Superintendent News

Dear Staff, Guardians, and Community Members,

Happy New Year and welcome back from winter break! Students return Tuesday, January 3rd. I hope you enjoyed quality time with your families and friends. We are excited to dive into second semester with momentum across the district.

School Board Recognition Month

January is School Board Recognition Month. We are grateful for the contribution each ESD Board member makes to help every student shape a successful future and the vital role they play in our schools and communities. Our Board members volunteer their time advocating for public education; participating in school functions; reviewing reports, proposals, agendas; approving the district budget and much more. Please take a moment to express your gratitude for their leadership, dedication, and desire to serve our community.

Winter District Assessments Grades K-8 Reading and Math

We would like to remind you that many of our students will participate in district benchmark testing in January. You may have heard your students talk about the Acadience/Dibels (K-2) or MAPS (3-8) test. These results help us understand whether students have demonstrated growth and mastered the content they need to know by the end of the school year to be on track for college and career success. Thank you for preparing our students to do their very best on these upcoming assessments. I could not ask to be part of a better team as we accelerate learning for every student, every day.

Thank you and welcome back.

Respectfully,

Sally Keeley

Acting Superintendent

As previously announced on December 15th:

Please note the following changes:

• January 2nd is a non-school day now due to observing New Year's Day. Due to this change a school day was added to the end of the year.
• The snow makeup day has been added to the end of the year.
• The last day of school is currently June 27th.

We have noticed an increase in students who are dropped off along the state highway near the construction zone each morning.

This is happening at the crosswalk, which halts traffic and along the highway as far down as Multicare. Students are walking over the caution tape and through the construction zone.

Please consider using the parent dropoff lines at the school or near Myles Pizza to allow children to safely (and legally) cross. Please be aware, there is currently no police involvement at the crosswalk due to lack of parking for them.

Thank you for your assistance.

Eatonville Middle School students gave a portion of their time today in Servant Leadership. Students chose a variety of options to participate in. Some chose to write Gratitude Notes to staff and family, some chose to help beautify the school and help with Lost and Found items, and others decorated cookies to be distributed to bus drivers and office staff. ASB officers Rylin Caramandi and Alora Holmes served the bus drivers coffee and cookies while the drivers waited to take home students for winter break. The treats were one way the students took advantage of a servant leadership day at EMS.

Schools will operate on a one hour delayed schedule to allow staff to engage in Professional Learning on Wednesdays.

📅Please mark your calendar for upcoming winter late start dates.

There will be no school on Monday, January 16th, 2023 in observance of Martin Luther King Junior Day.

All school offices and the district office will be closed.

Eatonville High School is pleased to announce the names of the 44 students who are now members of the Eatonville Chapter of the National Honor Society.

• Casul, Teona Julnes 12
• Gahms, Kolby 12
• Martin, Jeb 12
• Vonderhorst, Araya 12
• Morgan, McKenzie 11
• Norman, Dylan 11
• Olson, Brynden 11
• Ostendorf, Brooke 11
• Pope, Haley 11
• Perdue, Abigail 11
• Smith, Sara 11
• Stammen, Ryan 11
• Zaragoza, Hannah 11
• Andersen, Bailey 10
• Bamford, Bailey 10
• Bandel, Eric 10
• Bazan, Dana 10
• Bernt, Kaylee 10
• Burns, Zoe 10
• Callon, Joseph 10
• Campbell, Savannah 10
• Cornwell, Gage 10
• Garber, Eva 10
• Green Jaida 10
• Hall, Hailey 10
• Hanson, Hannah 10
• Haygood, Lillyan 10
• Kennedy, Pam 10
• Kenney, Tyler 10
• Koch, Justen 10
• Larson, Alyssa 10
• Meadows, Aubrey 10
• Meyer, Alayna 10
• Pena, Victor 10
• Piper, Austin 10
• Price, Cheyanne 10
• Sarpy, Ellis 10
• Sims, Preston 10
• Stogsdill, Michael 10
• Thirtyacre, Brody 10
• Van Eaton, Mary 10
• Veeser-Timm, Tessa 10
• Wimbles, Samantha 10
• Wolf, Sydney 10

Are you interested in serving as a parent representative on the Highly Capable Program Advisory Committee for Eatonville School District? The committee aides in developing, monitoring, implementing, and evaluating the district's Highly Capable/Advancement Placement Program plan. The committee ensures compliance with state laws and administrative codes governing the Highly Capable Program, including equitable identification and makes recommendations, as needed. The committee will meet 4 times throughout the school year.

Our first meeting will be held Wednesday, January 4, 2023. The meeting will be held in the High School Library from 3pm-4pm. If you are interested in joining the HCP Advisory Committee please contact the Instructional Programs office by phone at (360-641-1040) or by email at s.keeley@eatonvilleschools.org

a) If you’re having trouble getting to school, we want to help! Please call the school office.

b) This is the time of year when winter weather and children’s illnesses can take a toll on school attendance. But it’s important to get your children to school every day possible.

c) Too many absences can make it hard for students to stay engaged, connected and learning. This is as true in kindergarten and elementary grades as it is in high school.

d) Children who miss too much school in kindergarten are less likely to read well by third grade. By middle school, absenteeism can predict who will graduate from high school.

EMS Warriors Wrestling team began a new tradition, holding our challenge matches at the high school, "under the light" like a high school varsity match.

We are currently considering qualified candidates to sponsor in obtaining a Washington State Emergency Substitute Certificate. Emergency Substitute Teachers provide coverage for absent teachers throughout the school district. This is an on-call, as needed position. Applicants must be comfortable teaching in person and have technology knowledge and skills to be considered for this position.

