T.H.E. Trail Guide

Trailblazer Families,

Welcome to the 2024-2025 school year! We've officially wrapped up our first few weeks, and we couldn’t be prouder of how smoothly everything has gone. Our students, staff, and families have done an amazing job making new friends, learning new routines, and ensuring a successful start to the year.

A huge THANK YOU to our PTA for their incredible volunteer support during these first few weeks. Their extra help made a big difference in keeping our Trailblazers safe and supported.

We also appreciate everyone’s patience and cooperation during arrival and dismissal times. Thanks to your efforts, students are getting into the Launch Pad doors and settled in their classrooms quickly, ready to greet their teachers, say hello to friends, and start the day on the right foot. At dismissal, our Silent Dismissal program ensures students reach their destinations smoothly and safely.

As we continue settling into the year, we want to keep you informed! That’s why you’ll be receiving T.H.E. Trail Guide every few weeks, filled with important updates on events, PTA news, and snapshots of the fantastic work happening at Tehaleh Heights.

Here are a few more ways to stay connected:

• Check your student's orange take-home folder regularly

• Join your teacher’s parent Facebook page

• Use ParentSquare to connect directly with your child’s teacher

• Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and the Tehaleh Heights PTA Facebook page

And as always, feel free to reach out to our office with any questions at 253-891-6530.

Trailblazers Step Up!!

Jennifer Knight, Principal

September 19th- PTA General Membership Meeting @ 6:30pm in the Launch Pad

September 30th-Comfort Kits Order deadline thru PTA

October 8th-Trailblazer Takeover Night at Chik-fil-A @ 5-8pm

October 9th-Picture Retake Day - if you missed pictures at Back to School night your student will have a picture taken today!

October 18th- NO SCHOOL - Staff Training Day

October 25th-Hallo-Glow Dance 6:30-8pm

We are happy to announce that our Morning Meeting will be back this year! Every Monday ALL students will meet in the Launch Pad by 10:35 to enjoy a time where we can all be together to talk about Character Strong and our trait of the month and set the tone for the week. Then, on Tuesday-Friday, grades 3rd-5th will have Morning Meeting in the Launch Pad while grades K-2nd will meet in their classrooms for Community Circle. Here at THE we believe that meeting with our students first thing in the morning gives us the opportunity for a Positive Greeting at the door, check in with each student, and build a family culture in each of our classrooms. We want ALL students to feel they belong at THE!

Please familiarize yourself with our Dismissal procedures for the 24-25 school year. All students use the Silent Dismissal system to be dismissed from class at the end of the day.

• Please notify us of any change to your students dismissal by contacting the office by email the@sumnersd.org or phone at 253-891-6530. All changes to your daily regular dismissal need to be communicated to the office by 3:00pm.
• The office will be closed for any early pickups from 3:30-3:45pm.

Every School Day Matters!

Did you know that children can suffer academically if they miss 10% or more school days in the school year?

That’s 2 or more missed days a month on average. And that can add up before you know it.

This September, the Sumner-Bonney Lake School District is celebrating Attendance Awareness Month with a renewed push to get all kids to school- ON TIME, EVERY DAY.

Research shows us that absences add up. That’s as true for kindergartners as it is for 12th graders. It’s as true for excused absences as it is for unexcused absences. The connection between attendance and high school graduation should not be ignored. Improving attendance in our schools is a critical factor in helping us achieve our goal for 100% graduation rate.

Great info from our counselor Ms. Johnson

YOU’RE INVITED: PTA General Membership Meeting, Thurs., Sept. 19th, 6:30pm, in the T.H.E. Launch Pad. Come hear what’s on the schedule from the PTA this year, get an update on things at school from Principal Jennifer Knight, and learn how you can get involved to help with planning or volunteering for PTA events, programs and activities! Your attendance at General Membership Meetings every two months is a great way to show your support for our PTA's mission!

*Still need to renew your PTA membership for the new school year? Click on through to www.tehalehheightspta.org/membership! Only paid PTA members may vote.

Sept. 30th Comfort Kits deadline – Build your own student comfort kit (per the flyer you received from your teacher) or purchase a pre-packaged kit via the PTA website. Individual emergency/comfort kits are required for each student and are stored with classroom emergency supplies. (You'll receive your student's emergency kit back at the end of the school year - we encourage you to re-use these year after year!) More details can be found at https://www.tehalehheightspta.org.

CLASS PARENTS GROUPS: Trailblazer families, you are invited to join your Class Parents group on Facebook, if you haven’t already! Search “Mr./Ms. _____’s Class Parents 2024-25” and Request to Join! These closed groups are coordinated by the PTA and are a great way to build community among parents, ask questions and orchestrate special events in the classroom!

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram at Tehaleh Heights PTA!

Questions for the PTA? president@tehalehheightspta.org

The Sumner-Bonney Lake School District complies with all applicable federal and state rules and regulations and does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, families with children, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability. This holds true for all district employment opportunities. The following employees are designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination: Title IX/Civil Rights Compliance Coordinator Sara O’Donnell (253) 891-6030; ADA Coordinator Diana Thomas (253) 891-6025; Section 504 Coordinator Karen Finigan (253) 891-6065. Address 1202 Wood Avenue, Sumner, WA 98390.