Caring Coyotes

Our Caring Coyotes and the 5th Grade Girl Scout Troop #52942 would like to thank all of those who made donations to the Eastside Baby Corner! Your conations of pajamas, stuffed animals, books, socks, and toothbrushes are greatly appreciated and will be put to good use by our local children in need. Thank you!

Dad's Play Day

May 3rd
10:55-11:20 (3rd/4th)
11:20-11:45 (1st/2nd)
11:45-12:10 (Kindergarten)
11:50-12:15 (5th/Science Tech)

Staff Appreciation Week, May 6-10

Next week is National Teacher Appreciation Week. The PTSA, with the help of Cascade Ridge families, will be sponsoring several events and providing goodies to acknowledge our teachers and staff. Please watch for an email from your child’s room coordinator for details on how you and your student can show your support and appreciation for our wonderful staff!

May PTSA General Membership Meeting

Please plan to attend our next PTSA General Membership meeting on Thursday, May 16th at 7:00 pm in the Coyote Cafe. This will be our last GM meeting of the school year and we will review survey results and present the 2013-2014 Interim Budget for approval. In addition, Nona Wright (CRE Program Assistant) will discuss ways to help keep your student’s reading levels up during the summer months. We would love to have a big group of members who are interested in what the PTSA plans to support in the coming school year. Please come and join in this important process.

Cascade Ridge Golf Umbrellas For Sale - $20!

Don’t get caught in the rain this Spring without your Cascade Ridge logo Golf Umbrella! 62” canopy arc Golf Umbrella, Navy Blue/White, Tough, all-weather canopy and structure, Double-rib construction, Extra strong metal shaft, Sturdy bicycle grip handle. Contact: Nichole Wengert, nwengert@msn.com.

May Howler published

The May edition of the monthly Coyote Howler newsletter has been published online. CLICK HERE to read it. Thank you Nichole for your hard work on putting together this issue!

Last chance for PTSA survey

This is your last chance to provide feedback to the PTSA and to enter to win a $25 Amazon gift card! If you have already completed the survey, THANK YOU for taking the time to provide us with very important information. If you haven’t, we still want to hear what you consider to be essential focus for the PTSA in the coming year.

This quick survey provides ranking and freeform questions to assist with prioritization and budgeting for next year. We really do want to know, so please take a few minutes to provide this valuable information by CLICKING HERE before Wednesday, May 1st when the survey will be closed for another year.

Earth Day 2013

Earth Day is April 22nd. Some members of our Cascade Ridge Green Team members are helping our Walk or Ride Your Bike to School campaign starting Monday and running all next week. This week they have been busy counting the number of cars passing through our parking lot before and after school, delivering and picking up students. The Earth Day Project is encouraging more students to walk and / or ride their bike to school, especially next week, April 22nd - 26th. Our goal is to decrease the amount of traffic in the Cascade Ridge parking lot by at least 25%. It’s a win-win, good for the earth and more exercise too! We hope you join us in our “Green” efforts.

Thank You!

Thank you to Kim Anderson and the parents of 2nd grade for this week’s staff appreciation luncheon!

Attention 5th grade families

Please be sure to sign up to receive E-news from the middle school that your child will attend next year. You can do this by going to the school’s website and clicking on the E-News Sign-up link. This is especially important for families of 5th graders in order to keep up with all the news and exciting events coming up for your “almost middle school” student.

Measurements of Student Progress (MSP)

Testing April 30th through May 17th -- 3rd, 4th and 5th Grades Only. Please note the dates above to ensure that your child is present, had breakfast, and is on time for the appropriate testing. Students arriving after 8:30 a.m. will not be allowed in class for testing and will have to test during make-ups. During the testing window each morning, students may not be dismissed from class. We would appreciate your consideration of these testing times and dates as you make medical appointments and/or vacation plans. Thank you.

Thanks to our 5th grade service project volunteers!

Thank you to Jaycee Cooper and Pam Gross for organizing the 5th grade service project. We are so proud of the 5th graders for raising over $4,600 for Children of the Nations and for packing 18,586 meals for children around the world. Thank you to all of the parents and the teachers who were there that day and helped out!

Box Tops classroom challenge

Get ready to take the challenge. From April 1st to June 1st bring in your box tops in Ziplocs or brown paper bags clearly marked with your teacher’s name and grade. In June we will tally all the box tops and the class with the highest number of box tops submitted will win an extra recess in June! We will need a few volunteers to help with tallying in the first week of June, if you are interested please contact: nathaliefusaro@hotmail.com.

