The Sailor Signal
Cottage Lake Elementary - March 14, 2021
A Note from Principal Welch
Dear Families,
I hope this newsletter finds you all well. The weather this past week has me so excited for spring and what's to come in the coming weeks.
On Friday afternoon, Governor Inslee held a press conference where he shared an updated timeline for the reopening of hybrid learning for our students. I will share that district administration met shortly after that press conference and there will be many staff participating in planning conversations in the next few weeks. The work I had participated in a couple of weeks ago will need to be revisited with the new timeline and we are hopeful we can share this with you as soon as possible. There are many conversations that lead to the shared agreements. More to come on that one.
As part of the process, the staff is working hard to create our learning groups that will attend school on Monday/Tuesday or Thursday/Friday. We still have a few families who did not complete the survey or didn't complete the survey for both your children. I will be working on follow-up emails to families and you may also receive a phone call from the office staff. If families do not respond, we are scheduling your student for remote learning. Many of our staff members are involved in creating the A and B groups, so please do understand if your classroom teacher provides asynchronous work for students for part of a day either Monday or Tuesday. I know you need to know what your student's in-person learning days will be and I am proving some time for staff to create these groups in the next couple of days. I plan to share your student's in-person learning days as soon as I can.
As part of the conversations happening this next week, the district will be looking closer at Bridge Week(s) and providing an update there, as well. I am working to have students in A/B groups so students can participate, but I am not able to share classroom teacher information yet.
Outside of the hybrid launch, we also welcome Dr. Reid to Cottage Lake this week. Every year Dr. Reid visits each of our schools and spends time with families and students. Given the update on Friday from the Governor and planning for the quicker pivot to hybrid learning for all students, we are modifying her visit. Please see the section below that outlines her visit. I have also shared with you the link to her Meet and Greet she will hold from 8:25-8:55 AM.
I thank all of you for your dedication to Cottage Lake and your support with our pivot to hybrid learning. This will be a transition for all and there will be several changes in how the school operates. You will be receiving more information in the near future, but in the meantime, I hope this week you find joy around you. Please remember to stay kind to each other and I will be back in contact soon. I am very excited to welcome so many of our students back to campus!
Enjoy the week ahead!
Take Care,
Jen Welch, Principal
•• SCHOOL NEWS ••
Dr. Reid visits Cottage Lake Elementary - March 18, 2021
Topic: Cottage Lake Parent Meet and Greet March with Superintendent Reid
Time: Mar 18, 2021 08:25 AM US/Pacific
Join Zoom Meeting
https://nsd.zoom.us/j/87050692922?pwd=UWI3QTNvQy9LcmVUL0RuNXdwZHgvUT09
Meeting ID: 870 5069 2922
Passcode: 145778
Dial by your location
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
Meeting ID: 870 5069 2922
Dr. Reid will also be back a little later in the day to have lunch with a select group of students. Families have already been contacted who will be attending the lunch event. That lunch bunch will run 11:05-11:35 AM.
At this time, the individual classroom visits have been cancelled, but we are hopeful they will be rescheduled later this spring.
Medications at school
Hello Cottage Lake families!
I am very excited that we have a timeline for your children to return to school, some starting as soon as March 22, 2021! It’s been a long time coming, but we are all so happy to see our Cottage Lake Sailors returning to campus. While it is March instead of August, I am taking this opportunity to review with you the process for bringing your child’s medication to school before they return to campus.
If your child requires ANY type of routine, as needed, or emergency medication to be given at school, you must provide a completed Authorization for Medication form that is signed by your child’s doctor and yourself. The form is available on the nsd.org website. [https://www.nsd.org/backtoschool/health-information] This requirement applies to prescription AND over-the-counter medications (like Tylenol, ibuprofen, or cough drops) and is only valid for this 2020-21 school year.
Elementary students are not permitted to self-carry any medications, including inhalers, without prearranged medical authorization.
Medication cannot be left at the front desk in the office, as it has to be counted and co-signed by the parent and nurse. I cannot accept any medication without having the authorization form completed. I will be on campus to check-in medications the week before our first students return on campus for their Bridge Week activities :
- March 15, 16, 18, and 19: 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
- March 17: 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Emergency medications for any life-threatening conditions MUST be at school before your child’s first day. If medications are not here at school, your child cannot stay on campus, no exceptions.
Important details:
- All prescriptions and over-the-counter medication must be in the original container. (Your dispensing pharmacy can provide an extra bottle for school with a duplicate label.)
- Bring only enough medication to last one month at a time.
- Please remember to wear a mask when you come to school to check in medications.
