MamaCon Tickets - We have 2 for you!

Not sure what MamaCon is? Copy this link to your browser and check it out: http://www.mamacon.net. These conference tickets are normally over $120/ticket, and the first two people to respond to this email (holler at us at cottagelakepta@hotmail.com) will get one ticket, free! The conference is May 18th/19th and tickets come compliments of Kim Estes of Savvy Parents Safe Kids.

Book Shelf Assembly

Do you have a knack for assembling furniture, specifically Ikea? Or, perhaps you want a healthy competition with your spouse to see who can assemble bookshelves the fastest? We have two PTA-provided bookshelves for the 2nd floor leveled reading area and need a volunteer or two to assemble. Please contact us at cottagelakepta@hotmail.com and volunteer!

MSP Testing - Snack Volunteer?

Nope, not eating them. Serving them. We need your help - please email mojosanchez@comcast.net if you can volunteer.

Missoula Theater Auditions and Rehearsals

Auditions for the Missoula Theater Production of "The Jungle Book" will be held on Monday, April 30th right after school in the Cottage Lake gym. Rehearsals will begin immediately following auditions on the 30th. Practice will run everyday after school from 3:30-8:00 in the gym. There will be two performances on Saturday, May 5th at 2:00pm and 5:30pm.

Spirit Wear is on sale NOW!

Order yours by clicking on "Spirit Wear" on the toolbar. Show your Sailor pride!

PTA General Membership Meeting - April 10th

We need YOU to attend this important meeting in April since we will be voting in next year's executive board. This will be a good time for you to check out how our meetings run (we promise, they're not scary, and we don't bite). You don't have to be a PTA member to attend (although you DO have to be a member to vote). Our meetings are efficiently run (consistently done in an hour - from 7pm-8pm) and there is free childcare available in the cafeteria, provided by YMCA. Please come see what it's about - if you haven't attended a meeting yet then April's is a great time to start!

Eastside Audubon Event

Audubon is celebrating International Migratory Bird Day with a festival at Juanita Bay Park on May 12. There will be games and other fun activities!

Sunshine Committee

If you know someone in our school community who is going through a hard time and could use some encouragement or help, please contact the Sunshine committee by emailing Meela at chickenjm@gmail.com. The Sunshine Committee exists to support Cottage Lake families.

Book Swap!

Your children can bring in their used books from April 2-April 6th in preparation for our Annual Book swap which is on April 10th and 11th. More info to come!

Science Palooza and Art Explosion!!

Don't miss this opportunity to view your student's science project on display as well checking out tons of cool art! Thursday, March 15th at 6:30pm!

Science Palooza is coming...

The Science Fair will be held on March 15, 2012. There will be a daytime presentation as well as an evening presentation from 6:30-8:00pm. Every Cottage Lake student will participate and will receive a certificate for their participation! Does your child need ideas? The CLE Library has science books as well as binders full of ideas.

Register for After School Enrichment Classes!

We are currently enrolling for Science Club, Drama Club and Jump Rope Club. Please use the Enrichment Classes star icon on the left-hand tool bar to get details and enroll your child. Note: We are need of Science Club enrollment for the older group of children.

The numbers are in...

Winterfest was a huge fundraising success! We surpassed our budgeted goal and brought in a little over $15,000 which we get to pour directly into our school!

THANK YOU!

We hope you had a fabulous evening at our Winterfest Dinner and Auction. Thank you to all the hard-working volunteers who spent so much time ensuring it was a fun, successful event for everyone!

Huh-Oh....

Didn't buy your Winterfest dinner or raffle tickets ahead of time? Online purchasing is now closed, but you can buy 50/50 raffle tickets and Red raffle tickets at the event tonight. If you're aiming for dinner, there may be dinner tickets available for purchase tonight but we can't guarantee availability.

Silent Auction Early Bid Items

We are auctioning three events for Winterfest that you can purchase NOW (and at the event, if there are spots left). There's a Pottery Painting Night in Bellevue with bottomless margaritas and chips/salsa, a Girls Night Out with appetizers and drinks at Belltown Billiards as well as a Guys Night Out at the same location with the same perks. Each event is $10 - for more information on dates and times, click on the Winterfest icon. Oh - and get your tickets while you can!

