Eagle Sightings February
Holly Wehner, Principal
Dear FHES Eagle Families and Caregivers,
As the days get a little brighter and we start to feel some slightly warmer weather, we have so much to look forward to. It is an exciting time of year in classrooms throughout the school! Today is the day report cards will be going home, and you will be able to learn about all the ways your student/s are showing growth both academically, socially, and emotionally. This second semester the routines are set and students K-5 grow in their independence and accountability. Teachers continue to maximize instructional time using a variety of strategies and supports to meet the needs of their students and to keep them engaged. I am so lucky to have the opportunity to visit classes regularly to see what these amazing students are doing due to the fantastic learning opportunities teachers provide every day.
Just as the students are continuing to learn and grow, so are the FHES educators. In our Wednesday collaboration time, we have been working on our alignment of Writing K-5, as well as learning about new strategies to build math fact fluency and vocabulary for all students with an emphasis on ML students. Your continued partnership is very important and appreciated in supporting the learning of all of these wonderful FHES students. If you have expertise in an area where you hear learning is happening, please let us know! We all value collaboration and want all to feel welcome and successful.
This month our character trait is Honesty. We will have an all-school assembly next week where our student council will present about Honesty-being truthful in what you say and do.
Also this month, we have Kindness Week Feb 12-16 with a variety of spirit days to show kindness in different ways. FHES Eagles just keep on SOARing with kindness demonstrating Safe, On task, Accountable, and Respectful behaviors.
As always thank you for your partnership in teaching and learning.
Sincerely,
Holly Wehner
➡️➡️➡️➡️➡️Electronic Devices at School⬅️⬅️⬅️⬅️⬅️
Please remind your child/ren about the following school policies:
- Personal electronic devices are not to be used at school. If a CELL PHONE OR SMARTWATCH is brought to school for afterschool use it must remain in the student’s backpack until the end of the school day.
- No texting or calling during school hours from student devices.
- All communication to or from home must go through the school office.
Growing Readers and Writers
This month, we are highlighting some of the amazing work our librarian, Ms. Charlene, is doing in the FHES library to support our growing readers! Using proceeds from last spring’s book fair and her classroom budget, Ms. Charlene has added 68 books to our collection. These books include titles that support our Character Strong program (focusing on different character traits), beginning readers in Spanish, nonfiction beginning readers, popular fiction, and student/staff requests. Thanks to a generous donation from our PTO, we have also added all 2023-2024 Sasquatch Book Award nominees and Washington Children’s Choice Picture Book Award nominees. The Sasquatch Book Award nominations include twelve novels for grades 4-6. Our 4th and 5th-grade students are encouraged to read at least two of the books and vote for their favorite in the spring. Last year, more than 7,000 4th and 5th graders of Washington state voted for the Sasquatch Award. The Washington’s Children’s Choice Picture Book (WCCPB) Award nominations include twenty picture books for grades K-3. Ms. Charlene is reading all nominated books to our Kindergarten - 3rd grade students and they will vote on their favorite in the spring. Last year, 110,202 K-3 students in our state voted for the WCCPB Award. We look forward to joining students across the state in voting for our favorites again this year!
Thanks to so many great titles in our library and weekly library visits, our K-5 students average checking out 622 books a week for this school year! In addition to checking out books, Ms. Charlene also has a give-a-book/take-a-book shelf. Students can bring books from home to trade for other used books. Thanks to Ms. Charlene for all that she does to support our FHES readers!
💦We are out of Extra Clothes💦
Did your child come home in a borrowed set of dry clothes? If so, please return them to the office. Thank you!
A message from Ms. Terra
We are proud to share that our Peer Mediation program continues to be a success! 4th and 5th-grade students were nominated by their teachers and trained to assist K-3 students with solving problems during lunch recess. The peer mediators are trained in mediation strategies to help guide younger students with social conflicts and keep a special lookout for students who could use a friend. Younger students know they can look for the older students in yellow vests to help out when they need support. Thank you to the peer mediators and to the upper-grade teachers for supporting this opportunity!
School Parking Area Safety Reminders
Please remind your child to stay on the provided path and/or sidewalk while they are walking to school. Younger students benefit from walking with an older sibling or an adult. This is especially true on mornings with reduced visibility.
Please remember, that there is no supervision on school grounds before 8:00 am.
Please do not drop students off before 8:00 am. If students need to be here a few minutes early, please be sure they know to stay in front of the school by the front doors. They may head to their lines at 8:00 am when the doors open.
Thank you for your help in keeping our students safe!
▪️February 2024▪️
February 2: Community Reading Night! 6-7 pm in the FHES Library
February 9: Popcorn Day!
February 12: 5:30 pm PTO Meeting in the FHES Library
February 13-17: Kindness Week! See details below
February 15: 11:20a-12:20p Zoom Lunch with the Principal
February 15: Olympic View MS Jazz and 8th Grade Band Performance
February 19-23: Mid-Winter Break, No School
Kindness Week
The week of February 12-16 will be KINDNESS WEEK at FHES!
Students will have the opportunity to add to a wall of KINDNESS throughout the week and enjoy a week of spirit days. There may even be a special recess time KINDNESS activity!