I’m here to answer any questions you may have.
I look forward to seeing everyone!
Nurse Audrey
Phone: 425.408.4206, Fax: 425.408.4202
Kindergarten registration is OPEN!!
Spread the word!! We want Kindergarten students!!
If there are questions about the registration process, please email Mrs. Negrin (tnegrin@nsd.org) or Mrs. MckInnon (smckinnon@nsd.org). Email is the best communication avenue at this time. We do not have staff regularly working on site.
We are excited to welcome new families to Cottage Lake!
Book Circulation for ALL!!
Readers, Readers..... we are looking for more readers!!
You can now order books EVERY WEEK!!
We are now moving our book circulation to EVERY WEEK!! The schedule will stay posted for reference, but if your student wants books weekly or needs to keep them an extra week, they can order any time and the books will be ready the following Thursday. If you want to borrow a book, please complete the link below to reserve books for your student(s).
- ALL STUDENTS - Your upcoming book distribution day is: Thursday, March 18
- We are extending the book ordering window until Monday evening.
- If you want books, please fill out this form http://go.nsd.org/sailorbooks by MONDAY, March 15 @ 8:00 PM.
Please click on the button below to locate the book circulation schedule (this is updated regularly) and find the request form in one place.
Happy Reading!
•• PTA Update ••
Pictures needed for the yearbook!
Calling all photographers! We need yearbook photos!
Visit our PTA website to upload photos of your kids for the 2020-2021 school year. Did you capture their first day of school or the ice cream parade? Playing in the snow? Paint and PJs? Halloween? Kids working in your home "classroom"? Art Docent? We'd love to see them all! Please make sure if photos include other kids that you have permission from their parents to submit them for the yearbook.
Name the photos with your child's grade and subject area and visit https://www.cottagelakepta.org/Yearbook-Photos.html for upload instructions.
Photos must be received by March 28th.
Class photos: If your child attended picture day we'll get them from Dorian. If you have portraits you'd like to use instead, upload them to the folder with their teacher's name under ClassPhotos.
** Name the file with your child's grade, teacher, and name (ex. 1st-McGonagall-HermioneGranger.jpg).
Questions? Contact yearbook@cottagelakepta.org
•• District News ••
Northshore Family Partnership Information Meetings
Northshore Family Partnership is a Kindergarten through ninth-grade site-based choice school that supports an inclusive, supportive community of families that seek an alternative model of learning for their children. NFP is intended for families who have made the choice to teach their children at home. In this program, certificated teachers oversee learning plans in which parents serve as the primary educators. Families collaborate in a true partnership with teachers to plan for instruction, observe student growth, and prepare for learning activities that excite and motivate each child as an individual.
Because parents provide education in all subjects required for promotion and graduation, students supplement their home learning by selecting courses from a catalog of on-site classes available through NFP. Certificated teachers guide students in learning with peers and participating in meaningful, real-world learning experiences. Classes are small, project-based, multi-age, multidisciplinary, collaborative, and hands-on, providing students with the opportunity to dig deep into exploring ideas, concepts, and skills.
NFP has a robust and supportive parent community with a PTSA that provides additional enrichment and resources, including supplemental educational resources and workshops for both parents and children. For more information, see the Northshore Family Partnership link on the NSD website. In addition, there will be two NFP information meetings for new families. Please join Principal Gary Keeler to ask questions and learn more about NFP. We look forward to serving your family in NFP.
NFP Information Meetings
- Wednesday, March 10th from 6 to 7 PM
- Monday, March 15th from 3 to 4 PM
Use the following zoom link to attend the information meetings:
https://nsd.zoom.us/j/88240171284?pwd=YUlWWExBNFBNUlltR215dWJ4OEhoQT09
•• REPEAT of District News ••
The launch of hybrid learning
UPDATE:
As the district prepares for the launch of hybrid learning, we continue to confirm some of the structures and details around hybrid learning and those who remain 100% remote. This is nothing we've ever done before, and there are so many details to consider. Dr. Reid shared last week that we have confirmed we will follow an AA/BB schedule for our hybrid learners. This means students would be on-site for 2 days and then asynchronous learning for 3 days per week. We have also confirmed that our completely remote students will continue to engage in synchronous and asynchronous learning throughout the week.
I have heard from a couple of you regarding the message Dr. Reid shared on Friday. Please know there are still a few of those details being confirmed, but I anticipate there will be further details shared soon.
*****************************************************
REPEAT:
One week ago, our school district released the beginning details of our reopening plan including some specific dates. While there are several additional details that will be shared in the coming weeks, I wanted to provide you with a few items for information to help you in your thinking and planning. As soon as I have more details I will share them with you.
