The QAE PTSA is hosting a screening of The Most Dangerous Year on Wednesday, Feb. 27th at John Marshall. It was named on the best documentaries at the Seattle International Film Festival and has been featured in festivals around the country. It's a compelling story exploring how Washington families (including some from QAE) with transgender children fought multiple legislative efforts to limit their rights.

​More details coming soon, but for now, save the date!

About the Movie
In 2016 a small group of families with transgender kids joined the fight against a wave of discriminatory anti-transgender legislation that swept the nation and their home state. With the help of a coalition of civil rights activists and ally lawmakers, these families embarked on an uncharted journey of fighting for their children’s lives and futures in this present-day civil rights story. Find out more here: 
​https://www.themostdangerousyear.com/
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Our fellow PTSA at Loyal Heights Elementary in Crown Hill is inviting any interested families to attend a Q&A on Saturday with Rep. Gael Tarleton:

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I am the PTA co-President at Loyal Heights Elementary School.  Our community has become increasingly concerned about the state's failure to fully fund education.  While property taxes continue to go up, SPS is yet again facing a potential $40mil deficit, and our PTA continues to raise money to support basic education for our kids.   

In response to our concerns, we have arranged for Representative Gael Tartleton come speak at our school and answer questions. We would like to invite all the staff and families at your schools to attend this Q&A session. 

When: Saturday February 16th at 10am
Where: Loyal Heights Elementary Cafeteria 7735 25th Ave NW

Thank you!  
Natalie Ward
Loyal Heights Elementary PTA co-President

Get ready for QAE's annual fundraising auction! March 22, 2019, 6-11pm at Block 41 in Belltown!

Get ready to join an incredible community of people who are ready to do whatever it takes to help QAE kids succeed. Did you know the annual auction supports 65% of the PTSA budget? Social Emotional Learning. A school counselor. Reading Specialist. These are just a few of the vital services that funds raised from our upcoming auction pay for. Without your help, these important school service could go away!

What you can do to help…
Start collecting auction items! We ask all QAE families to donate at least one thing. But please don’t stop there! The more donated items and services you contribute, the more funds we can raise for our school.

Potential Donation Ideas (Live or Online)
Gift certificates to restaurants, spas, retail stores in our neighborhood and beyond are all sought after items! So when you go out to a favorite spot, just ask - businesses are happy to donate. It's a win-win for them and us! Are you a season ticket holder? Work in the theatre or music industry? Sports, theater and concert tickets are great items to donate. Own a vacation home you'd be willing to rent to a QAE family? Going on a vacation? Ask the hotel/ski resort/b&b/cruise for a donation to the school -- so many places love the idea of being introduced to a whole new community!Camps, experiences, children's classes -- wherever your child attends is a great option! Access to a priceless experience? (movie premieres, private parties featuring a famous chef or sommelier, tours around an interesting workplace)

Additional ways you can contribute:

• Donate an item to your classroom basket
• Volunteer!
• Sign up to bring a baked good for the Dessert Dash
  
• If you have any donation leads, suggestions or questions please reach out directly to shannonellmers@hotmail.com

Ready to make a donation?
Awesome! Either fill out the attached donation form or submit via the online link:
https://qae.schoolauction.net/auction2019/donate_items/new 

Upcoming Dates

• Auction tickets will be available starting Feb. 25th
• Donation deadline, March 8th (donate here)
• Online auction, March 11-17th
• Our annual auction at Block 41, March 22nd

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We are incredibly excited to share this night with you all and to help all the amazing Explorers at QAE! 

Team Auction
Shannon Ellmers, Shalini Nilakantan, Sandra Nanney, Jody Stewart

*The school levy ballots are due on Tuesday! With the snow, remember to send it in if you aren't able to drop it off at a ballot box.*

In its January board meeting the QAE PTSA endorsed a yes vote on both of Seattle Public Schools levy requests on the ballot Tuesday, February 12th. All registered voters should have received a ballot in the mail; King County no longer requires a stamp. 

