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Columbia Elementary Newsletter
February 2024
Our Mission: To Build Confident, Competent and Compassionate People.
Principal: Bruce Denton
24 Hours Attendance Line: (425) 366-2605
Contact Transportation: (425) 356-1306 or TRDISPATCH@mukilteo.wednet.edu
Email: PercivalTJ@mukilteo.wednet.edu
Website: https://www.mukilteoschools.org/Domain/104
Location: 10520 Harbour Pointe Boulevard, Mukilteo, WA, USA
Phone: 425-366-2600
What's inside...
Principal's Message * Dates to Remember * Year Book Info * Notes from the Library * Fitness & Health Corner * PTA * February Dates & Observances * Attendance
Principal's Message
Dear Columbia Families,
As we enter February, we have reached the halfway point of our school year. Despite the interruptions from our severe winter weather in January, students learned and accomplished a lot. The potential for snow and the cold weather brought a lot of excitement, but the real highlight of the month was our proud participation in The Great Kindness Challenge again!
The Great Kindness Challenge is a week-long program dedicated to creating a culture of kindness and compassion in communities worldwide. To help our students practice kindness and put their compassion into action, they each received a Great Kindness Challenge checklist. We encouraged students to complete as many acts of kindness as possible at school and encouraged them to continue them at home! Together, we lifted each other up, cheered each other on and showed our community that KINDNESS MATTERS!
The week launched as family, staff, members of the Mukilteo Fire Department and members of the Mukilteo Police Department created a Kindness Tunnel for our students and cheered them on at arrival. We collected canned food all week and created kindness activities each day through the week. Students had opportunities to create cards for community and family members, as well as teachers and staff members. Each student also received a small gift and activity from our PTA to promote self-love and positivity. On Friday, students collaborated on a mural for the office area to display our student acts of kindness. Our new Kindness Tree looks amazing! Thank you so much to our fabulous PTA leaders for all the support in ideas, volunteers, purchases, and time spent helping our Columbia community to have a memorable and successful Kindness week.
In addition to The Great Kindness Challenge, I am also excited about the social emotional learning students are experiencing throughout the year. While most of the focus in school is on academic learning, we know that helping students interact with others and become responsible citizens is just as important. Columbia teachers use the Second Step curriculum to teach our students important social emotional skills each week. Like other curriculum materials we use, the Second Step materials build upon themselves from year to year.
At each grade level, students will experience four units:
- Skills for Learning
- Empathy
- Emotion Management
- Problem Solving
(In grades 4 and 5, Skills for Learning and Empathy are combined into one unit).
Some examples of lessons are:
- Managing different emotions (anger, disappointment, anxiety, disappointment…)
- Identifying feelings
- Showing compassion
- Handling name calling
- Solving playground problems
- Handling gossip
Generally, classes will participate in one main lesson a week, with a few shorter follow-up lessons during the week. While many teachers already address topics like these, a common curriculum helps us be systematic, ensuring that all students receive the lessons and that we use consistent language. In the coming weeks, I encourage you to ask your child what he has learned about empathy, emotions or problem solving. Your conversations will help your child solidify learning and connect it to other areas of his life.
I hope that the month of February, as well as a week off school for midwinter break bring many great moments for your family!
Warm regards,
Bruce Denton
Mark Your Calendars!
Mondays Choir 3:30 - 4:15pm
Tuesdays & Thursdays Orchestra at Endeavor @ 7:45 - 8:50am
Tuesdays & Thursdays Band @ 3:35 - 4:15pm
Wednesdays Choir @ 8:00am
Fridays Dismissal @ 2:10pm
Feb. 12th Family Listening Tour at Kamiak @ 5:30pm
Feb. 14th Cougar Ambassadors @ 8:15am
Feb. 15th PTA General Meeting @ 3:45pm
Feb. 19th - 23rd Presidents Day/ MID WINTER BREAK NO SCHOOL
Feb. 28th 5th and 8th Grade Band Night at Harbour Pointe @ 6:30pm
Feb. 28th Last Day to Pre-Order Yearbooks
Feb. 29th PTA Skate Night on The Ice @ 6:00pm
Feb. 29th West Side Choral Festival at Kamiak @ 7:00pm
Time to Pre-Order Yearbooks
Your school yearbook has special memories from the school year. It includes photographs of all students and staff, as well as highlights, activities, and special events. Each page is filled with happy memories, achievements, and friendships.
