WildCat News
June 12, 2020
In This Issue...
- Staffing Update
- Thank You Woodin Volunteers
- Notes from the Nurse
- Field Day
- Student Drop Off & Pick Up of Belongings
- PTA Message
- On Line Resources for Families
- School Year Planning
- Kindergarten Registration
June Save the Dates:
June 12 - Virtual Field Day
June 12 - Virtual Woodin Wonders Talent Show
June 17 - 5th Grade Virtual Moving Up Ceremony at 5:00pm
June 18 - 5th Grade Dual Celebration Lunch at 11:30am
June 18 - 5th Grade Single Language Celebration Lunch at 12:00pm
June 19 - Virtual Field Day
June 19 - End of Year Virtual Assembly - Last Day of School
Staffing Update
As the school year comes to an end we would like to share with you some staffing changes for the 2020/2021 school year.
Mrs. Lee, our wonderfully talented music teacher, is entering a new journey in her life. Mrs. Lee and her husband will be moving to Philadelphia due to her husband's new job. This was an opportunity that they could not pass up. As you can imagine, this is a very hard time for her to leave a community that she loves so much. Mrs. Lee joined our Woodin community five years ago. After the very first time watching her with children, I knew she was the perfect fit for our school. Mrs. Lee is very talented and has a calm, loving way that she interacts with students. She has allowed children opportunities to explore the joy of music, and has led many student performances, including our 3-5 grade orchestra. Students are often found leaving recess to join Mrs. Lee in her music room where they can explore singing, listening and playing instruments. Mrs. Lee, we thank you for your contributions to our students, our music program, as well as your teacher leadership. You will be deeply missed!
Mr. Taylor, our talented school counselor, has recently accepted a full time position at another school in our district. Over the last two years, Mr. Taylor has shared his time between Kenmore Elementary and Woodin. Although he was hoping to stay at Woodin, working full time will allow him to have consistency, focus on building his counseling program, and mentoring novice counselors. Mr. Taylor has brought an abundance of joy to our Woodin community. Mr. Taylor is student focused and a strong advocate for all students. We often found him out at recess, leading small groups or teaching lessons in the classroom... all in efforts to connect with students. Mr. Taylor, we will miss your humor and partnership.
Mrs. Haight, our creative, hard working technology specialist has recently accepted a position in Northshore's newest elementary school. This was a very hard decision for Mrs. Haight as she is very connected to our Woodin students, staff and families. She saw this as a great opportunity to grow her practice with all that comes with opening a new school. Mrs. Haight started at Woodin as reading tutor with our Learning Assistant Program. She loved every minute working with students on building their reading skills. Last year, she moved into the STS technology position where she continued to prove that she is a strong advocate for students. During on line learning she is found connecting with families, troubleshooting technology issues and just being available to remove barriers for our students. Mrs. Haight, we wish you the best of luck in your next chapter!
We are hoping this is only good bye for now.. Once a Wildcat, always a Wildcat. Wishing all three of you the best of luck with your new journey!
Please help us welcome some new additions to the Woodin community:
Matthew Howe
Matthew is joining the Woodin community as our part time school counselor. He has just finished his Masters Degree at Seattle Pacific University in school counseling. He comes to us from Salmon Bay Elementary and Madison Middle School. He comes highly recommended and will be an asset to Woodin.
Isabelle Papen
Isabelle is joining the Woodin community as our new music teacher. She comes to us with 2 years of experience teaching elementary music in the Puyallup School District. Isabelle is moving from Puyallup to Mukilteo and is excited to join the Woodin team. Isabelle was highly recommended, with strengths in classroom management and leadership.
Our hiring team is continuing to work on hiring a half time overload PE teacher as Mrs. Dixey is moving to 5th grade as a job share with Mrs. Merritt. We will keep you updated.
Thank You Woodin Volunteers!!!