For more information, please begin by referring to the Seattle Council PTSA statement on their endorsement of both levies:
https://www.scptsa.org/news/2019/1/18/vote-yes-on-the-seattle-school-districts-capital-and-operations-levies
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Calling all bakers! We need your help making sure we have plenty of desserts for our Auction Dessert Dash. If you have sweet baking skills, we would love to add your dessert to the list. You may also sign up and buy a dessert from your favorite bakery around town. Please, give a description of the dessert, list any allergens, and whether you will bring the dessert to the school on Friday or to the venue. 

Use this sign-up to let us know you can contribute a dessert:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0a4eafab22a2f85-calling
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The Auction will take place on Friday, March 22nd, 2019 at Block 41 in Belltown! See the Auction site for more details...

If you have any questions, email jodiemcmurdie@gmail.com. Thanks for your help!

Our annual auction is coming up soon. Join us on March 22nd for an amazing evening that benefits all the kids at QAE. It takes a village to make this event happen. Below are a few volunteer opportunities that we guarantee will be fun! Baking a cake is a volunteer opportunity you ask? Why yes ... yes, it is!

Help Needed - Donate an Item or Experience
Do you have a business that would like to donate something that can be bid on during the Auction? Our Auction team needs help providing great items for both the online and night of auctions. Please fill out the donation interest form or contact givebig@qaeptsa.org directly!

Calling all bakers!
We need your help making sure we have plenty of desserts for our Auction Dessert Dash (our annual auction is on Friday, March 22nd - be there!). If you have sweet baking skills, we would love to add your dessert to the list. You may also sign up and buy a dessert from your favorite bakery around town. Please give a description of the dessert, list any allergens, and whether you will bring the dessert to the school on Friday or to the venue. Sign up for a dessert here…

Help Take Photos of our QAE Students
Calling all photographers, budding photographers, friends of photographers...If you are interested in photographing the children of QAE for our school auction we need you!  We are looking for someone to take individual black and white photos of our students, a favorite part and key fundraising piece of our upcoming auction.  Time commitment would require a few hours in the next month during the school day to photograph students along with the help of other parent volunteers. Please contact Kirsty at knpapadopulos@gmail.com for more information. Thank you!

UPDATE: GRC has been postponed again due to school cancellation. The snow! Stay tuned for details.

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Queen Anne Elementary is taking part in the Global Reading Challenge for the third year! Teams of 4th and 5th grade students have been working had to prepare for this quiz-show style contest at QAE! Among the goals of the GRC are to motivate children to read, develop teamwork and cooperative thinking skills, and have fun. Each year, students from across the city read up to 10 books selected by Seattle librarians and participate in weekly meetings to study these books with their teammates. 

Our winning team will advance to compete with teams from other schools across the city. The program will end with an All-City Final that will take place at the downtown Central Library.

If your child is participating in GRC this year, please join us for our In-School Competition, which will be held at the John Marshall Building on Tuesday, Feb. 5th beginning at 9:15am. We are so proud of all of our 4th and 5th grade participants!

See the Seattle Public Library GRC site for more information, including the list of books.

What is Positive Discipline?
Will it work for my child/family?
How are teachers using it at QAE? 

Please join us on the evening of Wednesday, Feb. 13th for a brief PTSA General Meeting followed by an Introduction to Positive Discipline workshop by our new school counselor, Paulina Cuevas-Vega. This is a great opportunity to learn how to teach our kids important social and life skills based on encouragement and mutual respect. Please join us to hear the latest from the PTSA about our budget, updates about our move back to the expanded Boston St. campus and more. We'll keep the meeting short and jump right into learning about positive discipline! Get to know our new counselor and learn how you can apply Positive Discipline at home.

When: Wednesday, Feb. 13th, 2019. 6pm - PTSA General Meeting; 6:30-8pm - Positive Discipline Workshop
Where: Queen Anne Community Center, 1901 1st Ave W

Note - Games Club for kids will be available during the meeting. Registration will be available soon.

