Hello Freshparents:
It seems like just yesterday the snow was the “news.” Here are several items that are real news to start off the new year.
Newport Baseball News
Knights in Vienna
Bellevue Schools Foundation News
Senior Fundraiser
Fastpitch Booster Club Fundraiser
Tolo Pictures
New School Year Calendar
Electives
PTSA News
-------------------------------------------------------
Newport Baseball News
Mandatory Player and Parent Meeting: Thursday, January 8 at 7:00 pm, NHS CommonsThis is a must attend event - no matter how many you have attended in the past. Typical discussions revolve around the business side of Newport Knights Baseball, how we run the program, player and parent expectations, eligibility and paperwork requirements ... and a bunch of other good stuff. Along with all the program talk, Newport Baseball booster wear is on sale while supplies last, so don't forget your checkbook.
Preseason TrainingWe will start our winter conditioning workouts in January, after the player/parent meeting. We'll let everyone know the exact days and times later, but in the interim, break out those running shoes, crack a smile and prepare to put in some leg work with us once a week. Coach Fischer will discuss in detail at the meeting.
Field Construction ProjectsThe junior varsity, freshmen and girls softball fields have been completed. The freshmen should be back home for the first time in three years. We now have one of the best, if not the best, high school baseball facility in the state! What's left? The pressbox! Hopefully, construction will be completed before the start of the season.
-------------------------------------------------------
Knights in Vienna
The Friends of Newport Orchestra are pleased to present Knights in Vienna, a spectacular evening of waltz and swing music, delicious desserts, and professional dance instruction.
The event will be held Saturday, January 17 at 7:00 pm in the Newport High School Commons and will feature performances by talented students from Newport High School and the Newport High School orchestra for your dancing and listening enjoyment. Dance instruction will be provided by Arthur Murray Dance Studio of Bellevue.
A silent auction will be held in addition to the traditional raffle baskets. Some fabulous items have already been donated by local businesses and students:
· Two nights at the Larkspur Landing Hotels in Bellevue
· Dinner for six at the Outback Steakhouse
· ACT theatre tickets
· Dominos Pizza for one year
· Amore gourmet chocolates
· Dinner for 2 at Mediterranean Kitchen in Bellevue
· One night at the Hilton Garden Inn at Issaquah
· Bow rehairing from David T. Stone Violins
· University Book Store $25 gift certificate
· Pasta & Co., cookbook & $25 gift certificate
· And ... a string quartet for your event!
Knights in Vienna is incredibly fun every year for students and adults; you won’t want to
miss it!
Desserts and beverages will be served. Advance tickets may be purchased at
www.newportorchestra.com through Saturday, January 10 for $25 (general admission) and $10 (student). A special table for eight next to the dance floor may be reserved in advance for
$250. Tickets will be sold at the door for $30 (general admission) and $12 (student).
Proceeds from this event will benefit the outstanding Newport High School Orchestra
Program.
-------------------------------------------------------
Bellevue Schools Foundation News
Your donation making an impact across the district
Whether your child is in elementary, middle or high school, your generosity is impacting all students throughout the district. Here’s an example of how your gift is making a difference in both mathematics and science this year…
Math Expressions: Every K-5 student is benefiting from the new Math Expressions curriculum that emphasizes math concepts, computational fluency and problem solving skills. Every student will be challenged to achieve in math with supplementary leveled instruction to support the spectrum of learners from ESL students to gifted young mathematicians.
Thanks to your support, BSF is providing $170,000 towards Math Expressions this year.
Today’s Science: All middle and high school students are benefiting from an improved science curriculum, based upon the latest scientific and learning research, and professional development for teachers. Curriculum improvements to the science courses, including Physics in 8th Grade, Biology in 9th Grade and Chemistry in 10th Grade, will prepare every student to complete a college preparatory physics/biology/chemistry sequence by Grade 10 and be ready for Advanced Placement (AP) or college-level science courses by Grade 11.
With your help, BSF is providing $150,000 towards the science curriculum advancements this year.
