Beagle 
Bugle
PTA Newsletter 
10.05.15
  Website: 
In This Issue
Art Docent Orientation
Art Contest - PTA Reflections
Scholastic Book Fair
Redmond SchoolPool
Box Tops Contest!
Enrichment Class: Chess Club
Enrichment: IXL Math
Enrichment: IXL Math
Enrichment: Spelling Bee
Long-Term Facilities Planning
Extra - Extra! (Little bits of news)
Quick Links
IMPORTANT DATES
(Filtered for Rockwell)

Oct 7th, Wednesday - 
a.m. before morning bell
National Walk/Bike to School Day
Mayor Marchione at Rockwell

Oct 7th, Wednesday
Long Term Facilities Planning
Task Force Town Hall Mtg
Rose Hill Middle School at 6pm

Oct. 12, 13, 15 - M/T/TH
Half-Day Elementary Conferences 
(11:30 am Release)

Oct 12, 13, 14, 15 - M/T/W/TH
Scholastic Book Fair in the Library
(See times in article below)

Oct. 16th, Friday
No School/L.E.A.P. Day

Oct. 20th, Tuesday
School Picture Day

Oct. 21st, Wednesday
Wear Orange for 
Unity Day/Anti-Bullying

Oct. 22nd Thursday
**First PTA General Membership Mtg of the school year - all invited!

Oct. 30th, Friday
All-School Costume Parade
2:00 p.m.

OCTOBER PRINCIPAL'S LETTER

Hello Rockwell Families,

I hope October finds you well! It is such a busy time of year, but a good one, too. October is falling leaves, it is pumpkins, it is sweaters and rainboots. It is also the color orange -- October is national anti-bullying month in the United States, and we will all honor Unity Day on October 21 with a show of solidarity -- we invite all students and teachers (parents, too!) to wear orange on October 21. Students on our anti-bullying coalition are working during their recess times to find ways to make sure every student at Rockwell feels welcome, included, and important -- not just on Unity Day, but every day.

We have many special events coming up: conferences days, picture day, Unity Day, and our Halloween parade on October 30. As always, please let us know if your child will not be participating in the Halloween parade, so we can plan alternate activities. All students are welcome to participate in the parade and to bring their costumes to school for the event. Costumes follow regular school dress rules and should not be violent or too scary, remembering that we have students as young as 5 years old. No weapons are permitted at school, real or pretend, at any time. Please remember that students should be able to put these on over regular clothes, and that teachers and staff will not be able to assist students in changing. More information about the parade, which will take place at 2:00 on October 30, will come home from your child's teacher.

Finally, thank you all for continuing to walk, bus, or carpool to school -- Mayor Marchione will be here at Rockwell on Wednesday morning (10/7) helping us all mark "Walk to School Day". You have all been so supportive as we started the year. Thank you, as always for sharing your children with us every day!

Kirsten Gometz
Principal
PTA REFLECTIONS ART COMPETITION  - 2015/16

Participate in the PTA Reflections Art Competition:
"Let Your Imagination Fly"

Do your kids love to create pictures? Write stories, poems or essays? Take photos? Compose music? Create dances or movies? Sign them up for the Reflections Art Competition!

The Reflections Art Competition is a National PTA arts in education program that provides an opportunity for students to use their creative talents and to be recognized for their work. There are four rounds of competition starting at the Local PTA level with the possibility of progressing to Council, State, and National PTA competitions. Students who win the top prizes at the National competition win cash awards and a trip to the National PTA convention and Reflections awards ceremony.

Each year, Reflections challenges students to create art that supports a specific theme. This year's theme is "Let Your Imagination Fly".
Students may enter through their school PTSA in any of six art categories: literature, music composition, photography, visual arts, dance choreography, and film production. Deadline is Oct 26th.

Reflections Participants will:

* Have fun creating works of art at home.
* Have their work displayed at a school art show.
* Receive a certificate and ribbon for participating and be recognized at school art walk.
* Have their work reviewed by local art professionals.
* Outstanding work may be sent to the PTSA Council, State, and National competitions.

