Jodee and Michelle's Notes Archive

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Principal's Note 2/6/12

DearSalmon BayFamilies:

 

A big thank you to everyone who came out on Friday night and supported the Salmon and Spaghetti Feed.  Wow! We had a great turnout, very generous donations for the dinner and also for the playground tiles.  Plus, the food was definitely an amazing treat---so tasty! A special thanks to the parents who helped, especially Bret and Stephanie Lynch, to sponsor and make this event so successful.

 

I would also like to take this opportunity to introduce a new staff member:  Natalie Ramsay.  Natalie will be working with the Special Education staff in both the elementary and middle school programs. She is replacing Seema Vaze, who transferred to a position at Nathan Hale High School.  Natalie is an experienced teacher—has worked in various schools for Seattle District, including AS #1 / Pinehurst Alternative School.  She is also an endorsed art teacher, as well as core subjects and special ed teacher.  She will be located this year in Room 214.  Please give her a welcome “hello” if you have a chance.

 

Did you know?  This is National School Counselor Recognition Week!  You may recognize many of the things Anthony does with children—talking, guiding, problem-solving, friendship coaching, helping families and students in crisis, as well as teaching the anti bullying curriculum in classrooms.

 

But:  Did you also know all the new programs Anthony has added over the years, including the following ones he has added just this year:

  • Training and supporting the Panther All-Stars in their work of tutoring younger students, being peer conflict mediators, and anti-drug student educators. 
  • Starting a book group, on the titles “Raising our Sons/Daughter” by Kathy Masarie, for our parent community (the group has been beneficial to gather parents to support each other in the most important job of parenting our children).
  • Working with parents and staff to bring the wonderful movie, “Finding Kind,” to our school
  • Coordinating our first Middle School Career Day.
  • Organizing our first Middle School Health Fair put on by the Panther All-Stars to educate their peers on the negative effects of alcohol, marijuana, and tobacco.

Simply put:  We count our blessings every day that we have such an amazing counselor as Anthony!

Have a good week!

Jodee


Submitted by Caitlin Racey on Mon, 02/06/2012 - 3:14pm

Principal's Note 1/30/12

DearSalmon BayFamilies:

 

EARLY RELEASE WEDNESDAY: School dismissal at 12:35/12:45.  DON’T FORGET!

 

On Wednesday,  we will have one of our early release days for teacher professional development.  I want to thank those of you who have been so supportive of our teachers in their work to bring attention to the issues of state support for education in the legislature.

 

I also thank you for supporting the early release days for teachers, as well.  This week we will be meeting together to work further on project based learning, our focus for the year.  Previously we have read and discussed articles, teachers have taken “learning walks” to learn about other projects being

done in the building, and we have collaborated with staff from Thornton Creek School to learn more about Expeditionary Learning.  In addition teachers have organized themselves into study groups that have been meeting since September to create new project based learning for their curriculum. 

 

On WEDNESDAY we will look at current projects (one elementary, one secondary) and reflect on ways to strengthen and deepen the experience for students. We will look at further resources to support this kind of instruction (The Buck Institute) as well as a particular school,  Minnesota New Country School in Henderson, MN,  and watch a video, “Mummified Chicken, Mutant Frogs, and Rockets to the Moon.”  Teachers will meet in their study groups to see how this new information informs the projects they are creating. This time is invaluable for teachers, to take a breath and do long range planning and reflection.  So thank you for the role you play in supporting their work.

 

We’ll see you all at the Salmon / Spaghetti feed on Friday!  Seatings at 6pm, and 7pm. Donations, and playground tiles available. Bring your hungry snowboarders to dinner?

 

Take care,

Jodee

 

 

 

ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL’S NOTE

 

Sneak Peeks January 30. 2012

Now that the snow has melted and vacation is over we are settling into our routines. Scurrying around the building these past few weeks staying warm I was able to see learning in many of our classrooms.

6th grade:

  • Science was definitely hands on with students holding, petting and observing cockroaches. Tyler was like the cockroach whisperer he was able to get his cockroach to sleep in his palm and then hiss on demand….but I have to say I got a bit squeamish and let out a yelp.
  • Math students were calculating percents using real world examples with sales at local stores.
  • LA students were finishing their personal essays and doing peer editing. Essay topics ranged from being short, to the purpose of detention to the perils of being late.
  • P.E. students were swinging and climbing ropes and working on their upper body strength.

5th grade students were sipping tea as they were deep in discourse in their literature groups.

4th grade students were building stamina in their writing and honing their brainstorming strategies.

1st grade students engaged in real world applications of writing and wrote persuasive letters about getting lockers to having a play date every day.

I also wanted to thank all the parents who came in on the late start/early release snow day and offered their help in calling families, running messages to teachers, finding rides for students and answering the phones. It certainly takes a village….


Submitted by Caitlin Racey on Mon, 01/30/2012 - 3:07pm

Principal's Note 1/23/12

DearSalmon BayFamilies:

 

Whew!  What an amazing week! 

 

We will try to put things back to “normal” as soon as possible this week for your students. 

 

However:  Remember tomorrow, Tuesday Jan 24,  is an early release day because it is a furlough day negotiated for teachers as a budget reduction. School will be dismissed for all students at 11:30.

There will be a ‘lunchtime’ for elementary and middle school students prior to 11:30.

