Semi-Annual North Seattle Schools Women’s Kickball Tournament: Eckstein Players Needed! Saturday, October 17 at 2:00 p.m. at Laurelhurst playground   No experience necessary – this is a way to connect with other women who have kids in, or work for, north Seattle schools while having a good laugh and getting some exercise.   The women of various N. Seattle schools compete for bragging rights and the highly coveted golden kickball trophy.  Team Eckstein needs a minimum of 9 players.  Everyone will get to play  If you are interested, please contact Eckstein parent Darcy Paschino at darcy.paschino@usbank.com.   If you are interested in coordinating an Eckstein dad’s barbeque during the tournament, please contact Eckstein parent Terrie McCoy at gtjk@comcast.net.   Go to www.oldladysports.org for more information.

The candidate’s night forum saw good turnout from the community and from candidates.   One parent’s recap of the evening, including questions asked and candidate responses, can be found here.

Eckstein would like to implement a full inclusion program*.   To do so, we need to research heterogeneously grouped classrooms, pilot a program, and make a plan for its implementation.  Please let me know if you would be interested in being on a committee with students and teachers to bring full inclusion to Eckstein.

Our first meeting will be on Monday, October 26th at 6 PM.  Please let Kim Whitworth (kdwhitworth@seattleschools.org)  know by Friday, October 16th if you are interested.

*”Full inclusion” means having classrooms with Special Education, General Education and Spectrum students together.  Two thirds of our classrooms will only have Spectrum and General Education students together.

Staff appreciation lunch on Wednesday, October 28th

Show our wonderful teachers and staff how much we appreciate everything they do for our students.  We need volunteers to provide lunch items - especially main dishes, salads, and beverages.  We also need a few helping hands for set-up and clean-up.  To volunteer, contact Deb Frockt debfrockt@hotmail.com.  Thanks!

David Doerr is the Eckstein family communicator for the Student Assignment Plan.  He will be gathering feedback and sending it to a contact at Seattle Schools.

Seattle Public Schools is committed to providing an excellent education for every student.  The new student assignment plan is an important step we must take to ensure that each school is an excellent school.  The plan will be implemented in phases beginning in the 2010-2011 school year.

The proposed boundary maps have been released and are available on the SPS website. Through the month of October and November there will be Community Feedback Meetings through Seattle, you are encouraged to come and make suggestions as minor revisions to the Boundary Map can happen prior to the proposed map going to vote at the School Board on November 18.

You can view the latest news and upcoming meetings at http://www.seattleschools.org/area/newassign/index.html.

Note: There is a meeting at Eckstein on October 10 (Saturday) from 10:00am to noon.

In the meantime, if you have any questions or concerns, you can send them to David Doerr at drddrd@yahoo.com with the subject line “New Student Reassignment” and every Sunday night he will be consolidating all questions and concerns and sending  them to a contact at the Seattle Schools.

PLEASE JOIN US…

NORTHEAST SEATTLE

ELECTION CANDIDATES NIGHT

MONDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2009
7:00 – 9:00 pm
Eckstein Middle School
3003 NE 75^th Street
Seattle, Washington 98115

7:00 – 8:00     City Council, City Attorney, Mayoral Candidates — Moderated, timed, questions and brief answers, 2.5 – 3.00 minute closing statements.

8:00 – 9:00      City of Seattle School Board Candidates — Moderated, timed, questions and brief answers.  Answers to written questions from the audience.

Members of the press and the community are invited to attend.  Please arrive early to ensure parking and a seat in the auditorium.

Details:  Street parking on NE 75^th and 30^th Ave NE west of the School. Entrance to the auditorium is via the front doors on NE 75^th.

No yard signs will be allowed on school property

For additional info, please email: siva@u.washington.edu

Co-sponsored by Eckstein Middle School PTSA, Sacajawea elementary PTSA  and Bryant Elementary School PTSA Partners Council