The Queen Anne and McDonald Library website is up. Check it out at: qmlibrary.org.
The MAP test for Primary students begins next Monday and will continue for two weeks.
To prepare, tomorrow the K-1 classes will be going to the computer lab for a practice MAP assessment. At this time, students will get use to the computer, mouse and taking the assessment. If you have the opportunity, please help your children practice the assessment prior to coming into the lab tomorrow or before next week. http://www.nwea.org/sites/www.nwea.org/files/tutorials/primary-warmup/index.html Below find a letter from Seattle Public Schools explaining MAP Testing. Dear Families: During the next few weeks, your student will take tests called Measures of Academic Progress™ (MAP). We give students MAP tests to determine your child’s instructional level; to measure academic growth throughout the school year; and to measure growth from year to year in the areas of reading and mathematics. Results from MAP are available immediately and so it will support our teachers in knowing what students have learned and the progress they are making. Teachers will use this information along with observations, daily work and other tests/quizzes as they consider how to adjust instruction to help each student succeed. The tests will be taken using a computer, and your child will spend a total of about an hour and a half completing these tests. MAP tests are unique in that they adapt to be appropriate for your child’s level of learning. As a result, each student has the same opportunity to succeed and maintain a positive attitude toward testing. And with MAP tests, we can administer shorter tests and use less class time while still receiving detailed, accurate information about your child’s growth. Each school year, all students in grades Kindergarten through Ninth Grade and some 10th, 11th and 12th graders will take the tests in September or October, January and June. This year, teachers will share information about fall MAP results during parent-teacher conferences in November at the elementary level. Scores will be available on The Source for all levels later this fall. We are truly excited to have this tool available to our teachers and students as it will help us focus on every child’s individual growth and achievement. Consistently tracking student progress and using that data to help improve student achievement is a key strategy to ensure that all students are successful. Thank you for partnering with us as we work together to ensure an excellent education for your child. To learn more about MAP, please attend the Family Academy at South Shore School on Saturday, October 16 from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm. Understanding MAP is just one of the many valuable sessions offered for families that day. Interpreters, childcare and refreshments will be available. You may also visit the Seattle Public Schools MAP website: http://www.seattleschools.org/area/mapassess/index.dxml. Sincerely, Seattle Public Schools QAE/McD RUNNING CLUB Help our kids get Fit, have Fun and Prepare for the Seattle Kids Marathon! How the program works: Kids have a chance to run laps around the parking lot at AM recess, lunch recess and weekends. Parent volunteers count laps by handing out Popsicle sticks for every lap completed. Then, progress is tracked on a chart in the school. The kids love to find their name on the chart and see how many laps they have run. They can also earn “feet” (little plastic ones with a variety of colors and patterns) for every 5 miles they run. These are coveted items for all grade levels as they show them off on little shoelace necklaces. The Seattle Kids Marathon is every year in November, the day before the adult Seattle Marathon. This year the Kids Marathon is on November 27. Grade 3 through grade 5 students who want to enter the race on November 27th are expected to run the 25 miles between now & the marathon date. We expect kids in grades K through 2 students to make their best effort and show serious commitment to enter. Kids from across Seattle meet at the Seattle Center on November 27 and run the last 1.2 miles together on the adult marathon course and into the stadium finish line. After we get started and kids have a chance to see if this is something they want to do we will send home registration information for the official event. We will set up a team so please wait for more information before registering. Many kids who aren't going to do the marathon still love to run laps and it is a great way to burn off energy before coming back to class and a great way to get kids thinking about running as fun. What we REALLY need volunteers for NOW: 1) Counting laps. Parents can sign up for a specific recess and/or weekends. They need to hand out Popsicle sticks to kids as they pass by. At the end of recess we log how many laps they have completed into a voice recorder. We will do all the training necessary to make you an expert. 2) Marking laps on the big chart in the school. This can be done any time during the week. We need people to take the voice recorders and mark laps that the kids have completed on the chart in the hallway. 3) Helping with weekend running. To make sure kids have enough time to get their miles in we will host running on some weekends, rain or shine. Snacks and hot drinks are provided. Due to our space at Lincoln we may emphasize the weekend running program. Our biggest push is between now & the Kids Marathon in November and we need many volunteers or a few very dedicated ones. After November, we will continue running but how often will depend on the kid’s interest and the number of volunteers who are willing to continue. Please contact Mason Sherry at [email protected] if you are interested in helping with this terrific activity. Today's newsletter is being sent from a new email address: [email protected]. Please make sure to change your settings to accept mail from this account. Thanks, everybody!
