Evergreen Family Update
Dec 10,2021
Good Evening Parents, Guardians and Caregivers,
EVERGREEN MIDDLE SCHOOL RENAMING CELEBRATION AND HEALING CEREMONY
Usually I would say something about how this year “Flew By” however, 2021 has been a loooong year! With that being said, I appreciate how things have changed over this year. We have had the opportunity to work closer with families and I am truly grateful how each and every one of you is supporting your scholar, your teacher, and our community, we could not do this without you,
THANK YOU!
Thank you to all who attended the virtual Renaming Celebration and Healing Ceremony for the new Evergreen Middle School! In November 2021, the FWPS Board of Directors approved the scholar-recommended name Evergreen Middle School as the new name of Totem Middle School. The process of selecting a new name incorporated the voices of scholars, teachers, community members, and local tribal leaders. We are proud to move forward with this new name in an effort to help undo the disrespectful use and cultural appropriation of Native American identity in our community.
I would also like to thank our families for attending the Zoom session with Mrs. Samuels and I on Monday night. We discussed how we’re supporting scholars’ social-emotional learning needs, as well as setting and reinforcing expectations for scholar behaviors at school. Your partnership and feedback is appreciated. It takes all of us working together to ensure a safe, welcoming environment in our schools.
December is the month when we reflect on the past year and our accomplishments. It is a time for reflection and future planning. I wish you all a very peaceful holiday season and hope that you are able to spend a lot of time with family and friends. Take care, be safe and I will see you all in 2022.
In Partnership,
Mrs. Collins
253 945 5100
Calling all scholars in grades 3-12: Nominate a staff member for the Because of You Award!
Students in grades 3-12 are invited to nominate any Federal Way Public Schools staff member in the district they believe has positively impacted them, their school, and/or their community for the “Because of You” award!
Students can fill out a nomination form on the district’s website at www.fwps.org/BecauseOfYou . All nomination forms are due by end of month.
Curative PCR Testing Registration Links.
Both sites continue to take walk-up testing as well.
ESC: https://book.curative.com/sites/34104
Sacajawea MS: https://book.curative.com/sites/34105
FEMA Mobile COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic:
Opens December 20 - TBD
Federal Way Performing Arts Center
31510 Pete Von Reichbauer Way S.
Federal Way, WA 98003
Will offer pediatric, adult, and booster doses
EARLY RELEASE DECEMBER 15
Wednesday, December 15 is an early release day. Schools are let out 90 minutes early in support of staff professional learning and collaboration time. www.fwps.org/EarlyRelease
NO SCHOOL DUE TO WINTER BREAK
This is a friendly reminder Winter Break is Monday, December 20 to Friday, December 31. There will be no school on these days. The district Educational Service Center (ESC) will be closed to the public starting Wednesday, December 22 to Friday, December 31. School and district operations will resume Monday, January 3.
Highly Capable Program
The Highly Capable Program provides services to identified scholars (typically in math and/or English Language Arts) within the general education classroom at their current home school.
FWPS staff, families, community members and scholars may refer a K–11 scholar for consideration during the referral period of December 1, 2021 – January 10, 2022 for the 2022–23 school year.
For more information, and to complete a digital referral visit: www.fwps.org/Page/8219
College Bound Scholarship
We are excited to share information regarding the College Bound Scholarship!
This scholarship is an early commitment of state financial aid to eligible students who qualify in middle school and fulfill the College Bound pledge.
The program is administered by the Washington Student Achievement Council. To qualify for this aid, students must confirm eligibility by enrolling in the free-and-reduced lunch program by the end of his or her eighth-grade year, maintain a 2.0 GPA in high school, and apply for the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) or WASFA (Washington Application for Student Financial Aid) senior year.
For more information check with your school counselor or visit: www.fwps.org/collegebound.
Dates to Remember
12/14 Evergreen @ Sequoyah (Varsity/JV)
12/13 Sequoyah @ Evergreen (Intramural)
12/15 Early Release Day Scholars are dismissed at 1:00 pm.
12/16 Kilo v s Evergreen (Varsity/JV) @ TJ. Evergreen @ Kilo (Intramural)
12/20-12/31 Holiday Break
01/03 Back to school in our new building.
Bulk Vegetables and Fruits
Starting December 13, 2021, we will transition back to serving bulk fruits and vegetables when possible which allows for increased quality and a variety. We will also re-implement share tables in our cafeterias. This brings FWPS in alignment with surrounding school districts and follows Public Health – Seattle & King County’s most recent guidance which includes using sneeze guards. Shared utensils will be washed, rinsed, and sanitized between each lunch period.
Anonymous Survey
Our goal is to provide a safe and welcoming environment for all scholars and families. As part of these efforts, we would like your feedback related to your experiences with harassment intimidation and bullying supports at the schools. Please complete the anonymous survey below by December 17th, 2021. Your time and responses are greatly appreciated.
English https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TJ2GD9V
Dari https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FQQDPCD
Korean https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FS9TFD5
Russian https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LPS2HF2
Ukrainian https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/L6Z9BVP
Vietnamese https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LZZZHDM
Spanish https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FCHZHWG
Our Plan to Monitor Weather Conditions and School Impacts
When snow or inclement weather is in the forecast, we have a plan in place to assess and monitor actual weather and road conditions overnight and in the early morning hours. Winter weather may bring road and driving conditions that cause changes in school operations such as delayed opening, early dismissal, or closure. Our goal is to make information available to families about school closure or changes in the school operations by 5:00 a.m.
Click here www.fwps.org/domain/783 for more information about how decisions are mad e to delay or close school, notification methods and more.
Tutoring Opportunity for FWPS Scholars
Federal Way Public Schools is proud to announce the launch of Tutor.com, an online
tutoring support for all scholars in grades 4-12. Tutor.com provides one-on-one tutoring in
over 200 subject areas and is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Scholars can
access this supportive resource through Launchpad to Learning to receive math and
reading support, SAT/PSAT prep, stress support, and much more from their tutor.
· We encourage scholars and families to use this resource for one-on-one homework support to help your child stay on track academically.
EP&O and Tech Levies
Federal Way Public Schools seeks to renew two expiring levies on the February 8, 2022 ballot — both of which provide critical funding for our district’s scholars and staff.
- Together, the Educational Programs and Operations (EP&O) Levy and Tech Levy help our district provide an equitable, high-quality, and supportive educational experience for Federal Way youth to set them on a path for success. Why Do We Need Levies?
Local levies are critical to school districts as they cover essential education programs and enrichment opportunities that are not funded by the state. Though we were fortunate to receive one-time ESSER funding to help offset the financial impacts of the pandemic, this one-time funding cannot sustain essential programming and staff long-term. The EP&O and Tech Levies fuel our ability to provide scholars with ongoing equitable opportunities.
For more information log into this website. https://www.fwps.org/Levies2022
Non-Discrimination Statement
Federal Way Public Schools does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of race, color, national origin or ethnicity, religion, creed, sex or gender, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, age, marital or family status, veteran or military status; disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal. The District provides equal access to the Boy Scouts of America and other designated youth groups