ETON EDITION Vol. 35 No. 4
January 2013
From the Head of School
The Importance of Failure In the early afternoon of January 13, there is a chance you heard from a distance, fanatically loud cheering, only to be followed 23 seconds (of game time) later by groans of despair. Such were the sounds emanating from my house during the Seahawks fantastic comeback and ultimate loss to the Falcons in the playoffs. Once I recovered, however, from the fact that the football season had ended, Russell Wilson’s remarks after the game caused my thoughts to drift to a book and concept that had a great impact upon me. Wilson said, “When the game was over, I was very disappointed. But walking back into the tunnel, I got so excited about next year.” In her book, Mindset, Stanford University psychologist Carol Dweck outlines the concept of two different mindsets, a fixed mindset and a growth mindset. Individuals with a predominantly fixed mindset tend to view ability and intelligence as fixed and, subsequently, success or failure predetermined by those traits (or worse, by luck). Those with a growth mindset, however, view ability and intelligence as fluid and subject to improvement and growth. For those with a fixed mindset, failure is a traumatic event that reveals a shortcoming and cause for shame (or finger pointing). For those with a growth mindset, failure is part of a cycle of constant improvement and a lesson that leads to future success. The most important part of Dweck’s book (in my opinion) is that a person’s mindset is NOT fixed. It is possible to learn the growth mindset, and just as importantly, to nurture that mindset in children. Some of this is in how we praise children. Telling a child, “You are so smart!” may feel like a good thing to do. The truth, however, is that it tells a child that there is an expectation that they will always be smart and always do well. One significant result is that the child often comes to believe that innate intelligence is more important than effort; that effort is a sign of deficiency. Another important byproduct is that the child becomes risk-averse and avoids challenging problems and work that might demonstrate
a lack of innate intelligence. In contrast, praise that emphasizes effort can have precisely the opposite effect. A child told, “Wow! You must have worked really hard!” develops persistence and actually seeks out more challenging and difficult problems. Another important distinction is that, when adults stress the importance of innate intelligence, the emphasis is placed upon something beyond the child’s control; there is no logical way for the child to turn failure into success. Emphasis on effort, conversely, places importance on a variable that a child can control and utilize for future success. Once that growth mindset is in place, failure is not a verdict and an end result. Failure becomes an important opportunity to grow and a step on the path to success. So, let’s do what we can to encourage a growth mindset in children and inspire them to view failure as a part of the learning process and an important step in developing the motivation and strategies necessary to ultimately succeed. Oh, and Go Seahawks! Dr. Russell Smith, Head of School
In This Issue Development Office................................................... 2 Admissions................................................................... 3 Progress Reports......................................................... 3 Annual Auction........................................................... 4 Auction Item Preview................................................. 5 Student Activities....................................................... 6 Class News.................................................................... 8
From the Office......................................................... 15
Eton School Newsletter
Development Office
The Annual Fund Campaign Continues! A huge thank you to all the families that contributed to the Annual Fund in December! We are currently up to 23% family participation compared to 18% family participation last year. Independent nonprofit schools count on the philanthropy of its current and alumni families to strengthen and enhance their educational programs. Gifts to the Annual Fund benefit your children immediately through the purchase of classroom materials and supplies, the support of operational costs, and the enrichment of curriculum experiences. Your donations help bring in outside educational programs such as the Pacific Science Center who came in recently to give an exciting presentation on the senses to the preelementary students (see page 6). It supports field trips that connect and enhance units of study such as the trip to the Burke Museum by some lower elementary classrooms (see pages 11 through 14). In addition, your donations help provide opportunities for enrichment experiences in drama, the sciences, and physical education such as the martial arts classes in the upper level. So far, 88% of our Eton School faculty and staff have made a gift to the Annual Fund. This is a true
demonstration of people going above and beyond the enormous amount of work they already do here by making a financial commitment to support our students and the Eton School Mission Statement. Please join us in supporting the school! Eton is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit institution so all contributions made are tax deductible and eligible for employer matching gifts. If you have any questions about the Annual Fund, I would love to hear from you! Please feel free to stop by my office any time in Casa IV (by the 4th grade), e-mail: mmaling@etonschool.org or call: 425-881-4230 ext 61. Monica Maling, Development Director
A Gift of Giving: A Birthday Present Request This past month, Amelia Goeppele-Parrish, a 4th grade student, celebrated her 10th birthday with a party at Arena Sports. While planning the party, she had a conversation with her parents about doing something different for her birthday. She decided that she would like to ask her friends to make a donation to the Eton School Annual Fund instead of bringing her birthday presents. Amelia communicated her wish to the families of her friends and she collected an incredible $300! Amelia’s family is very proud of her desire to support the school and in turn support her classmates in their academic pursuits. In December, Amelia’s class went to the Bellevue Art Museum to learn about the amazing work of artist Nikki McClure. Enrichment activity like this is what your donation to the Annual Fund helps support. Thank you so much, Amelia, for your thoughtfulness and generosity in organizing this donation to the Annual Fund! Furthermore, a huge
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thanks to all the Eton families that participated by contributing to the Annual Fund on behalf of Amelia!
