Gnome News- Geneva Newsletter
June 2019
Message From The Principal
It is hard to believe it is June! The Memorial Day three day weekend always gives a taste of the fun that summer will undoubtedly bring.
As we wrap up the school year this month, I want to send my deepest appreciation for your warm welcome, open communication and most importantly, for sharing your children this year. Many of you told me last summer that I was fortunate be joining such a terrific school- you were right! I am happy to report that Geneva feels like home, and I'm already looking forward to next year.
In this month's newsletter, there are lots of resources, but also some important pieces of information. You will notice there are fall dates included! As always, you are welcome to contact the office if you have any questions.
Sharece Steinkamp
Class Placement Notifications for Fall
We are going to change our process for how we share your child's teacher placement before the meet and greet at the end of summer.
We heard concerns last year from a few families about student names hanging in the front windows of the school with teacher and classrooms attached, and seeing photos of the class lists on social media sites. This was important feedback, and we have been working on a new and improved way to communicate class placement going forward.
This year, at the end of summer, you will receive a call/email/text from me with your child's teacher name and room number on August 26th through School Messenger. The Meet and Greet is August 27th from 2:00-3:00. If you have multiple children, you will receive multiple calls/messages.
It is important that if you want to receive this notification, that you set up your preferences in Skylert. Follow the link below to set up your preferences.
DATES TO REMEMBER
June 3 Hermann & Carlson Class Field Trip to Whatcom Museum 9:30-11:45
June 3 Primary Choir (Last Day Party)
June 5 & 6 5th Grade Puberty Class
June 5 Ritchie's Class Field Trip to Bird Museum 9:30-11:00
June 6 Spears Class Field Trip to Whatcom Museum 9:30-11:45
June 7 5th Grade Track Meet @ Civic 9:00-2:00
June 10 5th Grade Puberty Class
June 13 Strings Evening Performance 5:30-6:00
June 14 Donuts for Dads O'Connell's Class 8:00-8:30
June 14 Panagos Class Celebration 11:30-12:30
June 14 Summer Send Off 6:00-7:00
June 18 Tussing's Class year end Picnic 10:50
June 18 1st Grade Picnic O'Connell's Class 11:00-12:00
June 19 5th Grade Graduation
June 20 Last Day of School Early Release 12:45
June 27 Office Closes for the Summer
June 28 Report Cards Mailed Home
Upcoming...
June 27-Aug. 14 School Office is Closed for the Summer
Aug. 15 School Office re-opens hours 9:00-12:30 & 2:00-3:30
Aug. 27 Meet & Greet 2:00-3:00
Aug. 28 First Day of School Grades 1-5
Aug. 29 (Thursday) NO EARLY RELEASE
Aug. 29 & 30 First half days of School for Kindergarten 8:00- 12:30
Aug. 30 First day of school for Pre-School
Sept. 2 NO SCHOOL - Labor Day
Sept. 3 1st Full day for Kindergarten 8:00-2:30
Sept. 13 Back to School Dinner & Book Fair
Sept. 16-19 Book Fair
Sept. 20 NO SCHOOL - Teacher Workday
Sept. 24 Picture Day!
Sept. 27 Jog-a-thon
Summer Programs and Events
The end of the school year is quickly approaching. We only have less than a month left until June 20th! We are fortunate to have so many summer programs and events available for children and families in Whatcom County. Below is a sample of programs available:
Animals as Natural Therapy
Day camps to help children develop trust, communication, leadership, and teamwork using horses, goats, chickens, and rabbits. (360) 671-3509
Blue Skies for Children– Can help pay for camp fees and enrichment programs.
Contact (360) 756-6710
Boys and Girls Club (1st-12th grade)
Morning Program 7:30am-11:30am. Afternoon Program 11:30am-5:30pm;
www.whatcomclubs.org , (360)527-9777
Camp Kirby (1st-12th grade) Day camps: June 26th-June 30th; Sleep-Away Camps: July 9th-August 12th; Weeklong sessions. info@campfiresamish.org, (360) 733-5710
Fircreek Day Camp (1st-6th grade, age 7-9) - June 19th-August 18th.
info@thefirs.org, (360) 733-6840
Firwood (3rd-12th grade)- Sleepaway camp on Lake Whatcom.
www.campfirwood.org, (360)758-2741
Ray of Hope-Six week Summer Day Program designed for children ages 5-12 (must have completed kindergarten) with emotional, behavioral, and/or economic challenges. Includes arts and crafts, recreation, field trips, and artistic enrichment. Application due date: May 15th, 2019. Cost: $1200 per child for 6 weeks (scholarships available).
