MEREDITH HILL MESSENGER
Volume 8, Issue 3 www.fwps.org/Meredith November 2002
Cindy Kelsey, Principal Kerry Woller, Secretary
Mary Jane Henry, Office Manager Lynette Edwards, Office Clerk
MEREDITH HILL MESSENGER
Volume 8, Issue 3 www.fwps.org/Meredith November 2002
Cindy Kelsey, Principal Kerry Woller, Secretary
Mary Jane Henry, Office Manager Lynette Edwards, Office Clerk
Meredith Hill students will join schools throughout the district as they hold their annual food drive November 4-15. Families are encouraged to share canned foods or other non-perishable items to assist families in need. After students bring those items to school, the items will be delivered to the Federal Way Food Bank.
“Currently the Food Bank, operated by the Multi-Service Center at 1200 S. 336th St., is out of food,” according to the chairman of the Federal Way PTSA Council Community Outreach Program. “For this reason we are holding an emergency food drive the first week of November, and we hope all schools will participate.”
All foods donated should be non-perishable, meaning they won't spoil in storage. They also need to be securely packaged and within the expiration date. The Food Bank is in particular need of basic items, such as:
*canned soups *chili
*pork and beans *peanut butter
*pasta sauce *tuna or canned meat
*noodles and/or rice *canned vegetables
*canned or dry beans *cereal or oatmeal
*canned fruits
*canned tomatoes and tomato sauce
*pasta, including macaroni & cheese
*baby formula, diapers and food
Dates to Remember
November
4-15 – Food Drive
5 – Election Day
6 – Health Screening
7 – Cookie Day
7 – Veteran’s Day Assembly, 2:10-3:00 p.m.
8 – NO SCHOOL – Waiver Day
11 – NO SCHOOL – Veteran’s Day
12 – Rock & Roll Van – Pacific Science Center
13- Picture Retake Day
14 – 5th/6th Grade Parents meet with Deb Brewer
7:00-8:30 p.m.
19 – General PTA Meeting, 7:00 p.m.
21 – Cookie Day
22 – End of 1st Trimester
22 – S.L.T. Mtg., 7:30 a.m.
28 – NO SCHOOL, Thanksgiving Vacation
29 – NO SCHOOL, Thanksgiving Vacation
December
2-5 – PTA Holiday Shop
6 – NO SCHOOL
12 – Cookie Day
13 – Report Cards go home
13 – PTA Winterfest
20 – S.L.T. Mtg., 7:30 a.m.
23-Jan. 3 – NO SCHOOL – Winter Vacation
Changes and Testing Schedule Announced for Gifted Education
Federal Way District has announced that full-time Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) classes will change to include 2nd graders next year when our 6th grade classes move to middle schools. Two combination classes will be offered at grades 2/3 and 4/5 in 2003-2004. Nominations for participation in next year’s GATE program will be open from November 14 through December 9, 2002. Students currently in grades 1-4 can be nominated by a parent or teacher, with applications available in the school office beginning November 14. Students already placed in the full-time GATE program do not need to re-test. Students in the pull-out GATE program need to take the test only if they wish to be considered for full-time placement.
Students currently in 3rd or 4th grade who are nominated for GATE will be tested at Meredith Hill on Thursday, January 16th. Nominated students in 1st or 2nd grade will be tested here at school on Wednesday, February 5. The test will be given by a trained team of test administrators from the district and will last approximately 3-1/2 hours, which includes time for short breaks.
Upon receipt of a completed nomination packet, parents will receive a confirmation letter from the GATE office with the date of testing. Questions regarding testing on the GATE program may be directed to Gwen Knechtel, GATE program manager, at 253-945-2056 or to your school principal. Parents are also encouraged to visit the GATE web page on the Federal Way Public Schools website at: www.fwps.org.
Thank You Volunteers
Our thanks go out to the many people who give their time in behalf of our students. Our volunteers put in 350 hours of volunteer time in October. You are great!
