
03/23 McMicken Family Connection

Principal's Corner
A Word from Your Principal
Dear Families,
Time is flying by and it’s just about time for … spring break! Spring break usually marks a key turning in the school year. Spring testing is around the corner, and our Cougars are getting a little taller and growing in their skills. We will be administering another round of our iReady Diagnostic in math and reading soon after we get back from spring break. This is also a good time to check in with your Cougar to celebrate all of the growth they have made so far. Keep a lookout for our third round of Academic Parent Teacher Teams coming up. Last, but not least, we are inviting all of our families the McMicken Tea Time coming up in April---we want to make sure our families give us feedback on our Annual Action Plan and bold goals for excellence. Dream It. Believe It. Achieve It. Exceed It!
In collaboration,
😄 Principal Haas
Principal Choice: March's Book of the Month
"Listen: How Evelyn Glennie, a Deaf Girl, Changed Percussion" by Shannon Stocker
Click the book cover for a video of the book being read aloud.
"No. You can't," people said.
But Evelyn knew she could. She had found her own way to listen.
From the moment Evelyn Glennie heard her first note, music held her heart. She played the piano by ear at age eight, and the clarinet by age ten. But soon, the nerves in her ears began to deteriorate, and Evelyn was told that, as a deaf girl, she could never be a musician. What sounds Evelyn couldn’t hear with her ears, though, she could feel resonate through her body as if she, herself, were a drum. And the music she created was extraordinary. Evelyn Glennie had learned how to listen in a new way. And soon, the world was listening too.
Lost and Found
If your student is missing anything, please stop by the school between 8:20 AM - 4:00 PM. Our Lost + Found is located in the main hallway near the front doors. There are a lot of items from coats to lunchboxes to mittens and more! All clothing left in the school's Lost + Found will be taken to Value Village on Friday, March 31.
Spirit Week (March 27-31)
Show your McMicken spirit by participating in Spirit Week from March 27-31. Our Student Council members have deliberated and decided on the following Spirit Days. Participation is optional, but encouraged. Let’s see your creativity, Cougars!
Monday March 27th: Comfy Day
We know Mondays can be hard. Wear your comfy clothes! PJs? Sweats? Sports wear? Whatever you find comfy!
Tuesday March 28th: Twin Day
Tuesday Twinning! Wear the same outfit with a friend or two, or even your whole class! Make sure to plan ahead.
Wednesday March 29th: Character Day
Let’s bring some cosplay to McMicken! Dress up as a character from any book, movie, tv show, video game, etc. Let’s have fun, but please make sure to keep it school appropriate.
Thursday March 30th: Dress Like Your Teacher Day
Show your teachers at McMicken some love by dressing up like them! It does not have to be your classroom teacher. Oh and teachers… feel free to dress up like our students too.
Friday March 31st: Anything But a Backpack Day
Back by popular demand! Bring your school stuff with anything but a backpack! Suitcase? Grocery bag? Garbage can?! You choose!
Fun Friday (March 24)
Fun Friday is this Friday, March 24! If you're interested in being part of the fun, stop by the office to sign up or email mcmh.pta@gmail.com.
Items on sale include popcorn for 50¢, fruit snacks for 50¢, and this month's speciality item, a mini-LED finger flashlight for $1.00.
Save the date! We will be having a movie night at McMicken on Friday, April 28th. Be on the lookout for more information! If you would like to help organize this event, join us Thursday, March 30th for our monthly PTA meeting at 6 pm in the school library.
Yearbook Orders
2022-23 yearbooks are on sale now! They are $15. Please use this form to place your order. Return the form with payment to the office or to your student’s teacher. Please make checks payable to: McMicken Heights Elementary. You can also order online using a credit/debit card at oconnoryearbooks.com. Deadline is March 31.
Student Pick Up
Please try to schedule all appointments and vacations when school is not in session. It is important your student does not miss valuable learning time. If you need to take your student out of school early, please check into the office. You will need to sign your student out.
Students will not be released the last 15 minutes of the school day. It is disruptive to classrooms, which are transitioning to dismissal procedures. Also, please plan ahead as last-minute changes to dismissal plans are not guaranteed. If there are any changes to your daily dismissal routine, please call the front office no later than 2:00pm.
School Hours
Doors open at 8:20 A.M.
Doors close at 4:00 P.M.
Please make sure your student arrives on time. All students are in their classrooms at 8:45am, ready to learn. For student safety, please make sure you pick up your student promptly after school. We have limited staff to supervise children not picked up on time. Thank you for your cooperation with this.
