Parent Newsletter

Hello Cedar Wood Families

The New Year is upon us and for many that means a new year’s resolution. If you engage in this annual ritual, you may be like me and have the best intentions as you head into January only to fall back into familiar patterns.

My personal go-to resolutions have been to lose weight and run a marathon. I believe I have had one or the other of these as my New Year focus for the last 25 years, if not longer. I would guess I am not alone with these as there are always great deals on exercise equipment right after the holidays. I can remember several treadmills, ellipticals, and weight sets that have gathered dust in my house after a little use.

Finally, in the last few years I created habits that allowed me to stick with my new year’s resolutions and accomplish them. This was after literally decades of unsuccessful starts. What I finally learned is if I make it a priority, put it on my calendar, and track how I am doing against my goal it helps me stay focused. I also learned that if I slipped up along the way, it didn’t mean I had to scrap my plan until the next year but could just pick up where I left off.

I have read that it takes 21 days of doing an activity to create a habit. As we head into the midway point of the school year and ramp up to Spring testing and transitioning to the next grade, it is a great time to create habits at home for your students. If your student is doing well and attending school daily it is time to recommit to those habits after the long Winter break.

However, if your child has struggled during the first part of the year, with strong morning routines, daily reading or academic review, or even attendance January is a new opportunity to create routines that will set your child up for success the rest of this year, next year, in middle school, high school, and beyond.

The final weeks of the first half of the year are just the right amount of time to establish the habits that will ensure success for your student during the second half of the year. First and foremost, attending school daily is the key. The number one indicator of school success is attendance. If a student misses just two days a month they will struggle to keep up with their grade level peers and this compounds if it occurs year after year. The second key is understanding and completing all work. Assignments are designed to build essential skills that prepare students for the next lesson or unit, the next grade, and ultimately high school and beyond. If you recognize that your student is struggling with concepts or ideas presented in class please reach out to their teacher for ideas on how to support your child.

I wish you an exceptional 2025 and hope that if you have any resolutions you can stick to it long enough to create a habit.

Happy New Year!

Kevin Allen

Monthly Emotion Management Strategy: Deep Breathing Activities for All Ages

Interested in learning more about Elementary School Counseling

• The article The Essential Role of Elementary School Counselors, from the American School Counseling Association (ASCA), explains the role of an Elementary School Counselor and how we support students.

Parenting Resource: Free Parenting classes. Click Helping Families Thrive Winter 2025

or email Abby at amayers@everettsd.org

Thank you for viewing our CWE Counseling Corner!

-Cedar Wood School Counseling Team

Ms. Famelos - afamelos@everettsd.org (M, W, Th, F)

Ms. Muscatel - jmuscatell@everettsd.org (Tuesday)

Ms. Kawaihae - ckawaihae@everettsd.org (T, W, Th)

CWE Counseling Office Phone Number: 425-385-7710

• January 6 - Return to School after Winter Break
• January 10, 17, 24 - LID Fridays - Student Dismissal 2:15p
• January 20 - Martin Luther King, Jr Day - NO SCHOOL
• January 22 - Big Smiles Forms Due - see info below
• January 30 - End of First Semester
• January 31 - Teacher Work Day - NO SCHOOL

BIG SMILES DENTAL PROGRAM RETURNS TO CEDAR WOOD

The in-school dentist will be coming to Cedar Wood on February 12, 2025. If you are interested in your child receiving dental care, please complete the required permission form (either online or paper).

- Online Permission Forms: https://www.myschooldentist.com/

- Paper Registration Forms: Available in school office

Registration Forms are due by January 22, 2025

i-Ready Winter Diagnostic: Starting January 6th and running through February 14th, our students will be taking the i-Ready Winter Diagnostic assessments. This is a fantastic opportunity for our teachers to assess individual progress and tailor instruction to meet each child's needs. Please encourage your student to do their best – we believe in them!

Dress for the Weather: As the temperatures drop, it is important to ensure our students are bundled up and ready for outdoor play! Please help your child dress appropriately for the cold weather each day, so they can enjoy some fresh air during recess. Also remember to label your child's jacket, coat, etc., with their first name and last name initial.

No School on January 20th for Martin Luther King Jr. Day: Let us take this day to reflect on the legacy of Dr. King and the importance of community service and social justice. We encourage families to engage in discussions about his impact and consider participating in local events honoring his memory.

Teacher Work Day on January 31st: A reminder that there will be no school for students on this day. Our dedicated teachers will be using this time to collaborate, plan, and enhance our educational programs for your children!!

Everett Public Schools' cell phone policy: What families and students need to know:

Did you know Everett Public Schools implemented our cell phone policy and procedures in 2019? The policy, which is designed to support an engaging learning environment, applies to cell phones as well as all personal electronic devices (PEDs), such as earbuds and smart watches. Below is a breakdown of what families and students need to know as we start the school year.