To get started with Reflections, download and read the rules and guidelines for the art category your child plans to enter. (Click on the links below.) Please also download and read the General Participation Rules that apply to all art categories. Download our PTSA's student entry form HERE.  Please also find the hard copies of the entry forms in the Rockwell office. 

Find more information about the Reflections program at Rockwell PTA Website - Reflections and check out Helpful Tips as well!

For more information, please contact:
Rockwell Reflections Co-Chairs
MONSTER BOOK FAIR
READING IS SO MUCH FUN,
YOU'LL GET GOOSEBUMPS!

Everyone is invited to attend Rockwell's annual Scholastic Book Fair in our school library.Come explore a fabulous selection of books and find the perfect titles for every person in your family. You'll find new releases, award winners, children's classics, adult books, and current bestsellers.

Book Fair customers can help build classroom libraries by purchasing books through the Classroom Teacher Wish List program. Be sure to check the Wish List Table at the fair and don't forget to fill out a book plate to personalize your classroom donation.

The Book Fair will be held in the Rockwell Library on Monday, October 12th from 11:30 to 7:00, Tuesday, October 13th from 11:30 to 7:00, Wednesday, October 14th from 1:30 to 5:00, and Thursday, October 15th from 11:30 to 5:00. Your purchases promote learning and reading, and raise funds for new books for our Rockwell Library collection. Support the super student in your life and promote literacy.

If you're all booked up during Book Fair week (or just want to keep shopping), try out our Online Book Fair. Visit the Book Fair Homepage and click on the Shop Now button. Online shopping is available until October 15th. You can create wish lists and invite friends and family to shop with eCards. Best of all, purchases benefit our school and will help us achieve our Book Fair goal. All online orders ship for FREE to the school, after the Online Fair has ended. Don't forget to look for your teacher's online Wish List and add a book or two to your order for their classroom library. Click on the Classroom Wish List tab to see if your teacher is participating.

Benefits of Online Shopping:
  • Convenient access 24 hours a day
  • Expanded selection for ALL ages-preschool to adult
  • Send a wish list to invite family and friends to shop
  • Search for books by category, grade, age & price
  • ALL purchases benefit our school
  • FREE shipping directly to our school (orders will be sent home with your child)
Thank you for supporting our school library!
Librarian

Download Copy of Flyer here:
NATIONAL WALK TO SCHOOL DAY - WEDS. OCTOBER 7TH

Rockwell Families: Walk and Bike to School on Weds, October 7th! City of Redmond's Mayor, John Marchione, will be at Norman Rockwell on National Walk to School Day with SchoolPool giveaways! Be sure to stop by and say hello!


We're excited to get students at our school moving this October with the Redmond SchoolPool! 

Why Join Redmond SchoolPool?
  • To share carpooling duties with other families
  • To help students get more daily exercise by walking or biking to school
  • To earn rewards for taking the bus
  • To help raise money for the school
  • To reduce traffic congestion and local air pollution in our neighborhoods
  • It's fun!
If you haven't signed up yet, you can do so here. EACH new registrant earns Rockwell $10 from SchoolPool. Logging your trips on the calendar will earn our school another $10 (one time) plus will enter YOU in for prizes from the SchoolPool program.
 .
Once signed up, login and search for your matches.  You can email or call other families to share carpool duties with or find other neighbors to walk or bike to school with. Every time you walk, bike, carpool, or take the bus to School in October, be sure and add it to your online calendar!  Your trips are entries into prize drawings, and another way to raise money for your school.

You can email the SchoolPool staff if you have any questions at [email protected], or call (425) 556-2442.
 
Thanks for helping us raise money for Rockwell & reduce traffic around Norman Rockwell!

Rockwell Secretary
-and-
PTA Co-VP FUNdraising
BOX TOP & LABELS FOR EDUCATION CONTEST 
October 12th- 23rd!!
Our goal is to collect 10,000 Box Tops and 5000 Labels for Education!!

