Friday
December 8
Tour 9:15am
4-5 Babysitting
5:30-9pm
Saturday
December 9
Open House
1-3pm
Wednesday
December 13
Winterfest 6:30pm
Friday
December 15
Spirit/Pizza Day
Last Day to pledge for Annual Giving & the 100% participation match
December 18
- January 1
Winter Vacation
No School
No Childcare
Tuesday
January 2
School Resumes
December 7, 2006
Growing Westside, News form the Board of Truestees
From Jo Ann - Heritage
Toys for Tots
Winterfest 2006
New Admission's Policy
Marvelous Marathoners - and more!
Managing the Holidays
Annual Giving Update
Babysitting this Friday - Space still available!
Growing Westside
News from the Board of Trustees
By Brian Chestnut, Trustee
Growing Westside to two classes per grade level is part of the strategic vision set by the Board of Trustees in 2005. Realizing this vision began this year with the addition of a second kindergarten, and will continue next year with the addition of a second first grade. Two classes per grade will provide a larger base for enhanced social interaction, financial stability, and academic programs.
The board and administration have developed a long-range facilities master plan to identify and support needs for both our short and long-term growth. The plan was created with Carlson Architects and input from all school constituencies, and was presented to the community in spring 2005 as Phases I, II and III.
“Phase I” began over one year ago and was designed to meet the school’s immediate needs. Phase I included playground improvements, a new library, and an art and music room, among other amenities.
“Phase II” involves a cluster of cottages (sometimes referred to as “portables” or “modulars”) around the area of the two that already exist. The school expects to receive the King County permit for the third and fourth cottages soon and the third cottage is scheduled to arrive early next year. It has not been determined where each class will be located, but the new cottage will ensure that Westside can accommodate another first grade and separate fourth and fifth grade classes next school year.
“Phase III” was designed with input from all school constituencies, including parents and staff. As presented, Phase III would be a major renovation and expansion to our current school site, and includes many nice amenities. For example, it would maintain the large classroom space we enjoy, add more enrichment classrooms, and provide a community space, a multipurpose room, and plenty of parking. This is a multi-year, large budget project that would be supported by a capital campaign. Jo Ann has a copy of the master facilities plan if you would like to see it.
Currently, the school leaders are in the planning stages of Phase II, which includes purchasing cottages, and enhancing campus aesthetics and facilities. More on this as details develop. In the meantime, feel free to discuss these issues with Jo Ann, Board President Denise Tabbutt, or Board Facilities Committee Chair Brian Chestnut.
From Jo Ann - Heritage
Last week (Nov. 30 – Dec. 2) Seattle hosted The National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), annual People of Color Conference (PoCC). This conference began in 1986, and it has steadily grown both in content and in the number of participants. Six downtown Seattle hotels sold out rooms for this event, and the conference broke NAIS attendance records with 3016 attendees. Today PoCC is a forum where issues of equity and justice in independent schools are addressed. All people committed to diversity work learn how to advance, build, and sustain inclusive independent communities.
It was an awesome opportunity for Denise Tabbutt, our Board President, and I to have an opportunity to attend this event in Seattle! This year, Westside has begun a Board of Trustee Task Force on Diversity, whose purpose is “to develop recommendations for actions to be taken to increase the inclusiveness of Westside School and to prepare students to participate in a global community.” This effort is being chaired by Trustee, Gail Tanaka.
How much of your life is impacted by your race? I had time to consider my own mixed heritage. I felt that my participation in this conference personally helped to reinforce my own commitment to advance a school environment that values individuals, intentionally teaching empathy and problem solving by appreciating different perspectives.
While the focus of the conference was racial identity, there are many areas of diversity – socioeconomic, religious, cultural and sexual preference. What does it take to make a school environment that is able to sustain differences? How do we as a school appreciate the complexities of racial identity? At Westside School we have a commitment to create an inclusive, diverse community which fosters qualities in individuals that create a respect for differences.
We are all accountable for the morale of our community. We are all accountable for sharing the responsibility of making moments that allow us to appreciate the stories of others. With the holidays upon us, it is timely to intentionally make time to honor each other.
Toys for Tots
By Marsha Lovely, Kindergarten Teacher
Marsha’s kindergarten class is collecting Toys For Tots. There is a box in the hallway by the office that was made by the class and their middle school buddies. The toys should be new and unwrapped. Toys for any age are appropriate. We have been discussing the aspect of giving and wanted a real life way to culminate the lesson. We will collect up until the 14th of December. Let’s fill the box!
Winterfest 2006 - Lullabies and Night Songs: Music to Dream By
By Cathy Chutich
Wrap your troubles in dreams, and dream your troubles away on Wednesday, December 13, 2006 at our annual Winterfest. It’s one of the two events each year in which Westside parents and students gather to sing and enjoy music together.
This year you’ll hear a reprise of our well-known songs (Westside School and O Chanukah among the most requested, and my favorite, Welcome Here!) as well as some traditional songs that are new to us (Auld Lang Syne, Colorful Boats). We’ll also be presenting new songs and instruments that we’ve been exploring this autumn. The students are revved up for the event, which begins at 6:30 PM in the gym. Please have your children in their classrooms by 6:15 and come prepared to sing and have fun!