Coyote Howler for April 2013 published

The April 2013 edition of our monthly Coyote Howler newsletter has been published. CLICK HERE to read it. Thanks Nichole for all your work on this issue.

General membership meeting & Coffee with the Principal

Please plan to attend our next PTSA GM meeting/Coffee with the Principal on Friday, April 19th at 8:30 am in the Coyote Café. This is an important meeting for the community as we will be voting on changes to our Standing Rules and electing the 2013 – 2014 PTSA Executive Committee. As always, it is also the perfect forum for gaining insight into the PTSA activities and for providing feedback. Questions? Contact Deanne King at deannewking@live.com. We hope to see you there!

Time to get your car sparkling again!

Get a clean car, save money and earn $$ for Cascade Ridge PTSA! For every $5 ticket purchased CRE PTSA earns $3.50 (normal price for basic exterior car wash is $6.39). To purchase car wash tickets email Nathalie Fusaro at: nathaliefusaro@hotmail.com and provide the following information: Your name, Your email address, Your child’s name, Your child’s teacher, How many tickets you would like to purchase. Then place a check payable to CRE PTSA ($5/ticket) in the black PTSA box in the school foyer. Tickets will be delivered to your child’s classroom within a week of your payment being received. Also, look for the car wash ticket sales table at the upcoming Spelling Bee and Science Fair.

Talent Show, April 25 & 26

So you think you have what it takes to be on the next America's Got Talent? Well, practice makes perfect so Get Ready to Shine at Cascade Ridge's 2nd Annual Talent Show. All acts welcomed - Individual or Group performances – Students and Staff. Registration deadline is April 1. CLICK HERE for more information, and to register!

Science Fair is this Thursday!

Science Fair is this Thursday, March 21, 6:00 - 8:00pm! Everyone is invited! Whether your student completed a project or not, join us! View student projects on display, and browse the many demonstrations. Here is a sneak peek: ISV Rock Club, lasers, a DNA experiment and so much more. Pizza, rock candy, pop rocks, and baked goods will be for sale. Volunteers are still needed to make the Science Fair a success. Contact Ann Brooks at ann_e_brooks@yahoo.com to volunteer your time.

SSSSSSScience with SSSSSSSnakes

Back by popular demand, the Northwest Herpetological Society will be exhibiting at our Science Fair this year! This means your kids will have a chance to see and touch some cool reptiles, like snakes! This should be fun for the kids and probably scary for most adults! The good news is that they will be exhibiting in one of the wings of the 1st floor and can be avoided if you have any allergies or get creepy around animals! For those brave enough to venture to the Reptile Wing, we will have a sanitizing station to keep your young scientist clean.

Looking for Nominees for the PTSA Board

Are you looking to get more involved at the school? ?Do you know someone who would make a great addition to the PTSA board? ?We would love to hear from you! ?Feel free to place your nominations in the PTSA lock box located outside the office. ?Please include the name of the nominee and the position that they would be a good fit for. ?Job descriptions are available on the PTSA website.

Fine Arts Night -- March 28th

Join us for Cascade Ridge's Fine Arts Night, Thursday March 28th at 6 P.M. Enjoy dinner in the cafe from Yoko's Teriyaki (you can pre-order here), see beautiful art created by the students, and make some art on your own! Visiting artists Betsy Matias of Henry and Mei and Maureen Doherty of Black Horse Art Studio will be on hand for live art demonstrations and projects for students. Also, the Junior League of Seattle and Bellevue Arts Museum's "Art of Discovery" exhibit will be showcased in our library. Featuring works by acclaimed Northwest artists, it is a rare chance to get up close and personal with art that only travels outside the museum once a year! If you would like dinner, we are taking pre-orders only, which must be placed by Monday, March 24th, so CLICK HERE and place your order now! Questions? Contact Alesia Romero, Jackie Mueller or Tamra Kaufman. We look forward to seeing you there!

March 2013 Howler published

The March 2013 edition of our monthly Coyote Howler newsletter has been published online. CLICK HERE to read it! Thank you Nichole Wengert for all your hard work on this issue.

Brown Bear car wash

Spring is almost here; time to get your car sparkling again! Get a clean car, save money and earn $$ for Cascade Ridge PTSA! For every $5 ticket purchased CRE PTSA earns $3.50 (normal price for basic exterior car wash is $6.39). To purchase car wash tickets, CLICK HERE. Tickets will be delivered to your child’s classroom within a week of your payment being received. Also, look for the car wash ticket sales table at the upcoming Spelling Bee and Science Fair.

