The Little School » News & Events

Volunteer at TLS

Jenna — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 01:28:41 +0000

Whether you have a little or more time to spare, TLS’ parent association has a volunteer opportunity to match your interest. So much of what makes our community special happens through the generous effort of our parents. Each year the Parent Association hosts key events for families at TLS, including the Heritage Festival, Art Festival, End-of-Year Celebration, Faculty-Staff Apprecation Luncheon and more. It also helps the greater community through clothing and food drives, brings together outside fun through Family Events nights at Skate King and Mariners, and enriches our education through a speaker program.

We’re looking especially for folks to help Nancy in the library, to work with Sally as an art helper, or to co-chair fabulous events like the Art Festival or End-of-Year Celebration — both beloved by TLS families.

When you volunteer, you feel connected too, so please respond to the volunteer survey, or contact Julia Knight at julia.a.knight@gmail.com if you have questions.

[contact-form]

Description of Events & Volunteer Opportunities
All parents are expected to participate in the following:
Activity	Duties
Field Trips	Parents of full-day students drive and supervise small groups of classmates. There are occasional field trips for half day classes as well. _________________________________________________________________________
Swimming	Parents of Woods Building students take turns driving groups of classmates to and from TLS to regular swim days at a local pool. _________________________________________________________________________
Class Snacks	Parents take turns providing snacks for half-day classes. Teachers will inform parents of dietary restrictions. _________________________________________________________________________
PAC Fundraisers	Parents participate in the “giving where you already spend your money” fundraising activities, such as amazon.com, PCC and other scrip cards, Chinook book sales and other programs. These provide funding for events — Family Heritage Festival, Art Festival, End-of-Year Celebration, Community Enrichment Presentations — and school grant programs such as the art exhibit, Soundbridge and others. _______________________________________________________________________

Art Festival Booth	Parents help by signing up to staff a booth for an hour or two on the day of the festival. Each family is asked to take a shift for each of their children’s classrooms.
Parents should volunteer at one or more school events
Family Heritage Festival (March)	Parents host this popular fall event that welcomes us back to the school year and celebrates our community. The evening invites sharing of our own unique heritages through food and music. Volunteers are asked to bring a potluck dish, help with planning and organizing and help with set-up and clean-up. _______________________________________________________________________
Faculty Staff Appreciation Luncheon (February)	Families provide food and treats, set up, serve and clean up at this luncheon held around Valentine’s Day each year. It is a special way to say “thank you” to the teachers and staff at the school who support our children all year, and is very much appreciated by our staff and teachers. (Clean-up crews get to sample the amazing fare!) _______________________________________________________________________

Art Festival (May)	The Art Festival is a tradition that dates back to the school’s early years, celebrating children’s art with a combination kids’ craft fair and exhibit. The Meadows building center room becomes an art gallery in which students’ artwork is displayed. Booths run by parents from each class provide a variety of projects for kids of all ages to enjoy. Little School families, relatives, and friends are all invited to attend. Volunteers are asked to help with planning, working booths, set up and clean up. _________________________________________________________________________
End-of-Year Celebration (June)	During the last week of classes, the Parent Association hosts an end-of-year celebration at the school with food and socializing. It’s a great way to end another year of discovery and adventure at The Little School and to celebrate the beginning of summer.
Volunteer drop-in opportunities assisting staff:
Office Projects	Stuff envelopes, make copies, or do other assorted tasks for admissions and institutional advancement. It’s a great way to get to know other families while saving the school money on expensive outsourcing. Particularly needed during enrollment season. _______________________________________________________________________
Technology Support	Are you a database whiz? Great with networks? Website guru? Whatever your expertise is, we could probably use it. Lend your expertise to projects large or small. ________________________________________________________________________
House and Grounds	Help with school campus maintenance tasks. ________________________________________________________________________
Forest Restoration	Planting and restoring the native environment. ________________________________________________________________________
Library	Librarian Nancy Palmer is delighted to have parent volunteers assist her with caring for our library. One-time tasks to regular weekly stints – she’s got something to suit any time budget. _______________________________________________________________________
Book Fair	The annual Book Fair raises money for the library. Parents can help set up, cashier, guide students as they browse available titles, or clean up / tear down. _______________________________________________________________________

Admissions Outreach	The school’s Admissions Manager needs current parents to help with the school’s outreach to prospective new families. Write notes to prospective families, or be available as a reference to answer questions from the perspective of a current TLS parent.
Please also consider one of these opportunities:
Room Representative	Room Representatives (“Room Reps”) build community within their child’s classroom in a variety of ways, including: scheduling at least one get-together during the year and keeping the class informed of school activities and opportunities. In addition, room reps assist the teacher with tasks that may include organizing snack lists, coordinating drivers for field trips and other needs. Room Reps should attend the four general parent association meetings during the year. Delegation and communication skills are important. This is a fantastic way to get plugged in! _______________________________________________________________________
Community Service Chair	Coordinate community service outreach projects such as food and clothing drives. Includes publicity within the community, coordinating food/donation drop off, etc. ________________________________________________________________________
Art Exhibit Coordinator	Coordinate the retrieval and set up / take down of art provided by the Bellevue Art Museum Traveling Art exhibit. ________________________________________________________________________
Children’s Garden Summer Help	Help maintain the children’s garden during the summer by signing up for a week or more of watering duty. ________________________________________________________________________
Alumni Night	Open to all parents, Alumni Night provides an opportunity to hear alumni and their parents reflect on The Little School experience and the transition to education beyond TLS. It is a valuable way to learn more about how The Little School educational philosophy supports students’ growth and development while at the school and beyond into new school settings and adulthood. Volunteers assist during the evening and with set-up and clean-up.
Family Events	Throughout the year family-friendly get-togethers are planned such as roller-skating and a trip to a Mariners game. A parent chair helps by organizing and coordinating staffing for the events. New ideas for family fun are always welcome! _______________________________________________________________________

