Enumclaw High School

With all the hot weather and fabulous vacationing, it's hard to believe that the start of the school year is only four weeks away! It's pretty quiet at the EHS main office these days, so we are excited at the prospect of seeing our students again! Our custodial and maintenance staff have been hard at work all summer cleaning and polishing our building so that is beautiful when students return. The Hornet staff are enjoying their remaining days of summer, but I am sure they are starting to get excited about everyone returning to school.

We are always so excited and filled with anticipation for this day. The 2024-2025 school year begins with a "9th-grader only" 1st day of school. We are looking forward to having our freshmen to ourselves on this day. It is so helpful for them to have the day to get orientated to EHS, meet their new classmates, figure out their schedules and get the first day jitters out of the way without the stress of upperclassman on campus. We will have some older students helping with 9th grade orientation in the morning.

We wanted to share some logistical information to help make the start of the school year as seamless as possible.

The 1st day of school for students in grades 10-12 is Thursday, August 29th.

Hornets are expected to attend school Monday - Thursday 8:00 AM - 2:30 PM.

Every Friday is Early Release at 1:15 PM.

If you are new to Enumclaw High School we really encourage you to come to Hornet Day! In addition to the information above, we will arrange a tour for you so that you know your way around for the 1st day of school.

School absences need to be excused within 72 hours.

Please follow these absence reporting procedures to excuse absences.

1. Call our Attendance Secretary or leave a phone message at 360.802.7674 the attendance office voicemail box is monitored and request are processed consistently all day.

2. Submit a written note addressed to the Attendance Office.

3. Contact our Attendance Secretary in person in the attendance office.

4. Email the Attendance Office at ehsattendance@enumclaw.wednet.edu.

When reporting any absence please include the following information:

1. Student’s first and last name, and grade
2. Day(s) of the absence(s)
3. Reason for the absence(s).
4. Parent/guardian full name and contact information.

According to Enumclaw School Board Policy 3122 an absence is considered EXCUSED if it falls under one of the following categories.

1. Student Illness
2. Family emergency
3. Religious/Cultural purposes
4. Court attendance
5. Post-secondary facility visitation or scholarship interview
6. State recognized search and rescue efforts consistent with RCW 28A.225.055
7. Absence related directly to a students homeless, or foster care status
8. Absence due to student safety concerns
9. Military deployment of parent/guardian
10. Approved district activity

Message from Assistant Principal Kody Dribnak:

Attendance is a critical building block for student learning. If students are not present, they cannot engage in learning and tend to fall behind in their classes. Attendance is a powerful signal and leading indicator of equity. It can signal when students might need additional support and areas for system and school improvement. Chronic absenteeism impacts all students—no matter their age. The good news is that when schools and communities work together to provide a comprehensive, tiered system of supports to students and families—that address the reasons for student absences—they can turn chronic absence around.

Kody Dribnak

Enumclaw High School

Assistant Principal

(360) 802-7679

Each year as we approach the first day of school, we receive a number of questions about bus routes and pick up times as students and parents prepare for a new school year. To see pick up/drop off times please visit our district website one week before. On the district website under “district departments” you will find the tab for transportation and click the Bus Route button.

The link is below:

https://www.enumclaw.wednet.edu/page/bus-routes

If you have any questions, please contact our transportation department- 360-802-7232.

ASB Cards are available to students at a cost of $45.00.

Students on free or reduced lunch should contact Natasha Sharick, EHS Bookkeeper @ natasha_sharick@enumclaw.wednet.edu for more details on receiving an ASB card at no cost.

Students with an ASB Card receive discounts for:

• Dances
  

• Home athletic games

ASB Cards are required to participate in EHS Activities and Athletics.

The cost for school meals are as follows:

• Milk - $0.60
• Breakfast - $2.00
• Lunch - $3.75

Cafeteria and Lunches: Central Kitchen 360-802-7714

This year students will be required to pay if they choose to eat a school lunch. Please make sure your student checks Skyward Family Access for their lunch number before returning to school.

Here is a link -https://www.enumclaw.wednet.edu/o/esd/page/family-access

Sign up for sports will be housed in the InTouch online registration system. Families will be able to access the InTouch registration system to pay athletic fees online and complete required athletic forms.

InTouch online registration link: 360-802-7718

https://ehs.enumclaw.wednet.edu/o/ehs/page/athletic-registration

All fall sport participants must complete the following prior to the first day of practice, or they will not be allowed to turn out:

1. Pay all fines

2. Complete all forms and steps on the InTouch online registration site including:

• Participation form/athletic code consent Form

• Safety eligibility form

• Concussion and sudden cardiac arrest form

• Sport specific consent form

• Pay athletic fee/any additional sport specific fee

3. Upload/Submit current sports physical (valid for 2 years from date of physical)

Last year we introduced school-wide expectations at Enumclaw High School. Developing our school-wide expectations involved a collaborative effort among school administrators, teachers, staff, and students. The purpose of common expectations is to establish a positive and productive school culture that fosters a safe, respectful, and conducive learning environment for all members of our learning community.

