Family Newsletter Archive
Archived Family Newsletters
- June 2023
- May 2023
- April 2023
- March 2023
- February 2023
- January 2023
- December 2022
- November 2022
- October 2022
June 2023
Pastries with the Principal
Join us for pastries, coffee and conversation with Principal Nur in the cafeteria. Relaxed and informal, this is a great time to get to know our Principal. Hope to see you there! This takes place every third Thursday in most months!
Upcoming dates are: June 15th from 9:00 - 9:30 a.m. in the cafeteria
Sponsored by our Tukwila Elementary PTA!
LRC 1 News from Ms. Kitano
1. Avoid saying that you’re bad at math. Stay positive!
2. Talk about math. This can be as simple as counting clouds or guessing heights. You can also incorporate math into any topic you’re talking about as the opportunity arises:
- How many is that? How many would I have if I had another one?
- What would half of that look like?
- How could I split this equally?
3. Encourage children to solve problems. Provide assistance, but let them figure it out themselves.
4. Measure, count, and record. Most kids love stopwatches and watching the seconds tick by gives them opportunities to practice counting. Measure distances and heights. Count jumping jacks, push-ups or consecutive kicks of a soccer ball.
Math & Reading Intervention News from Ms. Boline and Ms. Deming
Hello Tukwila Families!
We are drawing near to the end of the school year and want to best prepare our students for their next grade level whether that is here at Tukwila Elementary or elsewhere. Here are some things to consider over the summer to encourage your child to continue thinking about math and reading.
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Play games! Many board and card games include reading directions, looking for patterns, taking turns, and doing math!
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Read aloud - head to the local library for books and events that interest your student. There are all types of books that students can check out to broaden their knowledge, vocabulary, and phonological awareness. Here’s a link to the King County Library - Tukwila Branch
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Online resources to help with Reading and Math include:
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storyonline.net (online read-alouds)
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tangmath.com/games (virtual math games)
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starfall.com (reading and math online activities)
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abcya.com/games (various reading and math games)
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PTA News
Staff Appreciation: We wanted to send a BIG thank you to all that contributed to our staff appreciation event this year. Everyone was truly grateful for all the support (and food)!!! It was a very successful event. Thank you!
Yearbooks: The PTA will be selling 2022-2023 yearbooks this year! These will go on sale soon; order information will be sent home with your child.
Spring Carnival: Hello Tukwila Tiger Families. The PTA is excited to announce that we will be holding the spring Carnival again this year. This event will take place on Thursday 6/1 from 5-8pm at the school. Tickets will be sold at the entrance and can be used to play carnival games, face painting, balloon animals, the bounce houses, or food and concessions. Students and families are all welcome to attend. If you have any questions, please email the PTA at tukwilapta@gmail.com We look forward to seeing you there!
PTA Officer Position: The PTA is looking to fulfill the Treasurer position for the 2023-2024 school year. If you are interested in learning more about this position, please get in touch at tukwilapta@gmail.com
PTA Member meeting: The PTA will be holding our final member meeting Wednesday 6/14 from 5:30 – 6:30pm. In person at: 15405 53rd Ave S. Tukwila, WA 98188 (Sechrist Design Conference Room), or join the meeting remotely via zoom: meeting ID: 898 6404 0983, passcode: 610316. There will be light snacks offered at the meeting. We will vote on the 2023/24 budget and new PTA officers.
Race & Equity News
Our team continues to meet monthly, working to eliminate systematic disparities and ensure systemic equity. If you would like to share any ideas or suggestions with our team, please call our school office.
Social Emotional Learning News from Ms. Rusk
Our June characteristic is self-discipline. Please support your child in continuing to work towards their goals and complete their work throughout the rest of this school year!
Vaccine Clinic
Please join us for a vaccine and routine immunization clinic on Tuesday, June 6 from 4:00 - 5:30 p.m. at Cascade View Elementary. No appointment needed!
Foster High School Band Concert
Please join us for our final Band concert of the year on Thursday, June 8 at 7:00 p.m. in the Foster High School Performing Arts Center! Admission is free - we hope to see you there!
May 2023
Pastries with the Principal
Join us for pastries, coffee and conversation with Principal Nur in the cafeteria. Relaxed and informal, this is a great time to get to know our Principal. Hope to see you there! This takes place every third Thursday in most months!
Upcoming dates are: May 18th and June 15th!
Sponsored by our Tukwila Elementary PTA!
Math & Reading Intervention News from Ms. Boline and Ms. Deming
Hello Tukwila Families!
We are nearing the end of the school year and would like to express the importance of reading aloud to your students. There are benefits in math and reading for your student when you read aloud, especially a picture book! Here are some ideas or questions to give your child as you read aloud. Reading aloud can be in your home language. Encourage your child to respond in complete sentences - this helps with their overall language skills and development.
Reading Ideas/Questions:
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Where does the story take place?
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Who are the characters in the story?
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Is there a word we read that you are unsure of? What do you think it means?
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What do you think will happen next?
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Ask your child to name and notice what’s happening on the page.
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If you are looking for some stories to listen to with your child, you can visit this site: https://storylineonline.net/ . Listen along and ask your student questions throughout the story!
Math Ideas/Questions:
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The book does not need to be focused on math! You can “mathematize” any book.
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Ask your child to name and notice what’s happening on the page. Follow up with some questions like “How many _____ do you see?” or “What shape is the ____ on this page?”.
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Compare how many items are on the page. Ask if there are “more or less” of something else.
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If you see feet, faces, etc, ask about how many total eyes/ears/toes/fingers are on the page.
