Enjoy a Well-Needed Thanksgiving Break! As we approach the holidays, we would like to wish you all a very happy and healthy Thanksgiving. We are so very grateful for all of our Raider families! Being together again five days a week with our students is at the top of my my greatest blessings list this year. We are looking forward to a hopeful, promising and restorative 2022, not too far off in the distant future. Enjoy your special time with family and friends this week!

A Grateful Heart - I would like to thank all of our generous families and staff members who contributed to our Holiday Food Drive; our fantastic counselor, Mrs. Nelson, who orchestrated this year's drive; and our volunteers, Mr. and Mrs. Newell, for helping get our meals ready for distribution. Because of you, we were able to help 18 Raider families have a bountiful Thanksgiving this year!

Take good care!

Michelle

Dr. Michelle Fox, Ridgecrest Principal

RIDGECREST AMAZON GIFT WISH LIST

If you are able to help with gifts for Raider families who need help this holiday season please click on the link below to see our wish list. If you would like to purchase at a store or another website please just click on the "Buying gift elsewhere?" link next to the item on the list. Items should be sent directly to Ridgecrest (may be a good idea to double check it as you check out). Our address is 12616 Shaw Rd. E Puyallup, WA 98374. Thank you so much!!

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/13Z4MWIQXHF8?ref_=wl_share

Please contact Danetta Nelson at (253) 841-8753 or by email at nelsondk@puyallup.k12.wa.us if you have any questions.

The Puyallup School District has partnered with Hazel Health to offer free virtual mental and physical health services for students that families can access from home, at no cost to families. To learn more click here.

The holidays can bring a lot of joy but also many difficult feelings for many of us. Please be sure to talk with your children about their feelings, monitor their social media/phones, and check in on how they are managing any strong emotions they may be having. Talk with them about how to get adult support if needed. Brainstorm healthy ways to manage stress and other strong emotions together. Below are local crisis numbers that can be of assistance and may be worth sharing with your child to have in their phone, just in case.

Pierce County Crisis Line: 1-800-576-7764

Crisis Text Line: Text START to 741741

Youth Suicide Prevention Program: 1-800-273-8255

Puyallup School District will offer a ‘Test-to-Stay’ option for unvaccinated students identified as being exposed to someone with COVID-19 while at school. The test involves a simple nasal swab completed by our COVID-coordinator or school nurse. This means that students identified as a close contact will have the option to test allowing them to continue attending school as long as they are symptom-free and test negative for COVID-19.

This testing program, combined with disease prevention strategies, can keep students in school, while helping the district detect new cases to prevent outbreaks, reduce the risk of further transmission, and protect others from COVID-19.

Families wanting their child to participate need to submit an online parental consent and registration form. For links to online forms and commonly asked questions visit the district website.