WildCat News
January 13, 2023
In this Issue...
- Upcoming Dates
- School-Family Communication
- Yearbook Sales Start Today!
- Absences
- Tardies
- Early Dismissal
- Pre-arranged Vacations
- Northshore launching ParentSquare communications tool for families and secondary students
- Update for Parent Volunteers
- Food Bank Needs Supplies
- PACE Application Deadline For The 2023-2024 School Year
- Early Childhood Education
- Weekly Covid Case Update
- Frequently Used Links
- PTA News
Upcoming Dates
- Jan. 16 - Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday - No School
- Jan. 30 - Non-Student Day - No School - Teacher Work Day
- Feb. 16th - Multicultural Night - 5:00-7:30 at Woodinville High School Commons
School-Family Communication
This past fall, families were asked to fill out a Family Partnership Survey to provide Woodin staff with information on how to improve school-family communication and plan events throughout the year. We had 120 responses! Thank you to those of you who shared your thoughts. Over the next few months, we will be covering topics that were brought up in the survey. If you provided input for which you would like a direct response, please contact Megan Lenz at mlenz@nsd.org.
Providing Feedback: Several responses indicated that families are not sure how to provide feedback to the school. In the next few weeks we will place a new comment box in the hallway just inside the main doors of the school. This will be a place the Woodin community can leave hand-written notes to the staff. We will include a QR code on the box for people who prefer to respond electronically. The QR code will also be in the Wildcat Newsletter for families who are not often in the school building. If you have additional ideas for how we can make this a meaningful addition to our school-family communication please email Shannon DuCharme at sducharme@nsd.org.
Yearbooks Now on Sale!
Absences
Tardies
Early Dismissal
Pre-Arranged Vacations
Our instructional pacing is not designed to accommodate extended student absences. Our instruction includes interactive experiences that cannot be duplicated outside of the classroom setting. These include student-to-student collaboration, small group work, hands-on learning, discovery/inquiry experiences, classroom discussion, and interactions with teachers and specialists. Classroom teachers are rarely able to supply make-up work that adequately replaces the missed learning experiences.
We recognize that some families will still choose to take vacation outside our district’s scheduled vacation periods. Please understand, however, that teachers will not provide lesson materials or homework in advance and should not be expected to provide an alternative assignment for extended vacation absences. Students may make up work when they return, at the teacher’s discretion, but they will not be able to recreate the shared classroom experiences. Reading while away is always encouraged.
If you plan a vacation during the school calendar, please let the office know one week in advance. Your student’s teacher, as well as the Woodin Office, needs to be aware of this information. There is a form that needs to be completed for extended vacations. This form is available from the office.
Northshore launching ParentSquare communications tool for families and secondary students
Woodin and Northshore School District are committed to continually evaluating and improving our communication services and support for families and students.
We are excited to announce that the District has adopted a new communication tool called ParentSquare. This multilingual communications platform is designed to keep families, guardians, staff, and middle and high school students informed and encourage greater engagement and connection with our school and the District.
ParentSquare will go live on January 23, 2023 for the District and our school office.
ParentSquare will provide families and students streamlined communications, responsive to your needs including, but not limited to:
● Communication in your preferred language;
● Messages from our school or the District via email, text, or app notification;
● Opportunity to receive information as it is sent, or all at once with a daily digest at the end of the day;
● Ability to reply to staff directly from a post (similar to social media) in the app;
● Direct messaging to staff; and
● Ability to sign up for conferences, sign forms, permission slips, and much more all from your mobile device or computer.
How to Get Started with ParentSquare
You can activate your ParentSquare account in three ways:
Option 1:
● Use the email (or text message if you do not have an email on file with the District) that was sent to you on Jan. 9 from the sender ParentSquare, inviting you to join the platform.
○ When you click the button that reads “Activate your account” in the email, you will be asked to create a password and login using the email address you have on file with the District.
Option 2:
● Visit the ParentSquare website and use the email account or phone number you have on file with the District to activate your account; or
Option 3:
● Download the ParentSquare app on your iOS or Android phone and request activation. To take full advantage of ParentSquare’s functionality we recommend everyone downloads the ParentSquare app for even easier access to school and District information.
Once you have activated your account, ParentSquare will connect you to your student(s) enrolled in our school and any other schools in Northshore.
After you’re logged into your account, you can also access help articles for more information on navigating and using ParentSquare.
Need Help Activating your Account or Have Questions?
If you would like assistance activating your account, district staff will be available to walk you through the registration steps during two ParentSquare Q&A sessions this month:
● Wednesday, Jan. 11, 6-7 p.m. on Zoom (https://nsd.zoom.us/j/85883034091?pwd=ZXp3dEpsSXVBenBuZnhzdTJRWUkyZz09)
● Tuesday, Jan. 17, 6-7:30 p.m. at the Northshore Administrative Center, 3330 Monte Villa Parkway in Bothell.
More information about ParentSquare and a FAQ (including an overview of Northshore student technology applications) can be found on our District’s website. Students in middle and high school will use StudentSquare within the new communication platform. Information about StudentSquare will be shared with families later this week and sent directly to your student.
We look forward to sharing more information and connecting with you on ParentSquare soon!
Update for Parent Volunteers
Safe Visitor/Volunteers
Please keep in mind that volunteer applications will only be reviewed at the end of every week, so please be sure to let volunteers know to submit their applications in advance so that they can be reviewed if needed before their volunteer activity.
Level 1 applications: submit a week and a half before the activity date so review of pending applications can be completed the week before.
Level 2: submit two-three weeks in advance
Please refer to the Safe Visitor FAQ sheet for additional information.
Food Bank Needs Supplies
Our Families Helping Families food bank is currently in need of toilet paper, paper towels, and laundry detergent. You can leave donations in the basket inside the office.
