Centennial Elementary School
Shannon Ritter, Principal
November 2019
Fall is in full swing and so is our cold weather. It is hard to believe that November is already upon us.
November is a time to show gratitude and be thankful for the things we have and the people around us. I
want to say thank you to all of the families who attended parent teacher conferences. The family and school
partnership is critical when it comes to student success.
I would also like to say thank you to our Booster
Club and volunteers who once again put on a fantastic Fall Social.
You are invited to say Thank You to our Veterans at our Centennial’s Veterans Day Assembly on
November 8th. This is a time for us to recognize and celebrate individuals who have selflessly dedicated
their lives and have made many sacrifices to themselves and to their families.
We hope you can join us for
this special assembly starting at 9:15 a.m.
As we continue to move through these colder months, please make yourself familiar with our inclement
weather procedures. All of this information can be found on our district website in the Snow Bulletin in the
Transportation Department tab.
And lastly, thank you to all of our staff and families who continue to help make Centennial a great place to
learn.
Mr. Nye
Assistant Principal
Volunteering at Centennial
Planning to help out in your child’s class, in the library or on a field trip? Make sure you have completed a
volunteer application. Update your information online if you haven’t done this for the 2019-2020 school year.
It can take up to a week to get approval from the time you submit your application.
To access the online
application, go to the school district’s website under quick links. The office also has instructions on how to
access the online application. Hard copies are available if someone does not have access to a computer.
Families should go to https://www.helpcounterweb.com to sign up.
Emergency Instructions for Parents
Make sure your contact information is accurate and updated. This ensures you’ll receive all information
that we send out.
Make sure your child has an emergency kit for the classroom. Families can make their own (see school
office) or purchase one of the Booster Club’s pre-made emergency kits for $8.00 while supplies last.
Wait for direction from the District if you need to pick up your child, and if so, when and where. You may
be contacted via robo call, email, or text. Information will also be posted and updated on the District
website.
Remember that all school staff have a role in the response, and we may not be able to answer the phones.
In addition, the school phone lines need to remain open and available for emergency responders.
The District will advise you of the Reunification Site to pick up your child. Unless the District has advised
you, do not come to the school. Parents arriving en masse will interfere with the emergency response and
potentially put themselves and others in danger.
Reunification Sites could be located at any one of the following locations. The District will direct you to
one of these sites.
1. Centennial Elementary School
2. Siskiyou Loop Road - Muirhead Property (behind the school playfield)
3. Log Cabin Road SE – CRC Christian Reform Church
School
Emergency Procedures
To protect our students and staff. Our school performs various safety drills throughout
the year, which are practiced on a monthly basis.
Lockdown
Fire Drill/Evacuation
Shelter-in Place
Earthquake
During an emergency event the school district will make every effort to provide information to parents and
guardians of our students. This information is sent to you based on the contacts you have provided the school,
which is why it’s incredibly important that your contact information is always updated and correct.
Emergency Kits
Families don’t forget to either make your own emergency kit for your child to have at school or purchase
one of the CES Booster Club’s Emergency Kits for $8.00, in the school office. There are instructions as to
what to include in the kit if you make your own.
Thank you to our families for your generous support of the ASB Pumpkin Fund Run and to
our 45th Street Neighborhood Families and Friends (Sweetbriar HOA) that allowed us to run
through the neighborhood. The children appreciated the cheers and encouragement. We
collected over $12,500. in donations. This money will be used to support cultural, athletic,
social & recreational activities at school that will benefit our students.
Walk ‘n’ Roll
Hey Centennial Stars, it’s time to Walk ‘n’ Roll to School! Intercity Transit’s Walk N Roll program invites
all students and families to join Centennial in walking or rolling to school and having a fun autumn morning
on November 13th
.
To make yourself more visible in the rainy weather, remember to always wear bright or reflective clothing
when you walk or roll to school!
Students who walk or roll to school get a prize!
Centennial is Walking ‘n’ Rolling to school all year long!
