Sunday, September 14, 2008

The afterschool program is about to get its launch! Yippee!

I could use your help in looking over the documents we are planning to send home and see if you have any concerns or questions about them. I am hoping to get the information about Lou’s class on Monday and have these go out early in the week, so if you do have comments/concerns/questions, please let me know ASAP.

In the good news department, the PTSA board has recommended funding the afterschool program for $2000 to help get us off the ground. The proposal will be taken to the general meeting coming up next week for approval. Also, the Seattle Parks Department has awarded Pathfinder a substantial grant (over $10,000!) to support 6th, 7th and 8th grade participation. As a result we will not be charging for these grade’s participation in the program.

I hope that you will contribute any concerns, questions, ideas, etc. to me and the rest of us via email or the blog: http://pathfinderafterschoolprogram.blogspot.com/



Pathfinder PTSA After-School Program

Fall 2008 Classes

Unless otherwise noted, classes are 8 weeks long and meet once a week from the week of October 6 to the Week of December 1. No classes will be held the week of Thanksgiving. Classes with insufficient enrollment will be canceled. For classes that have more requests than space, those who get registration in before Sept 19th will be given priority. All participants are required to meet in the cafeteria by 3:20 and will be offered a snack.

Magic! Grades 6-7-8

Teacher: Mark Pentecost
Maximum students: 14
Learn to perform magic tricks and illusions. Amaze friends and family with sleight-of-hand, mind reading, and doing the impossible.
Meets Tuesdays 3:30-4:30
Class fee: Free / Materials: Free

Math Club/Study Skills Grades 6-7-8
Teacher: Mark Pentecost
Maximum students: 14
Play math games, get help with your math homework, have fun!
Meets Thursdays 3:30-4:30
Class fee: Free / Materials: Free

Art Studio Grades 4-5-6-7-8
Teacher: Nicole Penoncello
Maximum Students: 15
In this open studio time students will be able to work on their own art projects. You can choose your own medium and style! There will be a show at the end of the class!
Meets Tuesdays 3:30-4:30
Class Fee: For 6, 7, 8th grades: Free
For 4th and 5th grades: $30
Materials Fee: $25

Jump Rope Grades 2-3-4-5-6
Teacher: ????
Come learn to do tricks, practice your double-unders, do double-dutch!
Meets: ????
Class Fee: $???
Materials Fee: Free

Poetry Club/Team
Grades 5-6-7-8
Teacher: Lucy Simpson
Calling all middle-school and adult poets to join the Pathfinder poetry team. We will read poems, so bring your favorite poets to share for the first few meetings. We will write poems, revise them and work on performing them - making them sing. This class will be a democracy in many ways.
Meets Wednesdays 3:30-4:30
Class and Materials Fee: Free

Beginning Mandarin Grades K-1-2
Teacher: Chia Chia Wang
Here is a wonderful opportunity for your child to learn a language that 1/5th of world’s population speaks! We will be learning Mandarin Chinese through singing songs, movements, playing games, drawing and crafting. Parents are welcome to stay in the class to learn Chinese along with their child. The instructor, Ms. Wang, is a native speaker who has taught language immersion class in elementary schools. This is her second year teaching the after school Chinese class at Pathfinder. Appropriate for students with no previous study of Mandarin. No snack will be provided for students in this class. Class fee discount for volunteer work and scholarships are not available for this class at this time.
Meets Wednesday 4:25-5:10
Class Fee: $80
Materials Fee: Free

Intermediate Mandarin Grades 2-3-4-5
Teacher: Chia Chia Wang
Here is a wonderful opportunity for your child to learn a language that 1/5th of world’s population speaks! We will be learning Mandarin Chinese through singing songs, movements, playing games, drawing and crafting. Parents are welcome to stay in the class to learn Chinese along with their child. The instructor, Ms. Wang, is a native speaker who has taught language immersion class in elementary schools. This is her second year teaching the after school Chinese class at Pathfinder. Class fee discount for volunteer work and scholarships are not available for this class at this time.
Prerequisite: 1-2 years of Mandarin
Meets Wednesday 3:30-4:20
Class Fee: $90
Materials Fee: Free


Pathfinder PTSA After-School Program
Registration Form
(Forms and payment received by Friday, Sept 19th will receive priority registration)

Student Name: ___________________________Grade: ____ Clan: ______ School _____________________

Address: ________________________________________________ Home Phone: _________________________

Parent/Guardian Name: ___________________________Work Phone: _____________ Cell Phone: ____________

Emergency Contact: ___________________________________________ Phone: __________________________

Student Allergies? _____________________________________ Parent E-Mail: ____________________________

The following people are authorized to pick-up my child: They will be asked for picture ID.

