Penny Creek Frog News
April 2023 - Volume 6 Issue 8
Message from Ms. Marti Shefveland
Dear Penny Creek Families,
Welcome to April! I hope Spring Break was and enjoyable for your family. We have now entered the home stretch for the school year, and it is important to make the most of our time for learning and closing gaps. All students continue to work hard as they complete their grade level curriculum. Third through fifth graders will also receive test preparation instruction to support them for the upcoming state testing, Smarter Balanced Assessment. You can find the SBA schedule dates posted on our school website.
As this is an important time for student growth and learning, we are revisiting our school expectations for success. We center these around the word PRIDE. We teach the specific behaviors that show Penny Creek PRIDE in each part of the school: hallways, bathrooms, lunchroom, playground, arrival to school, dismissal from school, and of course, in classrooms. To reinforce these expectations, students earn PRIDE tickets which get entered into drawings for prizes. They also may be selected for a PRIDE lunch. Teachers select students who have shown PRIDE in class and students get to enjoy sitting at a special table during their lunch period on Fridays.
Please help us ensure a positive, productive learning environment. Ask your child about our behavior expectations. Also ask about what they are learning in school. This reinforces a positive view towards school and learning.
Thank you for your continued partnership in your student’s learning. We want these last three months to be impactful in your child’s academic as well as social emotional growth.
Sincerely,
Marti Shefveland
Principal
Arrival and Dismissal Procedures
ARRIVAL: supervision will begin at 8:50 a.m.
Parent drop off/pick up (Ferry Lanes) - drive up while remaining in the car.
- This is supervised until 9:10 a.m.
- Enter the parking lot through the west entrance.
- Turn right into the Parent drop off/pick up lane loop.
- Follow the Parent drop off/pick up lane around in front of the gym. Pulling forward to the undercover playground area.
- Stay in the right lane, making sure to drive slowly.
- Driver remains in the car.
- When the car comes to a complete stop, the student unloads from the passenger curb side door.
- Students will walk through the undercover area and on to the campus.
- Driver departs from the Parent drop off/pick up (ferry lanes) by following the lane to the west exit on to 132nd Street SE.
Parking car at main parking lot and drop off student.
- Park car in main parking lot and walk on to campus using the crosswalk.
- Parents walk students to the front iron gate drop off point by the office (blue area on map).
Arrival after 9:15 a.m. - park your vehicle and walk your student into the office to sign them in. Students arriving after 9:15 a.m. will be tardy.
DISMISSAL: begins at 3:30 p.m.
Parent drop off/pick up (Ferry Lanes) - drive up & pick up while remaining in the car.
- This is supervised until 3:45 p.m.
- Enter the parking lot through the west entrance.
- Turn right into the Parent drop off/pick up lane loop. There are three ferry style lanes to wait in.
- Penny Creek staff member will release each ferry lane in an orderly manner.
- When the lane is released, follow the Parent drop off/pick up line to the front of the undercover playground area.
- Make sure to drive slowly and to pull as far forward as possible. Students will be waiting in the undercover area.
- Driver remains in the car.
- When the car comes to a complete stop, the student will load into the car from the passenger curb side door.
- Driver departs from the Parent drop off/pick up by following the lane to the west exit on 132nd Street SE.
Parking car at main parking lot to pick up students at departure time.
- Park car in main parking lot and walk on to campus using the crosswalk.
- Parents wait for students to be released from the doors located between Office and Kindergarten Playground (green area on map).
- Spring Break - No School
- PTA Spirit Wear Store Open
- Learning Improvement Friday. Student Dismissed at 2:15 p.m.
- Natural Leaders Meeting - Library @ 6:00 p.m.
- PTA Popcorn Friday during lunches
- Learning Improvement Friday. Student Dismissed at 2:15 p.m.
- PTA Spirit Wear Store Closes
- Learning Improvement Friday. Student Dismissed at 2:15 p.m.
- PTA Ice Skating Event; Angel of the Winds Ice Rink @ 5:00 p.m.
- Last day for AquaSox Reading Program
and... a look ahead:
- Monday, May 1 - PTA General Meeting - Library @ 6:30 p.m.
- Friday, May 5 - Learning Improvement Friday. Student Dismissed at 2:15 p.m.
- Tuesday, May 9 - SBA: English Language Arts CAT (Grades 3, 4, 5)
- Thursday, May 11 - SBA: English Language Arts PT (Grades 3, 4, 5)
- Friday, May 12 - PTA Popcorn Friday
- Friday, May 12 - Learning Improvement Friday. Student Dismissed at 2:15 p.m.
