King Elementary 2155 Yew Street Road • Bellingham, WA 98229

360.647.6840 http://wadeking.bellinghamschools.org

http://wadekingpta.org

March, 2017

A Note from the Principal

Dear Wade King Families,

March is an exciting month at Wade King because our 5th graders are finishing up their Exhibition. The Exhibition is a core component of the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program that takes place as students end their elementary school experience. It is a powerful learning experience for our 5th graders because they apply reading, writing, and collaboration skills to inquire into and take action on a topic they are passionate about. During the Exhibition, students demonstrate the attributes of the learner profile, use the key concepts and approaches to learning to guide their inquiry, and synthesize their understanding of all six transdisciplinary themes.

The Exhibition is one of our 5th grade units of inquiry. It falls under the transdisciplinary theme “How We Express Ourselves.” The central idea is: Ideas, beliefs, feeling, and values are expressed when people align themselves with issues, movements, and causes. It is an inquiry into taking action!

During the Exhibition, 5th graders work in collaborative groups to investigate topics such as natural disasters, environmental issues, animal welfare, foster care, poverty, hunger, homelessness, discrimination, bullying, disease, and disabilities. As students learn about their topic, they focus on these lines of inquiry:

• What motivates others to take action?

• What motivates YOU to take action?

• How can you motivate others to take action?

Upcoming Dates:

3/22 5th Grade Exhibition from 6:30-7:30pm in the Gym/ Cafeteria

3/24 2nd & 3rd Grade Drama Performance of Jack, Jill and the Beanstalk at 6:30pm

3/25 Saturday Choir Festival at Ferndale High School

3/29 Spring After School Activities Catalog will be on-line @ www.wadekingpta.org

3/30 King Singers & Concort Concert at 7pm @ WKE

4/3-4/7 NO SCHOOL for Spring Break

4/13 General PTA Meeting

4/10-4/14 Snack Drive

4/20 Inquiry Afternoon & Evening (PTA sponsored event)

Each group has a parent or community member who serves as their mentor, meeting with them weekly, and supporting them as they use text and experts to learn as much as they can. As the exhibition concludes, students use their new knowledge to teach our school community about their topic and share ways they are going to take action based on their new learning.

Our 5th graders have many things they would like you to know about their Exhibition. Trevor Weston said, “I love the Exhibition because I can learn about a very important problem and learn about it with my pals.” Many students found it challenging and stressful, but also fun. Emmy Hart shared that, “It was hard to make a speech to tell everyone about our topic.” Her Exhibition group made bookmarks as a way to take action.

After the Exhibition ends, our staff reflects on students’ strengths and challenges as they engaged in this work and make changes across the grades to ensure the success of future students. One year, our staff realized that we needed to strengthen our student’s collaboration skills and that is something we continue to work on each year. Another year, we planned ways to support student’s ability to cite sources in developmentally appropriate ways. We now start in kindergarten by having conversations about where answers to our questions come from.

On March 22nd, families are invited to join us in the gym and cafeteria. Exhibition groups will be sharing their learning and action that evening from 6:30-7:30 p.m. It is quite common to hear about students who continue taking action long after the Exhibition Evening or to hear about younger students who are inspired to take action because of knowledge they gained from our 5th graders.

If you know a 5th grader, be sure to ask him/her about their Exhibition project. I am confident they will be able to teach you a lot!

Stephanie Johnson, Principal

We would like to send a huge THANK YOU to our Exhibition

Mentors.

The time you spent with your group was a huge support.

Our staff really appreciates you!

Please join us for 5th Grade Exhibition Night!

Wednesday, March 22nd 6:30-7:30 Wade King Cafeteria/Gym.

The 5th graders will be sharing what they learned while doing their Exhibition project and how they are taking action.

Teddi Anshus, Cathy Beecham, Tracy Bell, Darin Berdinka, Carol Dellecker, Ray Dellecker, Sara Knies, Ying Li, Sam Lockwood, Rebecca Maldonado, Kristin McCullough, Janet Meddick, Helen Murphy, Paula North, Rebecca Oliver, Dawn Reedy, Laura Sherwood, Jennifer Tepker, Margo Rukashaza.

School Start and End Times for 2017-18

Elementary and High School students have new school hours next year!

Elementary K-5 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Middle Schools

9:15 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. High Schools

8:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.

