Ms. Roy is leading a Welcome to Queen Anne event for new families on May 3rd 5:30 – 7 pm. This is a drop-in style with a PTSA table set up to offer information, answer questions and get to know people. It's so nice to meet people in person again! QAE's very own 4th and 5th grade Explorers will be tour guides. Meet outside in the school courtyard. 

Starting on Monday, May 9th from 7:55 a.m. - 8:25 a.m. Ms. Roy will be available to informally gather outside with parents to connect over coffee. This is a great time to ask questions and share ideas.  All are welcome and we are so happy to have this tradition come back to life! Keep tuning in here for the June Caffeine with Janine date. 

Thank you for your readership! This is a QAE PTSA newsletter. Please direct, question, comments, concerns and ideas to [email protected] ​

Principal Roy shared the following in her Friday email:

Monday Morning Meeting 11/5/18:   – We recognize birthday’s for the week, and Ms. Belcher’s students are sharing their learning.  Families are always welcome!

Book It Performance 11/7/18:  Thank you PTSA for providing another great Book It Theatre performance at QAE.  This week’s performance is The Upside Down Boy/El Nino De Cabeza.  Students will be participating in activities this week in preparation for this fantastic performance.  Parents and younger siblings are welcome!  Here is a description of the performance:  “ When Juan and his family move to a big city, his whole world feels upside down. He doesn’t speak English, he doesn’t understand the rules to recess, and whenever he tries to speak, his tongue feels like heavy rocks. But with the help of music, poetry, and an encouraging teacher, Juan finds his voice and footing in this upside-down world that he soon considers his home.”

Veterans Day Assembly 11/9/18 at 9:15 am:  Our Veterans Assembly is altogether in the John Marshall Auditorium this year. It is great to be able to gather together as a whole-school community now that we have space!  Parents and families are welcome to join us for this special annual assembly. 

​During the assembly, we invite veterans to share their reflections with our K – 5th grade students.If you have a veteran in your family who would like to attend our assembly and/or possibly share their reflections, please email [email protected].

If your child is a scout, we invite them to dress in uniform on Nov. 9th.Please email [email protected] we would like to recognize their community involvement at the assembly.

Earlier this afternoon Principal Roy shared the following e-mail with the student community. The PTSA wants to underscore the thanks given to Ms. Dudley, Ms. Palumbo and Ms. McCormick for helping us work through this difficult situation. We are relieved that there will be no reduction in existing classrooms at QAE!

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Dear QAE Parents/Guardians,

Each September, Seattle Public Schools examines initial school enrollment and makes staffing adjustments district-wide. This year, SPS enrollment is significantly below projections which impacted many schools across the district. Queen Anne Elementary is one of several SPS elementary schools directed to make staffing adjustments. This means we must adjust our staffing by one full-time teacher. Our next step is to determine how to best do this while having the least impact on students.

In light of losing a full-time teacher, which would force a reorganization of almost all of our classes, the staff came up with a unique approach that minimizes the impact on our children. We thank Ms. Bonnie Dudley, Ms. Megan Palumbo and Ms. Helene McCormick for their dedication to supporting our students in crafting an innovative plan.

After consensus with the Building Leadership Team (composed of staff, PTSA Executive and parents; K – 5th grade teachers and Career Ladder Teachers) and QAE staff, here is our plan:

• Ms. Bonnie Dudley and Ms. Megan Palumbo will job-share the 2nd grade class. When Ms. Palumbo goes on maternity leave in March, Ms. Dudley will teach the class full time for the remainder of the year.
• Ms. McCormick, our 0.6 Reading Specialist, voluntarily reduced her assignment by 0.1 FTE. PTSA generously agreed to fund an additional 0.4 FTE so that QAE will keep a Reading Specialist at QAE. We are thrilled that Ms. McCormick will continue supporting QAE explorers this year. Thank you so much, PTSA!

What does this mean for your child?

• All our classes remain intact. No classes will need to be reorganized.
• While Ms. Bonnie is our least senior teacher, her class remains in place because Ms. Bonnie and Ms.
• Palumbo volunteered to job share.
• Thanks to PTSA additional funding, we will have a 0.5 FTE Reading Specialist at QAE in 2018-19.
• We will not have a 0.5 Math Specialist at QAE in 2018-2019.