ELEMENTARY Students:

• During the school day: Cell phones and PEDs will be turned off and stored in backpacks. Students should not use cell phones and PEDs during the school day.
• Communicating with your child during the school day: If a student needs to contact a parent/guardian, they can do so through the school office. Likewise, parents/guardians can call the office for any urgent messages.
• Disciplinary action: If a cell phone/PED is seen or used during the day, school staff will hold it and return it to the student at the end of the school day. Repeated violations may lead to further consequences.

Cell Phone/PEDs District Policy can be viewed in the Student Handbook: https://www.everettsd.org/Page/4822

Everett Public Schools' cell phone policy: What families and students need to know:

Did you know Everett Public Schools implemented our cell phone policy and procedures in 2019? The policy, which is designed to support an engaging learning environment, applies to cell phones as well as all personal electronic devices (PEDs), such as earbuds and smart watches. Below is a breakdown of what families and students need to know as we start the school year.

ELEMENTARY Students:

• During the school day: Cell phones and PEDs will be turned off and stored in backpacks. Students should not use cell phones and PEDs during the school day.
• Communicating with your child during the school day: If a student needs to contact a parent/guardian, they can do so through the school office. Likewise, parents/guardians can call the office for any urgent messages.
• Disciplinary action: If a cell phone/PED is seen or used during the day, school staff will hold it and return it to the student at the end of the school day. Repeated violations may lead to further consequences.

Cell Phone/PEDs District Policy can be viewed in the Student Handbook: https://www.everettsd.org/Page/4822

Please see the items below for: Attendance, Breakfast, Morning Drop-off, Lost & Found, and Transportation.

ATTENDANCE

When reporting an absence for your child(ren), please

SEND AN EMAIL TO: CWEAttendance@everettsd.org or

CALL THE ATTENDANCE VOICEMAIL LINE: 425-385-7705.

It is recommended to include your child(ren)'s teacher in your absence email. The school office is very busy in the morning and we may not be able to respond to your call in a timely fashion. Please use the attendance email or voicemail line to report an absence.

Your email or voicemail message should include the following information:

Student first and last name

Student ID

Date(s) absent

Reason for the absence

Parent/Guardian name

Parent/Guardian phone number (for verification)

When sending an email, please make sure you are sending the email from the email that is on record with the school.

The absence email and attendance reporting information are located on Cedar Wood’s website here: https://www.everettsd.org/domain/1616, or you can scroll below the revolving headlines and click on Attendance Reporting to the far left.

Planned Absence forms are also available on Cedar Wood’s website here: https://www.everettsd.org/Page/23561

Please complete these forms and return to the school office at least a week before the student will be absent. You may also scan/email this form to CWEAttendance@everettsd.org

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You may also use CWEAttendance@everettsd.org (and include your child's teacher) to let us know about:

Change in your child’s mode of transportation at the end of the day

Please send email with transportation change:

Mon-Thu before 2:30p

Fri before 1:30p

If you missed the email cut-off times above, please call the office 425-385-7700 between:

2:30-3:15p - Mon-Thu

1:30-2:00p - Fri

We will relay the information to your child’s teacher.

Please, DO NOT WALK DOWN TO THE BUS AREA AT DISMISSAL and ask for your child. Come to the office and let us know they will not be taking the bus and we will radio school staff to have your child walk to the office to meet you.

Late arrival to school and/or early pick-up from school

Please send an email if your child will be late to school or will be getting picked up early from school. For early pick-ups, plan to arrive with enough time to allow your child to walk to the office. Children will not be waiting in the front office, and some classrooms are located further away from the office and students can take longer to get to the office.

PLEASE NOTE: OFFICE STAFF MAY ASK FOR PHOTO I.D. IF STUDENT IS PICKED UP FROM THE OFFICE BEFORE REGULAR DISMISSAL.

BREAKFAST & MORNING DROP-OFF

Breakfast is at 8:45am. Students enter the cafeteria through the back side door of the cafeteria.

If students are not having breakfast, students may line up at the undercover play area at 8:50am. Students should not be on campus before 8:50 a.m. (unless having breakfast or participating in a school program/event) as there is no adult supervision in the undercover play area until 8:50am.

LOST & FOUND

Our “Lost & Found” clothes rack will be rolled out before and after school near the front office. Students will also have the opportunity to check for items as they walk into the Cafeteria for lunch.

To keep personal belongings out of Lost & Found, PLEASE LABEL your child’s jackets, sweatshirts, lunch boxes and water bottles, etc. If there is a tag on a jacket/sweatshirt, please use a Sharpie marker or pen to label your child’s first name and last initial. For lunch boxes and water bottles, please label with a Sharpie marker.

At the beginning of every month, all items in the Lost & Found will be donated to local charities. Please encourage your children to check the Lost & Found before the end of the month.

TRANSPORTATION

If you are needing information regarding your child(ren)’s bus, please contact the Transportation Office at (425) 385-4144.