The Sailor Signal

SEPTEMBER

• September 23 - Vision & Hearing screening
• September 23 - Volunteer Training @ 3:15 PM
• September 25 - Volunteer Training @ 12:00 PM/Noon
• September 25 - Early Release Wednesday. Dismissal @ 2:30 PM
• September 30 - Volunteer Training @ 10:30 AM

OCTOBER:

• October 2 - Early Release Wednesday. Dismissal @ 2:30 PM
• October 4 - Student Council meeting @ 8:45 AM
• October 8 - PTA's Fun Run, Walk & Roll

• ..... 1:55-2:25 for 3-5

• ..... 2:30-3:00 for K-2

• October 8 - PTA Meeting, 7:00-8:00 PM
• October 9 - Early Release Wednesday. Dismissal @ 2:30 PM
• October 16 - Early Release Wednesday. Dismissal @ 2:30 PM
• October 18 - PTA's Popcorn Friday
• October 23 - Early Release Wednesday. Dismissal @ 2:30 PM
• October 24 - Picture Retake Day
• October 25 - PTA's Monster Mash, 6:00-8:00 PM
• October 30 - Early Release Wednesday. Dismissal @ 2:30 PM

Thank you to our picture day volunteers: Jen Gill, Jane Pearl Peterson, Stephanie Burger, Catherine Clear, and Deirdre Everitt. Your help made picture day run smoothly and we appreciate you volunteering to help with picture day.

Please mark your calendars! Below you will find our grade-band concerts for the year.

• November 8
• ..... Grades 4 & 5
• ..... Performance type: In school assembly from 2:40-3:10 PM
• March 18
• ..... Grades 2, 2/3, and 3
• ..... Performance type: evening performance @ 5:30 PM
• June 10
• ..... Grades K & 1
• ..... Performance type: evening performance @ 5:30 PM

We have a new, easy way for families to let our school know when their student is absent! While we know regular attendance is one of the most powerful ways to prepare your student for success, we also know that sometimes students must miss school for a variety of reasons. Next time that happens for your family, let us know through ParentVUE:

• Login to ParentVUE

• Click the “Report Absence” button next to the name of your absent student

• Fill in the fields with the date(s) of the absence and provide an explanation

• Click to submit, automatically notifying the school of the absence

Learn more or view step-by-step images and instructions. You can use this method to report an absence of up to 4 days. As a reminder, an absence of 5 days or longer requires families to submit a Notice of Pre-Arranged Extended Absence Form.

Attention family members!

We are happy to share with you PTA's Fun Run, Walk & Roll times for students. Please mark your calendars for Tuesday, October 8. We would like to share all families are welcome to attend the event on our field.

• 1:55-2:25 for 3-5

• 2:30-3:00 for K-2

We hope to see you to cheer on our students!

We are not allowed to issue bus passes yet per the transportation department.

Information located in the "Other Information" section of the transporation FAQ website.

Please let us know if you have additional questions. We hope that in October, we are able to start issuing bus passes.

Frequently Asked Questions - Northshore School District

How do I get a Bus Pass for my student?

Load counts on buses can not be assessed until all eligible riders have had the opportunity to ride their bus. Student enrollment has increased which puts school buses at or close to capacity. Therefore, Bus Passes will not be approved for the first month and a half of school until we are able to properly assess available seats. Beginning in November please contact your school to inquire about available daily bus passes. If your school indicates there is room for your student supply the school office with a parent-signed note.

Each year in Northshore schools, students in grades Kindergarten, 1, 2, 3, and 5 receive hearing and vision screening. Our scheduled date is Monday, September 23, 2024. If you would like to exempt your child from either of these health screenings, please contact the school nurse at bschlee@nsd.org.

It is important to understand that these are basic screenings and are designed to identify students who may require further testing. They are not intended to replace regular exams by qualified health care providers. A student who does not pass either the hearing or vision screening will be rechecked in a few weeks, and you will be notified only if there are concerns after the second screening.

Vision screening uses the PlusOptix. The PlusOptix is an autorefractor that takes a measurement of the refraction of the eyes. The results reflect a baseline refraction measurement. The illumination technique used by Plusoptix, is totally harmless to the child's eyes. If your child wears glasses or contact lenses for distance or near vision, please be sure they have them on the screening day.

If your child has a hearing loss and is being followed by a healthcare provider or specialist and you do not wish for them to participate in the screening, please let the school nurse know. If you have concerns about hearing loss and school accommodations, contact your student’s teacher or the school nurse.

Attention NEW to Cottage Lake families,

At Cottage Lake, we hold Volunteer Trainings for all adults working at our school. These are similar to the district volunteer video/training, but specific to Cottage Lake. I ask that each adult who volunteers at Cottage Lake to participate in the training once while I am the Principal. During this training, I will note specifics about supporting students at Cottage Lake and volunteering in general. Parents do not need to sign-up or register for a training. Each training will run approximately 30 minutes in length.

