June 14, 2021
Upcoming Events
June
  • Wed. 6/16: Voting closes for TCPG elections
  • Thurs. 6/17: Sing Along with Sari (link)
  • Thurs. 6/17: TCPG elections results tabulated and sent via special edition newsletter
  • Fri. 6/18: Last Day of School

July
  • Sat. 7/24, 10am: Kindergarten Play date at View Ridge Park

August
  • Wed. 8/4, 6pm: Kindergarten Play date at View Ridge Park
  • Sun. 8/15, 3pm: Kindergarten Play date at View Ridge Park

NOTE: Gmail may clip the content of this newsletter. View the full version on the web here.
From Thornton Creek Teachers
Last Sing Along with Sari this Thursday!
Join us for the last opportunity to sing along with Sari! Connect with other families (over Zoom) and enjoy some old Thornton Creek classics and new favorites. Sing in your kitchen, sing in the tub, sing with your family, and feel the love.

June 17th, 5:30-6pm

Join on your computer or mobile app
Or call in (audio only)
+1 206-800-4125,,224462832# United States, Seattle
Phone Conference ID: 224 462 832#
From Thornton Creek Site Council
Farewell to Retiring Teachers
heart bubble kind message
This year, we wish farewell to K-3 Interventionist (and former K teacher), Debbie Kosman, and PE Teacher, Sue Doty, as they each begin their well-deserved retirements! These two skilled and valued educators will be sorely missed. Let's show them our appreciation for their years of service to the Thornton Creek community. Kids and grown-ups alike can drop-off cards or drawings for Debbie and Sue at the school's front entrance or send by postal mail until the last day of school, Friday, June 18th. We've also set up Kudoboards for Debbie <https://www.kudoboard.com/boards/v2YKOPgN> and Sue  <https://www.kudoboard.com/boards/k8DOMinT> where you can post your digital notes, pictures, and videos to send them off with love.  

Warm wishes,
Jessica Williams-Nguyen (she/her)
Volunteer for Thornton Creek Parent Group!
The following committee chair positions are open and your participation is welcomed! Please reach out to chair@thorntoncreek.org for more information.

Vice-chair*
Treasurer/Finance* (2)
Curriculum*
Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity*
Grant Writing
Hospitality*
Parent Education
Recruitment and Hiring
Special Education*

*Officers and chair roles are TC Parent Group / Site Council voting positions
The following committees would love your partnership as co-chair! 

Facilities - returning co-chair, Jana Dilley (outdoor facilities) needs a co-chair to manage indoor facilities, to include Lost and Found!
Fundraising* - returning co-chair, Kathleen Phan needs a co-chair for this important role!
TCPG Elections - Last Day to Vote is Wednesday!
Hello TC Families!

Please use the Google form to vote for the 2021-2022 TCPG and Site Council board. One ballot per parent/guardian. Voting will end Wednesday, June 16 at 8am. Final results will be shared in a Site Council special edition newsletter on Thursday, June 17.

There are no contested positions, but the elections process is mandated in our bylaws, and voting is a way to show support!

Contact chair@thorntoncreek.org if you're interested in any vacant position. We welcome your participation! See details about available positions at the bottom of this page.

Thank you to all the volunteers who have generously offered their time next year!
Voting is still open for the 2021-2022 TCPG and Site Council board. Please complete the emailed Google form by Wednesday, June 16 at 8am.

If you have any questions or have not received a form, please email volunteer@thorntoncreek.org and we will be in touch.
From the Hospitality Committee
Kinder Play Dates this Summer!

Incoming kindergarteners and their grown-ups are invited to come play at View Ridge Park playground this summer, to get a head-start on forming next year's friendships. If you know a new-to-TC family, please pass this information along! 

- Saturday, July 24, 10am
- Wednesday, August 4, 6pm
- Sunday, August 15, 3pm
From the Volunteer Committee
Thank you to all the room parents for your support of your teacher and class this year! In this unusual year, we appreciate bringing the classroom community together, showing appreciation and support to the teachers, and meeting together to discuss the best ways to accomplish these things. 
 
The volunteer committee is looking for committee member help next year! Have an interest in supporting event leads, creating flyers, or using SignUpGenius? If so, we have a spot for you! Please reach out to volunteer@thorntoncreek.org to learn more about the committee and these roles. 
 
