PANTHER NEWS
January 2019
MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Best wishes to you and yours from everyone at Purdy Elementary. Happy holidays and best wishes for the new year! May the joy of the holidays be with you in the upcoming year. Cheers to a season filled with warmth, comfort and good company!
Warmly,
Ms. Kristi Brooks
Principal
Purdy Elementary
(253)530-4600
Grow. Learn. Inspire.
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Important Dates
- 12/23 - 1/3 Winter Break - No School
- 1/6 Welcome Back~School resumes
- 1/13 Taproot Assembly
- 1/15 PTA Meeting 3:40
- 1/16 2nd grade Concert
- 1/17 Terrific Kids Assembly 1:50 (K-2) & 2:45 (3-5)
- 1/20 Martin Luther King, Jr Holiday - No School
- 1/24 Staff Inservice Day - No School
- 1/30 Literacy Night 5:30-7:00
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2019-2020 YEAR ROUND UPDATES - To ensure we have the correct phone numbers and emergency contacts for your child please take a moment and do your year round update.
You can access the update through your parent portal. Please take a moment to complete your update and ensure all your phone numbers and emergency contact information are correct. All changes need to be completed through the portal.
Please log in to your PowerSchool Parent Portal by navigating to the PSD website, then select the Portals dropdown (from the top navigation bar) and select Parent Portal. Please note: You will not be able to update your information via the PowerSchool mobile app.
Then, simply click the Year Round Update from the left-hand menu to review and update each student account in your portal. Please do this as soon as possible.
If you don’t know how to log into your PowerSchool Parent Portal, please watch this short video.
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Transportation Changes & Bus Stops
When writing notes for your child(ren) to ride the bus please include the bus stop along with the bus number to ensure their safety. Not doing so may result in delaying busses and having to bring students back to school.
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SNOW DAYS AND EMERGENCY BUS ROUTES
Buses may need to adjust where they pick up and drop off students to ensure travel happens only on roads designated as safe in the snow. These are called emergency routes.
Before winter weather starts, be sure to:
- Review our school’s Emergency Bus Routes & Safe Zones with your student posted on our school website. Paper copies are available in the office.
- Always be 15 minutes early for pickups.
- Remember not to block bus loading/unloading zones.
- Know that school delays due to inclement weather do not automatically mean emergency routes will be used.
- Opt in to receive emergency and inclement weather notifications by texting "YES" to 67587 from the device you wish to receive messages on.
- Check local TV and radio stations and this website for delays.
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Reminder about Purdy Elementary School's Emergency Bus Routes
What are emergency bus routes?
Emergency bus routes are predetermined routes that our buses drive when necessary, like when we experience weather that prevents school buses from getting to every usual bus stop. See Purdy Elementary School's Emergency Bus Routes and Safety Zones.
How will I know when emergency bus routes are used?
PSD will announce emergency bus routes via SchoolMessenger, the district website, the district emergency phone line (253-530-1088), and on local TV and radio stations.
How do I know if my child’s regular bus stop is affected by emergency bus routes?
-See the link to your map. If your stop is on the line, you are fine and your stop will not change if PSD is operating on emergency routes. If your stop is not on the line, get to the closest safe zone to your residence (see the dots on the map). Not sure? Call Transportation at 253.530.3900.
-Emergency route maps by school are posted on school homepages.
-Emergency Bus Route and Safe Zone flyers will be distributed via Thursday folders (elementary level) and available in every school office.
-Ask your child’s bus driver about their emergency route and recommended safe zone for your family.
-Sill have questions? Call the Transportation Office at 253.530.3900.
What time does my child need to be at the safe zone?
When emergency bus routes are used, please have your child arrive at the safe zone at least 15 minutes prior to your regular (or two hour late) bus stop pick up time in the morning. In the afternoon, please allow for a 15 minute window for drop offs at the safe zones.
Do you want a text via phone and/or an email when emergency routes are used?
The only way you will get a personal notification if we use emergency bus routes is through the phone number/email you’ve added to your PowerSchool account. Make sure your contact details are updated for each student in your family. You can watch this video to learn how to access your PowerSchool account.
Don’t miss out! Update your contacts to receive weather updates!
Not sure how? PSD has a guide for you!
#WEarePSD
Peninsula School District 401
14015 - 62nd Avenue NW; Gig Harbor, WA 98332
(253) 530-1000
psd401.net
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2019-2020 Inclement Weather Procedures
As the fall and winter storm season is upon us, we have prepared this message to explain Peninsula School District’s procedures and expectations during inclement weather and school closures. Below you will find guidelines to make this process easier, plus explain how weather decisions are made.
Delay or Closure Decisions:
- Weather information is reviewed the day and night prior to the decision. A review with our Transportation Department and neighboring districts is also done.
- Starting at 3:00 a.m. or sooner, district officials and the Transportation Department drive emergency bus routes throughout the district’s 120 square miles.
- The district may choose to operate on a normal schedule, start late, or close entirely.
- Late starts allow us:
- Time to monitor and adjust decisions to changing weather and road conditions;
- Safety of daylight for students and Transportation personnel;
- Additional time for Peninsula School District staff to arrive to work; and
- Time for the Transportation Department to further critique snow routes and make necessary adjustments or modifications.
