March 1 Updates

QUICK NOTES:

* Late Start Days:   Feb. 27, March 6, 13, 20, 27.  School starts 9:25am.
* National Jr. Honor Society Induction Ceremony, March 4, 7pm, Nelsen Cafeteria.
* 8th Grade Dance Parents' Meeting, March 5, 6:00pm, Nelsen Cafeteria.
* Literacy Night, March 13 - Everone is Invited to Attend!  [See details below]
* WASL Snacks - Help Needed!  [See details below]
* 8th Grade Orientation, March 18, Lindbergh High School  [See Nelsen March News below]
* School District News, Community News, and much more!

You’re invited to

Nelsen Middle School’s Family Literacy Night
Friday, March 13, 2009
6:00 - 8:30pm

Stations will include:
* REI presents Leave No Trace
* Notebook Making with
Knowledge Points
*Cultural Center
* Bingo
* Math Literacy
* Notebook Making with
Knowledge Points
* Mystery Guest Reader

Prizes!           Prizes!           Prizes!           Prizes!

~~~~IT’S FUN AND FREE!~~~~

~Refreshments provided by Starbucks~

Parent Volunteers!  We can always use extra adult supervision in the centers during the event.  If you would like to help, please see Kris Vasquez when you arrive.  Ms. Vasquez will be at the check-in table as you walk in the front door.

Thank you for your help!!!

NELSEN MUSIC ASSOCIATION NEWS
March 5, 7pm           -  Solo Ensemble Previews, Nelsen Orchestra Room
March 7, All Day      -   Soundview Solo Ensembles, Hazen High School
March 10, 7pm         -    Nelsen Band/Orchestra Concert, Nelsen Cafeteria
March 12                   -    Soundview Band contest (for middle schools), Lindbergh High School
March 19, 7pm         -   Nelsen Choral Concert, Nelsen Cafeteria
March 24, 7pm         -   South Hill Band Festival, LHS Auditorium [Grades 5-12]
March 31, All Day    -   Orchestra Soundview Contest (for Middle & High School), Hazen High School 
April 2, 7pm              -  South Hill Orchestra Cookie Concert, LHS Auditorium
April 16, 6pm            -  NMA Meeting, Orchestra/Choir Room
May 7, All Day          -  Soundview Choral Contest B, Lindbergh High School [Middle school choirs]
May 19                       -  Dessert Auction/Jazz Night, Nelsen Cafeteria [More info TBA]
June 4, 7pm              -  Band Awards Concert, Nelsen Cafeteria
June 9, 7pm              -  Orchestra Awards Concert, Nelsen Cafeteria
June 11, 7pm            -  Choral Awards concert, Nelsen Cafeteria

National Junior Honor Society Ceremony

The induction ceremony will be held on Wednesday, March 4, at 7:00pm, at Nelsen.  The ceremony has become one of the biggest events at Nelsen, and we will need your help.  The PTSA will be hosting the reception, and we need help with:  Set-up of the cafeteria area;  assisting during the reception;  taking down chairs in the gym after the ceremony.

If you will be attending, and can help with any of the above, please contact Carrie at sidekik@msn.com.  Thank you very much!!!

EIGHTH GRADE DANCE NEWS

The 8th grade dance is scheduled for Thursday, June 18, 2009.  8th Grade Parents are needed to help start planning.  Although the ASB and Nelsen staff take care of most of the arrangements, the parents play a very integral role in making the last dance of the year a memorable, fun event.  Parents help primarily with decorations, miscellaneous items, and chaperoning.  If you are interested, please e-mail your name to Carrie at sidekik@msn.com. 

UPDATE:  The 8th graders have selected their theme and colors.  The theme is "A Night of Enchantment".  The next 8th grade Parent Meeting is Thursday, March 5, 6:00pm, in the Nelsen cafeteria.  We will need LOTS of help with invitations and decorations.  Hope to see you there!

WASL SNACKS!!!

Nelsen PTSA has been asked to help coordinate snacks for students taking the WASL Tests, but the PTSA's budget alone cannot supply enough snacks for the entire testing period.

