Bear Creek Tracks

Gary Keeler, Principal (425) 408-4105 Sally Walker, Office Manager Marie Jefferson, Secretary

(425) 408-4100 December 7, 2012 Volume XXVI, Issue 13

MSP Testing

Information

Testing Window: May 2nd – 19th Testing Subjects: 3rd Grade – Reading & Math 4th Grade – Reading, Math & Writing 5th Grade – Reading, Math & Science 6th Grade – Reading & Math The state assessment that replaced the WASL, the Measurement of Student Progress, will be given again in May this year. The state is beginning to roll out online testing. This year the sixth graders will take the MSP online. In the coming weeks, all sixth graders will be given an online tutorial on how to use the testing software, so that when the assessments begin students will be comfortable and confident with the technology piece. Thank you in advance for not scheduling appointments or vacations during the testing window.

MSP Testing

Information

Testing Window: May 2nd – 19th Testing Subjects: 3rd Grade – Reading & Math 4th Grade – Reading, Math & Writing 5th Grade – Reading, Math & Science 6th Grade – Reading & Math The state assessment that replaced the WASL, the Measurement of Student Progress, will be given again in May this year. The state is beginning to roll out online testing. This year the sixth graders will take the MSP online. In the coming weeks, all sixth graders will be given an online tutorial on how to use the testing software, so that when the assessments begin students will be comfortable and confident with the technology piece. Thank you in advance for not scheduling appointments or vacations during the testing window.

Trying to Keep Up The future rushes at you sometimes before you are ready for it. This is especially true for many of us when it comes to technology. Fortunately, we are surrounded by a generation of kids that has known only a world with easy access to computers. This generation will change the world. But easy access to the Internet also can create unique circumstances within schools. In my day when I played with kids in the neighborhood, that meant I played with the 5 or 7 kids who lived within a half mile of my house. Today the Internet neighborhood doesn’t have such boundaries. When students play games online, they can connect with many people in many places. The games seem absolutely awesome, but these fantasy scenarios can present a challenge for elementary-age students, who may have difficulty processing the online vs. real world consequences of games. When a ten year old’s online creations are put at risk, the gaming aspect can be lost as students become attached and protective of online personas. When several students share online experiences at home, they can transfer those situations to school, recounting at-home triumphs and losses from online sessions. Sometimes the conversations that transfer to the school setting expand into arguments and interfere with learning. Some students become very upset and feel badly or even bullied by others with whom they are sharing online experiences. This phenomenon is becoming a greater and greater reality for schools. As a school, I am simply asking that you be a partner in helping us to guide students in online experiences and how students discuss those experiences at school. This is a complicated issue, but it would be helpful if parents could follow up with their child: Discuss online gaming, whom the child is interacting with online, the nature of such interactions, reality vs. fantasy, how to handle competition, and separating gaming behavior from friendship and school behavior. I believe your child’s readiness to embrace technology and navigate the wide-open spaces of a computer-smart world is an essential part of our future. I have complete confidence in our students’ skills and decision-making. At school, we want to ensure that the positive elements of this experience do not bring about unwanted outcomes in interfering with powerful learning opportunities. One resource for parents is the book, The Elephant in the Living Room, by Dimitri Christakis. He is a local researcher and author who studied the effects of screen time on children. What's happening at Bear Creek and so many other schools is a prime example of how fast change can occur. As a school community, we will investigate such issues and invite constructive dialogue between school and home to surface information that provides the very best for students. Thank you for your support in this matter. Feel free to contact me at any time. Sincerely, Gary

Connect with Mr. Keeler

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Parents – Got Photos?

Marie is in need of different school/classroom event photos to include in this year’s yearbook. If you are willing to

share photos please contact Marie @ mjefferson@nsd.org.

Thank you

ABC Auction Giving Tree

Is back by popular demand…we’re just starting a little earlier so we hope you will join us with your shopping generosity. Kind reminder, this is in lieu of creating classroom baskets.

The tags for the giving tree list an item needed for a silent auction basket.

• Only adults may select tags. • Most items can be purchased from Amazon.com (search ABC Auction in Wish List) or at the Safeway gift card kiosk

– they can be shipped directly to the ABC Auction procurement team or you can drop it off at the Bear Creek office.

Each tag/item purchased will be entered into a drawing for a prize!

• Drawings for a Barnes & Noble gift card will be held on Thursdays during the months of November and December. • The more tags you take, the more chances your child will have to win!

Thanks for helping out the auction and our school!

