Dear Families,

I hope each of you were able to enjoy some time to recharge and recover during our Mid-Winter Break. A few years ago, I shared the first chapter of Atomic Habits by James Clear with our full Kokanee Staff. Dr. Rangan Chatterjee recently wrote about habits from a real-life experience he had working with a patient:

The habits we build are small steps on the way to our larger goals.

If you want to reach a certain number on the bench press, going to the gym several times per week is the small habit we need to start the process. If we want to have healthy teeth and gums, flossing each day is a small habit on the way to a bright and strong smile.

We know, with both exercising and flossing, that we cannot get to our end goal in one day of work. Sure, that would be great! But the old adage “Rome wasn’t built in a day” is, in most cases, the truth.

Years ago, I had a patient who was struggling with problems that many face. He was a little bit overweight, struggling with his mood, and low in energy. I remember sitting with him, discussing different aspects of his life and what options were available to help him.

The option that resonated with him the most was strength training. He loved the idea of getting in the gym and lifting weights. I can still hear him now:

“It’s going to help me with my mood, it’s going to help me feel better, and it’s going to help me lose weight. I haven’t lifted weights since I was a teenager. I’m in!”

He asked if 40 minutes of strength training, three times per week would be the right amount to start. I said, “Hey, look… it would be amazing if you could do that!” He was highly motivated, wearing a smile on his face, and set off on his fitness journey.

A month later, he came in for his follow up. His shoulders were rolled forward. He was a bit sheepish.

“How has the gym been working for you?” I asked him.

“You know what? Work’s been super busy and stressful, and the gym isn’t close to my home. I’ve just ended up not going.”

This was such an influential consultation for me. I remember sitting there thinking, Why has he not done what I asked him to do? I realized that I had not given advice that he felt was relevant for the context of his life.

So I took off my jacket and I said, “I'm gonna teach you a workout right now.”

I taught him five body weight exercises and modified them for his ability. I asked him if he could do them, and he could. I told him I wanted him to do the exercises for five minutes, twice a week.

He looked at me in disbelief.

“10 minutes a week? That’s it?” he asked.

“Can you manage that?” I replied.

“Yeah, of course I can!”

Four weeks later, he came in for another follow up. He walked with a big smile on his face, chest puffed out. It worked! He was able to build the habit and felt amazing, just by starting small. And, six months later, this small habit had snowballed into other small, daily habits including meditation, journalling and walking.

Do not underestimate the power of starting small. So often we want to climb the mountain with a single step — but taking the first initial step allows us to build confidence and knowledge around the habit we’re looking to instill.

What goal do you want to achieve? What’s the first, smallest step you can take to build a habit that will get you closer to your goal?

Finally, a PodCast many teachers have shared from an interview with Emily Hanford who put out the PodCast, Sold a Story.

• Why 65% of Fourth Graders Can't Really Read

In this interview, Emily discusses Lucy Caulkins and Fountas & Pinnell and she supports our new NSD ELA curriculum Into Reading. It's an hour long a good listen if you have not already listened to Sold a Story.

In Partnership,

~ Joel Fagundes

• March 1 - Spirit Wear & Yearbook Sales Begin
• March 1 - Northshore Sings! Performance, 6:30pm, NPAC
• March 6 - 4th & 5th Choir, 8:30am-9:10am, Music Room by Gym
• March 6 through March 17th - Yearbook Contest Open
• March 8 - Leota Open House - construction project information – 6pm, LMS Cafeteria

  
  

• March 13 - 4th & 5th Choir, 8:30am-9:10am, Music Room by Gym
• March 15 - ASB Spirit Day - Animal Day!
• March 16 - Grade 5 to Seattle Symphony at Benaroya Hall
• March 17 - Yearbook Contest Deadline
• March 20 - 4th & 5th Choir, 8:30am-9:10am, Music Room by Gym
• March 21 - GOTR begins - 8am-9:10am
• March 21 - Gillebo/Landin/McNease 4th Grade Field Trip to Brightwater 10am-2pm
• March 22 - McIntosh/Hamilton/Crabb 4th Grade Field Trip to Brightwater 10am-2pm
• March 23 - GOTR - 8am-9:10am
  
• March 27 - 4th & 5th Choir, 8:30am-9:10am, Music Room by Gym
• March 28 - Kokanee/Crystal Springs Camp Cedar Springs information night, 6pm, Zoom - https://nsd.zoom.us/my/mueller5thgrade
  
• March 28 - GOTR - 8am-9:10am
  
• March 30 - GOTR - 8am-9:10am
• March 30 - Class Picture Day

Yearbooks sales have begun!

There will be different sales openings beginning with March 1st - March 31st.

March sales are cash or check only.

Cost is $14 payable to Firefly Images.

