10/06 McMicken Family Connection

Dear McMicken Families,

Not only does this time of year bring turning leaves and brisk weather, it also brings opportunities for us to take stock of our students strengths and needs, as well as reflect together on success and challenges. Our teachers are working closely with Cougars and each other to really get to know our students as learners and see how we can support their success in partnership with families. Although it is a little ways out, we are already starting to plan for our Academic Parent Teacher Teams, which are hugely important meetings in which we partner closely with families around priority learning goals for the year. Make note of the dates and mark your calendar! In other news, I was out on Thursday and Friday this week to travel to DC for workshops and events related to my Washington State Distinguished Principal designation. I am truly humbled to have been given this honor, and believe it reflects on the strength of our amazing McMicken teachers, students, and families. I am excited to bring back what I learn!

☺ Principal Haas

Tyee High School is on the Highline Schools Bond!

In November, Highline Public Schools is asking voters to consider a bond that will provide improvements to schools across the district.

This bond will rebuild three schools: Tyee High School, Evergreen High School, and Pacific Middle School. It will also fund critical improvements, like roofing, painting, carpet and emergency repairs — at other schools. If passed in November students will move into the new, replaced Tyee High School in the fall of 2025!

This bond is not expected to increase taxes for most homeowners, due to expiring school taxes and a decreasing tax rate.

Proposition 1: Highline Schools Bond will continue Highline’s commitment to replace our aging school buildings with schools built to today’s safety standards, equipped for today’s learning.

Voters will find Proposition 1 on the November ballot. Learn more about the bond.

Every student deserves a bright future!

Next week we will be celebrating Discover U Week! This is a week in which we learn and explore about colleges and careers for the future we choose. Each day next week will have its own theme:

• Monday (10/10): Discover Local Jobs - We will talk about jobs in the area and have the conversation about what careers we may be curious about.
• Tuesday (10/11): Lead Your Community - Cougars will explore ways that we can have a positive impact on our community and our school.
• Wednesday (10/12): Classroom to Career - Our staff will share stories about our journeys and experiences in becoming educators and community helpers.
• Thursday (10/13): College Gear Day - Whether you are a Cougar, Husky, Geoduck, or whatever! Students and staff can come dressed in their college gear and outfits!
• Friday (10/14): Flash Forward Friday - Chef, Nurse, Soldier, Hairdresser, Teacher? Students can come dressed up for any career that they may choose! If you don't know, that's okay, it's a part of the journey. 🙂

Learn more by following Discover U on Twitter or Instagram at @discoveruwa.

Cleaning out your child's closet of school clothes that they've outgrown? Please consider donating shirts and pants to our supplies for students who need a change of clothes during the day. Clothes that match our school uniform colors (black, navy blue, or khaki) are preferred. Our supplies in the front office to support clothing changes are running low.

As a reminder, if your child comes home with clothing they did not wear to school, please have them return those clothes to our front office.

If you have a kindergartener or 1st grader, we recommend sending students with a change of clothes in their backpacks, just in case!

In the next few weeks, you will be learning more about your student's current academic levels. When you attend your child's first Academic Parent Teacher Team (APTT) meeting, you will learn more about the expectations of each grade level.

The following assessments are used across the school:

• iReady diagnostics measure student's current levels in reading and math, across different domains. These are used to help understand your child's overall academic levels. Their diagnostic scores determine their personalized learning path through the lessons they work on in iReady. Students answer multiple-choice questions on the iReady diagnostics. (Kindergarten will take their first iReady diagnostics in January.)
• IRLA reading levels determine your child's ability to read independently using decoding (breaking apart words to read), fluency (how they read and connect words together in sentences, and sentences into paragraphs), comprehension (how they understand what they're reading), and vocabulary (using a variety of words with shades of meaning and being able to define the words). Student IRLA levels are determined by their ability to read and understand text on their own, and explain verbally.

