Helen Baller Newsletter
April 2015
In This Issue:
April 2015
Dear Helen Baller Families,
1 - Letter from Principal
I hope you are getting ready to enjoy a restful and relaxing Spring
Break. We are headed to Phoenix, Arizona for some fun in the
sun. The girls are ready for some pool time. I am going to try to
catch an Arizona Diamondback game. Have a terrific break.
2 - Success Book Roll Call
3 - PTA Calendar
4 - Counselor’s News
5 - April Events
6,7 - Library News/April News
8 - Looking Ahead to May
9,10,11 - BALLER
BLAST
In March we held our Trimester Award Assembly. During the assembly, the Drama Club presented a play that highlighted our
Buddy Bench. They did an excellent job. Thanks to Mrs. Sterle and
all the parents and community members who support the Drama
Club.
IMPORTANT: Your child’s safety is a top priority to us. Everyone
coming to the school must check in at the office before you
are allowed on the school grounds. Even if you are walking your
child down to their classroom you need to check in at the office.
Badges will be given to visitors so school personnel know they
have checked in. You must wear a visitor’s badge.
Our third, fourth and fifth graders will take the new Smarter Balanced tests in math and English language arts. These new tests
replace the Measurements of Student Progress (MSP) in math,
writing and reading (ELA). Fifth graders will continue to take the
MSP in science. The results from these new tests will give a more
accurate picture of whether students are on track to be college
or career ready after high school. Please remember that state
testing should not be the sole judge of a student’s academic skills
and knowledge. A student’s entire performance should always
be considered. It is important that students are at school for the
tests. Please avoid any vacations or doctor’s appointments if
possible. If a student misses a test they can make it up within
the testing window. Please make sure your child/children get a
good night of sleep and eat a balanced breakfast. A letter with
information regarding the Smarter Balanced Assessment and a
specific schedule for each class was sent home at the beginning
of March. For more information about the Smarter Balanced tests
and to try out a practice test yourself, please visit www.k12.wa.us/
smarter. More information about the Common Core may be
found at www.k12.wa.us/corestandards. If you have questions,
please let me know.
Friday, May 1, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. we will have Baller Blast, our school carnival and silent
auction. There will be a ton of games, prizes and food. It should be a fun event and I hope to see
you there. A huge thanks goes out to the Helen Baller PTA for organizing the event.
Thanks to all the families and community members who support Helen Baller. You help make Helen
Baller a great school. If you ever have any questions or concerns, feel free to call me or email me at
[email protected].
Enjoy your Spring Break!
Aaron Parman,
Principal
Success Book Roll Call
Below is a list of students who have signed the Success Book during the month of March. Any Helen Baller staff
member can have a student sign the Success Book for being successful with academics, behavior or work
ethic. Several of the students signed the Success Book multiple times, but I have only listed their name once.
Way to go Helen Baller Bears! We are proud of you!
Aiden Stewart
Eoin Ryan
Calia Rubano
Isabel Newell
Jack Booth
Torin Pasa
Beck Stupfel
Kailey Beaudoin
Joseph Sveen
Ryan Chatterton
Susannah Gillespie
Madeline Johnson
Jake Silva
Kaden Goostree
Logan Cole
Ethan Ouchi
Audrey Benjamin
Mercy Canifax
Leland Heflin
Rylan Ferber
Sofa McClain
Allie Piland
Pyper Cruz
Nicole Alder
Mia Lin
Makenzie Rae
Maya Woods
Sophia Blank
Ty Barnes
Jake Rog
Drake Hayes
Carter Welter
Amanda Livingston
Luke Rubano
Gavin Eagan
An Bui
Mark Linchevskiy
Barrett V.
