School ends at 1:30 this Wednesday, Feb. 1.

_January's produce item is ..... KALE!  This winter vegetable is being sponsored by Queen Anne Elementary's First Graders.  To celebrate KALE as our sponsored produce, the first graders will make a Presentation at next week's January 30 Monday Morning Meeting.   In addition, they will be presenting KALE Chips as a snack to supplement school lunches next Friday, February 3.  (You may be surprised by the number of kids who go for this item!) 

During the week, your student will bring home a handout that we encourage you to complete with them, including: interview questions about KALE and solicitation of a KALE-based (or other winter green) recipe for our QAE Family Cookbook.   The handout will also ask parents to sign off if their child sampled KALE in any form during the week.  The class to return the most handouts will get a smoothie party!   The last QAE class to win this contest was Ms. Meck's first graders, who enjoyed Pumpkin Smoothies as their prize.   We hope that you'll join us at next week's Monday Morning Meeting to celebrate KALE (and our first grade classes). Please feel free to contact Elizabeth Kruse (emdowell@comcast.net) if you'd like to help out with the QAE Cafe in any way-- we can use volunteers.

_Let us help our neighbors this winter by donating new or gently-worn sweaters, coats and cold-weather gear to KCTS 9's annual "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood Sweater Drive." Our drive will run from Jan 25th to Feb. 12. All donated items will go to Wellspring Family Services and Northwest Center. 
Fred Rogers began the sweater drive and inspired its spirit of generosity and neighborliness for six years before he passed away in 2003. KCTS 9 and PCC continue the program in his memory. Last year's drive collected more than 6,000 sweaters and coats for families in need throughout the Puget Sound area. 
Just drop your coats or sweaters in the marked box outside the main office (brick building) starting on the morning of January 25th (That's TODAY!!)
Thank you to all, and let keep kids warm this winter!!!

Seattle Public Schools has decided to open schools this Friday as a snow make-up day.  Please note that school is OPEN this Friday, on a normal schedule.

Enjoy the 'snow' :)

Will be rescheduled, date TBD

_Our Amazon Associates program is really making a difference - we've raised $552 for the PTSA so far (from about $8000 in purchases), and we are now getting a 7% referral fee!
Please remember to always begin your Amazon shopping here, OR just click on the Amazon widget on the QAE home page.  And please, spread the word to your friends and family.
If you are a Google Chrome user, install the new QAE extension for Chrome, and get menu bar access to the Amazon widget and QAE site -
Download the extension from the Chrome web store - free!

Answers to FAQs:

• Yes, the Amazon Associates program will work with Amazon Prime
• Yes, you can buy anything that is offered through Amazon (products do not need to be "educational")
• Keep it simple: always begin your shopping here with an empty cart and add items when you are ready to buy
  
• We will not get credit for purchased items that were added to your cart prior to clicking through our links
• We will get credit for purchased items that were added to your cart within 24 hours of clicking through our links; items are tagged to our associates account for 90 days and will need to be purchased (or deleted and added again) within that time frame
  

_You are invited to attend the WA State PTA Forum on Public Charter Schools hosted by Region 6 PTA. The event includes a review of the PTA Charter Issue that was passed this fall, National PTA policies on charter schools, WA State PTA resolutions/issues that will impact any prospective bill with pro and con presentations.

The format includes pro and con presentations and questions from the audience.
Presenters include: 
• Ramona Hattendorf: Government Relations Coordinator, Washington State PTA
• Olga Addae:  President, Seattle Education Association, (Teacher’s Union)  Con Speaker
• Beth Sigall: Lake Washington School District, PTA Member, Pro Issue Submitter
• Dr. Wayne Au:  Assistant Professor, Education Program, UW- Bothell,  Editor, Rethinking Schools, Con Speaker
• Robin Lake: Associate Director, Center for Reinventing Education, UW Bothell,  Pro Speaker
• Moderated by C.R. Douglas, Political Analyst, Q13 Fox News
 
Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012, from 6:30 – 8:30pm
Washington Middle School Cafeteria
2101 S. Jackson St, Seattle 98144