CHINOOK NEWS
2019-2020 year end NEWSLETTER
Chinook Elementary
1900 NW Bliss Road
Vancouver, WA 98685
Main Office: 360.313.1600
Attendance: 360.313.1402
Contact Us:
Principal: Patrick Conners Patrick.Conners@vansd.org
Associate Principal: Donna Jeffries Donna.Jeffries@vansd.org
School Counselor: Brett Andre Brett.Andre@vansd.org
Secretary: Amy Surface Amy.Surface@vansd.org
Enrollment/Attendance: Mary Lies Mary.Lies@vansd.org
Attendance Email: Chinook.Attendance@vansd.org
Fall Office Hours: Monday - Friday 8 am – 4 pm
School Day 8:30 am - 2:50 pm
1st Bell: 8:20 am
Tardy Bell: 8:30 am
Early Dismissal every Monday at 2:10 pm (September - May)
Chinook Fall Calendar
*August
8/17- 21 - Kindergarten Jump Start, 9-11:30 am
8/19 - New Family Orientation, 4:30-5:30
8/25 - Kindergarten Parent Conferences, 10 am - 6 pm
8/27 -Welcome Back Social, 4pm
*September
9/1 - First Day of School, class starts at 8:30 am
9/1 - PTSA Mugs & Muffins, 9 am
9/4 - 9/18 - PTSA Payback Fundraiser
9/11- 9/25 - PTSA Spirit Wear sale begins
9/15 - PTSA Meeting, 7pm Media Center
9/15 - Curriculum Night, Kindergarten, 5:30-6:15 & First Grade, 6:30-7:15
9/16 - Curriculum Night, Second Grade, 5:30-6:15 & Third Grade, 6:30-7:15
9/17 - Curriculum Night, Fourth Grade, 5:30-6:15 & Fifth Grade, 6:30-7:15
9/25 - Picture Day & Vision/Hearing Screening
9/28-10/2 - PTSA Fall Book Fair
*All Dates are subject to change pending public health regulations due to COVID19.
Principal's Corner
June 19, 2020
Dear Chinook Families,
This has truly been a school year that none of us will soon forget, but we’ve reached the end. I’d like to take the opportunity to thank several groups of people who have helped to make the best out of an unbelievably challenging situation, address the upcoming year, touch on the movement that is taking place around us in society, and send everyone off with some parting words.
First off, thank you to all of our families for taking on much of the responsibility of supporting your children at home during the last 3 months. This wasn’t something that any of us anticipated or prepared for, but you rose to the challenge. Additionally, I’d like to offer praise to the staff at Chinook. Much like with our families, they had to adjust to a new system of instruction and new technology that supported distance learning. This was no small undertaking and I’ve appreciated the efforts by everyone on staff to step outside of their comfort zone to benefit the needs of our students. Finally, to our students, who had to adjust to a new reality of not seeing their friends and teachers on a daily basis, attempt to learn from home while surrounded by their toys and electronic devices and deal with their parents who also took on the role as their new “teacher.” I’m sure there were times that you were frustrated and upset, but you persevered in the face of these challenges.
The question on everyone’s mind right now is, “What will next year look like?” While I’d love to have an answer for you, we aren’t at that place as of today. There are a number of contingencies being developed that will allow us to hit the ground running next fall, no matter what is in place, but we hope to work directly with our students as soon as possible. We also know that our students will need additional support based off the missed face-to-face time this spring. We’ll be working in the fall to identify end-of-the-year standards to be covered at the outset of the upcoming school year, while also planning for grade-level learning. It’s imperative that we are working to provide instruction for our students that meet their learning needs. I do want you to know that no matter what it looks like next year, our focus will be on keeping our students safe while helping our students to develop socially and academically.
On a different note, I think it’s important that we make a statement in regards to the social issues around race that are making headlines across the world. It is, and always will be, our goal to make Chinook a place where every student and family feels welcome and accepted. To that end, our staff will be making a concerted effort during the upcoming school year and into the future to examine our own practices to identify ways in which we can ensure that our students and families from all backgrounds are treated with the respect and dignity that they deserve. Rather than ignore the challenges, we will lean into the work that must be done to create an environment of equality for those in our community.
On a closing note, I’d like to thank a few individuals who are leaving us at the end of the year. It’s not the type of goodbyes that we’re used to, but please join me in thanking the following staff members who will be moving on to new opportunities:
Cidney Sims, 4th grade teacher
Stephanie Kneedler, School Psychologist
Bettina Ferraro, Music teacher
Amariyana Berry, Paraeducator
Last, but definitely not least, Victoria Gettys has served as Chinook’s PTSA president for the past two years. I’ve watched from up-close all of the time and effort Victoria has expended in her role and I hope you’ll join me in thanking her for everything she’s done for our students and families. It takes truly dedicated individuals to give of themselves to fill this role and Victoria is just that.
I wish you all a safe and enjoyable summer and I can say, without reservation, that we can’t wait to see our students and families as soon as possible.
Go Wolfpups!
Patrick Conners
Principal
from the Chinook Staff
NOTES FROM THE NURSE
We recognize that this is a difficult time to think about obtaining vaccinations for your child, but we want to urge you to keep on top of your child’s required immunization schedule. Please contact your child’s health care provider to ask if your child should be seen for their regular well child exams and immunizations. If you have concerns about safety, you may call ahead to inquire about any safety measures in place to keep your family safe and healthy while in the clinic.
The immunization law in Washington State has changed, and beginning August 1, 2020, students will not be allowed to attend school if they are out of compliance with vaccinations; the 30 day grace period has been removed.
We want your student to start school on time next year! Please do not wait until the end of summer to catch up on immunizations, as this is a very busy time of year for medical offices and you may not be able to get an immediate appointment.