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Think about how you can ask “how many _____ are on the page”.
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If you are looking for some math specific books, here is a link with some recommendations: https://learningtrajectories.org/documents/1582239622565.pdf
Happy Reading!
PTA News
TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK- SAVE THE DATE- MAY 11th & May 12th
Dear Families, in honor of teacher appreciation week, the PTA will be hosting a potluck and dessert day in May. Please join us in showing our teachers and staff how much we appreciate them by bringing in a dish to share. The lunch potluck will be scheduled for Thursday May 11th and the dessert potluck for Friday May 12th. We would love for our teachers to try some of the rich cultural foods our community has to offer. Be on the lookout for more information and a sign up sheet to come home as we get closer to the date. Thank You for your participation and for making our school community the Best and the Brightest! For any question please reach out to Arita Colin at (206) 901-7509
Race & Equity News
Our team continues to meet monthly to eliminate systematic disparities and ensure systemic equity. April was autism awareness month so our team shared resources with the staff concerning autism awareness.
Social Emotional Learning News from Ms. Rusk
Our May characteristic is creativity.
Creativity Newsletter:
We can sometimes find ourselves in situations that require us to solve problems or create something new. In those situations, we can feel stuck or unable to get started. Practicing Creativity can help us develop tools that allow us to use our imagination to get moving. This month's focus is on using Creativity to support emotion advocacy.
Conversation Starters:
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How can being Creative help you to solve problems?
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Can you explain what I-Statements are and how you can use them? I feel__when__. I would like ___.
Interim Superintendent Search Feedback Session
The Board of Directors wants to hear the qualities you'd like to see in TSD's next leader. Please join us for a feedback session on Saturday, May 13 in the TSD Administration Building (4640 S. 144th Street). Food will be provided. If you would like to join virtually, the Zoom link is here: https://tukwila-wednet-edu.
Math Family Night
College & Career Fair
April 2023
Pastries with the Principal
Join us for pastries, coffee and conversation with Principal Nur in the cafeteria on Thursday, April 20 from 9:00 - 9:30 a.m. Relaxed and informal, this is a great time to get to know our Principal. Hope to see you there! This takes place every third Thursday in most months!
Upcoming dates are: May 18th and June 15th!
Sponsored by our Tukwila Elementary PTA!
LRC 1 News from Ms. Kitano
Ways to Build Math into Your Child’s Day:
Here are a few ways to work with your child at home with math concepts:
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Make math fun-Spend time with your children on simple board games, puzzles and activities that encourage math skills.
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Mix in Math-The kitchen is filled with opportunities to teach fractional measurements, like doubling and dividing cookie recipes. Doubling recipes requires multiplying, halving a recipe requires dividing and measuring ½ cup or a ¼ teaspoon gets you working with easy fractions. At a more basic level, kids love counting out chocolate chips!
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Use real world examples to teach math: Point out ways that people use math every day to pay bills, balance their checkbooks and make change. Involve older children in projects that incorporate geometric and algebraic concepts like planting a garden or figuring out how long it will take to drive to your family vacation destination.
Math & Reading Intervention News from Ms. Boline and Ms. Deming
Hello Tukwila Families,
We hope you had a restful Spring Break! Spring is officially here and the end of the school year is quickly approaching. With that said, we wanted to break our article into grade bands with some helpful tips to get us to the end of the year.
Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd Grades:
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Attendance matters! Please make sure your student is here every day. Studies show “Children in early grades are particularly susceptible to falling behind in fundamental reading skills, which can have a snowball effect that impacts future learning.” (American University. "Why Is School Attendance Important? The Effects of Chronic Absenteeism." Online Magazine. 14 January 2021)
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Ask your student questions about their thinking. Here are some prompts to get you started:
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Tell me about your thinking when you solved that problem…
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Who are the characters in the story?
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What do you think would come next?
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Why did you add? Why did you subtract? How did you get those numbers?
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How did they solve the problem in the story? How would you solve the problem?
3rd, 4th, & 5th Grades:
We are approaching the testing season. While we know that tests are not the only measure of a child’s academic achievement, it is important for them to take these assessments seriously and do their best. For our 5th graders, their iReady scores help with placing them in math and reading courses/interventions at Showalter Middle School. Here are some tips to help maximize your students’ achievement.
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Attendance matters! Please make sure your student is here every day. Studies show “Children in early grades are particularly susceptible to falling behind in fundamental reading skills, which can have a snowball effect that impacts future learning.” (American University. "Why Is School Attendance Important? The Effects of Chronic Absenteeism." Online Magazine. 14 January 2021)
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Positive reinforcement from home. Things like:
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Do your best!
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How did today go? What went well? What felt difficult and how can I help?
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Take your time!
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Show your work and don’t be afraid to work out problems on paper.
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PTA News
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4/10-4/14: Read-a-thon. The PTA is hosting a Read-a-thon fundraiser the week of 4/10-4/14 and it is going to be LIT-erary! Students will be encouraged to read as much as they can in a friendly competition against other classes. They will be competing for prizes as well as helping to raise money for their school. This is one event you will want to be booked for.
- 4/21: Movie night. The perfect way to enjoy a movie is with friends,and what better way to do that than Movie Night! Join us April 21st at 6:30 p.m to watch the new Puss in Boots movie. Admission is free and concessions will be sold. Parents/Guardians must be in attendance the entirety of movie night.