Spring for Schools Benefit Luncheon
Mark your calendars now! The 21st Annual Bellevue Schools Foundation Spring for Schools Benefit Luncheon will be held on Thursday, June 4, 2009 at Meydenbauer Center, from 11:30am – 1:30pm. More details to follow…
Amazon.com
It’s easy to raise money for our schools while you shop at Amazon.com. Just go to the Bellevue Schools Foundation (BSF) website home page, www.bsfdn.org and click on the Amazon link. Amazon will donate over 7% of each sale to support Bellevue schools. Remember, you must go through the BSF website link for BSF to get credit for the order.
Thanks to you, Amazon donated over $4,790 to BSF for our students in 2008!
-------------------------------------------------------
Senior Fundraiser
Now we are back to our typical rain do you need an umbrella? Consider ordering one from the Senior web site to help their fundraising efforts for GradKnight while showing Newport spirit!
You can even help out for free by signing up for the Albertson’s and Safeway e-script program. Visit http://www.nhsgradknight2009.myevent.com/3/events.htm
-------------------------------------------------------
Fastpitch Booster Club Fundraiser
Help support the Fastpitch Booster Club and show Newport spirit by purchasing a Red NEWPORT recyclable grocery bag!
(1) for $5.00 or (5) for $20.00.
Fastpitch Booster Club is also selling the RED Ear/Head warmer. And RED Knight Cinch bags. $10/ea
Contact Fastpitch Boosters, Jayme Barry, jbarry@industrialcomm.net, 425-644-6897.
Items are also available for immediate purchase and pick-up at the attendance desk with Kris Pierce.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Tolo Pictures
Tolo pictures will be handed out on Friday, January 9, during both lunches.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
New School Year Calendar
The Bellevue School District has published a new calendar, adding the snow days to the end of the school year. First semester finals will be rescheduled, and the semester will end on February 6. The last day of school is June 25. Other changes will be announced as we learn them. Please go to the BSD website for the new calendar.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Electives!
Has your student started to think about electives for sophomore year? Remind your student to attend the Elective Fair on January 20 and 22 in the Commons during both lunches. Teachers will be available to talk about the courses and programs they are offering in the coming year.
---------------------------------------------------------
PTSA News
New Action Alert Message for the Governor – Follow the link below to take action today
After the Governor released her budget proposal, we shut down our earlier education funding alert, recognizing that we needed to update our message. (Approximately 350 people responded to this first alert.) We have created a new message (linked below) and again strongly encourage all, (even those who responded to the first alert) to complete it and to forward it on to your email lists.
We want to let our elected officials know that despite these very difficult times, there is work that can be done to lay the groundwork for a better education finance structure in the future. We are also expressing specific concern about the proposed 33% cuts to levy equalization money which would adversely affect those districts that already have less ability to raise local levy dollars. Click on the following link and Respond to the Governor's Budget Proposal Today!
PTSA Meeting
January PTSA meeting will be held Wednesday, January 28 at 7:00 pm in the NHS Library.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Class of 2012 News -- December 22, 2008
Hello Freshparents:
You can take the girl out of the Northeast but you can’t take the Northeast out of the girl. I have amused and mystified my neighbors with all of the snow shoveling these past few days. I could hear them saying from the warmth of their living rooms, “Why doesn’t she wait and let it melt on its own?” and “Why does she even bother, it’s just going to snow again tonight.” I guess I kept hoping that, if I did my part to clean my driveway and sidewalks, the city’s plow trucks would eventually show up and clean the streets. Hope springs eternal! There is no amount of rain that could make me miss East Coast winters.
Tomorrow will be our 5th snow day to make up at school. While it seems there will never be an end to the grocery store runs to replenish milk and bread and the constantly running dryer filled with hats, gloves, and snow pants, an end will come. Our kids WILL go back to school on January 5. The end of January marks the end of the first semester – our kids will be half way through their freshman year. Yes, it goes that fast. There are a few items I’d like to place on your radar screen with more reminders to come.
Finals Schedule
Parent Information Night
Bellevue Schools Foundation
Letter from the Principal
PTSA Notices
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Finals Schedule
For the most part, this will be the first time that our freshmen will experience final exams. I still remember the look on my junior’s face when I asked him if he had a study schedule a few weeks before his first set of finals two years ago. “A study schedule? Do I NEED a study schedule?” Mercifully, he allowed me to help him set one up and he has used this tool every semester since then. Each student will differ in the amount of time leading up to finals that he will need or tolerate for studying, but having a road map is a good place to start.
