Roosevelt Elementary News
April 2, 2021
Important Dates
April 5th - April 9th - No School Spring Break
April 22nd- Earth Day
News From Mr. Gresham
Dear Roosevelt families,
Wow! Spring Break has arrived which means we are rapidly coming to the end of the 2020-21 school year, and what a year it has been. Post-Spring Break our 3rd through 5th grade students are typically engaged with state assessments known as the Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBA) that assesses student performance on reading, writing, and math tests. In this pandemic year, recognizing the impact last spring through the current school year COVID has had on children, the state of Washington has submitted a waiver to the U.S. Department of Education to modify typical test protocol. The waiver requests permission to engage in a sampling approach where certain grades at randomly selected schools would be assessed in a specific content area (i.e., 5th graders would do math only). The sampling approach would greatly reduce the amount of time spent testing and reduce the number of students spending learning time testing. Currently, leaders from our state office of public instruction are working with the U.S. Department of Education to get approval. At this time there is no indication whether the waiver request will be approved. Finally, approved or not, just like all educational opportunities at school, families always have the option to have their child not participate.
For now, know that I will be following up with more information about SBA testing after Spring Break.
I am hoping that next week you can find some time to get outside and enjoy some laughter, adventure, and connection with your child. Thank you for your continued support.
Sincerely,
Tom Gresham
Principal
Health Attestation Update
It is Time to fill out our Health Attestation again. Families with children who are learning in-person at school, will need to fill out our online Health Attestation to show their commitment to checking their child daily for symptoms of illness and keeping symptomatic children home from school. If a student comes to school with any symptoms, they will be assessed by our office staff in consultation with our school nurse, and are almost always sent home. Please do this Health Attestation over the break - It is due by April 12th.
Click on the link
https://bellinghampublic.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_br9oGZnIFkz3O5v
School Picture Information
We have a new photographer and a whole new system this year!!
Crystal Garcia will be taking pictures outside April 26, 27, 28 and 30.
Classes will sign-up for a 30 minute time slot.
Individual pictures will be taken (masks off) and when that’s done, she will gather the class together (masks on) and take the class picture.
Also, all ordering will be done online. Parents will be able to go to her website, preview their student’s pictures and order from there.
No packets to send home.
Attention Families with youth between the ages of 10 and 14
The Strengthening Families Program 10-14 is offering a Virtual series of 7 evening classes on Tuesdays from April 20- June 1 6:30- 8:30 The Youth and Adults will learn and connect in a way that will make your family stronger going forward. All Whatcom Families with youth this age are invited and encouraged.
A link to the zoom course will be given to registered families Click here to register and for more information
School cafeteria menus for in-person
In-person school meals for our returning elementary students will be posted on this page.
Information for Applications for Free and Reduced Lunch
Pandemic EBT 2.0 is now here!
If you haven't already done so, families are encouraged to apply for free and reduced priced meals, making them automatically eligible for P-EBT 2.0. This EBT program provides additional support during the pandemic. Go to bellinghamschools.org/food-services for the free and reduced price meal online application.
If you have questions about the free/reduced price meal application, call 360-676-6572. All questions related to the P-EBT should be directed to 833-518-0282
¡Ya está aquí el EBT de la Pandemia 2.0!
Para más apoyo durante la pandemia, invitamos a que las familias apliquen para el lonche reducido o gratuito si es que aún no lo han hecho para este ciclo escolar, haciéndolos elegibles para el P-EBT 2.0. Vaya a bellinghamschools.org/food-services para llenar el formato en línea de la aplicación de lonche reducido gratuito.
Para asistencia con la aplicación del lonche reducido o gratuito, por favor llame al 360-676-6456. Todas las preguntas sobre la elegibilidad para el P-EBT pueden ser dirigidas al centro de contacto de P-EBT al 833-518-0282.
