Yearbook Photos Deadline Friday, May 23, Also Scoliosis Screening Date Changed

Wow – information is coming in fast these days ---

It turns out there is more time to get a candid photo into Peter K. for the yearbook – but “more time” is only ONE DAY! So, if you have a candid photo of your child for the yearbook, please send it to Peter Kaczkowski by Friday, MAY 23. His email is pkaczkowski@earthlink.net. You may also send a photo to school (mark it with you child’s name).

Also, the scoliosis screening scheduled for yesterday has been changed to Wed., May 28. Screening is done with shirts off. Girls should wear a swimsuit top or sports bra. Questions, call Nurse Marie DeBell at 206/252-6087.

Dates to Remember

Wow, there's a lot going on for 5th graders ---

TONIGHT, 5/21-- Instrumental Music Concert at Brighton Elementary - Kids need to be there at 6:15. Concert starts at 7:15

Friday, May 23 -- Deadline to order 5th grade yearbooks, send yours today!!

Wednesday, May 28 -- Young Authors Day (check principal's letter for times) -- Volunteers are still needed. Contact Ms. Lucy at laatkinson@seattleschools.org if you would like to help.

Tuesday, June 3 -- Field trip, Beach Exploration. Parent chaperones are needed. The permission slip hasn't been sent yet -- check for it next week.

Thursday, June 5 -- Safety Patrol Party at Wild Waves -- Get forms and $$ turned in if your student served on safety patrol and wants to participate.

Friday, June 6 -- 5th-grade Play -- morning and evening performances. Evening performance will most likely be at 7:00pm, although the official time hasn't been set yet.

Friday, June 13 -- All-School Lunch BBQ and Field Day

Monday, June 16 -- Mediation Celebration for kids who served as mediators this year.

Tuesday, June 17 - Last Day of School -- Awards ceremony 9:45 a.m, 5th-Grade Graduation 12:45 - 2:15 p.m, End of Year Party at Gasworks, 2:30 on.

Graduation Date and Time

The official date and time for 5th grade graduation is Tuesday, June 17 from 12:45pm to 2:20pm. The ceremony will be held in the gym at school. (June 17 is the last day of school.)

And don't forget the all-fifth-grade picnic immediately following at Gas Works Park

Bake Sale Makes Good Dough!

This just in from Judy Shoji, our fabulous bake sale chair --

The 5th Grade Bake Sale was a great Success!

Thank you to everyone who contributed to make our bake sale a huge success. We earned $376.50! The funds will be used for 5th grade graduation expenses.

Special thanks to Melia's mom (Katherine) and Nick's mom (Kelly) for shopping at Costco then donating those items to us. Thanks to Kieran's mom (Barbara) for getting us a donation of five dozen donuts and providing us with thirst-quenching ice tea and lemonade to sell. Katherine, Kelly & Barbara also helped the day of the sale by supervising the kids. I could not have done it without the three of you!

Also, thanks to all the families who dropped off such mouth-watering goodies. We had two tables full of wonderful things! Finally, thanks to all the 5th graders who were terriffic sales people. They did a extraordinary job!

Thanks everyone!
Judy Shoji

Field Trip Today, May 19 -- Late Return, 4:45pm

The 5th graders are visiting the Suquamish tribe today, Monday, May 19. They will return on the bus at about 4:45pm.

After-Graduation Picnic at Gas Works, June 17

Wow, graduation from 5th grade is less than one month away! The graduation ceremony takes place on the last day of school, Wednesday June 17. The official ceremony takes place during the school day, usually from about noon until 2pm. (The entire school releases at 2:20 on the last day.)

Debby H. (J) has reserved the picnic shelter at Gas Works park so we can meet for an all-5th-grade picnic after the graduation ceremony ends. We'll meet at Gas Works right after school and stay into the evening. Bring hot dogs to grill (and buns) and a salad or dessert to share.

Scoliosis Screening - What to Wear

This note came home from Nurse Marie --

On Wednesday, May 21 the school nurse will screen 5th grade students to scoliosis. Both boys and girls must be screened with their shirts off. Girls should wear a bathing suit or sports bra to school on the screening date. Screening for scoliosis will be done privately. If scoliosis is suspected, the student will be re-screened at a later date. You will be notified of any positive results so that you can take your student for a further medical evaluation.

If you do not want you child screened please let us know. Questions? Please call Marie DeBell, School Nurse (206) 252-0687 or mdebell@seattleschools.org

Field Trip Tomorrow 5/16

The 5th grade is going to the Seattle International Children's Festival at the Seattle Center tomorrow Friday, 5/16. The word from Joe D. is that each student is allowed to bring $5.00 to spend -- but anything in excess of $5.00 will be confiscated. Sounds fair.

