A reminder to please Plan to Attend our First General PTSA meeting - this Thursday, Oct. 4th, at 7:30pm in the QAE Cafeteria.
 
Learn about the school's plans for project based learning, the Building Excellence lV capital levy and its implications for QAE, the PTSA's plans for the year, and more.  All are welcome and encouraged to share their own thoughts and ideas for the school.  
 
Childcare is available at Kids Co. BY RESERVATION (kids ages 4 and older, potty trained).  $10 suggested donation at the door, payable to QAE PTSA.  Please call Patrick at (206) 216-2250 to reserve your spot - it will fill up!  Drop off no earlier than 7:15; pick-up no later than 9:15.

Fellow QAE Parents-
 
The District has held the last of its community meetings on the BEX IV levy, and the QAE community needs to strongly advocate for the QAE project to be included on the levy, including that it be completed earlier than now scheduled.  The project will expand capacity by 200 students and provide a new gym/multipurpose space.  The schedule for finalizing the levy project list is as follows:
 
• October 4: Facilities and Capacity Management Advisory Committee (FACMAC) reviews feedback from the public. Board reviews public feedback
• October 10: Board work session on levies — final draft presented by staff
• October 17: Board introduction of levies proposals
• November 7: Board takes action on the proposed Capital and Operations levies
• February 12, 2013: Seattle residents vote by mail on both levies 
 
It’s critical the school board and staff hear from QAE parents prior to October 4- please take a few minutes to send an email to all of the following(one email sent to all of the addresses is fine):
 
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
 
While you are certainly welcome to craft whatever message you like, here is something you could either edit or send verbatim. 
Thank you for your help advocating for QAE!
 
Steve Tatge
QAE PTSA Board Facilities Committee 
Chair

To the Seattle Public Schools Board, and Capital Projects and Planning Staff:
 
As a parent at Queen Anne Elementary, I want to express my strong support for both the inclusion of the QAE expansion project on the BEX IV levy, as well as moving the project up to a 2016 completion date.  QAE has been a popular choice for Queen Anne and Magnolia parents and is an
important way of relieving enrollment pressure on the other elementary schools in the McClure service area (not to mention it is providing an excellent
education for its students!).  The McClure service area, as well as QAE, is growing rapidly (already at enrollment previously projected for 2015-16) and
needs additional capacity well in advance of 2019.  The QAE expansion will address both the capacity problem in the McClure service area and what is likely to be a capacity problem at QAE within just a couple of years.  QAE is at capacity for kindergarten and first grade already, and this will continue at the upper grades as demand for the school continues to grow.  We do not want to see portables needed at QAE in 2016, as they already are at John Hay, when the levy project could alleviate the coming capacity problem.  Further, our school has no gymnasium and no space which can accommodate all-school events, like Math Night, which are such an important part of any school’s sense of community.
 
While other projects like the Downtown School also deserve support, the QAE project provides a tremendous return on the levy dollars by addressing the facility issues at the school and the capacity problem in the McClure service area.  The completion date of the Downtown School project
is too uncertain to be relied on to relieve this real and growing capacity problem.  Looking ahead, I also support using levy funds for a significant
technology and infrastructure upgrade to McClure Middle School, as a growing number of families in the McClure service area are considering that school- if you build it, they will come!
 
I strongly urge a 2016 QAE project be on the BEX IV levy.  Thank you for your consideration.
 
Sincerely,
 
-----------------
 

Join other families at QAE for Running Club on Sunday mornings from 10am-Noon starting this Sunday, 9/30.  All are welcome!
Starting this Sunday and every Sunday until the Seattle Kid’s Marathon in late November, we will be holding running club from 10-12 at school.  This serves as an excellent time to help the kids get extra laps to meet their goal.  We have a full set of volunteers ready to count laps and provide refreshments.
Any questions, please email Running Club Parent volunteer Brian Watkins.

Hi families,
 
I am writing to let you know about this year's Lost and Found.  A rack is set up in the treehouse on the first foor.  Unfortunately it is already pretty
full with sweatshirts, jackets and tshirts.  The most important thing you can do is write your child's name inside their article of clothing, and I will deliver it to their classrooms.  For clothes that are left on the rack after each quarter, they are donated to an organization which keeps kids warm in the winter.  So if your child is missing anything chances are it's on that rack.  
  
