There was an enormous crowd of hundreds of supporters in Marina Park today all wearing red and carrying signs that said, "On Strike Against Legislature, Stop Blaming Teachers, Start Funding Schools."  Today was an organized one-day walk out for the Lake Washington Education Association, which is the organization of professionals and union that represents teachers in our district.  They are the 11th teachers union to have a one-day strike over funding for smaller K-12 class sizes and professional pay and benefits for educators.   And there will be more protests around the state as they urge the Legislature to adhere to their constitutional mandate to fully fund public education.

The message was announced to all of the families in Lake WA School District on 4/23 that there would be no school today, Weds 5/6.  This is when I told my kids it's a "Go to Work with Daddy Day!!!"  Genius, I know. Here is a copy of Superintendent Traci Pierce's note that we all received:

Dear Lake Washington School District Families:

The Lake Washington Education Association (LWEA) voted to join in a statewide action against the legislature to protest the lack of education funding in our state.  The LWEA is the organization of professionals and union that represents teachers  in our district. This protest involves a one-day walkout. Eleven districts to the north of us have or will also experience one-day walkouts. At least 15 other local teachers associations in the Puget Sound area have authorized votes by their full membership this week.

LWEA has selected May 6 as the day for their one-day walkout. Therefore, there will be no school for students on May 6 as teachers will not be at work on that day. LWEA worked closely with the district to schedule this action on a day that would minimize disruption for students and parents to the greatest extent possible. The district has been working to determine how to handle activities and events scheduled for May 6 that would be difficult to reschedule. For example, Advanced Placement tests scheduled for that day will be held as planned. Previously scheduled interscholastic competitions will also take place.

While there is now no school for students on May 6, the school day will have to be made up, just as we would make up a snow day or other unforeseen calendar change. The make-up day will be added to the end of the school year. This means June 16 will become a full school day and our last day of school will now be a half day on June 17. There will be no change in graduation dates or the last day of school for seniors. A revised school year calendar will be shared with families.

 It is important for families to know that this LWEA action is not directed at the Lake Washington School District or the Lake Washington communities. We share the LWEA’s concern that the legislature should fully fund basic education. We also understand and appreciate the disruption that this change in schedule may cause for families.

 Sincerely,

 Dr. Traci Pierce

 Superintendent

DonorsChoose.org is a crowd-funding nonprofit website where teachers can post things they need most for their classroom, and donors can support their favorite projects.  It was started by a teacher and the site tells a really interesting story of their history. And thanks to the awesomeness of this site and the over-the-top generosity of Google, on Monday 9/15, they unveiled a big surprise-- Google is going to fund EVERY SINGLE CLASSROOM PROJECT in King, Pierce and Snohomish Counties.  Yep, Kirkland- that means us! Yipppeeeee!!   I hope our teachers have been using this site.  Estimates are that this will be approximately $315,000 in paper, pencils, books, tablets, instruments, field trips and other supplies.   

The surprise announcement was made at Highland Park Elementary School in Seattle (photo).  Those are some happy faces!  Way to show the (local) love, Google!

We're in the clear, right? No more snow days? After the monster snowstorm early this year that  declared snowdays on Jan 18,19 and 20  for LWSD, the powers that be have announced that the last day of school (which is a half day) will be Monday June 25th instead of Friday June 22nd, which is now a full day.   In addition, Friday May 4th which was originally planned as a teacher professional development day (aka Leap Day) will be a regular school day now.  This allows the district to get in its required 180 days of school for the 2011-12 school year.   I'm not too worried, the sun doesn't usually show itself around here until mid July so unless you already had a vacation booked...... ;).

This post is from the protective mama bear in me. I want you to review some safety rules with your children and keep an eye out for anyone that seems suspicious.  There have been two calls to KPD in the recent weeks of unknown males lurking around outside public school campuses.  One appeared to be a transient and approached a female student at Kirkland Junior High who was smart enough to run and tell. Then last week a red-headed male in his 30's was spotted in the woods behind Peter Kirk Elementary during school hours.  The police were unable to find the men after canvassing the area.  It could be nothing, but just in case, let's drink some extra coffee and pay close attention! 

When I spoke to the KPD, they suggested this site as a good reference point for parents and students to get educated.  'Stranger Danger' is no longer the lingo-- sometimes offenders are not strangers.  Here's a link to a video my kids LOVE on personal safety but it's funny and explained at their level of understanding.  It's called Stranger Safety, and John Walsh (host of America's Most Wanted )  and Julie Clark (Baby Einstein creator) did a great job of putting it together.  If you see anything peculiar, call 911.  If you have any info relating to these previous incidents, non-emergency police is 425-587-3400. thx, j

You still have a week left to get your ballots in for the 2011 Lake Washington School District Levy. Don't leave it sitting on that pile of papers on your desk (under all the bills)!  Our school district is experiencing some serious overcrowding and with state budget cuts underway there are not other viable options to address the issue.  Some schools are even looking at having to double-shift.  Could you imagine?!

There's lots of good info on the LWSD website to get you caught up on the measure. I also spoke with Chip Kimball, the Superintendent for LWSD, and asked him how this impacts all of us in Kirkland.  Here's what he had to say: "If the levy doesn't pass, there are three viable options for us. Double shifting of RHS and EHS, bussing students from east to west and probably double shifting as well, or stopping the construction in the west and apply the money to the east. We also may consider scaling back all optional elementary programs like all day Kindergarten to create additional space. All options are not good, as you might imagine."

