May 25, 2023
Together We Soar
Spring Greetings!

Dear Thornton Creek Community,

We're closing in on the end of May! One thing this means for our school is that the next month will be filled (and I mean filled) with meaningful, fun, and memory-making growth opportunities for our students. Please read your weekly school bulletin so that you can catch all the important dates through June 30th.

Thank you to those who attended our Community Meeting last Wednesday. We had wonderful updates from Ms. Miller on what is happening in classrooms at each grade level and we heard from parent groups about business and upcoming events. We also had a surprise note from Principal Kischner to the community which was included in Thursday's school bulletin. You can see that message in the meeting notes or from the Thursday school bulletin here. Thank you to everyone who has asked what they can do to support our staff while our wonderful Principal is out on leave. My immediate response is (and probably always will be!) please lean into volunteering. With a number of activities in June, we can use everyone's help to finish our year strong.

It's still budget season, which means we are continuing to work to both raise funds and plan a TCPG budget for next school year. As you're likely aware, the SPS budget cuts to schools are deep for next year and will cause significant impacts on staffing. TCPG is committed to supporting our school and has developed a proposed budget for next year that includes current allocations as well as a reserve fund to support additional school budget requests from the Building Leadership Team once the district/school budget picture becomes more clear for 2023-2024. Budget unknowns include the outcome of our school's open enrollment staffing allocation (we have a full band of Kindergarten kids coming in the fall!) and special education funds from the state. TCPG will hold these reserves until the school knows how these variables play out, at which time we will bring the reserve fund allocation proposal back to our members for review. In the meantime, you can view our proposed budget for the next year here and send us your questions through June 10th using this form.

We will take an advisory vote of the membership on the budget at the Thornton Creek Parent Group Annual Meeting on June 13th, 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM. Zoom link.

Also at our Annual Meeting, we will vote on the TCPG Board of Directors. We are currently recruiting volunteers to serve as TCPG board members and committee co-chairs and participants for next year. These roles are rewarding and make a significant impact on how TCPG can support our school's success. Please consider joining us! You can indicate your interest by May 31, 2023, by completing this form. There are links in the form for more information about the roles. You can also indicate in the form if you'd participate in a committee. It really does take a village and we would also appreciate your help with any volunteer needs through June. Thank you! As always, please do not hesitate to reach out to me or any TCPG board member with your questions or concerns. All parents/caregivers of currently enrolled TC students are voting members of the Thornton Creek Parent Group. Please plan to attend the Annual Meeting on June 13th to share your voice and your vote - see you then!

On Friday, June 2nd we are having a TC All-Family Dance Party (6:00 PM - 8:00 PM). It's time to celebrate our Thornton Creek community and the success of our students this year! Our students, staff and families have put focus this year on learning about IDENTITY. Our all-family dance party provides a fun and meaningful opportunity for all staff and every family to share their identities with the theme: Proud To Be ME! This party is about showing up like we do every day at Thornton Creek - showing up with pride in who we are, showing up to appreciate each other, and showing our pride in Thornton Creek and all we have done together to make the school what it is. I am personally over the moon thinking about how hard everyone has worked and that we will have a time together to celebrate. Please share your favorite music to help build our DJ's playlist! And it's Pride Month so expect to see rainbows, y'all!@ Let's dance as one community under the sky! If you would like to volunteer, just sign up! See you there!

On Friday, June 16th, we will show the film Beyond Black and White and then have a panel discussion with the filmmakers (6:30 PM - 8:30 PM). This event is co-hosted by TC PTA and TCPG and is part of our ongoing equity-focused parent education for our school. This is the third year I have had the privilege of helping to plan these events and I am so grateful that our school is committed to supporting ongoing adult education to support our collective efforts to be a welcoming, inclusive, and anti-racist school community. I urge you to join this and other future events in the series, I assure you they will spark learning and meaningful conversation.

Move-A-Thon success! Students and adults alike had so much fun moving and grooving at the Move-A-Thon last Friday. Thank you to ALL our volunteers who helped make this happen, from the planning committee to those that did the heavy lifting and cheered on students at the event itself. And to all who have donated so far, THANK YOU! Your gift matters and goes a long way to mitigating the impact of district-wide budget cuts for next year. This fundraiser supports students through donations to TCPG and the Southeast Seattle Schools Fundraising Alliance. Learn more and donate today! The site will stay open for the next two weeks so you can share the fundraising opportunity with your friends and family. Donate HERE.

