The View Ridge staff codially invites all volunteers to be honored at our annual Tea. Please join us in the school library Monday, June 4th from 3:00 - 3:45pm. There will be supervision on the primary playground during this time.

Thank you to Dennis O'Brien, David Mount, and Char Opitz for your contribution of time and talent to build a beautiful puppet theater for our school.  Your generosity will inspire generations of children to create and to dream!

On Wednesday, May 16 the Seattle School Board approved a three year contract with José Banda to serve as Superintendent of Seattle Public Schools.  Mr. Banda will officially start on July 1 of this year.

The full text of the announcement from School Board President, Michael deBell is available here.

On Wednesday, May 16 the Seattle School Board approved a Transportation Plan for the 2012-2013 school year.

Transportation services will stay the same as the 2011-2012 plan with two changes.

1. The maximum bus ride time will increase from 25 minutes to 45 minutes.
2. Four-six elementary schools that have a Tier 2 start time (VRE is a Tier 2 school) will have a start time 30 minutes later in the 2012-2013 school year.

The schools that will have a later start time will be identified by the end of this month (May.)

The full text of the letter from interim Superintendent Susan Enfield is available here.

WALK ‘N ROLL THIS MONDAY-RAIN OR SHINE

One last reminder…. 

The Walk n Roll is this Monday, rain or shine. Please remind students that everyone participates in this event by walking, jogging, and/or running for 20 minutes around the 1/8^th mile track on the playground blacktop. ONLY students who require wheelchair assistance will “roll” their 20 minutes (No bikes, scooter, rollerblades, or skateboards). Our goal is to have 100% pledge participation at any amount. Please remind students they have until Monday to secure pledge sponsors and that this weekend would be a great time to get sponsors from family and friends. Students will have 2 weeks from Monday to collect their pledges. All students who raise any amount will be entered automatically into the Walk n Roll raffle. Prizes include: An Amazon Fire, a $250 gift certificate for Arena Sports, a 2-hour pool party at Embrace Aquatics, and much more.

Please come out and cheer, count laps, pass out water and goody bags and enjoy the fun. The excitement begins at 9:00! 

On Monday, May 21st we are having our first ever Walk n' Roll FUNdraiser to benefit the 4th/5th playground renovation project.  On that day, everyone is welcome to attend.  We ask for families to show up 10 minutes prior to their child's assigned start times.  We still need some parents to help us with various jobs.  Would you be willing to help out during your child's 20 minute time slot? We have various jobs we need help with like lap counters and runners (bringing your child's class out to playground).  Below are the start times for each class.  Please respond to Deborah Sigler  if you can help us out.  We appreciate any help you can give us.

Osborne, Koch, Pasos, Lourde and Flaherty 9:15
Bartram, Bustad, Cho, Hewson and Taylor 9:50
Kwok, Moneymaker, Rousso and Seasholes 11:00
Bedard, Kells, Hunter, Prussing and Snyder 11:30
Doran, Gonder, Stoa and Ronald 12:10
Carlson, Kadobayashi, Rozich 1:00

For forms or more information about the Walk n Roll, visit our page on the VRE PTA website.

Thanks so much for your help,
The Walk 'n Roll Committee

Would you like a volunteer position that helps build community here at View Ridge, asks very little of your time, and allows you to walk away knowing you've helped someone?  The View Ridge Buddy Program matches new families (incoming 1st-5th graders) with existing View Ridge families.  We’ll match you with a family with kids of the same grade and gender.  Then you choose how you’ll connect with your buddy family. It could be as simple as meeting at a park for a play date once this summer.  The intent is to provide the incoming student the opportunity to know at least one VRE student in their grade when they start the school year.   It also provides a welcome connection for the incoming parents who may have a few basic questions.  

E-mail Kari Westhusing with questions or to sign up.

VR's Bike to School Day is almost here: Wednesday May 16th!  Let's Win Cascade's award for the highest school participation.  Get your helmet, pump your tires and be ready to check in at the primary playground or any of our school bike racks (East entrance and near Mr. S portable). Keep riding all month and remember to turn in your passport/logsheets to the office "Bike to School" box by Friday June 1st.  Spare forms can be found on Ms. Shaw's PE table and the Bike to School bulletin board. We still need 3 parent volunteers to help out for 15 minutes Wednesday morning by passing out stickers to the kids.  Contact Joy Undem,

Remember the joy of the wind whipping through your hair (and then the grass staining your shirt as you hit the ground) in the three-legged race? Or seeing how long you could  swirl the hula hoop? The 50 yard dash? Frisbee-toss? Then you’ll want to be a part of this year’s Field Day! Each year, we take time out to celebrate the joy of being physically active in a fun and memorable way.

This year we need at least 70 volunteers to help make this day as fun for our kids as Field Day was when we were kids. No experience required. You will receive instructions on the day of the event. Just bring your spirit and can-do attitude.

There are three shifts to choose from:
1)  9:05 - 11:30  (for K-2)
2)  12:30 - 2:45  (for 3-5)
3)  All day

Please confirm your interest and availability to help out by contacting Roberta Williams  or Kim Miller.