Hayden Erickson
Marquis Murchinson
Grace Champa
Norah Emrich
Skylerr Jenkins
Joe Wright
Judah Taylor
Mckynlee
Esther Golovko
Emma Coles
Shaye Parnell
Erika Voiculescu
Kaelyn Chaney
Charles Lawerence
Brandon Palma
Atila Berglund
Rosamond
Carmichael
Hunter Voogt
Isabella Folino
Brianna Fuller
Gavin Copa
Sasha Greer
Ella Wright
Beckham Surhan
Grant Seth
Shaylee Jensen
Liliana Neil
Corban Fishbach
Ella Ziesemer
Charlie Barr
Jack Roberts
Mason VanCleave
Dylan Chalfant
Charlie Barr
Jonty Houlding
Gavin Hooser
Brooklyn Jardine
Aiden Boring
Brandon Reese
Kate Bacher
Oliver Lance
Liliana Neil
Logan Moses
Aly Collins
Kendall Hood
Greta Brown
Brayden Sterle
Allison Youngblood
Bryce Borst
Abby Seth
Allison Youngblood
Allieyah Barnes
Logan Cole
Landen Whaley
Cohen Butler
Flint Jensen
Anna Cram
Cheyanne Greene
Boston Barnes
Bentley Clark
Vince Dayley
Charlotte Garpstad
Bella MacDonald
Cooper Johnson
Morgan Shaw
Ethan Nygaard
Owen Martin
Jaxsen Rodgers
Vance Gooch
Xavier Lazzara
Jayla Gregg
Shaylyn Maloney
Ashlynn Davis
Drake Hayes
Sara Garpstead
Jadon Bjornsgard
Athena Laxamana
Elise Olsen
Jenna Naron
Calvin Dayley
Susana Leytner
Presley Darling
Keirrah Sanders
Aiden Shaheen
Ethan Costa
Trinity Hale
Rory Jensen
Asher Asbury
Kaleah Dewey
Charrissa Lightsey
Clara Overton
Grace Junkens
Summer Craft
Seth Lyman
Wade Fresh
Nola Crowe
Ella Stafford
Marlee Fisher
Blake Middleton
Sienna Hill
Max McMahon
Gavin Ocampo
Muu-Muu Lee
Lorelai Hall
Armani Tonga
Megan Adler
Amanda Livingston
Landon Beaudion
Maya Alas
Sam Walker
Brooklyn Nguyen
Kayla Borst
Nate Hamm
Christopher Houlding
Gavin Johnson
Sam Hunt
Kaleb White
Makenlee Ogden
Quinn Chatterton
Lauren Hood
Bryce VanVoorhis
Vanessa Martinez
Ava Blackburn
Helen Baller PTA Calendar
April 2015
Sunday
5
Monday
6
Tuesday
7
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
1
2
6:30pm
Drama Team
Production
3
4
8
9
10
11
NO
SCHOOL
12
13
14
15
Spirit Wear
Order
Deadline
16
19
20
21
22
23
Spring
9am PTA
Session
Board Mtg
Drama Team
Begins 7:45am
26
27
28
29
30
17
9:30am Baller
Blast Planning
Mtg
(conf rm)
18
24
Birthday
Table!
25
Helen Baller Counselor’s News
THE BUDDY BENCH HAS ARRIVED!
Hello,
During our assembly on April 3rd all students will be introduced to a new bench going out on our
playground. This bench will be what we are calling the Buddy Bench. This is a bench where a student can sit if they are having a problem finding someone to play with or something to do at recess
time.
We will be training our students on steps for using the bench at our assembly. It will be helpful for
you to also reinforce this program at home. It is very important for students to understand the use
of the bench and to help teach them how to use it. We encourage all our students who might be
struggling with going out to recess to first come up with a plan. If they are thinking about it ahead of
time then they are more prepared and less likely to get lost in the shuffle of the transition to the playground.
Here are the steps for using the Buddy Bench:
1.
Have a recess plan. What are you going to play or who are you going to ask to play. Then, ask politely to play or go to the activity you chose. Use your plan before sitting on the bench.
2.
Sit on the bench and think about what you can do and/or look around and see if you can join in somewhere. If you see something or someone, get off the bench and go play.
3.
Sit on the bench and wait for a friend to ask you to play and then go with them. You must say yes if someone asks you to play.
4.
If someone comes to sit next to you on the bench, ask them to play and go play.
5.
People who are not sitting on the bench will look around from time to time and when they see someone on the bench, he or she will go ask them to play.
6.
If no one approaches you on the bench, this will let the recess adult know that you need some help and they will come over and check in with you.
7.
Once you make a new friend, keep that friend by inviting them to play the next day.
If you would like to know more about the buddy bench and how it got started go to
www.buddybench.org. There you can read about Christian and how this movement is spreading
across the country. Our hope is that this will be a visual way to help our students connect more on
the playground.
Sincerely,
Edie Hagstrom
School Counselor
[email protected] or 360-833-5720 ext 79150
April Events
DRAMA TEAM PERFORMANCE
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Helen Baller Cafeteria
6:30pm: Hood & Martin’s Laugh-In Comedy Show
***Based on 60’s original Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In Show
7:00pm: Musical - Character Matters - Fairy Tale Advice Council
***Our musical is the weekly meeting of the Fairy Tale Advice Council. Come see Little Red Riding Hood,
Cinderella, Jack & the Giant, and many more characters come to the stage to teach some good behavior
skills.
2015
Washington State
Annual PTA Convention
APRIL 17-19, 2015
Bellevue Hyatt Hotel
Bellevue Washington
Please consider attending! There
is funding available from the PTA
to support attendance.
If interested, please email:
[email protected].
For more detailed class descriptions:
https://www.regonline.com/custImages/320000/327452/Convention%202015/
CON_CLASS_DESCRIPTIONS.pdf
For more info about the convention:
http://www.wastatepta.org/meetings/
con15/index.html
To Register:
https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/
default.aspx?EventID=1676383
This is an excellent opportunity to hear
motivational speakers and receive training on how to be a better leader, a better parent, a better advocate, and to
improve your relationship with PTA, the
school, and our community. You’ll be
able to network with other PTA leaders
from around the state, including those in
Clark County.