Race & Equity News
The Tukwila Elementary School Race and Equity team and school staff have started a book study called The Four Pivots. Reimagining Justice, Reimagining Ourselves. This book breaks down the four myths of social movements, beliefs that hold us back from healing and achieving sustainable, systemic change. If you would like to learn more about the book and what we are learning as a staff, click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZ5mSDmaRHo
Social Emotional Learning News from Ms. Rusk
SEL Curriculum Character Strong:
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Character Development: Character education involves developing thoughtful, healthy, and kind human beings. Our character is informed by our personal values and choices.
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SEL Competencies: Self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making.
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Our April character trait is courage. Courage is choosing what is helpful, right and kind even when it’s hard and scary.
Conversation Starters:
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Can you describe how flexible-thinking helps you make kind choices?
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How have you practiced courage this week?
Courage Newsletter for Families:
We all experience moments in our life when we have to make a choice to do what is right or Kind. Sometimes, it’s not easy to know what choice to make. We need to have the right tools to make those decisions and to be strong enough to follow through. This month's focus is having Courage with the help of flexible thinking.
The Importance of Good Attendance
This is a reminder that if your child is absent from school you must call the school at (206) 901-7502. If your child is gone for 3 consecutive days or more due to illness, the school district will require medical documentation for the absence to be excused. If your family is planning a vacation during school, it must be discussed and prearranged with the school. If your child continues to have poor school attendance you may be required to meet with the school team and the district stay in school coordinator Katherine Turner.
Summer School
Our Teaching and Learning Department recently mailed a letter to some families inviting your student to attend the Tukwila School District’s Elementary Summer School program. Our January 2023 iReady assessment showed some students are two or more grade levels behind in reading and math and we think summer school will help them get closer to grade level.
Summer School Dates: June 26, 2023 – August 3, 2023
Location: Tukwila Elementary School
Times: 8:00am – 12:00pm, Monday – Thursday
Transportation Available
About the Program: Our summer program will help students strengthen their reading and math skills through hands-on learning and weekly field trips. Students registered in summer school are expected to attend daily for the duration of the program.
How to Register: If you received a letter in the mail, please return the accompanying registration form to our main office by March 6, 2023. After you register, we will send more detailed information.
Budget Advisory Committee
Kindergarten Enrollment is Open!
Tukwila Schools’ inclusive community welcomes everyone with experienced educators and culturally responsive programs. We’re ready to engage and encourage every child! If your student will be 5 by August 31, we encourage you to enroll. For more information, please visit our enrollment page: https://www.tukwilaschools.org/about-our-district/enrollment
Safety News
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Are you a parent or a visitor at Tukwila Elementary School? All parents and visitors are required to sign in/out at the main office and get a badge every time you enter the building. Thank you for helping keep our staff and students safe.
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Please check your students backpacks and pockets before they come to school each day. We have students bringing toys, sharp objects, lighters and other inappropriate items to school. We need YOUR help to keep all of our students, staff and families safe!
World Refugee Day
The International Rescue Committee will be hosting World Refugee Day Global Village at Foster High School on June 24. If you're interested in participating as a vendor, performer, or sponsor please fill out this form: https://forms.gle/JtW9nvKL7iU2dNWQ7
Free Tax Help in English and Somali
March 2023
Pastries with the Principal
Join us for pastries, coffee and conversation with Principal Nur in the cafeteria on Thursday, March 16 from 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. Relaxed and informal, this is a great time to get to know our Principal. Hope to see you there! This takes place every third Thursday in most months!
Upcoming dates are: April 20th, May 18th and June 15th!
Sponsored by our Tukwila Elementary PTA!
March is School Social Work Month!
Social Work Month is a time to celebrate the great profession of social work. The theme for Social Work Month 2023 is Social Work Breaks Barriers. Veronica Chea is Tukwila Elementary School’s outstanding Social Worker! Learn more about her here:
Since starting my social work career, I’ve worked in many different settings: hospitals, foster care and currently in schools. As a school social worker, I work not only with students, but with families as well to strengthen our community. My family is Cambodian-American and the importance of family is deeply rooted in our culture. I’m deeply honored by the opportunity to work with and learn from our diverse community of students and families here at Tukwila Elementary!
Some fun facts about me:
- My first job was as a waitress in a retirement community so I have experience working with folks of all ages: from infants, youth, teens, young adults to older adults!
- I love animals! My first pet was a betta fish and I went on to have a hamster, guinea pig and now my cat, Flopsey.
- My perfect summer day is spent up in the mountains, reading in a hammock by an alpine lake!
LRC 1 News from Ms. Kitano
Here are a few ways to help your child with reading at home.
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Encourage activities that require reading.
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Cooking (reading a recipe), art projects (reading directions) or identifying a shell or rock at the beach (reading a reference book or information on-line).
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Establish a reading time, even if it’s only 10 minutes a day.
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Make sure there is good reading light in your child’s room and stock bookshelves with books and magazines that are of interest and at the correct reading level.
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Talk with your child. Talking makes children think about their experiences and helps them expand their vocabulary.
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Ask your child to give detailed descriptions of events and to tell complete stories.
Look for more ideas in the next newsletter!
Math & Reading Intervention News from Ms. Boline and Ms. Deming
Hello Tukwila Families,
Happy March! This month we’d like to share the importance of fluency in both math and literacy. When we think of fluency, we might think that means being able to answer and multiplication facts quickly or reading a passage quickly. While speed can come with fluency, what we want to focus on is having students practice strategies that will lead them to automaticity. This frees up the brain to solve more complex problems. This doesn’t mean that your student needs to answer 50 multiplication problems in under a minute or read a passage with 100 words in under a minute. What we want to see is your student using strategies (word attack skills, flexibility with numbers) that will lead them to being problem solvers.
