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Hello Tambark Creek Families!

Welcome back to school. I am pleased to welcome you back to the 2024-25 school year and a special welcome goes out to our newest families to Tambark Creek.

We had a great turnout of our newest Mountain Lions during Everett Ready. The newest kindergarten students were busy learning how to be a student. Thank you to the parents for sending them to us during that week. The kindergarten teachers are busy with the WaKIDS conferences this week. This time is so important for the teachers and the families to get to know specifics about your child. We are gearing up for the start of kindergarten next Monday, September 9th.

The first day of school was amazing with a smooth arrival and dismissal process. Thank you to all parents who are following our drop off and pick up procedures. Please remember that rolling drop off and pick up is ONLY in the front of the school. I have sent numerous emails and letters regarding this process. I have enclosed that information in this newsletter as well.

The students are supporting the new composting and recycling program during their lunches. During their first lunch on Wednesday, students watched a short video explaining the process and what can and can’t be recycled or composted. Thank you to the lunch supervisor, kitchen staff and our custodian we were able to accomplish this very important task. Please ask your students about it. Many students told me that they recycle and compost at home.

I want to thank our PTSA board members for being present at our annual “Meet and Greet” on Tuesday. Please sign up to volunteer at events. We can’t have PTSA evening events without your support with volunteering. Our Tambark Creek PTSA is working closely with the administrators and staff to provide family and student events, fundraisers and more. We will post all future events as well as information about ordering our TCE spirit wear on Tambark Creek website and Facebook page. https://www.everettsd.org/tambarkcreek

membership.tambarkcreekptsa.org

The district will be using “ParentSquare” for all their communication. This will include any communication from the principal and teachers to families. There is information regarding “ParentSquare” on the district website for parents to view. It is an easy friendly system for communicating. Link to ParentSquare information. Throughout the school year, I will send out communication to all families via phone calls, voice messages, monthly parent newsletters and text messages all through the “ParentSquare” App. Please let the office staff know if you are not receiving them.

Also, I want to remind parents that over the past five years I have been monitoring the walking gate due to unsafe parent drop off, speeding cars and inappropriate words being said to my crossing guards. We are all about student safety and getting students to and from school safely. Unfortunately, parents continued to drop students off in the neighborhood and make unsafe decisions even after monthly reminders, Sheriff involvement and Snohomish County traffic support. We spent months gathering data, monitoring car speeds, talking to the parents who continually drop their students off in the street by the west “WALKING” gate. After consulting with staff, the crossing guards, parents, the Sheriffs, and district officials about this on-going problem, I was left with no other choice but to lock the walking gate. Some families were caught off guard about this decision because they did not read my monthly newsletters, my emails or text messages. The neighbors in that area were also frustrated with the lack of respect they received from parents who blocked driveways, parked illegally, and yelled at them. That is unacceptable and poor modeling for our students. I apologize to all the families who were walking their students to school and using the west gate. The gate will be opened after 4 p.m. each day and on the weekends for the community members to come and use the play field and play structure.

Tambark Creek’s school day begins at 9:10 a.m. and dismissal is at 3:30 p.m. Every LIF (Learning Improvement Friday) Friday is a 2:15 p.m. dismissal.

At Tambark Creek, all students are required to wear a uniform. Please see the attachment for uniform guidelines and options.

Important Dates

• September 4 first day of school for grades 1-5

• September 9 first day for kindergarten

• September 26 Curriculum Night 5:30 - 7 p.m.

Best Regards,

Mrs. O’Connor-Weaver