The Sailor Signal
Cottage Lake Elementary - October 3, 2021
A Note from Principal Welch
Welcome to October! I am proud of our students for working so hard through September and adjusting to a new school year. I am so very thankful to our school staff who have also navigated the year with all the new health and safety precautions in place and the changing items that are put in place to keep everyone safe. And lastly, I thank each of you for your continued support. Thank you for supporting our school and our students.
This newsletter is full of information, so please take the time to review its contents.
Take Care,
~ Jen Welch, Principal
•• SCHOOL NEWS ••
School Bus Safety Drills
Cottage Lake will hold their bus drills on Tuesday, October 5.
COVID safety updates
Families can find the most up-to-date COVID health and safety information by clicking the links below.
- King County Quarantine and Isolation Guidance
- Families can access the 2021-2022 NSD COVID-19 Safety Protocols by clicking here.
- Families can access our NSD COVID-19 Data Dashboard by clicking here.
Update from Nurse Audrey
Welcome October and all that Autumn brings!
Among colorful leaves and pumpkin spice everything, it is starting to get wetter and cooler outside. Kids still play outside in the rain at school, so weather-appropriate clothing is necessary. In the health room, there is a limited supply of clothing and rain boots if required, but if you need weather appropriate clothing, outerwear, and/or footwear for your child(ren) here are some resources:
“Threads & Treads”
- Open on Wednesdays at Canyon Park Middle School from 3:00-6:00 PM.
- You may shop once a month for up to three free outfits for adults and children.
- No reservations are required.
Clothes For Kids
- This is a non-profit shop in Lynnwood, WA.
- Please contact me for the form you take with you to do your free shopping.
- Store phone number: (425) 741-6500.
Helping Hands Thrift Store in Bothell has provided multiple gift cards for families.
- If you would like one, please let me know and it can be sent home with your child.
Brief update regarding Covid, quarantines, and masks
- It’s great news that all our batch tests from Cottage Lake have been NEGATIVE!
- We continue to navigate the multifaceted guidance around managing illness symptoms and quarantines. Our direction, at the school level, comes from the CDC, Washington State DOH, PHSKC (Public Health Snohomish King County), and Northshore School District. When there are changes to the guidelines for quarantine and return to work/school guidelines we will continue to share them with you.
- We have had some donations of masks that fit children over 3 years of age. If you need additional masks, please let me know. If your child’s mask is soiled or wet, we will encourage them to change to a clean mask. If they don’t have one, we can provide one.
Thank you for partnering with us to keep kids healthy! Our goal is to do all we can to keep as many children at school as possible.
Audrey Wilde, BSN, RN
Cottage Lake Elementary School
Phone: 425.408.4206
Fax: 425.408.4202
Volunteer Trainings
Below you will find dates for the Volunteer Trainings to start the year. For In-person training, masks must be worn at all times and adults need to remain socially distanced.
- October 4 @ 4:15 PM (in-person)
Highly Capable screening and assessments
The Accelerated Models and Programs Department is beginning our 2021-22 eligibility process for highly capable designations to begin in the 2022-23 school year.
All students in grades K, 1, and 5 will take the NNAT3 screener in their classroom with their teacher. Kindergarten students will complete this before winter break while grades 1 and 5 will have until October 15 to complete this screener. Students new to Northshore will also take the screener.
Students in grades 2,3,4,6, and 7 will have the option to take the screener if they are referred for highly capable services. If you are interested in referring a student, please click this link: https://www.nsd.org/schools/programs-services/highly-capable-services/eligibility/referral
You should expect the results of the screener to be mailed to you by the middle of November unless you have a kindergarten student. (They will be mailed in January.)
For additional information about our eligibility process, please visit our highly capable services page.
Thank you,
Accelerated Models and Programs Department
Lunch menu changes
If you are printing out the menu at the beginning of the month, there will inevitably be changes before the month is over.
Although our department strives to make changes at least 7 days ahead, there are weeks when we must make a change with 2-3 days' notice due to delivery shortages, today we have had to make a change to Friday's menu.
For up-to-date menu information please review our menu online (see the link below).
https://www.myschoolmenus.com/instance/449/district/448/school/3797/menu/20136
Permission to Release Student Directory Information Form Reminder
Forms will be accepted after the deadline, but the District cannot be responsible for the release of Directory Information if the Permission to Withhold Student Directory Information form is received after the October 15 deadline of the current school year.
CLICK HERE to access the Permission to Student Directory Information.
Fall state testing is coming
To fulfill the state assessment requirement for the spring of 2021, the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) postponed the Smarter Balanced (SBA)/Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science (WCAS) until fall 2021. Because fall 2021 testing is a postponement of the spring 2021 testing window, students will be assessed at the grade level they were enrolled in last spring. OSPI has worked with the Smarter Balanced Consortium and WCAS to reduce the amount of testing time by 20 to 30%. Time spent testing this fall is estimated by the state at 75-minutes for English/Language Arts, 60-minutes for math, and 45-minutes for science.
These assessments are used for state and federal accountability, as well as an option for high school students to meet their Graduation Pathways requirement. The English/Language Arts (ELA) and math Smarter Balanced Assessments are administered in grades 3 through 8 and 10, while the Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science (WCAS) is administered in grades 5, 8 and 11.
- At Cottage Lake, our current 4th and 5th-grade students will participate in the fall Smarter Balanced assessment during the weeks of October 11 and October 18. Our students will take the Math assessment the week of October 11 and English Language Arts the week of October 18.
As we want each student to perform at their best, we encourage students to get good sleep and nutrition during these times. It is also important for families to minimize student absences during your school’s testing schedule. If you have any questions, please reach out.
•• REPEAT SCHOOL NEWS ••
Health Check Question to review daily
Health Check Questions:
1. In the past 24 hours has the student experienced any of the following symptoms:
- Fever of 100.4 or above
- Cough
- Shortness of Breath or Difficulty Breathing
- Chills
- Loss of Taste or Smell
- Fatigue
- Muscle Pain or Body Aches
- Headache
- Sore Throat
- Congestion or Runny Nose
- Nausea or Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Other signs of new illness that are unrelated to a preexisting condition (such as seasonal allergies)
2. Has the student had any of the symptoms of COVID-19 listed above within the past 3 days that lasted more than 24 hours?
3. Has the student been in close contact with anyone with confirmed COVID-19 within the last 14 days? Close contact means being within 6 feet (2 meters) of an infected person for 15 minutes or more.
4. Has the student had a positive COVID-19 test for active virus in the past 10 days?
5. Within the past 14 days, has a public health or medical professional told the student to self-monitor, self-isolate, or self-quarantine because of concerns about COVID-19?
News from the Northshore YMCA
The Northshore YMCA before and after school care has openings at Cottage Lake Elementary!
The Y is proud to partner with your school district to provide high-quality, active learning opportunities designed to engage and expand young minds. Through our Before and After-School Enrichment (BASE) program, we provide a safe, caring, and fun environment where kids can participate in sports, arts, STEM, and other hands-on learning activities.
Every student deserves the benefits of quality youth programs. A parent's financial position should not be a barrier to any family wishing to participate. The Y accepts subsidies at many locations and financial assistance is available. For additional information, please visit seattleymca.org/baseforall.
BASE is flexible to meet your family’s needs offering programs before school, after school, or both and from 1 to 5 days per week. Fees are reflective of the hours that students are in BASE and they may vary by district and school. See details at seattleymca.org/base.
Registration forms can be found by visiting: seattleymca.org, completing this 2021-2022 Interest form, or calling 206-382-4927.
Volunteer application & Vaccination documentation
We are excited to welcome volunteers back to campus this year in support of our staff and students. This includes volunteers in our library, part of PTA activities, or classroom-based volunteers. Classrooms are not required to use volunteers. Those classrooms wanting to include volunteers will be in contact with their families to share their specific need(s).
In accordance with state guidelines, volunteers will be asked to submit proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 or a District approved exemption by October 18, 2021.
All volunteers in the Northshore School District are able to complete their volunteer application and background check online. Family members of students and community members who volunteer at more than one school will only need to complete the application once a year. Once approved, applications will be available for all school office staff to access districtwide. Volunteers can learn more and complete an online application here.
Before volunteers begin at Cottage Lake, all volunteers need to participate in a Cottage Lake volunteer training. Our volunteers only need to attend one training while they are at Cottage Lake, unless there is an Administrative change while your student attends CL. This training is approximately 30 minutes in length. This training reviews the privacy expectations, along with other expectations of our volunteers.
•• DISTRICT NEWS ••
The Great ShakeOut is Coming on Oct. 21
The ShakeOut provides an opportunity for students and staff to practice how to be safe during big earthquakes and to “Drop, Cover and Hold on.” This is also a time when schools can review and update emergency preparedness plans and supplies.
Being prepared at home is just as important as being prepared at school. Families are encouraged to talk about their plan for what to do during an emergency with their students. To help facilitate this conversation, the Great ShakeOut has a number of resources available. If you have questions about your school's plans for earthquake drills, contact the school's office.
CLICK HERE to view Great ShakeOut resources.
Building Safety Designations
CLICK HERE to learn more about our Building Safety Designations.
Coffee with the Superintendent for Families with Students Receiving Special Education Services
Each school year Dr. Michelle Reid hosts several Coffee with the Superintendent events around the Northshore community. Families and community members with students who are receiving Special Education services are invited to join Superintendent Reid for an open chat in the commons at Bothell High School. Please come with questions, comments, discussion topics and ideas.
Due to COVID-19 safety restrictions, coffee will not be served, food and drinks will not be allowed, and seating is limited. There will be a wait list.
In accordance with Washington State Department of Health Secretary Umair Shah's health order 20-03.5, every person in Washington State must wear a face covering that covers their nose and mouth when they are in a place where any person from outside their household is present or in a place that is generally accessible to any person from outside their household.
Date: Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021
Location: Bothell High School commons
Time: 3:45 p.m. – 5:15 PM
CLICK HERE to register for this Coffee with the Superintendent event.
Conversations with the Board for Spanish-speaking Families
Spanish-speaking families and Spanish-speaking community members are invited to attend Conversations with the Board, Monday, Oct. 18 in the commons at North Creek High School. This evening forum is designed to allow for two-way conversation in an informal setting.
School board members would like to hear from parents and community members about the opportunities they see for Northshore and their priorities for the District over the next 3-5 years.
Due to COVID-19 safety restrictions, food and drinks will not be allowed and seating is limited. There will be a wait list.
In accordance with Washington State Department of Health Secretary Umair Shah's health order 20-03.5, every person in Washington State must wear a face covering that covers their nose and mouth when they are in a place where any person from outside their household is present or in a place that is generally accessible to any person from outside their household.
Date: Monday, Oct. 18, 2021
Location: North Creek High School commons
Time: 6:00 - 7:30 PM
CLICK HERE to register for Conversations with the Board
PACE (Parents Active in Cooperative Education) Information Night
Parents Active in Cooperative Education (PACE), is a choice educational enrichment program offered through the Northshore School District. Placement is by blind lottery, open to all Northshore School District students in grades 1-5 (space permitting). PACE builds a learning environment that includes active family participation; innovative teaching techniques; and a unique partnership of teachers, families and students. The PACE program serves students of all learning capabilities, follows the District’s curriculum and also provides an enriched educational experience through additional field trips, events and speakers.
Find out if PACE is the right choice for your family at this year’s Virtual Information Night.
Date: Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021
Location: Virtual
Time: 7:00 PM
CLICK HERE to learn more about the PACE program
•• REPEAT of DISTRICT NEWS ••
Required Yearly forms to be signed
"Dear Northshore Families,
Annually the District provides parents/guardians with notification of forms that must be acknowledged, including:
- WA State Attendance Letter
- Rights and Responsibilities Handbook
- Weapons Letter
- Student Housing Questionnaire
- Permission to Withhold Student Directory Information
We ask that you login to ParentVUE today to view these forms. If you have never logged into ParentVUE, you will find instructions on how to do so when you click the link above. Please know that when you next login to ParentVUE, you will be prompted to download, read, and take action for each of the forms listed above. Additionally, secondary students will be prompted to download, read and acknowledge the Rights and Responsibilities Handbook when they login to StudentVUE. Families with elementary students are encouraged to review the handbook together in ParentVUE with their students. These forms must be completed no later than Oct. 15.
The forms are available in English, Spanish, Chinese Simplified, Chinese Traditional, Russian, Portuguese, Vietnamese, Korean, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu. If you would like to access a paper copy of these forms, please contact your school’s main office.
If you have any questions about these forms, please contact Student Services at (425) 408-7725 or by email at studentsvcs@nsd.org."
Free and Reduced lunch application
Remember: families must reapply every year!
Submit a Free or Reduced-Price application.
You can also visit the Northshore Free and Reduced Priced meals website here: https://www.nsd.org/schools/get-started/food-services/free-and-reduced-price-breakfast-lunch
Cottage Lake Elementary
At Cottage Lake Elementary, it is our united mission to build a safe, engaging, and inclusive environment of resilient lifelong learners. In partnership with our vibrant community, we embrace our diversity and strive to foster trust and kindness.
Email: jwelch@nsd.org
Website: https://cottagelake.nsd.org/
Location: 15940 Avondale Road Northeast, Woodinville, WA, USA
Phone: 425-408-4200