Things you can do at home:
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Estimation: Have your student guess the total cost of your groceries.
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Game Play: Play games where your student would keep score.
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Game Play: Play games with dice and/or dominos where your student has the opportunity to see numbers in different forms.
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When reading with your student, have them sound out words they don’t know. Look for chunks of the word that they already know and build on.
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Have them tap out the sounds of a word before they try to blend the sounds together.
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Once they have worked through a sentence where they had to sound out some words, ask them to go back and read the sentence smoothly.
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Point out letters and ask your student what sound it makes. Point out letters and ask them to name the letter.
PTA News
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Spring Book Fair: 3/8, 3/9, and 3/10 in the School Cafeteria from 3:30 - 6pm
- Movie Night (How to Train your Dragon): Friday 3/10. 6 - 8pm in the School Cafeteria. Admission is Free, concessions will be sold at this event. Parents MUST attend this event with their children. Parents must also SUPERVISE their children at all times during the event
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PTA Members meeting: Wednesday 3/15. 6-7pm via Zoom. Meeting ID: 857-7765-1818, Passcode: 629719
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Read-A-Thon: 3/27 through 3/31 - details will be sent home with your child early March.
Race & Equity News
The Tukwila Elementary School Race and Equity team and school staff have started a book study called The Four Pivots: Reimagining Justice, Reimagining Ourselves. This book breaks down the four myths of social movements, beliefs that hold us back from healing and achieving sustainable, systemic change. As a staff we will learn ways to have more impactful activism at our school. We look forward to the ways this study will enhance our work with our students and families.
Social Emotional Learning News from Ms. Rusk
SEL Curriculum Character Strong:
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Character Development: Character education involves developing thoughtful, healthy, and kind human beings. Our character is informed by our personal values and choices.
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SEL Competencies: Self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making.
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Our March character trait is cooperation, (working together to reach shared goals).
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Cooperation Newsletter for Families: We all experience situations in which we must work with others to accomplish a goal or task in our life. Whether we are working with friends or with someone new, we need tools to help us navigate those situations successfully and keep our relationships healthy. This month's focus is on practicing Cooperation with the help of listening.
Click here to download the Cooperation Newsletter
Conversation Starters:
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Can you share or show what Cooperation means?
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Why do you think it is important to use Whole Body Listening when practicing Cooperation?
The Importance of Good Attendance
This is a reminder that if your child is absent from school you must call the school at (206) 901-7502. If your child is gone for 3 consecutive days or more due to illness, the school district will require medical documentation for the absence to be excused. If your family is planning a vacation during school, it must be discussed and prearranged with the school. If your child continues to have poor school attendance you may be required to meet with the school team and the district stay in school coordinator Katherine Turner.
Kindergarten Enrollment is Open!
Tukwila Schools’ inclusive community welcomes everyone with experienced educators and culturally responsive programs. We’re ready to engage and encourage every child! If your student will be 5 by August 31, we encourage you to enroll. For more information, please visit our enrollment page: https://www.tukwilaschools.org/about-our-district/enrollment
Safety News
- Are you a parent or a visitor at Tukwila Elementary School? All parents and visitors are required to sign in/out at the main office and get a badge every time you enter the building. Thank you for helping keep our staff and students safe.
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Please check your students backpacks and pockets before they come to school each day. We have students bringing toys, sharp objects, lighters and other inappropriate items to school. We need YOUR help to keep all of our students, staff and families safe!
Vaccine Clinic
Please join us for a childhood vaccine and immunization clinic on Thursday, March 9 from 3:00 - 6:00 p.m. at Thorndyke Elementary (4415 S. 150th Street). No appointment needed!
World Refugee Day
The International Rescue Committee will be hosting World Refugee Day Global Village at Foster High School on June 24. If you're interested in participating as a vendor, performer, or sponsor please fill out this form: https://forms.gle/JtW9nvKL7iU2dNWQ7
Tukwila Pool Egg Hunt
The Tukwila Pool is excited to announce that registration for the Spring Egg Hunt event is now open!
Join the Tukwila Pool on Saturday, March 18th from 1-3pm to kick off the spring season.
Swimmers and their families will get to hunt for eggs in the pool, enjoy fun games with Bubbles the Bunny, and get a visit from a special guest!
We look forward to seeing everyone there!
Please note this event does take place in the pool. All children 6 and under (all non-swimmers) must have a parent present in the water.
Register here: https://www.amilia.com/store/en/tukwila-pool-metropolitan-park-district/shop/activities/4261782
Free Tax Help in English and Somali
After-School All-Stars Spring Family Wellness Event
February 2023
Pastries with the Principal
Join us for pastries, coffee and conversation with Principal Nur in the cafeteria on Thursday, February 16 from 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. Relaxed and informal, this is a great time to get to know our Principal. Hope to see you there! This takes place every third Thursday in most months!
Upcoming dates are: March 16th, April 20th, May 18th and June 15th!
Sponsored by our Tukwila Elementary PTA!
LRC 1 News from Ms. Kitano
Students in LRC1 have been diligently working on the Moby Max online program, focusing on math and reading skills. Moby Max helps students close learning gaps where they are engaged with interactive lessons, activities, games and class rewards. The program pinpoints missing skills with diagnostic lessons. Research found that students with learning deficiencies showed the most growth in MobyMax compared to peers who are on grade level
Students look forward to "MobyMax Friday" where they love earning badges, certificates and game time. One wall in our room is FULL of all of the badges students have earned. If your child has access to a computer, I encourage students to work on Moby Max at home in the evening or on weekends. Please let me know if you need your child's log-in information and I will get it to you.
