November Happenings at Kokanee!
Monday, Nov. 4 - Veteran's Day Assembly
Thursday Nov. 7 - Picture Retakes
Monday Nov. 11 - NO SCHOOL - Veteran's Day
Monday, Nov. 11 - PTA Reflections Deadline
Friday, Nov. 15 - ASB/JEDI Sports Day
BOOK FAIR - Open to families during Conference Days
(more details below)
Monday, Nov. 18 - 4:00 p.m. Regular Dismissal
Tuesday, Nov. 19 - 12:40 p.m. Conference Dismissal
Wednesday, Nov. 20 will follow the Early Release Wednesday 2:30 p.m. dismissal
Wednesday, Nov. 20 - PTA Teacher & Staff Appreciation Brunch
Thursday, Nov. 21- 12:40 p.m. Conference Dismissal
Friday, Nov. 22 - 12:40 p.m. Conference Dismissal
Monday, Nov. 25 - 12:40 p.m. Conference Dismissal
Tuesday, Nov. 26 - 12:40 p.m. Conference Dismissal
Wednesday, Nov. 27 - 12:45 p.m. Half Day Dismissal
Thursday, Nov. 28 - NO SCHOOL Thanksgiving Day
Friday, Nov. 29 - NO SCHOOL Native American Heritage Day
Picture Retakes - November 7th
If your child will be doing picture retakes to get a new picture, please return the entire packet (with the old picture enclosed) on November 7th.
If your child is getting their picture for the first time this year, you can order online at the below link, or request an envelope from the front office for paying with cash or check made out to FireFly Images.
Veteran's Day Celebration
As we approach Veterans Day, we want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude to all the veterans in our Kokanee Elementary Community. Your service and dedication to our country are deeply appreciated, and we are thankful for the sacrifices you have made.
We would also like to extend my sincere thanks to our music team and the 3rd grade team for putting together our assembly. Their hard work and dedication are so awesome to see.
We invited all service women and men, both past and present, to be our guests at our Veterans Day program. Additionally, all those who serve within our community as Civil Servants were also invited to join us as guests.
Our Veterans Day Program Assembly was oin Monday, November 4, 2024. It was a wonderful opportunity for us to come together as a community to honor and celebrate our veterans.
Book Fair!
• If sending money with a child, do not forget that there is sales tax on every item
• 2nd-5th grade students will have time to shop during their scheduled library.
• K—1st graders need a parent to shop with them outside of school hours.
• The book fair is also ONLINE - https://sites.google.com/apps.nsd.org/kokaneelibrary/book-fair
All items purchased online will be delivered directly to your home. Kokanee Librarians: Jenni McKnight jmcknight@nsd.org or Annie Fagundes afagundes@nsd.org
Fitness Unit for 5th Grade Kodiaks!
Dear 5th Grade Families,
We are thrilled to announce that our 5th Grade Kodiaks are starting a Fitness Unit! As part of this unit, we will be assessing Cardiorespiratory Endurance using the Pacer Test.
Here’s what you need to know:
Testing Schedule: 5th graders will take the Pacer Test once in the fall and again in the spring, with a practice test before each assessment.
Goal Setting: After the fall Pacer Test, students will set personal fitness goals and brainstorm activities to help them achieve these goals. Some engaging activities discussed include:
- Hiking
- Biking
- Jogging
- Walking with friends and family
- Jumping rope
- Participating in community sports
At the end of the year, parents will receive an email containing the fall and spring assessment data for their student.
We are excited to partner with you in supporting our Kodiaks’ fitness journey! If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to us:
- Greg Martin: gmartin@nsd.org
- Michelle Olson: molson@nsd.org
- Sara Lee: slee@nsd.org
Thank you for your support!
Vera Ahiyya Comes to Kokanee
We thrilled to share our excitement about the upcoming events we will be hosting at Kokanee! On November 6, 2024, we will have the incredible opportunity to welcome Vera Ahiyya, an inspiring author and educator, to our school.
About Vera Ahiyya:
Vera was born in Germany and raised in El Paso, Texas. Originally a pre-med student, she discovered her true calling as an educator at Austin College in Sherman, TX. Vera has a rich teaching background, having taught Kindergarten and first grade for 16 years across Texas, Massachusetts, and Brooklyn.
Her passion for children's books has led her to become an Instagram book influencer, where she advocates for diversity and inclusivity in literature for young readers.
Vera gained national recognition when a video of her discussing racism with her Kindergarten class went viral, leading to the publication of her first children’s book, You Have a Voice, which was released in December 2021.
Event Schedule on November 6, 2024:
Assembly #1
Grades: K-1Book Signing in the Staff Room
Lunch with ASB/JEDI Reps
Assembly #2
Grades: 2-3Assembly #3
Grades: 4-5Staff Keynote: Let’s Get Rebellious
We are looking forward to these engaging assemblies and the chance to learn from Vera’s experiences and insights. It promises to be a fantastic day for our students and staff alike!
If you are interested in pre-ordering her book before the visit, please follow the link or QR code on the flyer. This is a wonderful book to have in your home library.
Ordering Link: https://thirdeyebag.com/products/you-have-a-voice-by-vera-ahiyya?_pos=2&_psq=you+have&_ss=e&_v=1.0
Kokanee's New Playground
Our school will be getting a new playground in the 25-26 school year. It will be installed over the summer in 2025 and be ready for the 25-26 school year!
