Dear IVE Families:

      Please join us at the PTA Meeting on Tuesday, Nov 18th at 7:00 PM in the IVE Library!

LETTER FROM PTA PRESIDENT- Kristen Allen-Bentsen

 Shopping at Target yesterday I overheard a conversation between 2 moms.  From the snippets I caught as I browsed the art aisle for the right Reflections paper, I deciphered they both had freshmen in college.  The conversation was a comparison of how little the women heard from their now independent kids and how even a texted "Hi" was a welcome sign.  One woman lamented that her son went 2 weeks once without ever returning a text, email or phone call from his parents.     This conversation stopped me in the middle of Target.  Moments earlier I had been chatting on the phone with my sister, complaining that I couldn't get anything done in the afternoon because all 3 of my kids "needed" me: to build Lego's, help with math, play dolls, rehash events on the playground.  How lucky I am to have had this reminder about how quickly 18 years goes by.  And how fortunate I am to be swamped with actitivies, PTA and classroom volunteering that keep me involved and active in my children's lives...while they still want me to be. Volunteering for PTA at the Book Fair, the classroom, Eager Reader or Community Outreach means connecting with kids.  It means your own child's pride and excitement at seeing Mom or Dad at school.  It is smiles and hugs from kids you may not even know.  It's community.  And while we are swamped in daily tasks of work, laundry, bill paying,  & holiday planning.  Let's not forget to be grateful for busy, grateful for the interruptions, grateful for the full calendars of "kid-related activities".  Before you know it, we'll be dropping them off at the corner to save their embarrassment and soon after that, waiting for the text "Hi" while they are off creating their own lives.                           Now is the time to get involved with school and with the PTA.  We welcome parents of kids of all ages.  Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd Grade parents- you are the leaders of tomorrow who will shape the direction and success of the enrichment  at our school in years to come.  3rd, 4th & 5th Grade parents- I know many of you have volunteered millions of hours to this point...don't forget the internal rewards that come with giving to your kids and to your Elementary school.  While I know we will continue to be involved in Middle School, I'm guessing the warm fuzziness won't be the same. So, come play with your kids (Hands on Art Night!), work for your kids (Eager Reader, Outdoor Beautification), raise money for your kids (Box Tops, Innisbrook)  model citizenship and responsibility for your kids (PTA Meetings, Staff Appreciation, Community Outreach).  I know how busy we all are and how difficult it is to find more time in the day.  But I believe that all of us working together and each of us doing our part will make a lasting impression on our children, on all the children at IVE and on the future.  

It is never too late to become a PTA member, to have family members join us in advocating for kids or to have your business join the PTA!  Every membership receives a beautiful hot pink directory loaded with lots of great information you can't get anywhere else!

LOGO WEAR COMING HOME

IVE Cougar Wear will be delivered via student mail (by the child you indicated on your order form) on Monday, Nov 17th.  Please check your child's backpack for your purchase.  the IVE PTA truly appreciated your support with this fundraiser.  We look forward to seeing all of the Cougar Wear gracing the students & roaming the hallways soon!

INNISBROOK DISTRIBUTION

Innisbrook Gift Wrap & Chippery Cookie Dough will be distributed Tuesday, Nov 18th from 2:30-6:00 PM in the PTA Portable 3, next to Cougar Club.  This is the only day for picking orders up!  If you cannot make it, please ask a friend or neighbor to pick up your order as well.  The Cookie Dough is frozen and cannot be left out too long as we do not have enough storage space to keep it all cold.  Thank you again for your orders!