Kindergarten registration is open for fall 2021
Registration for kindergarten has begun in Bellingham Public Schools. All children who will be 5 before Sept. 1, 2021 can be registered for kindergarten. Families can register their kindergartner online through the link on our kindergarten webpage. Registering now helps us hire staff, balance our classes, connect with families and ready our schools to welcome our kindergartners.
All children who are currently enrolled in Promise K will automatically be enrolled in kindergarten for the fall and do not need to re-register.
We plan to start in-person learning at every elementary school this fall with strong safety protocols in place. We will be ready to support our early learners and welcome the class of 2034 to our schools.
Kindergarten open house videos and virtual tours will be posted on school websites and sent to registered kindergarten families in May.
To find out more about attendance areas, registration and childhood immunization schedules, please visit bellinghamschools.org/kindergarten or contact our elementary schools directly. And thanks in advance for letting a friend or neighbor with a future kindergartner know the registration window is open and ready for them!
Está Abierto el Registro para el Kínder para el Otoño 2021
Ha comenzado el registro para el Kínder en las Escuelas Públicas de Bellingham. Todos los niños que vayan a tener 5 años antes del 1° de septiembre del 2021 pueden ser registrados para el Kínder. Las familias pueden registrar a su estudiante del Kínder en línea a través del enlace en
nuestra página web del Kínder. Registrarse ahora nos ayuda para contratar al personal, equilibrar nuestras clases, conectar con las familias y alistar nuestras escuelas para dar la bienvenida a los estudiantes del Kínder.
Todos los estudiantes que actualmente están registrados en el programa de Promesa K serán registrados automáticamente en el Kínder para el otoño y no necesitan volver a registrarse.
Estamos planeando comenzar con el aprendizaje en persona en todas las escuelas primarias este otoño con fuertes protocolos de seguridad. Estaremos listos para apoyar a nuestros jóvenes estudiantes y dar la bienvenida a la clase del 2034 a nuestras escuelas.
Los videos de Casa Abierta del Kínder serán publicados en las páginas web de nuestras escuelas y serán enviados a las familias del Kínder ya registradas en mayo.
Para aprender más sobre las áreas de asistencia, registro y requisitos de vacunación de los niños, por favor visite bellinghamschools.org/kindergarten o contacte directamente a nuestras escuelas primarias. ¡Y de antemano muchas gracias por dejarle saber algún amigo o vecino con un futuro estudiante del Kínder que es tiempo de registro para el Kínder para ellos!
Bellingham Public Schools are Hiring
Bellingham Public Schools are so excited that students and staff are back in our schools for in-person instruction. We are hiring! Please consider joining our team of substitute teachers and support staff. These positions are working in our schools and on-site to provide continuity of the learning environment and student safety.
If you are a parent, grandparent or community member looking for part time work and you enjoy working with children, please let your school principal or office staff know. You may also contact the District’s Employment Specialist for more information about paraeducator, office positions, bus drivers, and other part time job opportunities in our schools. These jobs are ideal for those who are looking for part time and flexible work assignments.
All staff and students are required to complete COVID safety protocol training to ensure safety for students and adults. If you have read Dr. Baker’s recent messages, you will know about the safety protocols the district has put in place to mitigate risks.
· We have developed safety protocols based on the advice of the Whatcom County Health Department and CDC as well as guidance from Governor Inslee.
· Here is an overview of our safety protocols, which include key mitigation strategies: mask-wearing, physical distancing, hand washing and staying home when sick.
· Our district has a comprehensive contact tracing process if/when needed, which is also a key component in risk mitigation and is led by our COVID safety team in partnership with the Whatcom County Health Department.
If you have questions about jobs available in our schools, please visit the district website at
www.BellinghamSchools.org and click on “jobs”.
For assistance with questions about temporary substitute assignments, you may contact
Gayle Wright, Substitute Coordinator by emailing gayle.wright@bellinghamschools.org or by calling the office at (360) 676-2784 or (360) 398-5572.
