Blog Archives

Get Involved: Openings on PTSA Board for Next Year!

5/27/2019

Please join us on Tuesday, June 11th at 6:30pm at the QA Community Center for the final PTSA meeting of the year! We'll be voting on next year's budget and hearing from Janine about our move back to Queen Anne. Help us us plan for a great year at our newly expanded campus!

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As we move back to Queen Anne into our expanded building, it's time a great time to get involved in the QAE community!

Are you an accounting wiz? Experience doing social media or marketing? Or eager to find out how the WA Legislative decisions affect QAE? No matter your interest, the QAE PTSA Board would love to hear from you!

No PTSA Board experience is necessary, and this is a fabulous way to get involved in shaping the future of your children's school. Thanks for considering! Please contact president@qaeptsa.org or talk to any of the current officers if you're interested or have any questions!

Here's where we could use help, but we can find a role that works with your interests and schedule!

Assistant Treasurer – Picking up and completing deposits and owning other income generating aspects (matching gifts, donations, etc)
Community & Events Coordinator – Do you love throwing parties and bringing people together? We've typically had 3-5 events a year, but are re-considering what would be best for the community. In the past, we've done Back-to-School BBQs, the annual Talent Show, a Spring Dance Party, etc. But events can be edited based on your own personal passion. Peak times are around beginning and end of school year.
Enrichment Coordinator – Help coordinate with the team that will be running the enrichment program. Heavy lift times - around the start of the program for sign up and toward the end when you will help guide next seasons classes. September and January.
Legislative Representative - Keep informed about what’s going on district- and state-wide, and inform our parent community if action is required.
Technology Director – Organizes Hour of Code. Helps when board members run into technology snafus. Advises on technology programming offered at QAE.
Fund Drive Lead – We have a one-time campaign of a direct give drive. Happens in the Fall for 2-3 weeks (timing can fluctuate based on your schedule). Work on messaging, gather messaging from different individuals and track and thank people for their donations.

QAE Culture Night - June 7th. Celebrate our diverse community!

5/21/2019

Spring in Seattle is here and so is QAE Culture Night! We're so thrilled to come together to share food, music, dance, and fun! Over the years, this event has become one that families look forward to being able to gather and celebrate one another, celebrate the diversity of QAE, and the diverse communities of Seattle.

When: Friday, June 7th, 6-8pm
Where: QAE at John Marshall, Cafeteria

We’re so excited that the Students of Color group, comprised of 4th and 5th graders, will be playing an integral role in leading this event with help in marketing to other classes and signs around school. We also have a special something planned from them for the night of the event!

Also, we've confirmed that the Filipino Youth Activities (FYA) Drill Team will be performing! Established in 1959, (and celebrating its 60th year!) the FYA Drill Team was created to enhance the Filipino American Culture, to instill discipline, respect, hard work, responsibility, accountability and core Filipino family values. In addition to private performances, the FYA Drill Team can be seen at APIA Heritage Festival (Seattle Center) Pagidiriwang Philippine Festival (Seattle Center), Pista Sa Nayon (Seafair), and in parades and festivals all over Washington state, including the Torchlight Parade this summer!

As always, the success of this event is only based on participation! All families are welcome! Below are some links on how you can participate.

Do you have a favorite dish? Please feel free to bring it!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0b45a9ad2fa6f94-qaeculture3

Does your family have cultural traditions or talents you or your family would like to share? Sign up here!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0b45a9ad2fa6f94-qaeculture4

Or do you want to help set-up or clean up? Team work makes the dream work!!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0b45a9ad2fa6f94-qaeculture5

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Kay Dumlao at kaydumlao@gmail.com. See you on June 7th!

Relax at Rooftop Brewing: Grab a Pint and Support QAE!

5/20/2019

Join the QAE community for an afternoon at Rooftop Brewing in Queen Anne! A portion of each pint sold during this time will be donated to support the QAE trip to IslandWood! Hang out in the newly expanded Rooftop patio area with other QAE families.

When: Sunday, June 2nd, 2-4:30pm. Stop by any time!
Where: Brew Room at Rooftop Brewing, 1220 W Nickerson St.

In addition to pints and baked goods to support IslandWood, we'll also be selling custom QAE wine, kids framed art and Rocket growlers. Check it out at the event or purchase the wine, the kid art or growlers ahead of time and pick up at the event!

We're also talking to Rooftop about whether a food truck will be available at the time.

