Chimacum Elementary Newsletter
December 2019/January 2020
Mission- Use Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math as a foundation for unique and powerful learning experiences rooted in our community.
Vision- Grow students who, through powerful community-connected learning experiences, are prepared for life's requirements, challenges, and adventures and empowered to be engaged citizens and creative problem solvers.
Motto-"We grow kids!"
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Robotics Program & FIRST LEGO League Competition
Robotics instruction is an exciting part of the curriculum being offered at Chimacum Elementary that is guided by our STEAM mission and vision. Chimacum Elementary is building on our robotics success from last year, thanks to support from the Boeing Bluebills, Chimacum School District, and competitive State grants. All third grade through sixth grade classrooms are receiving robotics instruction. Additionally, we are continuing our three competitive FIRST LEGO teams made up of fifth and sixth graders that will compete regionally.
FIRST is an acronym meaning For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology. It is an organization that provides opportunities for students to learn STEM related and professional skills.
Last spring, our all-female team made up of 5th graders, were one of the few teams regionally selected to compete in the FIRST Robotics competition at Amazon Headquarters and earned the “Rookie of the Year” award. This award was based on the team’s ability to work together as a team, explore and use new skills and ideas, use creativity to solve problems, and their ability to respect their teammates and embrace individual differences.
Recently, our three "Cyber Cheetah" robotic teams competed at the FIRST Lego Robotics Competition at Bainbridge High School against teams from around our region. Two of our Cyber Cheetah robotics teams advanced to the robotics semi-finals. This is a great accomplishment especially since there were only four teams total to advance to the next round of competition. We are so proud of our students' hard work, problem solving, teamwork, cooperation, and ability to solve problems. Way to go Cyber Cheetahs!
Our district is building our capacity to offer robotics and STEAM programming throughout our K-12 classrooms to provide potent career paths for our students. If you would like to volunteer or donate to our robotics program please contact our school office at 360-302-5855. You can learn more about our school by visiting our webpage at: http://www.csd49.org/3/home
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A Message From Our Nurse
The Best Gift of the Season
Lately, I have been spending a lot of time calling parents to help get their child’s inoculations up-to-date, so they are protected in the future from some horrible diseases. But there’s another type of inoculation that brings even more positive protection, with immediate, and long-lasting, several generations’ worth of benefits. Imagine if our hugs, smiles and attention today could inoculate our children against heartbreak, adolescent anxiety, and help them pass their exams decades later. There’s a new branch of science called epigenetics and it’s reporting that this long-term emotional inoculation might be possible.
Children need more than love for their brains and nervous systems to develop in the best possible way. They need “secure attachment” bonds. It’s the most valuable gift a child can receive and it is free; it’s simply a parent’s focused and undistracted non-verbal attention and support. Connecting with our children and loved ones in this deep and meaningful way is showing big pay-offs, according to this new research. We’re talking gene-deep, chromosomal deep that passes on to the next generation.
This Holiday Season is a great time to remember what’s important in life, to re-focus away from the hustle, and bustle, and cell phones, and instead, connect with our children. It’s simple: Listen, talk, and play with your child.
Let them lead you. Let them begin and end the interaction. Follow their slower pace. Let them feel you’re in no hurry, that you’re having fun with them. For most of us (including myself), this takes practice. I’ve noticed that when I do this, I feel calmer, my spirit is uplifted. Tis the season…Happy Holidays from Nurse Kate
Chimacum Elementary in the News
Library News
I am very excited to announce the opening of our new elementary library! After months of planning and working on the design with our architect and our local "design team", we opened the doors for our staff and students on December 9th. Our new space is alive with natural light and color, has excellent access to technology, a state of the art classroom, and a vibrant collection of books for our students. The space is warm and inviting with a design that promotes collaboration, flowing movement for large groups of students, many choices for comfy places to read and do research, and easy access to many wonderful books. We love being in the center of the school, right next to our new commons area which gives even more access to our students before school, during recess and lunchtimes. In January, we will be hosting a few of the evening JCL Prime Time Reading gatherings for families, a perfect fit for this new space.
We have many more details to add before we feel completely moved in, but we are thrilled with the beautiful new space for our students, staff, and community. We are grateful for the many community members, students, librarians, friends, and family that shared ideas, time and muscle to get us moved into our new space in record time! It was a wonderful team effort. We look forward to seeing you all, so please stop in and check out the new elementary library!