- Here is a video providing some further details regarding in-person return and safety measures. While there may be a few details that are different for Cottage Lake, you can gain a little understanding of the safety procedures that will be in place for students who return for hybrid learning.
- The district will be sending out an updated survey where you will be asked to choose either an in-person hybrid learning model (this will be 2-days in person and then 3 days of asynchronous learning. Wednesdays will stay mostly asynchronous learning, as it is now.) or you can choose to remain fully remote if that is the best option for your family.
- At this time, we are unsure of the specific staffing impacts a return to a hybrid learning model versus remaining fully remote might have on classroom teacher assignments and class placement. As we are provided the details of families' choices and the district's agreed-upon parameters for our classrooms, we will continue to be in communication about how this model will come off the page.
- Once we have received family survey results regarding the intent to return for in-person hybrid learning, we can begin to determine which students will be in Group A (this is a Monday/Tuesday in-person) and which students will be in Group B (This would be a Thursday/Friday in-person). At this time, I do not have any specific groupings I can share with you.
- Bridge Weeks identified in the return plan are specifically designed to provide a variety of learning experiences related to safety at school and to also provide in-person social interactions before we begin in our hybrid model. This will happen in partnership with the YMCA Navigators team as they have been engaging in these types of learning and safety teaching throughout the pandemic. I am also not sure about the length of these activities. More information to come soon.
- Linked here is a printable, more visual version of the reopening plan with dates and outline for student groups. Please read the descriptions on page 3 to understand the groupings more fully.
Please know there will be a lot of information shared with you in the coming weeks, so please do look for emails from me and/or the district. I will share anything I know and when I hear surveys are being resent to families, I will do my best to notify you, as well. There is more information to come.
School Waivers
Waivers for the 2021-2022 school year will soon be accepted. This is earlier than before, as we look to have a better understanding of our student numbers for the next school year. Please see below for the dates we will begin accepting waivers.
If you live In-District:
- Grades K-12 - February 22, 2021
- IHS IB Program - December 7, 2020
- ILHS 10th Grade - December 7, 2020
- 9th grade - Fill the application online
- 9th grade - Fill the application online
If you live Out of District:
- Current Students staying at their current school - February 22, 2021
- Current Students transitioning to 6th or 9th grade - April 19, 2021
- New Students - May 7, 2021
- IHS IB Program - December 7, 2020
- ILHS 10th Grade - December 7, 2020
- 9th Grade - Fill the application online
You can also find further waiver information by visiting: https://www.nsd.org/schools/get-started/waivers
Meals during remote learning and hybrid learning
Beginning Wednesday, September 9, we are offering free meals for ALL children ages 18 and younger. Students do not need to be enrolled in the Northshore School District to receive meals. This is GREAT news for each of our families; these are your tax dollars at work. I am so pleased this funding has been continued, allowing us to extend these meal services until the end of December.
For quick links:
- CLICK HERE to place an order for DAILY MEALS. [The order window time will be 2:00 PM-11:59 PM the day prior to meal pick-up. Orders include breakfast and lunch, including 16oz of milk. Orders placed for a Friday pick-up will also include meals for the weekend.]
- CLICK HERE to place an order for WEEKLY MEAL PACKS. [Weekly Meal Packs will include breakfast and lunch for an entire week, including a gallon of milk. The order window will open at 2:00 PM every Wednesday and close at 2:00 PM every Thursday. Pick up for these meals will be on Wednesday the following week.]
Please consider ordering food! Our district is committed to feeding our children during this challenging time.
•• PTA NEWS ••
- Our next PTA Meeting is this week: Tuesday, March 9, 2021 from 7:00-8:00 PM. Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/5567580614
- Learn more about the PTA and get your 2020/21 membership at www.cottagelakepta.org.
- Your 2020/21 PTA President is Rachel Tarr and can be contacted at president@cottagelakepta.org.
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Search: Cottage Lake PTA.
[YES, our PTA accounted is listed in Tacoma, but it IS our school's PTA located in Woodinville, WA.]
After selecting our school's PTA, each time you want to shop, begin with visiting www.smile.amazon.com, and then shop. You must first log into the smile.amazon.com for purchases to be eligible for the cash back opportunity.
Cottage Lake Elementary
Email: jwelch@nsd.org
Website: https://cottagelake.nsd.org/
Location: 15940 Avondale Road Northeast, Woodinville, WA, USA
Phone: (425) 408-4200
Facebook: facebook.com/ourschool
Twitter: @ourschool