We are doing a bake sale and need some bakers! Please email Andrea at andrea_delarosa@msn.com to help out. Thank you!

Can't attend, but still would like to support the QAE IslandWood trip? You can donate directly to support our trip here!

Rhapsody Concert on Wednesday - All Families Invited!

5/14/2019

Musicians-in-Residence Culminating Assembly on Thursday, May 16th at 2:30pm
In celebration of this year’s music residency with Tina and Joe, an all-school assembly will be held on Thursday, May 16th at 2:30pm.

Teaching artists Tina Dietz (vocals/uke) and Joe Seamons (banjo/guitar) will be joined by Jimmy Austin (trombone), Jane Covert-Bowlds (saxophone), and Forrest Marowitz (bass) in an afternoon celebration of community and heritage through American roots music.

These five musicians will be performing American roots music celebrating community and heritage through song. Families are welcome to attend!

Power & Privilege Event at Green Lake Elementary

5/13/2019

Our neighbors at the Green Lake Elementary PTA would like to invite you and your parent population to an evening with Kids & Race, to discuss Power and Privilege.

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The inequities across our school district are ones that are well known and each of our individual schools can certainly continue working towards helping each child in the SPS system move to a place of equal rights, representation and opportunities, regardless of where they may live within our city and whether or not they come from affluence. Part of getting them there is to learn to use our voices!

Some of those among us are very fortunate to have influence, power and funding behind us - this discussion may be a great way to learn how we can use our good fortune and dedication to do the hard work of bringing change forward.

Please join us this Wednesday, May 15th at 7:30pm.
Green Lake Elementary Cafetorium
2400 N 65th St

To note, childcare will NOT be provided and this specific lecture is not tailored to children. Babes in arms are welcome, however, older children will not be able to attend.

Please let me know if you have any further questions. Look forward to seeing you there!

Dawn Larson
Green Lake PTA Social Justice & Equity Co-Chair
206.915.2185

Announcing New QAE Staff for 2019-20!

5/4/2019

QAE staff and parents have worked hard to on Hiring Teams over the past 3 weeks to hire outstanding new teachers. After screening over 350 applicants from all over the world, completing reference checks on all short-listed candidates and interviewing for primary, intermediate and specialists, we are thrilled to welcome the following new teachers to our community.

UPDATE - we'll be hosting an informal meet and greet with our new teachers on Thursday, May 9th, 6:30-7:30pm at the Big Howe playground. Stop by to meet the new staff and let your kids run and play. We'll have some munchies, but feel free to bring a picnic dinner. At least 5 new teachers have confirmed that they will be there!

Primary staff (K-2nd Grade)

Jerrika Dickerson is currently a 1st grade teacher in Haltom City, Texas. Chosen to be her school’s Teacher of the Year in 2018-19, she brings her enthusiasm for multiage classes and her passion for learning and teaching to QAE. She was a member of her school’s Building Leadership Team, she was selected to be on a district-level collaboration team on math curriculum development and advanced learning programs, and she was on a school-based team to launch her school as a specialty school.

“I am greatly looking forward to my first year as a Seattleite educator at Queen Anne Elementary this year! I graduated from Dallas Baptist University in 2017 and have been teaching the most wonderful first graders in Texas for the past two years. I am a Colorado native, and a Texan by marriage, but my husband and I are anxious to begin our next adventure in North Seattle this summer. To me, education is more than a passion, it is my calling. I am dedicated to learning beside my students as we tackle new challenges and continually grow. I am overjoyed to be joining the learning movement at QAE and invest in the creative community that thrives here. My simple joys include reading everywhere, all the time, the smell of roasted garlic, and shopping local! I also love cooking my husband a "phenomenal" dinner, swimming, and coffee dates. I just can't wait to meet you!”

Maddie Ginder was a Kindergarten Team Leader in Orlando, Florida before moving to Seattle in 2018. She has been a SPS guest teacher, including teaching at QAE during the past year, so we are excited to welcome her permanently to our community. She finishes her long-term substitute position as Reading Specialist at Blaine in June 2019. Maddie will officially become Maddie Scannapieco this July.

