Nelsen Middle School

February PTSA Updates

March 5, 2010

Below is an update for the week of March 5, 2010.

* Late Start Days - March 5, 12, 19, 26.   School starts 9:25 am.

* Literacy Night - March 13.  See Info below.

High School Transition Dates for 8th Graders

Important - Mark these dates on your Calendar!

Tues. March 23 (Day) – Lindbergh High School Counselors to visit all 8th grade students for Orientation/Registration

Thurs. March 25 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. – 8th grade Parent Night at Lindbergh H.S. Auditorium.  Opportunity to meet with counselors, and have academic/curriculum questions answered.

Mon. March 29 –  Due date for LHS Registration materials

Mon. June 7, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.  -  Info Night at Lindbergh High School Commons.  For 8th grade Parents and Students, and even current students.  Find out about Sports, Clubs, Parent Groups, and the inner workings of LHS.

Thurs. March 18 (Day) – Renton High School Counselor will meet with all 8th grade students who live in the Renton H.S. service area

PTSA NEWS

2010 PTSA Meeting Schedule
Meetings start at 7:00 pm, in the Nelsen Multi-Purpose Room. 
Everyone is welcome!

o         March 16, 2010 - NEXT MEETING!
o         April 20, 2010
o         May 18, 2010    [General Membership – Elections]
o         June 15, 2010  [Last Meeting]

PTSA OFFICER NOMINATIONS

It is that time of year again!  We are looking for individuals who may be interested in serving on the 2010-2011 Nelsen PTSA Executive Committee.

The position open are President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary.

This year’s Nominating Committee contacts are: Karen Carpenter at 2bacarpenter@comcast.net, and Eileen Richards at etrichards@comcast.net.   We are looking forward to hearing from you regarding potential nominees.

Nominations are needed no later than April 30th.  This will enable the committee time to interview and evaluate potential candidates.

Thank you for your assistance and all you do for the students.

Karen Carpenter

Eileen Richards

FOUNDERS' DAY

Renton PTA Council founders day is coming fast. Nelsen PTSA is putting together a basket to donate to the Auction. The proceeds go to Renton School student collage scholarship.

The basket theme is "Gardening".  If you would like to donate an item or money to help build a great basket, please contact Karen Carpenter at 2bacarpenter@comcast.net.

Or you can drop it off to the PTSA box in the office.  Please label donations for "Founders Day basket".  Checks payable to Nelsen PTSA  and add at bottom for:  Founders Day Basket.

Please have all donations turned in by March 10th.

Thank you for your support of our students!

Karen Carpenter
 

8th Grade Dance Committee.

The next 8th grade dance meeting will be on Tuesday, March 16th at 6 p.m., followed by the PTSA meeting at 7 p.m.

If you are interested in helping, please contact Kristi Hammond at  kristi82977@yahoo.com

JOINING ASB SPORTS AND ACTIVITIES AT NELSEN.

It is very easy to join sports and activities at Nelsen!  First, a student needs an ASB card, which may be purchased from Mrs. Folkerts in the attendance office.  Second, a student shows up for the activity!  Announcements are made throughout the school.  For our sports teams, a student does need to try out and our traveling team does make some cuts, so the student does need to attend all practices.  All of our sports teams will have a 2 week period of everyone practicing, then the traveling team will be chosen.  If you have any questions, contact Becky Schlosstein, at rebecca.schlosstein@rentonschools.us

  
LATE STARTS.

Just a reminder, ALL RENTON SCHOOLS will start 90 minutes late on most Fridays during the 2009-10 school year.  For a schedule of all late start Fridays, go to the calendar at the Renton School District website http://www.rentonschools.us/Home.aspx, and click on the 2009-2010 School Year Calendar on the right-hand side.

Please remember to visit the District site throughout the school year for transportation news, school announcements, and other pertinent information.  The site is GREAT resource for all Renton families!

FROM THE NELSEN NEWS, March 2010

PRINCIPAL’S NOTES
The sun is out, the trees are budding, and spring is in the air.  The sun may not be shining when you read this, but it is sunny as I write it.  All the students are beginning to look more mature than in the fall.  I know that sometimes student focus tends to decrease as the weather warms up and they look forward to a fun-filled summer.  It is critical for us, as a community, to re-focus our children on the academic tasks and stay in communication throughout the school year.  Please continue to check grades online and contact teachers by email or phone. 
Kudos from the Principal
1.   Ms. Heimsoth and Mr. Turner for planning a wonderful Valentine’s Dance.
2.   To all the students who made honor roll last quarter.
Principal’s Quote of the Month
“Communication works for those who work at it”

LITERACY NIGHT
Circle the date:  Friday, March 13th
Nelsen’s Family Literacy Night will be held from 6:00—8:30 p.m. 
There will be guest readers, bingo, computers and other fun activities
Families will circulate through centers including:  a Poetry Slam Café, Environmental BINGO with prizes, Storytelling, Math Literacy and more.
We will end the evening with a mystery reader and raffle.  Starbucks will be providing refreshments.  Bring your family and join us for a fun and free event!

