Principal News

1. Carpool: Thank you for dropping your children off at school at 8:15 when adult supervision begins. Parents assume all liability if children are left at school before 8:15. Parents may not park in the church parking lot for morning or afternoon carpool unless you are part of a Kindergarten car pool, have after school sports, or you have my permission.

2. Web site: The annual school calendar, class schedules, weekly classroom letters, student medication and Field Trip forms, our School Handbook, WASL scores, and staff email addresses are on the web site.

2. Meetings: We have had very productive Development, PTO, Technology, and School Commission meetings this month. All parents are welcomed to attend these meetings. You are asked to advise the chair if you plan to attend. If you want an item placed on a meeting agenda, you need to give the chair two week’s notice. The meeting dates and times are listed on this bulletin and in the school calendar.

3. Hot lunch: If you need to cancel your child’s hot lunch, please call lunch ladies direct by 9:30 AM. Leaving a message on the school phone does not allow us enough time to contact the lunch ladies.

4. Our October School Mass is changed to October 18^th so Father Jim will be there. Father began his classroom visits last week with a focus on prayer and student participation and understanding of the Mass.

5. Staff Professional Development: All school staff will be reading current educational materials this year as part of our professional development. Our first book study is Eight Habits of the Heart for Educators by Clifton L. Taulbert. There are several copies on the office shelves parents may borrow. Our other book studies this year includes material on student learning styles, multiple intelligences, and brain research (using what we know about learning to improve teaching).

6. School Improvement Plan: As part of our Accreditation process, the staff develops an annual School Improvement Plan. This year’s plan is contained within this bulletin. Our three main goals are: (1) Expanding students’ knowledge of Religious vocations and service organizations; (2) Increasing teacher, parent, and student understanding of various student learning styles and learning disabilities; and (3) a cyclical review of our curriculum by subject areas.

7. Tutoring and Assessment referrals: An updated list of tutors and educators who can assess students is included in this bulletin.

God Bless, Mrs. Lunn

Sally Foster/Entertainment book order forms were due last week! Please turn in any outstanding forms immediately to the school office.

If you did not sell the Entertainment Book included in your packet, it must be returned to the school office.

Important Reminders:

v Entertainment books were available for pickup on September 24th at carpool. If you still need to pick up your order, please call Lisa or Michelle to make arrangements.

v Sally Foster orders will be available for pickup November 7^th and 8^th during parent-teacher conferences.

v Each family is required to sell $125 worth of Sally Foster products or Entertainment books (each $20 Entertainment book sold counts as $16 toward your requirement). Eighty percent of the purchase price of magazine orders count towards the $125 requirement. Families who wish to buy out of this fundraiser can do so for $62.50.

v Our school account number is 0305580 for online orders. Go to the Seller’s Section at sallyfoster.com to send emails to friends and family. Orders can be made online any time throughout the year.

A Big Thank You

To the ----------- families for generously donating their time and food to the Interfaith Prayer Service last Friday. I could not have done this without all of your amazing help!

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Picture Retakes

Picture retakes will be on Monday, October 8th. If your child needs retakes, please have them bring their original pictures back. They will also need to change into their school uniform after their pictures are taken.

The new Parent Volunteer Service Hours web-form is now available at http://www.saintbrendan.org/schoolhours/. It can also be found by going to the main school page, clicking the get involved menu and selecting the report service hours link. An account must be created before hours can be entered. Any hours that have been turned in on paper will not be added to the system until later but parents can add them to the online system as well if they still have them. If you have any problems or questions, please contact school office.

Calling All Chessman

St. Brendan Chess season is open to all students Kindergarten thru 8^th grade who play chess at any level. The parents’ meeting will be Monday, October 1, at 3:00 PM in the Library.

The first practice will be Monday, October 8, from 3 – 4 PM in the Library.

Practices will be every Monday we have school, thru March.

If you have any questions, please contact the school office.

Health Screening Information

Health Screening will take place on Tuesday, October 9th. Any needed rechecks will be done on Tuesday, October 16th. Please make sure any children that wear glasses or contacts bring them to the screening.

