FEBRUARY 13, 2015 * ISSUE 021315

Upcoming Important Dates

2/16 - 2/20Mid-Winter Break
2/24Passport Check Day
2/25Box Top Collection Contest Final Day
3/4Science Fair Display Boards Pick-up
3/7Science Fair Registration Deadline
3/11Art Appreciation Gallery Night
3/18PTA Principal Coffee
3/21International Festival
4/1NEW DATE Science Fair
Box Top Competition
Now through Wednesday, February 25th

Puesta del Sol's second "Box Top Collection Contest" will run thru Wednesday, February 25th. 

  • The grade level that turns in the most Box Tops during this time period will receive an extra recess!
  • Each classroom will have a collection envelope on the wall just inside the classroom door to make it easy for students to turn in their Box Tops and to ensure each grade gets credit for what they turn in.
  • If Box Tops are turned into the box in the school office, please mark the baggy/envelope with the correct grade level for credit.
Puesta del Sol Cookbook - Please Read!
If you submitted a recipe to be included in the Puesta del Sol cookbook you should have received an email from us last week with the next steps - if you submitted a recipe but did not receive an email from us, Please email us immediately! cookbook@puestadelsolpta.org 

Passport Club Needs You! 

February 24 from 11:10-1:40pm
 

Come Travel the Globe as a Passport Checker
Brush up on your geography, meet other parents, interact with the kids, and see what Passport Club is all about. We're looking for new checkers. If you would like to learn how to be a checker, join us at the next Passport Check on February 24 from 11:10-1:40pm. Volunteers are welcome to check for all or part of the day. If you are interested, please email passportvolunteer@puestadelsolpta.org.  

 

Get Ready for the Science Fair!

**NEW** Wednesday, April 1, starting at 5:00 (K-1) and 5:30 (2-5)

 

The Puesta del Sol Science Fair is a celebration of the scientific method, providing students an enriching opportunity to explore science outside the classroom. The goal of the Science Fair is to allow students to develop a deeper appreciation for the proper method of scientific discovery. It provides a fun environment for students to solve problems and tell a story. More information is on the PTA website on the Science Fair page
 

 
Parent volunteers are needed for various support roles, including set up, judging, room monitors, tear down, photographers, greeting students, food sales and the scavenger hunt. Please choose your area of volunteering when you complete your student's online registration for the Science Fair.  
 

 
Registration for the Science Fair is now open! 


Science Fair: Tri-fold Display Boards
Available for Purchase

Wednesday, March 4th, afternoon pick-up from 12:30 to 1:30pm

 

WHAT: Science Fair Display Boards
Save yourself a trip and buy your tri-fold display board for the Science Fair from the committee. Pay $6/each online when you register your student, or cash in-person.
WHEN: Wednesday March 4th, afternoon pick-up from 12:30 to 1:30 or by special arrangement with Amy Ulrich (email address in directory) available at morning pick-up most days
WHERE: In PTA Office on designated days

 

Needed: Amity Committee Members
When? NOW! 

For the 2015-2016 school year, we will need 12 families to host our Amity interns.  If you would like to host or have questions about what is involved in hosting, please get in contact with our Amity Committee at amity@puestadelsolpta.org.  We would be happy to answer any questions you might have.  If you already know you would like to host an Intern,  please fill out and submit a Amity host Application. Applications for 2015-16 can be found here.

 

The Amity Committee is also looking for volunteers to join our committee.  If this is something you might be interested in, please contact Mary Fredericksen-  maryandjohn4@comcast.net, Stacy Weigel-Hauser-stacyhauser@hotmail.com or Laura Finger-Rossow - Rossow-l.rossow@yahoo.com

 

We are hoping that there will be some interested individuals that would be willing to get involved right away. As a result of doing so, you would have the opportunity to shadow the current committee members the remainder of the year. This would allow for you to be part of the recruiting process of the new interns,  and see what is involved in getting our host families lined up, and prepared to host. Next year will be the last year for two of the three current committee members.  The Amity program benefits our teacher's and kids tremendously, so we would like to prepare for the future, and form our new committee now.

 

Lastly, If your child is participating in the International Festival, please consider offering to drive an intern to school for practice.  Our current host families would appreciate it very much.


Art Appreciation Gallery Night!

Wednesday, March 11, 2015, 6:00 - 8:00pm, Gym

 

Come join us for our annual Art Appreciation Gallery Night!

