SEPTEMBER 25, 2015 * ISSUE 092515

Upcoming Important Dates

9/25LAST DAY: Scholastic Book Fair at Puesta del Sol
9/25Deadline: First Day Forms Due
9/25Walkathon
9/26Spirit Wear Orders Due by midnight!
10/2Passport Check Day (September Map)
10/2Last Day for online Scholastic Book Fair sales
10/6Picture Day for Individuals
10/6WatchDOGS Pizza and information night
10/9 NO SCHOOL: Teacher Professional Development Day
10/19Art Reflections Due Date
10/28Spirit Wear Wednesdays Begins
10/30Passport Check Day (October Map)
2015 WALKATHON
TONIGHT   3:30 to 6:00pm, Rain or Shine

CASH ONLY event for the Raffle, Food Trucks, Pizza & Hot Dog Station, Bake Sale, Allergy-free Snacks, and Jamba Juice.

Parking is challenging, so please consider parking at Tyee Middle School and walking the trail. Follow the posted signs along the trail. See our Traffic and Parking Information Page and the Tyee Walking Trail Map.  

PARENTS: DONATE ONLINE (requires PTA login)
CORPORATE MATCHING PROGRAMS (Double your donation value!)

Thank you for supporting Puesta del Sol!

PTA Membership! Have you joined yet?
We need your support so please join our PTA today!  Click on First Day Forms then Join the PTA after you update your account information. Although you may still participate in PTA activities without a formal membership, by joining you gain the right to vote on PTA issues - from board members to budgets! There are also some terrific discounts available to PTA members! Any questions? Email Alison & Jana at membership@puestadelsolpta.org.

Find out all about the great benefits of being a PTA Member on our new Member Benefits page.
The PTA Nominating Committee needs you!
We need 4-5 PTA members to help fill positions for next year's PTA board. This is a fun committee that meets for a short amount of time and has a positive impact on our school. Please email volunteer@puestadelsolpta.org to volunteer!
Art Appreciation Orientation Meeting
Wednesday, September 30th, after morning drop off, PTA room

Many classes are still without Art Appreciation volunteers; please consider joining in, as more hands make for easier sessions. Current volunteers will be getting together for a tour of the supplies and brain storming for upcoming collaborations at this meeting. Please contact
artappreciation@puestadelsolpta.org for more information, or to notify us if you cannot attend.

Passport Club News
The Passport Club Schedule and Information Sheet for 1st through 5th graders and the maps sets for 1st graders and new students have been distributed. If your family needs a map set please contact passport@puestadelsolpta.org.
 
Due to the Book Fair and Walkathon, the September Check will be held Friday, October 2, 2015. September check covers the continents, oceans, seas, and major mountain ranges. October Check will be held Friday, October 30, 2015. 
 
Print a worksheet and check the bulletin board in the gym for answers. The Special Itinerary for September is Africa. 
 
Passport Club is one of the geography activities for this year's Academic Challenge. To qualify for Academic Challenge students will need to pass Levels 1-5 and do 7 Special Itinerary projects between the September and March Check Days (unless they choose to do a Multi-Cultural Project instead).
Come Travel the World with Passport Club - Volunteer Checkers Wanted
If you would like to be a Passport Club Volunteer and quiz students on their geography knowledge, sign-up on our Sign-Up Genius. We provide training. It's easy and fun - a great way to meet parents and students! Indicate that you're new to checking in the notes.

RAD Update
As many of you know, for several years the PTA has sponsored a program called "Readers Are Doers" or RAD. The goal of this program was to encourage reading; it included student goals, tracking minutes, incentives and prizes, and a substantial monetary investment (about $4,500) in buying a book for each student.

Feedback from parents and teachers has been mixed, with parent concerns about the use of incentives, and a wide variety of opinions from teachers regarding timing, tracking minutes and other details about the program. In light of these concerns, some of which resulted in the PTA membership electing to remove the free book from the program, it has now been decided that RAD will be transitioned from a PTA sponsored program back to the teachers and parent volunteers. Our recommendation is for each teacher to solicit volunteers in their class to fit their specific needs and desires.

