BEAGLE BUGLE - ROCKWELL PTA AND SCHOOL NEWS
BAND/ORCHESTRA INFO SESSIONS 
(4TH & 5TH Grade)

4th and 5th grade students:
Information meeting for BEGINNING band and orchestra students and their parents  TONIGHT - Monday Sept. 12th. 

Band meeting is at 6:30 pm at Redmond Middle School.

Orchestra meeting is at 7:30 at Rockwell.

Rockwell Elementary General Music and Choir
Redmond Region Elementary String Orchestra

This Friday, Sept. 16th
Back to School BBQ is now 
Back to School Family Food Truck Night!

Things are changing this year! School Hamburgers and Hotdogs are the thing of the past, this year we have FOOD TRUCKS! Come hang out for the evening with Rockwell Families and Staff to celebrate the new school year.

When: Friday, September 16th, 2016 5:00-7:30pm
Where: Rockwell covered and uncovered black top area *Rain or Shine*

There will be 3 food trucks and one dessert truck:
* Buns on Wheels serving great local burgers 
* Mobile Mayan serving awesome street tacos 
* 314 Pie serving Australian Hand Pies 
* Daddy's Donuts serving amazing mini donuts 

There will be something for everyone! Trucks will accept cash and credit cards. Hope to see you there!

Volunteers STILL Needed!
Please sign up here for a short shift asap. Lots of helpers are needed to set up, clean up, and patrol the playground. SHORT SHIFTS.

Are you approved yet as an LWSD volunteer? See link below in Quick Links to get volunteer approval. Thanks!

Rockwell PTA Chair - Family Food Truck Night
OPERATION SCHOOL BELL

Need help with purchasing back to school clothes? The Assistance League of the Eastside has a program called Operation School Bell.  

A fall "Shop for Clothing" event at a local Fred Meyer store has been scheduled for eligible students whose families need assistance due to financial hardship. 

If you would like to be considered for this event, please contact Kristin Bauer, Rockwell School Counselor, no later than  Thursday, September 15, 2016 :   kbauer@lwsd.org ,  425-936-2670 .


HEALTH ROOM VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Our Rockwell health room gets many visits from our students each day. If a parent volunteer isn't present to help the students our office staff must deal with these interruptions to their work day. The Rockwell staff does a wonderful job of taking care of our kids, but it would be wonderful if parent volunteers could help alleviate some of their work load and at the same time get to know many of our wonderful students.
 
Volunteering in the health room is a flexible volunteer position. Many volunteers help one day a week, but you can volunteer a couple times per month if that works better for your schedule. The health room high traffic times are during lunch and recess, so those are the volunteer hours most needed.
 
We will be doing a training for all interested volunteers    later  in the month. If you have any questions or you are interested, but are unsure please contact Tedra Stratton and she can give you the scoop on what it is like to be a health room volunteer! 
**PTA'S FIRST DAY PACKET IS NOW ONLINE**


  • The PTA's online First Day Packet is still online and ready to be completed if you haven't already. Click here to complete yours today! You can order (and pay for) your PTA membership, Yearbook, Spirit Wear, and donate to our yearly Pass The Hat Fundraiser all in one place - it only takes a few minutes!
PLEASE UPDATE YOUR PTA WEBSITE ACCOUNT TODAY 
WITH YOUR TEACHER'S NAME:

Don't forget to update your account on the PTA website ("My Account" on the left side) with your teacher's name. We need your teacher's name so we know where to deliver your student directory, yearbook, spirit wear, etc to you throughout the year.  Delivery via "Kid Class Mail" is the fastest in the West!! (While you're in there, make sure that your other info is up-to-date as well such as emails and phone numbers.)

If you do not have an account on the PTA website, you can create one today! We still need your child's teacher's name even if you do not have a PTA website account - Please email your child's name and their teacher's name to our Directory Chair,  Leslie Edmunds. Go Beagles!

PASS THE HAT FUNDRAISER

Don't Forget to PASS THE HAT!

Thank You to those who have already donated to our Pass the Hat fundraiser!

Pass the Hat is our one big fundraiser for the year. We don't ask our parents and students to sell or buy cookie dough, magazine subscriptions, or car wash tickets. Instead, we are asking you to donate directly to our PTA. Your donation helps to fund the 40+ programs the PTA sponsors throughout the year - everything from Chess Club to the Art Docent program to field trips to the All School Dance. Your donations to Rockwell are crucial to the academic enrichment of our student population.    

You can donate online at anytime! Click here on  Pass the Hat to get started.

If you'd prefer to write a check, please use a Pass the Hat envelope (available at the Front Office waiting area) and have your child submit it to their teacher.

