A weekly publication of the Northwood Elementary PTA   
Reminders
  • Verify your contact information for the Northwood Directory - please refer to the email you were sent last week that includes a personalized link for updating your information.  Deadline to update is Monday, October 10th.  Questions?  Contact communications@northwoodowlspta.org

  • Join the Northwood PTA today if you didn't already join and pay for your membership when completing the Back-to-School Parent Pack.  Only PTA members will receive a printed Northwood Directory as part of your membership benefits.  Join today!

Message from the PTA President


Over the last five weeks, the season has visibly changed from summer to autumn with the colorful, falling leaves and the cooler, rainier weather.  Like the seasons, our children have also experienced change.  We hope it has been a smooth transition and that your children are settling into their new routines at Northwood. 

To learn more about the transition and about Northwood’s School Improvement Plan, we invite you to attend the next Principal’s Coffee on Friday, October 28th, where Principal Batliner-Gillette will be available to answer your questions.  

Please submit your written questions for Principal Batliner-Gillete in advance to principalscoffee@northwoodowlspta.org

Enjoy this wonderful fall season!

Cindy Goetzmann
Northwood PTA President

  Thanks for joining the Northwood PTA!

Membership cards were sent out this week via email to the address you used to complete the Northwood PTA Parent Pack.  If you did not receive your WA State PTA membership card, but think you should have, please contact Jenna Sytman at  jsytman@mac.com .  

As we come up on the sixth week of school, families walking to Northwood may be starting to notice a new level of fitness.

Parents and guardians who are walking with their kids to and from school 15 minutes each way have increased your daily workout by one whole hour a day!
Volunteers Needed!

  • Owl Wear Distribution
    Owl Wear will arrive the end of next week.  Volunteers are needed on THURSDAY, Oct. 13 in the morning (9:30 to noon) to help sort and distribute orders.  If you are able to help, please email Jenna at jsytman@mac.com

  • Nominating Committee – Be a Part of the Most Important Committee at Northwood PTA!
    The nominating committee recognizes and recruits the most qualified people available for Northwood PTA. As a nominating committee member, you will have a tremendous influence on the future of Northwood PTA. Having qualified people step into leadership positions will ensure our success for many years into the future.  If you are interested in being a part of the committee, or would like more information, please contact Cindy Goetzmann at president@northwoodowlspta.org.  The deadline for submissions is October 31.
Thank you!

Thanks to...
  • Justin Pae, Northwood PTA Webmaster and Graphic Design extraordinaire!  Justin is the artist behind all of the beautiful banners and logos for the PTA events.  Justin's work will be seen at Northwood for years to come!

  • Michelle Cartmel and Carol Gregory, Co-Chairs of the "Walk and Bike to Northwood Day" event and the many volunteers who coordinated an amazing event that reminded us all about the benefits of being active and staying healthy and joining together as a community!

欢迎 

Chinese ELL Families 
Information Session

Friday, October 21, 9:30-11:30 am
Lakeridge Elementary Library

Come learn about life in the Mercer Island School District.  The session will be conducted in Mandarin by Mandarin speaking parents. Topics include the different roles and importance of the PTA and the Mercer Island Schools Foundation, fundraising, volunteer opportunities, and school life (i.e. parent-teacher conferences, enrichment activities).  Representatives from the PTA and the Mercer Island Schools Foundation will be present to answer any questions. 

If you have any questions or need more information, please contact Rachel Yu or Dawn Dunn.

Language Volunteers Needed to Support ELL Families

We have 50 ELLs speaking 14 languages at Northwood. The ELL program is looking for language volunteers in Mandarin and Spanish who can support ELLs and their families:
  • registration, new family orientation, and phone calls to parents (frequency: as needed)
  • interpreting during parent meetings (frequency: day or evening, as needed)
  • supporting ELL's school work in their native language (frequency: once a week for 1-2 hours)
Please email the ELL teacher Kristin Kim at kristin.kim@mercerislandschools.org if you are able to help. Thanks!
 
Preschool Aged Peer Mentors Wanted

Typically-Developing preschoolers needed as peer mentors for students with disabilities.
  
The MISD Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) Program, located at Northwood Elementary, provides AM and PM developmental programming for students 3-5 years old who have been identified as having disabilities. Disabilities range from mild to moderate and may include children with physical, emotional, behavioral, sensory, communication and cognitive disabilities.

There are presently two openings in each session for non-disabled peers to serve as peer mentors to students with disabilities. Peer Mentors will need to be 4 as of the date of acceptance into the Program.

For more information, click  HERE.
Before School Language Classes at Northwood


Sponge Language Institute* will offer before school classes in French and Mandarin at Northwood starting the week of October 25.

FRENCH

  • Tuesdays 8:05-9:05 am
  • 10/25-5/16
  • Teacher - Delphine
  • $480  ($120 x 4 payments)

MANDARIN

  • Wednesdays 8:05 to 9:05 am
  • 10/26 - 05/17
  • Teacher - Tiffany
  • $500  ($125 x 4 payments)
For more information on these Sponge programs, click HERE!

This after-school programs is available at Northwood Elementary.  This organization is not endorsed by or affiliated with Northwood PTA.
Community Events & Programs*

More information about Mercer Island programs, activities and resources is available in the "Your Mercer Island Community" guide.


*Mercer Island School District and Northwood PTA  have neither reviewed nor approved the program, personnel, activities or organizations announced above. The participants agree to protect, indemnify, and hold harmless the district and PTA, including elected and appointed officials, employees, agents, staff and volunteers, from any and all claims, liabilities, damages, expenses, or rights of action, directly or indirectly attributed to the activities. Inclusion in this newsletter should not be considered a recommendation of the program by the school district or by the PTA. These are neither school district nor PTA sponsored activities.