Notes From the Nurse
Greetings, what an unusual spring it has been for all of us. I hope all of you are keeping healthy and feeling the joy of summer break coming soon.
The Woodin Food Bank will continue being open for the summer. We will be open every Thursday from 10:45-11:30. Please stop by, if you need some food or toiletry items. The lower parking lot is open and you can get a bag of items in front of the office.
Medications will be returned to families on June 16th from 9:00-2:00. If you are unable to come at that time, please contact me and we can make other arrangements. I also want to remind families of 5th graders that they need to have their Tdap booster before they enter 6th grade.
If you have a child entering kindergarten in the fall, make sure to keep their immunization schedule and complete their immunizations before the beginning of the school year. Records can be sent to me @ dmurphy@nsd.org and/or you can send the record to the middle school nurse during the summer for those Tdap boosters.
I am hopeful we will all be together again sometime soon!
Nurse Deb
FIELD DAY!
We hope you have been enjoying participating in Field Day at home. Here is the link to the Field Day Website. We have loved seeing the photos and videos you are sending in. We will be posting weekly photo collages on Fridays along with the new Field Day events - come check it out!! The next five events are coming out today! And the last five will be published on the 19th! Don't forget to submit your participation form on the 19th (or anytime that weekend) so you can be counted in the Whole School Challenge! Check out what you can win if your class has the most participation! Video
Mr. Cooper and Mrs. Dixey
STUDENT DROP-OFF AND PICK-UP OF BELONGINGS
PICK-UP/ DROP-OFF PROTOCOLS FOR FAMILIES:
Pick-up must occur during the schedule below.
Prior to pick-up, prepare a sign with your child’s first and last name. Display this sign so that it is clearly visible.
Prior to pick-up, sort your materials in this way:
School library books in a separate bag, labeled with your child’s first and last name.
Classroom materials (textbooks, classroom library books, math manipulatives, etc) bagged together in a plastic bag(s), labeled with your child’s name and classroom teacher’s name.
Single Language Classes: Cars may enter from 195th into the lower parking lot. Drop-off/pick-up will occur in the parent pick up line, along the curb. If there is no space at the curb, loop around.
Dual Language Classes: Cars may enter from 195th into the upper parking lot where the buses pick up. Drop-off/pick-up will occur at the bus line, along the curb. If there is no space at the curb, loop around.
Pull as far forward as possible along the curb. A staff member will take materials you are dropping off and will give you any materials you are picking up.
All parents and students must stay in their cars. No parking will be allowed.
**Pick-Up Locations **
Single language - parent pick-up line (lower lot)
Dual language - bus loading zone (upper parking lot)
Congratulations to our 2019 - 20 Woodin PTA Award Recipients for their exceptionally great work enriching the lives of our students.
Dan Brush is our Golden Acorn Winner! Thank you, Dan, for everything from welcoming our students to school each day to serving as PTA President and much more!
Heather Jenks is our Outstanding Educator! Thank you, Heather, for your particular care in meeting the diverse needs of our students and families even during the pandemic.
Principal Dawn Bowers is our Outstanding Advocate! Thank you, Principal Bowers, for working with our staff continually to always make Woodin more responsive to the needs of our students and families and for being a great partner with PTA.
Thank you to everyone who sent in nominations so we could recognize these outstanding individuals. The awards were presented at this week's PTA meeting and each recipient expressed how appreciative they were for all the support they have received from the Woodin community. Each recipient will receive a plaque, and a pin and a donation will be made in their honor to a high school senior.
Our Woodin PTA Team Still Needs You! Here's an updated list of what's open.
We have several Board positions still open for the 20-21 school year. Please consider volunteering your time as a committee chair or submitting a nomination for a position. Any questions direct to Crystal Affolter (crystalaffolter@outlook.com), Lorena Espinoza (lorenaespinozavargas92@gmail.com) or Jen Drury (jennifercalkins@hotmail.com). For more detailed info on each open position see the PTA webpage.