Don't forget to  double your donation  to Rockwell PTA if your company offers a Corporate Matching program! Many local companies such as Microsoft, Boeing, and Google will match your donation 100%. What an easy way to increase your donation to our school! Instructions are available on the PTA website [Please link to http://normanrockwellpta.org/Page/Fundraising/Corporate%20Matching].

Norman Rockwell PTA is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization, so your donation is tax-deductible.

The suggested donation of  $85 per student is the best way to ensure that we will have the necessary funding for our programs this year, but any amount you are able to give is helpful.

Rockwell PTA truly appreciates your financial support! Without it, we could not sponsor all the amazing programs at our amazing school.

Thank You. :)
PTA - Fundraising VP

ROCKWELL SPIRIT WEAR ORDERS DUE THIS FRIDAY!!

Nothing shows school spirit more than wearing our school colors of PURPLE
and YELLOW...and maybe some  PINK !! This year we have a great offering of Spirit Wear for both kids and adults.

The easiest way to shop all of the great styles available and place your order is ONLINE at www.normanrockwellpta.org (if you haven't already, please go to the website and create your account.)

If you prefer to order via paper order form, they can be found here or in the office.

Spirit Wear orders will be accepted NOW thru FRIDAY SEPT. 16th!

GO BEAGLES!

Julie Odle - Spirit Wear Coordinator


BE A CLASSROOM ART DOCENT

So many of you have signed up to be Art Docents for your child's class...thank you!

A few teachers still do not have any:
  • Mr. McElrea (Kindergarten)
  • Ms. Breier (3rd)
  • Ms. Kollman (4th)
  • Ms. Honkawa (5th)
Many classes only have one docent, and could really use one or two more to help out:
  • Ms. Rasmussen (Kindergarten)
  • Ms. O'Leary (1st)
  • Ms. Ranniger (1st)
  • Ms. Rapp (1st)
  • Ms. Welsh (1st)
  • Ms. Fisher (2nd)
  • Ms. Thome (2nd)
  • Ms. Raffel (3rd)
  • Mr. Urben (3rd)
  • Ms. Yasuda (3rd)
  • Ms. Hein (4th)
  • Mr. Cortes (5th)
It's a once-a-month lesson, and you coordinate with the teacher regarding the date/time--so it's a flexible and fun volunteer opportunity for both stay-at-home and working parents alike. It takes about an hour to do the class, plus some set-up and clean-up. When you see how much the kids get out of it, you will see why it's one of Rockwell's most enduring and popular programs.

You don't need to be an Art expert whatsoever--the curriculum is already set out for you.  You don't need to be a Picasso--very little, if any, artistic talent is needed.  All you really need is some time, some patience, and a good sense of humor and fun :)  

There will be an evening orientation on Monday, September 26th at 7pm. Art Docent lessons begin in October and run through May/June. The highlight is the annual Art Showcase/Ice Cream Social in May, when the students' masterpieces will be on display for the entire school to enjoy!

Please contact your child's teacher, or me directly, if you are interested or have questions.

Looking forward to a fantastic year of Art Docents!

Myriam Pollock and Julie Balkcum
PTA Art Docent Program Co-Chairs

RECESS RUNNING CLUB 

Announcing the start of the Rockwell Running Club!
 
Who? All Rockwell students in 1st through 5th grade who would like to come out and walk, jog and/or run during lunch recesses!

When? Tuesdays and Thursdays during lunch recesses, starting September 27th!

Where? We will meet at the flag poles on the soccer field! Students will walk, jog and/or run a marked path around the sand soccer field.
 
Attention Parents!
We need your help to kick off this popular program! Volunteers are needed to help set up, monitor and assist students with punch cards on laps being completed, and to award prizes to students who reach running milestones. Please sign up on SignUp Genius HERE online.  (Paper applications are also available in the Rockwell Elementary office.)

Are you approved yet as an LWSD volunteer? See link below in Quick Links to get volunteer approval. Thanks!