The WPO organizes refreshments for this event. If you would like to bring cookies or other treats, please email Tracy at tlleber@comcast.net.
Last year, thanks to a few Westside families, we filmed both Spring Fling and Winterfest. Thank you to Dean Sleeper, John Nuler, Rene Ellis and Linda Beinikis for all their work! If you ordered the Winterfest/Spring Fling DVD collection and haven’t picked it up, please visit Kathy in the office. It’s a great keepsake! Thanks to Dean Sleeper for doing such a great job on editing and for creating those fabulous backdrops! This year, we will film again! We hope to have the DVD’s available in January.
New Admission’s Policy
By Jo Ann Yockey, Head of School
Since 2002, Westside School’s admission policy regarding students enrolled in our Early School pre-kindergarten program required that families formally apply for admission to kindergarten. Westside School families were given preference (along with siblings) for our kindergarten places. With the addition of a second kindergarten class, Westside School now has places to accommodate our own students as well as additional students from the community.
I am very happy to announce that, at the November 2006 Board of Trustees meeting, the Trustees approved a new admissions policy. Pre-kindergarten students no longer have to re-apply for kindergarten; they are already admitted, and simply need to re-enroll into kindergarten. This eliminates putting our Westside families through a second admissions process. Westside School pre-kindergarten students and their families will now follow the same re-enrollment practices as do the pre-school students into pre-kindergarten, and as do kindergarten students into first grade, and so forth through the fifth grade.
Marvelous Marathoners! - & More
By Donna Jornlin, PE Teacher
A big hip, hip, hoorah & congratulations to all the participants in the Seattle Kids marathon! Westside was well represented by Sawyer (K), Kelvin (1st), Spencer, Caitlin, Alena & Maya, Kellen (2nd), Sophia (3rd) & Sasha (5th).
Kelvin commented, “There sure were alot of kids there!” and Sophia said, “It was really exciting to see all those people at the finish line.”
T-shirts have been spotted in the hall with “Keep running” on the back. Good idea!
We pulled another tool from the Good Sportsmanship Toolbox recently, the same handy place where the Golden Rule & Put-ups, Not Put-Downs hangs out. It’s called the “T” chart. Students can read it in the gym as well as talk about it during class. Positive interpersonal skills are a necessity throughout life & the chart helps us remember to encourage each other, especially when we’re challenging ourselves & learning new skills. Looks like a high five & sounds like, “Good try!”
New games that have become favorites: Cat & Mouse, Silent Dynamite, Hula Hoop Tag, & Bumblebee Tag.
Holiday shopping list idea: something that requires more than just moving their thumbs!
Managing the Holidays
By Nancy Levine, PS teacher
It seems we’re bombarded by holiday images earlier and earlier every year. The competition for our retail dollars has forced some stores to put up their displays as early as August. Just a few weeks ago, before Thanksgiving, I was looking for some harvest-type craft items to use for Family Friends Day. I hit every store I could think of, only to find rows and rows of red and green “things” or candy canes and snowmen. Not a single fall leaf or turkey to be found! Whatever happened to finishing one thing before beginning the next?
Then there’s all the special events happening everywhere. There is so much to choose, it’s easy to get caught up in trying to do it all! Are we really better parents if we do? Relax, take a step back, breathe. What our kids really want for the holidays, or anytime really, is more time with you. The same is true about buying the latest gadget or toy. Long after the boxes are opened, and the contents broken or discarded….it’s the little stuff our kids are going to remember.
So, here’s my suggestion. Sit down as a family and make a list of events you might want to attend, and then choose just one or two. (For suggestions check the “Holiday Happenings” in this month’s Parent Map magazine. Copies are on the table across from our office.) Instead of popping a movie in to keep the “troops occupied”, why not get everyone in their jammies, parents included, sit around a large bowl of pop corn, (you can string it if you insist) and make it a Family movie night. Or if we have some snow, don’t just send the kids out to play in it, the adults should don the mittens and get out and enjoy it with them. (You might have to go on an adventure to look for some!) Keep it simple and who knows…you may start some new family traditions along with the memories your kids will carry with them for years to come.
Have a great Winter Break!
Annual Giving Update
Annual Giving is getting closer and closer to reaching 100% participation. Just a few families are left, and 4th grade, 2nd grade and Laura’s Kindergarten class are already there. Remember, every class that reaches this participation goal means Westside receives a $1000 match. There’s still time to give, or pledge. Simply send an email to Jana at janar@westsideschool.org.
Here’s the latest participation graph! Thanks to everyone who’s already given!
Babysitting Friday Night, Dec. 8,
5:30-9pm
Space Still Available
Need a night out? There’s still time to sign up for childcare on Friday night! The fourth and fifth graders are hosting this childcare evening tomorrow, December 8, from 5:30 to 9pm, to help raise money for their trip to Islandwood. The cost is $25 per child, and will include dinner and a movie. Please sign up with Kathy in the office, or email kathyw@westsideschool.org.