S / M / T / W / T / F / S
1 – New Year’s Day. / 2 –No School, New Year’s Holiday. / 3 / 4 – Early Release @ 1:30. / 5—PTA Executive Committee Meeting, 6:45PM. / 6 / 7
8 / 9—Spanish and Mad Science after school classes begin again. / 10—Theatre after school class begins again. / 11—Art after school class begins again.
–-Early Release @ 1:30.
--Internet Safety Meeting, 7PM, LWSD Building / 12—Principal’s Tea, 8:45-9:15, Library.
--Chess after school class begins again.
– Rush PTA Parent Ed. Night, Julie Sparks-Stuht, 6:30PM, Library. / 13—Cheetah Spirit day.
--LWSD Reflections open house, 6-9PM, LWSD Building. / 14
15 / 16 – No School, Martin Luther King Jr. Day. / 17—HIV/AIDS Curriculum Night, for families of 5th-12th Graders, 7PM, LWSD Building. / 18—Early Release @ 1:30. / 19—Rush PTA General Meeting, 6:45PM, Library. Childcare provided! / 20 / 21
22 / 23 / 24 / 25—Early Release @ 1:30. / 26—Skate King, 6-8PM. / 27 / 28
29 / 30 / 31
Cheetah Gift Shop:
The Cheetah Gift shop was a success thanks to the dedication
of many volunteers who helped set up, run and put away the
shop. The kids had a great time shopping, and we had an
even better time helping them! We tried a new thing this year----scheduling class’s times to come through the shop in half hour time slots. In the process we learned a few things that will make it better in the years to come, including ordering more for the second day shoppers only. I hope that you enjoyed watching your children hand out the gifts they purchased, and learn the joy of giving.
Education Report:
Nature Vision is a science enrichment program offered to each classroom, and paid for completely with your PTA dollars. Some programs have started in some classrooms already. The program offers many different classes such as “Water Cycle”, “Animal Senses”, and some field trips such as “Pond Dipping”.
BOXTOPS – In November we earned $77.00 for Ben Rush. Our next submission day is coming up so please turn all your trimmed box tops by the end of January. Remember Ben Rush gets 10 cents for every one submitted. Also, ZIPLOC now has a box top on its label. Thank you for everyone who has been sending them in on a regular basis.
Art Docents -- As far as the Art Docent world goes, the Rockwell presentations went well, and several more will happen in January. Also, we're gearing up to do our next presentation on Jacob Lawrence, who lived the last half of his life here in the Pacific Northwest, much of that as an instructor at the University of Washington. Ben Rush will be hosting a traveling exhibition of Northwest Artists, including Lawrence and Dale Chihuly, compliments of the Bellevue art Museum, sometime this spring, so it's a perfect tie in. We still need volunteers for the sixth grade, Mrs. Hughes, Ms. Banas, Mrs. Larson, and Mrs. Weinmeister!
Chess Club News:
Three Ben Rush students attended a Chess Tournament at Sunny Hills
Elementary on Dec. 18, 2005. Congratulations to Alexandra Andreiu (1st grade) and Evan Ortega (2nd grade) for participating in their first Chess Tournament. Congratulations to Aidan Moran (5th grade) for qualifying for the State Tournament! Way to go, Ben Rush!! Chess Tournaments are open to ALL students, not only Chess Club members. If you would like information on upcoming Chess Tournaments or if your child is in Chess Club and you are not receiving the information, please contact Heather Ortega at or 425.869.7515.
Help needed at the Ben Rush YMCA Program:
We are looking for fun and enthusiastic people to join our before- and after-school care program at Ben Rush Elementary School! Interested in arts, science, literacy, sports, or helping kids achieve success? Connect with kids on these levels and more in a wonderful school setting where you can play, laugh, and learn together. Not interested in that much commitment? We would love to have you as a volunteer in the afternoons to help kids with their homework!
Part-time: Hours vary, 15-30hrs/wk M-F
Desired candidate will be available both before (7-8:45am) and after (2:30-5:30pm; Wed 1-5:30pm) school. Beginning pay range: $8.26 - $10.33 per hour
Please send a resume, an application downloaded from the Employment link at the
YMCA website, www.seattleymca.org, and a brief explanation of interest and/or qualifications to Debe Schmidt, Program Supervisor, .
HIV/AIDS Curriculum Parent Information Night
(For parents of 5th – 12th grade students)
January 17, 2006
7:00 PM
LWSD Resource Center – Board Room
At this evening presentation, parents will learn about the curriculum lessons and materials that are used for HIV/AIDS instruction in grades 5-12. The curriculum provides a science-based understanding of the AIDS virus,
how it is transmitted, diagnosed, and prevented. Students will also be taught the meaning of abstinence and risk behaviors.
In accordance with the AIDS Omnibus Bill, no student can be required to participate in AIDS prevention education if the student’s parent(s) or guardian, having previewed the materials, excuses their child from participation. Parents who choose to waive their child from this instruction should attend this meeting, or preview the curriculum at their student’s school.
Internet Safety – What parents need to know!
Access to the Internet provides your child with access to the world, for good or bad. As a district, we’ve taken specific measures to ensure that children do not access inappropriate sites from school computers. And as parents, you may have restricted access to different sites. But children are often way ahead of the adults in their lives with new ways to use technology.
Students use e-mail, instant messaging and chat rooms to keep in touch. New sites make it easy to create your own web page so that you can share information about yourself and communicate with friends. It’s a fun way to express yourself. Unfortunately, what children often don’t think about is that they are also sharing that information with everyone else that goes to that site. And some of those people do not have your child’s best interests in mind.
That’s why the district is working with i-SAFE America to train librarians and teachers in all its schools about electronic communication dangers to children and how to work with children to teach them safe Internet behavior.
Parents can learn more about what they can do at a presentation followed by a panel session on January 11 from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm at the District Resource Center, 16250 N.E. 74th Street in Redmond Town Center.
More information is also available at www.i-SAFE.org.
Community Corner:
SATURDAY MORNING "DROP IN" PARENTING CLASSES,
Once a month, on Saturday mornings, Lori Homes, M.S. C.M.H.C. and other Youth Eastside Services Counselors will facilitate discussions on a variety of parenting topics. Bring your children (ages 3+) for fun, supervised activities. A delicious continental breakfast will be provided. Come too as many as you like.
Jan. 21: "Mom’s House/Dad’s House; Successful Parenting of Children of Divorce" presented by Evelyn Smith, Coordinator of Adult Programs, Divorce Lifeline
Feb. 25: "Internet Safety and Awareness; What a Parent Needs to Know" presented by Detective Malinda Wilson, Seattle Police Department
Mar. 25: "Calming the Family Storm; Understanding and Resolving the Conflict and Anger between Kids and Parents" presented by Steve Maybell, PhD., Director of the Student Counseling Center, Seattle Pacific University
Time: 10am to noon
Fee: FREE
Location: Redmond Elementary School Library
To Register, Call NSH 425-702-3409.