Autumn will bring a return to school and to some form of events for students and families. Events and volunteering are a way to connect to your student's experience at Thornton Creek, and both require support from the parent/caregiver community. Autumn events such as Move-a-Thon, Harvest Festival, and Fall Book Fair could use event leads before school begins in September. Reach out to chair@thorntoncreek.org or volunteer@thorntoncreek.org if you would enjoy supporting these events.

Co-chairs, Melinda Roberts and Stacey Seifert, and committee member Margaret Butler
From the Communications Committee
We need volunteers to help with TCPG communications! Whether you have web skills, or enjoy drumming up a news story, or putting together appealing layouts for a newsletter or flyers, we need volunteers to help get the word out about Site Council news and school events. Most work can be done from home, and some can be done at the school (once volunteers are allowed back in!). Please email commschair@thorntoncreek.org for more info.
From the Safety and Health Committee
COVID-19 in our community

Vaccine Updates:
A reminder that anyone age 12 and older is eligible to receive a vaccine
People who are fully vaccinated are at a low risk of symptomatic or severe COVID-19 infection. Research also shows that these individuals are less likely to have asymptomatic infection or transmit COVID to others. Learn more about vaccination for children and teens and where to get vaccinated at Public Health Seattle & King County's resource page.
SPS has several Onsite Vaccine Clinics that provide vaccinations for students and their families. 

Are you curious about how vaccine efforts are going in King County? The Health Officer's mask directive will remain in effect until 70% of King County residents 16 years of age and older are fully vaccinated. As of June 7, 67.1% of these residents have completed their vaccination series. We are on track to reach Governor Inslee's goal of reopening the state by June 30th.
Follow the progress at the King County Data Summary page.  

Guidance Updates:
All King County residents, vaccinated or not, are still strongly encouraged to wear masks in public settings. Follow King County's Indoor Mask Directive.  

SPS Summer Resource
Follow the latest updates from SPS on confirmed cases of COVID in public schools as well as the 2021 In person Learning Plan at the SPS COVID-19 Dashboard.

Resources:
King County COVID-19 Dashboard
King County COVID-19 free testing locations link
If you have difficulty registering for a test or vaccine, call King County's COVID-19 Call Center: 206-477-3977.
CDC guidance for fully vaccinated people

The Health and Safety team wishes our community a safe, adventurous and healthy summer! See you in the fall!

Stay Healthy!
Erica Seddig and Courtney Bell
Safety and Health Committee Co-Chairs
Thank You's
THANK YOU TO THE TEACHERS who showed such flexibility, positivity, and dedication to their students during this school year. We deeply appreciate you!
Thank you to Stacey Seifert, Melinda Roberts and Margaret Butler for rallying volunteers for each event and work party we were able to have this year!
Thank you to TC Administrators and Staff for all the hard work you put in to make sure our kids could come back to school in person. Your support of families and teachers is appreciated!!
Thank you to Jessica Williams-Nguyen and Elizabeth Duffel, for stepping into Site Council leadership positions during this extra challenging time! Your work in support of togetherness has laid a foundation of hope for the coming years.
Thank you to the Bike Fairy! For making biking to school magical, year after year.
Thank you to Courtney Bell and Erica Seddig for helping families stay informed about how to stay safe, and how to keep each other safe during the fast changing conditions of the covid--19 pandemic!
Thank you to Sarah Tien, Debbie Hutchinson, Rachel Brooks, Christie Robertson, Gretchen Musgrove, Jeanette Fiess, Robyn Hodges, Karen Wirkala, Kaori Tanaka, Chelsea Lin, Sarah McVay, and Piper Carling who made yearbook possible this year! They look fantastic, and we'll all be glad to have something positive to look back at from 2020!!
Thank you to those who made Talents Night possible! Event lead Rachel Nelson-Knecht, and Dave Preston who created the video for all of us to enjoy. And thanks to all the students who participated as performers, tech help or emcee, and to the 5th grade teaching team for your involvement. It was just what we needed!
Thank you to Julie Shin and Beck Weinhold, for all their work on behalf of children with special needs. Your support has made such a difference for not only these kids, but their families too. Thank you!
Thank you to Jana Dilley, and all the volunteers who came out to help reclaim the school grounds, after a year of unchecked weed growth! What a difference!! Way to get a handle on those blackberries!