Group Therapy for Children with Anxiety and Worry Beginning October 8, 2010 ENROLLING NOW! 206-543-6511 The University of Washington Psychological Services and Training Center is running a group for children ages 7 – 9 years old with diagnosed or suspected anxiety disorders. Group characteristics: •10 sessions •$30/session •Led by 2 advanced clinical psychology graduate students at the University of Washington, under the supervision of Steven Katz, Ph.D. •Therapy will be based on a Cognitive Behavioral Model using the Coping Cat framework developed by Philip Kendall, Ph.D. Therapy components: •Recognize feelings and thoughts that perpetuate anxiety •Develop rating scale for anxiety •Practice coping actions to decrease worries (e.g. relaxation and coping thoughts) •Parent involvement to practice and support coping strategies at home Please refer interested families before October 1, 2010 to the ‘Main Clinic Intake Coordinator’ University of Washington Psychological Services & Training Center 206-543-6511 McDonald PTSA has announced that KidsCo will be the on-site before and after school childcare provider for McDonald Elementary. All are welcome, including Queen Anne Elementary students. They also provide on-site care at TOPS, Adams, John Hay and 4 other schools. To read more click here Sponge Language Class
We’ve received an excellent response to registration for the two Sponge Language classes. As of last Thursday, the QAE allocated spaces have been filled and both the 5-day and 2-day classes have wait lists. It's possible that additional spots/classes may be added. If you are still planning on registering, please sign up for the wait-list by Wednesday 9/22, so we know final numbers. Add your child's name to the wait-list by following the registration instructions at http://www.spongeschool.com/QAE. As the process of beginning a new school continues we have undergone more changes in the last week. A very short version of a very difficult process is as follows...
McDonald Elementary, because of smaller than anticipated enrollment, decreased its teaching staff by one. Therefore, McDonald had no choice but to reorganize their staff to accommodate all their students, and because we share the third grade team, it had an effect on Queen Anne as well. After much thought and deliberation, the outcome will be to move four QAE third graders to Mr. Bailey's class. The Queen Anne Elementary PTSA is looking for volunteers for jobs and committees. If you want to get more involved in the PTSA and one of these positions interests you, please send us an email:
1) Budget/Finance Committee members. The Budget/Finance Committee helps to create the budget, monitor the PTSA's financial health, and ensures funds are spent appropriately. We are looking for parents who have experience in accounting, finance or budgeting and who would be willing to lend their expertise to this important committee. The time commitment would be 4-6 hours of time in budget preparation over the course of the next two months, plus another 4-6 hours over the rest of the academic year, and then 2 hours of an audit. If interested, please contact Yazmin Mehdi, the Treasurer, at [email protected]. 2) Enrichment Committee member. Alison Payauys, the Enrichment Committee Chair is looking for parents interested in helping her find clubs and childcare for after and before school enrichment. If you are interested in this, please contact her at [email protected] 3) Website Team members. Do you have a background in web development or design? We need your help redesigning our website, and thinking about web requirements for a technology school. Contact Liz McKay at [email protected]. 4) For all other volunteering opportunities please contact QAE Volunteer Coordinator Scott Houghton at [email protected] QAE PTSA and McDonald PTSA are excited to announce two before/after school club offerings for Fall 2010! SP Nation Drama Club Drama Club will provide a unique theater after-school enrichment program, open to actors and non-actors alike. There will be fun for everyone! The curriculum is multi-cultural and fosters physical, mental, emotional, and social development, while celebrating the creative process. Daily schedule includes active games, snack-time, visual arts, creative writing, culture and music, all related to the theater production that will be selected by the children enrolled. Students will be able to choose to be on stage or involved