Looking Ahead
Wednesday November 30
- Picture re-takes
Friday December 2
- Learning Improvement Friday, 2:15 pm dismissal
Friday December 9
- Learning Improvement Friday, 2:15 pm dismissal
Thursday December 15
- Holiday Lane 6:00 - 7:00 pm (more details coming soon!)
Friday December 16
- Early release, 1pm dismissal
Monday December 19 - Monday Jan 2
- Winter Holiday - No School
Thursday March 23
- 2023 Concert 6:30 pm at Everett Civic Auditorium
Hello Tiger families!
Our next meeting is scheduled for Nov. 21 and is planned to be in a hybrid format again. If you are a member, please watch your email for updates regarding PTA news as well as upcoming meetings, fundraisers, and events! If you are not a member yet, please go to https://www.memberplanet.com/packetview/garfieldelementarypta/garfieldmembershipform to sign up. If you would like to become a member but the membership fee is a barrier, please reach out at the email below and let us know. We want to be sure all parents that want to join are able to. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out at garfieldtigerspta@gmail.com. We look forward to collaborating with all of you to help make this an amazing year for our Tigers!
Attendance
Absences spike in the weeks before and after the winter holiday as families squeeze in a few more vacation days. Just a few missed days here and there, even excused absences, can add up and lost learning time can put your child behind in school.
This is as true in kindergarten as it is in high school. Put simply, too many absences at any age can affect a student’s chances for academic success and eventually for graduation. This holiday season give your children the gift of an education and the habit of attendance.
Every day of school is an important opportunity for students to learn as well as to connect with their peers and teachers. As long as your child is healthy, please encourage showing up to class when school is in session.
If your child is absent, please email the school at their attendance email address, which you can find on the school website. If email is not possible, and even if you leave a message with the school attendance line, please send a written note to the school office within 30 days after your student returns to school.
Please report your student's absence by calling or emailing the school.
Attendance Email: gaeattendance@everettsd.org
Attendance Line: 425-385-4705
When reporting attendance, please provide the following information:
- Student name:
- Student ID:
- Teacher:
- Grade:
- Reason:
- Reported by:
If you leave a voicemail, please provide a written note or email within 30 days of your student’s first day back to school. If you need assistance or would like recommendations on how to help ensure your student's regular school attendance, please contact your student's teacher, or our school counselor, Mrs. Dubin (bdubin@everettsd.org).
Tiger Pride!
Our school spirit wear store is now available: https://www.garfieldelementaryspiritwear.com/!
Prodigies for Peace Writing and Art Contest
The Snohomish County Black Heritage Committee is proud to announce the 22nd annual Prodigies for Peace Writing and Art Contest for the Snohomish County Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Celebration in January 2023.
The Prodigies for Peace Writing and Art Contest helps students draw connections between the people and the events that shaped the civil rights movement and the social issues that influence their lives today. Participation in this contest helps our local community remember and celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Contest categories include essays for grades 3-5, grades 6-8 and grades 9-12, as well as art for grades K-12.
For contest instructions and entry, please visit www.everettsd.org/DEI and click on Prodigies for Peace in the Quicklinks.
EVERETT PTSA REFLECTIONS
Everett Council 2022-23 Reflections Program at-a-Glance!
Having a Reflections program is rewarding and a great way to showcase the fine arts at all levels! We hope the theme, "Show Your Voice" inspires all our artists to share their thoughts and talents with us. Encourage ALL STUDENTS to participate
DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES TO COUNCIL: Monday, November 28, 2022, 10AM-6PM
To Everett PTSA Council office at CRC: Virtual Art (req’d) Physical Art (optional)
REFLECTIONS CELEBRATION: Wednesday, Jan 4, 2023, 6PM – 8PM
Location: Community Resource Center
For more information click here.
Housing Resources
- The Volunteers of America Dispute Resolution Center is presenting Renter Certification as well as Fair Housing Training. Please share the attached email announcement which contains flyers and registration information.
- Washington state has allotted $340 million for the COVID-19 Immigrant Relief Fund, in which eligible people may apply to receive a check or prepaid card of at least $1,000. Applicants will be accepted until Nov. 14. Visit www.immigrantreliefwa.org or call the WAISN hotline at 1-844-724-3737. This link contains more information.
Toys for Tots
Through the Marine Corps Reserve, they provide free toys for kids in need. Their goal is "To deliver, through a shiny new toy at Christmas, a message of hope to needy youngsters that will motivate them to grow into responsible, productive, patriotic citizens and community leaders." Follow the link to sign up and get toys for your kiddos!
Modest Family Solutions
Modest Family Solutions (MFS), provides a FREE Produce Market in Everett every Saturday, from
9-12 at 500 SE Everett Mall Way, across from Target. No paperwork needed. MFS strives to provide
foods that BIPOC families may use in recipes but are less likely to find at food banks.
