Category Archives: Uncategorized

Sign Up Now for the Staff Holiday Cookie Party

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We need 65 families who are willing to bake two dozen cookies or other sweet treats to bring to our 10th annual holiday cookie party for our wonderful staff. The cookies can be dropped off anytime between 8-11 AM on Thursday, December 12 in the front office.

Please bring cookies on disposable plates and attach recipe/list of ingredients in case of allergies.

Sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0C49ABAC2BA64-9thannual

Passport Check Day Is This Friday

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The Passport Club is a volunteer run geography program to help students learn the world’s countries, over the course of the school year. Each month, students are assigned to learn to locate several countries on the world map. On “Check Day”, around the end of each month, a group of parent volunteers to quiz the students.

Our Passport Check Day is on December 13th, in the school commons. Students should study the itinerary on their December maps.

If you’re interested in volunteering to check student itineraries, please sign up at: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F45AEAF2AA3FA7-check15

Sustainability Tips During The Holiday Season

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From your Ben Rush PTA Health & Welfare director:

Do you want to avoid unnecessary waste and promote sustainability this holiday season and throughout the year!? Consider these tips when giving gifts and share this post with friends!

Buy Local – Help support local businesses, avoid delivery costs, cut down on manufacturing and shipping.

Make a gift – Not only are homemade gifts unique and appreciated (especially from kids), they also don’t need to be shipped, packaged or wrapped! Check out Pinterest or search “DIY” on Google or YouTube for interesting homemade gift ideas!

Don’t wrap it – Give naked gifts or wrap using reusable materials such as a blanket or newspaper, or re-purpose a paper shopping bag create an artful masterpiece! And avoid glitter (a microplastic pollutant) and foil (cannot be recycled). We could save enough paper to cover 45,000 football fields if every American family wrapped just 3 presents in reused materials. (usgbc.org)

Focus on meaningful gifts – Experiences make great gifts. They last longer in our memories than store-bought items and don’t contribute to the waste stream. Consider theater/movie tickets, family outings, scavenger hunts, vacations, massages, or a coupon book filled with personalized IOUs. Or consider making a donation to a cause that is special to the recipient.

Choose reusables/recyclables – Think about gifts that can be reused or recycled such as wine bottles, books and magazines, but also consider shopping at thrift, antique and consignment stores for finds that are gently used.

Choose sustainable companies and products – Many companies are now offering products that are sustainably and ethically made. Ask your favorite retailer what they’re doing to be more sustainable.

Also check out these companies:

 

Home and beauty gifts
· Public Goods (www.apublicshop.com) – West Seattle
· Recology (www.recology.com) – Bothell
· REI www.rei.com

 

Charities
There are local charities needing support in your area and a Google search or chat with neighbors, schools or community resources will reveal them. Also check out FocusingPhilanthropy.org, GlobalGiving.org and Givewell.org for charitable options that are proven to put your dollars to work effectively.