Olympic Hills Family Newsletter
1-7-21
Welcome back from winter break. I hope you all were able to rest and spend quality time with your family. I'm saddened we are beginning 2021 with more fear and uncertainty with the violence and terrorism in D.C. With our children home, they may be more aware of the news or anxiety of adults around them. To support children during this time, here are some things you can do (taken from an NPR article by Anya Kamenetz you can read here).
- Take breaks from the news
- Invite your children to share how they are feeling
- Model for them how you manage your own worries
- Practice breathing exercises (like the ones in Ms. Paulina's virtual office)
- Help children compartmentalize their worries by writing them down or choosing a specific time of day to talk about them
- You won't get the conversation right the first time and that's okay. Just being there for your child is most important.
As always, please reach out to me with any questions or just to check in.
In partnership,
Libby DeBell
Assembly Video About the Diversity Unit of our Social Justice Curriculum
Upcoming Dates
1/18 Martin Luther King Jr. Day - No School
1/20 Beep and Greet (it's happening! details coming soon)
1/26 PTA Night
1/28 Day Between Semesters - No School
2/5 All School Asynchronous Day for teachers to do 1:1 assessments with students
Return to In-Person Learning Questions
Families with children in PreK-1st have been asked to complete a survey to choose remote or in-person learning starting 3/1. I know this is a difficult decision for families to make, weighing factors such as work schedules, child care, health and safety, and more.
Although I do not have all the answers at this time, I am gathering your questions and will share information as we solidify our plan, and our safety team is meeting twice per week to develop our safety procedures and handbook.
The district released a helpful FAQ you can read here, and below is a list of the most frequently asked questions I have received from families so far.
Q: Can we change our decision after we submit the survey January 10th?
A: Unfortunately, families are not able to change your decision after January 10th so the district and schools can use the numbers to accurately plan for logistics such as staffing, buses, meals, classrooms, and more.
Q: Can I keep my child with their teacher?
A: We will sadly not be able to keep every child with their current teacher. Since some teachers and students will stay home, there will be some shuffling of classes. We will strive to keep as many students with their current teacher.
Q: Will Boys and Girls Club reopen at Olympic Hills?
A: We have reached out to the director and will let you know as soon as we have more information.
Q: For students who return to school, will they attend for a full day?
A: We do not know yet if the bell schedule will be part day or full day.
Please reach out to me with questions, and I will continue to share information with you over the coming weeks.
Asynchronous Days February 5th, April 2nd, and June 4th
We decided to do three asynchronous days on the following dates: February 5th, April 2nd, and June 4th. Teachers will use these days to do 1:1 reading assessments with students to help us plan for reading small groups and support students in their reading growth.
City of Seattle Utility Discount Program
Seattle Public Utilities and Seattle City Light will keep services on and offer relief to utility customers during the COVID-19 Civil Emergency in Seattle. Residential and commercial customers can set up deferred payment plans if their financial stability has been jeopardized by COVID-19 by calling (206) 684-3000 or by sending an email 24/7. Additionally, income-eligible residential customers can self-certify to join the Utility Discount Program (UDP) and access heavily discounted utilities by simply signing a short form that attests to their household income, rather than having to provide income documentation. of Seattle Utility Discount Program. Click here for more information.
Seattle Public Library Updates
Free Curbside Printing: Seattle Public Library is now offering up to 10 free, black and white printed pages per person per day while Library buildings are closed. You can send your documents by email, web, or mobile device and pick up at one of the SPL curbside printing pickup locations. Click here for more information.
Click here for Lake City Librarian Ms. Nancy Pew's recent video!
Information and Resources
Technology Resource Center at Nathan Hale: Mondays and Wednesdays 11:00am to 6:00pm, lunch from 1:30 to 2:30pm. Still first come, first served. No appointments can be made.
Family Works at Nathan Hale: Wednesdays 12:45pm-3:00pm. An organization called FamilyWorks is providing Family Support Services to help families navigate various services and resources. They will be staffed with individuals who speak Somali, Spanish and English.
Virtual Volunteering: Are you interested in becoming a virtual volunteer to help support in breakout sessions or tutor students? Please reach out to Danielle Vaillancourt at olympichills.volunteer@seattleschools.org or call (425) 616-2516.
Olympic Hills Elementary School
School Office Hours and Contact Information:
Monday-Friday 8:00am-3:00pm
- For attendance and technology support, contact Danielle Vaillancourt at (425) 616-2516 or drvaillancourt@seattleschools.org.
- For all other questions, call the main office at (206) 413-2200 or email Joyce Phitts at jophitts@seattleschools.org.
Email: ecdebell@seattleschools.org
Website: www.olympichillses.seattleschools.org
Location: 13018 20th Avenue Northeast, Seattle, WA, USA
Phone: 206-556-6296