Issue: #3
October 5, 2015

This Week:

Friday, October 9: School in session

 

From the Principal
Seattle Public Schools Start Time Recommendation
Thornton Creek Principal
  
The superintendent will soon recommend to the school board that SPS start times be changed for the 2016-17 school year. The superintendent's recommendation will have Thornton Creek start school at 8:00 am and dismiss at 2:10.
  
This recommendation is being made without any public recommendation for the future use of the Decatur building. Use of the Decatur building is highly likely given the demand for space in northeast Seattle. Two independent programs sharing the same site demands shared site planning.
  
The first challenge of shared site use is the start times of the two programs. Because the recommendation is that Thornton Creek start at 8:00am, will the Decatur program begin at 9:40? This issue has to be decided. Traffic impact on the immediate neighborhood of the Thornton Creek program is envisioned to be significant. The impact of traffic of two independent programs on the residential neighborhood will be staggering. Staggering the start times of the two programs would mitigate the impact of traffic in the neighborhood.
  
A second challenge will be scheduling shared use of what is currently planned to be a single smaller outdoor play space. There is a way to address recess and lunch use of the playground. However, the use of the Decatur building and the start time of that program have to be made public so that planning for shared use can begin. Communication is vital to both programs.
  
A third challenge will be the need to create a significantly larger after school childcare program. A 2:10 dismissal time will make parents' need for after school care greater than it is now. Knowing how the Decatur building will be used, will let childcare providers know if the Thornton Creek community would have any access to the Decatur building once our program has moved out and into the new building.
  
Please attend Board members' community meetings and ask them to decide how the Decatur building will be used in 2016-17.
From the Office
Updates from the Thornton Creek Office
by Jenny Evans - jevans@seattleschools.org
 
First Day Packets!
Keep them coming!  They are also on the TC website, and the best news is they autofill!  Start filling one in and they all fill in!  Just print, sign and return!  Every new family was given a paper packet.  We'll start sending reminders pretty soon.  Parents should not volunteer until their paperwork is in. 

Advanced Learning Applications are an online item this year! 
October 8th is the deadline - this is your last chance to apply!

New: Email address to send applications has just been added for those responding now! If you have problems emailing your application, you can mail it straight to the district. The address is on the form.The school office is no longer tracking returned forms, if you turn them in to us we will send them straight to Adv Lrng but no record will be maintained. 
 
Instructions are on the Seattle Public School Website. 
Reporting your child out sick or needing a bus green/yellow card:
Recess Volunteers Needed

We are in need of recess volunteers from Monday 10/5 thru Friday 10/9:
  • Morning recess on 10/6, 10/8, 10/9: 10:40am -11:15am
  • Lunch Recess 10/5 Thru 10/9: 12:15pm - 1:00pm
  • Final Recess 10/5 Thru 10/9: 2:05pm - 2:55pm

Contact Jim if you are available - oshenangl@comcast.net

October Lunch Menu

Click here to view the October lunch menu.
From the District
Family Connectors University
by Jesse E. Johnson - jejohnson@seattleschools.org
Coordinator 
School and Family Partnerships
Office of the Superintendent, Seattle Public Schools

The Department of School Family Partnerships is teaching a 10 week course for parents on how to navigate the school system and effectively advocate for their child. Click here for more information.

Classes began this week but families can enroll until next Thursday October 8th.
From Site Council
First Site Council Meeting - Oct 13th
by Stacy Earlywine - stacy.earlywine@gmail.com
Site Council President

Please mark your calendars!  Our first Site Council meeting of the year will be on Oct 13th at 7pm. Childcare will be provided. Please let me know if you plan to bring your child(ren). The meeting agenda will be published in next week's newsletter.

Thank you!
From Your School Counselor
Counselor Support at Thornton Creek
by Kristina Miller - klmiller1@seattleschools.org
Thornton Creek School Counselor

I am glad to be starting my third year as your school counselor. We are lucky this year to also have Edmary Serrano, a second year MSW student from the University of Washington working as my intern this year.  She will be here 24 hours a week until May. 
 
As your school counselor, I am someone for students to talk to if they need help solving problems, managing friendships or for support. Students often are invited to come to friendship and skill building groups in my room, P5 (yellow portable) either at lunch time or during the school day. We will send you a permission slip if we are inviting your child to a regular group or might be providing him/her regular support. Please let me know if you would like to learn more about the groups offered at your child's grade level or would like to talk with us about your child.
 
We will also be teaching social skills in many of the classrooms; we have already started in third grade and will start in kindergarten soon.  We will be using The Incredible Flexible You, You are a Social Detective and Superflex which are all curricula based the work of Michelle Garcia Winner and her Social Thinking work (socialthinking.com). We also draw from Second Step, Steps to Respect and other related materials. 
 
I also have many meetings with teachers and parents about students; I am an advocate and someone who can help facilitate connections and teamwork to support students.  Don't hesitate to call/email me about resources, parenting ideas, school issues or just to brainstorm. 

Coat Drive
From October 7-19th Thornton Creek is collecting new and gently used coats, hats, scarves and gloves for students in other Seattle Public Schools who do not have a warm coat for the winter.  A box will be near the front office and in some classrooms if you would like to contribute.
  
Thank you!
Kristina Miller- your counselor - klmiller1@seattleschools.org 206-252-5262
Edmary Serrano- counselor intern - edmarys@uw.edu
From the Library
Library Updates
by Ginny Allemann - vaallemann@seattleschools.org
Thornton Creek Librarian 
 
Spencer Shaw Lecture at UW iSchool.
This year's Spencer Shaw lecturer will be Kadir Nelson  (We are the Ship, Henry's Freedom Box, I Have a Dream,among others)! The event is Thursday, October 22 at Kane Hall. Hope to see you there!
 
