PTA Weekly
Important Upcoming Dates
See the Wedgwood PTA website calendar for a full list of events
Wednesday, Jan. 30: No School – Day Between Semesters
Friday, Feb. 1, 6-8 p.m.: Wedgwood Cultural Celebration
February 11 – 6:30-8 p.m: PTA Board Meeting in Wedgwood Library
February 18-22 –NO SCHOOL, Presidents Day and Mid-winter break
February 28 – 5-7 p.m.: Wedgwood Elementary Potluck
Cultural Festival - this Friday!
New and exciting things are happening at this year’s Cultural Festival, on Friday, Feb. 1 from 6-8 p.m.!
We'll celebrate the family traditions and cultural influences that make our community so special. We’ll have exciting performances, family-led activities and food from around the world. Come early!!
Anyone who wants to bring a dish, lead an activity or help out during the event can sign up at wedgwoodpta.org/events.
You'll see new and exciting performances by Gansango African Dance Company, SAYAW Filipino American Student Association UW, Japan Creative Arts Taiko Drumming, Wedgwood Choir and other student performers.
Schedule:
Potluck & Activity Tables Open: 6 p.m.
Gansango African Dance: 6:25-6:40 p.m.
SAYAW Filipino American Student Association UW: 6:45-7 p.m.
WW Choir: 7-7:10 p.m.
Student Performers: 7:15-7:30 p.m.
Japan Creative Arts Taiko Drumming: 7:40-8 p.m.
For questions, contact Kris Van Houten at kvanhouten209@gmail.com or Tonya Webster at chanelbonheu@gmail.com.
Vote for Seattle Public Schools Levies: Feb. 2019
In February 2019, Seattle voters will be asked to replace two expiring levies to fund Seattle Public Schools — an operations levy and a capital levy.
There is currently a gap between what the state funds and what Seattle students need, including Wedgwood Elementary. So every three years, the district asks voters to renew the operations levy. The levy funds critical needs of the district and maintains the quality of education that our students and families expect. This levy helps make up the gap to fund critical needs.
The Wedgwood Elementary PTA, along with the Seattle Council PTSA have voted to endorse the renewal of these expiring levies. Please visit our blog post written by PTA Legislative Coordinator Amalia Magaret to learn more about what these levies will provide, and how you can support its passage.
Black Lives Matter at School: Feb. 4-8
February is Black History Month! February 4-8, be part of the nationwide movement that started in Seattle to stand up for black lives and education - Black Lives Matter at School. See Mr. Liu's Principal Newsletter for more information about what's happening at Wedgwood. Families can also read this resolution passed by the Seattle Council PTSA in support, and don't be afraid to talk about race and equity with your child at home. Looking to diversify your home library? Teaching for Change is a great resource for books, listed by topic (including Black History) and grouped for different ages.
Check out the Diversity and Inclusion bulletin board in February for more on Black History and Black Lives Matter!
Musical tickets on sale!
The always-popular Wedgwood Musical is back this year with Roald Dahl's "Willy Wonka Jr!" Come watch Wedgwood 3rd-5th graders sing, dance, and transform our stage into a chocolate factory. Here are the details:
Performances:
Friday, March 8 at 6 p.m.
Saturday, March 9 at 6 p.m.
Sunday, March 10 at 4 p.m.
Monday, March 11 – All-school assembly. This performance is for Wedgwood students only. No tickets will be sold for this performance.
Tickets: On sale Monday, January 28 on “first come/first served” basis. There is a limit of 12 tickets per family for all performances, not per show.
Location: Wedgwood Elementary Stage (in the Cafeteria)
Run Time: 75 minutes
Cost: $5/ticket (please contact Ms. Waltzer for financial assistance)
Please direct any questions to wedgwoodmusical@gmail.com.
Get ready for the auction!
Save the Date! The Wedgwood Auction is March 22, 6-10 p.m. at The Mountaineers.
Mark your calendars for the annual auction on Friday, March 22. This year’s theme is A Night in Monte Carlo, and it’s shaping up to be a magical night of food, fun and fundraising!
Did you know that the school auction raises a significant portion of the PTA budget, which funds enrichment programs like garden education, art docents, classroom technology, student council activities, and community-building events like the back-to-school barbeque? It even pays for copy room supplies and a per teacher stipend for classroom and curriculum supplies.