50/50 Raffle Cash Pot reaches over $1,400!

c'mon.... how can you resist the potential to win over $700 with one $10 ticket?? The 50/50 raffle has collected $1,410 as of Thursday morning - that's $705 in your pocket if you have the winning raffle ticket! The raffle pot continues to grow... increase your chances and buy a ticket now!

Education Series Forum - TONIGHT

Fact: Our schools are underfunded, so the forum focuses on what underfunding means in Northshore and what we can do to fix it. Tonight, January 30th, from 7pm to 8:30pm at Canyon Park Junior High Library. Presenters will include Northshore teachers, paraeducators, and principals from several schools.

Winterfest Donation deadline extended

Due to being snowed in last week, you have until Thursday, Jan 26th to bring your donations to the main office.

No school Tuesday, Jan 17th - PTA meeting cancelled

School is closed tomorrow and there will be no after school activities or events (including PTA meeting). Enjoy the snow day!

5th and 6th Grade Math Club

Matt Warhol is leading the Cottage Lake Math Club this year! 5th and 6th grade parents should have received information in their students' backpacks, but following is a refresher if you need it. From Mr. Warhol:

"My philosphy is simple; I feel every child should be challenged and encouraged. As a math coach, I am here to accomplish four things:
• prepare students for math competitions
• show math can be interesting and fun
• challenge students in math
• assure each child a positive and safe experience

I expect the participants to follow these guidelines:
• show respect for and encourage others at all times
• be courteous; you are a representative of CLE
• try your best

Time:
The Math Club meets Tuesdays in C-204 from 3:35-4:30pm. The supplementary session designed to keep girls interested in math will meet Fridays in C-203 with Mrs. Griffith and me from 3:35-4:30pm. Students can attend one or both sessions. Please pack a snack for your child. You will need to make your own transportation arrangements after school and to our March 31st competition. Our first meeting is Friday, January 20th.

Volunteers:
Help for meetings and the competition is greatly appreciated. If you are interested, please let me know on the permission form [which can be obtained in the main office].

Sincerely,
Mr. Warhol (mwarhol@nsd.org)”

Drug and Alcohol Abuse Parent Forum

Each year, Bothell Highschool takes on a topic that they feel is important to the community. This year they will be hosting a forum covering the topic of drug and alcohol abuse.

- When: Thursday February 16th, 2012
- Where: In the Bothell High School Library
- Time: 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm (End time is not exact because of Q & A's at the end)
- What: An informational night about drugs and alcohol that will have guest speakers and a panel available for questions after the presentation

This is a very important event to make the community aware of the problems associated with drugs and/or alcohol and how to help a student or friend that is having problems with one or the other or even both.

Science Club is BOOKED

In case you're looking on the website for science club sign-ups, look no further. The class is at maximum capacity so enrollment is closed.

Labels for Education Drive - SUCCESS!

Way to go Cottage Lake Elementary kids!! Thanks to all who supported our Boxtops and Labels for Education fundraiser. We hope everyone enjoyed their treat prizes that were given in appreciation for all the efforts made. The 1st week we went on break, we prepared all those boxtops and upc's for shipping and then sent it all back East to Minnesota for approval. For Boxtops, we submitted 4,697 points and for Labels for Education, we submitted 4,676 points. Great Job!! Our Teachers will be able to use these points/dollars that you earned, in late spring to supplement their classrooms with educational materials or gym equiptment, whatever is most needed next year.

In April we will begin another Drive so mark your calendars!!

Thanks again to everyone for collecting and keeping it up. Keep checking your cans and boxes for Boxtops and LFE Upc's.

1st place winners: Phan, Chacon, Griffith & Stief Classrooms - 2nd place winners: PreSchool, Wagner, Reese & Keifer Classrooms -3rd place winners: Stookey, Klinich, Lemmert & Rendahl Classrooms - 4th place winners: Jackson, Lein & Warhol Classrooms.

Special mentions: Michael & Amanda Hargraves, Emily Dick and Finley Bragg for bringing in hundreds of boxtops and points. And our own special boxtop hero, Alejandro Martinez that has always supported this program above and beyond all expectations.

Thanks for a great night at Skate King!

Success! We had approximately 120 Cottage Lake skaters and raised a little over $500. More importantly, we had a BLAST! Thanks for coming out, lacing up and rolling!

EARLY DISMISSAL!

