STAR GAZER GAZETTE
June 2023 Star Lake Newsletter
Greetings Star Lake Families,
Well, can you believe we are here in June with only a few days left in the school year? It is hard to believe that this time last year we were packing up to move into our beautiful new building, and now we have had a wonderful year in this amazing facility! I am so proud of our students and their hard work, flexibility and resiliency. As always, our staff has wrapped their hearts around our students and school community and provided strong social emotional structures and supports.
All of this has resulted in a year to be proud of. Right at this time we are finishing up end of year testing so I don’t have results for all grade levels yet. Here are a few examples of the great growth our students are making:
IRLA reading: 36% on target in October ----- 49% on target in May
iReady reading: Kindergarten 40% on grade level in winter ------ 83% on level in Spring
1st grade: 19% on grade level in Fall ----- 51% on grade level in Spring
2nd grade: 18% on grade level in Fall ----- 55% on grade level in Spring
iReady math: 1st grade: 6% on grade level in Fall ----- 48% on grade level in Spring
2nd grade: 12% on grade level in Fall ----- 50% on grade level in Spring
We have some fun end of year events coming up too!
Friday, June 9th is our last PTA spirit day with a “Tropical” theme and popcorn
Kindergarten and 5th grade celebrations are on Friday, June 16th…watch for details from your child’s teacher.
Field day will be Tuesday, June 20th and we will have our end of the year assembly on Wednesday, June 21st.
Again…watch for times and details coming via Remind and notices.
Our first day of school for next year will be Wednesday, August 30! Again, watch for information coming over the summer regarding our Meet your Teacher event and our Back to School BBQ!
I wish your family a summer filled with adventure, rest, joy, reading and sunshine! Take care and we will see you soon!
Kris Rennie, Principal
253-945-4007
Mark Your Calendars
JUNE
5 - ALL library books are due
7 - Early Release - School ends at 1:35
8 - Grades 1-2 & Zank Music Concert, 7:00-7:30
9 - Tropical Spirit Day
16 - Kindergarten Celebration 9:00 Gym
16 - 5th Grade Celebration 2-2:30 Gym
19 - Juneteenth - NO SCHOOL
20 - Field Day - Parent Volunteers Needed!
20 - Yearbooks Handed Out
21 - Last Day of School - Early Dismissal Time: 11:05
AUGUST
30 - First Day Of School 2023/24
2023/24 School Calendar
Important Year End Information
*With all of our upcoming year end celebrations, please remember that we do NOT allow balloons in our school!
* Second semester report cards will go home with scholars on June 21st. You can also access them after that on ParentVUE: https://grades.fwps.org/
* In August you will be notified by email when it is time to update your Online Verification. This needs to be completed every August to make sure all student, parent, emergency contacts and health information is accurate and up to date. Verification must be completed before August 24th so you will be able to see your scholar's new teacher. Teacher assignments will be released at the end of August and only if you have done your Online Verification. Family Income Surveys also need to be completed at this time. Please do not skip over this part, as this is how our school gets its state funding. Even if you know you will not qualify, this MUST be completed. This can be done while you are updating your ParentVUE and Student information! https://grades.fwps.org/PXP2_Login.aspx
* If you will not be attending Star Lake next year, please notify kamiller@fwps.org. This will help us with structuring our classrooms for the fall.
* Please check the 2023-24 school calendar as you begin to plan vacations for next year so that you don't miss vital classroom time. https://www.fwps.org/schoolcalendar
* 2023-24 Bus routes will be available and posted on the district's website at the end of August. Please make sure you know your correct bus stops and times. https://www.fwps.org/Page/365
GOOD LUCK!
Ms. J. Nelson
Mr. Bennett
Mrs. Thomas
Mrs. Johnson
Mr. Soysouvanh
PLEASE PLAN TO ATTEND:
Star Lake MUSIC CONCERTS
Star Lake Concerts are BACK! We will have evening concerts for each grade level (except Kindergarten, who will be performing at their graduation), and we invite YOU to be a part of our performance experience! Feel free to invite family and friends to our FREE concerts, which will last about 30 minutes. Have your student wear their Star Lake t-shirt, if it’s available. Watch for lyric sheets and feel free to practice the songs with them! 😊
Please save the following date:
Zank, 1st and 2nd Grades: Thursday June 8, 7:00 p.m.
