POLAR BEAR EXPRESS
NOVEMBER 2022
OLIVIA PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Email: pencekc@mukilteo.wednet.edu
Website: https://www.mukilteoschools.org/Domain/670
Location: 200 108th Street Southwest, Everett, WA, USA
Phone: 425-366-3300
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oliviaparkelementary/
Principal Message - Mrs. Pence
Dear Olivia Park Family,
Did you know there are important elections coming soon? As you prepare to vote, please consider sharing your thinking with your child. Of course, the age of the child often determines what is appropriate information for them to process. Regardless, children need to know we have a civic right and duty to use our voices by voting to influence the decisions, which impact our communities. Take advantage of your ballot coming in the mail to remind you to talk with your child. Exploring the ballot with children is a way to introduce how voting works. For an older child, discussing how you research a ballot initiative and weigh multiple perspectives can be a rich and informative learning experience.
PLEASE VOTE
General Election -- November 8, 2022
Additionally, you have begun to form positive relationships with school staff. Evidence of that is seen as you came to Family Engagement Conferences in September as well as our Open House on October 13th. We are so fortunate that another opportunity is just around the corner for staff to learn more about your child and you. That is fall conference time, November 21st-23rd. Teachers are thinking about how they will structure this time and what they will learn from you.
As teachers are preparing for conferences, I encourage you to do the same. This is a great time to be thinking of what you hope to share during the conference. The main purpose of having these conferences is to positively affect student performance. I also knew that I had a good deal of knowledge about my children that might be useful to teachers. In fact, that was sometimes the knowledge I had gained from their former teachers. Our partnership was key to that growth.
The following suggestions may help you prepare for your child's conference.
Before the conference:
- Let your children know that this is an opportunity for them to talk with you about school, what they like best and least and what they would like to have you ask the teacher.
- Think about what you see as your child's strengths and areas for growth, what seems easy to him/her and what seems harder and requires more effort.
- Give homework some thought. Does your child work independently or is a good deal of assistance required? How much time is usually needed to complete homework? Is there a sense of pride in producing quality work? Does working hard bring joy and satisfaction?
- Prepare a list of specific questions that you want to make sure you ask, such as:
o Does my child show self-control?
o Is my child developing responsibility for his or her own learning?
o Does my child keep trying when the work gets harder?
o How does my child get along with others?
During the conference be sure to:
- Let the teacher know if anything has happened at home, which might affect your child's performance at school.
- Share what you know about how your child best learns.
- Share concerns that you see when you work with your child at home.
- Be ready to collaborate. Assume the teacher has your child's best interests in mind.
- SHARE YOUR HOPES AND DREAMS FOR YOUR CHILD.
After the conference, discuss with your child:
- Positive comments the teacher made and areas of strength.
- Areas and plans for improvement and the belief that with hard work and effort, these are areas that WILL improve.
- His or her wishes and goals.
We are so fortunate to have the opportunity to come together for the benefit of our students. Hopefully, the time spent will pay great dividends for all. Thank you in advance for your support of our learning community.
Fondly,
Katie Pence
IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES
NOVEMBER - NATIONAL NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH
NOV 1 - Parent Cafe 6pm(zoom), El Cafecito 7pm(zoom)
NOV 8 - General Election
NOV 10 - Garden Day Activity (4-6pm)
NOV 11 - Veterans Day - NO SCHOOL
NOV 17 - PTA Meeting 6pm
NOV 21-23 - Conferences - NO SCHOOL
NOV 24-25 - Thanksgiving/Native American Heritage Day-NO SCHOOL
November is National American Heritage Month
Every Vote Counts!!!
Please remember to vote:
November 8 General Election
Snohomish County
November 11- Veterans Day
At Olivia Park, we'd like to honor each and everyone of our Veterans in our community, families, and staff of Olivia Park. Mrs Molisani is making a presentation to show at every one of our classes.
If you'd like to submit a picture of your family's veteran, please submit a picture to Mrs Molisani by Friday November 4 at:
MolisaniJE@mukilteo.wednet.edu
Include: Veteran's Name, Branch of Service,Student's Name, Veteran's Relationship to Student.
see picture below of Mrs. Pence father as an example.
Schoolwide Student Behavior: The PBIS Program
PBIS stands for Positive Behavior Intervention and Support. This is a nationally recognized schoolwide positive behavior program, used at schools across the Mukilteo School District. PBIS is a way for schools to encourage good behavior in all students, in all settings at school.