Please take a close look at this test schedule. Note that school hours are a bit different on Wednesday and Friday.
2008-2009 FIRST SEMESTER FINALS SCHEDULE
PERIODS DAY DATE TIME
Tutorial Wednesday January 28 7:30 – 8:10
2 Wednesday January 28 8:15 – 10:15
Break Wednesday January 28 10:15 – 10:25
6 Wednesday January 28 10:30 – 12:30
1 Thursday January 29 7:30 – 9:30
Break Thursday January 29 9:30 – 9:35
3 Thursday January 29 9:40 – 11:40
LUNCH Thursday January 29 11:40 – 12:25
5a & 5b Thursday January 29 12:30 – 2:30
Tutorial Thursday January 29 2:30 – 3:00
4 Friday January 30 7:30-9:30
Break Friday January 30 9:30-9:35
7 Friday January 30 9:40-11:40
LUNCH Friday January 30 11:40-12:25
0 and make-ups Friday January 30 12:30-2:30
Tutorial Friday January 30 2:30-3:00
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Parent Information Night
On February 12, 2009, at 7:00 pm, Newport’s guidance counselors will present grade-level information for parents about registration for the 2009-2010 school year. That evening, we’ll be listening to the sophomore presentation and our students will register for sophomore classes shortly thereafter. I told you it was going fast!
Parents of current 8th grade students will attend an information night at Newport on February 5, 2009, at 7:00 pm in the theater. Please pass this along to your friends and neighbors who have children attending 8th grade at Tyee, Tillicum, and private schools and who live in our attendance area.
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Bellevue Schools Foundation
Looking for a meaningful way to honor a teacher this holiday season?
Thank your favorite teacher with a gift to Bellevue Schools Foundation in their honor. We'll send your teacher a holiday card notifying them of your support and appreciation. Meanwhile, your gift will join with others to support great teaching across the District!
It's quick, it's green, and it helps Bellevue students while thanking excellent teachers!
Honor your teacher with a gift to BSF
Click here to give
Simply click here to make a secure online donation on behalf of a teacher - and honor your favorite teacher while making a difference in Bellevue schools.
Teachers Matter: Why BSF Funds National Board Certification
Congratulations to the 79 Bellevue teachers who just achieved National Board Certification (NBC), a rigorous benchmark of teaching excellence! See the list of newly-certified teachers here.
Why does National Board Certification matter? Studies show that NBC teachers are more effective and their students learn more. Read about National Board Certification in Bellevue here.
With 5 years of funding from BSF, Bellevue now has 208 Board-certified teachers, more than any other district in Washington State! With extra support and mentoring funded by BSF and the district, Bellevue teachers achieve certification at a rate over twice the national average.
BSF is proud to continue supporting Bellevue teachers with a $190,000 grant to provide mentors and cover fees for 77 more teachers pursuing National Board Certification this year.
Thank you for supporting Bellevue students!
Bellevue Schools Foundation raises funds to promote and help fund the best possible learning opportunities for all students in the Bellevue School District.
Learn more about the programs BSF is funding this year here.
PO Box 40644 • Bellevue, WA 98015-4644Tel: 425.456.4199 • Fax: 425.456.4176 • Web: www.bsfdn.org • Email: info@bsfdn.org
Learn more about the programs BSF is funding this year at www.bsfdn.org. Sign up to receive BSF updates here!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Letter from the Principal
This is a reprint of a letter from the Newport Principal to staff reminding them about the gift-giving policy established in the school district.
Newport Staff,
Every year when the holidays approach, we see grateful and thoughtful parents and community members want to find ways to express their appreciation to our teachers and other employees for their work by giving gifts to the individuals they know. Gifts that are of a nominal value or which are a token remembrance or appreciation are fine, but the acceptance of gifts of significant value or monetary benefit is not allowed. Often parents, especially if their work experience has been in the private sector, are not aware that gifts to publicly-paid employees are not permitted or appropriate.
