September 9, 2013

Dear Salmon Bay K-8 Families,

I hope you were pleased with our first week of school. Our opening was very smooth thanks to the hard work of our staff and all of the students who came to school ready to learn! I really enjoyed welcoming everyone back and am looking forward to another great week. I wanted to write to you today about some exciting changes that are taking place at school this year.

The Arts:

In an effort to increase arts instruction for all of our students, K/5 students will be attending art as a whole class once/week for the entire year. This brings yearly art instruction up to the district average of 1,440 minutes/year. Also, for the first time, our middle school students will also be enjoying art with Barb, who will be co-teaching two middle school art electives in the afternoons. I have already heard many positive comments about this change from various members of the school community. In addition to art with Barb, students will also benefit from a more enriching musical experience this year. Rather than wait until 4th grade to introduce students to musical instruments through the district's Elementary Instructional Music (EIM) program, we are geared to do this through guitar and marimba classes for all of our 3rd grade students (one nine week period of each instrument). Guitar will also be offered as an EIM option for our 4th and 5th graders this year and as a 7th/8th club for our older middle school students. A special thanks to Mark and Jaxie for extending their talents to meet the interests of our younger students. Finally, be on the lookout for your grade-level team's Artist in Residence experience this year. Through last spring's FOSB auction, each grade-level was afforded a generous amount to support arts integration to enhance the general curriculum. As schools across the country are decreasing arts minutes, I'm proud to announce that time for our students is on the rise.

7th and 8th Grade Clubs:

This year's K/8 master schedule has opened up a 50-minute block of time each Friday (7th period - 1:55-2:45) for us to offer Clubs to our 7th and 8th grade students. While many students are involved in activities and/or clubs outside of school, we strongly believe that our students should have similar opportunities (free of cost) during the school day.  While some clubs will be led by staff, others are being led by community-based instructors. Students will be signing up for clubs at the end of the week. Options to date include: Cooking, Sewing, Photography, Gay-Straight Alliance, Fitness Challenge, Cartooning, China study, Martial Arts, Glee Club, Guitar Circle, Marimba, Library Projects, Seattle Sports, Stage Tech. and Watercolor Explorations. I'm so excited for our students and I know they are too.

Morning Meeting and Homeroom Advisory (Circle of Power and Respect):

I wrote about this initiative in my opening letter last week, but wanted to include this again, for those of you who may not have had a chance to read it. New this year, all Salmon Bay K-8 students will participate in daily classroom meetings (known as Morning Meetings at the K/5 level and as Homeroom Advisory - "The Circle of Power and Respect" at the 6/8 level). It was so exciting to see all of our kids engaged in these morning routines last week. You may want to ask your child about his/her favorite activity or greeting. Students have also been working on their hopes & dreams and/or goals & declarations as well as on classroom agreements. This work will serve as a guide in helping all of us reach our personal and collective goals this year. You will learn more about this from your children and from our staff throughout this year.

K/5 Math:

Look out for the consistent implementation of TERC - Investigations in Numbers, Data and Space in our K/5 classrooms this year. "Investigations takes seriously the time students need to develop a strong conceptual foundation and skills based on that foundation. Therefore, each curriculum unit focuses on an area of content, in depth, providing 2 to 5 and half weeks for students to develop and practice ideas across a variety of activities and contexts that build on each other. The units also address the learning needs of real students in a wide range of classrooms and communities. The investigations are carefully designed to invite all students into mathematics-girls and boys; members of diverse cultural, ethnic, and language groups; and students with a wide variety of strengths, needs, and interests." (http://investigations.terc.edu/components/CCSS/CommonCore.cfm) 

Hope to see you soon!

Jen

I wish to extend a heartfelt welcome to everyone in the Salmon Bay K-8 learning community.  It was so exciting to see all of our teachers, students and parents return to school last week. As a choice school we have students coming from all over the city to attend Salmon Bay.  One of our primary goals is to make sure that everyone arrives to school safely.

Whether children walk, ride their bicycle or take the bus to school, it is extremely important that they take proper safety precautions. Here are some tips and recommendations to share with your children to ensure their safety when traveling to school.

WALKING TO SCHOOL

• Walk to school with a group of kids and always have a responsible adult with you.

• Always walk on the sidewalk if one is available.

• If no sidewalk is available, walk facing the traffic.

• The safest place to cross is at a street corner or intersection.

• Before you step off the curb to cross the street, stop and look all ways to see if cars are coming.

• Walk, don't run. This gives time for drivers to see you before you enter the roadway. Running also makes you more likely to fall in the street.

BIKING TO SCHOOL

• Always wear your helmet when riding your bicycle.

• Make sure that your helmet fits correctly. The helmet should fit low on your forehead so that two fingers fit between it and your eyebrows. Another way to check is to put the helmet on your head and look up. If you can't see your helmet, it is too far back.

