Rainy day procedures

If it's really raining, go straight to the classroom after 9.   If it's only sort of raining, take a look at the playground - if kids are out there, it's a regular drop-off.

Pickup is outside the front, rain or shine. Bring your umbrella.  (Although, I have cheated, and snuck in to stand beside the front doors in the past, but that was when I had my preschooler with me and didn't want her to get too wet and cranky)

More on recess issues: http://bagleykindergarten.blogspot.com/2011/08/what-is-typical-schedule-how-much.html

Chocolate milk in the cafeteria

Some of you might remember the post from August, where I talked about snacks and lunch, and how my kindergartener son ran up a $5 chocolate milk tab last year, in September, before we realized what was going on.

Well, yesterday my kindergartener daughter from *this* year informed us as we were walking home from school: "I didn't eat anything from my lunch box today, except the chocolate milk I got at the cafeteria.  You don't need money!  Just type in your number - the cook will look that up for you".  Sigh.

So, history does repeat itself.

I suggested that I could come in to have lunch with the kids - ostensibly to hang out, but actually a reconnaissance mission - but that suggestion was met with shock and horror by both of them... so we just have to hope that the chocolate milk tab isn't increased any further!

p.s.  I thought the K-1s were now having recess before lunch, but my son absolutely denies that.  So, who knows?  Maybe I'll remember to ask next time I'm at school.

Random activities and events afoot

If you haven't added the Daniel Bagley google calendar to yours, now is a good time. There is a lot happening.

First, notice that MAP testing for kindergarteners and new-to-SPS kids is happening in the fall to establish a baseline. The rest of the school will wait until January. Testing period #2 will be in May or thereabouts. 

Second, if you are wondering about APP/Spectrum/ALO programs because your child could be a genius, then MAP scores plus a discussion with your teacher (at or before parent-teacher meetings in November) will be the determinant for school options next year. But, we'd love to keep you in the Bagley community!

New Student Orientation - your feedback requested!

We need your help to improve future orientation programs for new students.  Please take two minutes to fill out this survey.  The link should take you right there (I tried to embed it directly into the blogpost but the formatting went all weird).

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dHBjeEpvdEkybHFHR2p5azBlNmlOR1E6MQ

Thank you!

p.s.  I'll be signing off for a while, unless anyone has specific questions for me.  Work, kids and volunteer activities are starting to pile up  :)   Thanks for reading, it's been fun...

PTA meeting overview. What fun!

Fun times at the PTA meeting last night!  Here are the snippets:

• Four large raccoons ran right past the front door as we were leaving (that is the most important, hence the first bullet).  Cool!  Or not, depending on your perspective.
• Most of this will be in the Buzz on Thursdays, but not all in one place.
• 389 kids at Bagley right now, and a few more about to start.  There will be more trickling in over the year as people move into the district.
• Erika noted that there will be only two MAP testing periods this year, in January & May. Some weirdness there for kids who want to test into APP programs and need the proof of high MAP scores to qualify.
• What do you want to see at Bagley?  Send in that 'mission and vision' statement via Kidmail, or email.  Yeah, you.  You're a parent therefore you are now the community.  And there aren't too many of us, so every voice counts.

Free Money contest, Jogathon, and more

Since people are still reading this, I thought I'd make a quick plug for the Free Money contest (since I'm organizing it) and Jogathon (which is in a few weeks).

But first, PLEASE fill out the new student survey!  We want to know how to improve orientation next year!  
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dHBjeEpvdEkybHFHR2p5azBlNmlOR1E6MQ

So, the Bagley PTA raises $95,000/year for classroom support in the form of staff salary subsidies and supplies - see previous post - and an EASY way to do it is through Free Money programs.

All you have to do is remember to save your receipts, or register your Safeway/Fred Meyer/QFC card, send in old juice pouches, etc., and Daniel Bagley receives donations.  Easy!  Free!  No selling or soliciting by parents!  All our programs are listed on the website.

For the contest, ending October 7, save your Greenwood Market and Ballard Market receipts, BoxTops for Education, and Labels for Education, register your Safeway card with eScrip, and your Safeway and Fred Meyer/QFC card with eLabelsForEducation.com.   Details were sent out in kidmail last week.   Win a $25 gift card - one for top earner and one random draw.   More prizes throughout the year, including classroom prizes, so keep saving even after the contest ends.

Also, the jogathon is coming up quickly!  September 30! Ask friends and relatives and colleagues and neighbors, or just plan to make this one of your main donations to the PTA, if you have the giving capacity right now.  The goal is to raise $100/kid in the Jogathon.

Over the course of the year, $95,000 raised works out to about $250/kid (although clearly this is an average - whatever families can afford is much appreciated).  You can help with fundraising through Jogathon or springtime auction donations, Chinook Book and Wreath sales, buying scrip, and the myriad Free Money opportunities (which are, I repeat, FREE).  Decide what works best for your family!