Here are three great opportunities for Chautauqua students

and families to have fun with Science!  

Science Fair 2008

15th Annual Science Fair

Saturday April 18th 2009

10:00am - 3:00pm

at McMurray Middle School in the Multipurpose Room

This community wide event welcomes all entries and visitors.  In addition to science fair projects on display, we will have special guests and lots of fun activities for all ages.  Science fair 2009 will be Saturday April 18th from 10 am to 3 pm.  There will also be a student presentation for the parents Friday evening April 17th from 7 pm to 8 pm.  This will provide the opportunity to speak with the students about their work. This year’s science fair will feature all of the wonderful projects submitted by the 6th and 8th grade McMurray students as well as any other projects from all other grade levels and public and private schools.  Present at the fair this year will be the bone factory with their wonderful display.  Barbara Gustafson will be leading lots of fun hands on activities for all ages.  On the left is Elias Muller and on the right is Joe Shugart.  For information or volunteer opportunities please contact Donna Gagner 463-4225.  This event is sponsored by the Vashon PTSA.
 

Science Trek

Science Trek is an after-school program for children in grades 3-5.  Three fun and interesting sessions will exploring these topics: Consumer Reports Investigation, Gizmos and Gadgets and Beautiful Beasts.  Click on the link below for more information, dates and registration forms.

 Science Trek Information

PTSA Family Science Night

Families of CES students are invited to participate in five different Family Science Nights this year.  Topics will be:   Magnificent Magnification, Engineering Science, Balancing Act, Fun with forces, Wet and Wild.  We will be performing experiments, making predictions, gathering data and sharing ideas.  Please join us!  Click on the link below for more information, dates and registration forms.

Science Night Information

Show Your Support for Vashon Island Community PTSA!

If you've never been a member of the PTSA, now is the time to join. If you were a member in years past, now is the time to renew your membership. We've added a new membership category this year; now for $35 every member in your family can become a member of PTSA!

Your membership dollars are key to helping support the continuation of great PTSA programs such as: local and national legislative representation; CES family science nights; the Science Fair; McMurray rec night; Vashon Artists in Schools; and so much more.

Membership forms are available online at the following link or in the CES front office.

http://vashonptsa.org/docs/membership_brochure.pdf

If you have questions about membership contact Mary Kay Rauma at 484-8784. 

Together we can make 2008-2009 another monumental year!

By Rose Edgecombe
Vashon PTSA Communications Chair {and mother of two students at VHS}

In January every Vashon Island School District teacher received a gift from the PTSA in the form of a check for $50.  “The message to our teachers is we appreciate you and we want to say thank you.  We are honored to participate.” said Denise Katz, PTSA President.  This year’s PTSA Back to School Drive, spearheaded by Bob and Lauri Hennessey, was very successful with funds remaining after students’ school supply needs had been met.  It was suggested to Bob Hennessey that the balance go to teachers for classroom supplies.  The PTSA Board embraced the idea.  In December the Board voted to “top off” the balance with money from the 2007 PTSA Auction budget, allowing for a disbursement of $50 to every teacher.  

This year has been a difficult time at the school district in terms of finances.  Superintendent Terry Lindquist is leading the district towards fiscal soundness and that includes some necessary belt-tighten along the way.   Many teachers have bridged the financial gap by procuring supplies and materials out-of-pocket with no expectation of reimbursement.  For some teachers that amounts hundreds of dollars.

So this little windfall discovered in teachers’ in-boxes was a nice surprise and a big morale booster.  The $50 was handy, but the message that the Vashon community values our teachers was priceless.   One teacher expressed, “I can't tell you how blessed I felt to know that our community understands and appreciates us.”   Another comments “Thanks again for your generosity and support of our teachers and students.  It really makes a difference.”

Here is a sampling of what teachers from CES, MMS, VHS and Family link have been able to purchase:  Lots of books; Shakespeare, reading books, resource books, dictionaries, book club books, Spanish instructional materials, food and supplies for the “Revolutionary Brunch” at MMS, art supplies, classroom prizes for motivators, project boards, markers, crayons, glue sticks, colored construction paper, music, a pencil sharpener, and materials for a class play on Native Americans.  Go to the PTSA website www.vashonptsa.org to read teachers’ comments.

The Vashon PTSA will provide opportunity for continued support to our teachers at the 2008 PTSA auction in May, with a special “Raise-the-Paddle” to raise money for teacher training.  

For more comments from teachers press read more