New Family Outreach	Parent volunteers help to reach out to new families to help them to feel welcome and connected to the community. _______________________________________________________________________
Open House and Tours	Two open houses are scheduled in the year to provide prospective parents an opportunity to see the school and meet the teachers. There are also school tours for prospective families and tours of the Meadows full-day and Woods programs for current families. The school’s Admissions Manager organizes these events and requests parent assistance with providing refreshments, and acting as docents or parent representatives. Assistance is also needed in following up on questions from prospective parents via phone calls, notes, or email. ________________________________________________________________________

Help from Home	If you are available to help from home during your own hours, sign up to help with ad-hoc projects such as creating flyers or signs, or providing refreshments for a school or Parent Association event. You will be contacted as opportunities arise.

Born Learning: The Science of Learning and What it Reveals about the Mind of the Child

Jenna — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 04:52:19 +0000

Together with the Parent Association, The Little School is proud to bring Dr. Andy Meltzoff to speak to The Little School Community.

Date: October 7, 2010

Time: 7-8:30 PM
Cost: FREE for TLS Families, $10.00 Public
Location: Sammamish High School Performance Auditorium
Speaker: Andrew N. Meltzoff
Title: Born Learning: The Science of Learning and What it Reveals about the Mind of the Child
Affiliation: Co-director, Institute for Learning & Brain Sciences

New scientific insights often come from unexpected and even humble places. Some of the most important breakthroughs in brain science have come from the study of young children. State-of-the-art techniques now allow researchers to look at the brain signals generated as young children play, learn, solve problems, look at their mother’s face, and listen languages. Scientists are making more rapid progress than ever before in understanding the connections between brain and behavior and uncovering the important ways that culture influences the mind of the young child. I will discuss recent discoveries in social, emotional, cognitive, linguistic, and brain development, and consider their practical implications for policy and early childhood education. I will also discuss the University of Washington’s new Institute for Learning & Brain Sciences – an Institute devoted to children’s learning – and what it means for the Northwest.

[contact-form]

(First Day of School Photo Gallery)*

Jenna — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 04:17:10 +0000

Sorry, you don’t have access to this content. Please log in or contact a site administrator for help.

(Save Money and Support TLS)*

Jenna — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 07:45:28 +0000

Sorry, you don’t have access to this content. Please log in or contact a site administrator for help.

Back to School Concert and Ice Cream Social

Jenna — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 07:37:38 +0000

Let’s celebrate the official start of school with a concert on the Big Field. Bring the family, throw down your blanket and let’s rock with local kindie-pop group The Not-Its! All the ice-cream you can reasonably digest will be served.
Sunday September 12th at 3:00 PM

Special thanks to The Little School Board of Trustees for hosting this jammin’ shindig!

Painting and Popsicles with Peter

Jenna — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 07:34:09 +0000

Peter’s working on a special project to welcome everyone back to school and he needs your help! Can you join us to help paint a WELCOME BACK sign? We’ll provide the banner, paint and popsicles – you provide the creative support!

Meadows Students – August 26th at 2 PM
Woods Students – August 27th at 1:30 PM

(Back to School Information and Reminders)*

Jenna — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 07:31:43 +0000

Sorry, you don’t have access to this content. Please log in or contact a site administrator for help.

(New shirt, new start)*

Jenna — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 07:29:26 +0000

Sorry, you don’t have access to this content. Please log in or contact a site administrator for help.

(August 25th)*

Jenna — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 07:26:06 +0000

Sorry, you don’t have access to this content. Please log in or contact a site administrator for help.

Parking Lot Safety and Traffic Flow

Jenna — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 06:52:51 +0000

Parking Lot Safety and Traffic Flow
If bringing a younger child to school, we ask that you park your car and accompany the child to and from the classroom each day. He or she must be escorted across the parking lot by an adult or by a responsible older student who is holding hands with the younger one.
When dropping off or picking up your child at Extended Day, please park in the lot and not in the turnaround.

In busy peak traffic periods, please do not cut across the lane of traffic moving in the opposite direction to secure a parking place. This creates crooked parking (that wedges others in), dangerous situations with little ones, and is inconsiderate to those who find their spots taken by the time they get around the turnaround. Instead, continue around the turnaround and down to the parking areas. Parking spaces are marked. “No Parking” areas have been designated for safety and traffic flow – please do not park there. Please observe the handicapped parking areas.

TRANSPORTATION, TRAFFIC AND PARKING
Parents who are in the traffic line waiting to pick up children at the turnaround are asked to keep circling, to permit parents whose children are present to pick them up and leave. When entering the turnaround, yield the right of way to a car that is circling. Circling will reduce everyone’s waiting time.

Loading should take place ONLY in the three vehicles at the front of the line, in the area that is directly supervised by school staff members. The turnaround must be kept clear for emergency vehicle access to our campus. NO PARKING IS PERMITTED IN THE TURNAROUND AT ANY TIME.

When loading or unloading at the Turnaround, please pull your vehicle as close to the curb as possible. Loading/unloading should be done quickly out of respect for those waiting in line. If you anticipate needing more time for pick-up or drop-off, please park and meet your child at the Turnaround or classroom in person.