The Sailor Signal
Cottage Lake Elementary - August 29, 2021
A Note from Principal Welch
We are just a few days away from the beginning of the 2021-2022 school year. Our incredible staff engaged in three days of professional learning this past week to help us anchor our year and prepare to set sail. This past Thursday, we also held our Meet the Teacher event. It was absolutely amazing to see so many of you attend the event. The energy was awesome and it was a pretty incredible feeling to see students back in our classrooms. I am really looking forward to the year ahead!
Our Facility staff has been working hard during July and August to prepare for our full opening to students. Classrooms are clean, desks and chairs have been cleaned, floors mopped and waxed, air filters changed, and final touches are being made in the next couple of days. I want to thank our custodial staff, Chris and Steven, for working so hard to make sure we have the best possible space for our students!
We could not be on this journey this year without you. I thank you for your partnership as we launch the 2021-2022 school year. I look forward to welcoming our students to school this coming week!
Welcome Aboard, Sailors!
~ Jen Welch, Principal
•• SCHOOL NEWS ••
District Technology Device Information
This year, all our students will have devices assigned to them. All Kindergarten through 1st-grade students will be using iPads, but they will stay at school. All 2nd through 5th-grade students will be assigned a Chromebook that should be taken home and returned each day. Staff will be teaching students how to care for their devices and also be sure they bring their computers back each morning fully charged.
In order for students to receive their device, we need parents/guardians to complete a "Student Device Use agreement." This can be done by clicking HERE, using the QR code in this section, downloading the PDF attachment, or come by the office to complete a paper copy of the form. We would like for ALL 2nd through 5th-grade families to complete a form for each of their students no later than Friday, September 10. We are hoping to deploy devices to students ASAP, but we must have forms submitted before we can do so.
Before any device is handed to a student, the Student Device Use Agreement needs to be completed by a parent or guardian.
Parents can sign the use agreement online by visiting https://bit.ly/nsddeviceform and looking up their student(s) by student ID. OR you may go to the below QR code to form.
When signing the Student Device Use Agreement, we are asking parent/guardians to agree to:
This agreement is to be used when issuing a Northshore School District device or other technology for use by a student at home. Use of any technology in the context of teaching and learning is governed by the guidelines and expectations set forth in the NSD Responsible Use Procedure (RUP) and School Board Policy 2022 and Procedure 2022P. As stated within those documents, access to NSD technology is a privilege, not a right, and as such, students and guardians must seriously consider the responsibilities associated with the opportunity to use technology devoted to activities that support learning.
We understand that the student takes full responsibility for the issued device and related accessories, and the school is not responsible for the security and safety of the student-issued device.
We understand that if the device is stolen, damaged, or lost, the student or parent/guardian shall make every reasonable effort to notify school staff as soon as possible.
We understand that the student will use the device in ways consistent with the Northshore School District Responsible Use Procedure (2022P) and will use the device only for school-related purposes.
We understand that the device will be configured with a web filter that will ensure the student’s web activity is limited to those web services that have been approved for use by the district.
We understand that all web activity on this device is monitored and can be used at any time to aid in student support and/or disciplinary action.
We understand the expectations for device care:
Student will not leave the device unattended at any time while at school or in a public place.
Student will not remove the District barcode labels or mark the device in any way with markers, stickers, scratches, engravings, etc.
Student will not remove the hard drive and/or modify the device’s operating system in any way.
Student will not install, or attempt to install, any unauthorized software or browser extensions.
Student will not remove or bypass, or attempt to remove or bypass, any software or extensions.
We understand that the student may lose his/her technology equipment privileges as a result of inappropriate behavior, damage, neglect, or loss.
Below are ways families can access the needed Agreement forms. EACH student will need a separate form completed. These forms are needed for students in 2nd grade through 5th grade.
Meet our 2021-2022 staff
We all look forward to celebrating the upcoming year with you all. There will be some familiar faces as well as some new ones. I’d like to take this opportunity to share with you our staffing assignments to date. There are still a few additional staff to be hired and that is happening as quickly as possible.
