November 6, 2009
Dear East Ridge Families:
Conferences
Parent-Teacher conferences will be held during the week of Nov. 19-Nov. 25. Many of you have already signed up for your conferences during this time. Teachers will be putting in many hours assessing children, filling in report cards, and preparing for the conferences. Please be on time to your conference, and if for some reason you are unable to make your assigned time, please call the teacher or the office in advance so your time can be rearranged. We all look forward to this time to sit one-on-one with parents to discuss your child's progress.
Fall is definitely upon us, and with it comes wet, and sometimes wild, weather. It's a good time to remind students about appropriate weather wear to keep themselves comfortable throughout the day. Coats, hats, and gloves are great outerwear, along with warm clothing underneath. We go outside every day, rain or shine, and kids need to be prepared. They are also reminded to stay out of puddles since we do not have extra clothing for muddy experiences, and they will be quite uncomfortable sitting in wet muddy clothing. Of course, accidents do happen, but with extra care and following the reminders, they are few and far between.
The wet weather also brings an increase in traffic in our parking lot. Please remember these simple and safe rules if you are driving your child to or from school:
• Wait in line patiently.
• Pull up as far as you can to close gaps.
• TURN OFF CELL PHONES.
• Make sure your children are buckled safely before leaving.
If you choose to park in a space, you will need to cross at the crosswalks and escort your child to your car. They are not to cross into the parking lot without you. Our wonderful parking lot folks, Mr. James, Ms. Long, and Mr. McKinnon are out there to keep everyone safe, and periodically remind people of the rules.
Veteran's Day Assembly
East Ridge will be having its Veteran's Day Assembly on Monday, November 9th at 2:15 pm. with refreshments to follow in our library. We would like to honor all veterans in our community by having them as our guests at the ceremony. If you are a veteran, please plan on arriving fifteen minutes prior to the start of the assembly so that we can seat you in a special place of honor.
In addition, to honor veterans in our community we will be building a "Wall of Honor" in the gym. If you would like to honor a veteran in your family please fill out the red form that was sent home and return it to the office by Monday, Nov. 9th. Additional forms are available in the office.
Let's all wear red, white and blue that day!
Lost & Found
Be sure to check the Lost and Found for missing
articles. Our lost and found rack is located out in
front of the school. Please encourage your
students to stop by and take a look to see if any of
the clothes or items may be theirs, or check the
rack when you attend your Parent/Teacher
conference. Items not claimed before our
December winter break will be donated to a local
charity. Thank you.
Office Reminders
With all of the flu and colds that are being spread around at this time of year, please remember to report your student's absence and reason for absence. It is also important to call each day of their absence. Also, with the Thanksgiving and Winter Holiday break fast approaching, many families travel out of town, and leave a few days early to avoid the rush. If your holiday plans take your student out of school early, please let the office know as well as your teacher. A kind reminder to please call our safe arrival line at (425) 408-4410, rather than the office. Absences not reported will be unexcused.
The office has been called frequently with change of after school plans, or early pick-up for appointments, etc. This is a kind reminder to please try and plan ahead and send notes in advance to your child's teacher if at all possible. Thank you for your help.
Please remember to call our safe arrival line at 425.408.4410 before 9:30 a.m. for absences.
Thank you.
Parent/Teacher Conferences
November 19 - 25
Early Dismissal @ 12:00 pm
No Half-Day Kindergarten
EAP Parent Information Night
A parent information night regarding the Elementary Advanced Program (EAP) will be held Tuesday, December 1st from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. in the Board Room at the Administrative Center, 3330 Monte Villa Parkway, Bothell. Applications are now available in the East Ridge office or online at http://www.nsd.org/eap. They will also be available on December 1st at the parent meeting.
The application deadline for EAP is December 16th. This program is for students currently in grades 2, 3, 4, or 5 for potential placement in the 2010-11 school year. For more information, please visit the EAP website or call the Highly Capable Programs office at (425) 408-7714.
