In this season of giving thanks, we are grateful for our TC school community! With so many deserving causes, we appreciate your support of the Thornton Creek Parent Group Annual Appeal. We have reached 40% of our goal of $100,000 this year. With a month left in the campaign, we hope families who are in a position to do so, will consider making a gift. Your contributions support materials and staff in classrooms working towards our academic and social emotional goals. As our Expeditionary Learning principles say, “We are crew, not passengers.” Whatever you bring, we’re glad you’re here!

The Fall Book Fair: "Get Lost in a Book!" starts this Sunday, December 5th and will be held at the University Bookstore (4326 University Way NE, https://www.ubookstore.com/) through Saturday, December 11th. Mention "Thornton Creek" when making a purchase in-person at the University Bookstore and use the code "TCBF" when making an order online and 20% from your purchase will come back directly to the Thornton Creek library! To celebrate the event, our wonderful librarian and art teachers will provide a fun take-home craft which you can pick up at the University Bookstore during the book fair. Plus:

I also acknowledge that we’re all craving more community-building opportunities, since we haven’t been able to execute many of our school traditions this year due to Covid restrictions. Do you have an idea for something that would bring all families together in a fun, safe, equitable way? (Likely after kids return to school in January, at this point…) Email me at chair@thorntoncreek.org so we can discuss! 

Next Tuesday, Dec. 14, we’ll have our December Site Council meeting, from 6:30-8:30pm. Please join us virtually on Zoom (Gosh I’m hoping in-person meetings will return in some capacity next year.) You can find our preliminary agenda here, and if you’d like to add anything, please email me ASAP. Here are the minutes from our November Site Council meeting, if you’d like to read up on what happened last time. 

After a 19-month pause due to COVID-19, the Let’s Go Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety program is back at SPS and currently at Thornton Creek. This 3 week program will teach bicycling and walking safety skills to about 10,000 elementary and middle school students during this academic year.

To find appointments for the pediatric Covid vaccine, as well as booster shots, use the Washington State’s Vaccine Locator. There are also a variety of options to receive the vaccine from your regular doctor’s office or clinic; local pharmacies and community clinics. You can also visit vaccines.gov to find out how you can schedule COVID vaccines/boosters, as well as the flu shot.

It’s cold and flu season! If your student is displaying any new symptoms (not caused by another condition) or if they have been exposed to COVID, please keep your student home. Take a look at the symptoms guidelines.

Email Nurse Twinkle and notify the office.

To take a school issued COVID test, please register here.

As of November 1, SPS has updated their quarantine requirements regarding student and staff exposures to COVID. Under this new guidance, a student who has been exposed to COVID-19 and is unvaccinated may end their quarantine 7 full days after exposure if no symptoms have developed and after providing a negative test result to the school. Families will be asked to continue to monitor their child for symptoms until day 14. Find SPS Quarantine requirements here.

King County COVID-19 Dashboard

King County COVID-19 outcomes by vaccination status

King County Schools COVID-19 Response Toolkit

King County COVID-19 free testing locations link

Transgender Awareness week and Transgender day of remembrance just passed us in November. In recognition of this, Bridget Osborn wanted to highlight two websites with great information and support to parents that are new to navigating their child's gender journey.