Additionally at these markets, pallets of boxes filled with produce are available, one per family.
These produce boxes are also available in Bothell for pick-up with reservation, which can be done
on their website (click “share it”).
As they only recently started doing the Free Market in Everett, everything on their website still
says Snohomish. It is no longer in Snohomish.
Their Website: https://www.modestfamilysolutions.org/
Their Facebook where they post live video each Saturday to let everyone know they are there and
what is available: https://www.facebook.com/ModestFamilySolutions
THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING IN THE THOUGHT EXCHANGE
Last month, families and staff were invited to participate in a Thought Exchange to share their thoughts on, “What is working well, and what opportunities are there to improve the way our district and schools communicate?” Thank you to all who participated. The results are in and posted on our engagement webpage with action items.
PARENT UNIVERSITY
New resources have been added to Parent University. To view the collection of short informative on-demand videos and “how-to” guides, click on Video Resources on the left menu.
We want to hear from our families! Everett Public Schools empowers parents and guardians to be engaged in their child's education. If you have a suggestion based upon a top concern and/or area of interest, we are seeking input as we develop more videos this school year.
If you have additional topics you would like to suggest, please email communications@everettsd.org.
SPACE STILL AVAILABLE IN ECEAP PRESCHOOL
Everett Public Schools Early Childhood Education & Assistance Program (ECEAP) is a FREE preschool program for three- and four-year-old children from families with limited income. ECEAP prepares children for kindergarten and provides family support and health and nutrition services. It is funded by the Washington State Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF).
The six ECEAP sites within our school district are Cedar Wood, Hawthorne, Jackson, Lowell, Madison, and Silver Lake elementary schools. Space is limited – apply now! For an application or more information, please visit the www.everettsd.org/ECEAP or call 425-385-4628.
TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM
Everett Public Schools offers Transitional Kindergarten (TK) for children who are not currently in an early learning program and are scheduled to enter kindergarten in the fall of 2023. The program focuses on basic academic, social and self-help skills to jumpstart qualifying students toward success in school. Students will be screened and may qualify based on need.
To be eligible for screening, children must:
• be five years old by August 31, 2023
• live within the boundaries of Everett Public Schools
• not be currently enrolled in an early learning program
• demonstrate academic and/or social-emotional needs
Requests for screening opened in November. If you are interested in Transitional Kindergarten and believe your child may qualify, please visit our website at www.everettsd.org/TransitionalKindergarten and submit an interest form by Friday, December 16, 2022.
Transitional Kindergarten begins in late January 2023 and will run through the last day of school in June 2023. School locations will be determined in January and will be communicated directly to eligible families. For preschool options, please visit our Early Childhood Education & Assistance Program (ECEAP) webpage at www.everettsd.org/ECEAP.
ACCEPTING HIGHLY CAPABLE REFERRALS UNTIL DEC. 16
The Highly Capable program in Everett Public Schools is designed to meet learning needs and challenge students who have advanced thinking and academic abilities. “HC” classes, as they are often referred to, are open to students in second, third, fourth and fifth grade.
HC students learn and study in self-contained classrooms with a fast-paced curriculum that encourages and inspires them to develop higher level thinking skills. HC classrooms are held in specific schools in the district, based upon qualified enrollment. The district provides transportation to students in HC classes.
Find forms, information and evening events on the Highly Capable website. Referrals are for students currently in grades one through four for winter testing, which will take place in February and March with more information to come.
DELAYED START OR CLOSED SCHOOLS
If we must cancel school or delay the start of school, we will use our parent communication system to call in the morning, typically around 5:30 a.m. (or sometimes the night before if it can already be determined) with a brief message about the reason for closure or delay. We will also use local media, social media and post the message on our website.
If there is no announcement about Everett Public Schools, school is on the regular schedule. More information and resources for school closures or delays is on the district website under the Parents tab.
In cases of inclement weather or other emergencies, please:
• check your email or phone for district messages
• listen for media announcements
• view the district’s website at www.everettsd.org
• watch district Facebook, Twitter or Instagram accounts
SNOW ROUTES ARE ONLINE School drop off and pick up locations may change in an emergency situation. If your child rides a bus to school, please become familiar with the snow route information on the district transportation department’s webpage under ”Snow Routes” icon in the center of the page.
Board of Distinction
Everett Public Schools board of directors earned high honors with the designation as a Board of Distinction 2022. Applications are reviewed by a panel of judges that includes former and current educational service district superintendents, State Board of Education board members, former school directors and other education leaders in Washington state. Scoring is based on how well applicants show alignment with the Washington School Board Standards, support their statements with data and demonstrate a link between outcomes and decisions made by the board.
Garfield Elementary
Email: kstilwell@everettsd.org
Website: www.everettsd.org/Garfield
Location: 2215 Pine Street, Everett, WA
Phone: 425-385-4700
Twitter: @EPS_Garfield