PRINCIPAL’S MONDAY BULLETIN
Green Lake Elementary
January 9, 2012
jbowers@seattleschools.org
206-252-5320
 
Please remember that Seattle Public Schools will be observing a FURLOUGH DAY on January 24th.   School will be dismissed at 12:00 P.M. and all staff is REQUIRED TO LEAVE THE SAME TIME AS STUDENTS.   Alternative daycare arrangements  MUST be made.
 
JANUARY
3-20                 MAP Testing Window
13th                  Principal’s Coffee, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. (portable G-2)
16th                  Martin Luther King Jr. Day – No School
24th                  Second Furlough Day – Early Dismissal for Students (More details to come)
27th                  Day Between Semesters - No School
30th                  Instrumental Music Concert, 6:30 p.m.
 
FEBRUARY
1st                           Two-Hour Early Dismissal for Staff Professional Development
13th                         Vocal Music Concert
20th                         Presidents’ Day  (Holiday)
21-24                     Mid-Winter Break
28th                         PTA Meeting, 7 to 8 p.m.
 
FROM THE PRINCIPAL
 
Dear Green Lake Families:
 
I will be holding a principal’s coffee hour, 10:30 to 11:30 this week (January 13th).  Please come for questions, answers, and comments on what is happening at Green Lake.
 
Please consider having your child participate in our breakfast and lunch programs.   Tom Douglas, chef of so many fabulous restaurants in Seattle, is teaming up with Seattle Public Schools to start offering more nutritious meals for breakfast and lunch.  Ms. Mary Ann, our new lunch lady, is encouraged by the partnership and wanted to spread the news to our Green Lake Families.
 
As you see above, January 24th will be a furlough day for all staff in the building.  This is due to funding and cutbacks.  This is like the day before school started when staff are not allowed to be on premises or even allowed to look at email or make phone calls that pertain to school after the 12:00 hour.  Please do not count on your child being able to sit in the office to be picked up as there will be no one in the office to supervise.  We have scheduled some staff to come in later in case there is an emergency, but it is for emergencies only such as medical issues or busses not being on time.  Thanks so much for your cooperation.  We would much rather have school and have your child here.
 
After break, I always like to remind you about some safety procedures.  Please remember not to drop off students in the handicapped area.  If you are bringing your child before school, we ask that you take them to the gate of the playground as students are not to be in the building before school unless they eat breakfast or are on patrol.  If you arrive late, and busses are gone, you can pull up in front to watch your child walk into the office.  Please do not ever leave your child  across the street and have them walk across outside of the crosswalk.  If you drop off across the street, please remind your child to use the crosswalk even if the crossing guards are not present.  Last but not least, school starts at 8:55.  Being on time and at school when you are not sick is very important.  Please do your utmost to have students here on time every day.  This month, we will be putting out our student handbook that we have updated.  We hope this will be a helpful tool when you have questions.
 
Please join us when you can for our assemblies. They happen at the beginning of each change of character study and at the end to celebrate our work.  Our next assembly is in February.  However, next week, we will again be celebrating MLK day as we did last year.   On Friday, January 20th, each class will work on a presentation piece for other groups of students in the building.  Classrooms will sign up to see three or four different presentations throughout the school.  We have two sessions this year.  One before the 10:15 recess and one right before students go home.  You are welcome to come and join us to watch the different presentations.  They were very high quality last year and I expect the same caliber this year just knowing our Green Lake staff.
 
Peace.
 
Principal Bowers
 
 
FROM THE PTA
 
Please look for the “auction paddles” in your child’s backpack today.  The Green Lake PTA Auction will be March 24, 2012, and promises to be a very special event!
 
 
SPECIAL SHOWING
Hamilton International Middle School PTSA presents the documentary Finding Kind on Tuesday, January 31 at 7 p.m. in the Hamilton Commons located at 1610 N 41st Street.  This public showing is free but donations are welcome to offset the costs.  The documentary is targeted at children 11 and older and their adults. For more information on the public showing contact Charlotte Trelease.

In Finding Kind, filmmakers Lauren Parsekian and Molly Thompson, who met while in school at Pepperdine University, set out in a cross country journey of discovery and education. Interviewing women and girls along the way about their lives and experiences, Parsekian and Thompson find, among all of the unique personal stories, some universal truths about growing up as girls. Finding Kind is a document of that journey, and of the filmmakers’ quest to take these experiences and find a common ground of kindness and mutual respect.

In addition to all of the individual girls and women who share their personal experiences about girl on girl bullying with the filmmakers, Parsekian and Thompson include interviews with respected experts and authors in the fields of psychology, education, and the interrelationships of women and girls.

For more information see http://findingkind.indieflix.com/home/

SCHOOL TOURS
 
It is that time of year when school tours are advertised for families who need to make middle school decisions.  As we receive these, we will publish dates and times.
McClure Middle School
Day Tours:
8:45 am – 10:20 am
 
Dates:    January 12, 19 and March 15, 2012 (all Thursday days)
 
Evening Tour:   March 22nd  (this is a change from last week)
6:30 – 8:30 pm
 
Date: 
 
No reservations required.   Parents will sign in at the reception table.
 
Eckstein Middle School
Eckstein will host an Information Night for 5th grade risers and their parents/guardians for the 2012-2013 school year on Thursday, February 16, 2012, 6:30p.m. to 7:30p.m.  This is your opportunity to learn more about Eckstein Middle School!  No reservations required.
 
Green Lake is putting together tour information for incoming kindergarten families.   We will keep you apprised of dates and times when they are determined. If you would like to lead a group of incoming families, please contact the office.  We will need volunteers for the tours.
Thanks.