The Volunteer Trainings that have been scheduled so far this school year are:

• September 23 @ 3:15 PM
• September 25 @ 12:00 PM/Noon
• September 30 @ 10:30 AM

Parents do not need to attend multiple trainings; you need to attend one if you are new to Cottage Lake.

We cannot run this school without our fabulous volunteers!

• If you completed your volunteer paperwork last year, please know you must renew that each year.
• If you are new to Northshore and Cottage Lake and would like to volunteer in the classroom or attend a field trip with your child, you will need to complete a short virtual class and background check. We welcome all parents, guardians, and grandparents to volunteer and become active members of our school community! This process only takes minutes to complete, but we want to share there is a small cost associated with the background check.

If you would like to attend any off-campus events with your student (s), you will need a Level 2 volunteer approval. Please know your active volunteer status is good in all Northshore schools.

Volunteer information: https://www.nsd.org/get-involved/volunteer

Aug. 20, 2024

Dear Northshore Families,

Annually, the District provides parents/guardians with notifications that must be acknowledged, including:

• Washington State Attendance Letter

• Rights and Responsibilities Handbook

• Weapons Letter

• Student Housing Questionnaire

• Tech Use Agreement

• Meningococcal/HPV Letter (Secondary Only)

• Permission to Withhold Student Directory Information (optional form)

Parents/guardians who have not already acknowledged the notifications in ParentVUE will be required to complete them before they can access student grades and other information. If you need help with this process, please review this step-by-step guide on the District website. Your school office may also be a helpful resource and could provide either a device to acknowledge these electronically or print copies, if needed.

We ask that parents/guardians log in to ParentVUE today to view these notices. If you have never logged into ParentVUE, you will find instructions on how to do so when you click the ParentVUE link above. Once logged in, you will be prompted to download, read, and take action for each of the notices listed. Additionally, secondary students will be prompted to download, read, and acknowledge the Rights and Responsibilities Handbook when they log in to StudentVUE. Families with elementary students are encouraged to review the handbook together in ParentVUE with their students. Again, please refer to this website for the step-by-step guide to completing these notices. These must be completed no later than Oct. 15, 2024.

If you have any questions about these notices, please contact Student Services at (425) 408-7725 or by email at studentsvcs@nsd.org.

We have an exciting fundraiser in store for students to help raise $20,000 for student events and enrichment, staff appreciation, school garden, our library, playground equipment, scholarships for enrichment activities, and support for teachers' rainy day funds at Cottage Lake Elementary!

Key Details:

1. 👍 Sign up at MyBooster.com today. Search for “Cottage Lake Elementary.”

2. 💵 Donate and ✉️ Share. We are encouraging every family to share their donation page with 10 people.

3. 🎁 Throughout the week, our class will earn fun rewards based on how much we raise on our classroom tracker. When our class earns a reward that adds some extra awesomeness to our day, I will be sure to let you know.

4. 🎉 10/08/2024: Event Day. This is our epic celebration day - Sailor Fun Run, Walk & Roll !

Thank you in advance for your generosity!

We are looking for art docent volunteers! Art docents prepare and teach a monthly art lesson in the classroom. Training and project lessons are provided, no art background is needed. Commitment levels are flexible! Sign-up at https://forms.gle/QQUfybzkziQghmDZ6. Contact Marie Engstrom, artdocent@cottagelakepta.org with any questions.

⚓Why should you join?⚓

At Cottage Lake Elementary School, the PTA plays a crucial role in supporting academic needs, advocating for your child’s health and safety, and enhancing the overall quality of education. By becoming a member, you help us provide essential resources, address key issues, and build a more inclusive and connected school community. Your participation, even as a single new member, makes a significant impact. We invite you to join us and see how much more we can accomplish together!

• Membership is valid for the 2024 - 2025 school year.
• Volunteering is not required, and it can look different for everyone. Whether you choose to contribute time or service in a way that fits your schedule, your involvement is always appreciated
• Each membership fee contributes $10 to the Cottage Lake PTA, with the remaining funds going to Washington State National PTA dues and Northshore Council fees, which help sustain our PTA’s framework.

✨Don't forget! If your company has an Employee Donation Match program, you can have your membership fee matched. Just include Cottage Lake Elementary PTA in your donation submissions!

CLICK HERE TO JOIN - https://wspta-00023195.givebacks.com/store?limit=21&live=true

You can stay up to date with our PTA by reading through newsletters I send, but you can also visit their website: https://www.cottagelakepta.org. We are looking for a great year of partnership ahead.

At Cottage Lake Elementary, it is our united mission to build a safe, engaging, and inclusive environment of resilient lifelong learners. In partnership with our vibrant community, we embrace our diversity and strive to foster trust and kindness.

Email: jwelch@nsd.org
Website: https://cottagelake.nsd.org/
Location: 15940 Avondale Road Northeast, Woodinville, WA, USA
Phone: 425-408-4200