Issue: #23
March 14, 2016
This Week:
Wednesday 3/16: Online Auction Opens, 6:00 a.m.
Thursday 3/17: Family Dance Night, 6:30 p.m.
Online Auction Opening Wednesday, 3/16
by Lissa Amato - lissama@gmail.com
  
Look for the online auction this Wednesday at 6:00 a.m.! The link and all the details will come out Wednesday morning!
 
Volunteers Needed
Please contact Hee Jung if you are interested - heejungkimbel@gmail.com

From Your Principal
News from Your Principal 
by John Miner - jminer@seattleschools.org

Science.....Science.....Science
Black holes, wind tunnels, robotics, ecosystems, brain function and more filled the lunchroom  Wednesday night with the discoveries of our young scientists.  Pat Boyle and Tracy Fuentes again organized and mentored our students to present a wonderful evening of science.  This annual event is a fabulous opportunity for former students to mentor our students interest in science. Congratulations for another great evening!
 
Budget.....Budget.....Budget
I am working on our SPS budget for next year.  We will be posting many new positions.  Each of the positions will require an on-site interview.  We need parent representation on the interview committees.  If you are interested in helping with interviews, please email me.  I will be setting up a calendar of interview dates in late May.  SPS hiring training is required for all participants on school interview committees.
Trainings are available on April 12 and May 12 in room 2700 at the Stanford Center from 4 to 5 PM

Construction.....Construction.....Construction
I wanted to let you know that PSE will be starting the their work for the new gas service next week. The PSE work will start near the southeast corner of NE 77th St & 42nd Ave NE and cross the road north. This should take one to three days for PSE to cross the  street and get inside the construction fencing on the north side of NE 77th. Forma will be doing the street restoration as part of the work. Once inside they will be working with Forma to install the gas line north along the existing construction fencing to the new covered play area and then west  into the new building. Since the gas pipe is small (only 2" diameter), the equipment for this work will not be that big. There will be some dust from digging the trench and exhaust from equipment. We expect to be heading west away from the existing school by or before the end of the week. If anything changes I will let you know. They will be working between 7am and 3pm. I asked for them to accommodate the morning drop to the extent possible but PSE crews need to finish their work during their schedule time for our project.

Also, Forma will begin their off-site improvement work next week as well. The scope for NE 77th includes digging up the grass between the  existing sidewalk and street curb and  between the existing trees and replacing it with a concrete walk off pad. A 18 inch wide concrete strip will run behind the existing curb all the way down NE 77th from that driveway at the Annex building to 40th Ave NE. The concrete walk off pad and the 18 inch wide concrete  strip will facilitate year round drop off and pickup of students along NE 77th. The existing curb, sidewalks and trees are scheduled to remain and  the trees will be protected. Forma anticipates completing their work between 42nd Ave and 41st in three weeks or less allowing for weather and inspections by the City. Once completed, they will work between 41st Ave and 40th AVE which should also take another three weeks or less.

During this time, parents will experience a reduction in the number of spaces available for pickup and dropping off. At this point, Forma plans to keep the sidewalks open and no detours or street closures are planned for this work on 77th. Their work hours will have some impact on the morning drop off but they should be done before parents come back to pick their children up.
From the Office
Office News
by Jenny Evans  - jevans@seattleschools.org
 
Special Ed Families - Lost and Found item
If you are missing a black 7"x9" 3 ring binder with a hand strap and laminated small cards with Velcro pieces on back please call the office.
From the Library
From the Library
by Virginia Allemann - vaallemann@seattleschools.org

Woo hoo! Thornton Creek Global Reading Challenge Team "The Book Thieves" advanced from the Semi-Final round on March 3 and will participate in the All City Final on Tuesday, March 22 at 7 pm at the Central Seattle Public Library!

Our kids have worked so hard and we are so proud of them!

This is our first year participating in the Global Reading Challenge so it is particularly exciting to have made such a great showing.

Come out and support our team at the Central Library on the evening of March 22, 7 p.m.; doors open at 6:30.

Interested in what ten books they know like the back of their hand?
How Tia Lola Saved the Summer by Julia Alvarez
The Shakespeare Stealer by Gary Blackwood
The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger
Tua and the Elephant by R.P. Harris
The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
Heart of A Samurai by Margi Preus
Saving Kabul Corner by N.H. Senzai 
Hana's Suitcase on Stage by Karen Levine
P.S. Be Eleven by Rita Williams-Garcia
El Deafo by Cece Bell

All our amazing Global Reading Challenge participants (almost 5o kids!) will celebrate with a cookie party at 12:30 (after a solid lunch) on March 11 in the library. If you can help provide cookies, please let Ginny know!
From Site Council
Site Council Expedition Series 2016
by Catherine Reidy Liermann - cathyrl@uw.edu

What is Expeditionary (or project-based) Learning, and why does Thornton Creek do it?  Why is our integrated approach to Special Education so important for all kids at Thornton Creek?  Come to this three-part parent education series organized by your Site Council to learn more about these principles underpinning Thornton Creek's mission, and how we can ensure their sustainability and growth in years to come. Each event will be in the cafeteria, followed by discussion.  

