Issue: #5
October 19, 2015

This Week:

Read-a-Thon to Begin this Week (watch for a special edition)

 

From the Principal
Thornton Creek Families
by John Miner - jminer@seattleschools.org
Thornton Creek Principal
  
As of Friday Night A Change To Thornton Creek Displacement Plan 2015:

I received a phone call from Wyeth Jesse today, October 16th, confirming that displacement at Thornton Creek was changing. Effective immediately, Thornton Creek will have to displace one instructional assistant not two as previously required.
 
Program Growth as we move into the new building: 
 
SPS has published five year school projections. I have written to the director of enrollment services to ask about whether the document is a proposal or a decision. As written SPS has decided that Thornton Creek will be expanding to four classrooms per grade level. We all knew that was coming. SPS has proposed/decided we will add a fourth K and a fourth 1st grade for the 2016-17 school year, then roll up to four classes per grade for each subsequent year.

I have written to clarify projections regarding class size reductions/McCleary.
From the Office
Updates from the Thornton Creek Office
by Jenny Evans - jevans@seattleschools.org
 
First Day Packets!
Last week I made an error, I thought Cindy reported we were down to 15 first day packets left to return, when, in face she said 15%.This week I can report we are down to 19 left to return! Now the work on our end goes into a new gear as we account for all your returned forms and process you as volunteers. Cindy and Jennifer have been doing that since day one, but it's an avalanche of work and all three of us are pushing hard to finish our part as quickly as possible. 

Attendance/Tardies/etc
Parents, please remember to have your children stop by the office when they are late and email or call ahead of time to be sure Cindy Spencer knows. We are required by law to contact parents when children aren't at school and you can save Cindy a great deal of time by emailing her ahead of time: cgspencer@seattleschools.org.  If your child is ill, please give us an idea of what's going on so we work to prevent outbreaks of illness around the building.    
 
Is your child being left before or after school with no supervision?

FERPA
Last week we received a new FERPA form, you can also access it using this link. It's been in the works for a long time, but wasn't through the final approval process until last week. I'm sending it home to anyone who checked "No" on their form and we'll put it on the website during the week for anyone who wants to pull it off and change their permissions. The new form has the Yes/No box as before, but also has 5 other permissions boxes parents can choose, like Media/Website/Yearbook...etc. Each choice has to be entered in the computer but tracking permissions should be much easier than in years past. I will not be releasing information for a family directory even though that is one of the choices. The parent group has done that already and we feel it would be a major issue to figure out exactly which phone/email to release so we will be keeping the directory a parent group project so only the information you want others to see actually goes in the directory.  Replacement forms need to be received in the office this week so the district can have it's official notification.

Earthquake Preparedness
We are about to add a link to the website regarding emergency preparedness. JoAnn Jordan, from the City of Seattle Disaster Preparedness team has made a presentation each year over the last two years. We video taped both presentations and encourage parents to take time to listen. JoAnn has lots of great idea about disaster planning and she has helped us with our preparations. A very important part of our plan is that each child always have a change of clothes on hand in their backpack or locker. We need to purchase replacement water for our disaster trailer and I will need some help moving it off pallets and into the trailer once it's delivered. This is a job that has to happen the same day the water is delivered. If you would like to help us please email me at jevans@seattleschools.org The long blue trailer on the playground is the disaster trailer.  We'll be sharing more on disaster planning in the months to come. 
Picture Re-Takes: Nov. 5th

Student photo retakes will be November 5th! If your child missed picture day or there's a problem with your photos this is your opportunity to have a new photo. Send in your photos for retakes and parents whose children missed photos the first time, please send in your payment envelopes with your child on retake day. 
From Site Council
Site Council News 
by Stacy Earlywine - stacy.earlywine@gmail.com
Site Council President

Wow! What a great turn out for our first Site Council meeting of the year! Thank you to everyone who showed up, listened, asked questions and volunteered. We are off to a good start!

Many committees are organizing and beginning to take shape, set meetings and formulate work plans.  

Community engagement is going to be critical to our continued success as an outstanding school. For issues that have a school-wide impact I would like to adopt a process wherein committees research and formulate plans, provide proposals for community feedback in a comment period and then formulate final drafts to bring to Site Council for approval. Everyone should have an opportunity to voice opinions!

If you've volunteered for a committee and you haven't heard anything yet, please be assured I or a committee chair will contact you as soon as things are up and running. Some issues are more pressing than others and we are working through in order of priority.  

I also want to remind folks that your time and energy is needed not only with Site Council but in your child's classroom and at many school-wide events. There will be many calls for volunteers throughout the year as well so whether it's chairing a committee, chaperoning a field trip, or showing up for a few hours to help with field day in the spring... there is a place and an opportunity for you.

Thanks for participating!
From Your School Counselor
Save the Date! - Helping Kids to Deal with Disappointment
by Kristina Miller - klmiller1@seattleschools.org
Thornton Creek School Counselor

SAVE THE DATE! Free event presented by the Thornton Creek Parent Group SITE Council

HELPING KIDS TO DEAL WITH DISAPPOINTMENT with Author and Parenting Consultant Elizabeth "Betsy" Crary

11/9/15 Monday Evening (6:45-8:15) at Thornton Creek School

When kids are upset, they need concrete tools to deal with both the problem and the feelings.  Acknowledging feelings, while essential, is not enough. We need to teach the skills and information children need to handle disappointment appropriately.

