Mt. Erie Elementary PTA

ASAP Offerings Winter 2012.pdf

Registration is Now Open!
2012 Young Authors Conference
March 26-30, 2012
Presented by NWESD and Skagit Valley College

Our Young Authors Conference is an annual celebration of young authors held every spring at Skagit Valley College. Professional authors and illustrators provide hands-on workshops for students as they arrive for a day of celebrating the art of writing and illustration. Students are stimulated and motivated in creative writing. The program encourages and supports teachers who help students develop their writing abilities, and offers an opportunity for students to have authors and illustrators as role models.

This year’s featured presenters are Laura McGee Kvasnosky on Monday through Thursday for students in grades 2-6, and Clete Barrett Smith on Friday for grades 6-8. Laura McGee Kvasnosky is the author of the very popular Zelda and Ivy series. She has 15 books to her name and several more in the works. Being both an author and illustrator gives her a unique perspective for our conference this year. Clete Barrett Smith hails from Bellingham. His first book for young adults, Aliens on Vacation, was chosen as a Disney book with a potential movie in its future. We are excited to have him present to our middle school students this year.
Fee: $25
Time: 9 am – 2 pm
Location: Skagit Valley College in Mount Vernon
Reservation Deadline: January 19, 2012 or until filled

Click here to download a registration flyer.

You can also get a registration flyer from our website: www.nwesd.org/young-authors

Questions? Contact Anita Garcia at agarcia@nwesd.org or by phone at (360) 299-4044.

The Anacortes School District and Anacortes Public Library invite all district parents and community members to join us in our quest for the All-American City Grade-Level Reading Award. Community-Wide Action Planning Meeting Wednesday, January 18 7:00-8:30 pm Anacortes High School Brodniak Hall Please see attached flyer for additional information. Questions?

Please contact: MaryJo Christenson 360-293-9536 mchristenson@as103.org
Doug Woods 360-293-1910 ext. 27 dougw@cityofanacortes.org

All American Cities Community Meeting_JAN 2012.pdf

With the support of our PTA, 53 fifth graders, two teachers, and 12 parent chaperones spent three days and two nights of learning in the North Cascades Mountains. The group attended “Mountain School” from November 7 – 9. This nationally recognized environmental education program is part of the North Cascades Institute, a beautiful facility located on Diablo Lake. Our 5th graders studied ecosystems as a way to enhance and enrich their learning in Ms. Damarjian’s Science classes. The Mt. Erie group feasted on delicious wholesome food at each meal, stayed in beautiful dormitory-style lodges– plenty of heat and hot water–and learned from outstanding staff members who are completing their Master’s in Environmental Education. In addition to learning about ecosystems, students returned to Mt. Erie with a greater interest in our Western Washington environment, deeper friendships, and memories to last a lifetime.

Follow this link for more information and the registration form – Turkey Trot Registration 2011.pdf

AN INVITATION TO OUR PTA BOARD AND GENERAL MEMBERSHIP
From Chris Borgen, Superintendent

We would like to invite you to attend a Joint PTA Strategic Planning Input meeting on November 8. This will be a focus-group style meeting and we will be asking for your input around several key questions. Please know that your time and feedback is greatly appreciated.

· Joint PTA Strategic Planning Meeting
· November 8, 2011
· 6:00 pm
· ASD Board Room

Over the next several months, the district will be engaged in formulating a 3-5 year strategic plan that will serve as a blueprint for the district. We are undertaking this effort to align priorities and to ensure that future actions are in accord with our vision and purpose. To that end, we will be meeting with several key groups- parents, district personnel, students and our public- to address our role as a district, assess our performance and establish priorities. We invite you to participate in this discussion and process.

Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns. We look forward to hearing from you and having you participate in this vital process.

Thank you,

Chris Borgen, Superintendent

Twenty talented Mt. Erie students attended the Young Authors’ Conference at Skagit Valley Community College in Mt. Vernon at the end of March. Prior to the conference, each student  wrote and illustrated a story which they polished in after school writing workshops during February and March. Mrs. Dellutri, one of our 6th grade literacy teachers, helped with the workshops and Mr. Dellutri, an artist, former Mt. Erie Librarian, and a high school art teacher, inspired and instructed students in drawing. At the conference, students shared their stories with peers and young authors from other schools. Everyone went to “classes” taught by published authors and illustrators and created stories, poems, and pictures, learned about what it takes to be a writer or an illustrator, and discovered new authors and their works. Hannah Gleason, Megan Paul, Indigo MacLaurin, Brenna  Palmer-Perry, Hannah Jones, Madelyn Hering, Chloe Donohue, Cassie Ausland, Anja Shjarback, Gemma Sladich, Anna Morrow, Jayda Jameson, Conner Rodriguez, Eliot Breifer, James Parker, Heather Rolph, Kim Krebs, Marco Gaspar, Samantha Troxdair, and Tristan Munich represented Mt. Erie at the conference and had a grand time. Thank you all for sharing your stories, hard work, good manners, and leadership.