Ms. Bonnie, Ms. Palumbo, QAE staff and I will work closely with students and parents in the 2nd grade class to navigate this unexpected change. All students will continue to have great teachers and continue learning alongside their current classmates.

• Even if your child isn’t in Ms. Bonnie’s class, your child may still hear about this change or have a friend impacted by the change. While none of us wants a change to happen, modeling for our students that we will get through this together is important. We can help our students through this process by:
• Talking with students to identify feelings created by this change and how to deal with feelings. Expressing both sadness at the change and confidence that we will manage this in our supportive community helps students build their emotional and social skills.
• Providing reassurance that once these changes are made, there will not be additional SPS staffing changes in the coming weeks and months.
• Helping students to identify ways they can help both themselves and others. Checking in with friends and expressing support ensures that all students know that they have a role in impacting our community and our world.
• Ms. Bonnie, Ms. Palumbo and Ms. McCormick want parents to know that they understand this change has to be made, and they want to make it as calmly and smoothly as possible for students. Expressing your support to teachers as we make this change by writing a note or sending an email would be ideal, as they are very mindful of the impact adult conversations can have in front of students.
• Read the SPS post on Staffing Adjustments.
• Below are Reorganization FAQ which parents may find helpful.
• I welcome your questions and don’t hesitate to reach out to me! Please contact me by phone or email at [email protected] and I will get back to you as quickly as possible.
• This article may provide some helpful information to parents as we help students navigate this unexpected change

I want to express my appreciation and support to every QAE family, our incredible QAE staff, our BLT and PTSA. Collaboratively working together has been essential during this process. We will get through this change over the next few days, and most importantly, we will get through this together as a supportive QAE community.

Yours,
Janine Roy, Principal

​
QAE 2018 Reorganization FAQ

When a school has to reduce a teaching position, how is this done?
When a teacher needs to be displaced in a school, we are contractually required to ask for volunteers and if none emerge, then the least senior classroom teacher is automatically displaced. At QAE, we had three volunteers which allows us to keep classes intact:

• Ms. Palumbo volunteered to change her position to 0.5 second grade so that her 0.5 Math Specialist position could be eliminated.
  
• Ms. Bonnie volunteered to reduce from full-time to half time in order to remain at QAE.
  
• Ms. McCormick, our 0.6 Reading Specialist, volunteered to reduce her assignment by 0.1 FTE. PTSA is generously funding an additional 0.4 FTE so that Ms. McCormick can remain as QAE’s Reading Specialist. Huge thanks to PTSA for your incredible support for students!

Are we at risk of losing any additional staff/resources?
No. Staffing adjustments are only made at the beginning of the year at elementary schools.

Could we have made cuts/savings in other places to save this position?
No. Schools are allocated separate budgets for staffing and supplies. Supply budgets cannot be moved to cover staffing needs, nor would they be sufficient to meet these costs.

Were enrollments down across all Seattle Public Schools?
Enrollment at the elementary level is down across the district. Schools are impacted differently based on their boundaries, housing trends, etc.

How does this compare to other elementary schools in our area?
Other elementary schools in the Queen Anne community had a difference between their projected enrollment and actual enrollment as well.

Did we take all the students off our waitlist?
Yes, all interested families were accepted at QAE this year.

Reposting what Principal Roy shared -- lots of good info! Open the PDF to read or view the embedded version below (may not be visible on all browsers).
​

The annual QAE Fund Drive is on! This is your chance to help our school and its students. If you haven't seen it yet, here's the letter Principal Roy is including in our orange folders:

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Dear QAE family,

The annual QAE Fund Drive has begun!

I’m writing today to ask you to make a special gift to support QAE students. Because you know, like I do, that school funding does not cover everything we want for our children.

Here’s what your gift to the Fund Drive will do . . .

Your gift will help fund three of the key specialists that make QAE such an incredible place for your child:

• Our Counselor, who helps make QAE a safe space for every child
• Our Reading Interventionist Teacher, who helps every child who needs it with a skill that’s more important every day
• Our Math Interventionist Teacher, who helps with one of the most important building blocks for a child today

Additionally, you’ll help fund the Social Emotional Learning and Project Based Learning curriculum. On the back page of this letter I’ve included a list of all of the things your gift helps fund. It’s a long list.

