Hi Parents,

Lots of announcements this week... and lots of different ways to fulfill your parent volunteer hours, too!

CHECK YOUR FOLDERS
Please be sure and check your child's hanging folder for some information about next year's tuition. The folder also has the "intent to return" form that we'd like back no later than April 11.

FINANCIAL AID APPLICATIONS DUE APRIL 7
The financial aid process is now underway. You can download the instructions and application on our web site at http://www.swanschool.net/generalinfo.html or stop by the office and pick up the info. The deadline for submitting the application is April 7. The application process is very simple and the results come back quickly. We expect to announce awards the third week in April.

WAREHOUSE WORK FUNDRAISER
We are still looking for one person to help with the warehouse work from 9 am to 1 pm on Wednesday, March 19th, and 5-6 more people for Tuesday, April 8. This is a relatively painless way to help earn good money for the school while getting to know other parents better! Please sign up in the office.

EXPLORER FIELD TRIP MARCH 20
Which means we need drivers... field trip is to see "According to Coyote" at the Seattle Children's Theatre. Ferry, parking and admission are covered for chaperones. 9 am departure, 12:30 performance, 4 pm arrival back at school. Sign up in the office. We'll be parking in Bainbridge and taking the bus to the Seattle Center when we walk off the ferry.

YOUNG WRITERS CONFERENCE
We are still in need of one driver/group leader for the Young Writers Conference in Port Angeles on Tuesday, March 25. We'll leave school at 8 am and be back at 3:45 pm. Please let us know in the office if you can help! Lowell can answer any questions about the conference itself, and what it means to be a group leader.

OPEN HOUSE APRIL 11
Please invite your friends and family to attend our annual Open House on April 11, 2008 from 4:30-6 pm. The board and faculty will be available to answer questions and tour the school. Children are welcome and encouraged to attend! If anyone would be willing to bring a snack or help with childcare, please let Traci Tanner know.

JOIN US FOR "WEEDING WEEK"
Help us get ready for the Open House by putting on your gloves and weedingÊthe flower/bush beds at Swan.Ê This Saturday the 15th until Friday the 21st will be Swan's "Spring Weeding Week".Ê Come any time (coordinate with another parent if you would like), and weed for an amount of time that fits your schedule.Ê Even half an hour is helpful! There will be two yard waste cans near the garbage can area.Ê All weeds can go in there.Ê There are also white 5-gallon buckets between the new buildings if you want to use them to cart weeds to the yard waste cans. Many thanks to all of you who have already weeded the beds this Spring and to those who will do so in the next week! If you have questions, contact Lisa Crosby by phone 385-2977 or email paulb@olympus.net

PARENT SURVEYS
If a board member hasn't/doesn't grab you before or after your parent teacher conference, PLEASE take a moment to fill out the anonymous survey available in the office or online: http://www.swanschool.net/generalinfo.html. Your input is very helpful to the school.

HAVE YOU EVER CONSIDERED JOINING THE BOARD?
We are looking for several new board members for the coming year. We need to put together a slate of board members to present at the April parent meeting. All are welcome to attend board meetings; the next board meeting is Wednesday March 26 at 4 pm. The board would love to have you sit in and see if you might be persuaded to join us for next year. Please talk to any current board member if you have questions about what serving on the board entails.

RHODY WEEK PARADES
Swan School has a long history of participating in the Rhody Kiddie Parade; this year we're considering an entry (possibly showcasing our music program) in the Grand Parade as well. We need a couple of parent volunteers to help pull this together-- please see us in the office if you're interested in helping with one or both parades. This is a really fun way to get those volunteer hours in!

SALMON ART CONTEST RESULTS
We had 24 students submit art to the Save Our Wild Salmon youth art contest in January. Audrey would like to commend all the students who submitted art. They exhibited enthusiasm and creativity. Although none of our students won a prize, all of the students' artwork is available to be viewed at an online gallery, http://www.flickr.com/photos/saveourwildsalmon/sets/72157604061701161/ They are featured on pages 2, 4 and 5. You can see more info about the contest at http://www.wildsalmon.org/library/2008-art-contest.cfm.