Friday
October 20
Spirit/Pizza Day
3rd grade assembly 9:30am
Nancy’s Class Potluck
6:15pm
Thursday
October 26
4/5 to Seattle Childrens Theater
Saturday
October 28
Halloween Fest
Noon - 4pm
Monday - Tuesday
October 30-31
Conferences
No Classes
Thursday
November 2
WPO Meeting
6pm
Friday
November 3
Tour 9:15am
Spirit/Pizza Day
Tuesday
November 7
School Pictures
October 19, 2006
Boo! It's Halloween Fest Time
Hot Lunch News
Third Grade Assembly
What is Annual Giving?
Kindergarten Count Update
Wear Logo Wear Friday
Looking for your wine?
From Jo Ann - Professional Development
On Your Mark, Get Set, Run!
Color Poems
Roster Changes
Reminder about Childcare (October 30-31)
Boo!
It’s Halloween Fest Time
The weather is changing, pumpkins are out and your costume is almost ready. It’s Halloween Fest time at Westside! Please join us for ghostly fun, delicious treats and a chance to don your Halloween best on Saturday, October 28th, from Noon to 4pm in the school gym. Tickets will be on sale at the door for all kinds of spirited games -- some Halloween Fest classics, an inflatable slide, spooky photos and several new challenges. Don’t fill up on too much candy beforehand, we’ll have lots of ghoulish pizza and mouth-watering baked goods for sale as well. Halloween Fest is open to all, so make the final touches on your costumes, call all the trick-or-treaters and get ready to celebrate.
Volunteers are still needed so please check-out the sign-up sheet in the office, or contact Halloween Fest Chair, Stephanie Vos, at stephanie.vos@gmail.com for more information.
Hot Lunch News
Did you know…?
Starting in November, hot lunch will be available on Mondays! Order online at http://lunchladiescatering.myhotlunch.com.
Third Grade Assembly
"Now, Time for the Weather"
Friday, 9:30am, Parents Welcome!
The Third Grade class will be hosting the October assembly on Friday, October 20. They will be presenting their own version of the morning forecast. The news broadcast will begin shortly after 9:30, in the gym. Parents are welcome to attend.
What Is Annual Giving?
Every fall, parents, grandparents, staff and other community members are asked to give to our annual giving campaign. Annual Giving directly contributes to and makes possible all of the things that Westside offers to our children. This fundraiser bridges the gap between tuition and the actual cost of a year at Westside. Our school supports many educational needs, providing funds for science, technology and math, reading, writing, enrichment classes like library, art, music, and languages, the playground, recess, PE, social studies, tuition assistance and more.
This year, our annual giving campaign will launch on Wednesday, November 8. While it’s still about three weeks away, it’s a good time to start thinking about your gift to the campaign. Consider making a pledge, where a smaller donation each month or quarter adds up to a larger donation over time. In addition, a group of parents have agreed to be Sustainers, promising to give at least $500 or more each year to annual giving. This gift can be made as a one-time gift, or as a pledge over time.
You will see annual giving articles many times in the next few weeks. Remember to save the date for breakfast on Wednesday, November 8, and during the first week of November, look for your own personal invitation to participate in Westside School’s annual giving campaign. Remember, whatever your gift to annual giving, Westside counts on your support. Thank you for considering your gift to Westside.
Kindergarten Count Update
By Laura Holmes
Last week the Kindergartners solved the question: How many students are at Westside? In groups of one or two, Kindergartners went to each classroom to collect one Unifix cube from each student. It was quite exciting to take our Counting Jar from student to student as they dropped their cube into the jar. We organized the Messy Pile into towers of 10. We ended up with thirteen towers of 10 and one tower of 6. The One Hundred Chart helped us count by 10’s up to 100 and then we discussed how the number pattern continues to make 130. Add the tower of 6 and …. 136 students!!! Thank you to all of the Westside classrooms for helping us learn about math and how it’s all around us!!
