Issue: #17
February 1, 2016

This Week:

Thursday 2/4 - Thornton Creek Tour

Friday 2/5 - Talent Night

Donation deadline extended!
by Lissa Armato - auction@thorntoncreek.org

Donations are now due FEBRUARY 12th!  We need every family to donate in order to reach our goals.  Donate online or download the procurement form.   Need Ideas?  Check our website.  Consider donating a bottle of wine for our wine grab.  Put an extra bottle in your cart at the store, or grab one from the cellar.  

We will have the auction table set up through February 12th:
  • Wednesdays 9:20-9:50
  • Thursdays 3:20-3:50
  • Fridays 3:20-3:50
The auction is March 25th!  Get your tickets to the auction!  Buy now!

School. Community. Together.
WE ARE ONE!
From Your Principal
The Importance of Alternative Schools
by John Minor - jminer@seattleschools.org

SPS Board Directors and staff have asked alternative school principals to articulate the importance of alternative schools in SPS.  Principals have been asked to begin the dialogue by considering changing the name "alternative."  SPS staff maintain that their use of the word alternative to describe our group of schools is confusing because of WA State's use of the designation ALE (alternative learning environment).

Thinking about the community origin of each alternative school's program design, the community's request for Board designation, and parents' choice requesting assignment, I am considering proposing the following.  Let me know what you think.
 
Community Choice Schools 
There is a great deal of significance in the creation and history of Seattle's public alternative schools. Each school has its roots within an ideological community.  Each school is attended by choice.  Each school was created to address diverse community needs.   Each school is accountable to its program design, vision, mission and community.

Each alternative school program Lichton Springs, Thornton Creek, Salmon Bay, Orca, and Pathfinder was begun by a community of parents seeking a program design for their children not available to them in SPS.  Parent communities crafted and proposed explicit program designs which Board Directors considered and later approved.  Board approval recognized the diversity of educational needs within our geographical communities, as well as the diversity of instructional programming needed to meet those community's needs. Board designation validated not only the core values of each program but also the community identity and roots of each school.

We continue to ask to be recognized as unique school communities within SPS with different needs and different approaches to meet those needs.  The current value of each alternative school is found in its ongoing appeal to Seattle families.  Many of our schools have wait lists-the most tangible sign of our continued importance, relevance, and service to Seattle's diverse communities.
From the Office
Office News
by Jennifer Evans  - jevans@seattleschools.org
 
Open Enrollment
Open Enrollment is Feb. 17 - March 1. New kindergarten families will have the best chance of being assigned to a school outside their attendance area if Choice forms are returned during this window. May 31 is the final deadline for current students to request a different school. Kindergarten Admissions Nights will be held in each of the district's five regions beginning in January. Please see the flier for more information.
School & Program Tours and Open House
by Emily Wong - emily.seattle@gmail.com
Jennifer McDowell -  jenniferwisemcdowell@hotmail.com
Co-Chairs Hiring and Recruitment Committee 

We are quickly approaching the time of year when families take on the challenging task of choosing a school for their children. After break during 5 weeks, Thornton Creek will offer several opportunities for families to see what our school and community are all about.

Our morning tours will begin at 9:30 am on the following dates:
  • Feb. 4 (Thurs)
  • Feb. 8 (Mon)
  • Feb. 11 (Thurs)
  • Feb. 25 (Thurs)
There will be one evening open house & tour: Feb. 23 (Tues) 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Tours can last up to 2 hours. 

There are two ways for you to get involved:   
  1. Volunteer!  We need parent volunteers to assist creating a welcoming and informative environment for prospective families.
  2. Spread the word!  If you know families who are looking for a great school, let them know about Thornton Creek and the upcoming tours and open house.  You can always refer them to our website.
If you are interested in helping out, please contact Emily or Jennifer.
February Lunch Menu

The February lunch menu is posted here.
From the Library
Library events coming up!
By Ginny Allemann - vaallemann@seattleschools.org
 
On February 4, author Gordon Korman is visiting our school, courtesy of the Secret Garden Book Shop! Mr. Korman is the prolific and well-known author of Swindle, Schooled, and Ungifted, among many others. 3rd - 5th graders will hear his dynamic presentation and learn about his new book Masterminds!.
 
The Global Reading Challenge in-school challenge is February 11 in the cafeteria at 1:45. 3rd - 5th graders are invited to attend! Our GRC teams have been working very hard to prepare for this exciting, and fun event.

Site Council
January Meeting Minutes

by Stacy Earlywine - stacy.earlywine@gmail.com
 

The January meeting minutes can be found here.