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Admissions
Admissions and Re‑enrollment for 2013–2014 Eton School is beginning to plan for the 2013-2014 school year. The admission process for new students is well under way with the application deadline of February 8, quickly approaching. Admission assessments and family interviews take place during February and early March. Admission decisions will be made mid-March. Current families will be receiving re-enrollment packets in mid-February. Packets
are due back March 1. It is important that the office receives re-enrollment contracts by this deadline, as admission decisions are based on remaining openings. For families interested in applying for financial aid for the 2013-14 school year, the deadline to submit applications is February 15. Eton continues to use School & Student Services (SSS) to process financial aid applications. Parents may pick up financial aid applications at the office or complete the process online at sss.nais.org. Cherie Goetz, Admissions Director
Winter Open House Fog and cold temperatures did not deter visitors from Eton’s Winter Open House held on Thursday, January 17. This was the first winter open house scheduled during the school day, a new format that both guests and Eton staff seemed to enjoy. Both new and current parents attended with a common goal of learning more about Eton’s programs. Visitors inquiring about Eton School received an introduction to its upper, lower and pre-elementary programs. Current families had the
opportunity to learn more about the next level for their children moving on to the lower and upper programs. The event began with a welcome from Eton’s school head, Dr. Russell Smith followed by a few words from student body vice-president, Heather Johnson. Fifth Grade, Room 4 and Mezzo C then treated guests to performances. After a brief review of Eton’s admission procedure, parents were offered tours of classes. The event concluded with Q & A sessions. Many parents, both new and current commented how valuable it was to visit Eton during the school day and observe students at all levels enthusiastically engaged in learning. If you missed the open house or have friends or co‑workers who are interested in learning more about Eton School, please contact the Admission Director, Cherie Goetz (cgoetz@etonschool.org) to schedule a more informal tour.
Progress Reports Available Online This year, all Progress Reports are online through an online student report system called ORCAS and parents may access these reports with a user name and password. A letter containing instructions and a postcard with your family username and password will be mailed to all families with children in Preschool through fourth grade along with new families in grades 5 though 8, the week of January 28-February 1. Make sure to keep this postcard in a convenient place. Access to your child’s online Progress Report begins the first week of February. You will receive an e-mail notification when reports have been released. In addition, please watch for more information via the Friday Flash, the Eton School website and e-mails from orcas@etonschool.org. JANUARY 2013
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Annual Auction
Auction News and Updates The Eton Annual Auction fundraiser takes place on Saturday, February 9, and the Auction Committee has been working diligently to ensure that it is a fun and successful event. Below are some important updates.
RSVP Deadline
It is not too late! Simply return the RSVP card included in the invitation or register online at https://etonschool.ejoinme.org/FundRaiser2013. Registration closes on February 2. If you are not able to attend but you would still like to contribute to the Auction, you can visit the above link to sponsor a teacher or donate an amount of your choosing.
