Friday
February 29
Spirit/Pizza Day
Assembly 9:30am
Re-enrollment contracts due
Saturday
March 1
New applicant visitation
Financial Aid applications due
to SSS (Pick up packets in the office. Application can be completed online.)
Friday
March 7
Assembly
9:30am
Movie Night
6:15pm
Saturday
March 8
New applicant visitation
Friday
March 14
Spirit/Pizza Day
Wednesday
March 19
Board Meeting
6:30pm
Thursday
March 20
New applicant contracts mailed
February 28, 2008
From Jo Ann - Staff Changes
Auction News
Family Movie Night, Friday March 7
50/50 Raffle
Advertise in the Auction Catalog
Dessert Auction Volunteers Still Needed
Critical Thinking and Imagination
Stay tuned for detailed summer camp info next week
From Jo Ann - Staff Changes
Westside has had a number of staff changes over the last few weeks. We have a new addition in Joe’s 3rd grade classroom. Please welcome Tara Migliore Potter, Joe’s new assistant.
Our business manager, Heidi Radolla, has also given her notice. Her last day will be March 14. Heidi has accepted a position with First Place School as the Director of Finance and Administration. Heidi preceded me at Westside School by about 6 months. I appreciate the work we have done together and all that she has given to our community. I wish her the best. I am currently looking for an interim business manager while I look for her permanent replacement.
David and I are also interviewing Spanish teachers, and we hope to announce a new Spanish instructor soon. Heidi Suarez’s last day was Tuesday, February 26. She resigned for personal reasons.
Thank you for your patience and understanding as I manage these changes and hire new staff. Our administration and our teachers have a lot of responsibility on their plates, and staff changes put a lot more pressure on each of us. Thank you for your empathy during this time of transition.
Auction News
Congratulations Ray Ensign for winning the $100 Cactus drawing! Ray, pick up your gift certificate in the office. There will be one more drawing next week. The drop-dead is Tuesday, so turn in your items now! Click here for a procurement form.
You should have received an auction invite in the mail last week. Mail in your RSVP card or turn it into the office ASAP. Space is limited, and you don’t want to miss this fun event!
Family Movie Night,
Friday,
March 7th
featuring The Jungle Book.
Free Admission
Rated G, 78 minutes. Doors open: 5:45pm for Pizza/Spiritwear Sales, Movie starts: 6:15pm
By Kate Petrich, Movie Night Chairperson
Come see “the bear necessities of life” at Family Movie Night. Everyone is invited. Kids are welcome to come dressed in their PJ’s, and bring pillows, mats, sleeping bags, lawn chairs, etc., to make movie viewing comfy. (Big chairs will be set-up for parents in the back). Westside spiritwear, pizza and other jungle concessions will be for sale. So come hungry and enjoy an evening with family, friends, and fellow classmates. For those of you who haven’t seen The Jungle Book, it’s a fun, lively story about friendship and adventure with fabulous music. Volunteers needed (especially you talented 4th & 5th graders!) for some very fun jobs. Please call Kate Petrich @ 206-988-5820.
50/50 SPIRIT Raffle
By Tracy Sundberg, 2008 Raffle Coordinator
Today we launch the Westside Spirit 50/50 Auction Raffle. 50% of the gross proceeds of this raffle will be awarded to a single winner (drawn at the auction) and the other 50% will directly benefit Westside School and our magnificent children. Tickets and additional information are in your take-home folders.
Each Westside family will receive ten initial 50/50 raffle tickets, but you certainly don’t have to stop selling there. This is a great, inexpensive raffle ticket to sell to family, friends, and neighbors; even if they’re out of town. Maybe buy a few as gifts for your babysitter, hair stylist, or the garage attendant where you work. The winner does not have to be present at the auction and the prize is CASH!
The cash prize awarded last year was the largest so far but I know we can step it up a notch for 2008! If each Westside family can sell at least the 10 tickets that are in your take-home folders today, the payout to the winning ticket holder will be OVER $7,000. WOW! While the deadline for turning in all sold tickets and money is March 28th, the sooner you can sell your tickets and turn in the payments, the more often we’ll be able to update you with the prize amount for the winner!
Thank you in advance for showing your Westside Spirit and ensuring our 19th annual auction is a resounding success!
Advertise in the Auction Catalog
We want to hear from you!!! Interested in reaching Westside parents with your business, hobby or special announcement? We are selling ad space in the Westside SPIRIT auction catalog! Advertising dollars help supplement the cost of the auction and it is a great way to communicate with parents and other Westside supporters.
For as little as $50 you can -
• Congratulate a coach for a season well done. Many of our Westside parents volunteer as coaches and/or mentors in extra-curricular activities. It’s a great way to say thanks!
• Spread the news that you have a new or existing business in West Seattle. Advertise in the catalog and let other parents know that you are a fellow Westside parent/alum.
• Advertise your service/professional business. Many businesses do not have tangible items to sell and have not participated in our auction. Consider contacting your accountant, dentist, doctor, real estate agent, bank, etc. and see if they would like to advertise.
For pricing and questions, please contact Lisa Medina (dlfmedina@msn.com). Advertising forms are available here.
Dessert Auction Volunteers Still Needed!
We still need some more of you to make a dessert for our ever-popular auction “Dessert Dash” This annual tradition takes place after dinner at the Westside Spirit Auction. It features a luscious assortment of delectable treats all provided by Westside parents.
This activity is fun, fast-paced, and a nice money-maker for Westside. But it can’t happen without you. If you haven’t done it already, please sign up to provide a dessert. Your donation can be homemade or from your favorite restaurant or bakery. Sign up online at www.westsideschool.org/parents.htm. Questions? Call Theresa, auction dessert chair, at (206) 355-3751 or email her at theresa.schaefer@swissarmy.com.
Critical Thinking and Imagination
By Margery Lamden, Art Teacher
Drawing is as much about learning how to see and think as it is technique. When we draw any object, we have the choice of drawing it “flat”[two dimensional] or as a “solid” [three dimensional]. I asked our fourth and fifth grade students to explain the difference between a shape and a form. I gave them a hint and said, “What is the difference between a square and a cube, a rectangle and a rectangular prism?” Enthusiastically the students explained that a shape is flat and a form is three-dimensional. I showed the students several techniques to help them draw cubes and rectangular prisms. The final component to the lesson was to color every side of their form with complimentary colors [colors directly across the color wheel]. The students were eager to get started on their geometric composition. After a lot of focus, imagination, and critical thinking, the students created colorful and skillful designs. The students drew the forms from different angles and arranged every form in unique and thoughtful ways. In some of the compositions the forms look like they are falling and bumping into each other or stacked on top of one another. Some forms look solid while others have open-sides. I am always amazed with all the unique and personal ways our students solve visual assignments. These designs are on display in the art room, so please come by and see what is emerging from our Westside artists.
Summer Info Next Week
Stay tuned for info about our new 3 week Summer Camp. Details will be out next week!