March 2010
In this issue….
Volunteers for Issaquah Schools (VIS)
Issaquah Schools Foundation (ISF)
T-mobile member benefit clarification
If you were at the bargaining table….
Please join us for our next IH PTSA meeting Friday, March 12, 9:30 AM, room C-5 (Career Center). Our program will feature IHS Counselors
and Career Center representatives answering questions submitted by parents.
It is not too late to join the IH PTSA and help us towards our goal of
100% membership. One benefit of
membership is receiving a student directory. If only one parent has joined and the other parent would
like to join, the cost is only $8 (Click here for membership
form). Additionally, community members,
grandparents and other IHS supporters can join as a Supporter Member (Click here for Supporter
Membership Form).
If you have any questions regarding membership contact Karen Knitter at
mindydog3@comcast.net
The Issaquah High Site Council is comprised of
staff, parents, students, and community representatives who meet to address
issues that impact student learning. Areas in which we are focusing our efforts
this year include monitoring progress of the Optimal High School Experience
task force, the School construction project, preparing for transition into the
new buildings and the return of freshman to our campus. The next meeting is
scheduled for March 24th at 2:30 pm. Karin Allen is the PTSA liaison. Please
contact her at kallen@allenmarketing.com if you have any
issues you'd like her to raise on behalf of the PTSA community.
First, congratulations to our VIS team on the
passage of our school levies! This is great news for our district.
In other legislative news, our IHS PTSA has
endorsed the Excellent Schools Now Coalition's priorities for the
legislative session. In regards to the session, everything is still in
flux. The budgets are due this week, so that has been the major focus of
the legislature. Once the budget is out, we will be able to examine what
the final impact will be on our school district.
Bills of Interest
6696: This proposal would change
school district accountability measures in an attempt to align the State
of Washington with the expectations of the federal Race to the Top
grant. The bill was approved by the Senate and is now in the House.
2776: This is a proposal for new funding formulas
for K-12 education. It has been approved by the House and is
now pending in the Senate.
6130: This bill suspends the
requirements of Initiative 960 (passed in 2007), which required that
any major tax increases either receive a 2/3 approval by both the House
and the Senate or be submitted directly to the voters
for approval. The House approved the suspension last week, and it
has moved back to the Senate, who had approved the bill but now must vote
on the measure as amended by the House.
Volunteers for Issaquah Schools March Update
Thank you to all the voters
who said YES, YES, YES for all three of our levies!
Thank you to all of the community members, parents, staff, and students who
worked on the VIS campaign! These levies passed because of all their hard
work and dedication to our students and our schools.
Voter turnout was around 40%
and each levy passed by more than 60% approval. These are great numbers!
VIS is an organization that exists even during non-levy and bond years and is
always seeking volunteers and donations to prepare for the next campaign.
To continue to help, please go to www.visvote.org to donate and/or sign
up to volunteer.
Nourish Every
Mind—What’s All the Fuss About?
Curious
about the Nourish Every Mind Luncheon? Find out why the Foundation’s
Luncheon is one of the most popular and well-attended social events of the
year. Join us at Nourish Every Mind 2010, Thursday,
May 13 from 11:00 am – 1:00 pm
at the Issaquah Community Center. Hear
testimonials from ISF program participants, enjoy a silent auction, and
celebrate with 900 other civic and business leaders, parents, and friends.
Contact Michelle Weldon, mweldon@issaquahschoolsfoundation.org to add your name to
the invitation list.
Want to become more
involved?
Become a Nourish Every Mind Table Captain. Being a Table Captain is easy
and fun. You just invite nine friends to join you at your table, send periodic
emails, and be a gracious host. Our first-ever Table Captain Kick-Off Party is Thursday, March 18 at the District Office, so hurry and add your
name to the list. Contact Michelle Weldon at mweldon@issaquahschoolsfoundation.org.
Overwhelming
Response to Call for Grant Submissions
The dedication and commitment of ISD teachers and
staff was evident by the number of Academic Enrichment Grant applications
submitted this year. Sixty-one grant applications were received by the
Foundation—divided almost equally between Kateri Brow (up to $10,000) and
Classroom Enrichment ($1,000 or less) requests. District staff were able to
submit applications for projects that reflect vision and innovation in
education, encourage academic achievement, assist struggling students, and/or
support pressing needs not covered by building or district budgets. Winners
will be announced in March. Check the Foundation website, www.issaquahschoolsfoundation.org/grants for more information.
Can You
Give One Hour a Week to Change a Life?
