Principal's Corner

Dear Parents, Guardians & Significant Adults,

Happy New Year! I trust that you and your family had a fantastic and revitalizing winter break. Please read below for some important updates this coming month.

Sequoia Families:

The end of term 3 is quickly approaching and will officially be over on Friday, January 5th. That said, please encourage your student(s) to keep track of and complete all required work necessary to pass this term. Please be sure to reach out to your student(s) teacher in the event you need clarification or guidance.

Monday, January 8th will be Check and Connect and please note that attendance is required on this day in order to be enrolled for Term 4. If there will be an issue regarding attendance, please be sure that you contact your advisor and contact me through the office.

Port Gardner Families:

Monthly progress will be due the first day back to school in 2024. Be sure and take notes now of how your students are doing at home to be ready to submit on January 2nd.

Wishing you an amazing 2024 and as always, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Belinda "MJ" Mountjoy - Principal

• Term 3 Ends - January 5th
• Check & Connect/Appointment Days - January 8 - 9th
• Term 4 Begins - January 10th - February 7th
• Deadline to Register for Connected 5 - January 11th at 10am
• Martin Luther King Jr. Day - January 15th, NO SCHOOL
• Connected 5 - January 16 - February 5th

Good Citizenship Day is observed on January 16. On that day, social studies teachers coordinate a voter registration event in each history or social studies class attended by high school seniors. Students who will be eighteen years of age or older by the time of the next general election will be allowed to register to vote online in the classroom. Paper registration will also be made available in the classroom.

If you missed a call from your school, please first check your voice mail, email or mobile app for the message rather than calling the school. Schools are often inundated with phone calls from parents after they send an automated call and cannot answer all the calls. If messaging is still not being delivered, then you will need to update your contact information at your school. If your contact information has changed, please let your school know so they can update the system to be able to successfully reach you.

Looking Ahead ---------------------------->

• December 16 - January 1, Winter Break
• January 2, Classes Resume
• January 2, Progress Due
• January 5 by noon, PRs received after noon this day will be marked as Overall Unsatisfactory
• January 10, PGS Tour
• January 12, Overall Progress Evaluations, no classes today
• January 15, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, no school day
• January 18, 2nd Semester Class Sign-ups open

Above is an at-a-glance for the second semester schedule. A paper version of this is available on the table in the PGS Family Mailroom.

OR

Here is a link to the schedule on ALE: https://pgs.schooldata.net/v2/ale-sis-public/#/

Once you are in the app, filter to 2nd semester to see the offerings.

Please note that middle & high school students in year long classes have already been added to the 2nd semester schedule.

Belinda Mountjoy, Principal: bmountjoy@everettsd.org 425-385-5190

Autumn Slater, School Counselor: aslater@everettsd.org 425-385-

Megan Slaker, Secretary: mslaker@everettsd.org 425-385-5150

Kim Cortright, Paraeducator: kcortright@everettsd.org 425-385-5180

Allison Hinds, Primary Teacher: ahinds@everettsd.org 425-385-5183

Celeste Johnson, Primary/Intermediate Teacher: cjohnson@everettsd.org 425-385-5183

Jocelyn Sievers-Bailey, Intermediate Teacher: Jsievers-bailey@everettsd.org 425-385-5186

Laura Wight, Middle School Teacher: lwight@everettsd.org 425-385-5141

Mark Ryder, Middle/High School Teacher: mryder@everettsd.org 425-385-5142

If we must cancel school or delay the start of school, we will use our parent communication system to call in the morning, typically around 5:00 a.m. (or sometimes the night before if it can already be determined) with a brief message about the reason for closure or delay. We will also use local media, social media and post the message on our website.

If there is no announcement about Everett Public Schools, school is on the regular schedule. More information and resources for school closures or delays is on the district website under the Parents tab.

In cases of inclement weather or other emergencies, please:

• check your email or phone for district messages
• listen for media announcements
• view the district’s website at www.everettsd.org
• watch district Facebook, Twitter or Instagram accounts

School drop off and pick up locations may change in an emergency situation. If your child rides a bus to school, please become familiar with the snow route information on the district transportation department’s webpage under the “Snow Routes” icon in the center of the page.

New resources have been added to Parent University, including a video highlight information regarding school closures and late starts. Watch the video here.

If you have additional topics you would like to suggest for Parent University, please email communications@everettsd.org.

This is a reminder first semester ends February 1. Report cards and Elementary Progress Reports will be both online and mailed/distributed by February 16.

