School News: Time to go back to school

Eatonville Elementary School

Dear Eatonville Elementary Parents,

It is back to school time.  The entire staff is so excited to be back and see all of our amazing students and families.  Back To School Night is Sept. 3, from  4-5 p.m.  You will bring your school supplies, check the class lists, meet your teacher and see old and new friends.

Our kindergarten team is trying something new this year.  We are inviting kinders to Back to School Night.  They will know who their teacher is and the students and parents can go to the kindergarten room at 4:30 p.m. for a prepared presentation by the teacher.  At this time you will sign up for your meet and greet. The meet-and-greet is a meeting with you and your student and the teacher. They will take place on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, Sept. 4-6.  Remember kinders start classes on Monday, Sept. 9.  All the information you need to know will be given at Back to School Night and during your meet-and-greet.

This year's booster club will be providing free popcorn and a BBQ dinner for $5 a plate. It will be an opportunity to join the booster club and sign up for committees that create memories for our students. We have a new booster club board and they are energized and very excited to kick off the year.

We also have a new opportunity to join our EES VICE Squad (Volunteers in Collaborative Education).  We are looking for dads, moms, grandparents and community members to come and play at recess, eat lunch with students, read to them or let them read to you, and anything to help our students to be successful.

There will be a school wide ROBO Call sent out before this open house.  It is important that we have current phone number and address so that you will receive all the information you need.  Our website is also a great resource www.eatonville.wednet.edu.

Sincerely,

Diane Heersink

Weyerhaeuser Elementary

Join us for Back to School Night from 4-5 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 3. Meet your teacher, see your classroom, join PTA, update contact information, pay lunch accounts and bring needed paperwork.

We look forward to seeing you.

Columbia Crest

Join us for the Back to School Bash at 4 p.m. on Sept. 3.

A Parent Assembly begins at 4 p.m. in the gym for parents to learn about critical information. Once the assembly concludes, classrooms will be open for students to drop off supplies, meet their teacher and learn more about their new classroom.

Eatonville Middle School

There will be a Skyward and Family Access Tutorial 4:30 to 5 p.m. on Sept. 3 followed by an open house from 5-6 p.m.

Eatonville High School

Eatonville High School Open House will be held from 6-7 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 3. Parents are invited to walk through their student’s schedule, meet teachers and other staff and get information as needed.  Please contact the Eatonville High School office at 360-879-1200 with any questions. 

Band Instrument Rental Night

From 4-7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 29, in the Eatonville Middle School Commons.

Instruments:

Flutes, clarinets, trumpets, trombones and percussion kits range from $20-33 per month.

Alto/tenor saxophones, bass clarinets, oboes, French horns and baritones range from $40-60 per month.

(If anyone is financially unable to get their own instrument, they need to get in touch with Ms. Rodrigues ASAP.  I have a few instruments to loan out to kids, but not many.)

Those unable to attend the Rental Night, here is the Ted Brown website so you can rent online: www.tedbrownmusic.com — you can also go to a Ted Brown Music store-the closest locations are in South Hill and Tacoma.

All beginning band students need “Accent on Achievement, Book 1.”  They are $10 each and Ted Brown will have books to purchase on the night of the 29th.  They are also available online or at the Ted Brown Music stores.

Beginning percussionists:  Most of the instruments the percussionists will be playing are already owned by the school because there are quite a few of them.  However, the percussion kits are highly recommended so that students can practice at home (a requirement of the class) and each percussionist needs to own their own pair of drumsticks.

Preferred Beginning Drumsticks: Vic Firth (brand), 5A (size) approximately $10 per pair; available at Rental Night, at Ted Brown or on Amazon.

District Band Retreat

The District Band Retreat will occur on Friday, Aug. 30, at Eatonville Middle School.

*Beginning Band students check in  at 8 a.m.

*All returning band students check in at 9 a.m.

*Family Potluck at 5 p.m. — all  band families are asked to join us and bring food to share.

*Last Name A-I: Main dish

*Last Name J-Q: Side dish

*Last Name R-Z: Dessert

              (plates, napkins, utensils, cups and drinks will be provided)

*Concert at 7 p.m. in the EMS Gym — everyone is invited.

 All students need to bring:

*Instrument/music

(Beginning band students need their  books, everyone else will receive an email with their music next week.)

*Water bottle

*Black shirt (or at least a dark shirt) for  the evening performance

You can bring the shirt rather than wear it to the retreat if you prefer.  As for pants, you can perform in what you wear to the retreat, we just ask that any clothes you perform in are not covered in holes and look “semi-professional:” clean jeans for example, will be just fine — rainbow leggings and a Metallica T-shirt, probably not so much.  (Although that would be one heck of a look.)

*Sack lunch (we will not have refrigerator access so please plan accordingly)

*Comfortable shoes (we will be moving around a lot during the day) — you can also wear these for the evening performance

*A great attitude

Bethel School District

Bethel’s 2019/20 budget includes more funding for more staff — specifically 67.4 certificated Full Time Equivalency (FTE) positions and 7.745 classified FTE positions.

By the numbers:

53.8 FTE Basic Education Teachers

6.6 FTE Special Education Teachers

2.0 FTE Maintenance Personnel

According to demographers, there’s no end in sight for growth in our area. Forecasters are predicting there will be 400 new housing units per year in the district for the next 20 years. That means the number of staff will continue to grow alongside the incoming number of new students, which is already over 20,000.

Bethel was already the 8th-largest public employer in Pierce County, with more people on staff than the Post Office.

Details and sources at: http://bit.ly/2ZnBNdX