Eagle Sightings January
Holly Wehner, Principal
Hello Eagle Families and Caregivers,
Happy New Year! 2024 is off to a great start here at Friday Harbor Elementary School! Staff and students are together again, getting right back into learning routines after the long break. Our character trait this month is perseverance, and I have been enjoying making visits to classrooms to share a book and discuss how we can try and try and not give up! These amazing Eagles persevere each day in more ways than they recognize. At school, they are learning new things, problem-solving, and trying activities for the first time. We have been talking about times we had to persevere to be successful. Some students had a lot to share right away, and others held back a bit. After some time to think, it would be great to follow up with some at-home discussions as well. Talk about what your student did today to persevere. Share a story of your own. What is something you had to work hard at to be successful? I always tell students that I look forward to hearing more! Every student is an important part of our school community and it is so fun and inspiring to hear their stories.
FHES is at its best when soaring with all of our Eagle students! Thank you for helping your child get to school each day on time, well-rested, and ready to learn. Being on time and attending every day helps students feel a part of their classroom community and school community. This sense of belonging is a must for students to have the most success in school. If you know your child will be absent, please remember to call or email Jeanna in the office to let her know. Students continue to work at school on being Safe, On Task, Accountable, and Respectful. As always, when problems arise, Kelso’s Choices are the go-to for solving these problems. If you are not familiar with these choices, please see the Kelso’s Choice wheel included in this newsletter. As I have been in classrooms and around the school this week, I have seen the tremendous growth students are making, both in academics and socially/emotionally. This is an exciting time of the year as we see students’ skills and confidence grow.
Thank you for your continued positive partnership as we teach these wonderful FHES children. Your communication and teamwork are greatly appreciated.
Holly Wehner
➡️➡️➡️➡️➡️Electronic Devices at School⬅️⬅️⬅️⬅️⬅️
Please remind your child/ren about the following school policies:
- Personal electronic devices are not to be used at school. If a CELL PHONE OR SMARTWATCH is brought to school for afterschool use it must remain in the student’s backpack until the end of the school day.
- No texting or calling during school hours from student devices.
- All communication to or from home must go through the school office.
Growing Readers and Writers
We are a few weeks away from completing the first half of this school year! Teachers are busy planning for various reading and writing activities and students are putting those literacy skills to work every day!
Teachers have spent some Wednesday early release time focusing on writing instruction and alignment across all grade levels. Each grade level will focus on at least four different writing genres throughout the year. Across K-5 classrooms, this includes various forms of expository/informative, narrative, persuasive, and letter writing. Ask your child/children what genres of writing have been happening in their classroom.
In addition to all of our literacy learning experiences, this month our 1st-5th grade students will take the second round MAP (Measuring Academic Progress) Growth tests. These tests measure achievement and growth in both math and reading. Because they are taken in Fall, Winter, and Spring (except for Kindergarten students who take them in late Fall/early Winter and Spring only), results can measure growth throughout the school year and from year to year. These computer tests are adaptive, meaning the questions get harder if the student is answering correctly and easier if they’re answering incorrectly. The results provide teachers with data to help inform instruction regardless of how far students are above or below grade level. In grades K-2, questions are read to students by the computer with an option to have the computer repeat as many times as necessary. At this time of year, these tests give teachers additional information about student progress in comparison to the Fall’s MAP scores.
💦Extra Clothes💦
Did your child come home in a borrowed set of dry clothes before the break?
If so, can you please return them to the office? Thank you!
▪️ January 2024 ▪️
1/2 Tuesday: First day back to school in 2024!
1/8 Monday: PTO Meeting 5:30 pm, FHES Library
1/12 Friday: Popcorn Day!
1/15 Monday: MLK Jr Day-No School1/18 Thursday: 11:20a-12:20p Zoom Lunch with the Principal
1/25 Thursday: 11:10 am Early Dismissal
1/26 Friday: 11:10 am Early Dismissal
Save the Date!
The PTO is very excited to announce that they will be hosting a talent show this Spring, 5/5/24 outdoors at Brickworks!
Here is the message from the PTO:
"Our fabulous students, grades K-5, will have the opportunity to showcase their talents on the beautiful Sunshine Stage.