It's a wonderful way to celebrate and remember your children's amazing school year!
Yearbooks are $17.00 each.
You can order your yearbook online through KIDS Photography.
If you are not able to order online, you can request an order envelope from the school office.
Or scan the QR code with your phone to be taken to the online order form.
The deadline to order is February 28th.
Yearbooks will be delivered to your student the last week of school.
Questions? Email KIDS Photography at hello@KIDSschoolPhotos.com
Notes From the Library
Read Across America
Spirit Days
- Feb. 28th Reading is amazing and so are you! Wear something that makes you feel special.
- Feb. 29th Reading is a super power! Wear something to represent your favorite super power or super hero.
- Mar. 1st Reading takes us to faraway places! Wear something from your favorite place to travel or visit.
Guest readers
Students from Kamiak and members of the community will be visiting classrooms to read stories to students.
Bookmark Contest
Columbia Celebrates Reading bookmark contest will be launched during library sessions.
We also have our own "Little Library" that always welcomes donations of gently used books, especially nonfiction or fiction chapter books.
Miss. Lyle
Fitness and Health Corner
February is Kids Heart Challenge, American Heart Month and the perfect time to start thinking about how you and your family can support the health of America’s future generations. Every day, an estimated 2,300 people die from cardiovascular disease. Obesity rates among children have doubled in the last 10 years and tripled for adolescents. We must take action. This February, let's do something about it! First of all, we need to make sure kids are being active 60 minutes per day and that TV and video game time is being monitored. In PE, we are focusing on our heart and our health. We will be learning about the causes of heart disease, why smoking is the most preventable cause of heart disease and how eating healthy will help you live longer. Students will also be learning firsthand the physical benefits of jumping rope. Please help me start this heart healthy month by encouraging activity in your household. Please join your children in this challenge to be heart healthy. Take time to learn hands only CPR and support our students in their mission to support the American Heart Association.
Mrs. Beiermann and Mrs. DuBois
General Membership Meeting - February 15th
Our February General Membership Meeting is on Thursday, February 15th at 3:45pm in the Columbia library. Please join us!
Popcorn Monday - February 26th
Our next Popcorn Monday will be on Monday, February 26th. The special "ingredient" in our popcorn are the parent/family volunteers. Volunteers are needed to make and handout popcorn during recess. Your kids love seeing you "pop in" to help out. Please sign up here.
Night on the Ice - February 29th
Columbia Elementary PTA invites students, staff, and their families to enjoy an evening of ice skating on Thursday February 29th from 6PM-8PM at the Angel of the Winds Community rink. There is no cost for admission or skate rental, but all skaters must pre-register for the event. Due to limited capacity, this event is open only to Columbia students, staff and their household members.
Please register here by Feb. 19.
Location: Angel of the Winds Community Rink, 2000 Hewitt Ave, Everett, WA 98201
February's Important Dates and Observances
- Black History Month
- 9, 16 Learning Improvement Time
- 19 President’s Day (no school)
- 20-23 Mid-Winter Break (no school)
March
1, 8, 22, 29 Learning Improvement Time
15 Teacher work day (no school)
April
5, 19, 26 Learning Improvement Time
8-12 Spring Break (no school)
May
3, 10, 17, 24, 31 Learning Improvement Time
27 Memorial Day (no school)
Attendance Matters!
If you need to report an absence, tardy or early dismissal, call our 24 hour attendance line at 425-366-2605 or email us!
Please note that teachers do not always have the opportunity to inform the office that your child is going to be absent. Please include office staff on all attendance emails to teachers.
- Early Pick-Up
If your child will be leaving early for the day, families/guardians will need to send a note, email the teacher or call the office on the main line at 425-366-2600. (Avoid calling between 8:45-9:15 AM)
Please do not leave a message on the attendance line. Please avoid picking up during their scheduled lunch, recess or time with specialists, as it may take extra time to retrieve your student.
Only an authorized person may take a child from school. Any student being dismissed prior to the regular dismissal time must be met in the office and the student must be signed out by the parent/guardian or authorized person picking them up.
- Pre-Arranged Absence
Any absence not specifically covered, such as family vacations or other extended absence, must have a Principal approved pre-arranged absence form in order to be excused. This form must be completed and submitted to the school office one week prior to the scheduled absence.