MEREDITH HILL MESSENGER

Free Immunization Clinic

Saturday, May 3, 2003

9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Seattle-King County Department of Public Health

33431 13^th Place South

Federal Way

Primary immunizations will be available at no cost to preschool through 12^th grade Federal Way Public School students. The event is a combined partnership between the Bert Bruell Memorial Fund of St. Francis Community Hospital, the Seattle-King County Department of Public Health and Federal Way Public Schools Health Services Department. Students must come with a parent or legal guardian and should bring their immunization records.

Available immunizations include: MMR, IPV, Hib, DtaP, and Hepatitis B. We encourage 5^th grade students to use this opportunity to get their second MMR which is required for entry to sixth grade. A second MMR is also required for entry to kindergarten through third grade for the 2003-04 school year.

The next free immunization clinic will be held in August 2003.

5^th/6^th Grade

Kilo Middle School News

The Meredith Hill 5^th and 6^th grade students will be visiting Kilo Middle School on Thursday, May 15^thduring the school day. Please make sure that you sign the permission slip and return to your child’s teacher prior to this date.

Dates to Remember

April

24 –5^th/6^th Grade Music Concert, 7:00 pm

25 – SLT Mtg., 7:30 am

25 – 2^nd Grade to Museum of Flight

25 – PTA Family Night Orca Dance

26 – Qualifying Track Meet – 9 and over

1:00 pm @ F.W. Stadium

May

1 – Cookie Day

2 – 8 & under Championship Meet, 5:15 pm

5-16 – Kindergarten Registration

6 – 1^st/2^nd & Drouet Music Concert, 7:00 pm

8 – 4^th Grade to Washington History Museum

9 – Champions Parents Night Out, 6:30-10:00 pm

10 – 9 & over Championship Meet, 9:30 am

13 – Kindergarten Music Concert, 7:00 pm

14 – Volunteer Appreciation Dinner 5:30-6:30 pm

14 – PTA General Meeting, 7:00 pm

15 – Cookie Day

15 – 5^th/6^th Grade visit to Kilo Middle School

15 – Classic Track Meet, 9 & up, 5:30 pm

20 – Kindergarten Round-Up, 6:30 pm

22 – Cookie Day

22 – Battle of the Books

22 – Honor Choir/Steel Drum Concert, 7:00 pm

23 – Olympia Rally Make-up Day

SCHOOL IN SESSION

26 – NO SCHOOL – Memorial Day

27 – NO SCHOOL – Waiver Day

27-30 – 5^th Grade to Camp Thunderbird

28 – Steel Drum Exchange

29 – Long’s class to Federation Forest

30 – SLT, 7:30 am

30 – Steel Drum Tour

Thank You Volunteers

Thank you volunteers for spending 265 hours with staff and students in the month of March. You are truly appreciated!

Kindergarten Registration

Kindergarten Registration is scheduled for May 5-May 16, 2003. To register a kindergartner, you will need a certified copy of your child’s birth certificate to verify the age requirement (children must be 5 on or before August 31, 2003) and record of immunization.

Certified copies of birth certificates for children born in King County can be obtained from Vital Records at (206) 296-4769, King County Administration Bldg., Room 214, 500 4^th Ave., Seattle, WA 98104. More information can also be found on the web at www.vitalchek.com.

The State of Washington requires certain immunizations in order for children to attend school. Children may get their immunizations from their health care provider or at Seattle-King County Department of Public Health. To contact the Public Health Department in Federal Way call (253) 838-4557.

Tardies Make a Difference

There have been an excessive number of tardies at Meredith Hill.

ü When students arrive to school late they are missing out on their education.

ü Students who arrive late start their day behind other students.

ü Students who arrive late disrupt class by coming in late while others are working.

ü Students who arrive late take away from the teacher’s time because they then need to spend time with that student to get them caught up with the others.

We realize that emergencies sometimes occur, however, some students are arriving late more than once each week without a valid explanation. If you or your child are having a difficult time in the morning, please let us know and we will work with you and your child to help them get to school on time.

Schedule Change

On January 14, 2003 school in the Federal Way School District was cancelled. The teachers attended a one day rally in Olympia. We will make up the lost day on May 23, 2003 which was scheduled as a non-student day. If you have any questions, please contact the Meredith Hill office at (253) 945-3200.

Class Placement for 2003-2004

Teachers will soon begin creating class lists for next year. As in the past, parents are encouraged to offer thoughts about your child that will help in this placement. We ask that you share your thoughts but please do not request a specific teacher. We will not be able to accommodate those requests and the form will be returned to you. Because of next year’s budget cuts, we are unsure of who will be teaching in specific grades. The Sharing of Information forms are available in the Meredith Hill Office. Please return them by May 6^th.

Less TV Opens Doors

To Literacy

Fast Facts

§ American children watch nearly three hours of television every day.

§ Children spend more time in front of the tube each year than they do in school.

§ Children who watch six or more hours of television per day score significantly lower on reading proficiency tests than those who watch one hour or less.

§ Studies involving more than 400,000 students find that television is bad for academic achievement.

Take Action!

§ Limit TV viewing at home. Make rules about school nights and mornings. Take the TV out of your child’s bedroom.

§ Always make books available to your children. Take trips to the public library. Give books as gifts.

§ Read with your children. Ask them about the books they are reading. Encourage your kids to try new genres and writing styles.

§ Consider living without TV.