One more week until school!

A few reminders:

* Check older posts for anything that might be concerning you... take a look at the labels in the sidebar for help.

* The final new family playground meetup is this Wednesday at 5:30 (bring a picnic, meet PTA reps and our principal, Ms. Ayer).

* Kindergarten Welcome Night is Thursday 6pm-7:15pm.  Meet your teacher, find your desk, and get ready for the first day of school!

Reminder: playdates and welcome night

Two more playground meetups are scheduled:  this Sunday, August 26 at 3pm, and next Wednesday, August 29 at 5:30pm.

Also, meet your teacher and find your desk at Welcome Night, next Thursday, August 30, 6-7:15pm.

Get involved right from the start of the year - kids, too

Bagley could use some helpers to kick off the school year with a few easy activities. It's a great way to meet other parents and get into the swing of things. From our fearless PTA co-presidents:

Hi DBE families,

We're recruiting help in making the start of the school year successful. A short amount of time by a few of you will make all the difference. Here are a few of the opportunities:

Thursday, August 23: Back to School Packets: Join a few parents for an hour or two to collate the August mailer to our families. You'll get the inside scoop on the August Buzz and time to socialize with other parents. Children are welcome. We'll meet in the cafeteria at 10 a.m. 

Tuesday, August 28: First Day Packets: In preparation for the first day, our fabulous secretary, Randi Olson, needs help collating the packets that go home with families on the first day of school. Again, this is a great time to socialize with other parents. Children are welcome. We'll meet in the cafeteria at 10 a.m. 

Wednesday, September 5: First Morning of School and Welcome Coffee:

All School Welcome Back Party September 15, 11-2

Welcome Back to School Party, Saturday September 15, 11-2

 

Celebrate the new school year, enjoy our beautiful learning garden and playground, and spend some quality time mingling with other Daniel Bagley students and families!

 

"Chef in the Garden" kids' cooking demonstrations, games, chalk art, music, apples, and veggie planting in the Bagley garden.

Save the date!

Waitlist updates, Welcome Night, Curriculum Night

Waitlist
There doesn't appear to have been much movement yet on the waitlist, based on today's updated report, which indicates the following stats for kindergarten:
Contemporary - 9
Montessori - 20
Inclusion - 3

But, don't lose hope!  Classroom assignments haven't been confirmed yet, and there is a lot of movement toward the end of August, right through the first week of school.

Welcome Night
You will receive your classroom/teacher assignment in the mail before welcome night which will be on August 30th at 6pm (confirmed start time!).  New students and their parents are invited to meet their teachers and classmates, find their desk and locker, and get acquainted with Bagley.  Expect to be at school for about an hour.

Curriculum Night
You will get curriculum-related information at the aptly named 'curriculum night', on Tuesday, September 18 (time TBD; 6:30ish is a reasonable estimate).  

New Family Playdates on Sundays in August

Don't forget about the new family playdates, every Sunday in August at 3pm at the Bagley playground.  Current and new families are welcome to attend.

Meet your future classmates... although we won't know our actual classroom assignments for another few weeks.

If anyone has any reports about the new portable or the state of the greenfield (grass yet? fences down?), shoot me an email!

Important dates (Greenwood parade, playdates, PTA, activities)

Several important date reminders from our PTA co-presidents, Kari Cantey & Alison Rice (also check the PTA calendar - or add to your iCal).

To stay in the loop, register for the Daniel Bagley families email list, aka the 'vlist', at http://www.danielbagley.com/happening_vlist.htm.

------------------

Greenwood parade: Wednesday, July 25 

- Bagley Bees walk in the parade every year!  Meet in the parking at 95th & Greenwood (by the Salvation Army) at 5:30 - start marching at 6:00pm.  Wear Bagley shirts, or black & yellow, and bring your bikes, scooters, wagons, strollers (for siblings), and helmets.  Meet your new schoolmates... and the Seafair pirates

Kindergarten play dates: every Sunday in August at 3:00pm and one evening August 29, 5:30-7:00 p.m.

