February 8, 2016

CHECK US OUT ON FACEBOOK – Visit Christensen Elementary School on Facebook and “Like” our page for updates on upcoming events and happenings around our school.

***BREAKFAST STARTS AT 8:45 IN THE GYM. DO NOT BRING YOUR STUDENT IN BEFORE 8:45AM AS THERE IS NO SUPERVISION ***

Important Dates

Feb. 8th: Music Concert @ 6:30pm in gym

Feb. 10th & 24th: 2:30pm Early Dismissal Wednesday

Feb. 25th: Science Fair – 6:00pm to 7:00pm

February’s Music Concert is tonight, February 8th. All First Graders and Christensen’s Choir will perform at 6:30pm for the families in the gym.

Cougar Character Trait for the month of February is Fairness. Fairness it’s the quality of treating people equally or in a way that is right or reasonable.

CHRISTENSEN’S SCIENCE FAIR

FEBRUARY 25TH, 6:00pm to 7:00pm.

STUDENTS MAY PICK UP THEIR SCIENCE PACKETS AND BOARDS IN THE SCHOOL OFFICE.

Early Dismissals - Please come to the main office to sign your child out (YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO SHOW I.D. EVERY TIME) One of our office staff will be happy to call your child up from the classroom. We do ask that you wait in the office so that we know your child is safely with you before leaving campus. If you need to pick up your child, please do so before 3:30pm. Christensen does not release students between 3:30-4:00, because students are receiving final instructions and this causes students to miss information and disrupts class. FYI ~ Students line up in the gym awaiting the arrival of their bus around 3:50pm. If your student is a parent pick up and you arrive early, please wait patiently until they are dismissed. Your students’ safety is our highest priority. ~Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.

Christensen does not have the office staff to accommodate last minute phone calls for bus and parent pick up changes, please contact the office prior to 3:30pm so we may assist you effectively.

AFTER ASSEMBLY RELEASE PROCEDURE

For the safety of all our Christensen students, we ask that parents wait until the regular dismissal time of 4:00pm to take their children home unless you have made prior arrangements with their teacher.

FREE DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENING FOR PRESCHOOLERS!

The next Child Find screening for children 3 to 5 years old will be Feb. 10th. The purpose of the screening is to determine if your child is in need of special education services. If your family is living in a temporary situation you may contact the district where you are staying to attend a screening. Please call Tricia at 253-298-4675 to schedule an appointment.

Birth to Three Screenings

Families of children below age 3 who have concerns about their child’s development can call our district Family Resource Coor-dinator, Lori Holbrook, at 253-298-4670 to see if your child qualifies for services.

PRUEBAS DE DESARROLLO GRATUITO PARA PREESCOLARES!

Pruebas gratuitas para niños y niñas de 3 a 5 años que que viven en el Distrito Escolar de Franklin Pierce proveídas por medio del programa de Child Find. La próxima prueba de Child Find esta programada para 10 de Febrero. . El propósito de las pruebas es para determinar si su niño(a) esta en la necesidad de usar servicios especiales de educación. Si su familia esta viviendo en una sitacion temporal, comuniquese con el Distrito donde usted esta asistiendo, para que atienda una revision/screenining. Por favor llame a Tricia 253-298-4675 para que pueda concertar una cita.

Pruebas de Natal a Tres

Las Familias de los niño(a)s de 3 años para abajo que tengan concernimientos acerca del desarrollo de sus niños pueden llamar a nuestra Coordinadora de Recursos del Distrito, Lori Holbrook, al 253-298-4670

Remember, starting in kindergarten, a high rate of absences can significantly affect a child’s academic success. For every day missed a child loses 6 hours of instruction that is nearly impossible to make up. This lost time can leave children unable to read fluently by the end of 3rd grade (an indicator of future academic success.) Please send your child to school on time, every day. It matters! STUDENT ABSENCES – If your child is ill and unable to attend school or cannot attend for other reasons, please call to inform us of the reason before our 10:30 a.m. attendance calling. You may also leave a message on our 24-hour voice mail. If we have not heard from you and your child is not in attendance, we will call your home to check on the absence. This is done to ensure your child’s safety. We must receive verification of your child’s absence either by phone or by a note when your child returns. If we do not hear from you, an unexcused absence will be recorded. We really want our students present at school. We appreciate your help with this matter.

