Coyote Connection
Desert Sage Elementary- September 29, 2021
A message from the principal
Dear Parents/Guardians,
We have lots of important information to share with you this week. We will send you a newsletter at least once a month with details about upcoming events or share timely information. We hope you find this newsletter helpful and informative. Please feel free to provide feedback so we can improve on this form of communication.
If you are interested in learning more about our school-wide strategic plan and collaboration with our staff in making school-wide decisions, we invite you to join our Leadership Team. Our leadership team members consist of one teacher from each grade level, admin and we are missing parents/guardians representation. Please come to our next meeting this Thursday (8 - 8:45am). All information from this meeting will be share at our PTO meetings. Our first PTO first this school year will be October 13 (4:10-5pm).
TikTok challenges have become an issue in many several schools in WEST ADA School District and across the country. The destruction of school restrooms and stealing items from teachers' desks seem to be the popular and dangerous trends. Please know that providing a safe learning environment is a priority. We have implemented the following steps to prevent a repeat of our recent incident that required of evacuation...
-Increased monitoring of restrooms during recess times.
-Shifted custodial staff in arrive earlier in the day to increase the number of staff members, so we can conduct more frequent restroom checks and clean ups.
-Created safety and behavior plans.
-We asked district to turn on hand dryers, so we can remove trash cans from the restrooms. We are not allowed to do this as per COVID hygiene protocol, so our head custodian created and implemented a plan of even more frequent removal of trash and monitoring of restrooms throughout the day.
-We have submitted a request for cameras to be placed outside restrooms to monitor students entering and exiting restrooms. I am looking into finding the funding to purchase and install cameras.
-SRO Garza, Assistant Principal Carbajal, and I are working on a video presentation that will focus on behavior and consequences (including lighting fires).
If you have any suggestions to be added to the above lists, please feel free to email me (kelly.natalie@westada.org) or call me (208.350.4020).
Sincerely,
Natalie Kelly, Principal
Upcoming Dates
October 4: Teacher collaboration day, NO SCHOOL
October 13: PTO Meeting, 4:10-5:00pm in the library
October 20: No school for a.m./p.m. kinder, evening parent/teacher conferences
October 21: NO SCHOOL, parent/teacher conferences
October 22: NO SCHOOL, end of Q1
October 27: Picture day (information on ordering will be coming soon)
We Have Job Openings!
- School Nutrition Assistant Food Service Manager: To apply, click here (scroll down to JobID 18786) or contact the nutrition department at 208-855-4575
- Library Assistant: To apply, click here
Special Education Paraprofessional: To apply, click here (scroll down to JobID 18029)
Important Safety Information
- All roads surrounding Desert Sage are 20 mph speed limit.
- On school grounds, speed limit is 10 mph or slower as traffic allows.
- Students must be dropped off and picked up at the curb.
- There is no double-parking or double drop-off/pick-up. All drivers need to stay in line. If you are the first car in line, please pull all the way to the front of the loop. Other cars will follow in line and move forward as the line moves.
- Do not pass other cars in drop-off/pick-up area. Please wait patiently in the line until the car ahead of you moves.
- Do not block crosswalks.
- Have student ready to exit the car immediately.
- If your child needs assistance or you need to exit your vehicle, please park in the parking lot; do not park in drop-off/pick-up lane.
- Unless your vehicle is clearly defined as being qualified to use the handicap parking, please be aware and refrain from parking or sitting in your car in these spots. Signs are posted as a reminder.
- Please cross at the crosswalks.
- When conditions are wet/snowy/icy, please slow down and plan on additional time.
- Please refrain from using/checking your cell phone while in the drop-off/pick-up line.
We appreciate your help in keeping our students safe!
