"Voting is not only our right, it is our power"

- Loung Ung

(author, activist, screenwriter)

November is in the air, friends! To me that feels like breathing in cold, fresh air, cozying up with a good book, and preparing for the season of gatherings and celebrations with those we love. Wishing you all peace and calm as you enter this season that brings a close to 2023. May this time help sustain your wellness and joy. And I know it can be a stressful time for many of us, so please, take care of yourselves.

Thank you to everyone in our community who came to celebrate for the Monster Mash All Family Dance Party on Friday! It was a fun and happy evening, and we hope everyone had a great time. And on Tuesday, our brilliant 4th and 5th graders prepared and hosted a fantastic Harvest Fair for all our students. Thank you to our teachers for their planning support and to our parent volunteers for your time and assistance and for helping us to rebuild our special TC community.

It's almost time for our local General Elections! Please make time to vote, your voice matters! A number of Seattle School Board seats are up for election so your vote directly impacts our students. Ballot boxes close promptly at 8:00 PM on November 7, 2023. To find box locations and to learn more, visit here.

As always, please reach out if I or any of our TCPG leaders can support your family.

Erin MacDougall

Thornton Creek Parent Group Chair

chair@thorntoncreekparentgroup.org

Thornton Creek Parent Group Board Position - Hospitality Chair

Do you like planning and implementing events to welcome and appreciate folks? This board position may be for you! To learn more, please connect with Erin at chair@thorntoncreekparentgroup.org

Sunday, November 5

9am-12pm, Landscaping Work Party. Sign up here.

Friday, November 10

Veteran's Day - NO SCHOOL

Monday - Wednesday, November 20 - 22

Parent and Teacher Conferences, NO SCHOOL

Thornton Creek Parent Group ANNUAL APPEAL IS ON NOW!

Each fall, TCPG sponsors our Annual Appeal Fundraiser to solicit and replenish much relied upon funds for our school. This year, we aim to raise $175,000 in support of Thornton Creek Elementary by December 31, 2023. We ask for your support to help us get there so that our school can deliver on its mission to engage students in academically rigorous exploration and discovery through Expeditionary Learning.

We encourage everyone to give an amount that is meaningful for your family. An average gift of $400 per student would allow us to reach our goal. We welcome single donations as well as recurring monthly payments to allow flexibility for your family’s budget. And if you are able to go above and beyond with your donation, THANK YOU! We can all make a difference and help provide stability to our school in the context of an underfunded school district. 

To learn more, see our last newsletter dedicated to our Annual Appeal launch here.

Native History is American History

From Seattle Public Schools: "November is Native American Heritage Month, a time to celebrate rich and diverse cultures, traditions, and histories and to acknowledge the important contributions of Native people. But Native American Heritage is more than a month. This is a time to educate our school community about tribes, raise awareness about their many contributions, and highlight how tribal citizens and Nations work to improve the lives of all people, both tribal and nontribal."

As part of this year's TCPG Annual Appeal, our Family Expedition is focused on learning about the Western Red Cedar. In future newsletters, we will share more about the history and culture surrounding these beautiful trees and their relationships to Native communities. To learn 10 Fabulous Facts About The Western Red Cedar Tree, check out this video!

To keep up to date with volunteer opportunities, sign up for this newsletter here. To volunteer in a classroom, please connect directly with the teacher.

If you are new to the school and/or have not applied to be a volunteer please complete the SPS online application. Applications generally take up to two weeks to process, and are good for two years from the acceptance date. (Pro Tip: Choose "Category A" volunteer.)

This newsletter is from the Thornton Creek Parent Group and does not represent Seattle Public Schools or Thornton Creek Elementary