Northshore School District - Northshore Connections (forum)

Karen Orsinger (4/13/2012 3:12pm)

	Vol. IV, No. 16 \| April 13, 2012 Strengthening Our Community Through Excellence in Education
		Message from Superintendent Francois Dear Northshore Families, Next week is Spring Break! I wish you all a relaxing and restful week and hope that you will return rejuvenated and inspired as we head into the last two months of the school year. Next week is also Volunteer Appreciation Week. On behalf of our entire school district, I want to thank the hundreds of volunteers who donate countless hours of their time, energy and talents. We have one of the best school districts in the state because our community supports a world class public education. Our volunteers are a critical part of that support. Whether it is helping students in the classroom, assisting in the office, mentoring a student, raising funds or serving on a committee, our many volunteers positively contribute every day to the success of our students. What I find so inspiring is the number of volunteers who no longer have children in our schools, yet continue to help out and give back. You just don't find that kind of dedication and investment in most places. That's what makes Northshore such a special place. I hope you will join me this week in thanking the volunteers who make your particular school community a better place. Best wishes for a safe Spring Break. Truly, Larry Francois, Superintendent

		School Board Information At its April 10 board meeting, the Northshore School District Board of Directors approved core curriculum materials for Sustainable Engineering & Design, grades 11 and 12; Robotics, grades 7 and 8; and Computer Aided Design, grades 7 and 8. The board also approved board policy nos. 2020, 2121, 2145, 2320 and 2331 and its 2012-13 meeting calendar. The next school board meeting is April 24, 7 p.m., Administrative Center Board Room. To view the agenda or read minutes of past school board meetings, please click here.

		Volunteer Appreciation Week April 16-20 National Volunteer Week celebrates ordinary people doing extraordinary things to improve communities across the nation. In 1974, President Nixon signed an executive order establishing the week as an annual celebration of volunteering. Northshore is fortunate to have over 8,500 volunteers we proudly call our "education partners." Thank you to all our volunteers! (read more)

		Snohomish County Youth Challenge Awards - Nominations Due April 16 Lynnwood Rotary is seeking nominations for its Snohomish County Youth Challenge Awards. Youth in grades 7-12 living in Snohomish County can be nominated in one of the following categories: Community Service Courage Creativity Environmental Service Inspiration Leadership or Group Award All nominated youth and their nominators will receive invitations to the Youth Challenge Awards ceremony on May 12. Click here for more information, including the nomination form.

		Jennifer Hallenbeck Wins 2012 American Association of Teachers of French (AATF) Dorothy S. Ludwig Excellence in Teaching Award Inglemoor High School French teacher Jennifer Hallenbeck was chosen by the American Association of Teachers of French (AATF) to receive the 2012 AATF Dorothy S. Ludwig Excellence in Teaching Award at the Secondary School level. Hallenbeck will be honored at the AATF conference awards banquet, July 7 in Chicago, Ill. (read more)

		Partnership with Woodinville Barnes and Noble Raises Money for Elementary School Libraries Northshore School District partnered with the Woodinville Barnes and Noble for Read Across America Day in honor of Dr. Seuss' birthday on March 2. The Cat in the Hat made a visit to the Maywood Hills Elementary School library to read to students on March 2 and the Woodinville Barnes and Noble held a story time on March 3 and a book fair the week of March 3-9. The book fair earned $246.54 for Northshore to purchase read aloud books for elementary school libraries. The store also collected donated books for elementary classroom reading libraries during the week of the book fair.

		Secondary Summer Academy to Run June 27 - Aug. 2 Northshore School District will offer a Secondary Summer Academy, June 27 - Aug. 2, at Inglemoor High School, 15500 Simonds Rd. N.E., in Kenmore. Registrations will be accepted April 30-June 25. Course and contact information will be available mid-April.

		SEPAC Outstanding Service Award Nominations, Deadline April 23 It is time to honor those who see the possibilities in everyone; people in Northshore who have gone above and beyond in helping special needs students connect, contribute and experience success. We encourage you to give some thought to nominating someone you feel is making a difference in the lives of students with special needs. Qualities to consider are creativity, inclusiveness, initiative, collaboration, compassion and a willingness to go the extra mile. Awards may be given in the following categories: General Education Teachers Administrators (Principals, Vice Principals & District Personnel) Special Education Teachers Support Staff (i.e. OT, PT, SLP, Psychologists, Counselors, Custodians, Food Service Workers, Nurses, Para-educators,Bus Drivers, Librarians, PE & Music Teachers, Office Staff) Teams / Schools Parent Volunteers Community Volunteers Students - Students will receive certificates Click here to download nomination form. Forms may also be found on the SEPAC Web site: www.sepacnsd.org. NOMINATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED NO LATER THAN MONDAY, APRIL 23 E-mail nominations preferred. Send to: questions@sepacnsd.org or mail to: SEPAC, attn: NSD Special Education Dept. 3330 Monte Villa Parkway, Bothell, WA 98021-8972. If you have questions, email us - questions@sepacnsd.org You do not have to use the form, but please include ALL information listed on the form.