April News
Library News
Sasquatch Reading Update: 4th and 5th grade students are currently reading books called the
“Sasquatch Award” books. The Sasquatch books are a group of 12 books that are selected by a
committee of elementary teachers statewide. The current Sasquatch books are copyright: 2012.
The books are from all genres and topics with varying degrees of reading levels. Your child needs to
complete ten of the books to qualify for the “Library Lock-In” which will take place in June.
(Parents of qualifying students will be notified and asked to help!)
Please encourage your child to take part in this reading activity. It will increase their
joy of reading and broaden their learning.
Next week, students who have read at least two Sasquatch books, will be eligible
to vote for their favorite one. I will compile the votes and submit them to
the committee. The results will be calculated state-wide and a winner
will be announced!
Also, for primary grades, I have shared and taught common core lessons
with 12 picture books that are selected for the Washington State
Picture Book Award. All of our K-3 students will vote on their favorite
and we will know the state winner soon!
Thank you, Laurie Brown (Teacher/Librarian)
NEWLY ELECTED PTA OFFICERS FOR 2015-16 SCHOOL YEAR
President - Julie Brown
Vice-President - Brittany Pindeo
Treasurer - Stephanie Walker
Secretary - Sue Bacher
We are very excited for all the great things
this team will do in combination with our
amazing PTA committee chair persons.
We are very appreciative to have a great
team of parents giving of their time and
energy to make Helen Baller an even
greater experience for all our children.
April News
Drama Team
Spring Session - Begins April 22nd
Beginning Tap Dance
Wednesday Mornings
7:45 - 8:45 am in Music Room
No Audition Required
Any interested 3rd, 4th or 5th grader
wanting to learn to tap dance can join
the team.
Only requirement - bring a pair of tap
dance shoes to each weekly rehearsal
Spring Session will end with performance for school & parents at June school assembly.
2015-16 PTA ROLE NEEDED:
FUNDRAISING CHAIRPERSON
The Helen Baller PTA is still looking for someone
who can lead our fundraising efforts in the next school year.
Fundraising includes: Dine Around, Payback Books, BoxTops, Fun Run and more.
The good news is that we already have great leaders in place over many of these
programs and now we just need someone who can provide oversight
for fundrasing overall and fill in any gaps.
Let us know if you are intereseted or know someone who would be great at this role.
email: [email protected]
Looking Ahead to May
PTA DINE AROUND
SAVE THE DATE:
May 19, 2015
Come enjoy dinner at
McMenamins and a portion of the
proceeds will go to support
Helen Baller PTA!
McMenamins
1900 N.E. 162nd, Ste. B107
Vancouver, WA 98684
HELEN BALLER ELEMENTARY
PTA PRESENTS...
BALLER
BLAST
May 1, 2015, 5-8pm
Don’t miss the biggest BLASTof the school year!
Silent Auction:
Carnival Activities:
Local businesses &
organizations have
donated over 100 items
to this year’s auction!
Plus special teacher
experiences!
Bingo
Cake Walk
Disco Bowling
Museum of
Guesstimates
Lego Challenge
Tattoo Parlor
Face Painting
Dunk Tank
and MORE!
Food for Purchase: Papa Murphy’s Pizza, Getta Gyro,
Kids with Ice (hot dogs, hamburgers, cotton candy, shaved ice)
Entry Bracelet: $5 for school age kids (sales begin week of April 13th)
Preschoolers and younger are free!
Raffle ($5/ticket): 1-Day Park Hopper tickets for 4 people to DISNEYLAND & CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE
Door Prizes: Each adult gets 5 FREE chances to win!
THANK YOU! to all the many volunteers and donors who are making this event happen!
On next pages...browse some of the auction Items available for bidding as well as get more info on Disneyland Raffle
and fill out your Event Order Form (also coming home in backpacks April 13th).
HELEN BALLER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PTA PRESENTS….BALLER BLAST
SILENT AUCTION MAY 1, 2015, 5-‐8pm
A FEW ITEMS AVAILABLE FOR BIDDING ...COME TO THE AUCTION TO SEE MANY AMAZING CLASSROOM CREATIONS TOO!
Item
Hike, Bike or Ski
Highlife Adventure Zip Line Tours
CATEGORY: ADVENTURE
Description
One day bike or ski rental and weekend snowshoe rental for 2 and waterbottles
One adult pass
Value
$140
$99
Item
The Columbia Gorge Hotel
Seattle for 2
Oregon Coast Ocean Front Escape
Sun River Family Home
CATEGORY: DESTINATIONS
Description
Overnight and Breakfast for 2
An overnight and breakfast for 2 at the Courtyard Marriott Seattle Downtown
Overnight for 2 at Hallmark Resort Newport and dinner at Mo's
Enjoy 2 weekend nights Value
$325
$180
$325
$450
Item
G6 Airpark Party
Party at the Gym
Ready, Set, Tumble!