Unique Auction Items and Classroom Projects
Eton Families and the Procurement team have been busy securing an array of unique and interesting items. Here is just a glimpse: • High performance driving clinic at Pacific Raceways • Tesla Motors test drive • Wine and appetizer shopping party for 20 at Via Lago in Kirkland • Movie screening party at Definitive Audio • Disneyland day passes
The Classroom Projects are always one of the highlights of the Eton Auction and this year will be no exception. The children take great pride in the project they create with their classmates. You can participate and contribute in a variety of ways. There will be gift-card tree raffles, themed baskets from classrooms, a silent auction, a live auction and a raise the paddle donation. In addition, there will be both a dessert and a wine frenzy. You always have the option of participating by donating to the Auction ahead of time. Remember, this is a party and meant to be fun!
Volunteers
It truly does take a village! Each member of the school community is encouraged to volunteer in some capacity —serve on the Auction committee, underwrite a portion of the event, donate and/or solicit items and services to be auctioned. Furthermore, volunteers are needed for the weeks leading up to the Auction as well as the night of the event. To see how you can help, check out the Volunteer signup sheet: https://docs.google.com/ spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AhLFurhvFA6RdDZYSXBOWUxES TNOVnctR2ZOMmg5OGc.
Thank you for your continued support of Eton School!
Upper Level Students Working on Classroom Auction Projects See class news for pre‑elementary and lower elementary project photos.
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Auction Item Preview
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Student Activities
A “Sense-ational Science” Show for the Pre‑Elementary Students The pre-elementary students had an opportunity to explore the five senses through the “Sense-ational Science,” science show presented by the Pacific Science Center. The show focused on our five senses and how they help gather information about how we perceive the world around us. The children had a wonderful time wearing giant props and even cleaning out a 3-foot high nose! The presenters called upon children to do experiments like a blind taste test, identify scents, observe how movement creates sounds, and look at an optical illusion. It truly was an entertaining and educational show that complemented the various Sensorial work in the classroom. We would like to thank the Pacific Science Center’s Science on Wheels Program for visiting our school and to Eton School’s Enrichment Program that made this assembly possible.
Exploring the Senses Upper Level Students Participates in National Geographic Bee What do Katmandu, the Niger River and the Great Rift Valley all have in common? They could be answers to questions in the Geography Bee! Even though we cannot reveal the questions and answers that the students faced
due to secrecy and the rest of the nation participating as well, we can give the results of our fantastic experience! Preparation for the event began in the classroom where all students participated in seven rounds resulting in the selection of finalist candidates. In several classrooms, it took tiebreaker rounds to determine these candidates. The final and championship rounds then took place on January 9, in the activity room. The following students qualified to participate in the finalist round: Dipu Devadoss William Le Alexander Marlow Marisa Mulye Kavya Varkey
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Jon Lau Madrona Maling Kevin McDermott Charney Jakob Olson Jon Zhu VOL 35 NO. 4
Student Activities During the finalist rounds, students can miss one answer and still participate. However, after they missed a second time, they are no longer in the competition. All the students remained in National Geographic Bee through the first three rounds, which was unprecedented at our school. After William Le missed an answer, it came down to Madrona Maling and Jon Zhu. They faced off for the championship, which took 16 rounds before declaring Jon Zhu the Eton School National Geography Bee Champion. The photo on the right captures the top three with Dr. Smith and Mrs. Williams. After winning, Jon took the written qualifying test, which is scored by the National Geographic Bee committee. When the committee finishes scoring the statewide tests, they invite as many as 100 of the highest scoring students to represent their school at the state competition held in April. Good luck Jon!
Students at Work and Play
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Class News
Mezzo 1: Journeys in the New Year Ms. Lynette Oshiro Happy New Year! We welcome our two new students Maya Hussain and Aaron Lui and their families to Mezzo 1’s community and to the Eton family! Maya and Aaron connected with their new classmates on their first day of school. Thank you Mezzo 1 parent Angela Ting for organizing our first outing. During this outing, our new parents were able to get acquainted with our families. We continue with our unit study on Hawaii. Volcanoes are a popular topic and we will expand on it throughout the rest of the year. The children are making maps of the Hawaiian Islands. We are reading the
book Islands by Christopher Durbin, which covers different types of islands such as rocky, sandy, and volcanic. Did you know that the Hawaiian Islands make an island arc? An island arc is a line of undersea volcanoes. Our journey through this unit will take us under the sea to the coral reef of Hawaii, which leads to the study of the life of a coral, Hawaiian reef fishes and Hawaiian sea turtles. Please bring in a shoebox for a coral reef diorama your child will be creating. In February, we will be celebrating Chinese New Year. It is the Year of the Snake. Let me know if you are interested in helping us with this event. I hope to see you at the Auction on February 9. Come and join in on the festivities and mingle with other parents. Thank you for your support.