Get ready for Eager Reader!

Get ready - Get set - GO! Eager Reader starts March 1st! Please register and keep track of your minutes online. Prizes will be awarded each week for reading the minutes required. Also, a pizza party will be awarded to the one class in each grade level with the most minutes read. Finally, the school is working towards a school goal of 275,000 minutes to earn a super cool performance by the Noise Guy! Questions? Contact Lauri Kinnan: laurikinnan@yahoo.com or Neena Rana neenarana@yahoo.com

The Book Fair needs your help!

The Scholastic Book Fair is coming to Cascade Ridge March 4-6. It features thousands of fun, engaging, and affordable books kids want to read. We need your help to make it happen! Please share your talents and join us for one or more shifts. Volunteer opportunities include: set-up/decorations, purchase days, and clean-up. Check out Volunteer Spot to sign up, or contact Michele Brady or Grace Lee. Thank you!

KG registration for 2013-2014

Do you have a student or know of a neighbor who will be turning 5 years old by August 31st 2013? Please mark your calendars and tell your neighbors that it will soon be time to register for Kindergarten for the 2013-2014 school year!
Dates to note:
March 6th – Registration from 2pm-6pm
March 7th – Registration from 10am-3pm
Please click here for more registration information.

A big thank you to Kim Anderson and 3rd grade parents

We enjoyed a wonderful luncheon of Lasagna, salads and desserts. Thank you all so much, we felt very appreciated! -- Cascade Ridge staff

Schedule change for March 13

To comply with mandatory state testing requirements, we must change the school day schedules for students in all grades on Wednesday March 13 during the High School Proficiency Exam (HSPE) testing window. What that means for Cascade Ridge on March 13th:

FDK and 1st—5th 8:30am - 12:55pm
AM Kindergarten 8:30am - 10:30am

The complete schedule for all schools on March 13 is posted online. Please mark your calendars now and plan ahead to prepare for the schedule adjustment. Thank you!

Spell One, Spell All

Join the F—U—N at the 3rd Annual Spelling Bee, March 4th-6th. Registration is now open for students to join the spelling fun at the 3rd Annual Cascade Ridge Spelling Bee. All grades are welcome to join in this friendly competition of oral spelling ability. Participants will take the stage one at a time and will be asked to spell a word out loud. (Students will repeat the word, spell it and repeat the word again.) Each correctly spelled word, earns a trip to the next round. The bee ends when there is one just one speller standing!

The bee will take place over three evenings to accommodate each grade. Any student may participate but must pre-register online by February 28, 2013. Complete rules are available online, as well as tips and practice word lists. Questions? Feedback? Contact spellingbee@cascaderidgeptsa.org.

February Howler available!

The February 2013 edition of our monthly Coyote Howler newsletter is now available. CLICK HERE to read it! Thanks Nichole Wengert for all your hard work on this!

Reflections Art Contest

Congratulations to 5th grader Vishal Canumalla! Vishal’s photography entry has been selected to represent the Issaquah School District at the WA State Reflections competition. Way to go Vishal!

Looking for nominees for the PTSA Board

Are you looking to get more involved at the school? Do you know someone who would make a great addition to the PTSA board? We would love to hear from you! Feel free to place your nominations in the PTSA lock box located outside the office. Please include the name of the nominee and the position that they would be a good fit for. Job descriptions are available on the PTSA website.

Caring Coyotes starting again soon!

Caring Coyotes is open to all 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students who would like to plan and carry out service projects that benefit our local community. Our first meeting was held in October, but it is not too late to join! Our next meetings will be on the following Tuesdays: March 19, April 2, 16, 30 and May 7 - from 3:00 - 3:30 in Mrs. Fritsch's Classroom, Room 261. Our Mission: Caring Coyotes strives to provide members with opportunities to serve and better our local community, to build relationships with one another and with community members and to broaden both the understanding of need and the value of a helping hand within our community. If you are interested in joining, please let us know! Thank you! Anjuli Bates, batesa@issaquah.wednet.edu & Elaine Fritsch, fritsche@issaquah.wednet.edu

Welcome event - Feb 15

We had so much fun, let’s do it again! The PTSA Hospitality Committee hosted our several “Welcome!” events throughout last year, and a great time was had by all – both new members to our Cascade Ridge/Trossachs community, as well as some familiar faces, too. Let’s do it again! If you are new to our community, OR if you have been around a while but would like to join us for a warm greeting, friendly chat, and a cup of “Market Spice Tea,” please mark your calendar for our second “Welcome!” event of this school year, on Friday, February 15, 9am – 11am at the lovely home of Ganga Pingili, 1739 271st ave (Glencoe Neighborhood). RSVP contact Pamela Franklin at psfranklin@comcast.net.

