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Gregory Activities THIS WEEK!

Winter Clothing Drive: Our annual winter clothing drive begins TODAY December 5th and will run until December 9th. Families are encouraged to send in new or gently worn clothing for adults, youth, children, and infants. The clothing should be clean and no stains or holes. Shoes, hats, and gloves are welcomed. Any Gregory Heights logo shirt/sweatshirts will be given to the PTSA. There will be drop off boxes by the main doors and Mrs. Knutson’s class will pick up items from classrooms as well each day. Any questions please contact Mrs. Knutson, linnea.knutson@highlineschools.org or visit room 171.

Annual Holiday Giving Tree: It’s that time of year again when we start preparing for the upcoming holidays. Our Gregory Heights community is sponsoring a Giving Tree for those families that could use a little extra help during the holiday season. If you would like to make this a happier holiday season for a Gregory Heights’ student, or their siblings, please pick an ornament off of the Giving Tree (located by the school office) and sign up on the clip board for that particular child’s wish. Please bring your unwrapped gift(s) back to the office by December 8th. VOLUNTEER GIFT WRAPPERS NEEDED: On Monday Dec 12 from 3:30 until finished, we need volunteers to help wrap the gifts in the library. It might be a fun time for a parent and child to do this activity together. Questions? Please contact our school counselor, Chris Barnes, Christine.Barnes@highlineschools.org.

KUDOS!

Pizza Night: “WOW! our Gh families brought in a grand total of 419 food items (328 lbs!) that have gone to the highline area food. Great Job! Due to the overwhelming support, 2 classes have won a pizza party to have before winter break. The winners are Ms. knutsons’ all day k with 77 items and Ms. Nelsen’s 4/5 class with 108 items. In addtion to these classes we had 3 other classes bring in over 30 items- Ms. Will with 38, Mrs. Saffold with 37, and Mr. Q with 43. Thank you to all parents, teachers, and students who have made this pizza night a success.

PTSA Membership: Thanks you and kudos to our Membership Team for bringing in 196 memberships already this year! Way to go Rachelle and Crissy!

Joy to The Teachers: Thanks also to all the parents and awesome organizers who made our Teachers feel appreciated and cared for by donating yummy foods last week during conferences. Additionally, we will be serving the teachers an amazing feast on Tuesday December 20th thanking them for all they do for our children…We would love for you to make your favorite dish. Your favorite dish could be as easy as appetizers from Costco or Trader Joes;. send in the box and we will cook for you and put on a pretty platter!!! Other items we need hot dishes, salads, rolls, desserts, fruit, sparkilng ciders. If you can help please email Jill Mudge & Betsy Akina at ghvolunteers@comcast.net. We could use volunteers from 10:00-11:00 for set up and 1:30-2:30 for clean up.

Announcements

LOVE IS…..
’Day of Event” Auction Director Opening: We are in need of a volunteer to step forward to become an Auction Director specifically focused on the “Day of Event.” This position is one of 5 Directors serving on the Auction Committee. The description follows: “Assists with planning and executing details for the day-of-event and people working day of (set-up/decorations, dessert dash, entertainment, clean-up, seating assignments, printing/mailing thank you cards.)” With the auction rapidly approaching, we need to fill this position ASAP. If you are interested in this position, please contact Christi Zellerhoff, czellerhoff@gmail.com. Thanks!

Auction General Meeting & Procurement Meeting: Wednesday December 14th 6:30-8:00pm in the library. There will be a drawing for one FREE ticket to the auction. Come learn more about the auction and find out what tasks still need volunteers from “at-home” data entry jobs to day of: set-up and break-down, bid spotters, checkout computer “operators.” Event helpers receive free admission to the auction and their own bid number.

Our Gregory Heights Benefit Auction is just around the corner! We still have many more sponsorship and advertising opportunities. Please contact Brenda Sutherland-Field, sutherfield5@comcast.net for more information.

*** Auction tickets go on sale after we return from the winter break.

December Dollar Book Store Sale Our next Dollar Book Store sale will be Wednesday December 14. This is an opportunity for our students to buy books for $1 each with all proceeds going back into the program to sustain the sales. The goal as always is to create student interest in book ownership and provide books for our kids at a cheap cost. We would like to thank all the families that have donated books already toward this sale. Special thanks to Betsy Akina and Jill Mudge who have really added to our collection. Special thanks also to Christy Van Bodegom and Margaret Ann Van Bodegom and who have donated credit at the local Page 2 Book Store in Burien. Page 2 Books also has donated a number of books toward this program. All these generous gifts will help put books in our students hands! So remember the Dollar Book Store sale on December 14 and happy holidays!

Student Leadership Team: (11/29/2011 meeting minutes): Mrs. Johnston presented information about the Greenschools winners (PTSA would like to help us with a vegetable garden and possibly a plant a plant day). Community Service plans will be made at our January meeting.

Spirit Days decision: Talent Show has been removed from the SLT agenda with the possibility that Ms. Bede will facilitate a non-competitive school talent show. The Cupcake Day and Costume Day ideas are removed because of district food policies and learning distraction concerns. Costume Day is replaced with Dress up like a twin or triplet day: The spirit day calendar for this year is:

Dec. 9 Pajama Day

Jan. 13 Movie Day

Feb. 10 Twin/Triplet Day

March 16 Sports Day

April 20 Crazy Hair Day

May 11 Mustache Day

June 8 Super Recess Day

For each spirit day, we need announcers to remind our school of the event coming up that Friday. Sign ups were taken by Ms. Barnes.

We also need one classroom to make posters for each spirit day. Sign ups were also facilitated by Ms. Barnes.

Our student leadership team representatives and alternates are doing a wonderful job of representing their classmates’ input! Stay tuned for the first Spirit Day of the year, December 9: Pajama Day!!!

Our next meeting in December will feature updates on Community Service projects and our Greenschools update. Remember to Rethink, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!!!

PTSA December Newsletter: For more activities & announcements, please enjoy reading the attached newsletter. Thank you again to Andrea Gollob for all of her hard work putting this together!