Updated District minimum requirements to be sponsored for Emergency Substitute Certificate:

• AA degree -or- 90 credit hours in a 4-year educational/teaching program -or- Advanced Paraeducator Certificate
• Complete online application for Substitute Teacher
• District will hold interviews and select qualified candidates
• Not serve in long-term substitute capacity

🚌Join the Eatonville School District Transportation Team.🚸

Eatonville School District is hiring full time and substitute bus drivers.

✔️No experience needed.
💰Paid training provided, for more information you can contact us at 360-879-1900.
📲Don't delay, apply today by clicking this link: https://www.edjobsnw.org/

Eatonville School District is seeking applicants for a Transportation Office Assistant. This position is an 8 hour per day position. Hourly rate is dependent on experience. Position is available immediately.

Prior experience in a Transportation Office is desired.

Don't delay, apply today: bit.ly/3jarh54

Eatonville School District is seeking applicants for a Self Contained Special Education Teacher.

👩‍🏫If you are interested in making an impact by working directly with children, please apply today using this link: bit.ly/3HJJOj5

As you may have heard, RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), seasonal influenza (flu), COVID-19, and other respiratory viruses are spreading widely.

As you begin your winter break, we want to offer these tips and reminders for staying healthy - and reducing the spread of illnesses.

Many of the same steps recommended to prevent COVID-19 are effective for preventing flu and other respiratory illnesses.

• Stay home as much as possible if you feel sick.
• Wash your hands frequently and carry hand sanitizer with you.
• Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or elbow.
• Consider wearing a mask in crowded indoor spaces.

Check out these resources suggested by KPHD:

• An RSV fact sheet
• Flu season prevention steps
• Steps to protect yourself from COVID-19 (CDC)

Every U.S. household is once again eligible to order 4 free at-home COVID-⁠19 tests. Just visit www.covid.gov/tests.

Free kids vaccines at Kirk's Pharmacy in Eatonville.

• Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741741
• Pierce County Crisis Line: 800-576-7764
• Multicare Behavioral Health (Crisis Line): 253-445-8120
• Oasis Youth Center (LGBTQ Crisis Line): 253-988-2108
• Alcohol/Drug Helpline: 800-562-1240
• Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-SAFE (7233)
• Child Protective Services: 866-363-4276

Youth Homeless Services

• REACH Tacoma: 253-573-6590
• Helping Hand House: 253-272-1532

Please check your child's food service account.

• You may login to Skyward Family Access to check food service balances by clicking here.

• To add breakfast and lunch money to your child's account please click here.

• Free and Reduced Meal Applications are still available in Skyward Family Access. Your application is completely confidential.

• An application (one per household) must be completed each year (or if a student transfers into this district from another district) by the parent/guardian living in household one--the student's primary residence.

• School meal prices increased before school started. Please note the changes on the attached graphic.

• New this year: Students who qualify for “reduced meals” will receive a free breakfast and lunch.

We are excited to offer a chance to volunteer at our schools for upcoming events. Please fill out the application below and submit it to Kim Henley at the District Office. Forms may also be emailed to Kim Henley at k.henley@eatonville.wednet.edu.

Volunteers were eligible to return to schools on Monday, October 3rd. Please coordinate your arrival with the main office or classroom teacher of the desired school.

• This year, we will not send robocalls when bus routes are canceled. Instead, we are encouraging families to sign up for My Ride K-12 to receive push notifications when routes are impacted. Additionally, families may view the status of each bus route on our website at any time as it is updated daily. Finally, an email will be sent to families when a route is impacted.

• Unfortunately, we do not have any substitute bus drivers and will need to cancel routes when a driver is out. If you or someone you know would like to apply to become a driver please visit our website for information.

• 22-23 route information is available on My Ride K-12. This is the best way to learn if your child's route will be impacted.
• Register for My Ride K12 today on the website.
• When you register you will need your student’s 7 digit Student ID number that typically begins with 2 zeros. Please access Skyward Family Access for your child’s ID number.
• Once you've registered on the site you may download the app. Traversa Ride 360™ is a mobile app for Apple® and Android® devices.
• You can expect to receive direct messages regarding changes, delays and notifications specific to your child's route and stop. You may also directly message the Eatonville School District Transportation Office.

To review all employment opportunities with our district:

1. Visit EdJobsNW.org
2. Click FIND A JOB
3. Choose the appropriate JOB CATEGORY (Administrator, Certificated, Classified, Coaching, Substitute) from the menu on the right-hand side of the page
4. Type "Eatonville" in the filter box to narrow your search results

Eatonville School District #404 will provide equal educational opportunity and treatment for all students in all aspects of the academic and activities program without discrimination based on race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, honorably discharged, veteran or military status, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, marital status, 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.

The district will provide equal access to school facilities to the Boy Scouts of America and all other designated youth groups listed in Title 36 of the United States Code as a patriotic society. District programs shall be free from sexual harassment. Auxiliary aids and services will be provided upon request to individuals with disabilities.

Address: 200 Lynch St. W., Eatonville, WA 98328; Telephone: 360-879-1000

Title IX Coordinator, Section 504/ADA Coordinator & Civil Rights Compliance Coordinator: Cristin Blaskowitz, Executive Student Services. Email: c.blaskowitz@eatonvilleschools.org

Superintendent: Sally Keeley (Acting)

Secretary to the Board and Superintendent: Ms. Amanda Smith

District Office Hours: 7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.