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November 2008 Newsletter

In this Issue........

1. Upcoming Meeting Dates

The next meeting of the IH PTSA is Thursday November 14 at 9:30 AM in the Career Center-C-5

The next PTSA meeting at Pacific Cascade Freshman Campus will be held on Janurary 8th at 1:00 PM in the PCFC Library. The topic is "Should your 9th grader take the WASL?", led by Principal, Dana Bailey. Please join us!

* The PTSA activities of the PCFC are shared between the PTSA's of Issaquah and Skyline High Schools. There is not a separate PTSA for the campus.

The IHS Site Council is a group that meets monthly to discuss school related topics and issues and is comprised of staff, parents and community representatives. Each meeting has a public comment period where IHS parents can address the council with comments. The IH PTSA has a liaison member on the site council who can be contacted by PTSA members with topics for input. Please contact Karin Allen at mailto:kallen@allen-marketing.com?subject=IHS%20Site%20Council The next scheduled site council meeting is November 5th at 2:30 PM in room D-8

2. Membership Update

The Issaquah High PTSA is now 1121 members strong! A benefit of membership is receiving one student directory per membership. The student directory will be mailed the first week of November so keep your eye out for it. If you don’t receive one and you think you should, contact Anne Moore, mailto:annemoore5@comcast.net?subject=IHS%20Membership.

If you haven’t already joined there is still time, click here (Click here for Membership Form) for our membership form. Fill it out and mail it in as soon as possible. There are only a limited number of extra directories in this first printing. If you would like to receive a National PTA membership card please contact Anne Moore mailto:annemoore5@comcast.net?subject=IHS%20Membership.

This time last year we had 1319 members and had already achieved 100% membership, meaning we had over one member for every student at our school. It’s a goal of our PTSA to achieve 100% membership again this year. Please help us reach this goal. If you haven’t already joined please consider joining with the other 1121 members that support the work of our PTSA which is to support our great school! If only one parent has joined and the other parent would like to join the cost is only $7. Additionally community members, grandparents and other IHS supporters can join the IH PTSA as a Supporter Member (Click here for Membership Form).

3. Fundraising Update

The operations and programs of the IH PTSA rely on revenue from a variety of sources but to keep things simple, most fundraising is done through our annual Pass the Hat campaign. To date, just over $20,000 has been raised compared with just over $30,000 last year. A big round of thanks to all Pass the Hat contributors. Contributions to Pass the Hat are tax-deductible. A full explanation of how special funds were distributed last year at both IHS and PCFC is available on our website. Careful and targeted spending last spring allowed for some truly exciting advancement in our classrooms but also left the PTSA coffers in need of replenishment. Please consider giving to this most easy of fundraisers. $40 per family is the suggested amount but any amount is appreciated.

Click here for Fundraising Information

4. AP Testing Facility Needed

AP testing is held in May and due to the remodel will not be held at Issaquah High School. Wendy Peterson, AP Coordinator/I.H.S. teacher is looking for a site that can hold the AP testing within our eastside community. Many of the below requirements are dictated by College Board requirements. The others are meant to create the most positive testing experience for our students. So far, Pickering Barn, the Hilton Garden Hotel and BCC have all been looked at and Meydenbauer Center is currently being checked out as a possibility. If you know of any large spaces that would be available, please contact Wendy Peterson at mailto:petersenw@issaquah.wednet.edu?subject=AP%20Testing%20Facility Thanks so much!

We are looking for a space that can accommodate about 130 students max. That would be our largest group. There are several tests that have fewer students than that – about 100.
We will need tables and chairs for the students – this is something a vendor could provide if necessary
The College Board requires a specific distance between the students. One student per six foot table, which will affect the size of the room.
Good lighting
Heating/Cooling available
Bathroom facilities close to the testing location
Quiet and free from distraction. I’ve looked at some of the community centers, but they also have other events going on (exercise class, etc) which could be noisy.
It can be closed to the public during testing
As close to the school as possible
Ample parking
As reasonably priced as possible

5. Your PTSA at Work

PTSA has been busy working for our students and the IHS staff. From processing membership and volunteer forms, maintaining an up-to-date website, identifying PSAT proctors, and prepping the school directory/parent handbook which is to be mailed in early November. Plans are underway for Quarterly Student Honors on November 20th and Reflections judging. PTSA leaders continue to attend trainings and seminars in order to learn techniques to legally manage the assets of the organization that when followed, allow for maximum potential to be reached for our organization, members and mission.

6. Reflections Art Program

REFLECTIONS ART PROGRAM
2008-2009 Theme “WOW!”

The deadline for Reflections entries is fast approaching! This year’s deadline for submissions is November 18. Sponsored by the National and Washington State PTAs, the Reflections Program encourages students to express themselves creatively with original works of art, literature, music, photography, visual arts, film/video, and choreography/dance to represent a specific theme. Awards will be given to those submissions that best express creativity and incorporate the theme. This year’s theme is “WOW!” Judging will take place at the students’ respective high schools, and awards will be given at the school, district, state and national levels. If you know of a budding Picasso, Ansel Adams, Mozart or Isadora Duncan encourage them to pick up an information packet in the school office. You can also find information and a downloadable application form at http://wastatepta.org/programs/Reflections/reflect.htm

If you have any questions, please contact Karen Starcevich (IHS) at mailto:karstar2@msn.com?subject=IHS%20Reflections or Lauri Cikatz (PCFC) at mailto:tlcikatz@comcast.net?subject=IHS%20Reflections for more information.

Complete details about the Reflections program and each category can be found here.

