| |
Auction
April 12. 2008
Mark your calendars for April 12, 2008, invite your friends and family, and get ready to step out for our kids at the annual auction! You’ll enjoy a fun and festive evening out, featuring a multi-section silent auction, delicious catered meal and exciting live auction. The auction is the school’s major fundraiser, and we are counting on all our families to step up this year to make it an unprecedented success.
Questions? Contact our Auction Chair Nancy
Back to School Picnic
Thornton Creek traditionally hosts a back to school picnic the first week
of school. Usually held on Friday evening at the school playground,
this BYO gathering gives families new and old a chance to mingle
and chat while the kids play. Principal John Miner is on hand as
well to talk with parents and answer any questions they might have.
Contact: Maria Guttierez
Community Meeting
Every other Tuesday at 9:20 all the classes come together in the
lunchroom to celebrate our expedition work and to celebrate our
progress in our school-wide goals regarding character growth.
Walk-a-thon
 One
of our school's two largest fundraisers of the year, the Walk-a-thon
is scheduled in early October. Students decide how many laps they
will walk around the school field; they then solicit donations from
friends and family members. These donations are either a flat amount
(for example, $10 no matter how many laps are done) or a per lap
amount ($1 per lap, etc). Donations are collected and returned to
the school after the event is over and the total number of laps
has been tallied. This fun, kid-friendly fundraiser takes place
rain or shine during the school day, and usually raises about $25,000
for Thornton Creek.
Download Pledge Form
Download Pledge Sheet
Contact: Leslie Pfiefer
Halloween
A kid favorite, this event takes place on or near Halloween. All
classes participate with spooky games, decorations, crafts and more.
Students (and parents!) may bring costumes to school and spend the
final hour of the day dressed up and participating in the activities
in every classroom.
Holiday Bazaar
Held at school in December, shortly before the holiday break. This event
gives kids and parents the opportunity to create handmade crafts
and treats to sell at school. Twenty percent of the proceeds are
donated by the sellers to the school. Some outside sellers also
participate. This event raises about $2000 for the school.
The Holiday Bazaar is scheduled this year for Thursday, December
13th, from 11:00a.m until 7:00 p.m. For those of you who are
new to the school, the Bazaar is an annual fundraiser where classrooms,
students, parents and some outside groups sell handmade crafts,
food or gift items. Anyone who has a hand made sellable product
is invited to request table space at the Bazaar. Request forms will
be sent home soon, and should be returned to the class or office
as soon as possible. Please do not have your child ask his/her teacher
for a table.
The Bazaar is a great place to get your holiday shopping done! There
is no end to the imagination and creativity of our kids. Inside
the chaotic gym you'll find jewelry, candles, magnets, soap, cards,
games, gift boxes, comics, calendars, miniatures, hats and scarves,
paintings, potholders, ceramics, ornaments and sand sculpture animals…
just about everything and anything you can think of.
As this is a fundraiser, 20% of all profits are returned to the
school or classroom. Outside concessionaires donate this money to
the Thornton Creek Parent Group. Students and parents may donate their 20%
to either the Parent Group or to their individual classrooms.
The children get time off during the day to shop at the Bazaar,
so you may want to send your child to school with a little spending
money. To ensure healthy eating, food and treat items can only be
sold after school is over (3:00-7:00).
During the Bazaar, a book sale, with many great, reasonably priced
books - will be held in the library.
WE NEED LOTS OF VOLUNTEERS TO MAKE THIS EVENT A SUCCESS!!
Please e-mail
or call if you have any questions, or would like to volunteer for
this great event!
Contact: Deb Voss or Holly DeMaranville
Book Fair - early December
What is a book fair? A book fair is actually a mini book shop that
is set up at the school where students and families can purchase
quality books. A percentage (usually around 20%, depending on how
much is sold) of our sales will come back to our school in the form
of a check or in books from the book store that is providing the
books.
In December, we hold a book fair at our school with books from
the Secret Garden bookshop. This independently-owned bookshop in
Ballard has a long history of doing book fairs and providing author
visits and other assistance to schools. Book fairs can contribute
a significant amount to our overall funding.