Join Us for Monthly Tea Times!
Save the dates! Hosted by African Community Housing & Development, join us at McMicken Heights for our monthly tea times during the rest of the year. Learn about our goals for our students, staff, and community through our school plans. Share your ideas and hopes for our community and help grow our partnership! Refreshments will be shared.
- Tuesday, April 18: 3:30-4:30pm
- Tuesday, May 16: 3:30-4:30pm
Staff Spotlight: Share Your Compliments!
Have you been following McMicken Heights on social media? If so, you might have noticed our weekly Thursday feature, #McMThankYouThursday! Once a week, we spotlight a staff member to show our appreciation for all the work they do.
You are invited to share your appreciation for our staff members by completing this form. Your comments may be shared on social media, but they will also be shared directly with the staff member you compliment.
Volunteer at McMicken!
Volunteers contribute greatly to the success of our students and schools. If you would like to go on a field trip or help during a PTA event, for example, a volunteer form needs to be on file with the school office. You can download and print a volunteer form from the volunteer page on the district website, or you can pick up a printed copy from the school office. Volunteer status is good for two school years. If you fill out one today, it will not expire until August 31, 2024. Thank you so much for taking the time to help our McMicken community!
Our Weekly Habit
March 27-31: Recognize success all around you.
March's Monthly Focus: We are AWARE.
Weekly Focus (March 27-31): Recognize success all around you.
A quote to think about: "Success isn’t always about greatness, it is about consistency. Consistent hard work leads to success. Greatness will come.” -Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson
When we recognize success all around us, it looks like:
Paying attention to what others say and do.
When we recognize success all around us, it sounds like:
- Complimenting each other when you notice their success, and
- Encouraging others.
When we recognize success all around us, it feels like:
- Celebrating each other's successes, and
- Having a positive attitude when working on something new.
Our Weekly Habit
April 10-14: Advocate for yourself and your needs.
April's Monthly Focus: We are RESILIENT.
Weekly Focus (April 10-14): Advocate for yourself and your needs.
A quote to think about: “If you don’t go after what you want, you’ll never have it. If you don’t ask, the answer is no. If you don’t step forward, you’re always in the same place.” - Nora Roberts
When we advocate for ourselves and our needs, it looks like:
Using strategies to problem solve, and
Standing up for ourselves.
When we advocate for ourselves and our needs, it sounds like:
Asking for help when we need it, and
Speaking up for what we need.
When we advocate for ourselves and our needs, it feels like:
Being brave.
Monday, April 3-Friday, April 7: Spring Break, No School
Teen Summit 2023
The Southwest and Federal Way Boys and Girls Club is offering Teen Summit 2023! They will offer First Aid and CPR Certifications, career readiness workshops, industry panels, and swag giveaways.
For more information, contact Gloria Dmissie at (206) 436-1859 or gdemissie@positiveplace.org.
Date: April 5, 2023
Time: 11:30AM-4:00PM
Place: Southwest Boys & Girls Club, 9800 8th Ave SW #106, Seattle, WA 98106
Sign up by using this link.
Engageable Designs, Saturdays on Zoom
Do you love math, and want to keep learning after school? Join us on Zoom, from 10:00-11:30am, every Saturday until May 27, 2023!
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 813 8236 2169
Passcode: 654011
Special Education Information Session (Mar. 28)
Families, students and staff are invited to attend an information session to learn about what types of community and disability resources are available in our area and how to navigate and access them.
Date: Tuesday, March 28
Time: 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Location: Central Office Board Room, 15675 Ambaum Blvd SW, Burien
Or you can join virtually: Zoom link
Please submit language interpretation requests by March 20.
Learn more on our Family Liaisons for Special Education webpage or contact your special education family liaisons Ellen.McGuire@highlineschools.org or Kate.Calamatta@highlineschools.org
Learn American Sign Language for Free!
From March 13-April 15, we are celebrating and recognizing National Deaf History Month. National Deaf History Month is celebrated to commemorate the achievements of people who are deaf and hard of hearing. It spans across March and April in recognition of three turning points in deaf education history, dating back to the early 1800s.
The Oklahoma School for the Deaf has FREE ASL courses available on their website. You can access ASL I and ASL II (and sign up) here.
5 Fun Ways to Instill a Love of History in Kids
History tells the story of how we got to where we are today as a society - and it's chock full of lessons that inspire us to make a difference in the world around us. Use these fun ideas to help your child learn about history!