Math & Reading Intervention News from Ms. Boline and Ms. Deming
“Tell me and I’ll forget. Show me and I’ll remember. Involve me and I’ll understand.” —Confucius
Hello Families!
This month we would like to focus on language comprehension and development in both literacy and math. Did you know that studies show that reading comprehension has a direct correlation to students’ performances in math and accelerated growth from fourth to sixth grade? Language comprehension is something that can be easily practiced at home, in the car, and while running errands.
Helpful tips: **Please note, all of these strategies can be used in your home language!**
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Try using higher level vocabulary in your everyday conversations. For example, instead of saying “Would you like to help me make dinner?” say “Would you like to help me prepare dinner?”
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When reading to your child, pick a book that is at a higher reading level than they are currently reading on their own. Check their comprehension by asking if they know what certain words mean. Talk about the meaning of the words and ask if they can use it in a sentence.
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When discussing numbers, try using words like greater than and less than rather than bigger or smaller.
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When pointing out numbers in a store, ask questions like “How many digits are in that number?” “What would be ten more than this number?” “What would be ten less?”
PTA News
This Valentine's Season we are doing Friendship Grams! There are two exciting options to choose from! Send a sticker for (25 cents) or a mini mochi squishy (75 cents)
Envelopes with Friendship Grams & order forms will be going home 1/30. More information will be provided in the envelopes sent home.
The PTA is hosting a FRIENDSHIP DANCE PARTY Friday February 17th from 4-6:30pm at the school. There will be food, music, and fun! More information will be sent home with students in early February.
Social Emotional Learning News from Ms. Rusk
SEL curriculum Character Strong:
- Character Development:
Character education involves developing thoughtful, healthy, and kind human beings. Our character is informed by our personal values and choices. - SEL Competencies:
Self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making. Our February character trait is perseverance, (pushing yourself to work through challenges and obstacles). - Ruler:
RULER, is an acronym for the five skills of emotional intelligence (recognizing, understanding, labeling, expressing, and regulating). Tukwila Elementary uses Ruler, (the evidence-based approach to social and emotional learning) in combination with Character Strong as our SEL curriculums. - Mood meters:
The Mood Meter is a tool from Ruler that allows students to recognize their feelings and learn how to move between them. It helps enhance self-awareness, supporting the development of a nuanced emotion vocabulary and the ability to self-regulate. You will find Mood Meters of all kinds across the Tukwila campus!
The Importance of Good Attendance
This is a reminder that if your child is absent from school you must call the school at (206) 901-7502. If your child is gone for 3 consecutive days or more due to illness, the school district will require medical documentation for the absence to be excused. If your family is planning a vacation during school, it must be discussed and prearranged with the school. If your child continues to have poor school attendance you may be required to meet with the school team and the district stay in school coordinator Katherine Turner.
Kindergarten Enrollment is Open!
Tukwila Schools’ inclusive community welcomes everyone with experienced educators and culturally responsive programs. We’re ready to engage and encourage every child! If your student will be 5 by August 31, we encourage you to enroll. For more information, please visit our enrollment page: https://www.tukwilaschools.org/about-our-district/enrollment
Are you interested in being on Tukwila's School Board?
The Tukwila School District is seeking to fill a vacancy for our Board of Directors. This position represents District Area 3 (three). Any citizen residing in District Area 3 who meets the following qualifications is eligible to apply:
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Must live in District 3 in Tukwila (link to District boundary map) **The District boundaries have been changed, so please look at the District boundary map to verify that you live in District 3**
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Must be a United States citizen
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Must be an Eligible Voter
Please visit the Board of Directors application page on the Tukwila School District website for more information and to fill out the application:
tukwilaschools.org/about-our-district/board-of-directors/board-of-directors-application
Please consider applying if you are interested in serving the students and families of Tukwila. We are a unique school district serving a vibrant community and we would love to hear from you if you are passionate about leading the District in providing high quality education for all students.
Please contact Deborah Kohr with questions at kohrd@tukwila.wednet.edu or 206-901-8006.
January 2023
Pastries with the Principal
Join us for pastries, coffee and conversation with Principal Nur in the cafeteria on Thursday, January 19 from 5:00 - 6:00 p.m. Relaxed and informal, this is a great time to get to know our Principal. Hope to see you there! This takes place every third Thursday in most months!
Upcoming dates are: February 16th, March 16th, April 20th, May 18th and June 15th!
Sponsored by our Tukwila Elementary PTA!
LRC 1 News from Ms. Kitano
5 Ways to Encourage School Age Readers:
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Encourage your child to read on her own at home. Let your child see you read.
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Keep a variety of reading materials in the house. Make sure to have reading materials for enjoyment as well as for reference.
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Encourage your child to practice reading aloud. Frequently listen to your child read aloud and praise him/her often. Offer to read every other page, line or chapter to your child. Have conversations and discussions about the book.
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Continue to be a good role model. Let your child see you read. Write short notes for your child to read. Write down his/her weekly chores to keep track of or put a note in your child’s lunch bag.
Math & Reading Intervention News from Ms. Boline and Ms. Deming
Happy New Year! We hope you had an amazing break, filled with all the things that make you most happy. As we bring in the New Year, we would like to offer some quick Math & Literacy Ideas that can be worked on at home.
