Dear Parents and Guardians,

Welcome to the 2021-22 school year at Chimacum Elementary. I hope your family is healthy and strong during this very difficult time. As this school year unfolds, we will be continuing to work closely with our local health officials and following state guidance in creating and offering a safe learning experience for all students and staff.

Our priority as a school and district during this pandemic remains the same---to promote a safe, healthy and effective learning environment for all students, increase academic achievement, and use S.T.E.A.M (science, technology, engineering, art & math) as a foundation for unique and powerful learning experiences rooted in our community. Our STEAM mission will continue even during this pandemic.

Chimacum Elementary will be serving our students in-person, to the greatest degree possible allowed by federal, state, and local health guidelines. If your family would like a remote-only learning model, the Chimacum Pi alternative experience program will be offering remote and in-person learning. No matter what model you choose for your child, you will find a local, caring, and qualified Chimacum Elementary staff member dedicated to serving your child.

Our school will be communicating with you throughout this school year to keep you up-to-date using Facebook, School Messenger phone/email & text updates, and using the Bloomz classroom communication tool.

I hope you will join us for our outside, socially distanced Meet and Greet on Thursday, September 2nd from 3:00-6:00 where you can meet your child's teacher as well as the rest of our wonderful staff.

All of us at Chimacum Elementary look forward to working with you for the success of your student this year. We can't wait to connect with our students and are excited to see their smiling faces on the first day of school on September 7th!

Sincerely,

Mr. Lynch

Principal

It would be very helpful if parents provide the following:

• backpack
• water bottle
• masks (students will be provided masks if needed)

• Morning student drop off time: 8:30 AM
• School starts: 8:45
• Dismissal on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 3:20
• Early release Wednesday dismissal: 2:20

Parking - Please park in the 15 minute or visitor parking if leaving your car.
Parking - If waiting in your car, please park in the yellow zone and not in the red fire zones.

The school is required by law to track attendance to ensure that students attend school regularly. For each absence the following steps will be followed by the school:

• An auto call informs parents that their child was absent each day.

• If your child is ill, email the office at cesattendance@csd49.org. This will be an excused absence.

• If your student has 3 unexcused absences or more than 5 excused absences in one month, state law (RCW 28A.225.020) requires we schedule a conference with you and your student to identify the barriers and supports available to ensure regular attendance.

• Did you know that if your child chronically misses school that it has a huge impact on their learning? Attendance is so important to your child's learning that there is a Washington state law called the “Becca Bill” requiring all children from age 8-17 to attend school regularly. Chronic absenteeism is defined as missing 18 or more days of school in a year for any reason (excused, unexcused, vacation, all-day appointments). The law requires school districts to meet with parents if a child in elementary school has 5 or more excused absences in a month or 10 or more excused absences in a year.

Research shows that chronically missing school can result in low reading skills, students failing subjects, and higher high school dropout rates.

Here are some great resources to provide you with more information:

• Building Habits of Good Attendance: http://attendanceworks.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Attendance_ESP1PG_English_062614.pdfOpens a New Window.
• When Is Sick Too Sick For School?: http://www.attendanceworks.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/toosickforschool_REV.pdfOpens a New Window.

• Masks are required for all students & staff at school & on the bus. Please have your child wear a mask to school. Masks will be provided if your child needs one.
• At this point, visitors may not visit school facilities so we can minimize exposure to our students.
• As of right now, staff and students are not required to wear masks outside during recess and outdoor activities.
• Distancing requirements are three feet for students indoors with masks and six feet when masks are off for eating.
• The school district will follow county procedures for potential exposures. A new flowchart will be provided to all families.
• If you are needing immediate attention and are on campus (in the parking lot or near school entry), please call the CES office at 360-302-5855 for assistance or visit our school office in person.

We're proud that our food service department is continuing to offer scratch-cooked lunches and breakfasts! ALL Meals will be provided at no cost to all students!

Breakfast will be served each morning before school from 8:30-8:45 as well as lunch. Meals will be 6 feet socially distanced using outdoor space whenever possible.

Special Note: Please remember to fill out the 21-22 Free/Reduce Application that will be mailed to you or download the form from https://www.csd49.org/Content2/48. These applications help our district qualify for programs and receive funding beyond just food service.

Questions: Please contact Director of Food Service Margaret Garrett at margaret_garrett@csd49.org or 360-302-5807.

This is our fifth year in implementing PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention Supports) which supports students internalizing what it means to be respectful, responsible, safe and brave in their actions with others. Our goal is to support students by teaching the correct behavior using our school-wide behavior expectations in all areas of our school. We do this by actively engaging students during instruction, looking for the positive first, and providing immediate, frequent, and explicit feedback. Ask your child about the expectations they are learning when talking with them about their school experiences and especially when a problem-solving opportunity comes your child's way.

Making mistakes is part of the learning process for all of us. Our job as teachers, parents, administrators, and school staff is to support students in reflecting on their mistakes and making a plan for how to not make the same mistakes again.

Sometimes, students can make big mistakes. If that occurs, the teacher, principal, behavior specialist, or counselor will contact you. When mistakes happen, we always work to support students toward a solution. We ask that you review the content of the Student Handbook (http://www.csd49.org/Content2/620) to learn more about our districts discipline and behavior procedures.

In compliance with WAC 392-190-060 & WAC 392-190-058, Chimacum Elementary is providing the following information to all parents, staff, and students regarding the district's discrimination and sexual harassment policies and procedures. Please click here to review the nondiscrimination and sexual harassment policy. You can access a full list of related policy and procedures on our district's webpage at https://www.csd49.org/Content2/372.