Questions? Please email Christine Cottom or call 425-936-2670 ext. 56742
Norman Rockwell Elementary
Physical Education Specialist

AFTER SCHOOL ENRICHMENT CLASSES:
Art, Coding, Chess

Registration will open at  10am  this morning for the following after school enrichment programs:

SMART WITH ART  (new vendor!)  
Registration Link open at 10 am  go.smartwithart.net/rockwell

Mondays - 2 classes available (Sept 26-Nov 21, off 10/17)
Visual Arts (K-2) 3:10 pm - 4:10 pm
3D Modeling (grades 3-5) 4:25 pm - 5:25 pm

-and-

Wednesdays - 3 classes available (Sept 28 - Nov 16)
Craft with Glass (K-5) 1:40 pm - 2:40 pm 
Visual Arts (grades 2-5) 4:15 p - 5:15 pm
3D Modeling (grades 3-5) 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm 
 
****

CODING WITH KIDS

Tuesdays - 3:00-4:10 pm (Game development/beginners grades 2-5) 
Sept 27 - Dec 6
Registration link:   www.codingwithkids.com/session/1748

-and-

Fridays -  3:00-4:10  pm (Game development/intermediate/advanced grades 3-5) 
Sept 30 - Dec 9 (no class 10/21, 11/11, 11/25)

Coding/PTA Chairperson: Swati Kaul

*****

CHESS 4 LIFE

Registration link for Rockwell available at 10am  

Mondays 3:00-4:05 pm (grades K-5)  Class begins 9/26 
-OR- 
Fridays 3:00-4:05 pm (grades K-5)  Class begins 9/30

Please be sure to check each vendor website for detailed class descriptions and registration information. Per PTA guidelines, parents must commit to volunteering/chaperoning during AT LEAST one class session per child enrolled. Chairperson to contact registrants with volunteer shift sign ups. Please get your LWSD online volunteer approval in advance. See Quick Links article below.

VP Academic Enrichment/Chess Club Chair and Smart with Art Chair
AFTER SCHOOL ENRICHMENT 
SPELLING BEE

Welcome to the 5th year of Spelling Bee at Norman Rockwell! 
Norman Rockwell School Spelling Bee is open to all students from grades 1-5.  

The enrollment is open now at the Rockwell PTA Website Spelling Bee page , starts on 9/12 and will end on 10/07. The fee is $25 and can be paid online at Norman Rockwell PTA website. The fee covers enrollment, a participation certificate, and entry into the Final School Spelling Bee provided that the student qualifies by first passing the Written Round Test. 

This year the Club will meet once a month. The word list and worksheets will be posted on the spelling bee page and will be updated every two weeks. 

Please see key dates below! 
*Oct. 7th, 2016 -Deadline for enrollment
*Jan. 27th, 2017 -Written Round - Spelling and Vocabulary Test (students must pass this test to qualify for the Final School Spelling Bee)
*Feb. 25th, 2017 -Final School Spelling Bee 

Spelling Bee is a great way for students to expand their word knowledge and learn how to stand up in front of peers and compete in a friendly way.

Please email  nrspellingbeeclub@gmail.com  with any questions. We look forward to helping your child achieve their goal!

Nithya Nagarajan, Shilpa Asrani and Smitha Sivakumar
Rockwell PTA - Spelling Bee Chairs
AFTER SCHOOL ENRICHMENT 
LEGO ENGINEERING CLUB

LEGO ENGINEERING CLUB - Fall Sessions Open Now for Registration

Excited to announce the below sessions for the different grades for fall. Do sign up your kids for the sessions and don't forget to sign up to be a parent volunteer.
When you register your child for a session, do provide your their teacher and grade details in the Notes section

Construction Vehicles and Machines using LEGO®  (K to 1 st Graders) 
from Sep 26th - Nov 21 st on Mondays
No Class Dates: 10/17
Time: 3:15-4:45pm 

Dig into engineering with big trucks, construction vehicles and super machines. Explore the engineering terms, concepts, and vocabulary behind large scale building machines. Build and learn about steamrollers, bulldozers, wrecking balls, tower cranes, and more while building with your favorite building system, LEGO®.

*****

Robotics using LEGO® WeDo  (2 nd to 3 rd Graders) 
from Sep 27th - Nov 22nd on Tuesdays
No Class Dates: 10/18
Time: 3:15-5:15pm 
Sign up here

Build and program robots in this introductory Robotics class using the LEGO® WeDo system. Learn basic programming skills, simple engineering concepts, and the names of robot components. Work in small groups to complete several projects using tilt and motion sensors. This is a great way to prepare young Robotics enthusiasts for our more advanced Robotics programs

*****

Robotics using LEGO® EV3 (4 th to 5 th Graders) 
from Sep 28th - Nov 16th on Wednesdays
No Class Dates: None
Time: 1:45-3:45pm 

Build and program robots using the new LEGO® Mindstorms EV3 system! Learn about mechanical and software design, loops, conditional statements, problem solving, and teamwork skills. Work in small groups, program and build your robot, and rise to the challenge. Control the robot to avoid obstacles, pick up and carry objects, and play sounds. Projects are structured so that students work in an open-ended, investigative environment while having fun.


