Principal's Newsletter

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The Newport Heights News

From the Principal - Stephen Marafino

 

“An education isn’t how much you have committed to memory or even how much you know. It’s being able to differentiate what you know and what you don’t.”

-Anatole France

 

5225 119^th Avenue SE. Bellevue, WA 98006 

Main Office (425) 456-5500

Attendance Line (Check-a-Child) (425) 456-5503 or e-mail newportheightsattendance@bsd405.org

 

November 16, 2009

 

N.H.E.S. CALENDAR OF EVENTS:

 

·         Monday, November 16 – Friday, November 20: Green Week at Newport Heights

·         Tuesday, November 17:  Academic Community Team (ACT) Meeting 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. in the Library

·         Thursday, November 19: Festival of Cultures 6:30 p.m. in the Cafeteria/Gym

·         Thursday, November 26 - Friday, November 27: No School Thanksgiving

·         Thursday December 10:  PTA Holiday Tea for K-2 Parents 8:30 to 10:00 a.m. in the Library

·         Thursday December 17:  PTA Holiday Tea for 3-5 Parents 8:30 to 10:00 a.m. in the Library

·         Monday, December 21 – Friday, January 1: No School Winter Break

·         Monday, January 4: First day back to school from Winter Break

·         Tuesday, January 5: PTA General Membership Meeting 7;00 p.m. in the Library

·         Friday, January 8: Family Night 6:30 p.m.

·         Wednesday, January 13: Tyee M.S. Informational Meeting for 5^th Grade Parents 7:00 p.m. at Tyee M.S.

·         Thursday, January 14: International School Informational Meeting for NHS 5^th Grade Parents 7:00 p.m. at International School

·         Monday, January 18:  No School MLK Day

·         Tuesday, January 19:  Academic Community Team (ACT) Meeting 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. in the Library

·         Thursday, January 21: Science Night 6:30 p.m. in the Cafeteria/Gym

·         Thursday, January 28: Incoming Kindergarten (2010-2011) Information Night for Parents  6:30 p.m. in the Cafeteria/Gym

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Green Week:  Monday, November 16^th to Friday, November 20^th is Green Week at Newport Heights.  Students representing the Newport Heights Green Team have made posters  that are displayed in the hallway  near the Lunchroom/Gym and are appearing on the morning  news to promote our promote  energy conservation and recycling at school and at home.  Please join our efforts to “Recycle. Reduce and Reuse.” Newport Heights completed Level 1 of the King County Green Schools Program and is currently working on becoming a Level 2 Green School.  For more information go to: http://your.kingcounty.gov/solidwaste/greenschools/participants.asp

 

Festival of Cultures Newport Heights Elementary School's annual PTA sponsored Festival of Cultures event is on Thursday November 19^th, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in the gym.  Our school is a rich multi-cultural community and this evening is an opportunity to celebrate the school’s ethnic diversity.  Families are encouraged to create tri-fold board visual displays including information about national holidays, celebrations, music, food, school, places to visit, sports, etc.  Often there are food samples to try and some people come dressed in traditional clothing.  We will have an international parade of costumes for those who dress up before the entertainment begins around 7:30 p.m.  Additionally, we will have Korean musicians, a coconut breaking demonstration from one of our parents, as well as Spanish and Chinese dancers.  We are excited also to have Lenny Luzzi who is graciously appearing to serenade us with his Italian accordion playing.  Please join us for the evening and experience the efforts of our school’s commitment to sharing our many ethnic backgrounds.  Hope to see you there!

 

Holiday Gifts: Every year when the holidays approach, we see grateful and thoughtful parents and community members want to find ways to express their appreciation to our teachers and other employees for their work by giving gifts to the individuals they know.  Gifts that are of a nominal value or which are a token of appreciation are fine, but the acceptance of gifts of significant value or monetary benefit is not allowed.  For our employees, gifts that are beyond a nominal value raise serious questions about the following:

1.     Equity between and among schools/programs.

2.     Why some employees in some roles get gifts and others do not.

3.     A violation of board policy that disallows gifts.

4.     The propriety of substantial gifts being given for public service.

Therefore, the giving of expensive gifts to individuals is discouraged.  If parents or others wish to provide more than a token of gratitude to an individual employee, they can:

1.     Make donations to a specific classroom (but not something that could be considered the teacher’s personal property).

2.     Donate to the school or a specific program.

3.     Make a contribution to the Bellevue Schools Foundation, the PTA, or other charity in recognition of an employee’s work.

4.     Do something for the entire school’s or program’s benefit. 

 

Winter Break Adventures in Bellevue: The Bellevue School District is sponsoring a series of “Winter Break Adventures” at various locations around the city from December 21-23 and December 28-30.  For more information look for the link on the Newport Heights Elementary School website http://curriculum.bsd405.org/sites/schools/NH/default.aspx

 

Thank You: Parent Jamie Espinoza Flores volunteered over forty hours of his time in weeding, cleaning up the flower beds and landscaping all around the school. Thank you so much to Mr. Flores for his valuable contribution in keeping our school grounds beautiful.

       

Health Information - Check out the link on the Newport Heights School website entitled “Differences Between Cold, Seasonal Flu and H1N1 Symptoms.”  http://curriculum.bsd405.org/sites/schools/NH/default.aspx

 

Box tops Update - Keep it up NHE families!  We collected $72 in Box Tops for October.  Mr. Marafino drew Joshua Wood’s name from the group of kids that turned in a completed collection sheet in October.  Joshua will get to choose a prize from the Box Tops Prize Box on Wednesday (11/4) at the end of the day.  Printable Box Tops collection sheets can be found in the school’s office or on our PTA website at www.nhe-pta.org  Thank you to all participants from NHE PTA, Corporate Fundraising.

 

State Testing Dates - Mark your calendars. The new state testing window this year will be May 12^th – May 28^th, 2010.  The tests for grades 3-5 (replacing the WASL) will be called the Measurement of Student Progress (MSP).  All students in grade 3 will be tested in reading (1 day) and mathematics (1 day).  All grade 4 students will all be tested in reading (1 day), mathematics (1 day) and writing (2 days). All students in grade 5 will be tested in reading (1 day), mathematics (1 day) and science (1 day). The mathematics tests in grades 3-5 will be completely new – aligned to the new state math standards. This year the state tests will be given in paper and pencil format, but in 2011 online testing will be an option.