Eagle Sightings April
Holly Wehner, Principal
Dear FHES Families and Caregivers,
The start of April has been so refreshing! Seeing more flowers blooming and some blue sky and sunshine is wonderful. The remainder of the year always seems to go so quickly from here.
At this point, we don’t have a definite last day of school, but we are tentatively planning for it to be the 20th of June. There is a small chance we may have the three snow days waived, and if so, we will announce that as soon as we know. School would then be out on June 13th. We are dedicated to making every day of this 2023-2024 school year full of meaningful learning opportunities!
This month our character trait is courage. The second-grade classes did a fantastic job presenting at an all-school assembly about choosing what is helpful, right, and kind-even when it is hard or scary. When you have time at home, share some experiences you’ve had when you had to make hard or scary choices, but you knew it was the right thing. This can be hard, but it is also very important. As everyone knows we are SOARing eagles here at FHES. Choosing to do the helpful, right, and kind thing is often choosing to be Safe, On task, Accountable, or Respectful.
Soon we will be setting an all-school SOAR award goal, and if we meet it, we will have a whole school celebration!
Thank you for supporting your students in our character traits and SOAR expectations!
With gratitude,
Holly Wehner
➡️➡️➡️➡️➡️Electronic Devices at School⬅️⬅️⬅️⬅️⬅️
Please remind your child/ren about the following school policies:
- Personal electronic devices are not to be used at school. If a CELL PHONE OR SMARTWATCH is brought to school for afterschool use it must remain in the student’s backpack until the end of the school day.
- No texting or calling during school hours from student devices.
- All communication to or from home must go through the school office.
Going Home Plans
Thank you for setting your child up for success by ensuring they know their going-home plan before the start of the school day.
No Dogs
Please remember No Dogs are allowed on school grounds. This includes the fields for games and practices.
Thank you for your support 🐾
Growing Readers and Writers
March was National Reading Month, a month to motivate readers of all ages to read, read, read! At school, we read daily in all classrooms and celebrate students’ reading progress in many different ways. Throughout the year, FHES students of all ages are immersed in various reading activities. They read independently and with partners, teachers read books to children daily, and sometimes we enjoy books read by other staff members (e.g. Ms. Charlene during weekly library visits, sometimes Mrs. Wehner or Ms. Terra). In addition, all of our students read frequently with their reading buddies (Kindergarten-3rd grade, 1st grade-4th grade, 2nd grade-5th grade).
We encourage all FHES students to read/be read to at home daily. Research shows that reading daily for a minimum of 20 minutes and having conversations with children about what they are reading not only exposes them to 1.8 million words yearly, but also helps improve fluency, enhance vocabulary, and foster deeper comprehension skills. Children who read regularly do better in school, not just in reading but in all subjects! We hope you celebrate reading during National Reading Month and throughout the year (even during the summer!) by reading some great books with your child(ren)!
▪️April 2024▪️
Friday, April 5: Last day to order Spirit Wear
Monday, April 8-Friday, April 12: Spring Break No School
Friday, April 19: PTO Movie Night - Finding Nemo 6:00 pm at FHES!
Monday, April 22-25: Fire Safety Week
Thursday, April 25: Cancelled Zoom lunch with Mrs. Wehner 11:20-12:20
Friday, April 26: Popcorn Day!
Message from the School Nurse
School-Based Sealant Program (Opt-in only)
The Community Health Center of Snohomish County's dental team is coming back to our schools to offer hygiene services and provide sealants (a thin coating on the back molars that prevents 80% of cavities) for children wanting to be seen. Upcoming school dental clinic dates are:
San Juan Island – Monday, May 6 and Tuesday, May 7
Please fill out the online form to have your child seen by the dental team at their school.
Garden update from Mrs. Kareken
Spring has sprung! In science, students are very excited to start a garden. We are getting ready by cleaning the garden beds and preparing to plant. We plan to have carrots, lettuce, and radishes planted for tasting by the end of the year. We are hoping to start the fall with an abundance of produce.
We are looking for donations of garden supplies in good condition. We need tools, gloves, seeds, soil, and whatever other good-condition supplies you might have.
Staff Highlights!
FHES Swag!
The online store is now open to order a FHES sweatshirt or t-shirt!
Please follow the link here, the store will be open through 4/5/2024.
Kindergarten Enrollment
Do you have a child who will be five on or before August 31, 2024?
It's time to register for Kindergarten!
Please stop by Friday Harbor Elementary office to pick up an enrollment packet.
If you have any questions; assistance will be available. Or Call 360-370-7301.
PTO Movie Night
Finding Nemo
Bring pillows and blankets and watch a movie with friends! All kids must be chaperoned by parents or guardians.
Next PTO Meeting
The next PTO Meeting will be Monday, May 13, 2024 at 5:30 pm in the FHES Library.
*Cancelled* Zoom lunch with Mrs. Wehner
Join FHES principal over Zoom for a chat or a listen.
- Thursday, April 25th 11:20-12:20 pm
Bring your questions, concerns, gratitude, and thoughts.
Please remember to bring in your Kings Receipts to the box in the front office!
Kings generously gives the school 1% of the total of all Kings receipts and the money goes straight to PTO programming for students and classrooms. Thanks so much for participating!
Food For Thought Program
- The salad bar is open every day at lunch, with fresh salad greens, Caesar salad, fruit, and vegetables.
- A vegetarian option is available upon request.
- Breakfast is served every morning starting at 8 am-8:15 am. If your child would like breakfast, please have them come through the front doors upon arrival.
*Please check your student's food account balance*
Your help is needed to keep our program running! Due to State Auditor Mandate, please maintain a POSITIVE lunch balance at all times. We have made this more manageable by providing online credit card payment and account maintenance though Skyward Family and Student Access. You can opt in for low balance email notifications as well as make instant online payments. Of course, payments can also be made in the school office with cash or check before lunch.
ATTENDANCE COUNTS
A reminder that the first bell rings at 8:15, please help your student start the day off right by starting the day on time with their class. If your student is going to be gone for the day please call the office at 360-378-5209 or email Jeanna at jeannarheinberger@sjisd.org to excuse your student's absence. Please remember that there is no adult supervision before 8 am.
Thank you!
Community Connections
Wondering about local groups and businesses that offer youth activities and/or support? San Juan Island School District has them posted on our Community Partners page.
Friday Harbor Elementary School
Email: roslynbutcher@sjisd.org
Website: sjisd.wednet.edu
Location: 95 Grover Street, Friday Harbor, WA, USA
Phone: 360.378.5209
San Juan Island School District Commitment to Non-discrimination
San Juan Island School District does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups.
The San Juan Island School District offers classes in many career and technical education program areas such as Culinary Arts, Career Prep, STEM, and Computer Science under its open admissions policy. For more information about CTE course offerings and admissions criteria, contact CTE Directors, Liz Varvaro, elizabethvarvaro@sjisd.org, PO Box 458, FH, WA, (360) 378-4133. Lack of English language proficiency will not be a barrier to admission and participation in career and technical education programs.
The following people have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies:
Faith Knight, Civil Rights Compliance Coordinator, Title IX Officer
PO Box 458, Friday Harbor, WA 98250
(360) 378-4133
Becky Bell, Special Services Director, 504 Officer, ADA Coordinator, Gender-Inclusive Schools Coordinator
PO Box 458, Friday Harbor, WA 98250
(360) 378-4133
Fred Woods, Superintendent, Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying (HIB) Coordinator
PO Box 458, Friday Harbor, WA 98250
(360) 378-7905