*This is an adults-only parent education series; please contact stacy.earlywine@gmail.com if you require childcare.

Monday March 28th 7pm
Film screening and discussion


Monday April 25th 7pm
Film screening and discussion


Monday May 23rd 7pm
Community discussion


After School Enrichment (ASE) Ready to Launch!
by Cathy Donohue - catlincoop@yahoo.com
and Susan Rosebrough - susanrosebrough@yahoo.com
Enrichment Committee Co-Chairs

A big thank you to everyone who donated to the After School Enrichment (ASE) fundraiser, we met our goal and have enough funds to launch the program! 
 
The Spring ASE Pilot Program will run April 18 to June 10th. Registration will start later this month.  Here is the schedule:
 
Tuesdays:
        ·        Coding by Creative Coding for Kids (2-5)
        ·        Legos by Play-well (K-2)
        ·        World Dance by World Dance with Marissa (K-2)
        ·        Kickball by One-one-One Basketball (1-4)
 
Wednesdays:
        ·        Musical Theatre by Seattle Littlest Performers (K-5)
        ·        Chess by Chess 4 Life

Fridays:
        ·        Drama by Wedgwood Drama (K-5)
        ·        Sewing by Little Hands Creations, (1-5)
        ·        Juggling Club by Robert McAbee (3-5)
 
Exciting news! We have hired a coordinator, Andrea Klarman, mom to Izzy (3rd grade) and Evi (1st grade). Andrea is creative, compassionate and organized.  We are thrilled that she will be the new coordinator and know that she will be an amazing asset to the ASE program and our community.
 
You can reach Andrea at tcenrichment@gmail.com. 
 
Thanks so much for your support!
March Meeting Minutes
by Stacy Earlywine -stacylynn12@yahoo.com

Here are the minutes from the March Site Council Meeting held on Tuesday March 8th.
Parent Group Fundraising
From the scrip table
by Leslie Cary - scrip@thorntoncreek.org

Planning to do any online shopping soon? Gift cards are available at the scrip table for Amazon and iTunes! Use these to make your purchase, and a percentage goes to our parent group fund.

As always, cards are also available to most area grocery stores, as well as REI, Top Pot Doughnuts, Starbucks, and others.

The next online order will be placed on Tuesday March 15th. Cards to hundreds of retailers are available! You pay no shipping, just pick your cards up at the scrip table and pay with check or cash. Place your order at  scripzone.com by Tuesday (our school ID is 206TCPG) and select "pay to group coordinator". Email me with any questions.

Thanks for supporting our school with your purchase of scrip gift cards!
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. 

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.

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)

We are unable to accept unassembled furniture, car seats or strollers.

Nathan Hale Music Marathon

On Tuesday, March 15th, Nathan Hale High School (NHHS) music students will be performing in a 12-hour Music Marathon to help raise money for our music program. Orchestra, choirs, wind ensemble, vocal jazz and jazz band classes, as well as solos, small groups and combos will all be making music and performing throughout the day. Donations to the Music Marathon help fund this year's activities, including equipment, scores and supplies, and financial assistance for trips and lessons. These donations provide critical support for our high quality music program at NHHS.  Donors can participate at THREE DIFFERENT LEVELS and  can pay with CASH, CHECKS payable to NHMB, or CREDIT CARD via the "DONATE" button at  https://nhhsmusicdept.wordpress.com

The Music Marathon will take place at NHHS, 10750 30th AVE NE, from 8:40 a.m. to 8:40 p.m. The day will come to a close with a special Young Musicians Concert with Walking Tacos dinner (for eligible donors) from 6:40 to 8:40 p.m. in the NHHS Commons. 

Questions? Please contact: Camille Settle at settle@comcast.net or (206) 715-4574
TC Logo Medium7711 43rd Ave NE
Seattle, WA 98115

TEL: 206-252-5300
FAX: 206-252-5301
In This Issue
From Your Principal
Office Updates
From the Library
Site Council Expedition Series
After School Enrichment
Site Council Meeting Minutes
Scrip
District Approved Communications
calendar icon
CALENDAR 

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

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

March 23
2-hour early release

March 25
Auction 5 p.m.

March 31
Class Picture Day

April 5
Site Council Meeting

April 11-15
Spring Break

May 3
Teacher Appreciation Day

May 10
Site Council Meeting

May 16-19
Spring Book Fair

May 19
Athletic Skills & Art Show Night

May 26
ELOB Exhibition Night

May 30
Memorial Day - No School

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
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