For our employees, gifts that are beyond a nominal value raise serious questions about equity between and among schools/programs, about why some employees in some roles get gifts and others do not, about a violation of board policy that disallows gifts, and about the propriety of substantial gifts being given for public service. Therefore, the giving of expensive gifts to individuals must be strongly discouraged. When the value of a gift to a person gets beyond $25.00 it is can well be considered to be more than a token gift or expression of appreciation – but even gifts of that size are not to be encouraged.
If parents or others wish to provide more than a token of gratitude to an individual employee, they can make donations to a specific classroom (but not something that could be considered the teacher’s personal property), they can donate to a school or program, they can make a contribution to the Bellevue Schools Foundation, the PTSA, or other charity in recognition of an employee’s work, and/or they can do something for the entire school’s or program’s benefit. Sometimes vendors will want to give a school, office, or program a box of candy or fruit that can be jointly shared with everyone, and that is acceptable (assuming not something unusually expensive) and so long as no particular individual is singled out as the sole recipient or benefit.
Bethany Spinlar
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PTSA Notices
Are you concerned about education funding in our state? Here’s a way you can get involved today! It’s as easy as a few keystrokes. Important work is being done right now by our elected officials to prepare for the next legislative session. We urge you to take action today by sending an important message to the Governor and your legislators using our Legislative Action center. Follow the link below to our action center. Then scroll over and click on the title “Support Education Funding and Finance Reform”. This is the link to the alert. A preprinted message has been included. You are encouraged to add a personal story as well.
We also strongly encourage you to forward this message with the link to your member and non-member email lists (anyone who supports our message is encouraged to respond)...taking care not to include any government email addresses.
We have set a goal of sending 40,000 emails! That’s right we want 10,000 of you and your friends from every legislative district in the state to send messages to their three legislators and the Governor. The system has already been set up to generate all four, so all you need to do is add just a bit to the one prewritten message. It’s so easy! Try it yourself, then pass it on to a friend. Let’s see what kind of an impact we can make in one week. http://capwiz.com/npta2/wa/home/
***********************************************************************************************************
PTSA FOCUS DAY
On February 26, 2009, Washington State PTA is sponsoring its annual Focus Day activities. This is the day that PTA members across the state gather in Olympia to "focus" on the child advocacy issues that were selected at Legislative Assembly. This is an unusually important year for parents to participate. Our Legislative representatives have been given the task of revamping our educational system -- primarily the way in which it is funded. It has been obvious for years that the funding amount has been inadequate (districts have to raise levy money to provide basics) but even more obvious that the funds are unfairly distributed. Combine the ever-growing needs of our underfunded educational system with the current budget crisis and one simply cannot deny the need to keep our legislators FOCUSED on our kids. Focus Day this year will take on a different form than in years past. This year, the main activity will be a massive rally on the Capital steps at noon. We need everybody possible to attend for this easy, fun, and effective advocating party.
Organize car pools -- we need at least four cars of four people from every school. Drive to Olympia, rally on the steps, drive back home. How easy can it get? Bellevue PTSA Council also has rented two busses for the day. The trip is free to Bellevue PTA members and almost free to other Council members. We will leave at about 9:30 on February 26 from the old K Mart parking lot on 148th and return there by 3 or 3:30. Reservations are required for the bus. Contact me with your name and e-mail address if you want to ride the bus. I need to have these names by the first part of February.
Connie Gerlitz (dgerlitz2@comcast.net),
Bellevue Council and Region 2Legislative Chair
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You can take the girl out of the Northeast but you can’t take the Northeast out of the girl. I have amused and mystified my neighbors with all of the snow shoveling these past few days. I could hear them saying from the warmth of their living rooms, “Why doesn’t she wait and let it melt on its own?” and “Why does she even bother, it’s just going to snow again tonight.” I guess I kept hoping that, if I did my part to clean my driveway and sidewalks, the city’s plow trucks would eventually show up and clean the streets. Hope springs eternal! There is no amount of rain that could make me miss East Coast winters.