CLUBS

GLOBAL ART CONTEST: November 28th – December 12th Gregory’s 2nd annual “Global Art Contest” in now in motion. Applications are available in the library and Mr. Bento will be announcing this contest to classes this week during library time. Questions? Please contact Jennifer Lucero at jimandjen2000@comcast.net

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED:

1) Are there any volunteers with nice handwriting that might be interested in filling out art contest finalist certficates & helping distribute them?

2) Any volunteers willing to assist in prize distribution (tentatively 1/5/11—but timing/logistics still to be determined)

If interested, please contact Jennifer Lucero at jimandjen2000@comcast.net

Looking Ahead…more info to come:

• Dollar Book Store Sale, Wednesday December 14 Lunch/Recess
• Winter Break: Dec. 21-Jan. 3

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Announcements

Pie Sales Contest Winners

K-3rd Grade

• Cameron Keller (70) pies sold 1st grade
• Bella Vanbodegom (19) pies sold 1st grade

4th-6th grade

• Araceli Felix (14 ) sold 4th grade
• Wren Bergin (25) SOLD 4th grade

Class winners:

• K-3rd: MS OLSEN’S CLASS WITH A TOTAL OF 102 PIES

• 4th-6th: MS BENSEN’S CLASS WITH A TOTAL OF 57 PIES

**Pies will be ready to pick-up THIS Wednesday 11/16 beginning at 2pm. Earlier if the truck show up early enough.

Student Lead Conferences: NEXT WEEK. There will be no school for your child except for when your child attends their conference with you.

Pizza Night: The next Round Table Pizza night is coming up on November 30 from 4:30-7:30pm. This time we will have a canned food drive to benefit the Highline Food Bank; and Round Table Pizza will donate a pizza party to the class that brings in the most non-perishable food items. More details to come in the upcoming LOOPS….

CLUB NEWS

MILE CLUB
Congratulations to Colin Fournier! He was the first student to reach 5 miles this year! Colin receives a special prize for this accomplishment, as well as a necklace for his foot tags! Also, we would like to mention that Mrs. Knutson’s kindergarten class has 100% participation this year! Including Mrs. Knutson herself! We welcome all teachers to watch their students run/walk, join their students, or simply encourage their students to participate!

Mile Club happens every Friday during lunch recess – weather permitting. Please join us! Come have fun and get rewarded for exercising! Signs will be posted on days that Mile Club will occur. Please check-in near the baseball field. Students participating in Mile Club are encouraged to wear athletic/running shoes on Fridays.

This year we have added many extra rewards:

~Each Mile: Mile Club Foot Tag

~At 5 Miles: Necklace for Tags

~Each 10 Miles: Mile Club “10” Tag

~First student/students to reach 5 miles will receive a special prize.

~First student/students to reach 10 miles will receive a special prize.

~First student/students to reach 15 miles will receive a special prize.

~First student/students to reach 20 miles will receive a special prize.

~All students who reach 20 miles will receive a special prize.

~Class with most miles accumulated at the end of the year will receive a special treat.

~Top 10 students with the most miles will receive an achievement certificate.

~Top 5 students with the most miles will receive an achievement certificate and an engraved necklace.

~Top student with the most miles will receive an achievement certificate, engraved necklace, and a $20.00 gift card!

We have had a total of 13 different volunteers so far this year! I would like to thank everyone for helping out! Thank you to: Rebecca Winnier, Jenny White, Kristin Murray, Elaine Eads, Lisa Corner, JoAnn Wakefield, Denise Hemingway, Morgan Hemingway, Chris Stone, Joy Fisher, Christy Peterson, Heather Mathias, and Sandy Gamrath.

LOVE IS….. Thank you to our Auction Sponsors!

Premiere Level-$1000:

Laborworks Industrial Staffing

Seattle Acura, Cline Davis, General Manager-Tukwila

Community Level $250 +:

Seattle Radiator–$250

Husky Pride Level 100+:

White Center Glass & Upholstery

Three new businesses will be advertising with us this year, so far…remember to ask your favorites to place an Ad with us while you are there supporting them.

Did you know we’ve got an X-box with Kinnect for the auction? I can’t wait to see who wins it!

Need more information about how to secure sponsorships and advertising? Please contact Brenda Sutherland-Field, sutherfield5@comcast.net.

Looking Ahead…more info to come:

• Student Lead Conferences-Nov 21-23
• Thanksgiving holiday-Nov 24-25th
• Round Table Pizza Night-Nov 30th

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Staff, District; & Community News

What do drums & Starbuck’s have in common? Ms. Bede’s Music Class! Read on…

DonorsChoose.org is a fantastic website where teachers can go online and request donations for classroom needs. Our own Ms. Bede has applied for a $275 grant to purchase 6 drums, like the djembes and tubanos, to replace the buckets our students have been using for years. You can help her reach her goal and bring new drums to GH by visiting Starbucks!

On Wednesday October 5, stop by any King County Starbucks and pick up a free $10 DonorsChoose gift card. These free gift cards are redeemable at www.donorschoose.org/kingcounty2011 . Find Ms. Bede’s project request: http://www.donorschoose.org/donors/proposal.html?id=643066&verify=-1017848497 and apply your $10 gift card to her project!

The Dollar Book Store Is Back! We are happy to say the Gregory Heights Dollar Book Store will be back in business soon. This is an opportunity for our students to buy new or gently used books for $1 each with all proceeds going back into the program to sustain the sales. The goal is to create student interest in book ownership and provide books for our kids at a cheap cost.

With thanks to The Highline Schools Foundation for Excellence which provided original grant money to start this program, we are back purchasing gently used books of interest to our students including non-fiction, children’s chapter books, and picture books, from local thrift and book discount stores. We are also accepting book donations.

Do you have any children’s books still in good shape that you might like to pass on? If so and you think they will work for this program, please consider donating them to our Gregory Heights Library Dollar Book Store. What a good way to recycle! Remember children’s books only.

We should be having our first Dollar Book Store sale sometime in October with more information on the date coming soon. Thank you.

Michael Bento
Teacher/Librarian
Gregory Heights Elementary

KUDOS!
Thank you to our GH volunteers! To date we have registered a total of 44 volunteers registering 220 volunteer hours for September! If you are a GH volunteer, please be sure to sign-in at the front office so we can give you credit for volunteering. This is important because we send a monthly volunteer report to our district AND look forward to giving out volunteer service awards through out the year.

