To help families navigate Loyal Heights, we have put together the following Loyal Heights A to Z for new families!
Auction:This is our highest grossing fund-raiser of the year and also one of the most fun, not-to-be-missed evenings of the year. This year°s theme has not yet been decided but it is sure to be a dazzling night. The money raised the night of auction helps to pay for tutoring, art docent supplies, more field trips, and of course our entire music program, in addition to many other PTA supported activities at LH. It takes countless day-of and event volunteers to actually ¿run the showî so watch for notices about helping out with this hilarious, inspiring, silly, scrumptious, spine-tingling and raucous party!
Beaver Buck: This is LH currency that children earn when they perform a gesture of kindness for a classmate, or are helpful in some way to the wider school community. They can then use these to buy popcorn on popcorn Fridays! Cash that buys treats–that’s power right where it counts!
Beaver Notes: This is our new weekly news update. One page – one line, to explain the week’s highlights and important dates to put on your calendar. Do not miss this!
Beaver Tales: Our monthly newsletter. A must read to know what is happening at LH.
Big Blue: You’ve heard of the Big Kahuna, the Big Bang, the Big Idea – well Loyal Heights has its very own Big and that would be Big Blue, otherwise known as the VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY PACKAGE. Big Blue is a must read for anyone who will want to spend whatever time you can helping out at school this year. Whether it is 1 hour a month or several hours a week for 2 months leading up to an event, or 1 hour per week all year long, there is a job for you in Big Blue. A little time, a little talent, but most of all your willing hands and brains are needed to continue offering all of our fun, diverse programs for all the children at the school.
Bodacious Beaver: This is the name of a student earned, teacher generated, monthly award given to recognize outstanding academic improvement, classroom citizenship, etc. The award is given to 2-3 children from each classroom each month. A PTA representative does their best to reach the families of all recipients so that they may arrange to be at the assembly when their child receives her/his award!
DRA: The Direct Reading Assessment test is given to K, 1 and 2nd grade to assess their reading level.
Eager Beaver: This is a coupon in the Beaver Tales with questions that children fill out by finding the answers in the newsletter. Then they put the coupon into a box located in the hallway. Each month two lucky names are drawn randomly to become Eager Beavers and receive a fun prize, and have their picture in the Beaver Tales and on the hall bulletin board.
Expert Editors: This is another fun activity found in the Beaver Tales. Each month, children K-2 and 3-5 make corrections to a continuing story in the newsletter and turn it in for a chance to win a prize and have their picture in the Beaver Tales and on the hall bulletin board.
Giving Tree: December at LH kicks off with this annual tradition of providing gifts to children in our own community. The tree is dressed in stars. You pick a star, go to the office and pick out the gift you would like to purchase from a list of requests. You then return the wrapped gift to school by a certain date. Simple—and simply giving back to our community members in need.
Jogathon: The highlight of the LH fall season, Jogathon is second only to auction in fund raising might. The kids collect pledges or are given a flat donation for laps around the playground. The weather usually cooperates and it is a very fun family night with pizza dinner offered to cap the festivities. Please plan to join us, watch your child’s backpack for date and time. See you on the track.
Jumpstart: Where it all starts for many of our current students, Jumpstart is our fabulous, PTA sponsored, on-site preschool.
KidLinks: This is the on-site before and after school care at LH.
Kidmail: You know what snail mail is, and what e-mail is. Well we couldn’t leave it at that. Kidmail is our euphemism for mail that comes to your home via your child’s backpack - everything from our monthly newsletter, to event notices and room parent requests. So, be sure to check your child’s backpack every day so you won’t miss any of the action at Loyal Heights!
Kid’s Space: This is a section of the Beaver Tales newsletter that includes the Eager Beaver coupon and other interesting stuff for kids.
King Louis XVI: Co-star of our 2005 “Mardi Gras” auction, what a smoothie! He looked a lot like our own Mr. Hamel, but who’s to say? Come to think of it, our 2006 Las Vegas auctioneer, Frank Sinatra, looked a lot like Mr. Hamel too…mmm…
Loading Zone: Located on the West side of the school building, this is the preferred “drop-off” and “pick-up” zone for the school between the hours of 7a to 9am and 2 to 4 pm. During this time there is no parking in this area to keep the traffic flowing. If you need to park, please find another location.
Miss Tiny Bubbles: She was the star of our “Paradise” auction of 2004. She wore a lovely pale pink positively princessy gown with a black and white sash and a diamond tiara. She looked a lot like Ms. Codd, but who’s to say?
Mary or Mrs. Hawkinson: Commander-in-Chief of LH, get to know her, get to love her!
Math Pages: These are two pages in the Beaver Tales filled with math problems based on math topics being covered in the classroom for K-2 and 3-5 students to complete and turn into the office. Each month one child per grade who has turned in a math page will be awarded a prize and get their picture in the newsletter and on the bulletin board.
Popcorn Fridays: You will know when these occur because there will be tell-tale kernels sprinkled everywhere, inside and out of the building. Popcorn is given out free to students at lunch time, usually every other Friday.
PTA: A national advocacy group that works for the welfare of all children in the United States. This group forced passage of laws from safety belts in automobiles to nutrition guidelines for school lunches. Not just a brownie bakin’ bunch this one—especially not at our school! We are responsible for so much of what makes Loyal Heights such a great place. Join and then watch, see, and get busy!
Raves: These appear each month in the Beaver Tales as a way to recognize the incredible energy, time and talent that parents, family, staff and teachers put into the events, programs and activities that make Loyal Heights such vibrant community. Raves are a way to recognize those who go an extra mile for the school and our kids (many operate behind the scenes and may not get the recognition they deserve). Raves can be submitted to the Beaver Tales editor by anyone who sees someone doing something great for our school.
Room Parents: Wondering how you will volunteer at school this year, maybe room parenting is for you. This is one of the most important and fulfilling roles you can undertake, and the kids love you for it! Work with your child’s teacher to organize parties, coordinate volunteers for special class projects, work with chairpersons for special events such as Auction and Teacher Appreciation Week.
Student Banking: Every Tuesday, generally starting in October, students have the opportunity to “deposit” money in their very own Washington Mutual savings account. Packets will go home with new students explaining the program. Once your child signs up for this program, each Tuesday they bring a minimum of 25¢ to school which is collected by PTA banking volunteers and deposited into your child’s account for them. This is a great way to start saving early for that college education! It is also a great volunteer job for getting to know most of the students at LH!
WASL: You’ve probably already read or heard much about the WASL or Washington Assessment of Student Learning. Just like other public schools statewide, 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students at Loyal Heights take this test sometime in the Spring.
(Okay it was only Loyal Heights from A to W, but some things you learn as you get more acquainted with your school community! You’re going to love it!)
