BLUE is on Safety Patrol this week. 

Dear Dickinson & Explorer Parents,

During the past two weeks, our Curriculum Nights have been a wonderful reminder of how fortunate I am to have joined a community that has such a strong partnership with their school in an effort to create the best future for their child. Thank you to everyone that came out to learn about our school year and your new classrooms! It was wonderful to meet you and to watch our amazing teaching staff share about their plans for our school year.

I look forward to our continued partnership as we journey through the school year together!

Karen Barker 

Monday, October 3rd - Friday, October 7th
The first week of October is when we have our student/parent goal setting conferences with teachers. To make time for conferences, the week's schedule is as follows:
Monday: students released to buses at noon (no lunch at school)
Tuesday: students released to buses at noon (no lunch at school)
Wednesday: students released to buses at 2pm (regular Wednesday schedule)
Thursday: students released to buses at noon (no lunch at school)
Friday: LEAP day (teacher in-service), no school for students

Membership Forms Due Wednesday, September 28th 

In today's economy, the role of PTSA has changed. School districts faced with smaller budgets, fewer teachers and larger classrooms have been forced to make cuts. Today's PTSA plays more of a supportive role in the education of your children. 
Did you know that PTSA helps fund:
1. $300 for every teacher to buy supplies for their classroom?
2. Balls, jump ropes and other playground equipment?
3. Stipends so teachers (not parents) can lead our choirs, math club and ASB?
4. Art Smart - the primary means of art education in our schools?
Please consider joining PTSA, it makes a difference in your child's education. Send in your Membership Form today!

Membership contest is a tight race! Leaders are changing daily in some grades.  Final winners will be posted in next week's messenger. 

For all you gardeners out there, we need parent/grandparent/aunt/uncle volunteers for our school's unique Wetland Program. Students love to get their hands dirty planting and weeding. This is a unique opportunity for students to learn about the natural world and to take a leadership role in protecting and promoting our exceptional ecosystem. Did you know that last year our school earned the Eco-Schools USA Bronze Award for our Wetlands program?
Volunteers are needed in each classroom to coordinate the classroom teaching and the hands-on work outside. Although Spring is when we do most of the work, students will be going to the wetlands starting next month.

No experience necessary - just sign up and join the fun. Please email Lisa at ltraynor@dickinsonptsa.org to sign up or if you have any questions.

The Foundation thanks all of those who donated during this year's back-to-school campaign. Donors represented nearly all District schools, and also included many first-time donors. The Foundation is truly appreciative of all donations and works hard to ensure that they are used to directly support student learning. 
Donations fund reading programs like "Blazing Books for Boys" that identify and provide books that better appeal to boys. Research shows that boys gradually read less than girls over time, and books targeted to boys can help alleviate that trend. Visit the Foundation website to discover more about the programs that your donations support and to learn about how teachers, staff, and parents can apply for grants this fall.
There is still time to contribute to the back-to-school campaign. Send in the donation form or give directly on the website at www.lwsf.org. Also remember that during workplace giving campaigns, you can designate the Lake Washington Schools Foundation through United Way or similar giving methods.
Know that your donations do make a difference in the lives of students. For more information about the Foundation and volunteer opportunities, visit www.lwsf.org or email info@lwsf.org.

Wednesdays 9/28-12/7, 2:10-3:10pm
Register online at www.chess4life.com
Emily Dickinson/Explorer Chess Club is a professionally-run, after-school enrichment program for kids interested in learning how to play chess or improving their game. The club is open to all grade and skill levels, both recreational and competitive. Beginners, as well as more advanced players, are encouraged to enroll. During chess club, students get formal instruction combined with various learning activities, along with structured play time. Although a specific curriculum is outlined, classes are tailored to the overall ability of the students.In addition to learning the basic rules of chess, classes typically include lessons on fundamental opening principles, middlegame tactics and strategy, as well as basic endgame technique. Coaches also work with students in other areas like visualization, preparing for tournament competition, board habits, and much more. Strong emphasis is placed on learning life skills, improving chess ability, and having fun!
Note: Parent participation is required for 1 or 2 classes each session depending on number of participants.  After registering online please email jmayo@dickinsonptsa.org with at least 2 dates that you would like to supervise. 
* There is an additional $5 fee for non-PTSA members.