Types of Communication:
- The SchoolMessenger® System notifies all staff and parents within 30 minutes by phone, text, and/or email.
- Emergency weather procedures can be found on the Peninsula School District website at psd401.net.
- The Peninsula School District emergency information line can be reached at 253-530-1088.
- Local TV and radio stations will provide timely updates.
- For questions regarding your child’s emergency bus route, contact the Transportation Department at 253-530-3900.
Please remember the district has a large geographical size and weather conditions may vary greatly from area to area. This may warrant a closure or late start for the entire district due to conditions impacting only limited areas. Student and employee safety is our highest priority.
#WEarePSD
Peninsula School District 401
14015 - 62nd Avenue NW; Gig Harbor, WA 98332
(253) 530-1000
psd401.net
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VOLUNTEERS & VISITORS
If you have completed your Washington State Background Check and don't have a badge let an office staff member know and we'll take your picture to create one for you.
All visitors be sure to get a visitors sticker from the basket at the front desk.
All badges and stickers should be worn while in the building.
When checking your child out of school early be prepared to show your ID to an office staff member. Thank you!
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Purdy Book Exhange
Save the date! Purdy's Literacy Night is coming soon!
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Hello Purdy Panthers!
Sincerely,
Emily Backman
Technology Specialist
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SAFETY AT HOME
- Tell everyone in your home to wash their hands often, especially if they or other family members have a cold or the flu.
- Install smoke alarms in every sleeping area and on each level of your home. Test smoke alarms once a month, and change batteries at least once a year. A good time to change batteries is when you change your clocks in fall and spring.
- Install carbon monoxide alarms on every floor in the home (hallway). Carbon monoxide (CO) is a gas that you cannot see or smell. It is produced by many appliances, such as furnaces, dryers, ranges, ovens and heaters. When appliances work right, they vent CO to the outside. If they break, they can leak CO into your home. Breathing CO can cause death. At first, a person with CO poisoning feels dizzy and sick to their stomach. A carbon monoxide alarm will go off so there is time to leave your house before you feel sick.
- Give space heaters space. Keep them at least three feet away from walls, furniture, curtains, bedding and clothing. Children and pets should not play around heaters, fireplaces or wood stoves.
- If you use kerosene heaters, use only kerosene for fuel - never use gasoline.
WINTER PLAY & SPORTS
- Insist that your child wear a properly fitting snow sport helmet while skiing, snowboarding and sledding. Snowboarders need wrist guards in addition to helmets. Be a good role model by wearing your helmet, too.
- Make sure an adult is with children who are sledding. Keep sledders away from trees, rocks, fences and cars. Check sleds for jagged, sharp edges. Teach your child how to roll off the sled and how to stop the sled if they need to get off quickly. Also teach them to sled sitting up with their feet in front.
- Never hook a sled to a car or any other vehicle. Never pull your child on skis or a snowboard behind a vehicle.
- Make sure ski and snowboard equipment is the right size and is adjusted properly.
- If your family spends time in the backcountry, take an avalanche safety course and always carry avalanche gear while in the backcountry. Never be in the backcountry alone - it's safer to be with a group.
- Know how to operate a snowmobile before going snowmobiling with your child. Start with a full tank of gas. Have all riders wear protective gear, including helmets with chinstraps. Be alert to other snowmobiles. Avoid unsafe areas like thin ice and steep, avalanche-prone slopes. It is a good idea to snowmobile in groups.
- Teach your child to ski and snowboard within the boundaries of the ski area.
BE PREPARED
- Make an emergency kit for home. Include extra blankets and clothing, flashlights, batteries, matches, a first aid kit, a can opener, jugs of water, medicines and canned food and other foods that do not need refrigeration.
- Prepare a kit for your car that includes flares, tire chains, a flashlight, a scraper, water and food (like energy bars), a first aid kit, blankets and gloves.
- Be sure that you have a way to heat your home or a place to go in case the power goes out. Always keep a fire extinguisher near your heating source.
- Never use your cooking stove or range to heat your home. Do not use a charcoal grill, hibachi or generator in your home, either - they make carbon monoxide, which is a poison.
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Highly Capable
Highly Capable Referral Notice for Annual Testing
Open November 4th, 2019 - January 15th, 2020
Online Highly Capable Referral form for Parents and Teachers
Direct link- https://tinyurl.com/PSD401HCREFERRAL
Please note: single online referral form for teachers and parents
https://psd401.net/highly-capable-program for more information
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HIGHLY CAPABLE
Las aplicaciones al examen anual del Highly Capable Program (Estudiantes de Nivel Avanzado) ya están abiertas
Cuando: del 4 de noviembre del 2019 al 15 de enero del 2020.
Dónde aplicar: el formulario para referir a un estudiante se encuentra en la liga https://tinyurl.com/PSD401HCREFERRAL
Quien debe referir a un estudiante: los padres y profesores del alumno.
Para más información por favor visita https://psd401.net/highly-capable-program
¡Recuerde! enviar un solo formulario diligenciado por los padres y profesores del estudiante.