Classroom Teachers
- Kindergarten: Kara Morrison, Emily Ninmol, and Sue Wright
- First Grade: Michelle, Baer, April Quinn, and Lisa Stookey
- Primary FSA: Casey Klinich
- Second Grade: Linda Mismas and Cheryl Stief
- Third Grade: Alison Castro and Mairead Kinney
- Fourth Grade: Vicky Cohen and Janice Rendahl
- Intermediate FSA: Carrie Kaltenbach
- Fourth/Fifth Grade Split: Ann Dawson
- Fifth Grade: Kamille Skinner
- Library: Suzanne Sterling
- PE: Cyrus Darling and Leia Cumberland [A leave replacement is still to be hired for Mrs. Cumberland for the first semester of the school year.]
- Music: Kelsey Hanning and Elaine Hoffman
- Orchestra: Missy Newman
- Band: Kayla Smith
- Learning Center: Gina Kruaprasert
- EL/ML & LAP: Christy Michaelis
Student arrival to school
- There will NOT be a before-school recess this year.
- Students should arrive on campus no earlier than 9:20 AM.
- Breakfast will be available between 9:20-9:40 AM
- If students arrive to campus through either of our side gates, students should walk straight to their class line-up location.
- If students arrive to campus by bus, students would wait in line, socially distanced, until a staff member comes out and invites students onto campus at 9:20 AM.
- If students arrive to campus by car, students will be greeted by adults in our car loop. Students should plan to exit their car on the passenger side of the car, whenever possible. Students then walk to their line-up location.
Students dismissal from school
- If students are riding the bus home, students will line up in their bus lines and then the lines will be escorted to their bus. Masks should be worn the entire time.
- If students are riding home in a car, students will line up on socially distanced dots until their name is called to come forward to meet your car. Family members should stand together at the same dot.
- If students are being greeted by an adult to walk home, parents/guardians should meet their students on the walkway that is parallel to the front office. This is separate from the car pick-up area.
- If students are meeting parents/guardians at the back gate, students can walk to this location.
Required Yearly forms to be signed
"Dear Northshore Families,
Annually the District provides parents/guardians with notification of forms that must be acknowledged, including:
- WA State Attendance Letter
- Rights and Responsibilities Handbook
- Weapons Letter
- Student Housing Questionnaire
- Permission to Withhold Student Directory Information
We ask that you login to ParentVUE today to view these forms. If you have never logged into ParentVUE, you will find instructions on how to do so when you click the link above. Please know that when you next login to ParentVUE, you will be prompted to download, read, and take action for each of the forms listed above. Additionally, secondary students will be prompted to download, read and acknowledge the Rights and Responsibilities Handbook when they login to StudentVUE. Families with elementary students are encouraged to review the handbook together in ParentVUE with their students. These forms must be completed no later than Oct. 15.
The forms are available in English, Spanish, Chinese Simplified, Chinese Traditional, Russian, Portuguese, Vietnamese, Korean, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu. If you would like to access a paper copy of these forms, please contact your school’s main office.
If you have any questions about these forms, please contact Student Services at (425) 408-7725 or by email at studentsvcs@nsd.org."
NEW COVID safety updates
Below is new information to share:
- Families can access the 2021-2022 COVID-19 Safety Protocol Handbook by clicking here.
- Families can access our NSD COVID-19 Data Dashboard by clicking here.
- Dr. Reid and Duggan Harman's Northshore News broadcast from August 26, 2021
- Masks should be worn on busses for the entire length of the ride.
- Students are asked to wear masks outdoors when they are playing on the play structure at recess or congregating or in line before school or after recess.
- We will establish "Mask Break" areas out at recess that also maintains social distancing.
- In the coming weeks, we will hear more about COVID batch testing. We will be engaging in the testing, but details are still forthcoming.
•• REPEAT SCHOOL NEWS ••
COVID safety updates
OVERALL SCHOOL-WIDE THINGS:
- All adults and students are required to wear a mask/face covering that cover the nose and mouth at school. Neck gaiters are not an approved face covering. If your child wears a gaiter, they will be asked to wear an approved mask under the gaiter.
- We will continue to practice social distancing. In the classroom, desks will be placed 3' apart, whenever possible.
- All students will wear masks during PE, Music, and Library
- At this time, we will not be conducting temperature checks, we will not be asking adults at home to complete a daily health attestation, and we will not be conducting COVID batch testing. This could change, so please read other communications for updates.
