Youth and Families Initiative

Be among the voices that will inform our Mayor’s agenda Join Mayor McGinn and El Centro de la Raza Executive Director Estela Ortega to hear about the Mayor’s Youth & Families Initiative (YFI) and to participate in a YFI Community Caucus.

Monday, May 3, 7 – 8:30 pm Ballard High School Commons 1418 NW 65th Street, Seattle

Twenty some years ago, Mayor Norm Rice launched his Education Summit which addressed some of the most pressing issues of the day and initiated Seattle’s Families and Education Levy. Today, Mayor McGinn is reaching out once again to Seattleites to inform and shape his work at the City of Seattle FOR the people of Seattle. The Mayor’s Initiative co-chairs are Mayor Norm Rice, Estela Ortega and Bob Watt, as well as Deputy Mayor Darryl Smith. The opportunity to support genuine community engagement as a part of our leadership’s process for positive change is as unusual as it is significant. Join us in working together toward our common goal to create a healthy, positive and equitable environment for all families. Let’s work together as a community for a better Seattle. Interested in volunteering for this Community Caucus or others?

Contact Kerry Cooley-Stroum at League of Education Voters kcs@seanet.com or 206/910-1400 Need more info? Lyn Porterfield lyn@bartaphoto.com or 206/343-7644

Important Information for Incoming Kindergarten Families with Older Siblings

To the families of incoming kindergarten students at John Hay Elementary,

We look forward to welcoming your children into our school community for the 2010-2011 school year.  This upcoming school year we find ourselves in a unique situation, given some of the changes that have resulted from the adoption of the “New Student Assignment Plan” http://www.seattleschools.org/area/newassign/index.xm.  Many families with older siblings currently attending John Hay Elementary are faced with the possibility of their incoming kindergarten student having to attend a different school if they live outside of the new school attendance area.  Families did have the opportunity to apply during open enrollment  (March 1^st – 31^st), to attend their preferred school, but acceptance is based on available space as well as established tie breaker criteria. 

We know that many families are anxious to hear from us, and wanted to let you know that enrollment services is in the process of consolidating all data submitted through the open enrollment process and should start letting families know if there is space available for their child at their older sibling’s school.  In addition, we would like to conduct our own, informal survey, so we can start engaging in discussions on our options for making space available for all families of John Hay.  There are no guarantees, but we do want to let you know that we sympathize with your situation, and will be partnering with you to find solutions.

If you have an incoming sibling of a current John Hay student and live outside of the John Hay boundary area, please email Michelle Rothman (rothman@amazon.com) so she can collect your contact information.  She is a fellow John Hay parent impacted, and is helping to coordinate planning between parents and the school.  She will keep you updated on our progress, and can be your resource for any questions you may have.

Thank you for your patience as we try to work through a solution.

Final Updated 2010 Auction Catalog!!

The updated Spring Auction catalog with all the corrections, additions and trimmings is finally here. Follow this link for the 2010 Catalog. Enjoy!

https://johnhayelementary.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/2010-catalog-4-29_10.pdf

See you Saturday night. Thanks!

 

John Hay could win $20,000!!!!!! We need your help!

Dotty Ewbank, First Grade Teacher extraordinaire, entered John Hay Elementary in the America’s Favorite School Contest sponsored by Care2 and GreatSchools.org!  With your help, our school could win $20,000!  Tell your friends, families and neighbors and ask them to vote for John Hay!  Vote HERE !

John Hay Auction is THIS Saturday night!

You have probably received your auction catalog.  However, please note that not all silent items are listed in the catalog.  We wanted to give you a “taste” of what would be available.  There are more … A LOT MORE ITEMS available!  To see the full line-up of what you can buy, click HERE.  We have more items then ever before so…come early and…you might just get a great item at a great price!  Doors open at 5pm!

May is Clay, June Celebrates the Arts!

Hello Hay Families,

In the art room, we will be doing clay projects in May.  This will be strenuous with the sheer numbers of pounds of clay (500#!) involved, messiness, and so on.  If you can help AM or PM one day a week it would help out tremendously.  We will also need families with big vehicles to transport projects ot Seattle Pottery Supply (in Sodo area on 1st) for kiln firing (John Hay has a tiny one, but this will save time).

