The year has flown past; we’re past the first quarter point, and I feel like I have a pretty good handle on what our strengths are as a school, and where we still face challenges. One of the challenges that I’m working with currently is how to provide more support for math instruction for our struggling students. Another is how to provide more supervision for our play areas while providing time for planning that the teachers need to create strong lessons for your children.

We are adding some staff and a new program to Sanislo in the next two weeks that will address both these needs. We are going to increase one of our instructional assistants from half time to full time, increase one of our tutors to half time and add two new half time tutors. These new staff will be dedicated primarily to math support, and supervision during play times and lunch. We are also beginning an after school math tutoring club on Thursdays. If you can volunteer for tutoring after school on Thursdays, please call us at 252-8380 to volunteer. We value any time that you can volunteer to help us at Sanislo, and encourage each of you to think about where your talents can help… then come on in.

Love,
Ernie

As our weather turns more cold and blustery, the traffic, and congestion at school has increased. I appreciate the patience and care that all of you are showing while you’re in the landing pattern at Sanislo International Airport. The mornings are ok at this point, but I have to ask that some of you change your pick up habit a little. Starting this week, I’ll be posting the bus pull through circle as off limits to cars in the afternoon. Cars that are waiting and some that are even being left unoccupied are blocking our buses from getting in and out.

Our street is too narrow for us to have a trouble free pick up zone, but if more of our families park a short distance from school and walk over to pick up their child, I think it will work better for everyone. Some of the congestion will be relieved if some drivers turn the corner, park down 21st Ave., and walk up through the playground.

Thank you for your care as you drive near our school. Move slowly and look three times before you do move on the street where our little ones are so excited that they sometimes forget to look both ways.

Love,
Ernie

Dear Sanislo Families,

The pride that I feel for my school continues to grow as the season shifts from a new start to the routines of work and joy at Sanislo. I’m writing this as I digest a lunch shared with several Sanislo parents and children. They gathered here last Saturday to clean up, prune and plant in our gardens and landscaped areas. About a week ago we had the pleasure of an annual potluck dinner with a very full house and incredibly wonderful food. The potluck and the Saturday clean up were heavy work made light by many hands.
Thanks to all of you who share the commitment to “…Cut wood and carry water” at Sanislo. I’m also grateful to those of you who share your stories about your family’s history at Sanislo with me when you come in to volunteer your labor. Come see us, stop in the office to say hi when you’re at school, arrange with your teacher to visit and volunteer in the classroom.

Love,
Ernie

Dear Sanislo Families,

Each day I arrive at Sanislo after a commute through Seattle and experi-
ence a weird sort of juxtaposition. I leave my family and my home only to find myself arriving, after a short drive, at home with family. It reminds of a poem by T.S. Eliot that talks about traveling only to find that we “…arrive where we started”. Our school has a feeling of and for family, and I like that a lot. Our big, open learning spaces feel like homes that are full of children and child activity. They’re noisy and busy like most of our homes. I like that too. I like that I see and hear parents and grand parents, uncles and baby nieces.

I believe that if our school can welcome family, and model family, all of our children will be successful. Please feel more than welcome at Sanislo, understand that when you’re at Sanislo, you’re bringing the ingredients for success for our children. When you plan to spend more than drop off or pick up time with us, we do ask that you stop to say Hi at the office, and sign in. If you’re at school to spend time in the classroom, talk with the teacher to find out what the norms and classroom expectations are for your child’s class. Above all else, if you’re at Sanislo expect to help; be ready to lend a hand.

Thank you all for the kind welcome you have extended to me and all the other new arrivals at Sanislo this fall.

Love, Ernie Seevers

Dear Sanislo Families,

We have had a wonderful week opening our new school year with you and your children. I’m overwhelmed by the love and support our community has shown for Sanislo in my first days here. We have two fabulous new teachers at grades 1 and 4, and a whole new, well prepared, classroom at the first grade level. This was accomplished on a pretty short time line with a good collective effort.

Thanks to the families that are making our morning drop-off time work so well. I know it’s congested, and I know that you drivers are making great decisions that are helping us get buses in and out safely.