Mezzo 2: Our Planet Earth Mrs. Holly Fleming and Miss Michelle Lee Our study of the planet Earth concluded in December. The children learned about the inner parts of the Earth such as the crust, mantle, and core. This led to discussions and activities about volcanoes—always a hot topic among three to six-year‑old children. They learned about sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic rocks. The children also explored different forms of land and water (lakes, islands, gulfs, peninsulas, and straits). The highlight of our Earth study was making paper mâché Earth models. The children applied multiple layers of newspaper strips on a balloon with a flour and water paste. When the models dried, they were painted blue and brown representing land and water. It was a gooey process but lots of fun! The students are now studying our home continent, North America. We began working on our class auction project in December. Each child colored a shape or picture with fabric markers on a piece of fabric. We then sewed the fabric art onto reusable shopping bags. The first-year students colored geometric shapes from the Metal Inset
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material. Second-year students chose to color nature pictures. Kindergarten students made a sports-themed shopping bag. Mezzo 2’s one-of-a-kind shopping bags are up for bid during the live auction at Eton School’s Auction on Saturday, February 9. We hope to see many of our parents there.
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Class News
Mezzo 3: Snowflakes and Dot Art Mrs. Sudha Vaghul Like most of us, the children started the New Year with enthusiasm and renewed energy. They have been engrossed with trying out the new materials on the shelves. While we may not have experienced snow this winter, our classroom windows have many delicate, albeit paper snowflakes to make up for their absence! In our unit study, we have journeyed “Down Under” to the continent of Australia. We will spend the next several weeks immersed in this unique land and its ecosystem. The original settlers of Australia, the Aborigines, have several Dreamtime stories of creation. We read the story of “How Kangaroo Got Its pouch,” and the “Brolga Bird.” These along with the Aboriginal dot art technique have inspired our creation of two beautiful classroom projects for Eton School’s Auction. Do stop in to admire the children’s masterpieces.
We hope that all of you enjoyed “Take Your Parent to School Evening” last month. Another opportunity to observe our hard working children will be coming up soon. Amidst the intensity of our daily routine, Eton School’s Auction provides a well-deserved evening of festivities for us all and we hope you will join us!
Mezzo 4: New Connections Mrs. Madeline Lee
Montessori Moments. During an assembly in early January, the Pacific Science Center presented the Five Senses to all of the pre-elementary children— what a connection the brain makes with all of the senses! We finished our studies about the ocean by ending with the salmon’s journey from fresh water to ocean water and the sea turtle’s connection to land and ocean. Now we are focusing on the JANUARY 2013
We are definitely in our winter session. Brr! During the last two months, we made many connections. We talked about Diwali, Christmas and Chanukah. We had visits with our families on Grandparents/ Grand Friends Day and during the ever‑popular
Arctic tundra and some of the animals that call it home. We have already talked about the Snowy Owl and the unusual placement of
its ears. After the cold tundra, we begin our road trip across the United States. Hopefully, we will reach the east coast by June. Our world language for the winter is French. As you know, the children are exposed to three languages during the year. It is amazing to hear the children working on math and counting in Japanese, French, or Spanish! As we continue the school year, look for more independence and cooperation in your children. With independence, we strive for children thinking and doing for themselves. In addition, because we are social beings, we strive for cooperation (working and playing together), while still respecting another person’s view. ETON EDITION | 9
Class News
Mezzo A: Excitement and Wonder Mrs. Nasreen Shamsuddin and Mrs. Sharon Gonzalez The children returned all eager and excited. Many shared stories of wonderful experiences and exciting trips taken during the winter break. We hope that all had an enjoyable and restful vacation. We are sure you are enjoying the holiday gift that your child so loving made for you. A lot of love, hard work and effort went into making the frame, but then you parents are worth every bit of it! It was wonderful seeing you at the Take Your Parent to School event. The children certainly enjoyed sharing their classroom along with the work that they do. Hopefully you had an equally grand time watching them in action. We have been working on our auction project for this year. The children painted metal leaves, and they hammered and etched designs on copper ones. These leaves then went on a metal tree to create a one-of-akind wall art. It is sure to look fabulous on any wall of your home and serve as a reminder of your child’s days in Mezzo A. We look forward to seeing all of you on Saturday, February 9, when we gather for an evening of fun and entertainment. Do mark your calendars and plan to attend Eton’s Auction. We started our study of the continent of Europe. We are learning the names of some of the countries and their location on the puzzle map. We matched the flags to the respective countries. There are several
interesting activities on the shelves. These activities not only reinforce what we are learning, but they also make it fun and exciting. We are now focusing our attention on Holland and we are learning about its land and people. In addition, the sounds that we cover next are l as in lamb, j as in Jack and z as in zebra. This year, 2013 or the Year of the Snake promises to bring more excitement and wonder to Mezzo A. We would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a new year filled with hope, peace and joy.
