Ardmore Elementary PTSA

PTSA's Executive officers for the 2010-2011 school year are eager to meet you and hear from you.
We want our children and your children to get the most out of their classrom experience and their experience of Ardmore as a community

Julie Thomas, PTSA President,

arunjulz@comcast.net, 425-881-6185 

 

Anna Hasselqvist, PTSA Treasurer

annahasselqvist@hotmail.com     425-442-9076

Melissa von Tschudi-Sutton, PTSA Secretary
mvsutton@comcast.net  206-250-2198

Cathie Cottle, Vice president
cathie.cottle@frontier.com   425-867-1829

The PTSA Board consists of the executive officers and the following board members:

Membership: Kathryn Perer
Fundraising:  Kathryn Pecha
Hospitality:   Gabriela Moreno
Webmaster:  Julie Thomas
Yearbook:  Cathie Cottle/Monique Martin

Box tops:  Tracey Edwards

School Choice--My Opinion                           Julie Thomas
When faced with a choice of schools for our children we search for information about each school.  Some sources include visiting a school, searching the web or talking to other parents. I would like to share what I've observed as an Ardmore parent over the last 5 years. 
Ardmore actually has a high percentage of teachers with higher levels of education (Masters) and years of experience.  I have consistently been impressed that the teachers at Ardmore are genuinely interested in and know each child and their strengths/weaknesses.  A specific example:
Our son  is an avid reader.   In third grade his teacher spontaneously contacted me  because, "she wanted to find books challenging enough for him that didn't conflict with our values".  She had noticed that we are very strict about the content of the books (rough language, meanness, "teenage" themes) and wanted to respect that, while  still challenging our son.  I was amazed, and we were able to find a good wholesome reading list for him.

--I think one question is this:  will a bright child be "held back" if s/he is in a class with kids who are struggling?  In part, the extra funds/specialists that Ardmore has takes care of this problem--the kids who are having a tough time get extra help without draining the classroom teacher.  And I do think that the excellent curriculum that ALL the Bellevue schools follow ensures that the kids keep moving forward in all subject areas.  It is true that I have felt with both of our children that sometimes they were ready for "more".  In both cases I've mentioned it to the teacher and--presto!--they were getting challenge problems!  I have really appreciated the approachability of our teachers.

--For me, the children at Ardmore have been a big advantage.  Our children have played various sports and sometimes I have witnessed a "cool" or "tough" attitude that I see infrequently at Ardmore.  I think we have very little exclusivity--not much of the "in" crowd and the "out" crowd.  For my kids that has meant that school was something they looked forward to.  Plus, there weren't "social" conflicts that distracted them from their studies.  I have noticed that the kids at Ardmore are "outward" thinkers--noticing if someone is hurt or alone, and reaching out to them.

Finally the diversity of cultures is a big plus for us.  We love the fact that our kids are comfortable with friends of many cultures, religions and races because it will be the world they live and work in.  Not to mention the fact that we as parents get to know families from all over the world--without having to pay the airfare!