Kenmore Elementary Paw Prints
February 2023
In This Issue
- Principal's Message
- Important Dates
- Celebrations
- February 10th Conference Day
- Assessment News (WIDA & SBA)
- Hi-Cap Designation
- Modernization Update
- Kindergarten Registration
- Head Start News
- Thank You
- District News
- District Calendars
Principal's Message
Dear Families,
February is proving to be a short and very busy month. To start, we will have a special Title I sponsored event for families of students in grades 3-5 next week. The focus will be Informational in nature on iReady, Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBA) report cards and resources. Pizza will be served to kick off the night and child care will be provided. Space is limited for childcare needs so please fill out this form if you would still like to join us. We currently have requests for Arabic, Mandarin, and Tigrinya interpreters for the evening. If you have a special request for an interpreter, please include that in the form. We look forward to welcoming you all, and for the families of our PreK-2 students, stay tuned for another event in March.
With the many activities at Kenmore Elementary our learning will also include acknowledging and Celebrating Black History Month. I was recently informed that many of you may not have been able to access the Principal’s Library shared last year. Here it is again: Principal’s Library-BHM.
In addition to our Informational session next week, I am very excited to experience my very first Dance Week at KE sponsored by our generous KEPTA. Be sure to join us for Family Dance Night on Friday, February 10 from 6:30-8:30pm in the gym. As stated on the flier this is not a drop off event as all children must be accompanied by an adult. Looking forward to dancing the night away with our dear Cubs!
Finally, we appreciate the kindness from our PTA members who have generously supported our staff with pizza lunch, donuts, coffee, snacks and cupcakes this past month. We thank you for spoiling us. Staff have shared that they love not having to worry about packing a lunch or snack! You brighten our days with your kindness.
As always, thank you for your partnership,
Geetha George-Shapiro
Principal
Important Dates
Thurs, Feb 2nd - Popcorn Thursday
Thurs, Feb 2nd - After School STEM Academy, Room 24, 3:45-5:00pm
Fri, Feb 3rd - Drum & Gyil Xylophone Club, Music Room, 10:45-11:30am
Fri Feb 3rd - Report Cards Sent Home via Kid Mail
Mon, Feb 6th - Fri, Feb 10th - PTA Dance Week
Tues, Feb 7th - Math Olympiad, Library, 3:45-4:45pm
Tues, Feb 7th - KE Choir, Music Room, 3:45-4:30pm
Tues, Feb 7th - Title I Family Night (Grades 3-5), 5:00-6:45pm
Tues, Feb 7th - PTA General Meeting, 7:00-8:30pm
Wed, Feb 8th - Early Release @ 2:10pm
Thurs, Feb 9th - After School STEM Academy, Room 24, 3:45-5:00pm
Fri, Feb 10th - HALF DAY ~ Dismissal @ 12:20pm
Fri, Feb 10th - PTA Family Dance, Gym, 6:30-8:30pm
Mon, Feb 13th - Fri, Feb 17th - PTA Turn Off Your Screens Week
Mon, Feb 13th - Emergency Drill
Tues, Feb 14th - Math Olympiad, Library, 3:45-4:45pm
Tues, Feb 14th - KE Choir, Music Room, 3:45-4:30pm
Tues, Feb 14th - After School STEM Academy, Room 24, 3:45-5:00pm
Wed, Feb 15th - Early Release @ 2:10pm
Fri, Feb 17th - KE Spirit Day: Comfy Cozy Day!
Fri, Feb 17th - Drum & Gyil Xylophone Club, Music Room, 10:45-11:30am
Mon, Feb 20th - Fri, Feb 24th - NO SCHOOL ~ MID-WINTER BREAK
Mon, Feb 27th - Boys Intramurals, Gym, 3:45-4:30pm
Tues, Feb 28th - Math Olympiad, Library, 3:45-4:45pm
Tues, Feb 28th - KE Choir, Music Room, 3:45-4:30pm
Celebrations
February Black History Month
Jan 22nd-Feb 5th Chinese New Year
Feb 14th Valentine's Day
Feb 18th Mahashivratri
Feb 19th Japanese Internment- Day of Observance
Feb 20th President's Day
25th-March 1st Ayyam-i-Ha
February 10th Conference Day
This is an elementary conference afternoon for students who missed the fall conferences, are new to the school or have had an additional conference scheduled at the request of their teacher. All elementary students will have early dismissal on Friday, Feb. 10th at 12:20.
Important: Dismissal times are earlier than Wednesday early release times. We ask that you plan accordingly.
Please note that Friday, Feb. 10th is an early dismissal for elementary only (grades K-5); secondary students will have a full day of classes. Head Start preschool will continue with their normal schedule on this day.