Note: The dates in the paper copy that came home are incorrect. The paper copy says that Chess starts January 12th, but it actually starts September 28th.

It's that time of year again - time to enroll for choir at Dickinson/Explorer. Choir is a before school with occasional evening performances. There are two choirs at Dickinson/Explorer:
Primary Choir (grades 1 & 2, Kindergarten can join in January) Primary Choir meets on Tuesday mornings from 8:15 - 8:55 (Explorer students are released for the start of their school day)
Intermediate Choir (grades 3 - 6) Intermediate Choir meets on Wednesday mornings from 8:15 - 8:55 (Explorer students are released for the start of their school day)
Enrollment for both choirs *closes* Friday, September 30, 2011.
(Closing date is necessary to facilitate preparation for the first choir class - Please note, Students who do not enroll by Friday, September 30th will have to wait until the January term to enroll)
First day of Primary Choir - Tuesday, October 4, 2011
First day of Intermediate Choir - Wednesday, October 5, 2011

There is a $10 fee per child for each choir term. Please bring cash/check (made out to Dickinson PTSA) to the first choir rehearsal. To enroll your student, please email the following information to jkelleher@lwsd.org:

          Student Name

          Parent Name
          Teacher's Name
          Parent's email address

I am looking forward to another great year in choir.
John Kelleher 

Sign up now for Math Club! There are two different Math Clubs available, one for 3rd and 4th graders and the other for 5th and 6th graders. These competitive teams are open to math learners of all levels. Math Club is a wonderful opportunity to build math competency and have fun! Carol Woodard runs both clubs with enthusiasm and great skill. Math club challenges, entertains and is a great experience for all participants.

          3rd and 4th Grade Math Club Information and Contract
          5th and 6th Grade Math Club Information and Contract 

Percussion Ensemble will be auditioning for new members for our fifth season on Wednesday, October 12, 2011 from 11:00 - 11:30 am, in Room 137 (Mr. Kelleher's classroom). 

Percussion Ensemble is a *select* group of students from Fifth and Sixth Grade at Emily Dickinson/Explorer Elementary schools. Not all students who audition will be chosen. Current members do not have to re-audition, but if they will not be continuing they need to notify Mr. Kelleher of their decision by Wednesday, October 12, 2011, or they will lose their seat.
Due to some very positive changes in our recess and lunch schedule, Percussion Ensemble rehearses once a week from 11:00 -11:30 during our school day. Percussion Ensemble is a *year-long commitment*.  Dickinson students will have to miss their lunch recess every Wednesday afternoon to participate in Percussion Ensemble. Explorer students will be missing 30 minutes of class time to participate. *Important* Please discuss this commitment to the Percussion Ensemble, and keeping current with homework with your student before allowing them to audition.  
Percussion Ensemble plays at most assemblies here at Dickinson/Explorer, and is featured at two concerts - one in December and one in May/June.  I am always looking for other possible performance opportunities. Percussion Ensemble has a uniform we wear when we perform.  This polo shirt will be ordered once our Ensemble is chosen.  Cost in the past has been around $18.00 - there are scholarships available for those who qualify. Percussion Ensemble Permission Form.

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.

Six-week series begins Thursday, September 29th - November 3rd, 7-9pm: Sara Gardner, Series: Helping the Behaviorally Challenging Child, Series Fee $120, LWSD Resource Center Board Room, Register by Tuesday, September 27th. 

Details including Times and Locations on the LW PTSA Council Website.

• Finding Kind, screening & discussion, October 15th, 2:30-5pm, $10 online, $15 at door, http://lakewashington.eventbrite.com. This is a powerful documentary about female bullying and the devastating effects. Due to the serious content this is recommended for girls 10 years and older and an accomanying adult. Bring kids at your own discretion.
• It's not too late to join Cub Scouts! If you missed our September joining night...don't fret! Boys in first through fifth grade can join Cub Scout Pack 546 at any time! Our next pack meeting is October 3rd, 6:30pm in the Dickinson Commons. If you have questions, email pack546@hotmail.com or call Holly White at 836-8727.

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