From the PTA President

October in Seattle, what will it bring?  More summer weather quite possibly.  Most certainly though, you know it is October as your house is once again filled with hastily unpacked backpacks, and homework assignments and unsigned paperwork have reappeared on every available surface.  And how about those woodchips (from the playground) they inexplicably show up in everything from laundry to lunch bags – be gone I say!  What happened to the lazy, hazy days of summer?  They’ve given way to autumn chill and all signs point to fall in full swing at Loyal Heights.

Soon the hallways will begin to fill with artwork, courtesy of our art docent program.  This PTA funded program is one of the jewels in our crown and I know the beauty of children expressing themselves through art is what drew many of us to LH.   When you get a chance, thank the docents in your child’s room for their time.  Much more classroom work will begin to fill the walls too.  I always get a kick out of seeing what other classrooms are up to.  Our teachers are so creative with the themes they weave in and out of the curriculum, in my years at LH I’ve seen drawings of carefully recounted tooth loss, sophisticated photo studies, models of Greek temples, drawings of favorite shoes and some things that I can never quite figure out.  I take this as a sign that our children are encouraged to be spontaneous and unreserved in their creative process, how wonderful!

This year brings new challenges on the math front as our teachers grapple with a brand new curriculum while keeping Writer’s Workshop going full tilt.  It is important that we parents become familiar with the new curriculum “Everyday Mathematics” so that we can more easily assist our children with their homework.  I hope you were able to attend the Math Information Night presented on September 23rd.  If not, plan to come to Math Games Night on February 10th.  Much of our teachers’ professional learning time for this year will be spent delving into this new math work.  Our PTA budget includes funding for this and other professional learning opportunities for our teachers.  Money well spent.

Teachers are not the only adults in training at Loyal Heights.  September brought parent trainings for art docents, room parents and volunteers in general.  If you missed any of these, please call our volunteer coordinators to get connected.  They are running more training in October and can answer any questions you have or direct you to the right person.  Hopefully, you were able to return your Invitation to Join the Loyal Heights Community and you found involvement that suits your schedule and your life.  September also brought the first days of student banking and the kick-off for our PTA membership drive.  Please contact Barbara Sinn (banking) or Jennifer Doherty (membership) if your paperwork for these has gone missing. 

October brings one of the most smilingly-satisfying family evenings of the year, the LH Jogathon.  This event epitomizes the spirit of our community.  Everyone participates: grandparents, babies in strollers, teachers, brothers and sisters and alumni running side by side.  They also serve pizza, count laps, ferry water, check runners in and out and to top it all off, enjoy pizza dinner together.  This event is also sponsored by family and community businesses.  Please thank them as you shop till you drop in and around Ballard.  Mark your calendars and get ready to run on October 17th.

Till then, stay warm in your beaver lodge as the chilly autumn breezes grow colder and the rain inevitably returns for another season.