Save the dates.
Nov. 13
Dec. 11
Jan. 8
Feb. 12
March 11
April 1
May 13 National Bike to School Day
June 10
Happy Thanksgiving
Enjoy the day with family and friends. No School November 27-29
Upcoming Performances- Mark your Calendar
Winter Choir Concert 2nd & 3rd and 4th & 5th Grade Choirs at OHS PAC 7:00 p.m. December 2nd at 7:00
p.m.
CES Band & Orchestra Concert CES Gym December 10th at 2:30 p.m.
Sub Bus Drivers Needed
Olympia School District Transportation Department is requesting Bus Drivers. They are will train for free
call 360-596-7700.
An Atmosphere of Learning
When families create a supportive learning environment at home, children are more successful in the
classroom. Use these tips to make your home a great place for your youngster to learn.
Stock up
Fill your house with items your child can use to explore and investigate.
Visit the library regularly so you
always have plenty of books. Have her set aside a drawer for math and science supplies (ruler, measuring
cups and spoons, food coloring, seeds). Also, display a map or globe— when she reads or hears about a
place, she can discover where it’s located.
Build on interests
Notice what your youngster is into, such as dinosaurs or music, and help her learn more about it. Read
nonfiction books or watch documentaries together. Let her make a hallway gallery based on her interests.
She could create and hang up posters to share interesting facts and photos with family members.
Learn together
Learn something new as a family. You might work on American Sign Language and then practice together.
Or learn to code or knit. You’ll enjoy a new hobby as you expand your knowledge. Also, plan special
nights where you play board games. Try ones that build language skills (Scrabble, Boggle) or involve math
or logic (Monopoly, chess).♥ Home & School Connection, November 2019
Upcoming Events
11/7 All School Assembly at Jim Cogan - Story Teller - Patriot Theme at 9:15 a.m.
11/8 Veterans Day Assembly 9:15 – 11:00 a.m.
11/11 Veterans Day – No School
11/12 5
th grade Parents - Health Instruction Preview Night at Knox Admin Building at
111 Bethel St. 5:30-6:30 p.m.
11/12 Booster Club Meeting at 7:00 p.m. – CES Library
11/13 Walk ‘n’ Roll to school
11/21 Fourth Grade Field Trip 9:30-12:30 p.m.
11/25 Taproot Theatre – Two Morning Assemblies “Team Player Mode”
11/27-29 Thanksgiving Vacation – No School
12/2 Lion’s Club Vision and Hearing Screening - afternoon
12/2 Winter Choir Concert at OHS PAC 7:00 p.m.
12/10 Winter Band & Orchestra Concert at Centennial at 2:30 p.m.
12/11 Walk ‘n’ Roll to school
12/12 Third Grade Field Trip 9:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
12/20 All School Sing at 2:45 p.m.
12/23-1/3 Winter Break
OSD 2019-20 Notice of Nondiscrimination
The Olympia School District will provide equal educational opportunity and treatment for all students in all aspects of the
academic and activities program without discrimination based on race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, honorably-
discharged veteran or military status, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression or 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. The district
will provide equal access to school facilities to the Boy Scouts of America and all other designated youth groups listed in Title 36
of the United States Code as a patriotic society. District programs will be free from sexual harassment. Auxiliary aids and services
will be provided upon request to individuals with disabilities.
The following people have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies, reports of alleged sexual
harassment, concerns about compliance, and/or grievance procedures:
Autumn Lara, Executive Director of Elementary Education, [email protected] (360)596-8534
Ken Turcotte, Section 504 and ADA Coordinator, [email protected], (360) 596-7530
Pat Cusack, Director of College and Career Readiness, [email protected], (360) 596-6102
Scott Niemann, Title IX Officer and Affirmative Action Officer and Civil Rights Compliance
Coordinator, [email protected], (360) 596-6185.
All four individuals may also be contacted at 111 Bethel Street N.E., Olympia, WA, 98506.