Friday Howl!

It has been a fun and rainy week, and we go outside in it! Thank you to the families who have sent students with an extra set of clothes and/or shoes. If you have not sent extra clothing, please consider doing so as we head into the rainy season.

Next week we launch our Arts & Culture themed IDEA Time session. We would love your help and expertise. Sign up to volunteer for Arts & Culture IDEA Time session.

Check out this cool project form our Social Emotional Learning themed session on our website.

• This weekend is the end of Daylight Savings time. Remember to set your clocks back one hour before you go to bed Saturday night.
• Fall Family Traditions Classroom Celebrations are Friday, November 6. Check in with classroom teachers for more details.
• There is No School on Wednesday, November 11 in observance of Veteran’s Day.
• Picture Re-take Day is Tuesday, November 17. This is for anyone who was absent on the previous Picture Day or for families who want to have the picture re-taken and re-ordered.
• Family and Teacher Conferences are less than a month away. There is no school for students the week of November 23 so you can meet with teachers to learn more about how your student is doing. Conferences will be held on Monday, November 23 and Tuesday, November 24. Evening times will be available to accommodate families with that need. Teachers will send out more info soon on the schedule and how to sign up.
• Monday, December 14 is the meeting to discuss the merger of Cedar Park from 6-7:30 p.m. See below for more information.

For anyone who missed the announcement sent out last Friday, the District is holding a community meeting specifically for the communities of Cedar Park and James Baldwin Elementary on Monday, December 14 from 6-7:30 p.m. This is an opportunity to share your thoughts and questions directly with Superintendent Shuldiner, along with other district leaders. I will be there too. Thank you to all who have already shared your questions and thoughts with me, district leaders, and others. I encourage you to come and have your voice heard. I have asked the district about interpretive services for families, childcare for the meeting, and online or virtual options for those who are unable to attend in person. I hope to have answers to share with you all soon.

Please have your student leave personal and special items at home, especially Pokémon cards. This can also include special new toys or souvenirs, soccer balls, stuffed animals, or even a cool sparkly pencil. When special items come to school, they often get lost or broken and can easily become a distraction to learning in class. In the case of Pokémon cards, which often look very similar to each other and are highly coveted, students hand each other their favorite cards to show off and they do not always come back to the original owner. Sometimes a trade is made that is quickly regretted, but the other student does not want to trade back. All these examples lead to hurt feeling and tears.

If a teacher sees that a personal or special item is distracting learning, students will be asked to put it away in their backpack or locker. If the item returns or new ones appear, teachers will hold onto the item until the end of the day. If this issue persists, teachers will bring the item to the office and we will contact families so that an adult can come and retrieve the item. We recognize that these items may be part of an after-school plan at childcare or a friend’s house. That is okay, just have your student leave the item in their backpack. We recognize that some students may have a special item specifically to comfort them when they are stressed. That is okay, please inform us of this need so we support your student.

If you think that this is not an issue because you do not send special personal times to school, I encourage you to check your student’s backpack. Often, we find when we reach out to families they had no idea their child was loading up their backpack with such items. Please help us prevent hurt feelings and tears from the loss or breakage of these special personal items and keep are learning environment focused.

A couple of our student friends welcomed the newest addition to their family this week. Their newest sibling was born in the morning as our friends were sent off to school. The dad came to pick them up a little early so they could go meet and enjoy the new baby. As I picked them up from class they beamed with joy and excitement. Their classmates beamed with joy and excitement for them! There were shouts of congratulations and pats and hugs from classmates. The next day I asked one of them about the new baby and was told about all the cuddling that happened with a huge smile on their face. That is absolute joy! That is our community! We are so excited and share each other’s joy. We support each other in these exciting moments and in times we need help. Come be with us in community during our Friday Family Lunch Bunch. K-1 eats at 11-11:25 a.m., 2-3 eats 11:45 a.m.-12:05 p.m., and 4-5 eats 11:25-11:45 a.m.. Come join us if you can. Have a wonderful weekend!

Principal Z

Tues 11/3 @ 8 p.m. - Join Cedar Park parents for an important informational zoom meeting

Topic: PTA Informational Meeting
Join the PTA Informational Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 974 7042 1216

Step UP For Our Kids - PTA Annual Fundraising Campaign

• With your help, we have raised 31% of the $40,000 goal.
• Campaign ends 11/7 - follow our progress on our website
• There is a New Fundraising Match for $4,000 starting Nov. 1! Donate between 11/1 and 11/7 to double your impact!
• Cash/check donations preferred (no fees) can be brought to lock box across from school office
• Cards or online donations always welcome
• All donations are tax deductible, employer matches are VERY welcome

Let's Take Care of Our Teachers/Staff!

Today is our staff cafe to thank our teachers with yummy coffee drinks and breakfast treats! Thanks to all who signed up to take care of teachers/staff. Please bring your items to the staff lounge by 8:30am.

Order Yearbooks by 10/31 for 10% off:

If you would like to buy a yearbook (pictures of your child, their class and school activities), pre-order. Visit and enter code 1016777932931779

Hardcover books cost about $31 with shipping to your home. Softcover yearbooks cost about $26 with shipping. Two free pages to personalize for free, extra personalized pages can be purchased. If you would like a yearbook, but cannot afford this cost, please email yearbook@cedarparkpta.org to ask for a scholarship. Want to donate to our scholarship fund? You can give here.

Come to UW Husky Volleyball with Cedar Park Friends this Sunday 11/1 at 12pm

It's not too late to buy UW Husky Volleyball tickets! Come have fun with CP friends and support our PTA (a portion of ticket sales comes back to us).

PTA Movie Night is coming up on Friday 11/13 - Toy Story 5

All are welcome to join us in the school cafeteria to watch Toy Story 5 with Cedar Park friends. Suggested donation of $5 per family to benefit our PTA. Bring your dinner or enjoy popcorn, snacks and drinks for sale (starting at $2). Kids can come in pajamas and bring blankets or low camp chairs to enjoy the movie. Doors open at 5:30pm, movie starts at 6pm. This is not a drop-off event, all children need to be supervised. Please sign-up to help or donate snacks to sell.

Donations & Help Needed!

Looking for other ways to help?

• Sign-up to help during Art Docent Classes on Mondays! Afternoon help is most needed
• Sign-up to donate ground coffee of K-cups for the staff lounge - ongoing need
• Sign-up to donate non-perishable snacks (no nuts!) for back-up supplies for hungry students - ongoing need

October Newsletter

There is so much going on! Please read our October PTA Newsletter for important dates, volunteer/donation opportunities, and to learn what your kids are doing in PTA-funded Art Docent and IDEA Time.

Upcoming Events:

• Tues, 11/3 @ 8 p.m. Cedar Park families Zoom meeting
• Tues, 11/3 Last day to VOTE, please turn in ballots early!
• Sat, 11/7 Last day of Step Up For Our Kids Annual Campaign fundraising
• Wed, 11/11 No School, Veterans' Day (Kids Co. does offer child care this day)
• Thurs, 11/12 6:30 p.m. Cedar Park PTA Board Meeting, email president@cedarparkpta.org for location
• Fri, 11/13 PTA Movie Night (doors 5:30pm, movie at 6pm)
• 11/16-11/22 20% of Snapdoodle Toys purchases benefit Cedar Park PTA if you mention Cedar Park Elementary!

Mark your calendar with important upcoming events (both school and PTA)

Questions? Email president@cedarparkpta.org. Check out our PTA website, calendar to stay informed!

Follow us on Facebook: Cedar Park Elementary School PTA and Instagram: @cedarparkelementaryseattle