Thank you to the fifth grade parents, parent volunteers, Karen Wirkala, and the fifth grade teaching team of Laurie, Lisa, Mim, and Robyn, whose efforts to support Panels this year created a happy adaptation for this very special Thornton Creek tradition.
Open positions on the TCPG and Site Council board
If you might be interested in filling one of these roles, or if you'd like more information, please contact the current committee chair (linked below), or contact chair@thorntoncreek.org.

Vice chair* - currently Elizabeth Duffell
  • The vice chair supports the chair position, and in the absence or disability of the chair, performs the duties of the chair.
Treasurer*/Finance Chair - currently Jacob Clark Blickenstaff
  • Prepares the budget, keeping and disbursing all monies of the TCPG, and managing a committee to ensure accurate books of accounts of all transactions of the Parent Group.
Curriculum Chair* - currently Jesica Avellone
  • Supports Expeditionary Learning, Responsive Classroom, and all alternative curricula used in our unique program through educating the parent community and supporting the strength of these programs.
  • Compiles and produces the yearly expedition newsletter.
Equity, Diversity, & Inclusivity (EDI)* - Vacant
  • Plans and implements school-wide diversity events for students, families, and staff.
  • Supports and encourages discussions about diversity at Thornton Creek to facilitate understanding and celebration of differences.
Facilities Co-chairs - currently Jana Dilley (will continue), Zoe Kappelman
  • Proposes and implements improvements to and maintenance of facilities, including landscaping, water quality, and earthquake preparedness.
  • Manages the lost-and-found.
Fundraising Co-chairs - currently Kathleen Phan (will continue), Jennifer Schlobohm
  • Plans and coordinates events to raise funds for Thornton Creek Parent Group
Grant Writing - Vacant
  • Research and pursue available funding and donation sources. 
Hospitality Chair* - currently Karen Wirkala
  • Organizes the welcoming events for new families, and first day of school coffee. 
  • Plans a variety of appreciation events for teachers and staff.
  • Coordinates school tours.
Ombudsperson - currently Sarah McVay
Parent Enrichment - vacant
  • Organizes parent education events.
  • Produces a yearly summary of expeditions, such as the Expedition Newsletter. 
Recruitment and Hiring - currently Anna Marshall
  • Promotes and facilitates parent participation in hiring Thornton creek teachers, staff, and administration.
Special Education Chair* - currently co-chaired by Julie Shin, Beck Weinhold
  • Supports community building among and advocacy on behalf of families of students with special needs.
  • Promotes inclusion of students with special needs in all school activities.
  • Plans and coordinates parent education events relating to special education.
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/
Recent Newsletters
TCPG Nominations

A Time to Lead

Art Walk, Sing Along with Sari

Nominate yourself to lead in Site Council

Interactive Art Walk for the month of May!

Teacher Appreciation, Art Walk, SPED Committee Meeting, Budget Meeting Conversation

Yearbook Photos, Spring Break Guidelines, More Volunteers Needed

Site Council Meeting

Spring Book Fair, Spring Break Guidelines, More Volunteers Needed

Return to In-person learning - What is Changing for TC Students?

Sing-Along, Spring Book Fair, Landscape Work Party
Quick Links and Information
Submitting news or thank-you notes for publication: Please read the submission guidelines. Then, e-mail your item to the editors. Blurbs must be plain text (no Word documents) and generally have a 200 word limit. Attach any image as a PNG or JPG image file. Content is due on 2nd and 4th Mondays for the 1st and 3rd Monday editions.
Advertising Review/Approval Process: Per Seattle Public School Board Policy, outside materials must be approved before being distributed. The materials must meet district criteria, be approved by the Office of Public Affairs, and be submitted with the approval form attached. You can find details regarding the review/approval process here. All requests to include information in newsletters should be submitted via this process.


Jessica Williams-Nguyen, Chair
Elizabeth Duffell, Vice-Chair
Jacob Blickenstaff, Treasurer
Roddy Theobald, Secretary






Text THORNTONCREEK to 22828


Tel.: 206-252-5300
Fax: 206-252-5301

Principal:  Alexandra Benfield
Asst. Principal: Laurie Miller

Bell Times:
Mon-Tue-Thu-Fri
8:00am to 2:30pm

Wednesday
8:00am to 1:15pm

Attendance
Call 206-252-5304, or e-mail the office.