During the week, the book fair will be open before school, during
recess and lunch, and after school. It is also open during the annual
Holiday Bazaar
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Assembly
Each year we have an all-school assembly honoring the work and ideals
of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Family Folk Dance
Thornton Creek families and staff enjoy an evening of infectiously fun dancing
at this very popular event! We bring in a wonderful dance caller
to teach the steps, and talented musicians to provide lively, old-fashioned
folk tunes. The dance style is similar to square dancing and contra
dancing, and it's fun and easy for kids and grown-ups alike!
Athletic Skills Night
- May
Athletic Skills and Expedition Exhibition Night
have combined for the past few years. The evening begins with the
athletic skills portion in the gym. Children develop a routine or
demonstrate a skill by themselves or in small groups. It provides
an opportunity for creativity, problem solving, leadership and presenting
a final product to the audience. Some of the past acts have included
gymnastics, jump rope, rope climb, unicycling, hockey demonstrations,
karate, and Frisbee to name a few.
Contact: Sue Doty
Field Day - June
Annual all-school event in June. Students rotate through activity
stations. The emphasis is on participation and sportsmanship.
Moving-On Ceremony
The Moving Up ceremony is scheduled early in the school day on the
last student day in June. The ceremony typically lasts for one hour.
New Family Orientation
Held in the evening at school in late spring (end of May, or early June), this
event involves a presentation for new families by both staff and
parent representatives. Staff speakers usually include the principal,
at least one kindergarten teacher, one first grade teacher, and
one teacher from the upper grades. A variety of educational topics
may be covered, including the typical day in kindergarten. Parent
speakers include representatives for Site Council, fundraising and
volunteering at school. A question and answer period, as well as
a short tour of the school, follows the presentation. The evening
lasts approximately 1-1/2 hours; childcare for school age children
available upon request.
Contact: Kellie LaRue
Readers and Writers Stage
This event previously was held in the library the evening of talent
night. This year it has a new date and location. All students are
encouraged to participate, and read their own or others' writings
including poems and short skits or other prose. We are combining
this event with our new "University Bookstore Book Fair".
School Sleepover
This event is the social highlight of the year for the kids of AE
II! Taking place on a Friday night in May, the Sleepover gives kids
the chance to spend the night at school. Starting at 7:00 pm, a
variety of fun activities are provided by parent volunteers during
the course of the evening, including face painting, sports, disco
dancing, movies and more. The kids sleep in the classrooms, chaperoned
by parents, and are provided with breakfast before the event ends
at 9:00 am Saturday morning. Tickets for this event are $30 for
the overnight, $25 for the evening only. Scholarships are available.
The Sleepover usually raises about $4000.
Date: May 12, 2006
Contact: Ann Tucker-Gwinn
School Tour
New parent school tours are scheduled during January and February.
The tours are scheduled on Tuesdays and Thursdays except during
the week of mid-winter break. One evening new parent meeting is scheduled each year in
January.
See Choosing Thornton Creek for more information.
Staff Appreciation
Days
The hospitality committee does small things for teachers all year
long to show them how much we appreciate them. This year we are
planning to have a Soup and Salad luncheon for our teachers on one
of the in-service days. For Thanksgiving we had parents make homeade
pies and gave each teacher and staff member one to take home and
for Christmas we organized a huge cookie exchange. This Valentines
day we will be giving the teachers a box of chocolate with some
special thank you notes attached. In May we celebrate for a whole
week called teachers appreciation week. We try to do something every
day during that week, such as a bagel breakfast one morning, flowers
in the lunchroom another morning, a luncheon, a dessert "buffet"
etc. We also try to do little "extra" things throughout the year
as time and finances permit.
Summer Picnics
New families are welcome to attend three picnics held over the summer.
The picnics are held at a local park. Parents can bring their own
lunches/dinners and socialize with other new parents as their children
play. Times, dates and location are announced at the new parent
orientation in the spring.
Summer Picnics are usually held at Viewridge playground (we like the
shade and wading pool!)
Talent Night
Held in February, this special evening allows the children of AE
II to display their many talents! This event includes performing
arts on our stage, and "special projects" (for example, collections,
hobby displays, and student's research projects). Students not performing are invited to join in with the many duties required as "stage hands" to help make this a successful event.
We are fortunate at Thornton Creek to be able to "borrow" the performing arts auditorium at Eckstein Middle School for this event.
Contact: Amy Arthur
 
back to top
|
|
