Spring Running Club Starts April 23!

Join us every Tuesday, 8:30 - 9:00 am, Apr 23 to May 28, 2024 to race with the Running Club. Parents, join us to cheer your students. 

Please below for some of the details:

• Check-in time on Tuesday is 8:20 am, location: small gym.
• The lap is a 1/4 mile long, students can run as many laps as they want.
• Student laps will be documented. At the end of the running club, the top runner from each grade level will be honored

To register your student, please visit this link.

For any questions, email runningclub@smithptsa.org.

Exciting News! Registration for drama club PART 2, Aladdin, is now OPEN.

Time: 4/15,4/22, 4/29,5/6,5/13 at 4:00-5:00pm

Location: Small Gym

Recital: 5/13 at 7:00pm (Kids will come back to school at 6:30 for costume preparation)

Cost: $145

Spots: Limit for 30 kids only

Register and Pay, click here. (deadline is 4/11)

We need your help to make this an enriching experience for our students. We need 2 parents as volunteers in each class. 

To sign up as a parent volunteer for the club, please click here.

Please note that in order to register no experience is required.

If you have any question, please email to dramaclub@smithptsa.org

Attention 5th grade parents!

This year the yearbook is printing messages to fifth graders from family. 

Please click here to fill out the form. Please have it back by April 20, 2024. 

As always, if you haven’t purchased your yearbook, please do! Click here to order the yearbook at TreeRing.  You will have to create a login and password. 

Questions: email yearbook@smithptsa.org.

We’re thrilled that we had an overwhelming response to our first week of Chess Club. So we’ve created a waitlist to register the names of interested parents.

Please sign up here to join the waitlist. We will notify you as soon as spots are available. Thank you for your patience.

We’re seeking parent volunteers to assist during chess club sessions. If you’re available, please sign up here.

Here are some key details about the Chess Club:

• The chess club will meet once a week every Wed, 8:15 - 9:10 am. 
• No Prior experience required to join the Smith Chess club. Kids at all levels are welcome to join the club.
• Chess board and pieces will be provided by the club.

Please note that registration for the chess club is open for the students of PTSA Members only. Make sure you have your PTSA membership renewed for 2023-2024 school year,  Annual Membership (Join or Renew)

Congratulations to the Smith Chess Team!

Congratulations to the Smith chess team for securing first place at the Jing Mei Phoenix Scholastic Tournament on March 10.

We're thrilled to introduce our new composting initiative and we need your help! 

Join us in educating our students about sustainability and environmental care by volunteering. Your role will involve helping with compost bins and leading students in green practices, no previous experience required. 

To participate, sign up here. 

Additional information available in the PowerPoint attached to the Signup Genius link. You can also click here to access it.

Your contribution can create a significant impact!

*This event is now over. Please watch this space for information on this event for 2024-25.*

Join us for a night of scientific discovery. Please see details below.

We need your help to make the STEM Night a success, it’s a great opportunity for your middle schoolers to volunteer. Parents and middle school volunteers, please click here.

Key details of the event:

• Event will be held at Smith Elementary on 28th March 2024, 3:40 pm to 8:00 pm 
• Sign up to present a project in any one of the categories of Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math 
• Students from all grades can participate individually or in groups of up to 3 kids.
• Teams from FLL or other events are welcome to present their projects but not compete.
• Rules/Guidelines and Scoring Criteria are attached in the SignUp Genius link here. 

*This event is now over. Watch this space for updates on this event for 2025.*

Its time for our January Book Fair. 

Our annual book fair will be hosted in the library from Jan. 23rd-26th. Stop by before or after your Parent-Teacher conference to shop for books. 

Hours and Event Info: 

• Jan. 23rd: 12:50-4:30 pm 
• Jan. 24th: 2:20-4:30 pm 
• Jan. 25th: 12:50-4:30 pm 
• Family Night: Jan 25th from 5:30-7:00 pm. Join us for a raffle with prizes!
• Jan. 26th: 12:50-2:00 pm

We are super excited to help Ms. Pratt organize, set up, and run the book fair.  Thank you so much for being willing to help.  We have included volunteer spots for people to do before and during the book fair, with both school day and after school opportunities. 