Mezzo B: The Creative Process of Learning Ms. Kalsom Wali Before the winter break, we had the pleasure of having some parents in the classroom during “Take Your Parent to School” event. It was such a valuable time for both parents and children. Each parent had the opportunity to look closely at the creative process of learning in a Montessori classroom, and to see how there is not the expectation that every child develops at a pre-determined rate because we follow each child’s readiness. The children of course were pleased to show their parents an activity or two. After a long and hopefully restful time away, the children stepped back into the classroom looking excited to reconnect with their friends, share their vacation adventures, and get back to routines. New activities that are placed on the shelves are quickly noticed, and pretty soon the classroom is a busy place of everyone asking for a new lesson! The most popular activity is pin-poking, punching and cutting intricate shapes of snowflakes. In this New Year, we also welcomed a new third year student, Nishan Dhillon and his family to our community. We are delighted to have you!
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We started a new unit study on “water,” focusing on the different water forms around the world such as strait, lake, bay, and gulf. The large world map on our wall is a favorite spot for many students to sit by, checking out the Strait of Malacca, Persian Gulf, etc. Our auction project, which is a floor puzzle of the children, is completed. The children had a blast painting the wooden box, and putting the puzzle together. We hope to see you at the Auction!
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Class News
Mezzo C: Lending a Hand Ms. Susan Baccellieri It has been all about lending a hand during these first few weeks of 2013 in Mezzo C. The children decorated their “handprint leaves,” for our classroom’s auction project. Entitled, “Growing Together in Mezzo C,” our contribution to next month’s fundraiser is a tree blooming with beautiful paper handprints, all on a painted canvas. Come on in for a peek! In addition, the children have been working so hard at helping each other to zip up jackets and untangle the mystery fingers of the gloves. Many thanks to all you parents for sending in proper weather gear! It can take awhile to prepare for recess and with everyone lending a hand, the process can move a bit more efficiently. We have been talking about staying healthy during the winter. Cold weather does not make us sick. However, if our body has to use all its energy to stay warm, then there might not be enough energy to fight the germs that can make us sick. Eating and drinking healthy foods is another way to fight the germs so the children have been stocking up on freshly squeezed orange juice. With squeezes and twists, the children spent a couple of weeks making their individual cups of orange juice throughout the day. Then to lend a hand to the birds (and squirrels of course), the children filled the empty orange halves
with graham crackers crumbs and hanged them outside. The crumbs came from a lot of work with the mortar and pestle. Last fall, we spent many weeks learning about the water cycle and its importance to a healthy biome. The focus now is on soil—its parts and its layers. Since November 1, we have observed our Halloween Jack o’ lantern decompose in the “woods” behind our building. Its organic matter is no longer part of the leaf litter layer and is now a part of the topsoil. In anticipation of our springtime garden, we are starting a “compost stew.” More information on how you all can contribute will be sent home soon. Lending a hand to Mother Earth is what being a steward is all about!