Wear Logo Wear Friday
Tomorrow’s Spirit and Pizza Day, so send your child to school in logo-wear! Don’t worry if you forget, or if the size is all wrong, because logo-wear is still being sold in the office. We still have a variety of sizes and styles.
Looking for your Wine?
Did you order wine at the wine event? West Seattle Cellars has it! You should receive a phone call about your order soon, but – even if you haven’t heard – you can still pick it up at West Seattle Cellars, 6026 California Avenue SW.
From Jo Ann
Professional Development
The All School’s Conference is sponsored by PNAIS to give member independent schools a day to come together to think and reflect on many aspects of what we do while reconnecting with each other. In addition, our teachers get license renewal credits. (Do you know that a teacher needs 30 hours of in-service a year to keep their credentials current?)
This year’s theme was “Educating the Whole Teacher.” The keynote was presented by Hal Urban, Simple Ways to Honor, Affirm, and Celebrate Life. Our teachers at Westside School use positive discipline and positive reinforcement, and Hal Urban reminded teachers to teach kids to build up rather than tear down. Students need help discovering how good they can be. Students need to become aware of the power of their language and to choose words that celebrate and affirm life. No put downs, no complaining, no whining, no moaning and groaning, no swearing and no gossip. Try telling someone, “Do you know what I like the most about you?”
Historian Will Durant was asked what is the greatest achievement of mankind; he said, “The development of the spoken word.” We can help our students verbalize and set goals, for goals are no more then dreams with deadlines. It sounds simple – words cost little, but accomplish much. We are never too old or young to learn that words are choices that can inspire others and ourselves.
In the afternoon many of our faculty and I chose to attend “How the Student Brain Learns.” Dr. Jeb Schenck presented myths and facts, recent findings and how we process information. Attention is maintained by varying activities and length, affirming a curriculum that includes PE, music and arts. “Teaching is directing how the memory is made, making the owner aware of how they are making a memory and developing student skills in how to retrieve the memory when it is needed.” He also shared some new information about learning disabilities.
PNAIS is committed to ongoing school improvement. This conference was a day for teachers, as individuals, to reflect on best practice, innovation, and creativity. The end result will be teachers corroborating to build a school which is sustainable into the 21st century.
On Your Mark, Get Set, Run!
By Donna Jornlin
Thanks to all the parents who attended the Oct 5th WPO meeting. It was terrific to hear your feedback and hear what your children are absorbing!
The Seattle Kids Marathon is coming November 25th! Designed to encourage young students to complete a full marathon, children walk or run “one mile at a time.” Here’s the format: students set mileage goals daily or weekly by running or walking a half mile or a mile per day until they complete 25 honor miles by Nov. 24th. They log their miles as they go and finish the final mile at Memorial Stadium, Saturday, Nov. 25th at 10AM with hundreds of children from King County. As they cross the finish line they receive a space blanket, t-shirt, water & a certificate. Mileage Club miles walked at lunch recess count towards their marathon miles. Entry forms are available in the front hall. Fill one out and mail it in or go to www.seattlemarathon.org to register.
This is a great family fitness activity and an exciting way to introduce your child to a lifelong sport. Hope to see you there! Please remember to have your child wear supportive shoes to PE to avoid injuries.
Thanks.
Color Poems
By Margie Carpenter
The first graders have been busy writing “Color Poems” as part of our study of color, light, and shadow. We prepared by studying color and reading poems from Hailstones and Halibut Bones by Mary O’Neill. The students wrote a first draft, revised their poem with help from a teacher and then wrote a final draft, which was then glued onto a construction paper frame. You can view each first grader’s original work in the hall by the first grade classroom.
Below is the text of their color poems. I think you will agree with me when I say the first graders are poets!
Red is lava and the northern lights
And the color of stop.
Red is the top color of the rainbow
And blood.
By Kelvin
Blue is the color of the sky.
Blue is tulips.
Blue is the sea.
Blue is posters.
Blue is clouds!
By Larisa
White is the color of the snow and bunnies.
