What a WONDERFUL first week it has been! I can honestly say that I have been so impressed by all three pillars of our school community this week: students, staff, and parents!

Our students have blown me away: I cannot believe how impressed I am with their discipline, delight, and dedication to the learning process. In every classroom I see students that love learning, and love being at school! The behavior of each student in our school has been excellent this week, and I feel so lucky to lead them in their journey.

The staff in the Dickinson Learning Community is incomparable. The first day was actually a relief to me, in that I was able to hand off the many tasks of a school into capable, passionate, and dedicated professionals to make my vision a reality. I cannot emphasize enough how fortunate our learning community is to have the adults that work for our school in all capacities; they are among the best there is in education today.

Parents represent the third pillar of our learning community. I have had the opportunity to meet many of you, still others I welcome the opportunity to meet you during the upcoming Curriculum Nights. I have seen a common thread throughout everyone that I have had an opportunity to shake a hand with: a light in their eye that is a hope for their child. I encourage you to give whatever you are able to in support of that hope: time with your child to support their studies, helping your child with the organizational skills or home-routines that support their learning, communicating appropriately with teachers, adding your time or resources to the efforts of our PTSA. Thank you for all that you do to support our children.

This week we will have the first of our two Curriculum Nights. I will meet with all parents in the Commons at 6:30, and agenda will include explaining the details and rationale of our new master schedule as well as our school-wide student expectations. Following this presentation, you will go to your student's classroom where the teacher will detail the classroom expectations and curriculum for your child. 

With gratitude to all that love and serve children,
Karen Barker

Thursday, September 15th, 6:30pm

Please come to the school Commons for the Secondary Curriculum Night on Thursday at 6:30pm. You will have the opportunity to hear from Principal Barker and meet your child's teacher. This is the time you will hear about all the plans for this school year. There is no child care available, so please make arrangements so that you are able to come and participate in this informative and important evening.  

Friday, September 16th 

Picture Day is this Friday! Every student will have their picture taken for the yearbook and you will have the opportunity to purchase copies. If your student is not able to be at school on Friday, Picture Make Up Day will be October 28th. 

Volunteers needed! We are looking for parent volunteers to assist with Picture Day. The shifts are 9-noon and noon-3. Please send a note to Amy Sherwood (asherwood@dickinsonptsa.org) if you are interested in helping out. Thank you!

Wednesday, September 14th, 7pm
Please join us in the Dickinson Elementary Commons for Orchestra Parent Information Night on Wednesday. This is your chance to learn about our wonderful Orchestra program, see some instruments and get signed up.

This is for all new students to orchestra in Grades 4, 5, and 6.

         No dogs are allowed on District property between 7am and 4pm on any school day, except for bona fide service dogs. No dogs are permitted in District athletic stadiums at any time, except for bona fide service dogs.
         At all other times dogs must be leashed and controlled by owners. Owner must clean up after their dogs and remove waste from district premises.

Wednesday, September 21st, 9:30-11am, Portable Room 8
If you have signed up to volunteer for Art Smart or you want to find out more, join us on Wednesday, September 21 at 9:30am in portable Room 8. Younger children are welcome, we'll have coloring materials on hand. Please email Christine (ccherkis@dickinsonptsa.org) or Joy (jsilver@dickinsonptsa.org) if you plan to attend or if you would like additional information regarding the Art Smart program.

"DIVERSITY MEANS..." 

The Reflections program is sponsored by the National PTA and encourages students to pursue artistic expression through participation in its annual Reflections Program. Reflections offers all students the opportunity to create works of art for fun and recognition. Students in preschool through grade 12 are encouraged to create and submit works of art in any of 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).

This year's theme is "Diversity Means.."
Dickinson and Explorer students, K-6, are invited and encouraged to use their creative talents to demonstrate their interpretation of "Diversity Means...". Students may submit an entry of their original work in any of the six arts areas listed above. 
Submission deadlines will be announced in the coming weeks. For more information contact Christine Cherkis (ccherkis@dickinsonptsa.org) or Holly White (hwhite@dickinsonptsa.org). 

October 1st, 9am

Dickinson/Explorer will be participating in the annual ALS walk in Seattle on October 1st as our big kick-off to a great year of community service! Please join the Dickinson/Explorer team at http://web.alsa.org/site/TR?fr_id=7407&pg=entry and come out to support this great cause.

We are also using the ALS walk on October 1st to celebrate the beginning of another great year of Sparrow Club at Dickinson/Explorer! This year, we will be sponsoring a 7-year-old child named Kaylie who has a brain cell tumor. Sparrow Club will be holding monthly community service projects to help our new Sparrow, Kaylie. For every hour of community service students do, a corporate sponsor will donate $10 to our Sparrow. Sparrow Club is a program where kids are helping other kids in their community. We are ecstatic to see how all the Dragons and Eagles will be helping our Sparrow Kaylie this year!

Sparrow Club is searching for corporate sponsorship for this incredible program.  Please contact Katie Stone (cstone@lwsd.org) if you know of any connections that could help our students support our Sparrow, Kaylie.

• Before School Spanish Classes: Classes begin on Monday, September 12th, and are held every Monday and Thursday from 8-8:45am in the Boys and Girls Portable Orange Room on Dickinson campus. Classes are $35/month and continue through the month of May. If you are interested in registering your student for this program, please e-mail Marilyn Springgay at sequoiasprings@juno.com.
• 1st through 4th Grade Boys - You're Invited to Join Cub Scouts! Cub Scout Pack 546 will have our first pack meeting of the year and "Joining Night" on Monday, September 12th, 6:30pm in the Dickinson Commons. Our special guest entertainment is Mad Science--"Up, Up and Away!" This event will illustrate the principles of air pressure. For more information on Cub Scouts contact Holly White (425-836-8727) or pack546@hotmail.com.
• Girl Scout Information Night - Tuesday, September 13th, 6:30pm in the Dickinson/Explorer library. Girl Scouts is for all girls ages 5-17. Girls can be registered individually or in troops. Parents and other interested adults are needed to form Girl Scout troops. No prior experience is required and training is provided.  Join other volunteers to make a difference for girls.  Please contact Kristilyn Reese (kreese@dickinsonptsa.org) or call 425-802- 6885 for any questions.
• Eastlake Select Girls Basketball Tryouts: Sunday, September 18th at Eastlake High School. Please refer to website for more information, www.eastlakegirlsbasketball.org.
• Smart with Art/First Friday Workshops at BAM (Bellevue Art Museum). Parents: Drop off your kids for an exciting art workshop and you can enjoy some free time for yourself! First Friday of the Month (open to students age 5 & up), 5:30-7:30pm, Pizza Dinner provided. Visit the museum and create an integrated work of art in the studio! $30 per child (sibling discount available), fee covers dinner, tour, and art materials. Upcoming October 7th session will highlight the special exhibition, Michael Cooper: A Sculptural Odyssey 1968-2001. Here is your opportunity to get creative by building, painting, collaging and designing your own wooden car inspired by the work of artist Michael Cooper. Sign up for workshops at www.smartwithart.net.

Please remember to add messenger@dickinsonptsa.org to the safe senders list of your email provider.  For help, go to www.safesenderslist.com. 

- Dickinson PTSA