with the technical side of theater. The experience culminates in an exciting performance the week of December 6th! Enrollment: Min 10, Max 30 Meeting Time: Tuesday and Thursday 3:40 -5:40pm beginning October 5th Grades: K-5 Cost: $175 The club flyer (at the bottom of this post) has additional information and registration form. Payment must be mailed or delivered to SP Nation by Sept 29th. Please call Sweet Pea Cottage and reference the QAE/McDonald SP Nation Drama Club if you have further questions, 206-217-9767. Lego Club by Playwell TEKnologies (http://www.play-well.org/) Note this club will meet on Wednesday mornings for students in grades 2-5 and on Friday mornings for students in grades K-1. Club Flyers are located at the bottom of this post. Register Online at www.play-well.org. Click on the “Find a Class” link under the parent section and find the class in your area that you would like to register for. If you need to register by mail contact Allen Jiang ([email protected]). Pre-Engineering with LEGO® Have your child become a Play-Well Engineer! Students will build cities, bridges, and motorized cars/planes and explore the many creative possibilities of engineering with the LEGO® system. With access to over 100,000 pieces of LEGO, your child will have the opportunity to build what they have only dreamed of with the support of an experienced Play-Well Engineering instructor to guide them. Meeting Time: Friday 8:00-9:15am beginning Oct 1st Enrollment: Min 11/Max 16 (enrollment may be increased with a parent volunteer) Grades: K-1 Cost: $140 Engineering FUNdamentals with LEGO® Have your child become a Play Well Engineer! Students take on real-life engineering challenges that explore concepts in physics, architecture, mechanical and structural engineering with over 100,000 pieces of LEGO® material. From racecars to Battletracks, this is a hands-on and minds-on camp suitable for LEGO novices to "maniacs." Designed by engineers, the curriculum challenges both new and returning students to reach the next level of engineering comprehension all while having fun. Enrollment: Min 11/Max 16 (enrollment may be increased with a parent volunteer) Meeting Time: Wednesday 8:00-9:15am beginning Oct 6th Grades: 2-5 Cost: $140 Clubs will not meet on October 8th, November 11th, or Thanksgiving week. Please contact Alison Payauys [email protected] if you have any questions.
“Welcome Back” Regional Meetings September 20 – September 30 Seattle –Superintendent Maria L. Goodloe-Johnson, Ph.D. invites parents, guardians and family members to attend a “Welcome Back” meeting in their region of the city. The meetings are part of the Superintendent’s engagement plan for 2010-2011 which focuses on the theme of Listening, Learning, and Responding. Families will have an opportunity to meet and talk with the Superintendent, Chief Academic Officer Dr. Susan Enfield, the Executive Director for Schools in their region, and representatives of schools in the region. For more information, visit http://www.seattleschools.org/area/news/1011/20100913_Regional_Meetings.pdf Community Coffee Chats with Supt. Goodloe-Johnson Superintendent Maria L. Goodloe-Johnson, Ph.D., is hosting a series of Community Coffee Chats in October and November for all parents, grandparents and caregivers of Seattle Public Schools students. “I am eager to listen and learnfrom our families, and to hear more about the educational issues that matter to them,” Dr. Goodloe-Johnson said. Central Region Coffee Chat information: Date: Thursday, October 7, 2010 Time: 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Location: SBOC (301 21st Ave East Seattle, WA 98112)
AP Applications - Advanced Placement applications are here and due Oct. 14th. It is up to individual caregivers to decide to test or not. If you want your child tested, get an application from Carla Kirch in the office.
More information is here on the SPS website. Building Security - With the exception of pick-up and drop-off, any parent that comes into the building needs to check-in at the Main Office and get a Visitor's Pass during normal school hours. In addition, any parents that volunteer at the school (working in the classroom, playground, driving field trips, etc.) must complete a form for a background check. This form can be downloaded at the district website or you can get one from Carla in the office. We urge you to do this now rather than wait until the day you are to be onsite.