Parent Group
Talent Night is this Friday, Feb. 5!
by Kirsten Fonken - Kirsten.fonken@gmail
Thank you everyone for attending the Saturday rehearsal's, they were a great success and we appreciate all of the effort you do at home to make this such a fun event for the kids!

We have a big week ahead of us, so please pay attention to ALL the details:
 
Volunteer to help with Talent Night!

We still need volunteers to help set up, take down, usher and assist in the Green Room (where the kids get ready to go on stage). Please go here to sign up on the google doc!

Act Line up: Act line up and Dress Rehearsal time slots will be sent out either Monday evening or Tuesday, in a special edition newsletter. Below is a summary of the time blocks, acts still need to be assigned.
  • 4:30-5:15 p.m.: MC/5th grade act rehearsal
  • 5:30-6:00 p.m.
  • 6:00-6:30 p.m.
  • 6:30-7:00 p.m.
  • 7:00-7:30 p.m.
  • 7:30-8:00 p.m.
  • 8:00-8:30 p.m.
  • 8:30-9:00 p.m.
Where: Dress Rehearsal and Talent Night take place at Eckstein Middle School.

When:
  • Dress Rehearsal: Wednesday, Feb. 3 - starts at 5:30 p.m. (5th grade act starts at 4:30 p.m.)
  • Performance Night: Friday. Feb. 5 - starts at 6:00 p.m., doors will open at 5:45 p.m. (5th graders start at 4:45 p.m.)
    • FYI, there will be pizza in the cafeteria prior to performance beginning!
How does it work for Dress Rehearsal?
  • Each child's act is assigned an act number. When the Act Line up is sent out, look for your child's act number.
  • Each Act number is assigned to a 30 minute time block, look to see what your child's time is.
  • ARRIVE at the beginning of the 30 min time block. On time!
  • IF you have props, please bring those to Stage Right (backstage).
  • Kids go to the Green Room, just west of the auditorium.
  • Parents wait in the Foyer.
  • The Green Room team will get the acts in order and walk the kids to the stage.
  • Once they have finished their act, they will be escorted to the Foyer and you are free to go.
How does it work for Talent Night?
  • If your act has Props, bring to the back stage (Stage Right) no later than 30 minutes prior to your child's act time. Or when you arrive at Eckstein, you can drop them off at Stage Right, they will be safe there.
  • We assume that all acts are there at a minimum 30 minutes prior to estimated act time (which you will know based on Dress Rehearsal).
  • Throughout the show, we will announce when groups of acts should report to the Green Room.
    • They are announced in groups of 10.
If your student is a participant in the event, here is a useful tip:

Each act has had little time to get familiar with the stage and plan for their prop and audio needs. At home, it is a great benefit to the kids if you can help them finalize the details of their acts and polish their performance between now and the show. The more confident they feel on stage, the more fun they will have, and the more successful they will feel.

The schedules are also posted on the bulletin board outside the office, on Tuesday, Feb. 2.

Please remember that dress rehearsal is mandatory for all participants, as is parental supervision. Dress rehearsal will begin at 5:30 p.m. (Most 5th graders have an earlier call, if they are in the 5th grade dance.)

If you are 4th grader helping out with backstage or lights, I will be sending out the shift schedule to the parent on Monday, Feb. 1.

If you are in the 5th Grade dance, please arrive at 4:30 p.m., we will get everyone in place on the stage and continue practicing on stage until 5:15 p.m.

If you are an MC Announcer, I will be sending out the list of acts you will be announcing on Tuesday, Feb. 2. On Wednesday, you will meet with Kate and Maiya at 5:15 p.m., to review the plan for the night.

If you are an MC Front of House, we will meet from 5:15-5:30 p.m. Wednesday night, at the front of the auditorium to review roles and positions for Friday night. Ask for Catherine or Kirsten

Another thanks to all the families, kids, volunteers and wonderful staff for their support of Talent Night. It is going to be a great show.

Please email if you have any questions.
Thornton Creek Directory 2015-16
by Karen Selboe -   kselboe@gmail.com
 
The Thornton Creek Directory is now available to view and download from the Thornton Creek website.  Access is password protected.  An email including the password will come to you directly from your student's teacher.   Please keep in mind that the password, link and directory information is to be used only by Thornton Creek staff and families.  Do not share the password or directory with anyone outside the TC community, or use information for business purposes.  

Questions?   kselboe@gmail.com
Start getting ready for the Thornton Creek Science Fair
by Pat Boyle and Tracy Fuentes - patboyle@gmail.com tracyfuentes@gmail.com
 
Thornton Creek parents are organizing a science fair. The Thornton Creek Science Fair is scheduled for Weds., March 9 from 6:30-8:00 p.m. More details are available at: http://tcsciencefair.blogspot.com/

There will be 2 informational sessions to help students in the library on Weds., Feb. 10 and Weds., Feb. 24 from 6-8 p.m. in the library.