We identified core values and expected behaviors that will guide our school community moving forward. We have also developed a plan to teach these values and behaviors to staff and students.

Here are our Hornet Values:

• Compassion - To have concern for other people’s feelings.
• Accountability - To take responsibility for my own actions.
• Respect - To have positive interactions with others.
• Engagement - To give my best effort and attention to something.
• Safety - To protect myself and others from harm.

We will continue to communicate our school-wide expectations to everyone involved. This will be achieved through posters, banners, the school website, student handbooks, newsletters, and announcements.

As we prepare for the upcoming school year, we want to inform you of an important change in practice.

WHAT IS CHANGING

Starting this fall, we will be enforcing board policy 3245 and our schools will no longer allow cell phones or earbuds during any instructional periods throughout the school day.

ESD Board Policy 3245: Students and Telecommunication Devices

ESD Board Policy Procedure 3245P

Each school will share more detailed information on how this change will be implemented in the coming weeks.

As always, we understand that our students have individualized needs and will provide accommodations as necessary or required on an individual basis.

WHY ARE WE MAKING THIS CHANGE

Cell phone usage in classrooms has significantly changed the dynamics of the learning environment and student behavior. For the past twenty years in the Enumclaw School District, we have been permissive in allowing students to bring their own devices and access them during the school day. However, our educators and administrators have observed and shared various challenges that have prompted a reevaluation of our school cell phone practices.

This decision aims to foster a more focused and engaging learning environment free from distractions. Additionally, it is grounded in research that indicates that unrestricted cellphone usage in schools is linked to lower academic performance and student well-being. The surgeon general has also stated that social media is a contributing factor in the mental health crisis among young people. We believe this change will benefit our students academically and socially.

• Increase engagement and academic performance

• Promote connection

• Reduce distractions

• Improve social interactions

• Decrease negative impacts on mental health

• Set our students up to succeed

HOW ARE WE IMPLEMENTING THIS CHANGE

We understand that this may require some adjustments. We can assure you that we are placing our emphasis as a district on building relationships and focusing on learning rather than punishment. We will begin the school year with a two-week grace period that will include teaching lessons on why the change is being made and communicating expectations and consequences. Full implementation will begin September 13th. More detailed information will be shared by your school in the coming weeks. We appreciate your support and cooperation. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact your school administration.

Come find out about everything happening for the upcoming 2024-2025 school year. You’ll have the opportunity to purchase spirit wear, a yearbook, pick up your schedule, learn about clubs and classes, meet some staff, pay fines, get your picture taken, pick up your student I.D. card, update emergency contact information, and buy your ASB card. Athletic registration has now fully moved online. We have a new way for athletes to register for sports, this is explained above in the Athletic Registration section. Families are encouraged to visit too!

**Remember your new school class schedule will available ONLINE***

Hornet Day Hours - Doors open at 8:00 AM, Lunch break from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM, Door close at 3:00 PM.

The fall athletic season starts on two different dates. The first day of Football is August 21st, while the first day of all other fall sports (Cheer, Equestrian, Girls & Boys Cross Country, Volleyball, Boys Water Polo, Boys & Girls Golf, Girls Soccer, Girls Swim & Dive, and Boys Tennis) is August 26th.

Incoming 9th graders will have the high school to themselves on Wednesday August 28. We will start the day with an orientation and team-building activities and then will run a six-period schedule. We believe that our "soft start" will help our new students feel more comfortable with EHS.

Freshmen Orientation is designed to help our incoming 9th graders feel welcome and safe at EHS. Students will have the opportunity to reconnect with classmates and make new connections with other freshmen, upperclassmen and some staff members. A guided tour of the school will be provided, as well as plenty of Q&A sessions. Activities will focus on increasing confidence and comfort to starting high school and learning what it means to be a Hornet.

All Hornet students will be welcomed back to the official start of the 2024-2025 school year!

Enumclaw High School's Open House provides an opportunity for students, parents, and community members to learn about the 2024-2025 school year. The evening will begin a welcome from the principal and EHS staff, followed by a opportunity for attendees to tour campus, explore classrooms, meet teachers, and learn about the myriad of opportunities available to students at EHS. Various booths and demonstrations by clubs, sports teams, and extracurricular groups highlight our school culture will also be available. We look forward to seeing you here!

Email: lisa_phinisee@enumclaw.wednet.edu
Website: https://ehs.enumclaw.wednet.edu/
Location: 226 Semanski Street South, Enumclaw, WA, USA
Phone: (360) 802-7669
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EnumclawHS/
Twitter: @EnumclawHS1