Issue: #30
May 9, 2016
This Week:
May 10: Site Council Meeting
From the Principal
From the Principal
Thornton Creek Principal

Thornton Creek Staff Appreciation
On behalf of the staff I want to thank you parents for your overwhelming staff appreciation this past week.  Your thoughtfulness uplifts staff in so many different ways!!  Thank you.
 
Interviewing
Staff and parents have been very busy interviewing applicants for our open positions.  I am very pleased to let you all know that Thornton Creek has hired a new kindergarten teacher who as the unanimous recommendation of our interview committee.  We will be continuing our interviews during May and look forward to hiring more outstanding new staff.
 
New building
Work continues on the new building.  We will soon be able to take staff on a tour inside the building.  Everyone looks forward to getting an inside look at the new spaces.  The contractors are still anticipating substantial completion by the end of July.  Once completed, SPS will schedule a thorough cleaning, moving new furniture into the building, and installation of technology during the first two weeks of August.  Staff is tentatively scheduled to work on room set up in their new classrooms the third week of August.  Please stay connected for ways to help with the move.
From The Office
School Choice Assignment

Open Enrollment for School Choice for the 2016-17 school year was February 17 to March 1, 2016. 


Late choice applications will be accepted until May 31, 2016, but will not receive priority tiebreakers. 

 

The results of Open Enrollment will be: 

  • Available online April 15 with Assignment Lookup Tool
  • Sent out by mail to students granted new assignment in late April 2016
Please visit our registration webpage for more information.
2016-2017 School Calendar

Here is the calendar for the 2016-2017 school year!

 

From the Library
We are MOVING!!!
by Virginia Allemann - vaallemann@seattleschools.org
Please return all library materials by Monday, June 6.
 
This is a bit earlier than in previous years. In my experience, it takes a couple of weeks to get all the books in, so I would like to leave myself an extra week to get things in and organized for the move. The library will continue to be open and I will continue to have all my classes as normal.
 
After June 6, we will not be checking out. Our collection will be moved and it will make things much easier if it is ready in time for the closure of the Decatur building. I will not have the extra days after school gets out I usually do. I appreciate your help with this!
 
Monday, June 6 (D DAY!) will be the date for return of all materials.
Spring Book Fair and Dress as a Book Character Day
by Kaori Tanaka - tanaka.kaori@gmail.com

**Author Spotlight**
Matthew Porter, local children's book author and illustrator, will have many of his books for sale at the Thornton Creek Spring Book Fair. Matthew's picture books feature thrilling adventures in Monkey World. The Thunderbolt Express chronicles a thrill-a- minute train journey through Monkey World. His newest book, The Rise and Fall of Oscar the Magician, unravels a mystery as two magicians compete for the title of magician of the year.  With ten titles published since 2006, his work has become ubiquitous throughout the Pacific Northwest. Matthew naturally finds inspiration in the daily adventures with his son, Owen, a kindergartner in Room 4 at Thornton Creek! 

Spring Book Fair: May 16-19
Find Matthew Porter's books at the Spring Book Fair this May 16-19! The Book Fair is held at Thornton Creek in the Mary Cooper Library with books from the Secret Garden Book Shop, an independent book store and long-time supporter of school libraries. Typically, 25% of sales goes towards our library. A significant portion of funds for new materials comes from the Spring and Fall Book Fairs.

The Spring Book Fair is open 9:00-9:30 and 3:40-4:40 for sales. The Fair is open for browsing during lunch and recesses, but no sales will be transacted during school hours. The Fair will also be open Thursday night, May 19, before and during Athletic Skills & Art Show Night.

We Need Volunteers!
Please consider volunteering for an hour or two May 16-19. It's easy and fast, and you get to check out all the new books! Go to www.SignUpGenius.com/go/508044DAEAC2CA75-spring to sign up.