No phone call, no note = unexcused absence

SCHOOL DELAY & CLOSURE INFORMATION

As the weather gets colder, it’s important that you develop plans for emergency school closures and limited or delayed bus runs. In case of an emergency or bad weather, school might be delayed or canceled. If the regular school schedule is changed, local radio and television stations will be notified. Emergencies may include inclement weather, power outages or a need to alter an individual school schedule. Remember… we are Franklin Pierce School District NOT Tacoma School District, we may have different operating schedules.

“School Closed” means that all schools will be closed for that one day only.

All school related activities will be canceled.

“Late start” means that all schools will start late by the amount of time specified for that one day only. School related activities may or may not be altered. Please use the following Media options first to determine what time school starts rather than calling the school office. Due to the high volume of calls the office staff may not be able to answer your call.

There are five ways you can find updated information on school schedules:

1.  AUTO DIALER – The district has the ability to send out a recorded phone message to parents and staff of Franklin Pierce Schools. In the event of an unscheduled school closure or late start, the autodialer will be activated. Please make sure the school has a current phone number for you.

2.  TV NEWS – Komo (4), King (5 & 6), KIRO (7), and KCPQ (13)

3.  RADIO STATIONS –

a.  AM STATIONS – KCIS (630), KIXI (880), KOMO (1000), KLAY (1180), KGY (1240), KENU (1330)

b.  FP STATIONS – KPLU (88.5), KGRG (89.9), KVTI (90.9), KMPS (94.1), KUOW (94.9), KXXO (96.1), KGY (96.9), KIRO (97.3), KCMS (105.3)

4.  INTERNET / TEXT - http://www.flashalert.net/news.html?=4380

Pre-register for this site before the bad weather begins and you will be notified anytime there is a delay or closure. You can sign up to receive email and/or text messages.

5.  PHONE – 253/298-3300. Please, try the above options first. **NOTE: If the power is out at our school, our phones may also be out**

PARENT VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED FOR POPCORN FRIDAYS…..NO VOLUNTEERS = NO POPCORN OR SMENCILS FOR THE KIDS. Popcorn volunteers needed. We cannot do popcorn this year…unless we have volunteers that are able to get ‘er done. Popcorn Friday’s are a great way to support your school community. Please complete your volunteer application on-line by completing the below steps. Popcorn sells for .25 cents and Smencils (pencils that smell) for $1.00 each.

·  Go to the Franklin Pierce School District Website: www.fpschools.org

·  Drop down from the ‘For Parents’ tab

·  Click on FPS Volunteer Application System

·  Either. . . Have our office make a copy of your driver’s license OR take a picture of your driver’s license and upload it with your application.

Franklin Pierce Schools does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation including gender expression or identity, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability in its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. Questions and complaints of alleged discrimination should be directed to Dr. Shaun Carey, Compliance Coordinator for State and Civil Rights Laws; Wendy Malich, Title IX Officer; or William Rasplica, 504/ADA Coordinator at 315 129th ST S, Tacoma, WA 98444-5099 or at (253)298-3000.

PARENTS OF YOUNG CHILDREN (K,1,2) - Please pack an extra pair of clothes, to include underwear and socks, in your child’s backpack. Accidents do happen and we would like to be prepared. It is nice when a child can wear a pair of his or her own pants. The health room has a VERY limited supply.

PARENT VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED FOR POPCORN FRIDAYS…..NO VOLUNTEERS = NO POPCORN OR SMENCILS FOR THE KIDS. Popcorn volunteers needed. We cannot do popcorn this year…unless we have volunteers that are able to get ‘er done. Popcorn Friday’s are a great way to support your school community. Please complete your volunteer application on-line by completing the below steps. Popcorn sells for .25 cents and Smencils (pencils that smell) for $1.00 each.

·  Go to the Franklin Pierce School District Website: www.fpschools.org

·  Drop down from the ‘For Parents’ tab

·  Click on FPS Volunteer Application System

·  Either. . . Have our office make a copy of your driver’s license OR take a picture of your driver’s license and upload it with your application.

Franklin Pierce Schools does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation including gender expression or identity, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability in its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. Questions and complaints of alleged discrimination should be directed to Dr. Shaun Carey, Compliance Coordinator for State and Civil Rights Laws; Wendy Malich, Title IX Officer; or William Rasplica, 504/ADA Coordinator at 315 129th ST S, Tacoma, WA 98444-5099 or at (253)298-3000.