Go through your pantry and start clipping!
Ask your relatives for their Box Tops and Labels for Education!
Send them in starting next Monday, the 12th!

Box Tops: Every Box Top collected earns the school 10 cents towards new NETBOOKS!

1. Find Box Tops on hundreds of products. Look for the PINK and WHITE little square.
2. Neatly Clip Box Tops from each package. Please make sure they are not expired.
3. Send the Box Tops to your teacher starting Monday, October 12th.

Labels for Education: Every Label for Education earns points towards recess materials like balls, chalk and more!

1. Find Labels for Education on hundreds of products. Look for the ORANGE and WHITE UPC code.
2. Neatly Clip UPC Labels from each package.
3. Send the Labels for Education to your teacher starting Monday, the 12th.

With Rules, come rewards:

1. The GRADE with the HIGHEST average of Box Tops AND Labels for Education collected per student WINS 5 MINUTES extra of Lunch RECESS!

2. The CLASSROOM with the HIGHEST average of Box Tops AND Labels for Education collected per student WINS an EXTRA 15 MINUTE RECESS!

More information on the Box Tops for Education program, including a list of participating products.

More information on the Labels For Education program, including participating products.

Ready, Set, Clip!!
Stacy Hatch and Beth Batig
FUNdraising Co-Chairs
CHESS CLUB - SOME SPOTS STILL REMAIN - REGISTER NOW!
Chess Club at Rockwell / ALL AGES & ALL SKILL LEVELS

Mondays, 3:00 - 4:00 PM
10/19 - 12/7 (10 classes) 
$122 registration for the session, includes a T-shirt

Fridays, 3:00 - 4:00 PM
10/23 - 12/18 (10 classes) 
$122 registration for the session, includes a T-shirt
*No Class Friday, 11/27

All classes will take place in the Rockwell Library.

Are you looking for a quality after school program that encourages self confidence and an increase in memory and math skills for your child? Please consider signing up for Rockwell Chess Club! Chess is a fun way to improve patience, concentration and sportsmanship. The Rockwell Chess Club accepts players of all ages and with all levels of experience. 

Rockwell Chess Club is a PTA sponsored enrichment program. Please note that by signing your child up for Chess Club, you are also committing to volunteer during ONE chess session (volunteer responsibilities are easy and will be explained in a detailed email once you register). Volunteers will
not be required to teach chess.

To sign up, register with Chess4Life at the links below. Please note that you are registering for ONE day of chess club - either on Monday or Friday

Monday Registration here

Friday Registration here

If you have any questions, please contact:
PTA Chair, Vani Jain at [email protected].
MATH CHALLENGE TOURNAMENT - CALLING ALL MATHLETES
Our school is hosting a Math Challenge tournament on Friday, Dec 4 at 6:30 pm (check in at 6 pm). This is a state wide tournament open for students in grades 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6.  This tournament will be a fun, exciting and competitive Math event and provides opportunityfor our students to show case their math skills and problem solving abilities
 
Each participant will receive a certificate and a keepsake. Highest scorer in each grade & division from each school/center will receive a medal. Based on the final results, top scorers will be invited to attend Math Challenge Tournament Masters in February 2016.   
Registered students will receive practice materials to get familiarized with the type of math problems and the format of the tournament. 

You can register your student online starting on
Oct 9th here
 
Learn more about this Math Challenge Tournament here.
 
With any questions, please contact:
MATH KANGAROO COMPETITION
CALLING ALL MATHLETES
It's time to register your students for the annual Math Kangaroo competition. Thanks to our school and the PTSA for sponsoring the event for the third year. We normally filled out our 130 seats. Interested mathletes, sign up now! Space is filling up fast.

What: Math Kangaroo math competition
Where: Norman Rockwell Gymnasium
When: March 17, 2016 at 6:30 p.m.
Who: Students in grade 1-12.

Registration here.  Choose Rockwell as your location.

