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

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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.

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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.


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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!

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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

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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.

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Tolo Pictures

Tolo pictures will be handed out on Friday, January 9, during both lunches.

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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.

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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.

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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.