BROOKDALE BOBCAT PRINTS
October 25, 2021
Brookdale Elementary
11213 Sheridan Ave S, Tacoma, WA 98444
Connie Holman - Principal
Kari Ferguson - Assistant Principal
Office Hours - 9:00 to 4:30
253-298-3100 / FAX 253-298-3115
PRINCIPAL MESSAGE
As you may know, attendance is a very important part of academic success. To encourage good attendance, we have a variety of incentives in place! At each B.O.B.C.A.T. Pride assemblies, we honor one K-2 and one 3-5 grade student who has not missed more than 1 day for the month with a $10.00 Walmart gift card. Thanks for all of your efforts in getting your student(s) to school every day!
DISTRICT POLICY REGARDING HARVEST PARTIES - Classrooms may have Harvest celebrations. Students may not wear costumes (including make-up & wigs) unless it is after school hours. If your child's class does plan to have a Harvest celebration on Oct. 29, it will be at the end of the day.
If you plan on having snacks, COVID Safety guidelines MUST be followed -
- ALL snacks MUST be store bought
- ALL snacks MUST be individually wrapped
- Students should be 6 feet apart (if possible) when eating - if not possible, consider sending snacks home
- If possible, increased ventilation (open windows) will be incorporated.
PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS WITH THESE IMPORTANT DATES
October 26 ~ SBA testing for 4th Grade students
October 27 ~ EARLY RELEASE - 2:35
October 28 ~ Individual Picture Day
October 29 ~ SBA testing for 4th Grade students
November 3 ~ EARLY RELEASE - 2:35
November 11 ~ NO SCHOOL ~ Veterans' Day
November 17 ~ EARLY RELEASE - 2:35
November 24 ~ EARLY RELEASE - 12:35
November 25 & 26 ~ NO SCHOOL - Thanksgiving Break
PICTURE DAY ~ OCTOBER 28
Individual pictures will be taken for all students this Thursday, October 28. Picture envelopes and pre-pay information was sent home with each student today. Please take the time to read the information and to select your picture package option.
Please remember these important picture day requirements.
- Each student will need their own picture envelope on picture day. All students will be photographed even if they are not buying a package.
- QSP Photography & Brookdale do not have change. Please send the correct amount in each of of your children’s envelopes. Make checks payable to QSP Photography.
- Portraits will be combined into the same envelope even if a student turns in multiple order envelopes. Please order direct from QSP if this is a foreseeable issue. If you call QSP at 1-877-697-6996, they will arrange shipping directly to your address.
- Please do not have your children wear green.
- We have scheduled pictures for younger than school-age children, and students that are absent on picture day for November 30, which is our retake day.
- All portraits are printed on a prepayment system. Online ordering is available where credit cards will be accepted. Please go to www.qualityschoolportraits.com to order portraits online. You must type in the school code of BR008 and order by 9pm prior to photo day.
SMARTER BALANCED ASSESSMENT
Our 4th and 5th graders will be taking the Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBA) these next couple weeks. This will be a modified version of this annual state assessment. Your children will be tested on the previous grade standards and the test will be significantly shorter than it has been in the past. Testing will start at 10 AM each day. Please make sure that your child attends school on his or her testing days, and that your child gets good rest the night before testing. It is important to schedule any appointments at a different time/day than your student is scheduled to test.
- 4th Graders will be testing on October 26th and 29th.
- 5th Graders will be testing on November 2nd and 4th.
Brookdale Family Resource Handbook
This year the Brookdale Family Resource Handbook will only be available electronically. You can access it through our website or through this link – Family Resource Handbook. The handbook provides families with lots of important information about Brookdale - attendance policies, dress codes, handling behavior concerns, and volunteering, plus so much more! Once you have received the handbook, please complete the survey – Receipt of Family Resource Handbook – letting us know you received a copy.
PARENTS OF STUDENTS IN GRADES K -2
Please pack an extra pair of clothes, including underwear, socks, and pants in your child’s backpack. Accidents do happen and we would like to be prepared. It is nice when a child can wear a pair of his or her own pants. The health room has a very limited supply of clothing. If your child does borrow clothing from the health room, please return the clothing items to the school after it is washed.
STUDENT COVID-19 RESOURCES
You will also find buttons below with a helpful flowchart for if your child has Covid-19 symptoms or if your child has been exposed to Covid-19.
GOOD CHOICES PARENTING WORKSHOP ~ FP YOUTH FIRST
BUS PROCEDURES
We have a very helpful transportation department; if you have any questions, issues about something that happened on the bus or at the bus stop, or concerns about a late bus, please call the transportation office directly at 253-298-3865. To cut down on the number of calls received in the office daily we are asking that if you wish for your child to ride a bus other than the one they normally ride, get off at a bus stop other than their normal stop, to be a parent pick-up, you must send a note. Without a note, we will not allow students to change their regular bus, bus stop, or end of the day routine.
IMPORTANT SCHOOL REMINDERS
STUDENT EARLY DISMISSAL – If your child has an appointment and is leaving before the end of the school day, please make sure you send a note that morning letting the teacher and the office know. Also, please allow enough time for pick up. To preserve precious class time, we do not call students to the office until you have checked them out in person (remember your ID).
SCHEDULE CHANGES - The end of the day at Brookdale is very hectic. If you forgot to send a note in the morning (which is preferred) and need to call the school with a change to your child’s schedule, please do so before 3:15 p.m. After 3:15 the office is busy assisting students and parents and will not be able to answer your call or get a message to a student before they leave for the day. All end of the day schedule changes must be made through the office, not with the classroom teacher. Thank you!
UPDATE CONTACT INFORMATION - If any of your information has changed (address, contact info., email address, etc.) please contact the office right away. This year more than ever, it will be important to have the most current information. Also, let us know what your preferred method of contact is - phone, email, text. You can reach the office at 253.298.3100.