Yearbook reminder!

Have you ordered your yearbook yet? You can click here to check if you've placed an order. If you haven't, order one now! Deadline is Feb 15, 2013. Don't miss out! We are not planning to order any extras and will not be able to fulfill requests at the end of the year, so please place your order today to guarantee you receive one. If you have any questions, please contact Monica Futty at mfutty@hotmail.com or Melanie Carbon at melcarbon24@yahoo.com.

Seeking outstanding volunteers!

The Golden Acorn is a PTSA award given every year to outstanding volunteers for their service to our school and community. This is an excellent way to acknowledge and appreciate someone who puts a lot of heart and energy into our school!

Please help us select outstanding volunteers from the Cascade Ridge community to receive a Golden Acorn Award this year by completing the nomination form. The PTSA Golden Acorn Awards Committee will review the nomination forms received and make the final selections. For more information or to make a nomination, contact Angie Lukens. Nominations are due in the PTSA box by February 15th. Thank you!

January Howler available online

The January edition of our monthly Coyote Howler newsletter is now available online. Check it out here!

Spelling Bee - Urgent!

Has your child participated in the Cascade Ridge Spelling Bee? If so, you know what a fun and popular event this is for students of all grade levels and spelling abilities. As a PTSA sponsored event, we cannot hold the Spelling Bee without parent volunteers. This year we need one or more volunteers to coordinate the event. There is a great framework in place and last year’s chair is available for assistance. If we are unable to find parent volunteers to coordinate this event by January 23rd, the Spelling Bee will unfortunately have to be canceled this year. Interested or have questions? Contact Ann Brooks for more information.

Coffee and GM Meeting - Jan 25th

Coffee with the Principal / PTSA General Membership Meeting on Friday, January 25th at 8:30 am in the Coyote Cafe. We will be reviewing our budget, electing our Nominating Committee for developing the slate for our officers in 2013-2014, and other interesting business. On top of that, we will provide coffee and treats, so you won’t want to miss this meeting and we look forward to having a big crowd!

Fine Arts Night and Dinner - March 28th

Mark your calendars! Thursday, March 28th is Fine Arts Night, where you can enjoy an evening of great food, see your child's art on display, and even create some works of your own. We are also excited to announce a very special addition to this year's event: The Bellevue Art Museum's traveling art exhibit, which will be on display right here at Cascade Ridge! More details are coming soon. If interested in volunteering for this event, please contact Jackie Mueller (jackie.mueller1@comcast.net), Alesia Romero (adgewitz@gmail.com) or Tamra Kaufman (tamra_kaufman@hotmail.com). Thank you!

Science Fair

Choose a topic and become a student scientist at the the Cascade Ridge Science Fair. The fair will take place Thursday, March 21. Find tips, resources and register on the web site by clicking here. Participation is required for 5th graders and optional for k-4 students. Participation by all students is highly encouraged. We are looking forward to another successful fair. Mark your calendar then start your science journey today!!

Dad's day on the playground - Jan 4

Dads, moms, and special guests are invited to play with your child on the playground at lunch recess. This year, there will be no parent lunches available from the Cafe. If you plan to eat lunch with your child, please plan to bring your own lunch Questions? Lynette Springborn: lspringborn@gmail.com

Recess Times:
10:55-11:20 3rd & 4th Grades
11:20-11:45 1st & 2nd Grades
11:45-12:10 Full Day KG
11:50-12:15 5th Grade

Congratulations to our First Lego League teams!

They attended the annual competition held at BCC this weekend. The NXT Nerds were judged exemplary in 6 categories including inspiration (a core value), in-depth problem analysis (research project) and design process (robot design). The Robot Gladiators had a perfect robot run finishing all of the missions they worked on and scored an excellent score of 225 points. Way to go boys!

Also, a big thank you goes out to the coaches, Stephen Rozmiarek and Linda Warner as well as all the parent volunteers who have spent countless hours helping the kids get ready for the competition. Thank you!

Mixed Bags Sample Sale!