Gregory Activities

Family Pizza Buffet Night: Round Table Pizza is hosting “Family Pizza Night” for Gregory Heights’ Families on Wednesday October 12 from 4:30-7:30pm. A portion of the profits from the buffet sales AND all raffle sale proceeds, will be donated back to Gregory Heights. Join us for this fun family social AND enter in a raffle where one lucky family will receive a large pizza each month for 1 year! (Enter as many times as you want-raffle tickets cost $1.00 and will be on sale at pizza night only- need not be present to win). This is a great way to support our school and feast with friends. Location: 15730 1st Avenue South, Burien, WA 98148, (206) 431-8600. Questions? Please contact Lonnie Gibson, knlgibson@comcast.net.

2012 Auction News

Procurement Forms are Now Available in the office! Parents-it is time to start pounding the pavement to secure donations for our 2012 Benefit Auction! Some popular and top-selling items from our last auction were: “wax & wine party;” Private catered dinner from local chef, Steve Brendlinger; vacations, spa services and so much more! So be creative and “think outside the box” when procuring. Remember-it is a tax write-off for donors and businesses love the advertising!

Another great way to ask for support is to ask businesses, friends and family to make an online donation/contribution. Learn more by visiting http://ghptsa.ejoinme.org/giveGHlove.

Need help getting started? Contact Brenda Sutherland-Field, Marketing Director or Jana Lipscomb, Procurement Director at sutherfield5@comcast.net or janalips@gmail.com They will make it easy for you to sell Ad space, sponsorships and procure items for the event with ready-to-use informational packets and forms.

Coming Soon… Your Auction Directors are hard at work and are excited to include and inform you of the many ways you can participate in making the 2012 GH “Love is…” Benefit Auction the most successful auction to date! Your Auction Directors will be sending out a weekly “AUCTION e-NEWS” that will highlight auction-specific information such as “Sponsors Spotlight,” lists of procurement items & goals, incentive prizes & winners, volunteer opportunities, auction day activities, instructions for how friends & family can make online donations and much, much more.

Gregory Clubs News:

Spanish Club: There is still space left in Spanish Club for last minute registrations this week. If interested, you can pick up an application in the office and/or email Jennifer Lucero, jimandjen2000@comcast.net for more information.

Chess Club: Begins Tuesday October 11th and will meet thereafter every Tuesday & Thursday afternoon, from 3:15-4:00pm in the Multi-purpose room. Look for the sign up form in tomorrow’s blue folder. PARENT VOLUNTEERS WELCOME! Parents are welcome and encouraged to come to Chess Club and help children learn the game of Chess, help with set-up (boards/pieces), & monitor play. Snacks will be provided so donations are appreciated! Please remember, parents must complete the emergency contact card (will be sent out after registration is complete) and PROMPTLY pick students up at 4:00pm.

Mile Club: The first Mile Club of the school year was a success! Our students did a wonderful job of doing their laps with the limited amount of time that they have. We plan on having all the kinks worked out this coming week as we adjust to the new lunch recess times. Hopefully the weather will behave for this Friday.

Mile Club happens every Friday during lunch recess – weather permitting. Please join us! Come have fun and get rewarded for exercising! Signs will be posted on days that Mile Club will occur. Please check-in near the baseball field. Sometimes the field can be wet and muddy. Students participating in Mile Club are encouraged to wear athletic/running shoes on Fridays.

Mile Club Volunteers: If you would like to help record laps for our students, please contact the Mile Club Chair: Travis at tajackson@hotmail.com.

PTSA: Join up! Help us beat last year’s membership goal of 250! Membership forms are available in the office. Cost to join is $12 individual member; $20 family; and $10 staff. Questions? Please contact Crissy Pryor or Rachelle Langhans at Membership@GregoryPTSA.org.

Fundraisers

Entertainment Book Sales: GREAT JOB GH parents & students!! So far, we have registered a total of 464 books sold! (54 books online & 410 books by students). Our gross income is $11,625.00! If you still have orders to turn in, now is the time. GH is SO close to reaching our 500 book sales mark-only 35 books more to receive 50% of the proceeds, which would give us a net income to above $6000!

Box Tops for Education Contest: Keep Clipping! The class that collects the most Box Tops for Education by October 16th wins a class party! Questions? Contact JoAnn Wakefield, joannstampingfun@comcast.net or Lisa Courter, lisa.courter@comcast.net.

Volunteer Opportunities

Trunk-n-Treat: Trunk-n-Treators love those decorated cars, canopies and trunks! Volunteer to be a part of the fun, contact Don Field at sutherfield5@comcast.net for more information on this event.

Fall Carnival: is Saturday October 22nd…right around the corner! Thank you to the many people who have already committed to volunteer! We are still looking for additional helpers to run games, serve food, sell popcorn and glow accessories, run the cake-walk and entry tables. A successful carnival needs between 25-30 volunteers to work well and to make sure everyone only works one 30 minute shift so they have time to enjoy the event as well. Contact Brenda Sutherland-Field to volunteer at president@gregoryptsa.org

Geography Enrichment Club:
We have lots volunteer opportunities related to geography for those who would like to lend a helping hand:

1) Passport Club Volunteers
2) Help with Geography Bulletin board (e.g. changing the clocks monthly) + posting FYI’s
3) Help assembling bookmarks to pass out to students
4) Help posting the summer postcard display
5) Help cutting & organizing stamps for students

If any of these sound interesting, please contact Lynda Lykes at lykeslynda@gmail.com

Spanish Club:

There is lots of work to be done in order to get Spanish Club up & running by October. A “Co-Chair” would be very much appreciated & it really doesn’t entail a whole lot (the busiest time being enrollment in September-October and possibly a little help with “pre-enrollment” in May). Specifically, we need help with:

1) Photocopying registration forms & delivering to office
2) Receiving/organizing/reviewing registration forms + data entry to create student roster
3) Collecting checks & submitting them to treasurer
4) Would anyone like to officially “co-chair” by chance???
5) Possible photocopying for parent packs

Please contact Jennifer Lucero at jimandjen2000@comcast.net or 206-439-7057

Find us on Facebook!