As we continue to create this wonderful school year together, I’ll ask your help often, and I appreciate everything you can do with us. We have difficulty supervising children that are at school before 9:15 unless they are part of our breakfast program. I know there is difficulty in this for many of you, and I thank those families that are able to stay with the children that are here before 9:15. I’ll work with the PTA to find a solution.

We’re teaching positive community with a program called “Steps to Respect“ to make Sanislo a safe place for all children all the time. It is based on learning empathy and practicing mutual respect. Our school behavior guidelines are summarized with the phrase Show Respect…Expect Respect. A copy of our expectations for respect will be sent home, and if you model and support them at home our children will be more successful with them at school.

Lastly, I ask that you come to school often, make contact with your teachers and attend PTA meetings and our Multi-cultural Potluck on September 24th.

Love, Ernie Seevers

Dear Parents,

We have reached the end of another school year and I can hardly believe how fast it has gone. Two years ago I entered Sanislo not sure what was ahead of me. What I found was a wonderful and caring staff and community that was committed to providing the best possible learning experience for the children. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here. I will miss you and thank you so much for the
privilege of being part of the Sanislo community.

I know you are going to find many strengths in your new principal Ernie Seevers. I have been working with Ernie for the last couple of months to assure a positive transition. Ernie met one on one with teachers last month to give them an opportunity to tell them what they love about Sanislo and what they hope for in the future. He is excited and eager to meet all of you in September. Thank you staff, thank you students, thank you parents, families and volunteers for a great year.

Have a wonderful summer!

Start of year information: Here is some back-to-school information that you may want to know about. . . School begins September 9th and our annual Multi-ethnic Family Potluck will be on September 24. Also, we will start the year with all the classroom supplies the children need. We can buy in bulk and save you the higher cost of individual purchases. Our PTA asks for a donation of $15 in the fall to help us replenish our supply budget, but it is not required. You will want your child to have a backpack to carry homework, books, lunches, etc. We also really appreciate it if every family sends one box of Kleenex to share in the classroom.

We’d like to start by thanking all of the parents and students for a wonderful staff appreciation week! We were spoiled with all the great food, the beautiful flowers, gift bags and clean cars. We felt very appreciated and know that some of you spent many hours ensuring all of the special activities — so thank you! I also want to remind everyone that the last day of school is June 19th. Our awards assembly and 5th grade graduation will also be that day.

Dear Parents,

Art Walk – don’t forget to attend our annual Art Walk on June 2nd. The Art Walk will be open from 5:30 to 6:45 (just prior to the unicycle performance at 7:00), and is an opportunity for families to view the incredible work your children have created over the course of the year. We hope everyone can join us!

Class Placements – we will be beginning the process for making class placements for next year in a few weeks. We do not take requests for a specific teacher, but do want to know if there is an extenuating circumstance which would make a certain teaching style or classroom environment a better fit for your child. Information on how to share this information with us is attached to this week’s newsletter.

Young Authors Conference – our Young Authors Conference will take place next Friday, May 29. This is a time to celebrate our successes as writers and learn new skills. Grade levels will be involved with different activities throughout the day, and we’ll all come together at 1:00 for our special assembly “The Jungle Book” from the Book It Theatre. Parents are invited to join us for this fun assembly.

Dear Parents,

Spirit Day – Friday is our school spirit day! We’ll have our monthly assembly at 2:15 and encourage everyone to dress up as his/her favorite book character.

School Schedule for 2009/2010 – With the new tiering of buses for next year, Sanislo’s schedule will shift next year. Based on the planned bus arrival times, our school day will either be 9:30–3:35 or 9:35–3:40. We will be able to determine the exact schedule once we receive accurate bus times later this spring. If this later start time drastically impacts your family you may want to contact CDSA (our onsite daycare). They will be adjusting their hours to accommodate the time changes, but may fill up quickly so we suggest contacting them immediately.

Sister Schools Assembly – On May 6th we will have two assemblies (K-2nd at 9:45, 3rd-5th at 10:50). Terry McGill from Sister Schools will be bringing back several children from Uganda who will be performing for our students and then spending the day in some of their classrooms. This was a great assembly last year and hope you’ll be able to join us this year!