PARENT CHAPERONES: After registering, please sign up for one volunteer shift here.  This class is being sponsored by Rockwell PTA. A Parent needs to volunteer/chaperone for one of the sessions. Must have volunteer approval through LWSD (see Quick Links article below for online volunteer application).

Parents please sign up using below links:

Grades KG-1:  Volunteer Shift Sign Up
Grades 2-3:  Volunteer Shift Sign Up
Grades 4-5:  Volunteer Shift Sign Up

Rockwell PTA - Lego Engineering Club Chair
AFTER SCHOOL ENRICHMENT 
ELLIPSIS MATH AT ROCKWELL

Calling all 4th grade and 5th grade mathletes!
You are all invited to take a free placement test for joining the Ellipsis Math 4 and Ellipsis Math 5 programs we have at Rockwell.

At Norman Rockwell, Ellipsis Math classes are available for our fourth and fifth graders. The programs focus on math topics and practices in which prepare students to compete in a number of local and statewide math competitions. Students will work  independently as well as in teams. All interested students are invited to take a placement test on  September 13 (Tuesday) at the school library from 3:15-4:15PM.

The program is implemented at an accelerated pace. Students must be self-motivated and ready to learn and participate. There will be weekly assignments, and students are responsible to complete them on time. Assignment may take about 1 to 1.5 hours per week. Many topics discussed will be above their current grade level. 

Enrollments will be based on test results. This program requires a year-round commitment.

To see schedule and sign up for the placement test, click here.

For questions, email Elly Sarwono
THANK YOU BUS HELPERS

Last week was full of firsts and I am proud of the first 2016-2017 parent volunteers that lent a helping hand to students who experienced their first week of new bus routes and loading after school transportation. Red, blue and green marks were placed on your child's hands to remind them which bus to board after a day of learning. Today is the last day hands will be marked.

Thank you Sivakumar A, Angie B, Beth B, Mary Anne B, Kit C, Karen H, Ami K, Liz K, Nithya N, Julie O, Ellie O, Olga P, Myriam P, Elizabeth R and Christine W!  You helped every student get home safely!

PTA President
PTA CHAIRPERSON AND WEBSITE TRAINING: 

Attention Chairs: Thank you so much for chairing an event or program at Rockwell Elementary this year! 

Did you know the PTA Website is doing some of the work for you? You're invited to come learn how the PTA website is one of your biggest resources as a
Chairperson! You will learn how the website keeps track of potential volunteers, how our webmaster can help you set up online signups, and how to access shared reports as it pertains to your event. You will also receive tips and tools for chairing a program at Rockwell. 

*Bring a laptop if you have access to one!

Tuesday, September 27th 7-7:45pm
Rockwell Library

**Room Parent Meeting immediately following.
CHAIR A PROGRAM!

PTA is looking to fill some positions for next year. Can you help keep these programs running at our school? 

-Bingo Night Chair
-Ice Cream Social Co-Chair
-Update the Reader Boards
-Nominating Committee

and more....please check here for the list of positions and email us with any questions!
QUICK LINKS - IN EVERY ISSUE

AmazonSmile: 
Give a little back to Rockwell PTA by using  our  AmazonSmile link!   Bookmark it and use the link every time you shop.

View the flyers approved by LWSD and targeted to Rockwell from local organizations...sports tryouts, after school classes, and community events. 

Volunteer Application:  
It's easy to complete and is good for 2 years. Fill yours out or check your renewal status today! Do it now and be ready to volunteer when school begins!
 
Rockwell PTA Facebook Page: 
Stay connected and updated on  Rockwell PTA, school, and community info. 
Stop by and Like Us! Don't miss any posts...after liking us, make sure to hover over the Liked Button to turn on notifications.
Bugle Article Submissions Welcome
  
The Beagle Bugle welcomes article submissions from students and parents .  Student journalists may submit articles about current events, students opinion-editorials and poems or short stories.  Parents may submit articles about PTA events and school related topics. 

Any article that is unrelated to PTA or Rockwell must be approved by the Lake Washington School District, and may be submitted to the Peach Jar E-flyer system.  The Lake Washington School District website has more information on the submission and approval process.

Short pieces will be edited for inclusion in the Bugle, longer pieces will be posted on the website with a link in the Bugle.  The Deadline for submissions for the next weekly Bugle is the preceding Thursday.  The Bugle Staff reserves the right to be selective regarding the materials that are publicized.
Contact the Bugle staff or submit articles at
Angie Ballas
Beagle Bugle Editor
Norman Rockwell Elementary PTA
Norman Rockwell Elementary - Redmond, WA