We are seeking a few business sponsors, but cannot rely on that.  The people we CAN rely on are YOU, THE PARENTS!  Nelsen families have been fully supportive of the school and all the students, and we know we can count on your help for this!

In order to ensure we have enough snacks for the full six-day testing period, we would like to give families a heads-up now.  On your next trip to the grocery store, if you can get a box of granola bars, healthy snacks (no candy, please), snacks with no peanuts (for allergic students), and bring it up to Nelsen's main office, we can start our collection!  We did it last year, and I am confident we can do it again!

Thank you for your anticipated help!!!

PTSA Regular Board Meetings

The next meetings will be:

    * March 17, 2009
    * April 21, 2009
    * May 19, 2009  [General Membership - Elections]  - Note:  Date may be rescheduled due to Jazz Concert.  More TBA.
    * June 16, 2009  [Last Meeting]

All meetings start at 7:00pm, in the Nelsen Theatre room.  Everyone is invited to attend.

We will be embarking on a new era for 2009-10, and are in need of new officers to replace members who are "graduating".  If you are interested in playing a more major role at the school, here is your chance!  Please contact Carrie at sidekik@msn.com, to receive more information. 

PORTABLE CD PLAYERS & HEADPHONES WANTED.
Do you have any gently used portable CD players and headphones that you are no longer using, because everyone has iPods, or newer players?  Don't toss them!  The Nelsen Library now has books on CD's.  But in order for the students to use them, they need at least 20 portable CD players and headphones.  If you have players and headphones no longer in use, please bring them to the Nelsen main office.  Any help from the Nelsen families would be greatly appreciated!  Thank you for your support!

SCHOOL NOTES
Dropping off Students:  Please drop off students only at designated areas, and not in the staff parking lot, or bus area.
Please Drive Safely!  As the days are getting shorter, please drive carefully near the school when dropping students off and picking them up.  Please yield to students in the crosswalk near Spring Glen.

Thank you, everyone, for keeping the kids safe!

LATE STARTS

Just a reminder, ALL RENTON SCHOOLS will start 90 minutes late on most Fridays during the 2008-09 school year.  For a schedule of all late start Fridays, go to the calendar at the Renton School District website http://www.renton.wednet.edu/, and click on the 2008-2009 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!

Nelsen News - March 2009

NURSE’S NOTES
We know that many families need to stretch their dollars as far as possible in the months ahead.  Here are some resources to check out for help with the cost of medications:
The Medicine Program is available for families without insurance coverage for medications.  There is a $5.00 processing fee per medication.  The form is available at website: http://www.themedicineprogram.com
Partnership for Prescription Assistance. 1-888-477-2669    www.pparx.org
Together RX 1-800-444-4106   www.TogetherRXAccess.com

“THE TRICKS OF SCAPIN”
Rehearsals for  ”The Tricks of Scapin” are underway.  A very funny play by Moliere about a tricky servant who gets money out of two fathers who’s sons have married without their consent.  Snacks and drinks will be sold before the play in the lobby—The Hawks’ Hangout.  The one hour play is part of the Spring Arts Festival, a ten year tradition here at Nelsen.  Mark the dates on your family calendar:  Thursday, May 14th and Friday, May 15th.

8th Grade Career Education
On March 10th and 11th—8th graders will receive two days of career education in their LA classes. This is a great time to discuss education and career interests with your students at home! 

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.  Refreshments will be provided.  Join us for a fun and free reading event.  

LINDBERGH HIGH ORIENTATION

MONDAY, March 16th—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 Wednesday, March 18th at 6:30 p.m. in the Lindbergh auditorium.

6TH GRADE AFTER SCHOOL BOYS’ GROUP
Space is still available in the Atlantic Street Center’s After School Boys’ Group .  This is an opportunity for boys to come together to deal with peer pressure, aggressive behavior, gang violence and other issues.  Also, there will be time to enjoy fun filled activities like softball, basketball and flag football.  See Mrs. Fairhart for more information.

 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.

