Ruby Bridges News
February 2024, Edition 10
Happy February!
Dear Ruby Bridges Families,
We have been off and running to a wonderful 2024 so far! Thank you for tracking the many adjustments to schedule with holidays, grading days and inclement weather this month. We know it can be challenging for families to navigate change to our schedules.
By far, one of the biggest joys of this month came during our Martin Luther King Jr. celebration as we enjoyed the performances of Mrs. Helman, Ms. Hurley, Ms. Lovell and Ms. Sanfelippo's classes along with 5th grade poem readers and Mr. Cokley bringing down the house in a solo closing performance. Thank you for supporting your students and always being excited to join in the special events at school. We love to see a full gym of community coming together.
The month of February includes some important events and dates to note:
- As you have heard in separate email correspondence, the first two weeks of our month include special visitors filming our school for a documentary about inclusive schools and belonging. We are grateful for the recognition that our school is receiving for building community and partnership across all facets of our school.
- February 9th is our early dismissal day at 12:40pm for some conferences to happen. Conferences are called for students and families by teacher discretion for specific reasons, so please note that most families will not have a conference on that day. Lunch time will be provided at school during this school day.
- The week of February 19-23 is our mid-winter break. School is closed. Please plan for this time, and we will welcome your students back on February 26th.
As we have closed our first semester, we are proud of your students for an immense amount of energy, work in their learning and building community. You will be able to view your student's report cards by February 5th in ParentVue. Hard copies of report cards will not be sent home. Students who receive special services will be provided hard copies of their progress reports associated with Special Services, and these envelopes will be sent home in your student's backpacks on February 5th. Please reach out to the office if you have trouble accessing report cards in ParentVue.
We appreciate all of you and look forward to an amazing February!
In partnership,
Cathi Davis and Meghan Crane
Affinity Connections for Students and Families:
As I work with families, a variety of topics have come forward as ways families are seeking connections with each other in our community. To help support connection, we are putting together an affinity contact list for you to consider joining. This contact list includes common connection points families have shared that feel supportive such as finding families who have AAC users, families who might also seek low sensory input outings, families with neurodivergence/common language backgrounds/etc. Please use this list to share your interest in being contacted by current Ruby Bridges families who might share a connection with you and your student: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1kugxzCV3fzRb-9Zn6BnraNQfG0nTYwE6_VcI8n0BZl0/edit?usp=sharing
We will not publicize this list outside of the Ruby Bridges community, and the link will only be made available to families through our Parent Square contact list. If you are unsure about adding your information but wish to reference the list, you may at least find this as a starting point for making more connections with families and students sharing common strengths and journeys. :)
NEW T-SHIRT DESIGN FOR SALE! 2023-2024 School Year T-Shirt Design!
This year our student leadership ran its first annual T-shirt design competition to provide all students with a chance to design a special edition T-shirt for sale in the school year. We are officially offering purchase of this year's design by Kriya Rajpal. Every shirt will provide a portion of fundraising to the Student Leadership group for support of programs, activities and other needs the students see for the school community.
This link for shirt orders will be available until Friday, February 9th: https://ruby-bridges-elementary.myshopify.com/
WINNER WINNER! Yearbook Cover Design!!
We are pleased to announce the two winners of our yearbook cover designs to grace the front and back covers of the 23-24 school year yearbook!
Information about WIDA Testing for Multi-lingual Learners
Annual English Language Proficiency Assessment Students who qualify for English Language Development Services (ELD Services) will soon take the annual English Language Proficiency assessment called the WIDA Access or the WIDA Alternate Access Assessment (for students that qualify based on their IEP). The State of Washington requires that students who are eligible for ELD services take an assessment yearly to measure their continuing progress in reading, writing, speaking, and listening in English. All qualified students, including students who are eligible but whose parents have waived services, must take this assessment annually until their scores indicate proficiency and exit services. Your student does not need to study for this test. WIDA testing will take place in-person and at school between February 12th and March 1st, 2024. If you have questions, please contact RobynLynn Sprunger, Multilingual Service Lead Teacher at rsprunger@nsd.org
Unicycle Club!
We are excited to be welcoming students into Unicycle Club this year under the direction of Mr. Fisher and Mr. Hatlen! Follow this link to learn more and sign up for unicycle club as a 4th or 5th grade student: https://www.parentsquare.com/feeds/28122217
SKILLS –
Mounting, riding, idling, backwards riding, hopping, riding on obstacles. *Additional skills may be offered depending on the rider's level.*
EQUIPMENT–
Unicycles and helmets are provided.