About Positive Discipline
Positive Discipline is a program based on Adlerian Psychology principles, and designed to teach young people to become responsible, respectful, and resourceful members of their communities. Based on the best-selling Positive Discipline parenting books by Dr. Jane Nelsen, the program teaches important social and life skills in a manner that is deeply respectful and encouraging for both children and adults. Parenting with Positive Discipline means being kind and firm at the same time, which is effective long-term and helps children feel a connection — a sense of belonging and significance. 

About Paulina
Paulina joined QAE in Fall 2018. Originally from Chile, Paulina most recently lived in China for 5 years teaching positive discipline. She has a psychology degree, a MA in Educational Psychology, a PK-12 school counseling license and 15 years of experience working as a School Counselor in local and international schools in the USA, Chile and China.
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QAE will be participating in Black Lives Matters at School week from Feb. 4th-8th. See the schedule of events below! For more information about QAE's approach you can talk with your child's teacher or write Principal Roy at jbroy@seattleschools.org. 

​Monday, Feb. 4th – What is the history and importance of BLM? 

• Everyone is invited to wear Black Lives Matter shirts.
• MMM BLM kickoff lead by the 5th grade at 9 am.
• Teachers provide lessons on the History of BLM Movement

Tuesday. Feb. 5th - How can we use BLM week to further the conversations around achieving racial equity? 
QAE staff will read Not My Idea: A Book About Whiteness by Anastasia Higginbotham to the class.  We encourage QAE families to read this book so you can discuss race and equity with your child – we have copies at school. Not My Idea is a book that speaks to the truth of America’s past and present climate around racism and white supremacy. The book values integrity, honesty, encourages curiosity and critical thinking, and above all seeks to teach empathy as means for social change.

• Not My Idea: A Book About Whiteness:  there is a copy of this book in every QAE class. 
• Video of author Anastasia Higginbotham talking about her book: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YC0HZL5noog. 
• Videos of black and brown parents talking about police violence with their children:
  • https://youtu.be/Mkw1CetjWwI
  • https://youtu.be/coryt8IZ-DE

Wednesday, Feb. 6th – What does Justice look like?
Topics will include: intersectionality and LGBTQIAPD affirming spaces. QAE Gender equity statement: https://www.qaeptsa.org/gender-identity.html

Thursday, Feb. 7th – What does celebrating black lives, both in a modern and historical context look like?
How can we find creative ways to celebrate and represent diverse communities of color?  We will celebrate the lives of black and brown peoples beyond traditional and popular representations.

Friday, Feb. 8th
All QAE families, students, and staff are invited to wear black shirt or item of clothing in support of BLM week. There will be a 9:15 am Whole School Assembly: 

• Students of Color presentation
• Student reflections
• Guest speaker
• A closing moment to stand up in solidarity (All students rise and have a moment of silence)

Parent Resources for Black Lives Matter at School Week

Articles: 

• How to talk to your child about race: https://medium.com/@realtalkwocandallies/white-parents-heres-how-to-start-talking-to-your-children-about-race-321eae4d1095 
• White Fragility: https://libjournal.uncg.edu/ijcp/article/viewFile/249/116

Books:

• White Fragility:  Why It is So Hard for White People to Talk about Racism by Robin Diangelo
• So You Want To Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo
• Waking Up White by Debby Irving
• Culturally Responsive Teaching by Zaretta Hammond

Videos:

• Life of Privilege Explained in $100 Race:  https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4K5fbQ1-zps
• Black Lives Matter Movement:  Global Citizen:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1IopsKY0dY
• Black Lives Matter:  How 3 Words Became a Movement:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ry-hqi9zRuM

Resources:

• Seattle Public Schools BLM Teaching Resources: https://www.seattlewea.org/center-for-race-equity/Black%20Lives%20Matter%20Week%20Resources/
• Ensuring Educational Excellence in SPS: https://www.seattleschools.org/cms/One.aspx?portalId=627&pageId=33101149
• Black Lives Matter in School background and teacher guide: https://mysps.seattleschools.org/UserFiles/Servers/Server_25823/File/Department%20Directory/Principal%20Communicator/2018-19/20190110/Black%20Lives%20Matter%20in%20School%20Background%20Information%20and%20Teacher%20Guide%5b4%5d.pdf
• Controversial Issues in the Classroom: https://mysps.seattleschools.org/UserFiles/Servers/Server_25823/File/Department%20Directory/Principal%20Communicator/2018-19/20190110/Controversial%20Issues%20the%20Classroom.pdf
• Readiness for teaching Black Lives Matter:https://mysps.seattleschools.org/UserFiles/Servers/Server_25823/File/Department%20Directory/Principal%20Communicator/2018-19/20190110/Readiness%20for%20teaching%20Black%20Lives%20Matter%20in%20Schools%20materials.pdf