Thanks,
Mindy Katz

Washington State PTA lobbies on behalf of all members for the well-being and education of Washington youth. They are looking for PTA member feedback to determine 2012-2013 state-wide platform.   There are 18 issues under consideration ranging from revenue, special ed, highly capable, professional development, discipline, school safety zones, ELL, literacy, continuing the basic ed reforms, grading and family engagement.

More detailed information on each issue can be accessed in the new Legislative Assembly Blog  http://wsptalegassembly.blogspot.com/ or you can click on each issue within the WSPTA 2012 Issues Survey  https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/wspta2012 .

The survey is intended for PTA members only, another great reason to join PTA and be involved.

Please hurry, this survey closes on Sunday September 30, 2012.

Questions?  Contact QAE parent, Angela Masco at [email protected]
Thank you!

Please Plan to Attend our First General PTSA meeting - Oct. 4th at 7:30pm in the QAE Cafeteria
 
Learn about the school's plans for project based learning, the Building Excellence lV capital levy and its implications for QAE, the PTSA's plans for the year, and more.  All are welcome and encouraged to share their own thoughts and ideas for the school.  
 
Childcare is available at Kids Co. BY RESERVATION (kids ages 4 and older, potty trained).  $10 suggested donation at the door, payable to QAE PTSA.  Please call Patrick at (206) 216-2250 to reserve your spot - it will fill up!  Drop off no earlier than 7:15; pick-up no later than 9:15.

Curriculum night childcare available at Kids Co. BY RESERVATION (kids ages 4 and older, potty trained).  $5 per session suggested donation at the door, payable to QAE PTSA.  Please call Patrick at (206) 216.2250 to reserve your spot - it will fill up!  Please let him know if you are reserving for one session or for both.  Drop off no earlier than 6:15; pick-up no later than 8:15pm!

On September 27th teachers will be presenting two times—from 6:30 to 7:10 and from 7:20 to 8:00. You may choose to attend either presentation, they will cover the same material so please be on time to one of the sessions.

The purpose of Curriculum Night is to provide you with an overview of your child’s year at Queen Anne. It is important that you get to know your child’s teacher, their vision, their focus and also very importantly, some of the nuts and bolts stuff of this second year. Please look at your family
calendar before you come and prepare to choose a time for your Parent/Teacher/Student Conference the first two or three days of Thanksgiving week. Some of our teachers will be making Saturday, November 17th available for conferences also. Please remember that conferences preempt vacation during that week so please plan a conference time before making travel arrangements.

Teachers will not be prepared for one-on-one conferences during Curriculum Night but you will have time to look around the room, look at your child’s work and get a feel for their space.

Jeffrey Riley will be in the library/computer lab and Jeff Rothenberg will be in the Treehouse and those are stops you must make while you are at the
school that  night.

Teachers will be leaving the building by 8:15PM to get some sleep for the following day.  Please respect their time and thanks for making the time for this important event. 

Afterwards, meet other parents and help support the PTSA at Parent's Night Out, immediately following Curriculum Night on Queen Anne at Five Hooks Fish Grill.

Hello Parents!! Socialize with other QAE parents after next Thursday's Curriculum Night.  The Five Hooks Fish Grill at 2232 Queen Anne Ave will be opening it's doors to QAE parents on Thursday, Sept 27 immediately following Curriculum Night.  Wine, beer and menu items can be ordered.  

So stroll down Boston Street after meeting with your child's teacher, catch up with other parents (without interruptions from children), and support this local business.  Five Hooks has generously offered to donate a percentage of the night's proceeds to the QAE PTSA!

Support QAE on the upcoming Building For Excellence IV Levy!
 
Seattle Public Schools will host three community meetings on September 20, 24 and 27 to share information and ask for comments about building construction projects to be included in the Building Excellence IV (BEX IV) Capital Levy package. Once approved by the School Board, the BEX IV Capital Levy resolution will be submitted to Seattle voters in February 2013.
  