- meet your new classmates at these casual meetups on the Bagley playground

Upcoming playdates and orientation events

Missed the ice cream social?  Plan to attend some of the other orientation activities that will be happening throughout summer:

Playground meet-ups - meet new schoolmates


New students and their families are encouraged to come out to these casual playdates (no school access or planned programming) on the Daniel Bagley playground on the following Sundays at 3pm:

* Sunday July 1, 3pm
* Sunday August 5, 3pm
* Sunday August 12, 3pm
* Sunday August 19, 3pm
* Sunday August 26, 3pm


...and a weeknight right-before-school-starts one on:
* Wednesday August 29, 5:30pm (may be a picnic and some PTA/staff representation - TBD)

Welcome night - meet your teacher/tour the school

Right before school starts in September - usually the night before - new students are invited to meet their teachers, tour the school, find their classroom/locker/desk, and generally orient themselves.

Ice Cream Social Reminder - tomorrow (Thursday)!

The Daniel Bagley new student ice cream social is Thursday, June 7, 6pm in the Daniel Bagley cafeteria.

New students and their families are welcome to attend.  You'll have an opportunity to meet other families, talk to current Bagley parents, hear from the staff, and see the school.

New student playdate & ice cream social reminder

** Clarification - these events are for all new students, whether families are new or returning to Daniel Bagley **


Meet other new-to-the-school students and their families at two events this week:


* Sunday June 3, 3pm - Daniel Bagley playground meet-up 
* Thursday June 7, 6-7pm - ice cream social in the Daniel Bagley cafeteria.


Spread the word!

New family playdates (May through August) and ice cream social on June 7

Meet other new families on the Daniel Bagley playground every 1st Sunday at 3pm through July, with extra dates and times scheduled throughout August:

* Sunday May 6, 3pm
* Sunday June 3, 3pm
* Sunday July 1, 3pm
* Sunday August 5, 3pm
* Sunday August 12, 3pm
* Sunday August 19, 3pm
* Sunday August 26, 3pm
* Wednesday August 29, 5:30pm

Current families and PTA board members are invited to attend.

Also, save the date:  there will be an ice cream social hosted by the PTA and staff on June 7, from 6-7pm in the Daniel Bagley cafeteria, for incoming families.  Stay tuned for more details!

Casual playdates for new families - (first one March 4, 3pm)

Want to meet other soon-to-be Bagley Bees?   Come on out to an informal playground playdate!

First one is happening: Sunday March 4, 3pm, at the Daniel Bagley playground.  Raindate is the following weekend (Sunday March 11, 3pm).

Questions?  Email Brooke:  brookedoyle at yahoo dot com

Save the date: ice cream social on June 7!

New (and prospective) families are encouraged to join us for an Ice Cream Social on June 7, from 6-7pm in the Daniel Bagley cafeteria.

You'll be able to meet new schoolmates and look around the building.  Note that specific classroom assignments won't be made until later in the summer.

Save the date, and tell your friends!

--Lexy

Curriculum Night is *THIS* Thursday night!

Curriculum Night, THIS Thursday from 6:30-8 in the lunchroom & your classroom, is a chance to learn about the lesson plans going forward including topics and focus areas, briefly discuss any issues you might have, and to set up your parent-teacher conference time in November.  Curriculum Night is hosted by the principal and teachers.

Kids are NOT allowed.  There is no childcare provided (unlike PTA meetings, where there is free childcare - though not sure about toddler-aged kids).  Get a babysitter for Curriculum Night.  It is probably a good idea to have both parents/primary caregivers attend this one so you get the full picture, and can split up to chat with multiple teachers if necessary.

Come and find out what's going on!  What is writers' workshop and reading workshop?  What is the computers class all about?  Will we have a bike unit in Health & Fitness this year?  When is the first computerized/standardized MAP testing session? Etc.

Also, you'll be able to buy scrip, Chinook books, and t-shirts, and sign up for the PTA & school directory.  :)

Welcome Night is tomorrow (Tuesday September 6)

Looking forward to seeing the New Families at Welcome Night tomorrow, at Daniel Bagley!

Come at 5:30 with a picnic (and blanket) to socialize with the parents from your child's class - since you now now your teacher! - and let your Bagley Bee explore the playground equipment... it looks like the construction fences will be down, mostly.  

At 6:30, come to the front doors of the school (on the front lawn) to be greeted by the principal, Ms. Ayer, then find your child's classroom, meet your teacher and explore the building.  I *think* it will be just the K-1 teachers in attendance, but I'm not sure - call the office to check if you're with an older new student.

• Feel free to bring your PTA & medical forms as well as school supplies to Welcome Night, so you don't have to burden your student with them later on in the week.   The PTA volunteers will take your membership form; the rest of the items go directly to your teacher.

