Newsletter
August 28, 2023
Welcome Back from our New Superintendent
I am very excited to be joining YCS as your new superintendent. After spending over 25 years serving students in Olympia and Tumwater, I feel honored to be part of the amazing staff at Yelm Community school (YCS).
As I researched YCS to determine if this was the place I wanted to be part of, I heard one consistent theme. The one thing I heard repeated was that YCS was special because of the people. In my short time here, I have met many staff who are willing to do whatever it takes to help students be successful, lend a hand to colleagues, show up with a great attitude, and give their best each day
Every new school year brings hope, excitement, opportunity, and a chance to set new goals. Two areas of focus for YCS this school year will be High Academic Achievement for All and Creating a Culture of Belonging.
Through rigorous and consistent instruction for all students, we can ensure High Academic Achievement for All, regardless of the school they attend and the challenges they face.
By Creating a Culture of Belonging, we can ensure an environment where all students and staff feel welcomed, accepted, and safe. When we feel a sense of belonging we are more willing to engage in learning.
I look forward to an outstanding school year partnering with our staff, families, and community to help our students reach their full potential.
Qmlativ
Family Access in now Qmlative. It has a new look and is more user friendly. "Q" is now open for families. Use your current login and password.
We recommend you watch these short tutorials and resources to become better acquainted with the new "Q" system. There is also an APP you can download on your phone.
The link is available at the top of all district and school websites.
Just a few food service reminders as we start the year.
- Daily menu is available on our website
- New meal prices have been updated on our website
- We encourage families to review Free and Reduced Meal eligibilityand complete the online application in "Q" or print the forms on our website
- If you qualified for Free or Reduce Meals last year, be sure to re-submit your application by October 18 before benefits expire
STUDENTS: It is time to get those Chromebooks charged up and ready for the first day of school. If you are entering a new school, a Chromebook will be checked out to you at orientation or in the first days of school. It is important to take good care of your device so that it is in good working condition. If a device is damaged or needs to be replaced, there will be repair and replacement fees charged.
PARENT/GUARDIAN: If you have more than one device per student at home or maybe a student graduated and forgot to turn it in, please return the device to your child's school. This will ensure every student has access to technology. Please review the new Fee Schedule for Technology Replacement.
Did you register to ride the bus? Consider enrolling in Traversa Ride 360. Ride 360 allows parents access via a mobile app or on the website to your child’s transportation information.
Besides having your child’s bus stop location, route number, pick-up and drop off times, the Transportation Department will be able to send out notifications and alerts to anyone who has signed up with Ride 360.
No more having to contact the District regarding buses running late due to traffic or inclement weather, you will receive real-time alerts and notifications directly from the school bus.
As a Ride 360 user, you will have the ability to share your child’s transportation information with a daycare or anyone who plays an important part in their school transportation. You will also be able to contact the Transportation office via email or phone, directly from the web or mobile app.
Next Steps:
If you have already “Registered to Ride,” then you can download the App and create your Ride 360 account.
If you haven’t “Registered to Ride,” please register immediately. You will be notified by Transportation when your student has been scheduled on a bus route and then you can create a Ride 360 account.
If you do not have a route by the first day of school, please go to the nearest stop near your home.
For instructions on how to register for Ride 360, please visit our website.
Want to Volunteer?
- Assisting in classrooms
- Preparing materials
- Helping during lunch or recess
- Mentoring students
It's easy to apply online. For the safety of our students, all applications are processed through the Washington Access to Criminal History (WATCH) as part of the clearance process. COVID vaccination is no longer required.
3rd Annual STEMKAMP
STEMKAMP (Science,Technology, Engineering and Mathematics for Kids of Active Military Personnel) is a five-day summer camp program run by school districts with a high percentage of military-connected students, including Yelm Community Schools. The STEMKAMP organization sets the theme, and DoD STEM through the National Defense Education Program (NDEP) has funded YCS for the past three years. Next year, the district will be working to seek sponsorships to support the continuation of STEMKAMP. This year, students explored the STEM concept "Disaster Master." Check out the full article in the Nisqually Valley News.
Bond Construction Project Update
Dates to Remember
Aug: 29-30: Elementary Open Houses - Check school websites for date and times
Sept 5: First Day of School Grades 1-12
Sept 8: First Day of Kindergarten & Transitional Kindergarten
Sept 14: School Board Meeting 6pm @ McKenna
Sept 15 - Oct 15: Hispanic Heritage Month
Sept 18: First Day of Pre-School
Sept 19: Citizenship/Constitution Day
Sept 20: First Late Start
Sept 28: School Board Meeting 6pm @ District Office
Sept 29: Nisqually Day
Stay Connected
Yelm Community Schools does not discriminate in any programs, activities or employment opportunities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following employees have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination: Civil Rights: Doyla Buckingham, 360.458.1900, doyla_buckingham@ycs.wednet.edu; Title IX Coordinator: Lisa Cadero-Smith, 360.458.6120, lisa_cadero-smith@ycs.wednet.edu; and 504 Coordinator: Shannon Powell, 360.458.6124, shannon_powell@ycs.wednet.edu. Address: 107 First St N, PO Box 476, Yelm, WA 98597; HIB Coordinator: Brittany LaPalm, 360.458.6124, brittany_lapalm@ycs.wednet.edu.