- Staff is encouraged to do things outside as often as they would like. This could include snack, lunch, or any academic activity.
- Drinking fountains will be close at this time. Students are encouraged to bring a water bottle from home and students can fill their water bottle from the classroom sink or the water cooler located on both levels in the C-Building.
ARRIVAL & DISMISSAL:
- We will not have a before-school recess this year.
- Students should not arrive on campus before 9:20 AM.
- If your student rides the bus, students may be dismissed off the bus earlier than 9:20. Students are asked to stand in line on the dots (or socially distanced) until an adult welcomes them to campus.
- If your student will be dropped off by car, students should not be dropped earlier than 9:20 AM. Staff will again be outside this year to welcome students from their cars onto campus.
- At dismissal, grade levels will be dismissed in pairs, every three minutes to decrease congestion and congregation in hallways and stairways. We will dismiss one intermediate class with a primary class.
- Students riding the bus will line up behind their bus sign and then as soon as all classes are out, students will be walked to their bus.
- Students who are picked up in front of the school, parents should meet your students on the walkway that runs parallel to the front office. This is the walkway that runs in front of the main office building.
- If your student usually goes to the back gate, students can still walk to the back gate to meet siblings and/or adults.
- If your student is picked up by car after school, students will wait on marked dots that are socially distanced. Siblings should wait together at the same dot. Students should listen for their name to be called and then walk quickly to the number of where your car will be waiting.
BREAKFAST & LUNCH:
- Breakfast and lunch are FREE to all K-5 students.
- Al a cart Milk will be available this year but will be for PURCHASE, not free.
- All students will use hand sanitizer before they access their lunch card or any food item.
- For breakfast, students will come to the cafeteria once they arrive on campus and use their lunch card to record their breakfast selection.
- Students will eat their breakfast either in the cafeteria or in their line-up line outside.
- For lunch, students will begin the year eating in their classrooms. Our staff will re-evaluate this decision as often as needed.
RECESS:
- Students will have a 30-minute and a 15-minute recess M/T/Th/F. On Wednesdays, students will only have a 30-minute lunch recess.
- At this time, we are not cohorting classes on the playground or restricting the space students may be. I will be learning more guidance soon on this.
HAND WASHING & SANITIZING:
- All staff is asked to teach all students proper handwashing and schedule specific times in their day for hand washing.
- All staff will have bottles of hand sanitizer available for adult and student use. We encourage the usage of hand sanitizer, as needed.
CLEANING, HVAC & AIR FILTERS:
- All our classrooms are cleaned daily.
- All our restrooms are cleaned daily.
HVAC systems in buildings will be running for a full two hours before any occupancy in the morning and at all times during occupancy. Overnight a 2-hour purge sequence will be completed to flush the building with fresh outside air.
Outside air dampers on HVAC systems have been reset to a minimum setting of 50% outside air. The normal outside air damper settings range from 15% to 25%. Opening outside air dampers will significantly increase the amount of outside air ventilation while still allowing us to achieve minimum set points for heating. Rooms and areas that do not have working ventilation or an operable window available will be closed for use. Using the average classroom size, ceiling height, and updated damper setting CFM, the new calculated air exchanges is 6.8 per hour. For comparison, the ASHRE standard for a hospital treatment room is a minimum of 6 air exchanges per hour. District HVAC systems are monitored 24/7 by District staff and the McKinstry Remote Operations Center to ensure the correct level of ventilation is being provided for maximum safety.
Filter change frequency has been increased to monthly filter changes. The standard filter will be upgraded from a MERV 8 rating to a MERV 10 rated filter.
MERV - Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value. The rating was devised by the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE).
Health Check Question to review daily
Health Check Questions:
1. In the past 24 hours has the student experienced any of the following symptoms:
- Fever of 100.4 or above
- Cough
- Shortness of Breath or Difficulty Breathing
- Chills
- Loss of Taste or Smell
- Fatigue
- Muscle Pain or Body Aches
- Headache
- Sore Throat
- Congestion or Runny Nose
- Nausea or Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Other signs of new illness that are unrelated to a preexisting condition (such as seasonal allergies)
2. Has the student had any of the symptoms of COVID-19 listed above within the past 3 days that lasted more than 24 hours?