Did you know we have a Gregory Heights Facebook group? Find us on Facebook and explore another way to share and receive information.

Looking Ahead…more info to come:

Pizza Night-Oct 12th
Box Tops Deadline-Oct 16th
Trunk-or-Treat/Fall Carnival-Oct. 22nd

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Important Reminders

RECEIPTS DUE
All receipts need to be turned in by June 17th if you want reimbursement. Please put them in the PTSA mail slot, attention: Lonnie Gibson or Mark Bergin.

BOX TOPS AND LABELS FOR EDUCATION
Tomorrow box tops are due tomorrow, June 1st

Popcorn Popcorn Everywhere!!
A huge thank you to Betsy Akina for getting the popcorn for our “retired Popcorn machine” and to Penny Reagin for showing us how the machine worked and to our amazing volunteers Michael Mudge, Denise Sagmoen, Jodie Martinez, Crissy Pryor, Brenda Sutherland-Field, Blake Grothaus and Meridith Luethe who stepped up with just a days notice to bring millions of smiles to kids as they saw the popcorn machine popping popcorn for 5 hours. We popped over 600 bags of popcorn. It was a fun day had by all. This is what the PTSA is all about working together to bring joy to our children!!!

Let’s Support Mr. Bento!!

Each year, the librarian, Mr. Bento, purchases the WA State Children’s Choice Picture Book Award Nominees for the library. However, this year due to PTSA and HSD budget cuts, he won’t be able to do so without your help. If you would like to purchase a book from the list, or donate money towards the purchase of the books, please contact Lori Box (loribox@comcast.net). The books range in price from $15 – $19. Our goal is to purchase all 19 books for Mr. Bento and our students.

2012 WA State Children’s Choice Picture Book Award Nominees

• Balloon for Isabel Underwood, Deborah
• Children make terrible pets Brown, Peter
• Circus ship Van Dusen, Chris
• Cow loves cookies Wilson, Karma
• Don’t slam the door! Chaconas, Dori
• Duck for Turkey Day Jules, Jacqueline
• How Rocket learned to read Hills, Tad
• Immi’s gift Littlewood, Karin
• Little pink pup Kerby, Johanna
• More bears! Nesbitt, Kenn
• Mr. President goes to school Walton, Rick
• My best friend is as sharp as a pencil : Piven, Hanoch
• Never smile at a monkey : and 17 other Jenkins, Steve
• Ol’ Bloo’s boogie-woogie band and Huling, Jan
• Oscar and the very hungry dragon Krause, Ute
• Pierre the penguin : a true story Marzollo, Jean
• Pop! : the invention of bubble gum McCarthy, Meghan
• Sophie Peterman tells the truth! Weeks, Sarah
• Ugly Pie Wheeler, Lisa

Gregory Activities

LAST Pizza Night: Tomorrow Wednesday, June 1st from 5pm-8:00pm is Gregory Heights’ last pizza night at Round Table Pizza! Back by popular demand: Mr. Q will host a math-off for 3rd graders vs. 4th graders at 7:30pm. Come and cheer your classmates on! It is not too late for your class to win the pizza party. Currently, Ms. Jones’ class is in the lead for the pizza party and Ms. Benson and Ms. Durant are tied right behind them! Remember, Round Table will generously donate portion of the profits from your orders back to Gregory Heights. No reservations necessary just show up! This is a great way to support our school and feast with friends. Location: 15730 1st Avenue South, Burien, WA 98148, (206) 431-8600.

Konnichiwa 2-day Workshop: Students who sign up in advance will enjoy a 2-day workshop brought to us by the PTSA World Language Enrichment club. Students will learn how to count from 1-10, play a numbers relay race, learn some basic greetings, customs, explore the geography of Japan, listen to Japanese music and make a windsock in celebration of Children’s day. The 2-day workshop will be held on Tuesday May 31st & Thursday June 2nd from 3:15-4:15pm in the multi-purpose room. Cost is $5.00 and a snack donation. Space may be limited so sign up today.

Last Dollar Book Store Sale for this Year! The Gregory Heights Library is going to hold one last Dollar Book Store sale this school year. Might be a good time to buy a few books for summer reading!
When? Wednesday, June 8, lunch – recess
Where? Hallway by cafeteria
To date, we have held three Dollar Book Store sales and have gotten close to 1500 books into our students hands for free or at a minimal cost. Thanks to The Highline Schools Foundation for Excellence for their grant support in getting this program established. Plans are to continue the Dollar Book Store sales next year, so families may still continue to donate gently used children’s books to the library for support of the sales.

6th grade end of the year activities:

Fun plans are in place to celebrate the end of 6th grade! On Thursday, June 16 there will be a 6th grade dance in the gym from 2 – 3pm. On Friday, June 24, the 6th graders will be going to Hiline Lanes for a bowling party from 10:30am – 1:30pm. There will also be a 6th grade recognition following the end of the year assembly on Monday, June 27. If you are interested in helping with any of these events or need more information, contact Denise Sagmoen (dsagmoen@comcast.net) or Lori Box (loribox@comcast.net). If you would like to submit pictures for a slide show for the 6th grade recognition, please send them to Jami Haskin (whoneedsleep@comcast.net).

2012 Auction:

The Auction Team is looking for go-getter types for the Sponsorship and Advertising Team. We need people with an out-going type of personality who are not concerned about asking people to support our school with monetary donations, skilled salespeople who can effectively communicate the exposure that supporting our school auction will bring and how it will raise the company’s standing in the community, beneftting all. If you are interested, please contact Brenda Sutherland-Field for more info: sutherfield5@comcast.net

Volunteers Needed

This Thursday 6/2 for our JAPAN WORKSHOP:
We need about 4-8 volunteers to help supervise/direct kids during the workshop….no knowledge of Japan necessary (we’ll provide you with a list of everything you’ll need to know!!) If you can help, please contact Jennifer Lucero at jimandjen2000@comcast.net or 206-439-7057 ASAP, as the number of kids we can accept in the workshop is directly related to the number of volunteers who can help out.