We need: Vice President of Events, Membership Chair, Advocacy Chair, and Natural Leaders Liaison. Find a friend to share a position with you!
Vice President of Programs - Overseas year-long programs like ACE and Staff Appreciation and works with board and committee leaders
Vice President of Events - Oversees all events, works with board and committee leaders
Secretary - Documents all board and general membership meetings
Advocacy Chair - Advocates for policy at all levels that promotes the health and well-being of our children.
Natural Leader Liaison - Liaison between the PTA board and natural leaders
Membership Chair - Maintains Member Database and Promotes the Benefits of Membership. This position could be split between an introvert and an extrovert
Committee Chairs -
- Art Docent - Art docent coordinator will work with classroom docents, provide training, update resource material and plan art walks. FILLED! Thanks, Ruth!
- Book Fair - Organize the book fairs along with the librarian which take place in the Woodin Library. FILLED! Thanks Jenny and Jen!
- Families Helping Families - Communicates with Deb Murphy and organizes food and clothing drives based on the needs of the school community. FILLED! Thanks, Shannon!
- Family Bingo Night - Organizes a committee to put on the winter Bingo Night. Has one committee member: FILLED! Thanks Alexie!
- Golden Acorn / Outstanding Educator Awards - Committee to work with last year's winners to solicit nominations and organize the votes.
- Reflections - Helps advertise and gather entries for the National PTA art reflections contest. FILLED! Thanks, Crystal!
- Science Fair - Facilitates science fair entries and organizes science fair night. FILLED! Thanks, Judy!
- Veteran's Day Reception - Organizes reception and procures donations from community and/or Woodin families for the reception following the Veteran's Day assembly.
- Spirit Wear - Promotes, orders and sells Woodin Swag.
- Staff Appreciation - Plans full week of activities in May for Staff Appreciation week. Also organizes monthly staff lunch by grade level.
- Vision and Hearing - Finds and organizes volunteers to assist the school nurse with vision and hearing testing.
- Welcome Back Ice-Cream Social - Organizes the family ice cream social at the beginning of the school year.
- 5th Grade Promotion - Works with 5th grade teachers to organize graduation ceremony and end of year celebration.
- E-Prep Chair - Works with district to make sure each classroom has emergency supplies stocked. FILLED! Thanks, Yvonne!
- Communications Chair - Update, maintain PTA website, communicate via social media, compiles and edit newsletters and e-mail blasts as needed.
- Northshore Schools Foundation Liaison - Communicates to Staff new opportunities for support from this organization and ways that our families can support this organization's efforts.
- Special Education Representative - Stays up to date on latest policies and best practices for including all students. Helps PTA and school be inclusive for all students.
- Gymnastics Fun Day Coordinator - Coordinate with a local gym to host open gym. Typically on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Proceeds go to PTA.
Please take our short survey so we can get your feedback and strive to better serve our community.
Online Safety Resources for Families - Great for Summer
Articles:
Privacy and Internet Safety
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/privacy-and-internet-safety
Internet Safety
https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/net-safety.html
SafeSearch
https://www.safesearchkids.com/internet-safety-tips-for-kids/#.XsamtRdKiu4
Online Resources:
NSD Family Education: Digital Citizenship
NSD Website for Distance Learning Tools & Resources
https://www.nsd.org/covid19/northshore-learns
Resources for Families During the Pandemic
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/resources-for-families-during-the-coronavirus-pandemic
2020-21 School Year Planning
One last reminder! If your child will not be returning to Woodin Elementary next school year please send an email to Danielle Parrish, at dparrish@nsd.org, if you haven't done so already.
Kindergarten Registration for 2020-21 School Year
Woodin Elementary
Email: tcussac@nsd.org
Website: www.woodin.nsd.org
Location: 12950 Northeast 195th Street, Bothell, WA, USA
Phone: (425)-408-5400