May 24, 2021
A Time to Lead
Join TCPG and Site Council's leadership team to help guide our future!
In this Issue
  • Nominate yourself for Site Council leadership positions in 2021-2022! All officer and committee chair positions will be open for the next school year, and any parent or guardian of a Thornton Creek student is eligible to serve. View descriptions at the bottom of this newsletter.
  • Indicate your interest by June 1, 2021 by filling in the nomination form. We can’t wait to have you join us!
  • Whether interested in serving on a committee or being a lead for an event, you can use the nomination form
  • Nominations for positions are viewable here: Thornton Creek Parent Group nominations and volunteers.
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Join the TCPG and Site Council team of chairs and committees! 
Do you remember why you fell in love with Thornton Creek? Choosing TC was a personal choice for all of us. And one of the defining features of TC is our active parent community. You and your participation and engagement contributes to a thriving school environment. Our program, which began in 1974, continues to evolve, and we hope you will join this dynamic group of student-centered volunteers who share a love for expeditionary learning, and partnership with a compassionate and exceptional staff. 
 
Site Council's role in collaborative governance allows parents, staff and administrators to gather regularly to conduct TCPG business with input from all stakeholders. We need people to lead who can help convey who we are as a community - compassionate, inclusive, generous, kind… all the things we teach our children - to the new principal, and to families who may be new to the school. TCPG leaders coordinate events, fundraise, support expeditionary learning, advocate for teachers and families, and rally our community spirit. After a year of being apart, what better way to reconnect with other parents than by getting involved? 
 
This is a really huge opportunity to get involved, and join a community of parents who enjoy working together to support the school community. Take a look at the list of officers, chairs, and committees below to see where you may be most interested in helping the school. Take the opportunity to make a positive difference for the school. Lead in Site Council!

Additional information about Site Council, and TCPG positions can be found in the Site Council Charter and the TCPG by-laws
 
To nominate yourself for a position, join a committee or volunteer to coordinate a student-centered event, indicate your interest on this nomination form by June 1st. You are each invited to participate in whatever way works best for you. We can’t wait to have you join us!
 
Look for information coming in early June about how to exercise your voice and vote for leadership positions.

Leadership Positions in Site Council, with Contacts
Officers
Chair*- Jessica Williams-Nguyen
The chair provides agenda and presides over all meetings of the Parent Group and Site Council, calls special meetings, and appoints special committees as needed; performs all acts and duties usually performed by a presiding officer.
Vice chair* - Elizabeth Duffell
The vice chair supports the chair position, and in the absence or disability of the chair, performs the duties of the chair.
Secretary - Roddy Theobald
The secretary takes meeting minutes and sends meeting minutes to the chair for distribution to the community.
Treasurer* - Jacob Clark Blickenstaff
The treasurer is responsible for budget, keeping and disbursing of all monies of the Parent Group, and managing a committee to ensure accurate books of accounts of all transactions of the parent group.

Committees
As the chair of a committee, you are the critical link between the work done on your committee and the rest of Site Council and the community. Chairs guide and work collaboratively with their committee members to determine and follow appropriate next steps.

Communications Co-chairs* - Chelsea Lin, Jenny Pinto
  • Maintains the Thornton Creek Parent Group website.
  • Produces the Thornton Creek, Site Council newsletter.
Curriculum Chair*- Jesica Avellone
  • Supports Expeditionary Learning, Responsive Classroom, and all alternative curricula used in our unique program through educating the parent community and supporting the strength of these programs.
  • Compiles and produces the yearly expedition newsletter.
District relations Chair* - Susan Callari
  • Monitors proposals that are under consideration by the school board and school district.
  • Fosters and maintains relationships with other schools and educational groups.
  • Represents the views and concerns of the Site Council to the larger Seattle Public School community.
Enrichment Co-chairs - Lisa Berman & Megan Tremain
  • Coordinates before- and after-school activities with parent volunteers and vendors.
  • Compiles and distributes registration information at the start of each session.
  • Plans and implements school-wide diversity events for students, families, and staff.
  • Supports and encourages discussions about diversity at Thornton Creek to facilitate understanding and celebration of differences.
Facilities Co-chairs - Jana Dilley, Zoe Kappelman
  • Proposes and implements improvements to and maintenance of facilities, including landscaping, water quality, and earthquake preparedness.
Fundraising Co-chairs* - Jennifer Schlobohm, Kathleen Phan
  • Plans and coordinates events to raise funds for Thornton Creek Parent Group
Hospitality Chair* - Karen Wirkala
  • Organizes the welcoming events for new families.
  • Plans a variety of appreciation events for teachers and staff.
  • Coordinates school tours.
Ombudsperson - Sarah McVay
Parent Enrichment - Vacant
  • Organizes parent education events.
  • Produces a yearly summary of expeditions, such as the Expedition Newsletter. 
Recruitment and hiring - Anna Marshall
  • Promotes and facilitates parent participation in hiring Thornton creek teachers, staff, and administration.
Safety Co-chairs - Courtney Bell, Erica Seddig Carter
  • Organizes Health and Medical Safety Committee.
  • Organizes all disaster preparedness, including earthquake supplies.
  • Addresses safety concerns (recess, pick-up/drop off)
Special education Co-chairs - Julie Shin, Beck Weinhold
  • Supports community building among and advocacy on behalf of families of students with special needs.
  • Promotes inclusion of students with special needs in all school activities.
  • Plans and coordinates parent education events relating to special education.
Volunteering - Stacey Seifert
  • Recruits and coordinates volunteers for TCPG and SC events.
  • Oversees room parent volunteers and their communications.
  • Supports volunteer engagement.

*Indicates a voting position
Thornton Creek Is a Box Tops for Education School. Look for new BLUE Box Top coupons on products (e.g. Cascadian Farm cereal), and then just scan your receipt. Get the app at BTFE.com.
Our Office Depot School ID# is: 70107343. Purchases of school and office supplies at Office Depot will return a 5% credit to Thornton Creek. www.officedepot.com/a/content/back-to-school/5percent/
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Jessica Williams-Nguyen, Chair
Elizabeth Duffell, Vice-Chair
Jacob Blickenstaff, Treasurer
Roddy Theobald, Secretary



Newsletter Archive - coming soon!

Text THORNTONCREEK to 22828


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Fax: 206-252-5301

Principal:  Alexandra Benfield
Asst. Principal: Laurie Miller

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