I need to be clear. QAE does not receive funding for the three positions above. Unless you and the PTSA raise the money, these positions will not be filled.

So each year, an incredible group of people band together to help QAE provide a fantastic learning and growing experience for our children. The PTSA organizes the fund drive. As Principal, I do everything I can to support them – and you.

Because it’s your generosity that makes these incredible things possible for the students. It’s your generosity that provides for the people and programs that set our school – and your kids – apart.

Please send a gift, by December 15th, using the enclosed reply card or by going to:
https://qae.givingfuel.com/qae-ptsa-annual-fund-drive

Very appreciatively,

Janine Roy
Principal, QAE

Have some caffeine with Janine! Please join us for "Coffee After the Bell" - an (almost) monthly opportunity for QAE parents to check in with Ms. Roy in a casual, warm cafeteria gathering. What can you expect at PBL night? Wondering about the move? What's up with that big 'ole lake that develops in the playground every time it rains? Bring all your questions and she'll do her best to answer them. It's a great way to connect with our principal and start your morning! 

The QAE PTSA will provide coffee for each of these chats!
​
The first gathering will be on Thursday, November 30, from 8-8:30. Bring your questions and comments, and—if you’re bringing preschoolers along—something to entertain them with. If you want to mark your calendar, here are the details for the rest of the year: 
 
TIME: 8-8:30am
PLACE: QAE Cafeteria
DATES: 

• Thursday, November 30
• Thursday, December 14
• Thursday, February 1 (This date replaces Jan 25th)
• Thursday, March 29
• Thursday, April 26
• Thursday, May 24

Bell Time Survey:  QAE Bell Time Survey deadline is Thursday, Oct. 26 at 5 pm.  The data will be compiled and presented to the Board of Directors later this year.  We need your feedback on start times for next year!

Veterans Day Assembly:  Nov. 9th

• K – 2nd grade Veterans Day Assembly:  8 am
• 3rd – 5th grade Veterans Day Assembly:  8:30 am

If you have a veteran in your family who would like to attend both assemblies and possibly share their reflections, please email Janine so we can connect with you in advance.

If your child is a scout, please email Janine at [email protected] as we would like them to be involved in the assembly.

Request from Ms. Nancy: Our amazing QAE Nutritionist, Ms. Nancy, has injured her foot and would like to minimize her walking.  She is asking for volunteers to help with restocking the food and washing trays for the next couple of weeks. If you can help, please email Ms. Nancy. 

Lost and Found: Reminder that lost and found items will be donated end of the month. Please check out our vast collection ASAP!

Next Week at QAE:  10/24/17 Families of Color Meeting – 6-8 pm

When: Thursday, Oct. 12th, 6:30-8pm

It's that time of year! Curriculum Night is an opportunity for our teachers to share their vision, focus, and plans for the year. You'll also hear more about Project Based Learning, daily life in the classroom, and volunteer opportunities.

• 6:30pm - Meet in the cafeteria for staff introductions and overview of our Five Pillars of Learning
• 7pm - Session #1: Teachers provide information on academic programs, social emotional  learning and supporting your child at home for the year
• 7:25pm - Session #2 – this is a repeat of Session #1 for families with multiple children at QAE 
• 7:55pm - Curriculum Night wraps up. Still have questions? Come to the cafeteria to connect with Principal Roy

Update: CURRICULUM NIGHT GAMES & FORTS!
This just in! There is now a child-focused event happening at Curriculum Night. A limited number of spaces are available for current QAE students to participate in Games & Forts, led by Gen Zoufal and Alex Hagen. If you are interested in registering your child, please follow this link:
https://qaeptsa.wufoo.com/forms/curriculum-night-games-forts/

Suggested donation is $5 per child. Registration will open at 4:30pm on Wednesday, October 11th and close at 5pm on Thursday, October 12th. If you have any questions, please contact [email protected]

 Look forward to seeing you at Curriculum Night!

Ms. Roy sent out the letter early today to all QAE families. See below for answers to some questions about this change.