WWU Summer Youth ProgramsScholarship information is available by

emailing youth@www.edu or calling (360) 650-3308

WWU Global ConnectionsStudents entering grades 4-6 are invited to engage in a week-long summer enrichment programs this  summer. Participants will benefit from academic and physical skill development, while experiencing Western's campus hands-on. Students from around the world will be involved in the program, alongside local students.Mon.-Fri for one week at a time; July 24 – August 11

WWU Grandparents UStudents entering grades 1-8 are invited to bring their grandparents to college this  summer. Participants will enjoy topics ranging from photography in the 21st century to computer programming.July 6-7 WWU Summer Youth Theatre InstituteStudents entering grades 1-6 can explore the magic of theatre through hands-on workshops at Western's Bellingham campus. Students will focus on a variety of subjects, such as superheroes and puppets.June 20-23 single day; June 26 – July 1 week long workshop

Where: Western Washington Univ.More info: wwu.edu/youth

After School Activities Spring Registration!

The after school catalog will be available on March 29. You can find it online at www.wadekingpta.org or on our Facebook page. Most programs begin the second week after spring break but a few start before so pay careful attention to the start and end dates.  Look for an email on March 29th with registration links and details. 

High School – Elementary Art Connection

In November, twenty students from Bellingham High School’s ceramics class came to Wade King to collaborate with our kindergarteners. After reading different monster books together, like Where The Wild Things Are, high school students worked with each of our kindergarteners to create their own monsters. They worked together to make a detailed 2-dimensional drawing of their monsters. Then, with the support of their ceramics teacher, Magon Hamilton, these high school students took the designs back to Bellingham High School to turn their 2-dimensional drawings into 3-dimension ceramic figures. They even glazed them to match the initial design. Last week, some of the high school students were able to bring the finished monsters to Wade King and display them after school. The monsters were amazing! This is one way we are working as a district to connect students across schools, and across grade levels. We are One Schoolhouse! These ceramic monsters will also be displayed during the Childrens Art Walk in May.

WHATCOM COUNTY UNIFIED SOCCER

Visit the website to find out information as the season starts. https://bellinghamschools.org/special-olympics-unified-sports/

Like us on Facebook at Whatcom County Unified

PAPERWORK

� Athletes must have a physical on file with Special Olympics (AFP) o Athletes are individuals with intellectual disabilities

� Unified Partners must have release form on file with Special Olympics o Unified Partners are individuals without intellectual disabilities

� Links to forms can be found on the website listed above

PRACTICE

� Starting week of March 13, 2016 � 2 practices per week before Spring Break, 1 practice a week after break � Time and days of the week to be determined by coach � Located at your school site – independent transportation

COMPETITION SCHEDULE

� Northwest Soccer Complex – independent transportation � Kick-off event – April 13, Northwest Soccer Complex � Thursdays for 6 weeks – April 20, 27 and May 4, 11, 18, 25 � 4:30-5:00 PM Elementary (tentative based on participation numbers) � 5:15-6:00 PM Middle School � 6:00-6:45 PM High School

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

� Regional Tournament – To be determined � State Tournament – High School May 26-27, Middle School June 2-4

TO BE CONNECTED TO THE COACH AT YOUR SCHOOL CONTACT:

� Dominique Lantagne � 360-739-5942 � dominique.lantagne@bellinghamschools.org

Parking Lot Tips

• Please be cautious of your speed in our school zone. Our Sheriff has been watching for cars that are exceeding the school zone speed limit to ensure student safety!

• During pick up and drop off times, always walk up to the school on the sidewalks!

• THANKS for yielding to our buses so they can drive into the school driveway and bus loop without waiting.

• If you want to get out of your car, park in the parking lot and walk on the sidewalks up to the school.

• If you chose to use the pick-up/drop-off loop, stay in your car, in line, and continue moving up as the line moves forward. Our staff will help your child get into your car when you get to the front of the school. Our goal is to keep this loop moving!

Wade King Elementary PTA! Please join us in supporting Wade King students!

Did you know that anyone can join the PTA? Parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, guardians and caregivers! We encourage EVERYONE to get involved. Wade King PTA enthusiastically supports and partners with the IB program at Wade King – the first authorized Primary Years Program in Washington state! When you join the PTA, you join a community that encourages student achievement and believes in building partnerships between families and school. Together we can make a difference! With your PTA membership and help, we will be able to continue to invest in resources and materials to supports IB Units of Inquiry for all grade levels and family education. These are just a few of the many ways your PTA membership supports Wade King: IB materials, field trips, athletic equipment, extra-curricular activities, teacher support, and fundraising. Please show your support by joining The Wade King PTA! Membership forms are available on our Wade King Elementary PTA website: WadeKingPTA.org

#WHYWILLYOUGIVE?