White is my last name.
I like it. It is good.
White is the thing that makes myself cold.
I don’t know what else to write…
White!
By Amrine
Ruby is red and brown.
Red is Valentine’s Day.
Red is the color of fire.
By Celina
Red makes me mad
Like a volcano!
I had a red apple on the plane.
My mom’s car got painted red.
By Evan
Blue is the color of the Seahawks.
Blue is the color of water.
Blue is the color of the sky.
By Owen
Red is the McDonald’s hair.
Red is the color of fire.
That’s why I like it.
By Matthew
Orange is a Jack-o-lantern
On Halloween night.
Orange is a shirt paint
And an octopus.
By Grant
I like red.
I like red pizza sauce.
I like red apples.
By Andrew
Blue is the color of water
Blue is the color of dance.
Blue is the color of books.
By Anna Nuler
Black.
What is black?
Black is planets.
Black is the sky at night.
Black is something just about to explode.
By Josh
Red is the color of roses.
Red is the color of paint.
Red is the color of crayons.
Red is the color of some circles.
Red is the color of construction paper.
By Isabele
Red is the love and feeling sad.
Red is rubies.
Red is rose petals.
Red is little bunnies in the forest.
By Brynn
What is white?
White is a ghost, a baseball, a snowflake,
A piece of paper, a glass of milk,
Some milk on your face,
Some wind, some clouds,
And a moon.
By Jordan
What is Black?
Black is a cat.
Black is an owl.
Black is a crow.
Black is the night.
Black is a house.
Black is a tent.
By Caleigh
What is Blue?
Blue is a color everybody loves.
Dark blue is the night,
Light blue is the color of sky in day.
What is Blue?
Blue is the color of sea,
Blue is the color of happiness.
What is Blue?
Blue is the color everybody loves.
By Annika
Green is grass and frogs in a pond.
If it’s green I’m truly fond.
Green is a coolness you get in the shade
Of the tall old woods where the moss is made.
April is green peppermint too.
Every elf has one green shoe.
Green is the color of trees and their leaves.
I like green ‘cus it’s very true.
I love green.
How about you?
By Lily
Red is mad, a tomato, and an apple.
Red is blood, lips, and crayons.
Red is markers, scissors, dominoes,
And JELLY BEANS!
By Lucie
Red, red, red,
Red is construction paper,
Red is blood,
Red is volcanoes.
Red is red.
By Anna Chandler
Roster Changes
The Stumpfs (in PK and PS/PK classes) have moved. Their new address is: 8431 Tillicum Rd. SE, Seattle, 98136; phone: 206-789-0724.
We would also like to welcome Laura J. back to Westside in the 4th grade. Please add her information to the roster. Mom Julie lives at: 11405 26th Ave. SW, Seattle, 98146; phone: 206-242-6705 and Dad Rick lives at: 13719 8th Ave. SW, Burien, 98166; phone: 206-246-5662.
Reminder about Childcare for October 30 and 31
Childcare for Conference Days,
October 30, 31, 8am-5pm
(for children 4 years and older)
Classes will not be meeting on conference days, Oct. 30 and 31. We will be offering childcare for Westside students, 4 and older from 8am-5pm. All families wishing to use the childcare must register with the office.
First priority will be given to our families who are contracted for childcare (not drop-in only contracts) until October 23. We have a limit of 24 children from K-5 and 10 children from PK. If there is still space available, we will then open up the childcare to other families wishing care on those days first come, first serve. There will be a $35 fee for everyone for care from 8:00-3:00. For contracted families, there will be no charge for care from 3-5. For families without contracts or with drop-in only contracts there will be a $5 per hour charge, in addition to the $35 fee, for care after 3:00.
Childcare for conference time only
Drop-in care, for the length of the conference only, is provided free of charge for all Westside students, preschool - 5th grade. Children must attend Westside School. You are not required to sign up for the drop-in care, but a courtesy call would be appreciated so we have an idea of how many children to expect.