Cougar Chronicles

May 17th Newsletter

Celebrate FWPS Brilliance at the CTE Scholar Showcase on May 22

Are you curious to see what middle and high school scholars are learning about in FWPS CTE courses? Join FWPS at the first CTE (Career and Technical Education) Scholar Showcase!

CTE Scholar Showcase
Wednesday, May 22, 2024
6-7:30 p.m.
Thomas Jefferson High School
(4248 S 288th St, Auburn, WA 98001)

This district-wide event is suitable for all ages and provides an inside look at how FWPS middle and high school CTE scholars are building relevant industry skills now to be college and career ready. Help us celebrate the brilliance of our students as they showcase their learning through various individual and group projects, presentations, and demonstrations. You’ll also have the chance to learn more about the CTE courses offered in FWPS and how students can carve out a pathway to gain industry skills before high school graduation!

At the event:

Visit CTE scholar booths featuring individual and group projects
Experience a curated showcase of scholar artistry across all visual mediums
Watch innovative business pitches from INCubator Entrepreneurship scholars
Explore CTE Programs of Study and courses that align with your career interests
Participate in a CTE demonstrations for a hands-on preview of fun activities happening in our CTE courses

Food, drinks, and interpreters will be available.

We look forward to seeing you there! Learn more about the event at www.fwps.org/CTEShowcase

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No School on Friday, May 24th and Monday May 27th

Reminder that Friday, May 24th is a snow make-up day that is not needed, there is no school on Friday, May 24th. Memorial Day is Monday, May 27th, there is no school on that day as well. School will resume on Tuesday, May 28th. We hope you enjoy your long weekend!

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Scholars Personal Items

We've seen an increase in scholars bringing personal toys and sports equipment from home to play with at school. We cannot ensure that your children's items will be safe at school, so please keep them at home. Olympic View K-8 and Federal Way Public Schools are not responsible for your lost or damaged personal items--this includes cell phones. We realize that cell phones are with your children for emergencies, but please remind them that they are to stay in their backpacks during the school day.

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Picking up your child early from school? Changing the way your child goes home in the afternoon?

If you've answered yes to either question we need you to be at the office 30 minutes before dismissal to release them early to you, and we need a call from you 30 minutes before school releases so we can alert your child to the change in their afternoon transportation. If you don't adhere to that 30 minute time mark we cannot get your child out for dismissal quickly as the teacher is getting their entire class ready for dismissal; and we cannot guarantee we'll be able to get the change in afternoon transportation message to your child before school lets out. The 30 minutes is needed to ensure office staff can help you in the way you are needing.

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Recess is Always Outside

Please make sure you dress your child(ren) appropriately for the weather. Students go outside for recess even if it's drizzling rain outside. They only stay indoors if it is downpouring rain, if there's lightning, or if we've been advised by our district office to stay indoors--example would be when there's heavy smoke in the air.

Please note that we do follow weather conditions, but they aren't always accurate. Sometimes during recess the skies open up and the rain comes out of nowhere and your child may get soaked. Also, after a heavy rain, puddles accumulate and as hard as we try to keep your children out of them, they do sometimes find their way in. Having a raincoat, rainhat and rubber boots are essential for recesses here in the Pacific Northwest. We do our best to get everyone inside before they get too wet, but that doesn't always happen. Please consider sending your scholar with an extra set of clothes for these instances - we do not have extra clothes or shoes for your student(s) if they get wet at recess.

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Attendance

If your student is going to be absent or tardy please call Olympic View’s office at 253-945-3500 before 9:10 am. Calls made before or after office hours, please leave a message with student name, teacher name, and the reason for absence.

Prearranged Absences

If you know your child(ren) will be missing school for an extended period of time, please stop by the office to fill out a Prearranged Absence Form. This will alert our attendance secretary and give your child's teacher the opportunity to make up a homework packet. These forms must be filled out and given to office staff 48 hours prior to your child's leave - this allows your child's teacher time to put packets together - packets cannot be made up same day.

Statewide Definition of Excused Absences

Bereavement, illness, medical appointment, court, absence related to homelessness - these are all excused absences. Have a doctor’s appointment? Please have your student bring a note from their appointment to get it excused. If your student is out for more than 3 days with an illness a doctor’s note is reccommended to excuse those absences.

Tardy/Late to School Update

Classes starts at 9:10 am. This means students are tardy (late to class) at 9:11 am. If you bring your child to school late please park in the lot and come in the main doors to sign your student in.

*Breakfast is available starting at 8:50 am. Do not drop your student off before 8:50 am as there is no supervision then.

School Attendance is Required by State Law

If your child has 3 unexcused or 5 excused absences in one month the school is required to schedule an attendance conference.

After 7 unexcused absences in a month, and no later than 15 unexcused absences in a school year, the school district may file a truancy petition with the juvenile court.

Remember: Every Day Counts and Every Day Matters!

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Birthday Celebrations at School

We love to celebrate birthdays here at Olympic View, however, this is a place of learning so there are a few rules to follow:

Connect with your scholar's teacher to arrange a celebration time that works best for the class.
Get a headcount of students in your child's classroom to ensure there are enough treats for everyone.
All treats must be STORE BOUGHT!!! We cannot have anything homemade. Treats allowed are 1 snack item (example: cupcake, cookie or Hostess treat) and 1 drink (example: juice box or Caprisun). Nothing more than this, please.
We cannot have pizza parties or have meals included for your child's celebration, we ask that you please save these types of parties for outside of school.
NO BALLOONS OR STUFFED ANIMALS!!! These items are distractions to the class and they cannot be taken on the bus. If balloons are dropped off the office staff will call the family to pick them up.
Get a background check done! Any parent/guardian who wants to go to the classroom to be a part of the celebration must have a completed background check on file with the office. If the office doesn't have one, the parent/guardian will not be allowed to go to the classroom. Please stop by the office to get the background check application.