Reminder: join us on Thursday evening, 6:30-8pm, for a free parent education event hosted on Zoom! Katie Gruver from Positive Parenting Seattle will be presenting on "Using Family Meetings to Reconnect, Solve Problems and Have Fun (yes, it's possible!) During COVID-19."

How to join:
Please send an email to Principal Roy at jbroy@seattleschools.org and she'll share the Zoom link to you.

If you feel like you’re constantly renegotiating expectations with your child(ren) about homework, chores, bedtimes, screen usage, siblings etc; if you feel like you’ve fallen back on punishments or threats and are looking for a few new ideas; if you feel like you're spending every moment together, but that very little of it is FUN; if you've been overwhelmed or disconnected or frustrated by juggling it all right now, please join us for an informative and uplifting conversation on family meetings. More details on the schedule and about Katie here...
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We can't be together right now, but Dr. V would love to get new books into the hands of students and families! We know these are tough times for many families, but Dr. V has put together a great list of books (and some crafting kits).

Dr. V's list includes some great books for every grade level. Secret Garden Books will donate 10% of the the purchase price of books on the list to the QAE Library.

How the Book Fair works:

1. Go to the QAE Library Wish List on Secret Garden’s site. Browse the long list of picture books, Sasquatch and Washington Children's Choice Award Books, graphic novels, and craft kits. Order from that list and the Queen Anne Library gets 10% on those purchases. Be sure to add "Queen Anne Book Fair" in the comment section of your order.
   
2. At this time, you may pick up pre-paid orders curbside. See their website for pickup hours, they will contact you when your order is ready.
   
3. We also encourage you to order other titles from their vast catalog, they will most likely be shipped separately. (Though these purchases won't directly help our library, they will help support Secret Garden Books, our lovely partner for literary greatness!)
   
4. You may also purchase a Gift Certificate that will go directly to the QAE Library to help Dr. V build our collection of awesome titles.

Questions? Please contact Dr. V at ​elvaldez@seattleschools.org or Secret Garden Books at 206-789-5006.

In this time of staying-at-home, we've adjusting how we can support our families. The QAE PTSA will be hosting  an online parent education event. Katie Gruver, of Positive Parenting Seattle, will be presenting on "Using Family Meetings to Reconnect, Solve Problems and Have Fun (yes, it's possible!) During COVID-19" ​on Thursday, May 14th.

If you feel like you’re constantly renegotiating expectations with your child(ren) about homework, chores, bedtimes, screen usage, siblings etc; if you feel like you’ve fallen back on punishments or threats and are looking for a few new ideas; if you feel like you're spending every moment together, but that very little of it is FUN; if you've been overwhelmed or disconnected or frustrated by juggling it all right now, please join us for an informative and uplifting conversation on family meetings. 

When: Thursday, May 14th, 6:30-8pm
Where: Your house! We'll be hosting the meeting on Zoom. See below.
Cost: This is a free event, but we are collecting donations to reimburse the presenter for her time. Any excess funds will be donated to the Ballard Food Bank. 
To Register: Please write to Ms. Roy at jbroy@seattleschools.org and she'll send you the Zoom link as well as the link to donate (if you can't afford to donate, no worries, we want all families to attend!)

Agenda: 

• 6:30-7:3pm
  • Family Meetings 101 (what is it and why)
  • How to invite your child(ren) to teach you how to get started (Principal Janine Roy & Teacher Lorin Belcher will share what your children already know)
  • Avoiding common challenges (like unhelpful ideas or parental "fixing")
  • Helping children solve their own problems
  • Keeping agreements and setting clear expectations
  • Find the Fun & Leave Them Laughing (focusing on connection vs “doing it right”)
• 7:30pm Q & A --- What’s holding you back from getting started? What would help?

Some Background

• Now, more than any other time in modern history, families are under stress to find new ways to work together, compromise, build solutions, set clear expectations and keep agreements with one another. We also know that all of this is new and so, so hard.
• Family Meetings are the in-home version of what your students have already been doing all year in their own class meetings. Family Meetings are a place for: Connection, Problem solving vs Punishments, Accountability, Leadership, Helpful Skill-building & Fun!
• We believe they may just be your #1 parenting tool, all the time... but especially right now.

