SBLSD News
April 13, 2023
We’re thrilled to announce the completion of a greatly-enhanced safety and security measure at our buildings’ front entrances — a voice and video intercom system.
Most buildings districtwide* are now operating the new system, which features a remote door release function. As these intercoms bring about an extra layer of security, so are there extra steps you may have to take before entering the building. After pressing the intercom button, please be prepared to:
Give your name
State your purpose for visit
Show your photo ID
We thank all visitors for being a partner in helping ensure a safe teaching and learning environment for all. This intercom project was made possible through the voter-approved 2018 Technology Levy.
*Lakeridge and Sumner middle schools are working out some minor bugs, but should be online and working next week. Installation at Mountain View Middle School will take place this summer during repairs to their front entrance.
Graduation is on the horizon for Marilee Fisher’s son, Max, who is a senior at Bonney Lake High School.
It’s an exciting milestone, but it also prompts another question: What’s the next step for Max?
For Marilee, and other parents or guardians of young adults with developmental disabilities, navigating a post-high school world can be overwhelming without the right resources.
The Sumner-Bonney Lake School District provides transition services for students with disabilities, which includes writing a transition plan with post-secondary goals and the pathway to achieve those goals, including the student, parent and school Individualized Education Program (IEP) team working together with disability service agencies.
But there’s another service unique to the District that the SBLSD Special Services Department hosts: a free family information series every year to bring the resources directly to families who need them. The series, coined “Third Thursday,” was developed by Kristine Nelson, School Psychologist and Secondary Developmental Learning Center (DLC) Programs & Sumner-Bonney Lake District Transition Coordinator. This year is the fifth year of running the series.
Kristine started the series after she found parents and guardians needed a setting where they could ask questions about their particular families’ needs with trusted professionals. Whether it be filling out paperwork or learning about financial planning, they needed help beyond a booth at a resource fair.
“We want families to understand that we’re here to help them — to grow their network of support,” Kristine said. “So many families aren’t even aware of the possibilities.”
Read the full story about the Third Thursday Series here.
There are two more Third Thursday sessions for the 2022-23 school year: April 20 and May 18 from 6-7:30 p.m. in the Sumner Middle School library. For more information, contact Kristine Nelson at kristine_nelson@sumnersd.org, (253) 891-5091.
Sumner High School ASB is sponsoring the 17th annual Benefit Night Dinner Auction on April 21 at 6:30 p.m. at the school.
This year’s beneficiary is SHS junior Teigan Rassat, who was diagnosed with osteosarcoma (a type of bone cancer) this past November.
Event attendees will enjoy a dinner, along with silent and live auctions. All donations brought in from Benefit Night go to Teigan and his family to help with Teigan's treatment and medical bills.
Tickets are $20 and may be purchased online here.
Will your child be entering 7th grade next year?
Incoming 7th graders must have their Tdap booster prior to the first day of attendance. Families are encouraged to schedule their appointments now.
The Tdap immunization is different from the DTap immunization kids receive when they are younger. The Tdap needs to be administered after age 10. The HPV and meningococcal vaccines are recommended for this age group, but are not required for school attendance. View all immunization requirements.
More resources:
Tehaleh Heights Elementary was ranked one of the best elementary schools in Pierce County, according to a report in The News Tribune.
Niche, a ranking and review site focused on education, used data from the U.S. Department of Education, the National Center for Education Statistics, and individual schools to evaluate Washington state’s public education offerings, stated the article. The review website based a school’s overall score on factors like academic proficiency, teacher quality and diversity.
To read the article, click here.
The District is hosting a curriculum night for families to preview the HIV/AIDS prevention curriculum for students enrolled in:
6th and 7th grade students (HIV/AIDS)
8th grade Skills for Life, 2nd semester (HIV/AIDS)
9th grade Health classes (Health content)
Applicable 10th through 12th grade classes (HIV/AIDS)
Curriculum will be available for preview. This is an opportunity for parents and guardians to understand the health content for grades 6-12, preview teaching materials and ask questions about the resources used in the classroom.
Family Preview Night
May 3, 4:30-6 p.m.
SBLSD Central Office Board Room (1202 Wood Ave. in Sumner)
Parents/guardians wishing to exclude their child from the state-required HIV/AIDS curriculum must preview this curriculum and sign the exclusion form.
There’s still time to register for the 28th Annual Communities For Families (CFF) Community Summit, which will be held on April 18 at the Calvary Community Church venue in Sumner. Join community leaders and organizations in breakout sessions where speakers will help attendees explore topics affecting the health and well-being of children and families in the Sumner and Bonney Lake communities.
This free event features six breakout sessions, community resource displays, a catered dinner, Unsung Hero award, presentations and keynote speaker, Erin Jones. Register here for the Community Summit. Breakout sessions, 5-6 p.m.; general session, 6:15-8 p.m.
We strive to provide the best possible education for all students. In doing so, feedback is critical in helping our schools continually improve. On April 11, the District emailed all families a link to a survey, inviting your sharing of perceptions about the job we are doing in providing a quality education for your child(ren).
Your survey responses, along with other research and analysis, play an important part in the development of each school’s annual improvement plan, which includes goals that are specific, data-driven and measurable.
Families with multiple children may complete one survey per child. If you don’t have an email address on file with the district, or if you didn’t receive the email message, use this link to access the family survey. Hard copies are also available at your child’s school.
Thanks, in advance, for your time and participation. The survey deadline is April 25.
The Pierce County Library System invites children and teens in Pierce County to design the next library card. Students may submit entries in the Library Card Design Contest at any Pierce County Library now through April 30.
Professional artists will review entries and select finalists. Then, in the coming months, the public will vote online for their favorite designs, which will be converted into library cards for patrons to choose among and use when checking out materials.
Learn more about the Library Card Design Contest or submit an entry at cardcontest.pcls.us.
Looking for some fun things to do this spring?
The City of Bonney Lake’s 2023 Spring Recreation Guide is full of great activities and sports, from soccer to karate to dog obedience training and more!
Check it out here: bit.ly/SpringRecGuide23.