Bishop Blanchet Annual Chocolate Sale

On October 11^th the annual chocolate sale will begin. Over 1,000 students will be selling World’s Finest chocolate products, and fair trade organic coffee, Grounds for Change. Watch for students selling at the ferry terminals, stores, churches, sporting events, banks and other popular venues. Contact the Development Office for more information – 206-527-7735.

AUTUMN HARVEST CONCERT

with Father Jim Northrop

St. Brendan Catholic Church,

Saturday, November 10th at 7:00 PM.

Ticket price is $10/person or $25/household and will benefit

Dr. Tom Curran’s teaching and speaking ministry, Trinity Formation Resources.

Tickets may be purchased after all the Masses on September 22/23 and 29/30 in the Narthex. You are encouraged to purchase your tickets early as this event will be widely advertised. Contact the parish or school office for more info.

Family Night

BINGO!

Wear your Hawaiian or Halloween Costume

Friday, October 26, 2007

Replaces Family Night Auction ! Winners receive prizes!! Donate small items to the auction! 6:00 – 9:00

Save the Date!!!

Greetings All!!!

Wonderful news! -------- has graciously stepped forward to take over as chairman for the 2008 St. Brendan Home and Holiday Craft Fair. She brings with her a vast knowledge in catering and events planning. We are so lucky to have her!!!

We still need some one to co-chair with her and another to take over publicity. Please contact the school office. Thank-you!

To All St. Brendan Students Selling Product in the Holiday Craft Fair

Please fill out the below form and return to the school office in the Wednesday envelope.

A $10 booth donation is recommended as no commission will be charged this year.

Student Leader Name:_____________________________

Names of Helpers at Table:_________________________

_________________________

Name of Parent Attendant:__________________________

Product(s) Being Sold:_____________________________

Will You Need a Table?____________________________

Thank-you

Remember that products must be hand made only.

Tables must be draped to floor and crafter to provide all booth décor.

School Improvement Plan for 2007-2008

St. Brendan Parish School

Goal 1: Students will expand their knowledge of Religious vocations and service organizations in preparation for a lifestyle of service to others.

Religion Vocation Education

Students in Kindergarten through 8^th grade will gather for a minimum of three Religious vocation presentations/speakers.

Teachers will have access to updated videos and other materials on Religious vocations to supplement the curriculum materials.

Service Opportunities

School-wide Food Drive : Sixth graders will lead a school-wide food drive for our parish’s St. Vincent de Paul food bank. Food will be collected once a month on the first Friday from all grades beginning in November 2007 through June 2008. Sixth graders will educate students in their cross age family at the October family meeting about the St. Vincent de Paul food bank. Sixth graders will contact the parish representative for St. Vincent de Paul, collect, and transport all the food items on each first Friday.

School-wide Malawi Fundraiser: Seventh graders will lead a school-wide fundraising campaign to support a sister school in Malawi ( Africa ). Students will research Malawi , have speakers present first hand information about Malawi , develop a fundraising campaign beginning in February 2008, support the parish pilgrimage to Malawi in April 2008, and educate students in their cross age family group about Malawi .

Service Organization: Eighth grade students will adopt one of the cross age family service organizations and provide service hours to the organization. Eighth graders will educate students in their cross age family about the service organization and coordinate an appreciation project for each organization. Eighth grade leaders will assist in obtaining speakers from several of our service organizations to make presentations to 5^th through 8^th grade students throughout the school year.

Weekly Service: Eighth grade students will provide 45 minutes of service each week to school and parish staff.

Diaper Bag Project, Advent Giving Tree, and Lenten Operation Rice Bowl: Eighth grade students will encourage the collection of materials from students, parents, and parishioners for the Diaper Bag Project at the Thanksgiving Assembly, the Advent Giving Tree, and the Lenten Operation Rice Bowl.

Nursing Home Visits: Each grade will visit our local nursing home, Northcreek Center , once during the school year.

Goal #2: Teachers, parents, and students will develop a greater understanding of various student learning styles and learning disabilities.