Pizza, Testing and PTA Night
We are happy to announce our KE Pizza, Testing, and PTA Night (For grades 3-5).
Please RSVP in the attached link. Childcare will be available for children ages 5-12.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc0lQkQvYsPN6bea3ICNqn_B48JzanD4xOvRoxOGX-HO46NOw/viewform
Looking forward to seeing you all,
The Title I Team
Hi-Cap Designation
If applicable, you may have received notification from our Elementary Advanced Program (EAP) office recently determining that your child was dual-qualified (in both Reading & Math) for highly-capable services. This means that your child in grades 2-5 will have the option to engage in an accelerated program in a self-contained classroom. At KE, we currently have a 2-3 classroom and a 4-5 EAP classroom.
Students in our 2-3 EAP learn reading and math concepts one grade level above their peers. (i.e. 2nd graders use 3rd grade curriculum materials, 3rd graders use 4th grade curriculum)
Students in our 4-5 EAP class will access the curriculum one grade level above in reading and two grade levels above in math. (i.e. 4th graders use 6th grade math curriculum and 5th graders will use 7th grade math materials)
The learning pace in an EAP classroom is considerably faster than the general education classroom. Not all students who qualify for the highly-capable program will thrive in a more accelerated environment.
Students who are single qualified or who are dual-qualified and opt to remain in a general education classroom will have access to enrichment material in their subject(s) from their homeroom teacher in a general education class. Please keep this in mind as you decide what is best for your child in the coming year.
The learning pace is faster than the general education classroom. Students who are single qualified will access challenging material in that subject from their homeroom teacher in a general education class. Please keep this in mind as you decide what is best for your child in the coming year.
Modernization Update
Assessment News-Mark your Calendars!
World-Class Instructional Design and Assessment(WIDA)
Our multilingual students, who are active in the language development program, will be taking the online WIDA language development assessment in February and Early March to assess their proficiency with listening, speaking, reading and writing in English.
Please make sure your students have extra rest the week they will be testing:
- 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students will be testing, February 6th-10th.
- 1st and 2nd grade students will be testing February 13th-17th.
- Kinders will be doing 1-1 paper pencil testing, on one day, the week of February 27-March 3rd.
Please email or call Jenessa Hope, the English Language Development teacher, at jhopewight@nsd.org or 425-408-4869 with any questions.
SMARTER BALANCED ASSESSMENT (SBA)
Students in grades 3-5, please take a moment to mark your calendars noting the Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBA) dates. Please remember the dates are thoughtfully planned based on events impacting our students. We recommend that students are in attendance for these days so they will not have to make it up on another day.
Week of May 1st-Science, 5th grade only
Week of May 8th-ELA, 5th, 4th, & 3rd
Week of May 15th-Math 5th, 4th, & 3rd
5th grade goes to camp May 22nd-24th, Memorial Day weekend is May 27th-29th
Makeups throughout testing weeks, and June 1st/2nd
Kindergarten Registration
For now, please save the date and plan to attend one of our Kindergarten Tours in March!
Kindergarten Tours (for incoming kindergarten families who will start in the fall of 2023).
Tuesday, March 7th @ 2:15-3:00 pm
Thursday, March 9th @ 10:45-11:30 am
*Please help us by sharing this information with neighbors and community members who may have a kindergartener starting next year. Thank you!
News from Head Start
The Head Start team at KE held our annual literacy event on 1/25. It was a pajama party story time and Head Start families packed the room! Serena Li, a local children’s author, came and read a couple of her books to the children. Her books are designed to target multilingualism, diversity and very simple stories.
The books were read to the group in 3 languages: English, Spanish and Mandarin. In between books, we got up and lead a couple movement activities to "get the wiggles out". Dinner was served and families had the opportunity to make craft projects: bookmarks and bracelets.
King County children’s librarian, Julie Hiers, also had a table at the event. She brought lots of information, including how to sign up for a library card, theme kits for young children, various story time offerings and other library programming.
Families connected with each other and hopefully had a night to remember!
Thank You
District News
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 Lockwood Elementary, please email membership@paceatlockwood.org
For more information about the PACE program, please visit http://www.nsd.org/PACE
READY START PRESCHOOL
The Ready Start program is a blended multi-age, inclusive model, serving students, ages 3 – 5.
We are currently enrolling at both locations (Sorenson and Woodmoor Elementary) for the 22/23
school year. 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
Return all forms including deposit to:
Sorenson Early Childhood Center
19705 88th Ave NE Bothell, WA 98011
Sessions times:
o 8:00 am - 10:30 am
o 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