Cheetah Newsletter
Cooperative - Accountable - Respectful - Enthusiastic - Safe
November 10, 2021
A Message from the Principal
Our newsletter is coming to your inbox a day early this week, as we take tomorrow to honor and remember our veterans. At Chain Lake, each class is having the chance today (Wednesday) to see videos of some of our staff members who are also veterans, view pictures of veterans connected to our school, listen to one of our music teachers playing the national anthem, hear a book about Veterans Day, and more. Particularly in a month where we are focused on Respect, it's important to pause and show respect and gratitude for those who have served our country.
As the days continue to cool down, please remember that students do still head outside each day. We appreciate your support in making sure they're dressed for the weather!
Thank you for your ongoing support and partnership in all we do here at Chain Lake! We appreciate our families and the privilege of being a part of your childrens' lives.
Warmly,
Ana
Upcoming Events At A Glance
Veterans Day Slideshow
Volunteers
If you are interested in working as a substitute paraeducator at Chain Lake specifically, please be in touch with our office.
Superintendent Chat
With a goal of fostering transparent, two-way communication, Superintendent of Monroe School District, Dr. Justin Blasko, extends an open invitation to families for his monthly "Superintendent Chat."
This is an opportunity for families to ask questions, provide input, and share viewpoints on district procedures, practices, and policies. In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, these chats will be held via Zoom.
While families are welcome to ask questions about anything, the topic of this chat will be primarily focused on COVID-19 in our schools. David Paratore, the MSD Chief of Student Services, will be joining as a special guest to discuss this topic.
The meeting will be held in English with live Spanish translations from our Hispanic Liaison, Carlos Elles, on Monday, November 15th at 5:00 p.m.
Sky Valley Food Bank/Big Heart Big Smile Annual Drive
General PTA Meeting
Join Zoom Meeting
https://monroe-wednet.zoom.us/j/84761071911
Meeting ID: 847 6107 1911
Counselor's Corner
As we move through November - a month often marked by the theme of giving thanks – I thought I would share some ideas for focusing on thankfulness. Studies show that an increased sense of gratitude (being thankful) can help us feel better and be more optimistic. I am grateful that I get to work with the amazing staff and wonderful students at Chain Lake.
It can be hard some days to find things to be grateful for but remember gratitude can come from recognizing even the smallest of things we are thankful for. Here are some “gratitude exercises” you can do at home.
1. Gratitude Jar. Each day write something down that you are thankful for. Place the paper into the jar. When someone is having a difficult day that can pull a gratitude from the jar.
2. Gratitude walk - take turns pointing out things throughout the walk that you appreciate.
3. Gratitude by numbers - roll a dice and whatever it lands on that person needs to say that many things they are grateful for.
4. Alphabet game - Going through the alphabet, name something that begins with each letter that you are grateful for
5. Learn to say “thank you” in 5 different languages. Search the internet to learn different ways to say thank you.
6. Hold a Gratitude Scavenger Hunt (use the checklist below)
□ Find something that makes you smile
□ Find something that is delicious to eat
□ Find something that smells good
□ Find something that is your favorite color
□ Find something that you enjoy doing
□ Find something that keeps you healthy
□ Find something that keeps you warm
□ Find something that makes you laugh
□ Find something outside that you like to do
□ Find a good book to read
□ Find 3 people you are thankful for
□ Name something that you are proud of
Daily Gym Sock.......
November is moving right along. Next week we will be working on Team Work. Some of the activities that we will be playing will be King Pin and Battleship.
Please remember to wear your tennis shoes.
Mr. Christy & Miss O’Brien
Digital Learning
Computer Science
For this rotation of Digital Learning in Kindergarten and Grade 1 we will look at how computers work. Students will then draw or make their own computer, including the different input and output components.
Programming
In grades 2-5 we will do an “unplugged” activity that introduces concepts used in programming. This is an engaging lesson that allows students to participate in different roles as we go through the steps to program a robot.
Keep Calm and Code On!
Ms. Glaze
Note from the library.......
This week in the library we are reading the story “Library Mouse” written by Daniel Kirk. This story is about a mouse who lives in the library and at night writes his own books and places them in the library for people to read. The ending of the story has a great message about teaching people that anyone can be an author and it's a great thing to get kids inspired to do some writing of their own. Also, this week we have been having conversations about library books being the student’s responsibility and being accountable for our library books. Please if your student has overdue library books have them bring them back to school as soon as possible.