Thank you library volunteers!
I have super volunteers in the library. The mornings are covered, but I am still searching for a couple of people who could come in every couple of weeks (preferably on Tuesday afternoons, but any day after school is fine) to wash tables and dust computers and shelf tops. I am also looking for a couple of people to head up the fall book fair at University Book Store. It's a four day event and we need someone to work with UBS and plan a variety of in-store events and activities. Please let me know if you are interested or if you'd like to be on the "on call" volunteer list for simple projects.
Parent Group Fundraising
Box Tops 4 Education
by Karen Selboe - kselboe@gmail.com

Thornton Creek is a BoxTops 4 Education collection school. Each pink coupon is worth 10 cents for Thornton Creek Elementary, which brings in between $300 - $500 every year that we participate. The dollars depend on you! 

Do you have a BoxTop coupon(s) on food, food storage, office supply, or other participating products? Simply clip or tear off the coupon and drop it in the marked basket near the front of the school. Questions about the BoxTop coupon? Go to www.boxtops4education.com or email kselboe@gmail.com.
From the Scrip table

by Leslie Cary - scrip@thorntoncreek.org


Did you know that you can support our school just by going grocery shopping? If you make your purchase using a scrip card, then the Thornton Creek Parent Group keeps a percentage of the sale. It can really add up!

Scrip are gift cards to the stores where you normally shop. It doesn't cost you anything except some advance planning. You can stop by the scrip table outside the office to purchase cards (bring cash or checkbook), or you can purchase them online (scripzone.com, group ID is 206TCPG). Scrip cards stocked at the table include: Starbucks, PCC, QFC/Fred Meyer, Metropolitan Market, Safeway, Whole Foods, and several others.

Volunteers needed!
Do you drop off or pick up your child at least one day per week? Do you have a few extra minutes to volunteer at that time? Working at the scrip table is a great way to get in your volunteer hours! It only takes about 30-45min of your time. The more we have the table staffed, the more scrip we can sell!

If you would like more information about volunteering or purchasing scrip cards, please contact Leslie Cary at scrip@thorntoncreek.org.

From the Parents
Bike Friday, Walk Monday - Thursday
by Amanda Thornewell - thornewell@hotmail.com

Our first Bike Friday of the school year turned out well despite the misty rain. There were lots of bikes at the bike rack. Ride your bike to school on Fridays and meet other riders on the bike train. Bike trains run regularly on Fridays, weather permitting, until Oct 24. Parents riders are always welcome.   

A map for Thornton Creek bike train route can be found here.
  
- North bound route leaves 39th and 65th at 8:55 am on Fridays. Please contact Tracy Fuentes at tracyfuentes@gmail.com if you want to coordinate or just show up on the route.

- South bound route leaves 89th and 38th (behind Our Lady of the Lake) at 9 am on Fridays. Contact Amanda at thornewell@hotmail.com if you have questions or just show up on the route. All major hills are gone at this starting point. If your kids can follow directions and not attempt anything dangerous, you can drop your kids off to ride to school at this location.

Walk Monday - Thursday
Can't ride the bike to school, walk to school instead. Enjoy the nice weather and avoid traffic congestion at school by walking to school. There's an informal walking-school-bus leaving Our Lady of the Lake playground (89th and 38th) at 9 a.m. Mondays-Thursdays during nice weather. Last Thursday there were 9 kids on that "bus". Kids can be dropped off at this "bus stop" if they can behave during the walk to school. 
District Approved Communications to Families
Please Note: Information below is not specifically endorsed by the school, nor have they been vetted by school staff.
Advertising Review/Approval Process

Per Seattle Public School Board Policy, outside materials must be approved before being distributed. The materials must meet district criteria, be approved by the Office of Public Affairs, and must be pre-printed and delivered to the school with the approval form attached.

 

You can find details regarding the review/approval process here. All requests to include information in the Thornton Creek Newsletter should be submitted via this process. 
TC Logo Medium7711 43rd Ave NE
Seattle, WA 98115

TEL: 206-252-5300
FAX: 206-252-5301
In This Issue
From the Office
From the District
From Site Council
From Your Counselor
From the Library
Fundraising
Bike Fridays
District Communication to Families
calendar icon
CALENDAR 

The 2015-16 Seattle Schools Calendar (in PDF format) can be found here.   
 
Thornton Creek calendar can be found here

October 8
Walk-a-thon (noon)

October 13
Site Council Meeting (7-9pm)

October 28
2-Hour Early Dismissal
  
November 5
Picture Re-Take Day
  
November 10
Site Council Meeting (7-9pm)
  
November 11
No School - Veteran's Day
  
November 23-25
No School - Parent-Teacher Conferences
 
November 26-27
No School - Thanksgiving holiday

Quick Links

 
  
  
  
The Source Children's
Library accounts
Thornton Creek is a Box Tops for Education School

 

Thornton Creek Elementary is a Box Tops for Education school! Look for pink Box Top coupons on products you have at home (e.g. Cascadian Farm cereal), then just clip and drop them in the collection basket just inside the front door of the school. For coupon information, go to:  

www.boxtops4education.com 

Say Thank you
 

We have a tradition at our school of saying "thank you." If you would like to submit a thank-you note, send an email to ae2newseditor@gmail.com or  click here.

NEWSLETTER SUBMISSIONS
Do you have an article or Bulletin Board item you would like to submit to the newsletter?

Click here for submission guidelines. Click here to send your article to the editors. Content is due Thursday for the following Monday's edition.