• Also, Bagley t-shirts will be on sale!  Helpfully, the words to the school song are on the back of the shirts, so consider the t-shirts to be teaching tools.

Why you really should join the PTA, and some of those other forms you need to complete

Amidst the stack of papers you received with your teacher assignment letter last week, you will notice a goldenrod colored page that says 'Join the PTA!' on one side, with a Family Information Form on the other.

Even if you don't plan to join the PTA (and you should), please complete this form!  It will ensure that your contact information is included in this year's family directory.  Other benefits of this form:

What is a typical schedule? How much recess do they get? What happens when it rains? What is curriculum night?

Rest assured, your kindergartener will be exhausted after school, for at least the first few months.

Approximate Daily Schedule

A typical day looks something like this (times rather approximate - you'll get specific info from your teacher):

• 9:00-9:25  arrive at the playground, run around like a maniac, play soccer, climb on equipment
• 9:25-9:30  line up in class line at first bell and go inside by second bell
• 9:30-11:00  class time + mid-morning snack
• 11:00 recess
• 11:15-12:00  class time
• 12:00  lunch for 15 minutes + 15 minutes of recess (see previous post on the 'eat lunch in 5 minutes to get more recess' issue)
•  12:15-2:00  class time
•  2:00  recess
•  2:15-3:35  class time
•  3:35  end-of-school bell 

...so, quite a lot of outdoor playtime.  

New Bagley parents: what are your concerns?

Seriously, let me know!  What interests you?  I'm trying to remember what it was like to be a kindergarten parent last summer, and then jotting down ideas as they occur to me.  If there is something that you don't understand, please use the form at the side, or just email: lexyrelph at gmail dot com.

Meanwhile, best ways to get connected before school starts:

• Join the vlist, the Bagley family listserve: http://www.danielbagley.com/happening_vlist.htm
• New Family/Kindergarten Playdates at Greenwood Park:
  87th and Fremont Ave. Saturdays August 20 and 27 from 10:30-12. 
• New Family/Kindergarten Welcome Night:
  Tuesday, September 6, 5:30 pm. BYO picnic social in the playground. At 6:30 pm, meet your teachers, principal and PTA.

Details on all of these were previously posted - look for the links on the sidebar.

Topics I might try to address include:

• volunteering/getting involved with the PTA and at the school
• more about the greenfield project
• where to buy cool Bagley t-shirts, and scrip cards
• how you can help fundraise without having to ask anyone for money, sell anything, or shell out cash ('Free Money'!)
• afterschool programs and extracurricular activities
• how to help your child adjust to kindergarten; what is MAP testing?
• how to deal with the incredible frequency of early dismissals and days off, and whether we will get thanksgiving week off again this year
• help me fill out my forms; and 
• what does the PTA actually do?

New family social before Welcome Night, Sept. 6, 5:30-6:30

Pack a picnic for dinner, bring a picnic blanket, and join your fellow Bagley kindergarten families on the Bagley front lawn and playground, right before Welcome Night! You will have a chance to talk to the other parents in your child's class (you won't know your teacher assignment in time for the other playdates) and your new Bee will relish the opportunity to give the play structures a test drive, while meeting their classmates.

PTA reps will be there to answer questions, and we'll have Popsicles for the kids as an extra treat towards the end. Get a sneak peek at the soon-to-be Greenfield!

Once the Welcome Night agenda kicks off at 6:30, there won't be much time for chit-chat, so this is a great way to connect with other parents (think: future carpools and playdates) before school starts. At Welcome Night, you will meet your teacher, the principal and the PTA, tour the main areas of the school, and recieve valuable information, all before the evening program closes at 7:15.

P.S. We don't really have a backup rain option, so keep your fingers crossed for sun...

Who is my child's teacher?

Teacher assignments are made a few weeks before school, and you will receive a snail mail letter with your classroom assignment about a week before classes start. You'll meet your teacher at Welcome Night on Tuesday, September 6, 6:30pm at Bagley (come a little earlier so you can actually socialize with other parents from your kid's classroom, & so your kids can run amok on the playground - no time for that at Welcome Night).

If you are on the waitlist, note that changes are made continuously, right through the end of September. You could be offered a spot in your first choice program a few weeks after school has begun. Check your student's waitlist status at seattleschools.org using the link in the right sidebar.

***UPDATE 8/16/11 - next school mailing will be sent out on August 29 (or earlier), so we'll find out our teacher assignments later that week.***