If you would like to bring your own helmet that works as well.
Unicycles will be available to check out and bring home with you. Unicycles are not allowed on busses; so your student will need to be picked up from school on unicycle practice days
Important Info:
Students who participate MUST be dropped off and picked up from school on club days. Unicycles cannot be transported on buses.
All funds collected will be put back into Ruby Bridges intramural programs!
Sign up with the link above to secure a spot. After online signups are complete, we will send home the required authorization forms. There are only thirty spaces available for this club (only 8 spots left right now!)
Please complete all authorization, medical info form and payment no later than Monday Feb 26th to be eligible for our first practice on Feb. 29th.
Robotics Club!
This week begins our Robotics Clubs meeting on Tuesday or Thursdays! We are thrilled to have the support of staff and family volunteers to welcome nearly one hundred students into this opportunity! WOW! As we learn from this great club experience, we will be planning ways to expand our clubs and grade level offerings, so continue to stay tuned for more fun opportunities!
Recess Club Opportunities for Volunteer Support:
We appreciate your patience as we rebooted our recess club concept. I realized that the format for our sign-ups for grown-ups to volunteer for leading our recess clubs led to an ever changing combination of volunteers which is a challenge to manage. To try again, we are inviting you to sign up for a four week commitment for the club. We will run this cycle and then a second cycle the following four weeks prior to our spring break. If we have too much student interest for the club in round one, we will give students a chance to be in round two so we can make sure the numbers of students are feasible. Students will be given a chance to sign up for interest at school from classrooms next week, so you do not need to reach out for sign-ups for your student! :)
Use this link to sign-up as a recess club volunteer: https://www.parentsquare.com/feeds/28462059
Just a reminder that all volunteers require Level 1 background clearance to be completed the week prior to the club starting. Please plan to check in at the office, and we will also provide you with an information email/resource about the parameters for the club you would be supervising and the materials available.
Thank you for your support to make wonderful things happen for our students!
In partnership,
Cathi Davis, Principal
Affinity Groups for Family Connections
Link for signing up to connect via phone and email list:
Save the date! March 15th is Ruby Bridges PTSA BINGO NIGHT!
Inclement Weather Information from NSD
Dear Northshore Families and Secondary Students:
As winter weather approaches, this is a good time to remind our Northshore community about the District’s snow and hazardous road condition response. The decision to close or delay schools due to inclement weather is made by the Superintendent as early as possible, typically by 5:30 a.m.
Northshore is a large district that covers over 60 square miles. While conditions may seem normal in your neighborhood, it may be unsafe in others. All of this is taken into consideration when a decision is made to cancel, delay, activate snow routes, or keep everything on a normal schedule. Please take the time now to prepare for unexpected weather by checking your student’s snow route using the link below.
If the district does not make an announcement, it means schools are open and buses are operating normally.
SCHOOL SCHEDULE CHANGE OPTIONS
If there is a change to the schedule, one of the following messages will be announced:
Closed
All district schools are closed.
No after school/evening activities, athletics, or band/orchestra.
On Time, Snow Bus Routes
Buses start at normal time, but are on snow routes.
School starts at regular time.
2 Hours Late, Normal Bus Routes
Buses start 2 hours late on normal routes.
School starts 2 hours late with regular dismissal time.
Check the closure and delay webpage for additional details: https://www.nsd.org/resources/reference/closures-delays
2 Hours Late, Snow Bus Routes
Buses start 2 hours late on snow routes.
School starts 2 hours late with regular dismissal time.
Check the closure and delay webpage for additional details: https://www.nsd.org/resources/reference/closures-delays
SNOW ROUTE INFORMATION
Weather conditions may affect bus routes in the District. If your home is located on a steep hill, it is possible that your bus stop may change during inclement weather. When snow routes are announced it is important to remember the following:
Your student’s afternoon drop off time will remain unchanged.
If snow routes are used in the morning, they will also be used in the afternoon regardless of weather conditions.
Dress your student accordingly for cold weather. Further delays may occur due to road conditions and traffic.
For most Northshore students, their snow stop will be the same as their regular bus stop.
To view your student’s snow route visit the snow route webpage.
STAYING INFORMED
If weather conditions make a schedule change necessary, Northshore School District will communicate the decision through the following methods and in this order:
TV and Radio Stations: Checking the local television or radio stations is an effective and efficient way to find out if there is a schedule change.