“I am very excited to be joining the QAE community! After growing up on Bainbridge Island, I attended Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida where I received my bachelor’s in Elementary Education while playing college soccer and soaking up the sunshine. Following Rollins, I taught kindergarten at an incredible school named Grand Avenue in the heart of downtown Orlando. I fell in love with teaching primary grades during this time and knew this is where I wanted to be. In 2016 after I had to go on an unexpected sick-leave from teaching, my fiancé Nick and I, and our puppy Finn moved home to Seattle to be closer to family. I have spent the last 2 years transitioning back into my love of teaching as a substitute for Seattle Public Schools, most recently as a long-term Reading Specialist at Catharine Blaine K – 8 School. I am incredibly grateful to have my health back and to be able to do what I love most, teach! This summer my fiancé Nick and I are getting married on Bainbridge Island and we cannot wait! Outside of our careers, you can find us outside hiking, exercising, exploring the PNW, eating good food, reading, watching movies and spending time with our family and friends!”

Rachel Scheer is a National Board-Certified teacher in literacy, has 8 years’ experience as a lead teacher and 4 years’ experience as a Literacy and Learning Specialist. She brings her passion for teaching and her expertise in multi-age teaching to QAE.

“My favorite part of teaching is following student questions and interests and all of the unexpected places they take us! Over the past eight years I have taught fifth, first, and fourth grades and a 2nd/3rd grade multiage class. I absolutely love being a lifelong learner beside my student. I grew up just outside of Washington, D.C. area and attended the College of William and Mary in Virginia for my undergraduate degree. I later moved to Philadelphia to attend the University of Pennsylvania for my graduate degree in education. After years of living on the east coast, I picked up and moved to Seattle in 2014. I instantly felt a connection with this dynamic city and the surrounding mountains and water. I never want to leave! I currently live in Capitol Hill with my husband and two cats. If it’s nice out you can find us on our porch with friends. You might also look for me on my yoga mat, on a hike, or at my artist table writing and illustrating comics!”

Marissa Vogel is currently a Kindergarten teacher at Olympic View Elementary. With her M.A in Teaching, she brings enthusiasm for working with diverse populations and her leadership in partnering with staff and parents on learning and community events.

“I grew up in Colorado and went to college at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington, where I received my bachelor’s degree in Psychology. I then moved to Seattle to get my master’s degree in teaching at Seattle Pacific University. I live in Seattle with my husband, Sam, and I enjoy traveling, being outdoors, cooking, and spending time with my friends and family. I am very excited to be a part of the QAE community!”

Intermediate Staff (3rd-5th Grade):

Mike Backman is currently a 5th grade teacher at Midway Elementary School in Des Moines, WA. He has taught 5th grade for four years and been a lead teacher on their ReadyMath program. He has taught in both the U.S., Ireland and Thailand, which allows him to bring his knowledge and appreciation for culturally responsive teaching to his students and families.

“I couldn’t be more excited to be a part of the Queen Anne Elementary team! I have been working in education for the past 6 years after earning my B.A. from The University of Iowa and my M.Ed from Seattle University. After graduating from Iowa, I spent time teaching in Ireland, Thailand and Minnesota before I decided to move to the pacific northwest 4 years ago to teach 5th grade. I fell in love with Seattle immediately and have never looked back on my decision to move west from snowy Minneapolis! When I am not in the classroom, I enjoy spending time outside hiking, running, reading, and drinking coffee. I am thrilled to start this new chapter and can’t wait to meet everyone who makes the Queen Anne Elementary community great!”

Liz Hartmann is an experienced 4th grade teacher who is currently a professor at the University of Washington coaching elementary pre-service teachers with innovative instructional practices. She completes her doctorate program in July and can’t wait to get back to the classroom to focus on learning and research-based teaching with students and their families.

“I’m excited to be joining the Queen Anne community this fall! Originally from Southern California, I taught in Los Angeles before moving to Seattle to study curriculum and instruction at UW and to coach preservice teachers in Seattle schools. I took a two-year break from my studies to teach at the University of Fukui in Japan and work with teachers in Japan and Singapore on a collaborative project studying project-based learning. After teaching mathematics education courses for Western Washington University and finishing my doctorate at UW, I couldn’t be more thrilled to be back in the classroom! All my experiences have led me right back to the most important part about teaching: students. I’m excited to join a school community that focuses on students’ social and emotional learning and project-based learning. Outside of the classroom, I enjoy cooking and trying new foods, hanging out with my partner and our dog Ginger, traveling, and doing anything that gets me outside, like hiking and rowing.”

Elizabeth Thruelsen comes to QAE via an immersion charter school in Los Angeles, California. She has taught in the United States, Turkey and Spain. She brings her 8 years of teaching experience to QAE with a focus on innovative teaching practices, leadership, literacy and technology. She has been a team leader planning professional development and community-based projects, such as cultural celebrations.