Picture Re-take Day
Friday, November 13th, is picture re-take day.
Any student requesting a picture retake must return their complete original packet to the photographer when they have their picture retaken. Students who were absent on the original picture day are able to order school pictures at this time. Picture order forms are available in the office.
Entertainment Books - last call
Get yours now to help support student scholarships! They will continue to be available through the month of November in the East Ridge office. The cost is $20.00, with the profits going to the NEOPA scholarship fund.
Super Scholastic Book Fair is coming to East Ridge!
Super Readers around the world are flying into the East Ridge Library to shop for special holiday gifts and help the East Ridge students discover the frontiers of their imaginations.
This year's reading adventure takes place November 19th to 24th.
November 17th - 6:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Special PTA preview sale before the meeting
November 19th - Open 8:30 am - 6:00 pm
` Steel Drum Performance at 1:00 p.m.
Kids Crafts from 12:00 - 4:00 pm
Snacks from Around the World
November 20th - Open 8:30 am - 4:00 pm
Kids Crafts from 12:00 - 4:00 pm
November 23rd - Open 8:30 am - 4:00 pm
Kids Crafts from 12 to 4 pm
November 24th - Open 8:30 am - 4:00 pm
Last day to Shop!
The East Ridge library gets to keep 20% to 50% of sales. Proceeds are used to finance reading incentive programs, author visits, books for classroom and curriculum support, special library equipment and supplies not covered in other budgets.
If you would like to be part of our team by volunteering at this year's book fair, please contact Henmar Vlogman.
Zowie! Opportunity Knocks
Can't find what you want for the adult bibliophiles in your life? Use the shopping pass below at any Barnes and Noble bookstore on November 19,20,21,22,23 and they will donate a percentage back to the East Ridge Library. Send the pass to out of town family and friends and they can support our library at their local Barnes and Noble on those dates. It is even good at many Barnes and Noble Cafes. Please present the pass before the cashier rings up your purchases.
No Elementary Band/Strings - Nov. 9th
Due to the Veteran's Day Assembly at Timbercrest, there will be no elementary band/strings on Monday, November 9th.
Thank you!
Many thanks go out to our parent volunteers from Cindy Schafer and Heidi Bodding for all those who helped during Health Screening Day. Thank you to: Inge Van Dijck, Mary Green, Carol Hook, Mary Pat Seeman, Angela Bordonaro, Mary Mulkins, Jessica Smith, Amy Cummings, Kari Fink, Misty Swayne, Yoshiko Otonari, Nancy Zakes, Pam Stafford, Kimberly Palm, Alisa Littau, Karen Gahrns, Nancy Nygren, and Janet Beachem.
Thank you to Cub Scout Pack 560 and their famiies for sprucing up our school. They spent many hours on Sunday, October 25th cleaning up the school grounds. Members of the pack worked towards earning a special badge for their efforts.
Thank you to Cathy Lehmann, Katy Pietraszak and Karen Frazier for heading up our six-trait scoring program. A special thank you to our wonderful team of parent volunteers for their many hours of reading and scoring our student's writing last week.
No School Tuesday, Nov. 10th - Teacher In-service Day
No School Wednesday, Nov. 11th -
Veteran's Day Holiday
H1N1 (Swine Flu) Update
Like other districts, we are experiencing more flu‐related absences in our schools. It would not be unusual to see absence rates in a classroom or school of 10 to 20%. We continue to remind students about prevention strategies and appreciate your help with keeping ill children at home until they are fever free for 24 hours
(without the use of fever‐reducing medication). Our district is in communication with the public health departments to monitor absence rates and symptoms. For most people the flu remains a mild/moderate illness and resolves in 3‐5 days.