 

Here are re-schedules of events:

 

  • MOST IMPORTANT:  Friday will now be a school day. (previously was a day off called “the day between semesters.) Classes will be held as usual. This will be our first make up day for the snow days.

 

  • WEP: the middle school Winter Enrichment programs will be on Friday (not Thursday). All classes and routines will happen as other Fridays. The make up day for the one we missed last week will be Friday, Feb 17.

 

  • PIE – Parent Information Exchange – Demystifying Standardized Testing – New date will be Thursday March 8, at 7 pm.

 

  • Chorus Concert: Monday Jan. 30, 7 pm in the auditorium.

 

Snow Make Up Days – District Calendar:  the district has not settled the dates that will be added to the calendar to make up for the missed snow dates.  As soon as we know, we will pass on the information to you.

 

Again, even with the furlough day this week, we will be busy establishing the routine for students.  On Tuesday, for the first part of the furlough day, Middle School staff will use some of the time to do their planned activities to commemorate Martin Luther King Day. The elementary teachers and students will do their Peace and Justice assembly on Friday the 27th along with Friday sing.

 

Thank you, as well, for being so supportive and flexible on Tuesday when we had a both a late arrival and early dismissal—especially with those who pitched in to help get everyone home safely and families notified.

 

Take care,

 

Jodee


Submitted by Caitlin Racey on Mon, 01/23/2012 - 3:45pm

Principal's Note 1/9/12

DearSalmon BayFamilies:

 

Next week we will celebrate Martin Luther King’s birthday.This is an opportunity for you to join with us by having a conversation with your student, in whatever way is appropriate for their age, about why this is an important holiday. Martin Luther King fought for the civil rights and justice for all people. He relied on schools to be a key component in teaching students both directly about social justice, but also indirectly by supporting all students in their to desire to learn, to aspire to great ideas,  and to realize their dreams, whatever they might be. It is powerful for students when they hear about something both at home as well as at school, to know that the important accomplishments of people are not just something we celebrate and take note of in all sorts of ways.  There are community celebrations (you can find them listed in Seattle Times) at Benaroya Hall, Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Seattle Children’s Museum,  Discovery Park and Garfield High School.

 

SalmonBayExpansion.  We will soon begin tours the first week of February.  In addition to our usual new students in Kindergarten and 6th grade, we will be opening up space in 3rd, 4th and 5th grade.  Can you please help us get the word out? Talk to your neighbors, friends, relatives who you think might be interested in joining us in one of those grade levels.  If they are interested, you can have them check our website, or call the school office for tour dates and information.  (Feb 2, 9, March 8 at 8:30am for middle school and 9:15am elementary, and a 6:00 elementary/7:00pm middle school evening tour on March 1). 

 

 

 

Have a great week.  Thank you for all you do to make Salmon Bay such a wonderful school community.

 

Jodee


Submitted by Caitlin Racey on Wed, 01/11/2012 - 9:25am

Principal's Note 1/3/12

DearSalmon BayFamilies:

 

Happy New Year!

 

Did you notice that returning to school was much more enlightening this time?  The district installed new hallway lighting in the first floor halls.  Wow!  Who knew those lockers were actually orange?  My favorite comment was from a young student who said, “Look you can really see the words in my story now!”  It’s great to be able to see the student work and art on the bulletin boards.  Eventually, we will also see the lighting on the 2nd floor and annex.  (And, for those of you who asked, I did have them save the old fixtures… future renovation? ... auction items?)

 

If you have an upper elementary student: they will be doing MAP assessment this week in reading and math.  Remember the MAP assessment measures growth, from one period to the next. If you have questions about MAP, or other assessments, please be sure to come to our next Parent Information Night on January 19—All about assessment—7 pm in the cafeteria.

 

If you have a middle school student: remember Friday is the first day of Winter Enrichment Program (WEP) so students may need a little extra help getting organized Thursday night, depending on the activity they have chosen.  Also, please remember, drop off and parking will be different.  Drop off in the playground, turning right ONLY, into the field.  No parking in neighbor’s driveways. 

 

It will be a fun, exciting week!    Jodee

 

 

 

ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL’S NOTE

 

Sneak Peeks January 3, 2012

Welcome back and Happy New Year!

Few reminders:

This Friday, January 6, will be our first Winter Enrichment Day. We will have approximately 240 middle schoolers headed up to the mountain. Please plan for extra traffic around the school in the morning.  We will have the lower playground shutdown in the morning. Elementary students may go to the West Gym for rainy day recess or the library.

 

January 24th will be an all school furlough day and we will have a 3 hour early release day. We will be serving  lunch for students.

 

Winter Enrichment FYI’s for Middle school families

Before the winter break homeroom teachers went over with their class, student assignments for Winter Enrichment Activities. Students should know where they will be going for their first Winter Enrichment day.

We will be having a student assembly on January 5th where students will meet with their Winter Enrichment teachers and they will go over expectations, equipment needed and answer any questions. If your student is signed up for a Seattle Area Winter Enrichment activity, please have them bring their payment for their activity on that day.

 

MIDDLE SCHOOL PARENTS – PLEASE HELP US!!

 If you will be dropping off your student in the morning for skiing/boarding we will have the lower playground open for parking. Please come south on 18th ave NW, turn right into the playground lot, when leaving the playground we will ask that drivers turn right only.


Submitted by Caitlin Racey on Wed, 01/04/2012 - 10:23am