- Monday, May 15 - Kindergarten & First Grade Music Concert @ Henry M. Jackson HS
- Tuesday, May 16 - SBA Math CAT (Grades 3, 4, 5)
- Thursday, May 18 - SBA Math PT (Grades 3, 4, 5)
- Thursday, May 18 - Natural Leaders Meeting - Library @ 6:00 p.m.
- Friday, May 19 - Learning Improvement Friday. Student Dismissed at 2:15 p.m.
- Tuesday, May 23 - SBA WCAS Science (Grade 5)
- Thursday, May 25 - PTA Science Day
- Friday, May 26 - Learning Improvement Friday. Student Dismissed at 2:15 p.m.
- Monday, May 29 - Memorial Day, NO School
- Thursday, June 1 - PCE Family Literacy Night
2023 - 2024 School Year Calendar
If your student is absent or tardy from school, please email the attendance office at pceattendance@everettsd.org to let us know the reason for the absence or tardy. There is also a direct link on our webpage at: https://www.everettsd.org/pennycreek
- Absences must be reported (by email or note) within 30 calendar days after a student returns back to school, not including Holidays or weekends, in order to have the absence excused. Emails or notes turned in past the 30-day timeframe will be accepted; however, the absence is not excused and will be coded as such.
- Automated attendance calls will be sent out daily at 10 a.m. If your student will be absent or tardy you must notify the office before 9:15 a.m. If it is reported after this time you may receive the automated call.
- Please view the Everett School District Attendance Procedure 3122P for more information (including definitions of absences).
- Did you have a medical appointment for your child, or they were sick, and you brought them to the doctor? If so, make sure to ask for a medical note from the provider. Email the note to the attendance office so those absences can be coded as a medical note excused absence.
- Please fill out a Prearranged Absence Form if your student will be going on vacation/traveling or will miss school for an extended period of time. As per district policy, the principal or designee may excuse up to five (5) school days for a prearranged absence per student each school year.
In April all Kindergarten thru 2nd grade students are focusing on the practice of being safe!
We are all practicing WAYS TO STAY SAFE by following this approach:
- RECOGNIZE …when something is not safe
- REFUSE … by saying words that mean stop!
- REPORT …to an adult until someone listens and understand you
Parents, please speak with your child about the 8 Never Nevers and Ways To Stay Safe!
How can I contact Ms. Roberts?
Email: droberts2@everettsd.org
School phone: (425) 385-7210
Please click to my web page HERE to learn more about the counseling department and the available resources for families.
Please save the following dates for our upcoming Battle of the Books Challenge in the PCE Library. This applies to participating 3rd - 5th grade students.
Round 1 - (all teams)
- Tuesday, May 23 from 3:30 - 4:30 p.m.
- Thursday, May 25 from 3:30 - 4:30 p.m.
- Tuesday, March 30 from 3:30 - 4:30 p.m.
- Thursday, June 1 at the PCE Family Literacy Night
Happy Spring PCE Families,
We are participating in a reading program with the Everett AquaSox baseball team. For the month of April, students will set a reading goal and track their progress. Parents will sign off on the progress sheet and the form is to be returned to the PTA on Monday, May 1. Students that complete the form will receive prizes and a voucher for a free ticket to the Everett AquaSox baseball game. This can be redeemed at the Penny Creek AquaSox Family night on Sunday May 21 or used later. If you need a copy of the reading log, click HERE.
Our Spirit Wear store will be open for the FINAL time this school year from April 14-24. Be on the look out for flyers and info on our Facebook page with details of how to purchase. Make sure to get your Penny Creek gear before the school year is over!
Upcoming Events
- April 1 to 30 – AquaSox Reading Program
- April 14 to 24 – Spirit Wear Store Open
- April 21 – Popcorn Friday
- April 29 – Ice Skating Event – Angel of the Winds Ice Rink @ 5 p.m.
- May 1 – AquaSox Reading Log Due – return to PTA.
Contact us via Email, view more information on our Website, and follow us on Facebook
If the plan how your student is going home at the end of the school day, we ask that a guardian sends an email to the school office at PennyCreek@everettsd.org and the classroom teacher by 2:45 pm.
Please include in your email message:
- name of your student
- name of their teacher
- details of the the change of plan
Our office will deliver this information to your student. This method of communication helps to support our staff with accurate dismissal information.
If your student needs to leave before the end of the school day, email the school office at PennyCreek@everettsd.org in advance. Please include in your email message:
- The specific DATE
- The TIME you will pick up your student. Please know, we will call your student to the office once you have arrived to the school.
- WHO will be picking up your student. If an adult designee is coming to pick up your student, an email from the guardian needs to be sent to confirm the information.
For the safety and security of students, we will ask for photo identification.