BBQ & Field Day: We need volunteers to help in the kitchen on BBQ day and also people to help with Field Day Games! More information to come…..

Looking Ahead…

• June 21st “Mother Goose Read Aloud” drama performance 2pm/7pm
• June 22ndth BBQ & Field Day
• Volunteer Tea, June 10 @ 2:00. Childcare provided.
• June 24th Super Recess Day
• June 27th LAST DAY OF SCHOOL

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Welcome New PTSA Officers:

• Co-Presidents: Brenda Sutherland-Field & Maria Coyier
• Vice President: Linda Farnsworth
• Secretary: Kristina Anderson
• Treasurer: Jana Lipscomb
• VP of Financial: Blake Grothaus
• Co-Volunteer Coordinators: Lori Box & Christi Zellerhoff

Congratulations Husky Hike winners!!

We had a great assembly today to give out the grand prizes for the Husky Hike. Overall the kids walked 7,202 laps or 1800 miles! We are still short of our goal to raise $15,000 so we are continuing to ask for more pledges. Mr. Robinson has said if we raise the $15,000 by June 20 he will still let a lucky winner give him a pie in the face at the end of the year assembly!

Our overall 4th – 6th grade lap winners were Aiden Basco (28) and Rosie Young (21). For K – 3rd grade they were Samuel Orr in a tie-breaker (21) and Araceli Felix (20). Our 4th – 6th graders who raised the most amount of money were Grant Lipscomb ($290) and Rachel Wheeler ($235). Our K – 3rd graders who raised the most amount of money were Graham Luethe ($290) and Sophia Bonnem ($476).

The top boy and girl for laps for each grade (not including the overall winners) were as follows:

Kindergarten – Max House (16) and Katelynn Wakefield (18)
1st grade – Griffin Keeney (19) and Sophie Jones (18)
2nd grade – Cassius Breed (16) and Anastasia Preradovic (17)
3rd grade – Daniel Robles, Jacob Sagmoen, Ethan Wagner (21) and Wren Bergin (19)
4th grade – Peter Shelley (20) and Chloe Watson and Emily Zacharias (20)
5th grade – Cristhofer Lopez (22) and Rupali Lykes (19)
6th grade – Tony Atwood (22) and Katlyn Daniels and Jamie Rita (20)

Thank you to Betsy Akina for taking all of the Husky Hike photos which will be for sale shortly and for creating a great video for the assembly today. Thank you to the committee members Jana Lipscomb, Paula Keeney, Meridith Luethe, Denise Sagmoen, Chris Bass and Kristina Anderson. Thanks goes to Paula Keeney and Laren Watson for putting on the pre-Husky Spaghetti Feed and a huge thanks to the many volunteers who helped with event!

Gregory Activities:

Asia Map Workshop Come and join us for a fun-filled hour of geography learning games that will take place on a giant map of Asia! This fun workshop will be held This Thursday May 26th from 3:15-4:15pm in the gym. Cost is $5.00 and snack donation. A special thank you to Jennifer Lucero & Lynda Lykes for their effort to make it happen and for their passion to bring enriching learning experiences to our kids!

Movie Day: This Friday, May 27th is movie day.

Konnichiwa 2-day Workshop: Students who sign up in advance will enjoy a 2-day workshop brought to us by the PTSA World Language Enrichment club. Students will learn how to count from 1-10, play a numbers relay race, learn some basic greetings, customs, explore the geography of Japan, listen to Japanese music and make a windsock in celebration of Children’s day. The 2-day workshop will be held on Tuesday May 31st & Thursday June 2nd from 3:15-4:15pm in the multi-purpose room. Cost is $5.00 and a snack donation. Space may be limited so sign up today.

“Mother Goose Read Aloud” Drama Club performance is set for June 21st with 2 showings: 2:00pm & 7:00pm in the Gregory Heights’s multi-purpose room.

Last Dollar Book Store Sale for this Year! The Gregory Heights Library is going to hold one last Dollar Book Store sale this school year. Might be a good time to buy a few books for summer reading!
When? Wednesday, June 8, lunch – recess
Where? Hallway by cafeteria
To date, we have held three Dollar Book Store sales and have gotten close to 1500 books into our students hands for free or at a minimal cost. Thanks to The Highline Schools Foundation for Excellence for their grant support in getting this program established. Plans are to continue the Dollar Book Store sales next year, so families may still continue to donate gently used children’s books to the library for support of the sales.

2012 Auction:
The Auction Team is looking for go-getter types for the Sponsorship and Advertising Team. We need people with an out-going type of personality who are not concerned about asking people to support our school with monetary donations, skilled salespeople who can effectively communicate the exposure that supporting our school auction will bring and how it will raise the company’s standing in the community, benefiting all. If you are interested, please contact Brenda Sutherland-Field for more info: sutherfield5@comcast.net

Fundraiser: BOX TOPS AND LABELS FOR EDUCATION
It’s that time again! We will be collecting both Box Tops and Labels for Education for the final time this school year. Please turn in by June 1st. So far this year we have earned over $1500 from the Box Top program that goes straight to the school and over 11,800 points from the Labels for Education program that the PTSA has used for educational and art supplies for the school. Please be sure to ask family, friends and neighbors to help you collect. It is so easy! Please be sure to clip the whole UPC label when saving for Labels for Education. The classroom that turns in the most Box Tops and Labels for Education will receive a party! Help your child’s classroom end the year with fun! Feel free to contact JoAnn Wakefield at joannstampingfun@comcast.net or Lisa Courter at lisa.courter@comcat.net with any questions or comments.

Volunteers Needed

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR 2 DAY JAPAN WORKSHOP: Tuesday 5/31 and Thursday 6/2
We need about 4-8 volunteers to help supervise/direct kids during the workshop….no knowledge of Japan necessary (we’ll provide you with a list of everything you’ll need to know!!)

