ASB - Associated Student Body
This is a student group of elected officers and representatives that meets regularly with a staff advisor to work on fundraising, student activities, assemblies and school spirit activities.
Academy Style Learning
This has been a 3rd grade – 8th grade school day style where the students have homeroom teachers but also change classrooms (and teachers) for their core academic classes. The “Academy” part of the day is similar to Middle School/High School.
Art Fest / Bite of Room Nine
There are two opportunities each year to celebrate the extraordinary art pieces and projects produced by our students.
On a Saturday in November, parents and students will be invited to the school cafeteria to see the art, hear the band and watch any other student performances that have been put together! This is a wonderful community time with the chance for kids and parents to visit with each other and celebrate the artistic accomplishments of our students.
We will do this all again in the spring, but this time we will add a food component! Parent volunteers contribute small “individual bites” of different yummy foods for other parents, relatives and staff to sample. A donation is kindly suggested for the “bites.”
Back To School Picnic
This occurs during the final week of summer. Bring a potluck dish to share. Classes will also gather with each Parent Liason (your class parent who manages the class communication/requests). Parent Packets will be handed out, containing forms for the school year. Please allow 1-2 hours to complete at home. Copier will likely be available to copy auto insurance and medical insurance cards. (FRONT AND BACK)
Bike-A-Thon
Always in October, this is our annual ASB fundraiser! Here’s the basic run-down:
- Each kid chooses to ride a certain distance on the day of Bike-A-Thon (they chose from 3 mi, 6mi, 11mi, 15mi or 21mi).
- They then ask friends, relatives, parents for money based on the miles they will be riding.
- (The money can be per mile or just a flat amount.—the $$ is collected and turned in later)
- Before Bike-A-Thon, parents deliver their child’s bike(s) to school
- Then, on the day of the Bike-A-Thon, the kids are transported to their starting spot. (for example..the kids riding 16 miles start off 8 miles from the central meeting point.)… the bikes are delivered by truck separately.
- After getting dropped off, the kids (and adults) ride from their starting spot to Wilmot Park in Woodinville.
- After arriving at Wilmot Park- The WHOLE SCHOOL eats lunch together.
- After lunch, each group gathers together to ride back to where they started.
- The children are then transported back to school. (bikes are delivered by truck)
Parents pick the bikes up on Friday afternoon.
· Everyone knows ahead of time how far they will be riding (or walking)
· Everyone wears matching shirts
· Practice bike riding over the summer.
· No scooters allowed.
· Walking is an option.
Bike Rodeo
Bike Rodeo day, when your kids will be tested on their ability to ride bikes, knowledge of safety, and helmet check for the upcoming Bike-A-Thon. Their speed is also measured in order to insure that they can successfully complete the distance they have pledged to ride.
Circle Up/ Count off
This is a practice used for off-campus field trips and Camps in order to take attendance and to gather together for information, celebration and community building. During Circle Up/Count Off…students come together and “count off” by number. The students are assigned a number in the year and the students practice by class….
Cluster Gathering:
Parties, events and activities which occur outside of school in order to…Well…HAVE FUN! These vary by classroom and are originated by the parents.
Community Gatherings
Attendance is expected (and so helpful!)
Usually the 3rd Thursday of the month. 7:00pm-9:00pm in the Bandroom.
This is a time for the sharing of important information. Usually, there is a presentation from teachers regarding classroom goings on. Childcare is available for a suggested donation of $5.00.
Consensus
For many important decisions in our community, we strive for a level of agreement that exceeds a regular 51% approval vote. The level varies depending on the issue, but, is in general 70%+.
Community Business Meeting
If you would like to see how the nitty gritty things are run, you are always welcome to attend the business meetings, usually the first Thursday of each month, from 7-9, in one of the classrooms. You need to serve on the board to vote, but you can offer your input on topics discussed. Meetings always end on time.
Elective
The students in our school spend 1 hour per week taking a class that interests them. The classes are taught (mostly) by parents and include all different kinds of subjects such as knitting, yoga, outdoor games, board games, drama, photography, orienteering etc.. Kids see a short presentation about the different classes before making their 1st, 2nd and 3rd choices known.
Each Elective Class lasts 6 weeks and there is 1 set of Electives each Trimester.
Fall Camp
This is an Overnight trip for the WHOLE SCHOOL. Lots of fun! Kids & parents sleep in cabins, go to nature classes, hikes and sculpt clay from the riverbanks. Parent participation needed. Younger siblings welcome!
Harvest Party
A time for celebrating Fall with friends, activities, treats and even some costumes! This is a WHOLE SCHOOL activity!
Journey
Journey is the name of the program in our school that consists of 6th, 7th and 8th graders.
Liaisons:
Liaisons are like Room Parents but MORE! Each classroom will have a liaison available to answer questions, help organize snack and paperwork and field trip forms. Liaisons also help to communicate information to and from classroom teachers and, in general, can help point you in the direction you need to go if you have problems, concerns or compliments!
Market Day/ Government Day
Market Day is a chance for kids to participate in a Token Based Economy
(No real money is used)_
Market Day happens 3-4 times per year.
On Market Day, students are given the opportunity to run their own business for about 1.5 hours- but, there is much to do before the buying and selling begins.
Students must make a Market Day proposal to bring something to sell that they have from home or have made…(no soda or store bought candy).
If the proposal is approved, the students then get a business license and rent a table.
On the “big day” the students bring their “wares” to school and offer them for sale.
Students are given an amount of Token Money at the beginning of the year to get them started. Parents are invited and encouraged to attend. All parents in attendance are also given Token Money in order to help keep the economy thriving.
Novice/ Apprentice/ Practitioner/Scholar
A method of student and teacher assessment that defines the progress a student is making towards an academic or personal growth area or skill.
PIE/PTSA- Parents involved in Education/ Parent Teacher Student Association
The official title of our, Room Nine Community School PTA body as it exists within the greater Washington State PTA.
Reflections
A program sponsored by Washington State PTA for students to create personal art entries based on a yearly theme designated by WA State PTA. The entries are judged against other same-aged-student entries across the district, region and even the State Level. Many different mediums are available for student expression including drawing, painting, sculpting, song writing etc…
All Room Nine Community School students are given the chance to participate in making an art piece regardless of whether-or-not they want to submit their piece for judging. All Room Nine Students are encouraged to participate in the process for the purpose of enjoying art. The competition is a secondary component.
Rep bod (representative body)
People from the Community who have been elected to represent our larger community for the purpose of managing large activities, dealing with the nitty gritty of fundraising and budget balancing and keeping our very active community organized in a positive and productive way.
Snack
Each parent signs up to provide 2-3 weeks of snack for their child’s classroom. Parents do NOT have to provide their child with snack on any other (in school) day.
Spring Camp
Like Fall Camp but bigger and longer and SO AWESOME!!
There are 3 Spring Camps:
· K-5th grade camp
· 6th/7th grade camp
· 8th grade camp
The location for each camp changes each year.