The month of January marks the annual observance of School Board Recognition – a time to salute the work of school board members and celebrate public education. You can learn more about board members online. You can also watch past school board meetings on the district’s YouTube channel. Find out more about the district’s two new board members on the school board webpage.

The Washington State School Directors Association (WSSDA) honors exemplary school boards that improve student learning and follow best practices of governance. Everett Public Schools Board of Directors has earned this honor for the eighth time this year for presenting exemplary evidence of ongoing professional development, addressing opportunity gaps and practicing governance that reflects the Washington School Board Standards.

This month, the Food and Nutrition Department brings you beans grown in the PNW! Be sure to give them a try this month in our black bean burger or vegetarian chili!

Did you know that there are over 40,000 different varieties of beans and they are an excellent of protein and fiber? Find out more by checking out the Harvest of the Month flyer on the district website.

I’ve “bean” thinking about you.

Kids in Transition (KIT) program supports students who qualify for two federal programs which provide support for children and youth whose housing is highly mobile: those who meet the more inclusive definition of homeless under the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Act and those who are eligible for Foster Care Education support.

Students who are in foster care placement (where a child welfare agency has placement, care and authority) or those who are without a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence may qualify for this additional support.

The KIT program works to eliminate barriers to students’ academic success and extra-curricular involvement. We ensure eligible students have access to free school meals, school supplies and uniforms. KIT may help students access extended day or summer school classes or coordinate access to additional academic support or tutoring when needed. The KIT Program may also cover, or coordinate waivers for, fees required to take part in activities such as school-sponsored sports, clubs, and required class fees. KIT can also help set up transportation for eligible students to maintain school stability, as long as the commute is​ feasible and in the best interest of the student. We also partner with the Family Resource Center and other community agencies to connect families and students to resources as needed.

Last year, Everett Public Schools served over 1,350 students through our KIT support at some time during the school year. For more information, visit www.everettsd.org/KIT to learn who your school’s KIT support staff is; or contact the KIT Office at 425-385-4032.

Everett Public Schools is hiring many positions. Please share with friends and family who may be interested in joining our team. Visit www.everettsd.org/jobs for jobs posted and how to apply.

Please see the school feeder pattern for each region’s session and the graphic below showing Sequoia in Region 2.

Each Regional Superintendent recently recorded an introduction video for Parent University. Click on the image to see the introduction video.

Could you or a family you know use some help? Find information and links to helpful resources on the district’s Parent Tools webpage:

· Washington State Library – local and regional information about services and agencies offering help to families in a variety of ways including food, shelter, clothing, childcare, legal services, employment opportunities, and counseling.

· Everett Public Schools Kids In Transition (KIT) program – supports homeless children and youth to continue their education.

· Snohomish Health District for Snohomish County community dental resources for children and adults.

· United Way of Snohomish County – 2-1-1 is a free telephone number that is your best "first call" to quickly find the right source of help. The information line is staffed by trained operators from Volunteers of America Western Washington who can connect you to a wide range of community services.

The district’s main webpage has an icon, “report/assistance,” with resources and assistance for students and families on:

· Suicide Prevention

· Crisis Support

· Eating Disorder Help

· Substance Abuse Help

· Report Safety Concerns

· Report Harassment

· Substance Abuse Trends

· Overdose Symptoms and Prevention

· Safe Storage of Medication

· Safe Storage of Firearms

Do you or your student have a concern about someone experiencing bullying or harassment? Report it! You can talk directly with your school’s office, or you can call, text or email your concern.

If there is reason for concern about safety on a designated walkway to school, call 9-1-1 immediately for authorized, quick help. We have strong partnerships with local law enforcement who share our interest in safe schools and neighborhoods. Student safety is a priority for all of us. Working together, we can help make our neighborhoods and schools nurturing places for students to safely learn and grow.

Please go to the Parent homepage on the Everett Public Schools Website to use the icons below:

Please go to the Everett Public Schools Website for more information: https://www.everettsd.org/grades

Registering for middle and high school sports AND school athletic schedules can now be found on the EPS App! Grab your smartphone and go to the iTunes App Store® or Google Play®, search Everett Public Schools, then select our app for free download. Game ON! Learn more at www.everettsd.org/MobileApp

To schedule a meeting with me, please email my Office Manager, Betsy Monroe.

Email: bmonroe@everettsd.org
Website: www.everettsd/Sequoiahs
Location: 3516 Rucker Ave Everett, WA 98201
Phone: (425) 385-5100