See you online on Tuesday!
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QAE community – the PTSA has been a little quiet over the past few weeks. Like each of you, we have been navigating our new normal. Balancing work, or no work, distance learning for our kids, Zoom meetings/happy hours/classrooms AND all the dishes! Parents that are Essential Workers – THANK YOU for being essential and being there for others!

The PTSA team has been chipping away at a handful of items and wanted to give you a quick update:

Auction – Thank you for participating in our first Virtual Auction. The consensus was we came together as a community and did an AMAZING job at raising money for our school, teachers and kids. Thank you to Mary Rea and Jenn Lovin for all of their hard work. Our community raised almost $95,000! Thank you for pivoting and being flexible when we weren’t sure how we were going to pull it off.

Reimbursement Forms – If you have any receipts that need reimbursement. Please submit your forms and receipts using this link and email to treasurers@qaeptsa.org.

Open PTSA Roles for next year – These are unprecedented times and the Board needs your help to fill next year’s leadership roles. We have a number of open roles – if you are interested, we would like to speak with you.

Officers - Officers sign checks, manage the budget and expenditures, ensure legal requirements are met, and provide leadership on PTSA interests throughout the school year

• President
• Co-Treasurer
• Secretary
• Assistant Treasurer

Directors - take the responsibility of specific areas of interest, along with advising and voting on issues at regular PTSA board meetings. Together with the Executive group, they form the voting members of the Board

• Communications Director
• Fundraising
• Legislative Director
• Families of Color Director
• Technology Advisor Director

Coordinators - They do not have a vote and are not required to attend board meetings (but are welcome and encouraged to!). They fill vital additional roles for QAE.

• Co- Community Outreach & Events Coordinator
• Garden Coordinator
• Fund Drive
• Auction

Budget Season — usually this time of year we take a lot of time going through line by line of our PTSA budget to determine how much we should allocate for next year. We continue to do this work but understand there are a lot of unknowns and want to give ourselves the most flexibility for the 2020-2021 school year.

Yearbook — Can you believe we are still thinking about Yearbooks?!? Send in your pictures and ESPECIALLY any fun at home pictures because we are going to have an “at home” section because this will be a most memorable part of the 2019-2020 school year. 

We are also working on details of a Virtual Book Fair and Virtual Parent Education event, more to come as we get those details! If you have any questions or concerns please reach out to Sandra Nanney at president@qaeptsa.org.

Thank you,

Sandra Nanney
QAE PTSA President

UPDATE: Movie Night has been postponed. New date TBA soon!

Join us for QAE Movie Night with a family favorite, The Emoji Movie. Come in your pajamas and bring a favorite stuffy and blanket to get cozy on the gym floor. Food will be available for suggested donations in the cafeteria. We’ll have hot dogs & popcorn if you want to have dinner while watching the movie. Plus desserts & baked goods will be available for purchase and sponsored by 4th grade to raise money for Islandwood!

When: Thursday, March 5th, 2020, 6-7:30pm
Where: The QAE Cafeteria! We’ll be viewing the movie picnic style so bring a comfy blanket!
Cost: $10/family which includes 2 free bags of popcorn and helps offset the costs of the movie licensing fee.
Please RSVP here for the Movie Night....

Help us plan by RSVPing ahead of time for the Family Movie Night!

We welcome volunteer support
Please volunteer! Volunteers and their families get free admission! Sign up to volunteer here...

All proceeds go to QAE PTSA Community Events.

Join us Tuesday night at the school for a free parent workshop on Positive Discipline! Whether you're looking to better deal with challenging behavior, feel less overwhelmed at home or just want to learn about the Positive Discipline framework used at QAE, you'll learn a lot!  Positive Discipline Parent Educator Katie Gruver will facilitate a hands-on workshop for parents and caregivers of QAE students.