Order forms will go home with students, each student ordering a book MUST have their own order form.

Beginning in April online orders will become available.

Question? Call the office at 425-408-4900.

We are excited to welcome our new Kindergarten students! By registering now, families have the opportunity to learn about upcoming school engagement opportunities and prepare for the first day of school, Sept. 6, 2023. Enrollment is done online. Directions on how to enroll, including what documentation is required, can be found on the District enrollment webpage.

If you have questions or require a paper-based enrollment form, please give us a call.

If you have questions, give us a call at (425)408-4900 or email Marne Nienaber mnienaber@nsd.org.

Kokanee 5th grade students will be attending Camp Cedar Springs from May 15th-17th (Monday-Wednesday).

Parent Information Night Presentation Slides: These slides will be covered with you on March 28th from 6-7pm on Zoom: https://nsd.zoom.us/my/mueller5thgrade. You will have an opportunity to ask any questions you have at that time!

The Kokanee PTA is happy to announce it’s spiritwear time!

We’ve been working hard on a new design featuring everyone’s favorite members of the Kokanee community, our very own facility dogs! Now you and your student can show your love for Lottie & her crew all while supporting our Kokanee community. Shirts are available in youth & adult sizes, with short sleeve, long sleeve, and sweatshirt options. The online spiritwear store will be open between March 1-22.

The PTA would like to send a huge thank you to Janet Prendergast for coordinating the photo of the dogs, as well as to Kokanee parent & volunteer, Fatima Padela, for her amazing work creating this very special design!

For full details and to order, visit: https://kokaneespiritwear.itemorder.com/shop/home
For any questions, reach out to contact@kokaneepta.com

Thank you to everyone who came out to Bingo Night and made it a huge success! It was wonderful to get together with our Kokanee community for a fun event and we’re looking forward to bringing more events your way this year! Make sure to save the following dates:

• Apr 4 - PTA General Meeting - 6:30pm in the Kokanee Library
• April 27 - Kokanee Fun Run
• May 8-12 - Teacher & Staff Appreciation week
• Mid-May - Celebrations of the World - date TBD

• June 9 - Kokanee Carnival

Volunteers are KEY to making these events happen! We have opportunities to help with planning as well as volunteering day of. If you are interested in helping out in anyway, sign up for your event of interest here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090b44a8ad23abf49-committee?useFullSite=true#/

Signing up does not commit you to anything but it helps us know who may be willing to help when volunteer opportunities come up! You can indicate whether you’re interested in planning or volunteering day of (or both!) and we’ll reach out accordingly! The more volunteers we have, the better we can make these events for our community!

“Life, what is it but a dream?” - Through the Looking-Glass: Alice in Wonderland.

You are invited to Woodinville High School's My First Formal Dance: “Through the Looking- Glass: Alice in Wonderland”.

Date: Saturday, March 25, 2023

Time: 6:00-8:00pm

Place: Woodinville High School, 19819 136th Ave NE, Woodinville, WA 98072

The My First Formal dance will feature live music (provided by the WHS jazz band), games, activities, food, and dancing! We will also feature a silent auction, photo booths and face painting!

Tickets: We recommend pre-registering HERE to save money and guarantee your tickets. All proceeds from the event will support Woodinville High School's Class of 2024 and help subsidize important programming associated with graduation, like Senior Prom and the Senior Graduation Breakfast.

Dance Attire: We love to see outfits that are on theme but feel free to dress however! This is a formal dance so feel free to dress up!

We can’t wait to host our Northshore Elementary School students and look forward to a fun filled evening! Please email myfirstformal@gmail.com with any questions.

Thank you!

WHS Class of 2024

Classrooms are taught and supported by a general education teacher, a special education teacher, and a para-professional. Inclusive classrooms create a dynamic learning environment for all students. The average class size is 16 students, with class make-up of 8 students with Individual Education Program, 4 students who pay tuition, and 4 students who are income eligible.

Classrooms utilize The Creative Curriculum & Teaching Strategies GOLD Assessment Tool. The staff is committed to fostering student learning and cultivating friendships while creating a sense of community for our students. Utilizing developmentally appropriate teaching strategies to support a whole child approach to learning an inclusive environment, fosters high levels of student learning and social and emotional growth for all students.

The application can be found on the Northshore School District website @ https://www1.nsd.org/schools/programs-services/early-childhood/ready-start-tuition-program or contact Sorenson at (425) 408-5570.

Sorenson Early Childhood Center

19705 88th Ave NE Bothell, WA 98011

Sessions times:

8:00 am - 10:30 am

11:45 am -2:15 pm

Requirements:

Children must be 3.5 by August 31st

Toilet Trained

Parent Transportation

Birth Certificate

Certificate of Immunization

No Kindergarten Eligible Students

Tuition Cost: $300 per month