You can sign up online.

There will be 1-2 informational sessions to help brainstorm ideas and help with the project in February.

Parent Group Fundraising
13 AUCTION VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
by Hee Jung - heejungkimbel@gmail.com

The auction committee needs 13 volunteers for this  week's featured volunteer positions:

4:30-8p.m.
Guest Check in/ Registration: 
Give auction catalog, nametags, bidder signs to bidder; direct bidder to auction items/seating area; process bidder registration in Readysetauction data system; 
enter purchase data from silent and live auction into Readysetauction system.
 
8-10:30p.m.
Guest Check-Out:
At the start of shift, enter purchase data from silent and live auction into Readysetauction system; process bidder check-out via computer; direct bidder to merchandise pick-up area.

Make the night even more fun by volunteering together with a friend!  

Detailed job descriptions here.

Please sign up using the Signup Genius link. 

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

Support the school by buying groceries for your family! Stop by the scrip table today to buy scrip cards to the stores where you normally shop (at no extra cost to you). For every $100 spent at a grocery store, the school earns between $3-5. That adds up quickly! Grocery cards available are: QFC, Fred Meyer, Safeway, PCC, Met Market and Whole Foods. Some other cards available are: Amazon, Starbucks, Top Pot Doughnuts, Target, and more.

Scrip are gift cards sold to us at a discount, and that discount (generally between 3-15%) is added to our parent group fund. This fund helps to support many things at our school, including: classroom academic assistants, Mary K, additional counselor and nurse time (beyond what the district provides), scholarships, library materials, art supplies, and much more!
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. 

Save your Stuff and Save the Date: Eckstein Rummage Sale

The Annual Eckstein Band Rummage Sale is Saturday, April 2nd, 2016.

Your donations will make this event a success.  Please save household items, books and music, furniture, toys, games and puzzles, sporting equipment, clothing in wearable condition, and any other re-sellable items for the sale.
We are unable to accept unassembled furniture, car seats or strollers

On Friday, April 1st bring your donations to the Eckstein cafeteria between 1:30 and 4:00 pm.  The cafeteria's entrance faces the garden in the east parking lot. (Eckstein's Address is: 3003 NE 75th Street, Seattle)

Mark your calendar and come to the Rummage Sale on Saturday, April 2nd from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.  There will be great deals to be had, baked goods, and music from our very own jazz combos.

This sale is a fundraiser.  Monies raised from the rummage sale go directly to the Eckstein music program and are used to help offset some of the cost of off-campus music performances, repair damaged instruments and provide scholarship to children who needs assistance.  We work to make music accessible to everyone.

Thank you for supporting The Eckstein Bands!  

Contacts: Sarah Fulton (sarahcfulton@mac.com) and Maggie Sweeney (davidmaggie@comcast.net)
Hazel Wolf Tour Dates

Weekday morning tours 9-11 a.m.
Wednesday February 3rd
Tuesday February 23rd
Monday February 29th

Weekday evening tours 6-8 p.m.
Thursday February 4th
Wednesday February 24th
 
No RSVP necessary. 
Loyal Heights Tour Date - February 10, 2016

Loyal Heights Elementary Open House/Tour date for prospective students and parents, will be Wednesday, February 10, 7 p.m.
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.
Open Enrollment

Open Enrollment is Feb. 17 - March 1. New kindergarten families will have the best chance of being assigned to a school outside their attendance area if Choice forms are returned during this window. May 31 is the final deadline for current students to request a different school. Kindergarten Admissions Nights will be held in each of the district's five regions beginning in January. Please see the flier for more information.
TC Logo Medium7711 43rd Ave NE
Seattle, WA 98115

TEL: 206-252-5300
FAX: 206-252-5301
In This Issue
Auction Deadline Extended
From Your Principal
Office Updates
School Tours & Open House
February Lunch Menu
From the Library
Site Council
Talent Night
Thornton Creek Directory
Science Fair
Auction Volunteers Needed
Scrip
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

February 4
Thornton Creek Tour 9:30-11:30 a.m.

February 5
Talent Night 6 p.m.

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 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.

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

March 8
Site Council Meeting 7 p.m.

March 9
Science Fair 6:30 p.m.

March 17
Family Dance Night 6:30 p.m.

March 25
Auction 5 p.m.

Quick Links


Site Council Information & Meeting Minutes
  
  
  
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.