7. Legislative Update

The November 4th election is almost here. Soon the television ads will stop! The Washington State PTA opposes Initiative 985 due to its detrimental effects on the the general fund and education. For more information, please contact Marianne Kersten at mailto:mkers10@comcast.net?subject=IHS%20Legislation

On November 20, our Region 2 (all eastside PTAs) PTA organization is holding its annual Legislative Roundtable at Newcastle Elementary High School from 7-9 PM. This event provides an opportunity to meet with our area legislators and converse on the PTA’s legislative priorities before the legislative session begins in January.

8. Issaquah Schools Foundation

Issaquah Schools Foundation Celebrates Triumphant
Nourish Every Mind Luncheon!

Nourish Every Mind Co-Chairs Elizabeth Brown and Leslie Patten have proudly announced that early returns for the Issaquah Schools Foundation’s 11th Annual Benefit Luncheon total $324,000.

Over 850 community members gathered at the Issaquah Community Center on Thursday, October 16th, for what many are exclaiming to be the ‘best ever’ Luncheon. Particularly exciting for the Foundation was the number of new faces in the crowd. “We asked our Table Captains to invite people unfamiliar with our work,” says ISF Executive Director, Robin Callahan. “It’s important to increase the community’s knowledge about our schools, our funding situation and the enormous change we can effect by working as a collective.”

PTSA participation played a significant role in the Luncheon’s success. Every PTSA in the District filled a table or more. A quick glance around the room revealed that hundreds of additional PTSA parents were in attendance.

The Issaquah Schools Foundation extends a warm and heartfelt ‘thank you” to the Issaquah School District PTSA Council and ISF/PTSA liaisons for their work on the Foundation’s behalf. From holding leadership positions on the Nourish Every Mind Committee to spreading the word about the event at bus stops and soccer games, the Luncheon truly benefits from a close allegiance with Issaquah School District PTSA’s.

9. Important Issaquah School District News for PTSA Members

Happy fall! Soon, winter weather will be upon us. Before the first snowflake falls, please be sure to read your blue Emergency Transportation Bulletin and post it in a place that you can find easily in the wee hours of the morning. The brochure will be arriving in your mailbox in early November, and it is also online at www.issaquah.wednet.edu/documents/emrg.pdf. If you awake and think school could be closed or delayed, check for a message on the District’s homepage, your inbox if you are a District E-News subscriber (and you really should be a District E-News subscriber!), at the main phone number of your school, on all local television and radio stations, or at http://www.schoolreport.org/ (this is the source that informs the media of delays and closures).

At the District-level, several major processes and changes are underway. As you are definitely aware, we continue to move forward with the rebuild at Issaquah High. We are working with the City of Issaquah on permits, and the Capital Projects team is laying all the ground work to make sure demolition and construction go as smoothly as possible. With the conversion of Pacific Cascade Freshman Campus (PCFC) delayed until fall 2010, we are confident that we have a very workable timeline that will preserve high-quality learning environments for all students through the construction. Issaquah High administrators are doing an admirable job keeping the community informed of daily construction impacts; at the same time, the District will soon publish a construction Web page with timelines and updates for all of our major capital projects. Stay tuned! In the meantime, do not hesitate to ask at the school level or District level (call 425-837-7039) if you have construction questions. In preparation of the PCFC conversion, community members and principals on the Boundary Review Committee handed its recommendation for new boundaries to Superintendent Steve Rasmussen in October. He will make a presentation to the School Board and adopt the final new boundaries in December. The Committee’s recommendation do not change any high school boundaries and create only one split school—meaning that all students will stay together from kindergarten through senior year in high school, with one exception. That’s impressive!

Finally, the School Board plans to fill the Director District 4 vacancy (that’s your Director District) and seat the candidate it selects at its business meeting in November. Please welcome and thank your newest Board member—it’s a major commitment on behalf of our students.

Enjoy the falling leaves and stay warm!

10. Volunteer Opportunities

Interested in being called on an “as needed” basis for volunteer needs at IHS? Please contact Lisa Gaan at mailto:lisagaan@comcast.net?subject=IHS%20Volunteer or Jane Lee at mailto:janeandalvin@comcast.net?subject=IHS%20Volunteer with your interest.

Are you creative or have just a little bit of extra time on your hands? The IH PTSA display case outside the office at Issaquah High School needs to be updated with new information. Please contact Jody Mull at mailto:jodymull@comcast.net?subject=IHS%20Volunteer if you are interested. We would love your help!

11. ASB Auction

Issaquah High School’s Associated Student Body and Senior Class Auction will be held on Tuesday, November 25th at 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm at The Plateau Club. This year’s auction will include both live and silent bids. Hors D’oeuvres and desserts will be served. This will be a night you do not want to miss!

12. Did You Know... ?

…that the IH PTSA leadership meets monthly with Principal Phelps to plan and discuss parent & student issues?
…that the IH PTSA leadership attends monthly PTSA Council meetings to learn of State PTA news, district news, and hear from Superintendent Rasmussen and other district personnel?
…that former IH PTSA President Nancy Campi, is the current Co-President of the Issaquah PTSA Council?
…PTSA membership in the Issaquah School District is the largest in the state and is almost 10% of the Washington State PTA’s total membership

…that cold and flu season is just around the corner and IHS parents are respectfully asked to keep their students home when ill this winter, especially at the onset of fever and sickness? (no student should come to school with a fever!)
…that area pediatricians are suggesting youth be immunized for the flu annually and that flu shot access has improved greatly in the community?
…that contagious students attending school impact student and staff attendance as evidenced by last year’s high rates of on campus “illness episodes” and absenteeism during the winter?
…that students who try to “tough it out” by going to school early in their illness, when they are most contagious, usually miss school days later after becoming run down?