December 2024
Hello Wolverine Parents and Families,
Wolverines,
December is a time of reflection and goal setting for me. The opportunity to celebrate holidays with family, embrace the coming of winter (and the hope for snow on the valley floor!), and look ahead to a New Year are hopeful opportunities to take stock of where we are and where we are going. Allow me to share some thoughts about Chief in the light of where we are and where we are going.
As I am sure you know, we are constantly trying to improve the culture and climate of our school. In order to maintain order and safety, we have 3 primary expectations: Be Respectful, and Be Safe, Be Engaged. The Engaged piece is really important in helping students to be aware of the impact of their behavior on others. It is WHY we have the expectations that we do. While I believe most students know and understand these expectations, their impulsive nature sometimes gets in the way of following these expectations at school (and likely at home too!). It would be great if you could reinforce the need to follow these expectations to maintain safety and keep an environment that is conducive to learning while at school. The great work of most students should not be overshadowed by the poor choices of a few.
Attendance. Research is very clear that students who are here 90% of the time or more do better than those who are not. Currently, 84% of our students have been here 90% or more of the school days so far this year. Great job! I would love to see this number increase, and know the growth in learning will mirror the growth in attendance. Please ensure your child is at school whenever possible. So much of what they are learning is done in class that missing a day or two can be really tough to make up. Please allow teacher’s at least two days to gather missed assignments or assessments when a child is absent. The more they are here, the more they learn and that is a goal that would make for a great New Year’s Resolution!
Teachers focus a great deal of time on the skill of COMMUNICATION. Students who are Communicators understand and express ideas and information confidently and creatively. They use a variety of communication modes (oral, written, expression in art form for example), and effectively and willingly collaborate with others. To willingly listen to others, be able to clearly articulate our own thoughts, and to work together in a collaborative way is a difficult thing to do for some middle school students. Yet, it is a critical skill in a global society where more and more of the jobs our students will pursue involve high levels of working with others. Being a Communicator who is willing to both listen to others, and articulate their own thoughts is right in line with the culture work we are doing to prepare students for life beyond Chief.
I hope you have the opportunity to enjoy the variety of holidays you celebrate at this time of year. Enjoy your family and the traditions you hold so dear. COMMUNICATE the values and expectations you have for your children in the family moments you can share together this holiday season. And….if you want to hope for some snow along the way, I’m all for it!
Tamarah Grigg, Principal & Justin Pierce, Assistant Principal.
6th grade Outdoor School Fundraising
6th Grade Outdoor School Fundraising kick off! Our goal is to raise $13,000 which will fund: camp t-shirts for all students/staff/volunteers, 2 learning session on the low ropes course, a Forrest Ecology field study, a Salmon Ecology Field Study, and access to Archery as an optional activity. Use the QR code or the link to donate now! https://www.paypal.com/donate?campaign_id=ZSEB7LVUSGYHC
In November 6th graders completed their Read-A-Thon fundraiser with over $2,000! Way to Read 6th Grade! All funds went to support the 6th grade Outdoor School. $2,000 of the $13,000 goal has been raised!
There will be another Panda Express Fundraiser on December 31st, watch for more details!
March 25-28, 2025 @ Cispus Learning Center
This years 6th grade Outdoor School is several months away and we are beginning to gear up for the trip. The 6th grade teachers are hard at work planning, the application window for High School Student Counselors is open, and we held our parent information meeting on October 23rd. If you were unable to attend here is a video with pictures from last years trip. More information will be shared out to 6th grade families after winter break.
For now save the dates of March 25-28, Tue-Fri before Spring Break, so that your child can attend Outdoor School. If you are interested in attending as a parent volunteer please reach out to Mrs. Coine.
Cell Phones & Electronics - OFF & AWAY - ALL DAY
All electronic devices (phones, earbuds, etc.) must be powered off and put in backpacks while students are at school. If you need to reach your student during the day for emergency or transportation reasons, please call the main office. 1st offense is a warning. 2nd offense the phone is turned into the office for the day and the student can pick it up after school (minor referral). 3rd offense the phone is turned into the office and a parent must pick up the phone (major referral).
Hats/Hoods off & Gum free
Students should remove hats and hoods when entering the building. Gum should be thrown in a garbage can before entering the building for the day.
Busing and First Student ParentView app
Bus routes posted and FirstView mobile app
Bus routes are now available online. For questions about school district bus service, call your school or First Student at 360-841-7099, ext. 103 or 104. Please be aware that the first several weeks of school can often see changes to routes as First Student makes adjustments. Any changes impacting riders will be communicated by your child’s school.
Due to road construction in many areas of the district, some buses may need to take a detour and/or may be delayed. For the most up-to-date route information, late alerts, notifications when your student is close to home, etc., we strongly recommend installing the FirstView mobile app, available through the Apple App Store and Google Play. PLEASE NOTE: The district code has changed this year. To use the app, enter the four-digit code LMWV. Get instructions for installing the app.
Health and safety resources
See health and safety resources from the Washington state Dept. of Health.