______________________________ ________________________________ ____________________________




Choice # (indicate first and second choice if applicable)
Day
Course Name
Class Fee
Materials Fee
















Notes/Comments:________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


Total Class Fees: ____

Total Materials Fee: _____

Enrollment Fee: _____ ($5 for PTSA members, $10 for non-PTSA members - 1 time registration fee per session)

Total Due: _______

______I need financial assistance. Full and partial scholarships available!
reduced lunch. Please email lclayton@seattleschools.org if you have any questions.

_____ I can pay $_____ I have enclosed a check for that amount.

_____I would like to volunteer, I’m able to do check in/check out for my child’s
class, help with snack, do registration, or something else. We will need at least one parent per class. Please email e_ebaer@earthlink.net if you would like to help. Volunteers will receive 50% class fee discount.

Make checks payable to Pathfinder PTSA & submit with registration form


After Class, my child will be:


_____Picked up by: ____________________________ phone : _____________________

_____Going to Blazing Trails

_____My child will be riding the after school activity bus home. The address is _________________________________________
This option is only available to 4,5,6,7 and 8th graders due to funding conditions.


Please initial each of the following and sign at the bottom:

_____I give my permission for _____________________________________ to participate in Pathfinder after school activities. I
give my permission for the adult(s) in charge to seek emergency medical treatment and/or transportation for my child.
By signing below, I hereby agree to release the Pathfinder PTSA, its volunteers, and class instructors from any and all
responsibility of any nature, including claims for injury, illness, death, loss, or damage resulting from participation in
the Pathfinder PTSA After School Program.

______Children who participate in Pathfinder after school activities are held to the same behavioral standards as during regular school hours.

_____I understand that if my child is not going to attend a class he/she is enrolled in, I will contact the Pathfinder office by phone before 3:00 or have to pay a $5 search fee. If for any reason you are late in picking up your child (after 4:30 PM), a late fee of $5 will be assessed for every five minutes after the end of class. If you know you are going to be late, please call us to let us know how late you might expect
to be. This helps us organize staff schedules and reassures your child. A child’s enrollment could be terminated should the child be picked-up late on three separate occasions in one year regardless of the reasons for the late pick-up.


________________________________________ __________________________
Signature of Parent/Guardian Date

Pathfinder PTSA After School Program Questions and Answers

How are fees decided?
Fees are decided by the teacher with additional factors such as snack and program costs included.

Why are some classes free?
Classes for 6th, 7th and 8th graders are supported from a substantial grant by the Parks Department Out of School Time Program.

Why is transportation only available to older children?
Transportation for 6th, 7th and 8th graders are supported from a substantial grant by the Seattle Parks Department Out of School Time Program.

Can I suggest a class?
Absolutely! Feel free to email comments or suggestions to e_ebaer@earthlink.net or lclayton@seattleschools.org or leave comments on the Afterschool program's blog http://pathfinderafterschoolprogram.blogspot.com/

What happens if more kids want to register for a class than the class capacity?

Those who submit their registration information by September 19th will be given priority. After that, registration will be on a first come, first served, basis. If more kids enroll by the priority date than can be accommodated, we will randomly pick students for the class and do our best to accommodate those who do not get their first choice with a second choice option.



Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Preliminary list of classes for the Pathfinder after school program

Lisa has been busy recruiting and here are our current list of classes and teachers

  • Beginning Mandarin – Chia Chia Wang
  • Intermediate Mandarin – Chia Chia Wang
  • Jump Rope Team – Lou has someone (I am not sure who)
  • Art Club/Open Studio – Nicole
  • Chess – Mark Pentecost
  • Math Skills – Mark Pentecost
  • Poetry Club – Lucy Simpson

I am working on nailing down the rest of the information (like when, how much, etc.) and to hear back from Lisa about how we can work with OST (the parks program for older students). I hope we can have something out to parents by the end of this very, very busy week!