Parent Volunteers in Classrooms - The teachers need another week or so to get settled before they create an organized parent volunteer program in the classroom. Given the need for additional classroom staff, we will be relying heavily on parent volunteers. They will let us know when they are ready.
You'll need to have a background check / screening done before you can volunteer with kids at the school. The form is here, or available in the school office. Classroom update - Ms. Simon's Kindergarten classroom is excited to announce that Laura Cooper, a certified teacher and QAE parent, has been hired as a part-time tutor for the classroom. She will be in the classroom with Ms. Simon approximately 17 hours per week to help with instruction and projects. She is a trained teacher so she'll hit the ground running and be a huge help to the Kindergarten class. In addition, Ms. Leland has interviewed a tutor that comes highly recommended and paperwork has been sent to the district to approve this position. We are hopeful that this position will be filled soon in the Kindergarten/1st Grade classroom. Ideally Mr. Elliott would like to have more classroom help for his staff but there are no funds available for those extra salaries. The school is looking at funding options, both by working with the PTA to help raise the funds or by asking families in each classroom to contribute. The evening of September 14th, after the community meeting, the technology and education models committee met at Brian and Cyndi Fling’s business’ meeting room down in Fremont (thank you to PinchZoom for the space!). The goal of the evening was to get a sense of the technology that the school does and needs to have – as well what the group’s role can be in helping understand and then share different education models are out there and finding success at teaching 21st century skills. With the help of David Elliott and Jeffrey Riley – we had a very productive meeting and came up with five key workstreams. We invite members of the QAE community – current and future – to contact Suzi LeVine if you are interested in helping organize any of these. As these sub-teams get going, they’ll connect back up with the broader community to invite them to participate where relevant (ie – when media (not the book) group meets, we’ll put it on the community calendar). Here they are: 1) Grown Up Field trips – The idea here is to put together 2 or 3 field trips for the teachers/staff and some of the parents from the school (one local and 2 internationally – or in other parts of the country) These would be visits to schools that are really pushing on this 21st century skills model . Suzi to lead this workstream with Brian conceivably engaging funders. Lauren also helping – on the local side. Note – we’ll need lots of miles to subsidize the teacher/staff to go. 2) “the nerd team” – this group would have a few roles/responsibilities: a. being the go to support for the teachers when they need help creating something on the computer (ie – creating or finding a template or creating a wiki – it may vary), setting something up or getting general support for their technology (not necessarily crash recovery type of stuff though) b. Doing training with/for the teachers on technologies that they should know/could use c. Where possible - also coming in to teach/train the students. d. Who leading: Stephan, Brian, and Liz 3) Knowledge base includes (but can expand) – creating/assembling the tech wish list from the teachers/staff; creating a repository where parents/community members can collect best practices for the staff to peruse; creating a place where the teachers can pose and get answers to their tech questions: Brian to help on the wiki; Jim Klockow to lead this section 4) Tech and edu model reqs for physical vision for next year’s facility – Jim Anderson to work with Lauren Gums as well as the facilities committee on this – starting off with a meeting with the architect on what’s currently slated, what’s possible in the near term and what could be modeled for the longer term. 5) Media club for the community – this group will facilitate lists/collections of books/ebooks/videos/articles for the community to consume and, once every other month (perhaps) come together in the library with really great wine and appetizers to discuss what was consumed. First media recommended: Education Nation, Born Digital and a bunch of videos Liz and others have linked from the website. Jeffrey and Suzi will lead this. Please note – we need lots of others for each of these workstreams – so, again, email Suzi LeVine: [email protected] – if you are interested in one/more of these responsibilities. Next meeting(s): we will meet monthly and our next meeting will be on Monday, October 18th at 8pm at Brian and Cindy Fling’s space in Fremont: 707 N 35th St. Seattle, WA 98103. |
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