There will be a variety of creative art projects on display from our Puesta del Sol students. Thank you to our motivated Art Appreciation Volunteers for developing art lessons every month for the classrooms. 
   
The 2015 PTA Cookbook Classroom Art Projects will also be on display at the Gallery Night. These wonderful projects will be auctioned off at the International Festival on March 21st, 2015. So, get an early view before they go to auction!
 
Come and enjoy the fun artwork and refreshments. Thank you for your support! If you have any questions, please contact us at artappreciation@puestadelsolpta.org.

Handy with Tools? International Festival Needs You!

Are you good with tools? Do you like working with wood or other materials? The International Festival is looking for a volunteer to make Flag Stands (15 approx.) If you are looking for a fun project during the winter break and would like to help out towards the International Festival, please contact internationalfestival@puestadelsolpta.org

 

Puesta del Sol Garden: Call for Volunteers

We are working with Sra Delia on getting teachers ready for spring planting and incorporation into their classrooms as an outdoor learning lab. Each teacher has 16 square feet for their classroom, and each is marked with beautiful colored signs and name plaques. We need parent helpers to make sure all teachers who want to are able to use the amazing resource that was built for them last summer!

This could be:... 

  • working with the teacher to plan a project in the garden for a specific class or grade
  • work directly in the garden with the kids when it's their scheduled time 
  • work with the Garden Club coordinators on planning long term lessons and activities both with teachers and the Thursday recess garden club
  • helping physically prep the gardens 
  • help buy and organize supplies
  • do online research as needed
  • volunteer to water and tend the teacher's garden beds over the summer

 

Please contact Kathryn Pizzo at katpizzo@comcast.net. No gardening experience needed but always welcome! (MUST be cleared as a volunteer to work at Puesta del Sol) Please forward and invite others both to volunteer and to the Facebook group for the garden https://www.facebook.com/groups/PuestaSchoolGarden/

 

Robotics Club at Puesta del Sol

Beginning March 3rd

The club will meet every Tuesday afternoon for 8 weeks. 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders are welcome to apply. The 4th and 5th graders will work with the Mindstorm Lego sets where they will learn how to build and program a robot. They will also have the chance to mentor the 3rd graders, if they have experience. The 3rd graders will be doing the WeDo Lego kits, which will teach them in a more simple way how to build and program a robot. Students need to be comfortable using Legos and computers. They do not need to have any experience building or programming robots. Students will need to fill out the application if they want to apply. 

  • The deadline for the application is due on February 13th by the end of the school day. Any late or incomplete applications will not be accepted. Space is limited, so if there are more than our allotted number, a lottery will be drawn.  
  • The cost is $100 and the money goes towards everything for the robotics program here at Puesta del Sol. 
  • Senora Tomihama and Senora McFarlane will be running it.  If you have questions please email Senora Tomihama at tomihamag@bsd405.org. 
Bellevue Schools Foundation:
Spring for Schools Luncheon

Friday, April 24 11:00am - 1:15pm * Bellevue Hyatt Hotel
  

The PTA Presidents and Puesta del Sol's BSF Ambassador Koan Maurer would like to invite you to join them at the Spring For Schools Luncheon. 
 
Funds raised at the luncheon will support transformative pilot projects district-wide, such as the elementary STEM initiative, and support for students in need through programs like VIBES and kindergarten early literacy intervention.  Attending is a great way to see what's going on in Bellevue's public schools and learn how donors make a difference. 
 
If you would like to join us at one of the tables, please sign-up here.
 
If you're unable to attend, you may still make a contribution to help the foundation reach their goal by giving online at the Foundation's website:  http://www.bellevueschoolsfoundation.org



Start CLIPPING and
SAVING Box Tops!


 

The Competition is ON! Bring your Box Tops to the classroom or school office through February 25th. 

 

Each Box Top is worth 10¢ for our school! That adds up FAST! The last two years we raised over $1,300. Can we reach $1,000 in a year?

Clip, save & have your kiddos drop them in Box Top box located in the school office on the PTA table to the right of the door.

 



 



 

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PTA's New Online Directory!
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can be found here.


 

 

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Amith


 
Amity Interns at
Puesta del Sol 

Help us welcome them into our school community.  Consider inviting them to your home for dinner, or if your family has a fun activity planned, invite them along.  Click here to find information for tutoring or visiting with our Amity Interns.