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO:

1) SET UP CREW: direct kids to remove shoes in foyer before workshop
2) SET UP CREW: shout “irrashai” (welcome) upon student arrival and help check kids in and direct them to their team
3) SET UP CREW: set out arts & craft supplies (Thursday)
4) SET UP CREW: help arrange tables accordingly right before workshop
4.5) SET UP CREW: help pass out snacks / clean up after snacks
5) TEAM LEADER: lead group of about 10 kids (we plan to have 4 teams–one for each main island of Japan–with 1-2 parent leaders on each team)…parents need to help kids to follow directions and walk them to different learning stations as need be etc.
6) TEAM LEADER: help supervise/judge during musical colors game (who is out each round)
7) TEAM LEADER: help supervise/judge numbers relay race
TEAM LEADER: monitor craft time, keep kids moving along per schedule
9) TEAM LEADER: pass out pencils/papers & supervise kids during writing practice
10) TEAM LEADER: help direct kids to exit and the end of the workshop & shout “mata ne” (see you later)

It should be a really fun learning experience!! If you can help, please contact Jennifer Lucero at jimandjen2000@comcast.net or 206-439-7057 ASAP, as the number of kids we can accept in the workshop is directly related to the number of volunteers who can help out.

Looking Ahead…

• May 30th Memorial Day-NO SCHOOL
• June 21st “Mother Goose Read Aloud” drama performance 2pm/7pm
• June 22ndth BBQ & Field Day
• Volunteer Tea, June 10 @ 2:00. Childcare provided.
• June 24th Super Recess Day
• June 27th LAST DAY OF SCHOOL

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Gregory Activities

Drama Club: Tomorrow is our drama students’ performance of “Bubba, The Cowboy Prince,” with two shows: 2:00 and 7:00pm in the multi-purpose (lunch) room. Don’t miss the fun!

Multi-Cultural Night: Multi Cultural Night is this Thursday Feb. 17th from 6:30-8:30pm in the multi-purpose room! Our exciting line up includes:

• 7:00 international fashion show (Gregory Students) + announcement of Global Art Contest Winners
• 7:10 Gregory Spanish Club
• 7:20 Gregory Chinese Club
• 7:30 Rythm Ambassadors
• 8:00 Seattle Filipino Youth Drill Team

MAPFEST Ends this Friday Feb 18th!: Parents be sure to come & view the display of 100+ traveling maps in and around the multi-purpose room. Mapfest is brought to Gregory Heights via the PTSA/Passport Club. See below “Volunteer Opportunities” for help still needed for mapfest. jimandjen2000@comcast.net. Also, we need a crew of people to take down the maps on Friday, Feb. 18th.

Spirit Day! This Friday is “Moustache Day!”

Family Fun Hockey Night: Feb. 20th, 5pm. There are still a couple of tickets left so if you are interested, please contact Jill Mudge, ghvolunteers@comcast.net

REMINDERS

Cookie Dough: Today is the day to turn in your Cookie Dough orders. Don’t worry, if you forgot you can drop them at the office this afternoon or just return them on Tuesday. If you have questions or need any help with your forms please don’t hesitate to call or email Brenda Sutherland-Field, 206-384-3368 or sutherfield5@comcast.net Thank you to Tara Hatcher & Kristina Anderson for already signing up to help!

Volunteer help still needed to:

Order Sorting/Pick-up: 3/16 Wednesday: 9am-6pm This tasks requires 4-6 people. This is the day the orders arrive, they are package by student name and will need to be unloaded from the truck and sorted alphabetically in the main hall. If you can help, please contact Brenda Sutherland-Field and Maria Coyier, Cookie Dough Team! sutherfield5@comcast.net or msmariacoyier@gmail.com.

Box Tops for Education: We can’t wait to earn even more money for our school this year through the Box Tops for Education program! Remember, this Wednesday, February 16th is the last day to turn in your Box Tops. Don’t miss the chance to help your child’s classroom win a party and help earn money for our school!

2010-2011 Yearbooks: This Friday is your last day to order your yearbook to be guaranteed a copy at a $13.00 price. In June a very limited number of yearbooks will be available on a first come first served basis for $16.00 per book.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Girls Softball Cancelled. Due to the lack of participation from other schools, the PTSA 2011 GIRLS SOFTBALL season has been cancelled. “I’m so sorry to see this happen, Gregory Heights always has a great turn out for softball from parent and students. We will try again next year!” ~Tracy Hadaller, Girls Softball Chair

Art Club: Attention 1st, 2nd, 3rd, & 4th graders! Sign up now for our next session of art club! There are limited spaces available. Art Club will be held from 1:45-3:00pm on Friday afternoons in the PTSA room. Sessions begin Friday March 4th and will meet on March 18th, 25th, April 1st & April 15th. Cost is $40 for PTSA Members & $50 for non-PTSA Members for 5 classes; $10 Supply fee for all students. If interested, please contact Jill Mudge at ghvolunteers@comcast.net. Snack donations are always welcomed! (Next session will be for 5th and 6th graders).

PTSA Board Elections: Gregory’s PTSA has a tradition of providing excellent academic and extracurricular activities, events, & clubs for our students. Strong board leadership plays an important role in deciding which programs to offer and how to allocate funding for these fun activities. We would like you to have a hand in selecting PTSA board members for next year. We are looking to form a nominating committee of Gregory parents and staff (4-6 people) that would bring forth recommendations to the PTSA board, of people you would like to see nominated for next year’s open board positions. If you would like to serve on the PTSA Board Nominating Committee, please contact PTSA President, Jill Mudge at ghvolunteers@comcast.net

Gregory Club/Committee/Event Chairs Recruitment: As we wind down the school year it is time to start recruiting new Chairpersons for next year’s Clubs/Committees/Events. Stay tuned to next week’s Husky LOOP to find out which Chair positions will be open next year so that you can be thinking about where you would like to serve.

District, Staff, Community News

HIGHLINE DISTRICT SCHOOL LEVY PASSED! Highline voters passed a four-year $188 million education programs levy last week. In updated results from Feb. 10, King County Elections reported 11, 918 yes votes (61.67 percent) and 7.407 no votes (38.33 percent.) The levy needed a 50 percent majority to be approved.

“Thank you to our PTSA families and other families and relatives that voted yes for the school levy. I will speak for all Gregory staff; we appreciate all of PTSA’s support at school for our students and staff. Thank you for working on your own time to promote the levy.” ~Scott Stubberfield Gregory PE.

