Wildcat News
January 2021
Contact our office at: 253-298-3200 centralavenue@fpschools.org
Central Avenue Elementary
Tonya Middling - Principal
Kristin Hillius - Assistant Principal
Dear Parents and Families,
Happy New Year! I hope that you and your family had a very joyous holiday season and that you are looking forward to the coming year! At Central Avenue, we have been preparing for this year in many ways.
Following new guidance from Governor Inslee and the Washington State Department of Health, Franklin Pierce Schools is planning for the return of elementary-aged students for in-person instruction in early 2021. All decisions will be informed by public health guidance and lessons learned from the return of students for in-person instruction in other districts around the state and country.
Guidance from the Department to Health advises districts to prioritize the return of our youngest learners and those “furthest from educational justice”. This will result in an increase in the amount of time that Support Center students receive in-person instruction beginning January 19 and a phased approach to welcome back elementary students beginning with Kindergarten students on Thursday, January 28. A remote learning option will remain available for all students.
Additional details about draft schedules, timelines for implementation, information about program design, and staff and family surveys declaring their intent to participate in remote or in-person instruction will be made available the week of January 4-8.
· January 4-8: K-2 families will be asked to declare their intent to participate in in-person instruction or remote learning.
· January 25-29: 3-5 families will be asked to declare their intent to participate in in-person instruction or remote learning.
The health and safety of staff, students and families remains our highest priority in welcoming students back to school for in-person instruction. Please know that we will take a careful and deliberate approach to not only support students and families, but also to maintain a safe learning and work environment.
We are all looking forward to 2021 being a great year together at Central Avenue!
It's great to be a Wildcat!
~Mrs. Middling
Important Dates to Remember
January
January 1st - No School (Winter Break)
January 4th - Back to School
January 6th - Asynchronous Learning Day
January 13th - Asynchronous Learning Day
January 18th - No School (MLK Jr. Day)
January 19th - Support Center In-Person Learning
January 20th - Asynchronous Learning Day
January 25th - No School (PRAD Training)
January 27th - Asynchronous Learning Day
January 28th - Kindergarten In-Person Learning
January is School Board Recognition Month
We want to thank Alex Davis, Rebecca Gallogly, Dr. Gil Mendoza, Mary Sherman, and Board President Cole Roberts for the many hours they volunteer on behalf of every child in our school district. Their duties include setting the vision and mission of education in the district; establishing policy; adopting an annual budget; approving all expenditures; employment of personnel; curriculum, textbooks and courses; and deciding on school sites, building plans, and construction.
Weather and Emergency Updates
Weather-related closures will look slightly different while students are in remote learning during the 2020-2021 school year.
Remote learning will be cancelled if the entire district is closed. Breakfast and lunch service will not be available.
Click here for more information.
Head Start and ECEAP
Head Start and ECEAP are federally- and state-funded free preschool programs for qualifying families. The Hewins Early Learning Center enrolls over 200 children in these programs each year. The ELC offers AM and PM classes to families residing in the Franklin Pierce School District. Children must be 3 or 4 years old by August 31st of the school year. For children younger than 3 years old, Early Head Start home visiting may be an option. If you have questions about the program or need assistance with enrollment please contact Melissa McPheeters, Family Support ERSEA Specialist at (253) 298-4675. (It is important to know that COVID has created many circumstances that a family that didn’t usually meet criteria, now does. This includes a sudden change in income level, homelessness, kinship care, etc…)
This is information that will link families directly to the information:
We are enrolling! Click here to learn more about the Head Start and ECEAP programs and how to apply. To be contacted about applying, you can fill out the interest form here.
¡Nos estamos inscribiendo! Haga clic aquí para obtener más información sobre los programas Head Start y ECEAP y cómo solicitarlos. Para ser contactado sobre la aplicación, puede completar el formulario aquí.
These are our recruitment video links:
English: https://youtu.be/XsVCh3yfCng
Spanish: https://youtu.be/nI8Xk7o8Glc
Food Resources
Franklin Pierce Schools will offer free lunch to all children and youth ages 0-18*, Monday-Friday. Children do not have to be present to receive a meal. Federal regulations usually require student recipients to be present, but exceptions will be made given our current public health crisis.
- 35 locations! (click to view a list of the locations)
- Monday-Friday from 11am-12pm
- Grab n' go lunch and breakfast
All children and youth ages 0-18*
IT Support
Need assistance with technology?
REMINDER - WE MOVED!!
We are now in our new location! Central Avenue relocated for the 2020-2021 school year to Historic Collins. Our new address is:
Central Avenue
4608 128th Street East
Tacoma, WA 98446
Phone: 253-298-3200
We will be here for one year while the existing Central Avenue school will be torn down to make room for a new and beautiful, more secure campus! We are so excited about a new school for our Wildcats!
Central Avenue Elementary
Email: centralavenue@fpschools.org
Website: http://centralavenue.fpschools.org/
Location: 4608 128th Street East, Tacoma, WA, USA
Phone: 253-298-3200
Facebook: facebook.com/centralavenueelementary