Remember
·  School Start Time: 7:50 a.m.
Students should not arrive on campus before 7:30a.m. No adult supervision is available before then.
·  Late Start Fridays: School Start Time: 9:25 a.m.

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.renton.wednet.edu/

Rick Hiser, Principal                       rick.hiser@renton.wednet.edu         
Elaine Love, Asst. Principal            elaine.love@renton.wednet.edu
Becky Schlosstein, Asst. Prin.        rebecca.schlosstein@renton.wednet.edu
Renton School District Website      http://www.renton.wednet.edu/

SCHOOL DISTRICT NEWS

Renton Releases Next Year's School Calendar
Renton School Board members at last night’s meeting approved the calendar for the 2009-2010 school year. The calendar (go to http://www.renton.wednet.edu/ and click on "NEW! 2009-2010 Preliminary School Calendar") includes the first and last day of school as well as vacation days and teacher training days. Grading periods, testing dates and parent conferences will be added later.
Key to next year’s calendar is that school starts on Sept. 2, before Labor Day, which is Sept. 7.  
Calendar dates were established through meetings and surveys of teachers, staff, parents and community members.
Randy Matheson | Executive Director, Community Relations | RENTON SCHOOL DISTRICT | 300 SW 7th Street Renton, WA 98057 | 425.204.2345 | (Cell) 206.375.0632

SCHOOL DISTRICT NEWS
Renton School District families can pay for meals, more online
Feb. 23, 2009 —Renton School District’s online payment system is now available for families to pay for student meals, kindergarten tuition and more.
Future uses of the online payment system will include purchasing ASB cards and yearbooks, paying class fees, school fines and more.
Sign up now for a secure password by visiting the district’s Web site www.renton.wednet.edu/, click the “Online Payment” button on the left side of the Web page, and follow the directions.

SCHOOL DISTRICT NEWS

Excerpt from "Good News about Renton Schools"

Nelsen Middle School 7th-grade teacher Sarah Cockle recently won second place in the 2008 Costco International Photo Contest.   Sarah’s  photo was of a group of sixth-grade boys reading together in a school in Ejura, Ghana, where she volunteered to teach reading, writing and English in 2007 and early 2008. The photo earned Sarah a $1,000 Costco card and other prizes.  The photo is available for viewing at Renton School District's "Good News Announcements"  http://www.renton.wednet.edu/goodnews/goodnews0809.htm.  Click on "February 11, 2009"

COMMUNITY NEWS

“EXPANDING YOUR HORIZONS” WORKSHOP FOR GIRLS, Grades 6-8

The “Expanding Your Horizons” workshop for girls in grades 6-7-8 will be held from 8-12 on Saturday, March 21 at Bellevue Community College.  This is a great opportunity for girls to attend several workshops on science related careers. This has been an awesome experience for some of our students in the past.  Registration forms are available in our attendance office and online at: http://eyh.pugetsoundcenter.org/

COMMUNITY NEWS

Fairwood News in Real-Time, Any Time

Fairwood Community News, Inc. (www.fairwoodcommunitynews.com) is labeled as the Next-Generation News Source for the greater Fairwood area.   This link is designed as a press release about FCN, located on the left column on the "About" page:

Working collaboratively with the community, Fairwood Community News' Vision is to be the primary resource for online information and news, engaging all residents in the greater Fairwood area.

The term “Fairwood” is loosely defined.  “We’re targeting communities from Maple Valley Highway to the north and as far south as communities just south of Kentridge High School.  Readers should hover over our navigation bar to review the schools and communities we intend to engage.  If more want to be involved, all they need to do is contact us.

This will be a powerful resource for all,” said Tedrow-Howard.

Contact Information
Fairwood Community News
PO Box 58843
Renton, WA 98058
e: info@fairwoodcommunitynews.com
www.fairwoodcommunitynews.com
206.856.1662

MORE COMMUNITY NEWS

Grad Party 09 and Renton Park PTA Presents
Jerry Harris America’s Premier Hypnotist
March 6, 7:00-8:30pm
LHS Auditorium
$8.00 per person
3yrs.old and under free
Come join us for an amazing evening of entertainment!

