Spartan Update

Monday 10/28 Schedule B

Tuesday 10/29 Schedule A

Wednesday 10/30 Schedule A

Thursday 10/31 Schedule A

Friday 11/1 Schedule A

Have you checked your mail? 📬️ You’ve likely already received your election ballot and the district’s brochure about Proposition 1: K-12 Expanded Student Capacity, School Improvements & Safety Upgrades.

Please remember to vote by Nov. 5. Sumner-Bonney Lake School District Proposition 1 is located on the back of your ballot at the bottom. Ballots must be postmarked no later than Election Day or placed in a ballot drop box by 8 pm on Election Night.

Not yet registered to vote? Visit piercecountywa.gov/6572/Register-to-Vote. Find comprehensive information about Prop. 1 at sumnersd.org/vote.

The colors of Cap, Gown and Stole have changed this year. Students will not be able to reuse a cap or gown from previous years.

Photo by Archie Trieu

Photo by Paulina Gutzwiller

Photo by Dakota Morris/Chrystelle Villarino

Photo by Dakota Morris

Photo by Coda Prochaska

Photo by Chrystelle Villarino

Photo by Dillon Titialii

Photo by Gabbie Salcedo

Photo by Jaide Davila

Photo by Jaide Davila

Photo by Brielle Michel

It is that time of the year again! The SBLSD STEM Fair is on February 22nd, 2025, and as in past years, we are encouraging students to participate in the event through the poster contest. Key elements of the contest are as follows:

• All students grades K-12 are encouraged to enter.

• The winning design will be featured in STEM Fair promotional materials, and will receive special recognition at the event.

• Entries may be hand drawn, or electronic.

• All entries will be judged equally, regardless of age/grade.

• Entries can be submitted to Jeremy Martin at jeremy_martin@sumnersd.org, or mailed through district mail to Jeremy Martin at District Office.

• The deadline for submission is Friday, November 29th.

Here is some information that can be shared with your buildings, added to family newsletters, or otherwise communicated to people in your networks:

STEM Fair Poster Contest Communication

STEM Fair Contest Entry Template

The District utilizes ParentSquare for its robocalls, emails, text messages and more!

Here are just a few key ParentSquare features we’re especially excited for:

• One tool for all communication formats

• Supports 106 languages with real-time, two-way translation

• Families choose communication format (text, email, voice calls) and timing (immediate or digest)

Please make sure your contact information is up-to-date in Skyward Family Access. With text messaging a family-preferred communication format, be sure to include your cell phone number in the primary phone field.

Washington State law requires that every student receives HIV/AIDs prevention education in grades 5 through 12. Because this unit covers sensitive topics, Washington State law and SBLSD board policy require that parents are provided the opportunity to preview these lessons.

The Sumner-Bonney Lake School District (SBLSD) is hosting a curriculum night for families to preview the HIV/AIDS prevention curriculum for students enrolled in the following:

• 2nd semester 8th grade Skills for Life (HIV/AIDS) and

• 9th grade Health classes (Health content).

The Curriculum will be available for preview. This is an opportunity for parents and guardians to understand the health content for students currently enrolled in 8th grade Skills for Life or 9th grade Health classes, preview teaching materials and ask questions about the resources used in the classroom.

Parent Review Night

December 10, 2024 4:30-6:00 p.m.

Sumner-Bonney Lake School District Administration Building, Board Room

Parents wishing to exclude their child from the Sexual Health curriculum required by our state must preview this curriculum and sign an exclusion form.

Additionally, there will be another opportunity in the spring for families of 6th-12th graders who will study this Health-related content during 2nd semester.

Excused and unexcused absences easily add up to too much time lost in the classroom. Students are at risk academically if they miss 10 percent of the school year, or about 18 days. Once too many absences have occurred, poor attendance can affect learning, regardless of whether absences are excused or unexcused.

Sporadic, not just consecutive, absences matter. Before you know it – just one or two days a month can add up to nearly 10 percent of the school year. Avoid unnecessary absences. We know that some absences are unavoidable as children get sick and need to stay home. What is important is getting children to school as often as possible.

How can you help your child have strong attendance?

• Schedule non urgent appointments for after school or during school holidays

• Only let your student stay home if they are truly sick.

• Develop a back-up plan for getting to school incase of the unexpected

• Talk to your student about the importance of attendance.

• Talk to your students’ teachers if you notice sudden changes in behavior. These could be signs of an underlying issue.

• Update your student’s information at school if your address and/or phone number(s) has changed.

• If your student is going to be absent, please contact your school. If prior notice is not possible and you are notified that your child was absent through ParentSquare, please reply to the attendance notice, call or email your school, or send a written note upon the student’s return to school.

In middle and high school, excused and unexcused absences easily add up to too much time lost in the classroom. Students are at risk academically if they miss 10 percent of the school year, or about 18 days no matter if absences are excused or unexcused.

Once too many absences have occurred, poor attendance can affect learning, regardless of whether absences are excused or unexcused. Sporadic, not just consecutive, absences matter. Before you know it – just one or two days a month can add up to nearly 10 percent of the school year.

We know there will be days when your child will miss school, especially when they are sick. But we know that students will start to fall behind academically if they have missed too many days of school.

Request for Planned Excused Absences: Extended vacations during the school year or leaving school prior to the end of the school year are highly discouraged because students who miss class lose essential instruction. The school principal (or designee) has the authority to determine if an absence meets the criteria for an excused absence. See SBLSD School Board Policy 3122 and Procedure 3122 for more information.

The Sumner-Bonney Lake School District does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation including gender expression or identity, 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 in its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts of America and other designated youth groups. The following employees are designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination: Title IX/Civil Rights Compliance Coordinator Adrienne Chacon (253) 891-6033, ADA Coordinator Diana Thomas (253) 891-6033, Section 504 Coordinator Karen Finigan (253) 891-6040. Address: 1202 Wood Ave, Sumner, WA 98390.