If clay is not your thing, you can still help matte artwork for the John Hay Celebrates the Arts event on June 3, prep bulletin boards, help make programs and posters for the event. 

Lastly, we could still use:  a few more tennis balls for the furniture in the art room (it works, thank you!), and canvas or cotton fabric for tables for clay, or water spray bottles for clay.  Other ideas, contact me at

shbadger@seattleschools.org

THANK YOU!

Shellwyn “Dr. Badger”

Debate Club Judges and Timers Needed

Needed: Debate Club Judges and Timers on Sat. May 22, 8:30-11:30am. 

 No experience necessary, must be 15 or older – qualifies for service hours!  Parent, friend, and neighbor volunteers are welcome, too! Tournament is at Blaine K-8 in Magnolia.  Orientation materials will be sent by email, and a half-hour training for volunteer judges and timers starts at 8:30am on tournament day.  Each judge evaluates two teams of 2 kids in two rounds. A detailed description of a tournament is here: http://www.schoolsinaction.org/debate.php, click on Tournament Information at the bottom of the page.

 We also need volunteers to monitor sign-in, snack table, and make copies.  Debate Club is sponsored by Successful Schools in Action, www.schoolsinaction.org, and is for 4^th & 5^th graders of Blaine, Lawton, Coe, and Hay Schools.  Contact sandynielsen@schoolsinaction.org.

Girl Scout Movie Night to help PAWS

Our local Brownie troop is hosting a Movie Night at John Hay on May 7 to benefit PAWS.  Come if you can and feel free to share this with your  friends.

Reminder: Spirit Day May 7th

April Spirit Day is Friday, May 7th (not April 30th) and it is “Create Your Own Super Hero Day”

There is no need to go out and purchase a costume – just recycle what you have around the house.

Be creative, have fun, show your school spirit!

Questions?  Contact Kathy Aminian at ksaminian@seattleschools.org

Auction 101 – FAQ (and Answers)

1. Where is the Auction?  The John Hay Auction is at the Fisher Pavilion (same place as last year) at the Seattle Center.  Do you know the winter ice-skating rink?  That’s the place…except the ice won’t be there!

2.  When does the Auction start?  Doors open at 5pm for the Silent Auction.  You can grab a glass of wine or champagne and peruse the items.  There are a couple different silent auction closes.  Silent #1 closes at 6pm, Silent #2 at 6:30pm, Super Silent at 7pm.  The Live Auction begins at 7:30pm.  The entire list of auction items is available online.

3.  How do I check in?  Registration this year is very simple.  Bring your credit card to check in.  We will swipe it, give you your bid number and you are good to go!  Happy bidding!

4.  I don’t see my Teacher’s Auction item, and I want to bid on it?  We are a huge group of volunteers ALL working to make the John Hay Auction a big success.  Of course, there are going to be errors…that is human nature.  Please know they we are doing everything we can to address and fix these problems.  Missing items will be added in an addendum or on-line.  Sorry for any confusion.

5.  I’m a vegetarian.  What is being served for dinner?   We have an amazing dinner planned by long time John Hay parents and FABULOUS caterers, Nancy and Kaspar Donier of Kaspar’s Catering.  Dinner will be served “family style’ and includes something for everyone — including vegetarian options.

6.  What should I wear?  The Seattle weather can play a huge part in your decision.  Generally, people seem to choose festive spring attire.  However, if you want to wear a tux — go for it! You’ll look fabulous!

7.  I can’t go to the auction, but want to donate.  What should I do?   Thank you for your commitment to John Hay.  Our programs at John Hay cost approximately $650 additional dollars per child per year.  This is for programs that the district does not fund.  If we do not raise the money, we are unable to support these needed programs.  If you cannot attend the auction, please consider a donation.  It is tax-deductible and all proceeds benefit John Hay Programs.  The Volunteer Office can assist you with your donation.

8.  I have more questions that have not been answered.  What should I do?  The John Hay Volunteer Office is the place to go for all Auction-related questions.   They can  answer any questions you might have.  Please call Lynn or Susan at 252-2108.