		SEPAC Presentation, Teens: What is Normal, April 25 The Special Education Parent/Professional Advisory Council (SEPAC) is hosting the presentation "Teens: What is Normal" on April 25, Administrative Center Board Room, 7-9 p.m. No childcare available. Being a teen is difficult. Being the parent of a teen is difficult. For a parent of, or a teenager with, developmental, neurological, emotional or learning challenges, however, these years can be downright hard, frustrating and confusing! What is "normal" adolescent behavior anyway? When should one worry? How is a parent or student supposed to figure this out? Explore these questions with experts who deal with these conundrums every day! Tricia King & Lisa Kieffer (Northshore Mental Health Specialists) will discuss the tasks and stages of typical adolescent development, explain how those tasks and stages can be made more complex for teens who also face developmental, neurological, emotional and learning challenges, and provide some strategies and resources on how to cope. download flier

		Northshore Schools Foundation Luncheon - April 26 Please join the Northshore Schools Foundation on April 26, 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., at the Lynnwood Convention Center for its 9th annual "Light A Fire for Learning" benefit luncheon featuring Dr. Bonnie Dunbar, retired NASA astronaut; Hannah Thomas, 2011 National Merit scholar; and student performances. Learn how the Northshore Schools Foundation is enhancing learning opportunities for all Northshore students. Find more information at NorthshoreSchoolsFoundation.org.

		Parent Preview Opportunity of Junior High School Health and Tenth Grade Biology Instructional Materials May 2 Northshore School District is concluding a curriculum review and selection process of a junior high school health textbook for 7th- and 8th-grade students and a biology textbook for students in grade ten. These new instructional materials will replace the current Northshore School District junior high school health and biology textbooks in fall 2012. Wednesday, May 2, the textbooks under consideration will be available for community and parent review from 3-7 p.m. in the Northshore School District Adminstrative Center. Junior high school health teachers who participated in the pilot textbook project and tenth grade biology teachers will be present to answer questions about the new programs. The junior high school health textbook covers topics such as nutrition, decision-making, healthy life skills, substance abuse, body systems and fitness concepts. The district's current Growth and Human Development and Reproductive Health curriculum approved in 2008 remains in place and will not be supplanted by the new health textbook. The new biology textbook will align the district's tenth grade science curriculum and instruction with the 2009 revision of the Washington State K-12 science standards and will prepare students for the biology End of Course Exam, a graduation requirement for the class of 2015 and beyond.

		Northshore School District Employment Opportunity Substitute cook assistant positions are available. This is an online application process. Please call the Northshore School District Food Services Department at 425.408.7654 for additional information.

		Flu Season Arrives The seasonal flu has made a late arrival this year. Northshore schools are seeing higher numbers of absenteeism for influenza-like illness; fever, sore throat, body aches, cough and sometimes vomiting or diarrhea. Please click here to review the information on when to stay home from school. Public Health officials still recommend getting a flu vaccination for all persons ages 6 months and older. Some children need two doses depending on their age. Pertussis or "whooping cough" is also occurring in our area, especially in Snohomish County. For more information on seasonal flu, pertussis and where to get vaccinated, click here.

		Ivar's and Kidd Valley Teacher of the Year Contest Ivar's and Kidd Valley restaurants are inviting students in kindergarten through eighth grade to nominate their favorite teacher for a chance to win 2012 Teacher of the Year honors. The teachers chosen as grand prize winners from both Ivar's and Kidd Valley will each receive a $500 gift card for school supplies, and the nominating student will receive either a classroom chowder party or a burger party. All entries must be received by May 20. For more information, click here to download press release or visit Ivars.com or kiddvalley.com. download Ivar's Teacher of the Year form download Kidd Valley Teacher of the Year form

		*Northshore Winter 2012 Community* Newsletter Now Available Online** The Winter 2012 edition of Northshore School District's Community newsletter is now available online. Click here to access.

		Community E-Fliers Listings for 2011-12 Northshore School District works with community organizations to provide information to families about not-for-profit services for students. The listing of any flier does not imply that their services have been endorsed by the school district. To view the current e-flier listings, please click here.

		Interpreter/Translation Services Your child's education is very important. As the parent/guardian of a Northshore student, you have the right to participate in your child's education, including communicating with teachers and staff about your child. Northshore offers interpreter and translation services to parents free of charge. For more information, please click here.

		Threads and Treads Free Clothing Bank The Threads and Treads free clothing bank is open on Thursdays, 4-6 p.m., at Canyon Park Junior High School, 23723 23rd Avenue S.E., Bothell. Contact Eileen Jowell ejowell@nsd.org for more information.

		Follow us on Facebook! Here's another way to stay connected to Northshore School District news and information-Follow us on Facebook! Log onto Facebook and search "Northshore School District."

		Calendar April 16-20: NO SCHOOL, Spring Break April 24: School Board Meeting, 7 p.m., Administrative Center Board Room April 25: SEPAC Presentation, Teens: What is Normal, 7 p.m. Administrative Center Board Room District Calendars and Planner

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	Northshore Connections is published twice monthly during the school year by Northshore School District #417. It is designed to inform community members about the strategic direction of the district as well as provide routine information of interest. Direct your questions and/or comments to the Editor.

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