Issue: #11
December 7, 2015

This Week:

Dec. 7: Last Day of the Fall Book Fair - Come Support our Library!
Dec. 7-11: Hour of Code 
Dec. 8: Site Council Meeting
Dec. 11: Winter Bazaar 

Last Week of the Read-A-Thon

 

From the Principal
Start Time Change
Thornton Creek Principal

Here is what was sent to principals:

On Nov. 18, the Board of Directors voted to change school start times beginning in the 2016-17 school year, divided along three tiers. Some schools placed on the third tier have suggested they would prefer an earlier start time.  In order to maximize the number of schools in the first two bell-time tiers and reflect the board's priorities, including a cost-neutral option, the superintendent is authorized to create a list of third-tier schools that could voluntarily move to earlier tiers. This would occur during the annual routing and bus-capacity analysis performed by Transportation each spring.
 
This volunteer list process will involve principals and their school communities, who should discuss whether to volunteer based on the pros and cons of changing start/end times. This process is currently being developed; more information will be provided in the near future. We anticipate setting a February deadline to volunteer.
 
For additional information about Bell Times, please visit the Bell Time Analysis webpage.
 
From what I read, I don't believe SPS wants to move elementary schools to a later start time-out of tier one.  From what was shared, it sounds to me as though SPS is trying to move as many elementary schools out of tier three as possible as long as it is cost neutral.  We are designated for tier one.  Once the Superintendent creates a start time/opt-in change list, perhaps we could request changing to tier two but that is not yet clear.  Start time decisions will have to be made by February in advance of open enrollment.  FYI-A large majority of Thornton Creek teachers prefer tier one to tier three start time.  I have asked the contact person if tier one elementary schools could change to the second tier (8:50). 

Below is the email exchange I have had thus far with SPS. The response does not give a clear picture.
 
My Question:  Am I correct that SPS is attempting to move as many of the elementary schools that were listed as tier three (9:40 AM) to tier one (8:00) as possible?  Is tier two (8:50) a possible option for an elementary school? 
 
SPS Response:  In a way, yes - knowing a number of the schools that are in tier 3 are interested in moving to an earlier tier, the Superintendent is developing a "Voluntary Opt-In List" for those schools that would like to be moved to an earlier tier.  The process, while still being developed, will allow some schools, if there is an opportunity per Transportation's routing in the spring, to move tiers.
 

From the Art Studio
News From the Art Studio
by Maria Callahan - mlcallahan@seattleschools.org

Thank you , thank you to all those children, parents and grandparents that came to our big art room clean-up during conference week! A special thank you to the Evard family for steering the ship. It was amazing to see the out-pouring of support. The art room is sparkling now. I am so grateful to all of you for your generous and wonderful help. We could not do it without you!
  
We have embarked on a super big project  for our new school building.  Each child in the school is creating an image that will be transferred onto a tile. The tiles will adorn one wall in the commons area of the new building. The theme for the wall is 'Occupations'. We are working to create a wall that shows many, many possibilities. We have tried to include as many different people and kinds of work as we could imagine.
  
The images will be scanned onto the tiles. (Phew! We don't have to make the actual tiles!) But we do need to assemble the images, which have several pieces. Each drawing needs to be cut out, glued onto a painted background and labeled with the proper occupation. Our deadline is the end of the day on Friday the 11th.
  
If you are interested in helping, please stop by the art room or email me. This is a take away project that can be completed at home.
  
Everything else we have been working on is a bit on hold right now. All projects with owls, flowers, bees, birds and buildings are taking a rest. Once the tiles are done, we will be back to our originally scheduled projects.
  
Thank you!

From the Library
Library News
by Ginny Allemann - vaallemann@seattleschools.org 

Readathon
Need help logging your reading minutes for Readathon? Two computer stations in our library will be available before and after school to log minutes. Ginny can help kids or adults. Read on!

Today is the last day of the book fair - stop by to help support your library!
Hour of Code This Week!


We are excited to be participating in the nationwide Hour of Code event at our school. During library time thIs week (December 7-11), our students will all get an introduction to coding using online tutorials and offline activities. Depending on grade level, they will work through different tutorials to learn a little about object oriented programming, if, else statements, algorithms, etc. Your child may want to try another tutorial at home.

If you have daytime availability to volunteer to help during library times, please contact Ginny Allemann.       

From Site Council
December Site Council Meeting
by Stacy Earlywine - stacy.earlywine@gmail.com
TC Site Council Chair

I hope many of you can join us to celebrate our successes so far this year at our December Site Council meeting.  We will be gathering at the Bryant Corner Cafe for business and socializing. Come check it out! Children are welcome to attend and there will be kid friendly meals but due to space constraints there will be no childcare available.

The details:
  • Tuesday, Dec 8th
  • 6:30 - 7:00, social 1/2 hour
  • 7:00 - 9:00, regular meeting
  • Bryant Corner Cafe: 3118 NE. 65th Street Seattle WA 98115

Please note - appetizers will be provided by Site Council.  Dinners and drinks will be available for purchase before and during the meeting.  


You can find the agenda here.
Parent Group Fundraising
Read-A-Thon Update
by Debra Glazer - debglazer@gmail.com
 
We know you've been reading!!!  Let's log those minutes to see how close we are to meeting the school-wide reading goal!  Only one week to go, and only 28,000 minutes have been recorded. There will be a surprise celebration if we meet our school-wide reading goal of 375,300 minutes!  Can we do it?  YES!  

