Wanted: Your Photos for the YEARBOOK!
Deadline: Friday, March 12
Deadline for 5th Grade Camp Colman photos: Fri., March 26

We would love to include your photos in the yearbook so please send them along immediately!

Photos must be:

• Grand Ridge students ONLY during Grand Ridge related activities (please no: birthday parties, scouts, etc.)
• Labeled with the Event. Student’s name(s) and grade(s) are also extremely helpful..
• File size does not matter, but the higher the resolution (file size) the better the image will look.

All submissions may not be included in the yearbook.
Email Photos to GRyearbook@gmail.com. Questions? grPTSA@gmail.com.
And thank you so much for being a part of the Grand Ridge yearbook!

THANK YOU for Helping Haiti!
Grand Ridge made a difference … a $2,460 Difference! 

Thank you, Grand Ridge families and staff, for encouraging our students to read, write, and stimulate their brains over break. And thank you, Grand Ridge students, for making a difference for Haiti!

“Helping Haiti One Page at a Time” raised $2,460!  A check was presented by Principal Barb Walton, PTSA President Lida Buckner, and the Grand Ridge Student Council on March 2nd to American Red Cross Representatives.

PTSA Survey Now Online!
Deadline April 11

We value your opinion on current and future PTSA activities and programs. If you'd like to be heard, please fill out our survey at http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/?p=WEB22AASB6DQY5

Volunteer Opportunities

Kindergarten Bear Hunt is on Wednesday, June 2.  Lots of volunteers needed for this fun event from 3:30pm - 5:30pm. Contact grPTSA@gmail.com .

General Help. Occasionally the need arises for volunteers at the last minute. Willing to help on an as-needed basis? Please email us at grPTSAvolunteers@gmail.com.

HELP WANTED: PTSA Webmaster/Updater
and Email Administrator

The PTSA is looking for one or two individuals who are interested in taking over the position of Webmaster/Updater and Email Administrator for the next school year. This/these position(s) are perfect for someone who would like to volunteer but can only work from home. If interested, please contact Sue Paquin at grPTSAcommunications@gmail.com. The job descriptions are as follows:

PTSA Webmaster/Updater
This individual will be required to know or learn three software programs: Dreamweaver, Ultramenu and Filezilla (or some other utility for putting pages on the web). It would be helpful to also have some html or trouble-shooting capabilities as well as knowledge of graphic formats. This person will take direction from the PTSA Communications Director who will send information electronically. This person will then enter this information into Dreamweaver or Ultramenu and format it for the website.

PTSA Email Administrator
This individual will be required to know or learn MailExpert. When notified by the PTSA Communications Director they will follow instructions for sending out the Eblast/Email with MailExpert. This peson will also keep the subscriber list up-to-date with input from the PTSA Communications Director and remove subscribers who no longer wish to be subscribed to the PTSA Newsletter/Enews.

Nominating Committee Report

The 2010 Grand Ridge PTSA Nominating Committee places the following names in nomination:

For Office of Co-President:...................................Kari Leon
For Office of Co-President:...................................Carolyn Kennedy
For Office of Vice-President of Fundraising:..........Nancy Castonguay
For Office of Vice-President of Programs:.............Kirsten Wisdom
For Office of Vice-President of Events:.................Coleta Wilson
For Office of Treasurer:........................................Pam Cabrera
For Office of Secretary:........................................Erika Taylor

Elections for these positions will be held during the next PTSA General Membership Meeting on Thursday, March 25 at 7:00pm in the Grand Ridge Library.

Parent Education

 “Battling Bullies Today”
Monday, March 15, 7:00-8:30pm, Clark Elementary Multi-Purpose Room

No one likes bullies and the attacks they make on their victims. Most children are neither bullies nor victims, most are bystanders watching or trying to ignore a bullying situation. Jan Faull, M.Ed, a local child development and behavior specialist, will offer some answers to this burning question. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear this local parenting expert give realistic advice on this topic that is becoming more prevalent in schools today. For more information, contact Katheryn Morgan , Parent Ed Chair, Clark Elementary PTSA, at 425-770-8099 or kathmor@hotmail.com.

“Understanding Your Child’s Use of Technology … An Internet Safety Seminar”
Monday, March 22, 7:00- 8:30pm, Maywood Middle School Library

Children and teens are using technology in many ways without thinking about the repercussions that posting certain types of information could have. Andrew Phillips has worked with teenagers for over 17 years and also owns a small technology company. This combination of knowledge allows him special insight into how to help parents understand what their children are doing online as well as arm them with tools to talk with their children about wise internet use. Some of the topics to be explored this evening include social networking sites, like Facebook and Myspace, What exactly is Twitter?, the visual

world of Youtube, and “sextexting”. For more information, contact Kimberly Montague at  Mkmontague@hotmail.com or 425-277-1093.

For more Information on ALL Parent Ed Classes go to http://www.issaquahptsa.org/parented/

PTSA General Membership Meetings

There are only two more PTSA Meetings left for the school year.  Be involved in awarding outstanding volunteers, electing next year's Executive Board of Directors, voting on the calendar of activities and events for the 2010-2011 school year, and much more.  

Meeting date are:

Thurs., March 25, 7pm-8pm in the Library
Immediately followed by "Love and Logic" Parent Education Program.

Weds., May 26, 7pm-8pm in the Library
Immediately followed by a "1st Grade Transition" Parent Education Program.

Meetings are open to all.  Questions? Contact Lida Buckner at grPTSApresident@gmail.com

February 9th Election Results
“Thank You Voters!”

Thank you to all the voters who said YES, YES, YES to all three of our levies on February 9th!

Here’s a brief recap of the results:
Voter turnout: 40%
Maintenance and operations levy: 65.68 %
Capital (critical repairs and technology) levy: 64.24%
Bus levy: 65.57%

Thank you to all of the community members, parents, staff, and students who worked on the VIS campaign!  This levy passed because of all of your hard work and dedication to our students and our schools.

VIS is an organization that exists even during non-levy and bond years and is always seeking volunteers and donations to prepare for the next campaign. To continue to help, please go to www.visvote.org to donate and/or sign up to volunteer.

Get Your free Jamba Juice School
Appreciation Card Today!

With the Jamba Juice School Appreciation Card, 10% of every purchase you make will be donated back to the Grand Ridge PTSA. All you have to do is pick up the special Jamba Juice School Appreciation Card outside the PTSA Office, or in the School Front Office. Then, every time a card is presented at the time of a Jamba Juice purchase, 10% of proceeds will be donated back to the PTSA, plus 2% to the National PTA.

Questions?  Contact  grPTSA@gmail.com 

Join the PTSA!

All it takes is $15.00 for a single person, $25.00 for a family, and $10.00 for a staff membership. All are welcome: grandparents, friends, family members, as well as other community members! Let's support our school by having 100% PTSA membership!

Bonus: members also receive a complimentary copy of the Student Directory.

Click HERE for a membership form if paying by check.

Pay by credit card.

PTSA Membership

Family Membership $25.00 Individual Membership $15.00 Staff Membership $10.00 Sponsor a Membership $15.00

"Feed Gilman" Fundraising Campaign

What is Feed Gilman?

It is our annual “pass the hat” fundraiser where we ask families to donate $30 per family to help fund the PTSA’s programs and events. The PTSA is doing this in lieu of fundraisers that would have the students selling things door-to-door. (i.e. wrapping paper, cookie dough, etc.)

Questions? Contact Nancy Castonguay, VP of Fundraising at grptsafundraising@gmail.com

Click HERE for a “Feed Gilman” form if paying by check.

Pay by credit card.