For more information on the immunization law changes, go to: https://www.doh.wa.gov/YouandYourFamily/Immunization/SchoolandChildCare/RuleChanges
*When to keep a child who is sick at home
One of the problems most often confronting parents of school-age children occurs when a child complains of not feeling well on a school day.
The following is not intended as medical advice, but is merely designed as a guideline to be followed until your health care provider can be contacted.
Children should usually be kept at home if any of the following conditions are present (keep in mind the absence of fever does not always indicate the child is well enough to attend school):
• Fever over 100 degrees, vomiting or diarrhea within the last 48 hours
• Severe uncontrolled rapid coughing, wheezing or difficulty breathing
• Undiagnosed skin rashes with fever
• Persistent sore throat with fever and difficulty swallowing or rash
• Severe headache, toothache, ear pain or abdominal pain and cramping
• Skin infections
• Eyes that are painful red, and matted with thick discharge
Medication at school
No medication is allowed at school without the written permission of the prescribing health care practitioner and parent/guardian. This is especially true for prescription medication including inhalers, epi pens, oral medication as well as non-prescription or over the counter medications.
All medications must be accompanied by a signed Medication Authorization Form.
LeeAnn Hull
*Due to COVID19 there may be additional information and guidelines when school begins in the fall.
Staff List for 2020-2021
Please join us in extending a warm welcome to our new 4th Grade Teacher Serena Montehermoso from Jason Lee Middle School and our new Psychologist Carolyn Carlsen from Hazel Dell Elementary.
DISTANCE LEARNING WITH FAB!
2020 Report Cards
June 2020
Dear VPS Families,
All Report Cards will be emailed to families. Due to the unprecedented situation we have all faced as part of the COVID-19 outbreak, instructional practices and learning at home have required us all to adjust. Under the guidance of the state superintendent’s office, our final trimester reporting system recognizes the work that teachers, students, and families are undertaking while acknowledging the significant disruption to the educational environment. For the final trimester, students will not receive scores ranging from 1 (Developing) to 4 (Advanced), or R (Rarely) to C (Consistently). Instead, indicators included on the report card will include the following marks listed below. Please note all students at the elementary school level will be promoted to the next grade level in the fall.
Report card indicator Explanation
- M - “Meets Standard”--Student engaged in the standards-focused work assigned to them by their teacher.
- X - “No Evidence”--The student/family was in contact with the teacher(s), but there was no evidence of work completed and submitted during the grading period.
- * “Did Not Participate”--The school was unable to engage in contact with the student during the grading period, or the family elected to engage in an instructional program outside of that provided by VPS.
- --- “Not Applicable”--The standard, or skill-set, was not an area covered in-depth during the final trimester.
We thank you for all of the work you’ve done this spring to support your child’s learning under these challenging circumstances.
If you have further questions regarding the content of your child’s report card, please contact your child’s teacher or your principal.
Kid's Heart Challenge!
WOW! We raised a total of $8,350!!!
The thank you gifts have been ordered, but they have frozen shipping until schools reopen.
The amazon gift card came though, for your winner of the Classroom Challenge!
Mrs. Miller 3rd Grade!
The Recess Kit for Mrs. Birno 1st grade has been added and will come with the rest of the Thank you gifts in the Fall.
Thank you to all who generously supported the Kid Heart Challenge. All students that raised $150.00 or more will get to slime Mrs. Stone in September.
Thank you!
Donna Stone
Message from the Chinook PTSA
Hello Chinook Families,
We did it! We made it to the end of another school year, we met the challenges presented to us, and we finished strong.
Thank you for supporting YOUR Chinook PTSA this year, with your help we raised over $20,000! With those funds, we were able to offer FREE events such as: First Day Coffee social, Back to School social, Family Dance Night, and Evening with Santa. Those funds also supported our school community through the following: Choir Program grant, Classroom grants ($100 per teacher per school year), Guitar Lesson enrichment, FAB Classroom grants, Principal fund, Reading Support grant, Learning Support Classroom grant, Classroom Learning apps, Spring Theater program, Read N Lead, Safety Patrol, and Staff Appreciation.
Thank you to our volunteers, who put in countless hours planning events, organizing fundraisers, creating our beautiful yearbook, counting classroom reading minutes, counting Box Tops, working with the Chinook staff to better understanding how we can support our school community, contacting parents, managing our non-profit status… and so much more! It truly does take a village to raise a child, and I hope you will consider joining ours in the upcoming school year.
As we look forward to the upcoming school year, so much is uncertain. We will be here! As a PTSA, we will be working with the Chinook staff to understanding how to support our school community in this changing environment.
We hope you enjoy the next 73 days of sunshine, camping, traveling, water balloon fights, bbqing, hiking, biking, swimming, ice cream for dinner… doing all the fun activities that make summer a magical time to be a child! Celebrate with your family today for a job well done.
Happy Summer Wolf Pups,
Chinook PTSA Board
Our new 2020-21 PTSA Executive Board:
*President, appointed Rachel Bereczki: ChinookPTSAPresident@gmail.com
*Vice President, OPEN: ChinookPTSAvicepresident@gmail.com
Treasurer, Peggy Retzlaff: ChinookPTSAtreasurer@gmail.com
Secretary, Freya Aguiar: ChinookPTSAsecretary@gmail.com
*Elections for our President and Vice President will be held in the fall at our first membership meeting on September 19th at 7pm in Media Center.
Find us:
Blog: https://chinookptsa.home.blog/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChinookPTSA/
Summer Activities
Fort Vancouver Regional Library - Summer Reading Program:
Read, create, explore and learn from June 15 - August 15, 2020. Track your reading and other activities for a chance to win a grand prize and join us each week for fun, free virtual programs for all ages! REGISTER