PANTHER NEWS
March 2020
MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Dear Purdy Families,
Purdy Elementary is more than a school. It is a collaborative community with kind hardworking students, involved parents and community members, and teachers with high expectations for every child. Thank you for the role you play in partnering with us in your child’s education.
Conferences
This trimester ends March 12th. Individual student report cards and student progress will be sent home with your child on Thursday, March 19th. If your child is not meeting standards in academics and/or behavior, please work with your child’s teacher to make a plan of improvement during conferences on March 19th. Some children need more time and opportunities to practice skills and concepts, and often the need can be met with an adjustment to homework and/or extra support at school. Students on track to meet standards each grading period will not be requested by teachers for a conference on March 19th. Parents do have the opportunity to contact their child’s teacher if interested in meeting or discussing your child’s progress.
Smarter Balance Washington State Assessment for Grades 3-5
The Smarter Balance Assessment is the state’s exam for students in grades 3-8. These computer-based tests will help schools evaluate how well their students performed by comparing them with students from other schools across the nation. The end-of-year assessments also will empower families by providing them with a clear indication of how well their children are progressing toward mastering the academic knowledge and skills necessary for college and career readiness.
This spring, our students in grades three through five will be taking the Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBA). Students will be assessed in English Language Arts (ELA/reading and writing) and Mathematics. Students in 5th grade will also be assessed in science. Prior to the assessment, students will have multiple opportunities with SBA training and practice sessions in their classrooms. Please help by not scheduling appointments during the weeks of May 1st through May 26th. Please be sure your students are on time and present, have gotten a good night’s sleep and have eaten a healthy breakfast. Thank you for your support in the success of your child’s measurement of progress.
Purdy’s testing schedule is as follows:
Grade 3: 9:00 – 10:40
May 11th & 12th, 14th & 15th (ELA)
May 18th & 19th, May 21st (Math)
Grade 4: 9:00 – 11:00
May 11th & 12th, May 14th & 15th (ELA)
May 18th & 19th, May 21st (Math)
Grade 5: 9:50 – 11:45
May 11th- May 15
May 18-21st
May 26th
For more information about the assessment, or to take a practice test yourself please visit the following website:
http://www.smarterbalanced.org/
Thank you for your continued contributions and support during this school year. Continue to help by making school and homework a daily priority and celebrate every success. Support your child during state testing. Talk to your children about school, routinely visit teacher web sites, communicate with your child’s teacher, and get involved with the Purdy PTA events if possible. The more you are involved with your child and our school, the more knowledge you will have, and the more positive results will happen. If we can be of support in any way, please contact us.
Best regards,
Ms. Kristi BrooksPrincipal
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Welcome Class of 2033! Kindergarten enrollment is now open!
Will your child be 5 by August 31, 2020? If yes, NOW is the time to register for kindergarten.
Starting kindergarten is an exciting and emotional time for parents and their children. Our schools offer events, transition programs and other opportunities for children and parents to meet school staff and classmates before school starts. Early registration makes sure parents will receive information about these opportunities and helps ensure a smooth transition.
Visit https://www.psd401.net/about-us/registration for information and to register online. You can also register at our school between 9:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.
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Pioneer Elementary School Enrollment Process is Now Open
Families interested in attending Peninsula School District’s new magnet STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) school, may now complete an interest survey. This survey is the first step in the process for enrollment at the school. Please check out our website at https://pie.psd401.net/about/pioneer-elementary-enrollment for more information on how the process will work as well as access the enrollment interest survey. We encourage you to pay attention to critical timelines. The interest process will be open from Friday, February 14th, through Wednesday, March 18th, at 4pm. To express interest in attending Pioneer, please apply online at pie.psd401.net, or pick up a paper copy at your child’s school (available Monday, February 24th).