Program runs June 24th-August 2nd. 360-714-0700 x 2
Whatcom Community College: Kids College (Kindergarten-12th grade)
June 24th-August 8th; www.whatcomcommunityed.com, (360) 383-3200
Robotics, Self-Defense, Mountain Biking, Kids Can Cook and more!
WWU Kids Camps– Various enrichment opportunities such as sailing, college quest, performing arts, etc. https://ee.wwu.edu/youth-programs, (360) 650-330
A neat family opportunity this summer
WHATCOM COUNTY YOUTH PRIDE WEEK INCLUDES PRIDE PARADE AND FESTIVAL ON JUNE 9
The first annual Youth Pride Week of Whatcom County will take place the first week of June, culminating on Sunday, June 9 with a Youth Pride Parade and Festival.
Whatcom Youth Pride activities throughout the week include:
- Queer Youth Karaoke from 7 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, June 4 at the Make.Shift Art Space;
- Screening of “The Most Dangerous Year” at 5:45 p.m. on Wednesday, June 5 at the Pickford Film Center;
- Poster-making and Parade Prep Party at 6 p.m. on Thursday, June 6 at the Ground Floor at First Congregational Church;
- Community Pride Picnic for Whatcom County LGBTQ+ youth, families and community from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 8 at Squalicum Creek Park; and
- Youth Pride Parade and Festival from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, June 9 at Bellingham High School.
The June 9 parade begins at the corner of Cornwall and Halleck near Bellingham High School. If you want to join the parade, arrive at 9:45 a.m. in the Habitat for Humanity parking lot on the corner of Cornwall and Halleck.
Adults and community members are invited to volunteer or “adopt a block” as spectators. Families of LGBTQ+ identified youth are invited to march with their children in the parade.
After the parade, all Whatcom County families and community are invited to a kid-friendly festival in the Bellingham High Commons.
Sign up to participate, volunteer or sponsor the parade today! Additional information is available at whatcomyouthpride.com.
Whatcom Youth Pride Week and the parade was made possible with a Project Neighborly grant from the Whatcom Community Foundation.
Kindergarten Registration for Fall 2019
Please help us spread the word. Registration for kindergarten began March 1.
We offer a full-time kindergarten program at no cost to district families. Students attend kindergarten on the regular elementary school schedule from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Children must be 5 years old before Sept. 1 to attend kindergarten.
Our school’s kindergarten open house is scheduled for May 30, from 3:00-5:00 pm.
To find out more about registration and required immunizations, please visit bellinghamschools.org/kindergarten.
A Big Thank You to Troop 44348!
If you indulged in your favorite Girl Scout Cookies this spring, THANK YOU! Our very own troop 44348 has made a donation from their cookie sales to benefit Geneva.
We will be installing four convertible picnic table/benches into the garden to provide seating and standing writing space for students during their garden lessons thanks to the generosity of girl scout troop 44348.
Next year as you enjoy your cooking of choice, you can reassure yourself by knowing that you are doing it for the kids!
Gardening with Common Threads
Hello families! This month students are enjoying exploring the garden, tasting chives, building insect homes, and getting their hands dirty planting seeds!
We are looking for summer garden care volunteers - if you are interested, please sign up online: www.commonthreadsfarm.org/summergardencare/ (click on Geneva). We will be holding a summer garden care training on June 10th 2:30-3:30pm and June 15th, 10:00-11:00am. I hope to see you in the garden! Save the Date: Insect Safari on July 13 - all welcome. Details on the Common Threads website.
5th Grade Human Growth and Development and HIV lessons
A few staffing changes for the 19-20 school year
Janae Hodge
Hola Parents,
It is with a heavy heart that I share the news that I have accepted a full-time high school Spanish teaching position at Bellingham High. I will miss my Gnome family and I will cherish the years I spent working with you. For those of you whose children attend or will attend BHS, I hope to have the pleasure to be their Spanish teacher. I look forward to having lots of gnomes in class in the future as they grow up and make their way to BHS. Red Raiders here I come, but I’ll always be a gnome at heart.
I don’t like goodbyes so instead of adiós, I’m saying Hasta luego (see you later).
Lara Stark
Dear Gnome Friends,
After twelve years at Geneva, I am hanging up my gnome hat and boots. I will be moving to Carl Cozier to teach third grade next year. I am excited about this new opportunity to grow as a learner and a teacher, but I will miss Geneva terribly. I am so proud of the hundreds of Geneva gnomes that I have been privileged to teach and look forward to following their future successes from a distance. Courage, brain, heart!