• To ride safely, you need to know the rules of the road. If you don't, then you should not ride in traffic or without an adult.

• Ride on the right side of the road or trail in a single file line in the same direction as other vehicles and come to a complete stop before crossing streets.

• Wait for a driver's signal before crossing the street.  

School bus safety starts with you, every morning and every afternoon. Take a few minutes to make sure your kids understand the bussing rules.

• Be on time.

• Never run to or from the bus.

• Stand back from the curb.

• Don't push or shove.

• Stay in your seat.

• Don't yell or shout.

• Always obey the driver.

• Wait for the driver's signal before crossing.

• Always cross at least 10 feet in front of the bus.

• Never crawl under a school bus.

Dear Salmon Bay Middle School Families,

Welcome back from what I hope was a wonderful and relaxing summer break.  For those of you who don't know me, I am Caitlin Racey, the Middle School volunteer coordinator.  Our school employs 2 part time volunteer coordinators to help with the needs of the parent body and staff.  I am a great starting point if you have questions or concerns and aren't sure where to direct them.  I am here usually 4 days a week and am on my computer quite regularly even when I am not in my office.  Please feel free to email caracey@seattleschools.org or call (206)252-1731 and I will respond as soon as possible.

1st Day Packets-  On the first day of school your student brought home an envelope of papers that has information for you and also forms that are needed by Salmon Bay and the school district.  I know what a pain these are to fill out but please do as many of them are critical in cases of emergency. 

FOSB (Friends of Salmon Bay) parent meeting, Thursday 9/12 Salmon Bay Library from 7-9PM.  Please follow this link for more information about our parent group. 

Thanks, Caitlin

Middle School Parents Social

Tuesday, September 24, 2013, 7pm

Presented by PIE 

@ Razzi's pizza, 8523 Greenwood Avenue N

Middle School parents find it harder and harder to find opportunities to connect with other parents as their students become more independent.  If there is ever a time that it helps to make those connections it is now, while the stakes are getting higher. Come to Razzi's for an informal evening and meet other parents to discuss tween/teen parenting issues and have some fun!

Drug & Alcohol Prevention and our teens

Presented by PIE 

Monday, October 7, 2013: 7 pm, School Cafetorium

Learn about the alcohol and drug situation in our neighborhoods and get practical advice for parents. More details to come.

Welcome to FOSB (Friends of Salmon Bay)! Did you know that you are already a member of FOSB, our parent group? We don't ask parents to fill out a membership application or pay dues. Every parent or guardian is automatically a member because we value you, your ideas and the important role you play at our school. We would love to see you at an upcoming meeting or event. Thank you to everyone who stopped by for a cup of coffee at our first coffee hour this morning! It was nice to see you. We are planning to hold a FOSB coffee hour at least once a month. Watch for dates in the Bulletin.

Our first FOSB meeting of the year is this Thursday, September 12th,  at 7 p.m. Please consider joining us! The FOSB agenda is attached along with committee reports which detail upcoming events and programs. If you have any questions please feel free to contact the committee chairs listed or one of the FOSB Chairs. Our elementary chair is Jodi Russell (reddsell@comcast.net) and our middle school chair is Robin Lofstrom (clevelandette@gmail.com).

Salmon Bay Bikes:  Celebrate the grand opening of Ballard's new 58th Street Greenway!

Where:  Block Party on 58th Street NW, between 20th and 22nd Ave
Date:  Saturday, September 7
Time:  2 to 5 pm

The Ballard Greenways organization and SDOT will be there handing out lots of information about the new Greenway and similar projects planned throughout Ballard.

A bike rodeo course will be set up for kids starting at 3:30 pm, and volunteers will be giving guided tours of the 58th Street Greenway, pointing out the safety features along the way that are designed to make travel across Ballard safe for pedestrians and cyclists, whether they are 8 or 80 years old.

See you there!

Piano Lessons with Elena Louise Richmond for children who have fallen through the cracks of the system. Teaching is student-centered. Elena works with students wherever they are when they come in the door.  Website:  www.elenalouiserichmond.com.  Contact info: ElenaRich@gmail.com or 206 783 7326. Address: 8713 9th Ave NW

Space to Create 

1414 NW 70th Street

www.spacetocreate.net

206.784.0401

Early Release Open Studio: 9/25 from 1 - 4:30 (Barb will walk a group over from Salmon Bay)

Art-Based Friendship Group for elementary age students
Session 1: 9/28-12/2 (no class 11/11 or 11/25) 4 - 5:30

Art-Based Middle School Girls Friendship Group
Session 1 10/1  - 10/29  Fee: $150                                                      (Please note that we will be at the studio by 3 for those students walking over from Salmon Bay)

Machine Sewing  classes on Wednesdays                                                                                                                                         

Art in All Forms: Session 1 Mixed Media Collage 10/3-11/21 

Adult Water Color Painting starts 10/8 from 7 - 8:30

And more....