The PTSA thanks you for your support with our Mixed Bags fundraiser! The samples that were on display in the lobby are for sale at a 25% off of their original retail price. Please view the attached link for pictures and pricing (when you click each picture, name and price are in the left hand corner). If you are interested in purchasing any of these, please contact Erinn Chapman at erinnmchapman@gmail.com.

December Howler published

The December 2012 edition of the monthly Coyote Howler newsletter has been published. Thank you Nicole! CLICK HERE to read it online!

PTSA Board Nominating Committee

Are you interested in being on our PTSA Board or do you know someone who would be really great in a Board position next year? Please take a quick look at the Board positions and their related job descriptions on our website www.cascaderidgeptsa.org (click on PTSA and then Board Members) and let us know who would fit any of these positions. Or, do you know of someone who would generally be a great Board member, but you’re not sure in which specific position? We want to hear from you!!

Starting in January, our Nominating Committee will be collecting the names to slate for our 2013-14 PTSA Board and we always want to get a diverse group of members from our broad community on the Board. Please contact Pam Gross or Deanne King with any names and ideas that you have!

Dad's Play Day

December 7th
10:55-11:20 (3rd/4th)
11:20-11:45 (1st/2nd)
11:45-12:10 (Kindergarten)
11:50-12:15 (5th/Science Tech)

Festival Of Cultures

Festival Of Cultures will be held on Friday February 8, 2013 from 6:00pm-8:00pm. The Festival of Cultures is a family event that celebrates our students, families, and community. We are currently seeking host families to sponsor country booths. Sponsorship involves creating an experience around the country you are representing. This can be through facts, artifacts, games, food, dance, song...whatever you feel best represents your host country. You don’t have to be from the country to represent it – anyone can help our Cascade Ridge kids learn about new, interesting and fun worlds outside our own.
If you are interesting in hosting a booth, please contact Bona Park at chris_bona@msn.com or at (425)427-9307.

Mixed Bags are back!

Back by popular demand the Fall Collection of Mixed Bags will be available for purchase on-line - just in time for some great Holiday gifts! These stylish re-usable bags are eco-friendly as well. 40% of the proceeds from each product purchased will go to Cascade Ridge PTSA. The Fall Collection of Mixed Bags can be viewed at http. On-line sales will kick-off Wednesday, November 14th and close Friday, December 7th. All orders will ship directly to your home and arrive the week of December 17th. Look for a flyer with more information to come home with your student soon and please stop by the school foyer to check out product samples starting on November 14th. Questions? Contact Erinn Chapman or Helen DiMeco.

To order visit: www.mixedbagbagdesigns.com and click on “online store”. At checkout, when you review and submit your order, you will be asked for your fundraiser i.d. Enter: 19988 to give credit to our fundraiser!

November Howler published

The November issue of the monthly Coyote Howler newsletter has been published online. READ IT HERE!

Fine Arts Night date change

Please note a date change for Fine Arts Night. This event has moved to the Spring, to make way for some amazing activities from the Bellevue Art Museum. Stay tuned for dates/ times on the Cascade Ridge PTSA website!

PTSA Membership

One of our annual PTSA goals is to continue Cascade Ridge PTSA’s record of having at least one PTSA member for every student in the school. This is called "100% Membership" and I am pleased to announce that we have reached this goal already this year. This is quite an accomplishment and it sends the message that the Cascade Ridge community recognizes the collective voice that PTSA provides on behalf of our students; we are serious about representing every student in our school to ensure that each student is given every opportunity available to be successful in their academic careers. Thank you to every PTSA member!

If you haven’t had a chance to join the PTSA and be part of a great organization that celebrates and supports every Cascade Ridge student, it’s not too late! Sign up here. You’ll be glad you did!

2012 holiday program to assist families in need

"Caring through Sharing" is a holiday gift program for Issaquah School District families with children ages birth-18. New this year, Pickering Barn will become a “department store” for families in need to do their holiday shopping. Please click on the Issaquah Food Bank website below to get to the link for more details and registration forms: http://issaquahfoodbank.org/ (Ctrl + Click to follow link). Registration is required between November 1-30. This link has the information for Issaquah School District families in need who want to register as a shopper as well as information for anyone or any group wishing to donate items to the Holiday Shop.

