If you are interested in doing Walkabout, or helping at school for any of our many programs and events you need to do a Volunteer Background Check through the Issaquah school district. If you did it last year you NEED TO RENEW IT and it is SUPER EASY!!
November's Dining For Kids will be all day at Agave in the Issaquah Highlands on Wednesday, November 2nd. Agave Cocina will donate a portion of your bill to the Issaquah Schools Foundation!
Registering Families for Holiday Gift Barn
The Issaquah Food and Clothing Bank is registering families to participate in the Holiday Gift Barn through the month of November. Pre-registration is required in order to participate. Each family who participates will be able to choose 3-4 gifts per child, and gift-wrap will also be available. Please use this link to register or sign up in person at the Issaquah Food and Clothing Bank.
LUNCH TIME FUN!!
The PTSA is teaming up with the administrative team at IMS to provide more activities for kids during the second half of lunch. Specifically, the school is looking for donations of new or gently used board games, checker boards and decks of cards. Board games should be ones that can be played to finish within fifteen minutes. Please deliver to the main office, labeled "lunch". Thank you! SIGN UP HERE!
SchoolPool has come to Issaquah! SchoolPool is a free, secure, online platform which helps families at our school connect with each other to form carpools, and walking and biking groups to and from school. Not only do these groups help our school be environmentally sustainable, it helps reduce traffic at pick up and drop off times. To learn more about this program, check out this poster. We’ll have a quick enrollment form available soon. Email salmonfriendlytrips@issaquahwa.gov with questions!
Parenting the Developing Mind
November 7th at the Issaquah High School Theater 7-8:30pm
The Issaquah School District and the Issaquah Schools Foundation invites parents to attend a series of Parent Night Sessions presented by Brandyn Roark Caires and Kire Dassel from the Brooks Powers Group.
This training will cover the stages of brain development from kindergarten through adolescents.
IMS PTSA Board
President Kristen Allen Bentsen Wendy Shah
Secretary Anne Livingston
Treasurer Tina Ellis
VP Hospitality Kristen Brennock Kristen Wood
VP Communications Rachel Stoner
VP Ways & Means Amy Cancelosi
VP Programs Heather Bratton
VP Volunteers Tara Moe
VP Outreach Becky Gordon
October 31st, 2016
CLEANING OUT CLOSETS?? Extra PE clothes that are too small? Are you cleaning out your student's clothing? Do you have gently used IMS spirit wear: sweatpants sweatshirts, even used PE t-shirts your student no longer needs or wears? The IMS Angel Student Assistance Program will gladly take them! If you have these items, please bring them to the IMS front office or contact one of the program chairs to make other arrangements: Kristin Brennock or Elizabeth McIntyre.
Thank you to all the families that recently donated various goods to the IMS Angel Student Assistance Program. Your generosity is appreciated by many! Order BE KIND T-Shirts New Design Only Available Until November 4 at 8:00 a.m.
They're back....and available only one time this year. If you missed them last year or want to update colors and designs for this year, be sure to order the 2016-2017 edition of IMS's increasingly famous BE KIND T-shirts. Orders will be accepted on the IMS PTSA website or on a paper form in the office until Friday, November 4, at 8:00 a.m. The shirts will be distributed during ASB Kindness Week on November 16. This year's design features BE KIND on the front and the word “kindness” in different languages on the back. Shirts are preshrunk cotton, adult sizes S-3XL, in bright purple and dark blue tie-dye. Pricing depends on the color of the shirt and the sizing so please check the above links. Please consider donating an extra so everyone can have one.
Sponsored by Issaquah Middle PTSA, excess proceeds benefit the Angel Program, which provides basic school necessities to Issaquah Middle School students in need. Students recognized by teachers with "kindness cards" may enter them in the office drawing for a free T-shirt. Students whose names are drawn and who have already ordered a shirt will be reimbursed. Information is also available on the IM PTSA website or by contacting poolnorby@comast.net
VETERAN IMS Families!!!! Please be a resource for new families!