------

Dear QAE families,

​Each year, SPS examines September enrollment and then makes district-wide staffing adjustments. Our enrollment has changed this year due to factors such as higher-than-expected family relocations. As a result, SPS Enrollment needs to displace one teacher at QAE. Contractually, we are required to displace our least senior teacher, and we are saddened to report that 4th grade teacher Ms. Dawson will be assigned to teach at a new school. Ms. Dawson wants parents to know that she understands and accepts this change has to be made, and her hope is to make it as calm and smooth as possible for students and for her move to a new school.

​Our Building Leadership Team (BLT), composed of staff, PTSA and parents, recommends that we reorganize classes at 4th grade, due to current class sizes and striving to impact as few students as possible. This means we will shift from three 4th grade classes to two. Staff have worked together to create the best placements for our students and I have been in communication with 4th grade families in Ms. Dawson’s class already. We know our incredible QAE staff will support all students during this transition. The PTSA was clear that it wants to help the affected classes and will vote on funding a 4th grade tutor at the next meeting.

​While no one wants this to happen, sometimes unexpected things occur. Modeling for our students that we will get through this together is important. All QAE families can help our students and our community by:

• Talking with students to identify feelings created by this change and how to deal with feelings. Expressing both sadness at the change and confidence that we will manage this in our supportive community helps students build their emotional and social skills.
• Providing reassurance that once we make these changes, there will not be additional SPS staffing changes in the coming weeks and months.
• Helping students to identify ways they can help both themselves and others. Helping with the move, checking in with friends and expressing support ensures that all students know that they have a role in impacting our community and our world.

I welcome questions and don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I have also attached a second page of answers to some questions I anticipate you may have. ​

​Thank you to our wonderful QAE community. Collaboratively working with staff, BLT and PTSA has been essential during this process. We will get through this change over the next few days, and most importantly, we will get through this together as a supportive QAE community.

Many thanks,

Janine
[email protected]

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QAE 2017 Reorganization FAQ

When a school loses a teacher, how is that teacher chosen?
When a teacher needs to be displaced in a school, we are contractually required to ask for volunteers and if none emerge, then the least senior classroom teacher is automatically displaced. The teacher being displaced is the least senior teacher at our school based on years teaching in SPS and in Washington state, as her experience is out of state.

What happens to the teacher who is displaced from the school?
She is assigned to a teaching position in another SPS school.

If our enrollment is down, do we get to keep the Head Teacher role (Katie Cryan Leary)?
Administrative allocations are assigned for the year and do not fluctuate due to enrollment changes. Our Head Teacher position was funded by converting our Assistant Principal allocation into a Head Teacher position for this year, so this position remains in place for the year. This role will be so important as we prepare for our move to our interim site next year.

Are we at risk of losing our music teacher?
Based on the number of classroom teachers at QAE, our specialist teacher allocation has not changed.

Are we at risk of losing any additional staff/resources?
At this time, I do not anticipate any impact to district services from SPS this year.

Could we have made cuts/savings in other places to save this position?
No. Schools are allocated separate budgets for staffing and supplies. Supply budgets cannot be moved to cover staffing needs, nor would they be sufficient to meet these costs.

Were enrollments down across all Seattle Public Schools?
Enrollment at the elementary level is down across the district. Schools are affected differently based on their boundaries, housing trends, etc.

How does this compare to other elementary schools in our area?
QAE is an option school so it enrolls differently than the neighboring attendance area schools that have automatic assignments. One unexpected factor this summer was that option school enrollments were affected by technical issues with the SPS online admission system not informing new families about option schools in their area. This technical issue, which inadvertently occurred over the summer, specifically impacted option schools enrollments. This has since been corrected, but it affected option schools.

Is our enrollment different from last year?
QAE’s enrollment this year is an unexpected anomaly. With the upcoming remodel of the school, the district and community clearly feel QAE will grow to capacity. Bottom line: this is not a trend, just a result of many different factors happening at once.

Did we take all the students off our waitlist?
Yes, all interested families were accepted at QAE this year. Note: we did find a 2 month window where the SPS online enrollment form issues so option schools were not listed in new student enrollment options.

I welcome questions and don’t hesitate to reach out to me! I will connect with you as soon as possible.

Janine
206-252-2480

Get your popcorn and ideas ready! Join educators and families from across the Seattle area for a special screening of "Most Likely to Succeed", hosted by romp & H3 (the school created by former QAE Principal David Elliott.)

