Wildcat News
November 12th, 2021
Message from our Principal
Dear Families,
Thank you all for partnering and making our dismissal process more effective! We know change is hard, but we also want to honor your time as parents. No one should have to wait in line for 20+ minutes to be able to pick up their student from school. It was nice to see parents and older siblings walking through our gym using the revamped walker pickup. We will continue to work and fine tune our procedures at school in partnership with our families.
It was a busy week at Frank with the wild weather, a national holiday, and more rain. I want to take a moment to thank our veterans for their service to our country.
There is still a huge need (not just in our building) but across the district for substitute teachers and para educators. If you are interested or know of anyone that would be, you can find our current postings here.
A couple more things we would like to highlight are:
Please remember that adults must provide I.D. when picking up students in the Main Office.
We have a huge collection of jackets, lunch bags, etc…in the lost and found. Weather permitting, we will place them under the tent so parents can search for missing items. Please remind your student to look in the lost and found if they have misplaced something.
Wednesday, November 24th is Early Dismissal
Please remember that while we are not requiring paper attestations this year, students and/or their guardians are required to screen for symptoms of COVID-19 prior to the arrival of school. Masks are required for all on campus, regardless of vaccination status. The only masks that are not acceptable, per the Health Department, are mesh masks and gaters with only one level of fabric. All other masks will work and we always have masks available if students need one.
Best,
Hugo
Mark your Calendar
November is National Homeless Youth Awareness and Native American Heritage Month
November 15th- Virtual Superintendent Chat
November 15th-19th - Scholastic Book Fair
November 17th- Picture Retake Day
November 24th- Early Dismissal at 12:55PM
November 25th-26th - Thanksgiving Break, NO SCHOOL
Virtual Superintendent Chat Monday, November 15th 5:00pm to 6:00pm
With a goal of fostering transparent, two-way communication, Superintendent of Monroe School District, Dr. Justin Blasko, extends an open invitation to families for his monthly "Superintendent Chat."
This is an opportunity for families to ask questions, provide input, and share viewpoints on district procedures, practices, and policies. In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, these chats will be held via Zoom.
While families are welcome to ask questions about anything, the topic of this chat will be primarily focused on COVID-19 in our schools. David Paratore, the MSD Chief of Student Services, will be joining as a special guest to discuss this topic.
The meeting will be held in English with live Spanish translations from our Hispanic Liaison, Carlos Elles, on Monday, November 15th at 5:00 p.m.
Lost and Found Friday, November 19th and Friday, December 10th
We will be moving our lost and found to our outdoor tent. This will give families the opportunity to go through our lost and found to look for their child's lost items from 2:25PM-3:25PM.
ANY ITEMS THAT ARE NOT PICKED UP AFTER FRIDAY, DECEMBER 10TH WILL BE DONATED.
PICTURE RETAKES WILL NOW BE ON WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 17TH, 2021
Dear Frank Wagner Families,
Due to technical difficulties, we were unable to have our picture retakes as scheduled on Wednesday, November 10th.
We immediately worked with Dorian to reschedule picture retakes for next Wednesday, November 17th.
We apologize for any inconvenience this has caused.
If you have any questions, please contact our front office at (360)804-3200.
Volunteers
Do you know a Monroe School District employee who deserves some much-needed recognition?
Monroe School District has launched a new employee recognition program, called the MSD Employee Honor Roll! This program is aimed at recognizing Monroe School District employees for exemplifying the district’s commitment and shared values through their service to our students, staff, families, and/or community.
Supervisors, fellow employees, parents and community members are encouraged to nominate ANY staff member for exemplifying any of the following:
Providing engaging learning opportunities through powerful instruction
Providing students with equitable access to learning and opportunities based on their unique, individual needs
Holding students to high standards
Using innovation to provide educational choice
Recognizing, honoring and building upon students’ strengths and passions
Engaging families and the community in the learning process
Preparing all students for college, careers and life beyond graduation
All nominees will be recognized, but only one in each employee category will be selected each month as the MSD Employee Honor Roll award recipients. Employee categories include:
Certificated (teachers, counselors, psychologists, etc)
Classified (paraeducators, nurses, office staff, bus drivers, food service, custodial, technology, maintenance, etc)
Substitutes and coaches
Administrators (Principals, assistant principals, directors, executive staff)
The books have arrived for the Book Fair next week!
School Lunch/Breakfast
This year, students at Monroe School District have a lot to look forward to when it comes to mealtime. For the 2021-2022 school year, meals will be offered to students in all grade levels at no cost, thanks to flexibilities provided by the USDA’s National School Lunch Program. This allows everyone to enjoy 1 free breakfast & 1 free lunch per day.
For menus and more information, please click here: https://www.monroe.wednet.edu/departments/food-service
From our School Counselor, Mrs. Simeoni
As we move through November - a month often marked by the theme of giving thanks – I thought I would share some ideas for focusing on thankfulness. Studies show that an increased sense of gratitude (being thankful) can help us feel better and be more optimistic. I am grateful that I get to work with the amazing staff and wonderful students at Frank Wagner.
It can be hard some days to find things to be grateful for but remember gratitude can come from recognizing even the smallest of things we are thankful for. Here are some “gratitude exercises” you can do at home.