School will be dismissed at 12:20pm from Thursday, November 17th - Wednesday, November 23rd. Please adjust your transportation needs as required. Happy Conference Week!

Reader Board Master

We need you! Interested in posting school information on the reader board that graces the front of our school? We'd need your help approximately two times per month to update the information - quick, easy and a big help! If you'd rather provide school updates from the comfort of your computer, we also need someone to compose and send out constant contact emails, 1x per week. Please email marileecipra@hotmail.com if you're interested!

Helping Hands

With the holidays approaching, it's a great time to think about our loved ones, friends and our community. For the past several years, it has been a Cottage Lake PTA tradition to provide much needed assistance for some of our Cottage Lake families. In the past were able to provide Safeway gift cards to cover Turkey dinners for over 10 families, Christmas gifts for 19 children and groceries for 8 families! Such an amazing community we have! This year we'd like to again do what we can to help those closest to our own backyards. Times are tough for a lot of families. If we all share the responsibility, we all reap the rewards. Every bit of help is appreciated. If every family at Cottage Lake sent in $10, we would have well over $2,000 to help our families who need it most!

If you are interested in helping, please send your cash or check donation to the front office, attention "PTA Helping Hands" by Monday, Nov 21st. You could also send in grocery store gift cards if you'd prefer. Any money donated will be used to provide holiday meals (in the form of grocery gift cards), as well as to purchase any left over items on the list. If there is money left after providing help in December, it will be used to help those most in need throughout the spring. Any questions or ideas can be sent to me at kzuger@windermere.com or call me at 206.930.7797. Thanks so much for doing what you can - every bit of help is truly appreciated! Kelly Zuger, Social Concerns Committee Chair.

PTA Membership

It's not too late to become a member of the PTA! We've been outlining the advantages (go check out the article in the column next door about some of the benefits a membership offers) but here's a reminder that PTA membership offers savings on PTA sponsored events and items. You'll save $ on yearbook purchases, $ on popcorn, and $5 on Winterfest Auction dinner tickets. How can you refuse?

Staff Appreciation

The Teacher/ Staff Appreciation Committee is looking for parents to help provide our wonderful teachers and staff with a luncheon on Friday, December 2nd to show just how much we appreciate the time and effort they spend on our children. If you are able to help by providing a casserole, rolls or to help with set-up, please contact Kris Pedro at krispedro@hotmail.com at your earliest convenience. Thanks for the help!

Science Club Enrollment NOW!

We're enrolling for Winter Term - January 5th thru February 16th. Classes are once a week on Thursdays at lunch recess. Cost is $10 for the series and you register via the Back to School Packet. Register now to reserve a space for your child in this really cool club!

Here! Here! We need some volunteers!

There are a few unstaffed volunteer chair positions that we'd like to see filled. We're looking for a chairperson for the February WinterFest auction and event, as well as someone to chair the Grant Writing Committee and the After School Enrichment Program Committee. Click on PTA, Volunteer to check out positions that still need volunteers!

Reflections "Diversity Means"

The Reflections Program is underway! Your child can show off his/her interpretation of this year’s theme, “Diversity Means,” with an entry of photography, musical composition, dance choreography, film production, literature or visual arts. Entries are due November 9th and will be judged on creative ability and interpretation of theme. Any questions? Please email Lisa Fifer at lisafifer@comcast.net or Ashley Sarmany at thicket23@gmail.com.

Candidate Forum for Northshore District School Board

In preparation for the election in November, the NSD School Board Candidate Forum is on Monday, October 17th at 7-9pm at the Northshore School District Administration building (3330 Monte Villa Parkway, Bothell, WA 98021). This will be a terrific opportunity to hear from the candidates!

CORRECTION to calendar

The Oct 7 Foghorn published an incorrect time for the Monster Mash. The accurate time is from 7pm-9pm on October 28th. Boo!

HopeLink Food Drive

We are partnering with HopeLink for a Food Drive at the end of this month - mark your calendars! October 24th - November 9th we are collecting food to help stock the Kirkland/Northshore Food Bank and would love your help. Food items from the following list can be brought to your child's classroom or to the Hopelink crates in the office: SOUP!!!!; Canned Vegetables (No beans please!); Canned Tomato products; Canned Fruit (This is always a favorite at the Food Bank); Canned Meat (Everything from Tuna to Spam!); Rice; Top Ramen; Pasta and Cereal.