Room 1: Layer of Connections: Inside and Out Ms. Regan Becker Since October, Room 1 students have continued exploring the universe through Maria Montessori’s Second Great Lesson of the Cosmic Curriculum, the Coming of the Earth. We explored the Earth History timeline, beginning with the Hadean, Archean, and Proterozoic Eras. Students learned about the scientific theory of Plate Tectonics by using a physical model that shows continental shifts over time, including predictions for what will happen in the future. Students also made their own models using cut paper. Within our geology study, students have taken an interest in the layers of the lithosphere (making their own models out JANUARY 2013
of colored clay), volcanoes, land and water forms, and earthquakes (older students using the usgs.gov web site). We were happy to use artifact boxes from the University of Washington’s Burke Museum to study tools from Native American tribes of the Northwest Coast and Puget Sound. Parents, past students, and Dr. Russell Smith made special visits to our classroom to share about their experiences on islands such as Indonesia, the Bahamas and the Galapagos Islands! As part of our Native American unit, students researched a tribe and found artwork to paint on a tepee for Eton’s Auction. Thanks to parent volunteers for overseeing this project and helping each child feel successful! Parents and their children also gave a special presentation on the history, stories, and art related to the Indian holiday of Diwali. We enjoyed a field trip to the Frye Art Museum in Seattle with a tour and art activity on the topic of “Getting into Shapes,” which related to our geometry studies. This year, our class has experienced connection and consideration, possibly due to regular activities such as ETON EDITION | 11
Class News family‑style lunch (where all students sit together at a long table with dim light and soft music), practical life activities (such as pin-poking the moon phases), and yoga nidra visualization and relaxation exercises. Students use items on the peace table—like a breathing sphere, meditation ball, and yoga cards—to focus within the active Montessori elementary atmosphere. Visualizations often relate to cultural units of study (such as imagining oneself in a rocket going to outer space or as wind blowing in a tree), and yoga poses (or asanas) have
spiritual, emotional, physical, and social benefits—such as harmony, balance, and calm. Students show attention during math lessons that require patience (such as the Decanomial and the Multiplication Bank Game) as well as during literacy workshops that invite persistence. One example is a Reader’s Workshop on “inference” in which Room 1 spent most of December reading aloud the wordless Tomie dePaola book, Pancakes for Breakfast, studying images, and deciding what “I observe…”, what “the story implies”, and what “I infer…” about the story’s plot line and characters. We are connecting on many levels to one another, and each of us also has a daily opportunity to connect with our inner self.
Room 3: Bacteria, Primordial Soup and More! Miss Angela Kim and Ms. Cindy Merritt Happy New Year and welcome back! The children shared with their friends what they did over break and are eager to get back to work. We ended 2012 with our lava covered earth stewing under an atmosphere filled with chemicals (tomato soup and plastic wrap). Billions of years later (two weeks of Winter Break), we are witnessing the first signs of life—Bacteria! We are starting the new year studying the Archean Era and single-celled organisms that lived in the “primordial soup” (pea soup with lots of vegetables). Some students jumped at the opportunity to have a taste of the archaic ocean. In a couple of weeks, we will be visiting the Burke Museum for a discovery of fossils to introduce our next eras, Proterozoic and Paleozoic. We have been really excited about our reading and writing workshops this year and have covered many topics, such as text‑to‑self connections, parts of a story, schema, mental images, and inferences. The children relate these topics to other areas of the curriculum or even other parts
of their lives. They have been asking many “I wonder…” questions, which help with their comprehension of the stories they have been reading and has deepened their curiosities when doing research. We are eager to see them continue with this enthusiasm for the rest of the year.
Eton School is on Facebook! Did you know that Eton School has a Facebook page? It is in the beginning stages, but plans are underway to expand it and use it to connect to Eton School’s families, alumni and friends. Now that you know it is there, please search for us on Facebook (look for our logo), like the page, stay connected and watch it grow.
