Saturday
January 27
Open House
1-3pm
Monday
January 29
Teacher
In-Service
No School.
Childcare Available
Thursday
February 1
Math Night
6:30-7:30pm
Re-enrollment contracts mailed
Friday
February 2
Spirit/Pizza Day
Wednesday
February 7
Tour 9:15am
Thursday
February 8
and Friday
February 9
Conferences
No Classes
Childcare Available
Wednesday
February 14
All outside applications due
January 25, 2007
Auction Item of the Week
Win $100 to Morton's Steak House
What is the Development Committee?
Annual Parent Survey
Roster Correction
Hoo Roo and Happy Australian Day
Save the Date for the Next WPO Meeting
Graduate News
Chinese News
Auction Item of the Week
A big thank you goes to the Smith, Lamb, Bjornson and Leber families for donating a fabulous end of school private pool party at Rainier Golf and Country Club scheduled for Friday, June 15th from 3:00 to 7:00. All families are welcome to join in the festivities for a fun family friendly evening to celebrate another great year at Westside School. Be sure to sign up for the party at the auction and join in the fun!! Your kid’s will have a blast!
Win $100 Morton’s Steak House Gift Certificate
All procurement forms turned in to Kathy in the office by next Thursday, Feb. 1, will be entered into a drawing to win a $100 gift certificate to Morton’s Steak House.
What should we donate?
Any item you get donated from a business is great. A good rule of thumb is this: if you want it, chances are someone else will too!
Should you buy an item and donate it?
Items in the silent auction often go for under value. If you want to purchase something to donate to the auction, restaurant certificates are a great idea. They always go for 100% of value. And cash is another great option!
Do I have to turn the item in with the procurement form?
No. Procurement forms alone are fine right now. Items can be turned in as we get closer to the auction. Of course, if you have the item, you can always bring it in.
Where do I get these forms?
Procurement forms are available in the office, or online at http://www.westsideschool.org/donation.htm.
Auction Contacts: Celesta Bjornson, chair | Jana Barber, procurement | Carolyn Comick, advertising | Theresa Schaefer, desserts
What is the Development Committee?
By Jana Barber, Development Chair
What is the Development Committee? A sub committee of the Board of Trustees, the Development committee is responsible for overseeing the fund raising activities for Westside and the school’s strategic plan.
In partnership with Jo Ann and the finance committee, development sets a financial target for our yearly fundraising. Our annual goal is usually what’s left in the school’s operating budget (the operating budget is every cost associated with running a school, including salaries, rent, curriculum materials, building and field maintenance, field trips, classroom consumables, utilities, medical insurance, tuition assistance, and more) that tuition doesn’t cover – the GAP. The gap is the difference between the income that our families pay for tuition, and the total cost of running Westside School – approximately $2000 per student.
The development committee also oversees capital campaigns – capital being anything that is outside of the school’s operating budget – portables for our expansion, playground & landscaping, building additions, endowment funds, etc.
Why not just raise tuition to cover the gap? The board’s goal is to keep tuition affordable and accessible to our families and potential families. Fund raising allows us to do just that. Almost all independent schools (and even most public schools) have to do some amount of fund raising. The reality is that there is always need. Additionally, most donations are almost always tax deductible, while tuition is not. This is a benefit that many of our families appreciate and prefer over increased tuition.
Our intention is to create opportunities for the Westside community to give in ways that are meaningful to them and to encourage all levels of giving. Fundraising is one of the main ways that we keep our community vibrant and involved. We can all get engaged around supporting our kids and teachers and making it possible for more families to enjoy the Westside experience.
Who’s on the Development Committee? In addition to board representation & the schools development officer, the annual giving & auction chairs, WPO president, and volunteer coordinator also serve on the committee. Current committee members include Jana Barber (committee chair, trustee,) Mary Harrelson (past chair, trustee,) Jana Riggan (Westside Development Director,) Liz McNally (annual giving chair,) Celesta Bjornson (auction chair,) Carolyn Comick (WPO president,) and Tracy Leber (WPO volunteer coordinator.)
From Jo Ann
Annual Parent Survey
We want your input! Please complete by Friday, Feb. 2.
Our Annual Parent Survey is ready for your input. To date, we have only had 43 parents respond. Your opinion of our strengths as well as your opinion of areas where we can get better is important. The leadership of the school uses this information as we plan for next year and the future years. Please take time to participate. The extended deadline for the survey to remain open is Feb. 2. Here’s the link: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=109853106510
Roster Correction
The phone number for Clare’s family in Marsha’s kindergarten class is incorrect. It should be 933-9177.
Hoo Roo and Happy Australia Day
By the Howe family
A big G’DAY to all Westside families!
January 26th is Australia Day the biggest day of celebration in the “Sunburnt Country”. On this day, Australians come together as a nation and celebrate all that’s great about Australia and being Australian. It is observed as a national public holiday and involves many barbeques at the beach, and fireworks on the water at night. This coming Friday, January 26th, make sure you take a minute to look at the Westside flagpole. For one day each year the Australian flag can take its place on the flagpole. There are similarities and differences between the American and Australian flags which I am sure the children will discover at some point during the day. There are also many similarities and differences between both cultures, which the Kindergartners and Pre K’s especially will be able to tell you about. So if you hear what resembles a wild boar in the hallway Friday morning, don’t fear - it’s just Marsha and Claudia attempting to play the didgeridoo.
From our Australian family to yours, please join us in celebrating Australia Day!
Save the Date for the Next WPO Meeting - Thursday, March 2
Topic: Sex Talks: Ongoing Conversations with Your Children About Sex
Someone is going to talk to your child about sex. Shouldn’t it be you?
Amy Lang, from Birds + Bees + Kids, will be the featured speaker at our next WPO meeting on Thursday, March 2. Her lecture Sex Talks: Ongoing Conversations with Your Children About Sex, Love and Relationships is for parents of elementary school age children and older. This interactive talk helps parents understand the need to start sex talks early and continue the conversation throughout childhood and adolescence. Parents learn what works for kids, have time to talk about their own experiences and values, and learn about teen sexual behavior in an open and candid atmosphere.
Graduate News!
Emily Lyons, a 2006 graduate of Westside School, is a finalist in the Madison Middle School Geography Bee. Finalists go on to regional, then national, Bees. We wish Emily the best of luck!!
Chinese News
By Steven Whiting
Da Jia Hao! Xin Nian Kuai Le
Happy New Year! As you may know, Chinese New Year is next month. I plan to teach the kids a song with the 12 animals of the Chinese Zodiac so they can remember them in order and always figure out what “your animal” is. We will also be doing New Year greetings and a chant that lists several traditional aspects of Chinese New Year. Third through fifth graders will make a Chinese calligraphy scroll with a traditional New Year greeting, and kindergarten through second graders will make a book mark with Chinese images. I will also be preparing some hong bao (red envelops) with Chinese candy for the kids when Chinese New Year comes.
Several kids have told me over the past month that they used Chinese in a restaurant or when meeting Chinese people. That really warms my heart. Learning a language is only half the battle; it takes a lot of courage to actually try to use it so I am gratified that a lot of kids seem to be doing so. Thanks for all of your support.
Bai Lao shi