Tomorrow will be our 5th snow day to make up at school. While it seems there will never be an end to the grocery store runs to replenish milk and bread and the constantly running dryer filled with hats, gloves, and snow pants, an end will come. Our kids WILL go back to school on January 5. The end of January marks the end of the first semester – our kids will be half way through their freshman year. Yes, it goes that fast. There are a few items I’d like to place on your radar screen with more reminders to come.
Finals Schedule
Parent Information Night
Bellevue Schools Foundation
Letter from the Principal
PTSA Notices
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Finals Schedule
For the most part, this will be the first time that our freshmen will experience final exams. I still remember the look on my junior’s face when I asked him if he had a study schedule a few weeks before his first set of finals two years ago. “A study schedule? Do I NEED a study schedule?” Mercifully, he allowed me to help him set one up and he has used this tool every semester since then. Each student will differ in the amount of time leading up to finals that he will need or tolerate for studying, but having a road map is a good place to start.
Please take a close look at this test schedule. Note that school hours are a bit different on Wednesday and Friday.
2008-2009 FIRST SEMESTER FINALS SCHEDULE
PERIODS DAY DATE TIME
Tutorial Wednesday January 28 7:30 – 8:10
2 Wednesday January 28 8:15 – 10:15
Break Wednesday January 28 10:15 – 10:25
6 Wednesday January 28 10:30 – 12:30
1 Thursday January 29 7:30 – 9:30
Break Thursday January 29 9:30 – 9:35
3 Thursday January 29 9:40 – 11:40
LUNCH Thursday January 29 11:40 – 12:25
5a & 5b Thursday January 29 12:30 – 2:30
Tutorial Thursday January 29 2:30 – 3:00
4 Friday January 30 7:30-9:30
Break Friday January 30 9:30-9:35
7 Friday January 30 9:40-11:40
LUNCH Friday January 30 11:40-12:25
0 and make-ups Friday January 30 12:30-2:30
Tutorial Friday January 30 2:30-3:00
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Parent Information Night
On February 12, 2009, at 7:00 pm, Newport’s guidance counselors will present grade-level information for parents about registration for the 2009-2010 school year. That evening, we’ll be listening to the sophomore presentation and our students will register for sophomore classes shortly thereafter. I told you it was going fast!
Parents of current 8th grade students will attend an information night at Newport on February 5, 2009, at 7:00 pm in the theater. Please pass this along to your friends and neighbors who have children attending 8th grade at Tyee, Tillicum, and private schools and who live in our attendance area.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bellevue Schools Foundation
Looking for a meaningful way to honor a teacher this holiday season?
Thank your favorite teacher with a gift to Bellevue Schools Foundation in their honor. We'll send your teacher a holiday card notifying them of your support and appreciation. Meanwhile, your gift will join with others to support great teaching across the District!
It's quick, it's green, and it helps Bellevue students while thanking excellent teachers!
Honor your teacher with a gift to BSF
Click here to give
Simply click here to make a secure online donation on behalf of a teacher - and honor your favorite teacher while making a difference in Bellevue schools.
Teachers Matter: Why BSF Funds National Board Certification
Congratulations to the 79 Bellevue teachers who just achieved National Board Certification (NBC), a rigorous benchmark of teaching excellence! See the list of newly-certified teachers here.
Why does National Board Certification matter? Studies show that NBC teachers are more effective and their students learn more. Read about National Board Certification in Bellevue here.
With 5 years of funding from BSF, Bellevue now has 208 Board-certified teachers, more than any other district in Washington State! With extra support and mentoring funded by BSF and the district, Bellevue teachers achieve certification at a rate over twice the national average.
BSF is proud to continue supporting Bellevue teachers with a $190,000 grant to provide mentors and cover fees for 77 more teachers pursuing National Board Certification this year.
Thank you for supporting Bellevue students!
Bellevue Schools Foundation raises funds to promote and help fund the best possible learning opportunities for all students in the Bellevue School District.
Learn more about the programs BSF is funding this year here.
PO Box 40644 • Bellevue, WA 98015-4644Tel: 425.456.4199 • Fax: 425.456.4176 • Web: www.bsfdn.org • Email: info@bsfdn.org
Learn more about the programs BSF is funding this year at www.bsfdn.org. Sign up to receive BSF updates here!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Letter from the Principal
This is a reprint of a letter from the Newport Principal to staff reminding them about the gift-giving policy established in the school district.
