Washington Elementary Newsletter
December 2021
MESSAGE FROM PRINCIPAL ROMERO
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We are seeing many students arrive late to class every day. The tardy bell rings at 7:50. When students are tardy, they miss out on opening activities designed to build connections with their peers, which can impact their social interactions and creating a greater sense of alienation from their classmates.
Going to school every day is the single most important part of your child’s education. Students who attend school regularly are more likely to graduate and find good jobs. School attendance is a powerful predictor of student outcomes. In fact, irregular attendance is a predictor of dropout rates. There is no safe number of days for missing school. Two days a month (10%) can knock a student off their academic track. The good news is that students can reverse their academic performance if they improve their attendance. If you would like to know exactly how many days your child has missed, please feel free to contact your child’s teacher. In hopes to improve students’ academic success, we will be contacting parents of students with chronic absences.
Link for more information: https://www.attendanceworks.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Attendance-Works-Elementary__handout_101421.pdf
Safety Communication from Principal Romero
Dear Parents and Guardians,
The safety and security of our students and staff are a top priority for Salem Keizer Public Schools. In the coming weeks, we will be performing a lockdown drill. This drill is to implement several measures to ensure our school remains a safe place for our students and staff.
During a lockdown drill, students remain in the classroom, regular activity stops, all doors are secured, and the students remain inside the room until instructed to return to regular activities. All exterior doors are locked as well, and no one is permitted to enter or leave the building. Students are kept inside the school and classrooms when circumstances make it safer to stay in the classroom rather than evacuate.
As we prepare our students to properly respond to the lockdown drill, they must be knowledgeable of the proper response. Please be assured that staff at our school will spend time discussing the importance of the drills and procedures with students before running a drill. We will also take time after the drill to remind them that it was only a practice and there was no danger.
We kindly ask that you take the time to speak with your child about these safety procedures and reinforce their importance. We practice these drills to ensure our school remains a safe place for teaching, learning, and having fun.
Please contact me if you have any questions about the drills mentioned. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Mrs. Romero
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Message from Washington's Music Teacher
Dear Kindergarten and First Grade Parents,
After many months of not being able to have live performances, we have been given the clearance to resume our regular programs. I wanted you to know that we will be having a Winter program for our Kindergarten and First Grade students on Monday, December 13th at 6:00 in the Washington Gym. All K/1 parents are invited. The audience will be required to be fully masked during the performance as per state guidelines. Students should arrive about 15 minutes early so that we can start on time at 6:00 p,. They should dress in their nice clothes.
I hope you will all attend our fun winter program.
Mr. Beisley
Washington Music Teacher.
Washington News
On September 7, 2021, we had our open house, and it was well attended. During this event, we gave out more than 250 backpacks full of school supplies in partnership with our neighborhood churches. Each student received a passport to encourage all students and parents to walk around and get familiar with our school, staff, and visit their new classroom. Students who checked in at all stations and got initials from staff in their passport, were entered in a raffle to win a BIKE. It took us long, but finally we had our first Virtual School Assembly, and our lucky winner of the Bike is Heidi Cordova!
Congratulations Heidi
Stay tune as Washington will continue hosting virtual assemblies and opportunities to win great prizes.
FOR POPULAR DEMAND IS BACK
“POPCORN SALE ON FRIDAYS”
Washington will resume popcorn sale on Friday, January 14. Cost is $1 per bag. Please send money with your student in the morning. Teachers will take order as they take class roll. Orders will be delivered at the end of the day to the classrooms.
We need volunteer to do popcorn on Fridays. The time require is from 8:00-9:30 am or so. If you’re interested to help, please contact Mrs. Diaz. All volunteers must be approved and show proof of COVID-19 Vaccination. Any question, please contact Mrs. Diaz at 503 399-3193.
Car Side Dismissal
Washington families, if you pick up your student in the car side; we will be asking for you to please add the name tag of your student back to the visor of your car for us to easily see who you will be picking up. If you don't have one or have misplaced it please reach out to your students teacher, thank you!
PROTECT YOUR CHILD'S HEALTH
CLINICS FOR REQUIRED VACCINES • DECEMBER 3, 7 AND 9
DEADLINE FOR REQUIRED SCHOOL IMMUNIZATION
IMMUNIZATION EXCLUSION DAY FEBRUARY 16, 2022
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EMERGENCY CLOSURES AND DELAYS
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NOMINATIONS ARE OPEN!
Nominate Your Teacher or Your Support Professional
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SALEM-KEIZER PUBLIC SCHOOLS LAUNCHES NEW COVID-19 DASHBOARD
With nearly 41,000 students in our schools amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, safety and well-being of our students, families and staff is, without question, our highest priority. Open communication and transparency play critical roles in safety and we want to ensure you have accurate and timely information on how COVID-19 is impacting our schools.
Covid-19 Data Dashboard
We have officially launched our COVID-19 data dashboard for the 2021-22 school year. Please know that this dashboard is still ongoing further development and may continue to have minor tweaks and improvements over the coming weeks.
You can learn more about our COVID-19 investigation and communication process, on our new online dashboard webpage.
Remember, COVID-19 impacts us all daily. It is critical that we follow all recommended health and safety protocols such as vaccination, wearing a face covering, hand-washing and maintaining physical distance both while in school, and out in the community.
Thank you for all of your ongoing support as we continue to improve our processes and work together to keep our students, staff, families and community safe.
COVID-19 Family Resources/ Information
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Reminders About Traffic Around Our School
It’s a new school year and a good time to share a few reminders about traffic around the school.
Students, parents, buses, staff and school neighbors all share the same travel routes through the neighborhood to and from the school. Peak travel times can create congestion and increase the need for safe and courteous travel practices.
Here are a few ways parents can help us create a safe, respectful and positive environment when driving near the school:
- Please drive slowly. Remember, the speed limit in a school zone when lights are flashing is 20 miles per hour.
- Please don’t park in neighbors’ driveways at any time, even if the driveway is open.
- Don’t block streets, stop in intersections or crosswalks, and please obey crossing guards’ instructions.
- Remind children to stop and look both ways before crossing streets, and to respect neighbors’ property – for example, don’t make shortcuts through neighbors’ yards.
- When lining up to pick-up or drop-off students, leave at least three feet of space between your car and the nearest driveway opening.
- Avoid lining up early for pick-up or drop-off to help minimize congestion.
- Don’t drive in bus lanes, even if no buses are present.
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SCHOOL CALENDAR
FECHAS CLAVE:
- January 3: Back to School
- January 17: No School - Martin Luther King Jr. Day
- January 31 - February 1: No School - Winter Conferences
- February 21: No School - President's Day
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2021-22 MEAL PRICES: FREE!
PANDEMIC FOOD BENEFITS INFORMATION FOR FAMILIES
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PARENTSQUARE
We are excited to introduce ParentSquare, a new two-way communication platform that will streamline and improve communication with families and staff. It has the functions of both Remind and SchoolMessenger and will eventually replace both platforms. It also includes appointment scheduling options, which may be very helpful for conference sign ups.
It is very important that parents keep their contact information current.
Be sure to let your school office know if you have a new address, email or phone number.
The parent or guardian marked as the primary contact in the student information system will receive automated communication.
Messages will also be sent to the student’s home phone number contained in the database, if different from the primary contact phone number.
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OREGON HEALTH PLAN FREE FOR YOUTH
Through the Oregon Health Plan, youth 19 years of age and younger have access to free health coverage, regardless of immigration status if they meet the income requirements.
More information, including income requirements and how to apply for coverage, is available online.
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HOW DO I STAY CONNECTED?
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