Reminder About Student Drop-off Times
Wednesday drop-off: 9:00-9:20am
PM Pre-K & Kinder drop-off (M/T/Th/F): 12:40-12:50pm
Wednesday PM Pre-K & Kinder drop-off: 12:50-1:00pm
Masks
Water bottles
PE Outside
Student Absences
If your child will be absent from school, we ask that you please notify the office by 9:30am at (208) 350-4020.
Transportation Change?
Student Dress Code
- Shoulders, back, and stomach need to be covered (no sheer clothing; straps on tank tops need to be at least three fingers wide--no spaghetti straps or razor back tanks)
- Shorts, skirts, and dresses need to be at an appropriate length to demonstrate modesty when standing or sitting
- No holes or fraying in shorts and pants higher than mid-thigh
- Sandals may be worn, but please, no flip flops (appropriate footwear is required for PE)
Students attending school with dress code violations will be asked to cover up with a jacket, or asked to change into other clothing.
Toys and Personal Items
Guidance on Covid-19 Illness and Quarantine Requirements
Internet Connectivity
Regarding Right to Receive Teacher Information
Notification to Parents 2021-2022 School Year
Dear Parent:
Federal law requires that each school district receiving Title 1 funds notify parents of each student attending any school receiving these funds that information regarding the professional qualifications of their child’s classroom teacher(s) may be requested.
As a parent of a student attending a school receiving federal program funds, you have the right to know:
- Is my child’s teacher licensed to teach the grades and subject(s) assigned?
- Is my child’s teacher teaching with a provisional license, meaning the state has waived requirements for my child’s teacher?
- What is the college major of my child’s teacher?
- What degree or degrees does my child’s teacher hold?
- If there are instructional aides working with my child, what are their qualifications?
- If my child is or will be taught for 4 or more consecutive weeks this year by a teacher who is not highly qualified, will I be notified in a timely manner?
To request the state qualifications for your child’s teacher or instructional aide, please contact Dave Roberts at (208) 350-5011.
Your feedback is very important to us!
Please take a moment to visit our school website to review our schoolwide goals, home-school compact, parent involvement policy, and Title budget. Click on the links below to take you directly to our website to share your suggestions and comments. This information will be reviewed and updated during our Leadership Meetings in September and October. If you would like to provide your feedback in person, we invite you to join us for one of our upcoming meetings on 9/30 and 10/18 from 8:00-8:45am in the library. We hope to see you there!
A note from the school counselor
We have started a new curriculum schoolwide this year called Zones of Regulation. The Zones of Regulation allows students to identify their feelings as part of four different zones. Each class will be taught a lesson on the Zones, as well as tools that help students self-regulate. I will continue teaching/reviewing Toolbox tools this year as well with students. Social-emotional lessons will take place each month in your child's classroom. Feel free to ask your child about the Zones and/or different Toolbox tools they have learned!
We know that times are hard right now for some families and we are here to help you in any way that we can. If your family is in need of food or clothing, please contact Lindsey Mepham at mepham.lindsey@westada.org or at (208) 350-4020.
Sole Kids
- "The SoleKIDs program is here help to develop your child into a lifelong healthy, active runner. The SoleKIDs adventure is an eight-week running program geared towards elementary students and is uniquely designed to get your child ready for a season ending 5K race."
- Our season runs from September 12-November 6.
- We meet every Tuesday and Thursday after school from 4:15-5:45pm in the gym.
- Students receive a water bottle, swag bag, running jersey, daily snacks, and 2 running passes to the 5k as part of the registration.
- The cost is $85 per child.
- The link to sign up is: https://solekids.org/fall_2021/
A note from the school librarian
Wondering how to put books on hold? Click on the link below and watch the video to learn how!
Girls on the Run
Scholarships are available. Check out GOTR Treasure Valley (gotrtv.org) for more information.
Desert Sage Elementary
Email: carbajal.sylvie@westada.org
Website: https://www.westada.org/desertsage
Location: 9325 West Mossywood Drive, Boise, ID, USA
Phone: (208) 350-4020
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/desertsageelementary/