BROOKDALE BOBCAT PRINTS
January 6, 2020
Principal Message
Happy New Year to you all! I wish everyone a healthy and peaceful beginning to the New Year. As we move into the second trimester of the school year, I’d like to remind you of the wonderful work that is happening at Brookdale! Brookdale staff continue to work hard each day, providing rigorous instruction and students continue to amaze me with all they are learning. We couldn’t do it without you and the work you put in with your children at home – Thank you! I am looking forward to all that 2020 will bring! We will do our best to meet the needs of all students each and every day! I believe that learning truly is a cooperative endeavor between the school and home, so once again, I thank you for taking the time and interest to remain involved in your child’s education. The staff and I would like to thank all of you for everything you do to support Brookdale students, the school, and the community!
The new year is a great time to set goals! One goal I challenge you to make is to read to/with your child daily. In case you didn’t realize the impact reading just 20 minutes a day has on a child, consider this…
A student who reads 20 minutes per day: will be exposed to 1.8 million words per year & typically scores in the 90th percentile on standardized tests
A student who reads 5 minutes per day: will be exposed to 282,000 words per year & typically scores in the 50th percentile on standardized tests
A student who reads 1 minute per day: will be exposed to 8,000 words per year & typically scores in the 10th percentile on standardized tests
The bottom line – please take time to read to/with your children every day. It has a HUGE impact on their education!
IT'S SCHOOL BOARD RECOGNITION MONTH!
January is School Board Appreciation month! The Franklin Pierce School Board is second to none! They work hard to guide our district and ensure the best for staff and students alike. We are very fortunate to have such an effective and dedicated school board. Please join us in thanking Mrs. Sherman, Mr. Davis, Mr. Roberts, Dr. Gil Mendoza and Ms. Gallogly for all their hard work to make our schools the best they can be.
Important Dates
PTA Meeting ~ Thursday, January 16, 2020 at 4:00 pm
PTA Movie Night ~ Friday, January 17, 2020 at 5:30 pm
No School ~ Monday, January 20, 2020 ~ MLK Day
No School ~ Monday, January 27, 2020 ~ Teacher Training
Wednesday Schedule in January
January 8 and 15 are 2:00 dismissal days
January 22 and 29 are regular 3:30 dismissal days
ATTENTION KINDER & FIRST GRADE PARENTS
FOOD DRIVE
We are so very proud of our Bobcats! Brookdale brought in over 800 food items for the Fish Food Bank! We also collected 3 boxes of socks to help the local clothing drive. These items went a long way in helping families in our neighborhood. Congratulations to Mrs. Wendy Moore's fifth grade class for bringing in the most items, they enjoyed a pizza snack! Congratulations to Miss Mose's class they got to have their picture taken with a Central Pierce County Fire Truck!
ATTENDANCE COUNTS
ATTENDANCE COUNTS - You’ve heard me say it and seen it in the newsletter many times, but it bears repeating… ATTENDANCE COUNTS! Good attendance means 9 or fewer absences in a school year.
Why do we care? Like you, we want your child to be successful not just at our school, but in life. Research is showing that children who do not have good attendance (even in kindergarten and first grade) are less likely to graduate from high school.
It takes teamwork! We need to work together to support your child. If you have any concerns, questions, or needs please contact us as soon as possible. We want to know if your child is reluctant to come to school, having health problems, or if there are other issues impacting your child’s attendance. We will work to resolve any issues. Communication is key!
What do I do if my child MUST be absent? Contact us as soon as possible with a note or phone call. By law, we must have contact from you to excuse an absence. Please do your best to schedule appointments outside of school hours, and vacations on school breaks.
To be successful, your child needs to come to school on time, every day, and stay all day.
Bus Expectations and Behavior Reminders
No eating or drinking on the bus.
Stay seated, facing forward.
Listen to and follow the driver’s directions.
Use kind and considerate words.
Use appropriate language and topics.
Use a quiet voice ~ Level 1 or 2.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. are wonderful ways to keep track of family and friends. However, Franklin Pierce Schools has a district policy that prohibits teachers from ‘friending’ students. To help with this, families should not ask a teacher to join your group of friends on social networking sites. Teachers are always available through district email and can also be reached via classroom phones.
UPDATE RECORDS
Have you moved? Do you have a new phone number? Is your email on record? We cannot emphasize enough how important it is that we are able to contact you in any type of emergency involving your child. Please call our office at 253-298-3100 or send us a note with your most up-to-date address, phone and email information. Thank you!
PTA CORNER
NEXT GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING THURSDAY, JANUARY 16 - Please join us at 4:00 pm in the Brookdale multi-purpose room. Very important information will be shared so we hope all PTA members can join us.
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 Sanders, 504/ADA Coordinator at 315 129th ST S, Tacoma, WA 98444-5099 or at (253)298-3000.