Thursday, October 28, 2021 Volume 16 Issue 8
Now that students have received a district-assigned iPad (K-2) or laptop (3-5), we want your feedback to help develop consistent practices around technology use both at school and at home. We do not want to replace our teachers with screens, but we do want to teach students how to effectively use technology as a tool for learning. All teachers use our state technology standards, and our students need reliable access to practice their new skills. Seattle Public Schools assigned these devices, and we get to shape how technology fits into our Thurgood Marshall school community. Your feedback will give us a better picture of what our community wants and needs. Here is the link to take the survey: https://forms.office.com/r/BTEpHNKSv1
Lost & Found
Please be sure to ask your child to check the Lost and Found if you are missing any clothing items. The Lost and Found is located right by the gym bathrooms. We already have lots of coats piling up. We generally donate all Lost and Found items at the end of each month as we run out of storage room.
Pro Tip: Be sure to write your child’s name on the inside label of their coat/sweatshirt/hat. When we see an item that is labeled with a child’s name, we will return it to their class
Vision and Hearing Screening
Vision and Hearing Screening will be done for all grades, except Fourth Grade (who were tested last year and going with the school district grade rotation schedule) as follows:
Friday, November 5 - PreK
Friday, November 12 - Kindergarten
Friday, November 19 - 1st Grade
Friday, December 3 -2nd Grade
Friday, December 10- 3rd Grade
Friday, December 17 - 5th Grade
Students who wear glasses will also be checked (to see if their vision is normal with their glasses), so don’t forget your glasses!
Any child who does not pass the vision or hearing screening will be rescreened at a later date (if questionable) and their parents informed of the results.
Don't Forget to VOTE by NOV 2nd!!
Please make your voices heard by filling out and returning your ballots by Tuesday, November 2nd!! There are important positions up for election this year that will have a huge impact on public education in our area, including Seattle School District positions, so please take the time to look up the candidates and VOTE!
Ballots for the November Election should have arrived in your mailbox and are due by November 2. They can be postmarked by November 2 - no postage required - or they can be dropped at a ballot drop box by 8PM on November 2. Find a Ballot Drop Box using this link https://kingcounty.gov/depts/elections/how-to-vote/ballots/returning-my-ballot/ballot-drop-boxes.aspx
Who is eligible to vote? https://kingcounty.gov/depts/elections/how-to-vote/register-to-vote/who-can-vote.aspx
If you are eligible to vote but you have not yet registered, YOU CAN STILL REGISTER TO VOTE in-person up to November 2 (Election day): https://kingcounty.gov/depts/elections/how-to-vote/register-to-vote.aspx
Accessible voting options: https://kingcounty.gov/depts/elections/how-to-vote/ballots/accessible-voting-options.aspx
Voter pamphlet with information on all the candidates (English): https://kingcounty.gov/~/media/depts/elections/how-to-vote/voters-pamphlet/2021/11/edition-1.ashx?la=en
More information: https://kingcounty.gov/depts/elections.aspx
The Guide to Voting is available in many languages:
Social Emotional Learning
Did you know that all our classes have a time set aside daily for Social Emotional Learning? While this practice has long been a part of our school day, it is especially recommended now to support students who are learning how to reconnect socially and to practice managing their emotions after a long period of time without the social interaction typical of elementary ages students. Just as we sometimes see academic gaps in our students, we also sometimes see gaps in social and emotional learning, and we want to be sure that all our students are getting practice with these important skills. The value we place on Social Emotional Learning (SEL) is evident in our school’s mission statement: Our teaching is rooted in research-based best practices where learning experiences are differentiated for the unique needs of all learners. We prioritize collaboration, compassion and building a sense of belonging through strong relationships. We want all our students to be empathetic problem-solvers who understand their emotions and can self-regulate. These are skills that need to be taught, just like academic skills! It is something you are likely working on in your own home, too. Students who start their school day feeling dysregulated will be helped to transition more smoothly into academics through this practice. This block happens for most students right at the start of the school day – a very good reason to be sure your child arrives to school on time! The district has invested in various resources to support SEL. One is the RULER curriculum. Many of you are already familiar with the mood meter, class charters and meta-moments, which are all part of this curriculum. This year, Seattle Schools also purchased digital access to Second Step lessons. These lessons support developing empathy and conflict resolution. October is also kindness month at our school and Ms. Matsui has shared ideas for promoting kindness with all classroom teachers. Another important part of our SEL lessons is those that focus on Positive Behavior Intervention Supports or PBIS. This is our schoolwide system of teaching, reteaching, and reinforcing behaviors that help us get along and support everyone’s learning. We have learned (and research informs us) that having clear, consistent routines for everyone in our building allows students to focus on their academic learning, rather than using mental energy to try to interpret what is needed to be successful at our school. Teachers begin the year teaching these expectations so they are clear for all students and you will see signage posted around the school to let students and adults know the expectations for using the space in each part of our school. At the start of the year, each teacher took their class on a guided tour of the school so they could learn the expectations for various parts of our school. This is a great reminder for returning students and it is critical for students who are new to our school.
Part of our PBIS program is acknowledging positive behaviors in our students. Staff recognize these behaviors with Pup Points. As enough Pup Points are earned to meet a schoolwide goal, our whole school has a celebration. Our students have been doing an amazing job with this – our next celebration will be this Friday!
There are more resources for parents and children on the Seattle Public Schools website, including videos for students all ages. You can explore these here: https://www.seattleschools.org/departments/social-emotional-learning-skills/ Ask your child about what they are learning during the first part of their school day. They may be able to teach you new SEL skills to support problem-solving at home, too!
Seattle Relief Fund applications now open!
The City of Seattle is offering one-time financial assistance to eligible Seattle residents impacted by the pandemic This program offers a one-time payment of $1,000 to individual applicants and up to $3,000 for household applicants. Applicants must be income-eligible and live within the Seattle city boundaries, with a few exceptions. We encourage all interested applicants to read the Seattle Relief Fund (SRF) eligibility requirements and Frequently Asked Questions closely. The review process is NOT first-come, first-served. However, to support those with the most need, the fund prioritizes vulnerable Seattle residents who have disproportionately experienced the economic and public health impacts of the COVID-19 crisis, which include households that were unable to access state unemployment, had no health insurance, didn’t receive federal stimulus payments, or experienced housing instability or mental health crisis related to COVID-19. The City of Seattle encourages residents to apply as soon as possible. The application period is open for three weeks, from Monday, October 25, 2021 to November 15, 2021, 11:59 p.m. You can access more information about the Seattle Relief Fund, including eligibility details and the application form in Amharic, Simplified and Traditional Chinese, Korean, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog/Filipino, and Vietnamese here. Funds are available to eligible applicants regardless of citizenship status/immigration status. If you need assistance applying, organizations are available to help applicants over the phone in several languages. You can find their contact information here.