Happy Reading,
Mrs. Swalwell
MSD Employee Honor Roll
Do you know a Monroe School District employee who deserves some much-needed recognition?
Monroe School District has launched a new employee recognition program, called the MSD Employee Honor Roll! This program is aimed at recognizing Monroe School District employees for exemplifying the district’s commitment and shared values through their service to our students, staff, families, and/or community.
Supervisors, fellow employees, parents and community members are encouraged to nominate ANY staff member for exemplifying any of the following:
Providing engaging learning opportunities through powerful instruction
Providing students with equitable access to learning and opportunities based on their unique, individual needs
Holding students to high standards
Using innovation to provide educational choice
Recognizing, honoring and building upon students’ strengths and passions
Engaging families and the community in the learning process
Preparing all students for college, careers and life beyond graduation
All nominees will be recognized, but only one in each employee category will be selected each month as the MSD Employee Honor Roll award recipients. Employee categories include:
Certificated (teachers, counselors, psychologists, etc)
Classified (paraeducators, nurses, office staff, bus drivers, food service, custodial, technology, maintenance, etc)
Substitutes and coaches
Administrators (Principals, assistant principals, directors, executive staff)
PTA Read-a-Thon Fundraiser
Chain Lake Elementary School PTA parents, we are holding a Read-a-thon and we really need everyone to participate. If you have not already done so, please click on this link to activate your reader’s personal page:
https://www.read-a-thon.com/readers/r/aiUqGk
You can do it all in a minute or two and really help us meet our financial needs.
The read-a-thon will run 11/8-11/22. Flyers with the classroom codes should have gone home with students. Please contact Lindsey at lindseyperdomo@comcast.net with any questions.
Thanks so much,
Chain Lake Elementary School PTA
Yearbook Cover Contest
District Lunch Program
This year, students at Monroe School District have a lot to look forward to when it comes to mealtime. For the 2021-2022 school year, meals will be offered to students in all grade levels at no cost, thanks to flexibilities provided by the USDA’s National School Lunch Program. This allows everyone to enjoy 1 free breakfast & 1 free lunch per day.
All families, however, are encouraged to fill out the annual Free and Reduced Price Meal Application as eligibility provides many other benefits, including Pandemic EBT benefits for your family, no student fees for high school programs, free student entrance to all ASB extracurricular events (dances, athletics, etc) and reduced fees for family members to attend extracurricular events (athletics, plays, etc). Filling out this application also provides critical funding for our schools.
What’s on the Menu? Nutrislice, an innovative app, students, parents and faculty have access to school menus, including nutrition information, allergens and photos. Nutrislice can be downloaded for free from the App store (iOS) or Google Play (Android) and is available on desktop and mobile devices.
Menus are also available at https://monroeschools.nutrislice.com/
CARES
At Chain Lake, each and every one of us is a Cheetah who CARES (Cooperative, Accountable, Respectful, Enthusiastic, Safe)! In school, we talk about what each of these ideas looks like in different settings. Feel free to use the below as a guide to what it means to follow our Chain Lake expectations (click the picture to enlarge).
Further Questions?
We encourage you to reach out to our school office:
Chain Lake Elementary - 360-804-3100
About Us
Principal - Ana Apter
Guidance Counselor - Heather Mitchell
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Office Manager - Kathy Bruning
Office Support - Loni Geyer
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24 Hour Attendance Hotline - (360) 804-3101
FAX - (360) 804-3199
Health Room - (360) 804-3132
Kitchen - (360) 804-3135
Transportation - (360) 804-2650
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NOTICE OF NON-DISCRIMINATION
The Monroe School District does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation including gender expression or identity, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability in its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following employees have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination:
Title IX Coordinator
Joanne Dickinson
14692 - 179th Avenue S.E., Monroe, WA 98272
(360) 804.2539
Section 504/ADA Coordinator
David Paratore
14692 - 179th Avenue S.E., Monroe, WA 98272
(360) 804.2603
Compliance Coordinator for 28A.640 and 28A.642 RCW
Joanne Dickinson
14692 - 179th Avenue S.E., Monroe, WA 98272
(360) 804.2532
The Monroe School District will also take steps to assure that national origin persons who lack English language skills can participate in all education programs, services and activities. For information regarding translation services or transitional bilingual education programs, contact:
Kimberly Whitworth
14692 - 179th Avenue S.E., Monroe, WA 98272
(360) 804.2558