LEGISLATIVE ROUND TABLE

Region 2 PTA (which includes Bellevue, Mercer Island, Issaquah, Lake Washington, Riverview & Snoqualmie Valley) will be hosting a Legislative round table at 7:00 PM on Thursday, Nov 20th at Newcastle Elementary (8400 136th Ave SW, Newcastle, north of Coal Creek Parkway & May Valley Rd).  This night is an opportunity for citizens of the entire Eastside to meet with the elected officials they send to Olympia.  Fred Jarrett, Judy Clibborn, Ross Hunter, Rodney Tom & Roger Goodman have already confirmed, with more invites outstanding.  Contact IVE PTA Leg Rep Tola Marts at tola_marts@yahoo.com if you have any questions. DON'T MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH YOUR REPRESENTATIVES & SENATORS!!!

TEACHER APPRECIATION LUNCHEON

"Pre-Thanksgiving Thanks to the Teachers"!  A menu of salads; green & pasta along with pumpkin pie tarts!  The next Teacher & Staff Luncheon is scheduled for Friday, Nov 21st.  This month's luncheon is being sponsored by the 4th Grade families.  But anyone willing to help is appreciated!  Please go to:  http://www.ivepta.org/signups/staff89_4.asp to sign up for dishes, set-up or clean up.

HANDS ON ART

Calling Artists Little and Big!  Come celebrate art at IVE!  Friday, Nov 21st 6:30-8:30 PM.  Please join us for a family fun night of hands-on art projects, help us recognize all Reflections participants, and tour the halls to see the great student art.

 FOOD DRIVE

 Food Drive contest runs Nov 3-21!  Delivery of food collected will be Monday morning, Nov 24 to the Issaquah Food Bank.  Issaquah Food Bank relies solely on donations.  A competition between the grades should help motivate the donations!  The grade with the most weight in food and gift card donations will win either a private popcorn party in their classroom or an extra recess.  The teacher's for the grade who wins will determine what their classes will do on a date to be determined in January.  RIGHT NOW...IT IS A CLOSE TIE WITH 1ST GRADE AND KINDERGARTEN!!!  KEEP THOSE DONATIONS COMING TO MAKE OUR GOAL!  For additional info, see flyer that recently came home or contact:  Connie Bellas at conniebellas@hotmail.com or Trisha Neill at lestrish2000@yahoo.com .

BOX TOPS & LABELS FOR EDUCATION CONTEST

Don't delay- We need your Box Tops & Campbell's UPC's!  The grade who turns in the most Box Tops Coupons and/or Campbell's UPC's by Dec 5th will earn an extra recess before heading home for Winter Break.  Be sure to put your Box Tops & Campbell's UPC's in a sealed Ziploc bag or envelope marked with the teacher's name.  Students should deliver them to the large Campbell's Soup container in the main hallway near the Library entrance.  In this location, you will also see a bulletin board showing which grade is in the lead.  Currently 2nd Grade is in the lead!  That poster will be updated weekly until the end of the contest period.  Thanks IVE families!   Questions? email Tiffany Aske @ askefamily@comcast.net.

BARNES & NOBLE OFF CAMPUS BOOK FAIR

Save the date!  Dec 6-7, Saturday 9:00 am-11:00 pm & Sunday 9:00 am-10:00 pm.  15-20% of all purchases will go toward IVE PTA to fund extra-curricular activities.  Look for a flyer to come home soon with more details!

YEARBOOK

WE KNOW YOU'VE GOT 'EM...AND WE WANT 'EM!!!  The deadline for submission of your photos for the yearbook is Dec 19.  We would love your best pictures of students, volunteers, teachers & staff for the "candid" pages in the yearbook.  For this year's book, we have added a page dedicated to our kids' extracurricular activities, so we especially need photos of activities outside of school (IVE students only please).  Photos of field trips, Halloween parties, art docent classes, and family nights at school are all welcome too.  E-mail up to 5 pictures at a time to Birgit Aarretad @ aarrest@comcast.net (highest resolution possible, jpeg format).  For more than 5 photos, please save them to a disc, include contact info as well as info about the pictures and leave in the Yearbook box in the office.  Questions?  Call Birgit Aarrestad 425-369-0356 or Sally Moore 425-557-1497.