As an extra incentive, one lucky student who meets their individual reading goal and logs their minutes on the google form, will be given the opportunity to throw a cream pie at John Minor (thank you for volunteering to have pie on the face, John!).

Pledges?  Please continue to ask for pledges, and turn money raised in at the front office.  There will be a box marked "Readathon."

Questions?  Contact Deb Glazer or Erin Nelson.

If you lost your pledge sheet and need more information about the TC Read-A-Thon, please refer to our special edition newsletter here.

Please update the "reading log" to document your student's hours read here.

Happy Reading!
Deb Glazer and Erin Nelson
Come to the Winter Bazaar this Friday 1-6 pm and Sign up Today to Help Make it Happen!
by Robin Belz & Carrie Tzou
Winter Bazaar Co-Chairs
 
The Winter Bazaar is only four days away, and we still need a lot more volunteer help and more cakes for the cakewalk!  This event requires quite a bit of day-of help and to make it possible, we still need more hands to move tables into the gym in the morning, set up and staff the cakewalk, and clean up and return tables in the evening.  Please follow this link to sign up to fill one of our volunteer needs on Friday and/or to donate a cake for the cakewalk. Many thanks to all who have already signed up to help!
 
We're excited about our incredible vendor turnout once again this year!!!  We're going to have another full house of wonderful student, alumni, and adult vendors, who will be selling a wide variety of unique handmade products, including jewelry, dolls & stuffed animals, clothing & accessories, paintings, block prints, ornaments, cards, plants, and much more, at the Winter Bazaar this Friday.  You're sure to find something here you won't find anywhere else!  Note: If you signed up to sell at the Winter Bazaar, you should have received a confirmation email by this morning.  If you did not, please email Robin as soon as possible!
 
Students will start selling in the gym and hallways right after lunch at 1:00pm, and the classroom tables in the hallway will be open during this time too.  Adult/community vendors will start selling in the lunchroom once school is out at 3:40pm.  We'll have a Nathan Hale jazz combo performing right after school, and the cakewalk will begin between 4:15 and 4:30.  There will also be pizza, drinks, snacks, and dessert for sale after school.  So plan to come join us in this fun community celebration, do some holiday shopping, and support Thornton Creek.*  We can't wait to see you there!
 
*The Thornton Creek Winter Bazaar is a fundraiser co-sponsored by the Thornton Creek Parent Group and the Thornton Creek Associated Student Body (ASB). Fundraising profits will be distributed as follows: of the 20% booth fee collected from each participant, Thornton Creek's ASB fund will receive 10%, and the Thornton Creek Parent Group will receive 90%.
 
Please email Robin (robinbelz@gmail.com) with questions.
Save the Date of March 25, 2016 for the 2016 Auction!
by Lissa Armato - auction@thorntoncreek.org

It will be at a new location, Club Husky at Husky Stadium.  This is a great opportunity to come together as ONE to support our students and raise money forour school.  

Tickets will go on sale Monday, January 11th, so start getting your table together.  

A successful auction depends on donations, which means we need YOU to start procuring those items.  You can download the procurement form here.

For more information contact Lissa Armato at auction@thorntoncreek.org.

From the Scrip table
by Leslie Cary - scrip@thorntoncreek.org

The scrip table will be open during the winter bazaar! Stop by!

Planning to give anyone a gift card this holiday season? Perhaps a teacher, nanny, or co-worker? Or that tween/teen who is hard to shop for? Buy the card at the scrip table and support the school! Some great options include: Top Pot Doughnuts, Amazon, Starbucks, iTunes, Regal movies, Target, and REI. And as always, cards are available for your favorite grocery store, too.

The table is now staffed before school on Mon, Tues, Thurs, and Fri, and after school on Mon and Fri.

Volunteers still needed! For more info, contact Leslie Cary.
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. 

Roosevelt High School Jazz Concert - December 10th at 7 p.m.

The Roosevelt High School's Jazz Bands will host their annual Winter Concert on Thursday, December 10th at 7 p.m. in Roosevelt's Performing Arts Theatre (1410 NE 66th Street).  This concert features all four of the Roosevelt Jazz Bands; Jazz Band 1 and Vocal Jazz are under the direction of Scott Brown and Jazz Bands 2 and 3 are directed by Michael Van Bebber.  This concert is free to the public.  Donations are always appreciated.
JAMS Tour Date - February 11, 2016

Jane Addams Open House/Tour date for prospective students and parents, will be Thursday, February 11th, from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
TC Logo Medium7711 43rd Ave NE
Seattle, WA 98115

TEL: 206-252-5300
FAX: 206-252-5301
In This Issue
From the Principal
From the Art Studio
From the Library
Hour of Code
From Site Council
Read-A-Thon
Winter Bazaar
Auction Update
Scrip
calendar icon
CALENDAR 

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

December 7
Fall Book Fair - Last Day!

December 7 - 11
Hour of Code

December 8
Site Council Meeting

December 11
Winter Bazaar

December 18
Early Dismissal

December 21-January 1
Winter Break 

January 13
Early Dismissal

January 18
Martin Luther King Jr. Day (No School)

January 29 
School Day (revised)

February 8
Thornton Creek Tour 9:30-11:30 a.m.

February 11
Thornton Creek Tour 9:30-11:30 a.m.

February 15-16
President's Day/Midwinter Break

February 17-19
School Days (revised) 

February 23
Thornton Creek Tour 9:30-11:30 a.m.

February 25
Thornton Creek Tour 9;30-11:30 a.m.

March 2
Thornton Creek Tour 6-8 p.m.

March 10
Thornton Creek Tour 9:30-11:30 a.m. 

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 

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