Gratitude Jar. Each day write something down that you are thankful for.
Place the paper into the jar. When someone is having a difficult day that can pull a “gratitude” from the jar.
Gratitude walk - take turns pointing out things throughout the walk that you appreciate.
Gratitude by numbers - roll a dice and whatever it lands on that person needs to say that many things they are grateful for.
Alphabet game - Going through the alphabet, name something that begins with each letter that you are grateful for.
Learn to say “thank you” in 5 different languages. Search the internet to learn different ways to say thank you.
Hold a Gratitude Scavenger Hunt (use the checklist below)
□ Find something that makes you smile
□ Find something that is delicious to eat
□ Find something that smells good
□ Find something that is your favorite color
□ Find something that you enjoy doing
□ Find something that keeps you healthy
□ Find something that keeps you warm
□ Find something that makes you laugh
□ Find something outside that you like to do
□ Find a good book to read
□ Find 3 people you are thankful for
□ Name something that you are proud of
NATIONAL HOMELESS YOUTH AWARENESS MONTH
November was first declared as National Homeless Youth Awareness Month in 2007. Since then, November has been a time to acknowledge those children and families experiencing homelessness. As many as 2.5 million youth per year experience homelessness. Along with losing their home, community, friends, and routines as well as their sense of stability and safety, many homeless youth are also victims of trauma. While trying to survive on the streets, youth are exposed to countless dangers, with an increased likelihood of substance abuse, early parenthood, impulsivity, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, and a vulnerability to being trafficked.
Native American Heritage Month
On August 3, 1990, President of the United States George H. W. Bush declared the month of November as National American Indian Heritage Month, thereafter commonly referred to as Native American Heritage Month. The bill read in part that "the President has authorized and requested to call upon Federal, State and local Governments, groups and organizations and the people of the United States to observe such month with appropriate programs, ceremonies and activities". This landmark bill honoring America's tribal people represented a major step in the establishment of this celebration which began in 1976 when a Cherokee/Osage Indian named Jerry C. Elliott-High Eagle authored Native American Awareness Week legislation the first historical week of recognition in the nation for native peoples. This led to 1986 with then President Ronald Reagan proclaiming November 23-30, 1986, as "American Indian Week".[1]
This commemorative month aims to provide a platform for Native people in the United States of America to share their culture, traditions, music, crafts, dance, and ways and concepts of life. This gives Native people the opportunity to express to their community, both city, county and state officials their concerns and solutions for building bridges of understanding and friendship in their local area. Federal Agencies are encouraged to provide educational programs for their employees regarding Native American history, rights, culture and contemporary issues, to better assist them in their jobs and for overall awareness.
Reminders
- Lost and Found- Please remind your child(ren) to stop by our lost and found on their way to or from their lunch or recess breaks. Also, please make sure to label your child(ren's) items with their full name.
- Drop off times - Students are only to be dropped off at 8:35AM IF they are having breakfast at school. Students should only arrive at 8:50AM if they are not having breakfast at school.
- Facemasks -Per our WA state mask mandate, all students over the age of 2, are required to wear a mask at school. We ask that you please send your child(ren) to school with a facemask. If possible, we also ask that you please pack an extra facemask in their backpack. Thank you.
- Extra Clothes- As the weather gets colder and it rains more, we ask that you please pack your kids an extra set of clothes. The health room does not have enough extra clothes for all students.
- Student pick-up in the office - We cannot call students into the office until parents are present and have shown their I.D. If you call ahead of time, we will not call the student to the office in advance.
COVID Protocols and Preventions
Our best preventions for COVID are Masks Up over our noses, Hand Washing frequently, and Physical Distancing from others as best we can.
If your child is not feeling well, please make sure they do not come to school. Call the attendance line or the office and communicate the symptoms your student is experiencing.
If an adult or other family member in your home has symptoms and is getting tested, PLEASE keep your child home from school until the test results are in. If the results are positive then your child is a “close contact” and needs to be home quarantined. If they come to school and then become positive, then they are potentially exposing others.
Our district website has a COVID-19 page that includes the Latest Updates.
Contact Us.
Frank Wagner Elementary
Main Line (360)804-3200
Attendance Line (360)804-3201
Principal: Hugo Molina
Vice Principal: Deb Henderson
Office Manager: Col Wolf
Office Assistant: Karina Blanquet
Bus Delay Information ~ 360-804-2951
NOTICE OF NON-DISCRIMINATION
The Monroe School District does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation including gender expression or identity, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability in its programs and activities 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:
Title IX Coordinator
Joanne Dickinson
14692 - 179th Avenue S.E., Monroe, WA 98272
(360) 804.2539
Section 504/ADA Coordinator
David Paratore
14692 - 179th Avenue S.E., Monroe, WA 98272
(360) 804.2603
Compliance Coordinator for 28A.640 and 28A.642 RCW
Joanne Dickinson
14692 - 179th Avenue S.E., Monroe, WA 98272
(360) 804.2532
The Monroe School District will also take steps to assure that national origin persons who lack English language skills can participate in all education programs, services and activities. For information regarding translation services or transitional bilingual education programs, contact:
Kimberly Whitworth
14692 - 179th Avenue S.E., Monroe, WA 98272
(360) 804.2558