For parent volunteers: click here.

For middle and high school volunteers: click here.

Eat at The Habit Burger Grill from 2:00-8:00 pm and 20% of your purchase will be donated to the Smith Library. Bring the attached flyer.

Questions? Email hpratt@lwsd.org

*The signup period for this year's now closed. We are currently in the process of preparing teams.*

Calling Mathletes in grades 4 & 5 to form teams of 4 to represent Smith at this year's Math is Cool competition http://www.academicsarecool.com/#/competitions.

Each grade could have up to 8 teams to compete for Smith.  Each team would need to have a parent coach to coordinate with communication, and other event day logistics. Each team’s competition fee is $60, which PTSA has graciously agreed to cover!!    

Sign-ups: Please sign up by Jan 31^st 2024 end of day via Smith MIC 2023-24 - Google Sheets

Test Dates and location: 

• Grade 4: Mar 23, 2024 3:30PM-8:00PM, in-person at Liberty High School
• Grade 5: Mar 09, 2024 9:00AM-2:00PM, in-person at Liberty High School

For questions, please contact prachischool3@gmail.com or PTSA.

*This event is now over. Watch this space for updates on this event for 2025.*

We need your help to make sure our qualifying round of spelling bee goes smoothly. Please consider signing up as parent and student volunteers for Spelling Bee, happening on Feb 8th, 4-6 pm at the Smith library. Please signup here.

Please note *corrected date* Feb 8.

Did you know the Scripps National Spelling Bee has a free app that your students can use to learn their spelling bee study words?

Word Club is completely free to download and play on Apple and Android devices, including mobile devices and tablets. Your students can have fun mastering all 4,000 words on the Words of the Champions study list, including the 450 words on the School Spelling Bee Study List.

Additional info about the Spelling Bee: 

• School competition: Feb 8th 2024
• Regionals competition: March 31st 2024
• Eligibility: Grade 3rd, 4th, 5th

Practice the Spelling Bee rule: Say it, Spell it, Say it.

Please see the links below for the word lists:

Spelling Bee Words

Spelling Bee Words w/Definitions

For more word lists, visit here.

For any questions, email: deeptimunjal@smithptsa.org

(Gentle Reminder: All the queries will be answered within 48 hours, and please be mindful of asking the questions which are not already provided in the newsletter, thank you for understanding. Note that all the links on the PTSA websites are current.)

*Please do not share the words lists outside of Samantha Smith. 

*This event is now over. Watch this space for updates on this event for 2025.*

Smith Elementary is participating in the Math Olympiad for Elementary and Middle Schools (MOEMS). MOEMS® is a specially designed program by Math Olympiad for Elementary and Middle School students where they provide monthly problem-solving contests for elementary and middle school students.

The signup period for this year's now closed. We are currently in the process of assembling teams.

For questions, please contact prachischool3@gmail.com or PTSA.

We are excited to bring International Night back for our Smith community.

International Night is on Thursday, April 25, 6 - 8 pm.

We need volunteers to set up a booth or present a performance representing a country in the world. Please sign up here , you can find additional details on the sign up sheet.

• Booths can include pictures, maps, artifacts, crafts, coloring pages, sample foods to share, and/or any other item that you'd like.  
• Performances include songs, dances, martial arts, etc...
• Students can sign up to build a landmark of their choice to enter the contest. The landmarks (for example: Pyramids of Giza, Statue of liberty, Eiffel tower, Space needle, Taj Mahal, Opera House etc) can be made out of cardboard, paper, Lego, foam board, craft sticks, air dry clay or any item of their choice. Landmarks must be submitted by 3pm of 25th April. 

Washington State PTA recognizes Smith PTSA with the Platinum Membership Growth Award!

PTAs are presented with this award for enrolling at least 20% more members this year than last year. That means our PTA growth has been truly exceptional!

YOU have made this possible. YOU are the reason why we as a community can continually and consistently support the enrichment of our children. Thank you wholeheartedly for becoming a member, supporting our PTSA, and our community.

