STAR GAZER GAZETTE
March 2021 Star Lake Newsletter
Greetings Star Lake Families,
We have real live students here at Star Lake! It is so exciting to see our FCP, kindergarten and first grade students whose families have chosen face to face instruction. This building has been so empty without children, and these kiddos are sure doing a great job so far! I can’t wait to welcome our 2nd and 3rd grade hybrid students on March 29th and our 4th and 5th grade hybrid students on April 1st.
Transitions are always difficult, and we sure appreciate the flexibility our families are demonstrating as you adjust to our revised schedule. The schedule was revised to accommodate both remote and in person learning. One big change is that our specialists (PE, music, library and counselor) are no longer occurring during zoom sessions. Both face to face and remote students are going to specialists during their asynchronous time. So, for example, if your child has a remote session with their teacher in the AM, they would finish their zoom, have lunch and a break and then get back on zoom for specialists at their class’ designated time in the PM. This change is the same for all schools in the district, and needs to happen because our specialists can’t go in to face to face classes, so all specialist classes need to be remote during students’ asynchronous time.
It is important to remember that we are required to schedule students into a FULL day of instruction; school doesn’t end when students finish their zoom session or leave school. Please be sure to log in to Launchpad to Learning and your teacher’s Canvas page everyday to find the links to all zoom sessions and the asynchronous work that students should be doing every day. Please also be sure to read email updates that come from your child’s teacher or me, they always contain detailed information.
My next parent zoom meeting will be for 2nd - 5th grade families of students returning face to face. This will be on March 25th at 6:15pm. But, as always, please feel free to call or email our office or me with questions and feedback at any time.
Thank you for entrusting your children to our care!
Kris Rennie, Principal
Important Parent Zoom Meeting: March 25 @ 6:15pm
We look forward to seeing you!
MARCH
19 - Camo/Green Day
24 - School Supplies Pick-up 9-3:00
25 - Parent Zoom Meeting 6:15pm
25-26 - Regular School Days (SLC Rescheduled)
29 - 2nd & 3rd Grade Begin Face To Face/Hybrid
APRIL
1 - 4th & 5th Grade Begin Face To Face/Hybrid
5-9 Spring Break - No School
14 - School Supplies Pick-up 9-3:00
23 - Tie Dye Spirit Day
28 - School Supplies Pick-up 9-3:00
29-30 - Student Led Conferences - No School
NEW BELL SCHEDULE:
While we are at our temporary location Star Lake is following the “late school schedule”:
AM in-person hybrid is 9:10-11:35 & remote zoom sessions are 9:10-11:25
PM in-person hybrid is 1:15-3:40 & remote zoom sessions are 1:15-3:30
STUDENT LED CONFERENCES DATE CHANGE
Daily Required Health Screening
- Prior to your child leaving home, you are required to take your child/ren’s temperature and fill out the online health screening for each of your children.
- The best way to access the attestation is through the email or text that you are sent by Qualtrics every day because that communication is student specific. But you may want to keep this QR code handy to access the daily attestation if you can’t access your email or text. https://fwps.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9Fxo1aKtub9Qz3M
- Daily reminder notifications are only sent to the primary guardian on file; however, any parent can fill out the screening.
- The screening asks questions about symptoms and any possible COVID-19 exposure and is kept confidential. If your child shows any new COVID-19 symptoms, they need to stay home.
- At the end of the screening, it will let you know if your child is eligible to come to school.
- It will say if your child is certified (Ok to attend school), or not certified (must stay home).
- The school is also notified whether your child is eligible to come to school.
- Upon arrival to school, staff will check if the health screening and attestation was completed.
- If not completed, staff will contact you to complete the attestation before your child can enter the classroom.
- If your child comes to school but the answer to any of the questions is YES or they have a fever, you will be called to come pick them up.
Thank you for doing your part to ensure a healthy and safe return to in-person instruction!
Hybrid Childcare Registration Is Open!
Childcare registration is open for K-6 grade students!
Right At School is expanding options to parents who need childcare for their student beginning hybrid learning. Childcare options for students in 100% remote learning will continue.
