September 15, 2022
Welcome Back!
Upcoming Events
September
  • Wed. 9/14: First Day of School
  • Fri. 9/16: Welcome Coffee for parents & caregivers 7:50 am - 8:45 am
  • Fri. 9/16: Picture Day
  • Sun. 9/18: Outdoor Work Party 9:00 am - 12:00 pm Sign-up Here
  • Th. 9/22: First TC Community Meeting, 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm ONLINE
NOTE: Gmail may clip the content of this newsletter. View the full version on the web HERE.
Thornton Creek Parent Group 2022-23 Board Members
Welcome back, friends and families!
 
It is my greatest pleasure to announce that we have a Thornton Creek Parent Group (TCPG) Chair (Erin MacDougall) and Vice Chair (Jessica Knaster Wasse) who have stepped up and been voted in since our last newsletter in the spring. You’ll hear more from Erin below, but I want to extend my deepest gratitude for her willingness to take this role, and also continue the important community-building work I know she’s as passionate about as I am. We have an amazing team of parent leaders supporting our community this year!

Below is the current roster of the 2022-23 Thornton Creek Parent Group Board. This is not a complete list of TCPG committees, but it highlights our slate and most critical openings. Please take note of those vacant spots -- we need YOU to help kick this year off strong!

Wishing you all a healthy and happy first week!
Chelsea Lin
2021-22 Thornton Creek Parent Group & Site Council Chair











Interested in one of the Thornton Creek Parent Group Board openings? Have questions?

Welcome from the Chair
Dear Thornton Creek community,

Hello, and finally, welcome to the first week of school! I hope the summer months included fun, rest and connection for your family. After a very rocky start, may things go smoothly from here and this school year provide incredible learning and growth for your student(s)!

It is my pleasure to serve as your Thornton Creek Parent Group (TCPG) Chair this year. Along with other members of the TCPG and Site Council Board and our PTA leaders, we’re here to support you and your family in the school year ahead. Please reach out to me at chair@thorntoncreekparentgroup.org if you have questions, concerns or could benefit from some support and connection within the community. The intention I am personally setting for our efforts together this year are community-building and fun! Our community will be stronger when we’re more connected, building on our strengths and getting in some belly laughs along the way. Laughter is such good medicine after several really challenging years for all of us.

In this role, I also serve as the Chair of Thornton Creek's Site Council, our school's co-governance body that includes parents, staff and administration coming together to make decisions about how we allocate our resources - from volunteers to finances. This year, we will be changing from Site Council-specific monthly meetings to school-wide community meetings on the third Thursday of each month at 6:30pm (first one is 9/22/22 online). I look forward to seeing you there.

We’re looking for volunteers! Your participation in our school is an essential ingredient to build community. The Thornton Creek Parent Group has both formal roles available including Volunteer and Secretary roles and many event and grade-band-specific opportunities.
Please email me at chair@thorntoncreekparentgroup.org if you'd like to talk more and/or fill out the volunteer interest form linked below.

Thank you so much for your partnership as we enter the 2022-2023 school year.
Erin MacDougall (she/her)
2022-2023 Thornton Creek Parent Group & Site Council Chair
You look like a volunteer!
Volunteers are a vital part of our Thornton Creek community. Whether you’re new to the school or you’ve been around for a while, if you have a lot of time to offer or just a little, there’s room for you to lend a hand.

Step 1: Complete (or renew) your volunteer application using the instructions that are found here on the Seattle Public Schools volunteer web page.
*Approved volunteer applications are good for two calendar years. They expire two years from the volunteer's completed background check.

*The Thornton Creek front office receives a list of eligible volunteers from the district each week. Once you've submitted your volunteer application, wait several days, then check in with Sarah Fulton (sffulton@seattleschools.org) in the office to confirm your eligibility to volunteer.

Step 2: Let the Thornton Creek Parent Group know what you're interested in, so we can match you up with opportunities that will be meaningful to you. Take the Volunteer Interest Survey here.

Step 3: Hold tight! Those who share their interests through the survey will hear back from us with next steps. Otherwise, we’ll reach out to the school-wide community through the weekly school bulletin when volunteers are needed. You may also hear about opportunities through your teacher or the room parents in your student's classroom.

Thank you for supporting Thornton Creek!

Questions? Email the Thornton Creek Parent Group volunteer coordinator at volunteer@thorntoncreekparentgroup.org.
Ensuring masks for students
As we start our school year, we know that high quality masks will continue to be a need that the school district is not able to meet for schools. While masks may no longer be required, we do know that there will be some situations in which masks will be required or strongly recommended, for example the beginning of school and for return to school after a COVID infection or exposure. A well-fitting high quality mask (KN95 or KF94) is the best way to protect against the spread of infection. In order to make sure that all students have access to this important resource, it is our goal to maintain a robust supply of high-quality masks at school. Ensuring that these masks are available for those who need or want them is the best way to protect each of our own families as well as those in our community who are more vulnerable to severe infection.
Details on the mask drive:
We are asking families to consider supporting our mask drive. There are 3 ways to contribute:
  1. Send in any unused child size KF94 and/or KN95 masks you have around your house that your family won't be using
  2. Donate directly to the school mask drive through this wish list
  3. Buy an extra pack of KF94 and/or KN95 child-sized masks and drop them off at school
Masks can be sent in with your child on the first day of school or dropped off at the office after school starts. We encourage every family that would like masks for their student to ask at the office as needed.

Thanks for your help! Together we can ensure that this resource is accessible to everyone.
Here is a list of resources for acquiring reliable masks:
COVID-19 Resources
Check out the TCPG COVID-19 webpage for updated information and resources to help support students and families with the return to school.
Contact Information & Quick Links
Information & Resources
Please note: Thornton Creek Parent Group's web address and contact information have changed! The new web address is: thorntoncreekparentgroup.org

This change reflects our official non-profit organization name.
During the Thornton Creek 2022-23 school year, TCPG newsletters will be published on an as needed basis.
Need to contact a TCPG Board Member?

Chair - chair@thorntoncreekparentgroup.org
Vice-Chair - vicechair@thorntoncreekparentgroup.org
Treasurer - treasurer@thorntoncreekparentgroup.org
Fundraising - fundraising@thorntoncreekparentgroup.org
Secretary - secretary@thorntoncreekparentgroup.org
Special Education - specialeducation@thorntoncreekparentgroup.org
Enrichment (After School) - enrichment@thorntoncreekparentgroup.org
Facilities (Outdoor) - facilities@thorntoncreekparentgroup.org
Volunteering - volunteer@thorntoncreekparentgroup.org
Communications - communications@thorntoncreekparentgroup.org
Thornton Creek Is a Box Tops for Education School. Look for new BLUE Box Top coupons on products (e.g. Cascadian Farm cereal), and then just scan your receipt. Get the app at BTFE.com.
Our Office Depot School ID# is: 70107343. Purchases of school and office supplies at Office Depot will return a 5% credit to Thornton Creek. www.officedepot.com/a/content/back-to-school/5percent/
If you have any questions about the newsletter please email: communications@thorntoncreekparentgroup.org