Queen Anne Elementary is currently designated to have a classroom and commons/gymnasium addition completed by 2019.  QAE parents should advocate the project be moved up to a 2016 slot to help meet the enrollment needs in the McClure cluster (see: portables at John Hay, large class sizes, etc. ) as well meeting the basic infrastructure needs at QAE- a real gym, a place that can hold all-school events, and more classrooms.  

Note that the September 27 meeting at McClure overlaps with the QAE Curriculum Night.  Families are encouraged to attend the McClure community meeting before or after attending Curriculum Night to make sure our voices are heard.

The community meeting dates are:

 Thursday, September 20, 2012
 6:30pm - 8:00pm
 Whitman Middle School
 9201 15th Ave NW
 Seattle, WA 98117

 Monday, September 24, 2012
 6:30pm - 8:00pm
 Madison Middle School
 3429 45th Ave SW
 Seattle, WA 98116

 Thursday, September 27, 2012
 6:30pm - 8:00pm
 McClure Middle School
 1915 1st Ave W
 Seattle, WA 98119
 
More information:

  SPS Building Excellence (BEX) Capital Projects
http://www.seattleschools.org/modules/cms/pages.phtml?pageid=222698

  SPS Building Excellence Program
http://bex.seattleschools.org/
 
Principal Elliott’s blog post about BEX IV from last spring.

The teachers are almost ready to have volunteers regularly in their classrooms.  Are you ready to volunteer???

This year we are instituting a training requirement before volunteers can work a classroom.  Please sign up on VolunteerSpot for a Training Session that fits your schedule.  The sooner you complete training, the sooner you can help out in your child's classroom!

Thank you for all you do!
Classroom Coordinators,
PTSA Volunteer Coordinators
& QAE Staff

September 22 from 10-11:30 is our second annual School Beautification Day.  
We have shrubs and flowers to plant in the front of the brick building, some weeding too and will do a general sweep-up/pick-up for the entire campus.  This is a family event, so please bring snacks for your family in case your kids get hungry.  Please contact Kristin Teske at [email protected] with any questions. 
Looking forward to seeing you there!
The QAE PTSA

Please mark your calendars for the first general meeting of the QAE PTSA - all are welcome!  More details to come.
And please consider joining the QAE PTSA!  The Queen Anne Elementary PTSA is part of the larger district and national PTA organization.  Your participation is encouraged as we hope every family  joins.  The primary role of our PTSA is to advocate for all children at Queen Anne Elementary and across our state.  A major part of that advocacy includes working hard to support the staff, help build a strong school community, and raise funds to serve those goals. We invite you to attend all PTSA  functions.  Individual membership is $15 and for families $25. Members should  re-enroll each year. Joining the PTSA enables your fullest participation in QAE  success and is a terrific way to get to know families from all grades.  Signing up is easy - just click here and you can join online (or print out the form). 

After a successful first year in 2011, your chance to Run the Bluff for a great cause is back! The scenic 12K tours the Magnolia community and features unsurpassed views for those who want to tackle a longer run or walk, wht the 5K run/walk will also highlight the natural beauty of Magnolia. Our family friendly event features a free kids dash and a fantastic post-race celebration in Magnolia Village including lots of exhibitors, giveaways, and live music. There will also be a beer garden for those 21 and over. Join us on October 7th and discover the magic of Magnolia for yourself!

Run the Bluff operates as a support for the  Magnolia Community; Proceeds from the event will be donated to 7 local PTA groups (incluidng QAE!).

 Magnolia 12K/5K Run  the Bluff & Kids Dash 

If you are interested in having your child tested for Advanced Placement, you can pick up a form in the office.  More information is available here.  They are due back by Oct 4 so please get them turned in as soon as you can.

URGENT!  Our 5th Grade Crossing Guards will be away at Islandwood all next week. We *NEED* adult volunteers to cover *all* of the pedestrian intersections around our school while they are away.  Please seriously consider standing guard for at least one morning or afternoon shift.  Follow this link to sign up.
http://tinyurl.com/IslandwoodSafetyPatrol