For more information go to: https://www.fwps.org/childcare
Please Review With Your Scholar!
Hybrid Guide to Families
Welcome Back To Campus: Hybrid Model
To view the video in additional languages go to: https://www.fwps.org/Page/8056
School Meals Program Expands to 7-Day Meal Kits
Meal kits have been expanded from 5-day meal kits to 7-day meal kits!
Meal service times and locations remain the same. Keep a look out for new items on our menus by visiting www.fwps.org/Page/351.
Every Wednesday, parents may pick up free meals (breakfasts and lunches) for their children ages 18 or younger.
To help keep everyone safe and healthy, wear a face covering when picking up meals.
For more information visit: www.fwps.org/schoolmeals.
Pick Up Locations Near Star Lake
Appian Way Apartments 25818 26th Pl S, Kent, WA 98032, 9:30 AM—10:30 AM
Apex Apartments 24810 45th Ave S, Kent, WA 98032, 1:30 PM—2:30 PM
Totem Middle School 26630 40th Ave S, Kent, WA 98032, 9:30 AM—11:30 AM
Thomas Jefferson High School 4248 S 288th St, Auburn, WA 98001, 4:00 PM—6:00 PM
Get Help Buying Food With Pandemic-EBT
Your student may be eligible for food assistance with the Pandemic EBT (P-EBT): Emergency School Meals Program. Every eligible student may qualify for up $123 per month.
This benefit is for Washington children in grades K-12 who receive free or reduced school meals.
If you have not filled out a current free or reduced meal application for this school year, please complete an application to be eligible for P-EBT benefits: www.fwps.org/lunchapplication.
How do eligible families receive the P-EBT benefit?
- This benefit is provided on an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card which is used like a debit card to buy food.
- Each eligible family will receive one P-EBT card per eligible child to the address as its shown in ParentVUE. Make sure you verify your address is up to date by logging into ParentVUE, going to online registrations, and updating address.
Questions?
- For help determining if your child qualifies for free or reduced meals contact FWPS Nutrition Services at 253-945-5555.
- Beginning March 1, families may contact the P-EBT call center at 1-833-518-0282.
- For additional information, go to https://www.fwps.org/Page/7662.
STEM Exploration Night
Click tab below for additional information or go to: www.fwps.org/STEMExpo
School Supply Pick Up
School supplies are still available for remote scholars to pick up twice a month at our drive through pick up events at our new location. You can pick up and drop off materials.
Here are the upcoming dates for our drive through pick up between 9:00 am and 3:00 pm.
Wednesday, March 24th
Wednesday, April 14th
Wednesday, April 28th
Reminder for our drive through pick up, please follow the signs for School To You, call the number on the last sign and someone will come out to assist you.
Attendance Update:
We continue to have great attendance numbers this year. We can still improve on our Wednesday attendance numbers by logging into Launchpad each WEDNESDAY!
For the month of February, we had 170 scholars with perfect attendance for the month. They each received 10 Star Lake Way Tickets. 170 scholars represents over 50% of our school.
We also have 70 students so far this year with overall perfect attendance, this represent just over 20% or 1 out of 5 student with overall perfect attendance.
EVERY DAY COUNTS AND EVERYDAY MATTERS.
Way to show that Eagle Pride!
Battle of the Books 2021
Just a reminder for 3rd - 5th graders to continue coming to our Battle of the Books Club on Wednesdays, at 12:30-1:00pm in Ms. Nelson's zoom room, located at: https://fwps.zoom.us/j/8398895584.
You can also find the link and times on Ms. Nelson's page: https://fwps.instructure.com/courses/64116
If you haven't joined a team yet, there is still time to do that. Come next Wednesday!
If you have any questions, please email Ms. Nelson at: jnelson@fwps.org.
Sign up for Battle! Read, Read, Read!
Nurses News:
Spring trees are blooming! People are starting to cut grass and do yard work. Tree pollen is medium to medium high now with the main allergens being juniper, alder and elm. For some, that means their eyes are itchy and their noses are running, especially on sunny days.
