THE EAGLET

May 2004, Edition 9

Director's Message | Through Native Eyes | ERMA PTA | June Events | Love and Logic | Thank Yous | SBC | Attendance

from the
DIRECTOR'S CHAIR

by Judy Harris

As we approach the downward slide into summer vacation, I am reminded why I am a teacher. We are so busy we don't have time to grow old! This has traditionally been a very busy time of year, and this year is no exception. We have many end-of-the-year. events coming up and a lot of teaching to do between now and- June 18. Please help your child to remember that, while we are doing a lot of fun things at Eagle Rock, we still remain focused on teaching and learning. Be sure, for instance, that your child continues to keep their "Backyard" binder current. We will be bringing these back to school soon for review and display.

As we wind up the year with a couple more field trips, I need to remind parent chaperones that, due to insurance liability issues, we cannot have siblings attend these events. It is expected that a chaperone will be able to give all their attention to the group to which they are assigned; a task that is impossible if siblings accompany the parent.

I'd like to personally thank everyone for the wonderful "Teacher Appreciation Week" events. The cards and flowers were beautiful, and the meals were delicious! The teachers enjoyed the gift certificate to Ixtapa. A little bit of unwinding together after work was great! I feel so grateful to be able to work with such an extraordinary staff and group of parents here at Eagle Rock.

You are fantastic' Thank you ,everyone, for air the volunteer parent hours you have put in this year. It is so rewarding to see so many parents dedicated to enriching their child's education. You will never know the full extent of the positive impact you make in the functioning of Eagle Rock.

Through Native Eyes

by Deloa Parrish

On Thursday, the Kids of Eagle Rock saw Snoqualmie Falls through Native Eyes. It began with a Rite of Passage. The Falls was not easily attained, each child had to use their focus and sheer will on their journey. We ambled over rocks and down sandy paths into territory that is not readily available to the general public. It was beautiful to watch the older kids assisting the younger ones, and everyone showed such care with one another. We thank Puget Power for giving us special permission to journey on this land.

At last we were rewarded - we were near the base pool with the magnificent Snoqualmie Falls right before us.

Roger Fernandes, our native mentor, taught the Snoqualmie Story of the Changer, an old legend shared with permission of the tribe. We sang and drummed together and played our favorite guessing game Siahal. We heard the story called Seneca which taught the children the importance of giving and receiving reciprocity. We worked with the stones of the area. It felt so joyful to be with our friend again in such a wonderful setting.

We each had an opportunity to make our own personal connection with the falls. We received a traditional Native American smudging with sage from the Eagle Rock garden. This prepared us to leave our thoughts behind and receive whatever messages this place wanted us to have. I noticed that a good many of our children have been practicing sitting in silence, and they really got what this exercise was all about.

This exercise in silence was given to us by the Snoqualmie Tribal Chairman, Joseph Mullen. He explained to me that Snoqualmie Falls is their church. They come here to be rejuvenated and to make connections, just like we do in our churches. It is a very sacred place, and one that must always receive our respect.

I hope that the seeds that were planted in our children will grow and be fruitful. May they always respect all cultures and care for the land, especially in sacred spaces like Snoqualmie Falls.

ERMA PA Becomes A PTA!

The Eagle Rock Multi-Age Parent Association (ERMA PA) voted May 5th to apply for Parent Teacher Association (PTA) membership with the Washington State Parent Teacher Student Association. With approval from the State organization we will be able to Charter the PTA on June 2nd.

PTA membership will be open to all ERMA parents, relatives, staff, and teachers. As a PTA, group rate liability insurance coverage is available to us. This will enable us to sponsor family events and meetings on school district premises. Eagle Rock students will also be eligible to participate in "Reflections", a state wide arts showcase.

Charter Members membership will be good until October, 2005. The cost for membership is $12 for an individual or $20 for a couple. These fees do not include a profit but rather just the coverage of the cost to become a PTA unless we have more than 25 members.

Executive Board Members will be elected at our Charter Meeting on June 2nd. Nominations to date include Sandy Aitken for Co-Chair and Kathleen Cutler for Treasurer. Current Co-Chair, Barb Hill and Secretary, Karen Gronberberg are up for re-election.