LINDBERGH HIGH ORIENTATION

TUESDAY, March 23 —Orientation for Lindbergh High School.  Counselors will visit Nelsen to meet with all 8th graders and give out registration materials and elective forms. 
Lindbergh High School Parent Night will be on Thursday, March 25 at 6:30 p.m. in the Lindbergh auditorium.
PENNIES FOR HAITI
How many pennies lined up end-to-end would it take to circle the hallways of Nelsen?  The answer will be in how much money we donate to the Haiti disaster relief.  In March, Nelsen students will be conducting a fundraiser to assist in rebuilding schools in Haiti and benefit students displaced by the earthquake. All donations will specifically be used to help rebuild schools and assist in the education of school children in Haiti. Start saving your pennies and spare coins now.  Further information to follow. 
 WASHINGTON D.C./ NEW YORK TRIP
If you are planning on sending your student to DC and New York City in June and have not signed up yet, please make a deposit on-line at www.worldstrides.org or have your student pick up a packet from Ms. Rademacher in Room 203.  It is important to get your name on the list to reserve tickets to the museums, plays, hotels, etc.  Thank you! A parent meeting will be held in late May with complete information.  Questions?  Contact Ms. Rademacher at Diane.Rademacher@rentonschools.us

Nelsen Administration - Contact Information.

Main Office                           425-204-3000
Attendance                           425-204-3010
Cafeteria                               425-204-3018
Nurse, Sue Pennington       425-204-3002
Registrar, Susan Dean       425-204-3001
Transportation                      425-204-4455, or http://www.rentonschools.us/Departments/Transportation/BusRoutes or
http://nelsen.rentonschools.us/files/BusRoutes/MS_routes.pdf

Colin Falk, Principal                        colin.falk@rentonschools.us 
Elaine Love, Asst. Principal           elaine.love@rentonschools.us
Becky Schlosstein, Asst. Prin.       rebecca.schlosstein@rentonschools.us
Renton School District Website    http://www.rentonschools.us/Home.aspx

Carrie's Note:  Each student receives a copy of the "Nelsen News", to bring home each month.  If you have not received one, or are missing the current issue, ask your child if he/she has it in their backpack, or binder.  Attached to each Nelsen News is a copy of the Calendar of the month.  Due to server limitations, I am unable to attach it or reproduce the same, in its original format. 

Please be sure to ask your child for the Nelsen News at the beginning of the month, and regularly check with them for any other important school handouts!

The e-mail updates are not intended to replace regular U.S. mail, or written material sent through the students. The updates serve as additional notice, or a precursor of things to come, and help to rally parents and promote camaraderie.  This will especially help for upcoming events that may require parental support.

Thank you!

SCHOOL DISTRICT NEWS

Renton School Board seek nominations for annual Outstanding Employee Awards
Recognize the hard work of a teacher and staff member through Outstanding Employee Award
March 1, 2010—Renton School Board members are seeking nominations for the annual Outstanding Employee Awards. Each year the Board recognizes the hard work and dedication of district staff through the award.
The nomination process is simple. Click here to access the nomination form, complete each box and e-mail it to Kayla Steckler in the Community Relations Office at kayla.steckler@rentonschools.us or mail it to the district’s Community Relations Office, 300 SW 7th Street, Renton WA 98057.
Deadline for nominations is Friday, March 12.
This is an excellent opportunity to recognize a teacher and support staff member who demonstrates high levels of job performance, dedication and support for students, coworkers, parents and community. Recipients will be honored at the April 14, 2010 School Board meeting.
Nominate a deserving staff member today!

Randy Matheson | Executive Director, Community Relations | Renton School District | 300 SW 7th Street Renton, WA 98057 | p: 425.204.2345 c: 206.375.0632

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SCHOOL DISTRICT NEWS

District to Use Community Input in Budget Work.

Work continues on preparing a balanced budget for the coming school year. Information gathered at recent community meetings and from an online survey will be incorporated into ongoing budget-preparation work.
Additional community meetings, to present a proposed budget, is planned for mid-April. Click here to read more.
Below is a message from the Renton School Board to staff, parents and community regarding the community input sessions:

Dear Renton Community:

The Renton School District Board of Directors would like to thank the over 500 parents, community leaders and staff that attended the Community Budget meetings over the past week.   We attended every meeting and were very pleased to offer this new process that actively sought your comments and suggestions prior to the creation of the first budget draft.   In addition to the budget meetings, there were close to 1000 surveys completed by our constituents on the school district website.  We truly value your participation in each forum.