Picture Make-Up/Retake Day

Picture Make-up/Retake Day is Thursday November 8th from 9:30 am until PM Kindergarten is finished (approx. 12:00 pm). The photographer will be set up on the stage.
• If your child missed picture day completely please stop by the office and pick up a picture envelope that your child will take and give to the photographer directly on the 8th of November.
• If your child is a new student to our school and did not have their picture taken on Oct 4th you need to pick up a picture envelope from the office that your child will give directly to the photographer on the 8th of Novembe
• If you want a retake, your child will need to return the whole package of original pictures to the photographer on November 8th and then will have a retake done at no extra charg
• If your child forgot their money and/or picture order form on October 4 they may go to retake day at no extra charge. Please stop by the office and pick up an order form before November 8th.
• Volunteers that did not get their picture ID badges done will have a 2nd chance on the 8th from 11:00-11:40 am.

5th grade pumpkin carving contest

Attention fifth graders! Welcome to the annual 5th grade pumpkin carving contest! Entries are due this Friday, October 26 at 8:30am. See this flyer for the entry form and details.

Veteran's Day assembly

Please invite a veteran to our Veteran’s Day Assembly. This year’s assembly will be at 9:00 on the morning of November 7, 2012. Uniforms are not necessary, but we would love to see them! It would be helpful if the veterans (and family members) who are planning to attend send an R.S.V.P to Nona Wright just so we are prepared with enough seating. Thanks for helping to spread the word about this invitation to honor those who have served our country.

Coyote Crazy Wild West Walkathon is HERE!

Howdy Partners! Mark your calendars October 26 2:45-6:00 pm and don't miss the annual Cascade Ridge Walkathon. Go on-line today to register your student(s), order meals, and donate! The is THE fund raising event of the year and the PTSA hopes to meet our $45,000 goal. Year after year this event is celebrated by all Cascade Ridge families. Participants can walk laps, play carnival games, and eat tasty treats! There are many fun surprises in store this year. Come enjoy meals by Qdoba and JetCity Pizza (pre-ordering is required for meals). The Silent Auction just keeps getting bigger and better each year and you will want to check it out. See you at the Walkathon! Registration deadline extended to October 25. Students must be registered to participate.

Caring Coyotes wanted!

Caring Coyotes is open to all 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students who would like to plan and carry out service projects that benefit our local community. Our first meeting was held on Oct. 2, but it is not too late to join! Our next meetings will be on the following Tuesdays: October 16, November 13 & November 27 - from 3:00 - 3:30 in Mrs. Fritsch's Classroom, Room 261. Additional meetings will be scheduled for 2013 at a later date.

Our Mission: Caring Coyotes strives to provide members with opportunities to serve and better our local community, to build relationships with one another and with community members and to broaden both the understanding of need and the value of a helping hand within our community. Questions? Contact Anjuli Bates or Elaine Fritsch.

Walkathon registration now open!

Our big annual Walkathon and Fall Festival is just around the corner! This is our only major fundraiser of the year, so we'd love for everyone to pitch in to help us reach our goal. Online registration and meals are now available online. CLICK HERE to get started!

Vision/Hearing screening volunteers needed

We are still looking for volunteers for the Vision and Hearing Screening day at Cascade Ridge, coming up on Monday, 10/15. This is a fun and busy day that requires many helpers in order to get through all the kids. There are 11 morning spots (8:30a - 12:00p) still needing to be filled, and 6 afternoon spots (12:00p - 3:00p). Our wonderful school nurse, Alison Cathro, will train us and guide us through the day. Please choose a time slot that works for you. Due to the busy nature of the job, we ask that preschoolers/babies stay at home. Please contact Angie Lukens to sign up - thank you!

Coyote Howler, October 2012 edition, published

The October edition of our Coyote Howler monthly newsletter is now available online. CLICK HERE to read it! You should also have received an email on October 1 with the Howler content in it. If you did not receive this email, check your email preferences and make sure you have the "Howler" checkbox checked.

Become a member of the PTSA!

The deadlines have passed, but it's not too late to still join the Cascade Ridge PTSA! We are currently at 92% membership--very close to our goal of 100%. If you haven't already, please take the time to go to our website and become a member today! You'll be glad you did!

PTSA Hospitality Committee

We had so much fun, let’s do it again! The PTSA Hospitality Committee hosted our several “Welcome!” events throughout last year, and a great time was had by all – both new members to our Cascade Ridge / Trossachs community, as well as some familiar faces, too. Let’s do it again! If you are new to our community, OR if you have been around a while but would like to join us for a warm greeting, friendly chat, and a cup of “Market Spice Tea,” please mark your calendar for our next “Welcome!” event, Wednesday, October 3, 9am – 11am at the lovely home of Juli Kubicki (send email to Pamela Franklin for the address). Questions or interest in volunteering for the Hospitality Committee? Contact Pamela Franklin.