Do you know how important Handwriting is? We want our students to not have to focus on how they are writing letters and numbers, it should be automatized! That is, it becomes something they don’t even have to think about. Research has shown that once it becomes an automatized skill, your student will be able to focus their brain more on composition instead…which leads to better reading, writing, and problem solving skills! Students should not spend so much time thinking about how to make letters and numbers, but rather, collecting their thoughts and sharing their ideas. Having your student practice writing letters & numbers correctly is something that can be practiced at home!
Helpful tips:
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Most letters and numbers should be started from the top and pull down, not the bottom up.
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When writing, the majority of letters and numbers shouldn’t require you to lift your pencil. They should be written using one continuous stroke.
PTA News
Parent's Night Out: Would you like to have a night out or a date night? Time away from the kids is always fun and the PTA is offering to host your children the evening of Friday 1/20 from 5pm - 9pm. We will host ages 5+ and will have food, movies, sports, and activities to entertain the kids. We will charge $10 per child. Sign up information will go out early January.
PTA Member meeting: Wednesday 1/25 from 5-6pm. In person or via Zoom - the PTA will send out the information one week before the meeting. This meeting is for current members, or people interested in joining the PTA.
Race & Equity Committee News
Committee's objective: Our committee is centered on the foundational work and training necessary to understand and address systemic racism, implicit biases and inequities. We are working to create a school where consistent equitable systems are utilized with fidelity for all students, but intentionally directing our primary focus on our historically marginalized black and brown students. By creating a school that is inclusive, recognizing and celebrating diversity, providing equitable access to rigorous coursework, and always using the lens of social justice and restorative practices we will begin to see improvement in students' academic, social, emotional and behavioral outcomes and success, which will also improve our school climate.
Social Emotional Learning News from Ms. Rusk
Tukwila Elementary School uses Positive Behavior Interventions and Support (PBIS).
What is Positive Behavior Interventions and Support? PBIS is a process for creating safer and more effective schools. It is a systems approach to enhancing the capacity of schools to educate all children by developing research-based, school-wide, and classroom behavior support systems. The process focuses on improving a school’s ability to teach and support positive behavior for all students.
What is PBIS at our school? We have adopted a unified set of school and classroom rules. These rules define our expectations for behavior in our school. You will see these rules posted throughout the school and your child is expected to follow these rules while at school:
Rule #1: Be respectful. Rule #2: Be responsible. Rule #3: Be safe.
At Tukwila Elementary School we use PBIS by:
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Using a continuum of evidence-based practices to support student needs
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Engaging students, families, and community members to co-create culturally responsive practices
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Regularly checking the effectiveness of our practices
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Relying on teams to guide implementation
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Using data to identify strengths, uncover needs, and monitor student progress
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Implementing universal screening
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Developing content expertise through coaching and on-going professional development
The Importance of Good Attendance
This is a reminder that if your child is absent from school you must call the school at (206) 901-7502. If your child is gone for 3 consecutive days or more due to illness, the school district will require medical documentation for the absence to be excused. If your family is planning a vacation during school, it must be discussed and prearranged with the school. If your child continues to have poor school attendance you may be required to meet with the school team and the district stay in school coordinator Katherine Turner.
Surplus Sale
The Tukwila School District will be holding a Surplus Sale on Thursday, January 5 in the Showalter Middle School Commons (4628 S. 144th St).
This one-day sale is open to staff and students from 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. and will be open to the general public from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m.
We will be selling books, technology items, furniture and more. Prices will vary and delivery is not available. All items are sold "AS IS" and all sales are final.
You Got Next Basketball
Tukwila Parks & Rec is hosting basketball for K-8 students. See the flyer below for more information and register here: www.TukwilaWa.gov/signup
Questions? Contact sports@tukwilawa.gov
Dual Language Advisory Team
In Fall 2023 Tukwila School District will welcome Kindergarten students into our Dual Language Program at Cascade View Elementary. This is the result of a years’ long effort to support our students and families. To that end we will convene a Dual Language Advisory Team. During monthly meetings, the TSD Dual Language Advisory Team will provide feedback and input on the implementation of Dual Language programming using the Center for Applied Linguistics’ Guiding Principles for Dual Language Education. We are looking for staff, students, families, and community members to participate on this important team.
The Dual Language Advisory Team will meet at the district office from 5:00 – 6:30 p.m. on the following dates:
- January 12, 2023
- February 9, 2023
- March 9, 2023
- April 13, 2023
- May 11, 2023
- June 8, 2023
If you have questions or are interested in joining the advisory team please email Silvia Dicus Mora at dicusmoras@tukwila.wednet.edu or via phone by calling 206-901-8028.
December 2022
Pastries with the Principal
Thursday, December 8 | 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. | Tukwila Elementary Cafeteria
Join us for pastries, coffee and conversation with Principal Nur in the cafeteria. Relaxed and informal, this is a great time to get to know our Principal. Hope to see you there! This takes place every third Thursday in most months!
Upcoming dates are: January 19th, February 16th, March 16th, April 20th, May 18th and June 15th!
Sponsored by our Tukwila Elementary PTA!
The Importance of Good Attendance
This is a reminder that if your child is absent from school you must call the school at (206) 901-7502. If your child is gone for 3 consecutive days or more due to illness, the school district will require medical documentation for the absence to be excused. If your family is planning a vacation during school, it must be discussed and prearranged with the school. If your child continues to have poor school attendance you may be required to meet with the school team and the district stay in school coordinator Katherine Turner.
STEAM News (from Ms. Rice)
December is National Coding Month! Students in every grade level will learn new coding skills. Coding is important to learn in elementary school in order to gain confidence with their problem solving skills. Students who learn to code in elementary school are more likely to sign up for technology classes in high school. Kindergartners through second graders are learning about movement and repeat blocks. Third graders through fifth graders are learning what Events are in coding and how to use different Events to make actions. If you would like to explore coding at home with your children, please visit scratch.mit.edu or code.org.
