Published monthly by Arbor Heights PTSA, 6.15.35. Current members:130 Arbor Heights Elementary School 3704 SW 104th Seattle, WA 98146 281-6230 Terry McDermott, President - 932-6314 Roberta Post, Vice President - 937-5613 Sue Murray, Secretary - 243-8374 Betsy Forbes, Treasurer - 938-8607 Donna Carreon & Karen Haines, Fundraising Coordinators - 938-4018 & 938-3531 Holly Guenther, Student Activities Coord. - 935-2048 Lynn Moy, Public Relations Coordinator - 935-9015 Laura Flannigan, Admin. Coord. - 431-8654 Kathy Robison, Site Council Chair - 932-4552 Gail Ballard, Newsletter Editor - 938-0712 Carl Leatherman, Principal Claudia Stroh, Dave Wilkie & Sapina Pele, Staff Reps
I've never been to anything like this - kind of like a cross between MTV awards and the Grammys, if you can imagine that. And then to actually be a nominee, well, that was just pretty exciting. I didn't have any prepared statement, but you can be sure that I was fantasizing about it! So I'll share my "acceptance speech" with you. It would have gone something like this:
"Thanks very much for the honor, GNN. I just sent my third graders out the door 5 hours ago in Seattle, and this is a pretty unusual Friday evening for a tired teacher. What this award may show is that you don't need to be a big company with a budget to make a statement and a difference. What you need is some initiative and a great product. I can't think of a nobler product than a school, and I can't think of a school better than Arbor Heights. I'm proud to be a teacher there. And in these days of enormous alphabetical listings, it doesn't hurt to have a name that starts with the letter A.... (tumultuous laughter)....
There are probably 2,000 schools out there now with web sites. I accept this on behalf of our school and the many other schools out there making a difference to their students, their parents, and their communities. Next time you connect up to the web, check some of them out. These students are your clients of the future - actually, they are your clients now. Thanks again." (more applause) ........ end of fantasy speech ..........
Take care - Mark Ahlness, Teacher, Grade 3
by Jami Moffett 937-2607 Order now in time for Christmas delivery. Have a special portrait drawn of your child by this published artist. Current prices good until 12/31/95.
Jami really enjoys working with the children. " I feel that touching a creative side of a child is important. Everybody has an artistic side. The biggest wall you come up against is everyone thinks it has to be realistic and it doesn't," says Jami.
Jami also has recently illustrated the cover of the Arbor Heights Cookbook, the divider pages & supervised the kids that drew filler graphics for the book. She herself is a published artist, with three books under her belt, various Sunday School newsletters, magazines, clip art illustrations, murals & portraits. Don't miss the chance to have your children's portrait drawn by her. It makes a great Christmas gift, very unique & lasting.
And last but not least, Jamie says she can still use Pringle cans & collage art supplies-buttons, sequins, feathers, stickers, felt, lace, ribbons, wrapping paper, old jewelry & greeting cards. Just leave them in the box under the table in the school foyer and say "Hi" to Jami if you see her arranging the showcase, policing the lunchroom, painting a mural, etc. etc.
Sapina is one of three education support employees and 55 teachers who are peer trainers in the Women's Leadership Training Program - a part of the National Education Association's ongoing, national effort to develop the leadership skills of its members.
Sapina is the newest support employee to become an NEA leadership trainer. The NEA is not just for teachers anymore, everyone seems pleased to have support ...... employees working with teachers to train members.