Then the VOICE Mentor Program needs you. VOICE, a
mentoring/tutoring program funded by the Foundation and the District, matches
students in need with caring adults or high school students who can provide
one-to-one academic and social support. VOICE Mentors are currently serving 175
students in 21 schools, but demand far outweighs supply, with a special need
for mentors at Maple Hills School. Make a difference… become a VOICE Mentor.
Contact Susie Gierke, VOICE Director at 425-837-7139 or voice@issaquah.wednet.edu to apply.
After-School Homework
Labs and Clubs are Here to Assist Your Student
Help
your child perform at their academic best. Remind them to use the Foundation’s FREE After-School Homework Clubs and Labs
at every middle and high school. Both offer teacher assisted tutoring in the
core areas of math and science. Your student can receive help for classes at
all levels, from remedial to AP and IB. Some teachers even offer make-up
classes and tests during this time. Contact your school for its After-School
Homework Club/Lab schedule.
Here are a few seminars sponsored by middle
school and elementary school parents that might be of interest to high school
parents as well:
“Parenting the
Digital Child”
March 2, 7-8:30
pm, Beaver Lake Middle School
“Taking the Stress
out of Parenting and Building Great Relationships with Your Children”
March 4, 6:30-8:00
pm, Apollo Elementary
“Battling Bullies
Today” with Jan Faull
March 15, 7-8:30 pm,
Clark Elementary
“Understanding Your
Child’s use of Technology such as Facebook, Youtube, Twitter and Sextexting”
March 22, 7-8:30 pm,
Maywood Middle School
For more information
on these and other Parent Ed opportunities, go to http://www.issaquahptsa.org/parented/index.htm
Issaquah High School Presents…..
Battle
of the Bands
Haiti Benefit
Concert
All proceeds go
to the Red Cross
When: Thursday, March
11th from 6:30pm-9:30pm
Where: Pacific Cascade
Freshman Campus
Featuring:
Special Guest: Barefoot Contingent
Come and support bands from Issaquah, Liberty
and Skyline High Schools!
TOLO 2010 - “FAME”
Monday, March 8th
Dress-up: Reality T.V.
Morning Give-away: Tattoos
Evening Event: Bros and Ladies Movie Night @ 7:00 pm at Issaquah HS
Tuesday, March 9th
Dress-up: Walking the Red Carpet
Morning Give-away: Star Gummies
Evening Event: Mr. Issaquah @ 7:00 pm at PCFC
Wednesday, March 10th
Dress-up: Sports Stars
Morning Give-away: Hack-e-sacks
Evening Event: Handball tournament @ 5:00 pm at PCFC
Thursday, March 11th
Dress-up: Rock Star
Morning Give-away: Shutter shades
Evening Event: Haiti Benefit Concert @ 6:30 at PCFC
Friday, March 12th
Dress-up: Purple and Gold
Morning Give-away: Spirit Beads
Evening Event: None
Saturday, March 13th
TOLO Dance:
Star Struck 98027 at Meydenbauer
Center @ 8:00 – 11:00 pm
Emily Carl
Activities Director
Issaquah High School
425-837-6110
T-mobile member benefit
clarification
As there may have been some confusion about the
process for getting the discount with T-Mobile, I am including suggestions made
by the Washington State PTA Administrative Assistant, Morgan Cain:
There are two ways to access the
benefits:
1) Go to pta.org>
click membership benefits> click " Members only website" for T-mobile,
and use the login information on the back of your membership card. The login is
"Parents" and the password is "TakeAction".
2) Call 1-866-464-8662 and use
the promo code: 9788TMOFAV for new lines, or for existing lines,
call 877-453-8824 and give your Member ID number.
If you don’t know your Member ID number,
contact IH PTSA Membership Chair, Karen Knitter at mindydog3@comcast.net
If you
were at the bargaining table….
Similar to three years
ago, the Issaquah PTSA Council has been given the opportunity to present input
collected from the parent community to the bargaining team prior to the start
of teacher contract negotiations.
The most successful
enterprises always know who their primary customer is, and there is a shared
and deeply felt commitment to that customer across all parts of the
organization. Parents believe that our children are the customers of the
educational product the school district is delivering. We don’t have a seat at
the bargaining table, even though we are the primary caretakers of the
customers – our kids – who will be directly affected by the teacher
contract. Parents aren’t asking to be at the bargaining table, but we do want
the opportunity to be spokespeople for what we believe is in the best interests
of our kids.
Please take a few
minutes to submit your responses to our Zoomerang survey that corresponds to
the five main community values your input has highlighted up to this point.
This is our final data collection plan and we appreciate your participation. This survey will close on Wednesday, March
3.
http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/?p=WEB22A7EN5BZJT