The beginning of the school year is an important time for staff to teach our school behavior expectations. Since the first day of school, staff have been teaching students how to be “safe, respectful, and responsible” everywhere at school: classrooms, playground, cafeteria…even on the bus! Students observed following the rules may be rewarded with a “Polar Pride” award. These awards have two copies: one your student may bring home to show you, and another that goes to our office for a weekly prize drawing! In addition to Polar Pride awards, entire classes which earn 20 “Polar Paw” award may choose a popcorn party, extra recess or other reward.
Please praise your student when they bring home a Polar Pride award, or tell you that their class earned a reward. This helps students know that all of the adults in their lives are proud when they show good behavior and study habits. You might say to your student: “good job, I am proud of how! Tell me, how did you earn it?” By talking with your student about your values and expectations for behavior at school, you are partnering with us to make Olivia Park a happy, safe place to learn and grow!
Volunteers are Back
There are many ways you can volunteer at OP. Here are some of the ways our volunteers have helped:
- recess assistance
- Arrival/Dismissal
- classroom
- classroom preparations
- library
Join the PTA !!!
A HUGE Thanks to our amazing PTA for putting together OP's Harvest Dance. If you'd like to hear what other great things our PTA is preparing for the rest of the year, come join us!
* We'd love for you to join us! Join the PTA by the online link or stop by the school to fill out a membership form.
Online link: oliviaparkpta.memberplanet.com
Our next meeting is November 17, 2022 at 6pm. Join us!
November 1 - Parent Café- 6pm English, El Cafecito - 7pm Spanish
NOVEMBER TOPICS:
- PBIS - POLAR PRIDES: good behavior and study habits (Take home kit for family available)
- Conferences prep and questions
- Student Tutoring Services
click on picture for English session
click on picture for Spanish session
Parent Square - New Communication Tool
Mukilteo School District uses ParentSquare as a communication platform for district, school and teacher communications. PARENTSQUARE replaced Blackboard in June 2022.
ParentSquare automatically generates an account for each parent/guardian, using your preferred email address or phone number, so you will receive communications from your school and the district. However, you must “activate” your account to use the two-way features of the tool.
By activating your account, you’ll be able to:
- Choose to receive information instantly or once a day at 6 p.m. (digest setting)
- Communicate in your preferred language
- Comment on school postings to engage in your school community
- Direct message teachers and staff with translation support
- Sign up for family-teacher conferences
- Sign forms and permission slips
- See calendar items
- Add events to your personal calendar.. and much more!
Follow the following link to a video on how to get started with Parent Square:
Have questions? Reach out to
Ms. Clara - Family Engagement Liaison
esparzavargascx@mukilteo.wednet.edu
425-366-3313
STAY CONNECTED
Your Right to Know— Title I, Part A schools
Professional Qualifications of Teachers
Parents of children attending Title I, Part A schools have the right to request and receive information about the qualifications of the educators who teach students core subjects—reading, English language arts and mathematics.
At a minimum, the information given to you must explain these three essential components of an educator’s qualifications. Whether the student’s teacher–
1. Has met state qualification and licensing criteria for the grade levels and subject areas in which the teacher provides instruction.
2. Is teaching under emergency or other provisional status through which state qualification or licensing criteria have been waived.
3. Is teaching in the field of discipline of the certification of the teacher.
Qualifications of Paraprofessionals
Parents of children attending Title I, Part A schools have the right to request and receive information about the qualifications of the paraeducators who teach students in a core academic subject area.
Paraeducators must work under the supervision of a certified teacher. In schools that operate a schoolwide program, all paraprofessionals must have special qualifications. Schools that operate a Title I, Part A program must have a high school diploma or GED and completed the following:
1. Completed at least two years of study at an institution of higher education; or
2. Obtained an associate’s or higher degree; or
3. Meet a high standard of quality either through a) the ETS ParaPro Assessment; b) a paraeducator apprenticeship program approved by Washington State; or c) portfolio program.
Mukilteo School District Non-Discrimination Statement
Mukilteo 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 trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following employees have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination: Civil Rights Coordinator and Title IX Coordinator Simone Neal (425-356-1319), nealsr@mukilteo.wednet.edu, Section 504 Coordinator Lisa Pitsch (425-356-1277), pitschla@mukilteo.wednet.edu, and the ADA/Access Coordinator Karen Mooseker (425-356-1330), moosekerkw@mukilteo.wednet.edu. Address: 9401 Sharon Drive in Everett, WA. Inquiries regarding ADA/Access issues at Sno-Isle TECH Skills Center should be directed to Wes Allen, Director (425-348-2220) allenwr@mukilteo.wednet.edu. Address: 9001 Airport Road in Everett, WA 98204.