Wildcat News
February 2023
Contact our office at: 253-298-3200 centralavenue@fpschools.org
Central Avenue Elementary
Tonya Middling - Principal
Vanessa Batts-Assistant Principal
Dear Wildcat Families,
It's hard to believe we are already half way through the school year! Last Friday, our students had a day off from school, while our teachers received training. This year, a part of our training focuses on looking at our mid-year data and making appropriate lesson plans. We appreciate having this important time together as a staff.
We welcome volunteers at our school! Volunteers at Central Avenue have helped teachers, given students more practice with skills, and even helped to supervise recess. If you are interested in volunteering, please reach out to your child's teacher!
Mrs. Middling, Principal
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Important Dates to Remember
February 1st: 90 Minute Early Release: 2:35pm
February 8th: 90 Minute Early Release: 2:35pm
February 15th: 90 Minute Early Release: 2:35pm
February 20-24th: No School (Mid Winter Break)
Please print and mark your calendars! We send out friendly reminders on early release days, but please be sure to have it on your schedule.
5th Grade Camp!
Do you work for a local business that would be interested in sponsoring Central Avenue in the form of donations, gift baskets, or in other ways? We are looking to reach out to local businesses to help sponsor events at Central Avenue in support of students going to 5th grade camp in June. Each student will be offered a chance to go to Camp Coleman and experience the great outdoors with several hands on scientific and environmental activities to prepare them for life beyond Central Avenue. We really want to help offset the cost of this 3-day event by partnering with local businesses. We can use the help in the form of donations, volunteers, sponsoring our school stroll (or fun walk), and other ways. Please reach out to centralavenue@fpschools.org to express your interest!
Fifth Grade Puberty, CSHE, and HIV Lessons
Comprehensive sexual health education is defined in Washington state as instruction about human development and reproduction that takes place over time and is age-appropriate and inclusive of all students. Required instruction for grades 4–5 focuses on helping students understand and respect personal boundaries, develop healthy friendships, and gain a basic understanding of human growth and development. Grade 5 instruction also includes required HIV prevention instruction. To learn more about the curriculum and parent opt out forms, please click below. This will take you to the district website which is filled with information.
Reminders from the Office
Office 253-298-3200 | Attendance/Leave Early 253-298-3206
Please read these important reminders from the office!
- 9:35 School Bell rings. If your student arrives AFTER the bell, please park and bring them in to SIGN with a late reason. Documentation for tardy is entered into the system, and knowing the reason to excuse or unexcused helps attendance.
- If you need to come into the building, please press the intercom button on your right as you look at the front door. Please have ID ready to show every time.
- Please notify the office of any end of the day changes. We need this information before 3:30 so we have time to get a note to the teacher.
- Call the office if your child will be absent. If they have an appointment, please ask the doctor, dentist, counselor, etc. for a note for school.
- If you need to take your child out of school early, please make sure to come to the office at least 30 minutes before dismissal time, dismissals after 3:30 will be unexcused absences and might require more time getting your child during end of day.
- If your phone number, email address, or home address changes, please let us know so we have the most up-to-date contact information for you.
Follow us on Social Media!
We share updates and information about school events and community opportunities throughout the year! Please follow:
Counselor’s Corner
February is Kindness Month! The week of February 13-17th is National Random Acts of Kindness week, and to celebrate our students will be participating in fun kindness-related activities throughout the entire month, including a spirit day on Friday the 17th (stay tuned for more details)! Families can visit the Random Acts of Kindness website for fun ideas and activities to do at home as well.
Second Step Child Protection Unit - Safety Lessons for all students in grades Kindergarten – 2nd grade: each year students are taught lessons on personal safety using the Second Step – Child Protection Unit curriculum. Lessons will focus on the following topics:
· Personal Safety: Students will learn important safety rules, such as safety with guns, sharp tools, and fire, and when riding on wheels or in cars. They will also learn ways to help them decide if something is safe or not.
· Touching Safety: Students will learn about safe, unsafe, and unwanted touches, and rules about touching private body parts. They’ll also learn to say no to unsafe or unwanted touches, and to tell an adult if someone breaks rules about touching private body parts.
· Assertiveness: These lessons will also give students a chance to practice asking an adult for help, telling an adult about an unsafe situation, and being assertive to get out of unsafe situations.
Families will receive a letter with more information, including how to access a preview to the lesson materials at the beginning of the month.
Parent resource: the following two websites offer valuable information for parents on the topic of bullying, and cyberbullying/social media use.
www.pacer.org www.commonsensemedia.org
Community Resource: New food bank location located down the street from Central Avenue – open to all!
Volunteers
BUS PROCEDURES
If you have any questions, issues about something that happened on the bus or at the bus stop, or concerns about a late bus, please call the transportation office directly at 253-298-3865. Please be aware that any bus-riding kindergarten student that is not met at the bus stop after school will be returned to Central Avenue for parent pick-up. It is very important to meet your students at the bus stop on time!
Hewins Early Learning Center Enrollment
Franklin Pierce Community Action Group
SPYA Spring Youth Soccer
Building and Celebrating Community
Franklin Pierce Schools Family Resource Center
Central Avenue Elementary
Email: centralavenue@fpschools.org
Website: http://centralavenue.fpschools.org/
Location: 4505 104th Street East, Tacoma, WA, USA
Phone: 253-298-3200
Facebook: facebook.com/centralavenueelementary