I'll close by saying that I appreciate each and every one of you - thank you for showing up for your own child and our community when you engage with our school. These are unpredictable times in our world, city and communities. I hope we can all lean into this uncertainty with grace and love for one another. My wish for you all is to take even a few moments each day to find joy. It can make all the difference in not only surviving but thriving, on this adventure called parenting/caregiving. Happy Spring (that is feeling like summer!).

In Community,
Erin MacDougall (she/her)
Chair, Thornton Creek Parent Group
NOTE: Gmail may clip the content of this newsletter. View the full version on the web HERE.
TCPG Board Positions 2023-2024
Nominate yourself for Thornton Creek Parent Group Board leadership positions for 2023-2024!
You can read brief descriptions about the Thornton Creek Parent Group positions HERE.

We can't wait to have you join us! Indicate your interest by May 31, 2023 by completing this form: https://forms.gle/6KHsYtdRvm2CzDTU7
Announcements
Thornton Creek Yearbook - Purchase information - order by Friday, May 26
The Link to Purchase yearbooks is here! Please purchase a yearbook if you are able to. All students will receive a yearbook. We also ask families to consider purchasing an additional yearbook to cover the cost for those for whom cost is a barrier.
It is Bike/Wheel Everywhere Month!
May is Bike/Wheel Everywhere month and there is one more Friday (5/26) to come visit the Bike Fairy! The Bike Fairy will install safety light sets on any bicycle/wheeled vehicle parked at Thornton Creek (generally 30 minutes after class starts). Get your bike/scooter/wheel-y transport unit out of storage, inflate your tires, clean and lube your chain, and get ready to roll! Sincerely, The Bike Fairy
Volunteer Opportunities
Watering Thornton Creek trees over the hot months!
Exciting news - it's time to sign up to help water the young trees at Thornton Creek! This volunteer help is crucial to keeping our trees growing and thriving - they will not last the summer without it. We need old and new volunteers to help!

Details:
  • Trees need to be watered twice a week unless we hit (more) weeks with temperatures over 90, in which case 3 times a week is a really good idea.
  • Tree watering can happen on your own schedule.
  • Kids make great watering partners!
  • It takes about an hour to complete each time you water.
  • We have divided the work into two zones: the playground trees (there are 5 of them) and the trees in the parking lot and rain garden area (4 of them). Sign up for one zone or both!
  • We will make sure you get the information you need to water prior to your watering shift. We are putting together a how-to guide and will contact you shortly before your week(s) to make sure you have what you need. We are here to answer questions and troubleshoot.
  • If you already signed up with the District and have received some communications from them, great! But we need you to sign up with us (the Thornton Creek Parent Group Landscape Team) now so that we know who is doing what when and so we can make sure you get the correct info on how to access watering equipment.

Ready to choose your weeks? Please sign up here:


Support the TC Pantry
Sponsored by the TC PTA, visit here more information
We appreciate your support and donations to keep our Pantry available! To volunteer to keep the pantry stocked, email pantry@tc-pta.org, or donate to the TC Pantry through Paypal or our Target wish list.
Interested in volunteering at Thornton Creek?
The spring is very full of fun school activities, we welcome your involvement, please consider volunteering! Please fill out the Volunteer Interest Survey! to get started. For other volunteering opportunities, reach out to Kelsey, volunteer@thorntoncreekparentgroup.org
Parent Education Event
Thornton Creek Family Education Night
Roosevelt High School: Beyond Black and White
Film screening, Panel Discussion and Dinner
Friday, June 16, 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM at Thornton Creek
Co-hosted by Thornton Creek Parent Group and Thornton Creek PTA
Join TC PTA and TCPG as we wrap up this year's Parent Education programming focusing on Equity in Education. Leading up to the Juneteenth holiday, we have planned an evening that includes the whole family in the form of a documentary film (30 min), discussion and dinner. We will view the film Beyond Black and White, produced by Roosevelt Alumni for Racial Equity (RARE), and follow the film with a panel discussion that includes two Roosevelt High School alumni who were interviewed in the film. Accessibility: We will do our best to provide additional access and interpretation if needed. Please contact PTA Inclusion Co-Chair Christie Robertson to make a request: inclusion@tc-pta.org
Gratitude for Our Incredible Community!
Quick Links
If you have any questions about the newsletter please email: communications@thorntoncreekparentgroup.org