​From QAE Race and Equity Team:  Devin Liner, Tobi Nussbaum, Paulina Cuevas, Kay Dumlao, Michelle Christensen

Before the final steel beam was installed at the QAE site on Boston, the contractor transported the beam to John Marshall so our kids could sign it.

Check out the great photos taken by QAE parent, Christa Winquist!
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Super-fun, unique treat for the kids on Friday (and parents can join): next week the final steel beam will be installed at the QAE site on Boston! The contractor is kind enough to bring the beam to QAE on Friday morning for all the kids to sign!

They'll bring it by flatbed truck to the parking lot and the kiddos will go out by grade to sign it. It'll be there between 11am-12:30pm. Parents are welcome to come by during that time to sign as well!
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We need YOU to help show our school to local families who are interested in attending Queen Anne Elementary next year.

We need volunteers for the following slots. Even if you can't stay, we need volunteers to bring coffee and bagels:

• Open House - Thursday, Jan. 17, 6-8pm
• Admissions Fair - Saturday, Jan. 19, 10am-2pm
  
• School Tour - Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019, 8:30-10:30am
• School Tour - Thursday, Feb. 7, 2019, 8:30-10:30am
• Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2019, 8:30-10:30am

Sign up for volunteer spots here:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0d49a9a828a31-qaetours2

Seer our Prospective Families page for more details about the tours and everything involved in applying to QAE.

Questions? Contact Kristi Barnes at kristi_barnes@comcast.net

UPDATE: Due to the 2-hour late start, the BookIt! performance has be 1pm.

BookIt! Repertory Theatre will be performing New Shoes at 9:15 am John Marshall on Wednesday, Feb. 6th. These BookIt! performances are funded by QAE PTSA.

All parents and preschoolers welcome to attend!
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Dear families and staff,

Please join Superintendent Denise Juneau and other district leaders to learn more about the upcoming Seattle Public Schools February 2019 levies at three Levy Informational Meetings in January 2019. All meetings are from 7-8 p.m.

Each meeting will include a short presentation, starting at 7:10 p.m. about what’s on the Educational Programs and Operations Levy (EP&O), and the Building Excellence V (BEXV) Capital Levy. People will also have time to ask questions about the ballot propositions, the process, and what’s included for each school in the district’s levy request. 

• Tuesday, Jan. 8 – John Rogers Elementary School Cafeteria, 4030 NE 109th Street
• Thursday, Jan. 10 – Montlake Elementary School Gymnasium, 2409 22nd Ave. E.
• Tuesday, Jan. 22 – Rainier Beach High School Cafeteria, 8815 Seward Pk. Ave. S.

Language interpretation will be provided at each meeting. If you need ASL interpretation, please contact 504coordinator@seattleschools.org 

Wondering why the district is asking voters to consider local education levies? Watch our budget video here http://bit.ly/SPSbudgetvideo

The EP&O and BEXV levies replace existing levies and are not a new tax to Seattle property owners. All funds stay in Seattle to support our students and schools and pay for safety and security upgrades at every school, critical day-to-day operations, educator salaries, technology supports, and will fund eight major school construction projects across the district. These projects will increase the number of classrooms, reduce portables, and balance class size.

Learn more about our Building for Learning levies here: www.seattleschools.org/levies
See this meeting notice on the district website.

Comments and questions are welcome via email or mail:

• BEX V Capital Levy: capitallevy2019@seattleschools.org
• Educational Programs & Operations Levy: budget@seattleschools.org
• Mail: Levies 2019, Seattle Public Schools, MS 22-336, PO Box 34165, Seattle, 98124