Chinook News
Welcome back to school!
Welcome to Chinook!
Home of the Wolf Pups
What makes our school special? We maintain the highest expectations—both academic and social—for our students. We also work to build strong ties with our families so that all members of our school community feel welcome and can be involved. We strive to ensure that school is a joyful place for everyone.
CHINOOK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Office: 360.313.1600
Attendance: 360.313.1402
Attendance Email: Chinook.Attendance@vansd.org
Office Hours: Monday - Friday 8am – 4pm
Principal: Patrick Conners Patrick.conners@vansd.org
Associate Principal: Donna Jeffries Donna.Jeffries@vansd.org
School Counselor: Brett Andre Brett.Andre@vansd.org
Secretary: Amy Surface Amy.Surface@vansd.org
Attendance/Enrollment: Mary Lies Mary.Lies@vansd.org
Welcome Back to School
Letter from the Principal
August 12, 2019
Dear Parents/Guardians,
I’d like to take this opportunity to welcome back our returning families and send out a greeting to our families new to Chinook Elementary. We’re currently running our Kindergarten Jump Start program and our staff will be returning next week to prepare for the upcoming 2019-20 school year. Excitement for the first day of school is already running high!
As we transition to the new school year, I’d like to highlight a few upcoming dates that pertain to our families:
Monday, August 19
New Family Orientation
4:30-5:30
Chinook
Thursday, August 22
Back to School Ice Cream Social
4:00-5:00
Chinook
Tuesday, August 27
First Day of School
8:30-2:50
Chinook
Tuesday, August 27
PTSA “Mugs and Muffins”
8:30-9:00
Chinook Cafeteria
I also wanted to plug our fantastic PTSA. Chinook’s PTSA organizes a number of events and activities throughout the school year that benefit our students and families. I would encourage you to consider becoming a PTSA member and volunteer your support to one of more activities throughout the year. Members of our PTSA will be available to meet at our “Back to School” event. You’re also encouraged to swing by the cafeteria at 8:30 on the first day of school for some “Mugs and Muffins” time, where you can decompress with some coffee and snacks after dropping your students off.
We’ve also had a significant change in our office staff since the end of the school year. Paige Wilson has taken a position at the district’s central office. Taking Paige’s place as Chinook’s secretary is Amy Surface, who is coming to us from district office. Please join me in welcoming Amy!
We’re all excited to see our returning families and to see some new faces!
Sincerely,
Patrick Conners, Principal
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Important School Information:
SCHOOL SCHEDULE:
8:30am – 2:50-pm - Class-time hours
8:00 a.m. - Office Open - Students may go to Cafeteria or Playground, no classroom entry.
8:20 a.m. - First Bell – Students enter building through classroom door.
8:30 a.m. - Tardy Bell
2:50 p.m. - Dismissal*
4:00 p.m. - Office Closes
*Every MONDAY is an Early Release at 2:10pm - Please make arrangements for students. Buses will run early on Monday. First early release is September 9th. All Mondays are early release, except JUNE.
ATTENDANCE:
Attendance matters – especially at Chinook Elementary! Please help your student have enough time be here when the classrooms open at 8:20 a.m. Students should be in their chairs, on-time, and ready to learn by 8:30 a.m.
ARRIVALS:
Students may arrive at 8:00 a.m. for playground, or to eat breakfast. For breakfast, enter at the back of the building by Cafeteria door. Students may enter classrooms at 8:20 a.m when outside doors open. No classroom access prior to 8:20 a.m. Classrooms are locked.
ABSENCES AND TARDIES:
Please call 360.313.1402 or email the attendance line Chinook.Attendance@vansd.org
Unexcused attendance calls to home begin at 9:10 a.m.
STUDENT DROP OFF & PARKING LOT SAFETY:
Please DROP OFF in drop off area only. All students MUST exit vehicle curb side for safety.