Little League 2011 Baseball/Softball Signups: Only one opportunity left to sign up! Sign up location and time is: Saturday, February 12th from 10am-2pm at the Boulevard Park Presbyterian Church, 1822 So. 128th.

Volunteer Opportunities/Donations Needed

THANK YOU to Tom Benedict & Lynda Lykes for putting together student questions to go with the maps!!

THANK YOU to Sandra Holmes for volunteering to assemble bookmarks to pass out to students!!

THANK YOU to employees of Conover Insurance in Kirkland for being the “impartial” judges of our art contest!

THANK YOU to Denise Anderson & Jill Mudge for volunteering to help finalize the global art presentation and helping with certificates.

THANK YOU to Denise Hemingway for helping with the Global Art Contest Certificates.

THANK YOU to Tara Hatcher & Kristina Anderson for volunteering to help with Cookie Dough order processing/distribution.

STILL SEEKING VOLUNTEERS FOR THE FOLLOWING:

Mile Club: Volunteers have dwindled and we need your help! To keep this program strong through the end of the year, we need parents, grandparents, aunts/uncles , or past Mile Club volunteers to help record laps (for 1, 2, or all 3 lunch recesses) while students walk. If you can help for even one Friday per month, please contact Mile Club Co-Chairs, Sandra Holmes at sandraholmes@comcast.net or Jenny White at jenrwhite@comcast.net. Siblings are always welcome!

Dollar Book Store: Much appreciation for the book donations that have come in! We are still collecting so if you or someone you know have any children’s book still in good shape we would love to have them. Special interest books (ethnic, Spanish-language, thematic) are desired too! Just drop them off in the Library. For more information, please contact our Librarian, Michael Bento, bentomj@hsd401.org.

Husky Hike: Thanks to you who have signed on to volunteer for the Husky Hike! We still need many more to make this event happen. Specifically, we are looking for some people to serve on a committee to help Chris Bass organize the day of the event and a few people to help Kristina Anderson gather grand and raffle prizes. We also need about 50 volunteers on April 28 to make the walkathon successful. You can count laps, set up, clean up, pass out water or help count pledges. A schedule will be posted a few weeks before the event so you will know when your student is walking. If you have questions or would like to volunteer, please contact Lori Box at volunteer@gregoryptsa.org.

Fundraisers

Gregory’s 2012 Auction off to a GREAT start! We had a great first auction meeting last Tuesday and want to invite you to get involved in our biggest fundraiser of the year (many hands make light work!) In order to make it successful we have created a “committee” approach structure with the following goals/tasks:

Committee structure

• 5 – 6 committed people (directors) to oversee all aspects of the auction
• One person to be the lead (not someone taking a role as a director) – big picture person overseeing committee work, reporting to the PTSA board, managing the budget.
• One – two directors willing to stay on for two years so in the off year they can do “clean up”, work with the board and train a new committee for 2013-14
• It takes a village! Committee members

  Committee needs

  Chair(s): Big Picture person, manages budget, makes sure all deadlines are being met, goes to PTSA board meetings and gives reports, approves expenditures, works closely with PTSA Treasurers submitting money and getting checks to pay vendors, selects the Auctioneer and Emcee.

  Creative Director: Oversees design and creative, including logo, forms, posters, banners, invitations, bid sheets and catalog.

  Print production Crew: one person for each of the tasks above

  AV Crew: one person for each of the following: set up of AV equipment, production of slideshow, and photography on night of the event.

  Marketing/PR Director: Oversees Advertising and Sponsorship crew, makes sure deadlines are met.

  Sponsorship Crew: Go-getter type, in charge of lining up sponsors, collecting money and submitting logos to print crew.

  Advertising Crew: Go-getter type, same as above

  Communications Crew: Enthusiastic, communicative type. In charge of newsletters and weekly email blasts

  Website Crew: ideally one person in charge of website set-up and data entry of auction items but this is a big job. Also should be same person in charge of printing auction provided gift certificates and item tent cards.

  Event Director: Highly organized type, oversees details of the day-of-event and people working day of.

  Event planning (facility research/rental; liaison to site manager and caterer)

  Decoration Crew: 3 or 4 people available day of event.

  Set up Crew: 8-10 people available day of event.

  Dessert Dash Crew: one person in charge of lining up 20-25 desserts

  Entertainment Crew: one person in charge of lining up DJ or other entertainment

  Clean up Crew: 6-8 people to stay after and clean up. One person has sole responsibility of collecting forgotten items and taking them home.

  RSVP Crew: one person in charge of assigning seating and making sure check payments get to Chair to deposit.

  Thank You’s Crew: one person in charge of printing and mailing thank you’s to all donors with amount raised.
  Procurement Director: Highly organized person in charge of managing the details of what has been procured and what still needs to be procured, with an ability to rally crew to go out and get what is still needed. Works with Chair bundling items to create larger packages.

  Community Procurement Crew: 8-10 people hitting the streets, following up and getting donations. Must be a go-getter, no problem making requests.

  Classroom Projects Committee: 2-3 people coordinating the classroom projects with one parent from each class as the in-classroom aide.

  Class Baskets Crew: 2-3 people coordinating class baskets

  Teacher Adventures Crew: one person to coordinate and meet with teachers to solicit donations for fun days spent with teachers.

  Parent Adventures Crew: one person coordinating and soliciting fun adventures donated by and solicited for parents.

  Banking Director: preferably a PTSA Treasurer, one person day of the event in charge of “The Bank” where Crew is checking guests in and out, paying for purchases.

  Banking Crew: 5-6 people in charge of checking people in and out, handing out purchases, closing silent auctions, collecting bid sheets, and entering winners into computers.

  Auction Coordinator: Handles all night-of events and volunteers.

  Live Auction Spotters: 3-4 people spotting raised bid paddles, pointing or calling out numbers.

  Live Auction Recorders: 2-3 people recording winning bid numbers.

How will you help? Decide which committee area you would like to help with (also indicate if you are willing to be a Director) and email LORI BOX, volunteer@gregoryptsa.org. Ideally we would like to have a general idea by this FRIDAY, February 18th who/what area people are interested in so we can put people in place for our next meeting (TBD). However, if you are not sure how you want to help, but want to be included in all Auction communications, please email Lori to let her know that too.

