Viking Family Update
January, 2022
Ellie Riippi is Retiring!
Viking Families,
Many of you have noticed that we have begun asking for ID as parents enter the office to get their student. That is because our beloved Ellie Riippi is retiring. This Friday, January 7th is her last day in our office. We are certain that Ellie's presence will be missed. She knows so many of you personally and has interacted with your family and children with thoughtful care for many years.
Please join us in congratulating Mrs. Riippi this week. There are few careers as rewarding as education. She has spent countless hours welcoming families, applying bandaids, making phone calls to families in need of support, tracking down buses, and holding this wonderful school together! She has been a marvelous servant to our school and community. If she has impacted your family in a positive way please be sure to drop her a card or note this week.
We will need your help as we onboard our new Office Secretary, Mrs. Davidson. Please be patient as she learns student and parent names, establishes routines and follows protocols. Things will certainly take a little more time. For example, you may come to the office to request your child to leave early for the dentist. Ellie may have had your name memorized as well as your child's teacher and that classes location (at recess, specialist etc) when you arrive. Our new secretary, Mrs. Davidson, will need to look up your name, verify your identity, look up the teacher and phone number to the classroom and cross reference the building schedule to find that class location. She will pick it up quickly, but please make an extra effort to show kindness and grace and arrive a few minutes earlier than expected.
Thank you for your support during this transition! Please read an introduction to Mrs. Davidson below!
Sincerely,
LeeAnn Alfano
Principal
Welcome Mrs. Davidson
Dear Bonney Lake Elementary Community,
My name is Melissa Davidson, and I would like to introduce myself as the new Building Secretary at Bonney Lake Elementary. I wanted to share a little bit about myself and how excited I am to be joining the Vikings family!
I grew up in Southern California and moved to Puyallup in August 2020 with my husband and two daughters, ages 6 and 8. Our family also includes one cat, one veiled chameleon and one bearded dragon. We have been having fun exploring our new area and getting used to experiencing all four seasons! So far, my favorites are Point Defiance Zoo and fall.
I received my Master’s degree in English Literature from California State University Dominguez Hills, and worked in the Dining office on campus for 18 years. I worked in our front office, and had many years’ experience helping students, university staff, and co-workers with whatever they needed. I am a team player who is ready to jump in wherever I am needed and provide any assistance I can! I enjoy being organized and staying busy.
I am excited to start my new journey with Bonney Lake Elementary! I have been thinking about working with elementary school kids for a few years now, and am thankful for this opportunity. I think schools should be a place where families feel welcome and connected. I hope to provide quality customer service to all of our families and want our students to feel valued and respected.
I am looking forward to being a part of the Bonney Lake Elementary community and can’t wait to meet everyone. Please stop by and say hello when you get a chance!
Hope to see you soon,
Mrs. Davidson
Do You Have a Safety Concern? Please Report It!
Report it!
Sumner-Bonney Lake School District uses the SafeSchools Alert incident reporting system. If you have information about a threat to our safety, do your part and report it! And remember, you can remain anonymous.
Easy ways to report:
- Website: https://1251.alert1.us
- Email: 1251@alert1.us
- Call: 253-693-3729
- Text: 253-693-3729
Report tips on:
- Bullying
- Intimidation
- Harassment
- Weapons
- Drugs
- Suicide
- Other
Our District Code is: 1251. All tips submitted are taken seriously and will be acted upon. Please be responsible with your submissions.
Click here to report an incident.
You are Invited!
Greetings Bonney Lake Elementary Parents/Guardians,
Please join us for our Regional Elementary Curriculum Showcase
When: Thursday, January 20th
Time: 5:30-7:00 PM
Location: Crestwood Elementary
Address: 3914 W Tapps Dr E, Bonney Lake, WA
This district event will feature:
- Opportunities to view elementary core curriculum in Language Arts, Math, and Social Emotional Learning for each grade level.
- An opportunity to view our 4th and 5th grade Human Growth and Development/Puberty videos as well as our HIV AIDS (5th grade only) video. **Opt out forms will be available after viewing the videos.
- Meet and talk with some of our Bonney Lake Elementary teachers as well as teachers in nearby SBLSD schools.
- Obtain information about 2022-23 Kindergarten Registration and programs like READY for Kindergarten.
- Visit resource tables hosted by elementary specialists in PE, Music, and STEM.
- Light refreshments available
If you are unable to attend our Regional Curriculum Showcase, you are welcome to attend one of the other regional events on:
Thursday, January 27th at Daffodil Elementary- 5:30-7:00 PM
Thursday, February 3rd at Donald Eismann Elementary- 5:30-7:00 PM
Please Note - This is an adult event to provide parents with information about elementary curriculum. There will be no activities for children nor childcare available
This Month we are Practicing COURAGE at BLE!
This month we’re talking about the virtue of Courage – to help our children be courageous and learn to conquer things that frighten or scare them. Children need reassurance that fear is one of our feelings and to help them understand that it’s okay to feel afraid. Courage isn’t fearlessness, but instead our ability to choose the right thing even when we are scared! The definition we will be talking about is:
Courage: to choose what is good, right, and kind even when it is hard or scary.
Conversation Starters:
- Talk with your child about what used to frighten you as a child. Be open about how you courageously worked to overcome that fear. Talk about who helped you or what strategy helped you along the way.
- Talk about the things that frighten you as an adult today. Open up an honest conversation about how you work intentionally to show Courage often.
- Make a list over dinner about who are the people in your network that show Courage. How can you tell that they have Courage? Why is it important that they show Courage? How might their example help make your Courage stronger?
Questions You Could Ask
- What is something that scares you? What do you imagine might happen if you do that thing? Who might encourage you to try it? What could someone do to help you?
- Think back to a time when you showed or witnessed great Courage. What happened? How did it feel?
- What are some strategies that have helped you feel calm even when you’re being asked to be brave? What have you learned in class about how to stay courageous even when it’s hard?
Please partner with us in celebrating our students as they show bravery in the month of January!
Quick Links
Bonney Lake Elementary
Email: BLE@sumnersd.org
Website: sumnersd.org/ble
Location: 18715 80th Street East, Bonney Lake, WA, USA
Phone: (253) 891-4450