If your student has an allergy issue, you might want to give them a non-drowsy allergy medication before coming to school. Once they are here, we can’t give them any medication unless we have the medication in an original container and we have a doctor’s order including the guardian’s/parent’s signature.
Happy Spring!
Becky Dorsett, MSN, RN
Sybel Johnson, RN
253-945-4009
COUNSELOR'S CORNER
KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION
PRESCHOOL ENROLLMENT OPENED MARCH 15 FOR 2021-22 SCHOOL YEAR
Will your child be three or four-years-old by August 31, 2021? Consider enrollment in one of our preschool programs!
More information can be found at: www.fwps.org/preschool, by phone at 253-945-2379, or email at preschool@fwps.org
PBIS: SAFE, KIND AND PRODUCTIVE!
Our Star Lake Scholars continue to earn their Star Lake Way tickets for attending school, completing asynchronous assignments and for being safe, kind and productive daily. As we move to hybrid learning you will notice new guidelines in our school spaces. Remember if you are attending face-to-face learning you will wear your mask all the time while in school (even on the bus), keep at least 6 feet apart and wash your hands regularly with soap and water or use hand sanitizer.
Two shopping opportunities in February and March for our 4th grade and 3rd grade teams brought in 8,435 Star Lake Way tickets. Way to save up Eagles! Three students: Iyanna, Benie and Victor bought pizza delivered to their home. I bet it was yummy! Look out 2nd grade, 1st grade and Kindergarten your turn is coming up soon.
The following students have turned in over 50 tickets to Eagle Mart:
Nelson: Sadok, Dayana, Justin, Orion, Abdullahi, Logan, Brielle, Briana, Selena, Yahya, DeJerian, Myles, Airam, Emma, Jonathan, Maty, Thomas, Ali
Howard: Mohamed, Sean, Lynnaya, Emma, Regie, Camron, Ayisha, Emily, Rebekah, Eyosias, Daniel, Tranvinjoe, Anna, Hafsa, Aisha, Sophia, Mason
Friedman: Abraham, Alya, Antonio, Brooklyn, Christian, Deborah, James, Kabria, Kai, Katrina, Kaylani, Leila, Mia, Titan, Xoe
Baker: Arianna, CiCi, Hanan, Iyanna, Jairo, Jude, Kingston, Kingslee, Landin, Lea, Lillian, Maeryn
Withrow: Benie, Victor, Kaori, Zoe
Catabay: Azarias, Kimonni
Thank you for supporting our PBIS program here at Star Lake.
Katherine Hinkle
PBIS Incentives Chair
PTA Updates
Star Lake PTA is looking for parents interested in being on the Executive Board for the 2021-2022 school year. If you are interested or have questions, please email us at: starlakepta@gmail.com.
Check out our website for additional info on meetings, events and membership!
* Spirit Days:
March 19 Camo/Green Spirit Day
April 23 Tie Dye Spirit Day
* Interested in our Spirit Wear store? Go to:
starlakeelementary.itemorder.com
* Remember that a successful PTA needs your participation. We appreciate your support!
If you have any questions please email us at:
Or check out our Facebook page at:
NEW LOCATION: 3600 S. 344th Way, Federal Way, WA 98001
This address will also be where parents drop off their students for school if students are not riding the bus.
AERIAL VIEW OF OUR NEW BUILDING
Because Of You
Calling all scholars in grades 3-12: Nominate a staff member for the "Because of You" Award! Students in grades 3-12 are invited to nominate any Federal Way Public Schools staff member in the district they believe has positively impacted them, their school, and/or their community for the “Because of You” award!
Please go to the district's website for more information: http://www.fwps.org/BecauseOfYou or click on the button below for the nomination form.
Stay tuned as we highlight these extraordinary educators who make a difference each day in our schools!
Star Lake Elementary
Email: comments@fwps.org
Website: https://www.fwps.org/starlake
Location: 3600 South 344th Way, Federal Way, WA, USA
Phone: 253-945-4000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StarLakeFWPS