Participants will learn:
  •    why a varied feelings vocabulary is important
  •    skills children need to deal effectively with disappointment
  •    two elements to consider when dealing with feelings
  •    six categories of self-calming tools & a five-step process to teach them
  •    a way to intervene in the drama

Please contact Kristina Miller with any questions or offers to help with the event!
Parent Group Fundraising
Read-A-Thon to Begin This Week!

Watch for a special edition with more details!
Chinook Books, Mobile Apps and Combo Packs
by Mari Brockhaus - mbbrockhaus@seattleschools.org
Room 5 teacher
  
Rooms 4, 5, 13, 17, and the Cottage are selling Chinook books, apps, and combo packs.  Please stop by one of these rooms to make a purchase. 

  • Chinook Books are $22
  • Chinook Mobile Apps are $15
  • Chinook Combo packs (one book + one app) are $30.

This fundraiser is co-sponsored by the TCS Parent Group. Your support is much appreciated!
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 Library
Book Fairs
by Ginny Allemann - 

Book Fairs (one in fall at University Book Store and one in spring at school-Secret Garden Books) raise up to 40% of our library materials budget (about $2000 per fair). These are fun events for students and families, but also important fundraisers.
 
The fall book fair is four days at the University Book Store on the Ave. Friday-Monday, December 4-7, 2015.
 
Two parents who have led the fall event for the past several years are not able to do it this year, so we are looking for 1-3 people to head it up for this year (and, we hope, the next couple of several years).
 
Why you? 

It's a fun job (especially with a partner), and you'll know you are working to directly support the collection of the Mary Cooper Library. It's a time-limited commitment (after Dec. 7, it's DONE!-until next late October!). The fair has been happening for years and it is known to our community- you don't have to reinvent the wheel-unless you want to! Time commitment is fairly minimal, and Ginny will help you get going.
 
How does it work?

During the four days of the fair, our school library receives a percentage of the proceeds. Your role as lead is mainly to publicize the book fair and to plan a few events that will draw families to the store the weekend of the event. Full details available: please contact Emily Wong (TCPG Volunteer Coordinator) at emily.seattle@gmail.com or Ginny (Thornton Creek Librarian) at vaallemann@seattleschools.org if you are interested!

From the Students
Running Club
by Danny Chapman, The Lodge

There is now Running Club. The running track is around the playground and what's left of the field. Six laps is a mile. For every mile you do, you get a plastic token that looks like a foot. Running Club feet are given out on Friday. If you are interested in Running Club, meet at the edge of the playground, next to the portables, in the morning before school. Grades K-5. Parents are welcome to run with their kids.
From the Parents
Fall Landscaping/Cleanup Party
by Greg Williams - greg.williams.mma@gmail.com

Please join the landscaping team for a few hours of weeding and minor planting on Saturday October 24, 2015 from 9 a.m. to noon.
 
Bring your own tools, yard waste bags, breakfast treats/coffee, and possibly some colorful annuals to add to the pots out front.
 
Looking forward to seeing you there. Thanks!
Yearbook Head Start
by Anna Farr -  yearbook@thorntoncreek.org

Yearbook Classroom Coordinators
I'd like to find classroom coordinators who can help track down photos and identify students for the yearbook.  If you are interested in being the yearbook coordinator for your student's classroom please let me know at yearbook@thorntoncreek.org.
 
5th Grade Baby Photos
Get a head start and avoid the end of the year crunch.   If you have a 5th grader we'll need at least one baby photo for the yearbook Guess Who pages and up to 10 photos for the age progression 5th grade segment of the annual slideshow.  Photos can be jpg, png, RAW, however you have them, but digital is much preferred over scanning and returning photos.  Email photos to yearbook@thorntoncreek.org.
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Bike Fairy News
by Amanda Thornewell - thornewell@hotmail.com

Good news, the bike fairy still has some lights left.   The bike fairy helpers were busy last week installing lights on kids' bike.   If you missed the fairy and still want some lights.  Here's how to get a free bike light:
  
Get out your bike and ride to school, the grocery store, or ANYWHERE. Log your miles on the website and click "Yes"  to "Bike lights" option if you would like the bike light to be delivered to your room at school.  (A bike fairy helper will make that happen)  

You can record your miles for any trip starting in October. Total miles for the school will be reported in 2 weeks. Highest mileage ridden by room number and individual will be reported. Top 3 riders will get some treats.
Bike Friday, Walk Monday - Thursday
by Amanda Thornewell - thornewell@hotmail.com

Please join us for our last Bike Friday of the year on Friday October 23, weather permitting.   Join our popular bike trains routes and meet other riders.  A map for the 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 your 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.  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. 
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Seattle, WA 98115

TEL: 206-252-5300
FAX: 206-252-5301
In This Issue
From the Principal
From the Office
From Site Council
From Your Counselor
Read-A-Thon
Chinook Books
Scrip
Book Fair
Running Club
Fall Landscaping/Cleanup
Yearbook
Bike Fairy News
Bike Fridays
calendar icon
CALENDAR 

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

October 12-23
Activity-a-thon

October 24
Landscaping Party

October 28
2-Hour Early Dismissal
  
November 5
Picture Re-Take Day

November 9
Parent Education Night
  
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
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Click here for submission guidelines. Click here to send your article to the editors. Content is due Thursday for the following Monday's edition.