None of that is possible without you – our amazing community of parents and educators. To have a successful auction, we need items to auction off:
Vacations – second homes, time shares and boats outings
Tickets – Seats at sporting events and performing arts
Alcohol – Premium wine or liquor. Know a brewer, vintner or distiller? Hook us up with a private tasting or club membership!
Parties – Brunch, BBQ, bourbon tasting, the possibilities are endless.
Do you own a business or sell your services? Auction sponsorships are a great way to advertise to the Wedgwood community and start at just $100!
Donation Deadline is February 15, 2019.
Click here to download the procurement/sponsorship form. For more information, please contact Chris Korol at procurement.auctionwedgwood@gmail.com or Martina Austin at sponsorship.auctionwedgwood@gmail.com.
Donate your used books for the PTA used book sale
Time to start your spring cleaning: The PTA will start collecting used children’s books for the upcoming used book sale starting next week! Drop your donations in front of the library – kid's books only please. All book sales support our PTA and your kids! (P.S. Save the date: Sale will be Wednesday-Friday, April 24-26 in the library. If you want to help out or have question contact Emilie Wicker at Emiliewicker@hotmail.com.
Admin needed for Wedgwood Families Facebook group
If you are on the private Wedgwood Families Facebook group and enjoy the discussions, fun photos, resources, and quick answers you get from other parents in the community, consider signing up to act as the Administrator for the group during the 2019-2020 school year. The gig is easy and requires less than an hour a week of time. All you have to do is read the posts to make sure people are posting appropriate material, not posting kids’ full names, and acting civilly towards one another.
We have a great community so this is rarely an issue. You also need to approve new member requests, which consists of making sure the person has either been added by a current parent member or is definitely a parent at the school. My child graduates this year, so I need a K-4 parent to take over in June, 2018. Because the WW Facebook group is NOT administered by the school or PTA and is parent run, it requires a current parent to act as Administrator. Please send Elise Gruber a private message through Facebook if you are interested. Thanks!
Help keep kids moving: Volunteer for Mighty Movers!
Hey Wedgwood parents! Are your kids in K-3? Want them moving at lunch recess? Help keep the Mighty Movers program running! Sign up here. No weekly commitment needed. Volunteers needed on Mondays from 11:25- 12:20.
If the weather is rainy we cancel for that day. Help make this program a success. We couldn’t do it without you!!! Questions? Contact Roshni Hourselt atazroshni04@yahoo.com.
Junior League Northwest Art Exhibit returns to Wedgwood
The Junior League has lent Wedgwood another beautiful art exhibit, which we have installed in the library. The show is "Wildlife- Free and Untamed" - a collection of pieces that were all created by Northwest artists and share the theme of animals. Some of you may remember this program from years past, it will be new to many.
Please feel free to still into the library after school to view the entire exhibit as a whole; there are just 7 pieces, so it's a quick trip to the "art museum."
Reasons why the NW Art Exhibit is great:
1) It's a real art exhibit in our school! We have kids at Wedgwood who haven't had exposure to museums and this is a great way to get the art to them. Easier than a field trip!
2) There are several works in the exhibit so there's something for every kid- sculpture, mixed media, painting...
3) Every piece has an animal this year! What kid doesn't love animals?
4) The kids are invited to touch the sculptures. Just make sure it's a "one finger" touch.
The show is up until February 8, so make sure to take a peek before it's too late. And don't miss the largest piece in the window- covered in sequins, it's a showstopper!
Who wants to play ultimate frisbee?
Is your 3rd-5th grade child interested in playing Ultimate Frisbee? We are looking at starting a team at Wedgwood and trying to gauge interest. Ultimate is a very fun, active, and unique team sport that emphasizes sportsmanship. It is co-ed and multi-grade.
If your child is interested and/or you are interested in coaching/helping out, please email WedgwoodUltimate@gmail.com asap. Team sign ups are mid-February.
Submitting to the Weekly
Got a news item you want the school community to know about? Send your news item (that's either related to Wedgwood or our local community) in 200 words or less by Thursday at 5pm to news@wedgwoodpta.org. Please include your text in the body of an email and remove all formatting. Please do not submit PDFs, flyers or images. (See archived issues of the newsletter.)
Wedgwood Weekly | news@wedgwoodpta.org