Ruby Bridges News
November 2023, Edition 7
Welcoming December...
We are so grateful for the amazing support for our students showcased in collaboration during the conferences weeks. It was wonderful to see many families visiting with teaching staff and many classrooms where students were also a part of showcasing learning and growth in the conference periods. Thank you also to each family who approached schedule changes and adjustments with attention to detail--we appreciated how quickly our dismissal process was able to go even with the changes in end of day timing.
Special thank you and shout outs for our PTSA Sponsored Book Fair! Mrs. Randles along with the support of Emily Cross and Jane Chou as well as numerous grown-ups who came to volunteer throughout our book fair days. So much book joy was had by all, and we are excited to see how the library benefits from the book fair sales!
This month we would also like to give a shout out of thanks to our PE team who puts together a really fun, learning and joy-centered stations rotation during our conference week. I always find myself wishing PE looked this awesome when I was a student! You can ask your students to share some of the fun things they did during these stations! Take a look at the photos below, and when you see Mr. Fisher and Mr. Hatlen, consider sharing gratitude!
We have a few important and exciting dates to pay attention to this coming week/month of December!
- Student Leadership is running a clothing drive (see flier below) from 11/27-12/12. Please consider donating to the clothing drive to support our Northshore Threads and Treads clothing program.
- IOWA Tests for those qualifying in the HiCap testing process will occur over the next three Wednesdays. 11/29 Grades 2 and 3, 12/6 Grade 1 and 12/13 Grades 4 and 5. Only students qualifying for this testing are tested, and families have already been contacted to provide permission for testing participation if your student qualified for this part of the testing process.
- Picture Retake Day is November 30th! If you want a new photo taken, missed the first one or just moved to Ruby Bridges, please see below for details for pictures on November 30th.
- Principal and Grown-Ups Zoom Connection Meeting is on December 5th at 12pm! Join us to connect, ask questions or share ideas. https://nsd.zoom.us/my/mrs.davis
- Ruby Bridges CHOIR, MARIMBA and DRUM LINE Concert on December 12th at 6pm in the Gym at Ruby Bridges! Come enjoy the music and the talents of our students/staff. All are welcome.
- Pajama/Onesie Spirit Day on December 15th! Student Leadership is hosting a pajama/onesie day on December 15th as we lead into our winter break. Join us for a day of comfortable clothing!
Emergency Drills and Prep:
During the month of December we practice a Shelter in Place drill with students. Students will practice what to do for the drill and staff will review procedures in compliance with our emergency preparation standards. On November 29th during the early release time after 2:30pm our Ruby Bridges staff will also practice for a reunification process in the event of a needed early or emergency evacuation from campus. This drill practice allows us to be read to run an organized plan of student release to trusted emergency contacts for our students if needed in the event of emergency reunification.
**REMINDER ON DECEMBER DATES:*
Winter Break will run from December 18th through January 1st. School will be closed all of these days. Champions will also be closed at Ruby Bridges during that time. The first day back to school in 2024 will be Tuesday, January 2nd.
Thank you all for all the ways you support the school and our community of learners! :)
In partnership,
Cathi Davis and Meghan Crane
WINNER WINNER!!! Congratulations Kriya Rajpal
This year our student leadership ran its first annual T-shirt design competition to provide all students with a chance to design a special edition T-shirt for sale in the school year. We are pleased to announce that after all submissions were reviewed and narrowed down to a top three, the winning submission was selected! Congratulations to KRIYA RAJPAL! We look forward to offering this T-shirt design for sale as a student leadership fundraiser soon. We will share links for purchasing a shirt if you are interested most likely in January 2024.
NOVEMBER 30th is Picture Retake Day!
Did you miss picture day or want to take a new picture? Retake day will be on November 30th!
Orders may be placed online by searching for Ruby Bridges Elementary at mydorian.com and selecting the green Order button next to our school retake day event. Online orders are available up to 4 days after retake day.
If you already ordered and want a new picture taken please be sure to return your original picture packet to the photographer on retake day. If your original order was a digital download, please have your student or student's teacher notify the photographer.
A Message from Nurse Peggy Shaw
STAY HOME WHEN SICK
Because students can be sick due to do reasons other than Covid, please see below for guidelines that the school nurse uses to evaluate students who may need to go home. If your child has any of these symptoms below, please keep them home until the symptoms subside.
APPEARANCE/BEHAVIOR: unusually tired, difficult to wake, pale in color, irritable, lack of appetite; these are often signs of underlying illness.
FEVER: temperature of 100 degrees or higher. Child may be sent home without a fever if other symptoms are present. Your child must be fever free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medications) before they can return to school.
SORE THROAT: especially with fever and/or swollen glands.
EYES: discharge, swelling, redness, itchiness, pain, and/or crusting may be signs of conjunctivitis. Medical evaluation may be necessary.
NASAL DRAINAGE/COUGH: yellow or green nasal drainage, and/or cough, may prevent your child or other students from being able to concentrate. They may expose others to illness, especially if they cannot control their secretions.
VOMITING/DIARRHEA: Your child must not have any episodes of vomiting or diarrhea for 24 hours before they can return to school.
RASH: any rash of unknown cause should be considered contagious. Please have your child examined by a health care provider to determine the cause and communicability of the rash before returning to school. The school may require a note from the health care provider stating that the rash is not contagious.