"Most Likely To Succeed" is the best film ever done on the topic of school — both its past and its future. The film inspires its audiences with a sense of purpose and possibility, and is bringing school communities together in re-imagining what our students and teachers are capable of doing. After seeing this film, you’ll never look at “school” the same way again.

Following the screening, please join in a dialogue with leaders, educators, and students from Big Picture Learning Schools, High Tech High, Impact Public School, and others immersed in Project Based Learning about the changes that can and needs to occur in our educational system.

When:
Monday, September 25th @7:00pm

​Where:
​romp
13500 BEL-RED ROAD, SUITE 7A
BELLEVUE, WA

Learn more and RSVP at: https://mostlikelytosucceedsept25.eventbrite.com

Don't miss it!!

Seen around QAE…

• Primary students measuring, counting and sorting on math trays.  Hands-on math activities allow students to develop their foundational math concepts from concrete (blocks, tiles, counters) to pictorial (drawing pictures) to symbolic (writing math equations). 
• Intermediate students participating in cooperative math challenges to build the tallest structure or longest chain possible using 1 piece of paper/cardboard.  This generated lots of collaborative problem-solving and strategizing as students developed their mathematical thinking with growth mind sets.
• Some classes celebrated International Dot Day today by focusing on creativity and collaboration!

Important Info:

Attendance
Attendance is taken at the beginning of each day.  If your child is going to be away, please email your child’s teacher and Office Assistant Jennifer Connolly at [email protected] as Jennifer is responsible for attendance.

Student Safety:  Traffic Update
Thank you, QAE families!  Our traffic challenges in the first week have been reduced thanks to families ONLY using Bigelow Street for drop off/pick up and parking vehicles on side streets instead of Bigelow. 

Mark your calendars!

QAE Individual Picture Day:  Thursday, September 21st. Retakes, class photos and whole school photo will be in October date TBD shortly.

Relocation Information Meeting:  Wednesday, Sept. 27 (6:30 – 8 pm)
 In 2018-19, our school will relocate so that a much-needed new gym and additional classrooms can be built on-site.  At this meeting, architects, SPS transportation staff and SPS relocation staff will provide information about QAE’s addition design, transportation, and information on the moving process to and from John Marshall.  We will ensure parents are well-informed about this carefully-planned process well before the end of June 2018. 

Jog-A-Thon:  Friday, Sept. 29th:  An annual tradition at QAE is our fantastic Jog-a-Thon!  This is a school-wide event focused on student goal setting for running laps around our school.  Students set a running goal in class to help them learn the importance of setting and achieving a personal goal.  This is a wonderful learning opportunity for students, and an incredible school-wide event at QAE.  PTSA coordinates a fund-raiser with the Jog-a-Thon so see link above for more fund-raising info.  Thank you to our dedicated PTSA for organizing this!

WAVE 1:  GRADES 4/5:  RUN 11:45 - 12:25 
WAVE 2:  GRADES 2/3:  RUN  12:35 - 1:15 
WAVE 3: GRADE K/1:     RUN  1:25 -1:55 
ALL SCHOOL CELEBRATION   1:55 
DISMISSAL   2:25 
​
Curriculum Night:  Thursday, Oct. 12 (6:30 – 8 pm):  For new QAE families, Curriculum Night is an annual SPS evening information session for parents.  QAE parents/guardians will begin in the cafeteria at 6:30 pm for staff introductions and an overview of our five pillars and QAE foundational elements, such as Project Based Learning (PBL), social emotional learning (SEL) and innovative technology.  Then parents/guardians will move to specific classrooms where your child’s teacher will provide information on academic programs, social emotional learning and supporting your child at home.  A 20-minute presentation will be offered at 7 pm and repeated at 7:30 pm to accommodate families with more than one child.  Beginning at 7:30 pm, Janine Roy will be available in the cafeteria to answer any remaining questions. ​

QAE Principal Janine Roy sent out the follow news on 8/31:

Welcome back!
We hope you had a fantastic summer and are ready for the year ahead.  We are looking forward to our QAE activities getting underway!