Walkathon t-shirt design winners!

After reviewing 68 creative submissions, the result was a 3-way tie! Congratulations to: Lielyn Mercer (4th Grade), Keaton Staggs (3rd Grade), and Ishan Vig (4th Grade). Your designs will be combined into ONE amazing 2012 Walkathon t-shirt! Special mention for the runners up: June Chong, Via Cooper, Ariana Dunn, Summer Jones, and Katie Yu. All submissions were out of this world. Thank you to all the Coyote Crazy artists out there. If you submitted a design, watch for it during the Walkathon. It will still be used as part of the decorations.

Caring Coyotes

Calling all Caring Coyotes! Caring Coyotes is open to any 3rd, 4th, or 5th grade students who would like to get together to plan and carry out service projects that benefit our local community. Our first meeting with students will be Tuesday, October 2 from 3:00 to 3:30 in Mrs. Fritsch’s room (Room 261). We will not be meeting every Tuesday. The actual number of times that we meet will depend upon what projects our members choose for service.

Our Mission: Caring Coyotes strives to provide members with opportunities to serve and better their local community, to build relationships with one another and with community members, and to broaden both the understanding of need and the value of a helping hand within our community.

If your student is interested in joining Caring Coyotes please contact Anjuli Bates (batesa@issaquah.wednet.edu) or Elaine Fritsch (fritsche@issaquah.wednet.edu) with any questions.

Dad's Play Day

Please join us on Friday, October 5th for the first Dads' Play Day of the new school year! All dads, moms, and other special guests are invited to join your child to play for lunch recess. See lunch schedule below. This year, there will be no parent lunches available from the Cafe. If you plan to eat lunch with your child, please plan to bring your own lunch. Questions? Lynette Springborn: lspringborn@gmail.com

10:55-11:20 3rd & 4th Grade Recess
11:20-11:45 1st & 2nd Grade Recess
11:45-12:10 Full Day Kindergarten Recess
11:50-12:15 5th Grade Recess

Complete your First Day Packet today!

If you haven't completed your Online First Day Packet yet, please do so today! We need all Cascade Ridge families to complete this, so that we can ensure your correct information in our records. It's super easy and only takes a couple minutes, and then you're done! CLICK HERE to get started.

Walkathon t-shirt design contest!

Calling all Cascade Ridge students! YOU have the opportunity to design the t-shirts for the Coyote Crazy Wild West Walkathon 2012. To download the contest template and rules, click here. Submissions are due by Tuesday September 25, 3:15 PM in the front office. Winner will be announced by Friday, September 28. Follow the rules and have fun!

PTSA General Membership meeting

Don’t miss the first General Meeting of the year, Tuesday September, 25th from 7:00-8:30pm. The agenda includes:
* Approval of our final 2012-13 budget
* Approval of 2012-13 Standing Rules and Mission & Goals
* Election of Secretary
* Report of Financial Review
* Discussion of plans for the year

Attention 5th grade parents

You are invited to attend a Principal and 5th Grade Committee meeting which will be held Thursday September 25th at 6:15-7:00pm. The following info will be covered:

• 5th Grade Camp
• Opportunity to participate in 5th Grade Ffunctions such as 5th Grade Commencement, Service Projects and more!

Any questions, or if you are interested in more information about the 5th Grade Committee contact: Rachel Schnebele at rachelschnebele@comcast.net.

Math Club sign ups now open

Math Club is for 4th and 5th grade students who are interested in extra math enrichment outside of class, and who may even wish to compete in the statewide Math Olympiad and Math Championship competitions. Come to an informational meeting to learn more about Math Club on Sept. 20 at 7:30pm in the Coyote Cafe. To sign up for Math Club, CLICK HERE! Deadline for sign ups is Friday, Sept. 28.

Teachers and staff -- you can join too!

Teachers and staff should complete the Online First Day Packet for staff members. By registering on our website, you can sign up to receive our Howler newsletter, become a PTSA member at a discounted rate, and order Coyote Wear.

DATE CHANGE! Welcome Back Coffee moved to Sept. 14

Sorry for the last minute date change! Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Welcome Back Coffee has been moved to September 14.

First Lego League registration open

We are now accepting registrations for 4th and 5th grade students who wish to participate in the First Lego League program. Deadline for registration is September 12. For more information and to register, click here.