More to come around how these assessments help teachers support your students, and how we can continue to strengthen our partnership to ensure your child is best supported at home and school.

Students will be photographed by O'Connor Photography Studio for their school record on Wednesday, October 12th. Students will take individual photographs at this time.

If you would like to purchase your student's portraits, visit the website to pre-order their portraits today! You can also purchase by visiting our website at: www.oconnorphotographystudio.com. Students will not be able to purchase photographs with cash on the day of.

If you have any questions or need assistance, please give their studio a call at 1-800-993-4929.

The Superintendent's Family Action Committee (FAC) has been active for 10 years and is highly regarded as a committee that brings the parent/family voice to a variety of district strategies and practices.

They are seeking members for the Superintendent's Family Action Committee for the 2022-2024 school years. Their goal is to have a representative from each school that reflects the beautiful diversity of our district. Here are some of the things the FAC has accomplished:

FAC Accomplishments

• Co-developed the family engagement catalog

• Nationally recognized family engagement video produced by the FAC.

• Review and provide feedback on policies including equity, family engagement etc.

• Co-developed district’s family engagement survey and vision

Committee description and applications are available on the website. They are accepting applications through Friday, October 14.

Vision

Families and Schools working as partners to ensure every student graduates prepared for the future they choose.

Mission

Families working directly with the Superintendent, bringing the family voice to district level decision-making.

Charge

The Superintendent’s Family Action Committee will:

1. Providing the superintendent and staff strategies around effective family engagement practices.
2. Providing input and feedback on school district policies and department strategies and practices.
3. Holding the district accountable for strategic plan goals. District staff will report out to specific metrics on a regular basis.

Childcare, interpretation and dinner are provided at every FAC meeting.​ Please contact Lolita O’Donnell for any questions at Lolita.ODonnell@highlineschools.org or call (206) 631-3100.

October's Monthly Focus: We are C.O.U.G.A.R.S.

Weekly Focus (Oct. 10-14): We are Aware.

A quote to think about: "Awareness is always the beginning of positive change." - Roxanna Jones

When we are aware, it looks like:

Wednesday, October 12: Picture Day (Individual Student Photos)

Friday, October 14: No School for Students (Pre-K to 12)

Tuesday, October 25: 5th Grade APTT #1 (5:30-6:45pm on Zoom)

Wednesday, October 26: 3rd Grade APTT #1 (5:30-6:45pm on Zoom)

Thursday, October 27: 1st Grade APTT #1 (5:30-6:45pm on Zoom)

Tuesday, November 1: 4th Grade APTT #1 (5:30-6:45pm on Zoom)

Wednesday, November 2: 2nd Grade APTT #1 (5:30-6:45pm on Zoom)

Thursday, November 3: Kindergarten APTT #1 (5:30-6:45pm on Zoom)

Workshops are back in stores! The first Saturday of every month from 9 a.m. to noon. Check out Home Depot's website for current and upcoming workshops for kids.

Each kit pack includes a certificate of completion, an apron pin, and a Kids Workshop apron. Easy enough for a 5-year-old, but fun for all ages, this pre-cut wooden kit encourages creativity and instills a sense of accomplishment. You will learn to hammer and create cool stuff in less than an hour. Parents of younger children will have fun working with them on this project. Parts are made of wood and kit includes all necessary assembly hardware. Can be used as-is or painted or stained and adorned with stickers or stamps.

Available at various locations for free! All ages welcome; adult supervision required.

• Scarecrow Napkin Holder - November 5, 2022 @ 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
• Train Ornament - November 26, 2022 @ 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.

Join the WET Science Center for free events throughout the year! Check out their website for upcoming events. All ages welcome; adult supervision required for all events.

Put on your space suit and get ready to become a space explorer. Discover mysteries beyond the earth with cosmic crafts of constellations, planets, and more!

Outer Space Adventure is available:

• Saturday, November 5, 2022 @ 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
• Saturday, November 26, 2022 @ 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.