Staff Professional Development

Teachers will participate in two three hour educational seminars on learning disabilities and learning styles in August 2007 and February 2008.

Teachers will participate in monthly group book discussions focusing on current research and best practices for learning differences. Book studies may include:

One Mind at a Time; Eight Habits of the Heart for Educators; The Brain Compatible Classroom; Multiple Intelligences of Reading and Writing; The Art and Science of Teaching

Teachers will view additional ADHD videos during professional development staff meetings.

Teachers will continue to attend the Archdiocesan and Dr. Levine’s Schools Attuned workshops and share the strategies utilized with other teachers.

Teachers will continue to attend seminars and conferences offered through the Learning Disabilities Association of Washington and the Washington Dyslexia Association.

Parent Education

Parents will be invited to participate in reading the same professional materials as teachers.

Parents will be encouraged to utilize the school’s resource library which has books and videos on learning differences, parenting strategies, child development, and learning disabilities.

Parents will participate in the formation of student accommodation plans.

Parents will be invited to a Reading Information Night to assist parents with beginning reading instruction.

School wide Procedures

Teachers will streamline the process for students who demonstrate a need for classroom accommodations. A student accommodation plan will be developed in partnership with parents.

Teachers will become more familiar with the public schools’ Special Education referral procedures and how to assist parents and students with the process.

Teachers will continue to utilize small group learning environments.

Student to teacher ratio will generally be 1 to 15 with either smaller class size or Instructional Aides in the classrooms. Instructional Aide time has been extended to provide full time aid to 1^st and 2^nd grade classrooms. Teachers with more than one planning period per day will be utilized in all classrooms.

Math and Science classes for 7^th and 8^th grade are reduced to 15 students in each class.

Math classes for 5^th and 6^th grade are reduced in size with a small student group receiving instruction outside of the main classroom.

Students will benefit from additional reading assistance in 1^st through 6^th grade by extending our Reading Specialist’s hours.

Students will receive assistance from our Librarian and Reading Specialist for organization and study skills at the end of the school day.

Students will have the opportunity to attend study hall once a week.

Teachers will post their weekly letter to the school’s web site each week to maintain communication with parents regarding homework, assessments, and long range assignments.

Teachers will utilize parish volunteers to provide more one on one student assistance with Reading and Math.

Goal #3: Students and teachers will benefit from a cyclical review of our curriculum on an annual basis and in accordance with Archdiocesan guidelines.

New Curriculum

Reading : Teachers in grades 3, 4, and 5 will implement new reading curriculum from Open Court . Teachers in Kindergarten, grade 1, and grade 2 will revise, evaluate, and adjust their implementation of Open Court reading from last year.

Review Curriculum

Curriculum Maps:

Science, Technology, and PE curriculum maps will be updated, finalized, posted to the school’s web site, and distributed to parents.

Final Religion (K-8) and Social Studies (K-8) Curriculum maps will be distributed to parents and posted to the school’s web site.

Teachers will begin a Math overview document (preliminary to a curriculum map).

Teachers will complete a Writing curriculum map for Kindergarten through 8^th grade.

Math:

Math teachers in grades Kindergarten through 8^th grade will participate in a review of recommended publishers for adoption of a Math curriculum for 08-09.

Writing:

Kindergarten through 8^th grade teachers will review and evaluate our current writing curriculum and develop a Writing Curriculum Map.

Teachers will begin to plan grade level writing mastery expectations and school-wide assessments.

Art Docent Program:

One primary teacher and one upper grade teacher will review the current Art Docent program, including materials and curriculum. Teachers will meet with the parent chair and make recommendations for improvement.

Field Trips:

All school field trips require principal approval before confirmation and must be relevant to the classroom curriculum. All trips will be posted to the school’s web site.

Standardized Assessments

Assessment of Catechetical Religious Education: Students in grades 5 and 8 will be assessed on their Catholic faith knowledge using the Assessment of Catechetical Religion Education.

Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS): All students in grades 1 through 8 will be assessed in the last half of the first trimester using the ITBS test in Reading