DRAGON DISPATCH
Daybreak Primary Family Newsletter - March 4, 2024
PRINCIPAL MESSAGE
Dear Daybreak Primary Families:
What a busy February it was here at school, and looking ahead at March, it doesn’t show any signs of slowing down! We’re excited to host two fun assemblies for students this month - local award-winning author and speaker Trudy Ludwig will visit our school for an assembly in mid March, and OMSI staff will visit our school to provide an engaging science-focused assembly at the end of the month. As part of the OMSI assembly, students will help OMSI staff conduct experiments that demonstrate the predictable (and sometimes unpredictable) reactions of matter, including some that have very interesting, even explosive, results. We hope students enjoy the return of these types of assemblies to our school program!
Students spent time last month learning about keeping our hearts and brains healthy as part of our annual participation in the American Heart Association’s Kids Heart Challenge, and families, if they were able, had the opportunity to learn together and raise funds. We want to thank all of you, your family members, friends, and neighbors who generously donated to the Kids Heart Challenge this year. Thanks to your support we surpassed our goal of $7,000 raised for the American Heart Association’s programs. In total, we raised $9,626. Perhaps even more exciting, 37 of our families learned hands-only CPR together! Great work, Daybreak Primary!
You might recall that earlier this year we shared that Daybreak Primary was identified as part of the Washington School Improvement Framework (WSIF) as a school that could benefit from providing additional support to help our English Language Learners (EL) make academic growth from year to year. As part of our participation in the WSIF, we developed a plan to support the identified students and are receiving grant funding throughout this year to more directly meet their needs. We developed an action plan that includes increased student access to language-development learning opportunities, increased focus on family engagement, and additional professional development opportunities for teachers.
A first sign that our action plan is beginning to yield positive results came with our winter i-Ready reading scores. We were able to analyze the growth of our EL students in comparison to our non-EL students from fall to winter. Our analysis showed that EL students were almost as likely to grow a full level (have an improved placement) in i-Ready as our non-EL students. This is a significant change compared to just two years ago.
Percentage of Students to Improve in i-Ready Reading Placement
FALL 2021 TO WINTER 2022: EL: 19% | NON-EL: 42%
FALL 2023 TO WINTER 2024: EL: 36% | NON-EL: 38%
We are excited with the initial data we’re tracking, and we are grateful for the support of our staff and families as we work to support all learners!
Our PurposeFull People character trait this month is honesty. When we talk with students this month in our classes and as a school, we’re defining honesty as “being truthful in what you say and do” and helping students understand that practicing honesty helps strengthen our relationships and reduce stress. Two conversation starters you might use this month at home as students explore and discuss honesty at school:
Can you share or show what it means to practice honesty?
What is one way you can be more honest with others?
Finally, you may have seen in district communications to families that we’ve kicked off our enrollment period for kindergarten and transitional kindergarten students for the 2024-2025 school year! You’ll find more information about enrollment in the “News & Updates” section of this newsletter. In addition to enrolling children of our current families, we’d love it if you could please help spread the word if you have neighbors or friends who have children who they plan to enroll at Daybreak Primary.
Go Dragons!
Krishna Smith, Principal
Joe Manning, Assistant Principal
THE WEEKS AHEAD
March 12: Parent/Guardian Evening Presentation with Author Trudy Ludwig - Cafeteria - 5:30 pm (see more info below)
March 15: Snow Closure Make-up Day (school will now be held on this day)
March 19: Daybreak Primary PTO Meeting - Library - 6 pm
March 20-21: 3-Hour Early Dismissal / Parent-Teacher Conferences (dismissal at 12:40 pm | sack lunches available for students to take home)
March 25: Class Picture Day (This is a group photo day; individual photos were taken in the fall. More info to come closer to the date.)
April 1-5: No School - Spring Break
April 8: School Resumes
NEWS & REMINDERS
Award-winning author Trudy Ludwig to speak at Daybreak Primary on March 12th; parent/guardian presentation from 5:30 to 6:30 pm
We invite you all to a special evening parent/guardian event that’ll feature local speaker and children’s book author Trudy Ludwig. Our event will be held Tuesday, March 12th from 5:30 to 6:30 pm in the Daybreak campus cafeteria. Trudy’s presentation will focus on understanding our children’s social world, including friendships, cliques, and power plays. She will focus on helping us to learn more about the nature of childhood friendships, what bullying is and isn’t, and empowering our children in their relationships with their peers. During the evening event, Trudy will offer book signings. A limited number of books will be available for purchase that evening.
During the school day on March 12th, students and staff will have the opportunity to hear from and spend time with Trudy during a school assembly. Trudy’s student presentations will include an author read-aloud and engaging, age-appropriate activities that address bullying and empower kids to be positive change-makers when it comes to promoting kindness and inclusion.