September 2012 Howler published online

The first edition of this year's Coyote Howler newsletter has been published online. You can read it here. A printed version of this edition will also be sent home with each child this week. But future editions are electronic only, so check your email settings to make sure that you will receive it in your Inbox every month!

Complete your First Day Packet today!

Welcome to the new school year! Whether you've been in the community for years, or whether you're just joining us for the first time, we need everyone to complete the PTSA's Online First Day Packet. At Cascade Ridge, we take care of most of our business online throughout the year, and this includes sign ups for programs and events, ordering, volunteer sign ups, and lots more. If you do not have an account on this website, you won't receive our communications, and you'll miss out on all the fun! If you already have an account from last year, you don't need to create a brand new one ... but you do still need to sign in and complete the Online First Day Packet. This will allow you to become PTSA members, pre-order your yearbooks, browse through our amazing catalog of Coyote Spirit Wear, and volunteer for all the great programs we have to offer. Many of these opportunities will not be available after September 14, so please get this done today!

Learn to speak Spanish at Cascade Ridge!

Foreign Language for Youth is offering Spanish to students at Cascade Ridge Elementary this year. Classes begin the week of October 15th and continue until spring. Don’t pass up this great opportunity for your student to learn a second language! Registration is due before September 28, 2012, however some classes fill early. Only 10 kids per class. Click here for detailed information and/or to register. Questions? Contact Konni Barich or 360-779-5269, or Cascade Ridge program chairs Ann Brooks or Peggy Rodman.

Meet Your Teacher and Popsicle Social -- Fri., Aug 31

Come “Meet Your Teacher” on Friday, August 31st from 8:30-9:30am, and drop off your school supplies in your classroom! All pre-ordered school supplies will be available for pick up in the gym. Immediately following Meet the Teacher, the PTSA will be hosting a Popsicle Social from 9-10am on the playground. Stop by and check out the new Coyote Spirit Wear with new items this year including Dri-Fit Tees, baseball Tees, zip up hoodies and yoga pants all with the new Cascade Ridge Coyotes logo in both Youth and Adult sizes. Items will be available for sizing only and can be purchased online when you complete your First Day Packet via the PTSA website. Mixed Bag samples offered at a discount as well as $5 Brown Bear Car Wash tickets will be available for purchase. Don’t miss the chance to enter the door prize to win a First Response First Aid Kit and get a sneak peak at our new spring fundraiser.

Reflections coordinator wanted!

We are searching for someone to chair Reflections, the national PTSA-sponsored arts program that takes place in the Fall. Reflections is a fabulous way for our Cascade Ridge kids to grow and express themselves artistically. The chairperson will promote and organize the program, along with their volunteer team, and have lots of fun in the process! No special art skills needed – we need you! To volunteer or ask more questions, please contact Ann Brooks or Peggy Rodman.

Welcome back coffee -- Sept 14 @8:30am

It's incredible to believe that the first day of school is here, and what better way to ring in the new school year than coffee, donuts, and conversation with fellow parents and staff! Come and talk with Principal Natalie Fowler and get to know what's happening at the school. Rekindle old friendships, meet new friends and learn about the exciting programs and events being offered at Cascade Ridge this year. Hope to see you there!

School supplies list

For those that are shopping for school supplies, the list of required supplies for each grade level is here. Please bring your supplies to your classroom on Meet the Teacher day on August 31 at 8:30am. For those that pre-ordered school supplies last spring, your prepackaged boxes will be available for pick-up at the school on Meet the Teacher day.

Brown Bear Car Wash tickets on sale for $5.00!

Cascade Ridge PTSA is offering a summer sale on Brown Bear Car Wash tickets. The sale will run from 8/8 – 8/22 and tickets will be hand delivered to your home or mailbox. All the details are listed below. If you’d like to place an order for tickets please e-mail me at hdimeco@comcast.net and I will arrange ticket delivery with you.

• $5 Ticket is good for the “Bear Essentials” tunnel car wash at most Brown Bear locations.
• All participating locations are listed on the back of each ticket.
• If you wish to upgrade to the “Beary Good” or “Beary Best”, you pay the difference, usually $3 or $6, respectively.
• Each ticket sale earns $3.50 for Cascade Ridge PTSA.
• Tickets expire 10/31/1012.

Walkathon chair needed!

We are in desperate need of help with the Fall Festival & Walkathon currently scheduled for late October! If you are interested in Chairing, Co-Chairing or helping on the Committee please contact Helen Dimeco at hdimeco@comcast.net or Deanne King at deannewking@live.com.