Friday
March 9
Movie Night
featuring Cars!
Doors Open
at 6pm
Friday
March 16
Spirit and Pizza Day
2nd Grade Assembly
Wednesday
March 21
Board Meeting
6:30pm
Saturday
March 24
Westside’s 18th Annual Auction
Toast of the Town
Thursday
March 29
First Grade
Bakery
Monday - Friday
April 2 - 6
Spirit Week
Thursday
April 5
WPO Meeting
March 8, 2007
The Westside Techno-Wish
Auction Reminders
Items of the Week
Teacher Experience Pre-Sell
Nancy's Class Says Good Night
Movie Night next Friday
The Westside Techno-wish
part of the First Class Classrooms for a Premier Education Fund-a-Wish
By David Bergler, 3rd grade teacher
“My computer screen just froze.”
“The printer’s not working again.”
“When will there be a computer available?”
These quotes are just a small sampling of student comments, heard on a regular basis at Westside School. Technology is a tool that plays a positive role in the classroom, and both teachers and students benefit in a variety of ways.
Technology is much more than basic keyboarding skills. I recently had the opportunity to visit a few other PNAIS schools in Seattle. During my visits, I witnessed students using up-to-date technology in a variety of creative and innovative ways. Some of these cross-curriculum activities included designing and building geometric shapes and buildings, creating and programming their own computer learning games, and developing video links with schools in other countries. These projects are all exciting possibilities that add so much to the learning experience.
Updating the technology in our classrooms will also help students master the skills expected in middle school and beyond. Generating Word documents, crafting and importing graphics, and creating multi-dimensional presentations are part of the curriculum in the modern classroom.
Students will not be the only beneficiaries of our updated technology. Westside teachers will be able to move beyond the overhead projector, with tools that allow instant explanations, graphics, internet sites and more to be projected for all to see. This technology will allow our teachers to bring the world to their students in an instant.
Technology continues to be a part of our daily lives. It was only six years ago that Westside teachers had telephones installed in their classrooms and the luxury of limited dial-up internet access. The future is with us now, and our children and teachers deserve cutting edge classrooms filled with the tools that will help prepare them for the future.
Auction Reminders
Turn in those Auction Items
Do you still have an auction item at home? It’s time to bring it in! You can drop it off in the office. Please make sure we can match the item with the procurement form. If you have any questions, please contact Jana Barber, procurement chair, at janabarber@comcast.net.
Auction RSVP’s
You should have received an auction invitation in the mail. Please turn in your RSVP’s soon! (If you haven’t received an invitation, please come and see Jana R. in the office.)
Items of the Week
Jerry Cantrell Signature Guitar
signed by the members of Alice in Chains
Are you a huge fan of Alice in Chains? Then don’t miss out on this one! Play it – or maybe just display it – but don’t miss out on this Jerry Cantrell of Alice in Chains signature line Dean guitar. This guitar is signed by members of the legendary Alice in Chains.
One-way Passage for Two Aboard a TOTE Cargo Ship
Ready for an opportunity of a lifetime? Make your summer plans for 2008. This one-way passage for two will take you between the Ports of Tacoma and Anchorage, Alaska on board a TOTE cargo ship for 3 nights. Your quarters will be the Owner’s stateroom with private bath and full supply of wines and liquors. Meals are served in the officers’ dining room. TOTE vessels are working cargo ships operating in the North Pacific Ocean and accommodations, while very comfortable, are not those of cruise ships. You must be 18 years or older. The trip must be taken between May 1 and August 31, 2008.
Teacher Experience Pre-Sell
Every year, the kindergarten – 5th grade teachers donate a teacher experience for their class to the auction. This year, you will get an email from your room parent explaining in detail the event, along with information on how to participate. This year, in order to keep track of who has signed up and to keep accounting easy, we are doing pre-sells only, in cash or check, and not adding anything to the auction account. Look for information regarding your teacher pre-sell soon!
How Nancy’s Class Says Good Night
By Nancy Levine, PS/PK teacher
Recently, the PreS/PreK class saw the Seattle Children’s production of Goodnight Moon. If you remember from the classic bedtime favorite that most very young children adore, it is the story of a young bunny whose bedtime ritual includes saying “goodnight” to all the things in his bedroom. “Goodnight kittens and goodnight mittens…” Upon their return, Nancy asked the children what things they do before going to bed and whom do they say goodnight to. Here are some of their responses:
Brandon: “Sometimes I watch T.V. before bed. I say goodnight to my mom.”
Vivienne: “My bedtime is 8:30. We don’t turn off the light when it’s bedtime or else I get scared and then I have my animals next to me.”
Carson: “I play before I go to bed.”
Micajah: “Last time I remember I got sick when I went to bed.”
Hanna: “I get books and my cat always goes in my bed. His name is Sampson. Then I wait for a long time and then I go to sleep.”
Olive: “I just say goodnight to my parents.”
Kyle: “I say goodnight to my mommy and daddy. I sleep all by myself until my mommy and daddy come.”
Cynia: “If I’m spending the night, I say goodnight to whoever’s house I’m at.”
Meredith: “I say goodnight to my bear Cocoa. I read a book.”
Sam: “I brush my teeth.”
Luna: “I give kisses to my mommy.”
Madeleine: “I write in something. I have a sparkly diary.”
Movie Night,
featuring the movie, Cars!
Friday, March 9
Doors Open: 6pm,
Movie Starts: 6:30pm
Remember, Movie Night tomorrow featuring Cars! Come one, come all to this event that’s open to all. Even invite your neighbors and friends! It’s free! Concessions are for sale, including pizza, popcorn, and more! Hope to see you all there!
We still need one to two volunteers, please email Tracy Sundberg if you’re willing to help!
Hope to see you there!