National Children’s Book Week – November 18-21
Monday, November 18 – “Everyone Has a Story to tell” Day – Wear anything readable (excluding hats), shirts, sweatshirts, etc. with words on them.
Tuesday, November 19 – “Bedtime Story” Day – Wear pajamas, robes, etc.
Wednesday, November 20th – “Book Week – Book Feast”
Thursday, November 21 – “Book Character Day” – Dress as a favorite storybook character – try to have the book with you!
Friday, November 22 – “Extra! Extra! Read All About It!” – Wear your Orca colors – black and white.
Holiday Community Resources
Families who need help this holiday season with toys and food can be sponsored through one of the generous community programs in the Federal Way area. If your family needs this help, you can call and leave a confidential message on the voice mail for Patty EagleCruz, the school counselor at (253)945-3208. Many families find themselves in difficult situations at this time of the year. These community resources are pleased to help. Please call before November 18th to sign up.
Picture Retake Day
Buteau’s Photography will be back at Meredith Hill on Wednesday, November 13th for picture retakes. If your child was absent on picture day or if you are new to our school, please have your child get his/her picture taken. Picture order forms can be picked up in the school office.
Parents...Check Your Couches
We have all heard the term “couch potato.” During the cold and rainy months, how do we keep our children from spending all evening and weekend watching TV? There are two major concerns. First, if they are spending a lot of time watching TV, how much time are they spending on activities which will provide them with needed exercise or stimulation? Secondly, how carefully are we monitoring what programs our children are watching?
It’s easy to see how dependent both children and adults can get on their television sets. How often do you find yourselves sitting in front of the TV flipping through the channels just looking for something to watch? Much has been written about these topics, but please read on to remind you about alternatives to TV. These are things a parent can do:
v Don’t use the television as a babysitter and deprive children of attention or productive activity. Visit the library each week; set aside time to read. Take a walk.
v Serve as a good role model. Parents viewing habits are an influence on children.
v Eliminate some TV watching by setting basic rules: No TV before homework is done; set a limit on the number of hours members of your family can watch TV per day or per week.
v Encourage your children to plan TV time. Use the TV guide to pick out those programs you and your children want to watch instead of flipping through the channels.
v Participate as much as possible in your child’s viewing.
v Help children develop an interest in a variety of programs: Action, comedy, fine arts, history, fantasy, sports, etc. Use your VCR to develop a child’s own library of high quality programs to be watched on a reasonable schedule.
Good luck! Pat yourself on the back anytime you and your children are participating in some activity other than TV!
Linda Russo, Nurse
Culminating Project and 13th
Year Plan Committee
Parents and community members are invited to participate on a committee to create a proposal for the culminating project and 13th year plan, which will go into effect as a high school graduation requirement in 2008. We hope to pilot a proposal in 2004. Meetings of this committee will be held bi-monthly on Tuesdays from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. from September to May, 2003. Please contact Karen Dickinson, Assistant Director of Curriculum & Instruction at (253) 945-2122, or via email at kdickins@fwps.org prior to July 1, 2003.
Help Your Kids Exel in School
To be more involved in your child’s education, homework is one of the best places to start.
Helping with homework, regardless of your child’s age, involves more than testing the day’s spelling lesson. But it doesn’t require you to be an academic genius! Here are some other ways to help:
Ask where they’d like to do their homework. Whether they prefer to sit at the kitchen table or in their own room, it’s important to meet kids in an environment they prefer.
Ask about homework with the same interest as you would ask a friend about a good book. If you show sincere interest, they’re more likely to include you.
Work out a weekly schedule for homework. Make sure you involve your child in this schedule making process, and take other activities like soccer practice into consideration. Be flexible, but hold them to the agreed schedule. Time management is an essential life skill.
Give them homework. If your child comes home without a homework assignment for a specific class, have them practice whatever they’ve been learning, such as spelling words or reading.
Being involved with your child’s education can be rewarding for both of you!