Oregon Ballet Theater Tickets
Experience Shakespeare
Family Fun at the Pacific Science Center
Oregon Symphony Tickets
CATEGORY: ENTERTAINMENT
Description
2 hours of jumping for 5 kids and recharge with a Twilight Pizza
Naydenov Gym Birthday Package for up to 10
2 certificates for 4 free lessons at Naydenov Gym
2 season subscriptions
2 tickets to an Oregon Shakespeare Festival Performance
4 general admission passes and passes to IMAX
admission for 2
Value
$120
$170
$100
$130
$160
$88
$100
Item
Kaya
Navidi's Tasting Basket
Somethin' from Starbucks
Kindle Fire HD
CHS Stadium Blanket
SHIFT Designs
CATEGORY: MERCHANDISE
Description
An American Girl Doll and The Journey Begins
Specialty Basket of Goodies
Enjoy this gift from Starbucks, Riverstone Marketplace
Enjoy Apps. Books, Music, Videos and More!
Heavy duty warm and cozy fleece with Camas High School Logo
Necklace and Earring set
Value
$115
$45
$50
$140
$55
$80
Item
Cascade Athletic Club
Firstenburg Family Fun
Camas Meadows
CATEGORY: RECREATION & FITNESS
Description
One month family membership
One month family membership 2 rounds of golf with cart
Value
$100
$80
$45
Item
Thunder Tickets
Seattle Sounders Fan Pack
CATEGORY: SPORTS EXPERIENCES
Description
4 tickets to Los Angeles Kiss at Portland Thunder, May 16 7pm at the Moda Center
Fan Goody Bag
Value
$120
$25
Item
Lunch and Games with Mr Parman
Principal for a Day
Team Rold vs Team Parman
Games with Mr Rold
Fore! Some Fun
Cody Caching!
Pedicure Party
CATEGORY: TEACHER EXPERIENCES
Description
Pizza lunch and games for you, two friends and Mr Parman
Enjoy a being the Big Guy for a day
Basketball Game Buy In for 8 kids, 4 per team
Enjoy Extracurricular Fun, buy In for 25 kids
Highest two bidders go golfing with Mrs Brown and Mrs Pederson
2 kids to accompany the Cody Family on a Geocaching Adventure
You and a friend will get Pedicures with Mrs Gospe and then be treated to Menchies
Value
Priceless
Priceless
$20 each
$20 each
Priceless
Priceless
Priceless
Item
Lunch with Mayor Scott Higgins
CATEGORY: UNIQUE EXPERIENCES
Description
Parents and student will enjoy lunch at Harvest with the Mayor
Value
$60
Item
Reserved Parking Spot CATEGORY: PARKING
Description
Right in front of school -‐-‐ waiting for your use
Value
Priceless
Payment can be made via Cash, Check or Credit Card
HELEN BALLER ELEMENTARY
BALLER BLAST PTA RAFFLE
1-Day Park Hopper tickets for 4 people to
DISNEYLAND & CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE
Enter to WIN! WIN! WIN!
TICKETS: $5 each
(Order form below & coming home April 13)
Drawing will take place on 5/1/15 during Helen Baller Elementary School Baller Blast School Carnival at 7:45pm - need not be present to win!
The tickets are valid during normal operating hours and provide admission to a
magical experience at both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park
for one day for 4 people. (Expiration 3/9/17, not valid 12/25-12/31 of any year.)
2015 BALLER BLAST
Order Form
ITEM
QTY
PRICE
Subtotal
Entry Bracelet (Bracelets required for school age children $5.00
ONLY. Allow for unlimited games and activities. Food purchases not inlcuded.)
Disneyland Raffle Tickets* (Qty 4: 1 day Park Hopper Tickets, $5.00
Retail Value $620**)
Bear Buddies Donation (Optional)
Make checks payable to Helen Baller PTA & deposit in the PTA mailbox in the office.
TOTAL:
Student Name/Classroom:
Parent/Guardian Name & Email:
Phone number: NOTES:
Raffle tickets will be sent home with the child listed on this order form.
* Drawing will take place on 5/1/15 during Helen Baller Elementary School Baller Blast School Carnival at 7:45pm -‐ need not be present to win.
**The tickets are valid during normal operating hours and provide admission to a magical experience at both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park for one day for 4 people. (Expiration: 3/9/17, not valid 12/25-‐12/31 of any year)
FOR OFFICE USE ONLY:
Date Received:
Cash or Check#:
Funds Processed by:
Raffle Ticket #(s):
Amount: