Challenger Elementary Newsletter
Home of the Cheetahs
March 2021
Dirk Adkinson ~ Principal
Heidi Straus ~ Assistant Principal
Heather DeBoli-Welch ~ Dean of Students
Sheena Jimenez ~ Parent Liaison
Principal's Message
At Challenger, we are always trying to examine our systems and beliefs to align with the students and community that we serve.
During the month of March, we are having our first staff discussion about our assemblies, entitled Let’s Talk About Race and Our Martin Luther King Jr. Assembly. Staff members are encouraged, but not mandated to take part in this discussion. The purpose of this meeting will be to examine the way in which we present our assembly and the lasting impacts it has on our students. Conversations like these can be uncomfortable sometimes, but they are more important now than ever before.
During the remainder of the school year, we will also examine our Holiday Assembly and our Veterans Day Assembly. Eventually, we would like to invite our community to take part in these conversations as well.
Dirk Adkinson, Principal
Dean's Message
Congress declared March as National Women’s History Month in 1987. This month celebrates and honors the amazing achievements of American women. The theme for this year is “Choose to Challenge,” which means that we can all challenge and speak out against gender bias and inequality.
Below are ways that you can celebrate National Women’s History Month with your children at home.
1. Read an inspirational book about Women’s History. There are many children’s books that can teach child about famous women in history. I recommend reading Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly with Winifred Conkling and Rad American Women A-Z by Kate Schatz.
2. Learn about your own history. Diving deep into your ancestry, I imagine that you will find there is much to learn about the women in your family! Work with your child to discover the accomplishments made by the women in your ancestry. For example, my grandmother was the first person in my family to get a master’s degree, all while raising two young children on her own!
3. Have conversations with your child about Women’s History and issues that women still face today. Just like I had suggested last month when speaking to your child about Black History Month, I would start by asking your child questions (“Did you know that March is National Women’s History month?” “Do you know what this means?”). Speak about things that your child would already be interested in, such as ice cream (“Did you know that a woman named Nancy Johnson invented the first hand-cranked ice cream maker?”), then dive deeper into more challenging topics (“Where is a place where you still see men and women are not treated the same?”).
Heather DeBoli-Welch, Dean of Students
Meet Mrs. Jimenez ~ Our Parent Liaison
Hi Challenger Families!
I just wanted to introduce myself. My name is Sheena Jimenez. I am the Parent Liaison here at Challenger. My husband and I live here in Everett and have been involved in the community since 2014. My job here at Challenger is to help support you and your children. We understand that this year has been filled with many challenges, but I want you to know that we are here to help. If you and your family are struggling in any way, please reach out.
Our staff and community partners are working hard to help support our families during this time and I would love to help connect you. If food security is a concern this year, please let us know. We have food bags available at the office in addition to the district meal pick-ups that are available at Challenger on Tuesdays from 1:30-3:30pm and Thursdays from 2:00-5:00pm.
On Saturday, March 20, we will also be partnering with Churchome to host a community-wide Drive-Thru Food Bag Give-Away. Make sure to let friends and family know. I look forward to seeing more of your beautiful faces around campus as we slowly transition some of our students to in-person learning.
Sheena Jimenez
Parent Liaison - Challenger Elementary
425-366-2515
English/Español
A Word from our School Nurse
Why Immunizations are Important
Per CDC Guidelines:
In the last 50 years, vaccines have helped to nearly wipe out measles, diphtheria, and polio.
Vaccines strengthen the immune system by helping the body to recognize and fight the viruses and bacteria that cause disease.
Eating nutritious food, drinking clean water, good sanitation, and good hygiene (like consistent handwashing), also help stop disease. However, even in the cleanest places, the viruses and bacteria that cause disease and death still exist.
Vaccine side effects are very rare. A child’s risk of having a health problem from an immunization is much less than his or her risk of suffering from the disease itself.
Vaccines not only protect the child who receives the immunization, but they also protect those who:
- Have weakened immune systems
- Cannot get shots because of a medical condition or because they are too young or too old
- Are not fully immunized
The best way to protect our kids and community is to vaccinate kids, especially from birth to two years of age.
Stay Healthy,
Nurse Meredith
Kindergarten Registration 2021-22
Do you have a child who will be at least five years old by August 31, 2021, who will attend kindergarten in Mukilteo School District this fall? Registration for kindergarten classes for the 2021-22 school year is underway.
Many elementary schools will have their own kindergarten programs.
Some students will attend Pathfinder Kindergarten Center, located behind Fairmount Elementary on Beverly Park Road, based on their home address. Use the online kindergarten look-up tool to enter an address and find which school your kindergartner will attend.
You can register online or stop by our main office to pick up a registration packet.
Immunizations are required for in-person school attendance as established by the State of Washington. Students must be current in immunizations to attend school. A new state law states that students who are out of compliance with immunization requirements will be excluded from school until those conditions are met. Learn more about the state’s new immunization requirements on the district immunizations website.
For more information about kindergarten, visit the kindergarten registration webpage, contact our main office, or the school district’s Elementary Education office at HemingerJL@mukilteo.wednet.edu or 425-356-1209.
Supply Deployment Dates
Tuesday, March 30
Wednesday, March 31
Thursday, April 1
Times TBD.
Please watch for more information to come.
Meals to Go
Lunch schedule change
Tuesday meal distributions at all locations will now take place from 1:30pm to 3:30pm. Thursdays will remain 2:00pm to 5:00pm. Visit the Nutrition Services webpage for more information and to pre-order your meal.
Are you Moving?
Please notify our front office at 425-366-2500 if you are planning to move or have a phone number change.
Thank you!
NO SCHOOL
Daylight Saving Time
Challenger Elementary
Website: mukilteoschools.org/ch
Location: 9600 Holly Drive, Everett, WA, USA
Phone: 425-366-2500
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChallengerES/
Mukilteo School District Non - Discrimination Statement
Mukilteo School District does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of trained dog guide or service animal 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: Civil Rights Coordinator and Title IX Coordinator Bruce Hobert (425-356-1319), hobertbl@mukilteo.wednet.edu, Section 504 Coordinator Lisa Pitsch (425-356-1277), pitschla@mukilteo.wednet.edu, and the ADA/Access Coordinator Karen Mooseker (425-356-1330), moosekerkw@mukilteo.wednet.edu. Address: 9401 Sharon Drive in Everett, WA. Inquiries regarding ADA/Access issues at Sno-Isle TECH Skills Center should be directed to Wes Allen, Director (425-348-2220) allenwr@mukilteo.wednet.edu. Address: 9001 Airport Road in Everett, WA 98204 Center