December 2022
Message from the Principal:
Hello families ~
As you know, attendance is a critical building block for student learning, but the reality is that
sometimes, students (and teachers) get sick. It seems like most everyone has had some sort of the
“crud”, especially these last few weeks. Please be aware that the attendance process in the
Olympia School District has changed due to a change in state requirements. Thank you for
continuing to notify us when your student is out ill or is expecting to be absent from school. If
you have any questions related to the new attendance process, please don’t hesitate to reach out. The new process will include the following:
Attendance Letters: Families will receive auto generated attendance letters when students are absent 3, 5, and 10 times. The purpose of these letters is to inform and help families and schools connect in order to provide support to help improve student attendance.
Attendance Calls: Daily auto generated attendance calls will be sent out if the student's absence has not been called into the school. If your student is home ill, please call the attendance line at 360.596.8303 to excuse the absence. After 72 hours, the absence cannot be excused and will remain unexcused.
Attendance Conferences: Conferences with a school staff member are required and will be scheduled after 3 unexcused absences within any month. Conferences may be held in person, via Zoom or over the phone, and may include the development of a mutually agreed upon attendance contract.
Community Engagement Board: A Community Engagement Board is composed of school/district staff, a Thurston County Court representative and members of community agencies and/or community volunteers. The purpose of these meetings is to provide a supportive space where the student and family can openly discuss, identify, and remove barriers to improve student absences.
Truancy Court and Becca Bill: The Becca Bill (Senate Bill 5439) is our state’s truancy law. It is intended to stop truancy before it becomes a problem. The school may file a petition in juvenile court when all previous actions have not improved student attendance.
Attendance Documents: Attendance and Truancy Legal Requirements Elementary and OSD Policy 3122
Lunch Money
We have a LOT of students with negative balances on their lunch account. Remember, lunch & breakfast are no longer free this year ($2 & $3). You can pay a number of ways: through the Payment Portal, or call the office to pay with a card over the phone, or send/bring in cash or check in a labeled envelope with your student’s name/grade/teacher on it.
**If you are experiencing hardship and need assistance, please fill out the Free & Reduced Application. It can be done through Skyward Family Access, or we can send a paper copy home. Information can be found here.
Ballet Northwest
Ballet Northwest is coming to Centennial! Ballet Northwest is a non-profit dance company based in Olympia and is the oldest ballet company in the state. Thanks to a grant from the Washington State Arts Commission obtained by Ballet Northwest, Centennial Elementary will be participating in a whole school dance residency!
This exciting learning event will occur December 5th and 6th.
Ballet Northwest’s experienced Teaching Artist Carolyn Fry will guide students to experience:
-Movement is a form of expression available to everyone.
-Dance is its own subject matter and can be used as a means to investigate other subjects.
-Dance is made up of time, space, and energy and has its own vocabulary and history.
-Dance promotes healthy physicality and physical competence.
-Dance is a way to experience joy in community.
-Movement classes provide opportunities to practice respect for self and others, focus, creativity, problem solving, making strong choices, and collaboration.
**On December 5 & 6 students should come to school dressed in comfortable clothing, and ready to try some fun, new things. When you ask your child about their day in school, be sure to ask what they learned from Ballet Northwest! We look forward to moving with you!**
Winter Concert
Our Winter Concert is back! It will feature our band & strings students, plus our 4 th /5 th grade choir. It is scheduled for Thursday December at 1:15. Attendees are welcome.
Centennial Science & Engineering Fair 2023
The CES Science & Engineering Fair is coming up on January 18 and your child is invited to participate! Our CES fair is here to help foster an inclusive learning environment where all students at CES are able to explore their passions through a project of choice and share with fellow students during the school day. We want to see kids choosing projects, reports, experiments or artwork that displays what your child is curious about or has a passion for. Register using this Google Form and view our flyer for more details on upcoming dates and further info on registration. We are all looking forward to another year of enthusiasm and creativity! Please contact Jennifer Knight with any questions at [email protected].
Star Striders
Thank you to all our volunteers who have helped make this such a success! Even as the weather has turned we’ve still had volunteers coming out, albeit with a few more layers added on. December: Star Striders Volunteer Link. As always, please make sure you’re an approved OSD volunteer before signing up. Thank you!
Booster Club
There’s a movie night coming up! You need to sign your student up first though. Check out the details and all the latest Booster Club news: Newsletter
Dress for the Weather
Every student at Centennial has outdoor recess during the day. It’s very rare we have indoor recess. Students in K – 5th grades have recesses up to 20 minutes in length. This is a long time to be outside if improperly dressed for the weather. Thank you for double checking to be sure your student is dressed appropriately each day and ensuring they have a change in clothes for “just in case”….no matter their grade. We cannot guarantee we will have clothing in your student’s size should they need it.
Health Room News
Do you have any gently used, boy athletic type pants? The Health Room can use some. All sizes needed. Please, nothing that requires a button or snap.
Thank you for continuing to keep your student home if they are feeling under the weather. Don’t forget to call our attendance line to excuse them: 360-596-8303.
Please continue to send in those health room forms! They are so helpful to have in case of an emergency. If you can’t find your form, please let us know in the front office. We’ll be happy to get on to your student’s teacher to send home. Thank you!
Happy Holidays!
Winter break is coming…..December 19th through January 2nd . We will resume on Tuesday January 3rd.
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 in Skyward Family Access.
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 $10.00, in the school office. There are instructions as to what to include in the kit if you make your own.
To purchase through the Booster Club:
https://www.centennialboosterclub.org/purchase/emergency-kit
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 December 14th .
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.
Dec. 14
Jan. 11
Feb. 8
March 8
April 12
May 10 - National Bike to School Day
June 14
Upcoming Events
11/30 – 12/9 CES Canned Food Drive
12/2 Booster Club Movie Night (6-8 pm)
12/14 Walk ‘n’ Roll to school
12/12 All School Pajama Day!
12/13 -12/15 Beauty & the Beast Auditions
12/15 Winter Concert (Band/Strings/Choir) @ 1:15
12/16 Festive/Ugly Sweater Day
12/19 - 1/2 Winter Break
1/3 School is in session
1/13 MLK Assembly @ 1:30
1/16 MLK Holiday/No school
1/18 Science Fair
2/3 HALF Day 11:05 release (Grading)
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.