Last Friday, students, staff, families and community members gathered for a fun evening filled with music, dancing, and food while exploring the array of ways to to get involved in school. Thank you to everyone who took part in kicking off the new school year!

Our director of curriculum and instruction for PK – 6, Adrienne Minnery, has an upcoming book being published by Columbia University, A Cyclical Model of Literacy Learning: Expanding the Gradual Release of Responsibility (Language and Literacy Series). She started the book when she was a teacher, building on her knowledge of primary students and reading, to develop a new model for early literacy instruction. Her work expands the guided release of responsibility model (I do, we do, you do), originally created by Dr. P. David Pearson, professor emeritus at the University of California, Berkeley. Adrienne co-wrote the book with Dr. Antony Smith, associate professor at the University of Washington, Bothell. The book is a teacher-friendly blend of current research, practices that can be implemented in the classroom right away, and vignettes from Adrienne’s kindergarten and first grade classrooms from her eighteen years as a teacher. Dr. Pearson wrote the forward for her book. In his words, “Read it! Try it! You’ll like it!

Thanks to funding from state and national school nutrition programs, our district will offer free breakfast and lunch to all students in the 2024-25 school year!

Families that qualify for Basic Food, TANF, FDPIR, ECEAP, Foster Care, Homeless, or Migrant may be automatically enrolled in the school meal program as “Directly Certified” for free meals. Some Medicaid programs through DSHS may directly certify your student for free or reduced school meals.

Families that are directly certified will be sent a notification letter explaining their child (ren)’s qualification for free or reduced meals. You do not need to complete the annual Child Nutrition Eligibility and Education Benefit (CNEEB) application if you receive a notification of approval letter.

All families that do not directly certify should complete the Child Nutrition Eligibility and Education Benefit application this school year. Qualifying applications provide important funding for our district and can provide additional benefits to families like waived school fees and summer food assistance (SUN bucks).

If you have any questions feel free to call the Food Service Department at 360-426-2533.

Shelton School District is looking for people who are fluent in Q’anjob’al and English. Paid hourly, as needed. If this is you, please contact Betty Uriostegui at (360) 490-1235; BUriostegui@sheltonschools.org or Krystal Moore at (360) 426-1687; KMoore@SheltonSchools.org.

You may be eligible for services if you or your family live in any of the following situations:

• In a shelter, transitional housing, motel, vehicle, campground, or on the street
• In an abandoned building, trailer, or other inadequate accommodations
• Temporarily doubled-up with friends or relatives because you lost your home, or cannot afford housing
• Living as an unaccompanied youth without your parent or guardian
• In the process of eviction or foreclosure

Some services offered to those in the program are immunization assistance, enrollment assistance, free meal registration, school supplies/backpacks, PE uniforms, clothing support, hygiene supplies, school fees, field trip or camp expenses, laundry support, transportation to and from the school of origin, access to rental and utility assistance, referrals to basic services (food, shelter, medical assistance, etc.), bilingual support for Spanish speakers, and more!

Please contact the district’s McKinney-Vento Liaison, Amanda Gonzales, if you believe you qualify: (360) 426-7664 | AGonzales@sheltonschools.org

Did you know that you could receive school notifications as text messages? This includes messages about school closures, delays, low or negative meal balances, and more! Opt-in today by texting “Y” or “Yes” to 67587.

Are you in need of something? We can probably help! Our resource center has a clothing bank with clothing for all ages. All of the clothing is either new or laundered before entering the bank. A household item bank may also have what you need: bedding, small kitchen appliances, and more! The newest addition to the SFRC is the food bank and hygiene bank. If you are looking for a community connection, the SFRC can help you connect with the right resource.

Schedule an appointment to visit our resource center by contacting a family liaison:

• Bordeaux Elementary | Wendy Lankelis | (360) 426-3253 ext. 11002 | cell (360) 545-7310
  
• Evergreen Elementary | Lucrecia Hernandez | (360) 426-8281 ext. 12129 | cell ( 360) 463-4393
  
• Mt. View Elementary | Ivette Salamanca | (360) 426-8564 ext. 13017 | cell (360) 545-7136
  
• Olympic Middle School | Cleyri Zacarias | (360) 462-6671 ext. 14105 | cell (360) 280-3539
  
• Oakland Bay Jr. High | Isabel Castaneda | (360) 426-7991 ext. 15008 | cell (360) 545-2189
  
• Shelton High School | Veronica Lawrence | (360) 426-4471 ext. 16019 | cell (360) 968-9553
  
• Choice & Cedar High school | Betty Uriostegui | (360) 426-1687 ext.10541 | cell (360) 490-1235

Looking to donate to the SFRC?

It is the SFRC's goal to help every family find the information and resources available to ensure the most successful outcome from their educational experience in their respective schools. Please consider partnering with us this year, and thank you in advance for your contribution.

If you would like to help keep our food bank and clothing bank stocked, the following are our 'high-need' items: maseca, rice, beans, individually packed snack items, baby clothing, elementary-school-age sized clothing, new underwear, and black leggings in all sizes.

