ARBOR HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

3701 S.W. 104th Street * Seattle, WA  98146

http://www.halcyon.com/arborhts

Phone (206) 933-5350 / Fax (206) 933-5351

 

Parent Bulletin

November 8, 2001

 

Dear Parents/Guardians,

 

In helping your child to learn to write well, remember that our goal is to make writing easier and more enjoyable.  Use the following tips:

 

Provide a place – It’s important for a child to have a good place to write – a desk or table with a smooth, flat surface and good lighting.

Have the materials – Provide plenty of paper – lined and unlined – and things to write with, including pencils, pens and crayons.

Allow time – Help your child spend time thinking about a writing project or exercises.  Good writers do a great deal of thinking. Your child may dawdle, sharpen a pencil, get papers ready or look up the spelling of work.  Be patient – your child may be thinking.

Respond – Do respond to the ideas your child expresses verbally or in writing.  Make it clear that you are interested in the true function of writing which is to convey ideas.  This means focusing on “what” the child has written, not “how” it was written.  It’s usually wise to ignore minor errors, particularly at the stage when your child is just getting ideas together.

Don’t you write it! -  Don’t write a paper for your child that will be turned in as his or her work.  Never rewrite a child’s work.  Meeting a writing deadline, taking responsibility for the finished product, and feeling ownership of the product are important parts of writing well.

Praise – Take a positive approach and say something good about your child’s writing.  Is it accurate?  Descriptive? Interesting?  Does it say something?

Make it real – Your child needs to do real writing.  It’s more important for your child to write a letter to a relative than it is to write a one-line note on a greeting card.  Encourage your child to write to relatives and friends.

Suggest note taking – Encourage your child to take notes on trips or outings and to describe what he or she saw.  This could include a description of nature walks, a boat ride, a car trip or other events that lend themselves to note taking.

Brainstorm – Talk with your child as much as possible about his or her impressions and encourage him or her to describe people and events to you. If the child’s description is especially accurate and colorful, say so.

Encourage keeping a journal This is an excellent writing practice as well as a good outlet for venting feelings.

Write together – Have your child help you with letters, even such routine ones as ordering items from an advertisement or writing to a business firm.

Use games – There are numerous games and puzzles that help a child to increase vocabulary and make the child more fluent in speaking and writing.  Remember, building a vocabulary builds confidence.  Try crossword puzzles, word games, anagrams and cryptograms designed especially for children.  Flash cards are good, too, and they’re easy to make at home.

Suggest making lists – Most children like to make lists just as they like to count. Encourage this.  Making lists is good practice and helps a child to become more organized.  Boys and girls might make lists of their records, tapes, baseball cards, dolls or furniture in a room.

 

Sincerely,

Carol A. Coram, Ed.D

Principal

 

 

PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES

 

Reminder:  Parent/Teacher Conferences begin this Friday for Kindergartners.  The Kindergarten special schedule was sent home last week.  All first through fifth grade students will be dismissed at 1:00 from Tuesday, November 13th through Tuesday, November 20th.  Students that ride the bus will be delivered home at their regular bus stop two hours and ten minutes earlier than their normal drop off.  It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to make daycare arrangements and/or notify their daycare of the schedule change.  If you have any questions, please call the office at 252-9250 during regular office hours. 

 

McDonald’s McTeacher’s Night!

On Thursday, November 15th, the White Center McDonalds will honor Arbor Heights Elementary School with a “McTeachers Night.”  Come to the White Center McDonalds from 5:00 until 7:30 that evening for dinner.  A percentage of the money made during that time period will be donated to our school.  Fast food may not be your idea of the ideal dinner, but make an exception.  Come out and support our school.  The real treat is that Arbor Heights staff members (including the principal) will be behind the counter and at your service!

 

 

Thank you

Thanks to all you recyclers that brought in plastic bottles and toilet paper/paper towel cardboard rolls.  We have enough now to finish this years projects and start next years!  Thank you, again, for your donations.

 

From The PTSA

The Cookie Dough Fundraiser has started and will run through November 12th.  Orders packets must be turned in by Tuesday, November 13th.  The cookie dough should arrive on 11/28.  Volunteers will be needed for unpacking.  Please call Anna Phillips at 206-768-1331 if you have questions.

 

Wreath order forms came home today.  We get our wreaths form Bacon’s Christmas Tree Farm located in Bremerton. They are beautiful, hand tied, aromatic Noble Fir wreaths.  They are decorated with berried juniper, incense cedar and pinecones.  Red Velvet Bows are also available along with boxes for shipping. Orders will be taken through Wednesday, November 21st.  Wreaths will be delivered early in December.  A reminder will be sent home before they arrive.  Cost is $16 each.  Bows and boxes are extra.  Please make checks payable to “AHPTSA”. Any questions, please call Karin Toycen at 242-9114.

 

Please join us this Saturday, November 10th from 8:30 – 10:30 for a Pancake Breakfast; then drag out your shovels, trowel and gloves for Fall Clean-Up and Tree Planting.

 

Please see the attached PTA calendar for this school year.

 

No school on Monday, November 12th in recognition of Veterans Day.  School will resume at its regular time on Tuesday, November 13th. 

 

New Phone Numbers:  Please note that these are not the same numbers that were printed on our parent handbook!!!

 

Arbor Heights Office – 252-9250

Fax Number – 252-9251

Kitchen – 252-9256