Located on Redondo Beach in Des Moines, Highline College's Marine Science and Technology (MaST) Center is home to thousands of native Pacific Northwest Marine creatures and plants, has four skeletons on display including a 38' gray which died in West Seattle in 2010, and 15 tanks including two touch tanks. Come spend an hour or two with the crabs, fishes, and octopus.

The MaST Center is open for public viewing Saturdays from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

• See our aquarium that holds 3,000 gallons of seawater
• View 250+ native Puget Sound species
• Experience 2 large touch tanks
• See our 38-foot Gray Whale skeleton and other marine mammal skeletons
• Learn about current issues in the marine ecosystem of Puget Sound

At this time, masks are recommended to be worn by all staff, volunteers, and visitors. This is free and recommended for all ages. The MaST is located at 28203 Redondo Beach Dr. S., Des Moines, WA 98198.

For children ages 2 to 5, Wednesdays on Zoom from 7:00-7:45pm

Join us for stories, music, movement, and rhymes in Vietnamese! Registration required. You will receive a Zoom link via email at least one hour prior to the event. If you do not see an email, check your Junk or Spam folder. Please click this link for more information and to sign up.

See the full year's Heritage Month calendar and think about how you can continue to celebrate these groups and holidays at home. In addition, you can access the Heritage Month calendar in Spanish, Somali, or Vietnamese.

Explore resources, events, book lists, and more for October's Heritage Months in English or Spanish.

Each year, we observe National Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month, which takes place from September 15 to October 15. It is a time to celebrate the histories, cultures, and contributions of those whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.

The day of September 15 is the anniversary of independence for the Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on September 16 and September 18, respectively.

To learn more about National Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month, check out these resources in English and Spanish.

On Indigenous Peoples’ Day, our Nation celebrates the invaluable contributions and resilience of Indigenous peoples, recognizes their inherent sovereignty, and commits to honoring the Federal Government’s trust and treaty obligations to Tribal Nations. For generations, Federal policies systematically sought to assimilate and displace Native people and eradicate Native cultures. Today, we recognize Indigenous peoples’ resilience and strength as well as the immeasurable positive impact that they have made on every aspect of American society.

Disability History and Awareness Month takes place during October to increase awareness, respect, and acceptance for people with disabilities, and to bring a greater sense of pride to people with disabilities.

As described by the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy, we celebrate "the contributions of America’s workers with disabilities past and present and showcases supportive, inclusive employment policies and practices. The annual theme is announced early to facilitate advance planning of events.”

October is National Bullying Prevention Month, a time to focus and raise awareness on bullying. During this month, many schools and groups' efforts across the country are aimed at bringing awareness to the issue of bullying.

Bullying includes behaviors such as hitting, teasing, taunting, spreading rumors and gossip, stealing, and excluding someone from a group. Bullying actions are carried out on purpose with the intent to hurt someone. For a brief explanation of the definition of bullying, you can watch this video.

At McMicken, we teach and empower our students to prevent bullying using the three R's.

• Recognize, understanding what is and what isn't bullying.
• Report, letting a trusted adult know, so they can help.
• Refuse, standing up for one another by speaking up and taking action.

In 2009, U.S. Congress recognized October as Filipino American History Month in the United States. Various states, counties, and cities in the U.S. have established proclamations and resolutions declaring observance of Filipino American History Month. It’s all about celebrating the history, heritage, culture and achievements of Filipino Americans.

Italian-American Heritage and Culture Month is celebrated by proclamation of the President and Congress in the United States to honor the achievements and contributions of Italian immigrants and their descendants living in the United States.

The Polish Heritage Month promotes understanding and appreciation of Polish heritage and culture. The US shows appreciation of the vital contributions people of Polish descent have made to our Nation in the arts, the sciences, religion, scholarship, and every area of endeavor.

Contact us for support or with questions.

McMicken Heights Elementary School

https://mcmicken.highlineschools.org

Phone: (206) 631-4300

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