He went on to say, "Probably the bigger issue is the long term impact on the district. No measure can pass in LWSD with only part of the district supporting it. The current work going on in the district is a result of the entire district (LWHS, Rose Hill JHS, Sandburg, Muir, ICS, Keller) supporting it. If we find ourselves failing levies, and subsequently having significant overcrowding, we will experience long term questions in quality and therefore negatively impacted home values. This really does impact everyone.
The question is whether or not we are willing to take that risk for a relateively moderate investment (.29 per $1000 AV). For a $500K house (average in LWSD) it pencils out to $13/month for 6 years. Ultimately something will have to be built and a measure passed, the question is how much pain will need to be felt before something gets done." 

Isn't this the moment I've been waiting for? The day my youngest child goes off to kindergarten and my days will be mine again from the hours of 8:30-3:30?  I might actually be able to put a dent in my to-do list this year.  But I'm having second thoughts.  I feel like a nervous student the night before a big exam.  I'm really going to miss this little guy.

During the preschool years on his off days we had what we proudly proclaimed, "Mommy-Brady days." It might only be a trip to Costco and vacuuming the car out but it was our special time together where we just chatted and laughed and stuck together all day long.  I tried to weave in lessons of kindness, problem-solving, forgiveness and patience as we baubled about these everyday activities..but did I do enough?  Can his  warm innocence stand up to the 6th graders on the bus?  Will he remember his manners?  Will others appreciate his sweet demeanor and clever sense of humor?  Have I empowered him to believe in himself and make smart choices? 

Good grief.  Imagine what will happen when he goes off to college.  My favorite is when I ask him what he thinks Mommy might do all day while he's in school (this is when his sense of humor kicks in).  "You could sit on the couch and read magazines?"  "You could take a lot of naps?" "You could waterski?" The last one is probably true.  

So, this is the week he will be graduating into the world of big kids. Congrats to all of you Kirklanders with kindergarteners.  Many of you are going through the same thing-I see your Facebook posts- be strong! Because I know the moment Brady steps on the schoolbus my heart will be breaking on the inside, but there will be a giant smile across my face on the outside. ~j

It's time!  School is back in session for Lake Washington schools next week. Summer is winding to a close (in case you couldn't tell by looking out your window) and routine will set back in.  This year is special for us, though, as our 5 year old twins will be heading to Peter Kirk Elementary School for kindergarten.  Attending the parent orientation last night and the kids' meet/greet this morning just blasts me back to those feelings of curiousity and anxiety that starting a new school can bring.  As my girls each clenched onto my hands and carefully took in every picture on the wall, the bathroom sinks their own height and the fifth graders breezing past them on the monkey bars, I couldn't help but wonder, "Are they ready?"  They are kind, thoughtful, capable little people, and I have to hope we've done our best to prepare them for this adventure.

I'll never forget my kindergarten teacher.  Of course, this was back at Woodbrook Elementary School in NJ where you could find me hopping off the big yellow bus in my cable-knit knee socks and bowl hair cut circa 1977.  Mrs. Sostack had a big cube with zippers and buttons and snaps all over it that was a favorite (left).    She had a special song that I loved about spring that we all sang together.  I still remember all of the words and have taught it proudly to my children, despite the opening lines 'the air is warm and the sky is blue' not really fitting spring in Seattle.  When I say Mrs. Sostack's name it just gives me a good feeling.  And that's really is what it's all about in kindergarten-- she made me feel good about myself.  I thought I was the sharpest kid in that class, but all of my classmates probably thought they were too.   She did her job well.

Back then, we didn't learn our letters until first grade.  There was a mid-day milk delivery and a short nap-time where we'd all lay down and try not to giggle at each other.  My Linda Rondstadt-loving mom always offered to do my hair, but I insisted that I did it best- two plastic barrettes placed about an inch from my forehead (and each other).   I had a necklace with feathers on it that I treasured.  And I couldn't wait to learn to roller-skate like the bigger kids.   I felt safe and confident and looked forward to each day at school.  I'm sure I had no idea that my mom probably had a lump in her throat, just as I do, watching me go off on my own into the world of big kids for the very first time.  I'm pretty sure I can hold it together, but if you see my sobbing by the cyclone fence next week, you'll understand why. ~j   

This weekend Steve and I went to the Bucky Beaver Preschool auction at the Hyatt in Bellevue and had a great time.  A couple glasses of wine and my husband's elbow gets stuck in the straightened position with his buyer number in hand. I can't really complain since he won a $60 bottle of wine on his first try at the ring toss. Anyway- it's all for a good cause and we ended up with some fabulous loot.  That's Molly, me, and Molly's husband Don in the picture (Steve was busy bidding).

Teacher Heidi Ludwig dubbed it as a 'successful and fun event,' with over 340 attendees. They raised over $100K which helps secure classroom technology, support facility renovations, provide scholarships, contribute to teacher retirement funds, and give back to the community by supporting non-profit agencies such as KITH.  The school was started by Molly Carson over twenty years ago and is run out of her home just north of Totem Lake Mall. 

Molly is a woman that has put her entire heart into her 'little school that does big things.'  She and her staff treat each child with personalized attention and focus on allowing those pre-schoolers to not only learn about different subjects, but to gain important life-skills while being part of the Bucky Beaver family.  If you'd like to learn more about Bucky Beaver Preschool, you can call 425-821-5022.

~Janis