We look forward to welcoming Trudy to Daybreak Primary, and we hope you can join us for our evening event!
Parent-Teacher Conferences to be held on March 20 & 21
Teachers will be reaching out in March to coordinate parent-teacher conferences for the afternoons of March 20th and 21st. Teachers will prioritize meeting with families of students most in need of conferencing. Conferences will not be held for all students. These days we will be on a three-hour early dismissal schedule, with dismissal scheduled for 12:40 pm. Sack lunches, for students to bring home, will be available for students as part of our school meal program on these days.
Join us for Daybreak Primary’s March PTO Meeting
Please join Daybreak Primary's new Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) for our second general meeting! We will be meeting on Tuesday, March 19th, in the Daybreak library. Doors open at 5:45 pm, with the meeting starting at 6 pm. We would love your support and input at our meeting as we look to work together to support our school community!
Spring Scholastic book fair set for mid March
Our Spring Scholastic Book Fair is almost here! The book fair will take place the week of March 18th. We will be open the following days and times:
Monday (3/18) & Tuesday (3/19): open 8:30 am - 4 pm
Wednesday (3/20), Thursday (3/21), and Friday (3/22): open 8:30 am - 2:30 pm
Students are invited to shop at the book fair during library class, throughout the week with their homeroom teacher’s permission, and after school with an adult. There is also an online book fair. The online book fair is March 18th-31st. You will be able to access the online book fair at bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/daybreakprimary.
Students and families are invited to shop using an online account called eWallet. Families can load money onto their digital eWallet accounts without sending students to school with cash or a check (which they can still do). To set up an eWallet account, please visit the book fair website.
Please remember that students are not allowed to spend more than $50 without a parent/guardian permission slip, and students aren’t allowed to share money.
We look forward to a wonderful book fair!
2024-2025 school calendar
The 2024-2025 academic calendar is now available for next school year. Here are some of the key dates:
First day of school: Tuesday, Aug. 27
Kindergarten Smart Start begins: Tuesday, Sept. 3
Thanksgiving break: Nov. 27-29
Winter break: Dec. 23, 2024, through Jan. 3, 2025
Spring break: Monday, March 31, through Friday, April 4
Last day of school: Tuesday, June 10 (assuming no added days for weather-related closures)
NOTE: Additional in-service dates may be added following approval from the state superintendent’s office. Russian and Spanish-language versions will be released soon.
Daybreak participates in monthly safety drills
Our school participates in monthly safety drills, including fire, earthquake, lockdown, and shelter-in-place. Each drill provides us the opportunity to practice procedures, assess problems that develop, and respond in ways that improve our procedures.
In February, we had a lockdown drill and in March we’ll have a fire drill. We have also recently introduced students to a HOLD procedure. A HOLD procedure is used for situations that may require students and staff to remain in classrooms or stay out of high-traffic areas. A HOLD could be needed for a variety of purposes, some examples include needing to clear areas for a person experiencing a medical issue, to support a student who is experiencing significant emotional or behavioral challenges, or to allow an unfinished maintenance operation to wrap up. During a HOLD, students remain in their classrooms or learning areas where they can be supervised, remain safe, and offer privacy to the situation outside the classroom.
Preparing our students for in-building safety responses and emergencies is a priority. More information about Battle Ground Public Schools’ emergency practices is on the district website.
Minimizing distractions from cell phone, smart watches, and other devices
Reminder: To minimize distraction while at school, students are expected to keep their cell phones, smartwatches, and other smart devices in their backpacks and powered off during school hours or leave them at home. If there is a medical or social-emotional reason for the device, please contact our school counselor, Mrs. Wallace, so we can discuss next steps. If you need to communicate with your student during school hours, you can call our office at (360)885-6950 and we can relay the message to your student. We understand the convenience of smart device communication, but we need to provide all our students with a focused and non-disruptive learning environment throughout their school day.
Personal toys and playground equipment to remain at home
We’ve recently noticed an increase in student toys and play items coming to school in student pockets and backpacks. These items are expected to remain at home unless a special in-class opportunity is being provided by your child’s classroom teacher (class sharing opportunity, an earned privilege, etc.). Personal playground equipment (basketballs, footballs, etc.) should also remain at home. This expectation is in place in order to prevent items from getting lost or damaged during the school day and to keep class time distraction free.
Calling next year's kindergartners! Online enrollment is open now!
Online enrollment is now available for 2024-2025 kindergartners. That’s right, it’s time to enroll next year’s kindergartners! Any child who will be 5 years old by Aug. 31, 2024, is eligible to enter kindergarten in the fall. To enroll, parents will need proof of their child's birth date (such as a birth certificate) and a signed and completed Washington state certificate of immunization status form or a completed certificate of exemption form. Please note that the state of Washington requires that immunization records be medically verified. Have your documents ready and enroll online now so that you and your child can attend kindergarten orientation in the spring.