When: February 25th, 6-7:30pm
Where: Queen Anne Elementary. We'll be in the Chillzone
Games Club will be available during the workshop. Reserve spot(s) here for your kiddos.
More information here...

Due to the snow, the Open House for Prospective Families has been moved to next Wednesday, Jan. 22nd at 6:30pm! Pass this info along to any families you know who might be interested in having their kids attend QAE next year.

See the Info for Prospective Families page for all the details including RSVPs.

Here's the flyer showing all the dates and info!

Our annual whole school Martin Luther King Jr. Assembly has been moved to Tuesday, Jan. 21st to give our students more time to prepare after the snow craziness!  Please join us at 8:15am in the gym! Presentations will be from 1st grade, 3rd grade and 5th grade. Families are welcome to join us for this important annual assembly to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
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Reminder that Monday, Jan. 20th, 2020 is a school holiday to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Here are some family activities you can do to meaningfully celebrate MLK Day:

• Read with your children. Here are great book suggestions from PBS
• Visit Seattle’s Northwest African American Museum
• Join the 2020 MLK March and Celebration. beginning at Garfield High School at 8:30
• Watch movies about social justice
• Discuss acceptance
• Draw a picture

Our Fall Project-Based Learning Showcase and MakerSpace MarketPlace is next week!

When: Tuesday, Dec. 17th 2019, 5:30-7:30pm
Where: QAE - MarketPlace is in gym/Chillzone, project presentations in classroom areas

Be sure to bring cash to get some wonderful creations from the MarketPlace. Full schedule detail below:

Find some great holiday gifts, relax with friends and cocktails, raise money in support of QAE and support a local business—check, check, check and check! Spread the Explorer Spirit and support our school community in style with Mingle & Shop at Queen Anne Frame & Gift.

When:  Tuesday, December 10, 2019 from 4-8pm (your discount valid all day)
Where: Queen Anne Frame & Gift, 1621 Queen Anne Ave N
Cost: Register for $25, all of which goes to the PTSA Community Events ​Fund!
Register online here...

Enjoy an evening of community while checking off your holiday shopping list. Enjoy cocktails and 20% off all your gift shop purchases.

Shop all day December 10th with your discount, cocktails will be served 4-8pm.

Event sponsored by Nick and Kirsty Papadopulos, parents to Riese (5th grader) and Peyton (4th grader).

Please join us for this special night! Please reserve your spot here.

Questions? Contact Kirsty at ​knpapadopulos@gmail.com

A message from Sandra Nanney, QAE PTSA President:

I hope everyone enjoys their Thanksgiving week away from school. At the end of November I find myself 1) surprised that it’s November and 2) thinking how thankful I am! I want to apologize that I have not done more snippets of wider communication over the past couple of months with the people that I wanted to thank and recognize. It’s amazing how life can sweep you away…

Mary Rea, mom to Colin in Mr. Backman’s 4th grade class, she signed up to help lead our Auction. Remember to save the date: our annual auction will be on March 13, 2020.

Justin Ward, dad to Benjamin in Ms. Scannapieco’s K class, he signed up to be our Fundraising Director for this year. He is going to help provide some structure and oversight to our annual Fundraising campaigns. You'll be hearing more from Justin soon!

Jennifer Lovin, mom to Eloise in Ms. Belcher’s 2nd grade class & Romie in Mr. Backman’s 4th grade class, thank you for leading the charge in auction procurement.

April Jenks, mom to Kayla in Ms. Dickerson’s 1st grade class, thank you for teaming up with Jenn Lovin in creating and organizing the system and data.

Jodie Scott, Marna MetCalf & Nicole Forrest – What a great Jog-A-Thon! Woohoo!!! Thank you to Nicole Forrest for leading the charge on Jog-A-Thon volunteers that day, it takes a village but it really helps to have to organize each helper. THANK YOU to Jodie & Marna for taking on the big job of putting on an incredible event that allows our kids to run with such joy and to help us raise important dollars for the PTSA.

Cindy Reiner, mom to Eleanor in Ms. Dudley’s 1st grade class and Henry in Ms. Thruelson’s 3rd grade class, thank you for volunteering to be the QAE PTSA Assistant Treasurer. She is going to be crucial in making sure that checks are cut in a timely manner.

