Dear Thorndyke Families,

Over the past week, I have noticed some trees are starting to blossom which means spring is just around the corner. Daylight Savings Time takes place on Sunday, March 10th, please remember to set your clocks ahead by one hour.

Below is some important information regarding our school community and upcoming events to mark on your calendars. You can access the district calendar by clicking here.

We prioritize the safety and security of our school community, I would like to kindly remind all families of the importance of signing in and out when visiting our school. Whether you are dropping off your student, attending a meeting, or participating in a school event, please take a moment to check in at the main office and obtain a visitor's badge.This simple protocol helps us ensure that we can quickly and accurately account for everyone visiting our school and maintaining a secure environment for everyone. Your partnership is invaluable as we work together to create a safe and supportive learning environment.

The sacred month of Ramadan is approaching. I extend my heartfelt wishes to our Muslim families. Ramadan is a time of deep significance, reflection and renewal for Muslims around the world. It is an honor to stand alongside you in celebration during this sacred time. As a school community, we are committed to fostering an environment of inclusivity, respect and understanding. We recognize the significance of Ramadan to our families and stand in solidarity during this special time. It is through embracing diverse traditions and cultures that we truly strengthen the fabric of our amazing school community.

As a reminder, some parents have been scheduled for a parent-teacher conference on March 13th. These conferences are invaluable opportunities for us to connect, share insights and collaborate on your student’s progress and growth. Please make every effort to attend your scheduled conference and engage in meaningful dialogue with your student’s teacher.

The Washington State Smarter-Balanced Assessments (SBAs) for Math and Reading opens March 4th and goes through June 7th. SBAs test students in grades 3rd through 5th and measure students' proficiency in English Language Arts/Reading and Mathematics. SBA provide feedback on students' academic progress, ensure that they are on track to meet state learning standards and help inform instructional practices and identify areas for improvement.

Over the next several weeks, classroom teachers will be preparing your students to take the Math and Reading SBA by providing them strategies as and sample practice questions. Our school will be sending out communication to families when SBA testing window officially starts.To help your student perform their best on the Smarter- Balanced Assessments, I encourage you to ensure your child gets plenty of rest and remind them of the importance of having a positive attitude and to do their best. Additional information about the Smarter Balanced Assessments can be found online by clicking here.

Thank you for your continued support and partnership in your student's education. Together, we can help them reach their full potential and achieve academic and social emotional learning success.

Respectfully,

Michael Croyle, Principal

English language arts (ELA) and math tests in grades 3–8 and 10 are required for federal and state accountability. The Smarter Balanced Assessment, Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science, and WIDA tests may be taken with or without accessibility features. If a student's IEP documents the need for an accommodation that is not addressed within the guidelines, the student's IEP team may have their District Assessment Coordinator submit a Non-Standard Accommodation Request. For more information see this link.

Each year, students in Multilingual Learner programs take the WIDA ACCESS assessment to measure their English knowledge and skills. The test measures academic English language proficiency for students learning English in our school and throughout our state. For additional details please see this link. Please reach out to Ms. Skipworth for any additional questions: skipworths@tukwila.wednet.edu

You might already know about the budget situation in the Tukwila School District. We must look for ways to save money so we can end the year with a positive balance of funds. It is very disappointing to make cuts to programs like Champions that provide a valuable service to students. However, the money that was set aside for Champions will run out on March 15.

Champions is unable to provide the program for free after that date. This means the free program ends on March 15.

There are two ways that your children can continue attending Champions after March 15:

1. All children whose families qualify for a Child Care Subsidy will be able to continue after March 15 for free or with a reduced tuition. Champions staff will provide families with information for applying for this Subsidy. It is available through Washington’s Department of Children, Youth, and

Families (DCYF).

• Families can apply by contacting the Child Care Subsidy Contact Center at:
• 1-844-626-8687 or online at www.WashingtonConnection.org.

2. For children whose families do not qualify for the DCYF Child Care Subsidy, Champions will offer their families the option to pay a tuition fee.

For children who do not qualify for the free grant or their families are unable to pay the tuition, they will not be able to continue in the program after March 15.

Our school compulsary Board Policy: 3121: Parents of any child eight years of age and under eighteen years of age its is their responsibility to make sure thier child attends school when it is in session, and For additional information please review this link. Tardies also effect your child's learning and disrupts the classroom. Please make sure your child is here on time. Class starts promptly at 8:50 am.

• For absences please call: 206-901-7603 and leave a message to inform our attendance secretary.
• If you have an appointment and need to pick up early, please do so by 2:30 pm whenever possible.

Cold and Flu Season is upon us, while we want to make sure all of our students are at school each day, it is important if someone is sick, they stay home. When symptoms are subsiding, and fever free without medication for 24 hours, your student may return. We appreciate your support in for a healthy school for everyone.

We ask all families, if possible to send students with an extra pair of clothing in their backpack. We have accidents happen, wet weather and illnesses and all those end up on clothing.

We recognize that we have a lot of congestion from traffic and inside the building. Our enrollments numbers are up from last year and the beginning of the school year. The mass enrollments have further exacerbated the congestion as our school has only has one way in and out.

We do ask all parents to if you can, to use an alternate way to pick up and drop off, whether it is walking or riding the bus. If your student does qualify for bussing, but you have not used transportation services, this one way you can help alleviate our traffic.

We have all available staff at the end of the day outside supporting dismissal: teachers, educational support staff and our principal, we all help support our students safely getting home.

Another way to help reduce congestion is dropping students off at pick up and only entering as needed. When we have many parents entering every day to drop off and staying with students. We encourage families to join us during special events, assemblies and conferences or to volunteer to support to classrooms and field trips.

Any adult that will be entering the building, must sign in at the front office everyday and sign back out and obtain a visitor’s badge. Here is our district visitor’s policy for further reference.