For your convenience, please feel free to shop the Amazon Wish List and email April Remfrey (abremf@yahoo.com) to be entered into the drawing.

CALLING ALL SCIENTISTS – THE SCIENCE FAIR IS COMING!

The Science Fair is earlier this year – Friday, February 1st.

New this year: You can work with ONE other student

and present together! Registration forms will come home on January 4, and

will require a project idea so start thinking! NO solar systems, volcanoes, weapons or live animals

please! PTA will provide 24”x36” project boards, which will be

coming home starting January 18.

Questions can be sent to Nancy at nlchamberlain@yahoo.com or to

Mrs. Kasner at bkasner@nsd.org.

Tis the season for colds, influenza, stomach flu, and head lice. I have seen students with all these ailments in the past several weeks. Please remind your entire family to wash hands well, cough and sneeze into a tissue or sleeve, and check children’s hair weekly for signs of head lice such as nits or lice. The district lice policy has changed recently. Since lice are not a health hazard and do not carry disease, the nurses do not routinely send home letters when there is a case of lice in the classroom. Parents are encouraged to check children’s heads frequently and notify friends and the school nurse if lice are found. It is not too late to get vaccinated for the flu. It generally peaks in late winter in this area but this year is forecast to have an earlier and more severe flu season. If your child has a fever (100.0 or higher) he/she must stay home for 24 hours after the temperature returns to normal without medication to bring it down. If someone has stomach flu symptoms of vomiting or diarrhea, he/she needs to stay home until symptom-free and able to eat normally for 24 hours. I have been checking vision on students who were absent on screening day or who had difficulty seeing the eye chart. The District audiologist conducted hearing re-screens last Friday. If your student needs further evaluation for either vision or hearing, I will call or leave a message for you, and send home a referral letter. Please call me if you have questions or need assistance in obtaining a referral. Betsy Ritchie, RN

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Saturday, December 8th, 2012 EAP testing @ Woodmoor – for applications

submitted for 2013-2014 Monday, December 10th, 2012 3-4:15 Last day for Afterschool Drama TBD Afterschool Drama Performance – library Tuesday, December 11th, 2012 1:15pm & 7pm Winter Concert 3-4pm Last Afterschool Spanish Class Wednesday, December 12th, 2012 3-4pm Last Afterschool Spanish Class Last Math Olympiad Meeting 7pm Band/Strings Concert @ TJH Thursday, December 13th, 2012 9:30-10am Bear Creek “Families” Meeting 3-5pm Holiday Craft Workshop (grds 3-6) – Rm 133

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Cool Tools is a school-wide safe school system that provides students with integrity-building, conflict resolution ideas as well as a system that allows a student to sort out and REPAIR their mistakes. Cool Tools: A Safe School, Integrity-building, Conflict Resolution System, originating from the UCLA Lab School (an elementary school on the UCLA campus- connected to the School of Education at UCLA). This program is based on research from Dr. Dan Olweus, research psychologist from Norway. He has developed and has been involved in his anti-bullying systems for over 40 years. His research includes 2 important concepts:

1. We need to establish positive relations with students. 2. The system has to be school-wide with a common language.

Cool Tools provide classroom strategies to help students learn and practice kindness, REPAIR their mistakes, and learn how to resolve conflicts to reduce the ever-growing problem of bullying. Cool Tools Safe School System involves all staff, students and as many parents as possible. It is currently at Hollywood Hill and Bear Creek. It started on a limited basis in the Game Rooms (safe indoor recesses) at Hollywood (many years ago) and Bear Creek (2 years ago). Cool and kind older students are chosen to help in the game room, receive some Cool Tools training, and lead the younger students by their kind examples. Each teacher is provided a notebook with organized, student-friendly ways to discuss community-building concepts as part of their classroom management system. They are also provided a “Tool Kit” filled with different tools to help students understand complex concepts such as Self-reliance, Consideration, Kindness, Integrity, Empathy/Fairness, Self Respect, Patience, Responsibility, Forgiveness, Determination and Perseverance in an developmentally appropriate way. Examples of “Tools”: 1. Kaleidoscopes- teach students “Different points of view. A small group of students look at the same picture in a Kaleidoscope and write down what they see- there will be differences from their group members. 2. Toothpaste/Toothpicks: Squeeze out toothpaste and try to put it back in the tube with a toothpick- It’s easier to say unkind words or do unkind actions than to try to put back those unkind words/actions. 3. “Nice Dice”- practice “Put ups” (compliments/kind actions). It takes 5 put ups to “REPAIR” 1 put down. 4. Sort-it-out forms: We take the blame and shame out of mistakes, and help students develop a plan of REPAIR for their mistakes. The program originated at Hollywood Hill and is now in place at Bear Creek. Pam Harper assembled the Cool Tool kits and provided training for both schools. As part of their classroom management system, teachers are asked to have regular meetings to learn, role-play and practice the concepts of Cool Tools. They learn 1 lesson per month and practice those concepts all month. Teachers and Staff lead by example (modeling) and practice the concepts of Cool Tools within themselves as well as with their students. All adult staff are responsible for all students; we help each other with “our” students…all of them! We don’t learn to tolerate differences, WE CELEBRATE DIFFERENCES

