
Scootney Springs Elementary
NOTES FROM THE OFFICE
PRINCIPAL'S CORNER
Principal's Message:
Parents and Guardians,
I hope that the winter break provided an opportunity for quality family time and a chance to enjoy activities away from the routine of school. As we enter 2025, it has been wonderful to welcome back all of our staff and students with renewed energy after the New Year celebrations.
We have started this new term with enthusiasm and are already diving into teaching and learning. As part of our progress monitoring, we will be conducting interim testing in reading and math. These assessments help us track students’ growth and identify areas where they may need additional support. Our next round of testing is scheduled for March.
Additionally, I’d like to remind everyone about the importance of dressing appropriately for the weather. During recess, students will be spending time outdoors, and as weather conditions can fluctuate, we encourage families to ensure children come to school with warm clothing, such as jackets, hats, gloves, and appropriate footwear.
Thank you for your continued support in making this a productive and positive start to the new year. If you have any questions or need assistance, please do not hesitate to reach out.
Denise Mirich
SCOOTNEY BELL SCHEDULES
Daily Schedule:
Doors open: 8:25 am
Late Bell: 8:30 am
Dismissal: 3:20 pm
Late Start Mondays
Doors open: 9:55 am
Late Bell: 10:00 am
Dismissal: 3:20 pm
UPCOMING EVENTS:
FEBRUARY EVENTS
3rd-7th- Kinder Wida Testing
11th- 100th day of school
11th- Wida Testing, Listening
12th- Wida Testing, Reading
13th- Wida Testing, Writing, Make-ups
14th-18th- Mid-Winter Break
20th- Wida Testing, Writing
21st- Wida Testing, Speaking
24th- Testing, Speaking
25th-28th Wida make-ups
If you would like to volunteer for field trips or activities on campus make sure to complete the volunteer form that was sent out through Parent Square or stop by the main office to get a form to complete. This will need to be done 3 days prior to the event to allow time to process. Thank you.
PARENT CORNER
Dear Othello School District Families,
As national immigration policies evolve, we understand that many of you may have concerns about how these changes could affect your children and our schools. Please know that the Othello School District remains committed to ensuring that all of our students—regardless of background—feel safe, supported, and valued in our schools. We are here for every student and every family, and we will continue to uphold that promise. I want to reassure you that our district adheres to policies designed to protect students and families from any immigration enforcement activities on school grounds. Specifically, Othello School Board Policy 4300 outlines our strong stance on this issue. Here are the key points you should be aware of:
● We do not ask questions regarding immigration status during enrollment.
● We do not collect information about citizenship or immigration status.
● We do not require social security numbers for enrollment.
● We do not provide legal advice to students or families.
● We do not act on behalf of immigration services.
Washington state law is clear that public schools have a constitutional and moral obligation to provide a free, high-quality education to every child, regardless of their immigration status. We are also prohibited from sharing student information with federal immigration authorities. In the event of any attempt to engage in immigration enforcement on or near school grounds, school staff will immediately refer the individual to the school principal or authorized designee. Any request to communicate with a student, enter school grounds, or conduct an arrest will require a valid court order or judicial warrant. Our principal, in coordination with district leadership, will carefully review the legitimacy of any such request to ensure it complies with legal standards. Our core mission is to educate every child in our community. It’s important that we don’t let complex and potentially divisive issues distract us from that mission. It’s also important to remind ourselves of who we are and how we treat one another. In small communities like ours, our true strength lies in looking out for our neighbors and fostering an environment of care and support for everyone. The way we take care of each other is what makes Othello such a special place to live and work. Our schools are at the heart of our community and I ask each of you to keep working together with compassion to ensure every student in Othello feels welcome and has the chance to succeed. If you have concerns or need further assistance, please do not hesitate to reach out to our school district. We are here for you.
Thank you for your continued support of our students.
Sincerely
Dr. Pete Perez
Superintendent, Othello School District
Teacher Report/Summary:
Message From 4th & 5th Grade
(4th) Mr. Brenden Holst, Mr. Dane Danekas, Mrs. Jessica O’Brien, Mrs. Lisa Taylor
(5th) Mrs. Anayeli Garza, Mrs. Sharon Fegert, Mrs. Shelly Ottem, Mrs.Brittany Reagan
Dear Families,
I hope this newsletter finds you well and warm! As we move through the winter season, I want to take a moment to express my gratitude for your continued partnership and support in our school community. Together, we are making a difference in the lives of our students.
Important Announcements
Weather Preparedness: It is still very cold, and temperatures are expected to drop even further. Please ensure that your child brings and wears their coat daily to stay warm during outdoor activities.
Upcoming English Proficiency Test: In 3 weeks, we will be administering the English Proficiency test. We are working diligently to prepare our students for this important assessment, and we appreciate your support at home.
New Science Kit: We have started an exciting new science kit that focuses on sending signals, emphasizing the 5 senses. Students are eager to explore and learn through hands-on activities!
Celebrations from the Week
This past week, our students showcased their hard work and learning during testing. We are thrilled to see their progress in math, reading, and writing! It was uplifting to witness the improvements they made, and we look forward to filling any gaps and continuing to grow as a class.
Additional Information
Our dedicated fourth-grade teachers and students are working diligently to promote educational growth and foster a positive mindset about learning potential. We believe that every student can succeed, and we appreciate your encouragement and support in reinforcing this message at home.
We are grateful for your ongoing support in helping your child thrive academically and socially. Thank you for being such an integral part of our school community. Together, we can achieve great things!
As we look forward to the upcoming weeks, let’s continue this journey of learning and growth together.
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Fifth grade has been busy learning, playing, and growing into our role as future 6th graders! The first half of the year was made especially exciting by the work that everyone did for The Amazing Shake competition. We are so proud that three of the ten students who made it to the finals are fifth graders! Each and every student did so well and we can't wait to see what they do next year!
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In math, we are working hard to wrap up our instruction regarding fractions. We will continue to practice and keep our fraction skills fresh, but we are now working on measurement and data and numbers in base ten. In reading and writing, our focus is on informational text. We are also reading our third class novel this year. It's a fantastic story called Front Desk. Our focus in science is in regard to ecosystems and in social studies we are working on the significance of The Declaration of Independence and The Constitution.
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As we look forward to spring, we will have several field trips. The first will be to attend a "Farm Fair" that is put on for 5th graders in The Columbia Basin to help them understand the role of agriculture in our area. We will also be visiting local government offices, and learning about Othello's history. At the end of the school year, we will go to Moses Lake to release the trout that we are raising in our 5th-grade fish tank.
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The 5th-grade teachers want to thank all of our parents for their continued support in helping all of our students learn and grow together. Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns and thanks again!
Scootney Springs ELementary
Website: https://www.othelloschools.org/scootney
Location: 695 South 14th Avenue, Othello, WA, USA
Phone: 509-488-9625
Facebook: facebook.com/Scootney