Questions about other job opportunities in our schools may be addressed by contacting
Kara Silsbee, Employment Specialist by emailing kara.silsbee@bellinghamschools.org or by calling (360) 319-4999.
Outdoor Fun from City of Bellingham
The wether is getting nicer and the days are getting longer- take advantage of all the wonderful trails and activities we have here in Bellingham.
https://cob.org/services/recreation/parks-trails/trail-guide
https://cob.org/services/recreation/parks-trails/parks-guide
Emergency and Weather Procedures
Emergency and Weather Procedures
It’s that time of year to think about snow and our procedures and impact of weather-related school cancellations.
Depending on conditions (which could include snow, flooding, power outages, etc.), school could:
- close for the day (in the case of widespread power outages),
- close in-person instruction with all classes being held remote (K-2 would follow their remote schedule, watch for Zoom link from teacher),
- open two hours late with regular bus routes or snow bus routes,
- open on time with snow bus routes.
How can I get weather/emergency information?
Changes to the school schedule are usually announced by 6 a.m., and we use a variety of methods to keep families informed:
- Sign up for alerts: To receive email, phone, and/or text alerts, set your communication preferences on the Skylert tab within Skyward Family Access. (Need help? go here for step-by-step directions or contact 360-676-6520.)
- Tune to local media: 790 AM, 96.5 FM, 104.1 FM or Seattle media.
- Check bellinghamschools.org
- Check social media: @BhamSD on Twitter or @bellinghamschools on Facebook
- Call 360-676-6400 for a recorded message.
- Call 360-647-6815 for a message translated in Español, русский, tính từ and Punjabi.
Please familiarize yourself with our weather procedures at bellinghamschools.org/weather.
How to find your snow bus route: www.bellinghamschools.org/snow-routes
Whatcom Health Department
Keeping Students Information Updated
It is important that you contact our office when there are changes made regarding your students address, health, or contact information. Throughout the year, you will receive emails and phone messages concerning your student from Roosevelt and the Bellingham Public Schools. Please take the time to update your preferences at here.
Attendance News
Attendance Reminders
A reminder that daily attendance is being taken by classroom teachers. Our office team is reviewing absences each day and reaching out to families to ensure that every child has the tools needed to engage in online learning and in-person learning. Being marked “present” means that your child is either in-person school learning or has participated in live online learning, watched a video post on Seesaw or engaged in an activity on Seesaw.
We know that absences happen, just like they do when we are learning in our building or on zoom. When your child is absent due to illness, appointment or a family event, please call to excuse your child from an absence, please call 360-676-6440 or email Sylvia.furman@bellinghamschools.org so that we can excuse the absence. Thank you for your help with this – and please reach out if questions.
School staff is also there to help if you need family support around attendance. Reach out to your teachers, principal or counselor with any questions or concerns.
Translation Feature of Roosevelt Newsletter
How to use the Translation Feature?
Your recipients will need to open your newsletter on the Smore website by clicking on the link provided at the top of the email.
Once they accessed the online newsletter, they need to look at the top right side of the newsletter at the Accessibility Bar and click on the "Translate Newsletter" option.
Tech Support
Below is the link for help with Technology- whether you are requesting a device or just need some help with the device you already have from the school district.
Qualtrics sophisticated online survey software solutions make creating online surveys easy. Learn more about Research Suite and get a free account today.
bellinghampublic.az1.qualtrics.com
District Resources Website
Multi-Language Message Line
Safe Schools Reporting Tip Line
Office Information
Points of Contact
Valarie Swenson, Assistant Principal - Valarie.Swenson@Bellinghamschools.org
Chris Wermus, School Counselor- Christopher.Wermus@Bellinghamschools.org
Roosevelt Elementary School
Website: https://roosevelt.bellinghamschools.org/
Location: 2900 Yew Street, Bellingham, WA, USA
Phone: (360) 676-6440