The IMS PTSA is starting a great new program called New Family Ambassadors Program. You can make a difference to families who are new to the Issaquah school district and IMS. Please consider volunteering for this new and important role! As an Ambassador, you will serve as a contact person to answer questions (via email, phone or maybe even coffee!) and help our new and returning families feel welcome at IMS. Please tell us about yourself here: New Family Ambassador Volunteer Informationso that we may pair you with a new family that has similar interests, background, or grade levels.
Volunteers needed for the IMS Party- THIS WEEK
The students are getting ready for the first all-school party of the year on November 4th but we need your help. We need volunteers to sell tickets during lunches Wednesday, Thursdayand Friday and we need chaperones for the party itself. Please sign up to help HERE!!
Your PTSA dollars at work!!!
This month the IM PTSA funded two grants:
A Brainpop ESL subscription for our ELL population
Partial funding for a guest square dance instructor for second trimester PE classes.
Thank you to Diana Triplett and Kyle Tatro for reaching out to the PTSA in partnership. Funding grants is the most significant portion of our budget. We are grateful to all IMS families who have contributed to our Pass The Hat Campaign!
Click For Kids Honk & Wave - November 4th
Volunteers are needed to help with the Issaquah Schools Foundation All In For Kids Honk & Wave on Friday, November 4th. Bring your enthusiasm & smiles to the street to remind the community to Click For Kids and support Issaquah Schools! The Honk & Waves take place 20 minutes before school starts & 20 minutes before school ends. PLEASE SIGN UP HERE!
Budding Jazz Musician in your family?? JazzED Ensembles, placement on Nov 19 & Nov 20 The award-winning Seattle JazzED Big Band Ensembles are now enrolling kids in grades 6-12, at every skill level. Weekend rehearsals, January through May 2017. Work with legendary jazz educators like Clarence Acox, Wayne Horvitz, Darin Faul and many more. Top ensembles travel to New York in the spring. Advanced students encouraged to sign up for New Works Ensemble. Scholarships are easy to get and payment plans available to every family. Register for Placement Day (Nov 19 or Nov 20) and get more information at seattlejazzed.org/big-band-ensembles or call 206-324-JAZZ (5299). Placement day is coming up soon, don’t delay!
Girls Jazz Day is Sunday, Nov 13. Join us for one day, 100% dedicated to girls who play jazz. You'll learn new songs in an all-girl band with an awesome female band director. Plus special guest artist jazz drummer Allison Miller of The New School will work with you on musicianship and share stories of being a woman in the jazz industry. The vibe will be friendly, supportive and safe for taking musical risks. Open to grades 6-12, all instruments (including string instruments). Sign up and more info, including fee waiver coupon at seattlejazzed.org/girls-jazz-day.
IMS is at 75% Ask your neighbor to Join! Ask a community member! The IM PTSA membership is currently at 72% but you can help us get to 100%! If you are reading this you are probably a proud IM PTSA member. If you are not sure log in to your PTSA account and review your account orders. Your paidmembership will appear under the orders section on your account screen. GRAB A NEIGHBOR, GRANDPARENT, or ask a BUSINESS that you frequent regularly to join IM PTSA. Spread the word!! You can be a PTSA member and live out of state. An IM PTSA Membership supports PTSA sponsored programs & activities and gives the PTSA a stronger voice in legislative matters. Individual & Family Members will also receive a student directory to connect you with other IMS families. Sign up online or use the paperMembership Form. Question? Contact Shari Tokumi.?
Do you work for a company that matches charitable donations? Starbucks, Microsoft, Boeing and many others have matching programs. Don't forget your employer match when you donate to the IM PTSA! 'Pass the Hat' donations, Angel program donations, and even membership dues are considered tax-deductible contributions and are eligible for matching funds. These funds are an important part of the PTSA's budget, so don't forget to submit your donation for a match!
SchoolPool is a free, secure, online platform which helps families at our school connect with each other to form carpools, and walking and biking groups to and from school. Not only do these groups help our school be environmentally sustainable, it helps reduce traffic at pick up and drop off times. To learn more about this program, check out this 
Click For Kids Honk & Wave - 