It is not unusual for student to feel great in the morning and then worse as the day goes by. The school is not equipped for prolonged care of your sick student. We require that you or an emergency contact will pick up your sick child within the hour that you are called. Please notify your school of any changes to your emergency contacts, it is important to have a list of available contacts if we are not able to reach you.
Thank you for helping us keep our schools safe and healthy.
Inclement Weather Information from NSD
Dear Northshore Families and Secondary Students:
As winter weather approaches, this is a good time to remind our Northshore community about the District’s snow and hazardous road condition response. The decision to close or delay schools due to inclement weather is made by the Superintendent as early as possible, typically by 5:30 a.m.
Northshore is a large district that covers over 60 square miles. While conditions may seem normal in your neighborhood, it may be unsafe in others. All of this is taken into consideration when a decision is made to cancel, delay, activate snow routes, or keep everything on a normal schedule. Please take the time now to prepare for unexpected weather by checking your student’s snow route using the link below.
If the district does not make an announcement, it means schools are open and buses are operating normally.
SCHOOL SCHEDULE CHANGE OPTIONS
If there is a change to the schedule, one of the following messages will be announced:
Closed
All district schools are closed.
No after school/evening activities, athletics, or band/orchestra.
On Time, Snow Bus Routes
Buses start at normal time, but are on snow routes.
School starts at regular time.
2 Hours Late, Normal Bus Routes
Buses start 2 hours late on normal routes.
School starts 2 hours late with regular dismissal time.
Check the closure and delay webpage for additional details: https://www.nsd.org/resources/reference/closures-delays
2 Hours Late, Snow Bus Routes
Buses start 2 hours late on snow routes.
School starts 2 hours late with regular dismissal time.
Check the closure and delay webpage for additional details: https://www.nsd.org/resources/reference/closures-delays
SNOW ROUTE INFORMATION
Weather conditions may affect bus routes in the District. If your home is located on a steep hill, it is possible that your bus stop may change during inclement weather. When snow routes are announced it is important to remember the following:
Your student’s afternoon drop off time will remain unchanged.
If snow routes are used in the morning, they will also be used in the afternoon regardless of weather conditions.
Dress your student accordingly for cold weather. Further delays may occur due to road conditions and traffic.
For most Northshore students, their snow stop will be the same as their regular bus stop.
To view your student’s snow route visit the snow route webpage.
STAYING INFORMED
If weather conditions make a schedule change necessary, Northshore School District will communicate the decision through the following methods and in this order:
TV and Radio Stations: Checking the local television or radio stations is an effective and efficient way to find out if there is a schedule change.
Northshore School District social media:
Instagram: @teamnorthshore
Twitter: @Northshore_SD
Facebook: Northshore School District
District and School Websites: We post school schedule updates to the District and school websites as early as possible between 5:30 a.m. and 5:45 a.m.
Phone calls, emails, and text messages: Families will receive a phone call, email, text message, starting at 5:45 a.m., however other communication channels may be faster.
Northshore Information Line: You may also call the district’s information line, 425-408-6001, beginning at 6 a.m., Monday through Friday for school closure information.
MANAGING PHONE CALLS AND COMMUNICATION PREFERENCES
When there is an emergency school schedule change, the phone number(s) listed as the primary contacts are called. Please confirm your primary phone number in ParentVUE.
SCHOOL YEAR CALENDAR DATES
If we need to cancel school due to inclement weather, emergency make-up days are already identified. Emergency make-up days include: May 24, June 25, and June 26. Please be aware of the June dates when making vacation and family plans.
For more information please visit the district’s closure and delay webpage.
New PTSA Sponsored Activity: MATH CHALLENGE
Share your math skills and participate in the math challenge, an activity for any students to enjoy at Ruby Bridges. Use the links below to learn more about the Math in Action Math Challenge including when challenges are available in the month along with how to submit your responses.
Good luck and ENJOY the MATH.
School URL: https://www.mathinaction.org/ruby-bridges.html
Calendar: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bJry0hlwGhb7T-VE3jMBhKlGyM-TTJuyQ8MCvsqsWEk/edit
Submissions via Google Form: https://forms.gle/eVERK4q9YCR8GL917
Champions Before and After School Care:
Champions is a Before and After-School program based right here at Ruby Bridges Elementary! We provide a place where kids laugh, learn, and thrive in a safe and healthy environment. Our program builds upon your child’s educational experience and places emphasis on homework help, social emotional learning, and leadership opportunities.
Champions also offers programs during break times; like Winter Break, Mid-Winter Break, Spring Break, and Summer Camp!
The need for growing connections and friendships, building confidence in who they are, experiencing joy, and expressing themselves in creative ways is more critical for students than ever!
Join Champions today and give yourself peace of mind while you allow us the privilege of caring for your child!
Visit www.discoverchampions.com, and reach out to our Ruby Bridges Champions Site Director, Tyler Jones, at ch001662@discoverchampions.com to register today!
PTSA Sponsored: Interested in Connecting with Grade Level Families via Facebook Groups?
Ruby Bridges Elementary School
Email: cdavis@nsd.org
Website: https://rubybridges.nsd.org
Location: 20510 49th Dr SE, Woodinville, WA, USA
Phone: 425-408-8700
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/rubybridgesNSD
Twitter: @northshore_SD