Dear Evergreen Middle School Parents,

 

Welcome Back to the 2009-2010 School Year!  The first day of school is this Tuesday, September 8th starting at 8:10 AM and we’ll open the cafeteria doors at 7:40 AM for students and parents.  The main front doors will open at 8:00 AM.

 

On Tuesday, September 8th the office will open early at 7:45 AM, so be sure to enter through the cafeteria doors if you need to visit the office.

 

Student schedules are posted online, but remember you must have your child’s password from last year in order to access this information.  If you don’t have your child’s password, one will be mailed to you later in September.

 

For the first day of school, students will to go and find their name on one of the bulletin boards located in the cafeteria or main hallway and find their name on a 1st period homeroom list.  Once they find their name on the list, they will look for their teacher’s name and room number and then report to their 1st period teacher.  First period teachers will have student schedules, issue lockers, check textbooks out of the library, give students planners, have students complete and turn-in a High 5 card if interested, and give students a first day student information packet to take home and have parents complete / update needed information.  We are asking for students to return their completed student packet on Wednesday, September 9th to their 1st period teacher. 

 

In the student packet will be a demographic information sheet.  Be sure to look over and update the Student Information System demographic information so that we have all of the emergency contact information for your child.

 

Also, be sure to list your e-mail address (especially if it has changed) so that you can continue receiving the Principal’s Grizzly e-mail each Friday or last day of the week, throughout the school year!

 

Parents of incoming 6th Grade students are reminded to bring in completed immunization information to the school office on Tuesday, September 8th.  State law requires that students are properly immunized before attending school.  As a reminder:

 

All students entering Sixth Grade are required to get:

  • 1 TDAP vaccination (Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis Booster)

If it has been 5 years or more since their last tetanus containing vaccine AND they are 11 years of age.

 

  • Varicella vaccination

Given on or after the 1st birthday OR approximate age or date of the chickenpox disease

 

            If you have questions, talk to your Health Care Provider about these important immunizations.

 

All public schools in Washington State have received an announcement from Arne Duncan, Secretary of Education, about President Obama’s nation wide address to children across America on Tuesday, September 8th @ 12:00 noon EST (9:00 AM PST) in a live broadcast @ www.whitehouse.gov  My understanding is that the President, during this broadcast will challenge students to work hard, set educational goals, and take responsibility for their learning.    The President’s address is during 1st period on the first day of school.  We’ve already adjusted 1st period and added 20 minutes due to the fact that we have so many “housekeeping” tasks to complete with students during 1st period (lockers, textbooks, planners, student packets, High-5 cards, etc) so we are not planning on viewing the address live on the first day of school.  The President’s broadcast may be used at a later date by Social Studies teachers or even school wide in preparation for goal setting as a component of our student-led conferences.  Without knowing the content of the President’s message and knowing that this has become an emotionally charged issue for some, we respect the rights of our parents and if the broadcast is used in the classroom, teachers will provide parents with the opportunity to “opt out” their child from President Obama’s address.  If you have further questions, don’t hesitate to contact me at school.

 

Every Thursday, beginning on September 10th, school will start at 9:10 AM for the purpose of collaboration.  During collaboration, the staff will be assessing data to evaluate student achievement as a means of improving instructional practices, curriculum development, and individual student challenge.

 

On Friday, September 11th, we’ll be on a PM Activity schedule and be hosting our annual Camfel Productions Assembly.  This year’s assembly is titled, Balance of Power.  A six minute preview can be found at http://www.camfel.com/pages/bpprevw.htm

 

Lunch for the week should be:

Tuesday                     Chicken Fried Steak, Mashed Potatoes & Gravy

Wednesday               Super Taco with Mexi Rice or Taco Salad

Thursday                   Meatball Sub & Crispy Fries

Friday                         French Toast Sticks, Hashbrowns, Sausage Patty

 

Hopefully this is a good start of communication to parents and students to begin the year.  We’ll be working to “spruce up” future issues of the Principal’s Grizzly e-mail.  I’m planning on sending it as a PDF file which should make it much more accessible to all computers.

 

It’s time to go home.  Have a great Labor Day weekend and we look forward to taking care of students at Evergreen Middle School, “Where Good Things Happen.”

 

 

Mr. John D. Parker

Principal

 

Evergreen Middle School

14221 E 16th Avenue

Spokane Valley, WA   99037

(509) 228-4784