Transitional kindergarten eligibility form open through June 12th
Battle Ground Public Schools also offers Transitional Kindergarten for children who will turn 4 years old by Aug. 31 and meet certain eligibility requirements. The program is offered at Captain Strong, Daybreak, Glenwood Heights, Tukes Valley, Maple Grove and Yacolt primary schools, with plans underway to expand at the Pleasant Valley campus. Visit our Transitional Kindergarten webpage to learn more about the program and fill out an online eligibility form by June 12. Families will be notified by June 30 of their eligibility status.
Enrollment is open for district’s alternative learning experience programs
Battle Ground Public Schools’ specialized and alternative learning experience programs are accepting enrollment applications for the 2024-25 school year. The district offers specialized and alternative programs for students in kindergarten through high school.
Character and Academics for the Marketplace (CAM) Academy - A grades 3-12 school focusing on English language arts, history, science, math and instruction in computer technology.
Center for Agriculture, Science and Environmental Education (CASEE) - A half-day program focused on science, technology, engineering and math on an 80-acre learning campus in Brush Prairie.
Summit View High School - An individualized learning environment for students from ages 14-21 focusing on reaching graduation.
Open Doors GED - A program through Summit View High School for students ages 16-21 who are behind in credits and want to earn their GED.
River HomeLink - An accredited public school providing parent-partnered educational options and support for students.
Battle Ground Virtual Academy - In fall 2023, the program formerly named River Online was launched as a new, independent school for online learning. BGVA provides a high-quality online learning experience where students are assigned a teacher with whom they and their parents meet regularly. Parents and guardians also play an active role in their child's online education. Families who are interested in attending BGVA should complete the online interest form to begin the enrollment process.
Learn more about each program and how to enroll.
Community education opportunities available to students and families
You may be interested in two new Battle Ground Community Education opportunities:
Quickstart Sports is offering two youth sports camps during spring break (basketball and soccer). For more information, please see the spring break camp info.
A parent/guardian workshop on Parenting with Love & Logic is being offered in April and May. For more information and to register, please see the Love and Logic workshop info.
Right at School offers before and after school care to Daybreak families
Right at School, a program that offers on-site before and after school care for Daybreak students, is accepting new registrations. If you are in need of care for your child(ren), please visit the Right at School website for information and registration.
Capital levy update
On Feb. 13, voters in the Battle Ground Public Schools district were asked to approve a three-year capital levy to provide funding for needed repairs and upgrades, as well as an expansion of popular high school skilled trades programs. With over 52% support, the levy was approved.
"I’m grateful for the support from staff, families and community members," said Superintendent Denny Waters. "The capital levy will fund repairs and/or updates at every school in the district and go a long way toward keeping students safe, warm, and dry."
This is the first time Battle Ground Public Schools has run a capital levy. The district's board of directors approved the measure after considering community feedback that prioritized maintaining existing buildings, in addition to improving security and upgrading several skilled trades programs at the high schools. The capital levy will provide the district with funding to address some of the issues while retaining the lowest overall tax rate of any district in Clark County.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT...
Russian, Ukrainian, and Spanish translation and interpretation services
Услуги по устному и письменному переводу на русский и украинский языки 360-885-5433
Servicios de Traducción e Interpretación en Español 360-885-5431
Employee Recognition Award
Do you know an amazing staff member? The new Employee Recognition Awards will highlight staff members who reflect the district’s strategic plan goals. Three nominees will be selected each month and recognized at a board meeting. Everyone is welcome to submit a nomination.
QUICK LINKS
ABOUT US
Daybreak Primary School Mission:
We will encourage students to strive for personal success and to enjoy learning. We will challenge them to believe in themselves as individuals in a safe and nurturing environment.
Email: info.dbp@battlegroundps.org
Website: https://dbs.battlegroundps.org/
Location: 1900 Northwest 20th Avenue, Battle Ground, WA, USA
Phone: 360-885-6950
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/daybreakdragons/
BGPS Non-Discrimination Statement:
The Battle Ground Public Schools provides equal opportunity in programs and employment and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin/language, creed/religion, sex, sexual orientation including gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of a service animal by a person with a disability, age, marital status, honorably discharged veteran or military status, HIV/Hepatitis C status. The district provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. Contact the following regarding questions and complaints of alleged discrimination: Tom Adams, Director of Student Services, adams.tom@battlegroundps.org, Title IX Compliance Officer, 360.885.5415; Michelle Reinhardt, Executive Director of Human Resources, reinhardt.michelle@battlegroundps.org, Civil Rights Compliance Coordinator/Section 504/ADA Coordinator, 360.885.5481; or a letter may be submitted to the designated coordinator at the Battle Ground Public Schools, PO Box 200, Battle Ground, WA 98604