3. Has the student been in close contact with anyone with confirmed COVID-19 within the last 14 days? Close contact means being within 6 feet (2 meters) of an infected person for 15 minutes or more.
4. Has the student had a positive COVID-19 test for active virus in the past 10 days?
5. Within the past 14 days, has a public health or medical professional told the student to self-monitor, self-isolate, or self-quarantine because of concerns about COVID-19?
Update from Nurse Audrey
A quick reminder that if your child is going to need any type of medication at school it must be checked in prior to the first day of school, along with the medication authorization signed by your child’s doctor. If your child needs emergency medication for a life-threatening condition, they cannot attend the first day of school without medication on campus.
Please do not send the medication to school with your child; it must be signed in to the health room.
Medications may be checked in with the nurse:
- Monday 8/30 between 9:00 AM-4:00 PM
Please do not wait until the last minute.
You are welcome to contact me to set up a time to meet.
Thank you!
Nurse Audrey
425.408.4206
NEW school hours for 2021-2022 school year
Welcome to Kindergarten!
I'd like to welcome you to the 2021-2022 school year! This is an exciting time for you and your families and I am excited to welcome you. As we look to the beginning of the school year, I wanted to provide you with some very important dates to mark on your calendars. You will notice on the first two days of Kindergarten, we will begin with a rolling start. This means half our students begin one day, and the other half begins the next. During these first two days, your student will attend ONE of the days, NOT both. The day your student attends is based on the first letter of your Last Name.
Below you will find dates that pertain to the beginning of Kindergarten.
- Wednesday, September 1, 2021 - First Day of School for Kindergarten students with the LAST NAME beginning with letters A-L. (Students attend this day but NOT on 9/2/2021)
Thursday, September 2, 2021 - First Day of School for Kindergarten students with the LAST NAME beginning with letters M-Z. (Students attend this day but NOT on 9/1/2021)
Friday, September 3, 2021 - ALL Kindergarten students attend school together.
Monday, September 6, 2021 - NO SCHOOL - Labor Day observance
Tuesday, September 7, 2021 - No School for Kindergarten students. Teachers will be holding WaKIDS family conferences where they will meet with each family during one of these three conference days. Families will be asked to sign up for a date and time.
Wednesday, September 8, 2021 - No School for Kindergarten students. Teachers will be holding WaKIDS family conferences where they will meet with each family during one of these three conference days. Families will be asked to sign up for a date and time.
Thursday, September 9, 2021 - No School for Kindergarten students. Teachers will be holding WaKIDS family conferences where they will meet with each family during one of these three conference days. Families will be asked to sign up for a date and time.
Friday, September 10, 2021 - ALL Kindergarten students attend school together.
I hope this information you find helpful. Please mark your calendars with this information. After September 10, your student will follow the regular Northshore calendar for elementary-aged students.
First Day of School - September 1, 2021
School Supplies
If you need assistance with school supplies, please reach out to our Office Manager, Sarah McKinnon (smckinnon@nsd.org), in our front office. Thank you!
•• REPEAT of DISTRICT NEWS ••
Bus Routes
How will students be receiving devices this year?
2021-2022 School Calendar
Important Dates:
- September 1 - First Day of School
- September 6 - No School for Labor Day
- November 11 - No School for Veteran's Day
- November 18 through November 24 - Early Release for Parent-Teacher conferences. Dismissal time TBD
- November 25 & 26 - No School for extended Thanksgiving break
- December 20 through December 31- No School for Winter Break
- January 3 - Welcome back to school
Free and Reduced lunch application
Remember: families must reapply every year!
Submit a Free or Reduced-Price application.
You can also visit the Northshore Free and Reduced Priced meals website here: https://www.nsd.org/schools/get-started/food-services/free-and-reduced-price-breakfast-lunch
•• PTA NEWS ••
Upcoming PTA event
- Tuesday, October 18 from 7:00-8:00 PM. More information will be shared soon.
Cottage Lake Elementary
At Cottage Lake Elementary, it is our united mission to build a safe, engaging, and inclusive environment of resilient lifelong learners. In partnership with our vibrant community, we embrace our diversity and strive to foster trust and kindness.
Email: jwelch@nsd.org
Website: https://cottagelake.nsd.org/
Location: 15940 Avondale Road Northeast, Woodinville, WA, USA
Phone: 425-408-4200