Dress-Up- As-A- Book-Character Day: May 18
Who will you be? A school tradition, Dress Up As A Book Character Day, is a chance to celebrate books and book characters we know and love. Students and teachers celebrate reading and literature by dressing up as a favorite character.
From Site Council
Site Council meeting May 10th
by Stacy Earlywine- stacy.earlywine@gmail.com
Site Council Chair

Do you have questions about next year?  The "Big Move"?  The playground for the remainder of this year?  JOIN US for the May Site Council meeting (May 10th at 7pm in the school library) and get all of your questions answered while also learning about what the Parent Group supports.  Teachers will be talking about Expeditions and you'll have a chance to weigh in on our successes and challenges this year while helping us look ahead to next year.  

To that end... please send me your nominations for Site Council committee members!  We need passionate people to make things happen!  It's going to be a big year next year and without all hands on deck, we will be less effective than we have the potential to be.  

ANNUAL APPEAL:
Our last big fundraiser of the year is coming.  Our Annual Appeal starts May 16th and will continue through May 27th.  Let's end this year with a bang!  Our school needs your support.  

Thank you for all you do!
After School Enrichment
by Susan Rosebrough - susanrosebrough@yahoo.com

We are accepting class proposals now for the 2016-2017 school year! Would you like to teach a class at Thornton Creek next year? Please fill out this proposal form  by June 1st, or email this proposal form to class providers that you would like to see at Thornton Creek. We hope to grow the program from eight classes to sixteen next Fall. 

Also, if you have ideas for classes, fill out this form.

Questions, contact Andrea at tcenrichment@gmail.com
From the Parents
Thank You!
by Lisa Skylynd - skylynd@nurturingknowledge.com
A BIG thank you to all the families who shared gifts for teacher appreciation week.  The teachers and staff really enjoyed all the extra love and treats!  In fact, the teachers would love to have your recipes.  If you would like to share your recipe, please send it by email to  skylynd@nurturingknowledge.com.  We will gather all the recipes together and share with the teachers.  Again, thank you for the wonderful food, flowers, and cards!  

Lisa Skylynd, Amy Roberts, Heather Sorenson, Polk Prud'homme 
Hospitality Committee
Scrip Donations
by Kristina Miller - klmiller1@seattleschools.org
Hello Generous TC Families, 
 
Thank you so much for what you have already given the school with your time, auction contributions, and other donations.  If any of you would like an opportunity for further giving, the scrip team, in conjunction with me, your school counselor Kristina Miller, is setting up a Helping Hands program to offer financial assistance to families in need. If you are willing and able to purchase an extra gift card to a grocery store (minimum donation of $25), then Kristina will distribute these cards to help Thornton Creek families who are on a tight budget. Please stop by the scrip table and let the scrip seller know that you'd like to make a donation. Alternatively, you can contact Leslie Cary (scrip@thorntoncreek.org) or myself (klmiller1@seattleschools.org) to make arrangements, if you're not able to stop at the scrip table.
 
Thanks!
Kristina
NE Seattle Annual Mom's Kickball Tournament
by Lisa Shafer - lisa@shaferwhite.net
 
Calling all moms for the Thornton Creek team in the NE Seattle Kickball Tournament! 

Come represent Thornton Creek and (hopefully) bring home the highly coveted trophy! This year's tournament is Sunday, June 12th starting at 3:30pm at View Ridge Park.

Teams are made of women only, and can include, moms, aunts, grandmas, etc. of current students or Thornton Creek alumni. Each team will play a few 2-3 inning games, in round robin, followed by a 3-inning final game between the top teams for the trophy. 
 
Come join us for a fun afternoon with moms from other schools in the area. Let's win the trophy back! (it's been a few years!).
 
Contact Lisa Shafer (lisa@shaferwhite.net) for questions or to sign up.