Newport Staff,
Every year when the holidays approach, we see grateful and thoughtful parents and community members want to find ways to express their appreciation to our teachers and other employees for their work by giving gifts to the individuals they know. Gifts that are of a nominal value or which are a token remembrance or appreciation are fine, but the acceptance of gifts of significant value or monetary benefit is not allowed. Often parents, especially if their work experience has been in the private sector, are not aware that gifts to publicly-paid employees are not permitted or appropriate.
For our employees, gifts that are beyond a nominal value raise serious questions about equity between and among schools/programs, about why some employees in some roles get gifts and others do not, about a violation of board policy that disallows gifts, and about the propriety of substantial gifts being given for public service. Therefore, the giving of expensive gifts to individuals must be strongly discouraged. When the value of a gift to a person gets beyond $25.00 it is can well be considered to be more than a token gift or expression of appreciation – but even gifts of that size are not to be encouraged.
If parents or others wish to provide more than a token of gratitude to an individual employee, they can make donations to a specific classroom (but not something that could be considered the teacher’s personal property), they can donate to a school or program, they can make a contribution to the Bellevue Schools Foundation, the PTSA, or other charity in recognition of an employee’s work, and/or they can do something for the entire school’s or program’s benefit. Sometimes vendors will want to give a school, office, or program a box of candy or fruit that can be jointly shared with everyone, and that is acceptable (assuming not something unusually expensive) and so long as no particular individual is singled out as the sole recipient or benefit.
Bethany Spinlar
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PTSA Notices
Are you concerned about education funding in our state? Here’s a way you can get involved today! It’s as easy as a few keystrokes. Important work is being done right now by our elected officials to prepare for the next legislative session. We urge you to take action today by sending an important message to the Governor and your legislators using our Legislative Action center. Follow the link below to our action center. Then scroll over and click on the title “Support Education Funding and Finance Reform”. This is the link to the alert. A preprinted message has been included. You are encouraged to add a personal story as well.
We also strongly encourage you to forward this message with the link to your member and non-member email lists (anyone who supports our message is encouraged to respond)...taking care not to include any government email addresses.
We have set a goal of sending 40,000 emails! That’s right we want 10,000 of you and your friends from every legislative district in the state to send messages to their three legislators and the Governor. The system has already been set up to generate all four, so all you need to do is add just a bit to the one prewritten message. It’s so easy! Try it yourself, then pass it on to a friend. Let’s see what kind of an impact we can make in one week. http://capwiz.com/npta2/wa/home/
***********************************************************************************************************
PTSA FOCUS DAY
On February 26, 2009, Washington State PTA is sponsoring its annual Focus Day activities. This is the day that PTA members across the state gather in Olympia to "focus" on the child advocacy issues that were selected at Legislative Assembly. This is an unusually important year for parents to participate. Our Legislative representatives have been given the task of revamping our educational system -- primarily the way in which it is funded. It has been obvious for years that the funding amount has been inadequate (districts have to raise levy money to provide basics) but even more obvious that the funds are unfairly distributed. Combine the ever-growing needs of our underfunded educational system with the current budget crisis and one simply cannot deny the need to keep our legislators FOCUSED on our kids. Focus Day this year will take on a different form than in years past. This year, the main activity will be a massive rally on the Capital steps at noon. We need everybody possible to attend for this easy, fun, and effective advocating party.
Organize car pools -- we need at least four cars of four people from every school. Drive to Olympia, rally on the steps, drive back home. How easy can it get? Bellevue PTSA Council also has rented two busses for the day. The trip is free to Bellevue PTA members and almost free to other Council members. We will leave at about 9:30 on February 26 from the old K Mart parking lot on 148th and return there by 3 or 3:30. Reservations are required for the bus. Contact me with your name and e-mail address if you want to ride the bus. I need to have these names by the first part of February.
Connie Gerlitz (dgerlitz2@comcast.net),
Bellevue Council and Region 2Legislative Chair
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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