Centennial Elementary School
Shannon Ritter, Principal
June 2021
Hello Centennial Families ~
As we move into June I find myself reflecting on the year and looking forward to being able to slow down just a little over the summer break. This has certainly been a year for the books! In fact, it has been quite the three year with two years of construction and then a year + of living and learning during a pandemic. Our flexibility, patience and perseverance were certainly tested this year and I am so very proud of our students, staff and families.
I also wanted to share some staffing updates and changes for the 2021-2022 school year.
Congratulations to the following staff member who will be enjoying retirement this September. All are looking forward to spending time with family and friends, grandchildren and traveling! How wonderful!
· Mrs. Rosalind Olsen, Office Manager, will be retiring after 18 years at Centennial. What an impact Roz has made over the years! It will be a big adjustment for sure and we will miss her!
· Mrs. Mary Jane Rants, has been a teacher in the Olympia School District for 30 years! She has taught at a number of elementary schools in a variety of roles and has been a gift to our district and students.
· Mrs. Mary Beth Ricks has been a paraeducator at Centennial for many years. She has worked in the library to support students and staff over the years. We will miss her kind, positive outlook and quick wit.
· Mrs. Stafford will be moving from a Reading Intervention position to teach 1st grade. What a great addition to this fabulous team.
· Mrs. Noreilus will be moving from Centennial to District Office. While we are heartbroken to lose her, she will continue her good work at the district level which will benefit all students in the district.
As we wrap up this very unique year, I want to say thank you one more time for your partnership. Stay safe, stay healthy and enjoy your summer!
Mrs. Ritter
Half Day of School on Friday, June 11th – Early Dismissal
Teachers will be working on report cards in the afternoon on this day. School hours are 8:30 a.m. to 11:35 a.m. for In-person learning students.
BBQ Lunch Menu on Tuesday, June 15th for In-Person Students
Centennial’s annual BBQ on Tuesday, June 15th will be Hamburger or an Impossible Burger (vegetarian option), lettuce, tomatoes, onion, ketchup, mustard, corn on the cob, watermelon and milk. Per Paul Flock OSD Child Nutrition Service Director the “Impossible Burger is the plant-based patty that taste like a hamburger that Burger King sells and is advertise on television”.
Spirit Day and End of the Year Zoom Assembly on Wednesday, June 16th
Students are reminded to wear their Centennial Spirit Gear on this Wednesday and to join their classmates for a fun filled End of the Year Zoom Assembly at 2:30 p.m. with DJ Ryan (our third grade teacher Mr. DeFant). Teachers will send a zoom link to students and/place in Schoology.
Return Chromebooks, Hotspots, Textbooks and Library Books
Kindergarten and first grade students need to return their Chromebooks this month following their teacher’s instructions.
· In-Person Learning Students – Chromebook and power chargers can be brought to the school June 17th – June 25th.
· Distant Learning Students – June 9th all textbooks and library books turned into the school.
Beginning on June 22 at 1 p.m. – June 25th all Chromebooks and power chargers should be returned to the school
Students in grades 2-5 may keep their Chromebook over the summer. OSD Technology Department will be contacting students in 5th grade over the summer to swap out their Chromebook for a model that they will use in middle school.
Student textbooks that went home earlier this school year were checked out to your child through the school’s library system. All textbooks need to be return to the school so those fees/fines can be removed from your child’s account.
If you are moving out of the Olympia School District, please turn in your student’s Chromebook to the school.
Last Day of School – Early Dismissal
The last day of school for all students is Tuesday, June 22. Half-day schedule will be 8:30 a.m. to 11:35 a.m. Mrs. Draper has organized some games that classes will be signing up to participate. Lots of fun activities on this day are planned.
Summer Food Program
The OSD Children Nutrition Services will start the Summer Food Program on June 22- September 3rd from 12:00-12:30 p.m. for families to drive up to the school for curbside pick-up of a Grab and Go lunch items for children. Hours are M-F on all weekdays except for July 5, 2021. Check the OSD website for more details.
Thurston County Inclusion - Summer Camp
Registration is now open for summer camp participant and volunteers. Camp is every Friday from July 9th to August 20th. Two sessions 9-11 a.m. for ages 5-12 and 12:2 p.m. for ages 12-21. For more information, please visit their website or contact them at thurstoncountyinclusion.org.
Fall 2021 – 2022 School Begins
Wednesday, September 8, 2021
New time - 8:00 a.m. to 2:15 p.m.
A copy of the 2021-2022 OSD School Calendar and 2021-2022 supply list for Centennial will go home with your child on the last day of school. The school website will also have a link to these flyers.