TO THE 2009 PARENTS:  We will be conducting a Bake Sale immediately following the performance.  If you can help with a donation of cookies, brownies, cakes, etc., please contact Carrie at sidekik@msn.com.  Thank you for your help!!!

MORE COMMUNITY NEWS

Lindbergh Boosters Auction

Please Join Us On
Date:  March 26, 2009
Time:            5:00—7:00 PM and for an additional hour after the concert
Place:    Lindbergh High School
Admission:  Free!

Bid Numbers will be preassigned.  Please e-mail Carrie at sidekik@msn.com to receive your bid number!

We are hosting an auction including silent, live and dessert items.  Teams who donate a completed ready-to-sell basket will earn 80% of the selling price.  Proceeds from the auction will help support the students of LHS.

Highlights:  Silent Auction, Live Auction, Choir Concert

Contact persons:

Gretchen Guhlke
Phone 425-204-8821
Email: guhlke@comcast.net

Gayle Swannack
Phone 425-430-0720
Email: gayle.swannack@renton.wednet.edu

Carrie Wong
Phone:  425-271-0743
Email:   sidekik@msn.com

MORE COMMUNITY NEWS

INVITATION TO "SOUP SUPPERS" and "SEDER SUPPER"

SOUP SUPPERS
(no cost required - donations welcome)
Every WEDNESDAY Evening
During LENT
(Feb. 25 – April 1, 2009)
6:15p.m. – 7:30p.m.

SEDER SUPPER

THURSDAY, April 9, 2009
6:15p.m. – 7:30p.m.
(Reservations Required by April 3rd, Friday – no cost)
425-255-1255

First Presbyterian Church of Renton
2640 Benson Road South
Renton, WA  98055

MORE COMMUNITY NEWS

KNOWLEDGE POINTS!!
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An independent, nationwide study found that students enrolled in the KnowledgePoints program typically enjoy MORE THAN ONE YEAR OF PROGRESS IN 40 LESSONS.  Any child Pre-K through grade 12 deserves the chance to realize their highest potential.

Start today to help your child or a child you love.  Call 1-888-74-TUTOR or visit www.knowledgepoints.com/seattle.

CALENDAR

March

3/6, 13, 20, 27          9:25am, Late Start Days
3/4       7:00pm         National Junior Honor Society Induction Ceremony
3/5       6:00pm         8th Grade Dance Parent Planning Meeting, Nelsen Cafeteria
3/5       7:00pm         Solo Ensemble Previews, Nelsen Orchestra Room
3/7       All Day         Soundview Solo Ensembles, Hazen High School
3/13     6-8:30pm       Literacy Night, Nelsen School
3/10     7:00pm         Nelsen Band/Orchestra Concert, Nelsen Cafeteria
3/12                         Soundview Band contest (for Middle schools), Lindbergh High School
3/17     7:00pm         Nelsen PTSA Meeting, Nelsen Theatre Room
3/18     6:30pm         8th Grade Orientation, Lindbergh High School
3/19     7:00pm         Nelsen Choral Concert, Nelsen Cafeteria
3/24     7:00pm         South Hill Band Festival, LHS Auditorium (Grades 5-12)
3/31     All Day         Orchestra Soundview Contest (for Middle & High School), Hazen High School

Other Important Dates

4/2       7:00pm         South Hill Orchestra Cookie Concert, Lindbergh High School [All Orchestra]
4/6-10                      Spring Break
4/16     6:00pm         NMA Meeting, Orchestra/Choir Room
5/19     TBA              Dessert Auction/Jazz Night, Nelsen Cafeteria
5/22                         Snow Make-Up Day - School in Session
5/25                         No School - Memorial Day
6/18     TBA              8th Grade Dance, Nelsen Cafeteria
6/19                         8th Grade Field Trip, Henry Moses Aquatic Center
6/22                         Last Day of School, Half-Day

That's it for now!  Thank you, everyone!

Carrie Wong
President, Nelsen PTSA