We encourage parents to talk to their children about creating group acts with friends. Acts may include, but are not limited to Dance, Theatrical, Musical or Comedy Performances, Poetry, or Magic.
More info and sign-up sheets will be coming in February!
Looking forward to this wonderful showcase of our oh-so-talented island kiddos!"
Staff Highlights!
Hello from the Health Room!
I hope you and your family had a wonderful Holiday Break and I hope this message finds you well. As Winter moves along Covid, RSV, Influenza and a smattering of other common cold viruses will continue to make their presence known in our community. According to local Health Department data, Covid has not yet peaked but is likely to do so this month, and Influenza cases are likely to increase this month as well. Thank you for doing your part by keeping your students home when they show symptoms of illness such as fever, cough, runny nose, vomiting or diarrhea. Each of our schools will continue to offer free Covid and Flu testing by request, and students will continue to have access to hand hygiene stations. Masks, while not required, are available as well. Here's to 2024!
THANK YOU!
FHES PTO wants to say a huge thanks to every single person who brought their Kings receipts to the school drop box this quarter. Thanks to you, we received a total of over $97,000 dollars worth of receipts and Kings will generously donate 1% of that to the school! That is almost $1000 dollars, this quarter alone, that will go straight to FHES and it’s incredible students. Let’s start the new year off strong with another round of receipts- thanks SO MUCH!
Food For Thought Program
- The salad bar is open everyday at lunch, with fresh salad greens, caesar salad, fruit and vegetables.
- A vegetarian option is available upon request.
- Breakfast is served every morning starting at 8am-8:15am. If your child would like breakfast, please have them come through the front doors upon arrival.
*Please check your student's food account balance*
Your help is needed to keep our program running! Due to State Auditor Mandate, please maintain a POSITIVE lunch balance at all times. We have made this more manageable by providing online credit card payment and account maintenance though Skyward Family and Student Access. You can opt in for low balance email notifications as well as make instant online payments. Of course, payments can also be made in the school office with cash or check before lunch.
Zoom Lunch with Mrs. Wehner
Join FHES principal over Zoom for a chat or a listen.
- Thursday, January 18 11:20-12:20 pm
Meeting ID: 896 0703 4079 Passcode: 106501
Bring your questions, concerns, gratitude, and thoughts.
ATTENDANCE COUNTS
Thank you!
❄️Emergency Weather Information❄️
Media Links for "Snow Days" Emergency announcements will be posted on district websites, Facebook accounts, sent out via ParentLink and broadcast before school on the stations listed below. If school must be closed mid-day, this will also be announced on these stations and students will be sent home by their usual mode of transportation.
Emergency weather information affecting Bus Routes and times are provided in this link.
Radio:
- KISM - 92.9 FM Bellingham
- KLKI - 1340 AM Anacortes
- KOMO - 1000 AM Seattle
- KAFE - 104.3 FM Bellingham
- KGMI - 790 AM - Bellingham
TV:
- KOMO TV 4 - Seattle
- KING TV 5-Seattle
- KVOS TV 12-Bellingham
Online Newspapers:
Friday Harbor Elementary School
Email: roslynbutcher@sjisd.org
Website: sjisd.wednet.edu
Location: 95 Grover Street, Friday Harbor, WA, USA
Phone: 360.378.5209
San Juan Island School District Commitment to Non-discrimination
San Juan Island School District does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups.
The San Juan Island School District offers classes in many career and technical education program areas such as Culinary Arts, Career Prep, STEM, and Computer Science under its open admissions policy. For more information about CTE course offerings and admissions criteria, contact CTE Directors, Liz Varvaro, elizabethvarvaro@sjisd.org, PO Box 458, FH, WA, (360) 378-4133. Lack of English language proficiency will not be a barrier to admission and participation in career and technical education programs.
The following people have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies:
Faith Knight, Civil Rights Compliance Coordinator, Title IX Officer
PO Box 458, Friday Harbor, WA 98250
(360) 378-4133
Becky Bell, Special Services Director, 504 Officer, ADA Coordinator, Gender-Inclusive Schools Coordinator
PO Box 458, Friday Harbor, WA 98250
(360) 378-4133
Fred Woods, Superintendent, Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying (HIB) Coordinator
PO Box 458, Friday Harbor, WA 98250
(360) 378-7905