Mr. Garcia
General Music Teacher
CELEBRATIONS:
End of Year Kindergarten Celebration
Our kindergarten celebration will be held on June 16th, 9-9:30 in the gym. They will have their concert and slideshow. Please stay for a few minutes afterwards for treats and photo opportunities in the cafeteria. We are asking parents for donations of doughnuts. Thanks! Kindergartens will finish the rest of the day in class.
5th Grade Celebration
Kindergarten & 5th Grade Students Are Still Expected To Attend School On June 20 & 21. These Celebrations Are NOT Their Last Day Of School!
5th Grade Celebration
Donations Needed
Early Release Info Following 5th Grade Celebration
FIELD DAY
Field Day is back! Yes…..on a real field no doubt. Field Day will take place on June 20th.
K-2nd will participate from 9:30 -11:00am
3rd-5th will participate from 12:50-2:20pm
Students will compete as classes and have fun on the field through a rotation of 8 field events.
At the end we have a water station and otter pops for all.
If you wish to volunteer to run a station, help supervise the water station or otter pops and want to join in on the fun, please contact Mr. Mullins at: pmullins@fwps.org or 253-945-4008
Reminder you must have your official WSP background check on file to volunteer.
Library Learners
Miss Nelson will be leaving soon 🙁
It has been my pleasure to be part-time librarian at Star Lake for the last 9 school years. I will be a full-time librarian at Sunnycrest starting August 30th. I will miss everyone! Keep reading!
Thank you,
Jennifer Nelson
Star Lake Library Books Are Due JUNE 5TH
Please look around your house for Star Lake library books and return them to the library. All library books are due on Monday, June 5th. The first primary class and first intermediate class to get in all their books to the library will win a popsicle party! Please look under beds, in closets, in the car, in backpacks, on bookshelves. You never know where books could be hiding. Star Lake library books have a barcode on the front with a barcode and Star Lake Library on it.
2024 Battle of the Books list is below for all those who would like to get started on their reading for the Battle next year.
Free Summer Reading Programs
Summer is approaching and so is time for summer reading! Don’t let your students slide back in their reading levels. Summer reading is a great time to check out different books, series, genres, authors and more at King County Libraries. Our closest is Woodmont Public Library. Sign up for a free library card.
Here’s a list of free summer reading programs for elementary students:
1. The KCLS Summer Reading Program starts June 1st for all students aged 1 to 18. Star Lake students will be taking home a KCLS reading log to track their reading progress. Students can earn two prizes from a public library for reading. KCLS will be offering free programs this summer including lego building, puppet shows, magic shows, concerts, story times, arts & crafts, reading buddies and more. Go to kcls.org/summer to see the schedule.
2. Barnes & Noble: Students will be bringing a reading log to keep track of reading eight books over the summer. Then take the reading log into Barnes & Noble by Southcenter or in Federal Way to pick out one free book! Reading Logs available here: English: https://dispatch.barnesandnoble.com/content/dam/ccr/bnstores/kids/misc/2023/BNKidsSummerReading85x11.pdf
3. Real Dawgs Read Summer Reading Program from University of Washington is another chance to keep track of reading minutes to earn a free UW baseball cap or UW backpack or UW winter beanie hat. A trifold reading log will be coming home. This reading program starts the day after school is out. Students read for 30 days and mail in their reading log to UW with postage paid. Students will receive their backpack, cap or hat in the mail. (photo is of 2 students who received their UW gear last year)
PBIS: SAFE, KIND AND PRODUCTIVE!
Our year is coming to a close. We have had a great school year! Classes have earned lots of Eagle Wings and students have earned a ton of Star Lake Way tickets. If your child doesn’t spend all their Star Lake way tickets at Eagle Mart this year don’t worry, they can save them for next year. Fifth graders should spend all their tickets now.
Counselor's Corner:
Nurses News
If your student has medications at school. Please remember to pick them up on the last day of school or call the school and make arrangements with the health room staff for them to be sent home. See permission form below for your signature as well as instructions.
Fall paperwork will be sent home prior to the end of school for all students with health conditions or medications at school. This way families will have needed forms for summer medical appointments. Remember, students requiring emergency medications may not start school without medication, parent signature, and doctor’s orders turned in to the health room staff by the first day of school.
