School Picture RETAKE Day

November 20, 2009

School portrait retake day will be this Friday. Your student must bring back their original package with all of their pictures. Please have your child turn the package into their teacher first thing on Friday morning. Students will be called from their class throughout the morning. Students that do not turn in their original portrait package will not have their pictures retaken.

If your student was not here on the original picture day, they will be called to take pictures on Friday. Please dress your child appropriately. The background is a sapphire blue.

Somerset PTSA Executive Committee Nominations

November 5

Please help your child and Somerset Elementary by volunteering as an Executive Officer of the Somerset PTSA for next year. PTSA members may nominate themselves or other members. Nominations are now being accepted for the following 2010-2011 year positions: President, President-Elect, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer. Detailed descriptions of Officer duties can be found here. Click here for the Nomination form. Please return forms to the PTSA box in the office by Friday, November 27, 2009.

Young Scientist Week Kicks Off!

November 2

Yes, believe it or not, Young Scientist Week is back! This week starts the first week of preparation! Download the YSW Schedule Checklist and get your Scientific Method on! Additional information can be found at here.

If you have any questions, contact the YSW Chair, Michael Ketchum, at ketch18@gmail.com.

PTA Reflections

Beauty is...

The Reflections Program is a National PTA and Washington State PTA cultural arts competition. The purpose of this program is to provide an opportunity for students to use their creative talents by expressing themselves through their own original works.

Each year, Reflections challenges students to create art that supports a specific theme. Themes are selected from thousands of ideas submitted by students to National PTA's Reflections Theme Search.

The 2009-2010 Reflections theme is: "Beauty is...".

Young artists get involved in Reflections through their local PTA or PTSA. A student may submit an entry in any of six arts areas. Only original works of art are accepted. The six art areas are: Literature, Music Composition, Photography, Visual Arts, Film/Video and Choreography/Dance.

Finished entries should be turned into the main office at school, on or before, November 20th, by 4PM. Each entry must be accompanied by an official entry form which includes the student's name, grade (or first period) teacher's name, and parent's or guardian's signature. Be sure you have read the rules and comply with them, so that your entry is not disqualified.

Legislative Update

September 7, 2009

See what's new in the latest Legislative Affairs Update! Highlights include getting to know the new Superintendent, the Bellevue School District Blog, School Board participation, the new election season, and the Bellevue Council Candidates Forum. Stay informed!

H1N1 "Swine" Flu

13 September 2009

At Somerset Elementary, we want to provide you with current information regarding the H1N1 Virus. Please take time to review the procedures regarding the flu as outlined by the CDC and the Bellevue School District in the document below. We are stressing the importance of hand washing, covering a cough or sneeze, and staying home whenever you are not feeling well. We appreciate your support in keeping Somerset a healthy place to learn and grow.

H1N1 Parents' Handout

Additional information about H1N1 flu is available on the Web site for the Centers for Disease Control at http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/.

Character Education Partnership Award

2009 National Schools of Character Promising Practices

We are very pleased to announce that Somerset has been selected as a 2009 National Schools of Character Promising Practices award winner! This award is given by the Character Education Partnership (CEP) to schools that demonstrate “unique and exemplary practices that encourage the ethical, social and academic growth of K-12 students through character education”. CEP chose to recognize Somerset’s PhD (Parent Development) Program as a model for other schools to include in their character education programs. Information about our PhD program will be published in the 2009 National Schools of Character book, and featured on the CEP’s website, www.character.org. As an award winner, our school will be honored at the CEP National Forum on Character Education in Washington, D.C. to be held in October 2009. Thanks go to Joelle Campbell, Karen Ruby and Natasha Nimmo for their work in applying for the award!