Changes to ASAP Classes - It's Not Too Late to Join!

ASAP update:

Karate started one week late due to scheduling issues but will run one week later – signups are still available and will be prorated.

Drama Kids is doing great; Mr. Mark is an experienced and stimulating teacher. We can take a couple more kids – again we can prorate.

Science Club started 10/4 and we have lots of fun experiments for the Students. The emphasis is on learning to question how things work and why, and having fun while getting your hands dirty. You can still sign up on-line or by contacting niki_thornton@comcast.net.

Directory Ad deadline is Friday, September 30th!

Are you interested in advertising your business in our student directory? If so, you will need to purchase the directory space by this upcoming Friday or you will miss the deadline! You can purchase a directory ad thru the Back to School packet - sizes and prices are listed.

Are you having a Fundraising Dilemma?

Do you want to help your child fundraise but aren't particularly interested in purchasing one of the items offered by NW Fundraising? Your child can still receive fundraising "peanuts" by gathering checks or receiving donations via this website (you can click on PTA where you'll be directed to Donate. There's a notes section where you can enter your child's name and we'll make sure your child receives his/her peanuts). Every $5 you donate is equal to one item in peanuts!

Back to School Pizza Party

Don't forget that this Friday at 6pm we're celebrating the new school year with a pizza party! Join us for FREE food, fun activities and crafts. 6:00-8:00pm.

PTA Members Receive Discounts

When you purchase a PTA membership you will be entitled to discounts on all PTA sponsored events and products. This includes spirit wear, popcorn, yearbooks and more! Join the Cottage Lake PTA now!

Networking

Join us on Facebook!

Why should you become a member of the Cottage Lake PTA?

The Cottage Lake PTA (Parent Teacher Association) is a volunteer run organization that aims to connect school, home, and community to help every child receive the best possible education. The PTA supports the goals of our educators and helps foster a sense of community. This includes both fundraising and advocacy. Through fundraising efforts, the PTA supplements district-approved curriculum with extra programs, materials, books, equipment etc to enhance the education of all students. Through advocacy at the local, state and national levels, PTA works to make education a top legislative priority. Everyone - parents, educators, students and other citizens active in their schools and communities - is invited to join our not-for-profit parent association.

Get Connected. There's no better way to know what's happening in your school.
Discover Great Resources. The PTA offers a variety of programs designed for parents as well as students.
Tap into a Network. PTA actions are opportunities to meet other parents and teachers, building rapport and discussing issues that are on your mind. You can share ideas, concerns, and experiences.
Watch Yourself Grow. By volunteering with your PTA, you put your skills and hobbies to use for a noble cause - your child and all children in the community.
Speak Up. PTA can be a way for you to more effectively suggest change at your child's school.
Witness Improvement. By getting involved at your child's school you'll be part of the solution, helping make positive changes. Local PTAs play an important role in fundraising to provide building improvements, curriculum-based programs, and social events.
Be a Role Model. By becoming a PTA member, you'll be demonstrating to your child teh importance you place on education.

Please join the Cottage Lake PTA!

Welcome to the NEW Cottage Lake PTA Website!

This site is your gateway to the latest news and information from the Cottage Lake PTA! From announcements and resources, to the most up to date school calendar, all the information you need is right here!

Please register NOW with our website so you can take advantage of all the site's benefits! Help us be more efficient and ecologically responsible by eliminating photocopies of tedious forms!

You will be able to view and complete the Back to School Packet (and avoid the paperwork you're usually inundated with at the beginning of the school year). You'll also have the opportunity to pay for your PTA membership, popcorn, yearbooks, and more! We're really excited about this new website and welcome your feedback and suggestions.

Welcome to your new website!

Your brand new website has lots of amazing capabilities! Feel free to begin by exploring the menu system, adding an announcement, or adding an event to the calendar. Most aspects of the website are completely customizable. You can organize the menu system (blue bar to the left) however you want. You can upload your own banner photo, and even change the background imagery to reflect your school's unique spirit. Make sure you click the Admin button at the top of the page to get access to all of the settings and configuration tools.

We have given you a head start by adding some example events, announcements, articles, programs, products, volunteer positions, and packets to your website. You can use these examples to help you get familiar with the features. But feel free to delete them whenever you are ready!.