You might be wondering, what are the next steps?  Your suggestions will be compiled, analyzed and discussed, and included in the formulation of the draft budget.  We will then come back out to you on April 21, 22, and 23rd to present the draft for further review.  These are difficult times for our state, our cities and our schools.  Together as a community, we will work through the difficult choices that must be made with the goal of providing safe and high quality classroom instruction for the 14,500 students in the district.

We appreciate everyone who came out to give us their ideas and share their passions.  For more information regarding the budget please visit the school district website:  www.rentonschools.us/

Respectfully, the Board of Directors Renton School District

Lynn Desmarais – President
David Merrill – Vice President
Al Talley
Todd Franceschina
Pam Teal

COMMUNITY NEWS

RENTON ARTS SURVEY - ARTS AND CULTURE MASTER PLAN.

The City of Renton is leading an effort with the community to develop an Arts and Culture Master Plan.  The Master Plan will:

·         *  Reflect the community’s desire to utilize arts and culture to enhance the sense of community,

·        *  Enhance economic vitality that is linked to arts and culture, and

·        *  Create and support an environment where art and culture thrive and enrich the community.

For more information about the Plan, please visit the Master Plan webpage

We need your input to help create strategies that will seize opportunities for increased arts and cultural opportunities!

Please complete this arts survey and share the link with others in your community – the first round of comments will be compiled on March 5th.

A public meeting will be held in April to present the Arts & Culture Master Plan.  Details about this public event will be available on the Master Plan webpage by March 22.

COMMUNITY NEWS

YMCA B.O.L.D. - Boys Outdoor Leadership Development- is offering professional youth workers the opportunity to award scholarships for our summer Mountain School.  Our 5 - 14 day backpacking, rock climbing, fishing, mountaineering and outdoor photography expeditions provide an opportunity for boys 11 - 18 years of age to develop communication, decision making and multi-cultural leadership skills through outdoor adventure, challenge and fun!  Information about our exceptional and affordable programs can be found in this brochure or www.ymcaboys.org.

To award a scholarship for 90% ($300)off the cost of a summer expedition follow these three simple steps:

1) Fill out the scholarship award letter.

2) Have your student pick a trip from this brochure and fill out the pre-registration form. 

3) Mail or fax both forms to Andrew Jay, BOLD Director at the address below.  Your student will then receive this scholarship!

If you would like for me to do a presentation along with my sister programs for girls at your school or program, please send me an email or give me a call at 206.587.6119.

Thanks again for offering a young person this great opportunity!

Andrew A. Jay | B.O.L.D - Boys Outdoor Leadership Development
P 206.587.6119
F 206.382.7894

COMMUNITY NEWS

Fairwood News in Real-Time, Any Time

Fairwood Community News, Inc. (www.fairwoodcommunitynews.com) is an established, comprehensive and FREE News Source for the greater Fairwood area.   Fairwood Community News covers news about our neighborhood schools, organizations, businesses and developments in our area.  If it has something to do with our community, FCN is interested in sharing it with the greater Fairwood area.

Features: Check out the site; you'll find information about everything: Lindbergh, Nelsen and feeder elementary schools; A Community Calendar is well-used and updated regularly - add your own group's events by emailing FCN;  Homeowners Associations have dedicated pages; and Classified advertising is also FREE.

If you have news to share, let Fairwood Community News know about it.  They want to hear from you.

To view the site, go to http://www.fairwoodcommunitynews.com/index.html

Contact Information

Tami Tedrow-Howard
Fairwood Community News
PO Box 58843
Renton, WA 98058
e: info@fairwoodcommunitynews.com
www.fairwoodcommunitynews.com
206.856.1662

Thanks to all who have become members and supporting the PTSA.   It is not too late - You can still join!

Join Nelsen Middle School’s PTSA!

2403 Jones Ave S

Renton WA  98055

Another wonderful school year is beginning – Nelsen’s incredible staff is ready for our students – and PTSA welcomes them and you back to school!  The PTSA’s goal   is to enrich our children’s school experience in a variety of ways.  Our many activities need parent help and financial support to succeed, and they include:

s         All School Picnic
s         Book Fairs
s         Chaperoning Dances
s         Eighth Grade Dance
s         Health Screenings
s         Incentive Days
s         Jr. Achievement
s         Jr. Honor Society
s         Nelsen Music Association
s         Nifty Nelsen Night
s         Reflections
s         Staff Appreciation

Please feel free to contact us about an activity that interests you, or for any suggestions or questions.  Meetings third Tuesday of each month, except in December.  All are welcome to attend!  Thank you!

Erica Conway, PTSA Co President               (206) 605-9745,    email  ericaconway@hotmail.com
Geri Garl, PTSA Co President                      (206) 550-7945,    email  fourgarls@comcast.net
Karen Carpenter, Membership Chair           (425) 254-9630,    email  2bacarpenter@comcast.net