Remember: As an incentive to enlist your volunteer help now, our Burien’s Tin Theatre has offered to host a special event in the coming future, exclusive to the volunteers signing up to help with the auction, as a way of showing community support for our fundraiser. You won’t want to miss this one!

3rd Annual Cove to Clover Race: March 13th This South-end 5K family race is fast becoming a favorite for NW runners! Not only is it a challenging course, it has turned into a 3-day Celtic family fun celebration (including: Celtic Folk Fair, Irish Gala, & Pub Crawl)! But most importantly, all proceeds go to local charities including the Highline Area Food Bank, the Hospitality House and Highline District Schools. Gregory Heights could win $1500 if we have the highest percentage of registrants from our school! Starting NOW, you can register at covetoclover.com and when registering put “Gregory Heights” in the registration code box so your registration counts towards the school drive. Also, If you are interested in sponsoring a low-income student, become an athlete angel. You can sponsor as many students as you want for $25 each. Don’t forget to put “Gregory Heights” in the registration code box so we get credit for the registrations and the sponsorship goes directly to our students in need. For more information, contact Lori Box, loribox@comcast.net, or Denise Sagmoen, dsagmoen@comcast.net.

Looking Ahead…

1. Mid-Winter Break: Feb. 21-25th
2. Reptile Man: March 10th, 7pm
3. NO SCHOOL: March 11th

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PTSA General Meeting

Don’t miss attending our PTSA General Membership Meeting, January 11th; 6:00pm in the Library. We are excited to be celebrating a great accomplishment…Gregory PTSA has exceeded its 250 membership goal. We now have 253 PTSA members! We will have fun door prizes and yummy snacks to share at the meeting. We will also be recognizing our volunteers who have achieved “50 Hours” & “100 Hours” of Service Awards so we hope to see you there! Free childcare provided in the Gym.

Gregory Activities

Pacific Science Center: Blood and Guts and how our bodies work comes to GH on Wednesday and Thursday! GHPTSA is bringing in the Pacific Science Center to host a 2-day All Grade Level 3-Part Learning Experience. We will have an assembly first thing in the morning, 45-minute class lesson and 30-minute hands-on exhibit experience. K-3 on Wednesday, 4-6 on Thursday. Be sure to ask your child about his/her experience!

Staff News

2011 Highline School District Levy: We need your voting & volunteer support! We only have a few short weeks before ballots are mailed out for the 2011 Highline School District Levy Renewal Campaign. The levy is not a new tax; it renews the levy approved 4 years ago. The levy supports 250 teacher and staff salaries and represents 25% of the school district budget. Without this levy, we would certainly see cuts in teacher positions, programs, activities, salaries, bus transportation, security, textbooks, classroom supplies and much more. Voters need to pass this levy or the children of the Highline School District will see drastic reductions in their education opportunities. You can help support a “yes” vote by volunteering to help at a “Phone Bank” set up by the school district. Each school has been assigned a specific date to staff the phone bank and Gregory Heights’ day is Sunday Feb 6th from 5:00pm-8:00pm, location is the Windermere office in Burien. There is a volunteer sign-up sheet located in Gregory Heights’ main office. For more information about signing up to volunteer, please contact our Physical Education Teacher, Scott Stubberfield, at stubbesf@hsd401.org.

Gregory Clubs News:

Drama Club: You’re invited to our drama students’ performance of “Bubba, The Cowboy Prince,” February 15th at 2:00 and 7:00pm in the multi-purpose (lunch) room. Our students have been hard at work, rehearsing to bring you this fun and comical play. If you are not able to attend the evening performance, please consider the 2:00; seating room is great!

Volunteer Opportunities/Donations Needed

Looking for Softball Coaches: 3RD/4TH GRADE AND 5TH/6TH GRADEIts a great opportunity to get outside and have fun and teach the girls a sport. Practice is twice a week for the first couple of weeks and then we have one practice and one game a week (typically Monday/Wednesday or Tuesday/Thursdays). We play other Highline schools in the area so all the games are close. If you are interested please contact: Tracy Hadaller, 206-883-7267 or thadaller@hotmail.com.

Art Docents Needed: Help students explore the wonderful world of art by becoming a classroom art docent! You need not be an artist, nor art historian to volunteer; just a willingness to creatively engage student in various art projects. Our teachers really value this program that otherwise wouldn’t be possible without volunteer help. If you are interested in becoming an art docent, or would like more information, please contact Jill Mudge, our Art Docent Chair, ghvolunteers@comcast.net.

2012 Auction Kick-off Meeting: You are invited to attend our Auction “kick-off” meeting, Tuesday February 8th at 7:15pm (room location to be determined), to begin the planning process for next year’s auction event. It takes many hands, creative ideas, and great teamwork to put on such an important fundraiser event. You don’t need previous auction experience, just a willingness to offer ideas and input! So, if you are in the least bit interested in helping out, you will want to attend this meeting! For more information, contact Lori Box at volunteer@gregoryptsa.org.

Sporting Equipment: We are in need of soccer balls and basketballs for the playground. If you have any you would like to donate, please send them to school and we will put them to good use.

Fundraisers

Cookbook Sales: Our Gregory Heights’ Cookbook pre-sale is underway. If you did not receive an order form in last week’s parent pack, please contact Rosalyn Batingan, lynria333@yahoo.com to request one. This cookbook would make a great gift to grandparents and friends. All sales directly fund our PTSA sponsored activities and events.

Labels for Education: Though today is the deadline for submitting your labels; not to worry. If you forgot to send them in with your student, we can extend for one more day so please do so tomorrow so they can be counted. Remember, each label turned in earns money for our school. Questions? Please contact JoAnn Wakefield, joannstampingfun@comcast.net & Lisa Courter lisa.courter@comcast.net.

Looking Ahead…

1. Martin Luther King, Jr Day: No school Jan. 17th
2. Internet Safety & Cyber Bullying Parent Education Class: Feb. 8th
3. Auction Kick-off Meeting: Feb. 8th
4. PTSA Multicultural Family Night: Feb. 17th

Thanks for letting us “Keep you in the Loop!”

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