“I am so excited to join Queen Anne Elementary this year! After spending a decade away from the area, I am so inspired to find the school of my dreams right back in my home. Project-Based Learning, partnerships with parents, and an intentional focus on Social-Emotional Learning? Yep, I knew QAE was "the one!" I studied Spanish Language and Culture and earned my TESOL certificate at Western Washington University in Bellingham. Years later, I returned to school and graduated with my MA.Ed at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. Over the years I've been so fortunate to have teaching experiences in a public school in Spain, an international school in Turkey, a Catholic school in Long Beach, and a public dual-immersion school in Los Angeles. Every experience in my teaching has reaffirmed with conviction that our children are at the center of education, not teachers. Now, coming into my 8th year of teaching, I can't imagine a better place to be than at Queen Anne Elementary. Outside of the classroom, I am a Pacific Northwest enthusiast: I love coffee-house culture, our excellent alternative rock scene, and a good hike. I'm an active member in a lay-Buddhist organization and recently became a member of the Nordic Heritage Museum. After filling my passport last year, I'm determined to travel abundantly and fill my new one! I'm looking forward to meeting the families and children of Queen Anne Elementary and joining this great community!”

Specialists:

Dr. Emily Valdez is our enthusiastic new librarian. She has been a Special Education teacher and ELL teacher, and will now become our QAE teacher librarian. She brings her doctorate in educational innovations and policy and her rich teaching experience to lead our beloved library.

“I'm so excited to be a part of the QAE community as a teacher librarian. After earning my BA from Bowdoin College, I traveled the world for a year on my own to get a better sense of what I wanted to do with my life. After a short stint in a software start-up, I went back to school to get my M.Ed in special education. For three years I taught special education in a high school in rural Idaho and decided that I wanted to get my doctorate. I headed for Seattle and started the program at UW. After fifteen years of doing research on educational innovations and policy, I decided that I missed the classroom and most of all I missed daily interactions with students and other teachers. I recently went back to school (again) to get my endorsement in library and media science at SPU where I discovered the best job possible---teacher librarian, which combines my absolute love of books and kids. When I'm not in the library, I enjoy hiking, camping, and playing sports with my daughter, Eva; my husband; and my black lab, Helo.”

We'll also be announcing a new art teacher soon!

Thank you to our dedicated QAE Hiring Teams: Lorin Belcher, Julie Colando, Jen Dickens, Sarah Goldman, Erin Knapp, Priyanka Jayanthi, Devin Liner, Rachel Marks, Molly Meck, Laura Shaw, Michele Christensen, Leslie Jaynes, Gillian Jorgensen, Sandra Nanney, Pia Silverlieb, Jody Stewart, and Ian Stewart. Many thanks to the additional families and friends who provided child care to make our many interviews possible. Specific teaching assignments will be determined in the weeks ahead once our teams have a chance to plan together.

2019 Teacher Appreciation Week - May 6-10th

5/2/2019

It's that time of year again! If you don't hear from them, please reach out to your classroom coordinator about little gestures for our staff next week. Bringing in a coffee to start the day can really put a smile on their face!

Here's what the PTSA Sunshine Committee has planned for this week. Please contact Kirsty Papadopuls at knpapadopulos@gmail.com if you'd like to help! Jodie Scott is coordinating showing our gratitude for the Learning Lab staff. Contact Jodie at jodiemcmurdie@gmail.com to help with those wonderful folks.

Monday: Drawing Blueberry and Juices
Staff caricatures by Drawing Blueberry and Pressed Juicery juices!

Tuesday & Wednesday: Coffee/Tulips and Treat Yourself!
Exact order TBD but one day will be Storyville coffee and make your own tulip bouquets. Other day is essential oil scrubs and sprays and "rocket fuel" trail mix bar.

Thursday: All-Staff Lunch
Lunch generously hosted by Canlis and Met Market

Friday: All-Staff Happy Hour
Off site hosted happy hour at the Shelter Greenlake!

Thanks to those who helped organize Teacher Appreciation Week. And special thanks to all the QAE staff for the amazing job they do with our kids!

Start the Week with Monday Morning Meeting & Caffeine with Janine

5/2/2019

Reminder that our entire school starts the week with a Monday Morning Meeting in the cafeteria at the start of the school day. We share topics, recognize birthdays and more. Families are welcome to attend!

Then stick around for Caffeine with Janine starting at 9:10am -- it’s an open forum to ask questions of Principal Roy (and have some coffee).

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