We believe that parent volunteers, working in collaboration with the
teachers, can best share a love of reading with our children without the
constraints and overhead of a formal RAD program.

Academic Challenge
Take on the Challenge! Information for the 2015-2016 Academic Challenge is now up to date on the PTA website.  Informational flyers will be sent home soon, if they have not already been sent.  We have new options this year for fulfilling the social studies requirement: students can either do Passport Club levels 1-5 from September - March and 7 Special Itineraries or students can do the Multi-Cultural Project which will be displayed at our International Festival in March.  Please find all requirements and forms on our PTA Academic Challenge webpage and remember that the final submission form is required when turning in work in April.

Math Enrichment Opportunity: Hands on Equations
Begins Monday, October 5, 3:30-4:30, in the Library

Learn algebra the fun way and strengthen basic math skills! Hands-On Equations is a program designed to introduce younger children to concepts usually not introduced until Algebra I. The program uses manipulatives so that students have a stronger understanding of algebraic concepts.  The class is open to all 4th and 5th graders.  Third graders are welcome, with instructor permission. Please visit the  Math Enrichment webpage for more information.
Join the rhythm of Bomba del Sol! 
Fridays 3:30- 5:00pm beginning October 2, Puesta del Sol gym

Bomba is a traditional music style, of Puerto Rican and African origin, featuring dance and percussion. It is described as a dialogue between dancer and drummer -- as if the drummer were challenging the dancer to a rhythmic duel.  Once per month, students will focus on designing costumes and instruments.
  • Classes will be held on Fridays from 3:30-5:00pm in the Gym, starting on Friday, Oct 2nd.  
  • There will be 10 classes in the Fall Session ($20/class/student), with a mini-performance on the last class.  

This class is open to all grades with a cap at 25 students. It is held in Spanish and sponsored by Puesta del Sol PTA. More details and registration are available on the Bomba del Sol webpage.


Join Tambores del Sol 2015-2016
Begins Monday, October 5, 3:30-4:30pm, School Gym

Be a part of the International Festival and join Tambores del Sol! Your child will learn a variety of rhythmic patterns and language styles associated with the hand drum (el tambor) and expand their appreciation of culture and diversity. The classes are taught by Maestro Ricardo Guity, an experienced musician, educator and member of our school community. This is a fun way for students to receive additional S.O.S/E.F.E.!! This program is taught in Spanish.

Who May Participate? Open to all Puesta del Sol 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students. Exceptions may apply for younger students if they have experience with tambores - please contact us at tambores@puestadelsolpta.org. Both Beginners and Intermediate. Cost - Session 1: $170 per student ($17/class)
  • Session 1 - Fall 2015:  October thru December (10 classes)
  • Session 2 and 3 - see Tambores webpage for more info
Participants must have/purchase their own hand drum. One drum is available to rent for $20/session, on a first-to-reply basis. Do you have a gently used drum you would like to sell to incoming Tambores families? Please email us at tambores@puestadelsolpta.org.

We look forward to seeing your children on Monday, October 5th!  REGISTER NOW!
Fiesta Latina: Latin-American Dance Lessons
Thursdays, 3:30-4:30pm, Gym
Join the party at Fiesta Latino Dance Class! Learn to dance Cuban Salsa, Dominican Republic Merengue, Brasilian Samba, Colombian Cumbia, Panama and Puerto Rican Reggaeton and many more Latin American modern rhythms. Develop creativity by experiencing social dancing and discovering solo moves in this fun and dynamic class! The class includes an introduction to Folklore and Traditional dances. BONUS - Class taught in Spanish. Maximum 16 students.
  • Session 1 starts soon.  Sign up now to reserve your spot!!
  • Thursdays 3:30 to 4:30pm
  • Session 1 (10 weeks):  October 1, 8, 15, 22, 29; November 5, 12, 19; December 3, 10
  • Cost: $155 (siblings $140)

Pizza with WatchDOGS (Dads Of Great Students) 
Tuesday, October 6, Puesta del Sol gym

Dads and Puesta del Sol kids! Come and learn about the 2015-2016 WatchDOGS (Dads Of Great Students) program at Puesta del Sol.