Both King and Snohomish counties have received small allotments of H1N1 vaccine. Most doses are going to private health care providers and hospitals. The public health centers have a small supply that is available for people ages 6 months to 25 years who are not insured or low‐income AND have health conditions that put them at a higher risk for flu complications. A list of those centers and their hours are posted on the school district website www.nsd.org (centers). Families with children at risk for flu complications, who have a regular medical provider, should get
information from that provider about vaccine availability. The school district may host a health department vaccine clinic in November when the supply is sufficient to vaccinate all people. Please remember to check the district website @ www.nsd.org for the most update information on H1N1 or King County Public Health website at http://www.kingcounty.gov/healthservices/health/preparedness/pandemicflu/swineflu.aspx .
HopeLink
The holidays are coming fast. Hopelink has contacted us to let you know if you need help with food, to please call them. Hopelink's food banks offer food from every food group. Some baby items and personal care products are available too. To schedule a registration appointment, please call the Kirkland/Northshore center at 425-889-7880.
PE Classes
Please ask your child to wear the proper shoes to P.E. on their P.E. days. There have been many boots and dress shoes coming in on student's feet when they enter the gym for P.E. Students cannot participate as actively and safely with boots or dress shoes. Also, please make sure that they wear socks. Without socks, some of the kids end up with blisters. I hope I can count on your help in this area.
With gratitude,
Nan Lucke, P.E. Teacher
(425) 408-4415 nlucke@nsd.org
Math Club Coming Soon!!!
Watch for Math Club registration forms to come home Mid-November. Primary Math Club (grades 1 - 4) is a no cost six week, school sponsored, after school program where children will be actively engaged in FUN math games and activities. There is only one session during the school year and children are grouped by grade level. This program is designed to be fun for all children, regardless of their math ability. We have lots of FUN GAMES planned for this year!!! The session will run on Tuesdays, January 5th through February 9th. If you have any questions or are interested in leading a group, please contact our Parent Coordinators, Maureen Wilson (dmowilson@comcast.net or 425-788-7299) or Mary Green (marygree@aol.com or 425-844-0145).
Wishing you and your family a wonderful
Thanksgiving Holiday
CALENDAR
NOVEMBER
Friday, Nov. 6th 2nd & 3rd grade field trip to Sprouts Theatre 11:30 am - 1:00 pm
Monday, Nov. 9th No Elementary Band/Strings
Veteran's Day Assembly @ 2:15 - 2:45 pm
Tuesday, Nov. 10th No School - Teacher In-service
Wednesday, Nov. 11th No School - Veteran's Day Holiday
Friday, Nov. 13th Picture Re-Take Day! ☺
Math Team - 6th grade 3:15 - 4:45 pm
Popcorn Friday! ☺
Tuesday, Nov. 17th PTA Program night @ 7:00 pm
Wednesday, Nov. 18th Math Team - 6th grade 3:15 - 4:45 pm
Math Team 5th grade 3:15 - 4:30 pm
Thursday, Nov. 19th - Parent/Teacher Conferences - early dismissal @ 12:00 pm
Wednesday, Nov. 25th No Half-Day Kindergarten.
Book Fair begins
Wednesday, Nov. 25th Nocturnal Animal Reports - 2nd grade
1st trimester ends
Math Team - 6th grade 3:15 - 4:45 pm
Math Team 5th grade 3:15 - 4:30 pm
Thursday, Nov. 26th - No School - Thanksgiving Holiday
Friday, Nov. 27th
DECEMBER
Monday, Dec. 7 - ASB Winter Wear Care Drive
Friday, Dec. 11th
Wednesday, Dec. 9th Math Team - 6th grade 3:15 - 4:45 pm
Math Team 5th grade 3:15 - 4:30 pm
Elementary Holiday Concert @ TJH 7:00 pm
Thursday, Dec. 10th Lockdown Drill @ 9:30 a.m.
Friday, Dec. 18th Popcorn Friday! ☺
Monday, Dec. 21st No School - Winter Break
Friday, Jan. 1st