Bikey News
by Amanda Thornewell - thornewell@hotmail.com
May Bike Everywhere Challenge
It's time for the May Bike Challenge.   Following the tradition of last year, pizza parties are being offered again this year for classes with most participation in the May Bike Everywhere Challenge. Each class that has 20+ riders and logs over 6000 minutes of bike riding in May will get  a pizza party (Teachers and staff will count as bike riders but their minutes will not count towards the 6000. The staff with the most minutes will get a special prize from Sue) All riders will get a prize from Cascade Bicycle Club.   

Bike log activities can be logged in the classroom log sheet (being distributed shortly). Logging can also be done online at https://goo.gl/h7HgR1  or at http://www.askmeqr.com/s/7ddf54 for mobile devices. 

Volunteers are needed in the younger grades to help kids log their bike riding minutes in classroom.    

Bike-to-School Day May 4th
Despite rainy weather, there was a good turn-out for Bike-to-School Day on May 4th.     There were over 70 bikes at school. The northbound and southbound bike train had 20+ riders each. Thanks to the bike train hosts and special thanks to 5th graders Ben and Gabe for leading the special bike train for young riders.  

The kids enjoyed juice packs, treats, and prizes for riding to school. Thanks to all the parents for sending in the notes with their children.    

BIKE FRIDAYS:
Thornton Creek school has bike train routes . A map for Thornton Creek bike train route can be found at 
Join our popular bike trains for  Bike Fridays. Bike trains run regularly every Friday, weather permitting. Parents riders are always welcome. You can drop off your kids if they can follow direction and don't try anything dangerous.  

-  Northbound route leaves 39th and 60th at Friday April 29th at 9:10 am. Contact Matt (matt@lackof.org) for more details or just show up on the route.  

- Southbound route leaves 89th and 38th  Our Lady of the Lake playground) between 9 and 9:05 on Fridays.  All major hills are gone at this starting point.    Contact Amanda (thornewell@hotmail.com) if you have questions or just show up on the route. 
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.
Seattle Public Schools Preschool
In Fall 2016, Seattle Public Schools will expand its partnership with the City's voter-approved Seattle Preschool Program. Our school has been selected as a site for a Seattle Preschool Program classroom for the 2016-2017 school year! The classroom will be funded by the Seattle Preschool Program and taught by certificated Seattle Public Schools teachers. Families will be able to enroll their 3 and 4 year olds for a full 6 hour school day and this classroom will operate on the same school-day, school year schedule as the other grades in our building. Tuition is subsidized for families with incomes at or below 300 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. To have your child entered into Round 2 selection, please submit an application form by May 27, 2016 to the City of Seattle. Applications submitted after May 27 will be included in future selection rounds.

Applications can be found here, or for more information call: (206) 386-1050.
TC Logo Medium7711 43rd Ave NE
Seattle, WA 98115

TEL: 206-252-5300
FAX: 206-252-5301
In This Issue
From the Principal
School Choice Assignment
2016-2017 School Calendar
From the Library
Dress as a Book Character Day
Site Council Meeting
After School Enrichment
Teacher Appreciation Day
Scrip Donations
TC Moms Kickball Team
Bike News
Community News
calendar icon
CALENDAR 

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

May 10
Site Council Meeting

May 16-19
Spring Book Fair

May 18
Dress Like a Book Character Day

May 19
Athletic Skills & Art Show Night

May 23rd
Expedition Series Film Screening

May 26
ELOB Exhibition Night

May 30
Memorial Day - No School

June 1
2-hour early dismissal

June 6
All library books due

June 14
Site Council Meeting

June 17
Field Day & Wacky Hair Day

June 24
Last Day of School; 1-hr Early Dismissal

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.

A big thanks to Leslie Cary and her merry band of dedicated scrip sellers for making it so easy, quick, and convenient to support our school.  Leslie's team includes Andrea Klarman, Tanya Wilson, Julie Shin, Anne Holland and Jennifer Ball.  Thank You! Also thanks to Karen Selboe for being the Box Top for Education coordinator.  Another easy and simple way to raise money for our community.
 
Thanks!

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