Social Emotional Learning News (from Ms. Rusk)
Our school is using Positive Behavior Interventions and Support (PBIS)
What is Positive Behavior Interventions and Support? PBIS is a process for creating safer and more effective schools. It is a systems approach to enhancing the capacity of schools to educate all children by developing research-based, school-wide, and classroom behavior support systems. The process focuses on improving a school’s ability to teach and support positive behavior for all students. Rather than a prescribed program, PBIS provides systems for schools to design, implement, and evaluate effective school-wide, classroom, non-classroom, and student specific plans. PBIS includes school-wide procedures and processes intended for all students and all staff in all settings. PBIS is not a program or a curriculum. It is a team-based process for systemic problem solving, planning, and evaluation. It is an approach to creating a safe and productive learning environment where teachers can teach and all students can learn.
What is PBIS at our school? We have adopted a unified set of school and classroom rules. These rules define our expectations for behavior in our school. You will see these rules posted throughout the school and your child is expected to follow these rules while at school:
Rule #1: Be respectful
Rule #2: Be responsible
Rule #3: Be safe.
Enrollment Event - In Memory of Lisa Pie
Public Health of King County is holding their annual enrollment event in memory of Lisa Pie on Saturday, December 10 from 10 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. at Foster High School. They will be providing health insurance enrollment, ORCA Lift enrollments, COVID vaccines, giving away Rite Aid flu vouchers, frozen chicken (and other meat), mammogram screening and free lunch.
Vaccine Clinic
A message from our Quality Engagement Specialists
Q&A About RSV, Flu, and COVID in King County (from PHSKC)
November 2022
Parent-Teacher Conferences
Wednesday, November 2 - Friday, November 4
These days are early release days. School is out at 12:40. Your child’s teacher will reach out to you concerning signing up for a conference time.
Pastries with the Principal
Thursday, November 17 | 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. | Tukwila Elementary Cafeteria
Join us for pastries, coffee and conversation with Principal Nur in the cafeteria. Relaxed and informal, this is a great time to get to know our Principal. Hope to see you there! This takes place every third Thursday in most months!
Upcoming dates are: November 17th, December 8th, January 19th, February 16th, March 16th, April 20th, May 18th and June 15th!
Sponsored by our Tukwila Elementary PTA!
Tukwila PTA Meet and Greet
Thursday, November 10 | 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. | Tukwila Elementary Cafeteria
Calling All PTA members!
This November we are hosting a PTA Meet & Greet! Now that we are able to do so much more in person at the school, I would love to meet all of you personally and together go over what volunteer opportunities are open and what everyone enjoys doing most!
Everyone is welcome to bring snacks and/or drinks for this potluck style event! Any leftover snacks can be gifted to the school staff lounge the next day.
Scholastic Book Fair
Get all your readers ready for a literary adventure this November! This is a great opportunity to add to your home library or help your kids finally get their hands on their favorite books! Shopping is easy and fun and I'm excited to announce that Scholastic will be giving back a portion of the goal as rewards to our school when you shop!
The book fair will be held the same days as parent teacher conferences, November 2-4th from 1pm-6pm.
If you'd like to help run the book fair we need you! Please sign up with the link below:
Scholastic Book Fair Sign-Up Form
Message from Veronica Chea
My name is Veronica Chea and I'm the new school social worker here at Tukwila Elementary School. After having been here for a few weeks, I can say that the students, staff and families here have been so welcoming and I'm excited to extend the same love and care to our community through my work at the school. My own family immigrated here from Cambodia in the 1980s and have made our home here in Seattle. I'm the first in my family to graduate from a 4-year university and to go on to earn my Master's degree in Social Work at the University of Washington. I'm so excited to serve such a diverse community and support our kids in becoming the best version of themselves!
Vaccine Clinic
Proposed Revisions to Director Districts Public Hearing
Because of population changes reflected on the 2020 census, Tukwila Schools are proposing changes to the geographic boundaries of our director districts.
These boundaries are completely unrelated to school attendance boundaries; this process will not change any neighborhood school boundaries.
A public hearing on this proposal will be held on Monday, November 7 from 5:30 - 6:00 p.m. virtually and in-person | Tukwila School District Administration Building, 4640 S. 144th St | Zoom link
Click here for more information, including the proposed changes.
Washington COVID-19 Immigrant Relief Fund
Apply by November 14, 2022 and you could get at least $1000; you can apply if you're over 18, are not eligible for federal stimulus funds or unemployment due to your immigration status, and you've experienced difficult times because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It's safe to apply - no information goes to the government.
Chromebooks
Just a reminder that this year Chromebooks will stay at school. Students will have access to Chromebooks during class. If a student needs a Chromebook for homework, they may check out a device one day at a time with a written request from their teacher. Also, phones are not allowed during the school day, so please remind your child to keep their phone in their backpack during the school day.
Reminders
- Our school wide expectations are to be respectful, responsible and safe. We expect all students to follow these expectations whenever they are at school.
- No vapes, lighters or any other paraphernalia are allowed at school. Please make sure these things do not accidentally make it to school!
- Our school’s focus this year is improving school attendance.