TEACHER - PARENT Ms. Stroh - Debbie Kajikawa Ms. Washington - Teri Hudson Ms. Ballard - Gail Smith Ms. Long - Sabrina Smallwood & Paula Hubbs Mr. Pharis - Lynn Schmuck Mr. Femiano - Kelly Kiel & Joan Robinson Ms. Marckx - Julie Grahm Ms. Shavey - Deann Scroggins Mr. Ahlness - Donna Umbach Ms. Salter - Tish Hesse Mr. Dorr - Kathy Anderson Ms. Luke - Linda Anderson Ms. Sato - Lynn Schmuck Ms. Crighton - Teri Shaw Mr. Wagner - Paula Hubbs
Have a Great Holiday Season! - Terry McDermott
NOVEMBER
9 Kindergarten Conferences Begin
13-22 Parent/Teacher Conferences Begin
Early Dismissal - 1:00 pm
19-25 National Family Week
22 Early Dismissal - 2:10 pm
23-26 Thanksgiving Break
27 Student Store
28 Harborview Safety Assembly
29 Meet John Stanford , New School Superintendent
@ West Seattle High School @ 6:30 - 8:00 pm
29 Kiwi Hide 'n Seek Begins
DECEMBER
8 Deadline for December Newsletter
11 Seattle Symphony Workshops
13 Winter Program (Day)
14 Winter Program (Evening)
15 Last day of school before break-early dismissal
18-31 Winter Vacation
Back to school on Jan. 2!
1) Pen Friends - There are 56 employees at the Bon who will participate in a weekly letter exchange with students in Rooms 21, 23, 24 & 25. Letters will exchanged every Friday, starting November 3rd. Lori has talked to the classrooms involved about this program. In February, we will hold a tea for all of our Pen Friends from the Bon. In June they will host an ice cream social for us.
2) Book Buddies - They plan to collect books (or $) which will be donated to our classrooms.
3) Young Achievers - The Bon wants to recognize 10 of our children who are outstanding students. This will happen twice, once in November & March. Stayed tuned for picture & names of November's 10 Young Achievers in the December newsletter!
4) Young Authors' Conference - They will give us about $2000 from proceeds of their May auction to help pay for the shirts for our Young Authors' Conference.
5) Family Sponsors - They want to sponsor 10 of our families who have needs around Christmas time. Sapina will coordinate this project.
6) And last but not least, They provided 450 cookies for the Halloween party!
When we talk about reading to children there is probably no better guide than The Read-Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease. It's been so popular it's been updated several times and reprinted. Basically, Trelease explains why parents should read to their kids & what a powerful tool it is. Then he gives you plenty of wonderful suggestions for books you could read to your child. Also there are related books & that section is very helpful. We have a copy available for checkout from our library, & you can also find it at Seattle Public Library & local bookstores. Our school library is always open for parents to get some good read-alouds. If you can't stop by, write me a note & I'd behappy to send home a book(s) with your child. - Dene Napolitan, Librarian
The school is divided into 5 teams of teachers with support staff assigned to each team to help those children that need the services. This plan allows the support staff and the regular teacher a better opportunity to work closely together in planning for each child's needs. It is also less disruptive to the regular classroom schedule because children are not being pulled out continuously for various programs. Each team has designed a special program to meet their needs and those of their students. This is the third year that Arbor Heights has used this model. So far we feel it is working very well.
If you would like to help out, there is an opening in Room 23 for an hour a week.You would help them write to their Bon Pen Friends. All field trip drivers need to complete a Washington State Patrol form. Lori can do this at school. She can usually be found volunteering somewhere at AH!
Greetings from Ms. Cronon -
P.M. Music Specialist
Can you believe it's November already! Here are the musical concepts I'm working on with my classes. These concepts underlie all the activities we do: Singing accompanied and unaccompanied songs, thus developing the singing voice; building the experiemental foundation of beat, rhythm, fast slow, high low, improvisation, and working in an ensemble, (to name a few.) November is a continuation of beat vs rhythm, and preparing for the Winter Holiday Concert.
PTSA BUYS 3 DRUMS!
THANK YOU PTSA FOR OUR THREE AFRICAN DRUMS! I can probably safely say EVERY student in the school has had a chance to play them. Great use of money. Thanks again, & the kids thank you, too!
Team member Norene Soldana, along with parent volunteers and 5th grade helpers are critical to the program. A survey taken last spring showed that besides the Kindergarten teachers, students and parents are happy with our new model. Many kindergartners say that stations & rotations are their favorite part of the day. Highland Park is now using our model.
