VFE Falcon Family Newsletter
February 2021
Principal Update
Dear Falcon Family,
Welcome to February! This month marks the one-year anniversary of reopening the building and welcoming students back for in-person instruction. The last year has brought unforeseen challenges and gifts for many in our community. While the list of challenges is often what draws our attention, we encourage you and your family to think about the gifts of the last year.
For us, the greatest gift is getting to welcome students back each day and work alongside an amazing team as we fulfill our promise to know, value, and support each and every child. Endeavoring to this end amid the pandemic means that we have a laser-like focus on ensuring each and every child grows and learns the most important skills and content. It means we relentlessly focus on creating more learning reps so that we prevent or mitigate learning gaps that may have opened because of lack of access to in-person, daily instruction. And, as you will see in the "Well Child" section below, based on our winter benchmark assessments in reading and math, as well as data we keep on students in need of social-emotional and behavioral support, we are making tremendous progress.
We encourage you to make time to review each part of the newsletter. VFE is truly walking toward the educational experience Dr. King called us to when he stated, “The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.” From Kindergarten registration information to news about how VFE is recognizing Black History Month to great PurposeFull Family activities tied to this month's character trait--cooperation, you will get the information you need to engage and support your student and our community as we reach for the goal of a true education for each and every Falcon.
Make it a great day to be a Falcon!
Wade Jerdee, Assistant Principal
Adam Uhler, Principal
Black History Month
As you all know, February is Black History Month. At Victor Falls, we acknowledge that Black History is American History and should be recognized all year long. To highlight Black Excellence, VFE is once again hosting two plays from Bright Star Theatre, one is called “Heroes of the Underground Railroad” and the other is “The Black History Hall of Fame.” To further the discussion at home, click on the link to the study guides that have been created to process the plays and engage in deeper conversations with your child. Additionally, here is a link for 7 easy and inspiring activities to celebrate Black History month at home. Lastly, Netflix Junior has a great playlist on celebrating Black voices through read alouds on YouTube. We hope you find meaning in using these tools to have deeper conversations with your family.
Kindergarten Registration begins Feb 1st!
Kindergarten enrollement for the 2022-23 school year begins Feb. 1. Our online enrollment process allows you to complete the process from anywhere at any time. Visit our enrollment page to begin. Families can learn more by visiting Kindergarten page on the SBLSD website.
Well Child Check Up--Winter Benchmark Results
Some of the celebrations from the benchmark include 92% of fifth-graders scoring in Tier 1 (green), which means that 92% of fifth-grade students demonstrate the reading skills they need to succeed and learn grade-level content. You will see results for the second, third, and fourth grades below. Our results for each of those grades are significantly higher than the national average. And, while the results for Kidner and first grade are not above the national average yet, students in both grades made significant gains in the most important foundational reading skills.
2nd Grade Reading
15% increase in the number of students in Tier1 and decrease the number of students needing intensive support by 11%
3rd Grade Reading
4th Grade Reading
Welcome to the Blue Crew!
Free COVID Tests
Free home Covid-19 tests
Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order free at-home COVID-19 tests through the United States Postal Service. Orders will ship for free starting in late January.
- Limit of one order per residential address
- One order includes four individual rapid antigen COVID-19 tests
- Orders usually ship within 7 to 12 days
- Place your order here
In addition to this federal program, Washington residents are slated to soon be able to order test kits through the state
PurposeFull Family
February's Trait of the Month is Cooperation! A lot of messaging in our world would suggest that “doing it on your own” is a measure of success. And while independence is important, children must develop skills to work alongside one another and create things, together, in a peaceful and productive way. Over the course of the month, students will be creative in teams, accomplish amazing things side by side, and learn about what it means to do meaningful, PurposeFull work together.
Please follow these links to the Courage Parent Newsletter: K-2 Cooperation Newsletter, K-2 Cooperation Newsletter En Espanol, 3-5 Cooperation Newsletter, 3-5 Cooperation Newsletter En Espanol.
School Board Meeting
National School Counselor Week
Councelor Corner
As the days are shorter and darker, and winter is in full swing, many folks have been experiencing feelings of sadness and anxiety. In addition to teaching our standard SEL lessons through Character Strong and Second Step, many teachers have begun to incorporate more mindfulness throughout their day, to help our students feel grounded and present in their learning. I wanted to share some helpful information about mindfulness so that you can partner with us in teaching your child this helpful practice.
So, what is mindfulness exactly? Mindfulness has been defined as “a moment-to-moment awareness of one’s experience without judgement.” This means having conscious awareness of our own thoughts, feelings, sensations, and behaviors, without passing judgments or having opinions about them. For example, we are teaching our students that they are acting mindfully if they listen to a song they love, and notice every tiny detail in the sound. Or that maybe a student has felt nervous before they take a test, and they name the feeling, accept it, and use a strategy to help cope.
The opposite of mindfulness would be those times when your body is on autopilot. For example, maybe you’ve eaten a meal and realized you didn’t taste a thing, just because you weren’t paying attention.
We are teaching mindfulness because studies have found that those who regularly practice mindfulness develop changes in how their brain functions that contribute to emotional regulation, concentration, and cognitive processing speed. If you would like to try out mindfulness as a family, and help create those positive pathways in your and your child’s brain, here are a few great resources!
This is a great app that gives short mindful activities that you can do with your child. https://www.headspace.com/
- This Family Mindfulness Schedule. It gives great pointers and activities to bring mindfulness into your daily routine.
Mental wellness, suicide prevention training: Feb. 10
The increase in young people's mental health challenges is alarming. Do you know what to do if your child, family member or friend shows suicide warning signs? Most suicides are preventable and everyone in our community plays an important role.
You’re invited to participate in a free virtual community event to learn five simple and effective Forefront Suicide Prevention LEARN® steps that will empower you to help others move in the direction of hope, recovery and survival.
LEARN Saves Lives: Suicide Prevention Community Training
- Feb. 10
- 6 to 7:15 p.m.
- Register at tinyurl.com/4ycwfdnm
Event presented by University of Washington Forefront Suicide Prevention and the Sumner-Bonney Lake School District.
Attendance waiver application window opening soon
Pick Up/Drop Off Protocols
Family Assistance
Would a weekend food bag for your student be helpful? Would a Thanksgiving meal kit be helpful? Would a few Holiday gifts be helpful? If you answered yes to any of these questions please fill out this form by clicking VFE Family Assistance or scanning this QR code. It can be translated to English, Spanish, Ukrainian, and Russian. Additionally, this is confidential and free to any family who can benefit from it.
Join the Sumner Bonney Lake School District!
See more information about job opportunities at VFE and SBLSD by viewing the Employment page.
Key Dates
Please check our website for updates.
For other key dates, check your mailbox soon for the 2021-22 school year calendar.
Victor Falls Elementary
Email: VFE@sumnersd.org
Website: sumnersd.org/vfe
Location: 11401 188th Ave Ct E, Bonney Lake, WA, USA
Phone: (253) 891-4700
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