When: Tuesday, October 6, 2015; 6:00-7:00PM
Where: Puesta del Sol gym
Who is invited: Dads, Stepdads, Granddads, Uncles and Puesta del Sol kids
Agenda: Dads and their students share some quality time over pizza for the first half-hour; students are then chaperoned for the final half-hour as they enjoy some kid-related entertainment in the library while the dads receive information about the WatchDOGS program and can sign up for their volunteer days at school. 
                  RSVP: Please contact Puesta del Sol parent Tony Guidotti: Watchdogs@puestadelsolpta.org or (425) 785-0275.  Please respond with your attendance by Sunday, October 4. 

Spirit Wear Orders
Deadline: September 26 at midnight.

Order your Spirit Wear online. Orders will be delivered to your child's classroom the week of October 12. Spirit Wear Wednesdays begin on October 28th!  See our new product line at our display booth at the Walkathon. No in-person sales at the Walkathon.

Reflections Program: New Registration Process
The process for taking Reflections entries this year has changed. This year, we need participants to use the online PTA Reflections Sign-up and turn in the  Reflections Registration Form with their entry. Be sure to have your Artist Statement ready prior to filling out these forms. The due date for this year's Reflections projects is October 19, 2015, 3:45pm.  For more information about Reflections visit the Reflections PTA webpage.
School Garden Volunteers Needed
Please help your new teachers get their classrooms into the school garden regularly and often! As a volunteer, you can help with the Thursday 2nd recess Garden Club for kids (K-2 and 3-5) to work in the garden every week under teacher and parent volunteer supervision. We plant, weed, water, and compost, discussing what we do in both Spanish and English.  For more volunteering options, please see the Garden Club web page, send email to schoolgarden@puestadelsolpta.org or join the Facebook group.
 
Each teacher uses a dedicated plot with their classroom to plan and execute on their lesson plans in the gardens - life science, physical science, and environmental science. Garden activities include: planting seeds, growing worms, measuring growth, soil temperature and pH, doing art and math in the garden, and tending to their teacher's classroom garden plot, including harvesting their bounty for their classroom use!

Occasionally we have guests from local farms and Seattle Tilth who share their expertise. Garden Club is free, open to all students/all grades, and they just "show up" - no registration needed! We have anywhere from 15 to 60 kids in the garden every Thursday afternoon in fall and spring. 

Community Events
  • Boys' Lacrosse Free Skills Clinics Sundays, October 4 and 11th, 4:30-6pm, Robinswood Turf Fields
  • YMCA Adventure Guides is an action-oriented program designed for fathers and their children to strengthen their bond by spending quality time doing all kinds of activities.
  • NPSA Foundation Soccer: Starts Sunday, September 27, 4:30-6pm, Robinswood Community Park


First Day Forms 
Due Today!




The PTA Nominating Committee needs you!
We need 4-5 PTA members to help fill positions for next year's PTA board. This is a fun committee that meets for a short amount of time and has a positive impact on our school. Please email volunteer@puestadelsolpta.org to volunteer!
 




Please welcome our new Amity Interns!
Learn more about the
Amity Program that augments the Puesta del Sol experience with
native Spanish speakers.
 


Start CLIPPING and
SAVING Box Tops!



Each Box Top is worth
10 cents for our school. 
That adds up Fast! 
Last year at this time we raised $365.00.
Let's beat that this year!

 Clip, Save and Drop them in the Box Top box located in the school office. 

We are no longer collecting
Labels for Education.



 



 

 

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Puesta del Sol PTA   Unit 2.3.95, Bellevue, WA
James Kwon, Co-President
Sabrina Pinto, Co-President
425.456.6143 PTA Office
425.456.6100 School Office

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