Brookdale Bobcat Prints
February 2, 2021
11213 Sheridan Ave S, Tacoma, WA 98444
Connie Holman - Principal
Kari Ferguson - Assistant Principal
Office Hours - 8:30 to 3:30
253-298-3100 / FAX 253-298-3115
Principal News
It was wonderful to welcome about 50 kindergarten students to in-person learning on January 28! They hopped off of their busses and out of their cars and were ready to face the day! I know our kindergarten teachers were super excited to have students in the classroom.
We are getting ready for some of our 1st & 2nd graders to join us, too. In-person learning for 1st & 2nd grade will begin on Monday, Feb. 8. In preparation, teachers in these grades will post asynchronous activities on their Canvas page for Friday, Feb. 5.
We anticipate the 3rd-5th grade family survey to go out at some point this week. It is VERY IMPORTANT that families take the time to complete the survey before the deadline so we can prepare for the return of 3rd-5th grades effectively.
Below are a few things to keep in mind as we welcome students into the building:
- All families must complete a daily health attestation. This will be an email or text (your choice) to verify that your student does not have a fever and has no symptoms of illness. HUGE thanks to our support center & kindergarten families for doing such a wonderful job making sure these are completed!! The attestations will start going out a few days before a grade level is scheduled to return - so you can practice.
- Students are required to wear masks on the bus.
- ALL students and staff will be required to wear masks all day at school.
- All classrooms will have students seated 6 feet apart.
- Students will eat lunch in the classrooms, to minimize the number of students who are together with masks off. Students will be encouraged to eat quickly and not to talk.
- Breakfast will be sent home with students the day before.
- We will have recess. The playground will be zoned to keep class cohorts small and together. Students will wear masks outside to be closer than 6 feet apart. Due to space, students will go out in all kinds of weather. We don't have the indoor capacity for 'rainy day' recess at this time. Please make sure your child comes to school ready to go outside - it's always a good idea to have them dress in layers (you know how Washington weather can be.)
- Students are encouraged to bring their own water bottles to school each day.
Staffing for K-2:
Kindergarten In-Person - started January 28 - 9:35-3:05
Mrs. Dolly
Mrs. Jones/Johnson
Mrs. Leuthold
Ms. Mason
Kindergarten Remote - started January 28 - 9:15-11:45 (cohort A) & 12:25-2:55 (cohort B)
Mr. Gaume
First Grade In-Person - starting February 8 - 9:35-3:05
Mrs. Hursh
Mrs. Loman
Mrs. Martin
First Grade Remote - starting February 8 - 9:15-11:45 (cohort A) & 12:25-2:55 (cohort B)
Mrs. Riley
Second Grade In-Person - starting February 8 - 9:35-3:05
Mr. Lorms
Miss Mose
Mrs. O'Hollaren
Second Grade Remote - starting February 8 - 9:15-11:45 (cohort A) & 12:25-2:55 (cohort B)
Mr. Woods
First & second grade families should have already received a letter notifying them of their child's teacher. If you did not, please contact the office.
STUDENTS ARRIVING LATE MUST BE ESCORTED TO THE FRONT DOOR AND CHECKED IN THROUGH OUR DOORBELL SYSTEM. OUR FRONT DOOR IS ALWAYS LOCKED.
NO SCHOOL
FEBRUARY 15 ~ Presidents’ Day
FEBRUARY 16 ~ Mid-Winter Break
Break begins at our regular dismissal time on Friday, February 12.
School resumes at its regular schedule on Wednesday, Feb. 17 -
(this is an asynchronous day for students)
IMPORTANT MEETING REGARDING FIRST AND SECOND GRADE
Mrs. Ferguson & Mrs. Holman will host 2 parent meetings this Thursday, Feb. 4 - 9:00 a.m. & 7:00 p.m. At these meetings, we will review expectations for returning to school.
1st & 2nd Grade Welcome Back mtg - 9:00 a.m.
1st & 2nd Grade Welcome Back mtg - 7:00 p.m.
While we are looking forward to having our students back in the building, we recognize that there are a number of things to think about. Please know we have worked (and are still working) diligently to make sure that the transition is a safe and as smooth as possible for our students and staff.
WE APPRECIATE OUR COUNSELOR ESA SUPPORT STAFF
HOW THE SCHOOL COMMUNICATES WITH PARENTS
BOBCAT PRINTS ~ is our newsletter that is sent out bi-monthly to your email address that you have on record in our office. This bulletin is designed to be a quick look at what's coming up, with some short articles of information. If you are not getting this publication, please call our office to check that we have the correct email address on record.
MRS HOLMAN'S SUNDAY NIGHT CALL ~ I hope you find it helpful to hear about what's happening for the week each Sunday evening. Please be sure you listen to the broadcast or voicemail that comes through. If you are not getting them, we might have outdated phone numbers on file.
SCHOOL WEBSITE ~ can be accessed through fpschools.org. Go to Schools and you will see Brookdale. Our website is updated regularly with important dates and information. Please make sure you save this site as one of your favorites :-)
IMPORTANT BUS INFORMATION
With our return to in-person learning come many considerations. One thing to work out is our transportation. All students received bus information in the fall on a postcard mailed to the address on file. Although the bus stops on the postcard are still correct, the times are now incorrect. For updated times the bus will pick up and drop off your student, please use the E-LINK SITE and type in the following information:
Username: guest
Password: guest
Then enter your child's grade level and address in the indicated fields. Your child's bus route and pick up and drop off times will appear.
It is important to check back a few days prior to the start of school as route schedules change as more students are enrolled.
BUS BULLETIN - Once you know your child's route, you should consider signing up for bus route notifications using 'Bus Bulletin'. Bus Bulletin will send text messages to your cell phone with real-time updates on your child's route. For example, if your child's route is running late, Bus Bulletin will let you know.
To sign up to use Bus Bulletin, follow these steps:
- Log into the website http://busbulletin.com/parents/
- Look to the right side of the screen. Click on 'Sign In'
- Click on 'Register Here' and answer the simple prompts providing your name, email address, a password, and select Franklin Pierce Schools.
- Enter the code on the screen, accept the rules of use
- Click submit
- Select the route which is written in a code - the first two numbers are the ROUTE NUMBER, and the letters are the SCHOOL ABBREVIATION - for example 32JS is Route 32 at James Sales
- Preschool: HDS for Head Start and ELC
- Primary: BD, CA, CH, CO, ELM, HA, JS, MD
- Secondary: FMS, FPHS, KMS, WHS, GATES
IMPORTANT HEALTH INFORMATION
- A Certificate of Immunization Status (CIS) signed by a doctor or health care provider.
- A CIS filled out by a parent or guardian with medical records attached.
- A CIS from MyIR.net. Print your family's official vaccine records from any device.
- A CIS printed from the state immunization system by a health care provider or school.
Per Washington state law, students who do not have all required immunizations will not be able to attend school in person. If you have questions about immunizations, please call our school nurse, Jen Van at 253-298-3108.
BROOKDALE CONSTRUCTION UPDATE
Franklin Pierce Schools does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation including gender expression or identity, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability in its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. Questions and complaints of alleged discrimination should be directed to James Hester, Compliance Coordinator for State and Civil Rights Laws; Wendy Malich, Title IX Officer; or John Sander, 504/ADA Coordinator at 315 129th ST S, Tacoma, WA 98444-5099 or at (253)298-3000.