Thank you so much families for your generosity!
PACE Application Deadline For The 2023-2024 School Year
PACE (Parents Active in Cooperative Education), a choice educational enrichment program offered through the Northshore School District, is currently accepting applications for the 2023-2024 school year. All applications are due prior to the February 9th PACE lottery drawing deadline, and a site tour is required prior to application.
The hallmarks of PACE include an enhanced educational experience due to high parent involvement, enrichment activities, encouragement for students to become self-motivated learners and a strong sense of community among families. Families commit to a minimum number of volunteer hours per year of program support. PACE is located at three elementary school sites in the district with feeder patterns from all Northshore elementary schools.
A tour is required prior to applying to the PACE program. To register for a site tour hosted by PACE at Wellington Elementary, please email enrollment@PACEWell.org.
For more information about the PACE program, please visit http://www.nsd.org/PACE
Weekly Covid Case Update
The Department of Health (DOH) requires schools to inform families and students about COVID-19 case numbers and potential outbreaks. This week, there were a total of 4 confirmed cases at our school. The accuracy of our data depends on self-reporting. Thank you for continuing to let the school know if your child tests positive for COVID-19. To view additional information, including school and district trends visit the District’s COVID-19 data dashboard. The dashboard is updated weekly on Monday evenings.
If your child is exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 keep them home and test for COVID-19. Families can order free COVID-19 tests from the state. Together, we can keep our schools healthy and safe.
If your child is home sick or in isolation, they can access zoom classes here: Isolation Learning Support
PTA News
Natural Leaders General Meeting
Natural Leaders General Meeting
Friday, January 20th
9:15 am
Portable 30, Woodin Elementary
Join a community of families that supports each other, our children and their educational excellence at school. Meet others, learn and share.
*Natural Leaders are diverse parents and family members focused on equitable family engagement + community resources. We organize community events, meetups, educational opportunities and creative ways for families to be engaged in their child’s learning.
Natural Leaders invites ALL families and especially promotes the participation of families with diverse cultural backgrounds, languages, ethnicities, and abilities.
For more information email: info@nlwoodin.org or call 425 572-2990.
English Classes for NSD Parents
Woodin Elementary’s Natural Leaders group is proud to offer community-based English classes for NSD parents. Co-sponsored by the Northshore Council PTSA, these classes will be offered at Woodin Elementary on Tuesday evenings beginning January 24th at 5:30 pm and will run for 10 weeks through March 28th.
Instructor Stephanie Sareeram, a Woodin Elementary parent, has been instructing ESL for 20+ years and is enthusiastic about providing an essential program to district families. Inspired by Woodin Elementary’s Spanish/English dual-language program, the classes are designed to address barriers many families face in understanding the school system, build community and communicate with staff and families.
Participation will be capped at 40 adults. First come, first registered.
Registration fee: $10, payable to Woodin PTA.
Classes will take place in portable 32
Interested families please fill out the form here: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=DQSIkWdsW0yxEjajBLZtrQAAAAAAAAAAAAMAALfhUVFUNThWU1c5R0pSRTNRTkY4MDhINkdPUkk0VC4u
For more information, please contact info@nlwoodin.org
Event is co-sponsored by Northshore Council PTSA
These activities are not sponsored nor endorsed by the Northshore School District or any of its schools. The district assumes no responsibility for the conduct during or the safety of the activities. Northshore School District shall be held harmless from any cause of action, claim, or petition filed in any court or administrative tribunal arising out of the distribution of these materials including attorney's fees and judgment or awards.
Jan 31st is National Hot Chocolate Day!
Bring out the family to enjoy a cup of hot chocolate!
The Youth Advisory Board of the Northshore Schools Foundation is excited to invite Northshore families to come out for a nice warm cup of hot chocolate, a complimentary book for every child* and an opportunity to meet with other Northshore parents and families.
The event is FREE!
Look for the red Northshore Schools Foundation tent in the parking lot of Pop Keeney field.
Special thanks to Northshore Rotary sponsoring!
Country Survey
Multicultural Night Event is coming up and we want to make sure all countries are represented. Please indicate the name of your country.
Country Survey - Google Form
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfQ5KeZejPJDYazlYbSWTDZ5tx9FhCoj6gBK5aCfVkfjDNbBA/viewform?usp=sf_link
Volunteer Opportunities
1) The PTA is looking for someone to volunteer to help revamp our website. We hope to make it more user friendly and need help.
Please reach out to our president Heather @ hrangel34@gmail.com if you or someone you know can help.
2) Looking for a way to get involved in a big way? BINGO night is coming March 3rd!
If you are interested in volunteering or helping with procuring raffle and prizes-Please email us @ Woodinpta@gmail.com
PTA Memberships
Have you been thinking about joining the PTA to get involved and have your voice heard? Now is the time! Oct 26th is national PTA sign up day-Can you help us reach our goal of 200 members by this day?
Join here! --https://woodinpta.ourschoolpages.com/Packet/Join/FamilyInfoPacketPage/0
What does the PTA do?
● Classroom and school grants for books, supplies, etc.
● Curriculum Enhancement for Science and Arts
● Books for Library and Book Room
● Provides Emergency Prep and Food Bank
● Family Events, Staff Appreciation
● Scholarship for Field Trips, Sports, After School Programs, etc.
● Assemblies
● Art programs
Costs:
● Two memberships: $25 (save $5!)
● Individual membership: $15
Membership Includes:
● Access to Woodin School Directory
● National PTA discounts such as Great Wolf Lodge.
Our membership goal this year is 200 members. Scan the QR code to join!
Woodin Elementary
Email: tcussac@nsd.org
Website: www.woodin.nsd.org
Location: 12950 Northeast 195th Street, Bothell, WA, USA
Phone: (425)-408-5400