Monday, February 12:Team Kindness- wear your favorite sports team clothing
Tuesday, February 13: Color your world with kindness -each classroom will pick a color and dress alike
Wednesday, February 14: Wacky for Kindness-wacky hair and socks
Thursday, February 15: Mixed up in Kindness - wear mixed and matched clothes, shoes, socks
Friday, February 16: Dreaming of Kindness -PJ day
Kindergarten Round-Up
Do you have a child who will be five on or before August 31, 2024?
It's almost time to register for kindergarten!
Please stop by Friday Harbor Elementary on:
Thursday, March 21st From 9:00 am-11:00 am and again from 1:00 pm-4:00 pm.
You are welcome to sit in the cafeteria to fill out your packet. Please bring your child's birth certificate and immunization record with you. If you have any questions; assistance will be available. Or Call 360-370-7301.
Staff Highlights!
Zoom Lunch with Mrs. Wehner
Join FHES principal over Zoom for a chat or a listen.
- Thursday, February 15 11:20-12:20 pm
Meeting ID: 896 0703 4079 Passcode: 106501
Bring your questions, concerns, gratitude, and thoughts.
Upcoming PTO Events
Community Reading Night
Friday, February 2, 6-7:00 pm at FHES Library
Friday, March 8, 6-7:00 pm at FHES Library
Scholastic Book Fair
March 11-15 at FHES Library
FHES Talent Show-San Juan Spotlight
May 5, 2 pm at Brickworks Stage
Auditions are coming soon!
Talents may include, but are not limited to: singing, dancing, acting, joke telling, magic, juggling, poetry, playing musical instruments, gymnastics, or scholastic skills (like rapid mathematical calculations or spelling). Children may audition with more than one act. The show will accommodate 30 @ 3-minute acts.
More information from the PTO will be coming soon!
Message from our School Nurse
Hello families!
To provide the best care for your child I need to have their most up-to-date health information on file. If your child has had a recent physical exam, please send a copy to the school. You may drop by the office, send it with your child to school, or email it directly to me at erindonaldson@sjisd.org.
Similarly, if your child has had any changes in their health condition updates are appreciated.
Thank you for helping to keep your child safe at school!
Nurse Erin
ATTENDANCE COUNTS
Reminder that the first bell rings at 8:15, please help your student start the day off right by starting the day on time with their class. If your student is going to be gone for the day please call the office at 360-378-5209 or email Jeanna at jeannarheinberger@sjisd.org to excuse your student's absence. Please remember that there is no adult supervision before 8 am.
Thank you!
Food For Thought Program
- The salad bar is open every day at lunch, with fresh salad greens, Caesar salad, fruit, and vegetables.
- A vegetarian option is available upon request.
- Breakfast is served every morning starting at 8 am-8:15 am. If your child would like breakfast, please have them come through the front doors upon arrival.
*Please check your student's food account balance*
Your help is needed to keep our program running! Due to State Auditor Mandate, please maintain a POSITIVE lunch balance at all times. We have made this more manageable by providing online credit card payment and account maintenance though Skyward Family and Student Access. You can opt in for low balance email notifications as well as make instant online payments. Of course, payments can also be made in the school office with cash or check before lunch.
❄️Emergency Weather Information❄️
Media Links for "Snow Days" Emergency announcements will be posted on district websites, Facebook accounts, sent out via ParentLink and broadcast before school on the stations listed below. If school must be closed mid-day, this will also be announced on these stations and students will be sent home by their usual mode of transportation.
Emergency weather information affecting Bus Routes and times are provided in this link.
Radio:
- KISM - 92.9 FM Bellingham
- KLKI - 1340 AM Anacortes
- KOMO - 1000 AM Seattle
- KAFE - 104.3 FM Bellingham
- KGMI - 790 AM - Bellingham
TV:
- KOMO TV 4 - Seattle
- KING TV 5-Seattle
- KVOS TV 12-Bellingham
Online Newspapers:
Community Connections
Friday Harbor Elementary School
Email: roslynbutcher@sjisd.org
Website: sjisd.wednet.edu
Location: 95 Grover Street, Friday Harbor, WA, USA
Phone: 360.378.5209
San Juan Island School District Commitment to Non-discrimination
San Juan Island 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 a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups.
The San Juan Island School District offers classes in many career and technical education program areas such as Culinary Arts, Career Prep, STEM, and Computer Science under its open admissions policy. For more information about CTE course offerings and admissions criteria, contact CTE Directors, Liz Varvaro, elizabethvarvaro@sjisd.org, PO Box 458, FH, WA, (360) 378-4133. Lack of English language proficiency will not be a barrier to admission and participation in career and technical education programs.
The following people have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies:
Faith Knight, Civil Rights Compliance Coordinator, Title IX Officer
PO Box 458, Friday Harbor, WA 98250
(360) 378-4133
Becky Bell, Special Services Director, 504 Officer, ADA Coordinator, Gender-Inclusive Schools Coordinator
PO Box 458, Friday Harbor, WA 98250
(360) 378-4133
Fred Woods, Superintendent, Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying (HIB) Coordinator
PO Box 458, Friday Harbor, WA 98250
(360) 378-7905