Our playground team includes representatives from various perspectives: teachers, administrators, playground supervisors, students, and the design team. Special thanks to Mrs. Kok, Mrs. Flanagan, and the 4th-grade ASB/JEDI students, Myra and Arunima, who will be participating, as well as Mrs. Unruh and Mrs. Lewis for their support.
More to come soon on ways for you to provide input and feedback!
Adverse Weather: Preparing for Wind and Rain
As we transition from Fall to Winter, rain and wind storms will become more common. Schools will communicate directly with families when adverse weather conditions affect our school buildings. Our priority is to preserve in-person learning as long as we are able to do it safely. Please keep in mind that for temporary power outages, the District is unlikely to close school because of the significant disruption to student learning and essential services. For more information please visit https://www.nsd.org/resources/reference/closures-delays
To ensure you receive a phone call, email and/or text message, it is important to make sure your family’s contact information is current. Families can verify contact information in ParentVUE. Please contact the school if you need help accessing ParentVUE or updating contact information.
Threads & Treads - Holiday Wish List
A HUGE THANK YOU to Kokanee Elementary families who collected SOCKS during your ASB/JEDI sock drive! All of our families get new socks and underwear each month and we are always in need of new socks and underwear to hand out!
This time of year we also need of new or gently used coats, snow clothes and warm clothing for everyone in the family. We are also always in need of casual mens and teen boys clothing, including jeans and hoodies.
Clothing Donations – Donations can be dropped off at Threads & Treads, located in a portable behind the CPMS gymnasium on Wednesdays from 2:30-6pm OR any day of the week to the CPMS front office during school hours. Donation bins are located just inside the school's front entry door.
All Northshore families are welcome to come shop! We are open each Wednesday from 3-6pm or the first Saturday of each month from 9-12pm.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Kelly Hennessey at tandt@cpptsa.org.
Thank you for your help in supporting this vital community resource!
KOKANEE SPIRIT WEAR STORE IS OPEN!
This year we are offering two designs during our Spirit Wear campaign! We are bringing back our popular dog-themed Kokanee design, along with a NEW retro option celebrating Kokanee's 30th Anniversary.
Grab your Kokanee goods between 11/4-11/22, they make a perfect holiday present!
**Please note**
These designs will only be available during the Spirit Wear campaign.
TEACHER AND STAFF APPRECIATION BRUNCH - WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 20th
Let's show our gratitude for Kokanee teachers, staff, and administrators who work incredibly hard! Non-perishables can be dropped off in the main office the Monday or Tuesday before, but please drop off perishable items ONLY before school on Wednesday, November 20th. Costco and grocery store gift cards and donations are great too, and any remaining funds will be used during Teacher Appreciation Week in May. Thank you for your generosity!
REFLECTIONS - SUBMISSIONS DEADLINE IS 11/11
Reflections is a National PTA arts recognition program that helps students explore their own thoughts, feelings, and ideas, develop artistic literacy, increase confidence, and find a love for learning that will help them become more successful not only in school but in life. Students create original works of art in response to a theme. The theme for the 2024-2025 program will be “Accepting Imperfection” Students submit their completed works of art in one or more of the available arts categories: Dance Choreography, Film Production, Literature, Music Composition, Photography, Visual Arts, Accessible Arts. While the primary focus of Reflections is a celebration of creativity through positive recognition, finalists from local PTAs will move on to the Northshore Council PTSA, then finalists from councils will move on to the state round. Washington State PTA finalists who receive an “Outstanding Interpretation” award will advance to the National PTA round. If your young artist would like to participate, please email PTA Vice President, Shareen Corlett, at vp@kokaneepta.com. Please note, only virtual submissions will be accepted this year. The deadline for turning in submissions is Monday, November 11th. More information can also be found on our website under programs.
SHOP LOCAL & SUPPORT KOKANEE!
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 24th - SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 30th Shop at ANY Snapdoodle location between 11/24-11/30, and mention "Kokanee" at checkout. Snapdoodle will donate 20% of your entire purchase to the Kokanee PTA. Bonus! Free gift wrapping is available. Help support Kokanee while shopping local!
BELLEVUE DOWNTOWN ICE RINK
Start planning your winter fun! November 15, 2024-January 12, 2025 Visit Bellevue Downtown Ice Rink between November 15, 2024 through January 12, 2025 to help Kokanee! Mention "Kokanee" at arrival, and for each paid admission a $3 donation will be made to the Kokanee PTA during the 2024-2025 season. *Please note that "Kokanee" needs to be shared at check-in. Their ticket reservation system does not recognize the code.
WATCH D.O.G.S. is BACK!
What are Watch D.O.G.S? Watch DOGS (Dads of Great Students) is a national program that encourages positive male role models - like Kokanee dads, stepdads, uncles, neighbors, coaches and mentors to volunteer at our school. By participating, you’ll have the opportunity to spend quality time with your own student(s) while also engaging with and supporting other Kokanee students across various grades and settings. Whether you can volunteer for a full school day or just an hour, your involvement is highly valued. Watch DOGS can be a one-time experience or a regular commitment, depending on your availability. We welcome all levels of participation! What do I do as a Watch DOG?
Your "duties," as a Watch DOG vary from welcoming kids to campus in the morning, and seeing them off in the afternoon, classroom assistance with reading or math, playing educational games, assist in PE and Music activities, lunch-line monitoring, and playing with kids at recess.
What does it take to be a Watch DOG?
You must complete the volunteer application on the NSD website and be approved, which includes a background check.
When can I sign up?
Email the Kokanee Elementary Watch DOGS Coordinator, Will Cena, with any questions or concerns, watchdogs@kokaneepta.com.