 Goal = $50,000Total to Date = $23,207
% of Participation Board = 29% Families = 28% Staff = 61% Class Participation T/TH AM = 27% T/TH PM = 14% M/W/F = 42% Prekindergarten = 30% Kindergarten = 30% First = 42% Second = 20% Third = 50% Fourth = 15% Fifth = 25%
Class Captains
T/TH Preschool
Kristin West
M/W/F Preschool
Jodie Ehler
Elizabeth Gray
Prekindergarten
Kristin West
Kindergarten
Jessica Akins
First Grade
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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Annual Fund Update | |
HOME STRETCH!!
AVOID THE CALL...
LAST PUSH...
We are in the final 2 weeks of the Annual Fund pledge drive for GHA and we are seeking to make contact with 100% of currently enrolled families. Donated or pledged already? Thank you!!! If we haven't heard from you, our class captains will be reaching out to each family in person or by phone over the next couple of weeks.
WE HEAR YOU...
We heard your feedback that phone calls are not popular (among either the callers or those being called). So why are we continuing to make the calls? The funds raised by the Annual Fund are CRITICAL to this year's budget for Gig Harbor Academy. The revenue generated by the Annual Fund is part of each year's budget. It is not "extra" money that can be used for special projects outside budgeted costs or as a windfall. Reaching Annual Fund giving goals keeps the school financially healthy; failure to do so drives the school deeper into debt and forces cut backs in existing
programs in THIS YEAR's budget. It truly takes the whole "village", every family at the school, to have a successful Annual Fund drive. Have more questions? Please check out the FAQ on the Annual Fund web page, or contact your Class Captain(s).
WHAT'S A PLEDGE?
If you would prefer to wait until after the first of the year for tax planning or financial planning reasons, please make a pledge now (a promise of a future donation), and you can fulfill the obligation later at a time that's better for you. You may even spread your gift over a monthly or quarterly basis through your GHA account.
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SFN Family Fun Night - Bowling | |
 SFN's first Family Fun Event was last Friday at Chalet Bowl. Over 60 parents, kids, and staff members had a fabulous time cosmic bowling. It was evident by the many cheers and glow necklace and bracelet awards that there were a lot of strikes and spares being thrown. The pins were shaking in their boots!
If you didn't get a chance to attend this Family Fun Event there will be another event held in the spring. Hope to see you there. |
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Auction Fever | |
you dreamed of everything you wanted for your child. One item on your list was a special place to go to school, where he/she would feel secure, be surrounded by a diverse group of peers, and be stimulated and challenged to achieve his/her academic potential. We are so glad you chose Gig Harbor Academy as your family's school!
Fall is quickly passing and it seems to make these cold, rainy winter days more bearable if you think ahead to the beautiful spring trees and flowers they support. This year Gig Harbor Academy will be embracing children's love of books and the promise of spring with our 14th Annual Auction Gala, themed "Once Upon a Time...", which will include a dinner and benefit auction in an enchanted forest.
There will be more news to come soon on this enchanted evening, but for now we encourage you to foster your child's love of reading and active imagination. These cold rainy nights are a perfect time to pull-out a favorite story or fairytale and share it together. Who knows, it might trigger some memories of your childhood and favorite tales of afar!
If you would like to be an active participant in the planning process of this fabulous event please see the Upcoming Events section in this newsletter for the next Auction Meeting.
We would love to see you there! |
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School Closures and Postponements | |
THIS ARTICLE FIRST APPEARED IN THE OCTOBER 28, 2010 NEWSLETTER. BECAUSE OF THE RECENT POWER OUTAGE WE FELT THAT IT WAS WORTH PUTTING THE INFORMATION IN AGAIN. THE TEXT IN RED ARE ADDITIONS TO THE ORIGINAL ARTICLE.
 There seems to be a buzz going around that this winter is going to be particularly harsh. Information on late starts and school closures for Gig Harbor Academy can be found several ways:
- Go to schoolreport.org where GHA posts its information. Every attempt will be made to post this information by 6:30 AM at the latest, but ideally families will be informed earlier. Schoolreport.org only allows us to report postponements and cancellations. If the site reads "no posting" that means that we are open and on regular schedule. You may sign up for an email notification through schoolreport.org which will allow you to receive school closure information directly to your inbox. Click on above snowflakes to register. For your convenience there is always a quick link on the left side of all Thursday newsletters that takes you directly to the GHA page on schoolreport.org.
- Schoolreport.org will share closure/postponement information with the local TV stations who run a reader board announcement at the bottom of the screen starting as early as 5:30 AM.
- The information will also be posted on the home page of our website, as long as the person responsible for posting the information has power.
- If circumstances are such that there are major power outages and staff is unable to update information and parents are unable to access a computer or TV, we will put in effect a phone tree where you will receive a phone call from your School Family Network Class Representative.
- If a storm develops during the school day, plan to pick up your child early to avoid potential problems. Although early dismissal is unusual, we do encourage you to anticipate the local situation and do what is best for you, your child, and/or your child's carpool. No child will be released to an unknown person or anybody not listed on the Student Profile. When inclement weather threatens and you are at a phone number other than those you have listed with the school office, please contact the office immediately and tell us where you may be reached.
As safety is always a priority, we realize that weather and road conditions in your area may be different than at school and encourage you not to
make the drive to campus if you feel it is unsafe, even if school is open.
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Childcare Holiday Schedule | |
OPEN Wednesday, November 24th
CLOSED Thursday, November 25th and 26th
CLOSED Christmas Eve - Friday, December 24th
OPEN New Year's Eve - December 31st
Non holiday days are business as usual. If you have any questions please call childcare at 253-265-6773. |
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Third Grade Pioneer Experience | |
On Tuesday, November 16, the third grade class visited the Midway School in the new Harbor History Museum in downtown Gig Harbor. The children experienced pioneer school life in 1901. This simulation was directed by a schoolmarm who lead the third graders in lessons that were appropriate for the time period.Afterwards, the students were able to give feedback to the Harbor History Museum on their experience.