Fifth Grade Gift? And Teacher Gifts

Fifth grade classes in the past have typically chosen some kind of gift to present to the school upon their graduation. Gifts in the past have included trees, a concrete bench on the playground, etc -- usually something lasting.

Does anyone have an idea for what we could get? Would anyone like to work on collecting $$, purchasing, and presenting the gift?

We'll also need to think about end-of-year teacher gifts. I am willing to collect cash from anyone who would like to donate. I can purchase gift cards for each teacher. The JSIS PTSA has a nice selection and each teacher can make a choice of which card they would like.

Instrumental Music Concert and Rehersal Details

If your child is in instrumental music -- remember that there's concert next Wednesday night 5/21, at Brighton Elementary. Brighton is located at 6725 45th Ave. S.

Mr. Holmes has requested that the kids arrive at 6:15pm. There will be 96 students performing that evening, so he needs adequate time to get everyone tuned up. The concert will start at 7:15.

Also please remember the rehearsal for the concert is next Wednesday morning 5/21, and kids need to arrive early for school that day -- I hear 8:55am -- and bring their instrument to school, so they can take the bus to the rehearsal at Brighton.

5th Grade Play Date

Brent Hester reports that the 5th grade play will be performed on Friday evening, June 6, most likely at 7:00pm. Every 5th grade student has a part. Save the date!

Lots of Upcoming Dates, Field Trips, etc

This Friday, May 16: Field Trip - Children's Festival at Seattle Center

Saturday, May 17: Rummage Sale and 5th grade bake sale

Monday, May 19: Field Trip to Bainbridge, Port Madison Indian Reservation - LATE RETURN (4:45)

Wednesday, May 21: Early Release (1:20) and Instrumental Music Concert at Brighton Elementary. Be there at 6:15pm; concert starts at 7:15pm.

Thursday, June 5: Party at Wild Waves for students who served on safety patrol this year.

Bake Sale Donations -- This Friday or Early Saturday

Please consider making a donation to the 5th grade bake sale, which is happening during the Rummage Sale, this Saturday, May 17. The sale starts at 8:30am and ends at about 3:00pm.

Proceeds from the Rummage/5th grade bake sale fund our graduation events, so please donate some goodies.

You can drop off bake sale donations on Friday afternoon in the Volunteer Room, or Saturday morning directly in the gym. Or, depending on what you're donating (Chips Ahoy?), you might be able to send it in with your kid this week. Email Judy (J) at jnshoji@hotmail.com or Barbara C. (Kieran's mom) at barbara416@comcast.net to let them know you are bringing something.

Yearbook Orders - and Please Send Photos

Don't forget to send in your yearbook order. Yearbooks cost $15 and they're going to be great.

Also -- If you still want to send in a candid/casual picture of your child for their personal page, please do so now either by emailing or by sending it to school (CD or print). We are also happy to receive general historical pictures of our students over the JSIS years. Photos can be mailed to Peter, Michael's dad (J) at pkaczkowski@comcast.net.

Please remember to date the photo, and identify people by name so that we can add a helpful caption. Thanks!

REVISED RETURN TIME FROM CAMP

The kids will be getting back from OPI at around 2:30pm on Wednesday, so they will be going home AT THE REGULAR SCHOOL DISMISSAL TIME (3:20pm).

Other, earlier correspondence had said they'd get back at 7 p.m. Not any more. So please plan to pick up your child at 3:20, or have him/her take regular transportation home, or go to LSA, etc that day.

Ms. Nani says to expect them to be pretty tired, so it might be a good idea not to plan anything for that afternoon. A packing list is being sent home today, along with other information and an information packet for the chaperone parents.

Yearbook Orders - by May 23

What a great way to remember your child's years at JSIS! The yearbook will include photos of our kids, the teachers, everyone's friends, field trips, assemblies, etc. Also, the book will include the writing the 5th graders have been doing in class on their memories of elementary school; in English, Spanish and Japanese.

The yearbooks cost $15 each. Please fill out the order form you received (the kids brought them home on Thursday 5/1), attach a check made out to JSIS PTSA, and return it to your child's home room teacher.

If you've misplaced the form, let Isabel D. know and you'll get another one by email.

Orders must be made by Friday, May 23. Order yours now!

Staff Appreciation -- We're Covered

Staff Appreciation Week is next week (even though unfortunately, our 5th grade teachers will be at camp Mon-Wed). But don't worry -- 5th grade is all set for donations! An anonymous 5th grade family has donated the services of an espresso cart on Monday. THANK YOU anonymous donor!

They do plan to have the espresso cart there early on Monday so the 5th grade teachers can grab a latte before heading to camp.