Friday
November 10
Veteran’s Day
No School
No Childcare
Wednesday
November 15
Tour 9:15
Board Meeting 6:30pm
Friday
November 17
Spirit/Pizza Day
Chinese Acrobats Assembly 9:30
Family Dance 6:30pm
Wednesday
November 22
Family
Friends' Day
Noon Dismissal
No Childcare!
Thursday
- Friday, November
23-24
Thanksgiving Vacation
No School
No Childcare
Tuesday
November 28
Tour 9:15
November 9, 2006
The Family Dance
Annual Giving Update
News from the Board
Family Friends' Day
Georgia Blu - a new store in the Junction owned by a Westside Family The Story of Us
The Day of the Dead
Friday, November 17, 6:30 – 8:30pm
Sponsored by the Rootin’ Tootin’ Cowpokes of the WPO
You and yer young’uns are invited to have a rip-roarin’ horn-swogglin’ good old time at Westside’s Free Western Family Dance! Back from last year, DJ Spencer Howard will lead you through the two-step. So wear your cowbody gear, and don’t miss out on this very popular annual event. It’s free! Snacks and drinks provided.
Annual Giving Update
Thanks to everyone who gave on or before November 8. We had over 120 staff, Board, grandparents and parents give, and to date, we’ve received over $55,000! Our goal is $70,000, so if you haven’t given, there’s still time to send in your gift. Remember, once a classroom reaches 100% participation by pledge or gift, Westside receives an extra $1000. The staff and Board are already at 100% participation; above is how the rest of the classes are playing out!
News from the Board of Trustees
There are numerous opportunities to get involved at Westside School. Classroom participation, chairing an event or volunteering your time on a committee -- all these and more help support our mission to provide a quality educational experience for our kids. Participating on the Board of Trustees is another way to get involved. As stewards of Westside’s mission and values, these volunteers donate their time and professional expertise to provide leadership for Westside School’s long-range success.
Trustee and non-trustee members participate on board-sponsored committees and task forces to provide focus around various school issues such as finances, facilities and fund raising.
Look for news on board and committee-specific activities in future Westside Updates. For more information about the role and responsibilities of the Westside Board of Trustees, please visit the ‘Board of Trustees’ section under the password-protected ‘Parents and Students’ tab at www.westsideschool.org.
2006-2007 Board of Trustees
- Denise Tabbutt – President, Executive Committee
- Brian Chestnut – Vice President, Executive Committee, Facilities Committee Chairperson
- Mollie Jensen – Treasurer, Executive Committee, Finance Committee Chairperson
- Gail Tanaka – Past President, Diversity Task Force Leader
- Tom Mortimer – Trustee, Governance Committee Chairperson
- Jana Barber – Trustee, Development Committee Chairperson
- Hallidie Haid – Trustee, Academic Task Force Leader, Finance Committee
- Mary Harrelson – Trustee, Finance and Development Committees
- John Comick – Trustee, Facilities and Finance Committees
- Heather Redman – Trustee, Diversity Task Force
- Pearce Cobarr – Trustee, Diversity Task Force
Family Friends’ Day
Enclosed in your Thursday take home packet is another copy of the Family Friends’ Day address form (it is also available from your link to the Update last week). Please put the address of your child’s “friend” who will be visiting that day, and bring it to your teacher so they can send a special invitation. A child’s special friend can be any adult relative, family friend or parent or guardian.
Georgia Blu - A New Store in the Junction Opened by a Westside Family
Please join us in congratulating Krista Means, mother of Westside pre-K’er Henry Means, on the opening of Georgia Blu, a new baby boutique in West Seattle. The shop, opening November 8th, will feature apparel, gifts, and accessories for kids zero to six including items from Petit Bateau, Tea, The Little Giraffe, Splendid Littles, and Knucklehead. The store is located next to Key Bank at the intersection of Alaska and California in the West Seattle Junction, and will be open 7 days a week. Also, please feel free to attend their Grand Opening on November 11th (1-4pm) for treats, balloons, and giveaways.
The Story Of Us
By David (Mr. B) Bergler
“One generation plants the trees, and another gets the shade”
……..Chinese Proverb
When I was a young lad we often would travel to the homes of my grandparents, aunts, or uncles for Sunday dinner. Following the chicken and dumplings we would sit around the fireplace and the elders would tell family stories. These stories of sacrifice and adventure would be a foundation for future generations.
These days our lives seem so busy. Our families are often stretched out geographically. Family stories are passed on less frequently. The connection with our family history often seems like a distant memory. It is important on a variety of levels that we always maintain a connection with our ancestors.
Students in third grade have begun a five-week project tracing their family roots. They will be conducting interviews with their parents, aunts, uncles, and when possible, the elders of their family. Third graders will discover the stories of those who first decided to embark on the great journey to North America. They will trace that legacy to Seattle. Students will learn about family stories and traditions through this project. These stories will be part of a classroom book titled The Footsteps of Our Ancestors.
Students will use a variety of skills to bring this project to presentation form. These skills will include:
o Interviewing & Note Taking
o Formal Research (Book & Internet)
o The Draft Process
o Creating Timelines
o Keyboarding & Graphics
o Integrated Art Projects
o Creation of a Presentation Board
o Oral and Written Presentations
We will be sharing our family traditions, celebrations, and stories with our extended families in December.
Day of the Dead or El Dia de Los Muertos
By Alexa Boss, Spanish Teacher
Over the last couple of weeks students have been working hard on projects to contribute to the altar celebrating El Dia de Los Muertos. Both kindergarten classes, the first grade and the second grade contributed beautiful tissue paper marigolds. The third graders made skeleton masks and embellished them with feathers and glitter. The fourth and fifth grade class had a choice between making shoebox shrines or sugar skulls. The skulls turned out to be colorful and festive just like the ones they use in Mexico. The shrines are opportunities for students to remember a family member, friend, or pet who has passed away. I hope parents got to see the altar during conferences!
El Dia de Los Muertos is a Mexican holiday. It is a time to celebrate the lives of loved ones who have died. Many families make altars as a way to observe the holiday. A typical altar may include flowers, especially marigolds, candles, incense, favorite food or drink of the person who the family is celebrating. It may include favorite possessions of the person, etc. The shoebox shrines that the fourth and fifth graders made are great examples of these altars.