Message from Raj Manhas

Message from the Superintendent

Dear North Thurston Public Schools staff, families and community members,
I have always believed that accountability and transparency are key components to building public trust and-- more importantly -- success in an organization. This applies to a business, nonprofit, government agency and also North Thurston Public Schools!

Over the past several months our staff leadership and School Board have been hard at work drafting a long-term strategic framework that will be used to communicate district focus areas as well as measures of success. This plan encompasses five key focus areas that we believe are vital when it comes to student success, including:

• Student learning at the center of everything we do
• Supporting the needs of the whole child
• Strengthening community engagement to support student learning
• Building a culture of trust through effective leadership
• Accountable and efficient use of public resources

Developing and refining this framework will be an ongoing process in which you, our community, will play an important role. North Thurston has a deep-rooted belief that each and every student can learn, but it is the responsibility of all of us to help ensure the success of all our students, regardless of their background.

The community showed their support of our school system with the recent support of the levy. Parents and families show their support when they attend school conferences or a career fair, such as the recent "Find Your Future" event sponsored by the Thurston County Chamber at Timberline High School. Businesses help through donations of time and supplies, such as Home Depot and Ostrom's support in building a community garden at Olympic View Elementary. The common factor here is that we all show our support for each child however we can in our daily lives and together those little efforts will make a difference!

We will keep you posted on the progress of our strategic focus areas and of course, the measures of success. In return, I encourage each of us to remember that we are all in some way responsible for the success of all our students…tomorrow's generation of leaders!

"Learning is like rowing upstream: not to advance is to drop back." ~Chinese Proverb

Raj Manhas, Superintendent
North Thurston Public Schools
rmanhas@nthurston.k12.wa.us

Message from Raj Manhas

Message from the Superintendent

Dear North Thurston Public Schools staff, families and community members,
I have always believed that accountability and transparency are key components to building public trust and-- more importantly -- success in an organization. This applies to a business, nonprofit, government agency and also North Thurston Public Schools!

Over the past several months our staff leadership and School Board have been hard at work drafting a long-term strategic framework that will be used to communicate district focus areas as well as measures of success. This plan encompasses five key focus areas that we believe are vital when it comes to student success, including:

• Student learning at the center of everything we do
• Supporting the needs of the whole child
• Strengthening community engagement to support student learning
• Building a culture of trust through effective leadership
• Accountable and efficient use of public resources

Developing and refining this framework will be an ongoing process in which you, our community, will play an important role. North Thurston has a deep-rooted belief that each and every student can learn, but it is the responsibility of all of us to help ensure the success of all our students, regardless of their background.

The community showed their support of our school system with the recent support of the levy. Parents and families show their support when they attend school conferences or a career fair, such as the recent "Find Your Future" event sponsored by the Thurston County Chamber at Timberline High School. Businesses help through donations of time and supplies, such as Home Depot and Ostrom's support in building a community garden at Olympic View Elementary. The common factor here is that we all show our support for each child however we can in our daily lives and together those little efforts will make a difference!

We will keep you posted on the progress of our strategic focus areas and of course, the measures of success. In return, I encourage each of us to remember that we are all in some way responsible for the success of all our students…tomorrow's generation of leaders!

"Learning is like rowing upstream: not to advance is to drop back." ~Chinese Proverb

Raj Manhas, Superintendent
North Thurston Public Schools
rmanhas@nthurston.k12.wa.us

St. Martin's Host Family Short Stay program

Guest Speaker Sarah Younkin from St. Martin’s University attended this month’s PTA meeting and she asked for support and promotion of St. Martin’s Host Family Short Stay program.

Beginning in mid-July, approximately 300 international students will be visiting St. Martin’s and will need families to host a pair of students on weekends. Host families can volunteer for one or more weekends.

• Experience firsthand the joy of exchanging cultures

• Build friendships with students from around the world!

• Provide your family with an experience and education you can’t get through a textbook!

• Contribute in a small but meaningful way to global peace and understanding!

The goal is simply to incorporate these students into your normal weekend routine (cooking, shopping, sports, etc.). They do not require a separate bedroom or special events, per se. The age range is general high school to college age. English-speaking homes are preferred. Sarah can provide full details, expectations and walk families through the application and background check process. Those who are interested should contact:

Sarah Younkin - Host Family and Community Relations Coordinator

Ph: 360-438-4304 or

Email: SYounkin@stmartin.edu

March newsletter - get the latest news!

Want to stay current on Mt. View Elementary and Mt. View PTA each month? Check out our monthly newsletter so you don't miss any announcements, important school dates, PTA events and opportunities to help Mt. View from time to time... thanks very much to our editor, Tara-Lyn Poole. If you have questions about the newsletter, please contact her.

Deadline for submissions for the April edition is April 2nd.

Draft of March meeting minutes

Here is the link to a draft of the unapproved March minutes, to be reviewed for approval at the April meeting. Stay tuned for the April agenda and the official report from the Nominating Committee, as well.