SCHOOL SPELLING BEE UPDATE
Students who have signed up for Spelling Bee Club should now all 
have a copy of the word lists printed from our website:
www.youthspellingbee.com

Students should begin studying the vocabulary words immediately to give them enough time to learn all 450 words before the Written Test on Jan 29th, 2016. Check the website for great links to study tools and tips! We will schedule mock bees and invite all registered students to attend. Dates TBD, so stay tuned! If you are in grades 1-5 and haven't registered yet, it's not too late! Go to ww.youthspellingbee.com or contact us at [email protected].

The Spelling Bee Team,
Sarita Valji, Barbara Puk, and Chamu Kallem
LONG-TERM FACILITIES PLANNING
As you may be aware, the district is outgrowing its school buildings and some buildings are aging. The Long-Term Facilities Planning Task Force met on a regular basis for the past year to discuss this issue and come up with a draft recommendation to the district to resolve this issue.
 
You can provide feedback on the draft recommendations through following methods:

-       Visit the online open house

-       Attend the Task Force town hall meeting: Wed, Oct 7, at 6pm, at Rose Hill MS (13505 NE 75th St, Redmond)
 
The Task Force will consider all the input and make final recommendations to the school board, which will take the final action.

Emily Papel & Sayo Hinitz
LTFPTF Members, Rockwell Elementary & Redmond Middle School
EXTRA - EXTRA! (SMALL BITS OF NEWS)
  • PTA EVENTS CALENDAR: New dates for school dance and ice cream social. Download your new calendar here
     
  • Local Businesses - Last Chance to Advertise in our Rockwell School Directory! Find out pricing and submission guidelines here 
  • Can you organize a Food Drive? Rockwell PTA is looking for a Charitable Giving Chair to organize and communicate details to our school community for the upcoming Northwest Harvest's 2015 Kids for Cans Food Drive Challenge (and possibly a similar drive in the Spring). Minimal time commitment. Contact Cari Scotkin for more information. 
  • A few more PTA chair or committee positions remain for this school year (5th Grade Promotion Chair, Rockwell Awards Committee and Volunteer Tea, and a few more)...can you help? Check them out here
  • Submit your photos to the Yearbook!  Please upload them directly to the secure LifeTouch website by visiting Lifetouch.
    Register and use our NEW school 
    access code: PHEBEV
  • Don't forget to PASS THE HAT - Rockwell PTA's annual fundraiser. Click Here for more information, where the funds go, and why we suggest a $75/donation per studentOr, click here for our Pass The Hat video!
  • We also rely on Corporate Matching. Many local companies will match your Pass the Hat donation - more money for our students! Submit your matching request to your company today and reference Norman Rockwell Elementary PTA.
QUICK LINKS - IN EVERY ISSUE

-AmazonSmile: Give a little back to Rockwell PTA by using

our AmazonSmile link!  Bookmark it and use the link every time you shop.

 

-Volunteer Application:   LWSD Volunteer application. It's easy to complete and is good for 2 years. Fill yours out or check your renewal status today!

 

-Rockwell PTA Facebook Page: Stay connected and updated on  Rockwell PTA & school info. Stop by and "Like" us!  


 

-Bookmark & Register for your account on our  

New PTA  Website. Calendar info, announcements, forms, ordering yearbooks and spiritwear, and much more!

Subscribe!
Bugle Article Submissions Welcome
  
The Beagle Bugle welcomes article submissions from students and parents.  Student journalists may submit articles about current events, students opinion-editorials and poems or short stories.  Parents may submit articles about PTA events and school related topics. 

Any article that is unrelated to PTA or Rockwell must be approved by the Lake Washington School District, and, upon approval, will be posted in the Peachjar eflyer system.  The Lake Washington School District website has more information on the submission and approval process.

Short pieces will be edited for inclusion in the Bugle, longer pieces will be posted on the website with a link in the Bugle.  The Deadline for submissions for the next weekly Bugle is the preceding Thursday.  The Bugle Staff reserves the right to be selective regarding the materials that are publicized.

Contact the Bugle staff or submit articles at [email protected]
  
Sincerely,
Angie Ballas
Beagle Bugle Editor
Norman Rockwell Elementary PTA