• 9/6/17             First day of school for 1st – 5th grade:
• Welcoming bell at 7:50 am
• Classes begin at 7:55 am
• School ends at 2:25 pm. 
  • This is the only Wednesday ending at 2:25.  All other Wednesday’s end at 1:10 pm.
  • Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday school ends at 2:25
• 9/6/17             Parent Reception at 8 am in the cafeteria
• 9/10/17           Back to School BBQ at Golden Gardens
• 9/11/17           First day of school for Kindergarten

Welcoming reception for Kindergarten parents at 8 am in cafeteria
 
Meet the QAE Staff!  
See our QAE Staff page for the complete list!
 
Classroom Moves:  5th grade classes will be located in the Treehouse next year, as will our Learning Lab.  4th grade classes will be located in the portables.
 
5th Grade Update
This year, our 5th grade team will follow an innovative instructional model to meet the learning needs of our learners.  Every student will learn with both teachers – students will have one teacher in the morning and one teacher in the afternoon.  Ms. Shaw will teach both groups math, science and social studies.  Ms. Malcom, and Ms. Goldman when she returns from maternity leave, will teach literacy.  Our extensive research shows that teachers will be able to focus on these content-rich academic areas in order to deepen student understanding in all subjects.  Teachers will coordinate classroom meetings, PBL, IslandWood and field trips together.  It will be a fantastic opportunity for our rising fifth grade learners to learn from two teachers as they prepare to shift to middle school next year.
 
Construction in Progress on Bigalow and Newton

• Bigalow Ave. is under repair next week.  SDOT staff will be there to direct traffic.  Drivers, please avoid Bigalow next week if you can as it will be slow. 
• Newton and Bigalow and Newton and 4th are getting new curbs on the corners.  This will make it easier for strollers and bikes!  Apologies as this work was to be done in mid-July, but it will be great to have it finished in the next few days.  Drivers, please avoid Newton between Bigalow and 4th Ave. if you can.

Principal Roy sent the below message to the Queen Anne Elementary community today. Please read below. We hope to see you on Wednesday, March 29th at 6:30 p.m. at the QAE Cafeteria. If you can't attend or want to share comments in other ways, you can write Janine directly at [email protected]g or contact the QAE PTSA at [email protected].

Dear QAE Families/Guardians:

On March 13th, a Community Meeting was held at Catherine Blaine with families from Coe, Catherine Blaine, and Lawton to discuss boundary changes regarding Magnolia Elementary, which will open in the Fall of 2018.   (Information can be found on the Magnolia Elementary Boundary Planning Page). This page will continue to be updated throughout the process.  All questions and feedback can be sent to: [email protected].)   Queen Anne Elementary and John Hay Elementary communities were not part of this Community Meeting as the potential Magnolia boundaries were not anticipated to impact our schools.  I was invited to attend the meeting as a neighboring principal.  At the meeting, some participants made suggestions about easing the overcrowding at our neighborhood schools that would affect Queen Anne Elementary.  These suggestions were unanticipated, and they need to be discussed within our community and with our neighboring communities.

Following the Community Meeting, I met with Director of Enrollment Planning, Ashley Davies, and Enrollment Planning Project Specialist, E.R. Alvarez to work together to look at how Magnolia Elementary’s opening in 2018 will impact schools in our neighborhood.   I invited Ashley Davies and E.R. Alvarez to come to a Queen Anne Elementary Community Meeting to be held on Wednesday, March 29th @ 6:30 PM in the QAE cafeteria to answer community questions from QAE families, share boundary procedures and gather our parent community feedback on how we can help overcrowding in our neighboring schools. 

Many thanks to our QAE community for working together on this. As QAE PTSA President Heath Dixon says, "This is a perfect time for us to model what we're teaching our children about how to handle challenges.  Let’s help to share the facts calmly within and outside of our community and help our neighbors solve this problem collaboratively. We need to contribute to the district's process of making decisions about boundaries in our neighborhoods.  That starts by encouraging communication and understanding."

I am gathering all of the information I can to compile questions, comments, or suggestions from you before the meeting so that the format for the meeting can be set according to our community’s needs.  Please email me at [email protected] to share your input.

Janine

Janine Roy
Principal
Queen Anne Elementary
411 Boston Street
Seattle,  WA
98109
206-252-2480