Northshore School District social media:
Instagram: @teamnorthshore
Twitter: @Northshore_SD
Facebook: Northshore School District
District and School Websites: We post school schedule updates to the District and school websites as early as possible between 5:30 a.m. and 5:45 a.m.
Phone calls, emails, and text messages: Families will receive a phone call, email, text message, starting at 5:45 a.m., however other communication channels may be faster.
Northshore Information Line: You may also call the district’s information line, 425-408-6001, beginning at 6 a.m., Monday through Friday for school closure information.
MANAGING PHONE CALLS AND COMMUNICATION PREFERENCES
When there is an emergency school schedule change, the phone number(s) listed as the primary contacts are called. Please confirm your primary phone number in ParentVUE.
SCHOOL YEAR CALENDAR DATES
If we need to cancel school due to inclement weather, emergency make-up days are already identified. Emergency make-up days include: May 24, June 25, and June 26. Please be aware of the June dates when making vacation and family plans.
For more information please visit the district’s closure and delay webpage.
A Message from Nurse Peggy Shaw
STAY HOME WHEN SICK
Because students can be sick due to do reasons other than Covid, please see below for guidelines that the school nurse uses to evaluate students who may need to go home. If your child has any of these symptoms below, please keep them home until the symptoms subside.
APPEARANCE/BEHAVIOR: unusually tired, difficult to wake, pale in color, irritable, lack of appetite; these are often signs of underlying illness.
FEVER: temperature of 100 degrees or higher. Child may be sent home without a fever if other symptoms are present. Your child must be fever free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medications) before they can return to school.
SORE THROAT: especially with fever and/or swollen glands.
EYES: discharge, swelling, redness, itchiness, pain, and/or crusting may be signs of conjunctivitis. Medical evaluation may be necessary.
NASAL DRAINAGE/COUGH: yellow or green nasal drainage, and/or cough, may prevent your child or other students from being able to concentrate. They may expose others to illness, especially if they cannot control their secretions.
VOMITING/DIARRHEA: Your child must not have any episodes of vomiting or diarrhea for 24 hours before they can return to school.
RASH: any rash of unknown cause should be considered contagious. Please have your child examined by a health care provider to determine the cause and communicability of the rash before returning to school. The school may require a note from the health care provider stating that the rash is not contagious.
It is not unusual for student to feel great in the morning and then worse as the day goes by. The school is not equipped for prolonged care of your sick student. We require that you or an emergency contact will pick up your sick child within the hour that you are called. Please notify your school of any changes to your emergency contacts, it is important to have a list of available contacts if we are not able to reach you.
Thank you for helping us keep our schools safe and healthy.
Champions Before and After School Care:
Champions is a Before and After-School program based right here at Ruby Bridges Elementary! We provide a place where kids laugh, learn, and thrive in a safe and healthy environment. Our program builds upon your child’s educational experience and places emphasis on homework help, social emotional learning, and leadership opportunities.
Champions also offers programs during break times; like Winter Break, Mid-Winter Break, Spring Break, and Summer Camp!
The need for growing connections and friendships, building confidence in who they are, experiencing joy, and expressing themselves in creative ways is more critical for students than ever!
Join Champions today and give yourself peace of mind while you allow us the privilege of caring for your child!
Visit www.discoverchampions.com, and reach out to our Ruby Bridges Champions Site Director, Tyler Jones, at ch001662@discoverchampions.com to register today!
FYI: PACE Application Deadline For The 2024-2025 School Year
PACE (Parents Active in Cooperative Education), a choice educational enrichment program offered through the Northshore School District, is currently accepting applications for the 2024-2025 school year. All applications are due prior to the February 8th PACE lottery drawing deadline, and a site tour is required prior to application.
The hallmarks of PACE include an enhanced educational experience due to high parent involvement, enrichment activities, encouragement for students to become self-motivated learners and a strong sense of community among families. Families commit to a minimum number of volunteer hours per year of program support. PACE is located at three elementary school sites in the district with feeder patterns from all Northshore elementary schools.
A tour is required prior to applying to the PACE program. To register for a site tour hosted by PACE at Wellington Elementary, please email enrollment@PACEWell.org.
For more information about the PACE program, please visit http://www.nsd.org/PACE
PTSA Sponsored: Interested in Connecting with Grade Level Families via Facebook Groups?
Ruby Bridges Elementary School
Email: cdavis@nsd.org
Website: https://rubybridges.nsd.org
Location: 20510 49th Dr SE, Woodinville, WA, USA
Phone: 425-408-8700
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/rubybridgesNSD