Parent Newsletter

Hello Cedar Wood Families,

The elementary years are incredibly fun and full of wonder. My wife Trish and I had 12 straight years of elementary between our 4 children. Each child had a different experience, with different highs and lows throughout the years. Despite being educators and being embedded in the work, when it came to our own children our emotions often got involved with our logic and understanding.

One consistent among all our children is they entered kindergarten full of wonder and excited to learn. Aisley, our youngest was extremely shy, and would not talk to a teacher until 4th grade. Each morning her siblings would hype her up to talk to her teacher, and each day on the way home she would admit that she didn’t talk to the teacher. We began to wonder, and teachers asked us if she had selective mutism.

Despite all our education and understanding of child development, at that stage of our life we were worried there was something “wrong” with our daughter. We did a ton of reading, talking with others and searching for answers on how to “fix” this.

It took us time to recognize that there truly was nothing wrong with Aisley, and even if she had a diagnosis, it would not change the wonderful, and amazing kid she was. We had forgotten that each of our kids was unique and amazing, and each had their own challenges and strengths.

We got caught up and worried that our daughter was not a normal kid, forgetting that each kid is unique and a gift, and a “normal” kid does not exist. For a short time, we forgot to appreciate Aisley for who she was, and forgot she did not need “fixing”, only our love.

As you consider your own child’s uniqueness, I encourage you to embrace all their individual traits as truly amazing gifts and a strength, not as deficits.

As for Aisley, who is now 26, she is a strong, independent, articulate individual, who can converse with anyone but is still selective of who she will talk with, and that is part of her charm.

In partnership,

Kevin Allen

WE NEED YOUR HELP:

At the end of the school day, we would ask that parents stop and allow busses out of our bus parking lot. Bus Drivers have a tight time schedule to complete their routes, and parents are waiting at bus stops to collect their students as well. Your help with this is greatly appreciated!

Hello Cedar Wood Families,

New Counselor Introduction:

We are thrilled to welcome a new member of the counseling team, Ms. Kawaihae. She comes to us from Emerson Elementary where she did her counseling practicum and served as a paraeducator. She will work 1/2 day Tuesday, and full days Wednesday and Thursday each week. Welcome Ms. Kawaihae!

Problem Solving Strategy:

Kelso’s Choices is a problem-solving strategy used to support students in solving small problems. Kelso’s Choices is mainly used in the primary grades (K-2) but can be helpful for all students. Below is the poster that can be a helpful tool for problem solving at home.

Monthly Emotion Management Strategy:

Each month we will be sharing a coping strategy to support students in regulating emotions.

This month’s strategy is: Box Breathing.

Box Breathing is a strategy Navy SEALs use to support their emotional regulation. The slow controlled breathing done in box breathing can help to reduce stress and anxious feelings. Try this strategy to support your student(s) with emotional regulation at home.

Community / Holiday Resources:

• 2024 Snohomish County Holiday Dinner and Toy Distribution Resources
• YMCA Thanksgiving Meals Opportunity with Tapped Public House (see flyer below)

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 Counsel Office Phone Number: 425-385-7710

• November 4-5 - Parent-Teacher Conferences - No School for Students
• November 7- Hearing Screening for KK, 1st, 2nd and 3rd grades
• November 8 - Early Release: 1:00p Dismissal
• November 11 - Veterans Day - No School
• November 27-29 - Thanksgiving Break - No School

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.

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.