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Friday, December 14th, 2012 8:45-10am PTA Board Meeting 11:30-12pm ASB Meeting – Music Room 3-5pm Holiday Craft Workshop (grds K-2) –Rm 134 NO Chorus Monday, December 17th, 2012 No Band/Strings Rehearsals Tuesday, December 18th, 2012 No Band/Strings Rehearsals Wednesday, Dec. 19th, 2012- Tuesday, Jan. 1st, 2013 No School – Winter Vacation Wednesday, January 2nd, 2013 No School – Teacher Workday Friday, January 4th, 2013 Spirit Day

8:45-10am PTA Exec. Board Meeting – Stage

Upcoming Events

Page 4 of 4 BC Tracks – PTA Information

Congratulations to our BEAR CREEK PTA!!!

Washington  State  PTA  released  an  article  this  week  listing  all  the  schools  that  have  been  recognized  with  outstanding  membership  recruiting  efforts  to  encourage  membership  enrollment  early  and  throughout  the  year.  BEAR  CREEK  PTA  has  already  earned  TWO  AWARDS  for  the  2012-­‐2013  school  year!!!!  

BRONZE Level Award -Enrolling 50% of the previous year's membership by September 30th. What a great way to start the new school year, THANK YOU MEMBERS!

100% Teacher Membership Award- The 100% Teacher Membership Award is an award presented to PTA units to recognize the value of teachers as stakeholders advocating for all children through PTA membership. Only 75 schools have achieved this goal and we are one of them!!! THANK YOU BC TEACHERS/STAFF for your support and membership!!!

We are still striving for our total membership goal of 100%! If you are not a member yet, we can you use your support… remember the more members we have in our organization, the stronger our voice is for our kids! Please visit our website, www.bearcreekpta.org to sign up and for more information.

Thank you to our parents, our staff and our community for your support!

Volunteer Information THANK YOU so much to everyone who volunteered for Movie Night and helped deliver the Fall Fundraiser this week. We appreciate your help and hope you had a fun time!

As we head to the start of the New Year, we really need more volunteers for PTA sponsored events. We parents are 1/3 of Bear Creek (along with students and staff). We stay a part of the school by being active and involved in it—in the classroom, at school events, and through dialogue with our students and teachers. According to the National Center for Educational Statistics, "School-aged children are more likely to get mostly A's, to enjoy school, and to participate in extracurricular activities, and are less likely to have ever repeated a grade and to have ever been suspended or expelled if their fathers or mothers have high levels of involvement in their schools.” Let your student see you volunteer at school, they’ll be proud of you! If you have any questions about volunteering or would like to be placed on the General Volunteer List or Staff Appreciation List, please email Brooke Jones, brooke@rbjsolutions.com or sign up online at bearcreekpta.org..

Nominating the PTA President for the 2013-2014 School Year The PTA Nominating Committee is taking names for PTA President or Co-Presidents for the next school year. If you would like to submit your name or the name of someone you know to be considered for PTA President please email a member of the nominating committee:

Sheri Rojas, sherirojas@yahoo.com (2nd grader, 4th grader) Kelly Locke, mj.kj.locke@comcast.net (1st grader, 4th grader)

Brooke Jones, brooke@rbjsolutions.com (1st grader) The new President or Co-Presidents will be elected in March. From the Washington State PTA website, “The president is the presiding officer and the official representative of the association. The president presides at all meetings and plans the meeting agenda ahead of time with the PTA secretary, utilizing input from others.” If you would like to read more about the PTA President duties or learn more about the WA State PTA, please visit, www.wastatepta.org. If you have questions about Bear Creek PTA presidential duties, please contact our current PTA presidents: Susan Lampe, susan.lampe@btleng.net or Shauna Kennedy, slkennedy3@comcast.net.