The entire class, including Mrs. Perry, even looked the part by dressing as if they were in school at the turn of the century. Even their lunches were period appropriate!
Ask a third grader about this great adventure; they will have a lot to tell you.
To learn more about the Harbor History Museum and the one-room Midway School click on the above image.
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Third, Fourth and Fifth Grade Cluster - Bat Houses | |
 Part of the third grade curriculum is a unit about bats. The third graders do their first research based project by gathering information from various sources and then learn how to put those facts in paragraphs to form a report. Each student had a different bat species that they researched. The kids learned the important role that bats play in our environment and that they are not "icky" like they once thought, but a pretty "cool" addition to our world.
To culminate the bat unit the third, fourth, and fifth grade students gathered  together to build bat houses. By working in teams with parent volunteers and teachers to help, hammers flew and boards were nailed together until a perfect bat abode was assembled. By the end of the cluster meeting each student had their own bat house to take home. |
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Community Service - Holiday Drive | |
Now - Friday, December 3rd
Gig Harbor Academy Community Service is happy to announce the next community service project for the holidays! We have chosen to donate to Children's Home Society of Washington/Key Peninsula, which has been very appreciative for the several years of service GHA has provided for their Holiday Store. The Holiday Helper/Holiday Store is a program sponsored by Children's Home Society of Washington that gives selected families in need an opportunity to select toys, clothing and a household item.
Each family (of 4) chosen will be able to choose 2 pieces of clothing, 1 toy and 1 household item. Gig Harbor Academy has chosen to adopt 20 families. Trees with tags of the specific items for specific ages are located outside your child's classroom. Items will be collected now-Friday, December 3rd. If all tags are taken from your classroom's tree, please feel free to donate wrapping paper, ribbons, bows, or tape. All the unwrapped gifts and  donated supplies for gift wrapping will be delivered to the Children's Home Society on Friday, December 3rd. The Holiday Store will run from December 13-17th.
We will have a special Colors Assembly in which the director of Children's Home Society of Key Peninsula discusses how these gifts positively impact these children's and their families lives.
This community service is voluntary!
Thank you for your support!
~Your community service team (Debbie Dean, Kim Golden, and Imka Lavinder)
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Auction Meeting | |
Friday, November 19th
9:00 AM
Are you interested in getting involved in the auction, but not quite sure where your talents would be best suited? Then please join us for the first auction meeting of the year. Co-chairs, Marci Hardi and Imka Lavinder have been working hard on the logistics for this party of the year, and they would love any creative, positive input that our very talented parents have to offer.
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No School | |
  Wednesday, November 24th
Thursday, November 25th
Friday, November 26th
Thanksgiving Break
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Teaching Toys, Too Shopping Night | |
Tuesday, November 30th
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
 Come join us at Teaching Toys, Too located in Uptown Gig Harbor, for some holiday shopping on Tuesday, November 30th from 6-8 PM. Gig Harbor Academy Families and Friends are welcome to come and do their holiday shopping and GHA will receive 15% of all money earned that evening! Since most of you do a lot of your holiday shopping at this fantastic store, why not do it and support your child's school at the same time. Teaching Toys, Too offers exceptional, award winning toys and books for all ages and the largest selection of European and American made toys in the region. We look forward to seeing you there!
Click on the above logo to learn more about Teaching Toys, Too and peruse through their winter catalog. |
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School Family Network Meeting | |
 Wednesday, December 1st
9:05 AM in the GHA Library
The School Family Network (SFN) is an informal, yet energetic group of parents who meet once a month to organize numerous school-wide events. With the intent of supporting and enhancing GHA through communication and commitment, SFN hosts family fun events such as bowling nights, the annual pumpkin carve, weekly hot lunches for the students, teacher appreciation activities, as well as the bi-monthly snack sales. In addition, SFN reaches outside of the Academy with varying community service projects throughout the year. All parents are welcome to attend.
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SFN Snack Sale | |
Thursday, December 2nd
Hosted by Kindergarten
For $1.00 you can purchase yummy treats provided by the Kindergarten 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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Winter Concert | |
Tuesday, December 7th
6:30 PM
Bells will ring and we will sing
and put on a show for you.
We have done our part
to create music art,
now the next step is up to you......
Please come see our Winter Concert!
This year's All School (Preschool - Fifth Grade) Winter Concert will be held at Gig Harbor High School and will begin at
6:30 PM. Please have your child arrive at 6:15 PM.
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WANTED | |
Have any 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 wood furniture. Please drop off your donations to the specialists room. Thank you in advance.
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Turkey Trot to Benefit Fish Food Bank | |
November 21, 2010 
1-5 PM
SEHMEL HOMESTEAD PARK,
GIG HARBOR
The Baha'ís of Pierce Peninsula will sponsor the 1st Annual Turkey Trot. This fundraiser is open to all and will benefit the Peninsula FISH Food Bank.
When: Sunday November 21, 2010 from 1 to 5 PM
Where: Sehmel Homestead Park in Gig Harbor
What: Pay $5.00 entry fee (minimum, but higher contributions are certainly
welcome). Run, jog, or walk around the fields with new and old friends. Each
lap around the fields earns a raffle ticket. At the end of the event, 3
raffle tickets will be drawn and three frozen turkeys awarded. All funds
collected in excess of costs will be donated to the Peninsula FISH Food
Bank.
Why: A community building, calorie burning, generous giving, jolly good
time! Bank that calorie deficit before Turkey Day! See you all there! |
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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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