend time at the cemetery with loved ones, bringing food and drink along with all the other necessities for a picnic. However, at this picnic the deceased is the guest of honor. Dia de los Muertos is a time of joy because we know that we are surrounded by those that we love-both living and dead.
On Friday, November 5, the Fourth and Fifth grade class will be taking a field trip to the Tacoma Art Museum who is having an exhibit in celebration of Dia de los Muertos.
Click on either of the beautifully decorated skulls above from first grade for more information about Dia de los Muertos provided by the Tacoma Art Museum.
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Spirit Wear | GHA Garb is finally here! Come pick up your orders from Niki in the  office. There is some inventory of cool threads for those of you interested in shopping. Reminder: Friday is Spirit Day. This is your chance to show your Eagles Pride by wearing GHA Spirit Wear. |
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Our Talented Parents | |
 "Embrace Life" is what is autographed on the inside cover of the "My 'Plan B' Handbook" that was given to me by the author Jeannine McCurrie. What is remarkable to me about these words is that it comes from a women who has experienced three consecutive losses: her brother to murder, her father to illness, and most recently her husband to undetected Stage four cancer. This GHA mother to Rachel McCurrie (first grade) and a toddler son has taken her tragedies and turned them into triumphs by becoming a key speaker on the importance of preparing others for the unexpected. She has also published the "My 'Plan B' Handbook" which helps families thoughtfully  and thoroughly plan for a sudden loss so that the loved ones left behind can be prepared in the midst of a crisis. Grief is difficult enough, but when it is compounded with financial responsibilities and uncertainties it can be paralyzing. However, life still goes on and decisions still need to be made. Jeannine's "My 'Plan B' Handbook" will alleviate these stresses by getting all the unknowns on paper so that the widow or widower can be organized and know what needs to be done and when. After all Jeannine has been through she doesn't curse life.......she embraces it!
To read more about Jeannine's incredibly courageous story or to purchase the "My 'Plan B' Handbook" click on the image of the book. |
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Bright Idea | |
Don't know what to do with all that Halloween Candy!?!?
- Make a cake. Frost it to your standards or have the kids try.
- Have your child unwrap all their Halloween Candy and what ever you still have left over from Valentine's Day.
- Decorate cake with the candy. The frosting makes it all stick.
- Let them decorate how ever they would like. M&M's for a border! Twix for a log house! Gummy worms for... worms!
And here's the deal: your child gets one piece of candy cake per day. And no more. And they have to remember to ask for their one piece a day. After four or five days when the cake starts to get a little stale and dry, throw the whole thing out. Help the child understand the cake is past its prime.
You should have all that Halloween candy gone by Veterans Day.....and not sitting around until next Valentine's Day!
 Thank you to Mary Wotherspoon and her daughter Catherine (second grade) for this bright idea!
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Kindergarten - The Water Cycle | |
This week the Kindergarten class is learning some very big words; evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and accumulation.....The Water Cycle! These major points of the water cycle describes the movement of water on, above, and below the surface of the Earth. The kindergarteners learned that the entire cycle is powered by the Sun and water vapor is all around us!! This weeks weather unit had the class talking about the three states of matter, singing songs about the water cycle, watching videos about weather and seasons, and working in their weather booklets. I think we may have a couple of meteorologists on our hands!
Click on the image of the water cycle to view the fun weather and season videos. |
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First Grade - Homework Bags | |
Soon you will see the first graders donning cute little bags that are filled with a weeks full of homework. These 12 bags, each with a different theme, will be rotated through all the first graders within a 12 week period. Examples of the themes are: Maps, Amelia Bedelia, Future Scientist, Budding Author, Snapshots, Frogs, Eagles, Spiders, and more. These bags filled with folders, binders, and books will cover math, reading and science all revolving around the theme of the bag. Since the students have an entire week to do the work these bags, created by Mrs. Johnson, will fit into any family's schedule and have each child working at their own pace. Brilliant, Mrs. J.!
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Daylight Savings | |
 Sunday, November 7th
2:00 AM
Time to fall back! Don't forget to set your clocks for the end of daylight savings. What are you going to do with your extra hour? |
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Board Meeting | |
Tuesday, November 9th
5:00 PM |
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No School | |
 Thursday, November 11th
Veteran's Day |
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SFN Family Fun Night - Bowling | |
Friday, November 12
6:30 - 8:30 PM
SAVE THE DATE!
Meet other families in the GHA community while having a great time bowling. School Family Network will be hosting a Family Fun Night at Chalet Bowl in Tacoma on Friday, November 12, from 6:30-8:30 PM. No need to sign up....just show up ready to have fantastic fun! The cost is $10 per person and includes shoes and two hours of cosmic bowling. Come early and enjoy dinner in Chalet Bowl's cafe'. This is a fun family event for all ages. We look forward to seeing you there!
For directions and more information about Chalet Bowl please click on image above. For printable flyer and detailed information please click here.
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SFN Snack Sale | |
Thursday, November 18th
Hosted by First Grade
For $1.00 you can purchase yummy treats provided by the Second Grade Class
Click on image to see all snack sale dates and a printable order form to purchase a $20.00 punch card |
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No School | |
 Wednesday, November 24th
Thursday, November 25th
Friday, November 26th
Thanksgiving Break
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WANTED | |
 Have any old knit sweaters or wood furniture just taking up space in your house? Then send them to GHA's art department where these items will be transformed into fun, creative pieces of art by the students of GHA. Lisa Mellinger, GHA's art  teacher, has some great projects for the students in the next couple of weeks to come, but is in need of these supplies. Please drop off your donations to the specialists room. Thank you in advance.
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Yo Gabba Gabba | |
 Saturday, November 13
Yo Gabba Gabba! Live: There's a Party in My City features DJ Lance Rock, and everyone's favorite cast of characters- Brobee (the little green one), Foofa (the pink flower bubble), Muno (the red Cyclops), Plex (the magic robot), and Toodee (the blue cat-dragon). The one-of-a-kind live event includes music, animation, games, singing, dancing and offers audience members of all ages the opportunity to witness their favorite characters come to life with the magic words, "Yo Gabba Gabba!." Special guests The Aquabats, will join the party on stage for the Super Music Friends Show and rapper Biz Markie will teach kids how to beat box with Biz's Beat of the Day.
Click on the above image for more information and ticket availability.
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School | |
6820 32nd St. NW
Gig Harbor, WA 98335
Phone: 253-265-2150
Fax: 253-265-8124
Childcare: 253-265-8773 |
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Administration | |
Each name is a link to that person's email.
Bruce Shoup
Head of School
Paul Hoover
Business Officer
Niki Vanderford
Director of Admissions & Marketing
Donna Hanenburg
Adminstrative Assistant |
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Join Us On Facebook | 
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter. Updates on fun activities, reminders on important dates, and more.  |
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Comments or Suggestions? | | To give any comments or suggestions about this newsletter or if you have an idea for an article, please contact Niki Vanderford by phone (253-265-2150), e-mail, or come see her in person in the office. Thank you very much. |
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