Should you have any questions about Pioneer or the enrollment process, please call 253-530-3500, or email us at PioneerSTEAM@psd401.net
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Important Dates
- 3/2-3/5 Fire Safety
- 3/7 PTA Auction @ Canterwood
- 3/10 4th grade field trip (9:15-3:00) - State Capital
- 3/11 Optional Human Growth & Development Preview for 5th grade parents, 4:00-5:00 pm
- 3/13 Staff In Service - No School
- 3/18 5th grade field trip to HRMS
- 3/18 PTA Meeting 3:40-4:40
- 3/19 Report Cards sent home
- 3/19 & 3/20 - Conferences / Early Release 12:15
- 3/27 Terrific Kids Assembly 1:50-2:20 (K-2) & 2:45-3:15 (3-5)
- 4/2 Classroom Group Picture Day
- 4/6-4/10 Grandparents Week
- 4/6 1st grade 1:30
- 4/7 4th grade 1:30
- 4/8 2nd grade 12:30
- 4/8 5th grade 1:45
- 4/9 Kindergarten 1:40
- 4/10 3rd grade 1:45
- 4/9 Talent Show 6:00
- 4/13-4/17 Spring Break - No School
- 4/22 PTA meeting 6:00
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Positive Discipline Parenting Class
WOULD YOU LIKE TO:
• Have fewer power struggles
• Connect more
• Share the load more
• Feel more confident and peaceful in your parenting
• And raise children who are respectful, resilient, and happy?
Then you’ll definitely want to join me for this fun, informative workshop series!
This eight-week course is designed for families with children up to the age of 12. It allows parents and caregivers to go through the process of changing how they look at misbehavior and their role as parents. Parents learn many of the Positive Discipline tools through experiential learning experiences.
Facilitator: Cathy McCutcheon, Certified Positive Discipline Parenting Educator
Day: Tuesdays and Thursdays, April 7th – June 4th, 2020
Time: 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Location: Purdy Elementary
Cathy McCutcheon’s Room
Questions: 253-5304660/email mccutcheonc@psd401.net
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AUDITION SCHEDULE - TALENT SHOW
Audition Schedule for March 9th-March 20th
Monday & Tuesday: K & 1st - 11:30-11:50am
Wednesday & Thursday: 2nd & 3rd - 11:40-12:10pm
Monday-Friday: 4th & 5th - 2:25-2:40pm
M-F any grades 2:40-3:20 pm by appointment with prior teacher approval.
Groups that have multiple grade levels may choose their audition date.
Auditions will be held in the music room. Line up quietly on the ramp with this completed form.
For additional appointments email Mrs. Walloch & Mrs. Elton at wallochc@psd401.net & eltonb@psd401.net.
Group rehearsals will begin Monday, April 6th. Times will be announced.
The Talent Show will be Thursday, April 9th in the Purdy gym, 6-7:30pm. In addition to the evening performance, there will be a day time performance assembly for the school.
Brooke Elton, M.Ed.
Purdy Elementary
eltonb@psd401.net
(253) 530-4600
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Coronavirus Information
Coronavirus (COVID-19) is an emerging disease and the Peninsula School District is committed to keeping our learning community informed. The health and well-being of our students, staff, and community are a top concern.
We are receiving regular updates from the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) and the Tacoma Pierce County Health Department on the COVID-19 outbreak. We will follow their directives on keeping schools open or closing them to prevent the spread of any disease. The DOH has not advised schools to take any special precautions beyond what is normally recommended to prevent the spread of viruses in schools at this time.
In order to keep our schools clean and free of disease, custodians closely follow cleaning recommendations from the Tacoma Pierce County Health Department. They do not recommend any unapproved cleaning supplies in the school setting.
Similar to previous SARS, swine flu, and measles concerns, we work with the Tacoma Pierce County Health Department to track absences and address potential cases.
We continue to educate students and staff about the prevention of disease and encourage everyone to take these simple steps.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Wash hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating and after blowing your nose. Help young children do the same.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Cover coughs or sneezes with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash and wash hands with soap and water.
Please know we will update our employees, parents, students, and community as we receive new information or need to take other actions.
#WEarePSD
Peninsula School District 401
14015 - 62nd Avenue NW; Gig Harbor, WA 98332
(253) 530-1000
psd401.net
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NEWS FROM THE HEALTH ROOM
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PTA UPDATE
Purdyopoly is March 7th
Purdyopoly is Saturday, March 7th! It's going to be a great night and we hope you can join us. Tickets are selling really fast; so run, pass go, and order your tickets:
https://purdyelementaryschoolpta.schoolauction.net/auction2020
The cost for a single ticket is $60, a couple is $120 and a VIP Table for 10 is $750.
If you have any questions please contact Sara Patinkin at sarapatinkin@gmail.com.
PTA Meeting, Wednesday, March 18 at 3:40pm
Join us for our next PTA meeting on Wednesday, March 18 at 3:40pm in the library. We'll provide childcare and snacks.