Please note the new date for the event: April 17th.

We are excited to announce that the Eastlake Science Olympiad will be hosting the Science Olympiad program at Samantha Smith Elementary for the second year in a row! Only Samantha Smith 3rd, 4th and 5th graders will be eligible to compete. By filling out the registration form, parents and guardians are expressing their child's interest in joining this program.

Registration is now closed for this event.

Additional info about the Science Olympiad:

• Science Olympiad is an international level competition that tests students knowledge and understanding of biology, chemistry, physics, and engineering. This competition gives students exposure to different STEM fields through both hands-on experience and contextual learning. 
• Competition for this year will be on April 17th!
• Registration Deadline: Sunday, January 14th

For more information about the competition, timeline, deadlines, etc. please read through our info session powerpoint here. 

Please email janakilakshmiv@gmail.com with any questions! 

Help us provide food security by donating what you can here or you can scan the QR code on the flyer above.

Kids are waiting - LINKS Lunch Buddy Mentors Needed at Smith Elementary!

Do you have one hour a week you can share with a child? Become a LINKS Lunch Buddy mentor! 

Mentors come during school hours once a week and spend the lunch hour in a pre-assigned area to eat, play games, make crafts, talk, go to recess, and do other agreed-upon activities.

Help us provide social-emotional support to elementary students who need a little extra one-on-one attention. 

Please share with your family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers.

For more information about LINKS, visit: lwsd.org/LINKS or contact Victoria Goetze-Nelson at lunchbuddy@lwsd.org

All students are invited to participate in the Math Challenge program.

There will be 15 math challenges throughout the school year. Every two weeks, there will be a new math challenge. We encourage students to participate in this program and discuss these math problems with their parents or siblings. Students who submit qualified answers to at least 12 math challenges will be awarded with a certificate in June 2024. 

The Math Challenge problem sheets and the schedule can be viewed and downloaded from this [LINK].

Students may choose one of these options to turn in their solutions:

1) Students may email solutions to ChallengeSubmission@smithptsa.org. Please add the subject line (Challenge # - Grade # - Teacher Name- Student Name). 

2) Or students may fill in this Google Form https://forms.gle/KDhDxhBApqfXUHqx5

Have fun!

If you need more information please mail to Alon Ragoler at AlonRagoler@smithptsa.org

*This event is now over. Watch this space for updates on this event for 2025.*

This year a total of 326 entries from 39 local PTAs entered the LWPTSA Reflections Art Program, and 62 of these entries moved to the State Level judging. 

Congratulations to below Smith students for moving up to the Sate level. The Council is holding an open house in person on Jan 19^th at the LWSD Resource Center. All entries collected will be displayed at the Open House and the invitation is open to all students, staff, family members and friends. The art display will be available for a week, allowing those unable to attend on the 19th to visit and appreciate the pieces during LWRC's regular working hours until Thursday, 25^th of January.  

Smith Elementary Reflections Entries Moving To the State Level

Jocelyn Yu - Visions of Hope: Painting Tomorrow - Visual Arts - Award of Merit

Queenie Fu - I am Hopeful Because the World is Beautiful - Literature - Award of Excellence

Maya Burmistrov - Peace - Dance - Award of Excellence

For detailed information on the Reflections program, click here.

*Please note this event is over now. Watch this space for next year's event.

Our “Art Walk 2024” is on March 7th from 6:30pm. Hope to see you there!

Don't miss the Portrait Parade!

If you are available to volunteer on Mar 7, please sign up here.

Do you have a middle schooler or a high schooler who wants to volunteer, we’ve some slots for them as well. Please click here.

Any amount of your time would be greatly appreciated. If you are unable to do the whole slot but could be here for an hour we would appreciate it.

*This event is now over. Watch this space for updates on this event for 2025.*

We are so excited to bring back our Valentine’s with Grandparents event. Please note that students can bring their grandparents or a special adult. The idea is to share love and a few sweet treats.

Mark your calendars for Feb 13, 8:30 am, at the Smith Gym.