The Jaguar Journal
April 2021
James Sales Elementary
Email: jamessales@fpschools.org
Website: jamessales.fpschools.org
Location: 1301 113th St S, Tacoma, WA, USA
Phone: 253-298-4200
Brandy Nelson - Principal
Joy Sims - Assistant Principal
Office Hours - 8:45 to 3:30
253-298-4200 / FAX 253-298-4215
Dates To Remember
April 5-9 ~ NO SCHOOL - Spring Break
April 14 ~ Asynchronous learning day
April 21 ~ Asynchronous learning day
April 28 ~ Asynchronous learning day
April 26 ~ 2021-22 Teacher requests due
From the Principal's Office
Hello James Sales Families!
Happy Spring! Spring break is here, April 5th-9th. We hope you and your family enjoy your time together during this time away from school. Get out and enjoy some time together, go for a walk, play outside, enjoy some sunshine or even read a book. We hope you get lots of rest. We'll see you bright and early Monday, April 12th.
Brandy Nelson
Principal
James Sales Elementary
From the Health Room
Allergy Season is here!! Seasonal allergy symptoms look like Covid-19 symptoms. If your child has these symptoms at school, we must send them home.
What you can do to ensure this doesn't happen frequently:
- If your child has allergies, make sure your student gets their allergy meds at home before school EVERYDAY. There are many over the counter allergy medications that are 24 hours. These are best given at bedtime, so that they wake up symptom free. Always ask your pediatrician which medications are best for your child's age group.
- Get a note from your doctor stating this student does have seasonal allergies AND listing what those symptoms are. If we have this on file there is less chance, we will have to send them home. *Please note this will not guarantee that they will not be sent home as the decision will be made on a case-by-case basis.
Be well,
Jessica Churchill, LPN
New Student Registration for 21-22 School Year
We are preparing for the 2021-22 school year already! Registration for new kindergarten through grade 5 students who live within our attendance boundaries opens March 29th. A child must be five years of age on or before August 31, 2021 to be eligible to enroll. Please prepare to register by obtaining medically verified immunization records, birth certificate, and a proof of residence (utility bill, lease/rental agreement, or mortgage papers). All enrollment is done online. Click here to access the enrollment application.
Current students who live within James Sales boundaries are automatically enrolled at James Sales for next year. Students who were overloaded to James Sales for the 20-21 school year will return to their home schools for 2021-22. Students living within our district but outside of James Sales boundaries who want to attend James Sales must complete a within-district transfer online. Click on the Transfers and Homeschool link to access the correct form. Out-of-district students who wish to attend James Sales must complete a new out-of-district transfer from their home district to be considered for enrollment.
Teacher Requests
If you would like to request a teacher for the 2021-22 school year for your student, please put your request in writing and turn it into the main office by April 30th. We will do our best to accommodate your wish, but cannot promise that your request will be met. We work hard to balance class sizes, boy/girl ratios, etc. Thank you for your understanding.
Early Learning Center Registration
Attention 3rd and 4th Grade Parents!
It is time to refer 3rd and 4th grade students for the 2021-22 Highly Capable Student Program.
To refer your student to test for the Highly Capable Student Program, please complete a Project Excel Program referral packet online. Click here to access the application and to learn more about Project Excel. Online referrals may be completed through April 23rd.
Students who live within the district boundaries will receive first consideration. Out-of-district students who attend FP Schools must be granted another year’s release and will be placed in the program after all qualifying in-district students are served.
If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Annette Burnett by phone at 253-298-3062 or by email at aburnett@fpschools.org .
Spanish Dual Language Immersion Program
During the 2021-2022 school year, Franklin Pierce School District will offer a Spanish Dual-Language Immersion program at Harvard Elementary. This learning option is committed to student growth towards bilingualism and literacy from kindergarten through fifth grade with the ultimate goal being Spanish and English language proficiency in reading, writing, and speaking within all academic content areas.
Please click on the links below to see more information and to access the application for the Spanish Dual-Language Immersion program. For answers to your questions about the program, please call Harvard Elementary at 253-298-4100.
Lunches
Lunches are available at the school on Mondays and Wednesdays from 11:00 to 12:00 in front of the school. Mondays the bag will contain food for Monday and Tuesday. Wednesdays the bag will contain food for Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. All children through the age of 18 are eligible to receive a lunch. This government sponsored program will continue through the end of the 20-21 school year.
Attendance
We hope you will make every effort to encourage consistent and on-time attendance at school. School starts at 8:55. Did you know if your child is tardy or leaves school early, it will show on their attendance record? Please make appointments outside of school hours whenever possible. Make sure you call the school office at 253-298-4206 if your student is absent for any reason. Doing the School Health Check survey and indicating your child will not be at school does not inform the office of your child's absence. You may leave a message if you need to call before or after school hours. Please state your child's full name, teacher's name, and the reason for the absence. For more detailed information about district attendance procedures, click here. Thank you!
Thank you!
Please join us in recognizing our hard-working clerical staff during the week of April 19-23. Ms. Morrison – Office Manager, Mrs. Kaikala – Office Assistant, and Mrs. Hines – Library Clerk, work closely with staff, students, and families to make their experience here the best possible and keep James Sales running smoothly.
April 19-23 is also volunteer appreciation week. Even though we have not been able to have volunteers in our building this past year, we are still grateful for the many volunteers who have given of their time to assist in classrooms, raise funds, and organize fun events for our students and families in the past. We are looking forward to the day when we can have our marvelous volunteers join us once again!
School Health Check
This short survey MUST be completed each school day before 8:00 am. This attestation lets us know that the parent has observed their child and that they are either healthy and able to be at school, or they have symptoms and will have to stay home. If symptoms are severe, you will be directed to seek the attention of a health care provider. Click here to see more information about the 'School Health Check'.
Reminders from the Office
- If you need to come into the building, please press the telephone button on your right as you look at the front door. This will enable the office to see you and to buzz you into the entry if needed.
- Please notify the office of any changes in the way your child will go home at the end of the day. We need this information before 1:45 so we have time to get a note to the teacher in time.
- Call the office if your child will be absent, whether they are a remote student or an in-person student. If they have an appointment, please ask the doctor, dentist, counselor, etc. for a note for school. Offices that treat children are used to giving notes to students for excuses!
- If you need to take your child out of school before the end of the school day, please come before 1:45 so you won't be stuck in the end-of-the-day pick-up line! You will need to sign your child out and wait for them to come from their classroom, so allow plenty of time.
- If your phone number, email address, or home address changes, please let us know so we have the most up-to-date contact information for you. This is especially important for students attending in-person. If they become ill, or otherwise need your help, we need a way to contact you! Thank you!
Franklin Pierce Schools does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation including gender expression or identity, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability in its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. Questions and complaints of alleged discrimination should be directed to James Hester, Compliance Coordinator for State and Civil Rights Laws; Wendy Malich, Title IX Officer; or John Sander, 504/ADA Coordinator at 315 129th ST S, Tacoma, WA 98444-5099 or at (253)298-3000.