June Events

• June 2 - Early Release Day
• June 4 - All School Art Activity-9:45 to 11:00
• June 9 - SBC Meeting, 3:30 PM to 5:00 PM
• June 10 - Square Foot Backyard Project Night, 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM
• June 11 - "Moving Up" Day
• June 14 - Nestle Field Trip
• June 18 - Last Day of School, Early Release

Love and Logic One Year Plan

by Jim Fay

• Love and Logic parents remember that parents can't teach for teachers and teachers can't parent for parents. Remember that teachers and parents can't learn for kids no matter how much we love them.
• Show the same amount of love for your children regardless of their success in school.
• Show sadness rather than anger when they have trouble at school.
• Expect your children to do their share of the chores at home.
• Spend some time each day talking with excitement about your work and your day. They will want to imitate you and will soon begin to talk about school and their day
• Take turns reading to each other every day.
• Have your children teach you something they have learned at school. Do this once per week.
• Encourage your children to do things that "charge their batteries." Encourage them to try many different activities as a way of discovering interests and talents.
  • Remind them that they will build their careers around their talents, not around their weaknesses.
• Provide a time and place for homework. Expect that they will study. Allow them to study either by writing the assignments or thinking hard about them for a reasonable amount of time.
  • If they decide to study by thinking instead of writing or reading, have them think of a plan for explaining it to the teacher.
  • Support the teacher to handle this.
• Don't fight with the teachers over the grade or consequence.
• Tell your children that you will love them regardless of their grades or the number of years it takes to complete each grade.
• Don't pay your children for good grades and don't punish for bad grades. Be excited about the good grades and sad for the children about their bad grades.
• Have your children bring home papers.
  • Look at the right answers instead of the wrong ones.
  • Don't correct the wrong answers - leave this for the teacher.
  • Have your child rene explain the reasons for the answers being right. If they don't know, give them three choices
    1. You cheated?
    2. You tried hard?
    3. You are getting smarter in that subject?
• Expect this Love and Logic program to take about one year before you see good results. Remember that children who have a hard time at school need to get away from it for a while each day. More homework and problems at home about school won't help.
  • Don't complain to teachers that they should give this child more homework.
  • Use this program instead and you will see amazing results in one year.
  • Fight with your children and their teachers about homework and the problem will still be there in years to come.
• Love and Logic parents remember that highly successful people put most of their efforts into their talents and maintain standards on everything else.

Thank Yous

• A BIG THANK YOU goes out to our students, parents, and families at Eagle Rock for the cards, flowers, gifts, and meals during Teacher Appreciation week. Your love and support means that world to all of us! Thank You!
• A special THANK YOU, from Nicole Ji and Robin Woelz goes out to everyone that gave us their time, energy, and support for this years PA fund-raising events. We couldn't have been successful without the support of the association and our Eagle Rock families.

SBC Opening

Due to the resignation of Robin Morse from the Site Based Council (SBC), there will be on opening beginning September, 2004 and running through June, 2006. This is a two year commitment. The SBC meets once a month from September to June and makes site decisions at the building level. If you are interested in this position, please send a letter of interest to the Eagle Rock office by June 4th, 2004. This may be done by e-mail if you prefer. The site team will review the letters and choose a new member at their next meeting.

Attendance Reminders

Please call if your child will be absent. You may call 24 hours a day and leave a message on the answering machine. Reasons to keep a child home:

• Temp of 100 or more
• Vomiting or diarrhea
• Pink Eye
• Rash on body especially with fever
• Lice
• Chronic Cough
• Injury that needs medical attention

If you ever have a question as to whether your child should be kept home please call the office. If your child is late for any reason, please sign them in at the office and obtain a pass for your child to give to their teacher. This way their teacher knows they are checked in properly and have been counted for lunch if needed.

Any changes from end of the day plan must be called in by 2:30 PM to insure your child gets to the correct place. If we do not receive a note or a phone call, your child will follow his normal after-school plan. If your child normally takes a bus, we will make sure your child is on the bus unless a note is provided that states differently.

If your child should require medication, (prescription or over the counter), it requires an authorization form signed by your child's doctor on site at the school. This form is also available in the office. If you have any questions you may contact Brenda or Jan in the office, or Nurse Karen Heiberg at 844-4582.

Director's Message | Through Native Eyes | ERMA PTA | June Events | Love and Logic | Thank Yous | SBC | Attendance

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