Michele Moriarty
Library Media Specialist K-12
Chimacum School District
Counselor's Corner
Hello from the Counselors Corner!
I am proud to say our students are learning each week about social-emotional skills from empathy, emotional regulation and problem solving skills to how to be a responsible bystander. We have completed our Bully Prevention lessons covering the 3 R’s- Recognize, Report and Refuse. Please feel free to contact me with any questions.
If you’d like to access the free family resources for my Bully Prevention lessons, please enter the codes below: Go to https://www.secondstep.org/
Activation key:
Third grade: BPU3 FAMI LY03
Fourth Grade BPU4 FAMI LY04
Fifth grade: BPU5 FAM LY05
Our codes for the Second step skills for social and academic success are:
Activation key:
Third Grade- SSP3 FAMI LY73
Fourth Grade- SSP FAMI LY74
Fifth Grade- SSP5 FAMI LY75
I have had a lot of questions from parents about screen time management.
Some resources are: www.habyts.com a website to help set up and manage a screen time routine. Common Sense Media, a website that rates movies, TV shows and games. The link for these resources can be found below.
Small groups are offered every year in Divorce, Friendship, Affected others, and Worry warriors. Please contact me or your child's teacher if you’d like to receive a permission form.
If you have any questions about the Bully Prevention Unit or other Second Step Curriculum I teach, please contact me. Thank you for helping us make our school a safe, respectful place where everyone can learn. If you’d like more information, please feel free to come in to receive paper copies of resources above.
Michele Kaster
K-5 School Counselor
360-302-5859 Michele_kaster@csd49.org
Title 1 Programs & Parent Informational Night
Please attend our annual Title 1 parent informational meeting on January 16 from 5:00-6:00 PM in the reading intervention room at Chimacum Elementary located on the main campus. At this meeting, you will learn about the Title 1 program, give feedback on policies and notifications, as well as give input on changes we can implement for improvement. We will offer snacks and childcare for this event. Please email Joyce Coile our Reading Specialist if you have any questions about the Title 1 Informational Night or questions about the Title 1 program.
Important Parent Notifications for Federal Programs
A message from your PTA
Do you want to "be in the know" about fun school activities? Would you like to find ways big or small to help make your students school a great place? If so, join our PTA! Our Parent Teacher Organization supports students and teachers in many ways including funding classroom experiences & helping with field trips, the Fall Carnival, field day, yearbook, picture day, and book fairs. The PTA provides an important connection for families and teachers.
Come to our next PTA meeting on January 16 from 4:00-5:00 at the CES reading intervention room at Chimacum Elementary----you can make a difference!
Click here to join PTA!
Breakfast & Lunch Menus
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Upcoming Dates:
December 21-January 5- Winter Break
January 15- Coffee and Conversation with the principal 9:00-9:30
January 16- Title 1 Parent Information Night - 5:00
January 17- Student "Twin Day"
January 20- MLK Day- No School
January 31- Adventures in Music Assembly 1:00
February 17- President's Day- No School
February 21- Student "Crazy Hair Day"
March 10 & 11- Early Release 12:15 for Teacher Professional Development
March 27- Student "Pajama Day"
April 2- Band concert 5th & 6th grades
April 6-10- Spring Break
April 16- Adventures in Music Assembly 1:00
April 24- Student "Mis-Match Day"
April 30th- Music Concert 3rd & 4th grades
May 15- Early Release- Rhody Friday 12:15
May 22- Student "Occupation Dress Up Day"
May 28- All Bands Concert (includes 5th & 6th grades)
June 12- Last day of school early release 12:15
About Chimacum Elementary
Email: jason_lynch@csd49.org
Website: http://www.csd49.org/3/home
Location: 91 West Valley Road, Chimacum, WA, USA
Phone: (360) 302-5855
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chimacumelementary/
School Disclaimer
Chimacum School District does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following employees have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination:
Title IX Coordinator Section 504/ADA Coordinator
Holly Patton Holly_patton@csd49.org 360.302.5886
Compliance Coordinator for 28A.640 and 28A.642 RCW
Stephanie McCleary Stephanie_mccleary@csd49.org 360.302.5894
Chimacum School District will also take steps to assure that national origin persons who lack English language skills can participate in all education programs, services and activities. For information regarding translation services or transitional bilingual education programs, contact Rick Thompson at (360)302.5896. PO Box 278 – Chimacum WA 98325