We did not have a quorum for the March meeting and must have one (at least 10 members) for the April meeting, in order to conduct some important business.

What a great turn-out for Fun Night!

Wow - we had over 200 people in the door for tonight's Family Fun Night! I hope you had a great time with the karaoke, deejay, cupcake decorating and tacos in a bag.

We'll have another Fun Night in May - stay tuned for which Friday to put on your calendar that month.

Thanks very much to our volunteers, especially our first-time volunteers and middle schoolers. Thanks to Randy Weeks, Tara-Lyn Poole and Jodi Boutin for spearheading most of the evening's details. And where would we be without Rich, our faithful custodian, to help set up, break down and clean up?! Thanks to you all!

Please feel free to give us your feedback about these events, positive and/or negative.

Have a great weekend!

Check out Mt. View's new reader board!

Mt. View Elementary just had installed, courtesy of the school district, a new electronic reader board! It should be operational soon - so keep an eye out for Mt. View news on it! Note in the picture, our beloved "old-fashioned" reader board, mounted on the school. I know that our staff will be sad now that they don't have to stand on a ladder in the rain to put up the message manually!

Mt. View Marimba - still going strong!

Mountain View Marimba: The Mountain View Marimba Ensemble performed at the Lacey Chamber Forum on March 3. Directed by teacher Sheila Whybrow, the group started in 2002 and is open to all sixth graders. Students do not audition, the group is open to anyone who is interested and motivated and they perform throughout the district at events.

Taken from this week's NTPS Success! page.

Congratulations to Mt. View employees!

Classified Employees Week, March 8-13: The Board recognized Classified Employees for their contributions to student success and approved Resolution #813. Employee group leaders present included Mary Fluke, Gary Thompson, Janice Kilgore, Tricia De La Cruz, Derek Stewart and Gary Byard. Amanda Nix, paraeducator from Nisqually was also honored.

Perhaps you recognize a few faces here...? Gary was recently recognized by Mt. View PTA with a Golden Acorn Award and Tricia De La Cruz has been a staunch supporter of PTA and is a current member, to boot!

Taken from this week's NTPS Success! page.

Apex Karting partnering with PTA

You will probably see a small flyer come home on Friday, March 5th via kid mail... it's an Apex Karting "Family Day Sunday" announcement. Apex is partnering with several local PTA's and schools to donate some of the day's proceeds on designated days back to PTA.

All you have to do is head down to Apex Karting and enjoy their "Family Kart Races" - a special deal at $20 for three races and one 1/4-lb hot dog and one fountain drink (or three fountain drinks if you opt out on the hot dog). These races are with the slower of the track's go-karts, not the really fast ones that you adults may enjoy. I'm told that these karts are geared for ages eight and older.

This one is short notice, I'm afraid... but if you don't have firm plans for this Sunday, March 7th, you can take advantage of this deal from 1 to 10 p.m. Please let Apex know that you want the Family Day Special. Mt. View PTA does not get any proceeds for any other Sunday you attend Apex (for now).

Click here for more information about Apex Karting in Tumwater. They are considering another Mt. View day in the future, depending on interest and turnout.

Apex Karting
7960 Center Street Southwest
Tumwater, WA 98501
(360) 705-2739

New date for Mt. View at Skateland

In April, Skateland will shift our Mt. View skate night to the 4th Tuesday of each month. Look for your reminder flyers immediately before then (Tuesday, April 27th).

Dust Off Your Dancing Shoes!

Mt. View PTA Family Fun Night

March 5, 2010, 6:00-8:00 pm

*DJ in the gym *Karaoke in the library

*Cupcake decorating in the cafeteria

*Tacos in a bag in the cafeteria. $2.50 ea. $.50 drink

*Wear GREEN for St. Patrick’s Day!!

*No entrance fee. Canned food donation requested!!

*Children must be accompanied by an adult!!

Thanks very much for your donations - they make a difference!

You can also buy your Mt. View spirit wear (Mt. View t-shirts and hooded sweatshirts - adult and youth sizes available).

Any questions or if you want to volunteer to help out, please contact coordinator Randy Weeks (who happens to double as your proud principal). If you are able to donate your time as a volunteer or drop off green cake decorating supplies, we need you! Please drop off any items at the front office.

Here is the link to the full flyer and volunteer form - see you on Friday!

Mt. View PTA joins with ACE

Starting this Thursday, close to 30 Mt. View students will start their twice-a-week excursion to a far-off land, with the help of Mt. View PTA and Associates in Cultural Exchange (ACE) - World Language Program. This is an after-school program funded almost entirely by Mt. View PTA. Half the students will enjoy an introduction to German each Thursday and the other half Spanish, each Tuesday and Thursday.

Thanks very much to Mr. Weeks and Mr. McCann for providing space for these classes.

Click here for more information about ACE. If you have questions, please contact Olympia Area Coordinator Elke Armajo - 360-456-1402