Aberdeen Schools
Keeping you informed about our schools -- Sept. 27, 2024
Attendance = Achievement
If you don't go, you won't know ...
Attendance is a statewide focus this year and all of our schools are working hard to ensure our students and families understand the deep connection between attendance and academics. Being at school is also important for building friendships and developing the lifelong habit of being reliable.
Why Attendance Matters:
- Missing just 2 days a month equals a 10 percent absence rate. Studies show this level of absenteeism can impact your studentās chances of reading at grade level. Missing two or more days a month in high school is directly correlated to the on-time graduation rate.
- Absences can signal problems like disengagement, academic struggles, or bullying, and therefore it is important for us to pay attention.
What Our Schools Need from Parents:
- Follow health guidelines so that you know when to keep your child home.
- If your student will be absent, contact the school office.
- Reach out if you are having challenges getting your child to school. We are here to help with anxiety or other issues that create school avoidance.
- Follow the Excused and Unexcused Absences Policy.
What You Can Do at Home:
- Set a consistent bedtime and morning routine.
- Prepare for school the night before and ensure time is set aside for homework.
- Talk to your child about the importance of school and attendance.
- Keep track of the number of days your child has missed on a calendar in a visible location in the home.
- Days can add up quickly. Aim to keep absences to less than 9 in a year.
- Schedule necessary appointments before or after school, or at the very beginning or end of the day.
- Schedule vacations during holidays, breaks or other non-school days.
- Have backup plans for transportation.
- Communicate with your childās teacher, the front office or the school counselor, about any concerns.
- Encourage after school activities.
Keep School in the Loop
- Use school resources ā let schools help ā if your student has anxiety or other school-avoidance concerns.
- We take attendance daily. Communicate when your student has an unexcused absence, and help overcome barriers.
What Families Need to Know about Washingtonās Compulsory Attendance Laws:
Washington state requires parents and school districts to follow these steps when students are absent:
- Parents of children ages 8 ā 18 must ensure their children attend full-time public school, private school, or receive home-based instruction (district-approved).
- If parents enroll their 6- or 7-year-old, the student must attend school full-time.
- Schools must notify parents of the attendance rules and get a signature to show they received the notice.
- Schools must notify parents every time a student is absent without notification.
- Schools must meet with parents and students to find out why students are absent.
- Schools must try different strategies to improve attendance.
- And, in some cases, schools must refer a student and/or parent to a Community Engagement Board or to court.
Please review your school's attendance procedures in the Student Handbook. The district's attendance policies can be found here for more detailed information. You can also read more about the Washington State Compulsory Attendance Laws here (Chapter 28A.225 RCW).
Hereās to a great school year!
Guidance for Grade School Families
Guidance for Middle School & High School
Hall of Fame induction takes place Sept. 28
Aberdeen High School will honor former athletes and supporters at the Hall of Fame Banquet set for 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, -- that's this Saturday!! -- in the Commons at Aberdeen High School. Many thanks to the Hall of Fame Committee, which organizes this event. All are welcome, reservations are not required and there is no fee to attend.
The following alumni and staff will be honored:
- Page Snider, Class of 1981
- Brad Moore, Class of 1982
- Saul Heikkila, Class of 1993
- Seth Heikkila, Class of 1996
- Erich Schmidtke, Class of 2008
- Maureen "Mo" Donovan, Class of 2013
- The late George Palo, Class of 1934
- 1993-1994 Boys Basketball Team -- Coach Brad Fuhrer, omm'A Givens, Anthony Mizin, Jesse Smith, Davis Wessells, Joe Tudor, Beau Beck, Vaughn Johannes, Josh Parton, Brent Ehly, Chase Hood, Kris Fykerud and Brian Morrill.
Wes Peterson, former Parks & Recreation Director for the City of Aberdeen, will receive the Ken Waite Memorial Award, which honors distinguished service to AHS athletics by non-participants.
SCHOOL BOARD
Next Meeting is October 1
Agenda for the meeting (pdf)
The next regular meeting of the School Board is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 1, in the Community Room at Aberdeen High School. A work study before the meeting to discuss legislative priorities will begin at 4:30 p.m.
Those who attend regular meetings are welcome to sign up at the meeting to provide public comment on agenda items. Written public comment for the record can also be submitted up to noon the day of the meeting by writing to schoolboard@asd5.org. Comments or concerns not on the agenda can be brought to the attention of the district by contacting the Superintendent's Office or by contacting individual board members.
Got time? Love kids? Be a substitute at school!
The Aberdeen School District needs substitute employees for all skill sets -- from helping in classrooms to Food Service and office support. Substitute employees work part-time and fill in as needed when the regular employee is away.
Visit the website at www.asd5.org and click on the Employment tab to apply. The salary schedule can be found here. Please call the substitute coordinator, Julie Minsker, at (360) 538-2000 with any questions.
Events & Activities
More information about Family Youth System Partner Round Tables (FYSPRTs) can be found at the Washington Health Care Authority.
When your family needs help in a crisis ...
Columbia Wellness, a behavioral health agency serving Grays Harbor and Cowlitz counties, has launched a Youth and Family Mobile Crisis Team on Grays Harbor. A PowerPoint presentation explaining Columbia Wellness and how you can access services in a crisis is posted on the ASD5 website. Visit the Columbia Wellness site here.
District Contacts
- Superintendent Lynn Green, lgreen@asd5.org
Superintendent Traci Sandstrom, tsandstrom@asd5.org
- Business Office, Elyssa Louderback, elouderback@asd5.org
- Human Resources, Christi Clinkingbeard, cclinkingbeard@asd5.org
- Special Education, Rick Bates, rbates@asd5.org
- Career & Technical Education, Lynn Green, lgreen@asd5.org
- Teaching, Learning & Technology, Traci Sandstrom, tsandstrom@asd5.org
- Food Services, Jaime Matisons, jmatisons@asd5.org
School Office Hours
- Office Hours: 7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
- (360) 538-2130 / Principal Nani Villarreal
Central Park Elementary School
- Office Hours: 8:15 a.m. - 4 p.m.
- (360) 538-2170 / Principal Ruth Erwin-Svoboda
McDermoth Elementary School
- Office Hours: 8 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
- (360) 538-2120 / Principal Mindi Hammill
Robert Gray Elementary School
- Office Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
- (360) 538-2140 / Principal Daniel Olson
Stevens Elementary School
- Office Hours: 7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
- (360) 538-2150 / Principal Tosha Love
Harbor Learning Center
- Office Hours: 7:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.
- (360) 538-2180 / Principal Lisa Griebel
Hopkins Preschool
- Office Hours: 8 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
- (360) 538-2190 / Principal Darby Carroll
Miller Junior High School
- Office Hours: 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.
- (360) 538-2100 / Principal John Meers
Aberdeen High School
- Office Hours: 7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
- (360) 538-2040 General / Principal Aaron Roiko
- (360) 538-2060 Attendance Line
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The Aberdeen School District does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following employees have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination: Christi Sayres, Title IX Coordinator and Civil rights Compliance Coordinator, 216 North G St., Aberdeen, WA 98520; (360) 538-2222; csayres@asd5.org; Dr. Richard Bates, Section 504/ADA Coordinator, 216 North G St., Aberdeen, WA 98520; (360) 538-2017; rbates@asd5.org.