Report Cards
Families can view their children’s report card under Family Access. Go to the PORTFOLIO tab to find the final report card for the 2020-21 school year. A flyer will go home on the last day of school with instructions how to find the report cards in Skyward.
Next Year’s Teacher
Check your Family Access account in Skyward on August 31st for the announcement of who your child’s teacher will be for the 2021-22 school year. Family Access will be “turned on” on this date when we have finalized class placements.
Moving
Will you be moving this summer or making other arrangements? Are you currently enrolled in more than one school? If the answer to either of these questions is yes, please inform our school office staff. Our voicemail will be in operation all summer and will be checked periodically through June and then starting again in August. Having accurate enrollment numbers is critical to our planning. Please help by keeping us updated of your plans. Also, encourage new neighbors to register at the school through June 28. These new families may also leave a message on our voicemail. Thanks for your assistance.
Pick Up Medications
If your child has medication at school, please make plans to pick up the medication by the end of the day on Tuesday, June 22nd. If you wish to have your child continue taking medications when school begins next fall, a new authorization form needs to be signed by both you and your physician.
Fines, Negative Balances and Library Books
Please return all library books, textbooks, pay for any lost or damaged library books by June 8th and clear up any negative food service balances before the end of school. If your child does not receive a report card on the last day of school, it may be because books are missing or fines have not been paid. The office will hold report cards until all fees are paid.
Emergency Kit Reminders
Most of our students had emergency kits in zip-lock bags stored at school for use in an emergency. We would like to thank our Emergency Kit Coordinator, Geoff Pohl, for organizing this activity. These kits will be sent home for storage and repacking over the summer. Please plan to return them first thing in the fall.
Welcome Back to School Event in the Fall
The staff and Booster Club would like to invite all of next year’s families to join us for a Welcome Back to School Day on Tuesday, September 7th, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Come any time during this hour and a half, meet your child’s teacher, pick up the fall paperwork that needs to be completed, have your child put his/her supplies in their desk, and visit the Booster Club tables set up in the gym area. We will send more details home in the August Newsletter.
Booster Club
We would all like to thank our Centennial Booster Club for their continuing support throughout the year. Many of the members and officers put in hundreds of hours. We would like to say a special thank you to our 2020-21 officers Geoff Pohl – President, Erinn Zeitlin – Vice-President, Kelly Hallett– Secretary, Marcea Basham – Treasurers, Debbie Ritenour – Communications, Volunteer Coordinator – Kaitlin Bents. Also, thank you to all the project chairs and their committee members that work on special projects throughout the school year. The Centennial Booster Club supports many of the programs in our school through financial assistance and volunteer work. Field trips, library books, music equipment, reading textbooks, enrichment software for the whole school and enrichment materials for each classroom are just some of the items and programs made available by Booster Club. This is truly a highly effective school because all of us have worked together. We are all appreciative of the support from this tremendous group. Thank you, Booster Club!
Booster Club News!
Check out the Booster Club’s website for the latest news from Centennial Booster Club at www.centennialboosterclub.org
Update Your Child’s 2021-22 Enrollment Information
Families can start to update their child’s information for the next school year. Go to your Family Access Account and click on the tab that is label “Update Your Students Information 2021-22”. We need all CES families to verify their child’s information each school year. Verify that your information is still current or make corrections to your child’s Skyward Account.
Upcoming Events
DATE
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EVENT
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6/9
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Packet Pick up Remote Learning Students 11:30 a.m. -1:00 p.m. and 5-6 p.m.
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6/9
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Taste of Kindergarten Screening and Orientation – by appointment
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6/11
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Early Dismissal – Report Card Preparation 8:30 a.m.-11:35 a.m. – Grab & Go lunch available
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6/15
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CES BBQ – we will have our annual end of the year BBQ Hamburger for lunch on this day
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6/15
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5th Grade Band Concert – Virtual Performance with WMS at 7:00 p.m.
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6/16
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End of the Year Zoom Assembly – at 2:30 p.m. and Spirit Day
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6/16
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Family Drive by Parade at Centennial – CES Families Drive through the school parking lot 11:30-12:30 p.m. to wave good-by to staff
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6/22
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Last Day of School – Half Day Early Dismissal 8:30 a.m. – 11:35 a.m.
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The Little Red School House Project Distribution Day
A free distribution of supplies and school clothing to Thurston County students will take place Thursday, August 19, 2021, from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Chinook Middle School – 4301 Sixth Ave NE Lacey WA 98516– for directions call the school. If you know a family who may need help, please let them know!
Lost and Found
Centennial has a number of coats, sweatshirts, and an extensive assortment of other odds and ends that need to be found! Please look when you are here. Any items not claimed by June 25 will be donated to a local charity.
OSD 2020-21 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.