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Class News
Room 4: We are All Connected Ms. Jeannine Blink In the last few months, the students experienced some wonderful connections with the curriculum, each other, parents, relatives, and the community! In November we traveled to the Bellevue College Planetarium for a fascinating journey through space as we further explored the First Great Lesson, “Birth of the Universe.” The students each chose a planet to research and then presented their findings to the class. Grandparents Day was great fun beginning with our singing for the assembly to collaborating with our visitors on an “I am Thankful” tree project. We had a fantastic turn out for Montessori Moments! That evening many parents experienced “Aha!” as they received lessons from their children on connecting concrete materials to math, language, and cultural concepts. December brought us to the Second Great Lesson, “The Coming of Life.” Besides working with the long timeline of the eras, many children made their own miniature timelines. They also created some realistic looking dioramas of their chosen era. The field trip to the Burke Museum topped off our studies with two tours, the “Fossil Discovery Tour,” and “What is Archaeology?” We had a fine time digging for fossils and artifacts and hunting down their origins. Finally, the holiday sing-along brought many classes and levels together to connect in music and celebration. Thanks so much for almost 100% participation in our giving project to “Treehouse for Kids.” The children felt so proud bringing in their gifts to help foster kids enjoy happy holidays. The students came back from Winter Break with a renewed focus and interest in their work. They are connecting with new lessons, friends, and a new student!
We are pleased to welcome Misha Nivota, a second grader to our class. We are also loving our Spanish classes with Senora Mendez. These fit in perfectly as we tour Mexico. The children have created a very detailed bulletin board of the map of Mexico, showing the states, plants, animals, and other items found in the country. Check out the students’ gorgeous Mexican bark paintings displayed in our room, as well as the informative research reports on everything from the national flower to mariachi music. Speaking of music, what a marvelous job our young performers did in “We are All Connected! Songs of Peace and Joy.” For some children, it was their first time on stage and they really rose to the occasion. A professionally recorded DVD of this night along with the beautiful mosaic created by Room 4 entitled “Connections in Peace” will be an item during the live bidding at the Auction. I hope to see you there!
Room 5: Sparking the Imagination Ms. Kris Meyer Gaskins and Mrs. Catie Zarski Imagine living millions of years ago. What would you see? What would the earth look like? Would there be plants? Would there be animals? What kinds of plants and animals were alive at that time? How were they changing? How much of the earth would be land? How much of the earth would be water? Room 5 students are learning all about early earth through their work with the Earth History Timeline, the second Montessori Great Lesson. They have created art, written stories, done research, and had science lessons that have helped them learn about the Hadean, Archeozoic, Proterozoic, Paleozoic, and Mesozoic Eras. Ask your child what ‘zoic’ means and why the Hadean Era does not have ‘zoic’ in its name. JANUARY 2013
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Class News A culminating art activity resulted in the creation of our fundraiser project. The children studied the spirit animals of the Pacific Northwest Coastal Native Americans. Each child found his or her spirit animal. Using cotton thread and buttons, each spirit animal was lovingly outlined and decorated. The name of the animal, the name of the child, and two qualities they shared were written around the outline of each animal. This lovely, framed work of art is just waiting to be auctioned off on the evening of February 9. Hope to see you there!
Thank you to all the parents who have driven on our field trips to the Burke Museum and the Frye Art Museum. These field trips happen because of you and the generous donation of your time. Some upcoming experiences include a visit from MOHAI, a trip to the
Pacific Science Center, a trip to The Center for Wooden Boats, and an end of the year experience. Before the holidays, Room 3, Room 4 and Room 5 collected items for Treehouse For Kids, an organization that provides clothing, supplies and toys to foster children. Some of the third year students in Room 5 along with Ken Young and Mrs. Zarski brought the gifts to Treehouse For Kids in South Seattle. They had the opportunity to tour the facility and learn more about how the organization is run. It was a wonderful community service opportunity for all the students who participated! There are two upcoming events in February in Room 5. Our second Montessori Moment is scheduled on Monday, February 4. Watch for an invitation coming home on Friday, January 25. The Room 5 Valentine’s Day party is scheduled for Friday, February 15 in the afternoon. The party will be from 1:45-2:50. Parents are more than welcome to come, even if they are not in charge of an activity or game. See you then!
Room 6: Three Girls, Three Boys, 1 Grandmother, 14,400 Stitches (and Counting) Ms. Sadie Reitz This fall, Room 6 third year students participated in a multi-session knitting workshop with my mother, Mrs. Boge. Some of the students already knew how to knit, but others didn’t and they all thoroughly enjoyed the experience. During her visits, Mrs. Boge, worked with each child to develop his/her comfort with knitting. I also noticed as the knitting sessions were going on, thoughtful conversation was being shared. The knitting workshop arose out of student interest to knit blankets for the animals at the shelter we visited earlier this school year. During our field trip to the animal shelter, we learned that they always need blankets for the cats and other small animals to sit on. When the third years heard this they decided right
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then and there that they wanted to make blankets for the animals in need. Mrs. Boge was delighted to help them achieve their goal.