PTA Updates
Star Lake Parents and Guardians,
The school year is coming to a close, and we wanted to reach out to wish all of you a happy and healthy summer break!!! We are so thankful for all the support we have received this year with the volunteers that have stepped up and been able to help out for spirit days and staff appreciation, in addition to the support we get from your membership and attendance at meetings. Each of you make up the PTA! We hope to continue to grow our community so we can do more for Star Lake families next year!
PTA POPCORN/SPIRIT DAY:
June 9th - Tropical Day
Join our Facebook page to keep up with the Star Lake PTA 9.4.55: https://www.facebook.com/groups/StarLakeElementary
Star Lake PTA is always looking for volunteers to help with Fundraisers, Popcorn Fridays, and Book Fair! If you are interested please email us at starlakepta@gmail.com
* Remember that a successful PTA needs your participation. We appreciate your support! If you have any questions, please email us at: starlakepta@gmail.com
Summer Camp Options:
Summertime Activity Options
Parks Around the Area:
West Fenwick Park- 3824 Reith Rd, Kent, WA
Glen Nelson Park- 3216 South 268th Street
Town Square Park- 31600 Pete von Reichbauer Way South, Federal Way, WA
Steel Lake Park-2410 S 312th St, Federal Way, WA
5 Mile Lake Park- 36429 44th Ave S, Auburn, WA
Celebration Park- 1095 S. 324th Street, Federal Way, WA
Museums in the Area:
Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture- Free first Thursday of every month. (10am-5pm)
Bellevue Arts Museum- Free first Friday of every month. (11am - 8pm)
Center for Wooden Boats- Free always. (10am - 8pm Daily)
Duwamish Longhouse & Cultural Center- Free always. (Tuesday - Saturday 10AM - 5PM)
Frye Art Museum- Free always. (Tuesday – Sunday 11 – 5, Open Later Thursday 11 – 7)
Henry Art Gallery- Students always free. (11am-9pm)
Klondike Gold Rush Museum- Free always. (9am-5pm)
Loghouse Museum- Pay What You Wish always (Friday-Sunday, Noon-4pm)
Museum of Flight- Free first Thursday of every month (5-9pm)
Museum of Glass- Free third Thursday of every month (5-8pm)
Museum of History and Industry- Free first Thursday of every month. (10am-8pm)
Seattle Art Museum Downtown- Free first Thursday of every month (10am-9pm)
Seattle Children's Museum- Reduced payment programs. (10am-5pm)
Seattle Public Library Museum Pass- Free always, Seattle Public Library cardholders reserve and print free admission tickets to Seattle museums.
Tacoma Art Museum- Free Third Thursdays, (5-8pm)
Children’s Museum of Tacoma- Pay-As-You-Will/ Free. (10am-1pm & 2-5pm)
Washington State History Museum- Free Third Thursday (3-8pm)
Enroll Now For Kindergarten
If your child will be age 5 by Aug 31st, you can begin the registration process by visiting: http://www.fwps.org/kiosk
If this is your first student attending Federal Way Schools, then please click on Student Registration and Create a New Account.
If you currently have or have in the past had a student registered in any Federal Way Public School , this includes Preschool & ECEAP, then you already have a ParentVue account. Just click on “ParentVue” to access your family's information. DO NOT make a new account for each student. If you need help recovering a forgotten User ID or password, please contact Kathy Miller at 253-945-4002 or kamiller@fwps.org. If you need additional information please go to: https://www.fwps.org/Page/7199
Choice Registration Program
Through the Choice Registration Process, families have the opportunity to apply for placement at a school other than their neighborhood school.
Please review the procedures regarding Choice, and click on the link: https://www.fwps.org/choice to view the application. Please note that approval of Choice placement is not guaranteed and is based upon space availability.
Register For Preschool for 2023/24
Federal Way Public Schools offers high-quality preschool programs for children who are three or four years old on or before August 31 of the current school year and live within the Federal Way School District Boundaries. Preschool programs are either tuition-based or free, depending on family income.
If you are interested in enrolling your child in a FWPS preschool program, please complete the Prescreening Application for Preschool. The Early Learning Department will review your application and notify you of available program options and the next steps for enrollment within 3 business days. Household size, family income, IEP status, and other factors can determine your child’s placement. To begin, go to: https://www.fwps.org/preschool
Assistance Resources For Our Families:
Staff List:
Star Lake Elementary
Email: comments@fwps.org
Website: https://www.fwps.org/starlake
Location: 26812B 40th Ave S , Kent, WA, USA
Phone: 253-945-4000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StarLakeFWPS