Seeking 2020-2021 PTA Board Members
Are you interested in learning more about the PTA Executive Board? Next year, there are several positions open, and the nominations committee would love to share with you more about the positions and how you can help. Contact Katie Russell for more information.
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Shout Out!
Parent Teacher Association (PTA) is looking for parents and teachers that would like to have a voice in the special extras that make Purdy a GREAT school!
Openings for the 2020 School Year include:
President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer as lead board members. There are many groups that you might be involved with as well. Job descriptions will be posted in the next newsletter.
Interested?
Speak with Katie Russell 206-949-2099
or Hannah Jay 253-530-4600
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YMCA Child Care | Annual Campaign, Spring Break, and more!
We will be offering care at Artondale and Purdy for the Non Student Day on Friday the 13th.
Then, Y care for conference days will be held at each individual school location.
We are currently registering for SPRING BREAK CAMP at Purdy!
SUMMER CAMP at Purdy has been extended to meet the new district 2020-2021 calendar. Childcare has added an extra week (Aug 24-28) and Tom Taylor YMCA will have camp (Aug 31-Sept 4). New registration packets should reflect this change.
Let me know if you have any questions!
Sybil Goodkin
Peninsula Program Director
YMCA OF PIERCE AND KITSAP COUNTIES
KITSAP CHILD CARE OFFICE | 3330 Kitsap Way, Bremerton WA 98312
C 253-606-9032 F 360-307-4084 | ymcapkc.org
A MESSAGE FROM TARA
As a Y, we are committed to removing any and all financial barriers for our families. We believe deeply that we need to serve the needs of our communities and that means we say “yes” to everyone. The Y is a nonprofit; we're able to accommodate every child that walks through our doors because of the Annual Campaign, which is is the fundraising effort that allows us to share our story and the impact we have in the communities we serve.
Providing a safe place for all children to go before and after school is something we do not take for granted. Every child deserves this and we will make sure they get the opportunity. Throughout the next several weeks, our team will be reaching out to our families, communities, partners, and personal networks to ask for support to continue to allow us to say “yes” to every child.
We are always beyond grateful for the understanding and support that is received from the community; we cannot do this alone. One-third of our enrolled children are on financial assistance and we do not take that lightly. That is why the Annual Campaign is so important to our work.
We thank you for your ongoing and continuous partnership and for your consideration in supporting our mission and cause.
With appreciation,
Tara Harkness | Executive Director
tharkness@ymcapkc.org
253-534-4708
SPRING BREAK IS COMING!
Our campers will be jumping into an adventure of a lifetime. They will discover fossils, learn about the pyramids, and carefully navigate our way through obstacle courses! Our campers will put on their explorer hats and dive into some of our world’s greatest mysteries. At the end of camp, we will invite our friends and family to our museum of “found artifacts” and join us in some obstacle challenges.
Children will build friendships, gain self-confidence, and are encouraged to model the Y values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility. Activities include arts, STEM, team building, camp readers, group games, and more!
Families will be able to register for Spring Break Day Camp beginning on March 2.
March is national Poison Prevention Month!
Is your home poison safe?
Nursery: Baby care products, small ingestible objects
Attic: Rat and insect poisons, mothballs
Bathroom: Medicine, cleaning supplies, personal care products, cosmetics, aerosol sprays
Bedroom: Medicine, lotions, perfumes, cosmetics, jewelry cleaners
Laundry room: Laundry supplies, cleaning supplies
Garage: Pesticides, carbon monoxide, anti-freeze, torch oil, gasoline, windshield washer fluid
Kitchen: Cleaning supplies, dishwasher products, medicine/vitamins, alcohol
Living Room: Button batteries, cigarettes, plants, small ingestible objects, fragrance oils, flaking paint
Yard: Mushrooms, plants, pesticides, stinging insects
To Do List!
- Save the Poison Help number in your phone as a contact, and post it in your home for babysitters and visitors. 1-80-222-1222
- Put all of the medicine in your home up, away, and out of sight. Safely dispose of expired or unneeded medications.
- Install and check carbon monoxide detectors in your home.
- Be aware of where the button batteries are in your home. Places can include remote controls, key fobs, and watches. Keep away from children!
- Make sure all cleaning products, including laundry products, are stored in their original containers. Store these containers up high and out of reach of children.
Poison Help Center
Poison Help Center: 1-800-222-1222
For more safety tips, follow us on Facebook, Twitter or at www.gigharborfire.org