Ms. Broome is the scheduled speaker for the next PTSA meeting on Jan. 11. She will speak on Learning Styles - maybe she'll even throw in a cooking tip!
What do you like best about kindergarten?
I just like school. - Nicole I like music. - Bronson & Taryn I like playing with jump ropes in gym. - Amanda I like to do art. - Josh I like it when we play with balls in gym. - Kendal I like everything. - Ian I like the games in stations. - Doran I like gym when Mr. Warford shows us all the new stuff. - Kelsey I like free activity time. - Timmy I like going on the roller races at gym. - Kyle I like playing & cooking at housekeeping corner. - Cassie I like in Mr. Warfords room cause he's so neat. - Cori I like computers. - Andrew , Matthew, and Katie
I like learning the letters. - Amy I like playing wall ball. - John, JJ, Ton & Steve I like to go on the monkey bars. - Rebeca, Taylor & Chelsea I like to go on the slide. - Elizabel, Brenna, Nancy & Norma I like Pizza. - Thong I like to bring homework home when it is done. - Thomas I like to sing. - Tan I like computers. Hiep & Jennifer I like playing basketball. - Thuan I like putting stars on kids homework folders. (future teacher!) - Cameron
By Shawn, Rm 8-Ms. Luke, 4th Grade
In Room 8, we have been learning about the discoveries of different states and countries by different people. It's really interesting.
By Olivia, Rm 19-Ms. Ballard, 1st Grade
Our class got a new guinea pig. We feed him and give him water. We read to him. We are going to watch him grow.
By Rian, Rm 9 - Ms. Salter, 3rd Grade
When Room 9 comes to class we write in our journals. After journals, we do daily oral language. After daily language, we do math. After math, we go to P.E. or music. After P.E. or music, we go to recess. After recess we do reading. After reading, we go to lunch. When we are done eating lunch we go out to lunch recess. After lunch recess, we go to class for spelling. After spelling, Room 9 does English or Social Studies. Then Room 9 goes home.
By Ryan, Rm 21-Ms.Crichton, 5th Grade
In Room 21, we are using compasses. We are doing some great artwork with this tool. In reading we are reading The Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson. For Character Day we had to be a biography or make a poster. Mrs. Crichton dressed as one of the First Woman Judges. That's all from Room 21 until next time.
By Eric, Rm 24-Mr. Dorr, 4th Grade
If you have noticed the eggs upstairs, they are salmon eggs. Some are up in a box and some are in the tank. When the eggs are white we bring them in the classroom because they are dead. We study them, but do not do tests.
By Catlin, Rm 16-Mr. Femiano, 3rd Grade
Dear Mr. Leatherman,
I am sorry about what happened to you in the war. I would like to be a teacher or a doctor. I think it would be cool, I would have to know alot of things. I think it would be fun. I don't think the war was fun.
By Sabrina, Rm 9-Ms.Salter, 3rd Grade
In Room 9 we do fun things. On Monday we baked pumpkin bread for Math. The hard part was following directions. If you finish your work early, you can have free time. You can go to the art table, computers, pattern blocks, Versa tiles, Insta-Learn or Listening Station. They are all fun. Mrs. Salter is a great teacher.
By Taylor, Rm 17-Mr. Pharis, 2nd Grade
In Room 17 we are learning how to make all sorts of stars. We have lots of math, but it's fun.
By Danielle, Rm 14-Ms. Marckx, 2nd Grade
We are studying spiders. We are learning lots of things like for instance, there are two kinds of spiders, web builders & wanderers. In computers we are learning Math Blasters - addition facts to 20. We are learning card games like double war and combinations of ten. On Halloween we wrote ghost poems. It was fun.
By Justin & Dustin, Rm 14-Ms.Marckx, 2nd Grade
We are studying spiders and we learned that they all can be different colors and that some can be poisonous. In computers we are learning math blasters and addition facts to 20. We are learning card games like combinations of tens.