Otter News

Dear Artondale Families,

As we begin the new year, we reflect on the enduring legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. His unwavering commitment to justice, equality, and compassion serves as a powerful reminder of the change we can create when we come together in hope and unity.

At Artondale Elementary, our mission is to provide an inclusive culture where all children have opportunities to be empowered to reach their highest potential by remaining curious, innovative, and following their dreams. In our classrooms, we emphasize kindness, collaboration, and the belief that each of us can make a positive impact on our world. This month, our students will engage in activities and lessons that honor Dr. King’s vision and encourage them to reflect on how they can contribute to creating a more inclusive and equitable community. In February, our theme of the month is inclusive. Please look for more school wide activities to celebrate our differences and to come together as a community.

We encourage you to continue these conversations at home. Consider discussing topics like fairness, empathy, and the importance of standing up for what is right. Reading books, watching age-appropriate videos, or participating in local events honoring Dr. King can provide meaningful opportunities for connection and learning.

As Dr. King wisely said, "Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'" Let us take this to heart as we work together to build a future rooted in hope and harmony for all our children.

Thank you for your partnership in making Artondale Elementary a place where dreams are nurtured and differences are celebrated.

Warm regards,

Artondale Staff

Peninsula School District offices and schools will be closed on Monday, January 20, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Classes will resume on Tuesday, January 21.

This national holiday honors Dr. King's tremendous legacy of civil rights leadership and public service. We encourage our families to take this opportunity to reflect on Dr. King's message of equality, justice, and community service.

We are happy to announce that after submitting over 50 designs for the Survive the Sound contest, one of our very own Artondale students was selected as a finalists. After reviewed over 1,000 entries and narrowed it down to 16 finalists, we are happy to say congratulations to Charlie McCool, a second grader in Mrs. Oake's class.

They just announced the finalists on social media channels, and the next step will be a public bracket-style vote. Voting started Monday, January 13th and will last until January 31st. Please visit the following Instagram page to vote on a daily showdown within the 'Stories' feature on Instagram. The most popular fish from each match will move on to the next round of voting until only one remains, and that final fish will have the honor of joining the 2025 Survive the Sound migration! As a reminder, the student art will serve as inspiration for our illustrator, who will ensure that the final design stays true to the student's vision while maintaining the iconic 'Survive the Sound' style that the rest of our fish characters share.

We encourage everyone to share this news with your network and invite others to vote for Charlie's fish (or whichever ones they like the most). Be sure to follow @longlive.kings on Instagram so you don't miss the chance to vote.

Every day students are able to earn a splash ticket by demonstrating our school wide expectations of show respect, solve problems, and make good decisions. Teachers collect the splash tickets in their classrooms and then once a week we put them in our grade level buckets.

Student winners from each grade level:

K - Charlie, Grey, Cora

1st - Julia, Della, Owen

2nd - Holtz, Axel, Noel

3rd - Nickolai, Sean, Nora

4th - Zara, Ayla

5th - Hudson, Luke, Jade

This week's classroom winner is Mrs. Greer's class!

This month we are focusing on growth mindset. Other words that mean growth mindset are perseverance, grit, and positive thinking. Our definition is - growth mindset is when we know with practice, we will get better at something. Classes are having discussions in their classrooms about how to have a growth mindset and reviewing their goals that they set in October.

Next month's theme: Inclusive

Please email Carry McAllister with any of the below photo ideas: carrymcallister@gmail.com

• Monday, January 20th - No School, MLK Day
• Friday, January 31st - No School, Semester Break
• Thursday, February 6th - Report cards available to view online
• Thursday, February 6th - The Hub Dine In or Out ~ All Day!
• Tuesday, February 11th - District Choral Festival @GHHS
• February 17th through 21st - Mid Winter Break, No School
• Friday, February 28th - 5th Grade Field Trip to Biz Town
• March 4th - 7th - BBQ2U Dine Out WEEK

Email: rosendahlj@psd401.net
Website: Artondale Elementary
Location: Artondale Elementary School, 6219 40th Street Northwest, Gig Harbor, WA, USA
Phone: 253-530-1100
Facebook: Artondale Facebook Page