Shalini Nilakantan, Lisa Christensen, Cindy Weaver, Holly Albright, Nao Inoue, Tiffany Robinson, Kelli Baker, Meg Kelly, Sharon Breiner, Mary Giliam and many more parents for helping with over 3 hours of popcorn sales, popcorn popping, selling and clean up. It was our first ever Popcorn Fri-Yay! We are already looking at hosting another popcorn Fri-Yay in December.

And additional shout out to Shalini & Lisa along with Chris Gupta for an amazing Chili Cook Off & Bingo Night. I sampled each chili contender and I truly had a difficult time picking out a favorite!

Kay Dumlao Doherty, mom to Luna in Ms. Scheer’s 2nd grade, she continues to help make sure we are talking about race with each other and with our kids.

Andrea Hildebrandt, mom to Theo in Ms. Belcher’s 2nd grade, she continues to help us care for our community through so many green and nurturing opportunities.

Veronika Ziegler, mom to Malcom in Ms. Dickerson’s 1st grade, she is helping consolidate many of the volunteer asks that pop up. There will be ample opportunities coming up that she will need people to help sign up.

Chris Smutny, dad to Kylie in Ms. Belcher’s 2nd grade, he will be heading up our annual Fund Drive campaign (kicks off on Giving Tuesday 12/3). More information to come when that rolls out.

I know there are many others that I will have missed in the above and I wish that I was able to see and share out each individual thank you to all those who have helped make the start of this school year so successful.

I wanted to end by recapping and sharing a story around our Jog-A-Thon:

Thank you to all that participated in the JAT this year. We raised almost $37,000!!! For parent bragging rights Ms. Hartmann’s 4th grade class raised the most money of all the classes. Interesting Fact – The Class of 2021, current 4th graders, have been the highest fundraising class since they started in Kindergarten. We don’t usually recognize individual students for fundraising but I wanted to make a special call out to Sloan Weaver in 1st grade – she was the highest fundraiser this year and had bravely gone from office to office at her father’s workplace to ask for donations on behalf of QAE!

One of our parent volunteer put together this great slideshow of the Jog-A-Thon! Love to see those smiles and the energy of our Explorers!

With thanks,
​
Sandra Nanney
QAE PTSA President

Our annual celebration of the season returns! All QAE families are welcome to our Winter Celebration on December 5th. This celebration has become a QAE family favorite as it is a time when we can all come together and proudly share our family traditions to welcome Winter. We invite families to share a favorite dish or a tradition - song, dance, poem, story, or craft. The success of this event is definitely dependent on all families and students participation! Join us for an evening of fun, food, family, and friendship!

When: Thursday, Dec. 5th, 2019, 5:45-7:30pm
Where: QAE Cafeteria and Chill Zone

We need your help to make these celebrations a success! To sign up for food, traditions, or just to help set up and clean-up see links below!  

• RSVP here to bring a dish, side or dessert. 
• RSVP here to share a craft, entertainment or other tradition
• RSVP here to help with set up or clean up​​

​Our Chili Cook-Off and Bingo Night was a ton of fun! Thanks to all those who brought chili and other goodies. The winner for favorite chili went to Reese Christensen in 1st grade for the Kids chili and 2nd place was a tie with Chris Gupta and Chris Nettles! Winner of the Most Creative chili was Ravdin Family for the white turkey and poblano chili. Bingo was a hit as well. Thanks to Shalini Nilakantan, Lisa Christensen and the other volunteers who made this happen!

We'll be honoring veterans during our annual assembly on Friday starting at 8:15am (and remember, no school on Monday!). All families are welcome to join us for this special assembly. We need your help—if you or a member of your family are a veteran we'd love if you shared your reflections with our students.

• If you have a veteran in your family who would like to attend and/or share their reflections, please email Janine at jbroy@seattleschools.org
• If your child is a scout, we invite them to dress in their uniform on Friday. Please email Janine as we'd like to recognize their community involvement at the assembly.