This is a reminder that if your child is absent from school you must call the school at (206) 901-7502. If your child is gone for 3 consecutive days or more due to illness, the school district will require medical documentation for the absence to be excused. If your family is planning a vacation during school, it must be discussed and prearranged with the school. If your child continues to have poor school attendance you may be required to meet with the school team and the district stay in school coordinator Katherine Turner. - Volunteers, please fill out an application online at: https://www.tukwilaschools.org/get-involved/volunteer Thank you!
- WIFI access is available. Look for the TUK-Guest network when connecting. No username or password needed.
• Sign up for Flash Alert at www.flashalert.net
• Listen to local media for the latest delay/closure info
• Make sure your phone number is updated with the main office to get auto-dialer phone calls.
- Please see our Mental Health Resources page for information about services and supports we provide Tukwila students: https://www.tukwilaschools.org/services/counseling/mental-health-resources. This page will be updated throughout the school year as we improve our structures and processes.
October 2022
Welcome to the 2022-2023 School Year!
We are so excited to share this school year with your child(ren) and family. It is going to be a great year of learning! Please reach out if you have any questions or concerns!
Bell Times
School Begins: 8:50 a.m. (No supervision before 8:30 a.m.)
School Dismissal: 3:10 p.m. (Please do not come early)
Early Release Dismissal: 12:40 p.m.
Principal's Message
Hello Tuk El Families,
Boy, has the school year been off to a busy start! We are excited to have your Terrific Tigers back in school and learning.
We hope you had the opportunity to connect with your student's teacher during our Open House! It was amazing and encouraging to see all of you back in person! Families, we need your help.
Please encourage and reinforce our Big Three. Be Safe, Be Respectful and Be Responsible. We want to ensure every one of your Terrific Tigers are learning and fully engaged! With your support, we will have a wonderful and safe year!
I hope to see you at our First Pastries with your Principal. This will take place Thursday, October 20th, 2022, from 5:30-6:30 pm. I am hoping the later time will work for more families. This is a time to come and connect with me, share your concerns, and plan how we can best meet your student's needs!
Best regards, Ms. Nur
News Feature About Principal Nur
Runta News Channel did a feature about Tukwila Elementary Principal Hani Nur, the first Somali principal in Washington State!
Please enjoy the video they created:
Maintenance & Custodial Staff Recognition Week
October 3-7 is Maintenance & Custodial Staff Recognition Week. Tukwila Elementary wants to give a HUGE thanks to our Maintenance & Custodial Team! Your dedication to keeping our building clean and running smoothly is greatly appreciated. Tina Patterson, Mikhail Gorbin, and Salim Abdul you are the best!
Food Service Staff Recognition Week
October 10-14 is Food Services Staff Recognition week - TES wants to give a HUGE thanks to our Food Services Team! Thank you so much for your dedication to keeping our students fed and healthy. We appreciate you! Elisa Ngiralmau, Norian Musa and Ruby Harrington, you are the best!
Chromebooks
Just a reminder that this year Chromebooks will stay at school. Students will have access to Chromebooks during class. If a student needs a Chromebook for homework, they may check out a device one day at a time with a written request from their teacher. Also, phones are not allowed during the school day, so please remind your child to keep their phone in their backpack during the school day.
Reminders
- Our school wide expectations are to be respectful, responsible and safe. We expect all students to follow these expectations whenever they are at school.
- No vapes, lighters or any other paraphernalia are allowed at school. Please make sure these things do not accidentally make it to school!
- Our school’s focus this year is improving school attendance.
This is a reminder that if your child is absent from school you must call the school at (206) 901-7502. If your child is gone for 3 consecutive days or more due to illness, the school district will require medical documentation for the absence to be excused. If your family is planning a vacation during school, it must be discussed and prearranged with the school. If your child continues to have poor school attendance you may be required to meet with the school team and the district stay in school coordinator Katherine Turner. - Volunteers, please fill out an application online at: https://www.tukwilaschools.org/get-involved/volunteer Thank you!
- WIFI access is available. Look for the TUK-Guest network when connecting. No username or password needed.
• Sign up for Flash Alert at www.flashalert.net
• Listen to local media for the latest delay/closure info
• Make sure your phone number is updated with the main office to get auto-dialer phone calls.
- Please see our Mental Health Resources page for information about services and supports we provide Tukwila students: https://www.tukwilaschools.org/services/counseling/mental-health-resources. This page will be updated throughout the school year as we improve our structures and processes.
PTA Information
The Tukwila Elementary PTA is hosting a Trunk or Treat event on Saturday, October 29 from 3:00 - 6:00 p.m. Please drop off candy donations for this event at the main office. You can sign up to decorate a trunk for the event. Email tukwilapta@gmail.com.
Boo Grams are back! The fun is for everyone including parents, teachers, students, and staff! We have two exciting options to choose from. Send a vinyl sticker ($0.25) or a silicone wristband ($0.75) to your Boos! Send them to your whole class, teacher or friends/teachers in other classes. The Boo is up to you! There are many styles of Halloween themed stickers and wristbands, so the more you send, the more you can add to each other's collection. *Styles are randomly chosen. Pick up your order form in the main office and return with payment by October 24. Boo Grams and collectables will be delivered to each class on Monday, October 31.
Our teachers would appreciate donations of Keurig coffee pods and creamers. Please drop off at the main office.
Scholastic Book Fair will be held this year. Dates and times to be decided.
Free ORCA Cards
All students (ages 6-18) are invited to sign up for a FREE ORCA card thanks to Move Ahead Washington, a statewide transportation funding package! With this card, students will be able to ride free on King County Metro, Sound Transit, Seattle Street Car, Pierce Transit, Community Transit, Kitsap Transit, Everett Transit, and Washington State Ferries.