- Visit a museum or historical site. Was an inspiring historical figure born in your town? Is your town known for something famous? Whatever makes your town unique, there's bound to be a museum or historical site to celebrate it.
- Listen to a kid-friendly podcast. You name it, there's a podcast for it - including podcasts for budding history buffs. Ask questions about a favorite fact they learned, how it makes them feel, and why the topic interests them.
- Read about historical figures. Many people in history have made a lasting impact on society. Learning about them enables kids to see themsleves in others, learn about different cultures, be inspired, and grow their minds.
- Celebrate your family history. Everyone has a story - your family included. Encourage your child to learn about your family's history and culture and share their stories, too.
- Cook up a history lesson. Find a recipe that is meaningful to a different country or culture. Learn about things like how the meal is prepared and presented, and when the dish is traditionally served. Then, eat up!
Kindergarten Enrollment Open for 23-24!
Do you know a child who will be 5 years old on or before August 31? Maybe it's a current student's sibling, your neighbor, family friend or even your own child. Help us spread the word: families can enroll their incoming kindergarten student for the 2023-24 school year now.
We encourage new students to enroll as early as possible. This helps us to connect with students early and ensures we hire the right number of staff at each school. Kindergarten Jump Start is offered August 23-25 to all registered incoming kindergarten students.
What Do Families Need?
Families should have the following ready:
- Birth certificate
- Proof of address (rental agreement, purchase agreement, or utility bill)
- Immunization records
Families can upload all these documents to our registration system. (Tip: Scan or take a photo with a mobile phone to upload.)
If the documents aren't readily available, families can start registration and email the documents to their school to complete their enrollment application.
For more information, please see this website.
See the full year's Heritage Month calendar and think about how you can continue to celebrate these groups and holidays at home. In addition, you can access the Heritage Month calendar in Spanish, Somali, or Vietnamese.
Explore resources, events, book lists, and more for March's Heritage Months in English or Spanish.
Women's History Month
Women’s History Month is celebrated each March to highlight and honor the many contributions women have made in our past and our present. Since 1995, presidents have issued a series of annual proclamations designating the month of March as “Women’s History Month.” These proclamations celebrate the contributions women have made to the United States and recognize the specific achievements women have made over the course of American history in a variety of fields.
Gender Equality Month
During Gender Equality Month, individuals and groups of people work to bring awareness to others around the topic of gender equality. Gender equality focuses on allowing every individual, regardless of gender, equal opportunities and access to resources, opportunities, and rewards. The month is dedicated to celebrating the social, political, cultural, and academic achievements of women in the world.
Irish American Heritage Month
March was designated as Irish-American Heritage Month in 1992 by Congress, but first proclaimed by the President in 1991. It is a time to honor the achievements and contributions of Irish immigrants and their descendants living in the United States.
International Women’s Day (March 8)
International Women’s Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating women’s equality. The 2023 campaign theme is #EmbraceEquity.
National Deaf History Month (March 13-April 15)
National Deaf History Month is celebrated to commemorate the achievements of people who are deaf and hard of hearing. It spans across March and April in recognition of three turning points in deaf education history, dating back to the early 1800s.
International Day of Elimination of Racial Discrimination (March 21)
International Day of Elimination of Racial Discrimination is an opportunity for women and men to renew their commitment to building a world of justice, equality, and dignity. It is observed on the day the police in Sharpeville, South Africa, opened fire and killed 69 people at a peaceful demonstration in 1960.
Intl. Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery
& the Transatlantic Slave Trade (March 25)
For over 400 years, more than 15 million men, women, and children were the victims of the tragic transatlantic slave trade. The International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and Transatlantic Trade gives us an opportunity to honor and remember those who suffered and died due to slavery as well as raise awareness to the dangers of racism and prejudice today.
Transgender Day of Visibility (March 31)
International Transgender Day of Visibility is dedicated to celebrating transgender people and raising awareness of discrimination faced by transgender people worldwide, as well as a celebration of their contributions to society.
Contact us for support or with questions.
McMicken Heights Elementary School
https://mcmicken.highlineschools.org
Phone: (206) 631-4300
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Highline School District does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression and identity, marital status, the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability. This holds true for all students who are interested in participating in educational programs and/or extracurricular activities. Highline Public Schools also provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups.
You can report the discrimination to any school staff member or the district's Civil Rights Coordinator, Isuzu Niizuma Arambula, at 206-631-3104, civilrightscoordinator@highlineschools.org, or mail your complaint to Highline Public Schools - 15675 Ambaum Boulevard SW. Burien, WA 98166.