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From the Office Tuition Payments for 2012–2013 School Year
School Closures and Early Dismissals
Eton School Calendar February 2013
The eleventh tuition payment was due at the beginning of January. The twelfth and final tuition payment will be due February 1. Eton School’s installment plan for tuition payments for t he 2012-2013 school yea r began immediately with enrollment documents. This year there was a 12-month payment installment plan offered, which began March 1, 2012 and ends February 1, 2013.
President’s Day/Mid Winter Break: Feb. 18-22 Mid-Winter Break falls bet ween Monday, February 18 and Friday, February 22. School will be closed and Clubhouse (childcare) will be open. Please pre-register for Clubhouse online. School will resume on February 25.
February 01 Auction Class Project Preview
If you are a family that joined late, you will have received a different fee schedule. If you have questions about that or need to refresh your understanding, please call Cindy Mattix at 425-881-4230, ext. 66 or e-mail cmattix@etonschool.org. She will be happy to assist you with any questions you may have. Please remember that Eton School does not send home billings and that payment is due the first of each month. If not received before the fifth, a $20 late fee will be assessed by the Business Office.
Checks Payable to Eton School
All checks should be written to “Eton School.” If your child’s last name is different than the name printed on the check, please be sure to note your child/children’s name on your check in the memo portion. Please write separate checks for tuition and clubhouse.
Printed copies of Eton Edition
Did you know that you could request a paper copy of the Eton Edition? E-mail jrauch@etonschool.org and indicate if you would like it mailed to your home or given to your student.
Contact Change Notification
Please be sure to notify the Main Office with any changes to your mailing address, telephone number, and/or e-mail address. We want to insure that you receive all of our correspondence. JANUARY 2013
Eton Clubhouse (Childcare) Procedure When picking your child up from Clubhouse in the afternoon, please remember to sign the student out on the hard copy paper sheet AND clock them out using the PIN pad. Clubhouse Open/School Closed Main building opens at 7:30 am and Mezzo at 8:30 am. Any pre‑elementary students arriving before 8:30 am are escorted to Mezzo when it opens.
Community Offerings Seattle Girls Choir The Seattle Girls Choir is looking for new members! They are currently scheduling for January auditions. This program has fostered the artistic and intellectual development of young ladies in the Puget Sound region since 1982. The program’s aim is to provide comprehensive choral education to girls ages 6 through 18. No prior musical training is required. For further information or to request an audition, please visit www.seattlegirlschoir.org or e-mail info@seattlegirlschoir.org. Youth in Motion The City of Bellevue is now taking registration for their Winter Youth Sports and Fitness programs. The classes are for children aged 3 years and older and include soccer, martial arts, rugby, and more. Visit the Bellevue Parks and Community website at MyParksandRecreation.com for further information and registration.
February 09 Annual Dinner Auction at Glendale Country Club February 14 Pre-elementary Valentine’s Day Parties (morning) February 15 Lower Elementary and Upper Level Valentine’s Day Parties (times may vary to confirm with your child’s teacher) February 18 President’s Day School Closed, Clubhouse Open All Levels February 19-22 Mid-Winter Break School Closed, Clubhouse Open All Levels
Guest Wireless Now Available Eton School now offers a wireless guest network in all buildings. Access information can be found posted in the Library, Mezzo Lunchroom, Casa IV and the Veladare building. Please note that the password changes after every major break (Winter, Mid‑Winter and Spring). Mrs. Blackketter is available to assist you if you need further assistance while at Eton. ETON EDITION | 15
Vol. 35 No. 4
January 2013
Save the Dates (See inside for more information)
Auction Project Preview
Annual Auction Fundraiser
ETON SCHOOL 2701 Bellevue-Redmond Road Bellevue, WA 98008-2253 425.881.4230 | www.etonschool.org
Friday, February 01
Saturday, February 09