At the Bellingham Public Schools Foundation, we believe. We believe the future is brighter when our local public schools have the resources to help all children succeed.

BPSF donors believe:

• In giving to student wellness, to help grow healthy, active individuals. • In giving to STEM programming, to foster the next generation of creators and innovators. • In giving to support music education and 5th grade strings. • In giving to vital early education programs like Promise Kindergarten. • In giving to the Family and Student Support Funds to remove roadblocks for student learning. • In giving to advance the One Schoolhouse philosophy so that every child, regardless of which school they attend, can meet their full potential.

Our goal this year is to raise more than $500,000. A gift to BPSF is a gift to our children, our community and our future. BPSF donations support vital programs and staff that benefit every school.

Why will you give? There has never been a better time to invest in public education. This March, please join us by making a gift during our annual appeal. The first $35,000 raised will be matched by a generous donation from Ram Construction! Your tax deductible donation can be made on-line at: www.bellinghamschoolsfoundation.org or by mail at: P.O. Box 1132, Bellingham,WA 98229

Math Competition A group of 4th and 5th graders from Wade King participated in the Whatcom County Math Championship that was held in Blaine on February 25th. They spent their Saturday competing as individuals and as teams. Many of them have been participating in an after school math club since the fall. We are very proud of all of them for being risk takers! 4th Grade

Team Awards: 1st Place - Ethan Kuzin, Katie Knies, Soren Sargent, and Jackson Rogers 2nd Place - Carter Lim, Matthew Sanders, Laszlo Saling-Mayer, and Rudy Zurcher Taryn Walters, Luca Marshall, Teagan Berreth, and Karys Wright demonstrated great teamwork even though they did not place in the top 10. Individual Awards These students placed in the top 10! 1st Place - Ethan Kuzin 3rd Place - Jackson Rogers 6th Place - Katie Knies 8th Place - Matthew Sanders 5th Grade Team Awards 5th Place - Henry Gwozdz, James Murphy, Erica Mao and Ruarc O'Malley 6th Place - Matthew MacGregor, Scott Sutherland, Ayla Oliver and Jaelle Oliver Ethan Reedy, Eric Anshus, Trevor Weston, Angel Ching, Katy Woo, Owen Berreth, Jenna Beecham and Rylan Samuelsen did great even though they did not place in the top 10. A huge thank you to Jenna and Rylan who joined the team the day before the competition so that all of our 5th grade teams had enough participants to participate. Individual Awards James Murphy - 1st place Erica Mao - 9th place Matthew MacGregor - 10th place

We are sending a huge THANK YOU to our parent volunteer coaches: Sara Knies, Jon Boley, Heidi Watson, Mark Woo, Rebecca Oliver. Thank You!

Front Desk/PTA Help & Hope committee are looking for slightly used sweat pants/leggings for donation. The front office has run out of its supply of clothes to pass on to students who have students who need a change of clothes at school. We are looking for sizes 6-10. If you happen to have extra clothes you could donate,, you can drop them off in the front office. Thank you!

Earth Day Extravaganza!!! SAVE THE DATE | Please join for us on Thursday, April 20 WK PTA’s World Tour Committee brings you a fun filled afternoon/evening of activity celebrating Earth Day, strengthening our community, and acknowledging our World Tour country of Italy. Join us for part or all!

2:00 - 5:00 pm School Work Party to spruce up the landscaping in front of our school

5:00 - 6:00 pm Pizza’zza Mobile Food Truck will be onsite to provide delicious meals for purchase. Mingle and meet new families Vote to approve our new 2017-2018 PTA Board.

6:00 - 7:45 pm Family Movie – to be announced soon!

More information with the RSVP and pre-ordering food links will be posted on our website (www.wadekingpta.org), Facebook Page and via our weekly E-Blast in mid- March.

Families are welcomed to participate in some or all of the activities based on your families' schedule and capacity.

Sponsored by the PTA -World Tour Committee

Wade King Has Talent

On Thursday, March 9th, many Wade King students were risk takers as they performed in the Wade King Talent Show. It was an evening of dancing, singing, joke telling, drumming and guitar playing, hula-hooping, and piano playing facilitated by some amazing MC’s. Wade King definitely has talent!