POLAR BEAR EXPRESS
DECEMBER 2022
OLIVIA PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Email: pencekc@mukilteo.wednet.edu
Website: https://www.mukilteoschools.org/Domain/670
Location: 200 108th Street Southwest, Everett, WA, USA
Phone: 425-366-3300
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oliviaparkelementary/
Message from our Assistant-Principal-Mrs Peters
Dear Olivia Park Family,
As the first snow gently falls, I am reminded just how quickly the 2022-2023 school year is going by! Thank you to all our families who participated in conferences last week! It has been exciting to hear from students, families, and staff that conferences provided an opportunity to celebrate your child’s strengths and create goals that will support future success. We are grateful for the partnerships that were strengthened as we came to the table together.
Our school focus this year is “Difference Makers.” From the first day of school our school community has explored different ways that we can make a difference in our classrooms, our school, at home, and in the broader community. Mrs. Pence and I began the year by sharing stories with each classroom and talking to students about how they can make a difference. We issued a challenge to each student and each classroom to spend the year exploring and planning ways to make our world a better place. As the year has progressed, we are noticing that more and more students are actively seeking out ways that they can be difference makers. Examples of Olivia Park difference making include:
· Students in Ms. Rozario’s fifth grade class completed a project in the community garden.
· Students in Mrs. Dankwah’s second grade class created a collaborative flag in honor of Veteran’s Day that is on display in our library. Several of her students help Mr. Dykstra in the cafeteria after lunch. A small group of students from her class also help in kindergarten classrooms during Play to Learn.
· Students in Ms. Jette’s third grade class noticed that students could be more responsible when using the bathrooms, so they made signs to remind everyone so that our bathrooms stay cleaner during the day.
· Students in Mrs. Nelson’s and Mrs. Giddens’ classes partner weekly with kindergarten students to serve as readers and mentors.
These are just a few of the ways our students are making a difference in our school. Our goal is to teach our students the importance of playing an active role in changing our community for good….now and in the future.
On behalf of the entire Olivia Park staff, we wish you a happy, healthy, and safe December and a relaxing, fun winter break!
Warmly,
Mrs. Lynne Peters
Assistant Principal
DECEMBER 2022
DEC 06 - Parent Cafe 10am- El Cafecito 11am (Hybrid-Zoom and In Person)
DEC 12-16 - OP Spirit Week (See picture below for specifics)
DEC 15 - PTA meeting 6pm
DEC 16 - EARLY DISMISSAL
DEC 16- JAN 02- Winter Break (No School)
Lost and Found
Olivia Park's Food Backpack Program
We have our backpack program up and running at Olivia Park. This program helps families in need with food for the weekend. As a community, we'd love your help to keep this amazing program running. All of our food is possible through donations from local businesses, friends, families, and organizations. Below is the Amazon Wishlist if you would like to donate or want to share the link with family members. Thanks in advance for your support.
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3MRY4IXH3EHP8?ref_=wl_share
As winter approaches, we are seeing a rise in absences. On time attendance is so very important for several reasons. School attendance is one of the most important indicators of school success. Students who attend school regularly improve their chances of being academically successful. Students who attend school regularly are more likely to be positively engaged in school, get better grades and have a better attitude toward school. If children don’t show up for school regularly, they miss out on fundamental reading and math skills and the chance to build a habit of good attendance that will carry them into college and careers.
We are also seeing a rise in students arriving late. When a student is tardy, they miss the important beginning of the day. This time is when classroom community activities happen that contribute greatly to the sense of belonging for our students. It is often very difficult for a student to engage in learning after arriving late. Additionally, to keep our school safe, all doors are locked at all times. Every student who arrives late must be escorted to class. This has a tremendous impact on the office staff. We thank you for making sure your student arrives on time.
Families play a key role in making sure students get to school safely every day and understand why attendance is so important for success in school and on the job. Here are some ways you can support positive attendance:
Communicate with your student often:
¨ Talk about family expectations regarding school attendance
¨ Recognize good choices, positive behaviors and academic accomplishments
¨ Be aware of the warning signs; look for changes in attitude, peer groups, drop in grades and other signs of unhappiness or disconnect with school
Communicate with your school often:
¨ Read the Student Rights and Responsibilities regarding school district’s policy on attendance
¨ Respond quickly to the school when it notifies you of absences
¨ Always call the school when your child will be absent
¨ Learn how to check absences, either on-line or with the school office
¨ If you have issues or concerns, contact the school
¨ Know who the resources within your school are and ask for help
¨ Be involved. Develop positive relationships with your school. It is a coordinated effort to help all students to succeed.
All of the above information and more can be found in the district Attendance Matters brochure.
DECEMBER 6 - Parent Café- 10am English, El Cafecito - 11am Spanish
DECEMBER TOPIC: READING
- Join our Title 1 teachers for great information on Reading and how you can help your student succeed! (Coffee, and refreshments available if joining in person. Sign in at the office 10 minutes before it starts)
click on picture for English session
click on picture for Spanish session
Spirit Week!
Thank you for our Spirit Wear!!!
Thank you to our amazing PTA for the great support and for our awesome Spirit Wear!
Our PTA is in looking for more members. Join the PTA by the online link or stop by the school to fill out a membership form.
Online link: oliviaparkpta.memberplanet.com
Our next meeting is DECEMBER 15, 2022 at 6pm. Join us!
Volunteers are Back
There are many ways you can volunteer at OP. Here are some of the ways our volunteers have helped:
- recess assistance
- Arrival/Dismissal
- classroom
- classroom preparations
- library
Your Right to Know— Title I, Part A schools
Professional Qualifications of Teachers
Parents of children attending Title I, Part A schools have the right to request and receive information about the qualifications of the educators who teach students core subjects—reading, English language arts and mathematics.
At a minimum, the information given to you must explain these three essential components of an educator’s qualifications. Whether the student’s teacher–
1. Has met state qualification and licensing criteria for the grade levels and subject areas in which the teacher provides instruction.
2. Is teaching under emergency or other provisional status through which state qualification or licensing criteria have been waived.
3. Is teaching in the field of discipline of the certification of the teacher.
Qualifications of Paraprofessionals
Parents of children attending Title I, Part A schools have the right to request and receive information about the qualifications of the paraeducators who teach students in a core academic subject area.
Paraeducators must work under the supervision of a certified teacher. In schools that operate a schoolwide program, all paraprofessionals must have special qualifications. Schools that operate a Title I, Part A program must have a high school diploma or GED and completed the following:
1. Completed at least two years of study at an institution of higher education; or
2. Obtained an associate’s or higher degree; or
3. Meet a high standard of quality either through a) the ETS ParaPro Assessment; b) a paraeducator apprenticeship program approved by Washington State; or c) portfolio program.
Mukilteo School District Non-Discrimination Statement
Mukilteo School District does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following employees have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination: Civil Rights Coordinator and Title IX Coordinator Simone Neal (425-356-1319), nealsr@mukilteo.wednet.edu, Section 504 Coordinator Lisa Pitsch (425-356-1277), pitschla@mukilteo.wednet.edu, and the ADA/Access Coordinator Karen Mooseker (425-356-1330), moosekerkw@mukilteo.wednet.edu. Address: 9401 Sharon Drive in Everett, WA. Inquiries regarding ADA/Access issues at Sno-Isle TECH Skills Center should be directed to Wes Allen, Director (425-348-2220) allenwr@mukilteo.wednet.edu. Address: 9001 Airport Road in Everett, WA 98204.