If you would like to donate your time to help sort clothing or make a monetary donation, please contact the director of the SFRC: Betty Uriostegui or the McKinney-Vento/Foster Care Liaison: Amanda Gonzales; (360) 426-7664.

The State & Federal Programs Department offers services and resources to eligible students to eliminate the achievement gap between student subgroups. We are committed to connecting with students, families, and the community to provide the education needed to achieve academic and personal success. The Federal Programs complaints process may be found on our website.

Shelton School District has teamed up with Washington State University's Mason County Extension to bring you a FREE cooking and nutrition class series!

Registration is required and limited to the first 35 people registered.

3 part series: Oct 15, 29, and Nov 5; 5:00 p.m. -7 p.m.; Oakland Bay Jr. High: 3301 N Shelton Springs Rd, Shelton, WA 98584

***Important: You must be able to attend all three dates as the content and skills build upon one another

Register today by following this link to register online: https://forms.gle/joT3ga2mUprDoiR67

Shelton School District is not a sponsor of any of the events or resources under the "Community" section of the E-Community Link and assumes no responsibility for them.

Join Mason Health and Mason General Hospital Foundation for their 5th annual Trunk-or-Treat event! Shelton School District will be hosting a trunk, so stop by and see us!

• When: Friday, October 25, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.
• Where: North parking lot near the Emergency Department entrance – in the lots closest to K street and the schools.

Y Care before-and after-school programs serve children from age 5-12 in an enriching child-directed environment that promotes the exploration of their interests and talents. The Y uses research-based approaches to social-emotional growth to foster a sense of belonging and opportunities for all kids to achieve.

AS LOW AS $0/MONTH

Recent changes mean more families than ever qualify for up to 100% of childcare costs to be covered through state subsidy. Email us at childcare@ssymca.net to learn more about this and other options available to ensure access for all.

Y Care will be offered at:

• Bordeaux Elementary - 350 E University Ave Shelton, WA 98584
• Mt. View Elementary - 534 EK St Shelton, WA 98584

Youth Bowling: Saturday morning youth leagues are a great place for kids to start their bowling journey, have fun, and learn new skills! Programs provided both at Aztec and Westside Lanes.

TVA’s Mission

The TVA mission is to develop and sustain a comprehensive victim assistance program that provides a culturally competent, confidential, multidisciplinary response for victims of crime, their families, and the community on and near the Skokomish Indian Tribe’s (The Tribe) reservation in rural western Washington.

• Primary, Secondary, and Related Victims that are Skokomish Tribal members and their families.
• Other Native American/Alaska Natives residing within the Mason County community
• With Approval from the Health Director Non-Tribal Members of The Community and Beyond
• 100% Confidential Services

Available Services: Safety Planning, Emotional Support, Transportation, Supplies, Shelter Support, Referrals, Utility Assistance, Rent Assistance, Temporary Housing, Accompany Medical Exam, Obtaining Court Paperwork, Job Seeking Assistance, Child Care, Cultural Advocacy, Legal Services, Court Appointments, Navigating Systems, Outreach, General Advocacy, Community Education, Assistance with Crime Victim Compensation Programs.

Contact Us

• Skokomish Health Center: 360-426-5755
• Victims Advocate: 360-463-1890
• Program Advocate: 360-890-6107
• Victim Services Manager: 360-426-5755
• Email: TVA@Skokomish.org

Sound Scholars is a fun, daily, online class for kids ages 3-5 that uses music to build kindergarten readiness and prosocial learning skills in English, Spanish, Mam and Q'anjob'al at no cost to participating families.

School board meetings are held every 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month at 6:00 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Please check the district calendar for meeting dates and locations.

• 9/25: 1.5 Hour Early Release
• 10/11: 3 Hour Early Release
• 10/16: 1.5 Hour Early Release
• 10/21: 3 Hour Early Release - Conference Prep
• 10/22-25: 3 Hour Early Release - Conferences

Right to Translation and Interpretation Services: All parents have the right to information about their child’s education in a language they understand. We can provide an interpreter or translated documents, free of charge when you need them. For assistance, please contact: Betty Uriostegui; 360-426-1687 ext. 10541

Derecho a Servicios de Traducción e Interpretación: Todos los padres tienen derecho a la información acerca de la educación de sus hijos en el lenguaje que ellos entienden. Podemos proveer con un intérprete o documentos traducidos de manera gratuita cuando los necesite. Para ayuda, por favor comuníquese con: Betty Uriostegui; 360-426-1687 ext. 10541

Ayon ti chi ko kamik’olne ko jatnene eloq yul ko q’anej chi jala yulaq ko na’: Ka axka tu chi ko sayek maktxel chi alon ko q’anej yin janoq ab’ix bay sanail kuyuj o ma b’ay eb’ mamej o ma janoq xa tx’oq ab’ixal. Chi huj e yalon bay Betty Uriostegui ta hay junoq che yoche chi ko jatne ek toq yul junoq xa txoq tiejal. 360-426-1687 ext. 10541