DO NOT PARK OR LEAVE CAR unattended in drop off zone. When your student(s) need extra assistance, please PARK car and walk student in. Please use the cross walk to enter the building. See Traffic Advisory coming in your Welcome Back folders for more information.
STUDENT WALKERS – TO/FROM SCHOOL:
Please remind your children to only cross 139th/Bliss Road and at the designated cross walks.
BUS ROUTES:
Bus route information is available online, or in the office. The first week of school you may encounter late busses until they establish routes.
PICKING UP STUDENT(S) EARLY:
Please send a note with your student(s), or email Chinook.Attendance@vansd.org and teacher(s) with the early departure request. Parent/Guardian MUST come into the office to sign-out student(s), please bring your ID. The office staff will call student(s) from classroom. Please allow extra time during assemblies. Please park in a designated space. For student safety, fire lanes must be kept clear at all times.
MEDICATION AT SCHOOL:
No medication is allowed at school without the written permission of the prescribing health care practitioner and parent/guardian. The State of Washington requires that the school has a form for prescription and/or non-prescription medication at school. The office will provide you the required form. For more information about health, medications, and immunizations at school see https://vansd.org/health-information/
HEALTH ROOM/ILLNESS:
Nurse: LeeAnn Hull, LeeAnn.Hull@vansd.org
Parents/Guardians will be notified if a student needs to be picked up due to illness or injury. Children should usually be kept at home if any of the following conditions are present (keep in mind the absence of fever does not always indicate the child is well enough to attend school):
· Fever over 100 degrees, vomiting or diarrhea within the last 24 hours
· Undiagnosed skin rashes with fever
· Skin infections
· Persistent sore throat with fever and difficulty swallowing or rash
· Severe headache, toothache, ear pain or abdominal pain and cramping
· Eyes that are painful red, and matted with thick discharge
· Severe uncontrolled rapid coughing, wheezing or difficulty breathing
CLOTHING:
Lost & Found – Please LABEL everything! From lunch bags, water bottles, to coats/jackets. It may help us get the item back to you. Items not picked up will be donated to charity after Spring Break, Winter Break, and/or at the end of the school year.
Wet/Soiled – We do have a small clothes closet for those accident days. Please wash and return the items to the school. Thank you for your help!
BREAKFAST/LUNCH MEALS INFORMATION:
Students have a Lunch account with a personal lunch account/pin number. Parents may access Lunch account through Skyward Parent Access. Parent/Guardians may deposit funds into the account or may send money to school. Lunch menu https://vansd.org/meals/
*Free or Reduced lunches available. Application:
https://vansd.org/wpdm-package/free-and-reduced-price-meals-application/?wpdmdl=11802
DROPPING OFF ITEMS DURING SCHOOL HOURS:
To avoid class disruptions, the office will notify the teacher to send the student to pick up the items in the OFFICE. Birthday treats are ok, but check with teacher first. No balloons per district policy.
PARENTS VISITING SCHOOL:
Parents are encouraged to wait with student(s) before the bell rings in the morning however, adults are not allowed to play on playground or in games with children. You are welcome to come for lunch with student(s). Adults are not allowed on the playground during school hours for safety reasons. Thank you for your cooperation.
VISITOR CHECK-IN aka RAPTOR:
Raptor is the visitor check-in system. When you enter the building for the first time, you will need to enter general information into Raptor, along with your ID. Once you have done this, for future visits just check in at the kiosk upon entering and check-out when leaving building.
VOLUNTEER CLEARANCE:
We encourage and welcome volunteers at school. Volunteers help out in all sorts of ways taking on a variety of roles to help our students succeed. Volunteers can tutor and mentor students, chaperone activities, assist teachers, be a Lunch Buddy, assist the PTSA at student events, or help out in the office. The VPS District requires all volunteers working with students to have a valid clearance. Please use this link to update your information: https://apps.raptortech.com/Apply/NTY1OmVuLVVT
EVERYDAY COUNTS – GO WOLF PUPS!